| “ | I ain't looking for forgiveness... it ain't about that. Don't forgive me... just take the money and get outta here, please. I know I ruined your life. I suffer for it every day, but... don't let yourself get killed for... for pride. I seen it kill too many folk. | „ |
| —Arthur Morgan to Edith Downes and Archie Downes |
Do Not Seek Absolution II is a mission in Red Dead Redemption 2.
Mission overview[]
Unwilling to accept Arthur's money, Edith Downes continues to sell her body. Worried for his mother's safety, Archie Downes asks Arthur to head to Willard's Rest to look for her.
Story[]
Arthur returns to Archie shortly after saving him from the abuse he was facing at the mine, to see if he was able to convince his mother to leave Annesburg with him. Archie tells him that he failed to do so. Edith refused to accept money that was ill-gotten, especially from Arthur of all people, thus opting to continue working as a prostitute instead. Arthur apologizes to Archie for the position he has put them in. Archie also tells him that she went towards Willard's Rest a few hours ago, with a man who looked dangerous, and is very worried for her safety as a result.
Arthur heads there quickly, and finds Edith talking with the man she left Annesburg with, visibly scared of him and uncomfortable with the way he's behaving with her. Arthur walks up to the pair and he threatens to kill the man if he doesn't get lost immediately and leave Edith alone. The man complies, but not before touching Edith's face and saying "See you again, Dearie."
Arthur tries to talk to Edith, but starts coughing a little bit. She immediately notices that he's sick with Tuberculosis, just like her late husband, Thomas Downes, whom Arthur caught it from, by savagely beating him for a debt he owed to Leopold Strauss, months earlier. Arthur apologizes to Edith, for what he did to her family, understanding that his actions were horrible, and that he's suffering grave consequences for them. However, he also tells her to not get herself and Archie killed because of her pride (referring to her refusing to accept Arthur's money and leave Annesburg with her son). She begins crying, feeling ashamed of how her life changed since she and Archie lost their home. Arthur can convince her to return to Archie in either a gently or harshly-spoken manner, but she complies either way.
On the ride back, Arthur continues to apologize, but Edith doesn't want to hear it, as it won't bring her husband back. She tells him to stop feeling guilt or seeking penance for his actions, and instead decide what kind of man he wants to be, before his TB infection kills him. She also makes it very clear that she still hates Arthur's guts, with him understanding this and not expecting it to change.
Upon returning to Archie, Edith immediately runs up to and hugs him. They wonder what they're going to do next, but Arthur advises them to leave Annesburg, and start a new life somewhere else. He tries to give them some money, but Edith refuses to accept it. Arthur insists on it, reiterating what he told her at Willards Rest and on the ride back, saying that he doesn't want them to thank or forgive him at all, just that they take the money and leave. They relent and accept the money, before heading back into their accommodation.
Arthur leaves, having successfully righted one of his gravest wrongs, to some extent.
Gold Medal Objectives[]
- Find Edith Downes within 1 minute and 10 seconds.
Video Walkthroughs[]
Trivia[]
- On the way back to Annesburg, Edith is unwilling to forgive Arthur for ruining her family and is beyond caring about him, yet reminds him with, "And all you can do now is decide the man you wanna be, for the time you have left", a line that Arthur later remembers on his final ride in the "Red Dead Redemption" mission if his Honor is high.
Trophies/Achievements[]
Completing this Honor story mission strand is associated with these trophies/achievements:
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EXTREME PERSONALITY
10
 Bronze
 Reach maximum or minimum Honor level.
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30
Silver
 Complete all optional Honor story missions.
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50
Silver
Earn 70 Gold Medals in Story missions.
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100
Gold
 Attain 100% Completion.
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