A Fork in the Road
Doctor (Joseph R. Barnes)
- Mission giver
- Doctor (Joseph R. Barnes)
- Playable
- Not stated
- Location
- Saint Denis, Bayou Nwa, Lemoyne
- Target
- Not stated
- Unlocked by
- Not stated
- Unlocks
- Not stated
Player notes
Arthur Morgan rides into Saint Denis after the gang's return from Guarma and is seized by a violent coughing fit. He collapses in the street. A Good Samaritan finds him, drags him upright and takes him through the city to the doctor's clinic, giving him money for the visit if Arthur has none. Inside, the alarmed receptionist summons Dr. Joseph R. Barnes.
Dr. Barnes brings Arthur into his surgery and takes payment before examining his ear, chest and mouth. He listens to Arthur's breathing, then tells him that he has tuberculosis. Arthur refuses to believe the diagnosis. Barnes explains that the illness worsens over time and advises him to seek a warm, dry climate, but Arthur says that is not possible.
As Arthur prepares to leave, Dr. Barnes gives him an injection to restore some energy for the day. Arthur walks back out into Saint Denis in a daze. His thoughts fill with remembered words from people in his life, their tone shaped by his Honor. With high Honor, the memories are hopeful and regretful amid golden light.
With low Honor, Arthur recalls harsher warnings and despairing words through grey fog. A buck appears ahead of him in the high Honor vision, while a coyote watches him in the low Honor vision. The animal turns and vanishes. Arthur remains alone on the streets of Saint Denis.
Trivia
- โOnce this mission is completed, Arthur will be sick with tuberculosis for the remainder of his playthrough, which will increase the core draining speed by 20%. He will also gain a limited amount of benefits from food and drinks, resulting in only coughing and a pop-up reminder of being sick if he has too much. The only way to fully refill any cores if fully empty while sick is to sleep. Additionally, Arthur will lose his stocky appearance and will look underweight, even at perfect weight, after this mission.
- โDuring this mission, when Arthur discovers that he has tuberculosis, Dr. Barnes comforts him with a line that Arthur will remember on his final ride in the "Red Dead Redemption" mission if his honor is high: "I'm really sorry for you, son, it's a hell of a thing."
- โOne of the lines that Arthur remembers in this mission if his honor is high is "If we don't stop soon we'll all be dying", said by Hosea in "Outlaws from the West." However, Arthur wasn't present when Hosea said this, so he therefore wouldn't remember it.
- โIf Arthur does not have any money on him, the Good Samaritan will give him ten dollars so that he can pay for the doctor visit. This also happens on mission replays.
- โThis is one of the only missions that isn't marked on the map. It is triggered when visiting Saint Denis, typically as the player is attempting to meet Sadie Adler for the mission "Icarus and Friends.โ
- โThe name of the mission is a metaphor for a deciding moment in life or history, when a major choice of options is required.
- โIf the player returns to the clinic after Arthurโs diagnosis, Dr. Barnes will regularly ask Arthur how he feels.
Mission data from Red Dead Wiki, CC BY-SA. Not affiliated with Rockstar Games.
Last verified September 14, 2026