"The last shot ain't yet fired."

True Colors

OK, at last! This was another stellar episode, one that brought us the arrival of new characters, the return of old ones and the true nature of others. And lots of setup for future plotlines. Oh, and it takes place about 10 days after the previous episode. Al has not made a move on Hearst yet; in fact, he has not left his rooms. Hearst has delivered a blow to more than Al's hand (he lost his middle finger, btw). So the game is not quite ON, yet.

Guess who's back in town? Wu! He was in San Francisco rounding up Chinese workers for Hearst's mine. He meets with Al, who is genuinely glad to see him, I think, and tells Al that the new workers should be expected in Deadwood in 10 days. Also returning on the same stage coach: Blasanov, the telegraph operator. He has brought with him the latest in telegraph technology and news of a new lady friend he met in Chicago. He and Merrick have a hilarious scene together about how the new techology works and it is really beyond my capability to describe.

As far as new characters go, say hello to Langrishe's Theater Troupe, led by Jack Langrishe who, as it turns out, is an old friend of Al's (they were "old campaigners" together). Maybe I'm assuming too much, but my impression was that he is also gay. This seems to not be an issue at all with Al. In fact, Al appears to regard him affectionately. This makes me wonder what their history is together. Al was abandoned and left in an orphanage and had a pretty horrible childhood - I wouldn't be surprised if he had been a hustler growing up. Anyway, I think it's safe to say that Langrishe has plans to open a theater in town. Brian Cox (as Langrishe) makes a wonderful addition to the camp.

The other new character is Hearst's "nigger cook", Aunt Lou. She puts on the Butterfly McQueen act around Hearst, but at night she goes out to the camp's little Chinatown and drinks, smokes cigars and beats the locals in mah jong. She does not hold Hearst in as high regard as he seems to think she does. Not at all. Oh, and she also speaks Chinese, a point that may become significant as Al and Wu plot against her boss.

Both Alma Ellsworth and Bullock decide to meet with Hearst, with different purposes: she to propose a deal regarding her claim and he to "put him on notice" for the murder of Cornishmen who are trying to organize the mine laborers. Neither of these meetings goes well and during those meetings (and in his dealings later with Cy Tolliver), we get a peek at Hearst's true colors. He throws Bullock's warning right back in his face and says that this thing goes both ways and he can put him on notice for the murder of his 2 guards at the Gem (by Al).

Alma's meeting(s) with Hearst are even more disastrous. She and Ellsworth argue about meeting with Hearst - he doesn't want her to go, at all, because he knows from personal experience what a dangerous man Hearst is; but Alma, gliding on some kind of hormonal high after losing the baby I think, insists on going anyway. Ellsworth comes along but once he is in Hearst's rooms things deteriorate quickly, with Ellsworth exhibiting signs of PTSD from the Comstock incident. Alma comes back later in the day, despite Ellsworth's insistence that she not go - I think she thought he was overreacting, based on his mini-freakout earlier. That was a serious misjudgment on her part. After making her proposal of a minority interest for Hearst in her claim, he menacingly tells her that she has "mistaken his nature absolutely" and uses physical intimidation to scare the crap out of her. It works. He later admits to Cy that he came close to raping her.

The Ellsworth marriage is falling apart before our very eyes. It's obvious that they both resent the hell out of each other - he resents her for entrusting Sophie and her claim to Bullock when she thought she was dying and she resents him for not being Bullock. Neither of them is being very nice to the other at this point.

Elsewhere in Deadwood:

That "lying, blackmailing sack of shit" Cy Tolliver is now working for Hearst. He's vile and despicable and has not one redeeming quality.

Doc is sick. Probably with consumption. And we will probably have to watch him die a slow, horrible death. I am not happy.

Who is the woman in the red dress who got off the stage? We see her again later, in the hotel. I don't think we have seen the last of her.

Richardson gives EB the thumbs up!



Quotes

"The last shot ain't yet fired." ~Trixie to Al

"The high points of the f*ckin' high points, Wu." ~Al

"Ever wonder if you expressed yourself more directly, Merrick, you'd f*ckin' weigh less?" ~Al

"Always superfluous, bloodshed. The deeper damage is best." ~Jack Langrishe

"Your error, surprisingly enough, is not to be a grotesque of inconceivable stupidity, but that you are white and male, and not repulsively obese." ~ EB to Richardson

"It's the learnin' f*ckin' nothin', Al, that keeps me young." ~Jack

"Mmm, bacon."
"Might have a bit of a human aftertaste." ~Jack and Al

"Goes through her men like Sherman to the f*ckin' sea." ~Al about Alma

"You're a lying, blackmailing sack of shit. I want you to go to work for me." ~Hearst to Cy

"His stupid suit so overcome me, it slipped my mind to tell him." ~Al about Wu

"My proper traffic is with the earth, and my dealings with people...[should?] solely have to do with niggers and whites who obey me like dogs." ~Hearst

"If He hadn't meant me to wag it, sir, why would the Lord give me a tail?" ~Cy

"Americans. It never occurs to them to try the window." ~Jack

And for the way in which they were delivered by Bullock:

"He said 'Swedgin!' and barred my path."

"Are you f*ckin' with me?"