11. The Cat Bird Seat

Bullock holds an impromptu morning meeting to determine which emergencies warrant wiring him in Sturgis, where he and Harry are delivering campaign pitches. The first summons doesn't take long, as Hearst follows up Alma's close call with one that's decidedly more on-target. In the aftermath, Alma takes refuge at the Gem, again, while Trixie decides to take matters into her own hands. Langrishe has a falling out with Hearst, giving him little time to huddle with his new lineup of actors. Dismissing the likelihood of ever seeing 23 mercenaries promised by Hawkeye, Swearengen turns to Wu to deliver more reliable, if not quite weapons-tested, reinforcements from Custer City.

Plot summary and ending

Spoilers ahead. Coverage follows the scope labeled below.

Complete story — includes the ending

Ellsworth is killed by a Pinkerton to press Alma into selling her claim to Hearst. As his body is wheeled through town, Trixie goes to the Grand Central and shoots Hearst, only wounding him in the shoulder. Sol hurries her to the Gem for protection. Preparing for the elections, Bullock encounters more of Hearst's soldiers in Sturgis. He's given a telegraph on recent events and hurries back to Deadwood. Al discusses Alma's options with Langrishe, concluding that she either needs to hire protection and leave the camp, or sell her holdings to Hearst. As Bullock comforts Alma and her daughter, Doc points out to Alma that Sofia may have not gotten to see her family's bodies, suggesting she allows her to see Ellsworth's. Al orders Wu to bring his men from Custer.

Sources and content license

Source and revision history · Adapted from Wikipedia contributors, List of Deadwood episodes. HTML formatting and reference markers removed. · Content license