New Money (Deadwood)

New Money was the third episode of the second season of the HBO series Deadwood. The episode was written by Elizabeth Sarnoff and directed by Steve Shill. It first aired on March 20, 2005.

Plot summary

We begin with Al on the floor of his locked room clutching a cloth and sweating in agony. For most of the show, his people including Trixie, are very worried for him but either scared to approach the door or talking to him through it. Eventually they break down the door and the doctor attends to his passing of a stone with painful procedures. His screams are heard throughout the camp.

A new man, Francis Wolcott, has come to town. He is a rich and pompous agent of George Hearst, a mining magnate of great renown such that the very mention of his name causes Cy to treat Hearst with the utmost respect. His intent, it seems, is to spread rumours that the gold claims in these parts might be invalidated so that he can buy them up cheaply.

E.B. Farnum lavishes attention on the man and eventually cons him into buying Hickock’s last letter. Maddie, who knows of this man, says he will “toy and play with Farnum for as long as he finds it amusing” implying that it is Farnum who will be conned. When Wolcott mentions that the content of the letter are useless, E.B. seems ready to counsel him through his loss until he learns he is an agent of Hearst. At that point, Farnum is willing to do anything to make amends and agrees to spread the rumour about the gold claims. He does so by telling his pressed-upon worker Lawrence. He gives Lawrence the night off urging him not to tell anyone the important news in order to make sure it is spread well. Farnum himself wants in on the cheap sell-offs.

Cy Tolliver treats Wolcott with smugness at first. “What will you drink?” he asks. “Kentucky Bourbon if you got it”. “Pour Mr. Wolcott a bourbon Jack, and tell him it’s from Kentucky”. His tune changes when he learns who Wolcott is. Wolcott has learned of Tolliver’s appeal for help concerning the Chinese, though the details are not clear, and Mr. Hearst is willing to help, though it is a secret agreement. In the next scene, however, Tolliver is railing at the notion that the area’s claims may be considered invalid. It’s not clear whether he is helping to spread the rumour or whether he believes this. Either way, he gives an angry speech to his employers and later exasperatedly explains the gold claim situation to his lessers.

Bullock seems to have committed to his family even though we learn the letter he said he sent was a lie. The relationship with his wife is tense though, and she senses something is going on. The relationship with the boy is better, but we are left wondering what his life can be in Deadwood.

Alma Garrett is a woman scorned and in bitter form. We first see her surveying her gold claim, escorted by Ellsworth. On the way back, she says she want to buy the Grand Hotel, not so much as an investment or living quarter, but more to do Farnum harm. Her return to the hotel finds Bullock sitting there doing police work with Utter, who is his deputy. Alma gives an icy stare and goes upstairs to attack Miss Isringhausen, finding criticism with her and firing her.

Trixie is in a similar state of mind. She swears every sentence and, in asking Sol to teach her accounting, offends him with her vulgarity. She seems to detest Bullock, particularly. With Star healing, she goes back to the Gem and tries to take charge of Al’s situation, telling them t break down the door if he does not come out within two hours (which they eventually do). The evening sees her out on the street drinking publicly, worrying about Al and spewing venom.

Joannie and Maddie are ready to open. Maddie admits to Joannie that this business was not her only reason for coming. Mr. Wolcott is crazy about a girl whom Maddie has “on ice”, and Maddie planning a con that might end in the girl’s death. Mr. Wolcott comes before Chez Ami’s opening to look for this girl, but Maddie says she is not in town. Joannie steps in and offers to service him instead. She takes him off to the room with a gun concealed within her clothes. We get to see Joannie ply her art, but Wolcott is cold and a tough sell. Eventually, nothing transpires between them but Wolcott says “I admire you coming armed”.

The episode ends with Swearenegen’s operation, and though the doctor appears to have made some progress, the stone does not seem to have passed.