Requiem for a Gleet (Deadwood episode)

"Requiem for a Gleet (Deadwood episode)"

Requiem for a Gleet was the fourth episode of the second season of the HBO series Deadwood. The episode was written by Ted Mann and directed by Alan Taylor. It first aired on March 27, 2005.

Plot summary

The show begins with Bullock and his wife Martha uncomfortably discussing having sex in the euphemism of having a conversation. They politely agree to do so. Bullock then sends his son William to the hardware store to get supplies for building a garden. Later in a discussion with Star, we learn they are hoping to open a bank in the camp, but need a little more financing yet.

Francis Wolcott is spying around Alma’s gold claim. Ellsworth knows what he is up to and roughly dismisses him, knowing him to be Heart's geologist. Wolcott recalls him from the Comstock and compliments his efforts to save 3 people. Ellsworth replies “and 46 corpses from a fucking hole that ought never to have been dug”.

E.B. Farnum is feeling guilty that his deals, rumour-spreading and desire to purchase land, is a betrayal to Swearengen, though he has repeatedly tried to talk to Al about things only to be blocked by Dority. For her part, Alma is nervous about the rumours, but is re-assured in no uncertain terms by Ellsworth, who says such rumours always abound and mean nothing. Farnum tries to persuade Alma to sell, but she turns the tables on him in an exquisite exchange, urging him to sell his hotel if he feels insecure, and forcefully offering to buy it.

Alma has not changed her mind about dismissing Miss Isringhausen, and though she generously pays her out, Isringhausen is hurt and goes to Silas’ room for solace. He is decidedly awkward in lending an ear.

All at the gem are anxious about Swearengen, especially Dority who guards his privacy like a loyal dog. Indeed, he later tells Trixie that he was “a creature walking round on hind legs” before he met Al. Though he is frustrated in making decisions, he tries. He listens to an earless ruffian who has a plan to rob Garrett’s gold being sent to Denver, but eventually kills him when the man walks upstairs insisting on talking to Al. He also uncomfortably handles a complaint from Mr. Wu about the men Tolliver have brought in to prey upon him. However, the situation does allow him to make amends with Silas, who is also helping handle Al’s business.

Another new person in town is the new (Lawrence County) commissioner of the area. He immediately looks for the Bella Union but is met by Silas who criticizes him for avoiding him in Yankton and for ignoring Swearengen, which he warns is unwise. The commissioner replies with suspicion toward Silas for killing Claggett and warns Silas that he has chosen bad friends and the wrong side.

With that, he heads to the Bella Union and meets with Cy Tolliver and Francis Walcott. The law will respect claims, but he satisfies the two by letting the rumour run for a few days so people will sell and they can buy up claims, something Tolliver is already doing. Tolliver gladly provides him women for the duration, though we later learn the commissioner is testing Tolliver’s patience by waiting too long. Tolliver also is moving forward with his effort to take the Chinese land. He talks to the Chinese-American who has been brought in and discusses the terms of the arrangements being made, though he is unclear on Wolcott and Hearst’s take in all of this. Wu later comes to Al to complain about what has been going on.

Maddie is angry at Joannie for how she handled Wolcott last time, especially for bringing a gun into the room. Joannie as it was just for her own protection. Maddie forcefully says the Wolcott scheme is her retirement money and wants nothing to go wrong. Carrie, the girl whom Walcott “wants to harm” (according to Maddie), comes into town. Wolcott meets her on arrival. She heads to the Chez Ami and says the town “smells like shit”. Later, when Wolcott comes, he insults Joannie by mentioning incest, something she is sensitive about because of her father, though Carrie later says half the girls have experience of it. She insists Wolcott not hit her as he does other girls, and after servicing him where he climaxes very quickly, she says, “you might try it sometime with your prick outside of your pants”.

Swearengen can’t meet anyone throughout the episode, and things are falling apart because of it. His condition has not improved and the doctor feels he must do an operation. Though he has seen one, he has never performed it and is extremely nervous at the prospect. Toward the end of the episode, they prepare for the operation but Al, unable to speak by now, gives it one last effort to pass it out with his urine. It works and the doctor thanks Al for “saving his life”.