A Lie Agreed Upon, Part 1
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| “A Lie Agreed Upon, Part 1” | |
|---|---|
| Deadwood episode | |
 |
|
| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 13 |
| Guest stars | see main article |
| Written by | David Milch |
| Directed by | Ed Bianchi |
| Production no. | 99757 |
| Original airdate | March 6, 2005 |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "Sold Under Sin" | "A Lie Agreed Upon, Part 2" |
A Lie Agreed Upon, Part 1 was the first episode of the second season of the HBO series Deadwood. The episode was written by David Milch and directed by Ed Bianchi. It first aired on March 6, 2005.
[edit] Plot
Silas Adams, the ex-Yankton bagman, brings Al Swearengen bad news. The area has been divided by the governor into three counties, each headed by a Yankton man. Al is furious that his bribes were simply taken but to no good end. Though Dan Dority recommends the usual violent tactics in dealing with it, Silas recommends prudence. Swearengen agrees but it puts him in a foul mood. The coming of the telegraph which allows messages “from invisible sources” furthers his agitation.
Seth Bullock, now sheriff, deals with transporting gold from Alma Garrett’s claim back east, but the meeting leads to passion which can’t be kept hidden in such close quarters. Emerging, he is called upon to deal with a shooting at Tom Nutall’s saloon, a minor killing which seems to exasperate him.
On the way, Bullock is publicly exposed by Swearengen and promises to return to defend Alma’s honour. Swearengen welcomes the showdown. On Bullock’s return, they engage in a violent fight which sees them pull each other off Swearengen’s balcony. The fight is broken up by Swearengen’s henchmen. SIlas prevents Dority from shooting Bullock which leads to friction between them, and the brainless Johnny shoots both Sol and Utter, though they suffer only minor injuries. Though a fist-fight for which Bullock has put his badge and gun aside was tacitly agreed upon, Swearengen ands by pulling a knife and seems about to kill Bullock when he is stopped by the gaze of young boy.
The boy is a passenger of a stagecoach which brings both Bullock’s inherited wife and child (the wife and child of his dead brother whom he has taken on) as well as prostitutes for Joannie Stubbs’ brothel venture. The coming of Bullock’s family creates great awkwardness with Alma who visits the hardware store to ostensibly greet them, though she is really coming to determine her standing with Bullock. This is established when Bullock takes the to the house he has built (the building of which he describes in meticulous detail. He renews his commitment to them by referring to a letter in which he promised his loyalty to them. He returns back to Alma and gives her what seems to be a platonic embrace.
One of the party coming for Joannie is an older woman, Maddie, whom Cy Tolliver seems to despise and who will help Joannie in her venture. Her cool demeanor suggests she does not fear Cy, and with her near, Joannie is able to hold her own. Though Cy officially gives his blessing, he is reluctant to let go of her. His thin veneer turns to question as to where she got the money, then anger because he knows it was funded by Eddie Saunder who stole the money from him. As the day passes, he gets more drunk and beligerrant and eventually goes into a rant on his balcony. Frighteningly intimating, he vents his feelings and forces Joannie to take one of his prostitutes as a gift and, perhaps betraying himself, insists she is not there as a spy. For their part, Maddie and Joannie remain patient and composed.
