The Whores Can Come (Deadwood episode)

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“The Whores Can Come”
Deadwood episode
Episode no.	Season 2 Episode 21
Guest stars	see main article
Written by	Bryan McDonald
Directed by	Gregg Fienberg
Production no.	99767
Original airdate	May 15, 2005
Episode chronology
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"Advances, None Miraculous"	"Boy the Earth Talks To"

The Whores Can Come was the eleventh episode of the second season of the HBO series Deadwood. The episode was written by Elizabeth Sarnoff and directed by Gregg Fienberg. It first aired on May 15, 2005.

[edit] Plot summary

The show begins with Swearengen walking in the town and noticing the fires burning the used Chinese whores. Lee overlooks the fires and Wu comes upon him shouting angrily. He is pushed away by Lee’s men. He later goes to Swearengen who tells Lee he does care. However, he potential in trying to protect Wu. If Hearst backs Lee and Swearengen loses, Hearst will consider himself stronger and underestimate Swearengen. Swearengen’s plan is complicated but involves delaying the fight between the Chinese, losing a few times to Hearst, getting the elections that he wants, and eventually seeing to it that Wu comes out the winner.

William has died and Bullock prepares a casket. Swearengen gingerly brings up politics with Bullock, simply asking him to confirm their association when Jarry asks about it. Bullock agrees. Matters are understandably tense between Bullock and Martha. Martha has packed to go but Bullock asks that she not make sudden decisions.

Mose survives thanks largely to Jane’s care.

Telegrams come to Jarry and Walcott. E.B. tries to intercept but Blazanov knows his duty and delivers them in person. The one to Walcott, we later learns, speaks of Hearst himself coming to Deadwood.

Trixie visits Alma again, this time not pressing her to make a decision about Ellsworth. The Metz girl is very sad over the death of William and appears to be retreating into the world of silence she was in after her family was killed. Alma is sensitive to this and comforts her. She assures her that they are together. Perhaps it is as a bond to this that she finally agrees later to Ellsworth’s proposal of marriage.

Andy Cramed, dealer turned preacher, comes to arrange the service for William. He delicately arranges the details of the affair. Martha decides there will be no open casket at which people can pay their last respects. Jarry comes to Bullock’s house to check his association with Swearengen and Bullock supports Swearengen’s claim.

Leon comes back from Chez Ami anxious to do some dope. The next part is unclear to me, but Jarry comes into the Bella Union to cash a cheque, a bribe not for Tolliver but for Swearengen, because Tolliver failed to come to his aid when he was attacked in the cage. He refers to this as ‘the other day’ suggesting not much time has passed since episode 5 when this event took place.

Trixie talks to Al saying a lot of the whores want to go to the funeral and pay their respects. Swearengen allows it but insists they must be clean, and puts responsibility for this in Trixie’s hands. She later asks Star if the whores can attend. He replies that all are welcome and he asks why she went to Swearengen. She replies that a whore only has her pimp to rely on.

Others are cleaning up too. Jane takes a bath, something she is obviously not used to doing. Joannie coaches her through the process.

Swearengen himself has no interest in attending the service, but seems unduly angry whenever the topic comes up. However, in another hilarious scene between him and Jarry, he uses the funeral as a pretext for delay, saying he can’t do business on such a day. It only makes Jarry more anxious to close the deal as he worries Montana has upped its offer.

Cramed visits Tolliver and the meeting is tense. Tolliver is worried he is starting a gaming room in town. Cramed tells of how he became a preacher as a result of being dumped out into the woods. Tolliver thinks he is a fool and tosses him out of the Bella Union. Later in the evening, Cramed comes back to loudly preach in the Bella Union and is tossed out again.

Swearengen talks to Lee who seems to speak English quite well. He angrily tells him to stop burning fires and no violence between him and Wu during the funeral period. Preparations for the funeral proceed with everyone cleaning up. At the Gem, we see people becoming very superstitious during this time.

Many people are at the funeral. As Cramed delivers the readings, Martha is overcome by grief and comforted by Bullock. She agrees to let people pass the open casket. Swearengen strains his neck to watch the proceedings from the Gem. The closing scene has an even more intimate scene, initiated by Bullock, with Martha suggesting they may make a try of relationship.

Swearengen summons Wu. He refuses to attend so he is carried by Swearengen’s men.

Tolliver is aggressive with Walcott who taunts that it is because Tolliver feels his position weakening. Jarry comes in and desperately worries Hearst is supporting the Montana campaign. Walcott says he’s not involved in those things and Jarry is desperate to annex Deadwood. Tolliver once again insinuates that he may betray Walcott’s secrets to Hearst.

The episode ends with another monologue by a drinking Swearengen as he is being serviced by one o his whores. He recalls his childhood and the abuse he took after his brother (foster brother, it seems) died. He was apparently blamed or at least the object of the father’s anger, and is obviously the reason he distains funerals.