Pilot (Deadwood episode)

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Deadwood episode
“Deadwood”

Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 1
Guest star(s)	see main article
Writer(s)	David Milch
Director	Walter Hill
Production no.	99745
Original airdate	March 21, 2004
Episode chronology
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"Deadwood" is the first episode of the HBO original series, Deadwood. It was the first episode of the first season. The episode was written by David Milch and was directed by Walter Hill. It originally aired on March 21, 2004.

[edit] Guest roles

Sean Bridgers as Johnny Burns
Christopher Darga as Byron Sampson
Garret Dillahunt as Jack McCall
Dan Hildebrand as Tim Driscoll
Peter Jason as Con Stapleton
Geri Jewel as Jewel
Jeffrey Jones as A.W. Merrick
Jamie McShane as Ned Mason
Ray McKinnon as Reverend Smith
Timothy Omundson as Brom Garret
James Parks as Clell Watson
Dean Rader-Duvall as Jimmy Irons
Bree Wall as Sofia Metz
Keone Young as Mr. Wu

[edit] Plot synopsis

After executing one last act of justice as a Marshall in the Montana Territory - hanging a horse thief legally as opposed to handing him over to an armed mob led by the horse's owner - Seth Bullock leaves his position as Marshall and heads to Deadwood, a burgeoning and lawless town set in the heart of Native American land and renowned for its gold rich hills. Along with his friend Sol Star, they intend to join the vast swathe of travellers to start a hardware business.

Other individuals are quickly introduced as they head to Deadwood, foremost among them is Wild Bill Hickok, the famous gunfighter and former lawman. Alongside him travels two old comrades; Charlie Utter and Jane Canary, aka Calamity Jane. After the wagon train is held up, Charlie and Hickock ride ahead to Deadwood as Jane stays behind with the wagon. As the two leave, Jane greets a Norwegian family - The Metz - heading back up the trail to Minnesota.

Upon arriving at Deadwood, and after a couple of difficulties with other impatient travellers, Bullock and Star rent a lot on which to pitch their hardware tent from a tough named Dan Dority - an agent for their landlord Al Swearengen, proprietor of the Gem Saloon. The number one joint for whiskey, prostitution and faro, the Gem is the literal heart of the main thoroughfare. Swearengen soon reveals his unique approach to business, after viciously beating Trixie, one of his prostitutes, for shooting a man in self defence - “It’s bad for business”. Also introduced is Ellsworth, a dishevelled but jovial man who is one of the many prospectors who have travelled to the gold rich hills to start a new life, and also one of the Gem’s top customers.

As Bullock and Star's hardware business gets off to an initially shakey but brisk start, the presence of the legendary Wild Bill Hickok in Deadwood continues to capture the attention of many in town - in particular of the town’s one and only Newspaperman A.W. Merrick of the Deadwood Pioneer. He attempts to glean information from Wild Bill in Tom Nuttall‘s No. 10 Saloon, but Wild Bill is there only for one thing - poker. Also taking notice of the gunfighter is a rustabout Jack McCall. McCall claims not to be impressed by Hickok, and drunkenly swears to "gut that son of a bitch" at cards. Wild Bill joins the poker game and quickly winds up on a losing streak, much to Charlie Utter‘s disappointment. Charlie makes a secret deal with the proprietor to pay Wild Bill some money for his use in the bar as well as some for Charlie to look after in his name, in return for Wild Bill gambling and drinking in No. 10 exclusively. Charlie reveals Wild Bill is recently married and needs to put a stake together, and worries his gambling will ruin any chances.

Meanwhile, Swearengen enlists E.B. Farnum (proprietor of the Grand Central Hotel), along with his agent Dan Dority and a drunk thug Tim Driscoll to dupe recently arrived New Yorker Brom Garrett into buying a pinched-out gold claim. Though the naïve Brom is duped into buying the claim, E.B and Tim drive the price to high and up taking all 20,000 dollars Brom had, much to Swearengen’s chagrin at suspicion this may raise. Brom gushes about his purchase to his wife Alma, who is supportive but quietly apprehensive over the amount paid, but is clearly experiencing dull faculties from steady doses of laudanum. Later, after brushing off Tim Driscoll with his pay, Swearengen has Doherty murder him in his room at the Grand Central to keep him quiet and to avoid any future mistakes. Elsewhere, Trixie elicits Jewel, the Gem’s cleaner, to sell a brooch and buy her a new gun; her old one confiscated by her employer.

Later that evening news of a massacre arrives in Deadwood: the entire Metz family, a man says, has been killed by Indians on the road to Spearfish. The man says he saw two dead children, but townspeople say the Metz family had three children - the man suddenly uncomfortable with being pressed for information. Hickok puts together a party, along with Seth Bullock, to look for the missing child. They are joined by recently arrived (and inebriated) Jane. Fearing a disruption of business, Swearengen offers up free alcohol and half price sex to those that stay behind; as well as a $50 dollar bounty on every decapitated “Heathen” head delivered to him. Starting the next day, of course.

The party finds the third Metz girl and the remains of her family. They take her back to Deadwood, dropping her off with Doctor Cochran, a concerned Jane by her side. Hickok and Bullock then confront the man who originally brought the news of the massacre, who nervously states he‘s glad to see the girl alive and now plans to leave, but both Hickock and Bullock know the massacre was not the work of Native Americans raiders; the provisions still remain, but it appears only money has been looted, claiming the man was responsible and is now afraid his story is unravelling. The man panics and draws his gun, but is shot and killed by the two former lawmen. As the violence outside comes to an end a disturbed Al Swearengen goes to bed with the bruised Trixie, who hands over her new gun as an offering.