Unauthorized Cinnamon
Deadwood | Season 3 | Episode 7

Unauthorized Cinnamon

TV-MA | 50 MIN

Directed by Mark Tinker
Written by Regina Corrado

Aunt Lou worries while Hearst meets with Odell, who seeks assistance with a gold find in Liberia. Odell shows Hearst an assay report and a sample of the ore, explaining he's authorized to seek partnership as first deacon of his congregation. Noting liquor on Odell's breath, Hearst asks if the congregation has loose rules about drink. Showing gold, thousands of miles from its "purported source," doesn't impress, Hearst tells him. It seems a slipshod approach to fleecing him. Odell takes umbrage, and Hearst calms him to continue their discussion.

At the Number Ten, Nutall, Burns, Rutherford and Harry Manning discuss who should attend the meeting of the camp's leaders at the Gem. Nutall insists on bringing Harry. Seth asks Martha if they can eat quickly so he can attend. Jewel puts out cinnamon for peaches at the meeting, setting off Dority, who doesn't want it set out. Burns tries to rouse Doc to come to Al's meeting, but the Doc is too sick.

Trixie, in a state over Alma's dope use and the camp tensions, worries about what's to become of Sofia. Sol suggests the Bullocks or he and Trixie could take her. "You'd have us care for a child?" Trixie asks, touched.

Waiting for the meeting's participants, Cy and Al discuss Hearst. Given his rage at the ear-pulling he suffered from Bullock, Cy thinks they have but one option: "Giving Hearst Bullock's the only thing that don't end with the camp in flames."

Gustave the tailor busts in with something important for Mr. Swearengen, who agrees to see him before the meeting commences. Gustave presents Al with a vibrant array of swatches to wrap his finger stump in style.

Joanie tries to sponge clean Jane, who hollers and resists, insisting she has no sisters and is not used to such treatment. Joanie confesses she slept with both her sisters but would never touch Jane if she didn't want it. Jane gives her leave to kiss her, and Joanie does.

Hearst strikes a deal with Odell. In a moment of emotion, he confides how he hates Deadwood, that such places make him an outcast. "I want to send you to help your people, and take this place down like Gomorrah."

With Bullock arrived at the Gem, the meeting begins. Bullock tosses his badge on the table and Cy jumps at the chance to placate Hearst, but Al rejects the gesture. Utter suggests sending women and children away, then attacking Hearst "as Wild Bill would've done." Bullock presents another idea, a letter, which Merrick reads aloud: a message of condolence to the family of the murdered Cornishman. Al orders Merrick publish the letter for Hearst and others to read: "That's a very nice f**king letter."

Blazanov asks Merrick to accompany him to see Swearengen. Merrick leads the way and the telegraph man shows Al a message for Mr. Hearst, confirming the arrival of 25 additional bricks. They agree it is men, not materials, en route - as Blazanov heads off to deliver the sealed original to Hearst and Al destroys the copy.

Harry collapses after the meeting, with trouble breathing, and Nuttall takes him to the Doc, who diagnoses him: "Don't eat cinnamon anymore."

Aunt Lou worries about Odell getting into business with Hearst. She begs him to leave with her $742 and a brooch. She sobs, terrified for his well being. Instead her son comforts her.

Burns, Adams and Dority rehash the meeting and the implication of publishing Bullock's letter.

Alma watches over Sofia as she sleeps, sobbing: "I want to be good." When Ellsworth arrives to say goodnight to the child, Alma asks him again to reconsider leaving. "I pray now to forego forever," she vows. "Not having me in this house is going to improve your odds," he insists.

Blazanov delivers the telegram to Hearst, who gives Blazanov a $20 gold piece in thanks.

Chesterton continues to decline and Langrishe's temper is short with the stress of it. He stops to visit Al, who wishes he'd invited Langrishe to the meeting. Al confides the strategy: printing the letter of sympathy. "Strategy some might call ingenuous, and others merely off the point," notes Langrishe. Al wonders why he endorsed the plan but Langrishe defends it, "its publication invoking a decency whose scrutiny applies to him as to all his fellows? I call that strategy cunningly sophisticated..."

Steve yells at the General for sleeping in the Livery, but asks if he'd be inclined to stay on and work. "No." says the General. "Nor would I wanna f**king have you!" Steve retorts.

Al orders the Doc up to see him, confronting him on his illness and rumors that he may leave the camp. "I've believed for a dozen years that disease is airborne...and I won't make others sick." As the Doc leaves the Gem, Al storms after him, insisting the doc take swatches - one for a spit rag and the others for masks - and remain in camp, going about his business. "I ain't learning a new doc's quirks," Al insists.

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