Philip Moon

Cochran contemplates a procedure that could cure Swearengen--or kill him. His employer indisposed, Dority must attend to a former fellow-bushwacker come to request Swearengen's permission to pull a job, and to Wu, who attempts to convey news of a 'tong' rival newly arrived from San Francisco. Bullock attempts to settle into domesticity, while Star gets a new combination bookkeeper/roommate--Trixie. Alma cuts ties with Sofia's tutor, Miss Isringhausen, who takes refuge with Adams. The arrival of County Commissioner Hugo Jarry spawns rumors about the camp's future and legal ownership of the gold claims.

Alma proposes forming a bank, and looks to familiar faces to run it. To test himself, Swearengen grants audience to a long line of supplicants; talks with Farnum and Miss Isringhausen prove most illuminating. The arrival of low-priced Chinese whores begins the next phase in Tolliver and Wolcott's arrangement. Humiliated by Bullock, an angry claim owner looks to 'square the scales.' An enchanted Merrick guides a new schoolteacher around the camp. Wolcott's inner demons test his alliance with Tolliver, and prompt Stubbs and Utter to covert action.

Tolliver enlists Lee to clean up Wolcott's mess. Stubbs confides in Utter, who overreacts when Wolcott 'steps on his toe.' Swearengen meets Alma to inform her of a Pinkerton agent in camp; she and Bullock confer about her bank--and other expanding prospects. Tolliver's try at damage control backfires when he asks Swearengen to convene a Camp Fathers meeting, while the Mayor is chagrined to be excluded. Wolcott summons Utter to barter Hickok's last letter in exchange for information about Stubbs.

Wolcott offers on a rich claim operated by two ornery brothers, and reports to Hearst on their progress overall. Nuttall proudly unveils his new 'Bone-Shaker' bicycle--but some doubt that he can ride it. Swearengen and Bullock discuss alternatives to annexing the Hills to Dakota. Miss Isringhausen strikes a deal with Swearengen; Alma receives proposals from both Martha and Ellsworth. Merrick's new office mate is a Russian telegraph operator, and Stubbs has two unexpected visitors at the Chez Ami.

In the Season Two finale, as Deadwood readies for a celebration, George Hearst's arrival in camp brings upheaval. Swearengen's manipulations extract a counter-offer from Yankton. Hearst comes to arrangements with Farnum and Swearengen. Tolliver seeks to improve his position with Hearst at Wolcott's expense. Tensions in Chinaman's Alley boil over.