Deadwood
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Early in the bluntly titled Plague, A.W.
A plague is upon the camp.
Cy Tolliver tries to deny it, but the truth is as plain as smallpox scars.
(Al paid the attendant worker a dollar to wait.)
The body politic is infected and inflamed.
The illness must be treated, managed, and passed through the system.
Had metafictional commentary been called for, someone wouldve noted the timing.
Wed make pennies off it when itd come over him in the street.
Als citation of his (historically nonexistent) brother has a metaphoric resonance.
For the camp to survive, all must act as their brothers keeper.
Al is smart to doubt Trixies commitment to getting the widow hooked on dope in lieu of laudanum.
Trixie is in cahoots with the widow, helping her dry out.
This passes, she tells Alma, perhaps alluding to personal experience.
Trixie advises Alma to playact highness to flummox E.B.
you’re able to do it, Alma, Trixie says.
Look at all the practice youve had.
The dope has made the widow randy, he tells Al, buying her some time at least.
He keeps the meeting on point and even commands Johnny to procure fruit for the occasion.
The latter is, judging from Johnnys bewilderment, a request Al has never made before.
Saloons deal in fermented sugar, not fresh off the vine.
And feeding people has a different energy than supplying them with alcohol and dope.
The latter entices people to stay up all night and part with their money.
Al gets all of this even if he never thinks of himself as getting it.
But its really Al who fits that profile, because his vision encompasses the welfare of others.
Us and several others?
Is the idea to inform your reader or make him feel like a fuckin dunce, huh?
Al asks Dan, rhetorically as usual.
Cy, in contrast, instigates a cover-up to keep money flowing into his joint and alienates his people.
Joanie is already starting to withdraw from her malevolent lover-boss.
Still he radiates disdain.
Cys face and words confirm hes noticed the card sharps rebuke.
Its enough to make you wonder if hes coming around to the whole 1 Corinthians 12 thing.
Seth admits he survived the ordeal through sheer luck.
The Reverends not there to nudge his conscience, but Charlie makes a fine stand-in.
Charlie seems meant to find and minister to Seth and help him give his fallen foe a proper burial.
Sofia sings a song in English: Row Your Boat.
She learned it from Jane and Charlie.
Well see each other again down the road, Jane tells Sofia.
This plot thread cannot say to that plot thread, I have no need of thee.
