I don’t think Bill intended the dollar as a slap, but when Jack said “You’ve bought yourself something with this, Bill”, it seemed evident Jack took it wrong.
Jack’s ignorant and maybe a bit crazy, and I don’t suppose he needed a good reason to shoot Bill.
From some websites I’ve read (posted in the Yahoo group):
Jack got sympathy and a “not guilty” from the Deadwood jury, saying Bill had shot his brother. The jury didn’t know he had no brother.
Jack’s Deadwood trial came to naught because too many jurors didn’t like Wild Bill.
The Deadwood trial was determined to be illegal, because Deadwood was an outlaw camp with no legal standing to try anyone for anything.
If the spirit moves me, I’ll look at the video tonight. I taped it. But I do see your point.
ooooh, I don’t know. I took it as patronizing. He just won at least $520 from him and then basically says, “here’s a buck, go get yourself something to eat.” Not only did he take his last cent, he tried to act like his benefactor.
I just thought the “emasculating” Bill gave him over the last two weeks built up till it popped.
It’s ALSO possible Al got to McCall. Didn’t he make a statement about that earlier in the episode?
Also, SamClem is a moderator and he’s participated in a thread about this very topic in the “discuss the columns” section. I think he looked into it before and knows (for whatever reason) that Cecil was wrong to say that originally.
There was a point where Jack came into the Number 10 Saloon after losing to Bill. There was mention of Jack having a new suit. The person dealing then offered to buy Jack’s gun to give Jack a start on a new stake. It was pretty obvious that he figured that Jack was just going to start trouble with the gun. However, my question is where did Jack get the money for the new suit?
He didn’t win anything from Bill in this episode. Bill cleaned him out.
And then he didn’t win anything from the other two gents. They were going to give him 5 dollars (or was it 50) for his gun.
I think RogueRacer was agreeing with what I said, that Al might have paid him to take out Bill.
Al was pissed, remember. He gave Bill money to present the deal to Alma (Ada, whatever) in a good light. Clearly, Bill did not do that. You don’t cross up Al like that and get away with it.
I’m going to suspect that if McCall gets off, like in real life, Al probably has something to do with it.
I had a different take on Al and Bill. It looked to me like Al was disappointed, but that it was going to be one of life’s lessons learned – not everyone can be bought.
He was definitely ticked off – poor Trixie – but for now, I’m not thinking that he had anything to do with Jack shooting Bill. Not that it’s something he wouldn’t do, but that in this case, events took a turn on their own, without his help. We haven’t seen any interaction with Al and Jack to this point, it’d be a cheat if the writers had them “colluding and cohooting” now.
We need a favorite lines thread for this show. That’d be mine, “I don’t collude and I don’t cohoot.”
Historically speaking, McCall claimed that he shot Hickok in revenge for Hickok shooting his brother, but apparently he didn’t have any brothers. Later, he alleged that he was in fact paid to kill Hickok by another Deadwood gambler, whose name varied. None of the names floated was Al Swearengen, but that doesn’t necessarily mean much. It could have been a hired hit (which would account for the swanky new suit McCall was sporting, though he was ostensibly broke).
McCall was eventually hanged in 1877 in Yankton, Dakota Territory, after bragging about shooting Hickok. I guess there was no “double jeopardy” in those days. I wonder if we’ll see this happen during the action of the show…
Sort of… I was just highlighting a clue that could mean that Jack was paid. Actually there is indication that it wasn’t Al. E.B. seemed to have Al convinced that Bill hadn’t crossed him… yet.
If you look at the episode, the one most agitated by Bill at the time (other than Jack) was Tom Nutall (the owner of the No. 10 Saloon). Remember, Tom had an agreement with Charlie that Bill would only play in the No. 10 and was paying Bill and Charlie a daily appearance fee. When the Bella Union opened, Bill started playing there in violation of the agreement. Then Tom seemed convinced that Al had cut a deal with Bill to get Bill’s gaming in The Gem. Having Tom involved would be a departure from any known fact, but it would fit in a gray area of history that would allow it to be possible.
Jack was also a regular in the No. 10. I’m not saying I believe that this is where the story is going, but I do think the new suit was probably supposed to tell us something.
Since McCall’s first trial had no legal standing, jeopardy shouldn’t attach. It would have as much relevance as if I went and shot a coworker and was tried by a group of 12 guys rounded up in the lunch room.
Does anyone know who wrote that guitar (mandolin?) music that was playing over Wild Bill’s shooting and Jack’s capture? I know I’ve heard this before somwehere.
I second this request. Anyone know of a site that has the musical credits for the show? HBO.com doesn’t have them, and I was also wondering about the music that ran over the closing credits of the second episode. Any info appreciated.
Everybody’s wondering about the music. Can we assume HBO will eventually get it on the site, like they’ve done with Sopranos music?
There’s a Deadwood Yahoo e-mail group, and one of the Bella Union ladies is a member. Another member knows one of the hairdressers. Not much of an inside connection, I know, but we’ve asked them about the music too, and not a clue.
BobT, for some reason, I’m still chuckling over your comment about being tried by guys in the lunchroom. That’s a great image, I guess.
