Bullock's corroboration of the Montana offers complicates Jarry's counter-efforts - and sends Blazanov's telegram lines to Yankton to overdrive. Al uses a Deadwood tragedy to delay an altercation, while buying time to improve his own standing with the Hearst delegation.

Al's shrewd manipulation of the rumour mill pays off in a Yankton counter-offer that requires only slight amending. Meanwhile, George Hearst's arrival in Deadwood has shaken up the camp's status quo from Wu to Farnum to Wolcott.

Deadwood's first true elections are nearly here, with the offices of sheriff and mayor to be decided. One of Hearst's Cornish workers is killed at the Gem, leading Al Swearengen to suspect that the incident was a staged Hearst power play.

Captain Turner tips off Swearengen with a cryptic note to another bloody incident at the Gem. Later, Hearst makes his intentions known in a more forthright way.

Deadwood ushers in some new arrivals on the stagecoach: Jack Langrishe, a flamboyant stage promoter and Aunt Lou Marchbanks, Hearst's longtime cook who settles in nicely as the Grand Central chef.

While Alma officially opens the bank of Deadwood, Langrishe asks Joanie whether she's willing to sell the Chez Ami, so he can make it into a theatre.

As Tolliver tries to find a respectable employee suitable to be his liaison with Hearst, Swearengen tries to understand the reasoning behind Hearst's actions.

While Hearst still lies in jail, Swearengen pays the Sheriff a visit. Sofia is worried about Mr. Ellsworth's absence, which saddens Alma even more.

Bullock's proposal carries the day during a meeting held at the Gem to discuss the Hearst conundrum; Aunt Lou fears for Odell's well-being after his latest gambit.

Merrick and Blazanov deliver the day's edition of "The Pioneer" around camp. A stagecoach arrives accompanied by the sound of gunfire as two strangers come into town, unsettling the Sheriff and Swearengen, who wonder if they're Hearst's men.

As Deadwood is overrun by Hearst's men, Bullock issues contingency plans to Martha. Wu is caught in a Pinkerton stampede and delivers a cryptic message, that is solved by the unlikeliest person, to Swearengen.

With the Sheriff out of camp, Alma is assailed by Hearst's men and as she never would have expected, shelter comes from Swearengen. Barrett is sent to the Gem, but Swearengen resorts to old fashion methods of inquiring to his employers plans.

Bullock holds a morning meeting to determine which emergencies warrant wiring him in Sturgis, where he and Harry are delivering campaign pitches.

The camp turns out to vote but the election may already have been decided. In light of the overall mood, Langrishe delays the opening of his theatre. After detouring at Nuttall's Number ten, Hawkeye arrives at the Gem with "almost 18" men to complement Wu's contingent.

Former Montana marshal Seth Bullock relocates to a gold-mining camp where he and partner Sol Star look to start a hardware business.

As suspicions arise that "road agents" may have been involved in the massacre, Swearengen takes a special interest in the health of its sole survivor: a young girl ministered to by the unlikely team of Doc Cochran and Calamity Jane.

Competition arrives for Swearengen in the form of Bella Union, a new gambling outfit from Chicago operated by savvy Cy Tolliver, Madame Joanie Stubbs and gambling guru Eddie Sawyer.

Swearengen directs Farnum to buy back the Garret claim; Alma prevails on Calamity Jane and Hickok for help; Hickok commissions Bullock in his stead.

Swearengen transforms the Gem to a courtroom as Deadwood is forced to make its own laws to try a murderer. With Jane on a bender, Swearengen enlists Trixie to help Alma with the Metz child.

Bullock encounters native resistance in his quest to bring a murderer to justice; Swearengen presses a resentful Farnum to keep tabs on Alma and Trixie; the camp fathers pool resources to dispatch riders after a precious vaccine and build a sick tent.

After tracking down a murderer, Bullock returns to Deadwood a changed man - and a marked one - while Utter must pay final respects to a fallen friend. Dority and Stubbs both take special interest when teenagers Miles and Flora arrive in camp in search of their father.

Riders return to Deadwood with precious vaccine - and word of a possible treaty with the Sioux. Awaiting Trixie's return, a pragmatic Swearengen resists counsel from a bloody-minded Farnum.

With annexation looming, Swearengen calls a meeting to set up an informal government. Bullock and Alma compare notes on Ellsworth, and each other.

An opium theft puts Swearengen trying to find common language with his supplier, as well as navigating tricky waters.

Alma's father, Otis Russell, arrives from New York to "help" with her claim; Swearengen strikes a bargain with Adams to rid him of some legal baggage.

The U.S. Army - under General Crook - rolls into Deadwood, prompting a parade... and business solicitations from Farnum and Tolliver.

Silas brings Al Swearengen bad news about the new division of the hill country. In the meantime, a shooting at Tom Nuttall's saloon requires the Sheriff's presence.

After the fight, Al enquires about Seth's condition. Meanwhile, the Sheriff is concerned about his future with Alma, not knowing what to do now that his wife and son have arrived in camp. At the same time he is determined to return to Al, to recover his badge and gun.

Francis Wolcott, agent for the mining magnate George Hearst arrives in Deadwood. Al's condition deteriorates from his kidney stones; enclosed in his room and unable to speak, nobody knows how ill he is.

Wolcott is confronted by Ellsworth for snooping around Alma's gold claim. Doc Cochran tells Al that his situation is critical and that they have to act, giving him the options he has to choose from.

As a convalescing Al bridles, Cochran schools Burns and Dority how best to assist his recovery. Unexpected profits at the Chez Ami lead Tolliver to an unexpected discovery about Wolcott.

Alma proposes forming a bank, and looks to familiar faces to run it. To test himself, Al grants audience to a long line of supplicants; talks with Farnum and Miss Isringhausen prove illuminating. The next phase in Tolliver and Wolcott's arrangement begins.

Tolliver wrecked Merrick's newspaper office in retribution for not publishing the county commissioner's notice. Con Stapleton and Leon are having difficulty generating business for Tolliver's whores.

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 he can ride it.

Eagar for the latest news from Yankton, Al enlists Farnum to keep tabs on Blazanov and his telegrams, and admonishes Merrick for over-hyping the Montana rumours in his paper.

The camp waits vigil for a prognosis on William Bullock. Martha regrets her move to Deadwood after her son is severely injured. Commissioner Jarry returns to Deadwood to discuss possible annexation with Al.