Episode Report Card Al Lowe: A | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT A Lie Agreed Upon, Part II
By Al Lowe | Season 2 | Episode 2 | Aired on 03.12.2005
In a hurry? Read the recaplet for a nutshell description! Finished? Click here to close.We pick up where we left off in last week's episode -- Bullock has yet to retrieve his gun and badge, and everybody's worried about how he's going to do it. He gives Mrs. G an ultimatum of sorts, laying out their options to either stay in camp and sever their relationship, or run off away, together. Al is still being tormented by his urinary problem, along with his fresh injuries from the beatdown. He seems to take Adams's side over Dan's in an argument, but then later confirms that he'll always stand by his man, Dan. Cy continues to stew and rage about Joanie's new business venture, and seems to be concocting a creepy plan to carry out in his creepy way. Al hears from his sources that Bullock may be a VIP in governmental circles, due to his former position as Marshal in Montana. So, against his nature, but to protect his future interests, Al settles things peacefully with Bullock, returning his gun, badge, and hat. And Bullock, against his deep feelings for Alma, returns home, to his wife and son. This episode is all about loyalty, really, and who holds it and who breaks it. Looks like, in Deadwood, that score is about even. Want more? The full recap starts right below!
We open in this current episode in Al's office, where he is finally seeking decent medical treatment for the beatdown he received the day before. Doc is binding his ribs, and trying to distract Al from asking about Bullock's condition. Al brags unnecessarily about the wounds he gave Bullock -- though we all know Al took the worst of the beating. Doc says won't talk about his other patients, and wants to know about Al's "other" problem, the urinary issue. Al won't go for it, though. He tells Doc to "inform that fuckin' lunatic [Bullock], next you see him, I'm fit as a fucking fiddle, and ready to play on." Doc tries again. "Inform me, Al," he says, "to what mark in your piss pot did you fill."I have to say that Doc has what must be the most difficult job in Deadwood, the whores included. At least they know what they're working with. It's not like Doc can do an X-ray on somebody to see what's going on in their prostate should they not be able to fill their piss pots to the appropriate mark.
Al tells him that the volume was adequate, which is a lie. Doc asks if there has been "any discharge of gleets, burning or soreness." Need I get into how gross the words "discharge" and "gleets" are, together OR separately? Oh, and for the unmedically schooled, here's how the dictionary defines a gleet: "Inflammation of the urethra resulting from chronic gonorrhea and characterized by a mucopurulent discharge. Or, the discharge that is characteristic of this inflammation. In men, can cause stricture of the penis."
Mucopurulent! Stricture! Of! The! Peniiiiiiiiiiiiis! Sweet dreams, y'all! If you're trying to convince your teenager of the importance of safe sex, whip out gleets next time.
We're all thankful when Johnny bursts in and interrupts this doctor-patient interview with Al's suit back from Wu's laundry. It has been "aromafied" in some kind of strong solvent. He's making a face like it's an overwhelming smell. What do you want to bet it's just soap? Because, as we know, not many in Deadwood would recognize such an odor. Al suggests quite calmly that perhaps Johnny should let it air out somewhere for a while. Al gets annoyed that he takes it out to the balcony, but doesn't have the strength to get mad about it. As Johnny leaves, Doc asks again about the possible gleets and whatnot, and before Al can answer, the door opens again and in walks a smug E.B. Farnum, announcing that Bullock has come back to the Grand Central and gone upstairs to the widow Garret's room.