A new day in Deadwood, but the air is far from fresh, and Al Swearengen wrinkles his nose at the stench of smoke from across town. As Lee stares on impassively, the bodies of dead Chinese whores are burned unceremoniously, and Wu is apoplectic at the sight. Stomping, spitting and cursing, he assails Lee, but a henchman knocks him to the ground without effort. Bullock is at work on a coffin for William, and Al is delicate about approaching him. Offering condolences, he asks if he could walk beside him, at a distance of "twenty paces or so.
The sheriff moves as if in a daze, but nods in agreement. Mose Manuel still draws breath, nursed by Jane at Joanie's place. Appearing more sober than she has in a while, Jane cusses out the sleeping Leon and Stapleton and sends them off to tell Doc "he's got a live one. Wu indicates to Swearengen that the bones of the dead girls must be returned to China; it is a spiritual matter.
Al is brusque with his old ally and sends him back to the Alley. Drinking afterward with Adams, Dority and Burns, Al queries them on strategy. Johnny volunteers that "Hearst is backing the other Chink," but Al muses that backing a loser against Hearst and letting him "pick me up from the canvas after," might not be the worst thing. At the end, however, Swearengen's decision is more visceral. She also spends time with Sofia, who has been nearly silent since William's accident.
Preparations continue at the Bullock house, and Martha has packed her things. Seth tells her that he had hoped she wouldn't make a decision in the throes of such a terrible day.
But Martha says she can't bear to stay. They receive a visit from Andy Cramed, and the funeral plans are made; the service will be brief and largely private. Although he is offended, Tolliver realizes that there are advantages to cooperation. The Gem whores are wailing and despondent over the tragedy that has befallen the town, and Trixie asks Al if they can attend William's memorial.
