Deadwood - Alma Visits Hearst a Second Time

A scene from Deadwood 3x03 "True Colors"

[@valmarsiglia]

The way he leers at her in fury and disbelief as (in his mind) she presumes to dictate terms to him. That's some top-notch acting from the both of them.

[@matthewriley7826]

That moment when you realize you’re sitting in a room with a monster....

[@wrestlingbear1188]

Monster is an understatement. He was a Demon. Horrible and terrifying.

[@silkyjoe7]

Such an incredible scene. The intensity is palpable. Deadwood is one of few shows that once finished with the last episode I will restart the series again. It’s that good.

[@The3Peaches]

@msa1985 - That's one of the things I love most about this scene. She's so excited and proud of herself for handling her business on her own for the first time....and she has no idea what she's getting herself into.

[@lproof8472]

My favorite show villain of all time. He barely beats out Tywin Lannister.

[@corpsman1980]

Tywin's basic character is featured in Deadwood ... I believe Mr. Hearst calls him Francis.

[@jimmykray9583]

Difference is Hearst was a real dude.

[@WonkelDee]

@@jimmykray9583the personality though is fiction

[@erikandersen3274]

@@WonkelDee Yes the real George Hearst was by all accounts quite a mild-mannered and agreeable fellow, with a particular love for philanthropy and altruism. His son, on the other hand...

[@kaj7135]

@@erikandersen3274I’m sure George paid all those printing presses and authors to write nice things about him. lol never assume a rich person is a good person. Never.

[@The_OneManCrowd]

Fucken Gerald McRaney such an overlooked, classic American actor.

[@mechanicjobs]

The best show ever.

[@walterbrob]

From Major Dad to Hearst, what a formidable actor

[@MegaKat]

Let's not forget Mayor Greene in Jericho

[@sbwification2]

That escalated quickly.

[@godbluffvdgg]

This series was FAAAARRRR too short...Milch made the characters so rich. Each actor brilliant in their roles...My favorites will always be E.B...and of course Al.

[@bull1234]

Writers went on strike and Deadwood died on the vine

[@joshuagerthoffer2321]

​@@bull1234 It died on the vine!

[@PlayNiceFolks]

What a Thing they made here. A pure creature.

[@Slave4235]

it insults my nature absolutely!

[@joestimemachine6454]

She should have listened to Ellsworth. Her desire to do business in a man's world is admirable and brave but Ellsworth knew from personal experience what a bad man Hearst was.

[@matthewriley7826]

She wasn’t really thinking straight at this time. She’s just lost a child, gotten hooked on dope again, and Doc earlier had concerns that her manic energy was concerning.

[@kalcaron]

He's saying she's getting involved in an activity/business she has no place in, she's thinking she's grand and belongs, and he saying she doesn't. He's belittling her.

[@gregorysabbagh3746]

Right after this happened, Alma hits the street and face to face with bullock, and you could feel he knew something terrible happened. Had she done what she was thinking of doing when she hit the street, telling bullock that she needed his help, Hearst would have likely met a fate similar to Alma's father, slung over a mule with his face pounded to a pulp.

[@matthewriley7826]

Unlike Alma’s father though, Hearst has protection and Captain Turner probably would’ve put a bullet in him before he got too close.

[@nikosgreek352]

Probably. And then five days later 200 pinkertons would show up and turn the camp to ash. As for Bullock.....First they would kill Alma, then his wife, then Sofia in front of him. Then they would beat him to death and hang him from a tall post.

[@easy2readu]

Sounds right!

[@LKaramazov]

I think you underestimate Hearsts resourcefulness, but we’ll never know. I would never compare a self made man of Hearsts stature with Alma’s degenerate father.

[@matthewriley7826]

He’d have to get past Captain Turner first….

[@wrestlingbear1188]

Something brought out the beast in him. Could have cut the tension in the air with a knife. Bloody mind he had.

[@taffy4442]

The negotiations were short.

[@corpsman1980]

Great reference

[@nnj6918]

He's not a gentleman

[@LoudaroundLincoln]

There goes a man who could stand being at the mercy of a band of merciless Sioux. To some his screams would sound of a horrifying nature. To me they would sound like the rightful restoration of balance of peace and justice in the world. Of course, I would not venture to closely to listen, lest I join Hearst in a fucking choir.

[@donaldkgarman296]

REMINDS ME OF CORNELIUS VANDERBILT IN HIS PRIME.

[@donaldkgarman296]

"IF IT IS NOT NAILED DOWN , IT IS MINE...IF IT IS , I WILL FIND A WAY TO PRY IT LOOSE "

[@SBandy]

too

[@LoudaroundLincoln]

@Monk_Chud what is?

[@theflyingdutchman1301]

Besides Hearst being Hearst this actually was a pretty good offer.

[@Alan_Page]

The only excuse I ever heard on the show against someone killing him is that "Well someone just as bad would take his place." I never got that. Maybe so, maybe not. But with guys like Al Swearengen, Dan, Bullock, etc., I couldn't see not just killing him. The story would be he went to a lawless town and was killed by one of the many cutthroats there. Let someone take his place and yeah it's probably a greedy prick, but maybe not as smart, ruthless and dangerous.

[@matthewriley7826]

Could be they’re worried Hearst has taken precautions for such a thing. He had already planned on bringing in the Pinkertons so it’s probable he left instructions with other personnel if something were to happen to him. Namely go after those in charge and make an example.

[@dogkungfu8510]

This is the one thing about Deadwood being based on actual history that takes away from the show for me. In the show, SO many characters would have just murdered him. And it wouldn't ruin the show at all, except it didn't actually happen so they can't. Tarantino's bout the only one to go to that well. I just don't believe NONE of these characters won't have murdered him. Takes away just a bit...

[@vlvr]

You really think hell would not have visited Deadwood in the form of Pinktertons and Government had one of the richest men in the world at the time been murdered there?

[@mattblah7737]

Hearst's offer is this: Nothing

[@PlayNiceFolks]

Yeah. Shit.

[@thelegendarymvg7807]

"Will you have an escort until your dear home's lights appear before you? No." All these years and I still don't know what Hearst is driving at here. Sounds like he's threatening to walk her home (maybe as further humiliation after the implied threat of assault?).

[@rprater7411]

I take it as he's saying she came unaccompanied with no one knowing where she is. She has no protection and he could rape her right then as a show of his power and anger at, what he considers, her insulting offer. Especially with him closing the distance between them and the mention of a capon, a castrated rooster, right before that line. Basically, "you're here alone and I'm a a powerful man."

[@zingzangspillip1]

Maybe he's threatening her, saying she is vulnerable in the camp. I can't remember if this is before she is shot at in the street.

[@thelegendarymvg7807]

@@zingzangspillip1 Oh, it certainly is a threat. The writing in this series is outstanding and that line always stuck out (probably because I didn't quite get it). I now suppose it's Hearst's way of saying that she'll never be safe from him.

[@dannyaoalsson]

I think he's mocking her and her fear. "We'll get you an escort to walk you home and there you'll be back to being safe"

[@thelegendarymvg7807]

@@dannyaoalsson That's interesting and definitely fits his character. Mocking people and talking down to them is pretty much the default setting for Hearst. It's great how only one line in this show can generate different interpretations.

[@TheDiegoo17]

Can some one explain why he said "you indulge your self" to alma

[@furbabydaddy5604]

Farnum had told him earlier that she liked to get high on Laudnum. So Hearst used that against her here.

[@carloswaluda8048]

@Belarion A.D. Same!!! Man! This will mark my 3rd time around to Deadwood, and each time is a whole different adventure!

[@christophercarson6634]

Late to the conversation, but my thinking is that he was implying she had 'ideas above her station '.

[@fenrirrising131]

@@christophercarson6634 it is this, she has been playing boss lady with little fish and thought she could enter a dragons keep and act as if she had any footing whatsoever to play negotiator with a powerhouse that only cares to know how to consume and subjugate

[@The_OneManCrowd]

@Belarion A.D. lol just like now.

[@TheDiegoo17]

@hayden smith are you watching the same clip as me? because i saw to terrific performances there

[@BestWayKilla]

Had Alma not been so snippy and pissy towards people over their earnest concern (Doc) or over giving her sound advice based on personal experience (Ellsworth), she likely would have avoided issues like this. Her husband literally told her that Hearst was a ravenous, insatiable animal of a man who would suffer no principles to bar him from his pursuit of "the color", and she couldn't bring herself to concede that just maybe, her husband had a better understanding of the matter and the man than she did, and his intense insistence that she not meet with him was borne out of a sincere concern for her safety, rather than trying to put her in her place as a woman.

[@qkljhewgfhergk]

He was about to extract her color if you catch my drift. Honestly probably just what she needed.

[@nikosgreek352]

He would enjoy plundering her color, im certain. She....not so much.

[@qkljhewgfhergk]

@@nikosgreek352 She may not enjoy it but it's for her own good.

[@ZackJ100]

@@qkljhewgfhergk You're disgusting.

[@jimmykray9583]

Are you insane

[@measumadib]

You're vermin

[@brandywales8200]

He threatened SA jfc over a business arrangement

[@qkljhewgfhergk]

He was about to plunder her color if u catch my drift

[@corpsman1980]

I've thought at length about this scene. Hearst was fully capable of charming a sale out of Ms. Garrett-Ellsworth, however it's my opinion that he chose to threaten and belittle her for a few reasons. First, he did it to respond to Ellsworth's demeanor and "insult" earlier in that day. I would guess that Hearst was fully aware of who Ellsworth was, meaning not only his position with Alma, but his experience in the Comstock Mine collapse. He was likely insulted at the fact that a mere "worker" would question a man such as he. His ego couldn't let that insult stand without response. Second, he also wanted to test the waters to see if any connection between Bullock and Alma still existed, and if so, determine how unstable Seth would be if he felt that Alma was in danger. Here he is putting all of his competition off balance. Finally, the easiest motive for doing something so vile, greed. If Alma was properly intimidated she would likely accept a much lower offer than her holdings were worth. As she would have been the last major purchase in Deadwood, her sale would be the completion of a very expensive set of investments, and he was likely looking forward to seeing the return of those investments.

[@thetruth34o9]

ummmmmmmmm

[@TheYoungWolfI]

Capitalism at its most pure form.

[@LoudaroundLincoln]

Why do you think many of the crimes that go by an organised nature, are illegal? I see very little difference between Hearst, his real life counterpart I would add, and someone like Carol Gambino. The organisations you find in South America that are involved in the traffick of narcotics are no different to the East India Trading company. Except that the cartels don't have a professional army and the backing of an aristocracy.

[@shinrapresident7010]

Commie China is that way. 🐀➡

[@boxxybrownn]

That's really bad acting

[@CowmanFriend]

Um no

[@cmcproductions26]

Are you being sarcastic? Hope so. Cause from what I see, it's almost TOO good of acting.

[@ZChronicNebula]

@@cmcproductions26 "cringe" say the simps in response to brilliant acting

[@tylerchambers6246]

@@cmcproductions26 The guy's a dipshit.

[@Gmthekiller]

You're right. Its so good its not even acting anymore