Swearengen takes interest in a young girl, one of the sole survivors of the massacre; Bullock and Star try to buy property from Swearengen; Hickok asks Bullock to cover his back in a poker game.
Cy Tolliver opens the Bella Union; Wild Bill manages to win a hand of poker; Garrett confronts Swearengen about the money that he was swindled out of on the gold claim; Bullock and Star strike a deal on a lot for their store.
Hickok cleans out McCall at the poker table; Brom Garrett's body is returned to Deadwood and Alma enlists Doc Cochran to perform an examination of the body; Tolliver recruits Doc Cochran to take care of his whores; Hickok accepts a bribe from Swearengen and enlists Bullock's help to review the Garrett gold claim; McCall shoots Hickok in the back of the head.
Swearengen becomes concerned that McCall's trial might bring unwanted attention from the U.S. government; Alma signs a proxy giving Bullock authority over the property; Tolliver has Cramed taken into the woods and left for dead; At McCall's trial, the jury quickly returns a verdict of innocent and McCall is set free; Swearengen bans McCall from Deadwood; Bullock decides to take revenge on his friend's killer.
Bullock is ambushed as he pursues McCall; Doc Cochran tells Swearengen about the outbreak of smallpox, but the news is kept quiet; Calamity Jane returns to Deadwood and when she explains that she's been caring for Cramed, Cochran wonders if she might be immune to the virus.
Bullock and Charlie Utter find McCall; Swearengen confronts Trixie about her betrayal; Doc Cochran, the Reverend Smith and Calamity Jane continue to tend to the sick; Bullock tells Swearengen that he is holding him responsible for the outcome of the widow's claim.
Riders show up in Deadwood with a vaccine and news of a possible treaty with the Dakota; Alma rethinks her plans.
Swearengen calls a meeting to set up and informal government; Bullock introduces Alma to Ellsworth; Calamity Jane leaves town; Alma learns of Bullock's wife.
Mr. Wu causes an uproar after two men kill his courier and steal an opium shipment; Bullock gives Merrick a letter to the editor in an effort to build support for his health proposals; Swearengen seeks out Irons for the missing opium.
The U.S. Army rolls into Deadwood; Bullock reacts when he finds out Russell's intentions towards Alma; Adams shows his loyalties; Bullock and Alma give in to temptation.