Steven Shill

In Egypt with Cleopatra, Antony attempts to use their grain supplies to provoke war with Octavian. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

Young, handsome, and one of the most powerful men in the world, King Henry VIII of England should be pleased, but in reality, his mind weighs heavily with concern over religious division in his country, the political struggle that wages between nations, and his failure to produce a male heir. His wife, Kathrine of Aragon, has suffered numerous miscarriages and stillbirths, and the King's only legitimate child is his daughter, Mary. Katherine is an excellent queen and devoted wife, but Henry's desire to seek the extremely difficult route of divorce looms in his mind. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide

Jonathan Rhys Meyers is Henry VIII as never seen before. THE TUDORS is the epic new Showtime Original Series that reveals the scandalous life of the stunning young
monarch, who ruled his kingdom with reckless abandon. With a lust for power
and an appetite for love, Henry's affair with Anne Boleyn - and obsession
with producing a male heir - changed the institution of marriage, and the
world, forever. THE TUDORS is the untold story of Henry VIII - the notorious king
whose reign was marked by scandal and intrigue.

Bill (Bill Paxton) is in high spirits. Roman (Harry Dean Stanton) has been coerced into signing an agreement to allow his family back into their homes at the Juniper Creek compound, and the bank has agreed to give him a loan to open a third branch of Home Plus. He plans a big barbecue to celebrate, ordering lobsters flown in from Maine, and invites Don (Joel McKinnon Miller) and his family to join them to celebrate Don's taking a fourth wife, Betty (Melinda Allen). Because Bill's in a good mood, Nicki (Chloë Sevigny) decides to tell him about her 58,000-dollar credit-card debt. He's shocked and dismayed, and outraged when she tells him that Roman made a payment for her. Nicki starts to believe he might actually throw her out on the street, apparently a fairly common practice back in Juniper Creek. Bill finds out that Barb (Jeanne Tripplehorn) knew about Nicki's debts, and questions her loyalty to him. "I'm also married to two other people," she explains. Margene (Ginnifer Goodwin) learns that Betty was voted into Don's family unanimously, piquing her curiosity about her own vote. Ben (Douglas Smith) spills the beans that it took several votes before Margene was accepted. Already confused about her place in the family, Margene goes out to dinner with Pam (Audrey Wasilewski) and Carl (Carlos Jacott), who surprise her by fixing her up with Chad (Michael McMillian), a nice young man from their church. This episode was co-written by Jill and Karen Sprecher (13 Conversations About One Thing). ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

Al (Ian McShane) is apparently suffering from kidney stones, and his health has worsened to the point where he cannot speak. He has locked himself in his office, and writhes on the floor in agony as his minions knock and deliver news, uncertain as to what to do. Francis Wolcott (Garret Dillahunt, who played Jack McCall in season one) arrives in the camp, looking to buy gold claims, and is immediately taken for a fish by E.B. (William Sanderson), who offers to sell Wolcott the last letter written by Wild Bill Hickok, falsely claiming that it makes reference to a massive find. Maddie (Alice Krige) knows precisely who Wolcott is, and tells Joanie (Kim Dickens), who is dismayed to learn that Maddie had a hidden motive for coming to Deadwood. Wolcott is a "specialist" who has a particular fondness for one of Maddie's girls, and who has been known to become violent with whores. He is also a talented geologist in the employ of the ruthless and powerful mining magnate George Hearst, and it's clear that Maddie plans to use his perverse interests against him. Alma (Molly Parker) tells Ellsworth (Jim Beaver) that she's thinking of buying E.B.'s hotel, mainly because she despises E.B. and would like to see him out in the street. She also decides to fire Miss Isringhausen (Sarah Paulson), complaining about the young woman's "air of disapproval." Trixie (Paula Malcomson) asks Sol (John Hawkes) to teach her accounting. Wolcott enlists both E.B. and Cy (Powers Boothe) to circulate rumors about the validity of the camp's gold claims. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

Alma (Molly Parker) proposes the formation of a bank in Deadwood, with Sol (John Hawkes) as chief officer. She also has a bout of morning sickness in the presence of Sol and Ellsworth (Jim Beaver). When Sol reports the news to Seth (Timothy Olyphant), he's less than thrilled. Merrick (Jeffrey Jones) gives a very informative tour of the camp to Mary Stokes (Carla Bianchi), the new schoolteacher. When Ellsworth approaches Trixie (Paula Malcomson) to discuss Alma's predicament, she proposes an interesting solution. Al (Ian McShane), feeling stronger, holds meetings with several prominent people in camp. Trixie tells him about the bank. E.B. (William Sanderson) reluctantly tells him about the apparent partnership between Cy (Powers Boothe), Wolcott (Garret Dillahunt), and Jarry (Stephen Tobolowsky). Miss Isringhausen (Sarah Paulson) tells him the fascinating story of how Alma admitted to hiring Al to kill her husband. Al quickly recognizes that Isringhausen is working for the Pinkerton Agency. They want to pay Al to implicate Alma in Brom's death, after which they'll let him escape with their money. He asks for some time to think about it. Al also meets with Lee (Philip Moon) in an effort to gauge how much "juice" he's got. Steve (Michael Harney), angry at Seth for stopping him from tarring and feathering the innocent Fields (Franklyn Ajaye), plans his own unique form of vengeance involving the sheriff's horse. Jarry is angry at Cy because Cy didn't protect him from the angry mob. Merrick pays a price for his refusal to print Jarry's notice. Cy, perhaps realizing his advantage has slipped a bit, makes insinuations to Wolcott about his reputedly violent dealings with the whores. When Cy threatens to inform Wolcott's employer, George Hearst, Wolcott is provoked to take drastic action. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

Jewel (Geri Jewell) goes to see the Doc (Brad Dourif) to try to convince him to make some kind of brace for her. "Draggin' my leg really makes Al crazy," she explains. At first, Doc is reluctant to risk causing further harm to Jewel, but eventually he reconsiders. Al (Ian McShane) arranges for Silas (Titus Welliver) to head back to Yankton with a powerful message for the magistrate who's trying to shake him down. A.W. (Jeffrey Jones is excited by the arrival of a new camera. Sol (John Hawkes) and Trixie (Paula Malcomson) have a tryst in the hardware store, but a witness later brings unexpected trouble for them. Charlie (Dayton Callie) visits the No. 10 in his capacity as fire inspector, much to the chagrin of owner Tom Nuttall (Leon Rippy), a pioneer who now feels that the camp is getting away from him. Perhaps that's why he goes along when Con Stapleton (Peter Jason) asks him for a recommendation to Al for the vacant position of Deadwood's sheriff. Seth (Timothy Olyphant) isn't particularly pleased with the appointment, and mentions his displeasure to Al, who seems to think that Seth would make an excellent replacement. Cy (Powers Boothe) assigns Leon (Larry Cedar) to stir up animosity against the Chinese. Alma (Molly Parker) appoints Ellsworth (Jim Beaver) to oversee her expanding mining operation. Her father, Otis Russell (William Russ), arrives in town, and does not seem to have the best intentions toward his daughter and her gold claim. This episode was scripted by Ricky Jay, who plays Eddie Sawyer. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

Ziggy's (James Ransone) skills as a drug dealer come into question again as he screws up, bringing down the wrath of Cheese (rapper Method Man), who supplied him. Cheese takes Ziggy's prized Camaro, and threatens to kill him if he doesn't pay what he's owed, plus interest. Ziggy goes to Nick (Pablo Schreiber) for help. Nick asks Cheese for the car back so Ziggy can sell it and pay him, but Cheese has other plans. Freamon (Clarke Peters) finds out he's been added to Daniels' (Lance Reddick) detail, leaving Bunk (Wendell Pierce) to deal with the 14 murders. Daniels also adds Carver (Seth Gilliam) to the team, reasoning that Carver wouldn't dare betray him again. Carver and Greggs (Sonja Sohn) take photos as Herc (Dominick Lombardozzi) goes undercover to buy drugs from the white boys who sell to the dock workers. Bunk and Russell (Amy Ryan) go back to the docks with grand jury summonses, but Sobotka (Chris Bauer) angrily denies being involved in the girls' deaths, and lets them know that none of his guys will talk. Russell finds an informant, a stevedore who tells her where to look for evidence of the missing container -- the computers. McNulty (Dominic West) takes time out from trying to identify "his" dead girl to bring in Omar (Michael K. Williams), so he can prepare to testify in the Gant murder case. Sobotka tells Vondas (Paul Ben-Victor) that he doesn't want to do business with them anymore, but The Greek (Bill Raymond) won't take no for an answer. Stringer (Idris Elba) gets advice from a professor on how to turn his business around, and gives advice to Avon (Wood Harris) about how to deal with D'Angelo (Larry Gilliard, Jr.) ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

A high school girl is found murdered in the laundry room of her building. The ensuing investigation reveals that the dead girl had informed upon several of her classmates, who were running a website which spread vicious sexual rumors about their peers. The solution to the murder may hinge upon the eyewitness testimony of the victim's best friend -- if only the DA's office can persuade the reluctant friend to testify. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After Greggs (Sonja Sohn) is shot, Major Rawls (John Doman) shows up at the chaotic crime scene and takes charge. The cops determine that there were two shooters. Carver (Seth Gilliam) agrees to inform Greggs' girlfriend, Cheryl (Melanie Nicholls-King). Wee-Bey (Hassan Johnson) pages Stringer (Idris Elba) to say one word: "Done." Rawls chews out McNulty (Dominic West), who's too wracked with guilt to work the case. The cops try to find Savino (Christopher J. Clanton), who set up the buy. Wee-Bey meets with Stringer, who gives him the bad news -- "Shorty was a cop" -- and lets him know he has to leave town. Freamon (Clarke Peters) finds evidence at the payphone from which Stringer was paged. Wallace (Michael B. Jordan) keeps calling Poot (Tray Chaney) because he's homesick. Bubbles (Andre Royo) pages Greggs, and is immediately picked up by the police. When an angry homicide detective beats on Bubbles for information, he asks for McNulty. He gives Bubbles the bad news about Greggs, and sends him back to the projects to gather info. Avon (Wood Harris) chastises Stringer for his handling of Orlando. McNulty threatens Levy (Michael Kostroff), Avon's lawyer, to get him to turn over Savino, and chastises Rhonda (Deirdre Lovejoy) for worrying about Levy's influence and her career. "Everybody stays friends; everybody gets paid," he harangues her, "and everybody's got a f__king future." Prez (Jim True-Frost) figures out that it was Wee-Bey who paged Stringer. Savino turns himself in, but they only have enough evidence to charge him with fraud. The police commissioner orders drug raids citywide in response to the shooting, and when Daniels (Lance Reddick) tries to hold back on the main stash, he catches hell from Burrell (Frankie R. Faison), and realizes there's a spy in the unit. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide