Chapter Two: Prisoner – The show begins with Red Bill (Douglas Booth) frantically checking out his surroundings. He makes his way over to a large barrel to discover it is filled with blood from a body hanging from the ceiling.

Deputy Kurt (Ivan Shaw) tells Sheriff McCoy (Dominic Cooper), they should head back to Greenvale. McCoy promises to go a little longer. Kurt says they have more important matters to attend to. McCoy explains how a man who commits a crime needs to be punished. Kurt asks what law was broken. He says horse theft. Kurt assures him the odds of someone finding their money increases the farther they are away from it. McCoy admits to loving his horse. Kurt asks if he loves the horse more than the money. McCoy assures him paranoia will not improve his intelligence.

Plowing up his land, Steve (Christian Cooke) tells them everything needs to be in a straight line. Michelle (Zoe Boyle) tells him Dorian says he has no imagination. Steve tells him to demonstrate if he knows a better farming method. As Dorian reaches for the shovel, Steve bear hugs him to the ground. He wrestles Michelle to the ground when she describes their behavior as child-like. When he orders them back to work, Michelle notices his crucifix necklace is gone. He suggests it was probably lost. She offers him hers as a replacement because his prayers are more powerful. He disagrees, so she keeps it. Dorian leaves to check out the incoming settlers.

Deputy Nathan (Benjamin Stender) butters Mary’s (Alegra Michelazzo) bread. She suggests utilizing a knife like her mother. He spreads the butter across the bread. He explains how she will be getting a new mum. Mary questions if she will like her. He assures her they have a lot in common. She asks what. He describes them both as being pretty and kind. He promises they will meet today.

Symone (Rose Williams) leads the other girls through the brothel to Eve’s room. Yelling “surprise,” they are surprised to not instantly see Eve (Niv Sultan). When she emerges, she questions what is going on. She assures them it is not her birthday. Symone reminds her of it being a special day. She reminds her of it being way before her time. Hellen (Anna Chanceller) says Symone repeatedly tells them the story. Symone admits the story of Eve giving ruthless a**hole the boot is thrilling. Smiling, she says the day should be declared a national holiday. As Symone hands her a small red box, Laura (Gala Scodellaro) tells her to open it.

With them gathered around, she slowly opens the box to expose a gold piece of jewelry. Symone reminds her of how she loved it at first sight. Symone suggests she spend the day celebrating at the Charming restaurant. Lise (Veronica Alvarado Kraemer) tells her to spend the night at a fancy hotel like before. Refusing their offer, Eve reminds them of how much money they can earn from the settlers. When she tells them to bring in the water, they refuse to move until she raises her voice.

Susan (Caroline Tillette) asks Nathan what’s the purpose of his visit. Nathan assures her he only needs a few minutes with Symone. She tries to explain they are quite busy. As Symone emerges down the staircase, he roughly pulls Susan out of his way. Eve demands to know what he is doing. He asks for a little time alone with Symone, but Eve refuses his request. She informs him the brothel is closed and suggests he obey her girls when they tell him to leave. He reminds her of why she gets to run the brothel in Greenvale, pointing to his badge. He grabs her arm and asks if she understands what he is saying. She orders him to remove his hand before giving McCoy credit for her business.

Kurt and McCoy continue searching for Red Bill. Kurt says he isn’t keen on the idea of getting killed for pride, nor should he. He reminds McCoy of Red Bill being a “nut job,” with nothing to lose, whereas they are risking a lot of money. McCoy says they are going to cross the bridge. Refusing, Kurt threatens to take his share of the money if he doesn’t arrive in Greenvale by tomorrow. He dares him to touch the money. Kurt points his gun at McCoy. He accuses him of being afraid of a boy, with a bag of heads.

The Butler (Aidan Gillen) pulls a dead body across the floor. Red Bill pulls himself into a sitting position, with his feet and hands bound. He demands to know what Butler wants from him. Butler compares his common sense to maggots. He believes fate brought them together because of his tribal medicine and bag of skulls. He asks if he hears the voices. Red Bill claims to hear laughing voices. Butler describes the voices as his family. When he makes his exit, Red Bill struggles to retrieve something off the floor.

Steve is plowing up the land when Michelle convinces him to listen to her confession. She admits to being angry, unworthy, frightened, and in despair. She thinks about heading south with the settler convoy. He assures her it is okay and promises to fix everything.

Symone asks Eve why she treated Nathan so harshly. Eve asks why she never informed her of his proposal and if she was contemplating it. She says no. Eve assures her he isn’t good enough for her. When Symone names off his good qualities, Eve refuses to speak.

Steve asks Eve where she is headed. She tells him of her plan to take the girls to Treson Lake. He says, “The most beautiful place in the world.” Eve agrees to speak with McCoy about his horses. Assuring her it isn’t necessary he agrees to hire a few settlers. She offers to help, but he refuses.

McCoy denies being afraid of much. Kurt asks him about the individual responsible for the scars on his back. He accuses him of continuously running from something. McCoy refuses to talk about his scars. They lead their horses across the bridge.

Butler talks to himself while he works. He drinks blood before taking two horse skulls to what looks like a bone graveyard.

Charles Thompson (Paterson Joseph) reads a script from a book, which he claims to have been fearful of as a child. He claims Mr. Hagan is going to sell him his land very soon. When he informs Michelle of Steve confronting him in his home, she calls him a determined “man of faith.”  Thompson tells her he has surveys to prove there is gold in Greenvale. She assures him stealing their horses will not convince Steve into selling their land. He asks for her permission to push Steve harder.  She agrees.

Eve has a flashback of her and Steve’s visit to Treson Lake. The girls talk about their sexual experiences at the brothel.  Laura describes Nathan as the best catch of all the men. They ask if Nathan is good in bed. Symone admits he is the only man who ever made her climax. Eve asks if Nathan looks her in the eye when he climaxes. She suggests he shoves her face away like other men who are only out for one thing. Symone angrily walks away.

Holding up a rope, Nathan says they haven’t had a hanging in a while. He explains how much he would love to see Eve swing for the way she disrespected him. Henry (Daniel Caltagirone) scolds him for what he did to his wife. He warns him of what would happen if he wasn’t around. He reminds him of Mary. Nathan agrees to play nice.

Red Bill tries to cut off the ties around his wrists when Butler enters. Bending down beside him, Butler says he knows they appear to him at night. Red Bill denies seeing anything. Butler jumps back when he lunges toward him. He puts a hook around Red Bill’s ankle ties. He explains how it will feel like your eardrums will burst and blood spill out of your eyes. Red Bill’s struggles are futile as Butler hoists his body up to the ceiling, feet first.

Steve offers the settlers land for labor. Thompson tells the settlers about there being no water in Greenvale. Steve orders him to mind his own business. Steve assures him it may rain any day now. Thompson asks him to show proof it is going to rain. He tells the settlers God talks to Steve, but his research proves nothing will grow on the land because it is void of water. When he asks the people if they want to follow a desperate, they turn to walk away. As Steve prepares to leave, Jack (Tim Daish) approaches to accept his offer.

Jack informs Nicole (Alida Baldari Calabria) of his plan to work on Steve’s farm. Steve tells Michelle Jack appeared when he asked for a sign. They set the table for supper.

Red Bill pants in far while Butler lights the tribal medicine and tosses it on the floor. Butler tells him it will loosen his tongue. Red Bill inhales the medicine as Butler asks how many men he has killed. In a flashback, Young Bill (Tommaso Di Marco) watches his mother (Maria Grazi Toccacelli) being tortured. When he comes through, Butler is in his face, asking about the men he killed. Red Bill swings upward and knocks Butler out. As Butler comes through, he says hundreds before whacking him with his ax. He continues to hit him while having a flashback of his mother’s torture. When Red Bill comes through, he is still hanging from the ceiling. Butler tells him they are demons.

Butler is reading his book when Kurt knocks on the door. He asks if the goats have caused him any problems. While Kurt provides a description of Red Bill, McCoy pops through the door. Butler pours them a drink as they search his house. He tells them the house was his grandfather’s. McCoy assures him there are fewer SOBs in Greenvale, with him in charge. After sniffing the alcohol, he asks if it rotted in the barrel. Butler offers them something else to drink, but McCoy refuses.

McCoy asks, what is that rotten odor. He claims it is a sick goat. McCoy repeats his question if someone stopped by. Getting in his face, he warns him about his great ability to kill people. As they prepare to leave, McCoy decides to check out the property. They discover a pile of items, including a guitar, a doll, and a hobby horse. Butler tells Red Bill he cannot be saved as he is becoming a member of his family. Blood seeps out of his eye.

Symone approaches as Eve counts her money. She asks Eve why she belittled her. Eve assures her she did it to herself for acting like a child. She tells her women can only survive with power. Symone complains it is hurtful. Eve professes to love her but won’t stop her marrying Nathan if it is what she wants. She suggests she think about it long and hard.

 

Nathan calls for Symone when she appears on the top deck. He tells her to let him in. When he mentions marriage, she walks away.

During a prayer, Steve thanks God for his promised rain. Michelle stares in disbelief.

Butler leans on the barrel of his rifle as he sleeps. McCoy tells him to wake up. When he opens his eyes, McCoy pulls the trigger, splattering his brains all over the wall behind him. He walks down into the basement, where he finds Red Bill hanging from the ceiling. He punches him in the face, stirring him back from the dreamland. As McCoy walks away, Red Bill repeatedly yells sheriff.

Nathan tells Mary she may get to meet her new mum tomorrow. Mary suggests she might night like her. He assures her she is the best. She asks if he yelled at her. He swears she likes him as well. He says by tomorrow the three of them will be together. She tells him to promise. Promising, he breaks the neck of a fork in half.

McCoy pulls Red Bill with a rope from his horse. Bones in the shape of an eye can be seen on the ground below as the episode comes to an end.

 

That Dirty Black Bag Review

A bit of improvement from the pilot episode. The episodes are way too long and many of the scenes feel a bit repetitive. An example is the scenes, where Kurt and McCoy searched for Red Bill. The duo spent nearly the entire episode chasing their tails in rocky terrain. They finally found Red Bill but only after a lot of time was wasted. Another example is the scenes, where Michelle and Steve dug arid land. This makes for boring TV.

In my opinion, they killed off one of the most intriguing characters, Butler. Aidan Gillen’s psycho performance was excellent. Who will they focus on now? There is no other character who can fill his role.

In all actuality, there is not a lot going on. The ladies at the brothel prepare for the settler convoy, Steve prepares for the rain, McCoy, and Kurt prepare to leave Greenvale, with their chest of money, and nothing else worth mentioning.

The show is somewhat drab in my own opinion. If you are a fan of western action, you will be sorely disappointed. Otherwise, you may actually enjoy the show. The episode deserves a 6. Get more That Dirty Black Bag recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link to learn more.