Chapter Seven: The Plan – The show begins with Bronson (Guido Caprino) staring at a piece of wall art of an eye. He straps his holster across his waist.

Red Bill’s Mother (Maria Grazia Toccacelli) tells him he now knows her killer’s name. When Red Bill (Douglas Booth) is awakened by a noise, he through his dagger in its direction. Todd (Gravina Theodor Max) stands in the doorway. Red Bill asks the purpose of his visit. After mentioning his mother, Todd and Red Bill are walking down the street, where a woman is in distress. He orders the young lad to stay put while he disappears into the building, where four men are assaulting a female. Two of the men point their guns in his direction. A man asks if he is the new Greenvale Sheriff. He denies the allegations. The woman demands to be freed. Carver (Matt Patresi) steps forward as Red Bill suggests they play a game. He places a bullet on the table. Carver agrees to not kill him if he likes his game. Red Bill smashes his head into the bullet, causing it to explode. He fires his gun three times, killing all of the men.

The Saloon Landlord (Ramiro Alonso) asks if he will continue to protect them. Todd runs into his mother’s arms. Red Bill reminds him that the town belongs to them, not him. The man questions if he killed Sheriff McCoy/Marco (Dominic Cooper). He denies killing McCoy.

Michelle (Zoe Boyle) is weeping when Dorian (Lorenzo McGovern Zaini) knocks on her bedroom door.  She orders him to go away when excited Steve (Christian Cooke) enters, holding a tiny seedling. A big smile comes to Dorian’s face as he looks at the young plant. Steve celebrates by giving him a bear hub.

Thompson (Peterson Joseph) demands Fred Willson (Ian Lloyd Anderson) and Ralph Willson (Lochlann O’Mearain) obtain gold samples from Steve’s land. Ralph tells him that he always wants before calling him “asshole.” He says his verbal abuse is getting old. Fred warns Thompson that he has until tomorrow to find the great gold vein. He promises to start treating him like the broke “piece of shit” he is before they make their exit.

Red Bill has a cigarette when Todd approaches. He accuses him of sneaking. Todd asks if he beheads everyone. He assures him that only those who pester him more than once within 24 hours. Todd suggests he needs to be like him to protect his mother. Red Bill asks what’s his name. Todd asks a series of questions back-to-back. He refuses to help him because he has something to attend to. Todd disappointedly walks away.

McCoy walks through the desert when he begins to hallucinate about Carlo. He assures McCoy that he is just here to help, not harm him. McCoy says he is fine without his assistance. Carlo shows him how to survive in the desert, pointing and firing his finger gun. He looks around to see no Carlo.

Derek (Victor Calero) reminds Frank (Simon Delaney) what he said about Blaine (Terry McMahon) going along with McCoy. Frank suggests they wait longer before going after Blaine. He asks The Stranger (Eugene Brave Rock) if he was aware of Bronson’s brother. The Stranger shakes his head in acknowledgment. Derek asks The Stranger if there is anything he cares about. He informs him of something he was told about him being employed with Buffalo Bill’s Circus. He admits the rumor is true. Frank accidentally drops Steve’s gold on the ground. Derek grabs his fun.

Red Bill has a dream about blood seeping from the tailgate of Anderson’s wagon. Teen Red Bill (Francesco Piacentini-Smith) remains quiet as Anderson gives him a few pointers on how to find a “needle in a haystack.” He suggests burning the entire haystack a bale at a time. He reminds him that after his mother’s killer is dead, he will be the only one left standing. After being startled awake, he reaches down for his gun to realize it isn’t in the holster. Todd’s mother screams when she finds his unresponsive body lying on the ground. Red Bill’s pistol is lying next to his body. A man who is being apprehended defends his killing Todd because he snuck up behind him, with a gun. As Red Bill approaches, she demands to know why he gave his gun to Todd. He denies the allegations. A man calls him a “murderer” as he walks past.

While he stares at the locomotive, Red Bill hears his mother’s pleas as Anderson tells him that he will be “the last man standing” after her killer is dead. He sees the fresh cuts on her back and McCoy’s scars. McCoy encourages him to give it one last push. As he jumps on a horse, a man demands to know what he is doing. He tells him about his plan to bring the sheriff back to Greenvale.

Oliver (Mattia Sonnino) explains how he and Gloria (Estrella Alonso) hadn’t been in business very long. McCoy destroys their stock while telling them money is hard to come by. Oliver refuses to give up his horse because Gloria is in her last trimester of pregnancy. McCoy says as the Sheriff of Greenvale, he desperately needs the horse. Oliver points out that he isn’t wearing a Sheriff’s badge. He tries to pull a fast one on McCoy, but it doesn’t work. They both pull their guns simultaneously.

Symone (Rose Williams), Susan (Caroline Tillette), Lise (Veronica Alvarado Kraemer), and Laura (Gaia Scodellaro) discuss their plans. The girls argue about who Symone will go with. Symone agrees before going to water the horses. After unhooking a horse from the wagon, she rides away.

Michelle rips her dress to shreds when Steve knocks on the door. He pleads with her to come out of the bedroom. As she listens quietly, he says there is no reason for her to not hate him. He assures her that it isn’t the forgiveness he seeks. Dorian approaches with a seedling. Steve places it under the bedroom door. She gets a closer look.

Red Bill discovers McCoy’s sheriff’s badge on the ground. He rides toward a building, where he finds McCoy. He admits to being surprised by his condition, as he was expecting him to be dead or wealthy. McCoy throws a liquor bottle at him but misses. He tells him about the craziness of Greenvale. McCoy claims to not care if the townspeople go to hell. Red Bill accuses him of telling a fallacy. McCoy tells him Eve (Niv Sultan) chose Steve over him. Refusing him more alcohol, Red Bill says the town needs him. He repeats what he said about not giving a shit. Red Bill thanks him for wasting his time. McCoy accuses him of wanting to know how much Bronson’s head would fetch. McCoy asks Gloria who is gagged and bound if she would prepare Red Bill a meal. She nods in agreement.

Bronson rides his horse to meet Vonnet (Liam Smith). They agree to have some fun before heading out.

Gloria prepares serves dinner before sitting down. Red Bill pulls his bag of human heads next to his chair. When he bites into something, Oliver apologizes for not shooting it in the head. McCoy thanks him for not killing him when he was in a desperate state. Red Bill tries to talk about relationships but immediately changes the subject to Gloria’s venison.

The Stranger plays the flute while Derek asks frank about the gold. Derek asks if there are any more where that nugget came from. Frank reminds him of helping them locate Sheriff McCoy without getting paid. Nolan (Joshua Maynard) agrees with Frank. Derek tells him that the gold nugget belongs to Bronson. Frank agrees to give it up as long as he can look at it. He explains how the nugget is a sign that Greenvale is not without gold. Frank describes them as being like “pet dogs” when Derek shots through the bean pot while The Stranger breaks Nolan’s neck. Derek kills Frank with one shot.

McCoy explains how the rain changed everything. He asks Red Bill about the last time he ate such a fine meal and made love to a woman. Red Bill tells him to “get to the point.” He reminds him of what he said earlier about Bronson’s head not having a bounty. When he suggests they work together to take down Bronson, Red Bill assures him that he can do it alone. McCoy comes clean about the Federal Bank money that belongs to Bronson. He admits there is no chance of him coming out alive. Red Bill tells him to no play games with him. McCoy admits he needs his help to take down Bronson’s men. He tells Red Bill that he is the first man he ever met that hates Bronson like himself.

Bronson’s weak hand causes him to struggle to tighten his saddle. He opens his medicine case to find it empty. He lays his head against his Horse’s saddle while Vonnet watches from nearby.

Hellen (Anna Chancellor) and a man discuss Bronson who is expected to be missing from tonight’s meeting. She suggests they not let it distract them from their goal. He reminds her of his ability to have Bronson killed at any time. She says they should delay any actions against him.

Steve and Dorian watch Michelle stare at their garden filled with little seedlings. She claims the land as theirs, no one else.

Thompson inspects a large gold nugget while Fred and Ralph watch. Holding out the gold, he assures them this is it. Ralph gets a closer look. Excited, Thomas asks if he can identify gold. He stares at it intently. They ass him where the gold vein is located. He says it is under Steve’s house. Fred tells him that they want their money because they are done. Ralph threatens to put him in the graveyard because his father if he refuses to open his safe. Thompson accuses them of believing he is a liar. As he pretends to get money out of the safe, he retrieves his gun and shoots Ralph and Fred.

Red Bill and McCoy gather their belongings.

A man opens the back of a wagon to let Matilde (Charlotte Gentile) emerge. Showing the young girl a book, Hellen asks what they told her about tomorrow. Matilde says, “The new day.” She explains, “the demons will gather, in which the darkness will open the eyes of the blind.”

Symone returns to The Red Carriage.

Dorian lies between Steve and Michelle.

Thompson sits between a dead Ralph and Fred.

Symone looks at herself in the mirror. She gradually removes the bandage from her face to expose several freshly healed lacerations.

Bronson, Vonnet, and several other men wait on their horses. Red bill can be seen in the distance, with his ax drawn as the episode comes to an end.

 

That Dirty Black Bag Review

The episode before the finale, I was expecting so much more. The pace was slower than ever, and the scenes filled with fluff as usual. I am always thrilled to see Travis Fimmel and Francesco Piacentini-Smith on stage together.

Douglas Booth is finally given the opportunity to show off his skills. His stellar performance was the highlight of the episode. I question McCoy’s intent when he asked for his assistance. It is difficult to forget his corrupt past and the fact that Bronson is his biological brother. Hopefully, Red Bill doesn’t let his guard down when these two are together.

What does Hellen have planned for young Matilde. Is she going to have her sacrificed? She did refer to the eye picture as a “cult symbol.”

Too little airtime for The Red Lantern crew. None of the girls stick out because their performances are always cut short. Would love to see Symone absorb some of Eve’s courageousness and intrepidness.

I couldn’t imagine the show getting renewed for a second season. It had potential but fell flat on so many levels. The consistent violence is uncompelling and unjustifiable.

The episode was a big disappointment as it didn’t build up anticipation for the finale. It deserves a 5.5. Get more That Dirty Black Bag recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking on the link to learn more.