Showdown – Fourth Episode: "Trial and Error"

Showdown – Fourth Episode: "Trial and Error" refers to the fourth performance of Showdown, which was improvised on 4/2/11.

Episode Summary

• Clarinda is in bad shape after the beating she got from Celia and fears for the life of her child.
• Judge Thomas Clancy and the jury find Zeke Preston guilty of murder and he is sentenced to death. The judge shows his cavalier ways by insisting no one will be swinging from the gallows when Sam Houston comes to town and Zeke will be shot immediately.
• Sheriff Robert Solomon takes it upon himself to shoot his good friend after reminiscing about the adventures of their youth.
• George confronts Clement to make sure their deal for Clarinda’s baby is still on.
• Sam Johnson’s Black Cat Saloon is not as successful as he thought it would be. Sam decides to take drastic measures but Angelica convinces Sam to give her a day to act instead.
• Delilah and Adelaide reveal they know each other’s dubious pasts and are set to tussle over the upcoming election. They get interrupted by Hank before the situation escalates.
• Elizabeth is gutted after Zeke’s death and takes Miss Jessie’s gun in desperation.
• Sam Houston reaches Showdown to give a speech. His coach is held up by two outlaws, but his bodyguard Jacob dispatches them easily.
• Celia tells Tobias that she’s had a change of heart and she doesn’t want to sleep with him anymore. He beats her and leaves enraged.
• Sam Houston delivers his speech to the people of Showdown and receives mixed reactions.
• Delilah Prudence pulls a gun and tries to assassinate Sam Houston but is stopped by his bodyguard.
• Tobias tries to find understanding for his situation with Clement, who is too preoccupied with the events in town to be interested.
• George sees the bruises on his wife’s face and demands to know what happened. Celia tells him that Tobias tried to rape her. George swears retribution.
• Caleb Forsythe and Sheriff Solomon interrogate Delilah and learn that Clement was involved in the assassination attempt.
• Elizabeth attempts to kill Clement because he didn’t hold up his promising of saving Zeke. In the ensuing shootout Clement is wounded and Elizabeth killed.
• Fancy runs to get the Sheriff and breaks down over the potential death of Clement.
• George brutally murders Tobias for what he thinks Tobias did to Celia.
• The Sheriff arrives at the Jewel and tries to get a confession from Clement about being involved in the assassination attempt on Sam Houston. Clement feigns innocence.
• Judge Clancy tries to wheedle a political position out of Sam Houston but is brusquely turned down. Houston leaves Showdown with his bodyguard.
• Hank and Johnny ponder their firing from the Houston campaign at George and Celia’s restaurant.
• Sam Johnson is delighted about the bad luck that has befallen his competitor Clement. He argues with Caleb to burn down the Jewel while Clement is out of the picture. Instead Caleb introduces him to Adelaide and proposes the three of them take over Clement’s business.