friendship with the hotel's former cook Richardson, who becomes her assistant. When her son Odell arrives in Deadwood intent on making a business proposition to Hearst, she unsuccessfully attempts to convince her son to leave town and return to Liberia, recognizing Hearst's dangerous nature. Her fears are seemingly confirmed when Odell is found dead under suspicious circumstances. She enjoys playing mahjong and seems to have at least some basic understanding of the Chinese language. The character is loosely based on former slave Lucretia "Aunt Lou" Marchbanks, a celebrated cook who worked for several mining superintendents in the Black Hills (though was never employed by Hearst). Caroline Woolgarden Caroline Woolgarden (Jade Pettyjohn) George Hearst George Hearst (Gerald McRaney) is a wealthy mining magnate and later U.S. Senator who first made his fortune on the Comstock, Utah Territory. His employee Francis Wolcott acts on his behalf in attempts to acquire gold claims for him in Deadwood throughout season 2, in less than honest ways. In the season 2 finale, Hearst makes several arrangements with figures in the camp, such as purchasing the Grand Central from Farnum, although Hearst gives no indication of the psychopathic behavior he would exhibit in season 3. Although an avowed misanthrope (as revealed in season 3), he acknowledges the necessities of social propriety by firing Wolcott for cutting the throats of three prostitutes. Tolliver attempts to blackmail Hearst for a 5% commission by claiming he possesses a letter containing Wolcott's admission to the murders. Hearst allows Wu to take over Chinese arrangements from Lee when he learns Lee is burning the bodies of dead prostitutes. In season 3, Hearst remains in Deadwood — personally overseeing his interests in the camp. Obsessed with "the color," Hearst's ultimate goal is total control of Deadwood, or to have it destroyed if he cannot consolidate his power over the camp. To this end he murders several of his own miners when they attempt to form a union and is determined to have control over the Garret claim. He hires Pinkertons to come to the camp and actively stir up trouble. He tries to provoke Ellsworth to violence by shooting at Alma in the street, as a pretext to have Ellsworth killed. When this fails, Hearst has Ellsworth assassinated in his tent on Alma's claim. Trixie shoots Hearst in retaliation but the bullet goes into his shoulder and does not kill him. Alma