Deadwood, Season Three

A.W. Merrick:
It was gunfire, and it came from your saloon.

Al Swearengen:
Has not the press a duty, Merrick, qualifying its accounts in time of war?

A.W. Merrick:
Are we at war now here in the camp? Has that fact been suppressed as well? Absent formal declaration, Al, information which affects this community is not my prerogative to disseminate. To do so is my sacred responsibility.

Al Swearengen:
Whores currently disseminating a dose, for example?

A.W. Merrick:
To inform within decency's limits. We've had this discussion before.

Al Swearengen:
Citizens better die postulating than touch indecent ink.

A.W. Merrick:
Make a list of the infected whores and account for this morning's gunfire, and I'll publish it all.

Al Swearengen:
I won't, f***ing Merrick, because neither's to my f***ing interests.