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"Hatless"
Season 1, Episode 9
Images-9
Air date May 11, 2010
Written by Dave Andron
Directed by Peter Werner
U.S. Viewers 2.09 million
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"Hatless" is the ninth episode of the first season, and the ninth episode in the series overall. It was written by supervising producer Dave Andron and directed by Peter Werner. It first aired on May 11, 2010.

Plot[]

Synopsis[]

While away from the Marshall's office because of a forced "vacation," Raylan comes to the aid of his ex-wife after she is threatened by dangerous loan collectors who are looking for her husband.

Recap[]

Open at a bar, where Raylan is getting drunk while waiting for Winona. He is currently on a "well-earned vacation" from law enforcement. Two loud drunks are getting rowdy at the end of the bar, bragging about their conquests. Raylan asks them to turn down the volume. "I didn't order assholes with my whiskey," he says. The three step outside - and Raylan, after putting up a good fight, ends up on the ground getting pummeled and stomped. The bartender steps outside with his pump shotgun noisily displayed, to stop the beating. Soon after, Winona appears to help her ex-husband sit up.

She drives Raylan back to his hotel room — and tells the lawman about her visit from Duffy. "He was on that list I gave you," Winona says. "If the names on that list were clean, why did you go see Gary?" She then helps Raylan take off his boots before asking him to stay away from her home. Winona doesn't object when the lawman suggests that he might pay a "peaceful" visit to Duffy, though. "Are you capable of that?" she jokes.

Cut to Gary, who pays a visit to family man and former football player Toby. "I got an investment opportunity for you," Gary says. "Shopping mall." Toby smells trouble. Indeed, Gary admits that he is currently "overextended." Worse: he took some money from people he "shouldn't have." Toby offers muscle instead of money. "You know I miss being the baddest guy on the field," the former University of Kentucky and NFL player says with a grin.

Raylan, meanwhile, pays a visit to Duffy and his "muscle," a former professional boxer. "If either of you go near Gary or Winona, I'll come back here and upend your entire existence," the off-duty marshal says after some banter. After Raylan leaves, Duffy tells his goon to tail Raylan and then "put him in the ground."

Later, Duffy calls his boss (a Mr. Arnett), who tells Duffy to keep calm — and to have a long, productive talk with Gary. Speak of the devil, Gary suddenly shows up with Toby. "Just get me the money," Duffy says. "All these little visits are getting pretty tiresome." Gary starts jabbering about doubling Arnett's money in 24 months while Toby out-and-out threatens. Duffy is unimpressed by either pitch. He even offers Toby a chance to back out, but the former athlete is enjoying his role as enforcer far too much. Bad decision.

Raylan, in the meantime, heads back to the bar in search of his beloved cowboy hat. "Wouldn't it be easier just to go buy yourself a new hat?" the bartender asks. Sure, but when did Raylan ever do "easy?"

The marshal next pays a visit to the wisecracking informant, Arnold Pinter, from an earlier episode, who warns Raylan that Duffy is "mercurial" and Arnett has hired him. Raylan knows Arnett by "reputation." In short, anyone involved with either thug is in trouble. To prove the point, we cut to Toby's home. Duffy and his goon enter — and the latter promptly — and brutally — beats Toby to the ground, and then beats and stomps him some more.

Later, Duffy and his goon surprise Gary in a parking lot. Duffy orders the man to pay up. The goon punches Gary in the face and then tosses him Toby's Super Bowl ring. "By the way, next time it will be your wife," Duffy says before leaving. The goon, a former professional boxer, then returns to his home — and finds Raylan waiting. The lawman takes a gun off the goon demands to know what Duffy has planned for Gary and Winona. The goon promptly calls Winona a "dumb bitch," prompting Raylan to deliver one of his patented ultimatums: "Disrespect her again and I'll put a hole in your leg." After several discharges into the couch, for emphasis, of the pistol, the boxer reveals that the plan is to kidnap Winona TONIGHT in order to force Gary to pay.

Raylan quickly calls Winona and tells her to take the gun and get out of the house. She says Gary must have taken the gun as it's gone. "I'll be there as soon as I can," he says. Cut to Gary, who returns to Toby's house. The former player limps to the door on crutches. "You're on your own now," Toby says. Gary apologizes, swearing that the bad guys won't bother him again, and returns Toby's Super Bowl ring.

Meanwhile, Raylan drives Winona to a secure location. She accuses her ex of feeling "good" about Gary's misfortune. "I ain't here to gloat," Raylan says. Winona then defends her choice of man, saying she needed "a little hope" in her life.

After dropping off Winona, Raylan finds Gary at the site of his failed shopping complex plot — armed. The realtor then puts the gun to the side of his head. "If I kill myself at least Winona will get the insurance," Gary reasons. "All I'm trying to do is make things better and I keep making it worse. I'm such a freaking loser!" Raylan talks the man down, urging him to deliver his "pitch" for the project. So Gary does — pointing out where the movie theater, horse stables and stores would go. Raylan is impressed, but says, "It ain't worth dying over." Gary agrees. So the pair head to Duffy's office, where Arnett waits.

Gary admits he doesn't have the money, but hands Arnett the deed for the property. Duffy is incredulous, but Arnett knows the land will be worth even more than Gary owes in a few years. Arnett is interested in the deal but Duffy is angered. "We've been laboring under the assumption that you were going to pay us with a portion of the recovered money," a fuming Duffy says. Duffy then pulls a gun, as does Arnett's bodyguard and the boxer.

BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! Everyone goes down, except for Raylan, Gary and Arnett. Gary takes the opportunity to tackle Duffy, who tries to grab a gun off the floor. "I've shot people I've liked more for less," Raylan tells him, stepping on his arm. Raylan pulls out his cell phone. "I'm going to need some squad cars and an ambulance," he says.

So Raylan drives Gary home to Winona, who embraces her man. A forlorn Raylan watches from the car before driving back to the bar where we opened the episode. Sure enough, the men who beat up Raylan are at the bar — and one of them is wearing the marshal's hat. "I ain't leaving without the hat," Raylan warns. "And I'd be sober this time." After some thought, the man wisely returns the hat to Raylan who exits the bar, adjusting the hat on his head.

A happy ending, indeed.

Appearances[]

First Appearances[]

1. Emmitt Arnett - Shotcaller for the Dixie Mafia who comes to retrieve a payment from Gary Hawkins
2. Toby Griffin - An old friend of Gary's from High School who acts as an enforcer during his meeting with Wynn Duffy

Deaths[]

1. Billy Mac- Enforcer for Wynn Duffy. Shot by Arnett's bodyguard.
2. Arnett's bodyguard - Bodyguard for Emmitt Arnett. Shot by Billy Mac.

Cast[]

Starring cast

Guest cast

Co-starring

Trivia[]

  • This episode features the fewest members of the starring cast with only Raylan Givens and Winona Hawkins appearing.
  • The title of this episode is a reference to Raylan Givens having his signature hat stolen, and is one of the few episodes during which Raylan didn't wear his hat for a majority of the time.
  • This is the final episode that Boyd Crowder is absent from as he would appear in the final three episodes of the season and never miss another episode following Walton Goggins' upgrade to the main cast next season.
  • Wynn Duffy was originally planned to die, but the writing team changed it to a gut injury (as explained in his return in the season 2 episode "Save My Love")[1]

Gallery[]

References[]

External links[]

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