Buy Boardwalk Empire

January 1920. On the eve of Prohibition, Atlantic City's Treasurer, Nucky Thompson, condemns alcohol at a Women's Temperance League meeting, where he is noticed by Margaret Schroeder, a pretty, pregnant housewife who comes to him for help in getting her abusive husband Hans a job. Later that evening, the duplicitous Nucky privately tells his ward bosses about the opportunity to make huge profits selling bootleg liquor. At a countdown-to-midnight blast at Babette's Supper Club, he assures Jimmy Darmody, a recently returned WWI vet, that his appointment as "Man Friday" to the new Chief Clerk of the Fourth Ward, Paddy Ryan, will lead to bigger things. Jimmy, meanwhile, has higher aspirations and ends up making an alliance that could have dire consequences for both him and Nucky.
Hide description ▲

Investigating a crime which he feels has been pinned on a scapegoat, straight-arrow Agent Nelson Van Alden pays a visit to Nucky and leaves convinced that the Treasurer is "as corrupt as the day is long." Nucky quickly does damage control, enlisting his brother, Sheriff Elias Thompson, to close ranks with their underlings. Nucky discusses the upcoming election with his aging mentor, Commodore Louis Kaestner, with whom he debates the women's vote issue. Later, before heading out for a night on the town, Nucky rebukes an irate Arnold Rothstein over the phone, then meets privately with Margaret Schroeder, who asks him for help in providing for her children. As a long day ends, a traveling salesman named George Baxter, in town for a few days with an unwilling young beauty named Claudia, makes a startling discovery while on the road home to Baltimore.
Hide description ▲

Jimmyʼs future is clouded by an unlikely witness to the woods massacre; Margaret takes a new job; Chalkyʼs team pays a big price for his success.
Hide description ▲

Nucky purges some bad childhood memories; Jimmy forges a new alliance with a fellow veteran; Luciano and a friend cut a deal with the D'Alessio brothers.
Hide description ▲

Nucky asks Margaret to toe the party line; Angela witnesses Jimmy's violent side; Capone faces a crossroads; Van Alden grapples with his emotions.
Hide description ▲

Nucky and Atlantic City brace for change on Election Day; Torrio brokers a deal between two nemeses, with far-reaching consequences; Jimmy ponders his future, as do Margaret, Agent Van Alden and Eli.
Hide description ▲

Nucky is rocked by an insurrection among his inner circle; Chalkyʼs life and livelihood are threatened by a vicious KKK attack; Margaret copes with her sonʼs disciplinary problems; Angela vies with Gillian for Jimmyʼs affections at home; Van Alden shows his wife Rose around town as an anniversary present.
Hide description ▲

Concerned about losing his grip on Atlantic City, Nucky deliberates a countermove while trying to learn who in his inner circle betrayed him. As agents scour the Treasurerʼs office for incriminating evidence, Margaret strikes a pose from the past to help Nucky avoid further trouble in the present. In New York, Arnold Rothstein puts Jimmy on hold, but Meyer Lansky and Lucky Luciano loom as possible trading partners. Chalky is badgered in prison by Dunn Purnsley, a jailmate with an ax to grind; Owen Sleater, an advance man for Irish nationalist John McGarrigle, scouts the Thompson residence; the Commodore introduces Eli to "the men who made this city."
Hide description ▲

With the Commodore using his Coast Guard connections to put the squeeze on Atlantic Cityʼs liquor shipments, Nucky reaches out to Washingtonʼs new Attorney General, Harry Daugherty, to return a political favor. In an effort to prove his worth, Owen intervenes on a delivery intended for struggling casino operator Lolly Steinman. Two sets of dinner guests clash at Babetteʼs; Margaret sheds her pretense with Katy and the household staff; Lucy chafes at her enforced loneliness.
Hide description ▲

At a birthday party for Mayor Bader, Nucky's attorney has a legal brainstorm that could turn the tide in Nuck's election-rigging case. Facing a local liquor surplus, Jimmy and Mickey head to Philadelphia in search of buyers, while Nucky strikes an unlikely deal to get booze into Atlantic City. Eli frets over the Commodore's ability to lead; Margaret doles out staff bonuses; Chalky is cornered at work and at home; Owen puts his munitions expertise to work; Van Alden's agents target Mickey's warehouse; Richard lets down his guard in the name of art; Gillian recalls her "first time" with the Commodore.
Hide description ▲

After paying lip service to his enemies, Nucky introduces a surprise guest speaker at a Memorial Day dedication for war veterans. With his options dwindling, Eli questions his allegiances, but ends up digging himself a deeper hole. Nucky gets a new lawyer; Jimmy is taught a painful lesson by a Commodore crony; Richard goes hunting deep in the forest.
Hide description ▲

Nucky orchestrates a risky liquor delivery in Philadelphia; Attorney General Daugherty faces a quandary that could complicate Nuckyʼs case; Jimmy finds a new mentor in Leander Whitlock, the Commodoreʼs longtime lawyer; Margaret confesses her sins; Lucy struggles in solitude, while Van Alden wrestles with his conscience.
Hide description ▲

While Nucky enlists heavyweight champ Jack Dempsey to promote the wireless broadcast of his upcoming fight, Jimmy faces a decision that could shape the future of Atlantic City. Margaret travels to Brooklyn for a bittersweet reunion with the family she left behind in Ireland. Irked by the arrival of Daughertyʼs new federal prosecutor, Esther Randolph, Nelson weighs his options as his personal and professional problems converge. Badly in need of support, Lucy visits an old flame for a handout. Owen settles one score, and sets his sights on a new conquest.
Hide description ▲

In the wake of a personal loss, Nucky solicits advice on his political situation from Arnold Rothstein, while Eli remains suspicious of his brotherʼs actions. Nucky finds himself in the unfamiliar position of showing gratitude toward a federal agent; Angela meets a new friend at the beach, and eavesdrops on her husbandʼs treachery; Nelson gets a nanny; Nucky approaches Owen with an overseas proposition; Jimmy flexes his muscles, at Mickey Doyleʼs expense.
Hide description ▲

Arriving in Belfast, Nucky and Owen meet with IRA leaders with a barter proposition. Meanwhile, in Atlantic City, Jimmy and his partners broker a deal with George Remus for his "medicinal" alcohol before taking a break to see/hear the Dempsey fight. Margaret frets when Emilyʼs illness takes a turn for the worse; Dunn Purnsley orchestrates a workerʼs strike at the Ritz; Waxey Gordon takes action against Manny Horvitz in Philadelphia; Randolph and Clifford Lathrop grill Halloran about Nuckyʼs past.
Hide description ▲

Undercut by Nucky, who has a new source for alcohol, Jimmy and his partners look to cultivate a new revenue stream in Atlantic City. With the peak tourist season approaching, the Commodoreʼs crew faces a choice in dealing with the cityʼs striking workers: negotiate or fight back. Fearing that sin has led to misfortune, Margaret approaches Father Brennan with an "act of devotion." Nucky gets a new lawyer; Van Alden faces an uncertain future; Manny Horvitz takes exception to a debt payment.
Hide description ▲

With Margaret pondering the consequences of sin, Nucky prepares her for a worst-case scenario as Esther Randolph plays out her trump cards. Jimmy revisits his college days with Angela and Gillian ; Mickey Doyle chafes at sharing his liquor profits; Eli refuses to cop a plea. Nelsonʼs past comes back to haunt him, tipping the scale in Nuckyʼs favor.
Hide description ▲

With Nuckyʼs trial looming, Jimmy looks to make amends. After weighing an offer from Esther Randolph, Margaret makes a decision that will change the course of her future - and Nuckyʼs.
Hide description ▲

On a deserted beach road near Tabor Heights, N.J., some men in suits are attempting to change a tire while Gyp Rosetti (Bobby Cannavale) is getting impatient. A perfectly nice-looking stranger comes up and offers to help loosen a rusted lug with some "3-in-1." When Rosetti asks, "What's that?" the guy bluntly replies, "Oil; what else?" The guy gets the oil and Gyp makes it clear he was a little annoyed by the "What else?" response. The man tries to make clear that he meant no harm. The man's little dog comes over and Rosetti asks its name. The man says, "Regina, it means 'queen.'" Things seems fine and they wish each other a nice day. As the man walks away, though, Rosetti rushes up behind the good samaritan up behind him and bludgeons him death with the tire iron, all while shouting, "What else could it be? Could be this? Or maybe it could be this?" and continuing to curse the man while swinging the iron at his head.
It's Winter in Atlantic City on the eve of 1923. A boy brings a coffee delivery to what appears to be a heavily protected hideout where Owen Slater (Charlie Cox), Micky Doyle (Paul Sparks) and Nucky Thompson are waiting. Nucky is talking to a bound man in a chair who says his name is Nate. Nucky insists to Nate that he's not angry and realizes that Nate steals things for a living. Manny Horvitz (William Forsythe) smacks the guy in the back of the head now and then to get a response. Nucky runs through the details of a theft at one of his warehouses, where Doyle was supposed to be standing guard. It soon becomes clear that Nucky is more annoyed with Doyle than he is with Nate, because Nate was only doing his job. Doyle, clearly, was not. Nate is pleased when Nucky tells Manny to untie him. He's not so pleased when Nucky adds, "Oh, but before you do, put a bullet in his head." Manny does the deed after telling Nate, "Certain people you do not steal from."
Margaret is prepping for New Year's festivities at the house. Teddy takes interest in news of aviatrix Carrie Duncan's pending flight across North America.
At the Commodore's house which she has turned into a high class brothel, Gillian (Gretchen Mol) is writing a check to the coal company under Jimmy's name. She's running a meeting of the Artemis Club, introducing a new girl, and telling the gathered ladies to resist the urge to partake in drinking and remember why they're there. Richard Harrow (Jack Huston) comes into the room chasing Tommy, and Gillian briefly introduces him as a war veteran. One of the ladies seems to take interest.
Back in Chicago, Johnny Torrio (Greg Antonacci), Al Capone (Stephen Graham) and Jake Guzik (Joe Caniano) are counting money when rival Irish gangster Dean O'Banion (Arron Shiver) pays a visit. Torrio and Capone tell O'Banion he's encroaching on their territory, which he denies. O'Banion says he thought he was fine doing business where he was, and Al isn't buying it. O'Banion, on his way out, tells Al to say hello to his kid, "or at least wave," knowing that Al's son is deaf. Torrio tells Al to calm down and says it isn't worth a war. Al says it's his New Year's resolution keep calm. A moment later, after Torrio's gone, Al says he's "gonna see" O'Banion later. The other man asks him about his resolution and Al says, "Well, New Year's ain't 'til midnight."
U.S. Attorney General Harry Daugherty (Christopher McDonald) pays a visit for a meeting. Nucky suggests to Harry that President Harding 's administration is under some heat. He asks everyone to leave the room and Nucky and Harry start getting into the real stuff. Nucky is upset that he's paying $40,000 a month for protection and things seem to be spinning out of control. Harry warns Nucky that given what he's up to he's better off not throw rocks from his glass house. Harry tells Nucky that he's going to be taking his payments in cash through a new middle man who will be in touch. Harry notices a Carrie Duncan headline in the paper and asks Nucky what he thinks of her. "That she should spread her legs and leave spreading the wings to her husband," Nucky replies.
Meanwhile, Margaret (Kelly Macdonald) is touring the new pediatric annex to St. Theresa's hospital that she and Nucky funded. A woman walks in asking faintly for help. Blood pours from between her legs and she collapses. The tour continues, but Margaret is stunned.
Nelson Van Alden (Michael Shannon), under the assumed name of "George Mueller" as he is still on the run from a murder indictment, is a door-to-door salesman selling irons in Chicago and not having much success.
Harrow is at a carnival game blowing people's minds with his shooting skill. Tommy asks a little about his mother, and Harrow realizes Tommy is referring to Gillian and not Angela.
At the hospital, Margaret asks a doctor about the woman he saw. The doctor says she miscarried and adds that her baby's death could have been prevented if someone had told her to avoid raw milk. The doctor reminds Margaret that she's on the board of the hospital and tells her the hospital doesn't provide "even the most elementary prenatal care." She asks him what he expects her to do and he says, "Nothing."
Nucky drops by the warehouse to visit Doyle and Manny. Slater and Nucky give Manny the name of Roland Smith the driver in the warehouse robbery that Nate was killed for earlier. The man's hiding outside Philly. Nucky tells Manny to spare him the interrogation and leave the body as a message to anyone else who'd like to consider stealing from him. Manny isn't wild about the assignment because his wife makes a nice dinner for New Year's. He agrees to do it, though, when Nucky agrees to let him have his own operation. Manny vows that in three months he'll be lining Nucky's pockets with money. Slater simply reminds him to make sure Roland Smith is dead before tomorrow.
Van Alden stops and looks at himself in a hallway mirror in an apartment building and gives himself an affirmation. He knocks on another door only to get it slammed in his face.
Nucky's and Margaret's Egypt-themed New Year's party is raging. Eddie Cantor (Stephen DeRosa) shows up with singer Billie Kent (Meg Chambers Steedle), who impresses Nucky with her flair.
Harrow is showing Tommy a painting that Angela painted. He shows Tommy the signature in the bottom corner. Tommy wants to make a picture, so Harrow gives him a sheet of paper and a pencil. Harrow tells Tommy that Angela drew him once, a long time ago. Gillian walks in on this conversation and seems bothered that Tommy is making a picture, as Tommy says, "like my mother she painted that one." Gillian reminds Tommy that she's his mother now, and orders him to come with her because it's time for bed. Gillian gives Harrow a look before leaving the room.
Al Capone pays a visit to O'Banion's flower shop. And just as things are starting to get heated, in walks Van Alden selling his goods. O'Banion pretends Van Alden is an employee who was supposed to have arrived a while ago and tells him "we've got company." O'Banion tells Al that he'd better watch it unless he wants a taste of what's in Van Alden's briefcase. Van Alden holds it up and unlocks it menacingly. Al and his man leave. O'Banion locks the door and tells Van Alden he doesn't know who he is but he just made a pal. O'Banion starts to prep a bouquet for Van Alden to take to "Mrs. Mueller." He also asks about what Van Alden's selling. When he says he's selling irons, O'Banion says he'll take two dozen. Van Alden is grateful.
At Nucky's party, Nucky seems quietly taken by Billie Kent as she sings with Eddie Cantor. Lucky Luciano (Vincent Piazza), Arnold Rothstein (Michael Stuhlbarg), Meyer Lansky (Anatol Yusef) and George Remus (Glenn Fleshler) are all eyeing her, as well. Rothstein mentions that he's her landlord. She rents a house of his in Manhattan. Gyp Rosetti shows up and was expected. Nucky says hello and when Rosetti mentions he had a flat tire, Nucky asks whether it was near Tabor Heights. "I spent the last eight hours wiping grease from my hands," Rosetti says. Rosetti is holding the dead man's dog. Rosetti starts to talk business with Nucky and Eddie Cantor interrupts to tell Nucky that Cleopatra requests his presence. Rosetti is annoyed at being interrupted (and we know what happens when psychopath Rosetti gets annoyed). Nucky tells him to relax and pinches his cheek. This also doesn't seem to be taken particularly kindly, but Rosetti says nothing. Nucky goes to make the toast and everyone cheers while Rosetti simply glares.
Van Alden arrives at his company's office and there's a party going on. He's happy because he sold his 24 irons and should have won the sales contest, but learns that even though he sold 24 irons more than the man who won the tally was done at 9:00 p.m. and it's now almost 10:00. Van Alden says he understood the tally would be done at 10:00 and expresses he was counting on the sales bonus. His manager blows off his concerns and tells him to have a drink. Van Alden tells him he doesn't consume alcohol, and the manager says he's off "to get slopped."
Back at the party, Margaret talks to St. Theresa's medical director Dr. Landau, who was leading the hospital tour, about the prenatal care idea. She says she was talking to a doctor about it, and Landau asks her which doctor. She says she doesn't remember and says it was an older doctor (it wasn't). Nucky walks over and Landau tells him Margaret was lecturing him about how the hospital was somehow complicit in the woman's miscarriage. They're soon distracted, through, when some "servants" are introduced and they carry in a chest containing "King Tut's treasure." It's filled with real jewels and valuable treats for the guests, who go nuts over it. Rothstein and the others simply look on.
Gillian talks to Harrow and asks him if he likes living at the house. He says yes, and she asks him to stop filling Tommy's head with stories.
Rothstein, Rosetti, Luciano, Lansky, Remus and another man are sitting at a table in Nucky's basement. Rosetti starts talking business again, but Nucky tells him he won't be selling alcohol anymore because "things have changed." He says he's got well-placed friends and needs to keep things simple, so he'll only be selling to one person: Rothstein. If anyone wants, they can buy from him. Rosetti is annoyed, saying there'll be a 50 percent mark-up. Rothstein invites Rosetti to buy from Brooklyn. "New year, new rules," Nucky says.
Rosetti is not happy at all. He insults everyone in the place, last and most forcefully Nucky. Rosetti ends it all by saying, "Nobody here can take a joke," and walking out. On his way out through the party, Rosetti sees Margaret and hands her the dog. "For your kids," he says, after thanking her for a lovely evening. Nucky and Slater see this and are a little confused.
Manny toasts with his wife and she tells him she's getting changed for bed. He goes and gets his gun.
Van Alden comes home and nursemaid Sigrid (Christiane Seidel) is there, holding their baby boy. Abigail has a cold. Van Alden tells Sigrid he lost the contest. She says next year will be better. He tells her the flowers are for her.
As soon as the last guest leaves, Nucky yells at Margaret for putting him in the middle of whatever cause she's working on this time. He reminds her that his name is on that hospital and she adds that hers is, as well. She tells him not to pretend he doesn't enjoy "playing the benefactor," and he reminds her that she made him a benefactor by giving that land away, that he had no choice. They're shouting now and Nucky sees Teddy sitting on the stairs listening.
"Is it New Year's yet?" he asks. Margaret tells him it is, and asks if he couldn't sleep.
Nucky says nothing, counts out cash and hands it to Margaret, simply saying, "Tips, for the staff."
Nucky gets his coat and prepares to leave. Margaret tells him the bishop's office called and they need an answer regarding the St. Gregory Award. Nucky says he'll think about it and adds, "Happy New Year." He leaves.
Manny prepares to leave and his wife brings him a gift. It's "a new hat, for a new year." The car outside honks and Manny shouts that he's coming. He tells his wife not to wait up. Manny opens the door and sees Harrow, who points a shotgun at Manny's head and fires squarely at Manny's left eye, spraying blood all over Manny's entry way. As Harrow walks away, we see that Manny's driver has also been shot in the head.
Margaret lays in bed alone and can't sleep. She turns on the light and reads the story about Carrie Duncan's cross-country flight.
Nucky is at his office, pours himself a drink and puts his gun in his desk drawer. He massages his hand, which seems to be hurting a little. Nucky goes to his bedroom and finds Billie Kent laying on his bed in just her "step ins" and waiting for him. She asks him if he enjoyed himself. He says he's "never had so much fun pretending I didn't know someone." They start to make love.
Early the next morning, Margaret walks out onto the beach. Some other people are there as well, waiting to see Carrie Duncan's plane, which was set to take off from nearby Cape May. Some of the others cheer Duncan on, wishing her luck. Margaret says nothing, but looks almost equally sad and happy as she watches Duncan's plane fade into the distance.
Hide description ▲

Eli has been released from prison and Mickey Doyle is there to pick him up. Mickey cracks jokes while Eli says nothing. Before they leave, Eli asks Mickey how he's still alive. Mickey tells Eli "things have changed" and that Nucky is a hard man to get to these days. Mickey also reports on the killing of Manny Horvitz, and says no one knows why or who shot his face off. Mickey tells Eli that Nucky now wants Eli to work for Mickey. Eli gets out of the car. Mickey follows along and reminds Eli, who's walking away, that "there's no one else coming for you." Eli says nothing and gets back in the car.
Rosetti is back in Tabor Heights, plotting his next move. He talks up a gas station attendant, wondering about the distance to New York and who might know what's really in the trucks that come in and out of the gas station, which is the last one in Jersey on the way to Staten Island.
Margaret relays the story of the woman at the hospital who lost her child because she didn't have proper prenatal care to another woman, Mrs. Predock. Slater drops by. Mrs. Predock steps away. Margaret asks Slater to remind Nucky about the St. Gregory award he's won and says it wouldn't be proper to turn it down. Margaret tells Slater she has business to tend to at the hospital and he offers her a ride. She tells him she has a driver.
Nucky is waking up with a naked Billie Kent. They make some joking references to how she looks like The White Rock Girl when she's crouched down to tend to a leaky radiator. He wants her to ask Rothstein about fixing the leak.
An aspiring doctor looking to take the hand of Chalky's daughter Maybelle in marriage pays his prospective father-in-law a visit. Chalky asks him to "doctor" him. Purnsley watches curiously while the young man examines Chalky. He looks at Chalky's hands and tells him he has a mineral deficiency, suggesting he eat more vegetables. Chalky directs Purnsley to have a big plate of greens cooked up, then welcomes to young man to the family.
Margaret visits the woman at the hospital who had the miscarriage. The woman mentions she's brought nine kids into the world and that five lived. Margaret's questions make the woman wonder if it's feared that she's about to skip out on her hospital bill. Margaret asks more questions to get a sense of what the woman's life is like and the woman tells Margaret it's none of her business.
Nucky walks into an empty room. There's a fish bowl with a $100 dollar inside and a voice from another room tells him to "put the money in the bowl" through a closed door. Nucky refuses, saying he won't give $40,000 to someone without knowing who he's giving it to. The man says, "It's the entire essence of the system." Nucky says he's leaving, but he hears the man move to open the door to his room and turns back to enter. Nucky meets Gaston Bullock Means (Stephen Root), special investigator from the U.S. Department of Justice. Nucky asks where Jess Smith is, and Means tells him Jess is "conspicuously absent." Means goes on about how the bribery system is supposed to work through anonymity, but Nucky wants to know what's going on between Smith and Harry Daugherty. Means says his understanding is that they're no more than close friends. Means suggests Nucky could get his answers in a different conversation, in a difference room. Nucky asks how much that would cost him, and Means asks Nucky how much he would trust a man he could buy within five minutes of meeting him. Nucky says he wouldn't, and Means says they face a paradox. Nucky hands over the money and just as he's about to leave, another "customer" walks into the empty room, sees and hears nothing but the fishbowl, and puts a stack of cash into it. It's George Remus, and Means allows Nucky to take a look through the peephole, then asks Nucky to leave through a different door and sends his regards to Rothstein, whom he knows Nucky is meeting with later.
At the hospital, Margaret visits Dr. Mason, the doctor who first told her about the poor prenatal care at the hospital. She tells him it's been bothering her. Mason is short with Margaret again, saying he's frustrated. Margaret wonders why he seems to be blaming her for his problems. She leaves angrily, but sees Dr. Landau in the hall and comes back and gives Dr. Mason a speech. She asks him whether he has a real proposal for how to treat pregnant women. He casually says, "It's a Catholic hospital," to which she reminds him he knew that when he spoke to her last time. He asks how she proposes to persuade Dr. Landau, and she tells him he may not ask. Then she insults his pipe tobacco.
Mickey and Eli are watching the Tabor Heights gas station. The sheriff rolls up and Mickey steps out to give the sheriff and his partner a payoff in advance of a convoy coming through the next night. The second half of the payment will be with the convoy. The sheriff first claims he doesn't recognize Eli, who reminds the man that he once came around Atlantic City asking for a job. But as they walk away, the sheriff calls out, "You take care, now, Sheriff Thompson."
Chalky's kids are talking about music when Chalky comes in and tells Maybelle that her beau came to see him. Maybelle tells Chalky that Samuel is a nice man and he's going to be a good doctor, but she doesn't seem that into him. She asks Chalky how old he was when he married her mother, and whether he "knew" she was the one. He tells her that her mom's father didn't like him much until he ran into some problems and Chalky helped him out. He doesn't want to say how. Maybelle tells Chalky she's not ready for marriage and kids, and doesn't think she ever will be at least not with Samuel. Maybelle insists on knowing how Chalky helped her grandfather, but Chalky isn't about to talk about that. He tells Maybelle she's marrying Samuel.
Mickey drops Eli off at his house and tells him to be ready the next morning at 8:00 am. Eli curses him. He goes inside and his kids are excited to see him. His oldest son has been working in a lumber yard and offers a handshake instead of a hug.
Rosetti shows up inside a diner and asks the young waitress to describe spaghetti and meatballs to him. She does, and he orders it. He asks for some wine, but she says it's illegal. He suggests there might be some hidden back behind the soda pop, but before she can respond the Tabor Heights sheriff walks in and suggests the coffee. Rosetti plays along and orders "spaghetti and coffee." Rosetti tells the sheriff that he and his partner are staying in town, and the sheriff tells him Asbury Park and Atlantic City are "where the action is." He suggests Rosetti "head back to New York" if those two options are too far. Rosetti asks how he knows they're from New York.
"Call it a hunch," the sheriff says.
They get their spaghetti and Rosetti chokes down the first bite before looking over to his partner and saying, "Better than mama's, huh?"
Nucky meets with Rothstein and they chat about Means. Nucky asks Rothstein about getting mixed up in Daugherty's issues, and Rothstein says the protection is good and the cost is insignificant. He also thinks the precautions, like collecting money in a fishbowl, are worthwhile, "considering the ongoing volatility in the marketplace." Nucky thinks Rothstein is poking around for info about Manny Horvitz's killing, and he says Waxy Gordon comes to mind. Rothstein agrees, but Nucky says it's not Waxy, because he would've had to clear it with Rothstein, who would have said no, because he's in business with Nucky. Rothstein suggests maybe that's what he wants Nucky to think. Nucky says if that were the case, Rothstein wouldn't be so obvious about it. Rothstein then reminds Nucky to be paying attention to their business arrangements, and notes that a shipment scheduled for that day was going to come the next day a day late. Nucky retorts that Rothstein should fix the radiators in the apartment building he owns, clearly suggesting that he's been spending time with Billie Kent. Rothstein asks Nucky if he's considering renting, and says east of the park would suit him better. Nucky asks Rothstein what he's suggesting, and he simply says, "She's a charming and vivacious young woman."
Margaret asks a maid to clean Nucky's suit for the bishop's award ceremony. The maid asks if she didn't get the message that Nucky wouldn't be attending. Margaret tells her to clean the suit anyway, adding, "I'm afraid he's mistaken."
At his home, Eli finds an unopened gift he sent his son, Will. It's a model airplane with a note that reads, "We'll build this together."
The next morning, Eli is sitting at the dining table with the built model plane when Will comes down the stairs. He tells Will he's proud of what he's done for his mother and siblings. He tells Will now that he's home, he's going to get back on the horse so Will won't have to work anymore. He thinks Will should go back to school. Will's boss rolls up and Eli grabs the plane and offers it to his son, wishing him, "Happy two birthdays ago." Will looks at it and says, "Pretty keen." He leaves.
Mickey is watching the workers load trucks for the night's shipment. Eli shows up late. Mickey reminds him he's late, and Eli gets to work loading crates.
Nucky and Billie are telling another performer about their "White Rock Girl" idea, which is complete with hummingbird wings. Billie steps away to chat up another man. Nucky looks jealous. Billie comes back and tells the other girl that she ran into the spider of Wall Street. Billie then proceeds to place her hand on Nucky's crotch under the table, which seems to assuage his jealousy.
Slater lays out the agenda for the shipment, which will make exactly two stops: One at the gas station in Tabor Heights and the next at the final destination in Brooklyn. Slater says hello to Eli and tells him he'll report to Nucky that he's settled in. Eli asks Slater if he's "the golden boy" now, and Slater says he sees to it things run smoothly. He offers Eli an extra $50 for the trip to New York. Eli says he doesn't need a handout, and adds that he doesn't have a gun. Slater hands him one.
At an underground dance, Samuel is upset because Maybelle doesn't want to marry him, but won't come out and say it. A man bumps their table and Samuel yells at the man to watch it. The man pulls a knife and slashes Samuel's face, and suddenly Purnsley steps out and beats the knife-wielding man senseless. Chalky tells the band to keep playing, then asks Maybelle what the hells she's doing there. Chalky hands Samuel a handkerchief and tells him to walk and to take Maybelle with him. Samuel goes to tend to the beaten man. Chalky, meanwhile, tells Maybelle to look at him and asks, "Am I interesting now?" Maybelle tears up and says nothing.
Slater and Eli pull up to the gas station, which is dark. The pumps are locked. Slater goes to break into the gas station office and look for a key to the pumps. Just as he breaks the glass, the sheriff walks up and asks what's in the trucks.
"Same as always," Slater says.
"If it's liquor, there's a problem," the sheriff says.
"Since when?" Mickey wonders.
"Since he read the Constitution," says a new voice Rosetti, who emerges from the shadows.
Rosetti breaks the news that he now owns the gas station. Slater says they'll gas up, pay him and move on, flashing his gun a bit. Rosetti pulls his own, and a bunch of other men emerge, guns drawn, from the darkness.
Rosetti pulls a gas pump nozzle and starts letting the fuel flow to the ground, telling Slater and Mickey that they aren't going to get to New York tonight. There's no gas.
Rosetti tells Slater to tell Nucky "Old Pop Collingsworth says hello," referring to the name of the previous owner of the gas station whose name still graces the business.
Nucky cooks for Billie that night. Her phone rings and Nucky asks her not to answer. He tells her he wants people to be honest about what they want. He tells her he wants everything to run by itself so he can stay there forever. She laughs and tells him he knows he can't. He wants to know who's calling.
"I said I'd never tell," she says. "And you said you'd never ask."
The phone rings again.
We see Slater hanging up a phone from inside the home of some neighbors. Slater comes back and asks Eli how many men he counted. Eli says 12, maybe more. Slater asks if he trusts the men in a gunfight, and Eli says, "Not for a second."
Mickey tells Eli and Slater that Rothstein expects to get what he pays for, but Slater says, "He won't be getting it tonight."
Eli and Slater get in their car, and Eli looks back at Mickey and asks, "What's your pleasure, boss?"
Mickey calls out to everyone to turn the trucks around and head back to Atlantic City.
Hide description ▲

Nucky has a nightmare in which he's unable to reach Billie Kent by phone and the operator tells him "the only thing to worry about is when you run out of company, sir." This is followed by Nucky seeing a young boy in front of him. He asks the kid if he's hungry and starts cooking some bacon. Soon, though, instead of holding a frying pan, he's holding a gun with which he inadvertently shoots the boy. Eddie wakes Nucky up and tells him Margaret is on the phone. She tells him the Bishop's man is at the house to make the plans for the St. Gregory award, which is to be presented the next night. Margaret reminds him it's not acceptable to say no. After the phone call, Nucky asks Eddie if Billie called. Eddie says no. Nucky sits up, takes a deep breath and asks if somebody is frying something.
Back at the house, Margaret covers for Nucky, telling the priest that he's busy working. He tells Margaret the plan for the award presentation. Margaret notices her "private audience with the Bishop" isn't on the schedule. The priest says the Bishop is too busy. Margaret suggests that the Bishop is trying to avoid them. She pressures the priest, asking him to see to the meeting. When he doesn't immediately agree, she suggests she might call the Bishop's private secretary. The priest says he'll handle it.
Van Alden is at his desk in the Faraday Iron Company office and has trouble with his pen while the other men watch with anticipation. It's a trick pen and when the ink squirts in his face they all laugh. The manager walks in and gives a motivational speech while Van Alden tries to clean himself up. He hides behind his briefcase while his manager hands him the plan for the day.
Nucky visits Rosetti in Tabor Heights with a police escort. Nucky acknowledges that he obviously offended Rosetti in some way, but he's not sure how. Rosetti tells Nucky that he's jeopardized his livelihood by not selling to him anymore. Nucky explains again that he needs to keep things simple. Rosetti suggests that Nucky is going to have a hard time moving his supply from Atlantic City to New York through Tabor Heights, and Nucky decides it'd be easier to make a temporary deal. He tells Rosetti that he'll honor their previous arrangement by setting him up with a month's supply, but after that Rosetti is on his own. Rosetti says it's a "square enough deal," and eventually shakes Nucky's hand after some prodding.
Gillian is on the phone with Lucky Luciano, telling him about problems around what was the Commodore's house such as the roof is leaking. She says he's a partner in the business (it's an upscale brothel now) and he's part responsible for handling such problems. Lucky at one point tells Gillian that her name isn't even on the deed, "it belongs to Jimmy." She says Jimmy will sign it over as soon as he comes home. Lucky tells her to stop screwing around and show him a return on his investment.
Meyer and Lucky set their hot-headed associate Benjamin (not yet "Bugsy") Siegel with heroin in his hat. He's given directions on making the deal. If anything at all goes wrong, he's supposed to walk away. After the kid leaves, Meyer tells Lucky they need to think about cutting Masseria in on their heroin operation because some of it is spreading onto his turf. Lucky isn't happy about it, but Meyer says that if they approach Masseria with terms, they'll look like gentlemen.
Margaret visits the hospital to see Dr. Landau. Dr. Mason is with him and Margaret tells Dr. Landau she has met the younger doctor. Margaret asks Dr. Landau if he'll be attending Nucky's award ceremony. He says he appreciates the invitation and that there are no hard feelings about their argument at the party over Margaret's suggestion that the hospital was giving inadequate prenatal care. Dr. Landau moves on to what he calls more important things and asks about the landscaping plan for the hospital. He tells Margaret that they've ordered the hydrangeas she recommended.
At the warehouse, Mickey has a disagreement with a driver over how much money he brought back from a delivery. The guy tells Mickey he had a different deal with Manny Horvitz. Mickey tells him to take it up with Manny, but the guy accurately notes that Manny is dead. Mickey tells the guy, "How do you think he got that way? By arguing with me." Mickey flashes his gun, and the guy coughs up more cash. Another kid notices this and doesn't say anything. Mickey catches him looking at him, and the kid says he wasn't looking at anything. Mickey sends the kid to deliver whiskey to Gillian Darmody's place.
Nucky waits for Rosetti to show up and remembers sitting in the same room and announcing Jimmy's return from military service. Rosetti shows up. They toast to their good luck, at Rosetti's suggestion "buona fortuna," he says. The waitress comes and Rosetti says he'd like a slice of her. After she leaves, Nucky tells Rosetti that if he's "hot to trot" Atlantic City has plenty to offer. Rosetti says Gillian Darmody's place is his preference. Nucky says he hasn't been. Rosetti knows Nucky knows her. He invites Nucky to join him at Gillian's, but Nucky says they'll do it another time when they're in Rosetti's "neck of the woods." Nucky quickly clarifies that he didn't mean to imply Rosetti lives among trees.
"What? Like a monkey, or something?" Rosetti asks, as if offended. Nucky asks if they're "starting with this again," in reference to Rosetti's penchant for being easily insulted, and Rosetti's makes a monkey noise and laughs.
Meyer sends Ben out to make another deal, but the kid doesn't get halfway down the block before he's attacked by a couple of Joe Masseria's men. Meyer shoots one of them on the spot, but the other gets away after jumping onto a car passing by. The kid flips out, shooting several times as the car speeds away, shouting, "You're dead! I'll kill you!"
Van Alden lays in bed staring at a cracked ceiling while nursemaid Sigrid puts the baby back to bed. She says he is "having the teeth." Van Alden tells her he was awake anyway. She tells him she's soaking his shirt in lemon juice and the ink will be out for tomorrow. He tells her he'll be more careful in the future. She tells him he must share his troubles with his wife. He tells her sales are slow, and she asks him to smile. He barely manages a smirk, but she soon uses other techniques to bring some happiness to his face and elsewhere all while walking him through the confidence he's supposed to exhibit when trying to make a sale.
Rosetti and Nucky are parked outside Gillian's place. Rosetti sees Gillian from afar and says her red hair gives him an ache "right here," pointing at his chest. Rosetti tells Nucky he's glad they worked things out and that he sometimes needs to remind himself "life's better with friends." Nucky tells him, "No one's going to argue with that." Rosetti leaves and Gillian welcomes him at the door. She looks back toward the car he came out of and exchanges glares with Nucky.
The delivery kid arrives at Gillian's place with the whiskey and gives the bottles to Richard Harrow. We see Rosetti being greeted in the background. The kids asks Harrow if he ever gets with the girls, and Harrow just grunts. The kids asks Harrow if he can keep a secret. The kid mentions Manny Horvitz and Harrow says, "I heard his luck ran out." The kid tells Harrow that Manny's luck ran out "and Mickey Doyle's ran in." Harrow asks what he means, and the kid tells Harrow that Mickey shot Manny he heard it from Mickey himself. Harrow says nothing after the kid says that Mickey is not to be messed with.
Nucky sits alone trying to make a phone call and there's no answer. Margaret comes in and asks if he'll be staying at the house tonight. He says they should go to the church the next day together. He tells her he's been having trouble sleeping. "Some warm milk, perhaps," she says, before leaving the room.
Nucky again sits alone.
Rosetti sits somewhat impatiently listening to a girl at Gillian's place reciting poetry. She gets applause afterward, but Rosetti says he didn't understand a word of it, but it was beautiful. Rosetti asks Gillian if they can talk alone. Rosetti soon brings up Gillian's business partner, knowing it's Lucky. He also mentions that Nucky is "worried." Gillian says she wouldn't know about that. She says that she tends to her affairs and Nucky to his, but Rosetti mentions that she has to pay Nucky to operate. "Every business has its costs," she says. Rosetti starts to get upset about it, and he asks, "What do I do? What is my choice?" Gillian cooly responds, "You take care of yourself."
Rosetti tells Gillian she's beautiful and he didn't like the way Nucky treated her when he was dropped off. She says she's "not the only one." She goes on to say she's "heard things." Among them, that Nucky's own brother tried to have him killed. Rosetti says, "Well, lose your own flesh and blood, what do you have?" Gillian seems a little shaken by this and responds, "You don't have anything."
Nucky is uncomfortable in his suit at the church. He and Margaret whisper to each other about it. He can't remember the last time he was in a church and she reminds him it was their wedding day. He tells her he didn't sleep again the night before and she says, "Well, what do they say on Broadway? The show must go on." They walk toward the altar. Nucky sits down and sees the boy from his dream singing in the choir, looking at him, with a bullet hole under his eye and blood slowly dripping from it.
Nucky is called up by the bishop and while he's given the title of "Knight Commander of the Order of St. Gregory," he looks over and still sees the boy with bullet hole on his cheekbone.
Van Alden is at work and the guys invite him out to a speakeasy after work. He says his wife is expecting him. They explain they were just razzing him with the ink gag. One of the guys tells a story of the hazing on his first day the others painted pink polka dots on his car. Van Alden takes a deep breath and says, "Nothing wrong with letting your hair down, I suppose."
Back at the reception following Nucky's award ceremony, Nucky is focused on the boy from the choir. He's distracted when Margaret and Cornelia talk to him. He leaves to use the restroom, but instead makes a call to the operator, again trying to reach Billie Kent.
Margaret introduces the Bishop to Dr. Landau. She put the doctor on the spot by telling the Bishop that Dr. Landau is trying to convince Nucky and Margaret to help start a women's health clinic at the hospital. The Bishop asks Dr. Landau what he has in mind and the doctor stammers through the fact that it's come to his attention that many women who come to the hospital could benefit from specialized pre-natal care. Margaret fills in the blanks, talking about seminars, nutrition, hygiene, and general pre-natal care. The Bishop notes that there are some sensitive topics that would need to be avoided. Margaret says they'll be mindful of such concerns, which they share. The Bishop gives them his blessing and after he leaves Margaret turns to Dr. Landau and says, "I'm afraid you've finally trapped me. We'll sponsor the clinic as you wish." Dr. Landau is speechless.
At the warehouse, Rosetti shows up asking for Nucky. Slater tells him Nucky isn't there. Eli shows up and tells Rosetti he's all loaded up. Rosetti recognizes Eli as the little brother, and says he's heard a lot about him. Eli doesn't respond to this. When Rosetti prepares to leave, Slater tells him Nucky had a message for him. Slater reads off his notes, which we see say, "Bone for tuna," a pronunciation guide for "buona fortuna," or "good luck' in Italian). Rosetti seems a bit shaken, says nothing, and leaves.
Van Alden is out with his co-workers and looks mighty uncomfortable. One of the guys comes back from the bar and tells Van Alden, "They're all out of sarsaparilla. They had a Boy Scout troop in here earlier and they cleaned 'em out." Van Alden asks for a near beer and even one of the women mocks him. She drunkenly walks toward him and spills her drink on him. He's upset, saying, "This was just cleaned and pressed!" He starts to walk out and a raid conducted by the U.S. Treasury and announces that everyone there is under arrest.
Mickey Doyle gets home with a woman and they're laughing it up and having a good time until the lights come on. The woman screams and leaves. Mickey is standing in his boxers and his pants are at his ankles when he sees Harrow sitting in a chair and pointing a gun at him. Harrow tells Mickey to get his hat and pull his pants up. He ushers him out the door.
The Treasury agent asks Van Alden for his name and ID. Van Alden presents himself as George Mueller. When asked, he tells the agent it's his first time at the place. The agent looks at Van Alden and says, "Why do I know you?" Van Alden says he gets that a lot and just has "one of those faces." The agent tells Van Alden that if he pays the fine directly to him, they'll leave it at that. Van Alden hands his wallet over and the guy takes the cash, saying he must be a pitiful salesman if that's all he's got on him. "Don't let me see you here again," the agent says, sending Van Alden on his way.
Rosetti is being driven out of town and tells his driver that Nucky's "real cute" for wishing him good luck in Italian. He thinks Nucky is trying to push him off a cliff while wishing him good luck. Rosetti gets more and more upset as he thinks about it, repeating Nucky's earlier words, "'Nothing's personal'? What the (expletive) is life if it's not personal?" he shouts.
Nucky sits with his ear on the phone. There's still no answer. Eddie reads him congratulatory letters from Mayor Frank Hague and Senator Walter Edge, but Nucky's not interested. He tells Eddie to pull the car around, and Eddie is surprised to learn they're going out. Eddie leaves, and in comes Harrow holding his gun to Mickey Doyle's back while marching into Nucky's office.
Mickey is crying, "I didn't mean nothing by it. It was just a rib, a joke." Harrow holds the gun to Mickey's head while Mickey pleas for forgiveness, crying, "I didn't do it. I didn't do it." Nucky has no idea what's going on. "I didn't kill Manny Horvitz!" Mickey cries. Nucky asks who said he did, and Harrow chimes in, "He did." Mickey says he was just joking, claiming he never went near Manny. Harrow says, "He's telling the truth."
Nucky asks Harrow, "How do you know?"
"How do you think?" Harrow replies.
Mickey asks Nucky to ask Harrow to put the gun away. Nucky does. Harrow does.
Mickey stands up and excuses himself, asking both men if they're "good on this."
Mickey leaves and Harrow stays. Harrow explains, "I waited outside his house. I used a shotgun very close."
"May I ask why?" Nucky says.
"Angela Darmody," Harrow says.
Nucky is surprised, asking, "Not her husband?"
Harrow says, "Jimmy was a soldier. He fought. He lost."
Nucky asks Harrow if he and his family are safe. Harrow assures Nucky that he and Margaret were good to him and "have nothing to fear."
Nucky asks Harrow how many people he's killed, and Harrow replies, "63." Nucky asks if he thinks about any of them and Harrow says, "You know the answer to that yourself." Harrow leaves.
At the hospital, Margaret reports back to Dr. Mason that he would've loved to have seen Dr. Landau's face when she duped him into the women's clinic idea. Dr. Mason says he's amazed she pulled it off, and she decides to take that as a compliment. She opens the door to a cluttered room that's the future home of the women's clinic.
Rosetti stands at his gas station when the Tabor Heights sheriff shows up. The sheriff tells Rosetti he heard from Slater that he'd be headed back to New York. The sheriff starts to walk away and says, "Good luck to you." This rubs Rosetti very wrong. Rosetti calls to the sheriff, picks up a gas pump and says he's going to stick around a while. He sprays the sheriff with gas, flips open his lighter and tosses it, immediately engulfing the sheriff in flames.
Nucky shows up at Billie's apartment, finds the spare key and enters. It is dark. He takes off his jacket, sits on the couch and waits. He immediately falls asleep.
The next morning, he wakes to the sound of cooking. He gets up and walks to the kitchen to find Billie frying bacon. She tells Nucky she got home a little while ago and didn't want to wake him.
"I thought I was having a nightmare," he says.
"About what?" she asks.
"I was alone," Nucky replies.
He walks toward her and she tells him, "Well, you're not alone anymore, are you?"
Nucky rests his head on her back.....
Hide description ▲

"After tracking down a liquor thief, Nucky (Steve Buscemi) and Owen (Charlie Cox) spend a long night hiding out from the feds with the precocious perp. In his boss absence, and with Rothstein (Michael Stuhlbarg) fuming over a late delivery, Mickey (Paul Sparks) overrules Eli (Shea Whigham) to make a routing call that will have far-reaching consequences for Nucky and Gyp (Bobby Cannavale). Margaret (Kelly Macdonald) encounters a familiar face while promoting Dr. Masons (Patrick Kennedy) classes at the new womens clinic at St. Theresas. In New York, Lucky (Vincent Piazza) haggles with Joe Masseria (Ivo Nandi) over heroin splits, while in Chicago, Capones (Stephen Graham) feud with OBanion (Arron Shiver) heats up when one of his collectors gets roughed up on the South Side."
Hide description ▲

Gyp Rosetti engages in some intense autoerotic asphyxiation, with a naked woman choking him with a belt while his masturbates. He yells at her not to stop choking him when she stops for a moment for fear of hurting him. He passes out and stops breathing for a moment, but comes back to life with a huge gasp and asks for a towel.
Eli reports to Nucky and Rothstein about the Tabor Heights situation. Gyp has seized control of the thoroughfare between Atlantic City and New York, and it's causing a problem for them. In all, 11 men were killed in Gyp's ambush on the last run. Lucky, who is also in the room, wonders about Nucky's "million-dollar (expletive) highway." Nucky reminds him it's no longer his highway, it costs "considerably more" than $1 million and it's at least two years away. Eli speaks up and says that between the mud, ice and the law, "it's more than we can manage" to get the quantities Rothstein desires to New York from Atlantic City. Eli is thanked for his input and leaves.
Rothstein and Nucky continue to talk about Gyp, and Lucky points out that Gyp reports up to Joe Masseria. Rothstein says he has "a very delicate truce" with Masseria, and tells Nucky it's not his concern. Rothstein says that what solves a problem for Nucky might create one for him. Nucky says Gyp is like "a mad dog," and that because he doesn't follow any rules, he's bad for all business Nucky's and Rothstein's. At this, Rothstein tells everyone else to leave.
Rothstein and Nucky engage in a heated argument that boils down to a couple of things. Rothstein thinks Nucky runs his business like a "drunken shopkeeper," insults New Jersey in a few different ways and suggests that Nucky is too preoccupied with running off to Manhattan to hook up with "some showgirl," Billie Kent. Nucky fires back at Rothstein, suggesting he's "dead below the waist" and saying he's nothing more than "a little weasel with a good poker face."
Lucky and Slater sit outside hearing the muffled argument through the walls in silence. Rothstein opens the doors and takes Lucky with him, saying, "let's move on to other business."
Van Alden is at his office and is told by a colleague that the boss wants to see him. Van Alden asks what it's about, and the co-worker says, "It sounds like the feds finally caught up with you." Van Alden meets with his boss, who says he was contacted by the Internal Revenue Board. He asks about Van Alden's previous employment, and the ex-agent nervously recites a story about owning a wheat farm in Minnesota. The boss says his tax forms were incomplete and tells Van Alden to fix them. He also hands Van Alden a business card left by the special agent who let him off the hook during the speakeasy raid. The boss asks Van Alden if he's thinking about turning them in and Van Alden forces a chuckle.
Leander Whitlock looks at was once the salon of the Commodore and is now a brothel. He looks sad. He goes to meet with Gillian, who says she has "marvelous ideas" for the club. He reminds her that her costs are exceeding revenue and that can't continue. She lists the problems with the house and asks him if he can help arrange a loan. He asks about Lucky, who's her partner in this business, but she says they differ on what's best for the club. She goes on a soliloquy about how the club is supposed to be a place of dreams for men and women, but Leander isn't buying it. She says the house is collateral for the loan, but Leander reminds her she doesn't own it. When he tells her that the first step in the process to claiming ownership is to pronounce Jimmy dead, she recoils. She says he's prone to long disappearances. He tells her that until he's declared dead she has no ownership, title or credit and she's "wasting an old man's time." He leaves.
Nucky comes to the house to tell Margaret he's going to be away on business for a few days. She tells him he didn't need to tell her about that, but he says he just wanted to make sure everything was OK. She asks what's going on, and whether there will be bodyguards again. He asks about the kids and Margaret worries about whether they're in danger. He hands her two copies of Child Life magazine, one for each kid so they won't fight over it. He leaves.
Treasury Secretary Andrew W. Mellon is called before a committee and is asked about his views on the state of Prohibition. He says the costs of effectively policing it is about five times what Congress has seen fit to authorize. Sen. Edge reminds the committee that the question at hand is about prosecutions over enforcement. Edge wants to know whether the Treasury's efforts might be undermined by the Department of Justice. The number of arrests versus convictions, Mellon says, should allow the committee to draw its own conclusions. Another senator jumps in and asks if there's an issue of incompetence or corruption. Mellon says it's his experience that there's room for both. An aid who was inside the hearing, and handed Edge a report, goes out into the hallway to report back to Gaston Bullock Means. He says Mellon is talking about Means' boss' "dirty hands."
Billie Kent is at a show rehearsal and Nucky watches the choreographer work her through a slip-up. Eddie Cantor sits near Nucky and asks him to wake him if anything happens. The musical is supposed to be a comedy, but it's apparently awful. Nucky asks Eddie if he thinks there's something going on between Billie and Verne, the choreographer.
Van Alden is working on the forms and there is a mysterious knock at the door. It's the agent again. He slips his business card under the door. It has a question mark on the back. Van Alden tells Sigrid he hasn't been completely honest with her. She say she knows his name isn't his name and "the bad people" have made false claims about him stealing and doing bad things. She says they're running and hiding so that the bad persons don't find them. "That is exactly what I was going to say," Van Alden tells her.
Dr. Mason runs a class of women through a clinic session. One of the women says she wishes someone had told her this stuff when she was 13, so she wouldn't have thought she was dying. Afterward, Dr. Mason apologizes to Margaret for having "misjudged" her. She thanks him. They'll see each other again the following evening. Dr. Mason's fiancee shows up and Dr. Mason introduces them.
Slater tells Nucky he doesn't like that "it's out of our hands." Nucky says, "If it goes the wrong way, then someone else is to blame." Billie shows up and Slater leaves. Nucky tells him to stay by his phone. Billie's down because Shubert is closing the show. Nucky suggests they find another actor for the male lead, and suggests the choreographer. Billie says Verne is "no one's idea of a star." Nucky offers to call Lee Shubert and propose some changes. She tells him she doesn't want him to do that. She'd rather just go to sleep.
In Tabor Heights, Rothstein and Lucky meet with Gyp. Gyp tells them "it wasn't the money." He says it was Nucky's attitude and arrogance that got to him. Gyp acknowledges to Rothstein that he said something things he shouldn't have at Nucky's New Year's party, but Rothstein says he has thick skin. "Couldn't do business otherwise," he says. Rothstein says he's short a supplier. Gyp says he's controlling the same ocean that Nucky used to have, and he'll even give Rothstein the same price. A paperboy comes in with the evening edition and Gyp buys one after asking if it's "today's" news. He browses some headlines and there's a moment when he calls back to the kid and complains that even though the kid told him it was "today's" news, "all this stuff happened yesterday." Gyp says he's just kidding and tells the kid to make his room at the motel a regular stop on his route. Back to the conversation with Rothstein and Lucky, Gyp says he has a shipment of whiskey coming in the next night. He invites them to come sample for themselves.
Nucky hosts Eddie Cantor for lunch and gives him a bottle of "passover vodka." Nucky tells Eddie that the show Billie's in, "The Naughty Virgin," needs a star. Eddie says he can't because he's in a Jerome Kern play that starts soon and he's under contract. Nucky says that can be sorted out, but Eddie gets serious and tells Nucky he shouldn't get involved. Nucky isn't pleased, but wishes Eddie the best with his show.
Lansky is unpacking smuggled heroin while his young associate, Benny, is filing serial numbers off a gun.
Margaret is on the boardwalk handing out fliers for the health clinic, and drops in to visit Madame Jinnet. She asks if she can leave some fliers. Madame Jinnet seems to be rushing Margaret to leave and we soon see why. Nucky comes out holding a dress and Margaret is surprised to see Nucky is in town and not out of town as he said he'd be. She tells Madame Jinnet this. Soon enough, Billie walks out wearing a fancy dress and talking about how everything's all so fancy. Margaret is stunned. Nucky starts to make the introduction, but Margaret cuts him off. She knows who Billie is. Nucky says they can discuss later, but Margaret says there will be no need. She starts to leave, but turns around. She hands Billie a flier for the clinic, saying, "I doubt that you're free in the evenings, but"
Eddie is in his hotel room why there's a knock on the door. Purnsley and Chalky come in and ask Eddie to give them a show, on account of the fact that when he comes to town they never do get a chance to see him strut. Eddie starts to do a song-and-dance number for them while Chalky and Purnsley just stare menacingly. Out of breath, Eddie finally relents and says, "Tell the son of a bitch I'll do it."
Means shows up to report to Harry Daugherty's man, Smith, about the committee's proceedings. Smith starts to get nervous, saying he can't keep of the lies and who he told them to. Means suggests putting a bootlegger in jail if the committee is complaining that bootleggers aren't being put in jail. But Smith says the bootleggers are who they're in business with.
Nucky shows up in Margaret's room and asks if he can sit. She says, "It's your house." He sits, she stands. He talks her into sitting down again. He starts to speak and says he's sorry "for demonstrating bad form." When she mocks him for "bad form" being what would distress him, Nucky says he's being honest. She says she knows, and "that's what's making it all use slightly humiliating." Margaret asks if Billie is "in need of rescuing, as well." When he says she seems to be capable of taking care of herself. Margaret suggests that must be hard for Nucky because it's not a role he's comfortable in. He suggests he's changed and Margaret says he's not the only one. She asks him not to check in on the kids before he leaves. Nucky urges Margaret to ask herself "some practical questions."
Van Alden gets to his apartment and hears the special agent talking to Sigrid inside. He walks in and asks Agent Coughlin what he wants. The agent tells Van Alden that he knew he'd recognized him from somewhere, and then he recalled that Van Alden sold him an iron and it was a piece of junk. He's about to pull the iron from his bag and Sigrid comes out of nowhere and clubs Coughlin over the head with something. With two blows, he's knocked to the ground and struggling to cling to life. Van Alden says "he wasn't here to arrest me I sold him an iron." After some tense moments of silence, broken only by Coughlin's painful moans and gasps for air, Sigrid says she'll hold his legs. She shouts, "Husband!" at Van Alden to snap him into action. Van Alden pulls a handkerchief from his pocket and lays on top of Coughlin to suppress his struggling while Van Alden suffocates him with the hanky.
Gillian sees all the girls in the brothel chatting. It's a slow night. She tells them to go out on the porch and attract some customers. She's told them before not to do this, but desperate times That night, Gillian writes Jimmy a letter pleading for him to come home. Signed, "Your Eternally Devoted Mother."
The next night at the clinic, the nun overseeing things points out that Margaret has lost a student from the night before. One woman says it's hard to get away at night and that the morning would be a more convenient time. The nun, however, says it wouldn't work for her schedule. A nurse comes in and tells Margaret that Dr. Mason was called away on an emergency. Margaret decides to teach the class herself, much to the nun's chagrin.
Van Alden goes to the flower shop and asks Dean O'Banion who he got out of a tight spot with Lucky and Lansky a while back  for a favor. He must dispose of a body. O'Banion is intrigued, saying, "Oh, must you, now?"
In Tabor Heights, a new paperboy shows up at the inn with the evening edition. He tells some guys in front that the regular kid is home sick. Gyp's bodyguard is watching the door when the he tells the paperboy, "I'll take it."
"Suit yourself," the kid says before shooting the guard. Inside the room, Gyp is again being choked, but this time belt around his neck is tied to a bed post. He tells the woman to untie him while he reaches for his gun. The kid, who we now know is Meyer's young associate, Benny, shoots and kicks the door open. He gets a shot at Gyp, who shield himself with the naked woman. She takes three bullets. Benny runs down the hall, shooting a couple more of Gyp's men on the way out. The last person he encounters is the regular paperboy, who pleads, "Don't shoot!" Benny does and the paperboy is dead. Benny comes running out of the motel, whooping excitedly as he jumps into a getaway car.
Inside, a naked Gyp traces Benny's steps down the hallway and steps over the bodies some dead and some struggling to breathe of his men. He last sees the paperboy slumped over, just inside the door of the motel.
Nucky goes to visit Billie backstage at her show. She asks him what happened. Yesterday they were closing the show and today they're rewriting it. Nucky feigns ignorance and says Shubert is probably just trying to protect his investment.
Billie gets down to the stage and stands next to Eddie, who's in full costume for rehearsal. She tells him he's a lifesaver and adds, "Whatever you're doing here, I promise I won't let you down."
"Lucy Danziger," he replies. "Ever heard of her?"
Billie shakes her head, no.
"The next one won't know a God damn thing about you, either," Eddie says.
Eddie plays it up well on stage as he and Billie rehearse while Nucky watches. Slater delivers news to Nucky from Rothstein: Four fatalities none of them Gyp Rosetti.
Nucky says nothing, just stoically turns and continues watching the rehearsal.
Hide description ▲

Teddy wakes Margaret in the middle of the night, saying there's a fire. Sure enough, Margaret looks outside and sees a blaze in the greenhouse. Slater (Charlie Cox) reports that he's looked around and nothing seems "out of sorts."
Slater asks Teddy what he saw. Teddy says he saw the fire starting. He says he was "looking for the man, the gypsy." He says the man was there in the street in the morning. Margaret ushers Teddy off to bed. Slater tells Margaret not to make too much of "the man." Slater says he's there because Nucky asked him to look after things while he's out of town on business. Margaret asks if "the gypsy" is Gyp Rosetti, but Slater blows this off, saying Gyp isn't a concern and wouldn't bother setting fires in the Thompsons' yard.
In Tabor Heights, the new sheriff tells Eli and Mickey about the night of the mass shooting. Gyp has apparently left town. Mickey asks if Gyp left any of the booze behind, but the sheriff says he didn't. Eli tells the sheriff to call immediately if he sees Gyp again.
Nucky is back at Gaston Means' place. The fishbowl is still in place but Means is gone, says a maid. George Remus (Glenn Fleshler) shows up and they realize they've been stood up. It's the first Wednesday of the month, the regular day for the money drop. Nucky says he doesn't have Means' phone number. Remus does. Nucky says "something smells" with Harry Daugherty. Remus says he's going home.
Harry Daugherty (Christopher McDonald) is giving a speech in Washington, D.C., to some Boy Scouts. Means (Stephen Root) is there. His assistant Jess Smith sits anxiously as the talk turns to honesty, purity and kindness. He cries to Daugherty and asks how things got this far. "We stole, Harry," he says. "We stole." Means and Daugherty take him away.
Margaret talks to Teddy about how, despite things being difficult, they're all safe. Teddy asks about the gypsy. Teddy asks if Slater can live with them, but she says no. Margaret asks Teddy to be careful so accidents don't happen again. Teddy says it won't happen again.
Luciano (Vincent Piazza) is at the brothel with one of Gillian's girls (Anne Bergstedt Jordanova), showing her how to use and sell heroin. Gillian walks in and catches the whole thing in progress. She tells Lucky, "We have standards here," and adds that the girls "don't peddle dope." He says the girls dress too conservatively to make any money. Gillian wants to keep things classy. The girl comes back to the room and Lucky pays her. Then Gillian fires her. Lucky is upset, saying he owns half the business, but Gillian says, "It's my house." Lucky says he thought it was Jimmy's and Gillian says, "You're right. It is." She leaves.
Nucky arrives in D.C. and walks in on Daugherty, Jess and Remus having a meeting. Nucky wants answers. Daugherty tells everyone else to leave. Nucky asks Daugherty how much trouble he's in, and notes that Jess looks like he's about to be burned at the stake. Daugherty says Jess is fine. Nucky asks who's the patsy, "the poor sap you're going to feed to the wolves." Daugherty says he doesn't know what Nucky's talking about. Nucky asks more directly if he is the one who will be indicted. Nucky suggests Remus be indicted instead, but Daugherty says that won't happen. Remus paid Jess directly. Nucky is upset that Daugherty would save his lackey over someone (Nucky) who's given him hundreds of thousands of dollars, but Daugherty says he "never accepted a red cent" from Nucky. Nucky also says he also delivered the state of New Jersey in the election. Nucky vows that if he goes down, he's bringing Daugherty with him.
"Who do you think the American people will believe?" Daugherty asks. "The attorney general of the United States, or a washed-up bootlegger from New Jersey?"
Nucky says they'll find out. He leaves.
Means emerges from behind a false wall and Daugherty says Nucky could use a lesson in civics. Means says he'll do his best.
Richard Harrow arrives at a veterans' hall and everyone is griping about their benefits after World War I. They're all younger guys, but one older man, Paul Sagorsky (Mark Borkowski), asks for a drink and mocks the young guys for their whining. He fought in the Philippine-American War and is none too pleased about it. He and the bartender get into an argument and talk about going at each other the next night, which is "fight night."
Nucky gets a pack of cigarettes and a bottle of whiskey from a vendor in the Washington train station. A couple of agents from the Department of Justice stop him, take the bottle and one of them punches him in the gut. They arrest Nucky.
Margaret goes over a copy of Birth Control Review. One of the maids tells her Mrs. Praddock is there. She has brought Teddy, who was "lost" and wandering on her property. Margaret sends Teddy away, but Mrs. Praddock tells Margaret that she found Teddy in her garage. He wouldn't say what he was doing, but Mrs. Praddock shows Margaret a can of kerosene and a box of matches that Teddy had in his bag.
Margaret goes to Teddy, who immediately says, "I didn't do it." He says he didn't burn the greenhouse. Teddy says "the man" was going to light another fire  "because he likes to burn things up, I guess." He says he was in Mrs. Praddock's garage because of "the man." Margaret has Teddy stand up and face away from her. She spanks him three times, nearly bringing herself to tears. She sends him to his room.
The next night back at the veterans' hall, the younger bartender and Paul Sagorsky are going at it while everyone cheers. The older man is being beat up pretty good, but taunts the younger man, saying, "Is that how you kiss the Kaiser?" Sagorsky makes one good run and everyone is stunned. But the younger guy finishes Sagorsky off, knocking him cold to the floor before standing over him and saying, "That's how I kiss the Kaiser."
Nucky is in a holding cell lamenting 18 hours without as much as a phone call. He meets a man who calls himself a wholesaler. He got caught with five cases "nearly a whole week's work." Nucky asks the guy if it's worth it. The man says if there's a better way to make a buck, he hasn't found it.
Harrow is tending to the Philippine War vet's wounds. The man complains about prohibition, saying that if a man is willing to lay his life down for his country, they'd better let that man have a drink. Sagorsky's daughter arrives and Harrow helps lift him into her car. She introduces herself as Julia Sagorsky (Wrenn Schmidt). Harrow shakes her hand and she tells him, "Well, don't take any wooden nickels." Harrow pauses for a moment. He looks back at where Sagorsky was sitting and sees a Croix du Guerre, a French medal giving to foreign allies, on the bench beneath his coat.
Gillian is at her house, picking up all the pictures of Jimmy. She puts them in a cabinet.
Esther Randolph (Julianne Nicholson) is trying more violations of the Volstead Act. The defense attorney starts to claim his client knew nothing about any alcohol, but the judges calls both lawyers to the stand. He tells the defense attorney that his client is guilty and the fine is $5. "Let's move on," the judge says. Randolph asks if this is "some sort of a joke." The judges tells her the whole thing is something of a joke. Nucky walks in next. He has the same attorney. Randolph is surprised to see him, but quickly lists the previous charges against Nucky. She notes he is the premiere bootlegger in Atlantic City and was previously prosecuted for solicitation of murder, graft, extortion and multiple violations of the Volstead Act. She asks for a fine of $2,000 and a year in prison. Nucky's lawyer notes he's charged with possessing one pint of liquor. The judge brusquely declares, "Five dollars!"
When Randolph objects, the judges gives a nice little speech:
"Miss Randolph, I sympathize with your desire to bring some purpose to your life. However, this courtroom is not the place to do it."
Gavel slammed.
Nucky goes to the court recorder and asks, "Can you break a hundred?"
Gillian takes a stroll on the Boardwalk. She spots a young man who vaguely resembles Jjmmy. She offers him a cigarette and learns that he is Roger from Indiana and is looking for work. She asks him if he ever dreams. She tells him, "Dreams are where we should live. But we have to live in life." She tells him he reminds her of someone.
Nucky finds Randolph after court and tells her that if she gets him arrested another hundred thousand times she might actually put a dent in his bankroll. She's in no mood to joke. He asks her if she's heading home. She's stunned by the question, but he says it's 5:00 a.m., they're both hungry and he doesn't like to eat alone.
They eat together, but Nucky just has coffee. He finally gets to discussing their "common enemy" Harry Daugherty. She claims they get along fine. Nucky tells her that Harry is going to indict him to save his own skin. Randolph says she'll "root for the home team," but Nucky reminds her that Daugherty sent her up to Atlantic City and set her up for a fall and then blamed her for bungling it. She tells Nucky it worked out well for him, but he tells her she had him on the ropes. "And if you don't think I was sweating, you're selling yourself short." She forces herself to take that as a compliment.
"And here you are now with a 20¢ breakfast, intelligent, capable and invisible," Nucky says.
She asks if this is "where Eve gets offered the apple?" Nucky says this is where he offers her George Remus. She knows who Remus is. She also knows the connections to Jess Smith and Daugherty, and says the case could never happen. Nucky says that if a higher authority sanctioned it, this could be a career-making case.
"I'm $5 worth of trouble," Nucky says. "The real crooks are in an upstairs office in the Justice Department."
"That's quite an allegation," Randolph says. Nucky says he's just telling her what she already knows.
Randolph says President Harding would never force Daugherty's hand. Nucky says he's working on that and asks if he's piqued her interested. She asks why he thinks that, and he says, "Because you're still sitting here."
"Maybe I'm just hungry," she says.
"Here's a chance to fill your plate," Nucky replies, before leaving. Before he's gone, Randolph tells Nucky to say hello to Mrs. Thompson for her.
That night, Gillian creepily has sex with the young man who looks like Jimmy. He says he's around for another week unless he gets a job. She says she'll look around. She asks him if he has a nickname back home, and he says he doesn't. She tells him she's going to call him James, "because he was a king."
The next morning, Margaret is going over state capitals with her kids at the table. Slater shows up and she goes over to greet him. He tells Margaret they caught "the man." He's been sneaking into houses and lit the fire to keep warm. It got out of hand. Margaret asks what Slater did, but he only says, "It's all taken care of."
Harrow goes to Sagorsky's house. Julia answers and Harrow hands her Sagorsky's coat and the medal, which had fallen out of the pocket. Harrow starts to leave, but Julia says she'd ask him in but her dad is going "through one of his moods." She says she doesn't want to set him off again. She tells Harrow that the medal belonged to her brother Fred who died in the Argonne, right before the Armistice. She says her father can't forgive that and got to the Legion hall thinking he's going to find Freddy just sitting there. She asks Harrow if he has family. He says he has a sister and they're close.
"Then she's lucky to have you back," Julia tells him.
Nucky calls Margaret and tells him he was detained in D.C. He says he didn't want her to think he wasn't concerned about what was going on. She gives him the update about the vagrant who set the greenhouse ablaze. Margaret says they should have a conversation when he returns. He thinks they don't have to, but she thinks they do. Nucky says his train is coming, so he's got to go.
Margaret tells Mr. Murray, who's been keeping guard of the house, that Nucky says he's no longer needed now that the danger is gone.
Teddy tells his sister that "the gypsy man" lives up the road. He says he used to live somewhere else, but he lives there now. He tells her that the gypsy man knows "daddy" is not home. Teddy assures his sister that she doesn't have to worry, because if he tries anything he'll stab him in the face with a knife.
Billie gets home and finds Nucky waiting in her bed. He missed her opening night. She got good reviews and a movie director's business card. Nucky asks his name, but she doesn't say. The phone rings and Nucky answers, saying, "She's not here."
It's not for Billie. It's Gaston Means. He offers his services "as a fountain of information" against Daugherty. He says it could cost him the same $40,000 that Nucky was giving Daugherty. They set up a meeting the next night in Atlantic City.
Margaret is brushing her hair when she hears footsteps. She looks out the window and sees nothing. She calls Katie's house, but Slater isn't there. Katie says she thought he was with Margaret.
Margaret hangs up and goes to load a shotgun.
Harrow is home alone and goes through pictures of himself with his sister. He'd previously told Angela that his sister nursed him when he returned from the war, but he didn't feel anything toward her.
Margaret slowly walks through the dark house and sees a lantern in the greenhouse. She runs with the gun pointed and sees Slater there. He says he came over because Nucky had heard she sent Mr. Murray away. She asks Slater if there was really vagrant. Slater says he smelled real enough. She confesses that she thought Teddy did it and she punished him.
The subject changes. She tells Slater that she did what she thought was best "and wound up here, how did that happen?" Slater says those questions are best left until morning. Slater tells her goodnight and starts to walk away. Margaret walks toward him. He stops her for a moment, saying, "I don't think it's wise."
"Don't we both know how to keep a secret?" she asks.
And things get heated in the greenhouse once again.
Hide description ▲

Easter Sunday, 1923. Gyp joins his family for dinner, pays a visit to church, and meets with his boss. Robert, with Jimmy's son in tow, goes to Julia's house where her father is again an angry drunk. At the empty bordello, Gillian entertains her substitute for Jimmy. Nucky, Margaret, and the children accept a dinner invitation from Eli, his wife, and brood of eight. Can this go well? Is a rapprochement a possibility?
Hide description ▲

In the foreground, Nucky makes a play to derail the Attorney General, and Gillian puts a revenge plot in motion. Around the edges, Margaret accompanies Owen to the countryside to look for a pony for Emily and then has a personal conversation with Dr. Mason, Nelson (with his wife's help) finds a new vocation, O'Banion takes his case against Capone to Johnny Torio, and Nucky has to sort things out with the plucky and independent Billie.
Hide description ▲

Nucky is reeling from a concussion, recovering in a suite at the Ritz Carleton. Nucky wants to enlist partners in a war against Joe Masseria and Gyp Rosetti, but can Nucky hold it together for a meeting with these potential allies - and how will they react? Margaret manages a birthday party for Emily as her affair with Owen takes a serious turn. Richard asks Gillian for a night off from babysitting to meet Julia at a Veterans' Hall dance. Esther Randolph oversees the arrest of George Remus.
Hide description ▲

Nucky doubles down on his war with Gyp and Joe, sending emissaries to Chicago to enlist Torrio's help and dispatching Owen to murder Joe at a Turkish bath. The bishop disbands Mason and Margaret's classes; Mason suggests they continue the classes at a store front, Margaret says good-bye. Robert faces down Julia's father and then spends a night with her under the boardwalk. Gyp gets a lesson in rogue waves, and a few cases of whiskey wash up on the Jersey shore. Nucky rejects an idea of Chalky's. Back in Chicago, Nelson's wife distills aquavit and Nelson peddles it to Norwegians. It's only a matter of time before he runs afoul of someone. And what of Margaret's affair with Owen?
Hide description ▲

A rough 24 hours for Nucky: Margaret and the children are gone, Eddie needs a hospital, and Eli is in Chicago hoping for reinforcements. Nucky turns to Chalky, who still wants a club on Atlantic City's strip. Gyp turns up the heat, stationing his men everywhere and offering $25,000 to anyone in Chalky's neighborhood who gives up Nucky. Will Chalky protect Nucky? And even so, is that enough firepower to face Gyp with Joe Masseria's men? Gillian snoops in Richard's room, and heroin is burning a hole in Luciano's pocket.
Hide description ▲

A gang war erupts in Atlantic City, with Gyp and nine men of his own and 40 of Joe Masseria's against Nucky, Eli, Capone's Chicago crew, and Chalky's men. Gyp's holed up at Gillian's; Nucky at a lumber yard. It's a war of attrition, with Nucky having to keep Capone and Chalky's men from killing each other while he negotiates with Rothstein by phone. Rothstein runs his own game with Luciano, Lansky, and heroin, Margaret calls on an older couple, and Richard is out there somewhere focused on protecting Tommy.
Hide description ▲

Season 4 opens with two men sitting at an otherwise silent bar in the Indiana town of Warsaw. The bartender has fallen asleep. The two mobster-type guys give the barkeep a hard time about how little there is to do in town and ask how far it is to Columbus. One of the men leaves a "sawbuck" tip on a $2 tab and the other says they were supposed to be laying low. The men leave and, after some trouble starting the car, one gets out to check under the hood. After a moment of silence, the other gets out and steps around to see what's going on. He finds his associate dead with a slashed throat, turns and sees Richard Harrow raise his gun to shoot him in the face. Harrow reaches into the man's jacket and pulls out a thick envelope with the letterhead, "Old Mission Title & Insurance." Back in New York, Chalky White is getting the hard sell from an agent representing a couple of black tap dancers he says are going to be filling seats one day. The agent's wife asks Dunn Purnsley to freshen up her drink, a "New York Sour." Dunn says he'll get her the Jersey version. She doesn't want to leave for Newark and her husband suggests they can stay if Chalky signs up his dancers at $1,000 a week for a two-week initial commitment. As Dunn returns from getting the woman's drink, she motions to him to check his coat pocket. In it, he finds a graphic and suggestive sketch she's made as a sexual proposition. Nucky is watching Chalky's meeting from a room a story above. Eddie brings him a jacket. Nucky is preparing to meet Joe "the Boss" Masseria. Nucky extends a hand for a shake, but Masseria declines (despite Charlie Luciano's suggestion, in Italian, that he should). Arnold Rothstein is there, as well, and Eli Thompson says they're looking to settle things. Nucky reiterates his territory -- South to Cape May, North to Asbury Park, West to Trenton -- and insists he didn't ask for any trouble. "What was brought to my doorstep, I returned," he says. "I'd expect all of you to do the same." Rothstein reminds Nucky that he tried to put him in federal court. Masseria lost 15 men. An argument ensues but Masseria cuts it off by asking why they should trust any word that comes out of Nucky's mouth. "That's a reasonable question," Nucky says. "Let him see it," he says to an associate. The man opens a bag full of money, which seems to calm things. Masseria says as much and Nucky should now have a reasonable expectation of peace. Rothstein asks Luciano how he's been -- it's clear Charlie now works for Masseria, who says Charlie is a good boy. Rothstein replies that he knows because Meyer Lansky, who is also in the room, keeps him informed. Luciano shoots a short glance at Lansky. Masseria and Luciano leave. Rothstein stays and talks philosophically with Nucky for a moment. Nucky tells him the casino is expecting him and there will be no limit at the table. Rothsten says that's very thoughtful of him. As Rothstein leaves, he tells Nucky he ran odds on whether Nucky would try to kill him. He came up with 14-to-1 against. Gillian is making her case for custody of Tommy, her grandson. He has apparently been in the care of Julia and Paul Sagorsky. Julia reminds the judge that Gillian was running "a cathouse," leading the judge to ask what exactly happened in Gillian's house eight months earlier. No one seems to be willing to shed any light on the truth of the matter. Eli is teaching his son to drive -- it's a fairly hair-raising experience. Eli is going to meet with Mickey Doyle. His son asks if Mickey "runs the place." Eli changes the subject and does some parenting, giving the son a hard time for sneaking cigarettes and telling him to button up his coat. Eli goes inside and meets Agent Stan Sawicki and a new agent, Warren Knox, who's been working there a month. Stan reminds Eli of a problem he took care of, in a not-so-subtle plea for more money. Eli hands some over and Agent Knox -- who'd been asked to leave the room -- notices an exchange of cash. He, meanwhile, has met a guy named Borst who tells him he's preparing to booby trap his garage door to protect his stash of bootlegged liquor that somebody keeps breaking in to steal. Stan calls Knox over and announces, "Our inspection is concluded."
Hide description ▲

Van Alden is delivering flowers for Dean O'Banion, and delivering some brute force against a man who owes O'Banion money in the form of a punch in the nose before taking whatever cash the man had in his pocket. The man promises he'll pay the next day and Van Alden replies, "Better not to vow than to vow and not pay." At her house, Emma gives Richard Harrow the update and says Sampson ran off. Harrow tells her his own dog didn't recognize him. They also talk about their father's passing, which Richard missed. Richard starts to apologize for having missed so much, but his sister interrupts: "Orphaned in April, married in May, pregnant in August, widowed in November," she says. "And they say nothing happens in Plover." She tells him she's not going to ask where he's been or how he's lived, but wants to know if he's going to stay. Richard says he has to go to Milwaukee for the day, to the Veterans' Bureau. She asks if he still reads and he says, "Of course." She hands him a book and says she couldn't get past the first 10 pages but he always likes "stories with sword fights." She tells him if he doesn't come back this time, "don't come back at all." She goes to look for Sampson. The book is "The Chessmen of Mars," and between pages 10 and 11 is a folded piece of paper. It's a past due notice from the Plover County Assessor's Office. In Atlantic City, Eddie is shaky as he serves Nucky his morning coffee, spilling a fair amount on the table. Eddie insists on cleaning it himself. Eddie is also upset that he has served Nucky overcooked eggs. He doesn't know why he overcooked them or served them. Eddie is clearly having some problems but refusing to acknowledge them. He's preparing Nucky for a trip to Florida. Van Alden is prepping roses out behind O'Banion's flower shop, asking Van Alden about his collections. He asks Van Alden about his family. He's still calling Van Alden "Mueller." He's sending Van Alden to Cicero to follow Al Capone and wants to know about any of Capone's plans to stay in Chicago. Chalky is giving a tour of The Onyx Club to the parents of his daughter's finance, Samuel. Chalky notices Dunn Purnsley in a doorway and looks over. Samuel notices, too, and takes his family for the rest of the tour. Dunn comes to Chalky and reports that they still haven't found "that girl" -- the wife of Dickie, the talent agent Purnsley stabbed to death after Dickie caught Purnsley having sex with his wife and unleashed a fury of racist insults at him. Chalky is still not pleased with Purnsley and wants better news soon. Mayor Ed Bader is giving a press conference in front of a church and school ground breaking. Bader is distracted when Nucky shows up and sends the reporters off for the rest of the tour. Bader comes to Nucky, who isn't pleased that he has to come to Bader. Nucky wants his cut of the church project, but Bader says this was done straight through the diocese. Nucky asks Eddie what he thinks and Eddie, surprised he's being asked to speak, turns from the driver's seat and tells Bader, "Mr. Thompson is part of everything. He is in the sky and sea. He is in the dreams of children at night. He is all that there is, forever." Even Nucky looks a little surprised at this, and Bader promises Nucky he'll have his cut "first thing tomorrow." Richard pays a visit -- gun pointed -- to the man in Milwaukee. He asks the man if he knows another man named Carl Billings. The man says they were partners -- he, Werner and Billings were "going to make a fortune together, but in the end Carl just got in the way." Richard says he met Billings on a train heading west from New Jersey and Billings paid him to kill him and Verner and the men they sent after him. The man asks how much Billings offered and Richard says it was $1,000 for each of them. The man says he'll beat that, easily, and walks to his desk. He opens a drawer and reaches for a gun, but Richard slams it shut onto his hand and pins him down on the desk. He asks the man if he has any family. He doesn't answer, instead telling Richard to "put the bullet in." Richard demands an answer. He says, "Wife, two girls." Richard tells the man, "When you see your children tonight, remember I didn't cost you anything." Richard leaves. Nucky prepares to leave, giving Eli some last-minute instructions. Nucky meets Frederick Elliot, the supervising agent for the government who is in charge of enforcing the Prohibition Act. Fred introduces Nucky to the new agent, Warren Knox -- the eager young lad who we saw last week killed his partner, Agent Stan Sawicki. Knox plays up his green, over-ambitious persona for Nucky, even making a "joke" about how he intends to enforce the law to the fullest of his ability. Nucky isn't amused and tells Knox that he will communicate only to Eli and that he and Knox will not speak to each other again. Sigrid, Van Alden's new Swedish babysitter-turned-wife, shows him the new Davenport sofa she bought. She's also bought more furniture. She's put it on credit, which should be paid off in a year -- at half of Van Alden's pay. She tells him she wants to make a home for him and their children. Chalky is running things at The Onyx Club and moving like a man in charge. The two dancers Dickie had brought to him ask him for their pay because they haven't seen their agent since Friday (they don't know he's dead). Chalky hands them cash and tells them he'll square up with Dickie later. Chalky glad hands with an old regular customer, but smiles through his annoyance when the man (who is white) rubs Chalky's head for good luck. Chalky comes upstairs and meets Dr. Valentin Narcisse, who is quoting The Bible to Mrs. Pastor, Dickie's wife. Dr. Narcisse works for Owney Madden, who oversaw Dickie Pastor's work. Narcisse says he has "business" with Madden but is not "his man." Chalky says he hasn't seen Dickie in three days but heard Dickie was headed toward Newark. Mrs. Pastor asks Narcisse if they can just leave, and they get up to go. Narcisse stops and tells Chalky he likes the room high above the club, where one can "look down in secret and see many things." "You know what I saw?" Narcisse asks, before answering his own question. "A servant pretending to be a king." A newspaper headline blares Attorney General Harry Daugherty resignation, with President Coolidge calling him an "embarrassment." Eddie brings Nucky his breakfast, more steady this time. He hands Nucky a package from Bader -- it's a bunch of cash. Nucky takes a look and puts it aside. Eddie then hands Nucky his letter of resignation, saying Nucky doesn't take him seriously. Eddie talks about how he's cared for Nucky for 11 years, also having watched "lesser men" come and go. He says he wants respect. Eddie asks him to demonstrate it and Nucky hands Eddie the cash from Bader. Eddie says that's "beneath" Nucky, who asks Eddie if he's quitting or asking for a promotion. "This will be for you to decide," Eddie says, before walking out. Richard is working outside when Emma comes and asks him for help. She's found Sampson hiding and says he won't move. She says he's dying. Richard bends down and pets the dog, who cries a bit. Richard asks Emma what she wants to do. They agree they need to put Sampson out of his misery and she suggests Richard use his pistol. He first denies he has one, but she tells him she knows he hid it when he got to the house and took it with him "to the Veterans' Bureau." Richard says nothing, pulls the gun out and points it at Sampson. But he can't shoot. She takes the gun. Richard tells her, "Emma, I don't want any more of it." He walks around the corner of the house and we hear a gunshot. Al Capone and his brothers are outlining a job for a roomful of men preparing to go send a message to some people that "voting Democrat is bad for their health." The room clears out but Capone notices Van Alden and asks why they don't' talk anymore. Van Alden insists he only delivers flowers for O'Banion. One of Capone's brothers notices Van Alden swollen fist and they realize he does more work for O'Banion than he's leading on. Van Alden says he believes O'Banion wants Capone to make Cicero his new home while he (O'Banion) stays in Chicago. Capone is livid and remembers that Van Alden was supposed to come to him with information after Capone showed him mercy when they last met. Capone's brother, Frank, intervenes and tries to calm the situation. He tells Van Alden (who is remembers as George) to get some food. Chalky tells Purnsley about Narcisse and Mrs. Pastor's vista. Purnsley says he'll take care of both of them, but Chalky says he doesn't want Purnsley to go near him. Chalky looks down and sees there's no band and no show happening. There's a knock on the door and the dancers tell Chalky they can't go on stage because Dr. Narcisse won't let them. "He owns a piece of us, sir," one of them tells Chalky. He hands Chalky a note from Narcisse and Chalky tells the young many to read it. "A servant is not greater than his master," he reads. "Nor is a messenger greater than the one who dispatched him." Nucky gets the low down by phone from Gaston Means. There doesn't seem to be anything indicating Knox is more than "a hayseed of the purest variety," Means says. Mayoral candidate William F. Pflaum holds a rally in Cicero, talking about how he's going to be tough on organized crime. Soon enough, Capone's group comes in with baseball bats. Capone interrupts the speech and asks, "Who's feeling like a hero?" No one responds and Capone points at a man near him and says, "Well, let's start with you." He clubs the guy and the rest of his men start clubbing everyone else in the room as Pflaum and his entourage clear out from the stage. Van Alden doesn't do much at first, but after he's hit, he starts hitting back. He saves Frank from a group of three men who were trying to hold his arms, then Van Alden takes a couple more blows. Frank hands Van Alden his hat afterward and pats him on the shoulder. Mrs. Pastor is recounting her encounter with Purnsley to Narcisse, Chalky and Nucky -- rewriting the events as if Purnsley was raping her. She claims Dickie came in and tried to fight Purnsley off. She cries and Nucky offers a handkerchief. She asks for a powder room. After she leaves, Nucky has some questions for Narcisse. He questions Mrs. Pastor's proof, but Narcisse says the burden is on Nucky and Chalky. Chalky wants to know how much Narcisse wants so they can end it. Narcisse turns to Nucky, who says he's just there to help a friend. Narcisse questions this "friendship," which upsets Chalky. Narcisse then turns back to Nucky and asks Nucky how much the "friendship" is worth. Chalky doesn't want to pay a dime and starts to shout at Narcisse about how he wants him to go back to where he came from. Nucky interrupts and says Narcisse can take 10 percent of the club, the acts come back "and the other problem goes away." Narcisse accepts. Mrs. Pastor emerges and Narcisse says it's time to take her home. She walks out and Purnsley is sitting in the hallway. He gets up and asks, "Did you get your story all told?" She saying nothing and Narcisse walks out behind her. Supervising Agent Elliot is being questioned about his dealings with Nucky, among other people. Elliot gets annoyed at the questions and asks, in reference to the youngish man asking the questions, "Who is this child?" "You can address me as Acting Director Hoover," a young J. Edgar Hoover says. "Director of what?" Elliot asks. "The Bureau of Investigation," Hoover replies. Elliot asks what's going on and his advisor tells Elliot they're "cooperating" with Hoover "and his undercover operative." Knox walks in and puts an envelope on the table. He tells Elliot it's the cash he gave Knox after their meeting with Nucky Thompson. Elliot asks for a lawyer, but Hoover says, "No lawyers, Mr. Elliot. No calls, no telegrams, no alerting Nucky Thompson or anyone else who you are helping to subvert the course of justice." Elliot claims he knows nothing about any of it and makes a grand statement about being a "natural-born U.S. citizen and a Treasury Department official." He stops and leaves. After he walks out, Knox asks, "Why can't they just admit when they're guilty?" "The moral dimension is absent from the criminal's makeup," Hoover says. "Good beginning, Jim." "I won't let you down, Edgar," Knox says. In the car back home, Mrs. Pastor thanks Narcisse for coming to her rescue. "Like a prince in a fairy tale?" he says. "You are, to me," she replies before asking if he got what he wanted. "We'll have to see," Narcisse says. "Dickie was a great loss." She asks what happens to Purnsley and he asks her what she'd like to happen. "What happened to Dickie, but worse," she says. "After what he did to me." "A tree?" Narcisse asks. "Some rope, perhaps?" "Well, why not?" she replies. Narcisse makes eye contact with his driver, who pulls over. He and another man get out to "check the tire." Narcisse asks Mrs. Pastor how Dickie knew which hotel to find her in. She gets defensive and claims, again, "I was raped!" Narcisse says it's a tale he's heard one time too many. Just then, one of his men opens the door on her side and strangles her, dragging her out into the open field and the car drives off. At the train station, Nucky talks to Eddie and tells him not to discuss with anyone anything he sees or hears. He tells Eddie to take the cash from Bader and open a trust in his own name. Nucky says Tom can bring his meals from now on, then leaves. Eddie smiles. The phone rings at Richard's house. He answers and it's the county assessor's office calling for his sister. But we see it's not the country assessor's office. It's a man calling from the office of the man in Milwaukee whose life Richard spared. This man is looking at the past due notice Richard left behind and says, "The sooner we get this all squared, the better." The next morning, Mayor Bader comes out to the field where Mrs. Pastor's body was left. It's swarming with workers and reporters. It's the site of the groundbreaking ceremony where the church and school are about to be built. Bader tells the cops to get her out of there.
Hide description ▲

Nucky Thompson walks down a dark hallway and checks out the view from his posh oceanside hotel room in Tampa. We next see him meeting with Bill McCoy, a Florida bootlegger who's still stinging from the Navy cracking down on a liquor shipment of his. Bill shows off his machete skills, precisely slicing a coconut to drink its milk. Bill is trying to talk Nucky into doing business with him and another man named Tucker. Bill tells Nucky, "Tucker is very excited to meet you." "Most people are," Nucky replies, "until they do." Richard Harrow is back home burying his pistol. Dr. Narcisse is teaching a course to a small group of black men about "the new Negro." The men leave and Arnold Rothstein is introduced to him. Dr. Narcisse says it is "an honor" to have made Rothstein's acquaintance. Dr. Narcisse is apparently interested in getting into the heroin business to sell to black people. Dr. Narcisse is offended when Rothstein asks for large bills. Rothstein makes it clear he didn't mean to offend, but Dr. Narcisse doesn't dwell on it and asks who to pay. Rothstein says his finance man, Mr. Diamond, will be in touch. Dr. Narcisse stands and Rothstein leaves as Dr. Narcisse sassy he has "other business with Mr. Madden." After Rothstein leaves, Dr. Narcisse tells Madden he needs a performer from The Cotton Club to work elsewhere. Dr. Narcisse tells Madden that "Mr. Pastor will not be returning." Richard doesn't seem very amused by a guy named Hugh who is paying a visit to the house, and calling Richard "Rick." After Hugh leaves, Richard and Emma joke about Hugh's riveting conversation about gravel. Richard remarks that Hugh might not be much of a brother-in-law, but Emma says he's nice enough and comes from a nice family. Richard lays some money on the table and tells Emma to take it and pay the back taxes. Emma insists she did pay them and isn't going to pay them twice. Richard is confused. The wind is blowing in Tampa and Nucky is eavesdropping on a young guy talking people into real estate in Tampa. The guy's name is Skeeter Walsh and Nucky engages him in some conversation and buys the guy a drink to find out more. He wants it "square." Skeeter explains that he and other guys are "binder boys," who take 10 percent of the purchase price on new housing and he says it's booming. He says there were nine binder boys last year and there are now 74. Nucky's intrigued. A bunch of college kids are listening to a speech on a phonograph when Willie Thompson, Eli's son, convinces some girls to meet in the basement later be promising that he knows someone who can provide some booze. Willie's offer makes him look good, both to a girl named Doris he seems interested in, and to the apparently leader of the guys, Henry -- who is also interested in Doris. Gillian is visiting a home with Roy Phillips, the man who'd previously looked at her place and is in the area to set up a new Piggly Wiggly, and he asks if she'll join him for a dinner with a colleague and his wife. The caveat is that he needs her to pretend to be his wife because the colleague doesn't know Roy is getting a divorce. Gillian actually seems happy to do it. Chalky gives Dunn Purnsley some orders to move some tables around. Purnsley feels this is beneath him, but he's on Chalky's bad side. Soon enough, in walks singer Daughter Maitland, who is brought in by Dr. Narcisse. She's stunning and Chalky and Purnsley take notice. Chalky, annoyed Purnsley is still standing behind him, tells him "those tables ain't going to set themselves." Dr. Narcisse sends Daughter along to the dressing room and stays behind to talk to Chalky. Dr. Narcisse tells Chalky she'll be performing for the week. Chalky says, "I hope you're asking, not telling." Dr. Narcisse clarifies that he's offering the talented singer if Chalky will have her. Chalky shouts at Purnsley again about the tables. Chalky tells Dr. Narcisse, who asks about Purnsley having been the manager of the staff, that Purnsley does what Chalky tells him to do. Dr. Narcisse says, "When men make themselves into brutes, it is just to treat them as brutes." Willie and a bookish-looking friend drive up to a liquor warehouse and Willie comes in and introduces himself to Mickey Doyle, who isn't impressed. Willie says he's hoping to get some booze for a party, but Mickey rudely tells him to take a hike. Willie grabs a case on the way out the door and one of the guards grabs Willie. Mickey walks over and shoves him against a stack of crates and slaps him in the face. Mickey threatens to call Willie's dad, but Willie begs him to keep him out of trouble. Mickey gives in and tells Willie to keep it all between them. He lets Willie take the booze. Willie does and thanks him. Richard is going through relics in the barn and comes across a book. He flips through some pages and brings it with him, among other things. There's a glow of sunlight coming through the roof and Richard takes his mask off for a moment to let the light hit his uncovered face. Soon enough, Carl Billings, the man who hired Richard to kill his two business associates. Carl has another man with him, who is pointing a gun at Richard. Carl has his man get Richard's wallet and Carl looks through it. Richard suddenly pulls a knife and stabs Carl's guard. Carl comes over and, after Richard's mask falls off in the scuffle, steps on Richard's hand and points his gun at Richard. Looking at Richard's face, Carl says, "Jesus, I'm doing you a favor." Carl cocks the gun and just as he's about to pull the trigger, another gunshot rings out. Emma stands, stunned, in the doorway of the barn holding the shotgun she just used to save her brother's life. Nucky shows up at night for his meeting with Tucker in Tampa. Tucker toasts "to new friends, and all." A waitress joins in on the toast, but Tucker slaps her on the rear and tells her to scram. Tucker asks Nucky if he's ready to get rich. Nucky says he isn't joining in on their venture because the land around Tampa is being developed and the liquor trucks would attract too much attention rumbling down Main Street by the church. Tucker is incensed. Nucky gets up to leave and apologizes, telling them to find a new partner. Tucker says he doesn't like having his time wasted and Nucky replies, "You're not the one who came all the way down here." On his way out, Nucky thanks the waitress for her hospitality. Daughter Maitland is on stage at The Onyx Club and Gillian is in the audience with Roy. Gillian is playing the role of Roy's wife, but throwing a few curve balls. She spills Roy's hopes of getting the man's company to merge with Piggly Wiggly, and later suggests some spiked coffee. She then quips that Roy tried to marry her when she was still underage. Gillian gets up to powder her nose and the man's wife joins her. Chalky and Dr. Narcisse watch Daughter singing and Chalky says "white folks seem to like her." "Yes, that would seem to be important," Dr. Narcisse replies, trailing off as Chalky walks away. He then finishes, "to you." Willie's friend is trying to impress the ladies with the shotgun-holding guys he and Willie came across to get the booze, but one isn't interested. Willie is getting congratulated by some guys for scoring the liquor but he's watching the main cool guy, Henry, getting aggressive with the girl Willie was first trying to impress by offering to get booze for the party. Doris walks away and Willie steps in front of Henry to stop him from following. Doris asks Willie to walk her home. Upstairs, Doris takes Henry to the library -- then kisses him. Bill, who arranged Nucky's meeting with Tucker says he owes Tucker more than $200,000. Tucker said he'd forgive the debt if the guy got Nucky involved. Bill tries to convince Nucky that Tucker has the whole thing figured out, but Nucky says it's a bad deal. Bill asks what he's going to do and Nucky tells him he'd made his bed. Bill says he thought Nucky was a friend, but Nucky says that if he'd come to him as a friend it would be different. Bill apologizes for having made a mistake. "Well, look at you now," Nucky says. Bill leaves. After dinner, Roy and Gillian are laughing about how many fibs they had to come up with to get through dinner. Roy tells Gillian he thinks they "make a pretty swell team." A man comes by and tells Gillian that they've met before. The man is a friend of Roger's and his repeated questions make Gillian uncomfortable. Roy stands up to confront the guy and tells him to leave. He does. Gillian tells Roy she has no idea what that was about and excuses herself to use the restroom. Inside, shoots some heroin. She comes back out and sits across from Roy, who asks if she's OK. She says she's fine, then notices the ice cream melted. Willie and Doris are still making out in the library when Henry leads a whole group of people into the library to interrupt. Willie pushes Henry to the ground and threatens him for touching him. Henry stands up, looks down at Willie's pants and says, "Well, it looks like your anger isn't the only thing that's risen." Willie storms out, embarrassed. Nucky comes back to the restaurant where the meeting happened. The waitress is still there. They have a little chat about being alive. Nucky says he recalls he once was, before Prohibition. Before that he was a "simple, run-of-the-mill crook -- a corrupt city official." He says he was happy, with plenty of money and friends, "then, suddenly, plenty wasn't enough." She's not buying it, saying, "Anybody who says money doesn't buy happiness doesn't know where to shop." Nucky mentions his son's birthday is the next day. He clarifies that Teddy isn't with him. He's in Brooklyn. Nucky says it might be best to let Teddy forget him. The waitress chides him for the convenience of thinking "the best choice is the one that requires the least amount of effort on your part." Her name is Sally, and she says she knows all about Nucky because he's all Tucker's been talking about. She asks for a cigarette. She says they're friends and do some business. Nucky asks if Tucker is dangerous and Sally says he'd kill you if he had the chance, but he's not too smart. Nucky asks how someone like that got to run the rackets down in Tampa and she says, "Enough money and the right connections, you can do pretty much anything down here." Things are winding down at The Onyx Club at the end of the night and Dr. Narcisse walks up behind Purnsley, who pulls a switchblade. They argue calmly about whether Purnsley would benefit from killing Dr. Narcisse, who says Dickie Pastor's "account has been settled, and, in any event, it was merely financial in nature." Dr. Narcisse sits down and says he's there on new business. Dr. Narcisse tells Purnsley that Chalky offered to give him up in exchange for Dickie Pastor. "Chalky White ain't never been my friend," Purnsley says. "That much is obvious," Dr. Narcisse says, pulling up a chair for Purnsley to sit in next to him. Dr. Narcisse slides some heroin across the table and asks Purnsley if he knows what it is. Purnsley correctly identifies it and Dr. Narcisse tells him "it is freedom, power" and control over men like Chalky. "Where you going, friend?" Purnsley asks. "As far as you'd like me to take you," Dr. Narcisse says. "But we shall go there together." Bill is in his room, drinking and depressed, when Tucker comes knocking and says they're going to "settle this." Tucker strangles Bill. Hugh is back and chatting Richard up about how run down the barn is. Hugh confides in Richard, who is about to leave for a train, that Emma thinks the world of Richard, "but you're only visiting." Hugh also says this isn't the kind of place Emma should be raising a child alone. Before he leaves, Richard tells Emma that in France when he couldn't sleep, he'd think about the day he would come home. He'd picture the yard, the flowers, the porch, their parents, Sampson and her, he tells her. "Send me an address," she says, "if you want me to know where you are." Richard steps toward the car, but Emma tells him to come to her. She hugs and him and whispers in his ear, "You need to call yourself to account." Bellmen come to Nucky's door to get his bags, and there is a delivery. It's a small box. Nucky opens it and sees a toy lizard with a note, from Sally's bar, that reads, "For Teddy." In the hotel lobby, Nucky tries to make a call to Bill McCoy, who answers. Nucky says, "I'm in." Bill is confused, but Nucky continues, telling Bill, "Tell your hillbilly friend he answers to me," and again confirms that he's "in." "Sure, Nuck," Bill says, with a stunned looked on his face. "Right, of course." They end the call and Bill hangs up the phone. He slowly walks over to a chair. Tucker is slumped on the floor, with a machete still lodged in his head in front of a blood-splattered wall. Bill holds his head in his hands and cries.
Hide description ▲

Nucky gets to know Arnold Rothstein over a card game, and sizes up an unexpected partner for his Tampa land deal. A newly promoted Eddie Kessler gets detoured after making a train-station delivery. When one of their collectors is incapacitated, Al and Frank Capone decide to finish his route, enlisting a reluctant Van Alden to tag along. Agent Knox fills Hoover in on the Thompson operation, vowing to exploit Nucky's weakest link. Chalky is intrigued by Daughter Maitland's presence. Dunn Purnsley goes to Harlem, and is courted by Valentin Narcisse. Willie and his college roomate, Clayton, carry a practical joke too far. Written by Anonymous
Hide description ▲

Willie Thompson, Eli's son and Nucky's nephew, calls Nucky from Philadephia saying he needs help. Nucky goes off to look for Eddie, but gets no response when banging on his door. Eddie was taken into custody by FBI Agent Knox. We next see Eddie asking to know why he's being interrogated by Knox and his partner. He says he's done nothing wrong, claiming the pistol in his sleeve was for protection from Apaches. Knox keeps Eddie around a bit longer. Bill Pflaum's campaign workers are loudly getting the word out on Election Day in Cicero around Van Alden's. Frank Capone comes over and Van Alden steps outside to chat with him. Frank tells Van Alden to come along, saying, "It's gonna be a good day." Willie is locked up in the basement of a jail in Philly when Nucky walks in. Willie tries to claim he isn't scared, but admits he is. Nucky promises they'll "sort this out," and that he'll keep it between them. Nucky says he'll "call on" the people Willie assumes Nucky knows in Philadelphia if they need to. But first Nucky wants to talk about "this boy," Henry -- the college kid Willie apparently killed by spiking his drink with a magnesium-based concoction, only intending to embarrass the kid by making him soil himself in front of the whole group. Gillian calls Roy Phillips' hotel and leaves another message for him. Frank goes to visit Al while members of their gang joke about Pflaum getting beaten the night before and one of Pflaum's workers getting his throat cut. Al is sniffing cocaine, which Frank doesn't like. Al tells Van Alden that O'Banion is among the people who are "going to find out that the joke's on them" this day. Al pulls Van Alden close and they'll see how Van Alden does today and then see what happens. Frank asks Van Alden to put a team of 20 men together and take them to a polling place and "let the voters make up their minds." Before Van Alden leaves, Al forces him to sniff some cocaine. Willie tells Nucky about the party and getting the liquor from Mickey Doyle. Nucky isn't pleased. Willie apologizes and says there was just a party and the next morning Henry wasn't moving. Nucky says he's going to talk to the DA. He tells Willie to pull himself together and remember the truth. In the revised version of "the truth," Henry was a friend of Willie's who drank "a lot" at the party and Willie "didn't bring any liquor." Nucky is satisfied. Gillian is meeting with the judge who is explaining the custody procedure but is distracted, saying she isn't getting any sleep. She goes off on a tangent about furniture before asking for some water. She takes it and somehow squeezes the glass so hard it shatters. He comes over to help and she tells him she's so worried about losing Tommy and asks if there's "anything" she can do to help her situation -- "right now," while placing her hand below the belt line on the judge's pants. He tells her it would be in her best interest to leave his chambers immediately. She leaves. Nucky meets with Eugene Mulhern, an assistant district attorney in Philly, and that's not who he wanted to see. Nucky tells him they're making a mistake. Mulhern says 10 witnesses say Willie brought liquor to the party. He says the coroner says it wasn't simply alcohol poisoning. Nucky points out that Mulhern's boss and Waxey Gordon met that morning and "it was agreed that this occurrence wasn't anybody's fault." Mulhern says Henry Gaines' father is a major contributor to the Republican party and "someone's gotta answer for this; we just don't have any choice." Knox comes in to see Eddie again, who is still sitting in the chair of an otherwise empty room. Knox asks Eddie if Nucky would "do the same" for Eddie -- meaning, Eddie's refusal to speak up. Knox tells Eddie that Nucky and everyone else is going on without him. Knox tells Eddie he's the person right now who cares what happens to him. Knox punches Eddie hard in the stomach, making him throw up immediately, saying he's going to "own" him. Nucky goes through the questions again, but surprises Willie with the question, "Who slipped him the mickey?" Willie reluctantly admits it was "supposed to be a gag," and tries to say it was his idea alone. But Nucky presses him and Willie says his roommate Clayton helped him. Nucky asks what Henry did to deserve it and Willie says, "He thought he was better than me -- but he wasn't." Nucky says, "Alright, here's what I'm going to need you to do." Van Alden is taken to a factory where he's supposed to make sure the voters either vote for Klenha, or don't vote at all. Frank says they're going to run the town. Frank tells Van Alden not to worry about Al, saying, "Sometimes he just needs a good kick in the ass." Van Alden asks, "Who's going to do the kicking?" Frank hands him some cash and says it's an advance. Van Alden goes out to meet up with the group of men, telling them there's no reason for the situation to get out of hand, but a few of the guys make it clear they want to clobber people. Van Alden tries the nice approach, but it doesn't last as the first few people rebuff his inquiries about who they're voting for. Van Alden takes the first punch from a guy he was bothering, and a melee ensues, with Van Alden yelling, "See, none of this had to happen!" The workers retreat back behind the factory gate. Gillian walks into a black barber shop looking for "someone." She finds Dunn Purnsley getting his shoes shined. She said she's made some inquiries and was sent to him. He asks how much money she has, and she scrapes together what's in her person. It's not nearly enough and she asks if they can "discuss another form of payment." She says she's having a very difficult day. He takes her money and pockets it, signaling to another man who brings a packet. She grabs and Purnsley warns her to go easy. Nucky tells Willie about how he wanted to become a teacher. He again assures Willie that "no one will know." The DA Lawrence Isley shows up and apologizes for "the mix up earlier" with his colleague. Nucky says they want to get this cleared up. They all sit down so Isley can interview Willie, who starts by saying that Henry was a "pal" of his. Gillian goes to Tommy's school and he doesn't say much. She tells Tommy that she met a "very sweet man" and they will soon all be together. Tommy says nothing. Julia shows up and asks what Gillian is doing there. Tommy backs away from Gillian into Julia's arms. Gillian is escorted out of the school. We next see Willie showing Nucky his dorm room. Nucky sits him down and tells him whatever happened is "over," and every now and then he'll remember what happened to "a boy whose face you can't remember; I promise, you can live with it." Willie asks Nucky if that's what he does, but Nucky doesn't respond. He tells Willie that he is going to graduate. Nucky tells Willie that the people who discount him don't know who he is, and that the rage he feels is "a gift," but he shouldn't let anyone see it. Willie asks Nucky how much he paid the DA. "One day we'll talk about all that," Nucky says, but adds that he needs to stick with what they discussed. Willie's roommate shows up and Nucky leaves. Clayton asks Willie where he's been and Willie says it's "taken care of" and doesn't go into detail. Frank and Al Capone show up to Van Alden's mess, where the workers are about to come out of the gate again. Frank tries to calm Al down and Al gets in his face asking who put him in charge. Frank says that doesn't matter. Van Alden steps in and says they need more men or need to leave and Al shuts him up. A worker throws a shoe. Al steps up and declares, "We're running Cicero." He warns anyone of them to step out and challenge them. One shouts an Italian epithet and the rest of the workers advance. Al and Frank are beaten up pretty badly. Van Alden pulls his gun and walks slowly behind Al, who is crawling away slowly after having been beaten to the ground with a baseball bat. Van Alden is about to shoot Al in the back when Frank looks up, notices and starts moving slowly (badly beaten, himself) toward Van Alden. Suddenly, a shot rings out and Frank is hit, but Van Alden never pulled the trigger. What follows is a hail of gunfire that it turns out is coming from a line of shooter who unleash dozens upon dozens of rounds at Frank, who is backed against a car. Al screams his brother's name. Gillian is laying in bed staring at her bandaged hand when Roy walks in. She says she called 10 times. She asks if she did something wrong and he says, "Not to me." He was in the powder room cleaning up her heroin kit. He asks if it helps her and she says, "Not anymore." She says it makes her feel terrified. She asks if that disgusts him and he says it doesn't because he knows about weakness and sin. "You don't know about me," she says. He asks her to tell him if it will make any of this better. She says she's "done the most awful things." Knox comes in to see Eddie again. Knox starts asking Eddie about his job back home as a department store assistant manager. Knox and his partner mock Eddie for fleeing the country with a mistress who eventually left him. Knox continues to play head games with Eddie by reciting a German fable about a father losing his son. Knox and his partner tell Eddie that his sons are grown and one has a child of his own. He says they've changed their names to rid themselves of Eddie's. They say Eddie will soon be back in Hanover to be acquainted with them. Eddie asks what they want from him. They want one piece of information. Knox says that if he gives them one piece of information, they'll be done for the day. Eddie says, "Ralph Capone, at the train station. That was the man I gave the money to." When asked why, Eddie starts to cry and says, "Because that is what Nucky told me to do." Knox looks at his partner with a smile and tells Eddie, "See how easy that was?" They hand Eddie his cane and he starts to walk out. Before he leaves, Knox calls out, "Ed, we'll see you again soon. Ralph sits next to Van Alden and says he saw the news right on the front of the newspaper. He wonders aloud, "What was wrong with Brooklyn? We was all happy there." Van Alden tells Al, who is crying while sitting next to Frank's dead body, that he heard it was a special group of Chicago police after word was received that the Cicero police couldn't be trusted. Al turns to Van Alden and says everything "that crawls is gonna pay." He turns back toward Frank and continues crying. Clayton is studying in the library when he sees a group of students point two detectives in his direction. They come and tell him they're with the Philadelphia police. That night, Willie sits alone in his room playing the ukelele when there's a knock on his door. It's Doris. She's not supposed to be there, so he lets her in before anyone can see her. She tells him the police arrested Clayton, saying he poisoned Henry. She asks why someone would do something like that. Willie puts a hand on her shoulder and leans in to hug him. He hugs her back, looking stone faced. Eddie walks slowly through Nucky's place, but Nucky hears him and asks what happened to him. Eddie claims he spent the night with old friends. Nucky says Eddie needs to tell him if he's going to be gone for a whole day. Nucky tells Eddie he doesn't want to worry about him. He asks if Eddie's eaten and Eddie says he's not hungry. Before Eddie can leave, Nucky calls him over and asks him to come over. Nucky raises the cuffs of his pants to show mismatching socks (which Tom must have provided. Nucky says, "Here's something else I would rather not have to worry about." We next see Eddie scribbling something in German, then packing some clothes. He straightens his collar in the mirror, then steps over to his window -- and jumps.
Hide description ▲

Nucky, sitting in a cafe above the train tracks at New York City's Penn Station, gets pensive when he realizes he'd never before noticed that the rumbling of the trains below make his coffee cup tremble on the table. Soon, Margaret shows up to meet him. It's an awkward hello. She isn't very forthcoming with the details of her life. She's there because he called and said there was something he thought she'd want to know. He tells her that Eddie is "gone." She asks if he left Nucky's service, but Nucky changes the subject and gives her a gift for Teddy. Nucky finally starts to tell her, but again stops himself. She starts to tell him the kids are OK, then tells Nucky he can't just show up and tell her things that happen as a result of his "business." She asks if the gift for Teddy is "some sort of creature" because they don't have room for one. Nucky quips, "I wouldn't put something alive in a box." They both immediately realize that perhaps the last night they were together was when Owen Sleater's dead body was delivered in a box to Nucky's apartment. She leaves and says she really is sorry about Eddie, adding, "No one knew how to look after you like Mr. Kessler." Back in Washington, D.C., J. Edgar Hoover and Agent Knox try to figure out how much Eddie might have revealed to Nucky before he jumped. Hoover says the operation is compromised. Knox is trying to convince Hoover that a network of organized criminals is a real thing, but Hoover wants to nail big-name anarchists. Knox says he'll raise his head up in Atlantic City to get a feel for what anyone knows about him. Eli Thompson and Mickey Doyle go through Eddie's room looking for a safe deposit box key. They find his note in German. Neither of them can read it. Eli finds a couple of birds in a cage and it occurs to him to sift through the bird feed for the key. He finds it. At the Onyx Club, Daughter Maitland has another terse exchange with Chalky White. She's clearly trying to flirt with him but he rebuffs her at every turn. Chalky doesn't show much interest in her suggestion that she's working on a new song for the show. He says she should give the people what they've come to see. Paul Sagorsky at at the doctor's office and getting some spots on his hands checked. The doctor asks about Paul's drinking and he says in the last eight months he hasn't had a drink before dinner, "on account of the boy," referring to Tommy Darmody, who Julia's been caring for. He says he can stop after dinner, too, adding, "it's not so hard." The doctor says he's going to tell Paul "the things that can be done, and the thing you should be preparing yourself for." We don't hear the rest, but Paul walks out in a daze. He thinks he sees Richard Harrow down the hall and chases after him, slipping and falling down some stairs. Richard stands over him and asks if he's alright. Paul says he's dying. Eli is posing as Eddie Kessler at the bank, but a manager who knows Eli comes over and says he can't let Eli access the box without proper paperwork. The bank manager says they could both go to jail if he lets Eli into the box and adds, "We don't want that again, now, do we?" Chalky's wife Lenore doesn't like that Chalky took their son to the club and exposed him to jazz music, which he now wants to play. She asks Chalky if that's what he wants and he says, "What it matter what I want?" He gets up and leaves the room. At a bar, Richard tells Paul that he couldn't face Paul and Julia because of what he did. He then confesses he's done so many wrong things he's stopped counting. Paul tells him a story about killing a woman in the Philippines. Paul tells Richard he has sclerosis and will be dead in a year. He tells him he doesn't want to hear about Richard's problems and asks him to buy him another round of drinks. Eli can't sleep. He thinks he should drive to Philadelphia and check in on Willie and the business with his roommate. Eli's wife says it's not a good idea because Willie will think he's prying, and adds, "He'll talk when he wants to talk." He asks if she knows anyone who speaks German. Nucky is back in Tampa sitting with Bill McCoy. Some guys come to Bill and ask what the deal is with Augie Tucker. Bill tells Nucky that Augie "took off a few weeks ago," and claims he doesn't know why. Guns are drawn, including the bartender Sally pulling out a shotgun to urge the men to leave. They leave and Bill tells Nucky that Tucker is out but he has another investor, a connected guy from up north. Nucky agrees to meet the other investor. Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky walk in and shake Nucky's hand. Agent Knox shows up at the distillery. He notices Mickey holding Eddie's cane and Mickey quips that he's "going to use it to club rats." Eli counts out some cash for Knox, who steps forward and takes it. The whole exchange is tense and probably not giving Knox the insight he was looking for. As Knox is about to leave, Eli asks for a look at his badge. After looking at it, Eli says there is something Knox can do for him. We next see Knox at the bank asking for access to Eddie's safe deposit box, pressing the manager by asking him if he wants to interrupt a federal investigation. Julia hears Tommy talking to someone at the front door. She approaches and see Tommy was talking to Richard. Tommy turns to her and says, "He was in Wisconsin." Lucky, Meyer and Nucky -- along with Sally -- are watching an alligator fight. Nucky meets "Mr. Pierce," an Italian guy with a thick accent who reveals his name is Petrucelli. He says he prefers to be quiet, compared to Tucker's loudness. Nucky says they'll have to discuss it. Petrucelli says he stands by his reputation. They go back over to the alligator fight and Petrucelli talks to Lucky alone for a moment. He's recognized him from New York and says it's nice that Joe Masseria lets him go off and make his own money. Daughter Maitland puts on her show at the Onyx Club and Chalky watches, captivated. Agent Knox brings the safe deposit box back to Eli, claiming he was "sweating the whole time." Eli is surprised to see the money is all there, then wonders why else Eddie would have killed himself. Eli reaches into his jacket pocket and asks Knox if he speaks any German. He hands Eddie's note to Knox and asks him what it says. Knox reads a message Eddie wrote to his "dearest son" that he'd just received the news that he's a grandfather and can't express the joy. That's the end of the note. Eli starts to open up to Knox about how he worries about his own son in college. Eli cries a bit and Knox hands him a handkerchief. Eli notices the monogram is JTM. Lucky is nervous about Petrucelli, who he says is Joe Masseria's cousin. Meyer says they can cut Joe in on the deal. Lucky says it's not that easy. He says he can just kill Petrucelli or just back out the deal. Lansky doesn't want to hear any more about it. He tells Lucky he can do what he wants, but he's staying in. Lucky says they're partners, but Lansky says, "Not on this, not anymore." Lucky leaves. Nucky and Sally drink together late at night at her bar. Nucky asks Sally what she knows about Vincenzo Petrucelli. She tells Nucky he's probably already made up his mind and Nucky says he doesn't know. He then opens up about how he doesn't know why he keeps trying to build something when he might just be better off stopping. He tells her he lost a friend and is only wondering what Eddie's passing might mean for him. She's bored and punches him in the face. She says she doesn't know why she did it, but then she punches him again and says she hates a whiner. He threatens to punch her back, but doesn't -- until she wins up to punch him again. He punches her in the face and this leads to some intense sex as a storm rumbles outside. Julia tells Richard that Tommy -- who is looking up at the stars -- has gotten very concerned of late about being able to navigate his way back from places. She also updates Richard on Gillian and her visit to Tommy's school. She says there's a hearing the following month and adds that it's a difficult process because they can't talk about Richard killing the men at Gillian's house before running away. She tells Richard she doesn't "want to do all this by myself," but wonders how she can trust him. Julia and Tommy head back to their house and Richard comes with them. Tommy holds his hand as they walk. Nucky shows up at Sally's the next morning and Meyer tells him that Lucky is out. Nucky says that Sally has his instructions and will be overseeing his part of the deal in Florida. Daughter comes to Chalky's office at his request. He says he wanted to see her the night before but she ran off after the show. He tells her that she thinks she's Ma Rainey and he if wanted her, he'd hire her. He belittles her role. He doesn't like the blues song she sang, saying that 10 people got up and left. She says she wants to leave. Chalky has some choice words about Dr. Narcisse, but she tells him to take those issues up with him. Daughter starts to leave but tells Chalky she saw him watching her while she sang and says, "I know exactly what you are." Chalky stops her from leaving, kisses her hard and they wind up having sex.
Hide description ▲

In broad daylight, Al Capone approaches and shoots in the head a Chicago police officer. Eli shows Nucky the handkerchief Agent Knox gave him with the "JMT" monogram, saying it's odd. Nucky doesn't seem as concerned but agrees to go ahead and try to get Knox's boss, Frederick Elliott, on the phone. Nucky calls his new assistant, Sid, and seems annoyed with him. Eli asks Nucky about the black eye he came back with from Florida. Nucky claims he hit a door. Eli says he's heard about Sally, and that she's "a pistol." Sid comes back and tells Nucky that Elliott doesn't work at the Treasury Department anymore. George Remus, still referring to himself in the third-person, sits across a long table from J. Edgar Hoover, Agent Knox and Esther Randolph. He's a cooperating witness. Knox asks Remus to confirm that Nucky is the linch pin to a multi-city network of criminals. Hoover demands that Remus stop referring to himself in the third-person. Remus does. Randolph and Knox are trying to urge Hoover to make dozens of arrests, but he's reluctant to make a mistake. After Knox leaves the room, Randolph tells Hoover that the new attorney general thinks the plan is a great idea. Al Capone rushes into Johnny Torrio's office. Torrio asks Al if he killed the cop he's just read about in the newspaper. Capone says he wants to kill Dean O'Banion now, too, to avenge the killing of his brother, Frank. Torrio doesn't want to start a war, and warns Capone not to impede on his business with O'Banion. Capone leaves the room in a huff. In New York City, we see Margaret at work for a Mr. Bennett. He asks about whether her husband invested in Anaconda Realty, which he'd suggested previously. He didn't. She says she talked him out of it because it was "a risk." Mr. Bennett says they lost a chance at a fortune. Margaret leaves and Mr. Bennett's guest suddenly wants to know more about Anaconda Realty. Lucky Luciano comes to see Joe Masseria and a couple of his associates. Lucky quickly confesses to having been down in Tampa with Meyer Lansky. He says he turned down the business offer and wants to know why he's there. The associates says Vincenzo Petrucelli is the biggest importer of heroin now, and they want Lucky to go back to Tampa and see if some heroin can come with the rum shipments he sends north. Willie Thompson is laying in bed naked with Doris and she randomly asks him if he believes in God. He says, "Of course," then wonders why she asked. He gets up to leave and she pulls him back into bed. She asks about his roommate Clayton and he gets up again. This time he really leaves. Mr. Bennett comes around and praises Margaret for having helped close a deal, and slips her a $10 bill. "And, to think, I considered waitressing," she tells a colleague. Torrio is visiting O'Banion, who insists it wasn't him to sent the cops to assassinate Frank Capone. Torrio agrees to buy an old brewery. O'Banion now wants Torrio to give him a few blocks in Greektown, but Torrio rebuffs this request. Gillian is going through withdrawals while Roy Phillips watches over her as she writhes and vomits in bed. The Onyx Club is hopping and Daughter Maitland is doing the song and dance while Gaston Means watches from above. He's meeting with Nucky, giving him background on Knox. It doesn't provide much more than Nucky already knew. Means says there's simply no more information to provide, and he has no answer for the hanky's monogram. Means also says Elliott simply retired, sold his home and left no forwarding address. Nucky's troubled. Meanwhile, Chalky continues to watch Daughter closely from behind a pillar in the middle of the club. Margaret is called into Mr. Bennett's office to close another deal and she's stunned when she sees this investor is Arnold Rothstein, who is working with Mr. Bennett under the name "Abe Redstone." Rothstein immediately gets up and says he has a feeling he's met her before. She says he might be mistaken. He says it might have been his mistake. Bennett asks Margaret about her husband's investment in Anaconda Realty. Margaret goes through the motions on their act, but leaves while saying she doesn't feel well. Chalky slips Dr. Narcisse an envelope with his cut and Dr. Narcisse is pleased to see that Daughter Maitland has been a success. Chalky wants to extend her run, but Narcisse says she's committed to appear in Louisville. Dr. Narcisse suggests an arrangement could be made if Chalky does something for him. He says he wants to open a Universal Negro Improvement Association chapter on the north side of Atlantic City. Chalky says it sounds "congenial enough." Dr. Narcisse seems pleased and Daughter will stay for another month. Willie sits through a lecture in which the grizzly murder of William Wilson in Edgar Allen Poe's short story. The professor asks Willie about it and Willie leaves. Mr. Bennett asks Margaret what happened in his office and she promises it won't happen again. Bennett says "Mr. Redstone" was charmed and invested $150,000 in Anaconda. He slips her a $100 bill this time and says it's "from him, not me." Margaret's phone rings and it's Arnold Rothstein, thanking her for her discretion. He asks if she'd like the same and she says she would. "Until next time," he says, hanging up the phone. Roy brings Gillian some water and says she looks "at peace" now that "all that poison's out of your system." Roy tells her she's important to him and that his ambition isn't worth much without someone to share it with. They kiss. O'Banion visits Torrio, who gives him money for the old brewery. Torrio doesn't care much for the purchase, but just as it's wrapping up the police invade. O'Banion claims he doesn't own the brewery and Torrio thinks O'Banion set up the raid. Dunn Purnsley is answering to questions from members of the black community worried about the indecent behavior and shooting up of drugs. They want to know where Chalky is, and one man suggests Chalky is too bust with "the white folk." Deacon Cuffy says he will have to inform Chalky about the selling of the heroin if it persists. Dr. Narcisse is listening to all this and interrupts to introduce himself. He talks about the "scourge" of heroin and alcohol, but says the true scourge is "apathy" and questions Chalky's "misguided ambition." Dr. Narcisse says he's come, with Chalky's agreement, to "breathe new life into this community" and vows, with Deacon Cuffy, to "restore this community to its full and glorious potential." Eli finds defending the claim in a conversation at home about whether girls need to go to college. Willie tells his sister she can take his spot because he's dropped out of school. Eli grills his son about quitting school, questioning Willie's manhood. Nucky is there and Willie says his uncle is doing just find without having gone to college. Nucky tells Willie to listen to his father, which Eli doesn't like, saying that Willie will listen because he's his father, not because Nucky told him to listen. Willie says he was the one making money for the family while Eli was in jail, and Willie's sister is surprised to learn her father had been in jail. Eli puts his hand on Willie's shoulder -- aiming to take control of the situation -- and when Willie tells him to take his hand off, Eli hits him and wrestles him to the ground, stopping only when Nucky pulls Eli off of his son. Eli yells at Willie that if he leaves school he needs to leave his house. Willie says he's leaving the house anyway, then leaves. Chalky and Daughter have sex and she asks afterward what Dr. Narcisse said. Chalky says she won't be packing any bags just yet, but she says she wishes she won't be packing them ever again. He asks her what Dr. Narcisse is like and she says he's nice. She says he doesn't treat her as good as Chalky does. Chalky asks if Dr. Narcisse is kin, or something. She rolls over and explains that her mother was a prostitute and was killed, and Daughter saw the whole thing. She says Dr. Narcisse found her and "put his wings around me ever since." Chalky asks her if she and Dr. Narcisse "ever" and she says no. She starts to get up and says she wants a year-long engagement at the Onyx. She gets up and gets dressed to go rehearse. Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon is at a banquet introducing J. Edgar Hoover as the new director of the Bureau of Investigation. Hoover stands up and mentions Jim Tolliver, the man we've known as Agent Knox until now, saying they went to law school together. Hoover says there will no longer be a lax attitude toward crime in and out of the government. He talks about the nationwide criminal conspiracy at work. Tolliver looks upset as Hoover talks about how he will pursue this network, and he walks out while Hoover is still talking. Gillian brings Roy a meal in bed. When he says she's going to spoil him, she says, "You have no idea." She looks happy as they kiss and she tells him the reason she's smiling is "a secret." She asks him to tell one of his secrets. He reminds her about how when they met he told her he was married. He says the day after he met Gillian he began divorce proceedings. He then asks her why she was smiling, and she says it's because made him feel something she hasn't felt in a very long time: happiness. Tolliver, who's been drinking, vents about Hoover's sudden realization -- which he's been trying to convince Hoover about -- to Gaston Means. Means warns Tolliver again carrying around monogramed handkerchiefs. Tolliver snaps and tells Means not to tell him what to do. Eli comes back to his house and finds Nucky sitting on the porch. Eli is drunk and tells Nucky to stay out of his family's business. Nucky says he's "going to chalk this up to whiskey and bad timing," and tells Eli that Willie is a good kid and, like his father, sometimes acts without thinking. Even as Nucky is leaving, Eli shouts, "My family!" Capone welcomes Torrio back to the brother out of jail. Torrio complains about how long he was in the cell and Capone tells him O'Banion was out in an hour. Torrio says a man his age doesn't need to be in prison and, instead, needs to relax. He starts to leave and Capone asks if there's anything he can do. Torrio asks Capone to kill O'Banion. Nucky gets home to find Willie sitting on his porch. He warns Willie that he needs to trust him and needs men around him who can keep their wits. Nucky tells Willie to go home and get some rest. Willie says Eli will be awake and drunk and it will upset his mother. Nucky tells him he can stay the night, but they're going to talk in the morning. Dunn Purnsley visits Deacon Cuffy at night as he's leaving church and says he knows who's been selling heroin. The deacon says he knows, too, and is on his way to visit Chalky. Purnsley says he's finding his way back to the path of righteousness, but the deacon isn't buying it, saying, "a guilty man will say anything to save his skin." Purnsley asks the deacon to pray with him, extending a hand. The deacon does and Purnsley jams a knife into the deacon's stomach, leaving him for dead in the middle of his church. In her dressing room, Daughter prays before moving over to where Dr. Narcisse is sitting. She unbuttons his shirt, revealing a significant scar on his chest. She dabs his chest with a damp cloth. She tells Dr. Narcisse that Chalky doesn't seem pleased to have to answer to Nucky. Dr. Narcisse asks her about Chalky and whether he's pleased with her. Daughter says she believes he is. Dr. Narcisse mentions Daughter's mother, saying "she fought the spirit." He then adds, "these hands set her free and set you on your path," referring to his own killing of Daughter's mother and subsequent caring for Daughter. He tells her she will sing for him now, and she kisses his hand before heading toward the stage to sing, "Somebody Loves Me."
Hide description ▲

Dunn Purnsley is running his heroin business and instructs one of his dealers to cut it four times as the supply of the real stuff is running out. He hands the guy a flier to an upcoming show Dr. Narcisse wants "everyone" to attend. Arnold Rothstein's high-rolling gambling habits are getting big laughs at FBI headquarters. Agent Jim Tolliver, who we'd previously known as Agent Knox, isn't amused and tells the men assembled that he needs them to bring more than "anecdotes." One of them brings up Willie's mysterious release from police custody. The guy, annoyed at Tolliver's attitude, gets up and leaves as soon as he's done presenting what he's got on Willie. Willie wakes up in Eddie's old room and is enjoying breakfast by the time Nucky comes in. He wants to come along with Nucky on some "business," but changes his mind when Nucky mentions that Eli will be there. Nucky tells Willie he has to think about how to move forward. Daughter Maitland is singing in the church and Chalky White is in attendance, watching intently. His wife is watching him. His daughter tells him people are looking at him. Deacon Cuffy is remembered in the sermon and the preacher wonders why the deacon's end had to be so swift and violent. Mickey is annoying Nucky and Eli while they're waiting for someone to arrive at their warehouse. Nucky defends himself to Eli in regard to letting Willie stay with him at the hotel for a while. A shipment of "oranges" from Florida shows up -- it's actually rum from Florida. Nucky finds Sally outside. She came up with the shipment at the last minute. He's surprised to see her there. He asks to host her at the hotel, but she declines. At a barbershop, Chalky tells Purnsley that people are "jawing" about the deacon and looking at him. Purnsley insists there's nothing to find out. At Nucky's office, Mayor Ed Bader is demanding from Nucky that he know about what's going on in town. Meanwhile, Chalky shows up with Purnsley to the house Purnsley had visited earlier as a way to remind the people there who runs this side of town. Purnsley, trying to cover his own tracks, shoots and kills the supposed leader of the operation, his dealer, and tells Chalky that the guy was in no mood to talk. Chalky pulls out of the man's jacket pocket a flier for Dr. Narcisse's production of "Ominira." Tolliver pays Clayton, Willie's college roommate, a visit in jail and offers him three packs of cigarettes to tell him everything he can about Willie. Chalky watches Daughter singing from his office above the main floor of The Onyx Club when Nucky drops in. Nucky asks Chalky about Deacon Cuffy and Chalky says, "He was where he shouldn't have been." Nucky presses and Chalky says he's "looking into it." Nucky suggests Chalky make a donation and Chalky asks if he's "done with the lecture." Nucky passes a glance at Daughter on the stage below and warns Chalky, "Don't let your life get out of hand." Downstairs, Nucky notices Mickey Doyle flirting with Sally. Nucky and Sally exchange a couple of thinly veiled barbs at one another's locales, with Sally acknowledging that Nucky must have been "slumming" down in Tampa and Nucky replying that "people just expect something different here." Mickey and Sally head out to Rendezvous Point and Nucky, finally having had enough, snatches Eddie's cane away from Mickey. He smacks Mickey in the face with the handle and Mickey makes a hasty exit. Nucky and Sally get back to their flirting and Nucky. We next see Willie laying in bed, staring at the ceiling while listening to his uncle and Sally going at it. Dr. Narcisse watches while full of emotion along with a small crowd to his luke-warmly received production of "Ominira." Afterward, his speech is interrupted by Chalky's clanking a trash can lid. When the crowd comes outside, Chalky makes a show (which he dubs, "Harlem by Torchlight") of setting ablaze a couple of packages of raw heroin, which Purnsley hands Chalky. He makes his implication clear, that Dr. Narcisse is the source of the heroin in the neighborhood. Willie meets Sally, and clumsily introduces himself as "Will-iam." She responds that she's "Sal-ly." They have breakfast on the deck outside before Nucky comes out. Sally says she and Will had been talking about his future. Will says he wants to learn how things work in the city, starting at the bottom and hoping to make good. He asks Nucky for a chance to show him he can be the person Nucky wants him to be. Nucky reminds him he also needs to be who he, himself, wants to be. Nucky agrees to "see what we can do." Dr. Narcisse comes into Daughter's room, where she's laying in bed. He sits next to her and puts his hand on her forehead. He talks to her about fighting her weakness "to give into melancholy." She's asks, "Did they like your play?" He says its symbolism "was beyond them," then tells her there was "a disturbance." She asks what happened but he doesn't say. He simply tells her to keep Chalky with her that night and "there will be another visitor." Sally prepares to leave while Nucky suggests that she not leave so soon. She asks him for $1,500 for having supervised the shipment and kept the boys in line. He hands it over. Tolliver sits across a restaurant booth from Eli and says he learned that Eddie Kessler was "part of a violent criminal organization that runs Atlantic City." Tolliver's "associate" forces himself into the seat next to Eli, who stops himself from making a scene. Tolliver tells Eli the whole story about Willie and Clayton's poisoning of Henry and Eli denies any of it happened. Tolliver pushes Eli too far, and Eli tries to stab him with a fork before Tolliver again talks him down from making a scene. Tolliver asks Eli to lead the FBI to Nucky and he and Willie will be just fine. Nucky gives Willie his first job: to work in Ed Bader's office and keep his eyes and ears open. Nucky asks Willie what he wants and Nucky says, "I want the family to be back where it belongs." "One step at a time," Nucky says. "Right?" Nucky hands Willie a copy of a book entitled, "Ragged Dick," saying his mother gave it to him and "there's a lot you can learn from it." Chalky gets dressed quickly while Daughter is still in bed. She tries to lure him back to bed. She starts asking him about his family while trying to tempt him into staying. "When you sing," Chalky tells Daughter. "That sound -- like you're tying up a secret." She tells him she doesn't know any secrets, she just knows how she feels. "Spend your life walking over the world and never find your place, because there isn't one," she says. Chalky asks about Dr. Narcisse looking after her and she says, "That's not what he does." He tells her "The Old Ship of Zion," which he heard her sing, was sung at each of his parents' funerals and he knew when he heard it he would leave. She recognizes that he's walking over the world, too. He asks her to sing it and she does, softly. Tears start rolling down his face and she's several lines into the song when she stops and says, "It's wrong." Soon, there's a knock on the door. It's Purnsley. Chalky nods to Daughter to open the door. She walks into the next room, opens the door and Purnsley steps in. Daughter goes into the kitchen and Purnsley tells Chalky he was right, that Dr. Narcisse has been pushing the heroin and stabbed Deacon Cuffy, and adds that Dr. Narcisse is "boiling from this afternoon." Purnsley also suggests that Dr. Narcisse brought Daughter to town to keep him busy. Chalky tells Purnsley it "all worked out," but asks Purnsley one last question: How much is Dr. Narcisse paying him to screw him over. A fight ensues in which they struggle, crash through a glass door, Chalky pushes a shard through Purnsley's cheek but Purnsley ends up on top of Chalky, slowly choking him nearly to death when Daughter jams a knife into Purnsley's back. Daughter holds Chalky and talks him through regaining his breath. Eli gets home to a joyful family gathering, complete with Willie playing the ukelele and everyone singing along. Nucky is there, too. Willie stands and apologizes to Eli for disobeying him and not showing him respect. He asks for forgiveness and asks if he can come back home. Eli pauses for a long moment, then opens his arms to hug his son. "Don't stop the fun on my account," he says. The singing resumes. Nucky comes over to Eli and quietly says, "Didn't I say it would work itself out?" "You did," Eli says. "Thank you, brother." Nucky puts a hand on Eli's shoulder and walks back to his seat.
Hide description ▲

Van Alden is struggling through fixing some pipes under his sink while his young son in crying. His wife Sigrid is growing frustrated with the shoddy build-it-yourself house and suggests that if Van Alden was making money as O'Banion's enforcer there would be water. Nucky is asking questions of Chalky, who wants "the death sentence" executed on Dr. Narcisse for having sent Purnsley to kill him. Nucky is wondering whether Chalky is a bit too taken with Daughter Maitland and if that's causing his questionable decisions. Chalky reminds Nucky that he helped when Nucky was in need, but Nucky says the club was his thanks for that. At the flower shop, O'Banion starts asking Van Alden about the coincidence between the day his man Stu was killed being the same as the day Van Alden "disappeared with the Capones." O'Banion gives Van Alden a hard time for having a guilty conscience, then sends him out on a delivery. Gillian flirts with Roy on the boardwalk, telling him she had her first kiss in that spot with a "freckle-faced boy" named James. She tells him how that day ended up with her being taken to a man, "the most powerful man in the city." She tells him The Commodore "ravaged" her that night, six weeks before her 13th birthday. She says she named the baby James, "the last pure thing I could remember." She tells Roy that she and James "lived for each other." She tells him about Jimmy going off to war and then coming back and overdosing in her bathroom. Dr. Narcisse gets news that Arnold Rothstein is out of the heroin business after Joe Masseria pushed him out. Dr. Narcisse says he's like to meet with Masseria, despite being told that Masseria isn't as comfortable selling to "the darker types" as Rothstein. Van Alden makes his delivery and it's Al Capone who is waiting. Ralph is with him, too, and they want to know everything Van Alden knows about O'Banion. Ralph hits Van Alden in the back of the head and he says he'll "regret it" if he hits him again. Al says he doesn't trust Van Alden and pulls a gun on him. Van Alden asks for $1,000 "for going into work tomorrow and blowing O'Banion's head off." Chalky's wife and daughter are making the guest list for her wedding. Chalky's wife asks if there's a story they should come up with to explain his appearance (the cuts on his face from his fight with Purnsley). They devise something about him moving lumber around, then Chalky suggests they drop Purnsley from the guest list to solve the problem of having an odd number of guests. Chalky's wife looks uneasy. Rothstein asks his aid Peter why he doesn't gamble and Peter says he doesn't have the stomach for it. Rothstein tells him the first time he played craps he won $32 -- he was 9 years old. "Lucky little boy," Peter says. "Yes," Rothstein replies. "Or at least I used to think so." Nucky talks to Eli about the potential problem with Chalky, saying he's out of control and going after Narcisse. Nucky is bothered by Chalky continuing to claim he owes him. Eli tells Nucky the answer "has to be no." Eli asks if there's anything else he should know and Nucky asks about Willie. Eli says everybody's happy to have him home. Van Alden packs a gun and gets annoyed when Sigrid walks in without knocking. Gillian is in full confession mode about how she hasn't lived a "blameless life" but she has love to give her grandson and she thinks "that's all that matters." Julia Sagorsky stands and talks about how Tommy considers her house to be his home and that they talk him through his nightmares. The judge notes that Julia is a store clerk and not married. And her father admits he's on veteran's pension. The judge reminds them that the court generally favors giving custody to blood relatives and says he'll render a decision within the month. Van Alden looks through the window of the flower shop and sees O'Banion. He goes in through the back. Before he can get in, though, the guys from his iron-selling job club him in the back and start punching him. He warns them to stop before pulling his gun and shooting all three from them, including Mr. Gulliver, his former boss. Rothstein shows Nucky an insurance policy showing him that Mickey Doyle is worth $500,000 on a life insurance policy issued by a subsidiary of Rothstein's. Nucky asks if he'd get a cut if Rothstein were to kill Mickey. Rothstein instead asks Nucky if he wants to buy the policy from him. Rothstein admits he's having money troubles. Nucky buys the policy for $100,000. Chalky shows up in the dining room in a suit and his wife has no reaction. Julia quizzes Richard about what he and her father talk about until all hours of the night. She tells Richard she could make more money as a floor manager, but says the judge suggested she should be married. Richard stumbles over whether to say something to this suggestion. He says "yes." Daughter tells Narcisse that Purnsley never showed up and she couldn't make Chalky stay all night. Daughter promises Narcisse that he will, despite some troubles, "be clothed in glory" and promises she'll keep Chalky there next time. He reminds her of the beginning of their journey from New Orleans and he vowed to protect her and she'd be "free to lie down with any man, but your heart " he trails off. "Was yours," she says. "Always yours." Narcisse then notes the new rug and glass shards still around, then says, "You have crushed me utterly." He stands up, then turns and hits her in the face. Van Alden and Sigrid argue when there's a slamming on the door. It's Al and Ralph asking what happened with the hit on O'Banion. Van Alden asks them to give him until that night and he'll wait until closing. Chalky is entertaining his future son-in-law's parents when the piano player from the club calls. He takes the call and then abruptly leaves. Richard and Julia wait outside the Marriage and Hunting Licenses Office. When Julia asks Richard if he's sure about doing it, he says, "It's just a hunting license, isn't it?" Chalky finds Daughter in bed with a severely beaten face. Chalky tells her assistant to "make her comfortable 'til I get back." Dr. Narcisse sits next to Nucky at a table at The Onyx Club while a comedian tells racially charged jokes. Nucky reminds Narcisse he isn't allowed to sit there, but Narcisse says he doesn't care and warns Nucky that his "friend's" days are numbered, referring to Chalky, who shows up and threatens Narcisse, calling him out for beating a woman. Nucky warns Chalky to think about what comes out of his mouth next unless he's ready for a war he'll fight alone. The band strikes up and the dancers come out just after Chalky throws over Nucky's table and walks away. Van Alden is sweeping up and O'Banion comes over to chat. He asks again what happened the night Stu was killed and Van Alden was with the Capones. O'Banion says he doesn't believe him and asks for the truth as he pulls a gun and holds it under Van Alden's chin. "I didn't kill Stu," Van Alden says, "Al Capone did." He goes on to say she has killed other men, including the three he shot and his former prohibition agent partner. He says his name isn't Mueller and that he "used to believe in God, but now I don't believe in anything any all." O'Banion looks a little stunned and walks away when a couple of customers come in. The three guys ask about flowers, then shoot O'Banion multiple times. Van Alden steps out from the back room, takes the from the register and leaves some time later. Richard surprises Nucky, who is walking up to Eli's house. He says he got married and needs a job. That night, Van Alden goes home and wakes Sigrid, asking who built the house and who pays the bills. He then asks, "Who's holding $1,000 in his hand?" She asks her, "Who am I?" "You are my husband," she says. "My name is Nelson Van Alden," he says. He throws the money in the air and tells her to take off her nightgown. Roy is on the phone with someone, saying, "It won't be much longer." When Gillian appears, his voice changes and he acts like he was on a business call and hangs up. She admits she's fighting the urge to use drugs again and he tells her she needs to prepare herself for whatever the decision might be. She says everything she's done for Tommy can't have all been for nothing, and he reminds her that it brought her to him. Chalky tells Daughter she'll be fine soon and she says Narcisse "sees things we don't see." Chalky isn't buying it. His daughter Maybelle knocks on the door and wants to know what Chalky came there to do. But she walks away before he can even start to answer. Nucky calls Sally in Florida. They banter about the weather before Nucky asks her what a man does down in Florida. She says "a man does what he wants" or maybe doesn't do anything at all. He says he could come down and check on things. She tells him to call him the next day and he says he might. She warns him not to get lost in the fog. Sally hangs up the phone and lays down in bed alone -- except for a shotgun in her arms and a cigarette in her mouth.
Hide description ▲

Eli is telling the FBI's Jim Tolliver about a guy named Balinchuk, possibly Polish, claiming he's Torio's "Number 2." Tolliver tells Eli that what he's doing "takes courage." In Tampa, Sally watches over a shipment and is telling the men unloading the boats to move their asses. She spies Petrucelli, along with Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky, putting heroin into the orange crates which are the cover for the liquor, as well. Sally calls Nucky and tells him something's wrong. She tells him Petrucelli is "pulling a fast one," telling him that he, Lucky and Lansky are including heroin in Nucky's shipments. McCoy in Tampa also knows about this and Nucky tells Sally to keep him close. He tells her he owes her one. Eli comes down for breakfast to find Tolliver sitting at his table with his family. Tolliver uses some coded language to essentially threaten Eli and his family. He's pretending to be a life insurance salesman. After the family goes into another room, Tolliver tells Eli that Balinchuk has been dead for two years and that if Eli isn't careful, he'll have his son Willie in prison. Margaret is making a call about an apartment and trying her best to hide her accent. Arnold Rothstein surprises her at her desk and asks if she's changing her residence. He notices that she can't really afford the apartment she's looking at in the newspaper. He tells her to forget that place and call him about one of the "more suitable" buildings he owns. She asks, "In exchange for what?" He wants info on when her bosses plan on buying back stock in Anaconda Real Estate. Chalky is running a private meeting with black workers in an alley. Richard Harrow steps into the alley and while some of the other men don't take kindly to his presence in the alley or washing dishes at the club, Chalky calls Richard a friend and tells him if he needs anything he can come to him. Chalky goes back to his meeting about an attick on Dr. Narcisse. Nucky meets Eli and Mickey Doyle at the warehouse and tells them to take some men and stop the caravan at White Horse Pike, and telling them to find the heroin that is hidden among the rum. In Chicago, Al Capone is going over the territory with Van Alden, who is going to be taking over Ralph's collections. Johnny Torio comes over and questions Al about his intentions. Torio doesn't want to be squeezed out of his own operation. Al pulls Torio aside and tries to assure him. Torio doesn't seem to be buying it. That night, Chalky leads a group of shooters to Dr. Narcisse's office and while many men are shot, Narcisse crawls away. As Chalky and his men turn around to leave, Narcisse comes back firing, taking out a couple of men and hitting Chalky in the back and he's climbing back into his car. Tolliver and Eli sit in a car and Tolliver tries to chat him up. They're waiting for the caravan. Tolliver is involved in stopping it and seizing the heroin. Narcisse shows up in the upper-floor office at The Onyx Club looking for Chalky. He finds only Nucky and says "this ends tonight." Nucky isn't shaken. He asks Narcisse who he thinks he is and reminds Narcisse that he started it, but insisting that he doesn't know where Chalky is. In a tense standoff at gunpoint, Nucky tells Narcisse to get out of his club. "When I run him through, watch the light go out, I hope he knows what a friend he had in you," Narcisse tells Nucky before leaving. Meanwhile, Richard is taking care of Chalky in the back of the legion hall. Daughter Maitland shows up and tells Chalky that Narcisse will come after them. "Let him come," Chalky says. In Brooklyn, Margaret can't sleep through all the noises in her building of babies crying, couples arguing. Nucky berates Lansky, who is bound and kneeling in front of a hole in a deserted area while Eli and Tolliver, among others, watch. Lansky says Masseria found out about Tampa from his cousin Petrucelli. Lansky continues to claim he had nothing to do with it, but with a gun now to his head, Lansky admits there's a fortune to be made in heroin, "millions." Nucky tells Lansky to call Masseria and "get his ass down here." Margaret's boss hands her some trade confirmations and she seems to see that her boss isn't the best of guys. After he leaves, she gets Rothstein's card. Nucky pays a visit to Chalky and asks for some privacy. Daughter leaves the room. Nucky asks Chalky if he's "thinking straight" about any of it. Nucky tells Chalky he doesn't want a war. Mayor Ed Bader declares to the press that the perpetrators of the shooting at Dr. Narcisse's office will be found. Masseria shows up at The Onyx Club and Nucky asks what he has to say for himself about the heroin. Masseria says they should wait until his partner comes. Narcisse walks in. Nucky isn't pleased. Narcisse says he can be a capable partner and wants Chalky delivered to him -- "this is non-negotiable." Nucky says he wants his share -- one-third of any heroin already imported and one-third of any imported in the future. "So we have struck a bargain, then?" Narcisse asks. Nucky says yes and Narcisse says he sees "great days ahead." Nucky calls Bader and tells him to send two Sheriff's deputies to take Chalky White out of town. Al Capone is living it up at his brothel, telling corny, dirty jokes with a prostitute on his arm when Torio walks in and says he's heading out. Al tells Torio to stay, but he says he'll catch his "matinee performance tomorrow." Al gets a call and takes it in the other room. The voice on the other line won't identify himself, but says, "I was just calling to say goodbye. Van Alden looks over Al's shoulder and shouts at Al to get down when he sees some guys pointing machine guns from a building across the street. They fire away for what seems like a full minute. Al calls out for Ralph, who says he's OK. Al says it's "lucky for Johnny he left when he did." Margaret shares a meal with Rothstein and -- after clearing up that "this isn't that," in terms of their meal possibly making Nucky jealous -- she confides that "it's impossible to get ahead." She goes on to say she's realized that Mr. Bennett "is a criminal no different than --" She stops and Rothstein asks, "Than me?" She was going to say Nucky. She hands Rothstein notes that show Mr. Bennett bought more shares of Anaconda Realty. She says Bennett and his partners own the company. She tells Rothstein not to sell his shares until Bennett does and she'll let him know when that happens. She asks for a rent-free apartment for five years in a safe neighborhood with rooms for the children. When he questions why she'll accept something from him but not Nucky, she says, "I earned this, and when it's over I'll owe you nothing." Rothstein shakes on it. He says he's "never done business with a woman before." She asks how he liked it and he says, "Quite the treat." Chalky tells Daughter he's going to take a train out west and "be safe there." Daughter says she'll go wherever he does. Two sheriff's deputies show up and tell Chalky to get in the back of the car. Willie drops in on Nucky and tells him that after Bader's press conference, the mayor had a meeting with a guy matching Dr. Narcisse's description. Nucky tries to call the legion hall, but Chalky's already gone. Daughter is singing in the back of the sheriff's car with Chalky. They don't seem to be headed to Philly, where Chalky thought they were headed. Chalky acts lie he's going to go to sleep. He makes a move and, in a struggle, shoots one of the deputies. He struggles more with the second, the driver, and Daughter takes the wheel for a while. Chalky kills the second deputy and the car has come to a stop. He asks Daughter for help getting them out of the car. Tolliver comes to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, delightedly telling him he got Nucky's "weak link." Eli has been backed into a corner. Hoover tells another agent to "nourish" the relationship with "our man in Harlem." Chalky's daughter and his son visit The Onyx Club so he can play the piano. She takes a tour of the rest of the club, including the upstairs office, which is dark. She goes in and is surprised to discover Narcisse was sitting there. He realizes she's Chalky's daughter and says that he and Chalky are "intimately associated." She ask Narcisse if he knows where Chalky is. She confides that she's no longer engaged. She says she's "not suffering." He commiserates with her, holds her hand and she starts to cry, saying she was supposed to come there to "forget things." He tells her to "go and forget." She leaves. Eli shows up at Nucky's place and learns that Bader has turned and is in Narcisse's pocket. Eli is further surprised to see Willie there, but Nucky says Willie is doing his job. Eli tells Willie to leave, but he stays. Eli asks him if this is the life he wants. "Isn't it what we do?" Willie asks his dad. Eli steps back and says, "Alright, let's get it sorted out."
Hide description ▲

Chalky and Daughter Maitland are riding in the back of a car headed to meet a man named Oscar, who sent a couple of men to pick the pair up. They get to a secluded house and Chalky and Daughter are told to wait. Daughter asks Chalky if he worked for Mr. Bernard, and he explains that the man one saved him from a life of fighting on the streets. They're summoned into the house. Chalky first meets a man named Winston, who goes by "Scrapper," but he doesn't know why. Gaston Means calls Nucky to tell him "there's a skunk in your cellar." He tries to sell Nucky some information for $50,000 and the price goes up to $500,000, but Nucky takes none of it seriously. Meanwhile, we hear men banging down Means' door as he gets more and more desperate. After the phone call, we see Means confronted by the U.S. Capitol Police and charging Means with perjury. The next morning, Chalky points out the Susquehanna River to Daughter. Oscar Bernard, Chalky's one-time mentor, comes out to the porch and needs some assistance. He's old and frail, and he has terrible eyesight. Chalky catches up a bit and Oscar introduces himself to Daughter, making fun of her name a bit. He can't see her, but Chalky tells him she's "a beauty." After Daughter goes inside to make some food, Chalky tells Oscar he was right, essentially, in telling him to never trust any white or black people. Leander Whitlock, The Commodore's lawyer, suggests to Gillian that she's asking too much for her house. Gillian also doesn't like the idea that Tommy could spend time in a place like the Trenton Home for Friendless Children, where she has spent time. Eli is giving the FBI's Jim Tolliver some more accurate information about the heroin trade that is running with Nucky's rum shipments. He says Chicago is "not part of" what's going on. Jim says he needs to get everyone from New York, Atlantic City and Tampa all in a room making plans to operate across state lines. Eli says Nucky won't allow that to happen. Jim again threatens Eli with possible jail time for Willie if he doesn't hold up his end of the deal. Jim also tells Eli to "lay off" the whiskey, adding, "you're no good to me like that." Gillian comes to see Tommy again, and he recognizes her as "Me-Ma." She asks him about his mother, and he says, "She's gone." He says he doesn't know where his father is. Gillian hugs him, and Richard Harrow emerges, telling her not to touch him. After a tense exchange, Gillian notices the ring on Richard's finger and realizes that he and Julia Sagorsky are going to gain custody of Tommy together. She asks him to take care of the boy and leaves. Eli brings the family to Nucky's house near the beach, and there are armed men standing all around. Oscar Bernard holds court at the table while the men eat and Daughter cleans in the kitchen. Oscar chides Chalky for having chased some big life in New York and coming back for help. Oscar suggests he and his nephews don't have the means to help. Oscar goes on to make fun of Daughter's cooking. Gillian comes to see Roy and says she's been out walking and taking in the beautiful day. She says she feels "finally free." She's all smiles and insists she's not back on drugs. Nucky and Eli talk about how annoyed they are at not knowing where Chalky is and taking orders from Dr. Narcisse. Eli suggests to Nucky that he get them, New York and Tampa all to sit down, saying he wants to get their power back. Nucky asks Eli who he doesn't trust in their team. Eli seems to resent the question. Nucky tells Eli that Means told him there's a "skunk in my cellar." Nucky asks Eli what he thinks of "Knox," who we now know is Jim Tolliver of the FBI. Nucky tells Eli it'll "be your headache one day," suggesting he's going to leave the operation to Eli. Gillian tells Roy she's coming to realize that Tommy could be better off with Richard and Julia. Roy announces that his merger is going through. He says he's getting a "big bonus." He says, "I hate when things end," and he's headed to wherever he's sent next. She asks if he's been lying to her about his wife. She presses again and he finally admits he has to leave, but he wants her to come with him and marry him. "What's stopping you from asking?" she says. "Hell, I thought I just did," he says. Eli, Nucky and the family are having a good laugh over dinner, but Eli's wife June starts talking about the baby-faced insurance salesman who came around the house, and Eli angrily tells her to stop talking. He tries to play it off, but Nucky seems to have picked up on something. Chalky sits down to play checkers with some of Oscar's nephews, who ask about his business. Chalky notices Daughter outside and leaves to track her down. Daughter asks Chalky about whether he wants back into the life he left in Atlantic City and asks him to run away with her. Gillian and Roy having a nice, whimsical chat about their plans for the future when Roy is confronted by the man who was driven out of his job for blocking the merger. The man is drunk and Roy thinks he's going to pull a gun, so Roy shoots him. Gillian urges Roy to get in the car and they drive away. After dinner, Nucky and Willie talk outside and Willie asks what Eli's confrontation with June could have been about. Nucky says he wouldn't take it too seriously because it's easy to get his father's goat. Nucky tells Willie he once found a poem Eli wrote to a girl in eighth grade and had a great deal of fun wit it. Nucky says the "insurance fellow sounds like a real sharpie." Nucky asks if he'd ever seen the insurance salesman before. Willie says he hasn't. Oscar and Chalky have a little heart to heart. Oscar says he doesn't have much money. Chalky asks Oscar what he should do now. Oscar tells Chalky to stay there and cut Daughter loose. As Eli's family prepares to leave, June tells Nucky that Eli is "drinking again." Nucky asks if she's like him to have a talk with Eli and she says no, "it'll all be fine." Before they drive away, Nucky calls Eli back. Nucky recites some of the eighth-grade poem to Eli, who sheepishly asks why he's bringing that up. Nucky says he just wanted to see how he'd react. Nucky tells Eli to put the meeting he suggested together. Eli agrees and says, "I think it's the best way out of this." That night, Chalky sits in bed next to Daughter, who tells him she's awake. Chalky tells her that the next morning they will go, just like she suggested, and not turn back. Gillian tries to talk Roy through what he did and he's distraught over it. He wonders if he should call the police and she tells him he can't. He says he has to, but she tries to assure him, "No one was there, no one knows." She urges him to "let it go, get away with it. No one saw you." She says she knows he can live with it. She vaguely tells him "there were things I had to do to survive." Then she admits it wasn't her son who died there, "it was a boy, an innocent boy," and goes on to say she drowned him and made up a story, and turned his body to ash. Roy asks who he was and she says his name was Roger. She adds, "You can make yourself live with anything." Suddenly, a couple of men emerge. Roy admits he's with the Pinkerton Detective Agency, and the men there are his associates and witnesses to her confession to first-degree murder. Gillian can't believe it. Leander shows up and says, "I owed Louis something; I'm sure you can understand that." Gillian lunges at Roy, then goes hysterical trying to escape the men and fight them off as they subdue her. Chalky wakes up in the middle of the night and sees that Daughter is missing. He checks Oscar's couch and he, too, is gone. He steps outside and finds Oscar on the porch with a shotgun in hand. Oscar tells Chalky that Daughter is gone. Oscar steps out in front of the house and starts calling out to men Chalky can't see or hear. They call out that they want "the girl." A shootout ensues and Oscar is shot. Oscar's nephews return fire and kill all the shooters. Nucky calls Sally, who asks him what's on his mind. "I want out," he says.
Hide description ▲

Nucky and Sally are having a flirty conversation while it seems Nucky's home is about to be ambushed. It's Chalky White, holding a gun to Nucky's new assistant Sam's head. Chalky forces Nucky to admit he's now in business with Dr. Narcisse. Nucky says he tried to stop it all. Chalky refuses to listen to Nucky and says he wants Narcisse. "You've gotta believe me, Chalky," Nucky says. "We want the same thing." FBI Agent Jim Tolliver is asking J. Edgar Hoover for a big team to bring down Nucky's multi-state operation. They have a tense exchange in which Tolliver accuses Hoover for having rooted for him to fail since their first year in law school. Hoover approves eight additional agents. Richard Harrow is testifying at Gillian's trial, recounting when he discovered that the man who died in Gillian's home was not James Darmody. Gillian starts muttering to herself, "There's no body," then she stands up and says it louder. She says there's no body and that she was tricked because she was in love. Then she shouts, "Why does a man get to do anything he wants?" She gets some cheers for this proclamation as she's escorted out of the courtroom by bailiffs. Tolliver is briefing Eli on what he needs to get the bigwigs to talk about, including drug trafficking and more. They tell him that when he gets the signal, he should excuse himself from the room because it "could get messy." Eli asks for a guarantee that his son will be free of anything if this all works out. Tolliver assures Eli that if he Masseria and all the others in a room, "Will has nothing to worry about." Eli warns Tolliver to stop talking like he knows his son. In Chicago, Al and Ralph Capone are trying to figure out who could have tried to assassinate him. Van Alden sits down with them and Johnny Torio comes in, theorizing that it was "Weiss with Bugs Moran and" he trails off when Ralph finishes for him, "Schemer Drucci." Torio says, "Sure, after the O'Banion thing, who else could it be?" "Yeah, I'm sure you're right," Al Capone says with a snarl. Mickey Doyle hands Nucky an envelope and says it's "light," because Dr. Narcisse isn't making things easy and might be getting liquor from somewhere else. Nucky then sees the headline about Gillian's claim that it was Jimmy, denying the murder charges against her. Eli asks Nucky what they're going to do about Narcisse and Nucky says "it's being handled." Eli then mentions the meeting and says Masseria, Meyer Lansky and Petrucelli will be there. Nucky starts to tell Eli to "make sure they" but he trails off when Richard Harrow shows up. He is there to ask Nucky a favor. Richard tells Nucky that he needs to know where Jimmy Darmody is and when Nucky tells him that Jimmy was cremated after he died in Gillian's tub. Richard tells Nucky that if Gillian goes free, she'd come back for "the boy" and he and his wife couldn't handle that. Nucky asks Richard what he would do for an "anonymous source" who could provide information about Jimmy's body, and Richard says, "I would do whatever you ask." We next see a crowd of reporters around a shallow grave and they note six screws in one of the skeleton's legs, confirming that it's Jimmy Darmody. Nucky and Narcisse kick Mayor Ed Bader out of his own office so they can talk about Chalky. Nucky says he wants this to end. Nucky finally tells Nucky that all they have in common is wanting to make money and he doesn't care how it happens. He warns Narcisse that he has a lot at stake in this town and if someone tries to take, there's a problem. Nucky tells Narcisse to end it however he sees fit, and Nucky tells Narcisse he doesn't ever want to worry about Chalky coming at him int he dark again. Narcisse is glad they finally understand each other, and Nucky says he'll tell Chalky that Narcisse is willing to talk. On his way out, Nucky tells Narcisse that Chalky wanted to pass along a message that he knows where "that singer" is. Torio is walking out of his house complaining about his garden when a hit man walks up, shoots his driver, then shoots Torio five times -- the last in the neck. Tolliver and his men are setting up surveillance on the meeting room. Tolliver is stressed out over when it's going to work. Sam tells Nucky that Narcisse's man will be at the club by 9 to meet Chalky. Eli gets a call from Nucky at home. He asks Eli to pick him up for the meeting so they can "present a united front." Eli first says it'd be easier to meet there, but agrees to pick Nucky up. Willie comes down and overhears the end of the conversation, and asks Eli what Nucky wanted. Eli doesn't say, then tells Willie to tell his mother he'll be late. Eli leaves. Richard sends Julia, Paul and little Tommy off on a train and stays behind. Tommy gives him a big hug before they leave. Julia asks Richard to promise he's coming to meet them at his sister's house in Wisconsin. He gives her a big kiss and says he'll be there is three days. Eli stops at Nucky's place, which looks dark. He reaches for his gun for a moment, then steps inside. It's complete dark and quiet. We see half of someone holding a pistol, hiding against a wall and not moving. Eli walks around a bit more and Nucky emerges, telling him to put his gun away. Nucky says he's "closing the place up." He tells Eli he's leaving town to head to Cuba with Sally. When Eli asks when, Nucky says, "As soon as I finish what I need to do." Eli asks about the meeting and Nucky says there is no meeting. He says, "There are names on a hotel register with three empty rooms -- and you and me." Sam steps forward and takes Eli's gun out from under his jacket. Eli doesn't move. Nucky pulls out his gun and points it at Eli's face. He tells Eli he's got a lot to lose, but Eli tells him he has nothing. "Sooner or later, you'll take it all anyway," Eli says. Then he takes off his hat, drops it on the floor and steps toward Nucky, now point blank distance from the pistol in Nucky's hand. "I'm ready," Eli says. "Are you?" Nucky presses the gun to Eli's forehead and pushes him down to his knees. Willie walks in and shouts, "He's gonna kill you!' Eli says, "No, he's not." Sam holds Willie back while Nucky keeps Eli at gunpoint. Nucky asks Eli to tell Willie what's going on. Eli says that "Knox," who we know as Tolliver, knows about the murder charge on Willie that Nucky handled and that he wants Nucky and "Florida" and "New York" all in one place. "And that's the price to keep him out of jail," Eli says, referring to Willie. Eli tells Nucky that Willie was supposed to amount to something, and Nucky says he will. Eli chides Nucky and asks if he'll amount to a man in an empty hotel pointing a gun at his brother. "I did that for the family," Nucky says. "You don't have a family," Eli replies. "I do." Eli tells Nucky that he now wants that, too, but nothing will fill the hole Nucky has inside. "This is your mess, Eli," Nucky says. "Drown in it." Nucky leaves. Willie leaves, too. Tolliver looks upset and another agent says, "They're not coming." Tolliver goes off on the man, telling him that Hoover and many others think this whole thing is a joke. The agent, Harold, tells Tolliver to give up his gun and Tolliver tells him to take it if he wants it. Van Alden waits with the Capones outside Torio's hospital room. Torio's wife comes out and tells Al that Torio is asking for him. Al hugs Torio's wife and goes into the room. Al tells Torio they're going to get whoever did this, but Torio says he's not going to fight back. He says this is a young man's game. He tells Al the whole operation is his. Eli gets home and asks if Willie is there. Tolliver is waiting and asks Eli if he forgot they had a meeting. Eli is upset and orders June to go upstairs so he can talk to Tolliver. Tolliver tells Eli that Willie is going to jail, and tells him a story about another kid about Willie's age who he arrested and sent to federal prison. He says he hasn't heard much but that the kid is "very popular among the inmates." Eli tells Tolliver he'll kill him, and Tolliver pulls his gun and asks if he's threatening a federal agent. For the second time this night, Eli has a gun points at his head. Eli turns and knocks the gun out of Tolliver's hand. A scuffle ensues, with Tolliver hitting Eli with a glass vase and Eli pulling out a saw and slashing Tolliver's cheek with it. Eli winds up on top of Tolliver, strangling him while squealing, "My son!" Tolliver reaches for something to hit Eli over the head with and scrambles for his gun. Eli catches him from behind, then chokes Tolliver with his necktie before turning him back around and punching him furiously in the face repeatedly before finishing him with one last blow to the head with the glass vase. Dr. Narcisse is sitting at The Onyx Club when Chalky shows up and Narcisse waves him in. Narcisse asks Chalky for his terms. Narcisse wants Daughter Maitland back. Chalky tries to get under Narcisse's skin by talking about how he had sex with Daughter. Chalky says he wants to get to his daughter's wedding, but Narcisse says there is no wedding, then he waves at one of his men to reveal Maybelle, who is being held in a room in the club and is now standing in a doorway. Narcisse tells Chalky, "One nod from me and she's gone." Chalky looks around and notices Richard Harrow getting into position to take a sniper shot from above. We see Narcisse in the center of Richard's scope. Richard gets shaky, though, before taking the shot and his trigger finger isn't working for him. He braces himself again and takes a shot, but accidentally hits Maybelle as she passes in front of Narcisse. Her head falls to the table and Chalky cries immediately. A gunfight breaks out and the patrons run screaming. Richard is hit and stumbles out of the club. Chalky's men drag him out of the club, as well, while agents come in firing into the air saying they're looking for Eli Thompson. Richard makes his way through the crowd, limping and holding his stomach. Richard stumbles around under the boardwalk. Nucky is just about to get on a train when Agent Selby asks him to come with him. He says they're looking for Eli, who will be charged with the murder of a federal agent. Hoover questions Narcisse about when he entered the United States, more than two decades earlier, yet never became a U.S. citizen. Hoover, who has been obsessed with Marcus Garvey, lays out a plan for Narcisse to become a secret informant against Garvey by threatening to deport him. Narcisse manages to choke out the words, "Yes, sir." Nucky tells Willie that he's the man of the house now because Eli has to go. He tells Willie to let the family know that Eli is safe with friends "out west." Willie asks Nucky what would have happened if he hadn't shown up and Nucky simply replies, "He's your father, my brother; and I'm not the person you think I am." We next see Eli waiting for a ride and he's picked up by Van Alden. Gillian, sitting in a jail cell, cries while her lawyer is talking to her. Margaret is moving into Arnold Rothstein's building. Sally is pouring herself a drink alone in Tampa. Chalky is sitting on the porch where Oscar sat, and Daughter Maitland is singing for a small crowd of black patrons in a club. The screen fades to black then fades back into Richard Harrow sitting on a train, looking out the window. He closes his eyes. Richard is then seen approaching the home of his sister with his whole family sitting on the porch waiting for him. As his wife approaches, we see Richard's face is whole again as he smiles at her. Cut to Richard's mask laying in the sand under the boardwalk, as we see him take his last breaths, Richard Harrow is finally at peace.
Hide description ▲

1931: Nucky is in Cuba attempting to set up networks for shipping into the US when the Volstead Act is lifted. Charlie makes a move on Joe Masseria. Chalky is in chains, and fights for his freedom. There are glimpses of Nucky's past. |
Hide description ▲

Nucky returns to New York to seek out who tried to have him killed in Cuba and to further negotiate his alcohol networks for when repeal happens. Eli and George are running the bootlegging in Atlantic City, under the supervision of Al Capone. Charlie and Meyer play a risky game behind Maranzanos back. Gillian is residing in a woman's psychiatric facility - where she has an understanding with the head guard. We get more glimpses from Nuckys childhood and his relationship with the Commodore.
Hide description ▲

Nucky loses his senatorial interest in his alcohol distribution and seeks out new support. Margaret finds herself in trouble for a deal she made with Arnold Rothstein years before he died. Chalky is still on the run. |
Hide description ▲

Luciano encounters Capone in Chicago. Nucky and Margaret find common ground in Atlantic City. Meanwhile, Sally conducts business in Cuba as rumors swirl of a public uprising; and in 1884, a young Nucky continues to impress the commodore. |
Hide description ▲

Chalky turns up at Nuckys doorstep looking for information on Narcisse. Nucky arranges a meeting through Torrio with Maranzano to discuss Luciano's move on Nucky. Mueller and Eli are arrested - in order to avoid prison time both will have to cooperate in retrieving information about Al Capones finances. Back in 1897, Deputy Sheriff Enoch Thompson gets closer and closer to the Commodore.
Hide description ▲

Nucky visits Gillian, Luciano and Lansky deal with Narcisse and young Nucky faces a turning point. In Chicago, Capone prepares to face trial and in New York Margaret becomes a stock operator a la Joe Kennedy. Scores are made and settled. |
Hide description ▲