Episode Report Card Joe R: B | 4 USERS: A YOU GRADE IT Keep Their Heads Ringin'
By Joe R | Season 3 | Episode 9 | Aired on 11.11.2012
In a hurry? Read the recaplet for a nutshell description! Finished? Click here to close.In the aftermath of the explosion at Babette's (where, it should be noted, there is still no definitive word on the fate of Babette herself), Nucky head is in seriously bad shape concussion-wise. His vision's blurry, there's a persistent ringing in his ears and he keeps forgetting who people are and whether or not he wants a birthday party for Emily. It's all very unfortunate, because he needs to figure out what to do about Rosetti, who has re-established his presence in Tabor Heights. With a vengeance, too -- beating down that fickle new sheriff and essentially holding the town hostage.
Meanwhile, Margaret is standing by her husband, hunkering down at the Ritz with the kids. Nucky's fuzzy condition has him keeping Margaret close and thus privy to more conversations about the business than she's used to. She's really freaked out by the violence of it all -- and the promised violence to come. She pulls Sleater aside to seek some comfort and he tells her that if she wants it, they could leave together. She has no answer to that at first, but after she helps pull Nucky together for the meeting, she tells Owen: they'll leave as soon as they're able.
As for the meeting, Nucky calls on seemingly every bootlegger in the northeast -- including Waxey Gordon and Arnold Rothstein -- and pulls his wits together enough to make the pitch: they back him up in taking out Masseria and Rosetti and they can share in the spoils. Rothstein, however, doesn't think going to war at Nucky's side is a great business plan and he has already convinced the other guys to wish Nucky well and leave him alone. Desperately alone.
Elsewhere, Richard Harrow goes to a dance at the American Legion post with Julia Sagorsky as his date. With all eyes on them, they dance the night away, and she kisses him. Back at the Maison Derriere, Tommy has taken a shine to one of the showgirls, to Gillian's annoyance. With Richard away, Tommy follows his new ladyfriend down to the brothel wing of the house and he ends up getting an eyeful of her and her John. We're all going to remember this when Tommy grows up to be Ed Gein.
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Want more? The full recap starts right below!They're cleaning up the debris of Babbette's Supper Club down on the boardwalk. Still no indication of the fate of actual Babbette, I should mention. And peering down over the top of the burned out building is the Ritz Carlton, where Nucky Thompson is in his bedroom, being examined by his doctor. Through blurred vision, he's watching the doctor's finger move left and right. The ringing in his ears seems to be the bigger problem, and the doctor diagnoses him with concussion symptoms -- temporary lack of mental acuity, feeling in a fog, confusion. His head hurts but he's not taking his medicine, which can't help. He needs bed rest more than anything. He asks for Eddie but he means Eli, and he yells at Eddie when he corrects him. Nucky tries to get up but he gets dizzy and has to lie down. "You're very fortunate, Nucky," the doctor tells him, which must sound funny to a guy who can't stop picturing his girlfriend's face moments before she was exploded. He ends the doctor out.
Elsewhere in the suite, Margaret is going crazy trying to chase after two kids and that damned dog that Gyp Rosetti handed her on New Year's Eve. Eddie has to chase Teddy away from answering the phone like a jerk kid, then tells Margaret that the "decorations" are being delivered shortly. She snaps at Teddy to make his bed, but he says the maid will do it. "There won't always be maids!" she yells at him, then "You're driving me mad!" at the yappy dog. Poor Margaret.
Margaret then walks through a room full of business hangers-on, looking for Mr. Sleater. She gets let in to Nucky's office, and Sleater clears the room so they can talk. I wonder if that only seems suspicious to me because I know they're doing it. Anyway. He tells her each ward boss sent over three people, which is why it's so crowded. She's stressed out with the kids -- and a birthday party on top of that, for Emily. "Not a wandering vagrant this time," she says to Owen. He tells her it was Rosetti. She wonders what "Enoch" did to earn this. "He said no," Sleater says. Sometimes that's enough. Margaret says Rosetti is "more than welcome to take his dog back." I feel you on the unwanted pets issue, Margaret. He assures her this won't last forever. She thinks he means their stay at the Ritz. He doesn't. "When this is all sorted," he says, "you and I ..."
He's interrupted by Nucky, looking confused. He pours himself a drink, though Margaret doesn't think he should you be doing that. "You're muttering," he says, unable to hear her through fuzzy ears. Nucky declares that the three of them need to have a discussion right now. "What happened?" Guilty looks about, but he means the pony. They didn't buy it, Margaret reminds him, and he gets angry about it. Margaret says they don't exactly allow ponies in the hotel. Nucky fixates on poor Emily without her horse; his mind is obviously off. He gets insistent that they throw this party for Emily. His head starts ringing again