Chalky makes a move against Narcisse, bringing his men to blast the hell out of the United Negro Improvement Association office, but Chalky makes the classic television-and-movie "I assume we got him, so let's not make sure" mistake, not counting on Narcisse, you know, ducking. Narcisse survives, kills Chalky's men and wounds Chalky, who goes to ground while Narcisse goes to Nucky and demands Chalky's head. Nucky's not about to give Chalky up to an uppity Negro making all sorts of demands in Nucky's club, but when he learns that Narcisse is partnering with Joe Masseria (and Meyer Lansky and Lucky Luciano) in shipping heroin up from Tampa — discovered by Sally Wheet, much to Nucky's chagrin — things get considerably more complicated. Nucky's swayed by heroin's lucrative potential, and agrees to hand over Chalky for a third of all past, present and future heroin business. I think Masseria agreed to such a steep price a little quickly, but this is a man who we know still talks about revenge against Nucky — perhaps it's a price he doesn't intend to pay for very long.
Perhaps Nucky knows this too, and maybe that's part of why he doesn't actually intend to hand Chalky over. Instead, he tells Mayor Bader to send a couple of deputies over to Chalky's hideout to spirit him out of town, only later learning — thanks to his fortuitous placement of Willie in Bader's office — that the mayor had a meeting with Narcisse after Nucky talked to him. Chalky — Daughter with him — sniffs out the problem with the deputies before Nucky's able to do anything about it, so it's entirely likely Chalky thinks Nucky's responsible. But Chalky runs into Richard Harrow, who has to be anybody's first-pick of people they'd like to run into when they're in trouble.
Speaking of trouble, Johnny Torrio's a little miffed at just how comfortable Al Capone's getting with his growing power, feeling a little squeezed out. When Tommy guns blast through the room where the Capones are having a party — Al's life saved by an observant Van Alden — moments after Torrio leaves, it's a little suspicious, especially when Al expresses sincere relief at how lucky it is that Johnny just left.
Arnold Rothstein, to no one's surprise, pops by to visit Margaret, and arranges for her to give him a heads-up about her boss's financial wheelings and dealings. Margaret — struggling financially since she left Nucky, and his money, behind — agrees for a rent-free apartment for her and the children for five years.
And the episode ends with Nucky preparing for war. At his side is Eli, who seems resigned to Willie's involvement. "Isn't it what we do?" Willie asks his dad. Besides, Willie's still young. He can become a doctor later, right?
Daniel is a writer in Newfoundland with a wife and a daughter. Hey, have they tried issuing a Narcisse-and-desist order? … Sorry. He'll show himself out. Follow him on Twitter (@DanMacEachern) or email him at danieljdaniel@gmail.com.
Eli -- unshaven, looking tired, sitting in a coffee shop with Knox and Selby -- stirs milk into his coffee and shares vague details about a guy named "Balanchuk" who he worked with once or twice when Balanchuk was a runner for Johnny Torrio. The agents are a little perplexed about the Ukrainian name, given Torrio’s propensity for working only with Italians. "But it’s a syndicate, for Chrissake," Eli points out, and says there’s all kinds of grease balls. Even Jews! Aw, the unity of organized crime. There’s room for Italian and Jewish grease balls!Eli assures Knox that Balanchuk is high up the ladder, Torrio’s second. Knox and Selby apparently don’t have any reason to know that Eli is feeding them a line of shit, and then Eli’s distracted when he sees a sailor sitting at the coffee shop counter. "My dad was a seadog," he explains to the agents. "See the world," says Selby, quoting an old recruitment slogan, and Knox says (and you’d really think he was sympathetic) that he bets that sounds good to Eli right about now. "I know this is difficult. But what you’re doing takes courage," he assures Eli, adding that he’s a good father. It’s just too bad that a quick glance at Selby and a slight pursing of the lips suggests it’s all he can do to keep from busting out laughing. The agents slide from the booth, leaving Eli alone to look miserable.
Down to Tampa, where a motorboat slowly makes its way up to the dock at Rumrunner Central under the cover of night with Sally Wheet and McCoy and a crew of men waiting. Then there is some background chatter of the show’s trademark on-the-nose kind (it's barely audible, so closed-captioning helps) while the men load up. But it’s not fast enough for Sally, who gets on McCoy’s back about how the trucks need to be on the road in a half-hour. He protests that he’s been at sea for three weeks, so he’s just catching up with those alligator-wrestling hillbillies who threatened him before (so I guess everything’s all copacetic?). Those dudes are passing a bottle back and forth and eying Sally appreciatively, and bothering her with their "looks like a woman" and "in the right light, I suppose" comments. Sally knocks the bottle out of Hillbilly Jim’s hand and expresses doubt that these "pole jockeys" would have any idea what a woman looks like, and tells them to get their asses back to work.
Now here’s Sally sneaking around the compound like Nancy Drew to a smaller building nearby. She discovers Petrucelli, Luciano and Lansky loading up some smaller crates with oranges and heroin, and talking about how Charles and Meyer should bring Joe down with them time. Sally accidentally makes a noise and Lucky comes out to see who’s there (making me wonder why one of them isn’t keeping watch already) but she’s long gone.
After the shipment’s off, Sally phones Nucky -- three hours late, for which he scolds her mildly, prompting some low-level flirting because these two can’t have one conversation without innuendo. She tells him that "the wop" he’s running with, Petrucelli, is shipping heroin up in the rum delivery. Nucky’s a little startled to hear McCoy -- so he knows -- in the background, but Sally tells him it’s fine. Nucky, a little concerned, asks how she knows about the heroin. "A girl has her ways," Sally says, because she can’t just say "I saw them packing it up," I guess? Nucky asks if she told anyone other than McCoy. She says she prefers to live near the swamp, not in it, and he says he owes her one. "Don’t think I don’t know it, sport," she says.
Now it's morning back home and Eli comes downstairs, buttoning his cuffs. The source of boisterous laughter in the dining room turns out to be Agent Knox, sitting being served coffee by Kathleen, while June’s showing him their wedding album. Willie is hanging out at the table, too. "What are you doing here?" asks Eli, interrupting the party. "I like to know what my clients are insuring," says Knox. June’s all, "I understand you bought a policy. Keeps me inspired"” and no one seems weirded out by just how hostile Eli is to someone he supposedly just bought an insurance policy from. There’s a little joshing about what a good nest egg Eli’s sitting on, and Willie says, "Let’s hope it never hatches!" and everybody has a good laugh about Eli dying one day.
Knox smoothly praises Willie to Eli, noting the gumption it took for Willie to leave college for a job in the mayor’s office. "What is it you want exactly, mister…" says Eli. Knox quickly inserts, "Balanchuk" and begins explaining that he just transferred from the Chicago office, and there are some documents he needs to go over. June and Willie get up to give them some privacy, with Knox telling Willie he should thank his father. "He knows that in an instant, tragedy can strike, and everything a man’s worked for, everything he loves, everything he holds dear, "Knox says, snapping his fingers, "can be gone." By the end of this, Knox is staring right at Eli, and by this point Willie senses something amiss with the creepy insurance agent who sounds, you know, like he’s MAKING A THREAT but he doesn’t say anything, but looks to his father, who tells him to go to work.
Once the room’s cleared, Eli slowly walks to the head of the table where Knox is sitting. "You come to my fuckin’ house?" he whispers. Knox tells him Joseph Balanchuk has been dead for two years and, in fact, Torrio paid for his funeral. Eli tries pointing out that he’s not exactly on the company newsletter’s mailing list, and isn’t kept abreast of turnover, but Knox accuses Eli of playing him for a chump. "You asked what I know, and that’s what I know", says Eli. Knox grabs him by the lapels and tells him to "know better time" or Willie will be breaking rocks up at Trenton. June comes in, alarmed, and the men play it off as just a spilled cup of coffee (which did happen) but I kind of wish they’d kept up with a little insurance salesman improv. ("You four-flusher! You told me my monthly premium would never go up!"). Knox leaves, the coffee soaking and spreading through June’s pristine white tablecloth, and my symbolism meter explodes.
Over to Margaret’s workplace in New York City, which is a hive of activity, there are dudes updating prices and transactions on a big chalkboard, sliding along it on wheeled ladders. There’s a weird POV shot of Margaret (that would be "Mrs. Rohan") taking a phone call from her work neighbor. It’s a property management company returning her call; Margaret’s looking for a new apartment. "Yes, I am unmarried," she says in response to a question, and she smiles at her co-worker like she thinks that’s a good thing to say to someone assessing your financial standing in 1924, and her co-worker waves her arms frantically until Margaret gets the hint and says she’s recently widowed, and her co-worker nods. "A personal tour would be grand," she says, and her pencil breaks as she gets down to discussing rent, but there’s an expensive pen proffered in the hand of Arnold Rothstein. Margaret practically gulps and tells the rental agency she’ll have to call them back. "Changing your residence?" says Rothstein pleasantly after she hangs up. She says she’s just considering her options. Margaret’s co-worker helpfully reminds us that the brokerage thinks this guy’s name is Redstone, and she offers to get him some refreshment. He requests milk.
Once she’s off, Rothstein looks at the notes she’s making on the apartment and asks what her salary is. She hesitates, and finally says it’s eleven dollars a week, plus the occasional bonus for good performance. (Like the one Rothstein gave her a couple of weeks ago, I suppose, which turns out to have been nine weeks’ salary for her.)
Rothstein quickly does some math and notes that this apartment would eat up more than half her salary, and then he starts listing other items that need to be deducted from a monthly budget. "It seems these particular quarters are above your means," he says. Margaret indignantly -- and a little embarrassed -- says she fails to see what business it is of his, so he offers some "free" advice. "Is there anything more expensive in the world?" she asks. Well, this apartment, for one, apparently. Rothstein tells her to forget that place and call him; he owns several buildings uptown, and he could steer her to "more suitable accommodations." He gives her a gold-embossed business card with a phone number. She stares at it for a moment. "In exchange for what?" she asks. She’s not stupid. Rothstein looks over at the stock board, and tells her that her boss Bennet "and his ilk" are driving down the price of Anaconda Realty stock, likely with the intent of buying it back. "I need to know when this happens," he says. Margaret says she could lose her job. "Yep", says Rothstein, "or perhaps gain something better". That’s when Bennett shows up to tell him to quit flirting, and Margaret’s co-worker comes back with Rothstein’s milk. "Nice chatting with you, Mrs. Rohan," says Rothstein, and off he goes to listen to another one of Bennett’s con jobs.
Over to The Onyx, where Chalky’s meeting with his men in the alley, making sure everyone knows to let him know if Narcisse shows his face, but no one’s seen him recently. They’re distracted by the appearance of Richard Harrow ( the new dishwasher Nucky hired, Chalky informs us) emptying the trash. While Chalky’s men aren’t too thrilled to see him -- calling him "ofay" and "half-face white boy taking our jobs" -- he takes a more enlightened view: one man’s got as much right to eat as another. Plus, this is a friend of his, he tells his men, and Chalky and Richard shake hands. "You need something, you look me up," says Chalky. Richard nods, and silently goes back inside. Chalky goes back to his men and tells them they’re going to meet at UNIA and wait until after dark, when there won’t be anyone there but Narcisse and his men. And… challenge them to a battle of the barbershop quartets? Don’t leave us hanging, Chalky!
At the distillery, Mickey Doyle’s boring the ass off Eli by telling him about what sounds like a dream in which I swear to God it sounds like he’s invented Super Mario Bros., but instead is about the 1924 movie The Thief of Baghdad starring Douglas Fairbanks. When they get to the office, Nucky’s pissed that Mickey apparently has time to go to the movies in the first place.
Anyway, Nucky needs Eli to take a convoy of men to the White Horse Pike to intercept the convoy coming up from Tampa, and find the heroin Petrucelli’s piggybacking with the rum. Eli’s pissed when he finds this out, and laments not plugging Luciano when he had the chance years ago. "First, let’s make sure it’s true," says Nucky, who suggests taking Knox and a couple of his men. Eli says "Flash some tin, things likely to get messy." Nucky just tells him to get it done, and Eli can’t exactly say that Knox is undercover, now can he?
Aw, the Capones aren’t such bad guys, huh? Here they are giving some territory to Van Alden: everything north of 22nd Street. "That’s 84 speaks in total", says Ralph. Holy shit! 84? Once again, nothing was better for the alcohol business than Prohibition. Van Alden wants to know if that’s up to or including Madison, and Al thinks briefly before saying "including" and suggests letting Hymie Weiss tell them otherwise. So that might turn out to be something. Johnny Torrio strolls up (Al thought he’d left already) and the Capones introduce him to Van Alden. Torrio doesn’t appear to have ever heard of him (and doesn’t appear to be a big fan of surprises) and Ralph says Van Alden helped them "arrange O’Banion’s retirement party."
Just in case his boss thinks O’Banion actually retired, Ralph helpfully makes a finger gun. Ralph explains Van Alden’s taking over his collections, which Al says is because he’s moving Ralphie up, so he himself can be more hands-on with distributions. "Oh you are," says Torrio, coolly, and then he sarcastically asks what he’ll be doing. Al’s a little genuinely confused, but says Torrio will do what he wants. "I ain’t gonna squeeze you out or nothing," he says, and it warms Torrio’s heart to hear Al’s not going to squeeze him out of his own operation. "That’s very generous of you," he says. Al plays it off as trying to do more so Torrio can relax, and the two men move over to the bar to have a drink. Al reminds Torrio about the talk they had about Al expanding his role when Torrio retires, and Torrio points out he’s not retiring. Al’s all, "Right, I know that. Someday. Eventually." Al drinks to that, but Torrio leaves his at the bar, saying agreeably that he’s gotta go, but it’s good that Al is thinking ahead.
At UNIA, Narcisse is quietly talking to his men, with his back to the front window, when Chalky and his crew open fire from across the street and slowly advance. Narcisse hits the deck and crawls along the floor while his men are cut down. I guess Chalky doesn’t see him, because his crew stands at the window, blasting at the bodies on the floor, until Chalky says it’s time to go. Narcisse stands and fire at the departing men, taking down at least two and wounding Chalky, who dives for the safety of the backseat of his car, yelling for his driver to get out of there. The driver -- probably not inclined to stick around too long anyway -- obliges.
There probably aren't too many places Eli wouldn’t rather be than sitting in a car with Agent Knox while Knox blathers on about C. Auguste Dupin in The Murders in the Rue Morgue, and other such stories that made him want to get into law enforcement. It's clear from the expression on Eli’s face that he doesn’t think much of Knox’s opinion that Eli’s handled himself well, and he’s sure Eli was a good cop. "Are we friends now?" says Eli.
The headlights of the convoy approach, and Eli, Knox, and several other men get out of their cars and block the road as the rum trucks rumble up. Meyer Lansky’s all, "The fuck, Eli?" as he gets out, and Knox orders a search of the trucks. "Since when do you start riding with the help?" asks Eli, and Lansky wants to know what’s going on.
Knox ain’t playin'. When Selby yells that one of the men won’t step aside to let them search his vehicle, Knox calmly suggests he’s using the wrong approach. He tells the man to step aside, and when the man refuses, telling him to talk to “Joe the boss,” Knox just as calmly tells him to relay the message himself — and shoots him in the head. “Any other objections?” calls out Knox. [Extras: “No sir.” “No sir. “No sir.”] Eli looks on grimly, and Lansky looks pretty horrified himself.
When Knox gets back to the head of the convoy, Eli asks if that was necessary. "You heard the man. They’re already behind"” says Knox. Lansky’s all, "By all means, take your time," and asks how he may be of assistance. Eli says they understand they’re shipping up more than rum, and Lansky pretends to not know what Eli’s talking about. But the words aren’t even out of his mouth before Selby’s whistling for them to come check it out -- he’s found it.
At the Onyx, Nucky’s watching the show from up on his perch when Sid knocks to show an angry Narcisse in. Narcisse is looking for Chalky. Sid says he told Narcisse that Chalky’s not there, but Narcisse’s man drawls, "You don’t tell Dr. Narcisse anything." But Nucky confirms it. "He came at me. I want him dead," says Narcisse, who’s breathing heavily. The attack -- which killed three of Narcisse’s men -- is news to Nucky. Narcisse wants it over tonight, and Nucky sharply points out that Narcisse is the one who started it. "Dead! I will cut him from nave to chops," says Narcisse. "You’ll find the meat tough, doctor," says Nucky, who might want to consider dropping the metaphor for a little more directness. Narcisse demands Nucky tell him where Chalky is … or don’t. Nucky says there’s something he’s been meaning to ask Narcisse for some time: "Who the fuck do you think you are?" Now, if it had been me, I would have done the thing where you put your hand in your pocket pretending you’re looking for something and come out with your middle finger up. Narcisse glances at his man, who reaches for his gun, but so does Sid.
Narcisse asks if Nucky has cast his lot. "Your leaving on your feet or on your back is entirely up to you. So don’t make a mistake," says Nucky. There’s a little more posturing between the bodyguards, and Narcisse sneers that Nucky isn’t ready for this. Nucky tells him not to be so sure, and repeats that he doesn’t know where Chalky is. "You got problems with him, take it up with him. Now get the fuck out of my club," he says. Narcisse says that when he runs Chalky through and watches the light go out, he hopes Chalky knows what a friend he had in Nucky.
Chalky is holed up in a Legion Hall basement with Richard Harrow ripping a flag apart to make a sling for Chalky’s bandaged arm. The bullet went through and through, Richard tells him, and Chalky wants to know how Richard knows that. "I’ve been around many people who were shot," says Richard. Oh, don’t be so modest! There’s a knock at the door, and Chalky jumps up, but Richard answers the door to find Daughter, escorted by De-Ernie Coates. Daughter’s bruises are looking much better, and Chalky sends Coates back to make the midnight show so as to not arouse suspicions. He tells Richard to go, too. Those dishes ain’t gonna wash themselves, you know! Once they’re alone, Daughter tells Chalky that Narcisse will come after them. "Let him come," he answers. She asks if he can even raise his arm. No, but he’s right-handed, so it’s okay, right?
Over to Brooklyn, where Margaret awakens in the middle of the night to the sound of a man and woman screaming at each other from the apartment above, as well as the sounds of a dog barking, women laughing and a baby crying. Isn’t that just how Brooklyn is? (I’ve never been to Brooklyn.)
Back over to White Horse Pike, where it’s daylight. Meyer Lansky is on his knees in front of a hole that presumably he dug, while Nucky reads him the riot act, Eli and Knox watching. "I let you in on the deal, things are going great, what do you do the second you get the chance? You stick it up my fucking ass!" Meyer pleads that Masseria coerced him and Lucky, and would have killed them if they didn’t go along. "You think I fucking won’t?" snaps Nucky. Behind Lansky, Eli cocks his gun. Meyer says if it were up to him, he would have stayed away from narcotics and stuck with liquor, which offers plenty of money and is a lot safer. Nucky rolls his eyes, and slaps him. He says he’s got two seconds to drop the Boy Scout routine, or he’s going in the hole.
Eli puts the gun to the back of Lansky’s head, and Meyer, nearly sobbing, says there’s millions to be made from heroin: “The way I saw it, it was the same life I was risking either way,” he says, and asks Nucky what he would have done if her were Meyer. Nucky looks at Eli, and then tells Meyer he’s going to call Joe and tell him that if he ever wants to see him or the heroin again, to get his ass down there. Nucky and everyone else walk away from Meyer, who exhales in relief, and Sid tells Nucky there’s a message from Chalky, who said it’s quite urgent.
Over at the brokerage, Bennett is fulfilling the "Be a complete dick" task on his daily planner, and hands Margaret a stack of trade confirmations to make. They’re for Anaconda Realty, which he notes is down 80%, a fact he seems to blame on "kikes" like Redstone, who are supposed to be smart. "Redstone’s dumb as a doornail with the deepest pockets he’s ever seen", he says. (Let’s just say I hope Bennett’s prepaid for his funeral, because I imagine there’s some sort of comeuppance coming). "They’re greedy, every last one of them, Redstone included. Thinks he can get rich without doing a thing," says Bennett, who tells Margaret to arrange a test drive for him on the new Duesenberg. It breaks my heart a little to see Margaret such a sycophant to him, but at least we know it’s not going to last forever. He’s off to an appointment, and Margaret looks again at the trades and then at the card Rothstein gave her.
Nucky wants. "I can tell you what I don’t want, and that’s a fucking war," says Nucky.They sit in silence for a moment, and eventually Chalky asks what happens if push comes to shove. "I’m here, aren’t I?" Nucky points out, and Chalky reminds him that like five seconds ago he said he doesn’t want a war. "I don’t want the trots either, but when I get them I deal with it," says Nucky. Chalky manages a little snort-chuckle while the rest of us are grossed out to hear about Nucky’s bowel problems, and Nucky continues by talking about how someone once told him that all of man’s problems stem from his inability to just sit in a room. Well, maybe in 1924. Today man has a host of problems stemming entirely from the inability to do anything but sit in a room. Nucky lights Chalky a cigarette, and tells Chalky not to do anything until he hears from him.
Mayor Bader is standing in front of the UNIA office, going on about bringing the perpetrators to justice and so forth, and shaking hands with Narcisse for the benefit of the press, who are shouting questions at him. Presently Bader and Narcisse get into the backseat of Bader’s car, Willie in the front seat, looking thoughtful.
At the Onyx, Joe Masseria arrives, Lucky Luciano (have I ever said how much I love Lucky’s huge hat?) in tow, pretending to be happy to see Nucky. "Always a pleasure", he says. "Perhaps for you," says Nucky. With Lucky’s translation help Joe says, "Things look different during the day… you can see all the flaws." "I prefer to bring things to light"” says Nucky. YES, VERY CLEVER, MAYBE YOU CAN GET TO THE POINT NOW. Meyer’s at the table, too, and Joe asks him why he’s looking so blue. "It might have to do with the heroin Joe had him import", Nucky says. Nucky wants to know what Joe has to say for himself, and Joe says he’d prefer to wait for his partner.
Nucky’s not too happy to see Narcisse stroll up, apologizing for being late. (As if he didn’t send Joe on ahead so he could hang back and make the most dramatic entrance he could). Nucky and Eli exchange concerned looks, and all the men sit down to get to business. "You two are partners," states Nucky. "In a manner of speaking, yes", says Narcisse, dressing up his drug-pushing as some sort of relief effort for the wretched souls who desire heroin. He explains that Masseria supplies it, via Tampa. Yeah, Nucky already knows that. "Using my trucks for delivery," he says, flatly. Narcisse is basically, "Yes, you’ve got it!" all brightly, and Masseria is similarly like, "You see? We’re already business partners, we three amigos!" Nucky asks what if he doesn’t like it, and Narcisse says he can paint him a picture, but it won’t a pretty one.
Nucky furrows his brow a little at the tone Narcisse takes as he explains there’s a very great deal of money to be made. "I will not be your friend, but I will be an able partner, one far more dependable than you’ve ever had," says Narcisse. "Just like that?" asks Nucky. Funny you should ask! Narcisse in fact requires Nucky’s full support on the North Side, including delivering Chalky to him personally. "This is non-negotiable," he says. Through gritted teeth, Nucky asks what he gets. There’s an undercurrent of "you get to stay alive" from Narcisse, but Masseria wants to know what Nucky wants. "For starters, I want my fucking share," he says, which is one-third of any heroin already brought in and one-third of all heroin from now on. Masseria looks at Narcisse and nods, and Narcisse asks if they’ve struck a bargain. Nucky looks at him for a moment, and says yes. Narcisse assures him he won’t be sorry. "I see great days ahead," he says, and stands, offering his hand for Nucky to shake, which he does.
Later at the Albatross, Nucky’s on the phone holding for Mayor Bader, when Eli comes in to say he can’t get a hold of Agent Knox. When Bader comes on the line, Nucky tells him he needs to send a couple of deputies to get Chalky out of town, stat. "Okay," says Bader, sounding a little nonplussed.
Over in Cicero, Al and Ralph are drinking and hanging out with women in various stages of undress. Al is telling sex jokes, while Van Alden is bartending and almost looking like he’s enjoying himself. Torrio breezes through the room on his way out, with Al encouraging him to stay and have a drink. "I’ll catch your matinee performance tomorrow," says Torrio, and Ralph and Al exchange a look over Torrio’s frosty tone. But they call for another round of drinks, and Ralph asks what a good bar and a good woman have in common. The punch line is the title of Reverend Horton Heat’s third album, and it slays the room.
A flunky tells Al he’s got a phone call, and Capone takes it in the room, Whoever the call is from has terrible phone etiquette, because they won’t say who it is. "I was just calling to say goodbye," says the caller. It’s Van Alden, delivering the drinks while Al’s hooker/stripper/whatever is working on Al’s fly, who notices the moving reflection of light in the room and spots the windows of the building across the way swiveling open, men with guns aimed at the Hawthorne Inn. He gets Al to hit the floor while the gunmen open fire, riddling the room with bullet holes, sending glass and wood flying everywhere. After several seconds, the firing stops, and Al starts yelling for Ralph, who’s OK. There are some in the other room who aren’t moving, however. Al gets to his feet. "Well, lucky for John, he left when he did, huh?" And he means it, too. Van Alden looks at him like, "You’re kidding, right?" and doesn’t answer.
Here’s Margaret serving Arnold Rothstein a glass of his beloved milk in the sitting room of her very own home. "She’s too nervous to eat", she notes. "You needn’t worried. I’m a married man," says Rothstein. Scandalized, Margaret says, "You must be joking!" and Rothstein’s all, "DUH!" But he does wonder what Nucky would think. "He can think what he wants. My life is my own," says Margaret. "Not that this is that. This is business," she adds. Rothstein’s like, "RELAX and drink your tea". Margaret starts talking about how it’s impossible to get ahead, and she’s really been trying. "You owe no one any explanations, Mrs. Rohan," says Rothstein.
But Margaret’s not done unloading. She says her boss is a criminal, no different from… and then she trails off, looking at Rothstein, who asks if she was about to compare Bennett to him. "I was going to say my husband," says Margaret, and Rothstein points out he could be painted with that brush, too. Probably time to change the subject, Margaret.
She hands over a piece of paper and notes that Bennett bought more shares in Anaconda that afternoon, so Rothstein should do so himself as soon as possible. "You shouldn’t sell until he does," she says, adding that she’ll let Rothstein know when he does. Now it’s Rothstein’s turn to ask what Margaret wants. "A rent-free apartment, guaranteed for five years. A safe neighborhood. With rooms for the children," she says. Rothstein considers it and notes that she’ll accept nothing from Mr. Thompson, but she will from him. "I earned this. And when it’s over, I owe you nothing," she says. Rothstein holds out his hand for her to shake, saying they’ve got a deal. Looking rather relieved, and pleased, Margaret shakes. Rothstein notes that he’s never done business with a woman before, and Margaret asks how he liked it. "Quite the treat," he says. Look, just because Margaret hasn’t attempted to get you done on federal charges yet.
Back at the Legion storeroom, Daughter and Chalky are chillin' on a bench. Chalky asks her if she’s got any people anywhere. "Just here, in this room," she says, kissing him. (How great would it be for Chalky to start with an "I just don’t think I’m ready for a relationship right now" speech?) Instead, he tells her to catch a train in the morning, and head west. "I’m going wherever you go," she whispers. Just in time, as moving headlights splash the walls of the store room. It’s Chalky’s ride -- a couple of deputies who tell him to get in the back and duck down low.
Well, that’s sorted, then! Wait, here’s Willie showing up at the Albatross, looking concerned. He's telling Nucky that the mayor had a press conference that afternoon, and afterwards met with "this colored doctor from the North Side." In response to Nucky’s question, Willie doesn’t know if his name was Narcisse or not. But he had a beard and an expensive suit. He didn’t hear what they talked about, but they met for an hour. Nucky goes right to the phone to call the Legion Hall.
Back to the car, now, where Daughter’s singing softly in the backseat, her head on Chalky’s shoulder. "Thought we was goin’ to Philly," says Chalky, and the deputies are like, "Yep." Chalky notes they missed the turnoff. Given the discrepancy in their reactions (one says “Did we?” and the other says there’s some work being done on that road), Chalky looks a little concerned. He starts groaning and rubbing his shoulder, noting it’s bothering him, and the shotgun-riding deputy says he’ll feel better with some sleep. So Chalky says he’ll close his eyes for a while, and does so, leaning back and slumping in his seat a little, the better to surreptitiously slide out his sidearm.
But Shotgun Deputy’s not wasting any more time, and turns to the back with a gun. Chalky’s ready, and grabs the gun arm, turning it around and shooting the deputy in the face. Then it’s time to choke the driver, which is easy in theory but difficult in reality given that he’s, you know, DRIVING THE VEHICLE. So Chalky yells for Daughter to take the wheel, which she does, screaming the whole time, while Chalky pulls the driver into the backseat by his neck. Daughter manages to clamber into the front seat and press down on the brake with her hands, and the car slows to a stop. Chalky is breathing heavily after having successfully killed the driver. Now all they need to do is haul the bodies out and the honeymoon can really begin!
The car’s headlight fades into the lens of a film projector, which is showing footage of "nearly 3,000 Negroes" marching at Carnegie Hall to see Marcus Garvey. "If anything, his arrest has made him more popular," says a narrator. We’re in Bureau of Investigation offices, where a black agent is pointing out their man on the inside with Garvey. Knox, standing in the back of the room, notes how pathetic it is that men join his club and he sells them uniforms signifying nothing just to fund his own appeal. Hoover says Garvey has done more damage on appeal than most criminals do in a lifetime, because "3,000 Negroes with ideas in their head" is a threat worth worrying about.
The lights come up, and Knox presents a folder to his boss, who notes his tail’s wagging. Knox is pleased to report he’s found their weak link: Nucky’s brother Eli. "He’s going to connect all the dots for us, Edgar," says Knox. But he’s not even finished speaking when Hoover’s addressing the black agent, telling him they may need him to nourish that relationship with their man in Harlem. The meeting is adjourned, and Knox wants to know what’s going on. All Hoover tells him is that he’s late for a debriefing. Well, at least he’s not stealing Knox’s thunder anymore.
Lester and Maybelle have arrived at the Onyx after hours, with Maybelle expressing reservations that this is not the place to be. Lester doesn’t appear to share her concerns, though, as he figures it’s better than sitting around moping (presumably about their missing father). He quickly gets his sister seated so he can get up on stage with the pianist -- which is what they came for, apparently. He heads up on stage, and sits down for a duet with Coates. Maybelle glances around the club, and notices the window into the upstairs sitting room.
Moments later, she’s entering the darkened room and lying down on the couch, when suddenly someone in an armchair turns on a lamp, startling her. It sends a chill through me when I see it’s -- who else? -- Narcisse, who starts creepily talking about the intoxicating brew of music, smoke and alcohol. Maybelle says she hasn’t had anything, and Narcisse asks what’s stopping her. "Not in the mood, I suppose," she says, and he mutters something about how sometimes it seems that all there is them and their unhappiness. He tells her to sit, and she obliges, and before long he realizes -- after she says she came with her brother, downstairs playing with Mr. Coates -- that she’s Chalky’s daughter.
"You know him?" she asks, hopefully. "We are intimately associated," says Narcisse, who introduces himself as "Richard Pastor." She asks if he knows where her father is, and he says, alas, he doesn’t, although he’s heard rumors and lies. You know, the whole "drumbeat of injustice." Maybelle says her mother won’t even get out of bed. Narcisse asks if she isn’t to be married, and Maybelle says not as of three o’clock that afternoon. "Samuel wasn’t even there. His father told me. I think he enjoyed it," she says. Narcisse wonders why it must always be the daughters who suffer, but Maybelle confesses ( since she’s spilling all family secrets) that she’s not suffering. She doesn’t know what she is, except something she’s not supposed to be. Narcisse is totally turned on by someone speaking so cryptically. "Dangerous, for people like us," he purrs. Maybelle’s all, "Like us?" He takes her hand and says, "To be what we are, where we are, and there to stand free. What could be more lonely?" Maybelle looks like she’s about to cry, and says she was supposed to come here to forget things. "Then go, and forget," he says, and she does that. Aw, he’s not all bad! Although it’d be idiotic to think Narcisse isn’t hatching a new plan involving a different daughter right now.
The Albatross is surrounded by cars and men with guns when Eli arrives, wanting to know what the fuck is going on with "the seventh regiment" out there. The Fightin’ Seventh! Nucky, loading a gun, explains that Narcisse has turned, as in Bader’s pocket now. Eli’s stunned, but not half as stunned as when Willie comes in to report to Nucky that Bader’s locked in his office, preparing a statement. "Word is two deputies are dead on the pike," he says. Eli wants to know what he’s doing there. Nucky, who has no time for niceties, says Willie’s doing his job. Why else would he have placed him with Bader?
Eli goes to his son, and tells him he needs to leave the room. Willie doesn’t move. "He’s already heard it all", says Nucky. "This is the life you want?" Eli asks. Willie -- looking more self-assured than he has in some time -- says, "Pop, isn’t it what we do?" Eli’s thrown for a bit of a loop here, but he takes a step back. "All right. Let’s get it sorted out," he says. I guess maybe they’re going to talk about who dies.
Daniel is a writer in Newfoundland with a wife and a daughter. If the season finale features Richard laying waste to dozens of people again, he’s down with that. Follow him on Twitter (@DanMacEachern) or email him at danieljdaniel@gmail.com.