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Juice Continues to Get Squeezed: The poor dope can't even kill himself competently, so all his problems remain, plus the new problem of a very sore neck. (He manages to convince Tig and Chibs the chain marks are from him running into a chain.) Chibs – whom we have established as smart and observant – later catches Juice trying to clean up the chain, figures out what happens, and sort of yells some tough love at Juice before Juice collapses on him, sobbing.
The "M.D." Stands for "Moving Discreetly:" God bless Unser and Margaret. The former passes the latter Tara's death threat, and Margaret promptly brings it to Roosevelt's attention. Roosevelt responds by posting a unit outside Tara's house and coordinating with hospital security. (That scene was delightful to watch: first, because it shows how damn smart Roosevelt is, and second, because we had all the giddy fun of imagining Gemma's reaction to this.) The hospital also pulls Tara from surgery rotations because they think she's a "threat." (And who can blame them?) Gemma gives Tara a pep talk that basically amounts to "put up and shut up." However, by the end of the episode, Tara has told Jax that she's sure it's only a matter of time before Jax's business hurts the kids, and she has to get them out of here. Jax admits he's in over his head, and encourages Tara to check out Providence hospital in Oregon, and "stay there until things calm down here. You're protecting our family."
Suddenly, "Getting Busted for Crank" Is Number Two on the List of Things SAMTAZ Needs to be Concerned About: Just as the vote to turn SAMCRO's gavel over to Bobby Elvis is underway, Lobo Sonora interrupts the proceedings with a special delivery: a duffel bag with a side of approximately eleventy-thousand bullets. Filthy Phil actually acquits himself in a cool and competent fashion, but it's Chuckie who is brave enough to open the duffel bag and discover the severed head of Armando, formerly of SAMTAZ. Piney tells Clay that the bag of heads provides perfect cover for backing out of the cartel deal: simply tell Romeo that the club didn't sign up to participate in any blood feuds, then conclude business. And if Clay doesn't – well, Piney will bring to light the love song of J. Alfred Teller: "I have heard Clay & Gemma scheming/ each to each/ I do not think they will let me be."
Naturally, Clay does the exact opposite of what Piney asks. In fact, he and Jax dig in a little deeper: They feed some false info to the local Lobos mole in Alvarez's crew, then try to get Parada's operation to take out the local Lobos Sonora. However, Luis is a little light on manpower, so SAMCRO has to step in. Late in the evening, all of SAMCRO (save Clay and Tig, who are at a garden party) is hyped up and ready for a gun battle, but Lobo Sonora merely drops off the four bodies that were formerly attached to the heads that were delivered that morning. Jax says to Luis, "Looks like your competition's one step ahead." Luis does not bother to disagree.
After that dispiriting development, Clay decides to simplify his life a bit by heading up to Piney's cabin, tossing the place for the letters, then killing Piney.
Got to Get Back to the Garden: Gemma and Rita's fundraiser to save the park gets a kick in the pants by two things: Chuckie's chili (which had, at one point, a human head in it) and a speech by Clay that declares SAMCRO's love for Charming, a love that comes with many dollars attached. The upside of this: the garden is saved, Oswald is looking sweet as a mayoral candidate who loves Charming, and Hale the Lesser's evening is ruined.
Silent joke of the night: The way Tig jauntily flings Gemma's bag over his shoulder when she tells him to take her home.
Exchange of the night:
Piney: (tenderly cupping Opie's face, right where he slugged him) I'm sorry, son.
Opie: I love you, Pop. I'm with you on this.
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Want more? The full recap starts right below!The episode opens with the crack of a branch, the sinuous rattle of chains, the shot of Juice's shocked face as he lands on the ground and begins gasping for breath. Since Juice's act is to throw off the chain, I'm guessing he's changed his mind about the merits of killing himself.
As Juice is struggling to his feet, he hears two bikes approaching. It's Tig and Chibs. Juice goes to meet them -- leaving the chain behind. He lies about having taken a leak in the woods, and Chibs notes that Juice is covered in mulch. He then notes the big chain burn on Juicy's neck, and Juice "laughs" it off with "Oswald, man. He's got these stupid security chains all over these back roads." Tig cackles delightedly: "You clotheslined one? Jackass." Chibs looks a tad more skeptical. The older men break it to Juice that he's needed for vote. "Drugs?" Juice says hopefully. Tig gives him a sharp look and replies, "Change in leadership." As the other guys turn away, we see Juice's smile -- which never reached his eyes anyway -- fall into dismay.
At the Teller-Knowles house, a knock on the door wakes up a sleeping Rat. He checks the door (rifle in hand) and freezes in front of it. Tara comes over; it's obviously morning, and she's in the middle of Thomas's wake-up routine. She checks the peephole in the door, and then whispers to Rat that he needs to hole up in the back room, well out of sight. Tara opens the door to Roosevelt, who smoothly apologizes to Tara for the hour, then explains that Margaret called the sheriff's office and turned over a copy of the note. Roosevelt holds it up and blandly notes, "She's convinced you did receive a death threat." Thomas picks this moment to cutely burrow into Tara's shoulder; she pats his back and stares blankly at the sheriff.
Then -- zip! -- we're in the kitchen and Tara's explaining that she didn't take the threat seriously. Roosevelt asks, "Then why did the MC post someone here to watch you? There's a bike outside. I'm assuming he's somewhere in the back, armed." Tara gives Roosevelt a flat look and replies, "The answer to that question will require a warrant." Roosevelt shoots back, "You really got it down, don't you?" And just like that, he's let Tara know that there's a line in his mind dividing the criminal underclass from normal civilians, and Tara's just landed on a very specific side of the line. Tara knows this too and tries to scramble back over: "I appreciate your concern, Sheriff --" Roosevelt's not having it: "It's more than concern. It's a legal obligation. So I'm going to post a unit outside, and I'll coordinate with the hospital security." Thomas picks that time to coo, and Roosevelt can't help smiling at him before saying, "It's more than just your safety at stake. But I'm sure you knew that." He leaves Tara standing in her kitchen. With any luck, the good doctor is wondering when her brain broke and she accepted her homicidal mother-in-law as the arbiter of what was best for the kids.
Across town, Jax and Opie are sitting outside Teller Morrow motors watching Piney roll in. Jax dryly comments that there was no way Piney was going to proxy this vote. He then asks if Opie's talked to his old man. Opie curtly says he has not, then quickly changes the subject: "So what happens if Bobby takes this vote?" Clambakes for all, that's what happens. Jax mutters, "Short term, not much he can do. Pulls us away from Galindo, the risk is too big?" Right then, Clay opens the door to the office and strides out to survey his kingdom. Behind him, Gemma appears, followed shortly by a hail of anvils, each bearing the legend, "Did you get the symbolism yet?" (And this is why Jax is not a Clay or even a JT in training. Tara's not backing him. This show will play out in one of two ways: She'll be beaten into accepting that she can't be a civilian any more and become the new Gemma, then Jax will ascend to the head of the club; or, she'll pull away and Jax will falter on his own because he's got nobody to build him up in private.)
Anyway, Jax continues fishing for Opie's voting preferences, and explains why he's backing Clay: "Look, I know it's dirty, bro, but he's getting us whole. Eventually we're less desperate, making smarter choices." The camera cuts away to Clay before we can see Opie break into gales of disbelieving laughter. The president growls, "Let's vote this shit," and heads into the clubhouse.
Opie rises to greet his father. And holy cow, I had no idea Piney was that tall; he actually makes Opie look people-sized. Piney stops to look at his son and the look on Opie's face is heartbreaking; it's a little boy who desperately wants his daddy. No wonder Opie ran away from Mary at age 16 -- he's wanted his father's attention all his life. Piney caresses Opie's face, then says, "I'm sorry, son." Opie replies, "I love you, Pop. I'm with you on this." They hug, and we see Piney blinking back tears.
In church: The vote begins on whether Bobby should take the gavel. Clay votes nay. He turns to look at Tig, who gives him a long, unhappy look in response before finally saying, "Nay." Bobby winces a little. (Remember: Those two were cellies in Stockton.) The camera moves to Chibs, and we have a still, quiet moment before Chibs is saved from having to vote by virtue of the entire clubhouse getting sprayed by automatic gunfire. Everyone dives for the floor. Happy, naturally, is the first to the safe and begins tossing guns to everyone else.
A truck then breaks through the gate and continues to spray fire indiscriminately. The prospects, surprisingly, keep their head and chase after it, firing away. Anyway, the truck tosses out a duffel bag on purpose and one of its passengers accidentally, and then zooms off. Chuckie comes out -- he had been using the lid of a stockpot as a sort of shield -- and everyone sort of takes five to gather their thoughts and figure out what the hell comes . Clay shows that he's still in charge, tell people to take the Lobo Sonora soldier out to "the rez" and to call the gun warehouse and put them on high alert. Tig says he'll handle reaching out to Alvarez. Then Chuckie exclaims, "Oh, man!" He's hunched over the duffel bag, looking inside. He shouts, "Clay! This is bad! Like, bad bad!" Everyone comes over to see what Chuckie's looking at. Answer: Four severed heads in a duffel bag, one of which belongs to Armando.
Clay assigns Happy the task of finding out what the Lobo Sonora soldier knew ("Bueno!" says Happy. Clay has just made his day), and Hap, Chibs and the shell-shocked Juice all head into the black van and ride off. Piney calls to Clay: "That bag of heads is your get-out-of-drugs-free card... you tell the cartel we didn't sign up for this blood feud and you want out." Clay asks incredulously, "You're saying I should bail out of this shit?" Piney says, "That's exactly what you're going to do, and you're going to do it today, 'cause your time is up. If we're still in the drug business tomorrow, I'm delivering those letters to the club." Piney lumbers off. Clay looks over to the office, where Gemma comes on out. She's looking remarkably unrattled for someone who was privy to a whole lot of automatic weapons fire a few minutes ago.
Jax comes over with some news: While the gun warehouse is currently quite safe, the Mayans' tortilla truck was jacked. (Hint: it was not filled with tortillas.) Three of Alvarez's guys are MIA. I don't want to tell outlaws how to do their business, but have they thought to check the duffel bag to see if Alvarez can help ID any of the other heads? Tig points out that the cartel is "military sharp." Clay asks Jax how morale is in Tucson. Answer: SAMTAZ is not terribly surprised at this outcome. Just then, the police come rolling up. Clay shows that he's finally caught up with the YouTube of 2007 and grumbles, "Great. Chocolate rain."
Piney decides now is the time to bail to the cabin. Because when you've threatened a known murderer with blackmail, why wouldn't you take off for a remote location instead of camping out with your son who loves and needs you? I've long suspected Piney's a suicidal drunk; this does not do much to bolster a counter-argument. Opie begs Piney to stay, saying the club needs him (subtext: Opie needs him), but Piney only growls, "Keep your head down, boy," then rolls away.
In this week's broad comedy subplot: Chuckie goes to get groceries out of an SUV and spots a surplus bald head under the front wheel. "Aw, come on!" he bleats. Then, because the police are swarming around, he chucks the head in the bag of groceries under some parsley.
Inside the office, Clay is telling Gemma and Jax he's got it handled. "Handled? They dumped a bag of heads," Gemma replies. Clay rolls his eyes all, Don't take that tone with me, woman. I've remembered to put the toilet seat down ever since I came back. Gemma snots that "I'm living in goddamn Juarez here," while completely ignoring the reality that her spouse and her son are totally perpetuating the conditions that have helped make the city the murder capital of the world (5000 murders in the last three years and counting). Gemma is a total Crime NIMBY. And speaking of civic boosterism, it turns out there's a fundraiser for the Charming gardens tonight. Jax claims that they'll have to cancel, and Gemma correctly points out that if it's one thing that the people of Charming will not love, it's being told that things are cancelled on account of some of the more colorful citizens' shooty-shooty incidents. Clay backs this; the fundraiser is good PR. Gemma orders, "Have Phil shadow me. It'll take a grenade to get past him." Clay says, "No -- Tig. He's the only one I trust to keep you safe." Gemma gives Clay a look, and I wonder: Did Clay manage to insinuate himself into her life because JT trusted him to keep his wife safe?
Jax then heads out to deal with Roosevelt, who calmly -- albeit pointedly -- inquires as to why the place has been sprayed with a lot of automatic fire. While both Jax and Clay pull the "I don't know nuthin', Officer" routine, Gemma drops an in-joke for Shield viewers by pinning the crime on a rival shop, Dezarian Motorworks. "Disgruntled mechanics," Roosevelt deadpans. "Armenians. Very unstable people," Gemma says. And she's got an E! network full of Kardashians to back up her bigotry! Roosevelt says, "I really appreciate your cooperation, but we'll still have to conduct a full investigation." Jax snots, "Knock yourself out," but as he walks off, Roosevelt says in a slightly harsher tone, "I really hope this attack doesn't have anything to do with the threat on Dr. Knowles. The hospital confirmed it. Tara and I had another chat this morning." We quick-cut to Clay, who appears to be moving "Kill Tara" closer to the top of his to-do list. Jax spins on his heel and walks back over to the sheriff, who says, "You know, you have a beautiful family, Jax. Be really sad to see their daddy catch a bullet." Jax nods and says, "Yeah. It would be. You have kids?" For the first time, Roosevelt flushes with anger and shifts posture before he says, "No." Jax notices and twists the knife: "You really should. It's good to have a reason not to die." Roosevelt outwardly maintains his composure, but he's channeling all his rage into his eyes. It is heartbreaking to watch, and it is a testament to how gifted Rockmond Dunbar is that he can show the eruption of angry pain and its quick repression, all in the widening of his eyes. Some of that anger comes out in Roosevelt's voice: "Your compound is a crime scene. Lock it down and stay the hell out of my way."
Gemma sidles over to tell Jax that Tara's okay. And who wouldn't be, with Rat shadowing their every move? You just know that prospect's got a framed black velvet reproduction of a John Wayne Gacy painting hanging over his bed. Tig comes over and Clay says, "Keep her safe." "Always," Tig says simply. The president and VP take off. Gemma stands alone until Tig comes over and slings an arm over her shoulder. Cue another hail of anvils, these bearing the label "GEMMA'S EXIT STRATEGY."
More stray head hijinks. Chuckie is trying to figure out what to do about the head -- not helped by the cops who are coming over to tell him to clear out -- and yet, he has somehow managed to stash it elsewhere before Roosevelt comes over to check out the grocery bag, which is now filled with only parsley. Chuckie gets a pass to continue making his chili for the fundraiser.
Out at the rez, Happy is disappointed to report that the Lobo Sonora soldier is not talking despite his best efforts. Odd, since -- Happy took a master class in torture over in Belfast last season. They grow 'em tough in Sonora. Anyway, the boys from the Galindo cartel are here, and Clay immediately starts in on Luis, all, "So how come Galindo's idea of having things covered involves our clubhouse getting perforated?" Luis smoothly reiterates that Lobo Sonora doesn't have a decent network north of the border, and then asks what the soldier is saying. "Nada," spits Chibs. Luis opens a briefcase filled with ampoules, syringes, and other, more slice-y and dice-y instruments of persuasion. Happy peers over, and his face instantly shines with a covetous gleam. Luis then shoots the soldier full of sodium thiopental (fun fact: "Sodium pentothal" is a trademark of Abbott Laboratories, so unless Galindo somehow has an in with a cute pharma rep, they're probably using a generic formula), under the working assumption that anyone getting a system full of barbiturates is going to be less able to lie under duress.
We then cut to two Mayans dragging the soldier out of the barn, while outside, Luis tears into Alvarez with "That Lobo says there's a rat in your crew with roots in Nogales." Alvarez coolly points out that the Lobo's a lying puta. Jax loses his cool -- and his command of his American-style vowels -- when he hotly points out, "It don't matter, Mayan or Sons, that bitch is dead." Alvarez steadfastly insists the soldier is full of shit. Luis counters that the soldier's full of truth serum. Since nobody there has the know-how or motivation to question whether sodium thiopental really produces "the truth" or just makes people more prone to babble, Luis is able to persuade everyone that Lobo's getting intel from a Mayan. Alvarez is forced to admit that Pedro has family in Nogales, so it's entirely possible he's the mole. Jax and Opie remember that Pedro was in the clubhouse (with Alvarez's injury), so that's how he knew where to hit the Sons. Alvarez is about to head over to Pedro and rip out the man's heart with his bare hands, but Jax gets all strategic: "If Pedro is the pipeline to Lobo, then let's feed him something useful. Our guns. We'll tell him we're moving them out of Cali tomorrow and we're storing them here tonight. Then [turns to Luis] you and your guys take 'em down." Luis is all, "Ah heh. Remember how we were all, 'The awesome thing about cartels is you're backed up by lots of men with guns?' All our men with guns are on vacation in Puerta Vallerta this week. You guys will need to do it." Bobby Elvis begins pacing nervously, and Jax points out, "We're not exactly an infantry unit, bro." Luis says, "You will be. Because make no mistake, gentlemen. We're at war." The gravity of this statement is immediately undercut by Luis cramming his Bluetooth earpiece into place. I'm sorry, but people sporting that look are not terrifying cyborgs. They are Locutus of Blergh.
Alvarez heads off, presumably to lie to Pedro, and Clay heads back into the barn to rally the troops. His idea of exhorting men to hang out and wait to be shot at by military-trained drug thugs is to tell everyone, "We got to roll as one into this, or else we're all dead. And by 'we,' I mean 'you people,' because I will be spending the evening swanning about a garden party fundraiser. RHIP, motherf***ers." Clay also tosses a few barbs at Bobby Elvis in re: the leadership vote and Bobby Elvis is all, "I look forward to seeing who survives long enough to vote," and thus everyone scatters silently out of the barn. This gives Jax and Opie some more male bonding time. Opie mentions that he's going to ride out to his mom's to see those small humans he's still legally responsible for, and Jax says he'll ride out to check in with Piney. Jax then says, "I'm sorry, man. I never thought muling would lead to this shit." And I realize it would be the rare biker who listens to All Things Considered or reads The Economist, but man, the ruthlessness with which the Mexican drug cartels operate has already been incorporated into CSI episodes; it's percolated into the lowest common denominator of pop culture, so it would take an exceptionally blinkered individual not to realize that getting in bed with -- oh. This IS Jax we're talking about. Never mind. Anyway, Opie has an "the only way out is through" philosophy, which is both admirable and baffling when you consider everything that club's done for him.
Back at the clubhouse, Officer Cane (he was the guy who pulled everyone over in the season opener) decides that wearing a badge means he can shake Chuckie down for some free chili. What happens is basically a redo of the barbecue scene in Fried Green Tomatoes, only instead of Sapphic Southern belles serving up abusive ex-husbands as barbecue to the cops, we have compulsively masturbating criminal accountants serving braised biker head to cops. Also, before anyone begins bleating about spoilers for Fried Green Tomatoes: That movie came out in 1991. If you have not made time to see it in the past twenty years, then you deserve to be spoiled.
Outside the clubhouse, Gemma walks across the courtyard and sees Tara sitting at a table. Tara tersely says, "I've been pulled [from the surgical rotation]. Apparently, my hospital feels my presence there is a threat." Gemma swears in commiseration. Tara then stops looking so angry and starts looking confused. "Am I crazy, Gemma?" ... she asks the lady who is hip deep in biker intrigue and is rapidly breast-stroking toward the diving well of skullduggery. Tara asks, "Why do I believe him when he says it'll get better?" Gemma replies, "Because he means it. No-one saw this coming, baby." Except for everyone who saw this coming and voted against it. Tara says, "I am trying this his way, I really am." Gemma acknowledges this, and once again, the scene is really about Tara seeking approval from the woman who is, for better or worse, the maternal figure in her life. And she'll get it if she follows Gemma's recipe: "We pull through and we stick it out. That's what family does." Gemma then coaxes her up by tugging her along to check on the chili.
Headliess hijinks! Gemma stirs it and up comes up a head. Chuckie sprints over with, "Hey! Gemma! Hey! It's not ready!" Gemma says, with only slight surprise in her voice, "Heeeeey. Did you follow the recipe?" "I had to add a few things of my own," Chuckie says. Gemma gives him a nervous smile and says, "I can see that." Tara asks eagerly, "Is it spicy?" and as she pulls off the lid, Gemma slams it down with, "Very. It actually made my eyes burn." Chuckie says, "I probably got in over my head." Gemma starts pushing Tara out of the kitchen with, "Yeah, you know, it's an old family recipe. It's a delicate process. I probably should have made it myself. Why don't you take it up to the reservation? I think Happy likes it that hot." And as the ladies leave the kitchen, I thank my lucky stars that I do not like chili. "I accept that," Chuckie says.
Now we're at the fundraiser, which seems to be doing okay despite the lack of spicy, Latino-flavored chili. Elliott Oswald meets up with Clay, as Clay has a proposal: the two of them kick in the $75,000 necessary to save the Charming gardens. Clay explains: "Charming needs a hero, Elliott. Hale's backing on Charming Heights is going to fall apart. time the eminent domain vote comes before city council, it's got to lose." Nightmare visions of zeroed-out bank accounts racing through his head, Oswald angrily says, "You promised me you wouldn't shit on this, Clay!" Clay continues: "We sway public opinion against Hale, he loses the 99 on-ramp and all that land reverts back to you. We all win." Oswald protests that Hale will find another way. Clay dismisses that: mayors have a two-year term and Hale's already squandered a year funneling policy into his own pocket. Oswald asks, "Where are you going with this?" and Clay lays it out: "I ain't going anywhere. That's the point. I know who I am, what I do. Keeping Charming the way it is, that's what I get out of this. I got no agenda here. I just want my town back." I'm thinking what Clay wants is a rollback of the last 30 years' worth of public policy and/or economic changes.
Meanwhile, Jax heads over to Piney's impressive spread. (Seriously: It's all river rock walls and a gorgeous hardwood porch, and it is the most persuasive argument for crime I have ever seen on this show.) Piney and his firearm inquire as to whether or not Jax is "on task, or is this a social call?" Jax says he's just checking in. Naturally, Piney does NOT take this opportunity to tell Jax about the existence of the letters, because heaven forfend anyone on this show communicate useful information in a timely manner. Instead, he just spouts more twaddle about Saint John Teller. Jax isn't having it, and he shouts at Piney that he does agree that the club has lost its way, but believing one man can change that dysfunction is ridiculously arrogant and/or suicidal. Piney shouts, "Defeat is not what killed your father!" but does not add, "It was Clay and Gemma" ...because I guess the breakfast tequila has killed the portion of his brain that used to exercise common sense? Jax then babbles something about how "this" isn't about Clay, but about Jax figuring out what he has to do today to stay alive to tomorrow, and he's doing it for his family. Piney once again invokes JT, and honestly, if he's going to burnish JT's halo with "he's the best man I ever knew, and before you let him die, you should know that for yourself," then PASS ON THE FREAKIN' LETTERS ALREADY.
(Sweet fancy Moses, but Piney is a frustrating personality. He's a curdled romantic who can't live up to his own ideals, so he projects his disappointment onto everyone else when they turn out to be human too.)
Anyway, Jax leaves silently, since it's evident that he and Piney are never going to see eye to eye on this vote.
We go to the fundraiser. Roosevelt and Rita meet under a tree, and she bemoans the lack of success the fundraiser is having. Roosevelt tells her, "You went with your gut. You did something because you knew it was right." Rita moans, "I created tension between you and the mayor..." and Roosevelt grins, "Well, you know that's my favorite part. I love getting under that guy's skin." (Y'all, I like these two so much. They are Charming's new fun couple so far as I am concerned.) Clay then comes over with Gemma and says gently, "Mrs. Roosevelt? Excuse me? Uh, I was hoping I could say a few words to the folks and make a formal donation? Family friendly, I promise." Roosevelt looks at Rita all, "This is your call, babe," but Rita knows Gemma will have Clay's guts for garters if he messes with this, so she okays it. After Roosevelt stalks off, Gemma chirks up Clay with, "That went well," and kisses him. He grins at her in return. Clay is never happier than when he thinks his schemes are rolling along unimpeded.
Meanwhile, SAMCRO, the Mayans and Luis's token force of four people is getting all hyped for the presumed Lobo Sonora ambush they're about to pull off. Pedro has been tied up and gagged for the occasion.
Back at the fundraiser, Clay's speechifying, and it is so skillful, I will just transcribe it for you: "My wife grew up in this town. [puts on reading glasses, checks paper] It became my home 31 years ago. I love Charming. I know some of you have an opinion about my club. You think maybe we overstayed our welcome, but ask yourself this: What's worse? A few broken windows, some fightin' now and again -- or bulldozers gutting the heart of your town? Sons of Anarchy have always stood up for Charming. We pride ourselves in knowing that we've kept this town tight-knit, supported and protected small business owners. Charming Heights is the beginning of the end. Sooner or later, your businesses are going to end up just like this garden -- hanging on by a thread, hoping, praying for the charity of others. Tonight, I offer that charity. Two checks for $75,000." Rita laughs in disbelief, and we see a few veterans (or active military) applauding Clay. Roosevelt is sullen; on the one hand, his wife's efforts have paid off. On the other hand, they've been paid for by thugs. The garden has just become the literal embodiment of fruit from the poisoned tree. Clay says, "One of those checks is from me, so I know what you're thinking: blood money, probably stole it. It's okay, you can think that." We cut to Tara, who is giving Clay an appraising look. Clay continues, "The other check comes from a man who believes in this town even more than I do, a man whose family has pumped lifeblood into this community for almost 50 years. So if you can't thank me, you should definitely thank him, the guy who should be mayor, Elliott Oswald." Going by the mood of the crowd, if elections were held tomorrow, Hale the Lesser would be a single-termer.
Back at the barn, as everyone's waiting for the Lobos' force to approach, Chibs notices that Juice is huddled by himself. He heads over and tries to shake Juice into living in the moment. Then everyone heads over to see the two vehicles that have pulled up. One stays, the other goes. Hey! It's the tortilla truck! And after a few minutes, we see that it contains naught but the bodies that were formerly attached to the heads that we saw back in Act One. The message is clear to us viewers: Pedro isn't the mole. But that doesn't stop Luis from killing him anyway.
In the quiet letdown, when it seems that everyone is thinking, "Oh, crap...," Juice tells Chibs he's heading over to the Coke-K Corral, on account of not being able to sleep anyway. Chibs watches him go, his radar pinging.
Back at the Teller-Knowles house, Tara's unwinding from the fundraiser and/or waiting up for Jax, a cup of coffee in her hand. (Girl, I have been there. Babies are exhausting. Adorable, but the sworn enemies of their parents' sleep.) Jax sits down across the table from Tara. She speaks first: "It's just a matter of time before it hurts our kids." Jax says, "I'd never let that happen." Tara practically whispers her reply: "I'm sorry. I have to go. I have to get them out of here." Jax nods. He admits that SAMCRO's in way over their collective head; at least he does not add, "But hey -- it's still attached. Small blessings, huh?" Tara tells Jax that there's a hospital in Portland, Oregon, Providence Hospital -- "They're interested in me." Jax chokes out, "You should go. Take Elyda, bring the boys with you. Just stay there until things calm down here. Then we'll figure it all out." Tara's on the verge of tears -- whether it's from relief that Jax isn't fighting her on this or anger because she should have routed him when he pulled that, "I have to be a man and support my family" business, who knows? She then asks about Gemma, and Jax lays it out: "Tell her the truth. You're protecting our family." They clasp hands across the table, holding on for dear life.
Gemma's cleaning up at the clubhouse. (This is one of the things I've always found endearing about her personality: She self-soothes by cleaning.) Her phone rings, and it's Clay. He asks where she is, and Gemma says, "Heading home. You okay?" Clay says he is (small lie), then tells her he's on staying at the clubhouse (medium lie). This is news to Gemma, who is currently click-clacking across the clubhouse floor with no husband in sight. She asks, "You want me to come by?" and Clay replies, "Nah. I'm in lockdown in the chapel. I need the quiet." (BIG LIE.) This is news to Gemma, who is now standing right outside the empty chapel. Tig is stretched out on a nearby pool table, idly listening to the conversation. The two spouses exchange love-yous, then she hangs up. Tig, who has probably studied Gemma enough to qualify for a doctorate in Old Ladyology, knows something's up, but Gemma shakes off the icky feeling from listening to Clay's bald-faced lies, and says, "Take me home, Tiggy." Tig leaps off the pool table, slings Gemma's purse over his shoulder in a manner that would make runway models prostrate themselves in professional awe, then follows Gemma out the door.
Juice is trying to clean up the chain that he left behind from his night's folly, and Chibs sneaks up on him in the dark. Juicy tries to play it off with a goofy "You scared me, man," but Chibs takes in the chain, the broken branch and the terror on Juice's face. He goes from somberly curious to furious in the blink of an eye and lunges for Juice with a screamed "Jay-sus! What the hell are you doing? You coward!" Juice rolls over on the ground, sobbing, while Chibs sits down and tries to reign in his feelings. After a moment, he pulls Juice to his feet, then lets the boy sob on his shoulder.
So! It turns out that Clay is paying Piney a visit. After a short sequence in which Piney shakes Clay down for every weapon on his person, Clay comes in, keeping his weapon trained on Clay. The conversation goes thusly: Clay wants "more time" because things with Galindo get tricky, and when Piney snorts that means more death, Clay protests he's trying to do the right thing. Piney gets self-righteous: "The right thing for you, you mean. That's all you've ever done at the head of that table. Lead by greed." Clay asks, "If you hated me so much, why'd you sponsor me? Patch me in?" Piney bitterly says, "Because back then, you could be trusted." Hands up, all of you who believe that. Now hands up, all of you who believe that Piney's inability to accurately judge people has been a lifelong liability.
Clay then lets Piney know he doesn't really see this whole letters-hanging-over-his-head thing ending well, but says he'll call Parada and "If there's retaliation, blood's on your hands." He makes a show of leaving, but just as Piney goes to lock the door, Clay bursts back through, knocking Piney to the ground. As Piney struggles to get back up -- being knocked off your feet plus emphysema will slow you -- Clay tosses his place for the letters. As Piney gets to his feet, he says the letters aren't in the cabin. Clay realizes Tara's still got them. "How would Tara know?" Piney bluffs, but Clay says that Tara's the one who gave Piney the letters. Piney pleads, "Just leave her out of it, huh?" "Too late," Clay snarls, and blasts Piney through the chest. It's a tragic death: While Piney has been acting suicidal -- it seemed obvious he was tired of living and didn't mind using his own life as a bargaining chip to steer the club onto another track -- he died knowing that Clay was going after Tara and the club would never see those damn letters.
After making sure Piney's really dead, Clay dips his fingers in the blood, then heads over to a framed picture of the Founding Nine. He looks at it for a moment, then writes "LS" in Piney's blood. If he thinks this will fool anyone into thinking the Lobo Sonora did this... well, given SAMCRO's collective deductive faculties, it'll probably work. The episode ends with Clay walking off screen and the camera moving to Piney's hunched back. His cut is soaking through with blood; the reaper on the back now has real blood on the scythe.
Lisa Schmeiser (lschmeiser) is compiling the list of misdemeanors and/or felonies she would consider committing if the outcome was a sweet cabin like Piney's. Send all real estate tips to lschmeiser@gmail.com.
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