So, whatever, lots of stuff happened in this episode, but there's no point in delaying the big-ticket item: Boardwalk Empire finally gave up trying to write actual storylines for Angela Darmody and instead killed her off, plus Fun Louise, in the most punchline-y way possible. Slow clap for this show, I think they finally made me hate it.
Hmm, what else happened? Van Alden got served with divorce papers while his nanny remained perplexing in a very Swedish way. Nucky fired Icky, his poor, put-upon lawyer, and instead signed on with Rothstein's lawyer, who's already got his hands full with this Black Sox trial.
Jimmy is getting more and more overwhelmed as he tries to be the new Nucky. With the new influx of Irish whiskey into Atlantic City, Jimmy and his cohorts are finding themselves with more inventory than they can move, and it leads to squabbling, infighting and a whole lotta conspiratorial looks between Luciano, Lansky and Capone. Meanwhile, the city elders are similarly displeased that the Negro strikes are still happening. Jimmy doesn't know why they don't just kick in the extra nickel in pay, but nobody else thinks that's a good idea, and the Commodore manages to muster up enough wherewithal to call Jimmy a pussy, so...
Upon Eli's instruction, strikebreakers set upon the black folks with clubs and chains and such. And while they're there, they give Halloran a serious once-over, which, as Eli makes sure he understands, is a message to quit blabbing to Esther Randolph already.
Meanwhile, the ghost of Hans Schroeder lingers. Randolph seems intent on using his murder as the hook upon which to hang all of Nucky's other charges. At the same time, young Teddy is acting out so he can get some of Margaret's attention, which is understandably being spent on Emily, who will probably not regain the use of her legs. Margaret ends up in church, looking to buy her daughter's salvation. Or at least her own absolution. She hands the priest all the money she's been hoarding away as an "act of devotion," and the priest, who knows better, totally takes it anyway.
Jimmy also sends Mickey on a mission to see if they can make a deal with Manny to sell in Philly. Which is fucking BALLS. Manny might refer to it as chutzpah. Manny also might react by going to town on Mickey in order to extract Jimmy's whereabouts, then stalking into the Darmody house and shooting Jimmy dead as he post-coitally exits the shower. Only, as I said before, it was Fun Louise who was taking the after-sex shower. And after telling her that her husband did this to her, Manny offs Angela as well. Before she could even get hooked on the heroin that Lucky Luciano said is so popular with artist types.
Want more? The full recap starts right below!
Previously: Nucky went to Ireland.
Currently: the whiskey that Nucky made a deal for is being unloaded from ships in Hoboken. Owen supervises as the crates of "Feeney's Irish Oats" are loaded onto trucks and takes to various locations around Atlantic City. We see one particular shipment being dropped off at Babbette's, so it's good to know what team she's on.
With Atlantic City's black workers picketing on the Boardwalk, Halloran and a couple other cops stand idly by and collect a paycheck. Owen carries a crate through this crowd -- Purnsley allows him to pass through -- so he can deliver one crate to a well-dressed grump of a man in the kitchen at the Ritz. Owen says Nucky sent him. The guy sniffs at a stupid case of oats, until Owen produces the whiskey. Real Irish whiskey -- he's impressed. But who's going to serve it? "They'll be back," Owen assures him. He knows what an empty stomach feels like. The Ritz will take 400 cases. Nice sales technique on Owen!
Across town, Sigrid feeds the baby while Van Alden watches and tries to make small talk. It's as awkward as it sounds, particularly when the topic floats to nursing babies. "I tried to feed my baby sister through my bosom" sounds even more hilarious in a Swedish accent. Van Alden spots an envelope on the table and demands to know why he didn't get this immediately, as per his orders. It's a petition of divorce, and since it's from Mrs. VA, it comes with a note that says, "Please attend to this as soon as your activities allow."
At the hospital, Margaret, Nucky, and Teddy arrive to visit poor Emily. Dr. Holt tells them Emily is sleeping through a bit of a rough patch, which naturally upsets Margaret. Holts tells her Emily will need your love and attention "later on," when presumably she'll be coping with her paralysis. As Nucky takes Teddy inside to see his sister, Doc says that the good news is that Emily's upper body, and vital organs, seem fine. But she may not ever get fully better. "Mr. Thompson is a man of means," Margaret offers, which is both sad and kind of funny. Money won't help this. The doctor tells her that his little nine-year-old daughter prays for his patients every night. "You're meant to ask God to intercede for others," Margaret notes ruefully. Not for yourself. Doc tells her the next test results will come in on Friday. Margaret glances down the hall and spots a kid on crutches, trying to maneuver on crutches.
Inside the hospital room, Margaret hands Emily a new doll -- the sister to "Miss Wheatley" (who got burned in the great polio purge). Meanwhile, out in the hall, Teddy sits sullenly.
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