Trama

The Commodore's faction cuts off Nucky's liquor supply as the treasurer's friends seem to be deserting him but he finds a willing ally in Owen Sleater of Sinn Fein.

With the Commodore using his Coast Guard connections to put the squeeze on Atlantic City's liquor shipments, Nucky reaches out to Washington's 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 Babette's; Margaret sheds her pretense with Katy and the household staff; Lucy chafes at her enforced loneliness.—HBO Publicity

Agent Van Alden eats his breakfast alone when Lucy Danziger tells him "it was kicking again." He corrects her, saying, "the baby was kicking." She wants to go out, but Van Alden says they've "discussed" this. She says the "neighbor lady" came over and invited them to dinner. He's paying her not to leave the house. She wants some company, conversation and music. He doesn't respond and leaves for work. She says "this is a jail," comparing her life now to the life she had enjoying nights out before. He mocks her for the trouble Nucky had her involved with, but she says "at least he was fun."

Nucky isn't having much fun now, standing silently in his house, and Margaret tells him she's had a lot of her things he had purchased for her returned because she doesn't need them. She thinks it'd be wise for them to conserve their resources. Nucky thinks the opposite: that they should do everything to keep up appearances. She questions whether he's invested to the limit on his land deal, saying she overheard a conversation. He tells her to get her things back, and tries to assure her they are and will be fine. Nucky leaves and Margaret seems a bit shaken by an envelope from Pinkerton's National Detective Agency.

Damien is out making collections at the casino, but the money is light. Lolly Steinman (Danny Burstein), the casino boss, is frustrated because they haven't had booze to give the gamblers and have had to resort to acquiring second-rate product. On top of that, Nucky's forced him to hire Owen as a bartender. He threatens that if Nucky wants "fat envelopes" from him, he's going to need the booze from him -- or from someone else.

The Commodore, Eli and Jimmy are talking to Bill McCoy, a booze supplier who is quickly picking up on the fact that the Commodore doesn't want him selling to Nucky. McCoy seems upset about what he sees as the Commodore turning back on the deal he made with Nucky. He leaves, and the Commodore says it's time for a call to the Coast Guard.

Al Capone is waiting in Nucky's office. He's got a message from Torrio. "With regret, Chicago will no longer be buying alcohol from Atlantic City," is the message. Nucky thinks Torrio is reacting to his recent mess but Capone knows nothing about it. Nucky asks where Torrio is getting his liquor and Capone finally divulges the new agreement with George Remus of Cincinnati. Capone asks how "Jimmy Irish" is and Nucky says he'll have to ask Jimmy himself. Nucky asks Capone how Torrio is handling the competition and Capone says, matter-of-factly, "We're killin' 'em."

Lucy gets a visit from Eddie Cantor (Stephen DeRosa), which makes Lucy sad for everything she's missing. She tells him her baby's father is married, but doesn't reveal his name. While drinking and smoking, she talks about how she wasn't careful after Nucky "threw (her) over." She says wanted to be important to someone, which is why she agreed to go along with Van Alden's plan to pay her and take care of her until the baby comes (though she still hasn't named him). She tells him about a "snoozer" of a show coming to the Apollo called "A Dangerous Maid."

Jimmy and Richard Harrow get to the house to find Al Capone playing with Tommy and talking to Angela in the living room. After a fun bit of punching and wrestling, Jimmy tells Al all about the plan to take over the city and the booze. He says Nucky will be in jail by fall. Al wonders why bother with jail and suggests he have Nucky killed. Harrow says he won't do that and doesn't say why. Al explains his new role in Torrio's organization and they're both pleased with where they are in life. Al explains he's on his way to settle his recently deceased father's affairs in Brooklyn, then watches longingly as Jimmy helps Tommy tie his shoes. Harrow asks Al about Odette, the prostitute that Jimmy hired for him back in Chicago when they first met, and he answers, "She's a whore. That's how she's doing."

Eli gets home to a raucous house full of kids and his wife tells him his father hasn't bathed or shaved in days. Eli's father refers to him as "the big shot" and he's worried about what he's reading about Nucky in the paper. He then tells Eli that he needs to help his brother. "You can handle things," he says. "But Eli, he has no idea what he's doing!" It's clear Eli's father is confusing his two sons, and Eli is speechless.

Margaret opens the envelope from the detective agency and it has immigration files for four people -- a man, two girls and a young woman. She hides them when she hears Nucky coming. He tells her Chalky is going to make bail and be home soon. He asks if she's OK and she claims it's the book she's reading. He presses a bit. She tells him about her brother and sisters in Ireland and then opens the file to show him they're now in the U.S., in Brooklyn. He asks what she's going to do and she says she doesn't know. "It wasn't a happy parting of the ways," she explains. He tells her he wants to take her and the kids to Paris when everything blows over.

Gillian is getting Jimmy prepped for his dinner with the Governor. He asks her what changed from the time he was growing up and she used to call Jimmy's father "the letch," and now. She says she grew up and learned forgiveness, saying it is a virtue. Jimmy asks whether that means he should forgive Nucky and Angela, who's just walked in, asks what Nucky needs to be forgiven for. Jimmy says, "Nothing." Angela leaves the room. She thanks Jimmy for standing up for her because she was so young when Nucky brought her to the Commodore. He says he sometimes wishes for a simpler life, like Al's father, who was a barber. She tells him he's a leader, and when he asks what she is, Gillian says she's just a woman who loves her family.

Lucy is practicing lines from the script for "A Dangerous Maid" in the mirror when Van Alden walks in and asks what she's doing. He asks her to hand him the script. He asks why she was reading it, and she says Eddie Cantor came over and gave it to her. She says Eddie thought she'd be good for the part. He asks her if she wishes "to appear in this spectacle." She says she needs something or else she'll go crazy. He tells her it "can't be allowed" and ushers her back to her room, where she cries. He tells her he's sorry through the door as she keeps crying.

Damien explains to Nucky in his office that Lolly said without the hooch people aren't gambling as much. Nucky says there are three boats with scotch, rum and rye coming in tonight. Damien's exit is awkward as he fails to pick up on Nucky's signals that it's time for him to leave when Nucky has a call. It's the new Attorney General, Harry Daugherty, who's moving into his new office. Nucky's calling in a favor in return for covering up Harding's out-of-wedlock child. Harry invites Nucky to D.C., but Nucky doesn't appreciate being blown off. He hangs up on Harry and throws the phone across his office.

In New York City, Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky pay Arnold Rothstein a visit. He's sitting with Joe Masseria, a.k.a. "Joe the Boss," who silently nods when introduced. Rothstein explains that Masseria is upset that his two nephews were killed outside of Lucky and Meyer's card game, which operates in territory that belongs to Masseria. Lucky and Meyer know nothing about it (these being the two men who tried to rob Jimmy and ended up on the wrong side of his knuckle-duster knife). Rothstein suggests Lucky and Meyer extend a token of goodwill to Masseria: $2,000 each as compensation for the families of the deceased and a 10 percent tax from the card game. Lucky bristles, but Rothstein stops him. Masseria agrees that "10 percent is OK, for now." Lucky doesn't seem happy, but Rothstein and Masseria shake hands. On his way out, Masseria tells Lucky in Italian that he should come work for him and be rich. Lucky says Masseria's other hand will be in his pocket. Masseria says he'll be watching him. After another brief but tense exchange, Masseria leaves. Lucky and Meyer complain to Rothstein about the 10 percent deal, saying they already pay half the take to him. "And now you boys know why," he says.

Doyle is spilling addresses to speakeasies to Van Alden in exchange for cash. Van Alden calls Doyle by his real name, Kuzik. After a brief exchange about how to treat ladies, Van Alden asks Doyle if he'd consider Nucky Thompson "fun."

We next see Lucy crying, looking at her very pregnant body naked in the mirror.

Margaret talks Katy through a phone conversation, saying she's looking for "a relation." A second man on the phone tells the maid that Peggy Rohan died 12 years ago. Margaret leaves.

Eddie tells Nucky about a dinner invitation from Mayor Bader and Nucky says to tell him he's busy. At that point, Owen comes to Nucky's office. He thinks his talents are being wasted bartending for the casino. Asked what his talents are, Owen explains that his are, "Making people stop." Asked to expand on that, he clarifies that, in light of the conversation he overheard between Damien and Lolly, he wants to be out there acting as Nucky's muscle. As Owen leaves, Eddie comes in with a ship-to-shore message that Bill McCoy's ships are getting blockaded by the Coast Guard.

Margaret cries in her room.

Lucy, meanwhile, stands at the top of her outside stairs and appears to be ready to throw herself down when a delivery man says there's a delivery for "Mueller." It's the name Van Alden has been using for their apartment. We next see the man showing Lucy how to start up her new record player. She asks who sent it, and the delivery man says, "Mr. Mueller."

Margaret joins her maids, who are drinking in the kitchen. They all stop laughing and talking upon her arrival. Margaret is attempting to relate to them when Nucky walks in and asks her to get dressed for dinner.

Van Alden gets home that night to find Lucy dancing alone in a room full of music. He watches her silently.

Governor Edwards arrives at Babette's and meets the Commodore and Jimmy for dinner. The Commodore slips him an envelope. Babette is surprised when Nucky arrives with Margaret plus Bader and his wife, and he's surprised to see the Commodore and Jimmy. Bader suggests they go elsewhere, but Nucky insists they're staying. The Commodore notices Nucky and the group heading to their table.

The Commodore and Governor Edwards chat about how much trouble the Volstead Act has caused, and they settle on the point about Nucky being brought to justice. Governor Edwards is forward to it. Nucky is distracted while watching the Commodore laugh it up with the Governor. While he's able to keep his temper in check, it hits a breaking point when he tries to order lobster for Margaret and is told by the waiter that they're all out. She gets sad and Nucky becomes enraged when he sees the Commodore is feasting on a massive plate of lobster. He gets up, walks over and flips the Commodore's plate over, and threatens him.

This blows up into a confrontation that involves Nucky trying to upset Jimmy, and vowing to "ruin" all of them. Nucky reminds Jimmy that the Commodore "never even asked her name," referring to Jimmy's mother. Nucky adds, "He just pointed to the one he wanted -- the rest was understood." Jimmy stands up and gets in Nucky's face, but the Commodore talks him down. Nucky tells them to have a nice dinner and walks away.

Harrow is closing an alcohol delivery at the casino, taking Lolly's order, when Owen interrupts. He tells Lolly that they get their liquor from Nucky and Harrow isn't working for Nucky. He orders the men to put the cases back on the truck and a quick scuffle ensues. Owen knocks out two of the workers, before he and Harrow get into a Mexican standoff. Owen insists he's got no quarrel with Harrow, but they aren't buying liquor from the Commodore's operation. They both put their guns down and Owen walks away, taking Lolly with him. Harrow is stunned.

Jimmy drinks and smokes alone at home. Angela asks him how dinner was with his father and Jimmy asks, "Which one?" She kisses his cheek and leaves him alone.

Nucky and Margaret get home and he plants a big kiss on her. He says he never wants to see her sad again. As Nucky walks away, Katy asks Margaret what happened at dinner because Nucky is in better spirits. Margaret says goodnight, but as she starts upstairs, Katy grabs her by the arm and asks if Peggy Rohan is her. She promises she won't tell, but Margaret says nothing and dismisses the her.