Boardwalk Empire (2010–2014): Season 1, Episode 10 - The Emerald City - full transcript

You're out, Mickey...
out of business.

Chalky White's taking over.

What am I supposed
to tell my partners?

- He drives a packard you said.
- But it wasn't Chalky.

You hung a fella
that works for him.

- What do you say, Mr. White?
- You tell Nucky Thompson

it's gonna take a lot more than 10
grand to get me to fuck him over.

I want to introduce you to someone.
Odette!

This is Richard Harrow.

Come on, baby.

It was an oversight, that's all.



You watch the door.

You drive my car.

Don't move!

You're sure these are the
guys who held you up?

- Absolutely.
- The D'Alessio brothers.

- What do you want me to do?
- You need me to spell it out?

- Kill them?
- Yes.

Hello?

Jimmy, my God.

It was nice to see you, old boy.

Supervisor Elliot... He
thinks we're being obsessive

- about the Hans Schroeder case.
- We have a witness

that can place Darmody at
the scene of the murders.

Mayor Bacharach... He's
weak and losing ground.



Run somebody else for Mayor.

- Mayor Edward Bader.
- I'll be in touch.

D'Alessios... They're being
backed by Rothstein and Luciano.

Can you bail me out?

The legal system's not
your ticket to freedom.

I wish there was a
way I could help.

You can help us get
the women's vote.

Shouldn't you wait until the
amendment actually passes?

I'm an eternal optimist.

Oh. Oh.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Don't mind. Don't be afraid.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

I won't hurt you.

Mama!

Shh.

We're on edge here as it is.

I'm sorry.

It's not comfortable
to sleep with.

- Mama.
- Shh.

I'm sorry.

He said he had to make water

and if I didn't pull over,
he'd do it right there

in his trousers on the car seat.

You should have let him.

Nelson.

I had to go myself, sir.

It's almost four hours'
drive to Manhattan.

I'd had several cups of coffee.

I stopped the car,
relieved myself,

then unlocked
Winslow's handcuffs.

In other words, you
dispensed with protocol.

To not do so would have meant

unbuttoning his trousers and...

and touching his Johnson
with your fingers.

Yes sir.

So in service to
your own modesty,

you ended up killing
our witness.

You will not be
told again, Nelson.

Nothing in his demeanor

led me to believe that
he'd attack me, sir.

The man was a felon.

You got anything else to say?

I know I fouled up,

but killing that prisoner...

It'll haunt me for
the rest of my days.

You acted in self-defense.
You've been exonerated.

Take a week's leave,
get some rest.

Yes, sir.

Thank you, sir.

That is all.

Have you any idea, Nelson,

the embarrassment

this incident has brought
upon the department?

I take full responsibility
for Winslow's death, sir.

That's fine, Nelson,

because that's precisely
where I place the blame.

I told you I wanted numbers,

arrests relating to alcohol.

Winslow's confession is a
direct link to Nucky Thompson.

Winslow is dead. His
confession is useless hearsay.

I'll have another
crack at Darmody.

Darmody has been released
for lack of evidence.

Thompson's lawyers are
swarming like hornets.

He committed murder on a direct
order from Nucky Thompson.

For God's sakes, man, you have
bungled this from the start!

This is your last
chance, Nelson.

One more misstep and you'll be

hunting moonshiners
down in the Everglades.

Don't stop.

There's coffee.

Your mother took Tommy to
Child's for an ice cream.

He's a good boy.

It's nice... the skin tones.

Thank you.

I also like the other one...

the lady with the flowers.

I didn't even think you noticed.

Over in Europe,

in the War...

art, painting, poetry...

two weeks in the
trench and you forget

that there's anything beautiful

in the civilized world.

That's it.

A little red.

That's better.

Anything on the ratification?

It's all in the
hands of Tennessee.

One more state,

then women will have
the right to vote.

You look doubtful.

I don't want you to
be disappointed.

The south... they're
not exactly known

for their forward-thinking
down there.

Your driver Mr. Kessler is here.

Five minutes.

I don't mean to be cruel, but...

He's a war hero, Margaret.

He frightens the children.

He's here for your protection,
for their protection.

These men who are after you...

- Has anything been done?
- It's being handled.

- By the Sheriff?
- And his deputies.

Perhaps the children and I
should go away for a while.

That won't be necessary.

Besides, I'd miss you too much.

Is this what it means
to be in charge...

people shooting at you?

Success breeds enemies,

which you'll
discover soon enough

after women win the vote.

Stock prices over the ticker,

racing results by wire.

Soon radio, I'm told, will
transmit news stories

within minutes of
their occurrence.

It's the age of information.

And a businessman lives and
sometimes dies on its value.

Do you know why I'm a
successful gambler, Mr. Doyle?

'Cause you're lucky?

He's lucky. I create my luck.

I'm a successful gambler

because I never bet on an event

whose outcome I'm not sure.

Like the World Series.

You put the fix in.

I employ research, fact-finding.

"Due diligence" the
lawyers call it.

Which brings me to
Nucky Thompson...

the man you said you
know everything about.

How was I supposed to know
his chauffeur carries a gun?

Have you been listening to
a single word I've said?!

Sheer and utter incompetence.

A woman is shot...

An innocent tourist
no less and...

you've tipped my
hand to Thompson.

A boardwalk at night
doing public...

we figure it sends a message.

You sent a message all right...

That you're idiots.

Devil's food?

- Yes sir.
- Thank you.

I'll kill that prick myself, Mr.
Rothstein.

We'll bring you his
head if you want.

Your grandstanding
is commendable,

but I have to say I'm
less than convinced.

We had bad information,
like you said.

How can we make it up to you?

Nothing says "I'm
sorry" like money.

2½ million people
in Chicago alone,

figure half of them are men.

- Half of those...
- Put that in.

Are adult men, and
there's my point.

With over a half million
potential customers

who wanna drink
whiskey and fuck,

why ain't we making more money?

Fuck you doin'? Are
you listening?

What?

Are you listening?

Yeah, the money.

Mr. Torrio, Jake Guzik.

Sure, send him in.

There's the beer baron.

Are you giving the coOze away?

I had to park all
the way up Wabash.

A little exercise will kill you?

I get enough exercise
carrying your dough.

All this from the brewery?

I go home stinking of beer,
but who's complaining?

When he ran the brothel,
he stank of pussy.

So long as it ain't Kugel,
the wife stays off my back.

I wanted to talk to
you about expanding,

and not just your
waistline neither.

- I was saying...
- Johnny, turkish.

Before you come in, I was saying

a lot of money being
left on the table.

As far as I'm concerned, the
whole north side is wide open.

There's entire
10-block stretches

without a single cathouse
or a place to get a drink.

The fuck is this?

It's a load from the joke shop.

What, are you 12 years old?

It's a joke. I'm sorry.

You are sorry. You're a
sorry fucking moron.

I thought you'd have a laugh.

I'm in the middle of
a fucking meeting!

We'll talk Saturday, your kid's...
What do you call it?

Bar mitzvah.

Yeah.

This ain't no fucking
grade school.

He's grotesque, James.

And believe me, I've seen
my share of freak shows.

Apparently it's a
big improvement

over how he looked
before the surgery.

Try explaining that
to a four-year-old.

From now on, when
he's in the house,

just tell him to
keep the mask on.

Mickey Doyle.

What about him?

- To see you.
- Here?

Shall I frisk him?

You're Tom Mix all of a sudden?

You do it.

Nucky, hey. How you been?

- What do you want, Mickey?
- Come on, Nuck.

I come to youse hat in hand.

I'm came to apologize is all.

I got rattled when you
took my operation.

So you pick yourself
up by the bootstraps.

Yeah, but I told you
I had partners.

So?

The D'Alessio brothers.

- From Philly?
- Mm-hmm.

- They're your partners?
- Mm-hmm.

I should throw you out
that fucking window.

I'm sorry. I didn't know
what they was planning.

Not half as sorry
as you're gonna be.

I can help. That's
why I come here.

I'll tell youse
everything I know.

Get him a drink.

I should piss in it.

It started months back,
after I got out of jail.

They wanted their dough,
which I didn't have,

so they got the idea to put
Chalky out of business.

- The lynching... that was them?
- Mm-hmm.

They robbed your
ward boss too...

the fat one, plus the casino.

They shot my brother,
Mickey, took a shot at me.

I know it.

They're gonna shoot me, Nuck.
I know that too.

- How?
- They're always jabbering in Italian,

laughing at me behind my back,

right to my face.

And Luciano... how
does he figure in?

- Your mother didn't tell you?
- Watch your step, Mickey.

He's got this kid... some
sheeny named Lansky.

He approached Chalky,
made him an offer,

but it was really
just a whatsit.

- A ruse?
- That's the ticket.

To find out how many
bottles he's moving.

- Why does he wanna know that?
- Why do you think?

For information.

This is all on orders
from Rothstein.

He wants to muscle in,

take over the liquor
business in Atlantic City.

Ruining baseball isn't enough?

Get Chalky on the phone.

Yeah.

For what?

Eddie's on the line.

God damn it. Eddie!

Hang up the goddamn phone.

That was Trenton. It just
came over the wire...

The women have received
the permission to vote.

"'I built that palace, and
the Emerald City too, '"

remarked the wizard
in a thoughtful tone.

'And I'd like to see them again,

for I was very happy among
the munchkins and winkies

and quadlings and gillikins.'

'Who are they?' Asked the boy.

"'The four nations that inhabit
the land of Oz, ' was the reply."

Mm, sorry.

Mr. Harrow.

Hmm?

We're reading "The Wizard
of Oz" by Frank Baum.

Yes.

Please join us if you'd like.

Mm, thank you.

"'I wonder if they would treat me
nicely if I went there again.'"

'Of course they would,
' declared Dorothy.

'They are still proud
of their former wizard,

and often speak of you kindly.'

'Do you happen to know whatever
became of the tin woodsman

and the scarecrow?' He enquired.

'They live in Oz yet,
' said the girl,

"'and are very
important people.'"

Mm, the tin woodsman.

That's me.

Oh, I think I need some oil.

Mama, it's really him?

Why yes, dear,

directly from Oz.

And who better to
have in our house

than the mighty tin woodsman?

I won't insult you by
asking if you want any,

but I hope you don't
mind if I have a taste.

Good news just isn't
the same without it.

Annabelle offered
me some earlier.

Does that mean I
shouldn't try again?

Well,

it is a special occasion.

That it is.

Thank you.

To the women's vote.

You've caught up with
Ireland at last.

It's your country too, you know.

You're aware, of course,

of all the republican party has
done for social progress...

Emancipation, Prohibition.

We backed the
women's vote early.

Because you saw an opportunity.

A simple "thank
you" would be fine.

Thank you.

Sunday, at the League of
Women Voters luncheon,

Mayor Bacharach will be announcing
that he won't be seeking reelection.

I'd like you to tell the ladies

why Edward Bader should
be his replacement.

And why should he be?

Because he's the right
man for the job.

The owner of a
construction business?

Who's going to help
me build great things

for the people of this city.

But how does that qualify
him to be Mayor?

Andrew Johnson was a tailor
and he became president.

Wasn't he impeached?

That's completely
beside the point.

What am I meant to say?

That it's time for a change,

that it's a new
republican party.

The cronyism, the incompetence,

the violence in our streets...

All that's a thing of the past.

Is it?

What do you mean?

If Bader is elected,

what happens to the
county treasurer?

Me? I'm not going anywhere.

You'll control the new Mayor
just like the old one.

I don't control
anyone, Margaret.

I'm more of an overseer.

For this city to work, for business
to be done over the long haul,

there needs to be cooperation,
continuity of leadership.

As county treasurer, I
provide that continuity.

Fletcher and these
other democrats...

they'd be starting from scratch.

You're asking me to lie

about Bader's qualifications.

I'm asking you to be realistic.

This isn't some fantasy world

like in one of those
children's books.

It's a real place
with real people.

And sometimes, to
make it run properly,

we need to tell those people
what they want to hear.

This is important, Margaret,

not just for the
republican party.

It's important for you too.

I've read about this place.

Look at this. Look, Tommy, look.

This is where we got you.

They cooked you up in one
of those incubators,

wrapped you up in a diaper
and then we took you home.

You're fooling me.

Fooling you, huh?

Arr!

Hey, where are you going?

Tommy, Tommy, come here.

Come here.

You want some Taffy?

That's mommy's kissing friend.

What'd you say?

That's mommy's kissing friend.

Kissing friend?

Son of a bitch.

Jimmy, what's wrong?

Ask your son.

Wendell, I'm gonna need
you to be very still,

like a statue in a museum.

Wendell!

You wanna have your
mettle tested?

Oh my God!

Get back!

- Hey, there's a fight going on.
- Jimmy.

Don't fucking move.

Jimmy!

Jimmy, why are you doing this?

- Jimmy, stop.
- Stop.

Jimmy!

Hey buddy. Hey pal.

Jimmy, stop it, please.

Daddy.

This man had relations
with my wife...

- That's not true.
- When I was away in the war.

- No, Jimmy.
- Daddy daddy.

Please stop it.

Daddy!

Coming.

Ma'am.

Agent van Alden.

May I come in?

Of course, yes.

Please.

This is Mr. Harrow.

I'm a Federal Agent.

I need to speak privately with Mrs.
Schroeder.

I'll be out back
with the children.

Mrs. Schroeder, I'm going
to show you a photograph.

I'd like to know

if you recognize this girl.

Is this meant to be a joke?

I find nothing funny about it.

That's me,

taken at Ellis Island.

After your long
journey from Kerry.

That's right.

When I look at this
girl, I see hope,

yearning,

a promise for a new life,

the promise of America.

What happened to that girl, Mrs.
Schroeder?

Am I to be deported?

I'm a citizen of
this country now.

Mrs. Schroeder, you
are consorting

with a murderer,

the man who killed the
father of your children.

- That's not true.
- It is true.

He's a panderer and a criminal.

Mr. Thompson is one
of the most...

Your life doesn't
have to be like this.

And I know you don't
want it to be.

You don't know me at all.

I see into your soul, Margaret,

at night when I look
at this picture.

Give me that photograph.

Listen to me.

How dare you lecture me?

You gained entrance to my home

on the pretense of
official business

when your true
intentions are obviously

something quite different.

Is this the life you want?

I can offer you salvation.

I want you to leave now.

I came here to save you...

not from prosecution, but
from the fires of hell

that will surely await you
should you fail to repent.

You need to say
this word for word.

Hey.

Find us some seats.

How you doing?
Thanks for coming.

Hiya. Who's this handsome man?

My son Charles. This is John.

Hello.

Hey.

You must wear a hat
in the synagogue.

It's a sign of respect.

To wear it's a sign of respect?

Yes.

Wear a hat in church...
they box your ears in.

In the Jewish religion
men wear a yarmulke

to remind us that
God is above us.

You're a friend of
the bar mitzvah?

- Jake?
- Mr. Guzik's son.

Yeah, I'm an
associate of Jake's.

Hey, so this party...

What is it exactly?

When a Jewish boy reaches 13,

he becomes a son of
the commandment.

And this celebration affirms
his obligations as a man.

What, at 13?

Do you not feel
that's old enough

to be held accountable
for your actions?

I know the state does.

That's why they got
reform school.

All of us who are worth anything

spend our manhood unlearning

the follies of our youth.

Gentlemen, we're about to begin.

- We'll finish this later.
- Good, okay.

You should wear a yarmulke.

What's wrong with this?

You're a man,

yet you wear the cap of a boy.

♪ Amen. ♪

♪ Amen. ♪

Mazel tov!

Meyer Lansky...

That's the kid who
came to see you.

He told me his name
was Michael Lewis.

So he doesn't have to change
the monogram on his shirts.

He's in cahoots with
Arnold Rothstein

and this family of
dagos out of Philly.

Charlie Luciano too.

- Those the boys who shot you?
- Among other things.

They shot at him. They
were not successful.

Why are you still here?

If there will be nothing else...

Sorry I'm late.

What'd you do to your hand?

I slammed it in the icebox.

I want you to meet with Lansky.

Mickey here will arrange it.

Tell him you accept his offer.

- What offer?
- Whatever offer he makes.

Tell him you're unhappy,

that Nucky's not
treating you right.

That shouldn't be too
hard to believe.

You're lucky to be alive,
you fucking polack.

Promise them as much
liquor as they want

and tell them they'll need all
their men to haul the load.

The idea is to get as many of
them in the same place as we can.

Remembering, of course,
it was me set it up.

So, uh...

When all is said and done,

what you fixing to do about Mr.
Rothstein?

I'm going to make him the
richest corpse in New York.

And go though I must,

I assure you I do so
with a heavy heart.

But behind my sadness

there is also great pride

in what we have
achieved as a community

and... and a great optimism...

It's perfectly natural
to be nervous.

Just remember to breathe.

It's not nerves exactly.

Did you eat a good breakfast?

- I've got no appetite.
- You'll be fine.

The first time I had to make one
of these speeches I was a wreck.

After a while you can get up
there and sell snake oil.

And my love for public
service shall never cease.

Ladies,

it is now my great pleasure

to introduce Mrs.
Margaret Schroeder.

Thank you, Mayor Bacharach.

And thank you, ladies.

You will surely be missed.

When I was first asked
to speak to you today,

I confess I was at once

flattered and terrified.

Surely an immigrant to
this great country,

a former parlor maid,
could have little

to contribute to
political discourse.

But when I heard I was to speak

in support of Edward
Bader for Mayor,

I put my trepidations aside

and decided to speak
to you from the heart.

I know. I know.

I first met Mr. Bader socially

in his capacity as
head of the city's

largest construction firm.

Mr. Bader is quite
literally a builder,

a man of great vision.

Where other men
see an empty lot,

he sees a hospital.

Where other men see
an overgrown field,

he sees a school
for our children.

And most importantly perhaps,

where other men see
shopgirls and chambermaids,

Edward Bader sees voters.

Ladies, our newly gained right

also comes with great
responsibility,

a duty to use our power wisely,

to elect men to office...
worthy men

who will put the interest
of our citizens first.

With us as a foundation,
women voters,

our new Mayor can do great
things for Atlantic City.

And who better to start
with that foundation

than a builder himself?

Ladies, I give you

our next Mayor, Mr.
Edward Bader.

That was wonderful.

Thank you, Mrs. Schroeder,

for that rousing introduction.

Ladies, I could not be more
pleased than I am right now

to join you here today

and welcome you

as meaningful partners
in our great democracy.

When I was approached to be
part of this republican ticket,

I was not only humbled

but excited to continue my work

for the men, the women and the
children of Atlantic City.

Enjoy yourself there.

We'll have some drinks.

Mr. Torrio.

Where are you goin'?

Wherever you tell me.

I'm here to apologize.

The joke, the cigarette load...

That was stupid.

You can't do that shit no more.

I know.

You know,

I brung you out here from
Brooklyn for a reason, kid.

I thought I saw
something in you.

A fella like Guzik...

Three years ago he's
running a cathouse.

Now look at him today.

You could learn something
from these Jews.

The brewery there...

I hear they're looking for help.

His distribution's out of whack.

The fella in there now has
got it all screwed up.

Maybe I can fix it.

No more monkey business, Al.

Finito.

I hear you, Mr. Torrio.

All's I'm asking
for is a chance.

I'm ready to be responsible
for my actions.

22 year I know Nucky Thompson,

back when the Commodore
had this town.

I ran the dice game here
in Chicken Bone Beach.

Nucky made the
Commodore collection.

Then one day I seen the
Commodore himself...

a parade here for Mr. Booker T.
Washington,

you know.

"Chalky," he say,
"I got bad news.

Now on you got to pay me 7%
of what you been making."

"7%?" I say.

"I been paying Nucky 12
long for three years now."

Real prick that guy
Thompson, huh?

That's putting it kindly, son.

- He was skimming off the top.
- Yes.

Thank you. I get it.

Well, I hope his
reputation precedes him,

but Mr. Rothstein doesn't
do business like that.

Chiseling your partners...
it's short-sighted.

- We're looking to the future.
- These stills,

this piss water
you're bottling...

Don't get me wrong, it's
fine for some people,

but we're looking
for the real stuff.

Can you part with
500 cases a month?

You know I can,

Mr. Lewis.

No offense.

That was before Mr. Doyle here
told us how unhappy you were.

Yeah, now that we know, you'll be
our contact down in Atlantic City.

Play your cards right...
you can buy a packard

for every day in the week.

Tomorrow late we'll send trucks.

The money too.

What about Nucky?

Fuck him.

By which he means

you're under the wing of
Arnold Rothstein now.

New York life don't offer
protection that good.

One more thing:

How do you know I
drive a packard?

- Oh, the lights!
- It's something.

- It is.
- I'm so glad we came.

Me too.

I stopped by the hospital.
They said you'd already left.

He's sleeping. They
gave him morphine.

Five broken ribs, his
nose, a fractured jaw.

- I'm so sorry, Mary.
- It's not your fault. It's mine.

- Yours?
- I should have left him months ago.

I don't love him.

This never would have happened.

It's not that easy.

I just can't bear it anymore.

Has he hurt you?

No, not yet.

But he's not the
same person I knew.

Come away with me...

you and Tommy.

- Where?
- To Paris.

- What about Robert?
- He'll be fine.

He'll recover from his injuries

and move on with his life.

Jimmy will never let me go.

He'll never know
where to find us.

Imagine Tommy growing
up along the Seine,

speaking French.

He'd be nothing like his father

or any of them.

Isadora Duncan has a
school on Rue Danton.

The children wear
Grecian tunics.

She inspires them
to find their muses

and free their spirits.

There's a ship leaving
once a month.

Nous devons aller a Paris.

Say it.

What does it mean?

We must go to Paris.

Nous devons aller a Paris.

And so we must.

Thank you, Deputy Halloran.

Could be Sheriff Halloran
come November...

If Eli's not better.

The children are asleep.

Mrs. Charlton just left.

No trouble, I take it?

No.

They're very obedient.

To guard against intruders.

Mr. Harrow,

I feel I owe you an apology.

When you first came
here to guard us,

I treated you harshly.

The truth is your
affliction frightened me.

Mm, people find
it disconcerting.

Well, it's unfair

and I'm sorry.

We should judge the
person on the inside.

Mm, I can't

do that myself.

So why should you be able to?

Sometimes I forget
what I look like.

Then I pass a mirror
and I remember.

I stare sometimes at my face

and I can't recall

who I was before.

What'll you have?

Whiskey.

Again.

May I join you?

Sure.

Why not?

Cigarette?

What's your name, handsome?

Nelson.

I could use another
drink, Nelson.

This here is Mr. Meyer Lansky.

Say hello to Nucky Thompson.

How do you do?

We've already met, actually.

You shot at me on the boardwalk.

You're confusing me
with somebody else.

There's another dago walking
around with dogshit on his face?

What happened? You were
supposed to make a deal.

Why didn't you tell me these the
motherfuckers that lynched my boy?

Because I hadn't confirmed it.

Well, I got all the
confirmation I need.

There are four more
brothers, Chalky,

plus Luciano. How are we
supposed to get to them now?

Mr. Thompson, may
I speak with you?

I know we've only recently met

and my word doesn't
count for much,

but if you could see your
way to letting me go,

I'm quite certain I can work out

an accommodation with Mr.
Rothstein.

Mr. Rothstein made his bed.

Now you fellows can die in it.

Tough talk when he ain't
in the room, right?

What'd you say?

Oh, I'm sorry. I
thought you heard me.

What I said was you, Mr.
Thompson and this coon here

could all go fuck each other.
Right.

Oh, fucking tough guy.

You gonna shoot me
for mouthing off?

I wasn't going to, but you
kind of talked me into it.

Anybody else?

Jesus Christ.

What do we do with him?

Leave him at the dump with
the rest of the garbage.

My brothers come back...

They're gonna string you up higher
than they did that other fucking coon.

You can go now.

And please tell Mr. Rothstein

what you saw here tonight.

Fuck me.

Fuck me, daddy.

Oh.

Oh baby.

What time is it?

It's late.

What are you doing up?

I couldn't sleep.

I had business downtown.
I would have called.

Business?

Plotting our strategy
for the election.

You did very well today

with your speech.

You should get some rest.

You had those ladies
eating out of your hand.