Boardwalk Empire (2010–2014): Season 2, Episode 1 - 21 - full transcript

I got one!

Here you go. Two for you!

Load that away.

I don't pay to play.
Keep your mouth shut and the crates moving.

Mama!

- The casing is jammed.
- Come on!

Come on!

It's jammed. Go on! Get in there.

- Just pop them out!
- Hand me that.

- Holy Jesus!
- Shut up!

Purity, sobriety
and the white Christian's Jesus.



- Oh, my God!
- Get out!

Come on!

Get him up here! Get him up here!

- Come on, guys, get him! Get him up here!
- Come on!

My arm! He shot me in my arm, God damn it!

Go! Go! Come on, go, go!

Come on, move it!

I don't want to go!

I am not in the mood for this,
Teddy. Come out!

- I don't want to.
- I'll count to three.

One. Two. Three!

- Teddy.
- I don't want to!

I am warning you!
Do not turn your back on me, young man!

Come here.



- Mama!
- Come out from there.

- You're upsetting your sister.
- No!

- You're home.
- Be it ever so humble.

- What's the problem? Why is he under there?
- He doesn't want to go to school.

Want to grow up to be a fishmonger?

Yes.

No, you don't.

You want to be a doctor or something.
Remember?

Like Dr. Surran.

Sister Bernice.

He was misbehaving apparently
and she took the ruler to him.

- What did you do?
- I didn't do anything!

Well, nuns don't just go around
hitting people.

She pulled my hair.

Nun hit me when I was your age,
I get another whooping from my dad.

Go with Katie, dear. Wash up. You, too.

This way, sweethearts.

Come on.

It's nearly 8:00 a.m.

Considering the night I had,
I'm amazed I'm home before 9:00.

I'm sure.

But you do look ravishing.

And ravishable.

Time for school, come on.

- I'm not going!
- Yes, you are going. Come on.

- I don't want to!
- Let's get your coat.

- Mama! Mama!
- I'm not going!

- I told you, I'm not going!
- It's okay.

- Where are you going?
- To the office to get some sleep.

- I'm not going!
- Do you want your mommy upset with you?

No! I told you...

- Mama!
- It's okay.

Teddy!

These eggs taste funny.

Maybe someone made the chicken laugh.

Oh, there's my handsome man.

- Hey, pal!
- Daddy.

Nucky call?

Was he supposed to?

I'll take some ham and some eggs.

Well, I know how he likes them, dear.

- You wanna go shoot some gulls?
- Yeah.

- Jimmy.
- What?

He's too young.

- No, I'm not.
- I was his age, I used to go all the time.

- Younger. With your father.
- Actually it was with Nucky mostly.

- I don't think it's safe.
- Please?

Please?

- Please?
- Come on, he's a big boy.

- Relax, Ange.
- You worry too much.

- Please?
- Make sure he dresses warmly.

- All right, come on, let's get it done.
- Your plaid pants.

- Got it!
- You got it.

And be careful.

Are we gonna shoot some real seagulls
with real guns?

Yes, we are.

- I really wish you wouldn't do that.
- Do what, dear?

Undercut me.

Oh, sweetie, I would never.

- You're his wife.
- Yes, and I'm Tommy's mother.

I was only trying to help, dear.
As your husband's mother.

Boys will be boys after all.

You know, when Jimmy was a baby
and I would change his diaper,

I used to kiss his little winkie.

What is the meaning of this?

Move this furniture back into place!

- Sir.
- We weren't expecting you, sir.

Mrs. Van Alden wanted to see the office.

The field reports.
We were just about to hop to it.

I take almost no comfort in "about to,"
Agent Clarkson.

- Yes, sir.
- Gentlemen,

I'd like to introduce my wife.

Dear, these are Agents Sawicki and Clarkson.

- Ma'am.
- How do you do?

Agent Sawicki is of Polish stock.
He joins us from Mount Olivet.

Outside Pittsburgh.

Yes, they have a large Christian community.

Mrs. Van Alden is visiting for the weekend.

Well, there's no shortage
of wholesome entertainment.

I picked up this tourist guide yesterday.

Oh.

- Does it list the churches?
- I assume so.

I haven't read it yet.

Consider it a gift.

Thank you.

If I'm needed,
we're staying at the Hotel Metropole.

Though I anticipate we'll be out mostly
taking in the sights.

Save the roughhouse for your own time,
gentlemen.

- Yes, sir.
- Yes, sir.

Just gonna be another minute.

- What's hurting him now?
- Got an earache.

Mr. Torrio is a man
beset by convenient maladies.

What's that mean?

Nothing cures him faster
than someone else doing his laundry.

I ain't his washing woman.

Don't take it personally, kid.

What do you think George Remus
spent five years doing?

Come again?

I said, what do you think George Remus
was doing for him?

Ain't you George Remus?

Who did you think I was?

You just said it like it was someone else.

This shyster?

Had him on a $500-retainer
to keep me out of the hoosegow.

Cheaper lawyer, more time in jail.

Why the fuck you move to Cincinnati?

Well, John,

draw a circle 300 miles around,
know what you get?

300 miles of cow shit.

You get 80% of the bonded whiskey
being stored in this country.

- How much is in your pocket?
- Enough to float your speaks.

Plus a whole lot more.

We're looking to keep business steady.
No heartburn. No blood on the floor.

Buy from George Remus, there won't be any.

Remus owns the distilleries
and the pharmacies they're allowed to sell to.

Even better, Remus owns the trucks
that hijack his own liquor.

- That's a neat trick.
- No trick, my boy.

Remus read the Volstead Act very closely.

We ought to be in business with him.

What the fuck you talking about? He's Remus.

I know. I'm just...

Four thousand cases a month.

You're good for eight, easy.

Let's see how it goes.

Buying from Canada, John? Makes sense.

But you never know
what can happen on that lake.

As for Atlantic City,

Cincinnati's a lot closer.

And who really likes
Nucky Thompson anyway?

I take it Remus doesn't.

Man lays out 2 grand
for a weekend on the shore,

he doesn't expect an altercation
over the telephone bill.

Well, it's all on the house here, Georgie.

Go say hello to Odette.

We'll work out the details later.

Hi.

- When you go to Atlantic City...
- When am I doing that?

Next month, before you head to Brooklyn.

Johnny, I got this thing for my father.

So? Leave a day early.
Go see Nucky, tell him things have changed.

That's it?

You'll think of something.

Do your fucking laundry.

The idea is to buy here, straight through
Gloucester County, all you can get.

Me and the boys here are gobbling it all up.

- It's pennies an acre.
- Because it's worthless land.

- Not for long.
- The road appropriations come through,

we steer the planning commissioners
right where we want them.

With the old golden handshake?

Well, how does anything get done, Ernie?

Once that's settled, we sell the land back
to the great state of New Jersey.

At a 10-fold profit.

- So how does a fellow get a piece?
- Quickly, my boy, quickly.

The blue plots are all taken.

- Jesus, you fellows own all that?
- Not all, but most.

Land barons of barren land.

Yeah, and it gets even better.

Once the roads are approved,
they're going to need to be built, right?

It just so happens, I have a very close
friend in the construction business.

- Edward Bader, master builder.
- Yeah, with his own two hands.

And you, my friend, are hereby notified

we are currently accepting bids
to supply the gravel.

For 40 miles of road?

You can do the math yourself.

I will.

But in the meantime,
let this pave the way in my direction.

Well, it's a fine start.

Perfect, Ernie.

- We're all set for McGarrigle?
- My house, Monday night.

- You're a credit to the cause, Nucky.
- Always happy to help.

Nucky, we have an emergency.
There's a reporter calling.

He claims Chalky White has shot a Klansman.

- Get my brother...
- I have already called him.

Right here, on the Atlantic City
Boardwalk, for over 40 years...

They have a hotel shaped like an elephant.

It's in Margate, six stories.
It's quite something.

The tusks are genuine ivory apparently.

- Beg your pardon?
- The elephant, we could take a drive.

Oh, no.

Thank you.

Who was that?

No one of any consequence.

If you're hungry, there's a soda fountain.

They sell potato cakes called cornishes.

- What's wrong?
- This guide.

It lists the taverns, the houses of ill repute.

"If Jesus came to Atlantic City..."

The places he wouldn't go.

The author's attempt at cynicism.

I'm sorry you had to see that, dear.

Maybe it's better we don't have children.

This world, Nelson.

Are you sure I can't offer
you gentlemen luncheon?

Thank you, Lenore, no.

We need some privacy, dear.

Lester, baby.

It's very nice, Lester.

- Talented.
- Thank you, sir.

Lester will be attending Morehouse
in two years.

The college.

Jesus Christ, what the fuck happened?

It don't matter now, does it?
I took care of it all myself.

You shot a white man in the throat.

Which I had to hear about
from some fucking reporter.

Herman Dachus, he's a school teacher.
The other one lost his arm.

I got four boys dead in that warehouse.

Half a dozen wounded, including a woman.

You know I'll take care of it.

How I know that?

We're supposed to be protected
from these affairs.

- Look, I can't...
- No, you look.

I'm done with this shit.

Just like that, huh?

I got my family and I got my people.

Your people?

The 10,000 black folk who make this city hum.

Bus boys, trash collectors, porters.

Meaning what exactly?

Meaning,

you go school these crackers,
lest you all find out.

You do understand, I'm the only thing
keeping you from a lynch mob.

You ready

for what happens here,
I turn up on the end of a rope?

If things go that way,
your people have a lot more to lose than I do.

You gonna arrest me or not?

I can handle this, for now.

Stay in the fucking house.

You can see yourselves out.

This Klan shit, Eli,
I thought you had it under control.

That is one uppity shine.

Sister Bernice?

I'm Margaret Schroeder, Teddy's mother.

I stopped by the convent.
They told me I could find you here.

Much quieter this time of day.

Ben Franklin,
apparently he discovered lightning.

Have a seat.

Thank you, no.

My son, he came home yesterday
with bruises.

Where I struck him with a ruler?

Did he tell you why he was punished?

No. Not specifically.

What did he tell you?

That he did nothing wrong.

Then you're raising a liar, Mrs. Schroeder.

He was playing with matches,

in a coat closet, in a school full of children.

I...

I don't know what to say.

You're a widow, is that right?

- I am.
- And you live with Teddy's uncle?

Is my son to be expelled?

No.

Father Brennan intervened.

Apparently, he's close
with your Mr. Thompson.

Thank you for seeing me.

We agreed we were gonna
put him out of business,

but this, it's fucking madness!

You had to shoot a woman?

Would you mollycoddle
the enemy in France, Jimmy?

He cut off a man's finger.
Would have had him champing at the bit.

Ten thousand colored up in arms now.

The Klan boys are in our corner.
There's a lot more than 10,000 of them.

What am I supposed to tell Nucky?

Nucky Thompson was weaned on my teat.

I know him backwards and forwards.

But Governor Edwards,
he hates the bastard more than I do.

They're ready? Him and his people?

Could you stop worrying, for God's sake?

- I need to know what's going on, Lou.
- The less you know the better.

Well, that's just peachy, isn't it?

Worry about yourself, Eli. I'll handle Nucky.

I gotta go.

Some men, I tell you!

You give them a badge and a gun,
a County treasurership,

they think they have power.

Soon, you'll see what real power is.

- How soon?
- I want you to start laying some groundwork.

Meet the Governor, cultivate relationships.
New York, Philly.

Alcohol's the key.

What about here?

Well, Chalky's out of the game.
That's a pretty good start.

Got that whole warehouse,
it's there for the taking.

Jimmy, don't worry about Nucky.

I'm not.

Look around, boy.

These animals, beasts,
any one of them could have torn me to pieces.

But they didn't.

This fucker was a giant.

600 pounds, over 7 feet tall.

Tracked him for three hours,

finally cornered him in a ravine.

He smelled me, started coming closer.

Son of a bitch got confident,
thought I was scared.

Reared up on me, puffed up his chest
and let out a roar.

Blasted him right in the gut.

Bled out, looking up at me, right in the eyes.

Almost like he couldn't believe it.

You'll be judged by what you succeed at, boy.

Not by what you attempt.

Last night, four fine young boys

were murdered by men claiming to represent
the race of white American Christians.

Christians?

I will not speak the name
of that so-called organization

within this house of God.

- That's right.
- Yeah.

Well, I can assure you,
as Treasurer of Atlantic County,

and more personally,
as someone who has always regarded

the members of our colored community
as his friends and equals,

that neither I,
Sheriff Thompson or any of his men,

will rest until these hooded cowards
are brought to justice.

And the message is sent loud and clear

that no one need fear for their safety

or the safety of their wives, children

or property,
in the face of the obstreperous negro.

These coloreds need to learn a lesson,

and we are going to teach it with,

dare I say in these sacred confines,
an iron fist.

I've just come from St. Mark's.

Herman Dachus just died
from his neck wound.

You happy?

Eli, find Chalky and place him under arrest,
for his own safety.

Friends, please! Please, remain calm!

- Good afternoon. Welcome to Preston's.
- How do you do?

- Are we celebrating a special occasion?
- Our thirteenth wedding anniversary.

Well, that's lucky.

How so?

Lucky 13.

Are we ready to order?

- The lady will have the mutton chops.
- And for the gentleman?

Steak. Turtle soup to start.

And will we be imbibing, sir?

I beg your pardon.

Something to drink, perhaps?
For the occasion.

We can accommodate most requests.

The lady will have coffee.
I'll have a glass of cold butter milk.

Nelson, he was offering alcohol.

- I realize that, dear.
- Well, aren't you going to arrest him?

- We're here to eat dinner.
- Of course.

But?

Pardon me, dear. I need to wash up.
Public spaces.

Yes, I told him. He doesn't know.

I'm so sorry.

- It was just so awful.
- I'm so sorry.

Thank you.

- Mrs. Dachus, I am so sorry for your loss.
- Thanks, Nucky.

- He was a pillar of the community.
- Yes.

- He will be sorely missed.
- Thank you. Thank you.

- What are you doing here?
- I came to pay my respects.

Politics is my department.

He was one of my high school teachers.

So?

- So what?
- Yesterday morning, Chalky's.

I was gone. It happened after we left.

You saw nothing
that aroused your suspicion?

Let me go do this.

It's an awful waste
of a lot of good table cloths.

The laundry bills alone.

So, how's Chalky?

Alive, which is the main thing.

So, you run off and get married
like a thief in the night.

- You sound like my mother.
- What happened?

You used to ask for my advice on things.

My own kid's practically shaving, Nuck.

He like the new place?

I took him shooting, fishing, too.
Oyster Creek,

like we used to.

When I was sheriff.

I used to love that.

Standing there for hours, not saying a word.

Is there anything now?

That you want to say?

What do you mean?

Your father is a very duplicitous man.

You've been told.

I told my mother I'd be over for dinner.

Would you care
for some butterscotch pudding?

I'm afraid I'm too full.

I got you something.

Nelson, I thought you didn't believe in gifts?

I saw it and I thought of you.

Oh, it's lovely.

Thank you.

- Sir.
- How many I help you?

You mentioned earlier
about this being a special occasion.

Indeed.

Have you any champagne? Whiskey, perhaps?

- We do, sir.
- Nelson.

It's all right, dear.

Everybody stay seated! This is a raid!

All staff members kneel on the floor,
hands inter-lapped at the top of your heads!

- Agent Clarkson!
- Yes, sir!

- Secure the contents of the cash drawer!
- Please, don't move.

I want the money counted
and documented

with an official forfeiture receipt.

Agent Sawicki, break down that door!

This establishment is being shuttered
for violation of the Volstead Act.

It is loaded, sir! There's over 200 cases
of brandy, wine and champagne.

Tag it, catalog it and destroy it.

- What's your name?
- Carl Switzer.

Mr. Switzer, you are hereby under arrest
for violation of the Volstead Act.

Agent Sawicki.

Right here, this section.
The springs are broken.

No wonder you're not sleeping.

- We could go to your rooming house?
- Men only, dear.

I'm afraid it's not nearly as luxurious.

I'm very proud of you, Nelson.

The way you handled those men.

It's what I'm paid for, dear.

It was thrilling, actually.

I'm not embarrassed to say it.

You're being awfully quiet.

- I saw Jimmy.
- Oh.

And how are the newlyweds getting along?

Fine, I suppose. He was alone.

- We need to send them something.
- I already took care of it.

What is it?

He's holding something back.

When he was a kid, he confided in me.
Everything.

- Where was his father?
- He was here, disinterested.

The Commodore needs to be in control.

A 10-year-old boy, there's no controlling that.

Now, of course, he's around.

You're jealous.

I'm angry. He's got something up his sleeve.

I was father and mother to that kid.

Gillian out all hours.

I nursed him through malaria,
took him camping,

gave him the run of that goddamn boardwalk.

There is another boy down the hall.

He was playing with matches.

- Matches?
- I saw the sister. She told me.

- Did you speak to him?
- He offered no explanation.

I'm afraid he's developed
a fascination with fire.

What's that all about?

Thanks for coming.

We're not going to be able
to make that one.

- Did you have a nice time?
- I did.

Although, I suppose, I've been kidding myself
to think I could live here.

Sodom by the sea.

I miss you, Nelson.

Yeah! Yeah, over here!

Until next month.

Thank you for a lovely weekend.

Travel safely and with God.

Porter! Porter!

Now boarding
for all trains to the North.

New York, Mount Vernon,
White Plains and Pleasantville.

- Just in time.
- I could smell it from upstairs.

Smells good.

Who was on the telephone?

My father.

You and my mother are gonna
take Tommy to the carousel.

What's this?

Oh, from Nucky, a wedding gift.

Should we open it?

- Is there any coffee?
- On the boil.

Thank you.

The coloreds, they won't give us any trouble?

The earlier we get there, the quieter it will be.

You don't have to feel embarrassed
to eat in front of us, Richard.

Why don't you take some biscuits for later?

How is that coffee, Ange?

How does it feel to have everything?

Hey, kiddo.

- What you up to in here?
- Playing soldier.

- I'd like to talk to you.
- Yes, sir.

What are you doing?

Getting ready for the belt.

Oh, no, Teddy. I'm not going to beat you.

You need to mind your mother
and the sisters at school.

Yes, sir.

No more misbehaving, playing with matches.

Run along now to the sweet shop.

- And be a good boy.
- Thank you.

What time is it?

Nearly 4:00 p.m.

I fell asleep.

I have your money.

For the last two weeks, right?

- Come lay with me, Daddy.
- You need to sleep in your own room.

And there you have that.

All right.

Do you want this one right here?

So, tell me, should I be concerned
that there's blood on some of these crates?

Not unless it's your own.

- See you.
- Yeah.

I got it.

Hello.

Nucky, there's a man here
from the State's Attorney.

He says he must see you.

- What does he want?
- I don't know.

Put him on the line.

He says you must come immediately.
That it is urgent.

For God's sake!

Everything all right?

Yes, fine.

I told Teddy we'd all go to the pictures.
The Chaplin film is at the Royal.

Very well.

I need to stop by the office first.
I won't be long.

You go. I'll meet you over there.

Can I help you?

Enoch Thompson?

What the hell is going on?

My name is Solomon Bishop.
I'm a deputy with the State's Attorney's Office.

Mr. Thompson, you're under arrest
for election fraud.