Boardwalk Empire (2010–2014): Season 2, Episode 5 - Gimcrack and Bunkum - full transcript

Atlantic City was
built for good times,

so that folks could leave their cares behind.

- See a show, dance on the pier...
- Would you like a flower?

...build a castle in the sand.
- You can take two.

Atlantic City was built to help people forget.

But this day, Memorial Day,

is for remembering.

Tomorrow, we will once again

be citizens of the world's playground.

Today,

we are proud simply to be Americans.



I'd like to thank the members

of our memorial committee
here with us today,

who worked tirelessly
to make this monument possible.

I'm sure they will convey our gratitude as well
to Louis Kaestner,

our own beloved Commodore.

I know he would not miss this occasion

were it not for pressing business elsewhere.

He truly is this city's doting father.

Thanks as well to the Attorney General
of these United States,

the distinguished Harry M. Daugherty,

who joins us
bearing the express good wishes

of President Harding,

himself attending the solemn observances

this day at Arlington National Cemetery.



And now, in reading the names
of our city's fallen heroes,

I feel it fitting to bestow that honor

on a young man who can speak more directly
to the ideals of sacrifice,

service, and loyalty,

more than I ever could.

James Darmody, step up here.

You didn't tell me you were going to speak.

I wasn't.

James Edison Darmody,
ladies and gentlemen.

You think I can't play this game?

I don't think you even know the rules.

Mr. Thompson just said
some impressive things about me.

But they're not true.

I'm no one's idea of a hero,

least of all mine.

And when people ask me
what I did over there,

what I tell them is,

"I made it back."

We fought for the idea
that democracy was worth saving.

We fought for our mothers,

for our sons,

for our wives.

We fought for America.

I believe it was worth it.

- Well said.
- Hear, hear.

These are the names of brave men.

John Archer Alberts,

Frank Berry,

John Collins,

Lester Dayton.

I knew Les.

Andrew Furey,

Joseph Grant,

Robert Garner.

Did you hear him up there?
"Fought for democracy"?

- What a load of bull.
- Who's this?

The young vet at the ceremony
this morning, Harry.

- You know why he enlisted?
- These are getting tight.

- They look fine.
- Because he couldn't hack it at Princeton.

Talk about the "waist" in Washington, huh?

Ho-ho!

I jumped through hoops
to get him in there, and he runs away?

- Joins the Army? He's a patsy.
- Uh-huh?

The world doesn't owe you anything.
I don't care who you are.

Nucky, Jess and I are only here for the day.

We're addressing
your legal problems tonight.

And?

It's a holiday.
How about we just play some golf?

Am I boring you, Harry?

I think it's fair to say

that I've gone out of my way on this,
don't you?

It's not the easiest deal to finesse.

I've gone down the list of prosecutors,
and this fella...

Charles Kenneth Thorogood.

He's someone you can work with.

You actually enjoy golfing?

I'd enjoy being a man with the time to play it.

See you on the green.

I hear you're acquainted
with a Mr. George Remus.

- I'm acquainted with a lot of people.
- I completely understand.

It's just, I'm meeting him in Cincinnati
on Wednesday.

Would you consider him reliable
in a business setting?

I'd consider him a major bootlegger.

That would be the business I'm talking about.

Perhaps you could put in a word.

Let him know I don't bite.

You made a fine speech this morning.
Quite moving.

Very patriotic.

We want people to know how proud
this city is of the boys who went over there.

Hear, hear.

Nothing's cheaper than sentiment.

I'm the only one in this room
ever wore the blue.

When was that, Mr. Parkhurst?

Fort Kearny, Wyoming territory.

He blew the trumpet for the Ninth.

Thirty-two white men against 2,000 Sioux.

We had the latest Springfields,
and God damn me to hell

if we didn't cut those painted bucks
to red ribbons.

- A slaughter.
- That's all it ever is, boy.

You came out of the last one
rather well though,

didn't you, Jackson?

I cleared a cool million selling chipped beef
to the Army,

and I don't care who knows it.

Smart bet there, sir. Seize an opportunity.

Chipped beef.
I had it every day for five months.

I'd rather eat dog turds.

They paid me anyway.

As you can see.

Then you're a great man.

What's all this horseshit anyway?
We're here to discuss money.

There's concern about the recent setbacks.

We're not happy, Mr. Darmody.

We took care of your little colored problem.

Bought off the Coast Guard.

We made a substantial investment with you.

- With his father.
- And we've yet to see a dime.

Every business has its kinks,
but I assure you...

You lost $70,000 of our money
in that explosion.

An entire warehouse full of alcohol.

That's not a kink.
That's a torpedo hitting the Lusitania.

It's a matter of discretion, James.

Discretion and return on capital.

And you're going to get it. We'll make good.

- It's just a matter of him and I...
- Too many people talking!

We'd prefer to discuss this
with the Commodore.

- He's given me complete authority.
- I never heard that.

Then you weren't paying attention!

Is he dead? Or just dying?

- My father is fine.
- Listen, son.

You're trying to diddle the wrong men.

Yeah? You gonna drum me
out of your yacht club?

It's high time
you and your whole goddamned generation

learned something about respect.

You just taught me plenty.

Gentlemen.

- What the hell are you doing?
- Fuck these people!

These people are financing
the entire operation.

- I'm done with them.
- Who said it was your decision?

I don't see anyone else in charge.

- I brought you in on this!
- Oh, you did? Thank you.

Now stay the fuck out of my business.

Thank you for the lift.

What did they say
about your father?

They know something's wrong.

And they questioned you, berated you.

- And then Jackson...
- You know Parkhurst?

- I know all of them, dear.
- How well?

No one is allowed to do this to you.

It's $70,000.

That's nothing to men like that.

Plus Horvitz in Philly?

He keeps hocking me for his booze.

You will not be disrespected,
and you have to make that clear.

- All right, Ma.
- "All right, leave me alone"?

Or, "All right, I understand
what needs to be done"?

Both.

John D. Rockefeller was born on a farm.

His father was a bigamist
and a confidence man.

His mother was a saint.

Now he's worth $1 billion.

And how is he spending his Memorial Day?

He's not pumping oil.

Go on now. Go!

Hey! No, don't!

Come on now.

Good boy.

Hey!

I need that back!

I need that mask!

Look at this. I'm like a lobster.

Chase a little ball around in the sun? Idiotic.

Where is Owen?

Dropping off Harry Daugherty. Why?

Your brother's here.

- In the conservatory.
- You let him in?

What else could I do?

It'll be fine.

How many places have you lived in?

Since you moved out of the house?

Eight? Nine? What difference does it make?

I had the upstairs apartment on Monroe,

a little bungalow with June,

and the place we got now.

I was there for Christmas.

The last time we spoke,

- there was an offer made.
- The offer's gone.

See? That's it.

No conversation.

Only orders.

I'm your brother, Nucky.

Then I love you.

Now unless you have something to say,

aside from the fact
that God distributes his gifts unequally,

this conversation is over.

I know who's gonna testify against you.

It doesn't matter.

I just played golf with
the Attorney General of the United States.

- Think about what that means.
- You are one nasty prick.

And you're a frightened little boy
with no place else to go.

So give me something else, and we can talk.

Give me something else,

and I'll know you're my brother.

The Commodore is out of the game.

He's had a stroke.

They're trying to keep it under wraps.

- Who are "they"?
- The kid and his mother.

They're in over their heads, Nuck.

They can't see past their own...

- Resentment?
- She's batty.

I mean, I don't blame her.

But that whole situation?

- It was never right.
- And that was my fault?

Of course not. You did what you had to do.

Taking care of me, Pop.

- I know that.
- And Mabel.

Yeah. Poor Mabel.

I made a mistake, Nuck.

I admit it.

I don't know what to say.

I don't know what to fucking do.

Here I am.

All right.

We'll sort it out.

But there is something I have to ask of you.

Anything, Nuck.

I need you to get on your knees.

Bend down to the ground
and kiss my fucking shoes, you piece of shit.

What?

You come crawling back here

because you don't have the balls
to finish what you started.

Fuck that little cocksucker you call a partner.

Fuck his conniving cunt of a mother.

Fuck that old man.
I'll see his corpse in a ditch.

And fuck you, Brother!

Enough.

Get out of this house.

- Pop...
- I don't give a fuck.

In the future,
if you're going to point a gun at someone,

make sure it's loaded.

Is this to be our life?

Hey.

Don't be hiding there.

No, no, come on now.

This way.

- Hush yourself!
- Don't hit him.

He's quiet now.

Banging around an awful lot out there.

- Bad for the varmints.
- I'm sorry.

Sit on down now
before you chase them all off.

Go on now, give it to him.

- That itch?
- Sometimes.

I don't half doubt it.

- Tree rat?
- He means squirrel.

No, thank you.

You a revenue agent?

Then here.

- Very strong.
- Made it myself.

Have some more.

Now I'm Glenmore. This is Pete.

Richard Harrow.

Where are you from, Richard?

I live in Atlantic City.

That's a sight to see, I'm told.

You've never been?

It must be 30 miles.

I was once.

Saw a flying horse.

- That was some kind of trick.
- Well, it looked real to me.

You're an easily bamboozled individual.

Oh, lay off your pontificating.

What brings you out here, Richard?

I was hunting.

I left my things by a pond.

- Which pond now?
- I'm not sure.

That's how one mistake leads to another.

Well, we're gonna eat something.

You probably should, too.

Here's to flying horses.

Sorry to keep you boys waiting.

Been crawling through the underbrush?

Too much sun this morning.

Say hello to your new prosecutor.

- You must be Charles.
- Call me Chip, Mr. Thompson.

Chip.

Harry tells me you're a man I can count on.

I'd certainly like to think so.

So you've talked?

Mr. Thorogood and I
have begun a discussion.

He's fairly new to the courtroom.

I hope that's not going be an issue.

Only if you don't know
where the judge sits.

He's the one in the robe, right?

- Very droll.
- I need to know how this will work.

The U.S. Attorney here
presents a motion to transfer to federal court.

Under the argument
that the election-rigging charges

and the Mann Act violation

constitute an ongoing criminal enterprise
operating across state lines.

And thus within the purview
of the Third Circuit.

What happens then?

We go before our judge.

He buys the humble wares
which we set before him,

and then Mr. Thorogood

brings all of his legal acumen
and youthful energy to bear.

Fortunately for us...

The Department of Justice determines
it's simply not worth the time and resources

to prosecute your case, which is dropped.

We're swamped with Volstead as it is.

Ah.

- You're not saying thank you.
- I need a guarantee.

You're not gonna get one.

Just remember, this was your idea.

All right.

Ah.

I have an early train.

Sorry to hear it.

We're free all evening.

What should I do with the bones?

Don't give them to him. He'll choke.

What's his name?

He's not mine.

- He just comes around.
- He knows who he is.

He's an old soldier
who just keeps on fighting.

Don't you, boy?

For what?

What's that?

What does he fight for?

You're gonna have to ask him.

Now what's your pleasure, Glenmore?

I'm of a mind to sleep out tonight.

I'm going home, I guess.

You're getting soft.

What about you, Richard?

I should get back to town.

How you aim to do that?

I don't know.

I got the Ford parked
not a hundred yards away.

Say, Richard.

I'm out in these woods a lot.

People come out here,
they get up to all kinds of foolishness.

That's not what these woods is for.

You understand me?

These woods is for hunting and fishing,

seeing what the birds get up to.

These woods are for living.

Understand me there?

Yes.

All right then.

You can fix it, right?

Your old pop can fix anything.

Does your throat still hurt?

This medicine helps.

- I'm not eating, June.
- Eli, it's George. Can I talk to you?

- Ho there, Patrick.
- I'm Brian.

Sure, okay.

You know what we need for this, Bri?

A veeblefetzer.

The left-handed kind.

Do we have one?

Mmm-mmm.

Mr. Dean across the street, tell him I asked.

Scoot.

We're alone, right?

- What's it look like?
- I don't know.

You got a lot of kids.

I don't store them in the garage.

There's a rumor going around.

The Commodore... You know?

- I don't know.
- That he... Apoplexy.

He's like a log or something.
He can't even take a piss by himself.

Not true, George.

I saw him this morning. We had breakfast.

Eggs, bacon.

The man loves his bacon.

It's all on track.

Maybe we should go over there.

- Bother him at this hour?
- Just to be sure.

I mean, after you had breakfast,
you never know.

- I'm with the kid now, George.
- Right.

- So I'll go over.
- Are you listening to what I'm saying?

I heard,

but think it through. If the Commodore's not...

- I just told you...
- If he can't protect us from your brother,

I have to say it, we're all in a very exposed...

- What are you doing?
- Huh?

You're moving towards me.

- All I want you to do is take a second...
- It's true, isn't it?

- Absolutely not.
- Jesus!

It is true.

So now it's what, you and Jimmy?

This was the plan? Son of a bitch.

- Okay, George...
- Hey, let go of me.

- I'm not gonna do anything.
- Then let go. Let go!

- Look, keep it down, my family...
- That's it. I'm out.

- I want out.
- Look, all I'm asking for...

Let go! If you don't let go,
there's gonna be trouble.

- George...
- I'm saying it now.

I'll go straight to Nucky, I will.

- I'll tell the world...
- George, shut the fuck up!

Fuck. Fuck!

Yeah.

All right.

Okay, okay.

Dad! Dad!

- He doesn't have one.
- Huh?

The thing you asked for, he never heard of it.

Uh...

So...

You need to go back to the house.

My throat.

I don't want you catching this.

How's your head feeling?

Like I won another round with that car door.

You need to pay more attention.

That's why it's called an accident, Ange.

The things you said at the ceremony,

did you mean them?

I'm here.

With you.

Our son's asleep in his bed.

Nobody's hungry.

Nobody's scared.

What else is there?

There's gotta be something.

Hasn't there?

Is there a reason not to answer it?

I don't think so.

Richard. We missed you this morning.

The dedication for the memorial.

I wasn't interested in that.

You all right?

I should talk to Jimmy.

We're okay, Ange.

Where were you today?

I needed to take a walk.

I should've gone with you.

We're both back now.

Are you up for a job tonight?

Is there a problem, Richard?

Would you fight for me?

Of course I would.

Right down to the last bullet.

Then let's go to work.

Mr. Parkhurst?

Would you like your cocoa in here
this evening?

Upstairs as usual.

- Half an hour.
- Yes, sir.

You know what this is, Alexander?

A Sioux Indian breechcloth.

I've been hunting one down for years.

It doesn't cover much, does it?

They come charging at you
practically bare-assed,

waving one of those clubs.

Thought they could stop bullets with magic.

Foolish.

Fine beadwork though!

- Yes, sir.
- Damn fool savages.

Fetch you in 30 minutes, Mr. Parkhurst.

Alexander, on second thought,
I will have the cocoa.

What...

What is... Oh!

- What...
- I'm gonna teach you something now.

- Who the hell are you?
- A soldier.

No!

- Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!
- Sorry, ma'am.

Did you hear something, too?

What do you mean?

Someone screaming.

No. I heard you, out here.

Is something wrong?

The children are fine. I...

I just felt...

It's been a strange day.

You should get back to bed.

Good night, ma'am.

Lady of the manor?

- Keep your voice down.
- It wasn't me who screamed.

I couldn't help it.

I'll not do it again, if that's what you'd prefer.

Out there snooping around.
Probably thinks I'm pinching the silverware.

I should, too, what she pays me.

- Tight with a pound, is she?
- That's just the tip of it.

She made me call her family in New York,

and they didn't want anything to do with her.

Hard luck.

You shouldn't be in my room at this hour.

I shouldn't be in your room at all.

But what's the sense
in doing something half-wrong?

Please don't get me into trouble.

I'd never dare.

I can't see anything, Eli.

What is it you need to see?

Whatever it is I'm doing.

Jesus!

Is it somebody I know?

- It's Mary Pickford.
- You killed Mary Pickford?

Help me get this in the car, then you can go.

- Eddie, right?
- Yeah.

Could you go find us some cold champagne

and some ice water and some oysters?

Big ones.

Shut the door, Counselor.