Written by Bathsheba Doran and directed by Jeremy Podeswa, "The Age of Reason," explores the notion of forgiveness as well as confession. BOARDWALK EMPIRE RECAP
SEASON TWO, EPISODE SIX
"THE AGE OF REASON"
THIS WEEK: Written by Bathsheba Doran and directed by Jeremy Podeswa, "The Age of Reason," explores the notion of forgiveness as well as confession.
Some key moments:
• With help from via bootleggers Waxey Gordon and Arnold Rothstein, Nucky orchestrates a risky liquor delivery in Philadelphia.
• Attorney General Harry Daugherty disrupts Nucky's election fraud case.
• Jimmy Darmody finds a new mentor in the Commodore's longtime lawyer -- Leander Whitlock.
• After digging deep, Margaret Schroeder confesses her sins.
~~~~
We fade in.
We open inside the apartment of U.S Treasury Agent Nelson Val Alden. (Michael Shannon). He intently reads his Bible. From the other room, a screeching voice shouts.
"Pick up some lemons on the way home from work, would you? I gotta eat lemons!" It's Janice from "Friends." No ... wait. It's pregnant Lucy Danziger (Paz de la Huerta).
He greets her in the kitchen. She looks miserable and about to pop.
She says that she can't get comfortable. "Agent Clarkson is in the hospital with third-degree burns over most of his body. I would venture to say that he can't get comfortable either."
Lucy says she just wants to be done with the whole pregnancy as he leaves for work.
Margaret Schroeder (Kelly Macdonald) and her son Teddy (Rory/Declan McTigue) visit Father Ed Brennan at school. They prep him for the Sacrament of Penance and they discuss the nature of sinning and confession. Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi) stands in the background.
Ep. 18 Clip - Father Brennan, Margaret and Teddy
The priest sort of lays it on thick. "When you misbehave, Teddy, when you sass your parents or laugh in church you're like the cruel Jews and evil soldiers who taunted Jesus when he was on the cross..."
Nucky rolls his eyes. This is a bit much and he obviously has more pressing business elsewhere. "We need to wrap this up, Ed..."
Margaret disagrees, claiming that this meeting is the last one before his first confession.
"I think between the three of us, we can save his soul..." With that, he leaves.
Father Ed tells Margaret that she, too, must confess her sins in order to set a good example. We can tell she's not thrilled at that proposition.
Charles "Chip" Kenneth Thorogood (T.J. Kenneally), the federal prosecutor assigned to Nucky's election fraud case (via Attorney General Harry Daugherty), addresses the judge. He seeks a transfer from state to federal court (after all, once it's in Federal court, Daugherty can dismiss the case).
Deputy State Attorney Solomon Bishop (Bill Sage) looks on and is not happy. We can tell he doesn't exactly like the ostentatious, tool-like Thorogood.
At first, the judge doesn't seem to be buying the correlation between the prostitution and the violation of the Mann Act. (*)
SEASON TWO 'EMPIRE' RECAPS:
• Episode 3: 'A Dangerous Maid'
• Episode 4: 'What Does The Bee Do?'
• Episode 5: 'Gimcrack & Bunkum'
(*) The White-Slave Traffic Act (aka the Mann Act) was a 1910 law that was named after Congressman James Robert Mann. According to the PBS series "Unforgivable Blackness," it prohibited the interstate transport of females for immoral purposes.
Primarily, it was intended to focus on prostitution but the law was so ambiguous that it was used to criminalize many different forms of "consensual sexual behavior" -- namely on African-American boxer Jack Johnson. (via Wikipedia)
Thorogood builds his case to the judge, explaining why Nucky's case must be a federal one as Nuck's defense attorney Isaac "Icky" Ginsberg (Peter Van Wagner) looks on nervously. After all, this was all his elaborate plan.
"I'm inclined to agree with you, Mr. Thorogood..." the judge says. Icky shoots Solomon Bishop a smug smile.
~~~~
At Nucky's suite at The Ritz-Carlton, he signs a copy of "Young People's Bible History" for Teddy writing 'Your devoted Uncle Nucky' and places a twenty dollar bill inside (roughly $200 today, not bad).
Nucky's loyal man servant Eddie Kessler (Anthony Laciura) tells him that bootlegger George Remus (Glenn Fleshler) is calling for him. Nucky takes the call. Remus thanks Nucky for sending Daugherty's assistant Jebb Smith his way. Remus is happy since he can now buy his liquor permits straight from the source.
Nucky suggests he receive a finder's fee and Remus gets offended, calling Nuck a nickel and dimer. Can't bootleggers just all get along?
"Remus finds you petty and resentful..." The Cincinnati bootleger says.
"Well, George Remus can go f#@k himself," Nuck says hanging up.
At the Commodore's mansion, Uncle Junior -- I mean Leander Whitlock (Dominic Chianese) -- reads a book passage to Jimmy Darmody (Michael Pitt) and his mom Gillian (Gretchen Mol). Gillian tends to The ailing Commodore Louis Kaestner (Dabney Coleman), still unable to communicate. Last we saw Gillian and The Commodore she was slapping the snot out of him as she recalled their first night together when she was only a minor.
The passage Leander reads refers to Alexander the Great: "I am indebted to my father for living but to my teacher for living WELL..."
Whitlock acknowledges that Nucky was a worthy teacher to Jimmy and admits his recent ploy with the attorney general as almost genius (how would he know what Nucky is pulling?).
"I wouldn't have thought of it..."
The Commodore scoffs, grunting at the notion.
"Give the man his due," Whitlock counters.
Gillian calls in Langston the butler to wheel of The Commodore for his meds. They get down to brass tacks.
"The business with Jackson Parkhurst... Was that necessary?" Whitlock asks Jimmy.
"You would have to ask the men responsible..." Jimmy answers.
While not many tears were shed, Whitlock adds that Jimmy certainly alienated some powerful allies.
"I can't fault you for boldness but not every insult requires a response..." Whitlock tells him.
Whitlock says that The Commodore always lacked prudence but Nucky was different and always thinking of the future. Something bigger. A machine that made everyone pay and while he may not like Nucky, he could admire the man and his skill.How would you have handled it?" Jimmy asks.
Whitlock says that The Commodore always lacked prudence but Nucky was different and always thinking of the future. Something bigger. A machine that made everyone pay and while he may not like Nucky, he could admire the man and his skill.
"What's so hard about putting the squeeze on somebody?" Jimmy asks.
"Are you finding it so easy?" Whitlock asks. "No? Then don't be so quick to judge."
Jimmy explains that he's started something and he going to see it through no matter what.
"Id rather hear that you wanted to WIN" Whitlock says.
Jimmy walks up to him - face to face - stone cold, "Isn't that what I just said?"
Back at Nelson's apartment, Lucy trots around the kitchen and prepares some food. She feels something, holds her belly and drops her food, shattering the plate. It appears as though her water has broken. She doubles over in agony.
In Nucky's suite, Chip Thorogood brags to Icky and Nucky about being in court - only his third time. Nucky is too busy to listen to Chip's foolishness because he's on the horn with Attorney General Daugherty. Nuck says life is grand because he's a federal defendant.
"So now you owe ME one..." Daugherty says.
SEASON ONE 'EMPIRE' RECAPS:
• Episode 5: Nights in Ballygran
• Episode 6: Family Limitation
• Episode 8: Hold Me In Paradise
• Episode 10: The Emerald City
• Episode 12: 'A Return to Normalcy'
Actually now we're even," Nucky quips back. "Or we will be once Skippy here tanks the case."
Before they get off the phone, Daugherty instructs Nuck to take care of Chip and, as a result, has Eddie set him up with the works -- including women.
Margaret arrives at her house. Owen Sleater (Charlie Cox) horses around and carries in Teddy over his shoulder. After some mild flirtation with maid Katy (Heather Lind), he leaves.
When he's gone, Margaret tells the servant that her behavior (with Sleater) is inappropriate - especially with children in the house.
~~~~
Van Alden sits outside of a hospital room and a nurse tells him that he can "go in now..." He creeps into the room slowly to find Agent Clarkson (Joel Brady), a burned grotesque mess.
Junior Agent Siwicki and Supervisor Frederick Elliot (Peter McRobbie) enter as well. Elliot is horrified. "How is he still alive?"
Van Alden being Van Alden answers, "He loves the Lord, sir... Even the doctors -- men of science -- agree that his fate lies in God's hands, not theirs."
He begins a solemn prayer. Elliot shoots Siwicki a hilarious 'Is he really doing that' look. Van Alden's voice must be really annoying because Clarkson darts awake, breathing heavy, aching.
The men don't know how to react with his flailing about.
"You ... I see you ... I know ... What you did..." Agent Clarkson manages to get out.
Supervisor Elliot asks what he's saying.
Van Alden begins to sweat. "I'll get the doctor..." He exists the room a panicked mess.
There's a meeting of the minds in Nucky's suite. Arnold Rothstein (Michael Stuhlbarg), Charles "Lucky" Luciano (Vincent Piazza), Meyer Lanky (Anatol Yusef) and Waxey Gordon(Nick Sandow) work out the details of getting Nucky's booze from Captain Bill McCoy's ships safely into port in Philly and then on to Atlantic City.
Nucky tells them that he doesn't want any trouble from the Coast Guard. Waxey assures everyone that they'll be safe. (What a nice bootlegger...)
Waxey notes that 'Chaim' will make sure the booze will make it safe to the borders of Atlantic City. (Something is rotten in Denmark because we met 'Chaim' a few weeks back in Manny Horvitz's butcher shop as 'Herman' his right hand man)
Luciano objects to some of the terms. "For twenty percent, they should be taking us all the way..."Luciano objects to some of the terms. "For twenty percent, they should be taking us all the way..."
"You're broads now?" Waxey asks. "No one is going to give you trouble. If they do, they gotta answer to me..."
"And I'm gonna be expecting you by five. And make sure you flash those lights cuz I ain't takin' no more chances," Chalky White says. (So THAT'S where Nucky's booze is going. Interesting that he's cutting Chalky in on the action. Smart...)
Back at the apartment, Lucy wails in agony in her bed. She sees a little boy across the alleyway through a window and asks if he can get his mother. Probably frightened, he closes the curtains.
Jimmy and his wife Angela Darmody (Aleksa Palladino) take a stroll on the boardwalk. After gawking a bit at the 'wireless' exhibit (radios) on the boardwalk, Jimmy's keen eye spots the booze collective exiting the Ritz - namely 'CHAIM'
Van Alden calls his wife Rose (Enid Graham) from the hospital. He explains that Agent Clarkson has been very badly injured and there are things about him and that job that she does not know. "I'm not fit..." he says.
"You aren't responsible for the evils in the world," she tells him. "You're the one trying to make it a better place."
He goes on. "I want you to know that everything that I've done is because I love you... I have sinned Rose and a good and decent man has burned for those sins... I've made my peace. I'm not fit for you or to wear this badge. I love you..."
As he hangs up, Rose is left wondering what's going on inside the mind of her husband.
Nucky and Margaret finish making love. She asks if he finds her attractive because it seems as though he's elsewhere. "I'm right here," he maintains.
Jimmy and his wife Angela Darmody (Aleksa Palladino) take a stroll on the boardwalk. After gawking a bit at the 'wireless' exhibit (radios) on the boardwalk, Jimmy's keen eye spots the booze collective exiting the Ritz - namely 'CHAIM' She says she's upset because Father Brennan has instructed she needs to make a confession.
Nuck sighs. "Every shoe salesman thinks you need a new pair of boots."
Margaret turns to him. "Father Brennan says it's to set an example..."
"What do you plan to say?"
She smiles at Nucky. "That's between me and God isn't it?"
"And Father Brennan..." He stresses. "You put a lot more faith in people than I do."
Nucky advises that maybe Margaret shouldn't be telling the priest anything about their shared history. "...The details of which we'd be both wise enough to forget..."
Lady Macbeth comes out. "If you're feeling guilty, I suggest you take that up with the priest yourself..." And with that, she leaves the room.
~~~~
At the Darmody house, it's early morning and everyone is having breakfast. The phone rings. Angela picks up. Manny Horvitz is on the line. Jimmy acts nonchalant, waits for Angela to leave the room with Tommy and rips into Horvitz asking what he's trying to pull.
Horvitz tells Jimmy, HE'S not the one who backed out of a business deal.
Jimmy tells Horvitz that he saw Herman - his right-hand man on the boardwalk with Nucky Thompson and Waxey Gordon. Horvitz sees red. (Remember that Horvitz has a profound hatred for 'ol Waxey and the fact that Herman was there -- well, something is up).
Horvitz asks Jimmy if he's sure. "I'm postive..." he answers.
"Let me ring ya back..." Horvitz says.
Margaret sweeps up a bunch of scattered Corn Flakes as Owen Sleater knocks on the door. Sleater asks where Katy is.
"She took the children to the market," Margaret answers.
Sleater attempts to make a joke. "Selling them are you?"
Margaret corrects Sleater (moments after the fact) that she is to be called 'Mrs. Schroeder' and NOT 'Mrs. Thompson.' Sleater apologizes.
"Katy told me you spoke..." Sleater says. "What happened, Mom, was completely my fault. This is your home and I need to show respect."
"Are you in the habit of toying with women, Mr. Sleater?" Margaret asks.
"I wouldn't call it a habit..." he answers, helping her with sweeping and touching Margaret's hands on the broom ever so slightly.
Nucky enters and sees Sleater sweeping. "Don't we have a girl for that?" he quips. Nuck tells Sleater he's running late.
Before leaving, the sly Sleater places his hand on Margaret's shoulder and says, "Always happy to be of service, Mrs. Schroeder..."
Back at the apartment, Lucy combs her hair in an almost delirious kind of pain. She props herself up on the bed and moans.
Senator Walter Edge visits Harry Daugherty in Washington (We've seen Edge extensively on 'Empire' in season one. He and Nucky had a falling out by season's end).
Edge tells Daugherty that he heard from 'Charlie Forbes' that Daugherty has President Harding's ear regarding the "The Bureau of Veteran's Affairs." (**)
Edge says that with any luck the bureau will help a few veterans. "There's crooks and then there's Charlie Forbes..."
Daugherty says that Forbes is a vet and asks why the senator is so interested in veterans to begin with.
Edge admits a constituent is interested.
"I see," Daugherty says. "And this 'constituent'... Does he have any more matters than concern him?"
"He does now that you mention it," Edge answers. "Nucky Thompson... He hates the son-of-a-bitch. And it has come to his attention that you've appointed a less-than-enthusiastic prosecutor to his case..."
We can see that while Daugherty doesn't like to be given an ultimatum, he has no choice but to play ball. The attorney general agrees to appoint a more serious prosecutor to Nucky's election fraud case if Edge backs off of the Veteran's Bureau.
Edge smiles. "I'm sure my interest in how you and your cronies plan to plunder the Veteran's Bureau would wane accordingly...
(**) On August 9, 1921, President Warren G. Harding appointed Charles Robert Forbes (pictured) to be the first Director of the Veterans' Bureau. He served until February 28, 1923. (Via Wikipedia)
Manny Horvitz leads Jimmy to a back room at his Philly butcher shop to find a terrified and bloody Herman hanging upside down like a piece of meat.
"You remember Herman..." Horvitz says.
"Jesus, Manny!" Jimmy shrieks. "You dragged me out here for this?"
"He goes to work for Waxey Gordon and takes money to spy on me..."
Jimmy manages to get information from Herman regarding the ships and booze coming in for Nucky via Bill McCoy and escorted by Waxey Gordon.
Horvitz hands Jimmy a gigantic knife to finish Herman off. Jimmy obliges by slitting his throat.
At Church, Margaret enters the confessional and begins the reconciliation process. Father Brennan wants to know why it was so long between her confessions. "Life..." she answers.
"What have you to tell me?" Father Brennan asks.
"I've lied... Dozens of times. Taken the Lord's name ... Stolen from an employer..."
Father Brennan says to search her soul so he can heal her fracture with God.
"There is a man, father... In my life... And he's bad... I know he is in my heart but still. I'm drawn to him somehow. Inpurely in my thoughts."
"This man provides for you and your children?" the priest asks.
"No... He provides nothing. I hardly know him in fact. He works for my family."
Daugherty calls Nucky to tell him the bad news about the case. Nucky is beyond livid. "Since when does a no-name Senator grab you by the balls?"Daugherty calls Nucky to tell him the bad news about the case. Nucky is beyond livid. "Since when does a no-name Senator grab you by the balls?"
"Since the no-name senator threatens an investigation... It's not my fault you have enemies..." the attorney general says before they hang up. As a result, Nucky has Chip Thorogood tossed out of his suite at the Ritz -- green shoes and all.
At Nelson's apartment, Lucy continues to wail and moan until we hear a baby cry. Her hell is over...
Back at the hospital, Supervisor Elliot sits with Clarkson. Van Alden enters, guilt stronger than ever, and says that it should be him in that bed.
Van Alden begins what seem to be a full-on confessional to his superior when Agent Clarkson begins his "I see you..." rant once again.
"Hush now..." the nurse says. "Relax..."
Elliot ask why he's saying that. "He's delirious..." she answers. "Pay no attention. He's been saying that to everyone..."
And with that, Van Alden is off the hook.
"I need to leave, sir..." Van Alden says to Elliot.
Nelson returns home to his apartment -- with Lucy's lemons. He places them on a small kitchen table in a brown paper bag. He searches for Lucy when he sees the broken dish on the floor. When he sees the baby has arrived, he leaves to find a doctor.
On the outskirts of Atlantic City, Jimmy and crew manage to stop Nuck's convoy of booze trucks.
Both parties shoot at one another from opposite sides of the road. As Jimmy screams out an order, Luciano, smiles, recognizes the voice. "Darmody?!"
Both parties agree to meet on the road.
Luciano tells Jimmy that they're making a delivery for Nucky, who made a deal with Rothstein (and Waxey).
"And you fellas are the muscle?" asks Horvitz.
"Chalky White's back in business," Lucky tells them. Lansky being Lansky, he says, "This can be an opportunity, gentleman..." He reminds Jimmy that they wanted him as a partner in heroin so "why kill each other over a few trucks worth of liquor?"
Jimmy Darmody and Manny Horvitz and Horvitz's butcher shop in Philly."There's a 100 grand there," Horvitz says regarding the trucks. "Five of which is MINE."
"So they'll advance us..." Jimmy suggests. Lucky and Lansky agree.
Jimmy lets them go but not before suggesting that "We figure out a way to take it all..."
Lansky more than agrees. "Rothstein ... Nucky... Their time has passed..."
Van Alden arrives at the apartment with a doctor. As the doc goes into the bedroom, the G-Man goes into his kitchen. But something is up -- the lemons are now in a bowl, the shattered plate is cleaned up and Lucy's bloody white sheets are soaking in the sink.
Van Alden goes into the bedroom to see how Lucy is when sees..
tending to Lucy and her baby. BUSTED! BIG TIME!
"She has a slight fever," Rose says. Nelson begins to unravel a bit.
"Rose..." he says. "What are you doing here?"
She explains that she didn't like the way he sounded on the phone and someone at his old boarding house told her where he now lived.
"I did this for us," he explains. "That child is for you..."
Rose snaps on her hubby and manhandles him in the hallway. She bites his hand and leaves the apartment.
A photographer takes Teddy's first communication photo as Nucky and Margaret look on.
"So I trust your soul is pure?" Nucky asks Margaret. "Your confession..."
"Yes," she answers. "I'm sure it is."
"What did you end up saying?" Nucky asks as Owen Sleater walks into the room.
"Nothing that need concern you," Margaret says.
We fade out.
• Being that the notion of confession was so prevalent, the title of the episode "The Age of Reason" can easily be a nod to the best-selling pamphlet (of the same name), written by Thomas Paine. The revolutionary voice Paine harshly criticized religion and even challenges the legitimacy of the Bible (Via Wikipedia).
• Is it me or was it hilarious the way Michael Shannon just closes his eyes in aggravation when Lucy was yelling for him to pick up lemons? People forget that this guy was an Oscar-nominee ("Revolutionary Road") and he can even act with his eyelids.
• Chip Thorgood's booger green shoes were god awful, huh?
• Yes, Virgina... George Remus DID, indeed, refer to himself in third person...
• What's with Nucky always throwing money at little Teddy?
• Kinda petty, creepy and childish of Gillian to say, "I know you'll tell me everything" to Jimmy before Whitlock and he spoke privately.
• Was I the only one thinking that Nelson was in the maternity ward in that first scene of him in the hospital? And speaking of ... Hospitals always look like dank and depressing places in vintage, period settings, huh?
• Val Alden seemed transfixed by the flickering lightbulb in the hospital hallway just after he was spooked by Clarkson. Anyone have any theories why?
• When Margaret got up to go to the bathroom after making love to Nucky, was I the only one who saw the look on his face? Remember the Lysol incident from last year? Is Margaret still unwilling to have Nucky's child?
• There's a great 'Boardwalk Empire' timeline HERE.
• I gotta say I quite enjoy William Forsythe as Jewish gangster Manny Horvitz. I know that some on here weren't in alignment with his casting but the guy can deliver a line like no one's business.
• Did you happen to catch Supervisor Elliot smoking just mere steps away from the burned Agent Clarkson in his hospital room?
• Was that the first bonafide smile we saw on Van Alden's face when he sees Lucy and her baby girl for the first time?
• Not sure why but I found it hilarious when Harrow said "I don't f#@king believe this..." at the hijacking. It was so uncharacteristic of him. Why? He never seems to comment on anything much less use profanity. Maybe he's loosening up...