Boardwalk Empire Recap: Richard Makes a Friend

Teddy’s just kind of lollygagging and teaching himself not to blink when Margaret comes into the parlor. He leads off with he “didn’t do it.” He swears it was the gypsy who set fire to the greenhouse and would have burned Cornelia’s garage if he didn’t show up. Margaret asks him about the kerosene and matches but he’s only nine so he just looks at his cap while she yells at him about how he’s a liar and a lurker who’s going to hurt someone, and does he think that’s right? Teddy’s still only nine years old so he still has nothing to say and Margaret starts to spank him. Memories of her own victimization comes back as she can’t bring herself to strike Teddy with any force.  She just sends him to his room, her voice quavering with anger and fear.

Fight night down at the American Legion and Sagorsky gets a punch flat on his nose. But he’s drunk and crazy so he just shakes it off and asks for more. Richard watches on as Sagorsky takes his beating. Before he can go down, he gets off a few good punches. It looks like he might win when the bartender goes down but he, too, shakes it off and comes back to pummel Sagorsky. He gives it one last chance but being both real and punch drunk does him no favors. Sagorsky goes down for good and Richard’s found a new friend.

That one’s going to leave a mark.

Nucky’s stewing in the DC drunk tank and whining about going a whole 18 hours without so much as a phone call. Why the manners on those DC cops not knowing how important he is. Another guy in the cell doesn’t get why Nucky’s complaining because at least they got fed a moldy, stale cheese sandwich. The other guy’s name is Alby Gold and he’s a bootlegger, too. Busted with nearly five cases of home brew. Nucky gets a sad when he sees where he could have been and thinks there has to be an easier way to make a buck. Alby hasn’t figured one out, yet, and is barely getting by. Then to drive the point home, asks if he can have Nucky’s sandwich.

Back at the American Legion and Richard’s buttoning Sagorsky back into his vest while Sagorsky yells about Catubig. Richard has no idea what he’s talking about but it was a battle he fought in. They lost but Richard, as we know, sees no dishonor if they fought honestly and faithfully. This softens Sagorsky and he practically cries for his liquor bottle. Richard gives him the bottle but before he can wind up for a new rant against the Volstead Act a car pulls up. It’s Sagorsky flinty daughter, Julia. She’s seen this scene before and hustles her dad into the car, with Richard’s help. She brusquely thanks him and shakes his hand, telling him not to take any wooden nickels. Richard is half smitten and half concerned that he might have taken some wooden nickels.