They share a sweetly awkward moment as their friendship starts to take root while they confirm they’ll both be there the next night. A blonde woman walks up as they’re getting ready to leave and Margaret tells her class is over. Mason jumps in and introduces the two women. The blonde is his fiancée Helen Russell. Margaret seems a little thrown but smiles and says her goodbyes.
***sad horns***
Owen and Nucky are lollygagging around Nucky’s office but Owen’s twitchy and Nucky wonders what’s up. He doesn’t like having the Rosetti situation out of his control. Nucky thinks it’s best because if it gets fucked they’ll have plausible deniability. Yeah, not so much since you’re dealing with a deranged and homicidal lunatic. Before Owen can point that out, Eddie comes in to announce Billie.
Owen excuses himself and Nucky wonders if rehearsal is over already. Billie gets all sulky saying “You could say that,” because the show’s actually closing at the end of the week. Nucky thinks all the show needs is another male lead and suggests the choreographer. Billie gets sulkier and says he’s no one’s idea of a star…like her. Nucky tries to buck her up by saying he’ll talk to Schubert but Billie says she wanted to vent, not get her sugar daddy to make it all right. And if it’s all right with him, she just wants to sleep.
Up in Tabor Heights and Gyp’s whining to Arnold and Charlie about what really chaps his ass about Nucky. It’s the arrogance. Arnold’s being calm so Gyp finally gets around to apologizing for his florid and creative bigotry on New Years. Arnold’s all “P’shaw. T’weren’t nothing.” Which brings us to their little confab. Gyp’s offering Arnold the exact same deal as Nucky’s only without the insane middle-man stopping the convoy and setting sheriffs on fire.
I only look fey.
Sketchy writing moment #2 happens when a random paper boy comes by to deliver the evening edition. After making the kid crap his pants a little Gyp conveniently tells him to start delivering the paper directly to his room, 207, at the Kinneret Lodge. The camera lingers on Arnold for those who are a little slow on the uptake and didn’t figure out something was afoot. Gyp didn’t read ahead in the script to figure it out, yet, so he tells Arnold and Charlie he has a shipment coming in the next night at midnight. They should come by and get a sample. Then they shake on it so Gyp will feel doubly homicidal if something goes wrong.
Nucky and Cantor are having lunch at Babette’s but Cantor’s just an entertainer so he doesn’t notice Nucky’s hawkish glare as Nucky hands him a bottle of “Passover vodka.” They each take a shot and Cantor toasts “L’chaim!” To life! With that out of the way, Nucky goes in for the soft sell asking Cantor what he thinks the show needs. Cantor thinks some mild racism would do the trick but Nucky says a star. It needs Cantor.
Acceptable family entertainment circa 1923.
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8 Comments
What…..no mention of the full frontal? Great recap!
@aschowe…ikr. I yelled right at the tv. FULL FRONTAL! YAY!
This was an awesome episode. I couldn’t believe how fast it went.
In HBO’s long history of disturbing sex scenes, Gyp was right up there with Janice and Ralphie in The Sopranos. Naked, with the belt still around his neck, covered in blood, and the super creepy grin on his face was so chilling. He’s been an awesome addition to the cast. Plus we saw his wiener.
Speaking of wieners, does Nucky’s behavior this season with Billie remind anyone else of Don Draper and Megan in Mad Men last season? Burt Cooper said Don was on “love leave” and that’s what I keep thinking of with Nucky. He’s so love sick over Billie. When Don broke it off with Dr. Faye, she said, “I hope she knows you only like the beginning of things” and it reminded me of Margaret’s line about Nucky needing to be the rescuer. Terrence Winter and Matthew Wiener used to work together on The Sopranos, so I guess some similarities shouldn’t be surprising.
Van Alden’s wife hitting the Prophie in the head was crazy! I never would have guessed that one in a millions years. We all knew he was going to start working with O’Bannion, but I didn’t think it would be like this. The actor who plays O’Bannion kills me. He looks like Bizarro Ritchie Cunningham. I’d like to make fun of his over the top Chicago accent, but when I start to get really mad, I sound exactly like that.
Where was Gillian supposedly mailing the letter to? Was she just writing in her diary or something? I think she’s slowly losing her grip on reality and before this her grip was tenuous, at best.
My prediction is that Nucky sends Richard after Gyp to take him out sniper-style.
I agree, aschowe! IMO, the full frontal was very nice.
I feel like Gilliam still doesn’t know that Jimmy’s dead. Also, the letter she was writing her son was creepy as fuck. I know they had sex, but still. Gag.
Thanks for being the mature one in the bunch vallegirl
Thanks for assuming it was maturity but to be honest, when I write my recaps I watch scenes several times so while watching it live it was “Oh HEY! Cannavale peen!” but by the time I was writing the recap it was “Yeah, whatever…Cannavale peen.”
But looking at Gillian’s face while she’s writing the letter, she’s not so much deluded as frightened to admit the truth. Back in the season 2 finale they show her finding Jimmy’s dog tags on Tommy and she reacts then. She knew he wasn’t coming back alive. But Jimmy was her whole life and she’s become quite good at repressing all those awful, messy feelings that she’s convinced herself that if she just keeps up appearances he’ll be alive. It’s like when she forged the check for the utilities. It’s not the mailing of the letter that matters it’s writing it.
WHEW!!!!! at long last I watched the episode and read the recap and comments—all of which rock!!!! AM ready to dig in and comment– I think I need to start watching the show with a 1920′s inspired cocktail– I wish my great aunt was still alive to drink one with me–this was totes her era!!!!
Where to start?? Gotta start with nudity–full frontal and backal!!! I had alot of reservations about Bobby Cannavale coming on board–loved him in “Third Watch” and was a little charmed in “Will and Grace”. Holy Cow– there is a total psycho in him and I am loving it. Did anyone think “Tarzan” when he was walking naked down the hall with the belt around his neck??? Tazan movies began in 1918 and I think we are going to get some references from here on in (like “Girl of the Golden West” last week—the blood dripping thru the ceiling is a scene from the movie). We are bracing for war ya’all and we have a front row seat !!!!!!
Something else I was drawn to this week is costuming ( or lack there of-winkwink). The beautiful necklaces that all the ladies are wearing (long chains with pendants–I want one!!!)–evoking the Art Deco era and playing against Margaret’s simple strand of pearls. Marge is keeping her dignified Lady Bountiful place in society. Interesting that the dress Billie had on in Madame J’s shop was so little girl-ish, unlike the slinky black dress Nucky was holding.
How much of a modern woman stance do we see for Margaret?? Will she bob her hair, learn to drive???? This is such a great show and can’t wait for full on war!!!!!!!!
And Gillian—sigh…..she is losing her grip.
Nucky will have my beloved Richard on staff to help—am sorry its taken him so long.