Episode Title: “Havre de Grace”
Writer: Howard Korder
Director: Allen Coulter
Previously on “Boardwalk Empire:”
Episode 4.10 “White Horse Pike”
Freedom, an escape, an “out,” it comes in different forms for different people, but it’s really the same thing for Chalky White (Michael Kenneth Williams), Gillian Darmody (Gretchen Mol) and Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi): change.
For two of “Boardwalk’s” most fascinating characters, that change comes in quite a different way than they imagined. Both Chalky and Gillian are on the verge of starting new lives beyond the personal and geographical limits of Atlantic City, only to have their hopes crushed in heartbreaking fashion.
In Gillian’s case, the betrayal borders on the outrageous. Four seasons of “Boardwalk Empire” have taught us that men like dashing supermarket bigwig, Roy Phillips (Ron Livingston) can’t possibly be as caring, compassionate and loving as he appears to be with Gillian. He seemingly comes out of nowhere and rescues Gillian from her heroin addiction, which gives her the clarity of mind and spirit to realize that her estranged grandson is better off with newlyweds, Richard Harrow and Julia Sargorsky.
For all the horrible things Gillian’s done, there’s a root to her evil and it’s the same for Nucky: the Commodore. And yet, with Roy it looked Gillian had finally straightened out after all the disturbing twists and turns her life has taken. She gleefully tells Roy she’s “free,” deciding to sell the mansion at Leander’s (Dominic Chianese) urging and give up the legal battle for custody of Tommy.
It’s redemption of the sort we don’t see much of on “Boardwalk” and it’s hard not to feel hopeful for Gillian. Yes, she’s done some pretty wicked things, but who can really judge her when you consider the company she’s in? Still, we know it’s not to be, but just exactly why and how is the crazy part.
At the end of what’s got to be the best day of Gillian Darmody’s life, Roy, who has just proposed to her, is approached in a garage by the business man he and Gillian had dinner with a while back. The merger Roy was working on went though, but it cost the man his job and he’s out for revenge. But before the man can act, Roy shoots him dead.
Back at the mansion, Roy is inconsolable and suggests turning himself in, but Gillian can’t bear the thought of being without him now. She tells him he “can live with anything” and uses herself as example. She tells Roy about drowning Roger and that’s when we finally learn the truth about Roy. He’s not a suave businessman, but a Pinkerton detective hired by Leander to get a confession from Gillian. Several other detectives emerge, confirming they heard the confession and Leander tells a shocked Gillian he “owed” the Commodore. Gillian is hysterical as she’s dragged away by the detectives.
It’s a cruel end to Gillian’s very troubled story that asks us to believe Leander and the Pinkerton’s came up with such an elaborate revenge scheme, involving a lengthy courtship, a heroin detox and a fake shooting. Was the point of it all just to get the confession or did Leander want to hurt Gillian in the worst way possible? Hopefully this isn’t the least we’ve seen of Gillian, Roy and Leander. Such an intense turn of events deserves some sort of follow-up.
Outside of Atlantic City, Chalky and Daughter (Margot Bingham) find refuge in the home of his former mentor, Oscar Bernard. Now old and nearly blind, Oscar is ornery and critical of Chalky’s business decisions, in particular of whom he puts his trust in. He’s also not too fond of Daughter, especially her cooking. Unsure of his next move, Chalky talks to Oscar who suggests he stay and get into business there. However after talking with Daughter, Chalky decides the two should go on the run.
Unfortunately for Chalky, Daughter gets a head start, as he learns from Oscar, who is sitting on the porch with a rifle, that she left in the middle of the night. Just then, Oscar hears something and starts walking into the dark with his rifle. Narcisse’s men emerge and asking for “the girl.” Both parties fire shots and Oscar is killed as Chalky seeks cover. After last week’s narrow escape, Chalky’s future remains unknown. Operating under the suspicion that Nucky sold him out to Narcisse, it’s possible he’ll return to Atlantic City with Oscar’s boys, seeking vengeance.
As for Nucky, like Chalky and Gillian, he wants “out” as he tells Sally (Patricia Arquette) on the phone. And he may get what he wants, but not the way he wants it. Under pressure from Knox (Brian Geraghty), Eli (Shea Whigham) encourages Nucky to set up a meeting with his New York and Tampa business partners. It’s exactly what Knox needs to take him down, but a comment from Eli’s wife, June (Nisi Sturgis) about the “baby-faced” insurance agent who stopped by the house piques Nucky’s curiosity.
While questioning Willie (Ben Rosenfield) about the agent, Nucky reminds him that whatever he tells his uncle is between them. But again, four seasons of “Boardwalk” have taught us a few things about Nucky Thompson. He may not tell Eli what Willie says about his father, but that doesn’t mean he won’t kill him over it.
