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Chalky White (Michael Kenneth Williams) is on the lam after trying to shoot Dr. Valentin Narcisse. Will Nucky Thompson have his back?.

(HBO)

THIS WEEK:Written by veteran TV producer and scribe Dave Flebotte (who also penned Last year's 'A Man, A Plan' and season two's "Georgia Peaches"). "White Horse Pike" was helmed by Jake Paltrow (yes, that's her brother) and is his first 'Empire' episode. Paltrow has also given us several episodes of "NYPD Blue."

'Boardwalk Empire' Recap / Season 4, Episode 10 / 'White Horse Pike'

CHALKY GOES TO THE MATTRESSES

Chalky mobilizes his troops in the alley outside of The Onyx Club and tells them that they'll be paying a visit to The North Side later that day. The group soon notice Richard Harrow (Jack Huston) in the alley doing some work. It would appear the job that Nucky arranged for him is that of a dishwasher. The men give Harrow some grief and call him "No Face," accusing him of stealing a job that could have gone to someone like them.

Chalky steps in, defending him. "The way I see it, one man has as much right to eat as another... And this here man is a friend of mine."

They shake as Chalky tells him, "You need something, you look me up."

Chalky White defends Richard Harrow when his men give him grief outside The Onyx Club.

That night, Chalky and his gang bombard the office of the Universal Negro Improvement Association with a swarm of gunfire. Dr. Valentin Narcisse (Jeffrey Wright) ducks for cover and manages to get a few shots off of his own and clips Chalky in the shoulder.

* * *

Across town on the boardwalk, Nucky enjoys a quiet drink at The Onyx Club, as an enraged Narcisse busts in screaming, "CHALKY WHITE!"

"He came at me. I want him dead," Narcisse tells Nucky. "Tonight it ends."

"... What you yourself BEGAN," Nuck reminds.

"I will cut him from nave to chops," Narcisse tells him. (*) Meaning from his stomach to mouth. Narcisse, proving once again he's well-read... This gem is from "Macbeth" — "Which ne'er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him, Till he unseam'd him from the nave to the chops, And fix'd his head upon our battlements.")

"You'll find the meat tough, Doctor..." Nucky darts back.

"Tell me where he is. Or Don't... Your choice."

"Doctor Narcisse... There's been something I've been meaning to ask you for quite some time," Nucky says seething. "Who the BLANK do you think you are?"

"Cast your lot... Is it so?"

"Your leaving on your feet or on your back is entirely up to you so don't make a mistake," Nucky says. Their bodyguards both have their fingers on the trigger. It's a tense moment.

"Mr. Thompson, you're not ready for this..."

"Don't be so sure..." Nucky answers and orders Narcisse to leave.

* * *

At an abandoned American Legion Hall, Harrow tends to Chalky's wound. "It went straight through," Harrow says.

"How do you know that?" Chalky asks.

"I've been around..." Harrow answers. " ...many people who have been shot."

Daughter Maitland, still bruised from the beating Narcisse gave her, arrives. She tells Chalky that Narcisse will eventually come after them.

"Let him come..." Chalky tells her.

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A few hours later, Nucky visits Chalky at the American Legion Hall as Daughter pours them each a drink. Nucky asks to speak in privacy. Regarding Daughter, Nucky asks, "Are you thinking straight about any of this?"

"She's the one who put the knife in Purnsley's back..." Chalky says. Nuck goes on to say that Narcisse visited him and essentially wants Chalky on a slab.

"What do YOU want?" Chalky asks. Nucky says what he doesn't want is a war. Over a smoke, he admits (in that Nucky way) that he's there Chalky and instructs, "Don't do anything until you hear from me."

* * *

On the North Side of town, Bader vows in front of the press that he and his Sheriff's Department will find out who was responsible for the attack on Narcisse's office. Later back at his office, the mayor takes a call from Nucky who orders him to have two deputies escort Chalky out of town.

On the ride to Philadelphia, Chalky enjoys the solace as Daughter sings the bluegrass/gospel tune "River of Jordan." When the deputies don't make the turn out of town, Chalky plays it cool, pretends to relax. When the passenger cop lunges for him, Chalky shoots him in the face (brains everywhere!) after a struggle. In a flash, he also strangles the driver with his shoulder wrap while Daughter takes the wheel. They park the car and dump the bodies.

That night, at the Onyx Club, Chalky's daughter Maybelle (Christina Jackson) and son Lester (Justiin A. Davis) visit to frolic with some of the musicians. Maybelle has no real interest in being at the club and retreats to one of the suites upstairs when she realizes that Narcisse is sitting in one of the seats.

CATCH UP ON SEASON 4 'BOARDWALK EMPIRE' RECAPS

•

Episode 1 / 'New York Sour'

•

Episode 2 / 'Resignation'

•

Episode 3 / 'Acres of Diamonds'

•

Episode 4 / 'All In'

•

Episode 5 / 'Erlkönig'

•

Episode 6 / 'The North Star'

•

Episode 7 / 'William Wilson'

•

Episode 8 / 'The Old Ship of Zion'

•

Episode 9 / 'Marriage and Hunting'

She jumps up, startled. He introduces himself as 'Richard Pastor.' Realizing she's sad he says, At times, it seems all there is —

is us — and our unhappiness."

"This is one of those times," she says.

"You are Mr. White's child..." Narcisse says with a grin and a silent sneer.

"No wonder he's so proud..." She asks if he's seen him. He answers that he hasn't, but has heard the rumors. As a result of all the talk in town, Maybelle tells him that she is no longer getting married

"Why must it be the daughter's who suffer?" He continues to weave some of that intoxicating Narcisse magic and grabs her hand. "Dangerous for people like us ... To be what we are — where we are — and dare to stand free. What could be more lonely?" She's brought to tears and he tells her to go and forget her troubles.

NUCKY MAKING ENEMIES

In a secluded coffee shop, a haggard-looking Eli Thompson (Shea Whigham) dishes to federal agent Warren Knox/Jim Tolliver (Brian Geraghty). He tells Knox about the Ukranian mobster 'Balanchuk,' who works with Johnny Torrio.

"I don't exactly know his position, but he's big time over there," Eli says.

Knox questions Eli's statement. "You DON'T know?"

"Not since he got bumped up," Eli answers.

"I thought Torrio only worked with Italians?" Knox's partner asks.

Who would have thought? Mickey Doyle DOES have time to go to the pictures...

"Does he?" Knox pressures.

Eli explains that Chicago operates with all sorts of types — Jews, Italians, Irish. He uses Jake Guzik as an example of the diversity in Chicago's syndicate. "He's like Torrio's second..."

Just then, Eli notices a sailor at the counter and loses his train of thought. "My dad was a sea dog..." he says. He drifts off a bit more.

Knox says that he knows what Eli is doing is difficult and that it takes courage. "You're a good father..."

* * *

The next morning, Eli goes downstairs to hear laughing at his dining room table and is shocked to see Knox sitting there with his son Will (Ben Rosenfield) and wife June (Nisi Sturgis).

"What are you doing here?" he bluntly asks.

Knox, who is posing as an insurance salesman named 'Balanchuk' (the name Eli gave Knox in the coffee shop), answers that he likes to see what his clients are insuring. He tells everyone that he bought a whole life policy and when it matures the family will have a nice little nest egg.

Looks like Nucky Thompson has a new (and unlikely) partner in his Tampa operation.

"Let's hope it doesn't hatch," Will jokes. The family leaves so they can have some privacy and Knox's jovial mood turns sour.

"You should thank your father," he tells Will. "He knows in an instant, tragedy can strike. ... And everything he's worked for and holds dear can be gone." Will's not dumb. He's knows something is up.

An enraged Eli asks, "YOU COME TO MY HOUSE?"

"Joseph Balanchuk has been dead for two years," Knox shoots back.

"They don't update me," Eli says.

"You play me for a chump?" Knox asks.

"You ask what I know. THAT'S what I know," Eli sneers as the two scuffle at the table, spilling coffee, and prompting June to re-enter the room. They cover up.

Knox vows if Eli lies to him one more time, his son will be "breaking rocks" up in Trenton. (*) Prisoners would often act as cheap labor (especially at quarries) for many state and national endeavors. Click here for a look at some prisoners at Sing Sing.

* * *

In Tampa, Sally Wheet (Patricia Arquette), Bill McCoy (Pearce Bunting) and crew load up Nucky's trucks of oranges and rum. After giving the men some guff for lallygagging, she wanders to the back of her warehouse and observes Lucky Luciano ( Vincent Piazza), Meyer Lanksy (Anatol Yusef) and Vincenzo Petrucelli (Vincenzo Amato) loading some of the crates with bricks of heroin.

Spunky Sally promptly calls Nucky and after some flirty phone foreplay, tells him that there's a problem. "Turns out, rum ain't the only thing you're runnin'," she says explaining what they're doing with the heroin in the crates.

Don't try to get one over on spunky Sally Wheet.

"And you know this HOW?" he asks.

"A girl has her ways..." Sally answers. He asks if she told anyone else.

"I prefer to leave near the swamp not IN IT," she darts back.

Nuck tells her to keep McCoy close by. "Do I have to?" she quips.

He tells Sally that he owes her one. "Don't think I don't know it, Sport..."

* * *

At Doyle's warehouse, he's jabbering about the plot of "The Thief of Baghdad" to Eli, who really couldn't care less. He then asks Nucky if he saw the movie. (1)

(1) Says film critic Leonard Maltin on TCM: "Douglas Fairbanks is unusually balletic (and ingratiating as ever) in this elaborate Arabian Nights pantomime, designed to instill a true sense of wonder. Quite long, but never dull; one of the most imaginative of all silent films, with awesome sets by William Cameron Menzies. Remade three times (so far)."

"You've got time to go to the pictures?" Nucky asks bluntly. He goes on to instruct Eli and Mickey to head out to the White Horse Pike and stop the convoy of trucks headed for the Big Apple. Nucky orders them to find the heroin that Petrucelli is piggybacking on their rum.

"This kid Luciano... You should've let me plug him years ago when I had the chance," Eli darts.

"First, let's make sure it's true. Bring Knox and a couple of his men," Nucky says.

Later, on the pike, Eli and Knox wait for the trucks headed for New York. The young fed mentions C. Auguste Dupin, the protagonist in "The Murders in the Rue Morgue." (2)

Edgar Allan Poe

(2) Mystery.net tells us that "Mystery and crime stories as we know them today did not emerge until the mid-nineteenth century when Edgar Allan Poe introduced mystery fiction's first fictional detective, C. Auguste Dupin, in his 1841 story, "The Murders in the Rue Morgue." The acknowledged father of the mystery story, Poe continued Dupin's exploits in novels such as "The Mystery of Marie Roget" (1842) and "The Purloined Letter" (1845). To read a copy of the story, click HERE. Enjoy a 1986 film adaptation below.

Knox explains that it was because of that Poe story, he wanted to enter law enforcement. Knox says that Eli has handed himself well. "I'm sure you were a good cop."

"Are we friends now?" Eli asks.

The convoy arrives and the New York crew is baffled. Lansky exits one of the trucks and asks Eli what the deal is. "We're already behind..."

"Since when you start riding with the help?" Eli asks.

When one of the driver's gives them a problem, Knox puts a bullet between his eyes. Soon, everyone obliges. Lansky tries to cover up the heroin cargo but it's too late because Knox's men easily find it.

* * *

The next morning, Nucky has Lansky kneeling in front of a ditch as he pleads for his life. "Things are going great and what do you do the second you get the chance?"

Nucky figures out pretty fast who was smuggling heroin on his trucks from Tampa. Needless to say, he's not pleased.

Lansky contends that he was coerced by Masseria, who found out about Tampa from his cousin Petrucelli. "He would have killed us if we didn't go along..."

Eli gets out his pistol as Lansky maintains, "If it were strictly up to me, sir, I would have nothing to do with narcotics." Lansky goes on about how there is more money in liquor which is safer.

Nucky's not buying the act and slaps him hard in the face. "You've got two seconds to break the boy scout routine or you're going in the hole."

Crying, Lansky admits, "There's a fortune to be made in heroin. Millions and millions of dollars." He explains he was risking his life either way. "What would you have done if you were me?"

Nucky says that Lansky will have to call Masseria. "If he'd like to see you or his heroin again, tell him to get his ass down here."

* * *

At The Onyx Club, Joe Masseria (Ivo Nandi) greets Nucky with Tonino Sandrelli (Chris Caldovino). "Nucky Thompson... Always a pleasure," he says.

"Perhaps for you," Nuck darts back.

Masseria asks Lansky — who's sitting at the table like a puppy who's been kicked first thing in the morning — why he looks so blue.

"It could have something to do with the heroin you had him import," Nuck says. He also asks what he has to say for himself.

Masseria says that he's going to wait for his partner to show up. When Nuck asks who that partner is, Narcisse strolls into the Onyx.

"What the hell is going on?" Nucky asks.

"The world is going on, Mr. Thompson," Narcisse answers. "...Without you, depending what happens here today." Narcisse admits (finally) that he "provides heroin to the wretched souls who desire it" and that he is indeed partners with Masseria.

"Using MY TRUCKS for delivery..." Nucky says. "And if I don't like it?"

"I should paint you a picture, but I assure you, it would not be pretty," Narcisse says. He also admits that there's a large amount of cash to be made in heroin and that he'll be the most able partner Nucky's ever had.

"Just like that, huh?" Nuck asks.

There's a catch, Narcisse says. He'll require Nucky's full support on the North Side as well as delivery of Chalky White to him personally. "This is not negotiable."

"What do I get?" Nucky asks sternly.

"What do you want?" Masseria answers.

"For starters, I want my share..." Nuck says, demanding one-third of all the action.

"So we have struck a bargain then..." Narcisse states. "You will not be sorry. I see great days ahead." They shake on it.

* * *

At federal headquarters, J. Edgar Hoover (Eric Ladin) speaks to his men about the unrest created by Marcus Garvey at Carnegie Hall. (3)

(3) Says Carnegie Hall.org: "Black social causes frequently found a platform at Carnegie Hall during its first half century. Garvey's final Carnegie Hall appearances took place at the opening and closing meetings of the Fourth International Convention of Negro Peoples of the World on August 1 and 31, 1924. In his introductory remarks on August 1, Garvey didn't sugar coat his feelings: 'As usual, I am not here to flatter you, I am not here to tell you how happy and prosperous we are as a people, because that is all false.'"

As Hoover laments Garvey and the anarchy he thinks he's stirring, he simply has no time for Knox or his weak leak.

* * *

Back at the Albatross Hotel, Nucky is prepping his troops and tells Eli that Mayor Bader has turned. Just then, Eli sees his son Will there and wants to know what's up.

"He's doing his job Eli. Why else would I put him next to Bader?"

Recognition rears its ugly head to Eli. After all, the boy is a Thompson.

"This is the life you want?" he asks bluntly.

"Pop, isn't it what we do?" Will answers.

"Alright," Eli says. "Let's get it sorted out..."

HANGING HIS HAT WITH AL & RALPH

In Chicago, Frank and Ralph Capone (Stephen Graham and Domenick Lombardozzi) are dividing Dean O' Banion's territory and speakeasies (which there are 84 of). We see Nelson Van Alden/George Mueller (Michael Shannon) part of that conversation. He questions the wide scope of Capone's claim.

"Let Hymie Weiss try to tell you otherwise," Al sneers.

Hymie Weiss

Previously footnoted: HymieWeiss.com tells us that "After O' Banion was killed in 1924, his partner and successor, Earl "Hymie" Weiss, had two life goals: the destruction of Capone and Torrio to avenge O' Banion, and total domination of Chicago bootlegging and rackets." Weiss was gunned down in 1926. Mob folklore says that James Cagney based his performance in 1931's "The Public Enemy" on both O' Banion and Weiss."

Johnny Torrio (Greg Antonacci) enters and asks about Van Alden. They explain he helped arrange O' Banion's "retirement." Al tells Torrio that Mueller will be taking over for Ralph, who's being promoted.

Torrio is put off by Al's gumption and sarcastically asks what he'll be doing.

"Whatever you want... I ain't gonna squeeze you out or nothin'," Al jokes.

"You wouldn't squeeze me out of my own operation... That is very generous of you," Torrio tells him. Al explains that there are many ambitious young guys coming up behind him and, in his way, urges Torrio to think about retiring. Torrio's not hearing it.

"Someday ... Eventually..." Al tells him. Torrio quips that it's good he's thinking ahead.

* * *

Later, Al and everyone relaxes with some members of the "The Cicero Quilting Society." He asks Mueller for another Tom Collins when a. thug tells Al he has a call. He goes to Torrio's office to answer when Mueller saves the day and notices there are men in the next building with guns. As the room is engulfed with bullets, Mueller makes sure Al isn't hurt.

PEGGY KEEPS SURVIVING

Margaret Thompson is looking for an apartment at Isham Park in Manhattan.

The action shifts to New York City to Connors & Gould, the brokerage firm where Margaret Thompson (Kelly Macdonald) works. We see her making a phone call for an apartment, located at Isham Park in Manhattan. (4)

(4) The official City of New York Parks and Recreation page tells us: "In its early years, Isham Park included a gardener's lodge, the main residence, and greenhouses – all part of the former estate. The residence, located at the highest point of the park, was intended to be a local history museum and resting place. By the 1940's, however, these structures were demolished in the course of park renovations under the direction of Parks' Commissioner Robert Moses. Today, the only remaining reference to these lost structures are inscriptions to be found on the backs of stone benches that rest on a circular stone terrace on the eastern slope above Broadway. Embedded in the wall of the terrace is a bronze plaque that commemorates the Ishams. For more on the park's hstory, click HERE.

She asks to take a tour of the facility when her phone call is interrupted by Arnold Rothstein (Michael Stuhlbarg). She becomes slightly flustered and quickly hangs up. He asks if she's looking for a new residence. He further asks how much she makes per week. She answers $11 with the occasional bonus for good performance. (*) According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, that's $150 today. Seems low, right?

He observes that the Isham Park apartment complex she's inquiring about is above her means.

"I fail to see what business this is of yours..." Peggy tells him.

He offers some free advice. "Is there anything more expensive in the world?" she asks.

"Forget this place and call me," he says, referring to the many apartments he owns uptown. He hands her his calling card.

"In exchange for what?" she asks.

Arnold Rothstein is planning to get back the money he invested in to the Anaconda Realty stock scam.

He leans in and explains that her boss Robert Bennett is driving down the stock for Anaconda Realty (which we saw him invest in). He says that he plans on buying all the stock back, he just needs to know when it will hit rock bottom. She tells him that she could lose her job. "You could... Of course, you can gain something better," Rothstein quips.

That night, we see Margaret and her children try to sleep at her brother's crummy Brooklyn apartment. It's cramped and from all the yelling and banging upstairs, seems very dangerous.

The next day at work, her boss Mr. Bennett hands her some trade slips to be filed and says in passing that Mr. Redstone (aka Rothstein) is as dumb as a doornail with the deepest pockets he's ever seen.

Before he leaves for lunch, he tells Margaret that he'd like to take the new Duesenberg for a test drive and orders her to make the appointment with the salesman. "That's what Valentino drives you know..." (5)

A 1924 Duesenberg automobile.

(5) DuesenbergCars.com tells us that from "1906 to 1913, Fred and August Duesenberg were associated with the Mason racing cars of Des Moines, Iowa. In 1913 the brothers opened a small plant in St. Paul, Minnesota, where they built complete racing cars, marine engines, and aircraft engines during World War I. In 1920 they began producing automobiles under their own name when they formed the Duesenberg Automobile and Motors Company, Inc. in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Duesenberg was the first successful American racing car designed and built exclusively for speedway competition."

She looks at the trade slips for Anaconda Realty and calls Rothstein. Later that night, he visits her in her apartment. After she admits that it's impossible to get ahead, they strike a deal. She gives him the scoop on Anaconda Realty and, in exchange for tipping him off, he'll provide her with an apartment rent free for five years.

OTHER STUFF ON MY MIND

• The title of the show is named for The White Horse PIke — U.S. Route 30 — a road instrumental to the development of Atlantic City. In fact, it's the subject of its own book by Arcadia Publishing.

The South Jersey Times tells us: "The White Horse Pike, first known as White Horse Road, ran from Camden to the White Horse Tavern in the small hamlet of White Horse on the old Egg Harbor Road. In January 1854, the state Legislature incorporated the White Horse Turnpike Company to turn White Horse Road into a toll road and it remained a turnpike until the early 20th century when the state purchased the corporation and removed the toll. In 1922, the White Horse Pike was extended to Atlantic City. While the White Horse Pike has a specific origin (being named for the White Horse Tavern), the name for the Black Horse Pike came about later, after the success of the White Horse Pike."

• That cream in the coffee shot in the beginning was awfully reminiscent of Nucky at Grand Central waiting for Margaret in episode 6 — "The North Star".

• On Jake Guzik: "He's like Torrio's second..." Was that Eli not throwing Al Capone under the bus?

• Nucky refers to the Onyx Club as his club. That didn't take long, huh?

Let's hear some theories. What's going to happen to Chalky White and Daughter? Will they make it to Philly?

• If it's one thing Spunky Sally doesn't need, it's Bill McCoy for her protection.

• Just because Eli didn't BUY a real policy doesn't mean he doesn't have a form or insurance from Agent Knox. I thought it was a rather sly double entendre.

• The shot of the spilled coffee engulfing June's tablecloth was awfully reminiscent of blood flowing. Foreshadowing, anyone?

• How hilarious would it be if Margaret winds up in Billie Kent's old apartment (which she also rented from Rothstein)?

• Harrow's no dishwasher — Not in the traditional sense at least. Dollars to donuts, Nucky placed him there much like he placed Will in Mayor Bader's office.

• It's official. Chalky is the most stand-up character on 'Empire.' He's the guy I want in my corner.

• Cry me a river, Lenore... She can't get out of bed since Chalky went on the lam? Really? Maybe she should have been a tad nicer to Chalky.

• Let's refresh our memories... Chalky and Harrow go back to the Jimmy Darmody days, right? While Chalky and Jimmy never were able to see eye-to-eye on matters (especially race and that KKK raid), they were always respectful and sees Harrow as an equally stand-up guy. Right?

• "You've got time to go to the pictures?" What ELSE does Mickey Doyle have but time?

• Who else is relieved to see Van Mueller playing nice with those Capone boys?

• Did you hear that Narcisse growl after he shot Chalky?

• Knox's gosh-golly-shucks attitude is almost as distracting as Capone's sniffle.

• If anyone is good at getting out of tight spots, it's Meyer Lansky. The guy can talk his way out of anything.

• So Nucky quotes Arnold Rothstein to Chalky. I find that to be hilarious...

• "I've never done business with a woman before," says Rothstein. Funny, up until recently, neither has Nucky.

• "You are Mr. White's child..." Chilling, right?

• That creep Samuel dumped Maybelle? Sheesh...

• I'm wondering why Eli resigned himself so easily about Will joining the family trade. He was almost lethargic about it. Thoughts?

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