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This week, Nucky Thompson courts a big fish from Boston in the form of Joe Kennedy.

(HBO)

THIS WEEK: Written by Cristine Chambers and Howard Korder, "What Jesus Said," was directed by veteran TV director Ed Bianchi. In the episode, we still get a significant number of flashbacks with most of the episode concentrating on Chalky holing up in a suburban home with convict Milton. As for Nucky, he desperately tries to woo Joe Kennedy into partnering up.

'Boardwalk Empire' Recap / Season 5, Episode 3 / WHAT JESUS SAID

COURTING A KENNEDY

Overlooking the practice dance of a burlesque queen named Kitty, Nucky (Steve Buscemi), is still obviously concerned about someone bumping him off and orders Mickey Doyle (Paul Sparks) to get more "roscoes" (*).

(*) The Urban Dictionary tells us that 'roscoe' is hard-boiled slang for any type of gun, muscle or heater.

Doyle, feeling inconvenienced, says that he's trying to run a business. "It's MY business you're running..." Nuck says and instructs him to get the club's extra muscle from the men working at their liquor warehouse and to simply hire a few of the the eight-million men who need of a job to load the trucks.

"Those bums who hang around the rail yard?" Doyle scoffs. "I don't like them hanging around."

"You could be one of them," Nucky darts back.

Nucky is summoned upstairs and one of his goons informs that 'Cuba' is on the phone. The operator tells Nucky that his connection to the island is finally available. Nucky is angered by how long it took.

On the other end of the line, sassy Sally Wheet (Patricia Arquette) laughs at Nucky's irritated sarcasm. He also asks about Don Maxime Ronis, their man at Bacardi. Sally explains that the liquor baron is complaining about his expenses.

Sally Wheet talks business with Nucky from Cuba.

"I'll be back there soon enough, so he can shake me down in person," Nucky says. Wheet asks Nucky about Senator Lloyd (who was a no-show at last week's meeting with the Manhattan money men). Nucky explains that he high-tailed it back to Washington.

"So what do we do now?" she asks.

"I've got a big fish coming down from Boston looking to get into the liquor business," he tells her. "... A Wall Street man." Just then, Nucky laughs at "Happy days are Here Again," the ironic tune on the radio and chuckles. (1)

(1) One of the signature pop tunes of the 20th Century, "Happy days are Here Again" was sung by Ben Selvin the Crooners. It would ultimately by used by Franklin Delano Roosevelt's winning Presidential campaign in 1932 and, forever be associated with the Democratic Party. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer explains further, "This is one of the darkest times in American History, when unemployment achieved a sustained run of 25 percent and thanks to four Republican administrations there was no unemployment insurance. ... During that dark, cold, bleak time (election time in Germany, and we all know how well that turned out), a snappy I-reject-your-reality-and-substitute-my-own melody is EXACTLY what the country needed."

Sally asks to listen to the song and Nucky holds the receiver to the radio. They enjoy the solitude of the song quietly. She counts her money as Nucky goes through his mail. He comes across a letter from someone named 'Nellie Bly, The Pirate Sea, En route to Cathay." (2)

Did crusading female journalist Nellie Bly send Nucky a letter?

(2) Nellie Bly was the pen name of a crusading young female journalist who helped usher in a new form of the profession. Scholastic explains that while few Americans may recognize the name now, it certainly was not the case then. Says the site: "Nellie Bly burst upon the scene at a time when a woman's place was, in the words of one newspaper editor, 'defined and located by a single word — home.' But Bly's 'push-and-get-there' style helped to change the way reporters did their jobs. Bly also was a shining example of why women deserve the same opportunities as men." Read more at PBS.

* * *

Later, we see that Joe Kennedy ( Matt Letscher) has kept his word and makes a stop in Atlantic City. Nucky takes him to a local eatery where they chit-chat about Kennedy's large family and we find out that his ninth child is on his way (**). When Nucky orders some 'Dago Red' wine to go with their Veal Parmesan, Kennedy declines, opting for a simple coffee.

(**) That would be Senator Ted Kennedy, who was born Feb. 22, 1932.

"It's hard enough doing business as an Irish Catholic... I try my best to thwart the notion that we're all drunkards," Kennedy explains. That leaves an impression on Nuck, who asks for a seltzer. Kennedy goes on to say that he's been fighting to erase that notion his whole life — especially from the men on Wall Street — and that most impressions can change with just one generation. Nucky tells him that he sounds like a gambling man.

"Gambling implies risk. I take the risk out of it," Kennedy says.

When Nucky asks how, Kennedy answers, "By rigging the game, of course."

* * *

Later that night, Nuck brings Kennedy by the club. It's packed and the music is loud and the booze is flowing. Kennedy notices and mentions it to Nucky who tells him that he charges a 2000 percent mark-up. When the barmaid brings over some top-shelf whiskey, Nucky sends it back for a seltzer and a Coca-Cola. Mickey Doyle is humorously perplexed.

Mickey Doyle comes back this week as a manager for Nucky's nightclub.

Nucky tells Kennedy that Bacardi Rum goes wonderfully with Coke. "Has the moment arrived for serious discussion?" Kennedy asks, staring at Kitty, the sultry dancer onstage.

Later, they chit-chat upstairs. Kennedy asks Nucky about his father and if he amounted to anything. When Nucky says no Kennedy tells him that's what he maybe needed. "A fire in your belly..." Kennedy says that his own father taught him how to sail in Nantucket and he's currently teaching his sons. "Why else do we do all this?"

"Bacardi would make for a nice inheritance," Nucky suggests. Kennedy says he was slow-footed and that Nucky beat him to it. Nuck says it's not a contest. "Isn't it always?" Kennedy asks.

"Not if we go in together," Nucky answers. Kennedy wonders why he should team up with Nuck since he can have lots of potential partners, namely King Solomon (***).

(***) King Solomon was a Russian-Jewish kingpin who controlled bootlegging in Boston during Prohibition.

"Those men are gangsters," Nuck says.

"Then what are you?" Kennedy asks.

"An advocate. For repeal..." Still, Kennedy is skittish. He tells Nucky that there they are doing business in his office and there's nary a photo, a card or child's drawing. Nucky wants to know what that has to do with anything. Kennedy says that's the reason to do any of it.

Joe Kennedy is playing some serious hardball with Nucky Thompson.

Nucky is offended and asks, "What are you trying to prove? That you have a better excuse than me for being a crook?"

"We can play with words but I've never broken a law in my life," he tells Nuck. "I'll make you an offer: You tell me what you REALLY want and I'll tell you if we have deal."

"Not interested," Nucky says.

"Then I thank you for your hospitality and leave you free to have your drink," Kennedy tells him.

"I want to leave something behind," Nucky finally admits. Before Kennedy leaves, he pours Nucky some whiskey and places it on his desk, chuckling that maybe he'll bring Kitty (the dancer) a saucer of milk. After he's gone, Nucky takes a gulp and pours himself some more.

Later that night, Nucky awakens drunk on his leather couch to a woman sitting in the dark nearby. "Mabel?" he asks.

"I'm afraid not..." a woman answers. It's estranged wife Margaret. A smile comes across Nucky's face as we can tell that he's glad to see her.

LIL' WORKING MAN

In 1884, young Nucky (Nolan Lyons) is getting along fine working at the Corner Store Hotel on the vintage Atlantic City boardwalk. We see him perform various tasks including prepping beach chairs, escorting rich ladies in the rain and delivering fresh flowers to Mr. Beckert, the local playboy for his girlfriend. Speaking of, said playboy waxes poetic to young Nucky asking him what the young boy would do for love.

Young Nucky meets the little girl who would eventually be his wife.

Later that day, after driving a rich family to a private beach on a pony cart, Nucky watches the family's young daughter from afar. The young lady, roughly his age, notices. She approaches his cart and says, "Enoch walked with God and he was no more." (3)

Nucky tells the girl that the Bible verse goes in circles. "Maybe it's too hard for you," she says.

(3) The verse is from Genesis 5:24. Bible Hub tells us that it is "a common phrase in Eastern countries denoting constant and familiar intercourse." Additional commentary explains, "Really it gives the cause of which the Greek phrase is the effect; for it denotes a steady continuance in well-doing, and a life spent in the immediate presence of and in constant communion with God."

"Do you have to do what anyone tells you?" she asks. He answers yes. She suggests that she might pay him 10 cents to kiss the pony. As the little girl's mother calls upon her to go into the ocean, Nucky jumps down from the cart and kisses the horse.

Wandering alone in the nearby marsh, Nucky sees Mr. Beckert (the playboy) pondering something. He tells Beckert that he brought the flowers to his room but no one was there.

The next day, Nucky brings flowers by Mr. Beckert's room only to find The Sheriff and Commodore inside dealing with what looks like the dead body of a woman as yesterday's flowers are strewn about the floor. The Commodore orders him downstairs angrily.

Later, Mr. Whiting, an employee of the hotel, hands little Nucky an envelope. Little Nuck also has a conversation with The Sheriff about Mr. Beckert. "You don't know what people are thinking. You can't stop every bad thing... It's just how it is," the lawman says. "This is all between us, you understand?"

Nuck looks at the letter he just received. It's a post card from the little girl Mabel. She wrote that they're in A.C. every summer and that she would have let him kiss her.

CHALKY ON THE LAM

Chalky White (Michael Kenneth Smith) and his chain gang partner-in-crime Milton break into a charming residential home. They walk through the empty halls, make way for the kitchen and scarf down as much food as they can find. After wandering the rooms and guzzling down some hooch, Chalky asks Milton where the safe is. "Is this the right house or not?" he asks.

Chalky tells Milton that they ate some food, got some new clothes and should just leave.

Chalky White holes up in a suburban home with fellow convict Milton in hopes of cracking a safe.

Just then, they see Fern, a young woman standing in the hallway staring at them.

Chalky tells her that they're looking for cash and nothing more. "We're gone. Easy ..." The girl denies having any cash in the house.

Milton brandishes his pistol. "You can fool people, but the good Lord always knows when you're lying." Milton orders Chalky to check upstairs when they see Marie, the girl's mother descend the staircase.

Later, Marie tells Milton to just take the nine dollars from her purse and go. Milton asks about the man of the house. Fern tells them that he's a number of towns away working at a farm auction and will be back soon. Milton explains that at one point their family held a lavish party and that he delivered a hundred-pound block of ice in the cellar and recalled seeing a large safe in their house.

"It wasn't us," Fern's mother pleads, opening her purse. "Take the money."

"Lies! Before the Lord... " Milton yells. He gets up and approaches the ladies and as he is about to pour milk on Fern's mother, Chalky speaks up. "What grade you in?" he asks the young girl. She answers tenth. He tells Milton that they should be careful of a truant officer.

CATCH UP ON SEASON 4 'BOARDWALK EMPIRE' RECAPS

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Episode 1 / 'New York Sour'

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Episode 2 / 'Resignation'

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Episode 3 / 'Acres of Diamonds'

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Episode 4 / 'All In'

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Episode 5 / 'Erlkönig'

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Episode 6 / 'The North Star'

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Episode 7 / 'William Wilson'

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Episode 8 / 'The Old Ship of Zion'

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Episode 9 / 'Marriage and Hunting'

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Episode 10 / 'White Horse Pike'

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Episode 11 / 'Havre de Grace'

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Episode 12 / 'Farewell Daddy Blues'

"How do you know about gals and school," Milton asks Chalky.

"Everybody knows..." Chalky sneers. "Let's get the green and get ourselves gone." Just then, the phone rings. Milton orders him to answer it. Chalky says if he answers, people will know something is wrong. "You said you knew about telephones," Milton snaps. Fern says it's her father who always calls to say he's on his way. Milton rips the phone from the wall. "There is safe in that cellar! I'll never forget it!" He orders everyone to the basement.

Downstairs, Milton frantically checks and comes up short. "Where'd you move it?" he shouts. Fern says that her father moved all the money and valuables to a safety deposit box in the bank. Milton doesn't know what that means and Chalky explains it. The ladies suggest that they could go to the bank and retrieve everything.

Chalky pulls Milton aside and says that no good will come from waiting around. After all, the husband may show up and they don't need the heat. Milton wants to stick around. He's convinced there's a safe in the house.

As Milton slumbers in a chair, Marie tells Chalky that he and Milton should sleep in the upstairs beds. "Or you can walk out..." she suggests. "You take the money." Chalky says it's not safe in daylight. She suggests to cut across the field and that he could take Milton's pistol. "I can tell that you're not like him --"

"Yes I am, ma'am," Chalky interrupts her. "I absolutely am. Right now I need you to shut your mouth." Fern asks Chalky how old his own daughter is.

"About your age," he answers. Fern asks her name. "Called her Maybelle..." Chalky tells her to stop asking questions.

"There's forgiveness for everyone," Fern tells Chalky. "That's what Jesus said."

Chalky's not buying it and answers, "Baby girl, Jesus was wrong..." Just then, someone arrives at the house and Milton snaps awake. They believe it to be Fern's father. Someone approaches the door, knocking, but it was only the mailman with a package. Milton opens it and finds a dress for her Spring formal.

Milton unties her and instructs her to put it on. When she places the dress on over her clothes, Milton objects, saying "Put it on proper..." She starts to disrobe when Marie stands up and tells them the safe is upstairs. "We had to move it because the cellar flooded."

Upstairs, Chalky is working on busting open the safe to no avail. "What else you good for?" Milton asks.

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'BOARDWALK EMPIRE': THE FINAL SEASON

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FOREVER IN THE SHADOW OF 'THE SOPRANOS'

"I got you out those chains, didn't I?" He answers. Milton, snatches the hammer from Chalky and gives it a go but stops, "This ain't the one I saw," he screams, demanding the combination. Marie says that her husband never gave it to her.

Not believing there a man of the house, Milton smashes the wall with the hammer out of frustration. Chalky gears up because he knows something is about to go down. Milton brandishes his pistol, "You think I'm simple..." He points the gun in Fern's face as Marie blurts out that she'll open the safe. She gives him Liberty Bonds from the war and says it's the only thing they have.

As Milton cocks the pistol, Chalky smashes his cranium with the hammer. Milton chokes Fern some more and Chalky forcefully jams the hammer into Milton's neck.

Fern snatches the gun and points it at Chalky. "Maybelle... Does she know what you are?"

"She knew what I was..." he says. Marie orders Chalky to take the nine dollars and get out of the house.

DRAWING A LINE IN THE SAND

Charlie 'Lucky' Luciano (Vincent Piazza), Benjamin 'Bugsy' Siegel (Michael Zegen) meet Dr. Valentin Narcisse (Jeffrey Wright) at his offices in Harlem.

Lucky Luciano and Bugsy Siegel press Dr. Narcisse hard.

"You had that deal with Joe the Boss," Lucky tells Narcisse. "Mr. Maranzano would like it to continue."

"Perhaps one day our paths will cross," Narcisse quips.

"That day is today," Bennie tells him. Lucky goes on to say that Maranzano is willing to do business and furthermore, offer his protection. "Against what?" Narcisse asks Lucky.

"Against whatever problems may turn up..." Lucky answers. Narcisse reminds them that they're in Harlem.

"Uptown... Downtown... It's all New York," Bennie says.

"My experience is otherwise," Narcisse says. Lucky explains that Narcisse has the policy game, the clubs, the dope and prostitutes. Narcisse says what he has belongs to him.

"People are losing things all over," Lucky sneers. "Holding on to what you have sounds like a good idea. That's what Mr. Maranzano would like to help you with." Narcisse thanks them for their concern and apologizes that they came all the way uptown for nothing.

* * *

Later, Bennie and another man enter a Narcisse brothel. They're directed to a side room to pick out their women when they execute everyone before nonchalantly leaving.

PEGGY IN HOT WATER

In Manhattan, Margaret Rowan (Kathy Macdonald) is pressed by investigators about her relationship with 'Abe Redstone' aka Arnold Rothstein. She tells them that she only remembers him vaguely and that he liked milk. They ask if she knew who Arnold Rothstein was. They explain that he was a gambler and a bootlegger with ties to the narcotics trade who was murdered by persons unknown.

It's been years, she tells them, since she's seen Redstone. (4)

The real Arnold Rothstein

(4) History.com explains that in September, 1928 Rothstein lost $320,000 in a poker game with "Hump" McManus, Nate Raymond, and "Titanic" Thompson. Legend has it that he refused to pay because he thought the game was rigged. "Two months later, McManus invited Rothstein to play what would be his final poker game," says the site. "After finding Rothstein bleeding profusely at the service entrance of the Park Central Hotel, police followed his trail of blood back to a suite where a group of men were playing cards. Reportedly, Rothstein had nothing good in his final hand. ... Asked who had shot him before dying, Rothstein reportedly put his finger to his lips, keeping the gangsters' code of silence." As for McManus? He was tried and later acquitted.

The investigators tell her that while Rothstein has been dead for a few years, his account is very much alive with roughly 18 cash withdrawals totaling over $111,000. They suspect that her dead boss Abe Bennett could have been using those funds to play the market and lose.

Because of Mrs. Rothstein's interest in the money, "Legal action against the firm is imminent," one investigator says. Just then, he show Margaret a withdrawal sheet with HER signatures. "These are the ones we're most interested in," the man tells her.

* * *

Later, Margaret meets with Mrs. Carolyn Rothstein at her apartment. Margaret tells her that she barely remembers her husband when Carolyn cuts her off asking if Margaret lives in one of his apartments.

"Do I?" she asks.

"Don't work it so hard. It's not like you were his only mistress," the widow quips. Margaret asserts that she and Rothstein were business partners and that she simply gave him information on stocks in exchange for the apartment.

Carolyn says that she has almost nothing to show from 19 years of marriage except buckets of humiliation. Margaret agrees that she, too, knows what it's like to struggle. Carolyn tells Margaret that she wants the money that was in that account. Margaret says that the firm is close to bankrupt.

"Then, I'll sue you personally..." Carolyn tells Peg, who assures she has no money herself. Carolyn then suggest that she'll go to her husband: Nucky Thompson.

"Tell me again there's no money... " she sneers. "Let's see how you like to see your name in the paper next to the words 'notorious husband.'"

OTHER STUFF ON MY MIND

• The title of the episode gets its name from the exchange between Chalky and Fern. Religion and the fear that's derived from it has always played a huge part in 'Empire,' even if it's a tad subconscious and "What Jesus Said" is no different. Even Milton cites the Lord throughout his terrifying exchange with the ladies.

• The keen eye of our readers have informed me that I left out an important historical footnote this week. Nucky and Kennedy were dining at Chef Vola's in Atlantic City, a highly coveted, decorated and private establishment since 1921. Read more from NJ.com's Peter Genovese.

• Check out Chalky drinking his eggs Rocky-style. And willingly. Once again, Chalky referring to someone as 'Buck' as he did Dunn Purnsley.

• Dig those one-piece antique bathing outfits for men. Hilarious.

• The nightspot that Nucky is operating out of is obviously the former Onyx Club. Am I the one one who thinks it looks a tad rundown? A sign of the times, perhaps? Gone are those shimmering Art Deco accents and I notice lots of dark, muted tones. On purpose?

• Are we shocked that murderous playboy Mr. Beckert killed his lady love? After all, someone who waxes poetic about the nature of love — "All or nothing" — to a young boy, probably may be a bit too intense for the pitfalls of any kind of relationship.

Does anyone else think the former Onyx Club looks a little worse for the wear?

• Well, well, well... Looks who's back this episode. It's the man with nine lives, himself. Mickey Doyle is apparently running Nucky's club. Is that stupid on Nucky's part or smart considering that Doyle is just way too inept to ever want to make a move against Nuck?

• Sakes alive, that wooden bar Sally has is gorgeous.

• Um ... Just what in the heck is Margaret doing with over $111,000? Did she take it?

• I'm enjoying the evolution of the Triple Threat known as Charlie, Meyer and Bennie, who I must admit is growing on me. Zegen gives this new Bugsy a menacing nonchalance.

• So what was that letter from Nellie Bly all about?

• Nucky: "There's no law against inside information." Uh, there is NOW, Nuck... In fact, Kennedy was appointed by FDR as the first chairman of the Securities Exchange Commission.

• "Don't work it so hard. It's not like you were his only mistress..." Hasn't the show always gone out of its way to project Rothstein as a loyal husband?

• The party that Rothstein widow Carolyn was referencing where she got her ring took place in the opener of Season 3.

• "Then I thank you for your hospitality and leave you free to have your drink..." Kind of a passive low blow from Kennedy, huh?

Is there trouble ahead for Dr. Narcisse?

• After hiring that hungry teen we see there is a heart in that dopey, scatterbrained noggin of Mickey Doyle's after all, huh?

• Is Margaret going to stay in Atlantic City? I hope so for the story's sake.

• A little tidbit gives us an idea of where Chalky is located. There was mention of Chambersburg being slightly near the house Chalky and Milton were hiding. Located 13 miles north of Maryland, the town is located in the South Central region of Pennsylvania. As a matter of fact, the whole house invasion keeps reminding me of this.

• Astute fans of the show will know that the little girl Mabel that young Nucky meets in this episode would ultimately become his wife. During the course of 'Empire,' we found out that Nucky's wife killed herself after the death of their sickly child, Enoch Thompson, Jr.

• Couldn't you tell it was killing Nucky to drink coffee and seltzer through the whole episode?

• The song playing over the end credits is "The Little Things in Life," written by Irving Berlin. Enjoy this version by Bing Crosby.

Anthony Venutolo may be reached at avenutolo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @AnthonyVenutolo and Google+. Find NJ.com on Facebook.