Tonight on HBO Terence Winter’s Boardwalk Empire starring Steve Buscemi returns with an all new Sunday September 14, Season 5 episode 2 called, “The Good Listener.” On tonight’s show Nucky visits Johnny Torrio in New York City to discuss his close call in Cuba and find out if new Mafia boss Salvatore Maranzano had anything to do with it. Meanwhile, law-school graduate Willie has a job interview; Eli and Nelson’s liquor stash is raided by Eliot Ness in Chicago; and Joseph Kennedy listens to Nucky’s pitch for post-Prohibition prosperity. Also: A young Nucky and his family mourn the loss of his sister, Susan, in 1884.
On last week’s season premiere, Nucky was awash in memories from pier-boy days growing up in 1884 Atlantic City, when the young Nucky caught the eye of the Commodore. In 1931 Cuba, Nucky joined Sally Wheet and, with a U.S. Senator in tow, forged ties with Bacardi Rum in hopes of Prohibition’s repeal in the U.S. Working on Wall Street, Margaret found herself in the hot seat when her boss, faced an internal investigation, decided his own future. Down but never out, Chalky seized an opportunity to extricate himself from a difficult situation. In New York, Lucky Luciano set in motion a bold plan that reverberated all the way to Nucky in Cuba. Did you watch last week’s episode? If you want to get caught up before it airs we have a full and detailed recap, right here for you.
Back from Cuba after a dangerous encounter, Nucky pays a visit to the now-retired Johnny Torrio (Greg Antonacci), who agrees to broker a meeting with the new “Boss of Bosses,” Salvatore Maranzano (Giampiero Judica). In Chicago, Eli (Shea Whigham) and Van Alden (Michael Shannon) are tasked by Mike D’Angelo (Louis Cancelmi), Al Capone’s (Stephen Graham) new right-hand man, to recoup money lost during a federal raid by Eliot Ness (Jim True-Frost). Fresh out of law school, Willie Thompson (Ben Rosenfield) has a job interview. Rebuffed by a group of would-be financiers, Nucky dines with Tonino Sandrelli (Chris Caldovino) before sending a message to Lansky (Anatol Yusef) and Luciano (Vincent Piazza). In 1884, a young Nucky deals with the death of his sister, Susan (Onata Aprile), while his father (Ian Hart) has a standoff with the Commodore.
Tonight’s episode is going to be another action packed one, which you won’t want to miss. So be sure to tune in for our live coverage of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire Season 5 Premiere — tonight at 9PM EST!
Tonight’s episode begins now – Refresh Page for Updates
Tonight’s episode opens with Eli looking worse for wear. He wakes up in Chicago at the top of the warehouse and he watches Federal Agents going through all the alcohol and arresting people. He turns around and walks away.
Meanwhile Johnny Torrio is having tea with Nucky in New York. Torrio tells Johnny that he know show is moving on him and implies that it is Al Capone. He then lets Nucky know that Joe Masserai is dead. Nucky wants to know if Johnny knows who tried to have him clipped. Nucky does not think it is a coincidence that Joe was killed and he had an attempt on his life. Nucky suspects Myer Lansky. Johnny tells him to take the hint and retire.
Flashback: Nucky sister Susan dies and Nucky is watching his mother praying over Susan’s body. Nucky’s father Ethan tells Nucky and Eli to say a prayer for their sister. The undertakers are late and Nucky’s mother asks his father if money is the reason the undertakers are not coming. She is upset because Susan will be buried in Potter’s Field.
Eli’s son Will is going for an interview with Robert Hodge. The interview is going well and the interviewer asks him if he is related to Nucky Thompson. Will comments, “You don’t get to choose your relatives.” Robert dismisses him, he tells Will he gets to choose his employees. Will begs Robert to give him a chance.
Meanwhile over with Al Capone he is living it up. Mike comes in to speak to Al and tells him that the Feds came in and took just shy of $20,000. It seems George Mueller (Van Alden) was suppose to pay off the Feds, but the Fed guy says he never saw George. Al Capone tells him that Mueller better get his money.
D’Angelo is blaming Mueller for the money loss and tells him he has 24 hrs to get the money. D’Angelo leaves and Mueller turns around to Eli and tells him it is his fault. Eli promises he will get the money back. Mueller tells Eli he reeks of urine.
Gillian Darmody is in a steam-bath in an insane asylum. A disturbance starts up and a guard comes in. She reminds them that they are there to be good and if they are good Doctor Cotten is happy. She ends bath time. The guard comes over to Gillian who is still in the bath and asks what she is. Angela replies, “a good girl.” Angela asks her if she can get what she asked for and the guard replies, “if I get what I asked for.”
Nucky is at a meeting with the Board members of the Mayflower Grain corp. and he asks if he can speak to them. They ask Nucky why they should listen to him. Nucky tells them he has exclusive rights to Bacardi Rum. Nucky suggest they go into partnership because of his experience. Once of the men asks what is his experience to be in the liquor business. Nucky replies that for the past 11 years, “he is one of the most successful bootleggers.”
Nucky tells the Boardmembers he is fairly certain Repeal is going to happen but they are not interested.
Nucky leaves and one of the Boardmembers came up to him and tells him that he has gotten the rights to distribute Duers and Champagne to UK. Once the man leaves someone else comes up to Nucky and gives him a message from Torrio, Sal Maranzano wants to meet Nucky.
Flashback: Nucky did not show up at his job sweeping and The Commodore reprimands him. Nucky tells them his sister died. The Commode tells Nucky to find solace in his work and send him away.
Over with George Mueller his son Chester comes to ask him why do clouds float. George gives him an answer and then shoos him away. George comes up to his wife and sees her smoking, he tells her it is not lady like. He criticizes his wife’s English he wants his children to learn proper English.
Nucky is at a meeting with Maranzano. Nucky asks Maranzano why he tried to kill him, he claims he did not. Nucky tells them he saw Luciano’s partner Meyer just before the attempt was made on his life. Maranzano claims he only met Meyer Lansky once. Maranzano also assures Nucky he does not have to be afraid of him. Nucky replies, “who says I was afraid.” Nucky leaves with Johnny Torrio and asks if he should believe Maranzano. Torrio tells him he has to get out of this mess.
George and Eli are together and George asks how long it has been since Eli saw his wife. Eli replies, “6 years.”
George and Eli are robbing someone. The people they robbed the money to replace Capone’s lost $20K from tell them they are dead it is Al Capone’s money. Eli shoots them both dead.
Nucky accepts that he has to live with the choices he has made good and bad. He says he is this close to getting a liquor deal with the big shot’s grain company. He says, “the trick is to know when to cash out.”
Luciano is with Meyer Lansky and Benny and Maranzano’s man walks in after getting his “knob polished” (he is a total rat). Luciano and Meyer want to know if Maranzano is suspicious. He wants to know if Maranzano believes that Luciano and Meyer are on the outs. Luciano thinks it is too soon after Masseria’s death to move on Maranzano. Maranzano’s man equivocates
Flashback: Nucky’s boss The Commodore comes to pay his respects to Nucky’s father. The Commodore offers his father, Ethan money to give Nucky’s sister a proper burial. He tells Nucky to take the day off but Nucky says he wants to go to work. Ethan runs The Commodore off with a shotgun and after he leaves Ethan pockets the money.
Will and Nucky are having a bite together. Nucky asks Will what the man who interviewed him was like. Nucky wants to know if Nucky’s name came up. Will lies and says, “no.” Nucky tells Will he is proud of him and his Dad would be proud of him too.
Meanwhile, George and Eli come to see Al Capone and tell him there was an accident. Al asks George what he brought for lunch and George empties a bag of money on Al’s desk.
Elliot Ness is holding a press conference and vows to fight the Capone mob. He is going to fight to win for the mother, fathers and school children.
Nucky is having a meeting at a restaurant – and there is the rat who works for Maranzano again. Nucky wants to know who it was who spoiled his vacation. The man tells him it was Lansky, that Luciano and Lansky are biding their time and making Maranzano feel like King. The man assures Nucky that Maranzano has no issue with Nucky. Nucky wants to know if Maranzano has an idea what Luciano and Lansky are up to, but the rat claims Maranzano has no idea. Nucky tells the manv(the rat) to tell Nucky’s man where Lansky is and in the morning the man should come and visit Nucky.
Flashback: Nucky and his family are having the burial for his sister.
Current time Eli is listening to the radio and he is sobbing, he misses his family.
The guard lets Gillian out and Gillian asks if she is sure they should, “be doing this.” The guard tells Angela she is the boss. The guard takes her jacket off and Angela tells her she has a lovely figure. The guard continues to undress, Angela take a dress out of a trunk and lifts it up to the guard. The guard asks if it flatters her. Gillian agrees it does with a few nips and tucks. Gillian picks up a pen and a pad that the guard got for her.
Over at the brothel/speakeasy where Meyer is the front door opens and a body is thrown in. Meyer goes over and turns the body around, it is Maranzano’s man (the rat) who has been informing on everyone. He is dead and there is a postcard stuck to his head that says, “Greetings from Havana!” Nucky has sent Meyer a message that he knows!
THE END!
To check out the spoilers for the episode 3 season 5 “What Jesus Said,” Click Here!
