Boardwalk Empire

Good day, ladies and gentlemen.

This is Robert Hodge,

United States Attorney for the Southern District,

speaking to you here in New York City.

My fellow citizens, we are at war.

Not against a foreign potentate.

Not against a bloodthirsty despot.

We are at war against an army of hoodlums

who have made our streets unsafe for decent people.

Fear, intimidation, violence.

These are the tools of this nefarious scoundrel

known as the modem-day criminal.

From the Lower East Side to Harlem,

Brooklyn to New Jersey,

-stretching as far south as Atlantic City. -(DOOR OPENS)

Bloodshed and mayhem are the currency

-of these reprobates, thugs, and bootleggers -(DOOR OPENS)

as they struggle for control of our nation's streets.

Both Governor Roosevelt and I remain committed to this battle,

- Which we must and Will Win. -(PHONE RINGING)

Together, with the offices of Police Commissioner Mulrooney

and District Attorney Crain,

my staff and I are working round the clock

to make certain these cowards are brought to justice.

I give you my solemn word

that I shall not rest till every man, woman, and child

can once again safely walk our streets.

This has been Robert Hodge

broadcasting from New York City.

Nineteen men dead between us,

at least a million in lost revenue,

-and no goddamn end in sight. -(PHONE RINGS)

- Calm, Mr. Thompson. - Yes, you've been saying that for weeks.

Like all impetuous children, Luciano will make a mistake.

And while we're waiting, how are we supposed to eat?

Hey, Nuck. - What?

Twelve of our trucks were firebombed.

Nearly 100 grand up in smoke.

- God fucking damn it! -(SHATTERING)

You had mentioned Mr. Capone in Chicago.

- Perhaps with additional support... - He's cut me loose. Don't you get it?

- We're on our own here. - All that happens, happens as it should.

Then why see a doctor, Sal?

Why get out of the way of an oncoming train?

Why get out of the fucking bed in the morning?

I'm counseling restraint.

We are playing a game of chess.

I've played chess and I've never had an opponent try to kill me.

I'm counseling action.

As in stringing this Luciano up by his fucking ball sack.

You're tired. Understandably so.

As am I.

I will send more men to guard your trucks.

And in the meantime, if Luciano shows a hair...

I will cut it.

Along with his fucking throat.

Car's ready, Mr. Maranzano.

Gave it a good scrubbing. Got the bugs off your windscreen.

Bravo, picciotto.

So we may all see clearly the road ahead.

Tired of waiting on him.

Oh, no, that's okay. My pleasure.

Really, but thank you.

We talked about last night.

Aren't you the kid told me he was hungry?

Doing okay now.

Fill your gut a lot quicker with this than a shammy.

How's that make you feel?

- What are you doing? - It's all hands on deck, ain't it?

You're not part of this, you understand?

Take Archie and Sean, head to New York.

For what?

I could be impetuous myself.

-(VIOLIN PLAYING SCALES) -(DOG BARKING)

Oh, if it ain't the macher of Willett Street.

Your husband around?

He went to Aqueduct for the morning.

Then I'll just grab what I came for.

And the book.

I bought the book.

With What?

The money I had.

Where'd you get the money?

- You can't prove it. - I don't have to prove it, you do.

That's not how the law works.

Give it to me anyway.

- You have a library? - Yes.

How many books?

Just that one for now.

But it's the proper thing to do.

Who taught you that? Your mother?

Everybody comes from somewhere.

Where do you come from?

From here.

Born here. Family's here.

Where's your family?

It's rude to ask personal questions.

I'm sorry to offend you.

But here's our situation.

- You stole all these things. - I didn't...

Except for the book.

A legal scholar such as yourself

should know that's called larceny.

You've been sleeping on the boardwalk.

That's vagrancy.

So I could put you in a cell

and you can sit there until you decide to talk.

Or I could help you.

Why would you do that?

You look like you might need help.

Where are your parents?

Who looks after you?

Where did you learn what's proper?

915 Haddon Avenue.

- There's no Haddon Avenue in Atlantic City. - It's in Trenton.

Whose house is that?

Nobody's house.

Is it a school?

Is it an orphanage?

My name is in that book.

If you take it, you're stealing from me and you're certainly no gentleman.

I need you to pull all the prostitution cases north of 110th Street.

You need me to?

- Mr. Hodge does. - Right.

I'm sorry, okay? I don't make the assignments.

- Would it be any different if you did? - Yes.

I know you're good at your job.

- Mr. Hodge does, too. It's just... -(PHONE RINGING)

You have to admit this is all a little sensitive given your family background.

Sensmve?

What is that code for? Thompson can't be trusted?

If anyone felt like that, you'd have been fired by now.

Thompson. - Or never hired in the first place.

Thompson.

- Call for you. - All right.

Thompson.

Hello?

Hey, Willie, it's your father.

- Where are you? - I'm in town.

What are you doing?

I just flew into town and I was wondering if...

- No, I can't. - Maybe...

No, I can't.

- I understand. I was just thinking... - I...

- Not till this evening. - Okay. Okay.

Everything okay?

Let me get you the rest of those files.

It's an orphanage in Trenton.

Doesn't seem to be a telephone.

I can bring her back tomorrow,

but it will be most of the day, coming and going.

Why did she run off?

I couldn't get it out of her.

Sounds rather harsh.

I didn't do anything. I brought her here.

She must have a reason.

Everyone has a reason. Murderers have reasons.

You said she stole cigarettes.

I just mean you can only help someone so much.

Who are you trying to persuade?

I'll take her back in the morning. It's all I can do.

If that's how you see it.

What do you want from me?

- What do you want from yourself? - I'm try...

I'm trying to do the right thing here.

I haven't even had supper yet.

Next time, get here earlier.

You won't have to work so fast.

Then I'd have to talk to you.

-(LAUGHS) -(MUFFLED CHATTER)

- Hey, Talia. - What?

- I think I left my tongue down there. -(LAUGHS)

Ben Siegel. I can't believe it.

Hey, Morris.

What brings you to the neighborhood?

Schnorrer upstairs owes me money.

- Feigenbaum? He's a prick and a half. - I don't name names.

John Hancock for my wife?

Everybody knows who you are.

Sure thing. Clara, right?

Talia.

I'm thinking of my aunt.

My pep, your pop, same minyan at Bialystoker.

Yeah, he's praying for both of us.

- Oh! -(BOTH LAUGH)

Like that joke, right?

Rich man and a poor man.

And they're both davening at the same...

Look who it is. Look, Ben Siegel.

-(EXHALES) Talk about bad pennies. - Why you got to be like that for?

With you, it's always crepe-hanging.

This is an important person.

And please, put on a dress. It's the middle of the day.

What are you...