‘Boardwalk Empire’ recap: Chalky’s on the run; Margaret’s in trouble

After escaping prison with a half-crazy partner, Chalky White (Michael Kenneth Williams) becomes a reluctant hostage-taker on “What Jesus Said,” Episode 51 of HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire.”

Chalky and fellow fugitive Milton (Warner Miller) break into a house to rob a safe. But the scheme goes awry when they’re discovered by a schoolgirl, Fern (Olivia Nikkanen); and her terrified mother, Marie (Mary Bacon).

Wanting no part of this, Chalky urges an immediate exit. Milton controls the gun, however, and refuses to leave without the money.

Fern is about the same age as Chalky’s daughter Maybelle (Christina Jackson) when she was killed during an assassination attempt on drug kingpin Dr. Valentin Narcisse (Jeffrey Wright). Chalky blames himself for the tragedy and believes there’s no chance for redemption.

“There’s forgiveness for everyone,” Fern says, trying to befriend her captor. “That’s what Jesus said.”

“Baby girl,” Chalky bitterly replies, “Jesus was wrong!”

Chalky was unable to save his beloved daughter but he does rescue Fern and Marie. When Milton flies into a rage upon realizing there’s no cash in the safe, Chalky kills him with a hammer.

As for Chalky’s nemesis Narcisse, he’s extorted for protection money by Charles “Lucky” Luciano (Vince Piazza) and Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel (Michael Zegen), who covet a piece of the gambling, prostitution and heroin rackets in Harlem.

“What I have belongs to me,” Narcisse insists. But he may come to regret those words, for his brothel is brutally attacked by thugs.

In Atlantic City, meanwhile, Enoch “Nucky” Thompson (Steve Buscemi) is intent on becoming a legitimate liquor distributor once Prohibition ends. Needing a wealthy business associate, Nucky woos stock market trader Joseph Kennedy Sr. (Matt Letscher).

Why team with Nucky, Joe asks, as opposed to other bootleggers?

“Those men are gangsters,” Nucky says, while he’s “an advocate for repeal” of Prohibition laws.

And what does Nucky truly want out of their partnership?

“I want to leave something behind,” he admits. For Nucky could lose his life and his criminal enterprise in a heartbeat as rival mobsters battle for dominance.

Gangster Arnold Rothstein (Michael Stuhlbarg) lost his empire when he was gunned down for refusing to pay a gambling debt. Now his widow Carolyn (Shae D’lyn) has sold most of their possessions to make ends meet.

One source of money is Arnold’s account at Conors and Gould, a Wall Street brokerage where Nucky’s estranged wife Margaret (Kelly Macdonald) works. Although Arnold was murdered three years ago, there were numerous account withdrawals since that time.

Turns out that Margaret’s late boss Robert Bennett (Patch Darragh) illegally siphoned the funds to play the stock market. And Margaret’s signatures are on the documents.

With attorneys poised to sue the firm, Margaret visits Carolyn out of desperation.

“Nineteen years of marriage,” Carolyn laments. “Do you know what I have to show for it? This tea set, that hideous chair, this ring and humiliation. Arnold left me buckets of that.”

When Margaret reveals that the brokerage is nearly bankrupt, Carolyn threatens to sue her personally. And when Margaret claims she’s a widow struggling to support her children, Carolyn catches her in a lie.

She knows Margaret is still married to Nucky. And she knows Nucky is one of the most successful bootleggers on the East Coast.

Having nowhere else to turn, Margaret goes home to Nucky and finds him dozing. He dreams of Mabel, his deceased first wife, and calls out to see if she’s there.

“I’m afraid not,” Margaret says with her endearing Irish accent.

And Nucky? He greets his spouse with a wide smile – something not seen in a long time.