5. Erlkönig — Episode — Boardwalk Empire

5. Erlkönig

Nucky heads to Philadelphia to deal with the fallout from Willie's liquor fiasco. Eddie Kessler is detained by Agent Knox, who uses physical and psychological tactics to elicit information about Nucky's organization. A desperate Gillian turns to an unexpected source to score a fix, and is rebuffed in her attempt to reunite with Tommy. In Cicero, Van Alden is recruited by the Capones to pay an election day visit to factory workers who are opposed to the Capones' candidate of choice.

Plot summary and ending

Spoilers ahead. Coverage follows the scope labeled below.

Complete story — includes the ending

Knox torments Eddie and reveals his dark past, pushing him to betrayal. Willie, arrested over the death of schoolmate Henry Gaines, phones Nucky. Gillian, desperate to regain custody of Tommy but losing her grip, turns to Dunn for a fix. Van Alden is enlisted by Frank and Al Capone to bust some Democrat supporters' heads; Frank is shot by deputized Chicago agents. Nucky has Willie stick to a false alibi, pays off the Philadelphia DA to free him and leaves him with some avuncular advice shortly before Willie's roommate is arrested for Gaines' death. Eddie, back at the Albatross and guilt-ridden about betraying Nucky's trust, jumps out of his window to his death.

Sources and content license

Source and revision history · Adapted from Wikipedia contributors, Boardwalk Empire season 4. HTML formatting and reference markers removed. · Content license