7. Friendless Child

Complete story — includes the ending

Back in the past, Deputy Nucky has now moved young Gillian into his home, where she is groomed and cared for by Mabel. Sheriff Lindsay resigns and hands his sheriff's badge to Nucky, having finally reached the limits of his conscience. Nucky learns the ugly reality of what it means to work for the Commodore. Seeing a young girl shivering and clutching her clothes to herself within and the partially clothed Commodore hurriedly leaving, Deputy Nucky is left with the clear knowledge that the Commodore is a child molester. At war with Luciano, Nucky looks to hold onto his assets in Atlantic City. Nucky has Bugsy Siegel kidnapped after a gun battle that leaves Siegel with a bullet in the leg, though Luciano initially appears unmoved by his friend's plight. Released by Mike D'Angelo and assumed dead by Al Capone, Eli tries to reconcile with his son Will in a painful meeting outside his workplace. Eli walks away from the meeting, leaving an emotionally conflicted Will, but does not get far before witnessing Pinky Rabinowitz kidnap Will. Nucky, Luciano and Lansky later meet to make an exchange of hostages. Desperate to save Will, Nucky offers everything he has and offers to take care of Maranzano within the next twenty-four hours. Knowing that ownership of the club will now go to Luciano and Lansky, Mickey Doyle tries to approach them and wheedle to retain management but is shot in the throat by an unimpressed Luciano. Maranzano and his men are murdered at his office by Nucky’s men posing as federal agents. Lansky and Luciano chat with Torrio and agree that Atlantic City will go to Pinky. Sitting alone, Nucky contemplates everything that has happened and finally opens and reads the letter sent to him from Gillian Darmody, who pleads for him to show the same compassion and help he offered her as a young child.