Belle Femme
Encyclopedia
"Belle Femme" is the ninth episode of the first season of the HBO television series Boardwalk Empire, which originally aired 14 November 2010. It was written by staff writer Steve Kornacki and directed by Brad Anderson.
Jimmy returns from Chicago to help Nucky deal with the D'Alessio brothers while Van Alden attempts to arrest Jimmy for the shootings in the woods.
) about how she and Warren met and how, in order for him to win the election, he cannot support her and their child.
Margaret and Nan go to Madame Jeunet's to buy a dress for Nan. Madame Jeunet asks Margaret to persuade Nucky to reduce the amount he is demanding from her in rent. At first, Margaret approaches Nucky directly and fails. Taking Madame Jeunet's advice, she tells Nucky she is worried about not looking good for him if Madame Jeunet's closes. This works, and when Madame Jeunet attempts to thank Margaret for her effort by giving her a dress for Margaret's daughter, Margaret instead uses her newfound influence to get a more expensive dress for herself.
Jimmy appears in Nucky's office, seemingly unannounced, though he claims to have sent a Western Union telegraph. He agrees to accept Nucky's offer, as long as Richard Harrow can join him and that conversations about the work Nucky wants Jimmy to do will be kept between the two of them. Nucky tells Jimmy about the D'Alessio brothers and asks Jimmy to find them and kill them. Unbeknownst to Nucky, Rothstein wants control of the Atlantic City bootlegging operation so he can smuggle in premium alcohol to sell to the rich and powerful.
Jimmy interrupts a party with Angela and Robert and Mary Dittrich. It is implied Robert wanted to have a threesome with Angela and his wife before Jimmy arrived. Angela claims not to have received Jimmy's telegram. Jimmy forcefully kisses Angela and the two eventually have consensual sex.
Van Alden is furious at Agent Sebso for misplacing a telegram sent by Jimmy alerting Nucky that he is coming to Atlantic City.
Gillian springs her trap on Lucky, rendering him helpless before Jimmy takes him away at gunpoint. Lucky is saved when Van Alden, who has been following Jimmy, arrives to arrest him. Jimmy proclaims his innocence, but in jail sees Billy Winslow, who he thinks may have confessed to the murders and exposed him. Agent Sebso convinces Van Alden to let him take Winslow, who has confessed, away from Thompson and Atlantic City. Along the way, Sebso, who is revealed to be corrupt, shoots Winslow and makes it look like an escape attempt.
On the boardwalk, Nucky and Margaret are ambushed by an assassin sent to kill Nucky. Eddie interjects and manages to save Nucky, although an innocent woman is killed. Eddie fires his own gun and hits the shooter in the leg but he manages to escape.
The A.V. Club rated the episode with a B+.
Jimmy returns from Chicago to help Nucky deal with the D'Alessio brothers while Van Alden attempts to arrest Jimmy for the shootings in the woods.
Plot
A wounded Eli identifies the D'Alessio brothers as the men who robbed the casino and shot him. On the boardwalk, Margaret talks to Warren Harding's mistress (Nan BrittonNan Britton
Nan P. "Nanny" Britton was a figure associated with the Presidency of Warren G. Harding due to her claim that Harding fathered her illegitimate daughter shortly before his election as President....
) about how she and Warren met and how, in order for him to win the election, he cannot support her and their child.
Margaret and Nan go to Madame Jeunet's to buy a dress for Nan. Madame Jeunet asks Margaret to persuade Nucky to reduce the amount he is demanding from her in rent. At first, Margaret approaches Nucky directly and fails. Taking Madame Jeunet's advice, she tells Nucky she is worried about not looking good for him if Madame Jeunet's closes. This works, and when Madame Jeunet attempts to thank Margaret for her effort by giving her a dress for Margaret's daughter, Margaret instead uses her newfound influence to get a more expensive dress for herself.
Jimmy appears in Nucky's office, seemingly unannounced, though he claims to have sent a Western Union telegraph. He agrees to accept Nucky's offer, as long as Richard Harrow can join him and that conversations about the work Nucky wants Jimmy to do will be kept between the two of them. Nucky tells Jimmy about the D'Alessio brothers and asks Jimmy to find them and kill them. Unbeknownst to Nucky, Rothstein wants control of the Atlantic City bootlegging operation so he can smuggle in premium alcohol to sell to the rich and powerful.
Jimmy interrupts a party with Angela and Robert and Mary Dittrich. It is implied Robert wanted to have a threesome with Angela and his wife before Jimmy arrived. Angela claims not to have received Jimmy's telegram. Jimmy forcefully kisses Angela and the two eventually have consensual sex.
Van Alden is furious at Agent Sebso for misplacing a telegram sent by Jimmy alerting Nucky that he is coming to Atlantic City.
Gillian springs her trap on Lucky, rendering him helpless before Jimmy takes him away at gunpoint. Lucky is saved when Van Alden, who has been following Jimmy, arrives to arrest him. Jimmy proclaims his innocence, but in jail sees Billy Winslow, who he thinks may have confessed to the murders and exposed him. Agent Sebso convinces Van Alden to let him take Winslow, who has confessed, away from Thompson and Atlantic City. Along the way, Sebso, who is revealed to be corrupt, shoots Winslow and makes it look like an escape attempt.
On the boardwalk, Nucky and Margaret are ambushed by an assassin sent to kill Nucky. Eddie interjects and manages to save Nucky, although an innocent woman is killed. Eddie fires his own gun and hits the shooter in the leg but he manages to escape.
Critical reception
IGN gave the episode a score of 9 calling it "Outstanding" saying "I've never chatted about any television series around a watercooler. But if I lived anywhere near a time when that really happened, pretty sure Boardwalk Empire's "Belle Femme" would be the topic of discussion. And if you're one of the few out there not watching, then you're missing out on some great conversation."The A.V. Club rated the episode with a B+.