Margaret Schroeder: Why Have Airs?

Well, there may be a good reason, after all …

In “A Dangerous Maid,” Margaret Schroeder (Kelly Macdonald) sets out to give Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi). more indications of how ingenious she is by sending back some of her finery to “La Belle Femme.” Far from being impressed or grateful that she is thinking ahead, Nucky tells her it is more important that ever that she dress her best so they don’t look like they’re feeling the pinch.

This is just another of many little things that go on between Margaret and Nucky that say “these two are not on the same wavelength at all,” but it kind of gets lost with all the other stuff going on in Boardwalk Empire.

Margaret tracked down her relatives in Brooklyn with the help of the Pinkerton Detective Agency and she’s in bed looking at the information when she hears Nucky coming.

She stuffs the material in the drawer and pretends to be reading a book. Somehow Nucky knows something’s up with her, so he must know her better than we think, because most men with his problems would have accepted her explanation that the book she was reading had some effect on her. She tells him about her relatives and notes that the parting was not easy. Nucky says there’s a phone number she can call, then says he wants to take her to Paris when they can get away. They can even take the kids if she wants. She demurs, saying she is quite happy where she is. It’s an uncomfortable exchange to watch — it’s clearly not the response Nucky was looking for.

Later, Margaret enlists the help of her maid, Katy, in calling the number and asking for Peggy Rohan. Katy is told that Peggy has been dead for 12 years. This bit of news sends Margaret into a tailspin and Katy sees her weeping alone inconsolably. Then Margaret comes upon the household help having an amiable chat and a few wee drops. When they see her, they of course try to stop and get back to work, but Margaret asks if it’s a private party, sits down with them and asks for a nip. She asks Katy if she was born in Ireland. Katy says no, and she tells her if she was, she wouldn’t have wanted to stay there. She also tells her to stop calling her m’am. “Why have airs?” They can call her by her given name. Nucky comes home and looks quizzically at what is going on. He tells Margaret to get dressed. He is taking her out to dinner.

At Babette’s, we finally get some real action out of this episode. The Commodore is having dinner with the Governor and Jimmy Darmody. The Commodore is also eating the last lobster thermidor, which Nucky tried to order for Margaret. It’s the last straw and Nucky confronts them, throwing the Commodore’s lobster on the floor, warning them that he will ruin them all.

When they return home, Nucky is feeling exultant and kisses Margaret with more passion than she was anticipating. “What’s that for?” she says. Katy is standing by waiting to pick up where they left off, and assume the role of confidante. She has figured out that Peggy Rohan is Margaret, whose parting with her relatives was a lot more than “not easy.” They’ve been telling folks she’s dead for these past 12 years!

“Your secret is safe with me,” Katy says, but Margaret shuts Katy down with a cold imperious look. “That will be all,” she replies.

Margaret may not have the dance with Nucky down yet, but at least she won’t be fraternizing with the help anymore.

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