Blue Bell Boy: Recap of Other Storylines

The main story in Blue Bell Boy is here: Nucky’s Costly Detour. This part recaps the other storylines in the episode.

Margaret and Dr. Mason Take on the Prudes

At St. Teresa’s Hospital, Margaret and Dr. Douglas Mason mince words with a nun who is deciding what language will be permissible in their prenatal literature. She finds the use of the word vagina ‘rather infelicitous language.” Vagina just has a sound she has never enjoyed. Dr. Mason says he never liked the words brussels sprouts but “I don’t deny they exist.” Sister calls that “a peculiar analogy.” Margaret points out that certain subjects will be hard to broach without a vagina. “Intercourse, fertilization, birth…” Mason interjects. “You imagine yourself quite wicked, don’t you, Doctor,”the nun says, “the jackanapes at the back of every classroom, mistaking his sniggering for the wit of the world.” Mason says that sounds more like his cousin Francis. Margaret shoves a package at him with a “you’re not helping” look.

“Pregnant” does not sound as noble as”gravid” to the Bride of Christ. “With child,” Dr. Mason suggests. Menstruation is a “regrettable neologism.” She shoots down Margaret’s references to the Federal government’s use of the term and says she will be attending the class to make sure her instructions are followed. When the sister notices the brown paper boxes, Margaret explains they are Kotex sanitary napkins, a relatively new item (before that they used rags, according to our great-grandmother). How they do enjoy tweaking the sister’s sensibilities but the idea of discussing Kotex with Margaret, let alone trying one, sends the nun off in a huff. Margaret hopes their students aren’t quite as sensitive.

Later crusader Margaret isn’t having much luck handing out flyers on the Boardwalk when she runs into Mrs. Shearer, the lady who miscarried in front of her in Resolution, out with her brood and their daddy. She tells Margaret she already knows everything. Margaret says she also once thought she knew all there was to know but was later “ashamed” at her ignorance. Until she met Mrs. McGarry and learned all about the wonders of Lysol, no doubt.
When Mr. Shearer comes out of the candy shop and asks who Margaret is, Mrs. Shearer shoots her a warning look. Margaret quickly changes gears and tells Mr. Shearer she was simply wishing his wife well and is glad to see she’s doing better. “We’ve said our prayers but that’s how the Lord must have wanted it,” Mr. Shearer says. He’s thankful that Edwina was spared, adding “when she’s up to it, we’ll try again.” Now that Margaret knows who is really in charge of Mrs. Shearer’s reproduction rights, maybe she will tell Edwina about that bottle of Lysol.

Luciano Has a Sit-Down with Big Joe Masseria

In New York, Benny Siegelbaum is getting carried away with the laxative while cutting heroin. Lanksy yells at him to take it easy. “One part laxative. Benny! You want them shitting themselves all over Hester Street?” Luciano enters and wants Benny to leave, but the kid thinks he has earned the right to listen in because he gave Lansky cover in his own near killing last week. “You shot your wad off in the middle of the street…” Luciano scoffs. Lansky says “Benny, we are soitainly going to discuss this but not right now.” (Anyone else notice how he says certainly like Curly Joe of the Three Stooges?) After the angry teen leaves, Luciano says he has to go see Masseria. Lanksy offers to go. Luciano says no way. Masseria hates Lansky’s “punim” now more than ever. “You turn up who knows where this goes…” Lansky tells him to offer two percent and settle at five. “None west of Broadway. None south of Graham.” And one last thing:  “Try not to sit by the window.”

At the meeting, Masseria calls Lucky “the prodigal son,” and immediately directs him to a window seat, with “his name” on it. The nervous hood wants to know if that’s like his name on a headstone, but Masseria assures him nothing like that will happen. He sits down across from one of the thugs involved in the ambush of Benny. “You’re the one that got away,” Luciano observes. In both Italian and English, they haggle over the percentage and area of tribute Masseria should get. Masseria reminisces about Luciano as a young hungry ambitious kid, but always respectful. “What happened to him?” he demands along with 30% of whatever is sold on his turf. He says he doesn’t even know his name, referring to his switch from his birth name Salvatore to Charles. Lucky says he’ll have to talk to his partners. Masseria balefully reminds him that Rothstein and Lansky,  his Jewish partners, are not his people and they will stab him in the back someday. When they do, 30% will look pretty cheap.

Al Capone, Jake Guzik and Sonny:

In Chicago, Al Capone learns that his deaf little boy Sonny is being bulled at school. He can’t believe anyone would bully a kid who can’t hear. His wife points out that none of the kids at Sonny’s school can hear: “Boys will be boys whether they can hear each other or not.” Capone decides that Sonny needs to toughen up. But first some business: Capone picks up some money from ‘Greasy Thumb’ Jake Guzik. Capone, who obviously likes Guzik, goes to the trouble of giving him some advice about his personal hygiene because Jake smells like “a sardine’s twat.”

On his rounds to pick up money for Johnny Torrio, Guzik has the misfortune to encounter Joe Miller, from Dean O’ Banion’s crew. Miller recalls Guzik insulting his boss in “Resolution.” Guzik doesn’t want any problem with him but Miller “dry gulches” him, hitting him from behind by cracking a beer mug over his head. The he beats him unmercifully.

Capone tries to toughen Sonny up by ordering the boy to punch him. Sonny can’t really follow his father’s instructions. He doesn’t understand much except that his father is angry and busts into tears. Capone can’t stand to see his son frightened. He hugs him and tenderly croons: “It’s okay, Sonny. Papa’s got you.” Later, Capone learns what happened to Guzik, who is more upset over Miller making fun of him in front of everyone, than the beating he took. Capone catches up with Miller at the saloon and beats him to death. “You wanna pick on people who can’t defend themselves?” he yells at the corpse. He throws money all over the saloon telling the terrified spectators. “Pay for his funeral.”

Capone goes home and gets a mandolin and wakes up Sonny. As the boy hugs his Papa, Capone plays the mandolin and sings “My Buddy.”