Margaret Gets a $480 Dress – Boardwalk Empire

Belle Femme: Season 1 Episode 9

Little Intrigues

At the end of “Hold Me in Paradise” (Ep. 8), Margaret was perusing Nucky’s ledger in his office, against his specific instructions, we might add. No outraged followup or stricken conscience was evident on Margaret’s part in Episode 9. Margaret is taking care of Nan Britton, who is expounding upon “love at first sight.” They’re on the boardwalk not far from Dittrich’s Photography Studio.

Interesting Aside: Nice hats, huh? In one scene, it’s mentioned that it’s mid-July (1920). Comfort air-conditioning was not available for a few more years. Anyone who’s ever been in Atlantic City in mid-July can tell you that it’s often hot as hell!

Nan Britton’s not exactly a scintillating conversationalist but relates how she fell in love with Warren Harding at first sight, “the handsomest man” she ever saw when she was 16. Margaret says when she first heard that Harding was running for president, she thought it was Houdini’s brother, Hardeen. Oblivious Nan continues her romantic soliloquy: “He loves me and he loves his baby daughter, but America needs him and so I have to sacrifice.” Margaret takes her to the Belle Femme for a few outfits for the season.

Madame Isabelle Jeunet has a new assistant, a Polish lady named Maryska, who she complains is a cow and has no grace — displaying the same contempt she first treated Margaret with. She then flatters Margaret on how she “has blossomed.” She also tells Margaret how she now has to pay double to stay in business and asks her to speak to Nucky. Margaret is at a loss on how to go about that. “Tell him he’s handsome, how happy he makes you and how can you buy the things that make you pretty for him if there is no Belle Femme,” Madame Jeunet says, “You have power that you do not suspect.” Later when Margaret tries to test out that power, it doesn’t go very well. An agitated Nucky refuses to discuss this “unsuitable topic” and, much to Margaret’s dismay, gets up and leaves. When they are in bed later on, Nucky wants her to get him the women’s vote. A persistent Margaret tells Nucky she wants the Belle Femme to stay in business because Madame Jeunet is the only one she trusts to make her look pretty. Nucky understands the whim of a mistress a lot better than a favor he doesn’t owe. Later at the dress shop, Nan Britton is looking for something special to wear to the inaugural “after Warren is sworn in.” (She doesn’t even wonder what Mrs. Harding might be wearing!) She eyes an expensive $480 blue evening gown.

Madame Jeunet takes Margaret aside and kisses her on both cheeks: “You have rescued me, merci beaucoup,” she coos. She starts laying the flattery on a little too thick. “The first day you came here, I say to myself ‘this is a lady of taste and judgment.’” Margaret reminds her that she was initially treated no better than the Polish girl: “You said I needed to bathe more often …” Jeunet blames it on the language gap and attempts to show her gratitude with a beautiful dress and ivory brush for Margaret’s daughter, Emily. “My daughter didn’t help you, Madame Jeunet,” Margaret says pointedly, “I did.” Nan Britton comes out with the $480 dress on and as they turn to look at her, Madame Jeunet shoots Margaret a look of utter disgust, realizing she isn’t getting off cheap after all, before masking her emotions. Later, at a dinner show featuring the Last of the Red Hot Mamas, Sophie Tucker, singing “Some of These Days,” Margaret is wearing the $480 number. She’s the girl in the “alice-blue gown,” not Nan. Margaret is especially gratified (but not for long) when her elegance does not go unnoticed by Nucky, who tells her how beautiful she looks.

Angela, Mary Dittrich and her husband (or maybe they’re not legally married either?) are at her home about to indulge in a bottle of wine and Angela’s very first menage à trois when who should knock at the door but Jimmy! Fortunately, no one has taken anything off yet. Jimmy insists on renewing their physical relationship and overcomes Angela’s initial resistance. Two-way or three, Angela just wasn’t up to putting her foot down either way.

The next day at breakfast, Jimmy tells her their prospects are looking up thanks to an offer Nucky has made and they’ll be moving in no time flat: “Marvin Gardens, those beach houses on Ventnor, how does that sound?” (like the yellow properties on Monopoly, honey!) Jimmy then suggests they have another baby, and asks little Tommy if he wants a brother. Little Tommy says “yeah,” and that settles it for Jimmy.

Angela turns up later at the photography show where Mary Dittrich’s husband tells her that his art dealer friend is no longer interested in her work and is staying in Europe. Now that Jimmy’s back, that should ease her financial burden, and honestly, her style’s not much more than a cheap imitation of Mary Cassatt. This guy is such a sleazy moron, you just know that whole art dealer thing was a crock to begin with.

Part 2: Big Intrigues

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