Everyone at the table had donned their versions of black attire except him. Eli was the sheriff, so his formal wear had to be his uniform. Neary put on his black three-piece suit with a tie, quipping about everything thrown at him. O'Neil had his black tuxedo and white bow tie, always behind on jokes and ideas. Right across Eli sat Mayor Bachrach. A puppet in a striped suit. Everyone knows who's in charge in this county. At the other end of the table was Paddy Ryan, a young politician on the rise. Nucky was only deputy sheriff at his age. And I even lower. There was also Al Boyd in his brown three-piece, who was almost average on every account - for a ward boss, that is. He wasn't as slow or had as rich parents as O'Neil, but neither was he as quick or resourceful as Neary. They had been chatting for almost an hour now, two hours behind the appointed time. He ditched us for Women's Temperance League? Nucky was fond of women all right, but temperance? Not so much.
Finally, Nucky came fashionably late in his dapper black tuxedo and went straight for the main seat as if everyone here were early by an hour, following him was a grim Jimmy. If I were that kid, I'd be grim all day.
After a quick greeting and joking, Nucky held up his cup and came right down to business. "To those beautiful, ignorant bastards!" He meant everyone involved in passing the Volstead Act. Eli put on a fake smile and joined the others. And what are you gonna do about that, dear big brother? That act is far beyond your reach.
Nucky then mentioned the alcohol price will increase 20-fold. Really? And they should start their own bootlegging business right now. You forgot about me? The sheriff? Am I supposed to arrest my brother by then?
"What about the law?" O'Neil wasn't so slow this time. "Dogcatchers with badges! With due respect to dogcatchers." Nucky returned joyfully. What the fuck did you call me? You used to be in my place once. Eli's fake smile disappeared abruptly as he threw a semi-angry look at Nucky. Nucky patted him on the shoulder in a seemingly apologetic fashion. Eli eyed everyone around the table. They seemed to know this was coming. We're going into this dirty business now? There surely is one thing that you love more than women, big brother.
Nucky then went on to the second business regarding the two young gentlemen at the table. Paddy Ryan was appointed chief clerk of the fourth ward and Jimmy Darmody was to be Paddy's man. This Paddy kid is just as young, if not younger, as Neary when he was elected a clerk. But the late bloomer Nucky Thompson took over this town from Commodore. We Thompson brothers run this town now. A grin snuck upon his cheek just when another hostile grin crept onto Jimmy's cheek. Honestly, this kid. What the hell was he thinking? This whole town could have been his. Now he's just a lackey.
New Year was only a few minutes away. They all went downstairs for the countdown with their "dance partners" except Nucky, who was with his beau, Lucy, a dancer and actress. Eli loved his wife June, but it wouldn't hurt if he had a taste of other females every now and then, just a taste.
Jimmy didn't get one, obviously. Maybe he really loves his son and fiance even more than I June and the kids. It turned out he didn't plan to stay after the New Year at all. He said something to Nucky as Lucy started a wild dance. Nucky looked worried for a few seconds and said something back, but soon forgot everything when Lucy's dance went even wilder.
Eli looked at his partner as they danced casually. I never could have imagined starting a new decade like this in 1910. Dancing in the finest restaurant? Running this town with Nucky? He held his partner closer and started his first clumsy waltz of this decade.