Eldorado (Boardwalk Empire)

The series finale of *Boardwalk Empire*, titled "Eldorado," is the eighth episode of the fifth season and the 56th episode of the HBO drama. It aired on October 26, 2014. Terence Winter and Howard Korder wrote the episode, with Tim Van Patten directing. The story follows protagonist Nucky Thompson as he attempts to settle his affairs and leave the bootlegging business, while his past catches up with him.

In 1897, Nucky, now Deputy Sheriff of Atlantic County, learns that his wife Mabel has miscarried. Later, his brother Eli calls him to stop their father from beating their mother. Nucky fights his father and warns him not to harm her again; his father retorts that Nucky can never escape his origins. At a town parade, the Commodore demands Nucky’s badge but offers to make him sheriff if he brings Gillian to him—implying the Commodore intends to rape her. After hesitating, Nucky approaches Gillian, saying the Commodore wants to help her, and promises to always look after her.

In 1931, having lost his Atlantic City holdings, Nucky goes for a swim in the ocean. In New York, Kennedy’s business associates sell their shares after Nucky manipulates Mayflower Grain stock. Kennedy suspects Nucky and confronts Margaret, who convinces him to short sell his own shares. Margaret helps Kennedy and Nucky profit heavily, and Kennedy offers her a business partnership. She meets Nucky at an apartment he plans to buy, tells him of her success, and they share a slow dance. Nucky returns to Atlantic City to leave for good, saying goodbye to Eli, giving him money, and urging him to reunite with his family. He visits Gillian in a sanatorium, saying he can only set up a trust fund for her release. Gillian says nothing, then asks an unrelated question about ladybugs. As she leaves, she winces in pain, clutching her abdomen—implying she underwent the same procedure that left another woman catatonic.

In New York, Luciano and Lansky gather major crime bosses to form The Commission, a body to mediate between crime organizations. On Luciano’s orders, Siegel kills Narcisse outside his Harlem church. In Chicago, Capone receives a court summons after authorities obtain his ledgers. He boasts the tax evasion charges won’t stick, says goodbye to his son, and heads to court, where D’Angelo waits.