Family Limitation (Boardwalk Empire)

"Family Limitation" is the sixth episode of Boardwalk Empire's first season, airing on October 24, 2010. Howard Korder, the supervising producer, wrote it, and executive producer Tim Van Patten directed.

In the episode, two D'Alessio brothers rob one of Nucky's bagmen on the Boardwalk in daylight. Believing the thieves are Italian, Nucky suspects Luciano is behind it. Margaret asks Mrs. McGarry, the Temperance League chairwoman, whether she should accept Nucky's offer to move in. Mrs. McGarry, uncomfortable that Nucky hasn't proposed marriage, tells Margaret to decide for herself and gives her a Sanger pamphlet on birth control. Luciano, sleeping with Gillian, confides his impotence problem caused by recurring gonorrhea. Rothstein informs him that Gillian is Jimmy's mother, not his wife.

In Chicago, Jimmy advises Torrio not to retreat from Sheridan's territory, arguing it would make them look weak. He spends time with Capone's family and discovers that Capone's son Sonny, passed off as an "idiot," is actually deaf. After reconciling with Sheridan, the hotel coat checker (Capone's wife) gives Jimmy and Capone hidden guns, which they use to kill Sheridan and his men.

Torrio praises Jimmy for organizing the ambush, angering Capone. They trade insults about Jimmy's nerves and Capone's lies about his war record. Later, Capone visits Jimmy with a gift of steaks; they reconcile, and Capone admits his fear about Sonny's disability. Jimmy encourages him to hope that modern medicine might help.

Margaret moves in with Nucky and quits her dress shop job after Lucy belittles her. Nucky invites her to a magic show but later blows her off to discuss politics and a road funding bill with Mayor Hague. Margaret learns from a neighbor, Annabelle, that powerful men in Atlantic City often keep a "concubine."

Eli brings in Luciano and roughs him up. Luciano claims ignorance of the robbery, and Nucky warns him not to mess with his people. Van Alden's superiors deny him resources to build a case against Nucky due to lack of evidence and reprimand him for lax duties. That night, while going through Margaret's records, he finds a photo of her at age sixteen in her immigration file. He then uses a leather strap from his suitcase to perform self-mortification, trying to cure his lust for her.