Margate Sands (Boardwalk Empire)

The third season of *Boardwalk Empire* concludes with its twelfth episode, "Margate Sands," which aired on HBO on December 2, 2012. The episode was written by series creator Terence Winter and executive producer Howard Korder, with executive producer Tim Van Patten directing. It is the 36th installment of the series overall.

Set in Atlantic City during Prohibition, the show follows political figure Enoch "Nucky" Thompson. In this episode, the violent conflict between Nucky and Gyp Rosetti reaches a breaking point, alarming local residents. Gyp has seized new territory, but his boss, Masseria, is furious over the loss of his men and the fact that Nucky and Rothstein remain alive. Nucky struggles to keep his own allies—Capone and Chalky—from clashing.

In New York, police interrogate Lucky Luciano, forcing him to reveal a heroin stash for his release. He and Meyer Lansky later learn that Rothstein paid off the officers and plans to enter a heroin deal with Masseria. Rothstein offers Nucky a deal: full ownership of Old Overholt in exchange for convincing Masseria to withdraw his support for Gyp. Nucky accepts. Meanwhile, Margaret seeks a doctor to abort her pregnancy.

At the Artemis Club, Gillian fears for her grandson Tommy’s safety as Gyp refuses to let them leave. Claiming he will make her a "queen" once he controls Atlantic City, Gyp is seduced by Gillian, who attempts to inject him with heroin during erotic asphyxiation. He stops her and injects her instead. Soon after, Masseria pulls his men, leaving Gyp exposed. Richard Harrow storms the club, killing most of Gyp’s men and forcing him to flee. Richard rescues Tommy from a hostage situation, but when he brings the boy to Julia’s house, Paul warns him not to come home bloody, so Richard leaves. Capone and Chalky’s gangs ambush and gun down Masseria’s retreating men.

Gyp escapes to Tabor Heights with three remaining henchmen. As he urinates on the beach, his right-hand man Tonino stabs him to death on orders from Nucky and Eli. Tonino is told to send the body to Masseria and never return to Atlantic City. Andrew Mellon informs Esther Randolph that Overholt has new leadership and, wanting no criminal ties, asks her to arrest those involved—specifically Rothstein. It is revealed that Means provided this information to Mellon, who then passed it to Randolph, with Nucky's help.