Video (Fourth Wall Weekend)

[trenchknives]

So, um...

[He never knows what to expect when there're all these people around here. Should he get up his hopes and think that he'll know someone? Or should he just treat it like any other curse? It's perplexing. He scratches his head.]

For all of you that, y'know, just randomly arrived here, welcome. You'll only be here for the weekend, so don't get too concerned about it. Consider it, uh, a vacation, or somethin'. You can ask me questions, if you want, but I gotta say, a whole lot of this place don't make much sense.

[A long pause of indecision, and then finally...]

'n if I know you... I mean, if I know you from home, if there's any chance you're out there... just lemme know, okay?

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Re: Well, what with that utterly normal childhood of his...

[trenchknives]

I don't need your forgiveness. I don't need your understandin'.

[He takes a deep breath, because really, if he starts yelling now, he'll just prove her point about not being able to put his emotions aside and get along.]

I like it here. It's easier than back home. I miss Tommy, that's all.

[stillinseason]

Of course you don't.

[ Why must conversations with her son always be so frustrating. He wasn't like this when he was a little boy. She mentally grits her teeth and tries again. ]

What are you doing with yourself here?

[trenchknives]

[Okay, well, that's a question he can actually answer without wanting to yell and swear, so that's a relief.]

I got a job. I've been workin' at a magic shop. The owner 'n I are good friends. I've been readin' a lot. I've been writin' some. Nothin' too excitin'.

[stillinseason]

A...magic shop.

[ The disappointment is palpable. A magic shop? Is that what she raised you to become? ]

I suppose you have plenty of free time to take up your studies again?

[trenchknives]

[He hears that disappointment, and it makes him feel uncomfortable just how much it affects him.]

It ain't an easy job, actually. 'n it's a lot better'n what I was doin' back home. And yeah, I've taken up my studies again, when I've got the time for it. I'm doin' just fine here, believe me.

[stillinseason]

Better than being poised to run an entire city? That must be some magic shop.

[ That is some extremely fake cheerfulness right there. The kind of cheerfulness that leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. ]

I hadn't realized that 'just fine' was good enough for you. But I suppose if you're happy...

[trenchknives]

I was never gonna run a whole fuckin' city!

[So much for keeping a lid on his temper. It's bubbling over again.]

That was your fuckin' dream. Everyone treatin' me like I was the goddamned heir to somethin' significant. You know I was never gonna run anything. You know I'm gonna... was gonna...

[He trails off. He doesn't want to say it, but he knows his own fate. He doesn't know whether she does, though, and as angry as he is, that seems unnecessarily cruel to bring up.]

[stillinseason]

You could have it if you wanted it!

[ She's trying, she really is, but she has worked so hard. It's painful to have everything she's done for him thrown back in her face. ]

You are the heir to something significant. Your father made Atlantic City everything it is, and we are so close to taking it back. You're a better man than the Commodore ever was, Jimmy. You could do so much.

[trenchknives]

My father...

[He doesn't even want to think about that bastard. Good riddance, as far as he's concerned.]

Don't you think Nucky's gonna have somethin' to say about all that? He ain't liable to let me waltz in 'n take over.

[stillinseason]

We can handle Nucky. He doesn't have a monopoly on useful friends, and he does have his hands full right now.

[ It's pretty obvious she has no idea what's coming for Jimmy, and still believes the situation is salvageable. Better now, really, with the Commodore gone. ]

When you come back, you'll be rested and in better spirits. Stronger.

[trenchknives]

I'm not comin' back. I'm stayin' here.

[And he just can't bear to say why, even though there's a part of him that wants to blurt it out and shock her.]

Look, Angela's gone, 'n... as far as you're all concerned, I'm still back home, ain't I? I mean, before you showed up here, you had no idea I was missin'. So I don't need to come back.