Nucky remarks that it's seven years today since "Mabel" died. ...You guys. You know how you sometimes just know stuff. You're not sure how or even why, but you're just sure of it? That's how I felt the first time I saw this scene and realized I'd one day be titling a Boardwalk Empire recap "So I Says to Mabel, I Says." Maybe not this week, maybe not next. But it's coming. Anyway, the biggest problem with the whiskey heist is now the Feds will be breathing down their necks. Commodore advises him to hand the Feds a scapegoat. "It's Jimmy," Nucky finally admits. The 'Dore's reaction is one of shock...and no small amount of pride. "I never knew he had it in him!" He can't get over it. He chuckles and repeats it to his dog: "Fuckin' Jimmy!"

Speaking of whom, Jimmy calls out to a passing Nucky from behind a building. Nucky's totally pissed at him, but it's telling that half of his anger is at how in-over-his-head Jimmy is. There's genuine care there that -- sorry to go to this well again, but -- Tony Soprano never had for Chris, say, and Al Swearengen took a while to exhibit. Jimmy stresses that he's got a way out of this, but Nucky is too busy mourning the loss of Jimmy's bright future. "You were smart!" he laments. "You could've made it!" Notice "making it" for Nucky is legitimacy, or at least the illusion of it. I'm sure Arnold Rothstein would agree with him. But Jimmy (and Capone and Luciano) sees the new criminal order for what it's about to become.

Jimmy sidetracks into talking about the war. The people he killed. The number of times he went out over the top and came back, alive but appreciably less of a person. "I'm going to hell, Nuck," he finally admits. And he looks at a guy like Luciano, with his suits and diamonds. "Is that what you want?" Nucky demands, incredulous. Jimmy wants Nucky to admit that HE wants it too. "At least I got the guts to take it." Nucky warns Jimmy not to underestimate him. "I could have you killed." Of course, the tone of his voice says he won't, and Jimmy says as much. "You can't be half a gangster," Jimmy says, getting to the root of it all. "Not anymore." He hands Nucky an envelope with his take from the heist. "I didn't ask for this!" Nucky hollers as Jimmy trots away. "You didn't have to," Jimmy says. A kingpin is a kingpin is a kingpin.

So if Jimmy walked away from the heist with cash, where'd the whiskey go? Cut to a chilly Al Capone as he drives his cargo-laden truck down the Lincoln Highway to Chicago.