It's night on the Boardwalk, and Billie walks a few paces behind Nucky, Rothstein, and Luciano, like a good little mistress. Lucky's in the middle of presenting a business plan for heroin distribution when they're accosted by George Baxter, who we haven't seen since Season 1. He's still as garrulous and obnoxious as ever, and he barrels over Nucky and asks to be introduced to his companions. Nucky does, begrudgingly, but then pulls Billie aside and tells her she can run ahead -- no reason for them both to suffer. Similarly, Rothstein and Luciano walk in the opposite direction, anything to get away from this braying glad-hander. Nucky's left to suffer Baxter alone, though he mostly ignores his ramblings, looking over at Billie, all angelic in the doorway of Babbette's. The music and the camera and the editing get incredibly still now, so you know something awful is about to happen. And Nucky seems to anticipate it a half second before it does. With his eyes fixed on his beloved showgirl, the building around her erupts into a giant fireball. The explosion is big enough to knock Nucky, Rothstein, and Luciano to the ground and cover them in debris. Nothing in the immediate vicinity of Babbette's could have survived it. Everybody is screaming. Nucky's ears are ringing. Luciano is helping Rothstein to his feet. Nucky raises his head to look for signs of life where Billie once stood. There's nothing. He falls back down to the boardwalk.

Joe R is sad about Billie, but if Babbette died too, this whole show is going down. He can be reached for lavish praise and nothing but at joseph.reid21@gmail.com.