Peaky Blinders Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Peaky Blinders Wiki

"Episode 2.5" is the fifth episode of the second series of Peaky Blinders and the eleventh episode overall. It aired on October 30, 2014.

Synopsis[]

The Peaky Blinders are under attack. Tommy's power base in London is obliterated, and both Arthur and Michael are arrested and imprisoned.

Plot[]

Ep2 5 Arthur Billy

Arthur and Billy

Alfie Solomons invites Arthur Shelby and Billy Kitchen over for Passover at the distillery. Things escalate rather quickly after Alfie sacrifices the goat named after Thomas, and shoots Billy Kitchen in the head. He has his men tie up Arthur and wait for the police to haul him off to jail for the murder of Billy Kitchen.

Meanwhile, Polly Shelby's son Michael Gray is thrown behind bars by Major Campbell for the burning down The Marquis of Lorne pub.

Thomas goes see May Carleton and check on his filly. May introduces him to Mick, whom she calls the best horseman in England. Mick says he's heard about Thomas, to which Thomas replies that based on reports he has been given, that he likes to waste money. Thomas says he's spending 2 pounds a month on worming powder for the horses. Mick asks if he wants a horse with worms. Thomas tells him the horses get the worms from their water troughs, and all can be resolved by adding goldfish to the water troughs because they will eat the worm eggs. Micky scoffs at the idea, saying it must be a gypsy thing. Thomas tells him no, it's an accounting thing; goldfish only cost a penny each. Mick storms away, telling them he can dispense of the veterinarian altogether.

Walking back to the estate, May tells Thomas she told the maids only one fire would be needed for the night, insinuating Thomas will not stay in the guest quarters, he will spend the night in her room. At the estate, a maid tells May there is a telephone call, but it isn't for her, it is for Thomas.

An infuriated Thomas meets with Campbell at a church. He simply informs Thomas that his reason for throwing Arthur and Michael in jail was to motivate Thomas to properly carry out his task, since he now believes Thomas is not afraid to die having wrapped up his affairs for that very event. Threatening Thomas' life is not enough to make it certain he will obey him. He needed the threat of life and death over Thomas' family as well. He also threatens Ada, because he knows her address in London. Campbell leaves Thomas with a quote his father used, "To make sure your dog obeys you, you have to show 'em the stick once in a while."

Thomas receives a phone call from Grace. They agree to meet sometime soon.

Thomas has a family meeting where he is informed of the gang's business losses due to the coppers. John Shelby informs Thomas that The Eden Club, as well as their other pubs, have been raided by the coppers and returned to the ownership of Darby Sabini. Esme Shelby has news for Thomas. Polly says she shouldn't be allowed to speak, because the meeting is for family only, and Esme is not family by blood. Thomas hears her out, and she says she spoke to Johnny Dogs; the Lees are kin, and the Lee family can give them men for a few nights. Polly says it is men that have done the damage and put them in this position in the first place. Thomas disregards Polly and tells Esme they need men and will take up the Lee family's offer. Polly tells Thomas that she will be taking Michael away from the Shelby family when he gets out of prison and that "this life is bad, this life is all bad."

As John is bringing the car around, Esme tells Thomas his gypsy half is the strongest, and if he wants to ride away and live life she hears that "France is the new place to go, they still let you get lost there." Thomas tells her that he and John have already been to France. He grabs Esme by the face and tells her if she ever talks about getting lost again, he will cut her from this family. Esme's response is, "What family?"

Ep2 5 Polly Michael

Polly and Michael

Realizing that Thomas won't get Michael out of prison soon enough, Polly takes the matter into her own hands. Campbell offers to release Michael the next morning but only in return for a sexual favor. Polly agrees to this deal. The next day, Michael tells her they told him what she did to get him out of jail. He fails to understand the generosity of her sacrifice, and is instead embarrassed and disgusted by what his mother has done.

Grace-7963be9bbd165f91d9206d75f2e6634a

Thomas and Grace

Grace Burgess lies to her husband, Clive Macmillan, and runs out to see Thomas, where after some abruptly harsh conversation, Thomas informs her that he simply wanted to skip the past. Thomas takes her to see Charlie Chaplin in person. Thomas takes a highly satisfying moment to telephone Campbell and inform him that he is about to sleep with Grace. After they get dressed, Thomas asks to see Grace again and she informs him that she and her husband have been trying to have a baby, and that she may be the cause of their infertility. Thomas then urges her to tell her husband the truth.

John visits Arthur, who regrets not doing more with his life, at the prison. He tells Arthur that he already knows what he's got to do and he's not going to hang.

John blows up the residence of Field Marshal Henry Russell in order to relocate the assassination that Thomas must carry out. Arthur gets released from jail thanks to John's efforts.

Ep2 5 Thomas May

Thomas and May

Thomas visits May Carleton to confesses that he still loves Grace and that they should break up, but May is unable to let him go. May says that while his horse may only come in 5th or 6th, May has resolved to win Thomas over.

Thomas reveals to Inspector Campbell that his new location of Henry Russell's assassination will take place at the Epsom racetrack on Derby Day.

Cast[]

Main Cast[]

Guest Cast[]

Trivia[]

  • The idea that Charlie Chaplin was a Gypsy comes from a letter found in 2011 which claimed that he had been born in a Gypsy caravan at Black Patch Park in Smethwick. Chaplin's son Michael has suggested that the information must have been significant to his father in order for him to retain the letter.
  • Thomas gets jerrycans for his trip. However, jerrycans were designed in 1930 and the word "jerrycan" originated during World War II when the British found German fuel containers in the North African desert.

Quotes[]

Thomas Shelby: "I’m shoveling shit to remind myself what I’d be if I wasn’t who I am."

John Shelby: "You’ve tried to hang yourself twice, now the king’s going to do it for you.”

Major Campbell: "Will you stop that noise?"

Polly Shelby: "We don't need more fucking men! It's men that have done the damage! It... It is men fighting like cockerels

Polly Shelby: "This life is bad. This life is all bad."

Thomas Shelby: "May, forget about men like me."
May Carleton: “You’ve told me about her like a gentleman, now kindly behave like a gangster again.”
May Carleton: "You think you're people are ruthless, try mine."

Soundtrack[]

Last.fm_play.png "To Bring You My Love" – PJ Harvey
Last.fm_play.png "C'mon Billy" – PJ Harvey
Last.fm_play.png "What He Wrote" – Laura Marling


References[]

Advertisement