The episode (5x07) is the penultimate chapter of Boardwalk Empire , serving as the final collapse of Nucky Thompson’s criminal reign. The title itself is a double reference: it is a line from the classic song "Motherless Child," and it highlights the tragic parallel between young Gillian Darmody in the 1897 flashbacks and Willie Thompson in the 1931 present—both pawns in Nucky's power plays . Key Features & Turning Points