The ep opens, Crow Lovers, with Jax at Gemma’s holding Abel close on the bed, while Thomas plays in the crib at his feet. Wendy comes in and asks if she woke Jax up. He replies no and pulls Abel even closer. In her room, Gemma is puffing away as Nero wakes. He asks if she slept. She responds with a wooden “yes”. Gemma begins to run her hands over her now-empty birdcage. Nero asks if she wants the cage gone. Gemma says no, telling him it belong here and gives a brief, creepy smile.
On the County Express, Juice is headed to Stockton lock up… In the Catacombs, Bobby is in bad shape…
Back at Gemma’s, everyone is sitting down to breakfast and chowing down. Except Abel, whose sugary cereal is untouched. Jax asks why he’s not eating. Abel quickly says he’s not hungry. When Jax asks if he wants something else, he gives a quick “no,” which causes Gemma to correct him. The rest of the club rolls in, breaking the tension.
Jax tells Wendy to bring the boys to the Cabin, which she initially resists as she is concerned with Abel missing too much school. Jax firmly tell her he wants the boys at the Cabin. Gemma backs him up.
Chibs tells Jax that Tyler will meet them at the Cabin. Jax tells Quinn to roll with the club today and that Ratboy will take the guard duty. Jax tells Abel that he is coming to the cabin today. The child asks if someone else has died, which leaves everyone a little shocked. Wendy is in anguish as a sympathetic Nero looks on.
At the Cabin, Jax levels with the Pastor’s Stepson about the progress of taking down Marks. It’s not going well. When the Pastor’s SK presses Jax for details, he tells him about Bobby’s kidnapping. While he’s absorbing that bit of news, Jax tells him he needs the cellphone with the Pastor’s indiscretions back. The SK is very reluctant, but goes out side with Montez to grab the phone.
A moment hence, Tyler shows and remarks about the rustic decor. Tig jabs that they’ve taken the black heads off the wall. With intros over, Jax relays to Tyler that he wants another meet set with Marks…. That he is ready to make a deal.
No sooner than that is out of Jax’s mouth than a bleeding Montez staggers in and says the SK bapped him with a tire iron and bolted. The club springs into action and classic car chase theater returns. In the process, Happy gets spilled off his bike.
Tig finally gets SK to ground in true Tig fashion. Jax screams at the young man who relates that he can’t trust Jax to keep them safe. SK had a half-baked plan to turn himself in to Marks to save his mother. Jax rages that his course of action would just lead to his mother’s death. Happy comes by to insert a fist into the SK’s gut for his troubles. Convinced over the rashness of his actions, SK gives up the phone.
At Gemma’s, Unser comes by and tells Gemma the Juice update. He also tells her she needs to make a statement to Jarry about the man fingered as Tara’s killer. Gemma plays it cool, asking why she should help Jarry. Unser insists that something good come out of this scenario which he knows Jax is manipulating. As he leaves, Rat makes his presence known, saying that Jax wants Gemma to cooperate. As the instructions are being given, Brooke comes in to ask about something. Rat goes macho and orders her out of the room.
Gemma agrees to the plan, but gives Rat some strong LoveLine advice. “Don’t be a dick,” warns Gemma, telling Rat he doesn’t have to play Mr. Tough to earn respect from his Old Lady. Rat takes the advice to heart as Gemma tells Nero to take her to Charming PD.
At County, Juice is being cavity searched by a Salt and Pepper team of CO’s. Salt tells Pepper to check on some paper work. When alone with Juice, Salt says he has a gift from Tully. A cigar case which serves as a shank holder. When Juice says he understands, Salt tells Juice he should understand, because he has to Keister the case.
Oh, the things you have to do for SAMCRO… Juice applies some spit and starts stashing the case (which raises a whole ‘nother set of issues and questions).
At Charming PD, Gemma is enacting her form of “cooperation” with Jarry. She says she can’t ID any of Jarry’s mug shots. Jarry pull out on final mug shot. It, of course, is of the Lin soldier wrongfully targeted by Gemma’s cover story. Gemma sharply ID’s the dead man, saying he was the one she saw the night Tara was killed. The deed done, she rises to to go, saying any other questions should be put to Juice. Jarry loudly reminds her that it’s Tara’s death she’s trying to solve. Which becomes the straw that broke the Den Mama’s back…
Gemma turns and tells Jarry to back off the “righteous cop” routine. Gemma know she’s on the take… And on something else, or more accurately, on someone else, namely Chibs. Jarry goes Junior High School cat fight and slaps Gemma. Gemma goes Old School SAMCRO and decks Jarry. Her deputies rush the office as a exasperated Nero looks on.
Jarry back her officers off and kicks everyone out, except Gemma, whom she threatens with arrest the next time they square off. Gemma says that’s fine, because the next time they tangle, Jarry’s leaving in a pine box. Nero asks Gemma as they walk out if she’s proud of what she just did. Gemma says she can’t help being a “helper.’
At the oil wells, the club, Marks and Moses all meet together. Marks is clearly furious at Jax, but at the same time a little sad. He says it didn’t have to come to this impass. That Jax should have come to him. Jax says that Marks wouldn’t understand, (which almost inverts that 90’s folk saying…. But really it is something that Marks wouldn’t understand given that Gemma lied about the whole thing). Moses urges an end to the debate. Jax then says he’s ready to give up the Pastor and the phone.
Marks counters saying he wants the SK present at any handover of Bobby. He gives his word that he doesn’t want him dead, but wants to impress on him the need for silence. He gives Jax until 4pm to get it all done.
When Marks and crew leave, Jax breaks down the plan of attack. Two bodies have to come up. Happy and Tig end up at the woods, digging up one of the other Oakland Pastors. Tig remarks he likes working with Happy because in that equation, Tig is the normal one. Jax, Quinn and Chibs go to the dig site of Marks and dig up the Pastor. A double cross is in the works.
After the break, we find ourselves at Redwoody with Happy being, well… Happy in his work, as he is stitching together body parts from the two dead men. While Jax considers his plan, a curve ball comes. Indian Hills new Prez and VP show, asking for a sit down. Jax tells Chibs to take them to the Reaper.
At the table, the two tell Jax they want proof of Jerry’s betrayal. Jax relates the story of Jerry’s dead son and that Jerry mistakenly blamed SAMCRO for the killing (leaving out, of course, their actual role in killing the man). The Indian Hills guys aren’t buying he “Jerry the Rat” story and tell Jax they are going to take it to the other charters for adjudication. Jax says he’s ready for a vote if that’s what it takes.
After the Indian Hills guys leave, Chibs bemoans their fate. This could be every bad for Redwood if the other charters think that Jax has gone rogue. Jax devises a solution. Get a cell phone to Juice in County and force a confession from Henry during the hit. He tells Chibs to get word to Tully.
In the Catacombs, Bobby is greeted in his cell by Moses and his men. Moses tell the battered biker that SAMCRO has made a deal which means he will see the light of day. Bobby dismisses the roll over, saying it’s a prelude to finding a way to get Moses and Marks. Moses doesn’t disagree but says Bobby’s role in the drama is over… Just as soon as Moses’ men break his jaw.
The group of thugs start working Bobby over. Bobby, as bad to the bone as ever, taunts Moses to do the dirty work himself. Moses once again salutes his fellow warrior. And proceeds to beat the Hell of him.
At the TM, Gemma and Nero touch base about his exit plan. Gemma is still shocked he’s leaving. Nero still hold out hope that Gemma will take his offer. Gemma scoots into the office as she sees Jarry coming to talk to Unser. Nero and Chucky Stubbs have a moment.
In Unser’s trailer, Jarry and Unser talk about their sets of problems. The biggest of which is: There’s no way that Lin’s soldier was involved in Tara’s murder because he was in a Las Vegas lock up on that particular night. With hard evidence that they are being played, Unser tells Jarry to move Juice into isolation. He also tells her to keep the new info under her hat.
At the oil wells, SAMCRO and Marks’ men inch closer to each other. Jax says it should be Marks and himself to make the exchange with no others. Marks agrees and after a mutual pat down for weapons, the braves on both sides leave the scene.The SK and the Pastor’s body are left behind while Bobby is pulled from a truck and dumped.
After Jax shows Marks the phone, the crime lords helps Bobby to his feet. Bobby is struggling to talk. Jax takes his former Sgt. At Arms in his arms and tries to figure out what he is saying. The word in question is “gun.” Specifically, the one that Mark’s men have planted on him.
It’s too late to stop Marks from grabbing the gun from Bobby’s waist and pointing it at the trio. Jax snarls that Marks has broken his word. Marks asks how does it feel. He then turns to the SK and tells him this is what happens to those who betray him. And puts a bullet in Bobby’s head…
The deed done, Mark’s slips away, leaving a shattered Jax to ask for forgiveness from Bobby.
After the break, the club has gathered around their fallen comrade. Jax is strong, stoic. He says its time for part two of their plan to take down Marks. He tells a tearful Chibs to give the Pastor’s Wife statement to Patterson. Through tears, Chibs advocates for giving the info to Jarry. Jarry Ok’s the deal, but warns Chibs coldly not to get too close to everyone’s favorite officer. Something almost flashes between the two men.
At the cabin, Wendy has pulled meth-down cigarette duty for the Pastor’s Wife. She makes the smoke for the PW and find her hands covered in white powder. The temptation flashes in her eyes… Until Abel comes in needing help with the TV. Saved by the son…
In the next room, Rat and Brooke have a heart-to-heart, SOA style. Brooke reminds Rat of her bipolar issues (which explains why she hangs with outlaw bikers for her social affirmation). Rat tell her he’s trying to balance loving her and serving the club. Which leads her to ask him to say that he loves her again. The two hug it out. Sutter, you old romantic…
In lock up, Juice gets some extra additions for his shank. The plan is proceeding… Until Salt comes and drops him in solitary.
Night falls at the cabin and Jax breaks the news to everyone there. Gemma freaks out bad… Wendy asks when will it end… Jax wanders back and talks to PW and SK. He tells them again he will keep his word despite the change of plans. Marks will be arrested and PW testimony will keep him behind bars.
At the Charming parking structure, Chibs and Quinn roll up to meet a PO Jarry. Chibs hands her the statement about Marks. When she presses him for info, he says he can’t say. She relates the incident with Gemma. When Chibs tries to broach the subject of a break up, Jarry challenges him to either walk away or bang her on the car hood, right then and there.
Chibs , thinking with the big head, tries to brush it off. Jarry says if he has any actual feeling for her, he’ll man up. She starts to leave. Chibs pulls her back and starts putting in work right on the car hood. Quinn, to his credit, acts like he’s watching the paint dry.
At the cabin, the club takes Bobby from the van to the back, where they plan to bury him. Jax rides away without a word.
Gemma asks for some personal time with the body. The boys trudge off into the cabin, where they are shooed out side by Wendy for tracking mud in the house. While she’s distracted, Abel slips out to grab a cookie. He spies his grandmother outside the door with Bobby, tearfully apologizing for what has happened. He’s becoming quite the eavesdropper.
In da club, Marks is being cuffed by the cops, who have also recovered the body of the Pastor. Jax and Chibs watch the whole event go down, even taking time to roll past Marks as he is put in the car. They stare down Moses as the Reaper makes his bow.
Wow, Crow Lovers, Bobby is gone… Mark Boone Junior brought a lot of gravitas for a man who we first met in a Elvis leisure suit. Will his death finally break Gemma? Will Juice lose his cool? Is Jax about to be voted out by the Outlaw Electoral College? Will Chibs have to pay the maximum daily rate for his tryst with Jarry? Is Quinn thinking about a video series entitled “Cops Gone Wild?” Fly Like the Crow until next time.
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