Contains spoilers for this episode and earlier episodes.
Tommy's journey becomes a sustained gunfight with Luca and his men. He uses the streets and buildings to stay alive as the vendetta reaches him directly, rather than relying entirely on relatives or hired protection. Luca survives the encounter, leaving the conflict unfinished. The fight also shows that Polly's apparent bargain has drawn the enemy towards Tommy, while Michael's silence over it remains a separate family problem.
Tommy looks for profit and influence beyond the immediate war. He pursues an army supply contract and develops his contact with Jessie Eden, whose political cause offers him information as well as intimacy. At Charlie's yard, they eat and dance while she asks whether he will help the movement. He agrees to meet the people she proposes, without abandoning the business interests that brought him into conflict with her workers.
Polly and Aberama become lovers, giving their association a private purpose alongside the defence of the company. Alfie's contact with Luca puts the coming boxing match under another shadow. At the venue, the Shelbys organise security, take bets and prepare Bonnie to fight Goliath. Tommy offers a larger cut if Bonnie wins in the fourth round. Arthur looks forward to the evening after being confined for too long, as the family opens the doors to a crowd their enemies may also enter.