Blog / February 2012 / 'Luck' Episode 4 Recap: Winners and Losers

Feb 21, 201207:01 AMThe Telegraph

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'Luck' Episode 4 Recap: Winners and Losers

(Luck, the HBO limited-run series set in the sometimes exciting, sometimes seamy world of professional horse racing, aired its fourth episode Sunday. We’ll be offering morning-after recaps of each episode throughout the show’s premiere season, so you won’t get lost in the dust as the drama gallops ever closer to the home stretch.)

EPISODE: No. 4

MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS: While riding Getting’ Up Mornin’ -- the prized Thoroughbred of Walter Smith (Nick Nolte) -- novice jockey Rosie Shanahan (Kerry Condon) comes from behind (way, way behind, as a matter of fact) to gallop into the winner’s circle during a thrillingly shot and edited race at the Santa Anita track. Various observers – including jockey agent Joey Rathburn (Richard Kind) – are suitably impressed by the Thoroughbred’s remarkable performance. An exuberant Rosie celebrates her victory with an afternoon of lusty sex with jockey Leon Micheaux (Tom Payne), who’s temporarily distracted from his mounting concerns over his ability to make weight for his own races.

Meanwhile, compulsive gambler Jerry (Jason Gedrick) continues his self-destructive spiral while playing his cards wrong in high-stakes poker games, all the while egged on by the slyly manipulative Chan (Dennis Dun). Indeed, he’s drawn away from a private game in back of Chan’s restaurant when fellow “degenerate gamblers” Renzo (Ritchie Costner) and Lonnie (Ian Hart) inform him that their wheelchair-bound buddy Marcus (Kevin Dunn) has been rushed to an ER with a possible heart attack. They’re lying, of course. But Jerry winds up thanking them for saving him from suffering even worse and more humiliating losses.

Gangster Chester “Ace” Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) finally pays a call on Mike (Michael Gambon of the Harry Potter films), his former partner in crime, aboard the latter’s luxurious yacht. Mike is intrigued by Ace’s plans to purchase the Santa Anita track – but worries that Ace may hold a grudge against him. (A not unreasonable fear, considering that Mike is largely responsible for the three-year prison term Ace recently served.) Ace insists that he’s out to make a financial killing, not any other kind. Mike seems less than fully convinced, but indicates his desire to be part of Ace’s deal.

Back at his swanky hotel, Ace interviews financial wiz kid Nathan Israel (Patrick J. Adams), offers the young man a job paying a cool million in salary – but remains teasingly vague about precisely what Nathan’s responsibilities will be. Ace also agrees to make a sizeable donation to the convict-rehabilitation program represented by the maturely attractive Claire LeChea (Joan Allen). But when Gus (Dennis Farina), his friend and confidant, half-joking suggests that Ace may be sweet on the lady, Ace demurs: “Sexual attraction and so forth, that ship sailed some time ago and left port.” Much like Mike, Gus appears to be a tad skeptical of Ace’s truthfulness.

HINTS OF THINGS TO COME: After the big race, Walter worries about his Thoroughbred’s bloody nose, and calls upon veterinarian Jo Carter (Jill Hennessy) to examine Getting’ Up Mornin’ in his stall. Jo gives the horse a clean bill of health, and Walter – who feels responsible for the death of the Thoroughbred’s father – is greatly relieved: “I don’t think I could lose two of you,” he tells his beloved horse. “I couldn’t bear it.”

HINTS OF THINGS TO COME, PART II: Joey remains fretful as he watches injured jockey Ronnie Jenkins (real-life jockey Gary Stevens) stumble back into boozing. On the other hand, he’s downright angry as he measures the progress of Leon to make weight. From the latter, Joey will accept no excuses: “You’re on the horse, or you’re not.”

BEHIND THE CAMERAS: This week’s episode was directed by Australian-born filmmaker Phillip Noyce, whose feature credits include Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger and Salt.

BEST LINE OF THE NIGHT: When Renzo and Lonnie suggest lending money to Jerry, Marcus gruffly (but not altogether unkindly) dismisses the idea: “You don’t make him whole by giving him money. Whoever made him didn’t make him whole. That’s the way he is. And we better bleeping recognize that, or else we’re bleeps.”