Billy Bathgate

In 1935, Billy Behan, a poor Irish American teen from the Bronx, catches the eye of Dutch Schultz and changes his surname to Bathgate to fit into his new criminal world. He starts as a gofer and observer in Schultz's operation, watching as power, money, and fear shape the mob’s hierarchy. The neighborhood becomes his first classroom for a dangerous education in organized crime.

Schultz personally executes Bo Weinberg after suspecting he was meeting with rival bosses. Weinberg is dumped into the water with cement shoes, demonstrating the brutal reach of Schultz's enforcers. Billy is present, witnessing the violence that cements his place in the organization.

Schultz shoots his top enforcer, 'Big' Julie Martin, for stealing $50,000 from the club's accounts. The killing underscores Schultz's temper and the brutal discipline of the mob. Billy observes the act from a distance but remains loyal to Schultz.

Despite the murders, Billy comes to view Schultz as a father figure and the mob as his ticket to success. He distances himself from conventional life and fully commits to the path Schultz represents. The bond deepens as Billy learns the inner workings of the organization.

Schultz brings his entourage, including Billy and his mistress Drew Preston, to an upstate New York court for a tax-evasion case. Schultz works to charmingly win over the locals, staging charity and even faking a Catholic conversion to soften his image. The town becomes a stage for his charisma and the mob’s influence.

While Schultz is in court, Billy is assigned to monitor Drew Preston, who was Bo Weinberg's former mistress. Billy's loyalty is tested as he starts falling for her, complicating his ties to Schultz. The growing tension foreshadows a clash between love and loyalty.

Drew learns that Schultz intends to have her killed for cheating on him, and Billy quietly arranges contact with her real husband, Harvey. Harvey secures their escape by taking Drew on a private plane away from Schultz’s reach. The escape marks Billy's shifting loyalties and a personal break from Schultz’s control.

Back in court, Schultz is acquitted by a sympathetic jury, easing his immediate legal pressure. However, trouble returns as he is soon indicted again, forcing the mob to seek alternative means to maintain control. The cycle of power and risk intensifies.

With legal defenses strained, Schultz decides to have state prosecutor Thomas E. Dewey assassinated. The Commission blocks the plan out of fear it would draw excessive heat. Schultz's authority tightens as he disputes with his own governance.

Schultz sends Billy to bribe a member of the Commission, hoping to grease the wheels of justice. The bribe is rejected, souring the relationship and displaying the Commission’s control. The episode adds pressure on Schultz and worsens Billy’s standing.

Otto Berman fires Billy after failing to satisfy Schultz's demands, though he leaves Billy with the bribe money as a final gift. The firing marks the fracture in Billy's loyalty and the beginning of the end for Schultz’s control. The mood in the organization grows volatile.

Luciano's men ambush Billy’s world at Schultz’s safe-haven restaurant, storming the place and killing Dutch Schultz, Berman, and two others. The brutal raid demonstrates the Commission’s resolve to curb Schultz's power. Billy is forced to watch the carnage unfold.

After the raid, Luciano confronts Billy, warning him that Billy’s family is within reach if he ever speaks about what happened. The ominous encounter cements the new order under Luciano’s control. Billy is released, carrying the weight of the threat.

Luciano lets Billy go, handing him an envelope of cash as a final gesture. The exchange marks the end of Billy’s direct ties to Schultz and signals Luciano’s power in the aftermath. The timeline closes with Billy stepping away from the blood-soaked operations.