Graves’ view of Jack as hard-headed refers more to his stubborn nature than his ability to take punches. He sees Jack as blind to his future and fixating on his past. His hard-hearted comment suggests Jack should live with his failings and move on. There’s ambiguity in the relationship between the two men. Some comments in their exchanges suggest Jack as a man aware of his whole past, whilst others suggest he is still awaiting 'the word'. I favour the latter option. Graves seems to find Jack unready or unworthy until he has overcome his demons, and not just the heroin, which he’s kicked, but his own death wish and need for punishment to recompense his own guilt. Jack says the gun allows him to do whatever he wants, Graves asks if that is why he wants to give it back, suggesting Jack is uncomfortable to be in a situation where he cannot be punished for his actions. When Graves looks at his bleeding fingers, does he see a flaw in Jack? Would Graves still be bleeding if Jack was at his full capacity?

New Tricks

We get to hear a little about Lono’s juvenile delinquent days, from gambling to his first murders. The inevitable prison sentence results in his “first” meeting with Shepherd. He makes reference to growing up on “the island”. This explains his awful Hawaiian shirts. As befits the character, he has a case filled with instruments of torture. There scenes between Victor and Loop suggest a growing relationship between the old dawg and the young blood. Obviously Vic has greater skills, and is not afraid to demonstrate the fact, but instead warns Loop off. The relevance of what Victor tells the lap dancer is obscure, and what are the seven stories to which he refers? Carlito speaks of a deal the Trust had with Graves, implying yet more double-crosses in Atlantic City. Crete shows some skill in restraining Lono. Was he trained? Is he a ‘retired’ Minuteman? Fillet steak has very little fat content. Ordering fillet well done ruins the meat, it dries and has no flavour. Loop is a culinary blockhead. The shot Vic fires at Megan may be intended as a warning, even though it obviously enters her right lung. As we’ve seen from Wylie, if a Minuteman is going for a kill shot, the bullet arrives straight between the eyes.

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