Sons of Anarchy
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Sons of Anarchy

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"Giving Back" is the fifth episode of the first season of the FX original series Sons of Anarchy, and the series' fifth episode overall.

Synopsis[]

Gemma hosts a fundraiser, bringing back a familiar but not welcome face who has history with SAMCRO.

Plot[]

At Stockton State Prison‏‎, Chuck Marstein is attacked in his cell by members of the Lin Triad. Otto Delaney, a member of the Sons of Anarchy, and some other bikers then come to his rescue and fight the attackers off. Chuck then begins masturbating - a bizarre nervous tic due to his C.M.D. (Compulsive Masturbation Disorder). He was an accountant for Henry Lin's crew but began stealing money, and when he was later imprisoned, he became an informant against a number of Chinese gangsters. In prison, he hired the Sons of Anarchy to protect him from Chinese Mob in exchange for a cut of the $400,000 he stole.

Unloading

Jax and Opie unloading baby stuff

In Charming, Gemma organizes her annual fundraiser for Charming's local school district. There, she is approached by April Hobart, the ex-wife of Kyle Hobart who was excommunicated from SAMCRO in 2003 after leaving Opie to be caught by the police after an arson job. She asks Gemma to ask Clay if Kyle is allowed to come back to town to see their son playing with his band at the event the next night. Although Gemma is reluctant, she asks Clay to let Kyle come back to town; Clay immediately refuses. She eventually persuades him to put it to a vote, though he feels certain that it won't pass. Jax is seen reading a book to Abel in his hospital room at St. Thomas, when Josh Kohn approaches and stares at them from the room's window. Jax asks if he can help him with anything, but Kohn only says "That's a beautiful boy" before walking away.

TigElvis

Tig and Bobby (in his Elvis costume)

Later on, Agent Kohn is in a waiting room at St. Thomas Hospital, clearly waiting for Tara, and he asks if they can talk. When they step into another room to speak, he says that he just wanted to inform her that he will be in town on ATF business. He states that it is an interstate weapons case that originated in South Chicago and led back to the Sons of Anarchy. He also admits to leaving rose petals on her car and delivering the photographs of Jax and Susie to her but says that it was out of concern for her safety. Tara reminds him that she still has a restraining order, but he responds that his federal jurisdiction takes precedence over state-ordered mandates, making her restraining order useless. He promises that there will be no more contact and says that he has missed talking to her before exiting, and Tara nervously watches him leave.

At the clubhouse, Clay explains that they will be protecting Chuck when he gets out of Stockton until Sunday; they will then go and retrieve the money that he stole from the Chinse and transport him outside of California, all in exchange for twenty-five percent of the stolen money. After this discussion, a vote is held to determine if Kyle willl be allowed to come to the fundraiser. Opie shocks the other members by voting to let Kyle come back to town. He wants to see how bad Kyle's life has turned out since being excommunicated and thinks it will help him appreciate what he has. Despite the objections of some members (Piney and Tig), the motion is passed, and Kyle is allowed to attend the fundraiser. Clay warns Opie that revenge better not be his motive for letting Kyle return, but he states that it isn't. Clay still has his reservations, however, and tells Jax to watch Kyle during the fundraiser. Later, the Club pick Chuck up from outside the prison in a van with Tig and Bobby escorting via motorcycles and take him to the clubhouse.

Kyle turns up at the fundraiser with a young girlfriend and an expensive car and proceeds to have fun playing with his children. Opie is chagrined to see that Kyle is doing well for himself. Jax confronts Kyle to remind him that he is not to associate with anyone from the Club and to leave once his son's band finishes playing. Kyle agrees, before trying to present Jax with what he describes as an opportunity for SAMCRO to make money by funneling stolen parts through Kyle's job at Sparks Brothers. Jax berates him for this, believing that the only reason Kyle came to the fundraiser is to try and buy the Club back with his scheme. Jax intimidates him, but keeps the peace when Gemma notices the two of them arguing.

Jax remains keen to keep the peace until he and Opie notice that Kyle still has the club tattoo on his back. After this, Opie follows Kyle into the school gymnasium and shuts the door behind him. "I think you and I need to settle a few things," Opie says. "Yeah, I guess we do," replies Kyle. While they sort out their differences, Jax takes the opportunity to talk to Donna, Opie's wife, about the club. Jax notes that if Opie continues to be half-in and half-out of the SAMCRO life, as he has been lately, it will get him killed. Donna responds that she wants him out, similar to how Kyle got out. Jax explains that Kyle was kicked out of the club because he fled when he was meant to be the getaway driver in the arson job at a truckyard, leaving Opie behind and allowing him to go to prison. Jax tells Donna that she can't keep pulling Opie the other direction, as all he knows is the Club.

Jax finds Opie and Kyle cleaning themselves up following their fight in the school gym, and Kyle begins to reminisce about his time in the Club. Jax brings up the stolen parts that Kyle mentioned earlier, saying that they could probably bring it up to Clay, but it should be done that night while Kyle is still in town. Kyle agrees, and when Opie points out that he will miss his son's band playing, Kyle brushes it off, saying that he will hear him play another time.

After Chuck continuously bothers Piney, Half-Sack, and Clay with his C.M.D. tick - and Clay spots a Chinese lookout in front of the clubhouse - Clay says that they are not waiting until Sunday and instead will be going to retrieve the money now. When they get there, they force their way into the kitchen and Jax uses a meat tenderizer to break open a newly plastered patch on the ceiling where the bag of money is. As SAMCRO tries to leave the restaurant, the Chinese gangsters turn up in cars and a shoot-out briefly ensues. The cash turns out to be counterfeit, however, with the printing plates in the bag. After discovering this, Clay decides to make a deal with the gang's boss, Henry Lin, in order to avoid a war; SAMCRO hand over Chuck, the fake money and the forging plates, and the Chinese pay SAMCRO in $60,000 real cash.

The Club returns to the clubhouse, where Opie and Kyle are waiting at the bar. Clay begins to listen to Kyle's explanation of his stolen parts opportunity, while Jax and Opie talk privately in the hallway before Opie leaves to handle the fireworks at Gemma's fundraiser. Jax glances toward the bar before asking Opie if he is okay with this. Opie says yes and clarifies that his jealousy of Kyle earlier isn't an indication that he doesn't want to be part of SAMCRO. After a few drinks, the Club lure Kyle into the garage on the promise that Bobby has a mint 1948 Knucklehead. However, this is a set-up and the Sons grab Kyle and forcibly remove his shirt to reveal the club tattoo on his back. Kyle apologizes for not having the tattoo removed, claiming to have too much love for the club. Clay asks if he wants it to be removed by fire or a knife, to which Kyle reluctantly answers fire. Tig uses a blowtorch in the garage to burn off Kyle's tattoo while the others watch, and Kyle eventually passes out from the pain.

Burning

Burning the SOA tattoo from Kyle's back

Back at the fundraiser, Charlie's band plays while Gemma informs April that she should go to St. Thomas Hospital and offers to bring her kids home that night. April looks concerned and asks what the Sons did, but Gemma says that she doesn't know anything else before apologizing and walking away. SAMCRO can then be seen dropping Kyle in front of the hospital where April comes out to help him.


Credits[]

Main Cast[]

Supporting Cast[]

Guest Stars

Special Guest Star

Co-Stars

Uncredited

Notable Quotes[]

Jax: I love that guy more than anyone, but I also see what's happening to him, and it scares the shit outta me. Opie can't be half in, half out, it'll get him killed, Donna.
Donna: Then I want him out. That other guy got out, Kyle.
Jax: Kyle was kicked out. You know why? Cause the night Opie got arrested for blowing up that truck yard, Kyle was supposed to be his get away ride. Only the asshole panicked when he heard sirens, left Opie behind.
Donna: Opie never said anything?
Jax: Cause Opie's not a rat. Brothers don't turn on each other. He did the time, it's what we do. Opie will never walk away from the club, we both know that; he's like me it's all we know. It's in our DNA, and if you keep pulling him in the other direction... we're not the glue, Donna, you are.

Opie: I wanted the guy to be a miserable, broken piece of shit without SAMCRO. Tell you, I'm havin' a hard time though. You know this club means everything to me, the only thing I ever wanted from the time I went here. But everything else, Donna... the kids, work, their all heading in the opposite direction, just can't hook shit up. Feel like I'm missin' on every front.
Jax: I got no answers, my family plan is right out of the Sid and Nancy handbook. I'm so used to shit movin' in the other direction. I don't know what I'd do if something actually hooked up.

Clay: The hand on the dick, what's the deal?
Chuck: I'm sorry man, sorry, I have this condition, I'm not even aware of it.
Clay: Condition?
Chuck: CMD, Compulsive Masturbation Disorder. I couldn't get the right meds in Stockton, so it's a little outta control right now.
Piney: You know, I used to have that, then I turned 13.

Church Meetings[]

Clay: Chuck's been cooking the books for the Asian mob. Skimmed 400K off of Henry Lin's crew. Now, Otto was keeping him safe up at Stockton, but he gets out tomorrow morning. So, we protect him, we pick up the cash, we get him out of Cali.
Jax: We're gonna split the cash with Chucky boy. 25% goes to us, Otto wants his 25 to go to Luann.
Bobby: It ain't gonna be a cakewalk. Lin's a dangerous cat. Sneaky little bastard.
Clay: That's why we're gonna work 3-man shifts. We're gonna keep this place locked down. Chuck never leaves the clubhouse, and the garage is open for pickups only.
Jax: Skim's hidden in one of the restaurants Lin uses as a front. We're gonna keep Chuck here until Sunday, go pick up the money when the place is closed.
Tig: Good, good.
(Everyone gets up to leave)
Clay: Uh, wait a minute. Wait a minute. There's uh, there's one more thing. April Hobart wants to know if her old man can come to the fundraiser, see his kid's band play.
Jax: You gotta be kidding me.
Tig: That's done, brother. That's done.
Clay: I know, no I know. But, you know. She took a big hit staying behind. She supported the club. It's for her, not Kyle. And I figured I'd throw it up for a vote.
Opie: Let him come.
Jax: Are you serious?
Clay: This can't be about getting even. Not at the school.
Opie: It's not about that. The guy's got nothing, right? No club, no family. Do me good to see that. Appreciate what I've got.
Clay: Anybody opposed?
Tig: Yeah, me.
Piney: I don't agree with it.
Tig: Oh, this is wrong, man.
Clay: Majority rule. Vote passes, let him come. Hey, you all better be at that fundraiser tomorrow. Unless you want a size 9 high-heel boot up your ass.
Bobby: You coming?
Clay: I'd rather have my balls cut off.
(Everyone laughs)
Clay: What? What? Too soon for that joke? (to Jax) Hey, watch Kyle tomorrow. I don't want anything going down at Gemma's gig. Keep him away from Ope.
Jax: Alright.


Trivia[]

  • When Gemma asks Unser about Agent Kohn at the fundraiser, a man can be seen in the background wearing a shirt that reads "Free Big Otto."

Gallery[]

Featured Music[]

  • Jesse Dayton - "Tall Walkin' Texas Trash"
  • Michael Sackler-Berner - "Keep It Easy"
  • The Donkeys - "Excelsior Lady"
  • Jin - "Yum Dum Cha"
  • Gia Ciambotti - "Tail Wags the Dog"
  • Fu Manchu - "Hey"
  • Danielia Cotton - "Make You Move"
  • Scott Shriner & The Forest Rangers - "I'm Eighteen" (Alice Cooper Cover)
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