Alan Dary

Based on a tip from Moe Riley, Treasury agents, looking for Michael’s counterfeit currency, raid Rose Caffee’s house during Sunday dinner, when the entire family is present. The agents don’t find the currency, but bad publicity generated by the raid causes the Speaker to kill an important real estate deal that Tommy desperately needs. To survive, Tommy is forced to pledge his fealty to the Speaker. For Tommy’s oldest daughter, Mary Rose, the raid initiates a growing fascination with her dangerous uncle, Michael. Michael, in revenge for the raid, frames Moe Riley for murder.

When the owner of Tommy and Michael’s childhood movie theater ends up in debt to Michael, Michael convinces Tommy to help save the theater from the wrecking ball. Tommy agrees, on the condition that Michael have nothing to do with the big benefit Tommy organizes. Michael sticks by the deal, but Freddie Cork steals the fundraiser proceeds and the theater is forced to close. Michael’s sidekick Pete falls off the wagon; Michael helps get him back into AA. In the throes of a deep depression, Eileen confesses all her sins to a startled Mary-Kate. Mary-Kate urges her to get psychiatric help. Meanwhile, Rose starts a new job in a big box store and realizes the powerlessness of the contemporary American non-union worker. Corrupt union boss Marty Trio (Episodes 101, 103) confesses to Declan that he has cancer. Declan tries to turn him as a witness. Marty refuses.

Michael takes his old girlfriend Kath Perry (Episode 103) on a milk run to New Jersey to pick up some money for Freddie. When things get messy, Michael resorts to what he does best –- violence. Because Kath sticks by him, he realizes how much he cares for her. Sensing Michael drifting away from her, Rose goes overboard in planning a surprise birthday party for Michael, only to be angered when Michael shows up with Kath in tow. Determined to stay sober, Eileen fends off her demons as best she can. The stress proves too much and she falls off the wagon and is caught drinking by Pete. The Speaker of the House tumbles in a scandal, and Tommy plays on the insecurities of the new Speaker to get himself promoted to Majority Leader, the number two position in the House.

Tommy blackmails Mayor Panzarella into supporting the waterfront development but runs into opposition from a community group organized by Michael. Freddi Cork is forced to take a legitimate job as a car salesman. Eileen's pregnancy costs he a chance to advance. Declan begins his investigation to statehouse corruption as the disappearance of Federal Attorney Franklin draws attention away from his efforts. Rose begins to learn the joys of managed care.

In the second season finale, Freddie asks Nozzoli to kill Michael; Franklin investigates the outcome of the holiday furlough; Tommy makes a bid for the Speaker's chair; the death of a loved one brings Colin and Rose closer; Eileen finally puts her foot down about Dana.