Nico "Junior" and Lauren attend a Trocci family dinner with Nico Senior, Moira, brothers Greg, Alec, Stefan, and friends Aly and Josh. Tension builds as Nico Senior fixes on their relationship. When pressed about his news, Junior announces he bought a commercial building on the West Side from Patrick McKinney by purchasing McKinney's debt and coercing him. He states the tenant is a legal members-only club and that he is quitting the family business, refusing to run oil or any other criminal operations.

Nico Senior tests for a hidden angle—money laundering, drugs—and then targets Lauren, calling her a "whore." Aly defends Lauren, and Junior warns his father never to speak about Lauren that way again. Junior delivers his ultimatum: if Nico Senior persists, Junior will cut him off permanently. The revelation and defiance are staged in front of witnesses so Nico Senior cannot hide his abuse.

Nico Senior throws a wineglass at Junior, dousing Junior and Lauren. Chaos erupts: Aly shouts, Josh restrains her, Moira shoves Nico Senior so hard he tips in his chair, and Stefan quietly exits. Nico Senior rages about Junior’s ingratitude. Junior fires back that his father stole his childhood and groomed him into violence. Nico Senior implies Lauren is to blame and makes a veiled threat that Tommy could be made to “disappear for real.”

Without warning, Nico Senior lunges and throttles Junior. Junior wheezes “Dad,” which momentarily shocks Nico Senior into loosening his grip. Lauren immediately drives a taser into Nico Senior’s neck, dropping him to the floor as the room fills with the smell of burned flesh. Josh retches from the smell; Aly tends to him. Junior calms Lauren and pulls her back.

Moira, openly weeping, apologizes to Junior. Alec declares Nico Senior a bastard and insists Moira leave; Greg urges Moira to stop fixing things for Nico Senior. Junior notes Nico Senior was about to release him when addressed as “Dad,” slightly easing Moira’s anguish. Stefan returns briefly, advises everyone to leave to “teach him a lesson,” and departs with a bag, suggesting a long absence.

Moira instructs Junior to go before Nico Senior wakes and escalates further. Junior and Lauren exit; outside, Aly checks Junior for injuries and confirms Lauren is physically fine. Junior reflects that his father has worsened over the years due to fear of perceived weakness. He predicts Moira will restrain Nico Senior from retaliation to avoid destroying the family. Aly proposes ending these family dinners; Josh suggests creating their own. Junior and Lauren agree.