"Belle Femme" is the ninth episode of the first season of the HBO television series Boardwalk Empire, which originally aired on November 14, 2010.

Nucky intensifies his efforts to deal with the threat posed by the D'Alessio brothers, while Van Alden attempts to arrest Jimmy for the shootings in the woods.

Margaret meets Nan Britton, who explains how she and Senator Harding met and how, in order for him to win the upcoming presidential election, he cannot acknowledge their relationship or even provide financial support for their daughter.

To hedge his "bet" on the hit, Rothstein has his new business partners unwittingly sign life insurance policies with himself as the beneficiary.

Angela later visits the Dittrich studio, where Robert coolly informs her that his art dealer friend is no longer interested in her work, which he derides as "a cheap imitation of Mary Cassatt".

Van Alden is furious at his partner, Eric Sebso, for misplacing a telegram from Jimmy announcing his return to Atlantic City, ruining another chance to arrest him.

While relieving himself, the corrupt Sebso shoots the witness dead, injures himself, and plants the body in the backseat of his car to fake an escape attempt before driving back to Atlantic City.

The ambitious Halloran asks Nucky to back him as Eli's successor in the coming election, pointing out that Bacharach's opponent has made corruption in the police department a key campaign issue.