The air at the Birmingham New Street station is thick with the smell of sulfur and the heavy, rhythmic thrum of the locomotive’s engine. A private carriage has been cleared, a luxury afforded by the Shelby name and a fistful of cash, but the atmosphere inside is anything but celebratory.

Thomas Shelby stands on the platform for a moment too long, his coat billowing in the wind as he watches the porters load the luggage. His face is a mask of stone, though the hollows beneath his eyes betray the sleepless nights spent in the company of a ghost. Beside him,

Charles clings to a nanny’s hand, oblivious to the fact that this trip is a desperate intervention disguised as a holiday. Inside the carriage, the rest of the clan is settling in with the frantic energy of people trying to outrun a storm:

Polly Gray is already seated, her eyes fixed on the door, waiting for Tommy to board. She is the architect of this journey, convinced that the salt air of the French coast is the only thing that can keep Thomas from the brink.

Arthur and Linda occupy the corner, Linda’s hand resting firmly on Arthur’s arm as he fidgets, his eyes darting toward the flask in his pocket.

John and Esme are a whirlwind of motion, trying to corral Martha and their four children into their seats. Esme’s eyes are bright with the prospect of leaving the city smoke, even if the reason is grim.

Ada and Finn speak in hushed tones near the window, the youngest Shelby brother looking back toward the city they are leaving behind.

The whistle blows, a long, mournful cry that echoes against the station rafters. Tommy finally climbs the steps, his boots heavy on the metal. He doesn't look at his brothers or his aunt as he takes his seat by the window. The train begins to pull away, the wheels grinding against the tracks as the city of

Birmingham starts to recede. The "vacation" has begun, but as the carriage falls into an uneasy silence, it’s clear that while they’ve left the Small Heath behind, the weight of Grace’s death has boarded the train right along with them.