Everything You Need to Remember Before The Deuce Returns For Season 2

Frequently shown to be uncomfortable with his role in setting up and manageing brothels, Vince (James Franco) stands up to domineering mob boss Rudy (Michael Rispoli) and says he will no longer participate. Encouraged by his push to be more vocal, he tells his lover Abby (Margarita Levieva) that they should move in together, while still retaining an open relationship. After hearing that his ex-wife Andrea (Zoe Kazan) has found herself in an abusive relationship, Vince goes to the pool hall and beats up her boyfriend. Girlfriend Abby is upset with his display of machismo but still continues their relationship.

Good cop Alston (Lawrence Gilliard Jr.) has to make a deal that sacrifices all of his hard work trying to impress reporter Sandra (Natalie Paul). While initially agreeing to talk on the record to Sandra to expose corruption with the police department, he has to back down when the new police captain promises to clean up the precinct. In exchange for keeping quiet, Alston will be made detective. His decision to not speak on the record means that Sandra's article gets pushed to a human interest story about the lives of sex workers, rather than being a huge exposé. Sandra does not take this news well, thus terminating their relationship.

After many of the sex workers are ushered into the brothels set up by Rudy, the pimps have difficulty adjusting to what this new life means for them. Feeling aimless and bored, C.C. (Gary Carr) meets with his mentor, a retired pimp. They discuss the changing dynamics at play, and C.C. gets a glimpse of what his life could be like if he settled with one of his girls. For the sex workers, there are wildly different endings for them. Lori (Emily Meade) and sweet Darlene (Dominique Fishback) both begin acting in Harvey's films, while the voluptuous Ruby gets into an altercation with a client. He pushes her out the window, where she plummets to her death.