Acres of Diamonds (Boardwalk Empire)
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Episode 3
| "Acres of Diamonds" | |
|---|---|
| Boardwalk Empire episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 3 |
| Directed by | Allen Coulter |
| Written by | Terence Winter |
| Cinematography by | David Franco |
| Editing by | Kate Sanford |
| Original air date | September 22, 2013 |
| Running time | 56 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"Acres of Diamonds" is the third episode of the fourth season of the American period crime drama television series Boardwalk Empire. It is the 39th overall episode of the series and was written by series creator Terence Winter, and directed by Allen Coulter. It was released on HBO on September 22, 2013.
The series is set in Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the Prohibition era of the 1920s. The series follows Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, a political figure who rises to prominence and interacts with mobsters, politicians, government agents, and the common folk who look up to him. In the episode, Nucky goes to Florida, while Richard's past catches up with him.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 1.87 million household viewers and gained a 0.7 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances and character development, but criticized the pacing and lack of progress.
At Temple University, Willie finds out about an upcoming party that his friends are throwing. Wanting to impress a girl named Doris, he claims that he can bring liquor. He goes to Mickey's warehouse, but Mickey rebuffs his request. He tries to steal a crate but is caught, prompting Mickey to slap him. Taking pity on him, however, Mickey allows him to take a crate, warning him not to tell Eli. During the party, Willie defends Doris from a man making unwanted advances. Doris takes him to the library, where they kiss. The encounter is interrupted by Willie's classmates, who mock him. As he tells them off, the classmates humiliate him by pointing out his erection. This prompts Willie to leave the party.
In Wisconsin, Richard gives money to Emma, claiming she must pay her debts. However, Emma claims she already paid them. Richard is later confronted by Billings and his henchman, with the former upset with Richard for not completing his job in Milwaukee. Richard kills the henchman, while Emma kills Billings with a shotgun. Deciding that his presence will bring problems, Richard chooses to leave. They part on good terms, with Emma telling him that he will have to account for all his actions.
Meanwhile, in New York, Narcisse meets with Rothstein and Owney Madden to discuss a potential heroin partnership. During this meeting, Narcisse decides to employ a singer, Daughter Maitland, to perform at the Onyx Club. He gets Chalky to accept Maitland, and Chalky actually becomes smitten with her. Shortly thereafter, Narcisse starts to drive a wedge between Chalky and Dunn, and influences Dunn into using heroin.
Back in Atlantic City, Gillian continues seeing Roy Phillips. During an encounter, Roy asks her to pretend to be his wife, as he wants to impress an A&P executive. While their ruse proves to be successful, Gillian is later recognized at a diner by a former friend of Roger and starts to talk about his actions until Roy forces him to leave. Ashamed, Gillian once again resorts to heroin.
In Tampa, Florida, Nucky meets with Bill McCoy. McCoy wants Nucky to buy a large parcel of land, which he intends to use for his operations. However, Nucky discovers that another developer has plans for the surrounding land, making Nucky’s parcel unusable to him. When he tells McCoy that he will have to pull back on the deal, McCoy explains that he is indebted to another bootlegger, August Tucker. While Nucky understands his situation, he is frustrated that McCoy didn't ask for his help first. Nucky then goes to a speakeasy, where he becomes intrigued by Sally Wheet, the owner. Inspired by their conversation, Nucky accepts McCoy’s proposal to buy the land. Unbeknownst to Nucky, McCoy killed Tucker earlier that day when Tucker came to harass McCoy over a debt.
Production
In August 2013, HBO confirmed that the third episode of the season would be titled "Acres of Diamonds", and that it would be written by series creator Terence Winter, and directed by Allen Coulter. This was Winter's tenth writing credit, and Coulter's seventh directing credit.[1]
