Straight and True (The Wire episode)
Encyclopedia
"Straight and True" is the fifth episode of the third season of the HBO original series, The Wire
. The episode was written by Ed Burns
from a story by David Simon
& Ed Burns and was directed by Dan Attias
. It originally aired on October 17, 2004.
and Corey Parker Robinson
do not appear in this episode.
and Johnny argue about the morality of acting as a police informant to make money with Johnny opposing the idea and Bubbles defending it. Johnny persuades Bubbles to run a short con (the false good-Samaritan scam) with him to make money instead of reporting to Detective Kima Greggs
. Once Johnny has the money Bubbles is nowhere to be found.
mentions a story in the paper to Councilman Tony Gray. A state's witness in a high profile case has been murdered. Carcetti believes that something should be done as the killing sends a clear message that the system in Baltimore is not working. He tells Gray he will try to fix it politics aside but Gray remains skeptical.
Carcetti takes the issue to Mayor Clarence Royce
and his Chief of Staff Coleman Parker. Royce promises Carcetti that he will act quickly, Carcetti asks to be kept in the loop. Later, Carcetti discusses the meeting over a racquetball game with Gray. He tells Gray that he is going to go after Royce if he keeps ducking them.
At his next committee meeting with Acting Commissioner Ervin Burrell
and Deputy Commissioner William Rawls
, Gray questions them about the dead witness. Rawls tells him they have a homicide task force and narcotics officers working the case as well as turning to the FBI and DEA for support. Gray criticizes the effort as too little too late. He asks why witnesses are not offered any protection, but backs off the tough line of questioning at Carcetti's request.
meeting, Rawls and Burrell target the auto theft unit and chastise them for operating during the day even though the data show that most cars are stolen at night. Rawls quizzes Colonel Raymond Foerster about Officer Dozerman's missing service weapon.
canvasses for witnesses in the shooting of Tosha and Tank. He gets confirmation that Omar was present from a witness named Bruiser. Sergeant Landsman
catches Bunk working on the murder case when he is supposed to be looking for Dozerman's weapon and prevents him from bringing in Bruiser for a statement. Landsman has requests from some arrested drug dealers to exchange information about the weapon for leniency. When Bunk interviews them he finds nothing but time wasters and chancers.
's plan to create a flex squad and put more pressure on the dealers, writing it off as more of the same.
Following the ComStat meeting, Colvin comes up with a new plan - instead of contacting the low level hoppers, he needs to coerce the dealers and crew chiefs into following his new rules. He asks Carver for a list of names of all the mid-level dealers on his corners. Carver is unable to offer anything and Colvin is once more disappointed in him. Colvin is forced to go to Major George Smith - the CID Narcotics Unit commander who has replaced Foerster. He finds Smith's records a disappointingly slim collection of rap sheets. Smith tells him there is no one looking at high end drug cases because Rawls is directing their efforts to street work. Colvin is also unable to obtain anything from the Intelligence Division, adding more to his disappointment. Eventually Colvin is referred to the Major Case Unit where Lieutenant Daniels
and Detectives Kima Greggs
and Lester Freamon
are able to give him a wealth of information. Colvin is glad and surprised that a unit as small as theirs is the only group of police in the department who have every file that he is looking for. McNulty arrives and receives a warm greeting from Colvin, his old commander, who still calls him Bushy Top.
Armed with this new intelligence, Colvin calls a meeting of his district and orders them to bring in the drug lieutenants using their cars instead of wagons. Carver questions why Colvin feels he will have more success with these dealers after having failed to persuade the street dealers. Colvin tells them he can sympathize with their position as middle management. Carver and Thomas "Herc" Hauk are tasked with bringing in Marlo; they find him surrounded by soldiers and refusing to move. Herc is unfazed but Carver realizes the danger they are in. Greggs observes the DEU detectives' actions from a vacant apartment. Carver calls Herc off and as they leave, Greggs photographs Marlo. Meanwhile Officer Colicchio has picked up Bodie Broadus
.
With the lieutenants assembled, Colvin delivers his speech explaining the new regime. Bodie and the others are skeptical and fearful of a trap, so Colvin tries to reassure them. Bodie asks what would happen if they refused to comply and Colvin warns them that he will come down hard on them. As the meeting ends, Colvin is chagrinned to spot a lone resident in his prospective tolerant zone, which he had selected precisely because it was thought to be uninhabited.
Herc, Carver and Colicchio staff the "Hamsterdam" tolerant zone at the top of Vincent Street and observe a few crews of drug dealers arriving. One of the dealers complains about the lack of customers. Herc objects to the notion of rounding up drug addicts for the dealers, but Carver pulls rank on him. Herc and Colicchio pick up Johnny and hand him, along with other rounded-up addicts, over to Officer Santangelo for transport to Hamsterdam. Johnny is incredulous when he arrives in Hamsterdam, but quickly joins the other addicts in purchasing his day's supply.
Cutty returns to work checking on the drug dealer Slim Charles suspects of stealing from them. He is accompanied by Gerard and Sapper. They find a dealer who is wearing a new throwback jersey and his girlfriend, Uniqua, who is wearing a lot of jewelry. After hearing that Uniqua and the dealer have been to more than one mall on the same day, Cutty suspects them of thievery, stating that Uniqua is the most likely outlet for the stolen money. Cutty leaves their work to meet with the Deacon. The Deacon questions Cutty's commitment and tells him that he will have to work to find a job but that he can help him get into a GED program. Cutty tells the Deacon that this was not what he expected, indicating that he thought Grace would be present, and then leaves the church. When Cutty returns to the car Gerard and Sapper are taking cocaine. Cutty worries about having to give a urine sample the following day. Sapper tells him that they have it covered so Cutty sniffs some cocaine.
Later, Sapper and Gerard take Cutty to an old man who sells clean urine taken from a daycare center. Cutty buys a bottle and takes it to the parole office where he is required to give a urine sample. Back out on the street, Sapper and Gerard try to talk to Uniqua. She tries to ignore them until Cutty steps in, and to her shock, slaps her. When they catch up to the dealer, Sapper and Gerard give him a severe beating. An observing Cutty reminds them that if they keep beating him in that manner, he will be unable to work off what he owes. Gerard pulls a club and hits the dealer a final time, knocking him unconscious.
Stringer Bell
chairs a meeting of high level drug dealers in a hotel conference room. Also in attendance are Proposition Joe
, Kintel Williamson and Fat-Face Rick (representing the Veronica Avenue dealers). Afterwards he finds Shamrock taking minutes in order to comply with Robert's Rules of Order
. Stringer angrily reminds him that notes should not be taken of a criminal conspiracy and tears up the notes. Later, Shamrock picks up the newly paroled Avon Barksdale
from prison, along with a gift of new clothes.
Bodie reports his meeting with Major Colvin directly to Stringer. Stringer first chastises Bodie for going around the proper channels of reaching him, but Bodie says he was worried that only Stringer would consider the proposition. He tells Stringer that he was picked up with other Barksdale lieutenants including Tucky and Little Mikey. Stringer behaves as if Bodie is wearing a wire until he shows him otherwise. Bodie reminds Stringer of his problems with Marlo.
After meeting with Marlo and failing to reach any compromise, Stringer attends Avon's welcome home party. Avon is greeted by Slim Charles, Country, and Brianna. Prop Joe is also in attendance. Avon is left on the outside as Stringer talks business. Stringer pulls Avon away to talk business with Maurice Levy
, Clay Davis
and Andy Krawczyk, their developer. Avon spots Gerard and Sapper coming into the party high and orders Slim Charles to throw them out. Stringer once more pulls Avon away to show him his new apartment. Stringer tells him they have enough legitimate money to put whatever they like out in the open and in their own names now. Stringer leaves Avon asking once more about women, but returns soon afterwards with a girl Avon had noticed at the party and another (blonde) one.
as Marlo's chief bodyguard. Cheryl calls but Greggs does not answer. Bubbles gives Greggs a disposable cell phone, known as a "burner", that was used by Stanfield dealer Fruit.
Jimmy McNulty
continues to follow Stringer Bell, tailing him from his college class to a meeting at his (still under construction) condominimum complex. Eventually he gets tired of following Stringer and approaches him in his photocopying shop. Stringer gives McNulty his card and brazenly offers to sell him a condominium in his development. McNulty tells Stringer that he is disappointed as he had high hopes for their continuing game of cat and mouse.
When McNulty returns to the office, Freamon tells him that he has had a week to look into Stringer and asks if he has anything. McNulty tells Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski and Freamon that Stringer has become "the bank" - working legitimate businesses to produce funds to buy packages of narcotics for distribution that he will never touch. McNulty asks about progress in the Kintell Williamson case and learns that they have DNRs on some payphones. McNulty spends time with his sons Michael and Sean and asks about Elena's new boyfriend; they remind him about an open-house for a private school Elena is considering sending them to, and tell him that their mother has told them not to discuss family business with him.
Greggs tracks Marlo down using Bubbles' information and organizes support to tail him. She finds Stringer visiting Marlo at his headquarters and calls in more support. McNulty joins her later and asks what is going on. Inside, Stringer discusses the co-op and its potential usefulness to Marlo, particularly in laundering his drug money. Marlo remains silent throughout his speech and when Stringer leaves, Marlo tells Partlow to organize weapons for their people. McNulty is dubious of Greggs' surveillance until Stringer emerges, at which point he is suitably impressed.
McNulty attends the school's open-house evening. He arrives late and finds Elena talking class sizes and mathematics pedagogy. He gravitates to the buffet table, where he finds Terri D'Agostino doing fundraising work. The two flirt and end up spending the night together. After they have sex, Terri is dismissive and rejects McNulty's further advances, turning her full attention immediately to her work.
and his crew prepare weapons for their next heist. Tension is still high in the group following Dante's accidental shooting of Tosha. Dante is annoyed that he has been given a peripheral role and Kimmy is confrontational. Omar warns them that they must get along or leave the crew.
The WIRE
the WIRE is the student-run College radio station at the University of Oklahoma, broadcasting in a freeform format. The WIRE serves the University of Oklahoma and surrounding communities, and is staffed by student DJs. The WIRE broadcasts at 1710 kHz AM in Norman, Oklahoma...
. The episode was written by Ed Burns
Ed Burns
Ed Burns is a producer, screenwriter, and novelist. He has worked closely with writing partner David Simon. They have collaborated on The Corner and The Wire . Burns is a former Baltimore police detective for the Homicide and Narcotics divisions, and a public school teacher...
from a story by David Simon
David Simon
David Simon is an American author, journalist, and a writer/producer of television series. He worked for the Baltimore Sun City Desk for twelve years. He wrote Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets and co-wrote The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood with Ed Burns...
& Ed Burns and was directed by Dan Attias
Dan Attias
Daniel Attias is an American television director and producer. Attias' career has spanned three decades and during this time he has directed a significant number of popular primetime television programs, including Miami Vice and Beverly Hills, 90210...
. It originally aired on October 17, 2004.
Title reference
The title refers to Cutty's choice between going straight and returning to his old life as a soldier as well as Stringer's attempts to pose as a legitimate business man.Epigraph
McNulty makes this statement expressing his disappointment at losing a worthy target after approaching Stringer and finding that he is now mostly straight. This also can be applied to Colvin's initial attempts to move the drug dealers into the free zones, as well as Stringer's failure to convince Marlo to join the New Day Co-Op.Starring cast
Although credited Deirdre LovejoyDeirdre Lovejoy
Deirdre Lovejoy is an American actress. She is most notable for her role on the HBO television series The Wire as Rhonda Pearlman. She graduated from the University of Evansville with an undergraduate degree in theatre....
and Corey Parker Robinson
Corey Parker Robinson
Corey Parker Robinson is an American actor. He may be best known for appearing on the HBO program The Wire as Detective Leander Sydnor. He also appeared in Wire creator David Simon's earlier The Corner as R.C., a young drug dealer and in ER in episode 19 of Season 5 as student Antoine Bell...
do not appear in this episode.
Guest stars
- Callie ThorneCallie ThorneCalliope "Callie" Thorne is an American actress known for her current role as Dr. Dani Santino on the USA Network series Necessary Roughness...
as Elena McNulty - Glynn TurmanGlynn TurmanGlynn Russell Turman is an American stage, television, and film actor as well as a writer, director, and producer. He is perhaps best known for his roles as high school student Leroy "Preach" Jackson in the 1975 coming-of-age film Cooley High, math professor and retired Army colonel Bradford...
as Mayor Clarence RoyceClarence RoyceClarence V. Royce is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Glynn Turman-Biography:Mayor of Baltimore Clarence V. Royce is a deft political figure and is fixated on remaining in power. Royce is the incumbent Mayor of Baltimore who was elected into office in 1998 and is in the... - Isiah Whitlock, Jr.Isiah Whitlock, Jr.Isiah Whitlock Jr. is an American actor.He is most famous for his role on the HBO television series, The Wire as corrupt state senator Clay Davis. He also is notable for appearing in Spike Lee films She Hate Me and 25th Hour as Agent Amos Flood...
as Senator Clayton "Clay" DavisClay DavisState Senator R. Clayton "Clay" Davis is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Isiah Whitlock, Jr. Davis is a corrupt Maryland State Senator with a reputation for pocketing bribes... - Chad L. Coleman as Dennis "Cutty" Wise
- Jamie HectorJamie HectorJamie Hector is an Haitian-American actor who is known for his portrayal of Marlo Stanfield on the critically acclaimed HBO series The Wire.- Biography :...
as Marlo StanfieldMarlo StanfieldMarlo "Black" Stanfield is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Jamie Hector. Stanfield is a young, ruthless and ambitious player in the Baltimore drug trade who gains control of West Baltimore and is the head of his own drug crew.-Character background and plot... - Michael HyattMichael HyattMichael Hyatt is a British-born film and television actress. Before Hyatt's work in film and television, she enjoyed memorable performances on stages throughout the country, particularly in Ragtime on Broadway.-Early life:...
as Brianna Barksdale - Leo FitzpatrickLeo FitzpatrickLeonardo Aurellio Randy "Leo" Fitzpatrick is an American actor.-Biography:Leo Fitzpatrick was born in West Orange, New Jersey. He was discovered at age 14 by director Larry Clark at Washington Square Park in New York City, skateboarding. Fitzpatrick was trying to perform certain skating tricks,...
as Johnny - Delaney WilliamsDelaney WilliamsDelaney Williams is an American actor from Washington, D.C. He appears on the HBO drama The Wire as a recurring guest star playing homicide sergeant Jay Landsman. He also had a small role on HBO's mini-series The Corner which brought him to the attention of the producers, who worked on The prior to...
as Sergeant Jay LandsmanJay Landsman (The Wire)Jay Landsman is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Delaney Williams.-Policing method:Landsman's role in the police department is that of a supervisory detective sergeant who doesn't participate in much investigation work... - Kelli R. Brown as Kimmy
- Benjamin BuschBenjamin BuschBenjamin B. Busch is an American actor, writer, film maker, photographer, and former United States Marine Corps officer. He is best known for his portrayal of Anthony Colicchio on the HBO original series The Wire.-Biography:...
as Officer Anthony Colicchio - Robert F. ChewRobert F. ChewRobert F. Chew is an American actor from Baltimore, Maryland. He starred in the HBO television drama series The Wire as manipulative drug kingpin Proposition Joe on all five seasons of the show...
as Proposition JoeProposition JoeJoseph "Proposition Joe" Stewart is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire played by actor Robert F. Chew. Joe is an Eastside drug kingpin who preferred a peaceful solution to business disputes when possible... - Jay LandsmanJay LandsmanThe book was later developed into the television series Homicide: Life on the Street. He was the inspiration for the fictional character John Munch on that show and a character named Jay Landsman on the television series The Wire, created by Simon. Landsman portrayed himself in a brief appearance...
as Lieutenant Dennis Mello - Ernest WaddellErnest WaddellErnest Waddell is a New York City-based actor. He is perhaps best known for his recurring roles on two television series : Fin Tutuola's son Ken Randall on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Omar Little's boyfriend Dante on The Wire...
as Dante - Mayo Best as Gerard
- Richard BurtonRichard Burton (Baltimore)Richard Burton is a Baltimore, Maryland, city council employee and runs the "Believe" campaign. He was a rapper before becoming involved in Martin O'Malley's first Mayoral campaign after meeting him in 1998....
as Shaun "Shamrock" McGinty - Anwan GloverAnwan GloverRalph Anwan Glover is an American actor and musician. He is one of the founding members of the Backyard Band, a go-go band, as well as appearing as gang member Slim Charles in the HBO series The Wire. He has also appeared in music videos, such as Boyz n da Hood's "Dem Boyz" among others, and has a...
as Slim Charles - Addison Switzer as Country
- Brandan T. Tate as Sapper
- Brandy BurreBrandy BurreBrandy Burre was born on September 27, 1974 in Sandusky, Ohio. She earned her Master's degree in acting at Ohio University, and has performed on the stage in addition to her work in film and television. She is best known for her portrayal of Theresa D'Agostino on the HBO series The Wire.-External...
as Theresa D'Agostino - Richard DeAngelis as Colonel Raymond Foerster
- Christopher Mann as Councilman Tony Gray
- Cleo Reginald Pizana as Chief of Staff Coleman Parker
- Michael Salconi as Officer Michael Santangelo
- Tony Cordova as Sean McNulty
- Michael KostroffMichael KostroffMichael Kostroff is an American actor. He appeared on the HBO program The Wire as defense attorney Maurice Levy. Kostroff starred in the fifth season of the series and appeared in all four earlier seasons as a guest star.- Biography :...
as Maurice LevyMaurice Levy (The Wire)Maurice "Maury" Levy is a fictional lawyer on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Michael Kostroff. He is a skilled defense attorney and was kept on retainer by the drug-trafficking Barksdale Organization, representing the organization's members at trials and advising Avon Barksdale and Stringer Bell... - Melvin WilliamsMelvin Williams (actor)Melvin D. Williams , known as Little Melvin, is a former drug trafficker and organized crime figure in his native Baltimore, Maryland. Williams is widely known for his involvement in heroin trafficking in Baltimore in the 1970s and 1980s...
as The Deacon - Michael WillisMichael WillisMichael Willis, born October 4, 1949, is an American television and movie character actor. Willis' credits include movie roles in Pushing Tin and Men in Black, and several episodes of Law & Order....
as Andy Krawczyk - Eric Ryan as Michael McNulty
Uncredited appearances
- R. Emery Bright as Community Relations Sergeant Richardson
- Gbenga Akkinagbe as Chris Partlow
- Ken Arnold as Auto Crime Lieutenant
- Robert Neal MarshallRobert Neal Marshall-Personal life:Robert Neal Marshall was born in Baltimore, Maryland, but grew up in New York City and Englewood, New Jersey. His mother is Broadway and television actress turned photographer Bette Marshall and his father by adoption in 1977 is Entertainment Law attorney Paul G. Marshall. His...
as Comstat Police Major - Lawrence Cameron Steele as Western District Lieutenant
- Chester West as Shift Lieutenant Dent
- Troj Strickland as Fat-Face Rick
- Mike D. Anderson as Ghost
- Unknown as Kintel Williamson
- Unknown as Mee-Maw
- Unknown as thieving Barksdale crew chief
- Unknown as Uniqua
- Unknown as Major George Smith
- Unknown as Bruiser
- Unknown as Tucky
- Unknown as Lil Mikey
- probably Felicia PearsonFelicia PearsonFelicia Pearson is an American actress, author, and rapper. She is best known for playing a character of the same name, Felicia "Snoop" Pearson, on The Wire. She wrote a memoir titled Grace After Midnight.-Biography:Pearson was born to two incarcerated drug addicts and raised in an East Baltimore...
as Snoop
Bubbles
BubblesBubbles (The Wire)
Reginald "Bubbles" Cousins is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Andre Royo. Bubbles is a recovering heroin addict. His real name is not revealed until a fourth-season episode when he is called "Mr. Cousins" and in the fifth-season premiere when he is called "Reginald"...
and Johnny argue about the morality of acting as a police informant to make money with Johnny opposing the idea and Bubbles defending it. Johnny persuades Bubbles to run a short con (the false good-Samaritan scam) with him to make money instead of reporting to Detective Kima Greggs
Kima Greggs
Detective Shakima "Kima" Greggs is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actress Sonja Sohn. Greggs is a police detective in the Baltimore Police Department who is a dedicated officer and capable detective with some off-the-job issues. Openly lesbian, she has had problems...
. Once Johnny has the money Bubbles is nowhere to be found.
Politics
Councilman Tommy CarcettiTommy Carcetti
Thomas J. "Tommy" Carcetti is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Irish actor Aidan Gillen. Carcetti is an ambitious Baltimore politician who rises from a seat on the city council to the office of the Mayor of Baltimore, and to the office of the Governor of Maryland by the...
mentions a story in the paper to Councilman Tony Gray. A state's witness in a high profile case has been murdered. Carcetti believes that something should be done as the killing sends a clear message that the system in Baltimore is not working. He tells Gray he will try to fix it politics aside but Gray remains skeptical.
Carcetti takes the issue to Mayor Clarence Royce
Clarence Royce
Clarence V. Royce is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Glynn Turman-Biography:Mayor of Baltimore Clarence V. Royce is a deft political figure and is fixated on remaining in power. Royce is the incumbent Mayor of Baltimore who was elected into office in 1998 and is in the...
and his Chief of Staff Coleman Parker. Royce promises Carcetti that he will act quickly, Carcetti asks to be kept in the loop. Later, Carcetti discusses the meeting over a racquetball game with Gray. He tells Gray that he is going to go after Royce if he keeps ducking them.
At his next committee meeting with Acting Commissioner Ervin Burrell
Ervin Burrell
Ervin Burrell is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Frankie Faison. Burrell was an officer in the Baltimore Police Department who ascended from Deputy Commissioner of Operations to Commissioner over the course of the show...
and Deputy Commissioner William Rawls
William Rawls
William A. "Bill" Rawls is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor John Doman. Over the course of the series he ascends to the rank of Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.-Season 1:...
, Gray questions them about the dead witness. Rawls tells him they have a homicide task force and narcotics officers working the case as well as turning to the FBI and DEA for support. Gray criticizes the effort as too little too late. He asks why witnesses are not offered any protection, but backs off the tough line of questioning at Carcetti's request.
ComStat
In the weekly ComStatCompStat
CompStat—or COMPSTAT— is the name given to the New York City Police Department's accountability process and has since been replicated in many other departments...
meeting, Rawls and Burrell target the auto theft unit and chastise them for operating during the day even though the data show that most cars are stolen at night. Rawls quizzes Colonel Raymond Foerster about Officer Dozerman's missing service weapon.
Homicide
Bunk MorelandBunk Moreland
William "Bunk" Moreland is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Wendell Pierce. Bunk's character is based on a retired Baltimore City Police Detective named Rick Requer and nicknamed "the Bunk", an officer who joined the force in 1964 as a Western District patrolman who...
canvasses for witnesses in the shooting of Tosha and Tank. He gets confirmation that Omar was present from a witness named Bruiser. Sergeant Landsman
Jay Landsman (The Wire)
Jay Landsman is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Delaney Williams.-Policing method:Landsman's role in the police department is that of a supervisory detective sergeant who doesn't participate in much investigation work...
catches Bunk working on the murder case when he is supposed to be looking for Dozerman's weapon and prevents him from bringing in Bruiser for a statement. Landsman has requests from some arrested drug dealers to exchange information about the weapon for leniency. When Bunk interviews them he finds nothing but time wasters and chancers.
Western district
Major Howard "Bunny" Colvin's subordinates offer him sympathy for the failure of his initiative to get drug trade off the streets using tolerant zones. Colvin rejects Sergeant CarverEllis Carver
Ellis Carver is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Seth Gilliam. Carver is an African American lieutenant and formerly in command of the Baltimore Police Department's Western District Drug Enforcement Unit...
's plan to create a flex squad and put more pressure on the dealers, writing it off as more of the same.
Following the ComStat meeting, Colvin comes up with a new plan - instead of contacting the low level hoppers, he needs to coerce the dealers and crew chiefs into following his new rules. He asks Carver for a list of names of all the mid-level dealers on his corners. Carver is unable to offer anything and Colvin is once more disappointed in him. Colvin is forced to go to Major George Smith - the CID Narcotics Unit commander who has replaced Foerster. He finds Smith's records a disappointingly slim collection of rap sheets. Smith tells him there is no one looking at high end drug cases because Rawls is directing their efforts to street work. Colvin is also unable to obtain anything from the Intelligence Division, adding more to his disappointment. Eventually Colvin is referred to the Major Case Unit where Lieutenant Daniels
Cedric Daniels
Cedric Daniels is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Lance Reddick. He is a well regarded officer in the department whose focus is on good police work and quality arrests...
and Detectives Kima Greggs
Kima Greggs
Detective Shakima "Kima" Greggs is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actress Sonja Sohn. Greggs is a police detective in the Baltimore Police Department who is a dedicated officer and capable detective with some off-the-job issues. Openly lesbian, she has had problems...
and Lester Freamon
Lester Freamon
Lester Freamon is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Clarke Peters. Freamon is a detective in the Baltimore Police Department's Major Crimes Unit...
are able to give him a wealth of information. Colvin is glad and surprised that a unit as small as theirs is the only group of police in the department who have every file that he is looking for. McNulty arrives and receives a warm greeting from Colvin, his old commander, who still calls him Bushy Top.
Armed with this new intelligence, Colvin calls a meeting of his district and orders them to bring in the drug lieutenants using their cars instead of wagons. Carver questions why Colvin feels he will have more success with these dealers after having failed to persuade the street dealers. Colvin tells them he can sympathize with their position as middle management. Carver and Thomas "Herc" Hauk are tasked with bringing in Marlo; they find him surrounded by soldiers and refusing to move. Herc is unfazed but Carver realizes the danger they are in. Greggs observes the DEU detectives' actions from a vacant apartment. Carver calls Herc off and as they leave, Greggs photographs Marlo. Meanwhile Officer Colicchio has picked up Bodie Broadus
Bodie Broadus
Preston "Bodie" Broadus is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor J. D. Williams. Bodie is initially a Barksdale organization drug dealer in "The Pit" who slowly rises through the ranks...
.
With the lieutenants assembled, Colvin delivers his speech explaining the new regime. Bodie and the others are skeptical and fearful of a trap, so Colvin tries to reassure them. Bodie asks what would happen if they refused to comply and Colvin warns them that he will come down hard on them. As the meeting ends, Colvin is chagrinned to spot a lone resident in his prospective tolerant zone, which he had selected precisely because it was thought to be uninhabited.
Herc, Carver and Colicchio staff the "Hamsterdam" tolerant zone at the top of Vincent Street and observe a few crews of drug dealers arriving. One of the dealers complains about the lack of customers. Herc objects to the notion of rounding up drug addicts for the dealers, but Carver pulls rank on him. Herc and Colicchio pick up Johnny and hand him, along with other rounded-up addicts, over to Officer Santangelo for transport to Hamsterdam. Johnny is incredulous when he arrives in Hamsterdam, but quickly joins the other addicts in purchasing his day's supply.
Barksdale organization
Dennis "Cutty" Wise is awoken by his grandmother, who asks why he is not working today. He lies to her, saying that he has a job at a bar and will now be working nights. She also tells him that Grace called to remind him of his appointment with The Deacon.Cutty returns to work checking on the drug dealer Slim Charles suspects of stealing from them. He is accompanied by Gerard and Sapper. They find a dealer who is wearing a new throwback jersey and his girlfriend, Uniqua, who is wearing a lot of jewelry. After hearing that Uniqua and the dealer have been to more than one mall on the same day, Cutty suspects them of thievery, stating that Uniqua is the most likely outlet for the stolen money. Cutty leaves their work to meet with the Deacon. The Deacon questions Cutty's commitment and tells him that he will have to work to find a job but that he can help him get into a GED program. Cutty tells the Deacon that this was not what he expected, indicating that he thought Grace would be present, and then leaves the church. When Cutty returns to the car Gerard and Sapper are taking cocaine. Cutty worries about having to give a urine sample the following day. Sapper tells him that they have it covered so Cutty sniffs some cocaine.
Later, Sapper and Gerard take Cutty to an old man who sells clean urine taken from a daycare center. Cutty buys a bottle and takes it to the parole office where he is required to give a urine sample. Back out on the street, Sapper and Gerard try to talk to Uniqua. She tries to ignore them until Cutty steps in, and to her shock, slaps her. When they catch up to the dealer, Sapper and Gerard give him a severe beating. An observing Cutty reminds them that if they keep beating him in that manner, he will be unable to work off what he owes. Gerard pulls a club and hits the dealer a final time, knocking him unconscious.
Stringer Bell
Stringer Bell
Russell "Stringer" Bell is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by English actor Idris Elba. Bell served as drug kingpin Avon Barksdale's second in command, assuming direct control of the Barksdale Organization during Avon's imprisonment...
chairs a meeting of high level drug dealers in a hotel conference room. Also in attendance are Proposition Joe
Proposition Joe
Joseph "Proposition Joe" Stewart is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire played by actor Robert F. Chew. Joe is an Eastside drug kingpin who preferred a peaceful solution to business disputes when possible...
, Kintel Williamson and Fat-Face Rick (representing the Veronica Avenue dealers). Afterwards he finds Shamrock taking minutes in order to comply with Robert's Rules of Order
Robert's Rules of Order
Robert's Rules of Order is the short title of a book containing rules of order intended to be adopted as a parliamentary authority for use by a deliberative assembly written by Brig. Gen...
. Stringer angrily reminds him that notes should not be taken of a criminal conspiracy and tears up the notes. Later, Shamrock picks up the newly paroled Avon Barksdale
Avon Barksdale
Avon Randolph Barksdale is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire portrayed by actor Wood Harris. Avon is the dominant drug dealer of Baltimore's West Side, running the Barksdale Organization...
from prison, along with a gift of new clothes.
Bodie reports his meeting with Major Colvin directly to Stringer. Stringer first chastises Bodie for going around the proper channels of reaching him, but Bodie says he was worried that only Stringer would consider the proposition. He tells Stringer that he was picked up with other Barksdale lieutenants including Tucky and Little Mikey. Stringer behaves as if Bodie is wearing a wire until he shows him otherwise. Bodie reminds Stringer of his problems with Marlo.
After meeting with Marlo and failing to reach any compromise, Stringer attends Avon's welcome home party. Avon is greeted by Slim Charles, Country, and Brianna. Prop Joe is also in attendance. Avon is left on the outside as Stringer talks business. Stringer pulls Avon away to talk business with Maurice Levy
Maurice Levy (The Wire)
Maurice "Maury" Levy is a fictional lawyer on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Michael Kostroff. He is a skilled defense attorney and was kept on retainer by the drug-trafficking Barksdale Organization, representing the organization's members at trials and advising Avon Barksdale and Stringer Bell...
, Clay Davis
Clay Davis
State Senator R. Clayton "Clay" Davis is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Isiah Whitlock, Jr. Davis is a corrupt Maryland State Senator with a reputation for pocketing bribes...
and Andy Krawczyk, their developer. Avon spots Gerard and Sapper coming into the party high and orders Slim Charles to throw them out. Stringer once more pulls Avon away to show him his new apartment. Stringer tells him they have enough legitimate money to put whatever they like out in the open and in their own names now. Stringer leaves Avon asking once more about women, but returns soon afterwards with a girl Avon had noticed at the party and another (blonde) one.
Major case unit
Greggs meets with Bubbles and he tells her more about Marlo Stanfield's organization. He names Chris PartlowChris Partlow
Chris Partlow is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Gbenga Akinnagbe. Partlow is Marlo Stanfield's best friend, bodyguard, and second-in-command in his drug dealing operation. Despite his quiet demeanor, Partlow commits more on- and off-screen murders than any other...
as Marlo's chief bodyguard. Cheryl calls but Greggs does not answer. Bubbles gives Greggs a disposable cell phone, known as a "burner", that was used by Stanfield dealer Fruit.
Jimmy McNulty
Jimmy McNulty
Detective James "Jimmy" McNulty is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by British actor Dominic West. McNulty is an Irish American detective in the Baltimore Police Department...
continues to follow Stringer Bell, tailing him from his college class to a meeting at his (still under construction) condominimum complex. Eventually he gets tired of following Stringer and approaches him in his photocopying shop. Stringer gives McNulty his card and brazenly offers to sell him a condominium in his development. McNulty tells Stringer that he is disappointed as he had high hopes for their continuing game of cat and mouse.
When McNulty returns to the office, Freamon tells him that he has had a week to look into Stringer and asks if he has anything. McNulty tells Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski and Freamon that Stringer has become "the bank" - working legitimate businesses to produce funds to buy packages of narcotics for distribution that he will never touch. McNulty asks about progress in the Kintell Williamson case and learns that they have DNRs on some payphones. McNulty spends time with his sons Michael and Sean and asks about Elena's new boyfriend; they remind him about an open-house for a private school Elena is considering sending them to, and tell him that their mother has told them not to discuss family business with him.
Greggs tracks Marlo down using Bubbles' information and organizes support to tail him. She finds Stringer visiting Marlo at his headquarters and calls in more support. McNulty joins her later and asks what is going on. Inside, Stringer discusses the co-op and its potential usefulness to Marlo, particularly in laundering his drug money. Marlo remains silent throughout his speech and when Stringer leaves, Marlo tells Partlow to organize weapons for their people. McNulty is dubious of Greggs' surveillance until Stringer emerges, at which point he is suitably impressed.
McNulty attends the school's open-house evening. He arrives late and finds Elena talking class sizes and mathematics pedagogy. He gravitates to the buffet table, where he finds Terri D'Agostino doing fundraising work. The two flirt and end up spending the night together. After they have sex, Terri is dismissive and rejects McNulty's further advances, turning her full attention immediately to her work.
Omar
Omar LittleOmar Little
Omar Devone Little is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, portrayed by Michael K. Williams. Omar is a renowned stick-up man who lives by a strict moral code and never deviates from his rules, foremost of which is that he never robs or menaces people who are not involved in "the game"....
and his crew prepare weapons for their next heist. Tension is still high in the group following Dante's accidental shooting of Tosha. Dante is annoyed that he has been given a peripheral role and Kimmy is confrontational. Omar warns them that they must get along or leave the crew.
First Appearances
- Chris Partlow: Ruthless second in command of the Stanfield organization. First appears when Marlo tells him to get ready to go to war with the Barksdales.