That's Got His Own
Encyclopedia
"That's Got His Own" is the twelfth episode of the fourth season of the HBO original series The Wire
. Written by George Pelecanos
from a story by Ed Burns
& George Pelecanos, and directed by Joe Chappelle
, it originally aired on December 3, 2006.
, "God Bless The Child
".
, Glynn Turman
, and J. D. Williams
do not appear in this episode.
The security guard who tells Carcetti and Wilson that the Governor is ready to see them is played by Robert Ehrlich
, the real-life Governor of Maryland at the time the episode was filmed. The storyline of fictional mayor Tommy Carcetti
seeking the governor's assistance with the school deficit has been noted as similar to real life Mayor Martin O'Malley
's appeal for support in 2004. The show's creator, David Simon, has commented that the appearance was not meant to imply any favor in the O'Malley vs. Ehrlich electoral campaign. Simon stated that a similar cameo was offered to O'Malley but he declined. The episode aired shortly after O'Malley defeated Ehrlich in the general election.
flees from Stanfield enforcers Chris Partlow and Snoop. He hides in an abandoned warehouse and surprises them. He tags both of them with paintball
s and they are impressed at his progress. Chris asks him to explain the rationale behind his targeting and Michael explains that at a distance you aim low because of the possibility of a vest and at close range you aim for the head. Snoop is impressed, commenting that Michael is 'learning'.
The Deacon meets with Watkins as promised. Watkins recognizes Colvin's name from the Hamsterdam debacle and then the Deacon ushers him in.
Mr. Pryzbylewski visits Randy Wagstaff
at home with his foster mother, Miss Anna. Randy is still being kept at home because he is believed to be in danger as word has been spreading that he was working with the police. Prez delivers Randy's schoolwork and tells Miss Anna that he hopes the problem will not continue for much longer. She confides that they are thinking of switching schools to escape further difficulties. As he leaves, Prez notices an unmarked police car waiting further down the block.
In the morning, Prez meets with Assistant Principal Marcia Donnelly and tries to convince her that Duquan "Dukie" Weems is not ready for high school. She tells him that she has noticed the effort he has put into helping Dukie, but that he must not get too close to his students since they have to move on, and there are plenty more students coming into the system.
With the state-wide exam closing in, both the special class and the normal classes are practicing test questions. Prez's class remains disruptive, but he is able to focus them on the material eventually. The special class is more resistant. Zenobia Dawson points out that she does not like answering questions about getting an allowance from a father when she has neither. Namond Brice
tells the teacher that he feels cheated because his class is now the same as the other classes. Colvin tells Dr. David Parenti that he agrees with Namond. Colvin and Parenti share a concern that the test material does not speak to the students at all.
After class, Dukie confesses to Prez his own misgivings about moving up to high school. Prez tries to reassure him that he is ready and that he is welcome if he needs to come back at any time. Dukie walks home with Michael and continues to worry about going to high school. They find that Dukie and his family have been evicted, again. Michael offers Dukie a place to stay with him and his brother. Dukie returns for his last day at Edward Tilghman Middle School, where he wraps up work on a special assignment. As the final bell rings he looks dejected.
continues to search the area where he found the body of Curtis "Lex" Anderson in a vacant house. He has identified the type of nail used to seal the house as being indicative of further houses where bodies will be found, as H.C.D. uses screws to seal the vacant houses. Sergeant Jay Landsman
arrives and orders Freamon to stop opening vacant houses because finding John Doe
s at this stage in the year will destroy the homicide unit's clearance rate. Freamon is enraged and his partner Bunk Moreland
tries to calm him.
Freamon's mood is lifted slightly when he returns to the detail office to watch Lieutenant Charles Marimow's departure. Thomas "Herc" Hauk is overjoyed to see the back of the lieutenant, telling the other detectives that Marimow had planned to ruin his career, but instead Marimow was the one forced out of the unit. Freamon quickly turns to the Stanfield investigation. Freamon asks Detective Sydnor
to restart surveillance of Stanfield's people, and dispatches Detective Dozerman to city hall to look at high-value property sales and to check for luxury car purchases. He asks Herc to begin work on requisitioning back their wiretap equipment and then tells them that he himself will be at the missing persons department to search for Stanfield murder targets. Herc pulls Freamon to one side and asks if he can give the direction as he is the sergeant; Freamon nods but does not respond.
Later, Lieutenant Asher returns to the unit and asks what the brass is thinking after having transferred him out just a few months ago. Freamon does not answer the question and instead inquires about Asher's beach house. When Asher enters his office, Herc asks Freamon who he is and Freamon tells him that, ironically, he is one of the most effective supervisors in the department.
Freamon meets with CID commander Cedric Daniels
and Assistant State's Attorney Pearlman
. He makes a case that they should be searching other vacant houses for further bodies. Like Landsman, Daniels is concerned about the murder rate. Pearlman asks what other work they are doing on Stanfield and whether there are links between Stanfield and the missing persons that Freamon has selected. He explains that there are links in some cases and presents his strategy for following the money and resurrecting the wiretaps. He asks if Landsman has run the information about the bodies up the chain of command to Daniels and learns that he has not. Pearlman leaves the decision to Daniels, who tells Freamon that he will take it to the command staff.
Daniels meets with Deputy Commissioner Rawls
to explain Freamon's theory, believing Freamon is right. Daniels suggests that pulling the bodies before the end of the year makes the poor statistics attributable to Royce's administration. Rawls is impressed with the idea and further realizes that Daniels is a threat to his hopes of becoming commissioner. He orders Daniels to keep the suggestion to himself, knowing that if the direction were to come directly from Daniels, Daniels would be even more likely to become the next commissioner. Rawls meets with Mayor Carcetti
and tells him about Freamon's discovery. Rawls offers Daniels's suggestion as his own and Carcetti chastises him for thinking of stats, but still encourages him to uncover the bodies before the new year.
Freamon discusses the problem in a bar with Bunk and Jimmy McNulty
. Bunk tries to steer the conversation away from the bodies, but Freamon will not be diverted. He bets that he can open any row house with matching nails and find a body and Bunk accepts the wager. As McNulty goes to leave, Bunk tries to convince him to get drunk with them, but McNulty resists. The trio does not take long to find another one of Marlo's bodies. McNulty suggests calling the crime lab. Freamon tells McNulty that he is not allowed to discover any bodies without the go-ahead from his superiors and, when that happens, McNulty will miss out on the investigation. McNulty questions if command will ever give the go-ahead and Freamon tells him that "it's a new day" with Daniels in command of CID. Freamon and Bunk both note the irony of McNulty being the most suitable for driving as they depart.
Freamon meets with Herc and Sydnor the next morning. He is dismayed to learn that none of Stanfield's people are using phones and comments that if the wiretaps had been left running two months ago they would not be facing these problems now. Two detectives arrive from the Internal Investigations Division. They ask Herc if he remembers borrowing the camera from ISD and that they need a statement regarding the camera and some of his confidential informant paperwork. They request Sydnor and Dozerman as well, but Herc tells the detectives that he is solely responsible.
Freamon receives the go-ahead from Daniels along with an offer for further manpower: two CID officers of his choosing. Freamon first approaches Kima Greggs
, but then decides not to ask her when she tells him she loves homicide.
Carcetti and Norman Wilson find themselves waiting in the middle of a staircase for the governor. Carcetti gripes that they have been waiting for over an hour. Wilson shows Carcetti an article, written by Mike Fletcher, quoting the governor about the school's financial problems, saying that the blame falls on a lack of local oversight. Eventually Carcetti decides to leave, and just as they get to the door, the security guard (played by real-life Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich
) tells them the governor is now ready for them.
Next, Carcetti meets with his staff to discuss the governor's offer: more money in exchange for greater state control of the city's schools. Campbell tells Carcetti that the governor is protecting himself for the 2008 state election by making Carcetti look bad for accepting the money. The budget advisor encourages Carcetti to take the money regardless. Wilson agrees and Steintorf disagrees. Campbell refuses to offer an opinion and tells Carcetti she is glad she is not in his position and will criticize him either way.
Namond discusses his problem with Michael. Michael insists that Kenard must have stolen the stash for himself and tells Namond that he should check the door to prove Kenard's story false and then must confront him with more than words. On the way home from school Namond asks Michael to accompany him when he confronts Kenard. Namond tells his mother that he suspects Kenard took the stash. She insists that Kenard needs to feel "some pain" for his actions. Namond tries to argue with her but she is violently disappointed that he has not acted already.
Namond confronts Kenard and tells him that he knows he stole the package. Kenard remains unafraid of Namond and taunts him. Michael eventually steps in and severely beats Kenard. Namond is too shocked to recover his package and then runs away from the scene.
Sergeant Carver
visits Randy at home and tries to reassure Miss Jeffreys that the danger will soon pass. He tells her that they still have plainclothes officers watching the house.
Namond arrives at Cutty's gym and gets the cold shoulder from Michael. He provokes Michael into attacking him by picking on Dukie. Cutty intervenes, telling Michael to leave. Namond breaks down in tears.
Cutty calls Carver for help and they ask Namond what has happened between him and Michael. Namond also mentions the fact that he is forced to live up to his father's reputation, but he doesn't have the game in him (a similar admission made by Cutty in Season 3). Cutty confesses to Carver that he is angry with himself for sending Michael away. He tells Carver that Namond has been dealing drugs but Carver asserts that he is not dealing at the moment. Cutty visits Michael's mother and learns that he has moved out. Carver calls Colvin for help after Namond's mother refuses to pick him up.
Meanwhile, a false shooting is called in from Randy's street to lure the police unit guarding his house away. Two men approach Miss Anna's house and throw Molotov cocktail
s through the window.
Cutty tracks Michael down to a corner with "Monk" Metcalf. Monk orders Cutty away but he tells Monk that he is not talking to him. Monk shoots Cutty twice in the leg but Michael prevents him from killing him. Michael offers to stay with Cutty until the ambulance comes but Cutty tells him to go.
Carver visits the hospital and learns that Miss Anna is in a critical but stable condition with third degree burns. He tries to console Randy but the boy rejects him. Carver attempts to assure Randy that he will be protected, but as Carver leaves, Randy taunts him, bitterly.
visits the horses' yard to talk to the arabber
s he sometimes works for. He asks for advice about how to deal with his tormentor. They have various suggestions for him but settle on replacing drugs with sodium cyanide to poison the man. They tell him that a metal plating shop is an easy place to buy the chemical and that the only issue will be living with himself as the police will not question the death of an addict.
Having bought the necessary chemical, Bubbles prepares several vials of the stuff and then goes out to work. Sherrod arrives and Bubbles tells him that he is giving him his own stock and route. Bubbles warns him not to stand up to their tormentor. When Bubbles returns to the garage after a long day at work without incident he finds Sherrod's takings on the table.
Bubbles awakes the next day full of plans to make money. He is horrified to find that Sherrod has taken some of the vials he prepared and then cannot rouse the boy. Sherrod is dead.
and Renaldo continue to follow Cheese, tracking him to a meeting with Stanfield's people. Cheese's jocular manner is met with stony silence from Marlo, Chris, Snoop, O-Dog and Monk. Marlo pays Cheese more than expected and requests a bigger shipment of narcotics. Cheese is reluctant to promise anything and tells Marlo that he will discuss it with Proposition Joe
. He gives Monk a burner phone and tells him that they will call when they have the drugs. Stanfield's people are newly dubious about using phones and Cheese reassures them that they do not have to answer the call; the call itself will serve as the signal that the meeting is ready.
Omar organizes a meeting at Butchie's bar to put a team together. Butchie offers him the men who helped Omar while in jail as muscle, but Omar declines, telling Butchie that he hopes to be more subtle. His old associate Kimmy arrives and receives a warm welcome.
Omar continues to follow Cheese as he prepares to deliver the new shipment to Marlo. Proposition Joe calls to tell Omar where he can steal from Marlo as promised, Omar does not take the call, knowing that he is on to a greater payload now. He, Renaldo and Kimmy tail Cheese's van to a meeting place. Kimmy is dressed as a prostitute.
Cheese and his associates prepare to load the shipment into the van. Kimmy approaches one of the guards. Renaldo's people arrive posing as painters and block Cheese's van in. The trap is sprung and Omar demands that they open the truck.
Cheese reports the theft to Proposition Joe. Joe worries that the Co-Op will think that he is withholding the shipment for himself.
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...
. Written by George Pelecanos
George Pelecanos
George P. Pelecanos is a Greek-American author. Many of his works are in the genre of detective fiction and set primarily in his hometown of Washington, D.C. He is also a film and television producer and a television writer...
from a story 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...
& George Pelecanos, and directed by Joe Chappelle
Joe Chappelle
Joe Chappelle is an American film and television director and producer. Chappelle was a Co-executive producer and regular Director for the HBO crime drama The Wire...
, it originally aired on December 3, 2006.
Title reference
The title is a lyric from a song co-written and made famous by Billie HolidayBillie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
, "God Bless The Child
God Bless the Child (Billie Holiday song)
"God Bless the Child" is a song written by Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog, Jr. in 1939, first recorded on May 9, 1941 under the Okeh label.Holiday's version of the song was honored with the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in...
".
Epigraph
Bubbles remarking on the apparent simplicity of murdering his tormentor.Starring cast
Although credited, Frankie FaisonFrankie Faison
Frankie Russel Faison , often credited as Frankie R. Faison, is an American actor.-Personal life:Faison was born in Newport News, Virginia, the son of Carmena and Edgar Faison. He studied drama at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois, where he joined Theta Chi Fraternity...
, Glynn Turman
Glynn Turman
Glynn 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...
, and J. D. Williams
J. D. Williams
Darnell "J.D." Williams is an American actor with starring roles in the HBO television programs Oz and The Wire, in which he appeared as Preston "Bodie" Broadus...
do not appear in this episode.
Guest stars
- Jermaine CrawfordJermaine CrawfordJermaine Crawford is an actor best known for appearing on the HBO original series The Wire as Duquan "Dukie" Weems. He is a cousin to fellow Wire castmember and actor Tristan Wilds....
as Duquan "Dukie" Weems - Maestro HarrellMaestro HarrellMaestro Harrell is an American actor who starred on the HBO original series The Wire as Randy Wagstaff. He was also on the NBC drama ER on April 26, 2007....
as Randy WagstaffRandy WagstaffRandy Wagstaff is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Maestro Harrell. Randy is an enterprising student who is dependent on social services. During season 4, he was an 8th grade pupil at Edward Tilghman Middle School and is friends with Namond Brice, Michael Lee and Duquan... - Julito McCullumJulito McCullumJulito McCullum is an American actor of Afro-Colombian descent best known for his role as Namond Brice on the HBO series The Wire. Currently lives in Staten Island....
as Namond BriceNamond BriceNamond Brice is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Julito McCullum. Namond is the son of Wee-Bey Brice and De'Londa Brice and was a middle school pupil during season 4. He is friends with Michael Lee and Randy Wagstaff and often bullies Duquan "Dukie" Weems... - Tristan WildsTristan WildsTristan Paul Mack Wilds is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Michael Lee on the HBO original drama series The Wire and as Dixon Wilson on the CW drama series 90210.-Life and career:...
as Michael LeeMichael Lee (The Wire)Michael Lee is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Tristan Wilds. He is a middle school pupil and is friends with Namond Brice, Randy Wagstaff and Duquan "Dukie" Weems. He is more soft-spoken than his friends, and appears to have a leadership role among his peers... - Gbenga AkinnagbeGbenga AkinnagbeGbenga Akinnagbe is an American actor, best known for his role as Chris Partlow on the HBO original series The Wire.-Early life:...
as Chris PartlowChris PartlowChris 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... - Neal HuffNeal HuffNeal Huff is an American actor. He received his MFA from the Graduate Acting Program at New York University. He has appeared on Broadway in revivals of The Tempest and The Lion in Winter and the Tony Award-winning Take Me Out...
as Michael Steintorf - 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... - 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 CharlesSlim CharlesSlim Charles is a fictional member of the drug trade in the HBO drama The Wire, played by Anwan Glover. An enforcer for the Barksdale Organization and later the top lieutenant of kingpin Proposition Joe Stewart, he shows integrity, loyalty and competence throughout his career.The saga of the... - Method ManMethod ManClifford Smith , better known by his stage name Method Man is an American hip hop artist, record producer, actor and member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He took his stage name from the 1979 film The Fearless Young Boxer, also known as Method Man. He is one half of the rap duo Method Man...
as Melvin "Cheese" Wagstaff - 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 - Boris McGiver as Lieutenant Charles Marimow
- 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... - Marlyne AfflackMarlyne AfflackMarlyne Nayokah Afflack is an American actress best known her role as Nerese Campbell on The Wire. She also played an attorney in the FX drama Damages and Thomasina, the efficient palace secretary and aide-de-camp, on the NBC series Kings...
as Naresse Campbell - S. Robert MorganS. Robert MorganS. Robert Morgan is an American television actor. He guest starred on Home Box Office drama series The Wire as Butchie from the second season until the show's fifth and final season. Morgan lost his sight in his twenties due to macular degeneration. Morgan is from Fort Washington, Maryland and...
as Butchie - Ramón Rodríguez as Renaldo
- Shamika CottonShamika CottonShamika Cotton is an American actor from Cincinnati, Ohio. She is perhaps best known to television viewers as Michael Lee's drug-addicted mother Raylene Lee in the acclaimed HBO series The Wire.-Career:...
as Raylene Lee - Stacie Davis as Miss Duquette
- Tootsie DuvallTootsie DuvallTootsie Duvall is an American film, theatre and television actress.-Career:...
as Assistant Principal Marcia Donnelly - Denise Hart as Miss Anna Jeffreys
- Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. as Security Guard
- David Goodman as Budget Advisor
- Rick Otto as Detective Kenneth Dozerman
- Frederick Strother as State Delegate Odell Watkins
- Melvin Williams as The Deacon
- Nathan Corbett as Donut
- Thuliso DingwallThuliso DingwallThuliso Dingwall is an American actor. He is best known for portraying Kenard on the television series The Wire. Dingwall is from Clinton, Maryland.-External links:...
as Kenard - Chynna Gray as Unknown
- Sandi McCree as De'Londa Brice
- 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 - Davone Cooper as Darnell Tyson
- Taylor KingTaylor KingTaylor King is a professional American basketball player currently playing for the London Lightning of the National Basketball League of Canada. Before joining the Lightning, King played for the Villanova University Wildcats, where he played the forward position...
as Zenobia Dawson - Jeffrey Lorenzo as Karim Williams
- Rakiya Orange as Charlene Young
- Gene Terinoni as Lieutenant Jimmy Asher
- Devin Tweedy as Unknown
- Kelli R. Brown as Kimmy
- Dan DeLuca as Dr. David Parenti
- Yolanda Gaskins as School Board Representative
- Rashad Orange as Sherrod
- Richard Welchel as Unknown
- 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
The security guard who tells Carcetti and Wilson that the Governor is ready to see them is played by Robert Ehrlich
Robert Ehrlich
Robert Leroy "Bob" Ehrlich, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 60th Governor of Maryland from 2003 to 2007. A Republican, he became governor after defeating Democratic opponent Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, a member of the Kennedy family, 51% to 48% in the 2002 elections...
, the real-life Governor of Maryland at the time the episode was filmed. The storyline of fictional mayor Tommy Carcetti
Tommy 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...
seeking the governor's assistance with the school deficit has been noted as similar to real life Mayor Martin O'Malley
Martin O'Malley
Martin Joseph O'Malley is an American Democratic politician who is currently serving as the 61st Governor of Maryland. Previously, he served as the mayor of Baltimore from 1999 to 2007. He is currently the chairman of the Democratic Governors Association.-Early life, education and career:O'Malley...
's appeal for support in 2004. The show's creator, David Simon, has commented that the appearance was not meant to imply any favor in the O'Malley vs. Ehrlich electoral campaign. Simon stated that a similar cameo was offered to O'Malley but he declined. The episode aired shortly after O'Malley defeated Ehrlich in the general election.
Uncredited appearances
- Kwame Patterson as "Monk" Metcalf
- Darrell Britt-Gibson as O-Dog
- Larry Andrews as Donnie
- Derrick Purvey as Big Guy
- Carl Clemons as Cheese's muscle
- Unknown as Bubbles's friend 1
- Unknown as Bubbles's friend 2
Stanfield organization
Michael LeeMichael Lee (The Wire)
Michael Lee is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Tristan Wilds. He is a middle school pupil and is friends with Namond Brice, Randy Wagstaff and Duquan "Dukie" Weems. He is more soft-spoken than his friends, and appears to have a leadership role among his peers...
flees from Stanfield enforcers Chris Partlow and Snoop. He hides in an abandoned warehouse and surprises them. He tags both of them with paintball
Paintball
Paintball is a sport in which players compete, in teams or individually, to eliminate opponents by tagging them with capsules containing water soluble dye and gelatin shell outside propelled from a device called a paintball marker . Paintballs have a non-toxic, biodegradable, water soluble...
s and they are impressed at his progress. Chris asks him to explain the rationale behind his targeting and Michael explains that at a distance you aim low because of the possibility of a vest and at close range you aim for the head. Snoop is impressed, commenting that Michael is 'learning'.
School
Howard "Bunny" Colvin meets with his friend the Deacon to discuss the soon-to-be-axed special class program. They first talk about the Deacon's decision to give up pork. Colvin explains that the school board is afraid to try anything with the current budget concerns. The Deacon offers to put him in touch with State Delegate Odell Watkins.The Deacon meets with Watkins as promised. Watkins recognizes Colvin's name from the Hamsterdam debacle and then the Deacon ushers him in.
Mr. Pryzbylewski visits Randy Wagstaff
Randy Wagstaff
Randy Wagstaff is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Maestro Harrell. Randy is an enterprising student who is dependent on social services. During season 4, he was an 8th grade pupil at Edward Tilghman Middle School and is friends with Namond Brice, Michael Lee and Duquan...
at home with his foster mother, Miss Anna. Randy is still being kept at home because he is believed to be in danger as word has been spreading that he was working with the police. Prez delivers Randy's schoolwork and tells Miss Anna that he hopes the problem will not continue for much longer. She confides that they are thinking of switching schools to escape further difficulties. As he leaves, Prez notices an unmarked police car waiting further down the block.
In the morning, Prez meets with Assistant Principal Marcia Donnelly and tries to convince her that Duquan "Dukie" Weems is not ready for high school. She tells him that she has noticed the effort he has put into helping Dukie, but that he must not get too close to his students since they have to move on, and there are plenty more students coming into the system.
With the state-wide exam closing in, both the special class and the normal classes are practicing test questions. Prez's class remains disruptive, but he is able to focus them on the material eventually. The special class is more resistant. Zenobia Dawson points out that she does not like answering questions about getting an allowance from a father when she has neither. Namond Brice
Namond Brice
Namond Brice is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Julito McCullum. Namond is the son of Wee-Bey Brice and De'Londa Brice and was a middle school pupil during season 4. He is friends with Michael Lee and Randy Wagstaff and often bullies Duquan "Dukie" Weems...
tells the teacher that he feels cheated because his class is now the same as the other classes. Colvin tells Dr. David Parenti that he agrees with Namond. Colvin and Parenti share a concern that the test material does not speak to the students at all.
After class, Dukie confesses to Prez his own misgivings about moving up to high school. Prez tries to reassure him that he is ready and that he is welcome if he needs to come back at any time. Dukie walks home with Michael and continues to worry about going to high school. They find that Dukie and his family have been evicted, again. Michael offers Dukie a place to stay with him and his brother. Dukie returns for his last day at Edward Tilghman Middle School, where he wraps up work on a special assignment. As the final bell rings he looks dejected.
Major Crimes
Lester FreamonLester 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...
continues to search the area where he found the body of Curtis "Lex" Anderson in a vacant house. He has identified the type of nail used to seal the house as being indicative of further houses where bodies will be found, as H.C.D. uses screws to seal the vacant houses. Sergeant Jay 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...
arrives and orders Freamon to stop opening vacant houses because finding John Doe
John Doe
The name "John Doe" is used as a placeholder name in a legal action, case or discussion for a male party, whose true identity is unknown or must be withheld for legal reasons. The name is also used to refer to a male corpse or hospital patient whose identity is unknown...
s at this stage in the year will destroy the homicide unit's clearance rate. Freamon is enraged and his partner Bunk Moreland
Bunk 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...
tries to calm him.
Freamon's mood is lifted slightly when he returns to the detail office to watch Lieutenant Charles Marimow's departure. Thomas "Herc" Hauk is overjoyed to see the back of the lieutenant, telling the other detectives that Marimow had planned to ruin his career, but instead Marimow was the one forced out of the unit. Freamon quickly turns to the Stanfield investigation. Freamon asks Detective Sydnor
Leander Sydnor
Leander Sydnor is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Corey Parker Robinson. Sydnor is a young, married Baltimore Police detective who was a member of the Barksdale detail and later worked in the Major Crimes Unit.-Season 1:...
to restart surveillance of Stanfield's people, and dispatches Detective Dozerman to city hall to look at high-value property sales and to check for luxury car purchases. He asks Herc to begin work on requisitioning back their wiretap equipment and then tells them that he himself will be at the missing persons department to search for Stanfield murder targets. Herc pulls Freamon to one side and asks if he can give the direction as he is the sergeant; Freamon nods but does not respond.
Later, Lieutenant Asher returns to the unit and asks what the brass is thinking after having transferred him out just a few months ago. Freamon does not answer the question and instead inquires about Asher's beach house. When Asher enters his office, Herc asks Freamon who he is and Freamon tells him that, ironically, he is one of the most effective supervisors in the department.
Freamon meets with CID commander Cedric 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 Assistant State's Attorney Pearlman
Rhonda Pearlman
Rhonda Pearlman is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actress Deirdre Lovejoy. Pearlman has been the legal system liaison for all of Lieutenant Cedric Daniels' investigations on the show...
. He makes a case that they should be searching other vacant houses for further bodies. Like Landsman, Daniels is concerned about the murder rate. Pearlman asks what other work they are doing on Stanfield and whether there are links between Stanfield and the missing persons that Freamon has selected. He explains that there are links in some cases and presents his strategy for following the money and resurrecting the wiretaps. He asks if Landsman has run the information about the bodies up the chain of command to Daniels and learns that he has not. Pearlman leaves the decision to Daniels, who tells Freamon that he will take it to the command staff.
Daniels meets with Deputy Commissioner 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:...
to explain Freamon's theory, believing Freamon is right. Daniels suggests that pulling the bodies before the end of the year makes the poor statistics attributable to Royce's administration. Rawls is impressed with the idea and further realizes that Daniels is a threat to his hopes of becoming commissioner. He orders Daniels to keep the suggestion to himself, knowing that if the direction were to come directly from Daniels, Daniels would be even more likely to become the next commissioner. Rawls meets with Mayor Carcetti
Tommy 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...
and tells him about Freamon's discovery. Rawls offers Daniels's suggestion as his own and Carcetti chastises him for thinking of stats, but still encourages him to uncover the bodies before the new year.
Freamon discusses the problem in a bar with Bunk and 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...
. Bunk tries to steer the conversation away from the bodies, but Freamon will not be diverted. He bets that he can open any row house with matching nails and find a body and Bunk accepts the wager. As McNulty goes to leave, Bunk tries to convince him to get drunk with them, but McNulty resists. The trio does not take long to find another one of Marlo's bodies. McNulty suggests calling the crime lab. Freamon tells McNulty that he is not allowed to discover any bodies without the go-ahead from his superiors and, when that happens, McNulty will miss out on the investigation. McNulty questions if command will ever give the go-ahead and Freamon tells him that "it's a new day" with Daniels in command of CID. Freamon and Bunk both note the irony of McNulty being the most suitable for driving as they depart.
Freamon meets with Herc and Sydnor the next morning. He is dismayed to learn that none of Stanfield's people are using phones and comments that if the wiretaps had been left running two months ago they would not be facing these problems now. Two detectives arrive from the Internal Investigations Division. They ask Herc if he remembers borrowing the camera from ISD and that they need a statement regarding the camera and some of his confidential informant paperwork. They request Sydnor and Dozerman as well, but Herc tells the detectives that he is solely responsible.
Freamon receives the go-ahead from Daniels along with an offer for further manpower: two CID officers of his choosing. Freamon first approaches 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...
, but then decides not to ask her when she tells him she loves homicide.
Politics
Mayor Carcetti holds a meeting to discuss the massive school budget deficit. Both Naresse Campbell and Andy Krawczyk (who happens to be the school board president) refuse to take responsibility. Carcetti's new chief of staff, Michael Steintorf, suggests that the only solution is to scale back their budget in all other areas. Carcetti refuses to break the promises he had campaigned on and Campbell tells him that the only alternative is to beg the Republican governor for financial support.Carcetti and Norman Wilson find themselves waiting in the middle of a staircase for the governor. Carcetti gripes that they have been waiting for over an hour. Wilson shows Carcetti an article, written by Mike Fletcher, quoting the governor about the school's financial problems, saying that the blame falls on a lack of local oversight. Eventually Carcetti decides to leave, and just as they get to the door, the security guard (played by real-life Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich
Robert Ehrlich
Robert Leroy "Bob" Ehrlich, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 60th Governor of Maryland from 2003 to 2007. A Republican, he became governor after defeating Democratic opponent Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, a member of the Kennedy family, 51% to 48% in the 2002 elections...
) tells them the governor is now ready for them.
Next, Carcetti meets with his staff to discuss the governor's offer: more money in exchange for greater state control of the city's schools. Campbell tells Carcetti that the governor is protecting himself for the 2008 state election by making Carcetti look bad for accepting the money. The budget advisor encourages Carcetti to take the money regardless. Wilson agrees and Steintorf disagrees. Campbell refuses to offer an opinion and tells Carcetti she is glad she is not in his position and will criticize him either way.
Western District
Kenard arrives at Namond's corner late for work and finds Namond getting his hair braided. Namond rebukes Kenard's tardiness and Kenard says they are going to have the day off. He asks Namond for a private word and tells him that their stash has been stolen from his basement. He claims that the door was kicked in and that someone must have given away the location. Namond accepts his excuse and the assurance that Kenard will try to find the informant.Namond discusses his problem with Michael. Michael insists that Kenard must have stolen the stash for himself and tells Namond that he should check the door to prove Kenard's story false and then must confront him with more than words. On the way home from school Namond asks Michael to accompany him when he confronts Kenard. Namond tells his mother that he suspects Kenard took the stash. She insists that Kenard needs to feel "some pain" for his actions. Namond tries to argue with her but she is violently disappointed that he has not acted already.
Namond confronts Kenard and tells him that he knows he stole the package. Kenard remains unafraid of Namond and taunts him. Michael eventually steps in and severely beats Kenard. Namond is too shocked to recover his package and then runs away from the scene.
Sergeant Carver
Ellis 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...
visits Randy at home and tries to reassure Miss Jeffreys that the danger will soon pass. He tells her that they still have plainclothes officers watching the house.
Namond arrives at Cutty's gym and gets the cold shoulder from Michael. He provokes Michael into attacking him by picking on Dukie. Cutty intervenes, telling Michael to leave. Namond breaks down in tears.
Cutty calls Carver for help and they ask Namond what has happened between him and Michael. Namond also mentions the fact that he is forced to live up to his father's reputation, but he doesn't have the game in him (a similar admission made by Cutty in Season 3). Cutty confesses to Carver that he is angry with himself for sending Michael away. He tells Carver that Namond has been dealing drugs but Carver asserts that he is not dealing at the moment. Cutty visits Michael's mother and learns that he has moved out. Carver calls Colvin for help after Namond's mother refuses to pick him up.
Meanwhile, a false shooting is called in from Randy's street to lure the police unit guarding his house away. Two men approach Miss Anna's house and throw Molotov cocktail
Molotov cocktail
The Molotov cocktail, also known as the petrol bomb, gasoline bomb, Molotov bomb, fire bottle, fire bomb, or simply Molotov, is a generic name used for a variety of improvised incendiary weapons...
s through the window.
Cutty tracks Michael down to a corner with "Monk" Metcalf. Monk orders Cutty away but he tells Monk that he is not talking to him. Monk shoots Cutty twice in the leg but Michael prevents him from killing him. Michael offers to stay with Cutty until the ambulance comes but Cutty tells him to go.
Carver visits the hospital and learns that Miss Anna is in a critical but stable condition with third degree burns. He tries to console Randy but the boy rejects him. Carver attempts to assure Randy that he will be protected, but as Carver leaves, Randy taunts him, bitterly.
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"...
visits the horses' yard to talk to the arabber
Arabber
An arabber is a street merchant who sells fruits and vegetables from a colorful, horse-drawn cart. Once a common sight in American East Coast cities, only a handful of arabbers still walk the streets of Baltimore.-Arabbing:...
s he sometimes works for. He asks for advice about how to deal with his tormentor. They have various suggestions for him but settle on replacing drugs with sodium cyanide to poison the man. They tell him that a metal plating shop is an easy place to buy the chemical and that the only issue will be living with himself as the police will not question the death of an addict.
Having bought the necessary chemical, Bubbles prepares several vials of the stuff and then goes out to work. Sherrod arrives and Bubbles tells him that he is giving him his own stock and route. Bubbles warns him not to stand up to their tormentor. When Bubbles returns to the garage after a long day at work without incident he finds Sherrod's takings on the table.
Bubbles awakes the next day full of plans to make money. He is horrified to find that Sherrod has taken some of the vials he prepared and then cannot rouse the boy. Sherrod is dead.
Omar's heist
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 Renaldo continue to follow Cheese, tracking him to a meeting with Stanfield's people. Cheese's jocular manner is met with stony silence from Marlo, Chris, Snoop, O-Dog and Monk. Marlo pays Cheese more than expected and requests a bigger shipment of narcotics. Cheese is reluctant to promise anything and tells Marlo that he will discuss it with 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...
. He gives Monk a burner phone and tells him that they will call when they have the drugs. Stanfield's people are newly dubious about using phones and Cheese reassures them that they do not have to answer the call; the call itself will serve as the signal that the meeting is ready.
Omar organizes a meeting at Butchie's bar to put a team together. Butchie offers him the men who helped Omar while in jail as muscle, but Omar declines, telling Butchie that he hopes to be more subtle. His old associate Kimmy arrives and receives a warm welcome.
Omar continues to follow Cheese as he prepares to deliver the new shipment to Marlo. Proposition Joe calls to tell Omar where he can steal from Marlo as promised, Omar does not take the call, knowing that he is on to a greater payload now. He, Renaldo and Kimmy tail Cheese's van to a meeting place. Kimmy is dressed as a prostitute.
Cheese and his associates prepare to load the shipment into the van. Kimmy approaches one of the guards. Renaldo's people arrive posing as painters and block Cheese's van in. The trap is sprung and Omar demands that they open the truck.
Cheese reports the theft to Proposition Joe. Joe worries that the Co-Op will think that he is withholding the shipment for himself.
First appearances
- Michael Steintorf: Carcetti's Chief of Staff who is primarily concerned with the Mayor's future bid for Governor.
Deceased
- Sherrod: accidentally poisoned by Bubbles.