Unto Others
Encyclopedia
"Unto Others" is the seventh episode of the fourth season of the HBO original series The Wire
. Written by William F. Zorzi
from a story by Ed Burns
& William F. Zorzi, and directed by Anthony Hemingway
, it originally aired on October 29, 2006.
This is the second time the Italian film L'ultimo bacio
appears on the show, when a bootleg DVD is taken by Officer Walker it appears to be a copy of this film. The first was in the third season, in the episode "All Due Respect".
In the episode's opening scene, Omar is shown reading Ghettoheat by Hickson.
Bunk mentions to Omar, who is facing retribution from many of his former victims in prison.
and J. D. Williams
do not appear in this episode.
reads in his cell. The two men that Butchie assigned to protect him arrive and strap thick books around his torso, under his shirt. In the cafeteria line an inmate attempts to stab Omar. Omar disarms him and stabs him with his own blade up his rectum as a warning to the others who might try to kill him. Omar leaves the scene of the incident before the guards arrive. Butchie’s men tell Omar that the bounty on his head was placed by Marlo Stanfield
. Omar gets a cell phone when he asks if they can help him make a call. He tells his bodyguards that he is phoning the police because he is owed a favor.
bring in a jailhouse informant who has offered them information on the Braddock murder case. Sergeant Jay Landsman
observes the informant's arrival and when he remarks on their progress Greggs angrily reminds him that their investigation has been slowed by political interference. Lester Freamon
makes miniature furniture at his desk and Landsman is impressed with the money he makes from his hobby.
Later Freamon discusses the case with Greggs and convinces her to interview their main suspect Wardell — the man that Braddock was set to witness against.
Back at headquarters Bunk tries to convince Detectives Crutchfield and Vernon Holley to reopen Omar’s case based on his claims of innocence. Crutchfield refuses to entertain the possibility that Omar is innocent and is angry that Bunk is interfering.
Maurice Levy
is Anthony Wardell’s attorney. He allows his client to undergo the polygraph knowing that it is a sign of desperation from the investigators. When the polygraph technician tells Greggs outside the room that he could make it go either way she is disgusted. Her partner explains that it is an open secret that the polygraph is unreliable and is used as an interrogation and coercion tool by the police. On returning to the room, Levy explains his rationale behind subjecting his client to the polygraph: Wardell is innocent. Wardell tells Greggs that he would not have killed Braddock because he is a relation.
After the polygraph test Bunk approaches Ilene Nathan with Omar’s card. She is uninterested, saying that she offered help on a light felony at most. Bunk asks her to move him to a safer facility and convinces her that she owes Omar a debt. She agrees and tells Bunk she now considers the debt paid.
Greggs reviews the Braddock case and picks out a detail: no one in the canvas noticed the gunshot. This prompts her to revisit the scene of the shooting, leaving a bemused Norris in the office. At the scene she identifies a ricochet that she traces back down the alley to other signs of gunfire, eventually finding broken bottles outside of a backyard. She finds a bullet lodged in a discarded chest of drawers and finally some potatoes that have been shot through in the back yard. Greggs draws her weapon and enters the house. Greggs later tells Norris she has solved the case and shows him the murder weapon pulled out of the house. Apparently, Braddock was killed by a stray bullet while someone was attempting target practice, using the potatoes as suppressors. Greggs tells Norris she has developed the "soft eyes" needed to appreciate a crime scene.
meets with a former mayor named Tony for advice on beginning his term. Tony tells him a story of being forced to "eat shit" from the various constituent interests of the city, a pattern that continued throughout his term and eventually led him to forgo standing for reelection. Tony appears to be based on the one-term Mayor of Baltimore Thomas L. J. D'Alesandro III
, the brother of Nancy Pelosi
.
Carcetti and Norman Wilson have an amicable meeting with their recently defeated opponent, incumbent Mayor Clarence Royce
and his Chief of Staff Coleman Parker. They discuss the ins and outs of their campaigns. Carcetti mentions that Theresa D'Agostino has a new role with the DCCC
. In their meeting, Carcetti claims the last-second move with the slumlord pamphlets was ingenious; however, Royce and Parker laughingly point out that the pamphlets were not officially endorsed by anyone on Royce's campaign team. When Carcetti mentions that he still has to win the general election, Royce claims that it would be disgraceful for him to think about losing in a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans 9 to 1.
Rhonda Pearlman
meets with the new state’s attorney, Rupert Bond. Thinking she will likely be replaced by an African American
attorney she is surprised when he offers her the Violent Crimes Unit post. Bond states that he is impressed with her record and courage and wants the right prosecutors such as her to help run the States' Attorney for Baltimore office. The post has opened as he is promoting Ilene Nathan to second deputy state’s attorney. From the looks of it, Bond appears more interested in criminal prosecutions than his predecessor, Steven Demper, who was most interested in his elected position — often dismissing cases to maintain a favorable conviction rate.
Western District commander Cedric Daniels
attends a COMSTAT meeting chaired by commissioner Ervin Burrell
and his deputy William Rawls
. He tells his commanders that the homicide rate has dropped while other felony rates have risen. When Rawls asks him if he is taking credit for this decrease, Daniels refuses. Carcetti arrives to observe the meeting. He opts to sit next to Rawls rather than Burrell, to the latter's dismay. Daniels tells them of his strategy of putting two-man cars on the worst drug corners while devoting his resources as much as possible to pursuing good felony cases. Burrell becomes angered when Daniels claims that he refuses to force street level arrests. He is further affronted when Daniels tells them that many of his officers are insufficiently trained to pursue quality cases.
Carcetti meets with Wilson, State Delegate Odell Watkins and Gerry to discuss their first move in office. Carcetti believes that a replacement to Ervin Burrell
as Commissioner should occur. Watkins agrees, stating that he told Royce to fire Burrell more than a year ago but that due to the support of the ministers, Royce will not fire Burrell because he is now running for a Congressional seat after losing the mayoral election. Carcetti then proposes to fire Burrell himself, but Watkins warns that while it would be uncontroversial for Royce to fire an African American
Police Commissioner, the same would not be true for a white mayor such as Carcetti. Norman Wilson agrees with Watkins, claiming he would face voter backlash. Carcetti decides he will replace Burrell with an African American, but it is pointed out that replacing Burrell with an existing Baltimore officer would also be difficult because are few ranking African American officers in the department besides Burrell. Wilson suggests a nationwide search, but Carcetti points out that the pay isn't attractive enough and adds "If you're talented and black, why would you be in Baltimore?" He comes to the conclusion that he is stuck with Burrell.
Carcetti takes a ride along with Southern District officers. Major Cantrell is surprised when he declines to travel with shift lieutenant Grayson but is impressed that Carcetti is interested in understanding the day-to-day of the district. Grayson assigns him to officers Macfarlane and Ginter. They are called to a shooting where they view Cedric Daniels
as the duty officer. Carcetti is impressed with Daniels' professionalism and is told that Daniels is "not as bad" as some other commanding officers.
on a park bench. He tells Joe of his failed efforts to flush out whoever has been investigating him. Joe recommends that Marlo steal the surveillance camera that he knows has been set up on him. Joe tells him the federal agents have enough funding to let the camera go but that any local police will come looking for it. Snoop and Slim Charles stand guard throughout the meeting.
watch footage from their surveillance camera. Sydnor identifies the shapes they see moving as birds. Herc checks the camera's location and realizes it has been stolen.
Herc meets with Ellis Carver
to discuss the lost camera. Carver tells him that Marlo has a pigeon coop. Herc believes his new commander Lieutenant Charlie Marimow will use the loss of the camera to end his career. Carver remembers Randy and his plan to phone Bunk about it. He offers Herc a chance to talk to Randy before he passes him on. Carver phones Bunk and leaves a message with Crutchfield who, angry at Bunk for interfering in Omar's murder case, promptly throws it away.
Carver later presents Randy to Herc and Sydnor and urges them to look after him. Herc takes Randy to an interview room and buys him food. Despite Carver telling him that Randy knows about a murder, Herc's first question is about the security camera. Randy recounts the events leading up to Lex's murder. He gives them Little Kevin's name and tells them that Chris and Snoop killed Lex. Herc becomes frustrated as he realizes that Randy’s information is second-hand and tries to intimidate him into saying he was present when Lex was killed. Sydnor is dismayed at Herc's aggressive approach. Herc gives up and returns Randy to his home. Randy asks them to drop him off down the block so he isn't seen with the police. Afterward Herc complains to Sydnor that Carver was mistaken when he said Randy could give them a murder. He decides to attack Marlo head-on to retrieve the camera.
and Karim Williams play poker during their lunch break. Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski notices Karim playing with money and tells the boys that he doesn’t mind them eating in his classroom as long as they don’t gamble. Michael wins the hand and Prez tells Karim about betting based on the odds. Michael is intrigued and asks for more information. Realizing that the children are interested, Prez visits Donnelly to ask if the school has any board games. She directs him to their book storage room and gives him the key along with a firm reminder to stay on curriculum.
Prez takes Dukie with him to the store room and raids the board game boxes for dice. Prez makes several other discoveries including brand new math text books and unopened computers.
After school Michael visits Namond Brice
, who has set himself up as a crew chief selling drugs at his mother’s urging. Namond’s workers include Donut and Kenard. Michael notices members of a rival drug crew who are unhappy with Namond moving in on their territory, but Namond does not believe they will be a problem. Namond asks Michael if he is going to Cutty’s gym.
The rival crew chief tells his dealers, who include Sherrod and Shaun Williams, to follow Namond when he leaves and give him a beating. He does not want anyone to shoot the boy because that would bring the attention of the police. They follow Namond to Cutty’s gym, taking cocaine to get them ready for the task. Sherrod approaches Namond as he leaves the gym and warns him to stay away from their spot. They begin to fight and Cutty comes out and breaks them up. Cutty sends Namond back into the gym. Justin notices his injuries and Michael asks him what happened. Namond claims that he came off better than his opponent. Cutty angrily questions Namond about what happened and then sends him home. He asks Michael what Namond has gotten into but Michael tells him it is not their business.
Assistant Principal Marcia Donnelly visits Prez’s math class to update him about a rape allegation made by a female student, Tiff. She has admitted that she had consensual sex with two boys, thus clearing them of any law-breaking and allowing Randy Wagstaff
to return to school after being suspended for acting as a lookout for the others. Donnelly tells one of Prez’s class, Kwanese, to stop chewing gum. When Donnelly leaves Prez begins to teach; he has set up a computer for a special class project and has the new textbooks for his students. He checks over their homework and finds that Charlene has not attempted hers. Michael has finished the whole exercise. Calvin has copied Kwanese’s work.
Namond attends his separate class, part of a University of Maryland-funded investigation targeting prevention of repeat violent offender behavior at the school level. Howard "Bunny" Colvin oversees the class with Dr. David Parenti. Two specialist teachers try to control the children. One girl, Chandra , will not stop brushing her hair, so she is removed from the class. When she returns, Namond repeatedly acts out and tries to get himself suspended. The class has a no-suspension policy and he is simply removed from the class temporarily instead.
Later he convenes with Donut, Byron and Kenard on a new corner. He tells them they are starting late because his plan to get out of school early failed. Namond puts Byron in charge of the stash. Kenard complains about their change in location.
Cutty visits the school to meet with Donnelly about her program to secure funding by having him round up truant children for a day in September and October. He hoped to be doing something more meaningful and decides to let the job go. He meets with his old flame Grace Sampson on his way out and learns that she moved to Edward Tilghman. He wishes her well before leaving.
Namond is removed from class again and refuses to talk to Colvin or the specialist teacher, instead repeating a profanity every time he is spoken to. Back in the class, Albert acts out after being asked to read a book. Colvin is dismayed at the difficulty of the task they have taken on, while Parenti is fascinated by the clinical aspects of the behavior exhibited.
A different picture unfolds in Prez’s math class. The children are enjoying his lesson plan of playing dice games to learn probability. Randy has missed earlier lessons so his bets are less informed than Michael’s but he learns quickly when he loses a round. Sampson observes the lesson and Prez explains his thinking: trick them into thinking they aren’t learning and they do.
finds himself missing his young companion Sherrod while sitting alone in the vacant house they use as a home. Bubbles later visits the Edward Tilghman middle school hoping to find Sherrod. He talks to Assistant Principal Marcia Donnelly, still posing as Sherrod’s uncle. Donnelly tells him that Sherrod is on the truant list. Bubbles bumps into Prez on his way out and jokes that he will keep his undercover identity secret. Bubbles continues his search for Sherrod as he plies his mobile depot trade. He has added pirate DVDs to his stock. He is accosted by the same drug addict that robbed him before; the man takes his money and his drugs as well as stealing from his cart. Bubbles waves down a passing squad car for assistance. The officer, Eddie Walker, notices Bubbles' pirate DVDs and threatens him with fines for copyright infringement as well as selling on the street without a license, but instead takes some of the DVDs and Bubbles' merchandise and drives off as Bubbles accuses him of stealing.
Bubbles is robbed by the same man a third time shortly afterwards and takes another beating. Bubbles finally tracks Sherrod down to the corner where he is working and asks him to come home. He notices that Sherrod has begun using drugs. When Bubbles gets home, Sherrod has not come back.
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 William F. Zorzi
William F. Zorzi
William F. Zorzi is an American journalist and screenwriter. He worked at The Baltimore Sun for almost twenty years and covered politics for the majority of his career. He has also written for the HBO television series The Wire.-Journalism:...
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...
& William F. Zorzi, and directed by Anthony Hemingway
Anthony Hemingway
Anthony Hemingway is an American film and television director. He has directed episodes of The Wire, CSI: NY, and Treme. Before becoming a director he worked extensively as an assistant director in television and film....
, it originally aired on October 29, 2006.
Production
This is the first episode in which Bubbles is referred to by a name (Marcia Donnelly calls him "Mr. Cousins"). However, it's not clear if this is his real name, or a fake name tied in with the lie that he is Sherrod's guardian. We later learn it is part of his real name, Reginald Cousins.This is the second time the Italian film L'ultimo bacio
L'ultimo bacio
L'ultimo bacio is a 2001 Italian comedy-drama movie directed by Gabriele Muccino.It was remade into The Last Kiss in 2006 by Tony Goldwyn starring Zach Braff and Rachel Bilson....
appears on the show, when a bootleg DVD is taken by Officer Walker it appears to be a copy of this film. The first was in the third season, in the episode "All Due Respect".
In the episode's opening scene, Omar is shown reading Ghettoheat by Hickson.
Title reference
The reference is from the quote "Do unto others as you would have done to yourself". This ties into the golden ruleEthic of reciprocity
The Golden Rule or ethic of reciprocity is a maxim, ethical code, or moralitythat essentially states either of the following:* : One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself....
Bunk mentions to Omar, who is facing retribution from many of his former victims in prison.
Epigraph
Bunk says this to Omar during their interrogation.Starring cast
Although credited Dominic WestDominic West
Dominic Gerard Fe West is an English actor best known for his role as Detective Jimmy McNulty in the HBO drama series The Wire.-Film and TV:...
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... - 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... - Tootsie DuvallTootsie DuvallTootsie Duvall is an American film, theatre and television actress.-Career:...
as Assistant Principal Marcia Donnelly - Dravon James as Mrs. Grace Sampson
- Ed NorrisEd NorrisEdward T. Norris is an American radio host and former law enforcement officer in Maryland. His talk show, the Ed Norris Show, airs on WJZ-FM in Baltimore, Maryland. Norris, a 20-year veteran of the New York Police Department, served as police commissioner for Baltimore from 2000 to late 2002...
as Detective Ed Norris - 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... - 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... - Sam CoppolaSam CoppolaSam Coppola , is an American actor. He has appeared in 67 films since 1968.He was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA.-External links:...
as Young Tony – Former Mayor - Gregory L. Williams as Detective Michael Crutchfield
- Brian Anthony WilsonBrian Anthony WilsonBrian Anthony Wilson is an American film and television actor. He first appeared in the 1997 film The Postman as Woody....
as Detective Vernon Holley - Cleo Reginald Pizana as Chief of Staff Coleman Parker
- Susan Rome as Assistant State’s Attorney Ilene Nathan
- Frederick Strother as State Delegate Odell Watkins
- Karen Vicks as Gerry
- Stacie Davis as Miss Duquette
- Dan DeLuca as Dr. David Parenti
- Dion Graham as State's Attorney Rupert Bond
- Katherine Schmoke as Miss Mason
- Greg Ainsworth as Richard Switowski – Polygraph technician
- 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 - Edward Green as Spider
- Jeffrey Lorenzo as Karim Williams
- Davone Cooper as Darnell Tyson
- Shenia Hatchett as Unknown
- Na'Dria Jennings as Chandra Porter
- Rakiya Orange as Charlene Young
- Gordon Timothy as Anthony Wardell – murder suspect
- Larry Andrews as Donnie
- Armando Cadogan, Jr. as Bubbles' Tormenter
- Rashad Orange as Sherrod
- Derrick Purvey as Big Guy
- Daniel Lee Robertson. III as Shaun Williams
Uncredited appearances
- Gbenga Akkinagbe 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...
- 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 - 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... - Jonnie Louis Brown as Officer Eddie Walker
- Justin Burley as Justin
- Taylor King as Zenobia Dawson
- Rico Sterling as Calvin
- Dave Trovato as Major Cantrell
- Melissa D. Madison as Lieutenant Grayson
- Jonathon Ruckman as Officer McFarlane
- Dan Franko as Officer Ginter
- James Lewis as Marvin
- Unknown as Spider’s Corner Boy
- Unknown as Sherrod’s Crew Chief
- Unknown as Prisoner with shank
- Unknown as Kwanese
- Unknown as Latonya
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"....
reads in his cell. The two men that Butchie assigned to protect him arrive and strap thick books around his torso, under his shirt. In the cafeteria line an inmate attempts to stab Omar. Omar disarms him and stabs him with his own blade up his rectum as a warning to the others who might try to kill him. Omar leaves the scene of the incident before the guards arrive. Butchie’s men tell Omar that the bounty on his head was placed by Marlo Stanfield
Marlo Stanfield
Marlo "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...
. Omar gets a cell phone when he asks if they can help him make a call. He tells his bodyguards that he is phoning the police because he is owed a favor.
Homicide
Detectives Ed Norris and Kima GreggsKima 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...
bring in a jailhouse informant who has offered them information on the Braddock murder case. 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...
observes the informant's arrival and when he remarks on their progress Greggs angrily reminds him that their investigation has been slowed by political interference. 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...
makes miniature furniture at his desk and Landsman is impressed with the money he makes from his hobby.
Later Freamon discusses the case with Greggs and convinces her to interview their main suspect Wardell — the man that Braddock was set to witness against.
Back at headquarters Bunk tries to convince Detectives Crutchfield and Vernon Holley to reopen Omar’s case based on his claims of innocence. Crutchfield refuses to entertain the possibility that Omar is innocent and is angry that Bunk is interfering.
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...
is Anthony Wardell’s attorney. He allows his client to undergo the polygraph knowing that it is a sign of desperation from the investigators. When the polygraph technician tells Greggs outside the room that he could make it go either way she is disgusted. Her partner explains that it is an open secret that the polygraph is unreliable and is used as an interrogation and coercion tool by the police. On returning to the room, Levy explains his rationale behind subjecting his client to the polygraph: Wardell is innocent. Wardell tells Greggs that he would not have killed Braddock because he is a relation.
After the polygraph test Bunk approaches Ilene Nathan with Omar’s card. She is uninterested, saying that she offered help on a light felony at most. Bunk asks her to move him to a safer facility and convinces her that she owes Omar a debt. She agrees and tells Bunk she now considers the debt paid.
Greggs reviews the Braddock case and picks out a detail: no one in the canvas noticed the gunshot. This prompts her to revisit the scene of the shooting, leaving a bemused Norris in the office. At the scene she identifies a ricochet that she traces back down the alley to other signs of gunfire, eventually finding broken bottles outside of a backyard. She finds a bullet lodged in a discarded chest of drawers and finally some potatoes that have been shot through in the back yard. Greggs draws her weapon and enters the house. Greggs later tells Norris she has solved the case and shows him the murder weapon pulled out of the house. Apparently, Braddock was killed by a stray bullet while someone was attempting target practice, using the potatoes as suppressors. Greggs tells Norris she has developed the "soft eyes" needed to appreciate a crime scene.
Politics
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...
meets with a former mayor named Tony for advice on beginning his term. Tony tells him a story of being forced to "eat shit" from the various constituent interests of the city, a pattern that continued throughout his term and eventually led him to forgo standing for reelection. Tony appears to be based on the one-term Mayor of Baltimore Thomas L. J. D'Alesandro III
Thomas L. J. D'Alesandro III
Thomas D'Alesandro III was Mayor of Baltimore from 1967 to 1971. He is the brother of former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, and son of former Baltimore Mayor Thomas D'Alesandro, Jr...
, the brother of Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi is the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives and served as the 60th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011...
.
Carcetti and Norman Wilson have an amicable meeting with their recently defeated opponent, incumbent 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. They discuss the ins and outs of their campaigns. Carcetti mentions that Theresa D'Agostino has a new role with the DCCC
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is the Democratic Hill committee for the United States House of Representatives, working to elect Democrats to that body. They play a critical role in recruiting candidates, raising funds, and organizing races in districts that are expected to yield...
. In their meeting, Carcetti claims the last-second move with the slumlord pamphlets was ingenious; however, Royce and Parker laughingly point out that the pamphlets were not officially endorsed by anyone on Royce's campaign team. When Carcetti mentions that he still has to win the general election, Royce claims that it would be disgraceful for him to think about losing in a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans 9 to 1.
Rhonda 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...
meets with the new state’s attorney, Rupert Bond. Thinking she will likely be replaced by an African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
attorney she is surprised when he offers her the Violent Crimes Unit post. Bond states that he is impressed with her record and courage and wants the right prosecutors such as her to help run the States' Attorney for Baltimore office. The post has opened as he is promoting Ilene Nathan to second deputy state’s attorney. From the looks of it, Bond appears more interested in criminal prosecutions than his predecessor, Steven Demper, who was most interested in his elected position — often dismissing cases to maintain a favorable conviction rate.
Western District 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...
attends a COMSTAT meeting chaired by 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 his deputy 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:...
. He tells his commanders that the homicide rate has dropped while other felony rates have risen. When Rawls asks him if he is taking credit for this decrease, Daniels refuses. Carcetti arrives to observe the meeting. He opts to sit next to Rawls rather than Burrell, to the latter's dismay. Daniels tells them of his strategy of putting two-man cars on the worst drug corners while devoting his resources as much as possible to pursuing good felony cases. Burrell becomes angered when Daniels claims that he refuses to force street level arrests. He is further affronted when Daniels tells them that many of his officers are insufficiently trained to pursue quality cases.
Carcetti meets with Wilson, State Delegate Odell Watkins and Gerry to discuss their first move in office. Carcetti believes that a replacement to 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...
as Commissioner should occur. Watkins agrees, stating that he told Royce to fire Burrell more than a year ago but that due to the support of the ministers, Royce will not fire Burrell because he is now running for a Congressional seat after losing the mayoral election. Carcetti then proposes to fire Burrell himself, but Watkins warns that while it would be uncontroversial for Royce to fire an African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
Police Commissioner, the same would not be true for a white mayor such as Carcetti. Norman Wilson agrees with Watkins, claiming he would face voter backlash. Carcetti decides he will replace Burrell with an African American, but it is pointed out that replacing Burrell with an existing Baltimore officer would also be difficult because are few ranking African American officers in the department besides Burrell. Wilson suggests a nationwide search, but Carcetti points out that the pay isn't attractive enough and adds "If you're talented and black, why would you be in Baltimore?" He comes to the conclusion that he is stuck with Burrell.
Carcetti takes a ride along with Southern District officers. Major Cantrell is surprised when he declines to travel with shift lieutenant Grayson but is impressed that Carcetti is interested in understanding the day-to-day of the district. Grayson assigns him to officers Macfarlane and Ginter. They are called to a shooting where they view 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...
as the duty officer. Carcetti is impressed with Daniels' professionalism and is told that Daniels is "not as bad" as some other commanding officers.
Marlo
Marlo Stanfield meets with Proposition JoeProposition 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...
on a park bench. He tells Joe of his failed efforts to flush out whoever has been investigating him. Joe recommends that Marlo steal the surveillance camera that he knows has been set up on him. Joe tells him the federal agents have enough funding to let the camera go but that any local police will come looking for it. Snoop and Slim Charles stand guard throughout the meeting.
Major Case Unit
Sergeant Thomas "Herc" Hauk and Detective Leander SydnorLeander 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:...
watch footage from their surveillance camera. Sydnor identifies the shapes they see moving as birds. Herc checks the camera's location and realizes it has been stolen.
Herc meets with Ellis 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...
to discuss the lost camera. Carver tells him that Marlo has a pigeon coop. Herc believes his new commander Lieutenant Charlie Marimow will use the loss of the camera to end his career. Carver remembers Randy and his plan to phone Bunk about it. He offers Herc a chance to talk to Randy before he passes him on. Carver phones Bunk and leaves a message with Crutchfield who, angry at Bunk for interfering in Omar's murder case, promptly throws it away.
Carver later presents Randy to Herc and Sydnor and urges them to look after him. Herc takes Randy to an interview room and buys him food. Despite Carver telling him that Randy knows about a murder, Herc's first question is about the security camera. Randy recounts the events leading up to Lex's murder. He gives them Little Kevin's name and tells them that Chris and Snoop killed Lex. Herc becomes frustrated as he realizes that Randy’s information is second-hand and tries to intimidate him into saying he was present when Lex was killed. Sydnor is dismayed at Herc's aggressive approach. Herc gives up and returns Randy to his home. Randy asks them to drop him off down the block so he isn't seen with the police. Afterward Herc complains to Sydnor that Carver was mistaken when he said Randy could give them a murder. He decides to attack Marlo head-on to retrieve the camera.
Cutty
Dennis "Cutty" Wise finally tracks his absentee welterweight Spider down and finds him selling drugs on a corner with Jamal. Spider initially tries to walk away but becomes confrontational when Cutty tries to apologize for sleeping with Spider’s mother. Later, at the gym Cutty apologizes to his budding boxers for his recent womanizing; he has realized that his actions may upset them, particularly those whose mothers he may have been involved with.School
Duquan "Dukie" Weems watches 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...
and Karim Williams play poker during their lunch break. Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski notices Karim playing with money and tells the boys that he doesn’t mind them eating in his classroom as long as they don’t gamble. Michael wins the hand and Prez tells Karim about betting based on the odds. Michael is intrigued and asks for more information. Realizing that the children are interested, Prez visits Donnelly to ask if the school has any board games. She directs him to their book storage room and gives him the key along with a firm reminder to stay on curriculum.
Prez takes Dukie with him to the store room and raids the board game boxes for dice. Prez makes several other discoveries including brand new math text books and unopened computers.
After school Michael visits 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...
, who has set himself up as a crew chief selling drugs at his mother’s urging. Namond’s workers include Donut and Kenard. Michael notices members of a rival drug crew who are unhappy with Namond moving in on their territory, but Namond does not believe they will be a problem. Namond asks Michael if he is going to Cutty’s gym.
The rival crew chief tells his dealers, who include Sherrod and Shaun Williams, to follow Namond when he leaves and give him a beating. He does not want anyone to shoot the boy because that would bring the attention of the police. They follow Namond to Cutty’s gym, taking cocaine to get them ready for the task. Sherrod approaches Namond as he leaves the gym and warns him to stay away from their spot. They begin to fight and Cutty comes out and breaks them up. Cutty sends Namond back into the gym. Justin notices his injuries and Michael asks him what happened. Namond claims that he came off better than his opponent. Cutty angrily questions Namond about what happened and then sends him home. He asks Michael what Namond has gotten into but Michael tells him it is not their business.
Assistant Principal Marcia Donnelly visits Prez’s math class to update him about a rape allegation made by a female student, Tiff. She has admitted that she had consensual sex with two boys, thus clearing them of any law-breaking and allowing 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...
to return to school after being suspended for acting as a lookout for the others. Donnelly tells one of Prez’s class, Kwanese, to stop chewing gum. When Donnelly leaves Prez begins to teach; he has set up a computer for a special class project and has the new textbooks for his students. He checks over their homework and finds that Charlene has not attempted hers. Michael has finished the whole exercise. Calvin has copied Kwanese’s work.
Namond attends his separate class, part of a University of Maryland-funded investigation targeting prevention of repeat violent offender behavior at the school level. Howard "Bunny" Colvin oversees the class with Dr. David Parenti. Two specialist teachers try to control the children. One girl, Chandra , will not stop brushing her hair, so she is removed from the class. When she returns, Namond repeatedly acts out and tries to get himself suspended. The class has a no-suspension policy and he is simply removed from the class temporarily instead.
Later he convenes with Donut, Byron and Kenard on a new corner. He tells them they are starting late because his plan to get out of school early failed. Namond puts Byron in charge of the stash. Kenard complains about their change in location.
Cutty visits the school to meet with Donnelly about her program to secure funding by having him round up truant children for a day in September and October. He hoped to be doing something more meaningful and decides to let the job go. He meets with his old flame Grace Sampson on his way out and learns that she moved to Edward Tilghman. He wishes her well before leaving.
Namond is removed from class again and refuses to talk to Colvin or the specialist teacher, instead repeating a profanity every time he is spoken to. Back in the class, Albert acts out after being asked to read a book. Colvin is dismayed at the difficulty of the task they have taken on, while Parenti is fascinated by the clinical aspects of the behavior exhibited.
A different picture unfolds in Prez’s math class. The children are enjoying his lesson plan of playing dice games to learn probability. Randy has missed earlier lessons so his bets are less informed than Michael’s but he learns quickly when he loses a round. Sampson observes the lesson and Prez explains his thinking: trick them into thinking they aren’t learning and they do.
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"...
finds himself missing his young companion Sherrod while sitting alone in the vacant house they use as a home. Bubbles later visits the Edward Tilghman middle school hoping to find Sherrod. He talks to Assistant Principal Marcia Donnelly, still posing as Sherrod’s uncle. Donnelly tells him that Sherrod is on the truant list. Bubbles bumps into Prez on his way out and jokes that he will keep his undercover identity secret. Bubbles continues his search for Sherrod as he plies his mobile depot trade. He has added pirate DVDs to his stock. He is accosted by the same drug addict that robbed him before; the man takes his money and his drugs as well as stealing from his cart. Bubbles waves down a passing squad car for assistance. The officer, Eddie Walker, notices Bubbles' pirate DVDs and threatens him with fines for copyright infringement as well as selling on the street without a license, but instead takes some of the DVDs and Bubbles' merchandise and drives off as Bubbles accuses him of stealing.
Bubbles is robbed by the same man a third time shortly afterwards and takes another beating. Bubbles finally tracks Sherrod down to the corner where he is working and asks him to come home. He notices that Sherrod has begun using drugs. When Bubbles gets home, Sherrod has not come back.
First appearances
- Rupert Bond: newly elected Maryland State's Attorney for Baltimore City who promotes Ilene Nathan to 2nd Deputy SA and Rhonda Pearlman to lead VCU prosecutions.