Corner Boys
Encyclopedia
"Corner Boys" is the eighth episode of the fourth season of the HBO original series The Wire
. Written by Richard Price
from a story by Ed Burns
& Richard Price, and directed by Agnieszka Holland
, it originally aired on November 5, 2006.
, the actor who played Foerster. He died from prostate cancer
during the shooting of Season 4. As at Ray Cole's wake from the third season, the Pogues
' "The Body of an American" is played at the wake at Kavanagh's bar.
, Seth Gilliam
, Chad L. Coleman, Glynn Turman
, J.D. Williams, Michael K. Williams
and Corey Parker Robinson
do not appear in this episode.
is distracted by his classmate Calvin. Prez asks Calvin the answer and Calvin guesses correctly. He explains his rationale to the class: When referring to the possible answers, Prez tapped the correct answer several times, leaving chalk marks around it.
After school Randy walks home with Michael Lee
and his younger brother Bug. Michael quizzes Randy about how he was able to return to school and Randy keeps quiet about his involvement with the police. Michael warns him about getting involved with authority figures. Randy tells him it doesn’t matter as his foster mother, Miss Anna, now has him on a short leash. Michael points out that Randy is lucky to have a leash at all.
The next day Prez takes his class through their state mathematics test. Calvin and Charlene struggle with the change in the particulars from their practice work but Duquan "Dukie" Weems is able to apply the skills he learned to the new problem. When he tries to explain it to Charlene she storms out of the classroom.
Meanwhile Colvin continues his discussion of what makes a good corner boy with the special class. Namond and Kwame are emphatic about the need to prevent your people stealing from you because otherwise their thieving will spiral out of control. Zenobia Dawson is insistent that a beating for anyone caught is the way to prevent stealing. Darnell suggests that proof is needed before a beating; instead he suggests making the worker pay you back and if they complain, you know they are stealing. Colvin asks why the beating is necessary and Darnell and Markeith tell him that someone is always watching on the street and you cannot appear to be weak.
Namond tells Randy and Michael about the discussion on their way home from school. Michael asks Namond if he is coming to the gym and Namond tells him he has to work on selling off the rest of his package. Dukie remains in class after school playing on the computer. When De'Londa Brice catches her son Namond working on his package in his bedroom she angrily tells him that the police could seize their house if the drugs are found there and insists he hand the task on to a lieutenant.
Michael gets home to find that his mother has sold his groceries for drug money. He gives her just ten dollars when she tells him she is going out and she threatens to take the DSS (Department of Social Services) card from him. He calls the bluff and insists on keeping the card. When Michael gets home from the gym, Bug tells him that his father has returned. Michael is dismayed and repulsed when the man goes to touch him. He shares a disbelieving glance with his mother. Michael confronts his mother, telling her that she has broken her promise by allowing Bug’s father to return. She is unconcerned and tells Michael that things are going back to the way they were. Michael is stunned and she tries to comfort him by saying that people change. She tells Michael that Bug’s father will now hold the DSS card.
In class the next day an energized Namond raises the hypocrisy of a system that promises to reward him for good behavior when it fails to live by its own rules much of the time; he states steroids, liquor, cigarettes and Enron
as examples. Darnell points out that even Colvin's police work focused on drugs, so in a way, drugs paid Colvin's salary. Zenobia claims that the street life is just part of the larger system.
Prez discusses his class's difficulty with the test with his colleagues. They reassure him that performance is low across all subjects. Mrs. Hanson and Mrs. Shapiro tell him he must follow the curriculum. Mrs. Grace Sampson tells Prez to spend some time teaching the test and some time teaching more accessible subject matter. Ms. Hanson offers typical sage advice: Prez's first year as a teacher has to be less about the children and more about him surviving.
At lunch, Prez watches Dukie show Crystal Judkins and her friends how to shop for jewellery on the internet. He notices that Michael is despondent at the back of the class. Prez asks if Michael is okay but Michael hesitantly declines to confide in him. Prez leaves his offer open and suggests that Michael could talk to the school social worker. Michael goes to pick Bug up after school but learns from his teacher, Miss Ella, that his father has already taken him. Michael runs out of the school after them. He finds Bug doing homework with his father and insists that Bug stay away from him.
Parenti, Colvin and the special class teacher discuss their progress. The academics are impressed with their results but have noticed that some of the children are not participating — those with deeper problems in particular. The teacher has seen signs of Oppositional Defiant Disorder
and believes that Chandra has real psychological problems. Parenti wonders whether they can convince the corner kids to take an interest in subjects beyond drug dealing.
Namond gives his package to Kenard and tells him that he is a lieutenant and warns him not to cheat him on the profits. Namond delivers his takings to his mother and she notices that he has made less than she would expect from a full package. He blames his territory and she (despite his protests) leaves to convince Bodie Broadus
to give Namond better territory.
briefs his squad before their shift. He introduces them to Tommy Carcetti
, who will be observing them. He also announces the death of Colonel Raymond Foerster and his wake that evening. Bunk Moreland
, Lester Freamon
, Kima Greggs
, Ed Norris, Vernon Holley and Mike Crutchfield are all present for the briefing. When Carcetti finishes the coffee in the breakroom, Greggs angrily insists that he make another pot. She is still hostile towards Carcetti because of the political interference in the Braddock case. Carcetti asks the detectives to continue as usual. Greggs, Freamon and Landsman immediately stop pretending to work.
After the briefing Bunk tries to convince Holley and Crutchfield to revisit the scene of the shooting for which Omar Little
has been arrested. He finds their witness, Old Face Andre, shady. They remain resistant to his efforts to get them to reopen the case. Carcetti approaches them and remarks on the case load they face. Crutchfield insists they can handle it. Crutchfield continues the conversation in an interview room and becomes enraged with Bunk. As the three detectives talk, Crutchfield claims that Omar is no historical figure like George Washington Carver
, rather he is just another petty criminal whose name rings up on multiple open cases including two of Bunk's. Crutchfield becomes more enraged with Bunks's attempts to go back on the case, thinking that he is doing so to discredit Crutchfield's clearance. After Crutchfield leaves, Bunk appeals to Holley to look over the scene one more time.
At Foerster’s wake in the bar, Bunk is so drunk he runs outside to vomit. Upon returning, he is disgusted to find his old partner Jimmy McNulty
drinking club soda. Cedric Daniels
, Ilene Nathan and Rhonda Pearlman
are also in attendance.
The next day Holley accompanies Bunk to Andre’s store. Holley asks Andre to retell the story for Bunk. Bunk finds it hard to believe that Andre would leave the bulletproof area when only threatened by a 9 mm handgun. As Andre is explaining that he was trying to save the delivery woman's life, Bunk notices the back door, stock inventory, and cameras that are a part of his store. Bunk then notices bullet hole from Omar's actual robbery and asks Andre about it. Andre claims the perpetrator wore a mask and he did not find time to report it. Bunk asks Andre to come in with them but he refuses. Outside Bunk claims that Andre's "whole story's fucked" as it makes no sense for Andre to have survived the robbery as a live witness. Bunk then states the store's main function is a "drug depot," having noticed the reinforced steel door, low inventory, and security cameras, and it would not make sense for Omar to first rob the store with a .50 caliber, a gun strong enough to shoot through Andre’s glass, and then come back a second time with a less powerful 9 mm. Finally, Bunk cites Andre's motive for lying; he wants revenge against Omar for robbing his stash. Holley is now convinced that Andre ran a con on the police.
Bunk returns to Andre’s store with a grand jury summons, finding him talking with a prostitute named Dee-Dee before bringing him in. Bunk and Holley then warn Andre that lying to the police is a much less serious charge than lying to the grand jury. The Grand Jury Prosecutor then tells Andre it's a ten-year minimum for perjury on the stand, and that the sentence is given "all the time," forcing Andre into retracting his story before he is even put before the witness stand. Bunk and Holley deliver the information to Landsman, who is enraged that he has lost a clearance to Bunk’s interference. Landsman also berates Holley for not standing up for himself.
Herc and Dozerman make a traffic stop on Marlo. Herc insists that Marlo return his camera and Marlo promises nothing but takes Herc's card. After Marlo leaves, Dozerman urges Herc to come clean about the camera to Marimow. Herc persists in harassing Marlo hoping that he will convince him to give the camera back. He enlists the Western DEU squad in making a raid on Marlo's courtyard hangout. Next Herc stops Chris and Snoop. They hide their guns in an electric hidden compartment in their vehicle's dashboard but Herc finds their lye and nail gun in the trunk. He fires a nail into the pavement and tells them he wants his camera back.
Herc and Dozerman discuss their next move now that intimidation has failed. Herc remembers Randy's information about Little Kevin and suggests they look for him to get information on Lex's murder to get to Marlo.
Marlo delivers Herc’s card to Proposition Joe
and Slim Charles. Joe promises to look into it and thanks Marlo for the work his people are doing driving away the New York drug dealers. Slim Charles suggests that Marlo’s technique of disappearing the bodies of his soldier’s victims is lessening the impact of their kills. Marlo agrees to leave some bodies on the street.
Joe phones the police department and poses as a lawyer who needs to speak to Herc. He is transferred to Lieutenant Hoskin’s at the mayor’s security detail who tells him that Herc has been reassigned to the Major Crimes Unit.
Chris and Snoop hit the streets to find more New York dealers. Chris wants Snoop to ask the dealers a question about Baltimore
; if they answer incorrectly, they will get shot. Chris suggests asking a question about Baltimore music, but Snoop is not familiar with the subject. When she almost kills a local dealer by mistake, Chris takes over asking the questions. Later, they find a New York dealer, and when he says he doesn't understand what Chris is asking, they shoot him, leaving his body on the street.
Chris and Snoop throw their weapons into the harbor after they are stopped by Herc. Chris also throws the nail gun in. Snoop tells him that he owes her money for the nail gun.
continues his observation of the Baltimore Police Department at work spending the day in the Eastern District with the DEU squad. The shift lieutenant introduces him to a team of confident detectives at their morning briefing. They make their first arrest by enticing a man on his way to work to buy drugs for him. Carcetti catches up with the flex squad and finds that they are also making an arrest with little more than statistical value: a young boy they have pulled up for possession. The flex squad officers try to get the boy to give them information on a stash but he has nothing to tell them. The lieutenant seems positive about the work his men are doing.
Carcetti questions Deputy Commissioner Rawls
about the unimpressive low-level busts. Rawls insists that he agrees with Carcetti and indirectly blames Commissioner Ervin Burrell
, claiming that affirmative action
policies sometimes advance black officers beyond their capabilities, and that a leader who owes his position to the "numbers game" of affirmative action would consequently care more about numbers—such as arrest statistics—than about genuinely reducing crime. Rawls claims that targeting high-end drug dealers would be his preference but that he respects the chain of command. Rawls admits that the BPD is "putting a band-aid on cancer" to fight the war on drugs and that he would be interested in leading the department into a different investigative strategy. After the meeting, Norman Wilson is offended by Rawls' "naked appeal to racial solidarity." Carcetti asks Wilson about Western District Commander Cedric Daniels
, an African American officer in the department whom Carcetti views as a competent and good police officer. Wilson tells him that he does not have any political connections.
Assistant State’s Attorney Rhonda Pearlman
visits Daniels at his office and finds him on the phone with Carcetti. Daniels tells her that Carcetti wants to meet with him to discuss what is successful in the police department. Daniels asks Pearlman how honest she thinks he should be. Pearlman tells him to be himself despite his worries that the mayor will not get rid of Burrell and Rawls.
Carcetti, Wilson and Gerry meet with representatives from the Democratic party to discuss strategy for his term. They hope to induce a drop in crime and build something in the downtown area with Carcetti's name on it. The party representative suggests that education is a good polling issue, but Wilson tells her that with the problems in Baltimore's schools, Carcetti will be better off avoiding that topic. The party hopes that Carcetti will run for governor in 2008.
Carcetti meets with Daniels to discuss his concerns about the department. Daniels tells Carcetti that much of day-to-day police work in Baltimore is a waste of time, energy, efficiency, money and in some cases, talent. Carcetti reveals that Rawls has blamed Burrell's numbers game. Daniels doesn't buy it, but he refuses to criticize his superiors with Carcetti. He does point Carcetti towards Rawls gutting the Major Crimes Unit. Carcetti offers Daniels the CID Commander position under Rawls as a Colonel. Daniels asks Carcetti if he can trust him; Carcetti suggests they find out together.
Burrell visits Rawls to discuss trying to impress the new administration together. Rawls admits that he has been talking to Carcetti and Burrell acknowledges that Rawls is moving against him.
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 Richard Price
Richard Price (writer)
Richard Price is an American novelist and screenwriter, known for the books The Wanderers and Clockers.-Early life:...
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...
& Richard Price, and directed by Agnieszka Holland
Agnieszka Holland
Agnieszka Holland is a Polish film and TV director and screenwriter. Best recognized for her highly political contributions to Polish cinema, Holland is one of Poland's most prominent filmmakers.-Personal life:...
, it originally aired on November 5, 2006.
Title reference
"Corner Boys" references the terminology used to describe the disruptive students in school, and the focus taken by Colvin's group to relate to them in terms of what they know: the streets of Baltimore. The term comes from Baltimore area slang for the street level drug dealers, usually adolescent males, who literally stand on street corners and sell drugs.Tribute
The police wake for Raymond Foerster is a tribute to Richard DeAngelisRichard De Angelis
Richard John DeAngelis was an American actor and comedian best known for his role as Colonel Raymond Foerster on TV's The Wire....
, the actor who played Foerster. He died from prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
during the shooting of Season 4. As at Ray Cole's wake from the third season, the Pogues
The Pogues
The Pogues are a Celtic punk band, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before...
' "The Body of an American" is played at the wake at Kavanagh's bar.
Starring cast
Although credited Andre RoyoAndre Royo
Andre Royo is an American actor. He is best known for his role as "Bubbles" in The Wire , and has had guest starring appearances in Fringe, Party Down, and How To Make It In America.-Career:...
, Seth Gilliam
Seth Gilliam
Seth Gilliam is an American actor. He is known for his HBO television roles, first as corrections officer-turned-prisoner Clayton Hughes on Oz, and later as Baltimore police detective promoted to sergeant Ellis Carver on The Wire. On both of these series, he co-starred with Lance Reddick and J.D....
, Chad L. Coleman, 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...
, J.D. Williams, Michael K. Williams
Michael K. Williams
Michael Kenneth Williams is an American actor known for his portrayal of Omar Little on the HBO drama series The Wire, and of Albert "Chalky" White on HBO's Boardwalk Empire.-Early life and career:...
and Corey Parker Robinson
Corey Parker Robinson
Corey Parker Robinson is an American actor. He may be best known for appearing on the HBO program The Wire as Detective Leander Sydnor. He also appeared in Wire creator David Simon's earlier The Corner as R.C., a young drug dealer and in ER in episode 19 of Season 5 as student Antoine Bell...
do not appear in this episode.
Guest stars
- 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 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...
- 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... - 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... - Alfonso Christian Lover as Old Face Andre
- 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 - 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 - Cyrus Farmer as Devar Manigault
- Sandi McCree as De'Londa Brice
- 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 - Rico Sterling as Calvin
- Jason Wharton as Albert Stokes
- Stacie Davis as Miss Duquette
- Dan DeLuca as Dr. David Parenti
- Dravon James as Mrs. Grace Sampson
- Boris McGiver as Lieutenant Charles Marimow
- 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 - Rakiya Orange as Charlene Young
- Devin Tweedy as Unknown
- 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 - Rick Otto as Kenneth Dozerman
- 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 - Zakiya Jefferson as Unknown
- Darrell Britt-Gibson as O-Dog
- Jeffrey Wendell Moffat, Jr. as Stanfield Trainee
- Imani Robinson as Unknown
- Keenon Brice as Bug
- Gary D’Addario as Gary DiPasquale
- Kayte Dzime-Assison as Ava
- Genevieve Hudson-Price as Dee-Dee
- Denise Preddy as Miss Ella
Uncredited appearances
- 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 Joe Stewart - 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 - Ryan Sands as Officer Lloyd "Truck" Garrick
- Karen Vicks as Gerry
- Destiny Jackson-Evans as Crystal Judkins
- Susan Rome as Assistant State’s Attorney Ilene Nathan
- Michael Coley as Kwame
- Na'Dria Jennings as Chandra Porter
- Diana Villamonte as Mrs. Rachel Shapiro
- Demetria Bailey as Mrs. Perlene Scott
- Dolly Turner as Ms. Hanson
- Unknown as girl with dreadlocks
- Unknown as Markeith
- Unknown as Eastern Shift Lieutenant
- Stephen Graybill as Eastern DEU Detective #1
- Unknown as Eastern DEU Detective #2
- Unknown as Eastern Flex Squad Detective #1
- Unknown as Eastern Flex Squad Detective #2
- Unknown as Eastern Officer
- Unknown as Arrested Cyclist
- Unknown as Possession Kid
- Unknown as Lieutenant Hoskins
- Unknown as Baltimore Dealer
- Unknown as NY Dealer
School
Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski takes his second class of the day. He sets them a problem requiring division of apples between people. Randy WagstaffRandy 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...
is distracted by his classmate Calvin. Prez asks Calvin the answer and Calvin guesses correctly. He explains his rationale to the class: When referring to the possible answers, Prez tapped the correct answer several times, leaving chalk marks around it.
After school Randy walks home with Michael Lee
Michael 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 his younger brother Bug. Michael quizzes Randy about how he was able to return to school and Randy keeps quiet about his involvement with the police. Michael warns him about getting involved with authority figures. Randy tells him it doesn’t matter as his foster mother, Miss Anna, now has him on a short leash. Michael points out that Randy is lucky to have a leash at all.
The next day Prez takes his class through their state mathematics test. Calvin and Charlene struggle with the change in the particulars from their practice work but Duquan "Dukie" Weems is able to apply the skills he learned to the new problem. When he tries to explain it to Charlene she storms out of the classroom.
Meanwhile Colvin continues his discussion of what makes a good corner boy with the special class. Namond and Kwame are emphatic about the need to prevent your people stealing from you because otherwise their thieving will spiral out of control. Zenobia Dawson is insistent that a beating for anyone caught is the way to prevent stealing. Darnell suggests that proof is needed before a beating; instead he suggests making the worker pay you back and if they complain, you know they are stealing. Colvin asks why the beating is necessary and Darnell and Markeith tell him that someone is always watching on the street and you cannot appear to be weak.
Namond tells Randy and Michael about the discussion on their way home from school. Michael asks Namond if he is coming to the gym and Namond tells him he has to work on selling off the rest of his package. Dukie remains in class after school playing on the computer. When De'Londa Brice catches her son Namond working on his package in his bedroom she angrily tells him that the police could seize their house if the drugs are found there and insists he hand the task on to a lieutenant.
Michael gets home to find that his mother has sold his groceries for drug money. He gives her just ten dollars when she tells him she is going out and she threatens to take the DSS (Department of Social Services) card from him. He calls the bluff and insists on keeping the card. When Michael gets home from the gym, Bug tells him that his father has returned. Michael is dismayed and repulsed when the man goes to touch him. He shares a disbelieving glance with his mother. Michael confronts his mother, telling her that she has broken her promise by allowing Bug’s father to return. She is unconcerned and tells Michael that things are going back to the way they were. Michael is stunned and she tries to comfort him by saying that people change. She tells Michael that Bug’s father will now hold the DSS card.
In class the next day an energized Namond raises the hypocrisy of a system that promises to reward him for good behavior when it fails to live by its own rules much of the time; he states steroids, liquor, cigarettes and Enron
Enron
Enron Corporation was an American energy, commodities, and services company based in Houston, Texas. Before its bankruptcy on December 2, 2001, Enron employed approximately 22,000 staff and was one of the world's leading electricity, natural gas, communications, and pulp and paper companies, with...
as examples. Darnell points out that even Colvin's police work focused on drugs, so in a way, drugs paid Colvin's salary. Zenobia claims that the street life is just part of the larger system.
Prez discusses his class's difficulty with the test with his colleagues. They reassure him that performance is low across all subjects. Mrs. Hanson and Mrs. Shapiro tell him he must follow the curriculum. Mrs. Grace Sampson tells Prez to spend some time teaching the test and some time teaching more accessible subject matter. Ms. Hanson offers typical sage advice: Prez's first year as a teacher has to be less about the children and more about him surviving.
At lunch, Prez watches Dukie show Crystal Judkins and her friends how to shop for jewellery on the internet. He notices that Michael is despondent at the back of the class. Prez asks if Michael is okay but Michael hesitantly declines to confide in him. Prez leaves his offer open and suggests that Michael could talk to the school social worker. Michael goes to pick Bug up after school but learns from his teacher, Miss Ella, that his father has already taken him. Michael runs out of the school after them. He finds Bug doing homework with his father and insists that Bug stay away from him.
Parenti, Colvin and the special class teacher discuss their progress. The academics are impressed with their results but have noticed that some of the children are not participating — those with deeper problems in particular. The teacher has seen signs of Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Oppositional defiant disorder
Oppositional defiant disorder is a diagnosis described by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as an ongoing pattern of disobedient, hostile and defiant behavior toward authority figures which goes beyond the bounds of normal childhood behavior...
and believes that Chandra has real psychological problems. Parenti wonders whether they can convince the corner kids to take an interest in subjects beyond drug dealing.
Namond gives his package to Kenard and tells him that he is a lieutenant and warns him not to cheat him on the profits. Namond delivers his takings to his mother and she notices that he has made less than she would expect from a full package. He blames his territory and she (despite his protests) leaves to convince Bodie Broadus
Bodie Broadus
Preston "Bodie" Broadus is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor J. D. Williams. Bodie is initially a Barksdale organization drug dealer in "The Pit" who slowly rises through the ranks...
to give Namond better territory.
Homicide
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...
briefs his squad before their shift. He introduces them to 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...
, who will be observing them. He also announces the death of Colonel Raymond Foerster and his wake that evening. 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...
, 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...
, 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...
, Ed Norris, Vernon Holley and Mike Crutchfield are all present for the briefing. When Carcetti finishes the coffee in the breakroom, Greggs angrily insists that he make another pot. She is still hostile towards Carcetti because of the political interference in the Braddock case. Carcetti asks the detectives to continue as usual. Greggs, Freamon and Landsman immediately stop pretending to work.
After the briefing Bunk tries to convince Holley and Crutchfield to revisit the scene of the shooting for which Omar Little
Omar 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"....
has been arrested. He finds their witness, Old Face Andre, shady. They remain resistant to his efforts to get them to reopen the case. Carcetti approaches them and remarks on the case load they face. Crutchfield insists they can handle it. Crutchfield continues the conversation in an interview room and becomes enraged with Bunk. As the three detectives talk, Crutchfield claims that Omar is no historical figure like George Washington Carver
George Washington Carver
George Washington Carver , was an American scientist, botanist, educator, and inventor. The exact day and year of his birth are unknown; he is believed to have been born into slavery in Missouri in January 1864....
, rather he is just another petty criminal whose name rings up on multiple open cases including two of Bunk's. Crutchfield becomes more enraged with Bunks's attempts to go back on the case, thinking that he is doing so to discredit Crutchfield's clearance. After Crutchfield leaves, Bunk appeals to Holley to look over the scene one more time.
At Foerster’s wake in the bar, Bunk is so drunk he runs outside to vomit. Upon returning, he is disgusted to find his old partner 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...
drinking club soda. 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...
, Ilene Nathan and 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...
are also in attendance.
The next day Holley accompanies Bunk to Andre’s store. Holley asks Andre to retell the story for Bunk. Bunk finds it hard to believe that Andre would leave the bulletproof area when only threatened by a 9 mm handgun. As Andre is explaining that he was trying to save the delivery woman's life, Bunk notices the back door, stock inventory, and cameras that are a part of his store. Bunk then notices bullet hole from Omar's actual robbery and asks Andre about it. Andre claims the perpetrator wore a mask and he did not find time to report it. Bunk asks Andre to come in with them but he refuses. Outside Bunk claims that Andre's "whole story's fucked" as it makes no sense for Andre to have survived the robbery as a live witness. Bunk then states the store's main function is a "drug depot," having noticed the reinforced steel door, low inventory, and security cameras, and it would not make sense for Omar to first rob the store with a .50 caliber, a gun strong enough to shoot through Andre’s glass, and then come back a second time with a less powerful 9 mm. Finally, Bunk cites Andre's motive for lying; he wants revenge against Omar for robbing his stash. Holley is now convinced that Andre ran a con on the police.
Bunk returns to Andre’s store with a grand jury summons, finding him talking with a prostitute named Dee-Dee before bringing him in. Bunk and Holley then warn Andre that lying to the police is a much less serious charge than lying to the grand jury. The Grand Jury Prosecutor then tells Andre it's a ten-year minimum for perjury on the stand, and that the sentence is given "all the time," forcing Andre into retracting his story before he is even put before the witness stand. Bunk and Holley deliver the information to Landsman, who is enraged that he has lost a clearance to Bunk’s interference. Landsman also berates Holley for not standing up for himself.
Major crimes
Lieutenant Charlie Marimow pulls up his sergeant Thomas "Herc" Hauk having just received a harassment complaint. The complaint is from the woman who Herc was tricked into stopping at a train station. Marimow reprimands Herc in front of his subordinate Officer Kenneth Dozerman. He asks Herc for the source of the tip that led him to making his stop. Herc claims it was from a confidential informant. Marimow demands the source's name and Herc uses the non-existent CI – Fuzzy Dunlop (Herc has been illegally pocketing the payments made to "Fuzzy" since season two).Herc and Dozerman make a traffic stop on Marlo. Herc insists that Marlo return his camera and Marlo promises nothing but takes Herc's card. After Marlo leaves, Dozerman urges Herc to come clean about the camera to Marimow. Herc persists in harassing Marlo hoping that he will convince him to give the camera back. He enlists the Western DEU squad in making a raid on Marlo's courtyard hangout. Next Herc stops Chris and Snoop. They hide their guns in an electric hidden compartment in their vehicle's dashboard but Herc finds their lye and nail gun in the trunk. He fires a nail into the pavement and tells them he wants his camera back.
Herc and Dozerman discuss their next move now that intimidation has failed. Herc remembers Randy's information about Little Kevin and suggests they look for him to get information on Lex's murder to get to Marlo.
Stanfield
Snoop and Chris casually deposit the bodies of two New York drug dealers in a vacant building, board it up and then go out for Chinese food. Later they teach some young Stanfield soldiers tradecraft for killing on the streets.Marlo delivers Herc’s card to 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...
and Slim Charles. Joe promises to look into it and thanks Marlo for the work his people are doing driving away the New York drug dealers. Slim Charles suggests that Marlo’s technique of disappearing the bodies of his soldier’s victims is lessening the impact of their kills. Marlo agrees to leave some bodies on the street.
Joe phones the police department and poses as a lawyer who needs to speak to Herc. He is transferred to Lieutenant Hoskin’s at the mayor’s security detail who tells him that Herc has been reassigned to the Major Crimes Unit.
Chris and Snoop hit the streets to find more New York dealers. Chris wants Snoop to ask the dealers a question about Baltimore
Shibboleth
A shibboleth is a custom, principle, or belief distinguishing a particular class or group of people, especially a long-standing one regarded as outmoded or no longer important...
; if they answer incorrectly, they will get shot. Chris suggests asking a question about Baltimore music, but Snoop is not familiar with the subject. When she almost kills a local dealer by mistake, Chris takes over asking the questions. Later, they find a New York dealer, and when he says he doesn't understand what Chris is asking, they shoot him, leaving his body on the street.
Chris and Snoop throw their weapons into the harbor after they are stopped by Herc. Chris also throws the nail gun in. Snoop tells him that he owes her money for the nail gun.
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...
continues his observation of the Baltimore Police Department at work spending the day in the Eastern District with the DEU squad. The shift lieutenant introduces him to a team of confident detectives at their morning briefing. They make their first arrest by enticing a man on his way to work to buy drugs for him. Carcetti catches up with the flex squad and finds that they are also making an arrest with little more than statistical value: a young boy they have pulled up for possession. The flex squad officers try to get the boy to give them information on a stash but he has nothing to tell them. The lieutenant seems positive about the work his men are doing.
Carcetti questions 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:...
about the unimpressive low-level busts. Rawls insists that he agrees with Carcetti and indirectly blames 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...
, claiming that affirmative action
Affirmative action
Affirmative action refers to policies that take factors including "race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or national origin" into consideration in order to benefit an underrepresented group, usually as a means to counter the effects of a history of discrimination.-Origins:The term...
policies sometimes advance black officers beyond their capabilities, and that a leader who owes his position to the "numbers game" of affirmative action would consequently care more about numbers—such as arrest statistics—than about genuinely reducing crime. Rawls claims that targeting high-end drug dealers would be his preference but that he respects the chain of command. Rawls admits that the BPD is "putting a band-aid on cancer" to fight the war on drugs and that he would be interested in leading the department into a different investigative strategy. After the meeting, Norman Wilson is offended by Rawls' "naked appeal to racial solidarity." Carcetti asks Wilson about 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...
, an African American officer in the department whom Carcetti views as a competent and good police officer. Wilson tells him that he does not have any political connections.
Assistant State’s Attorney 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...
visits Daniels at his office and finds him on the phone with Carcetti. Daniels tells her that Carcetti wants to meet with him to discuss what is successful in the police department. Daniels asks Pearlman how honest she thinks he should be. Pearlman tells him to be himself despite his worries that the mayor will not get rid of Burrell and Rawls.
Carcetti, Wilson and Gerry meet with representatives from the Democratic party to discuss strategy for his term. They hope to induce a drop in crime and build something in the downtown area with Carcetti's name on it. The party representative suggests that education is a good polling issue, but Wilson tells her that with the problems in Baltimore's schools, Carcetti will be better off avoiding that topic. The party hopes that Carcetti will run for governor in 2008.
Carcetti meets with Daniels to discuss his concerns about the department. Daniels tells Carcetti that much of day-to-day police work in Baltimore is a waste of time, energy, efficiency, money and in some cases, talent. Carcetti reveals that Rawls has blamed Burrell's numbers game. Daniels doesn't buy it, but he refuses to criticize his superiors with Carcetti. He does point Carcetti towards Rawls gutting the Major Crimes Unit. Carcetti offers Daniels the CID Commander position under Rawls as a Colonel. Daniels asks Carcetti if he can trust him; Carcetti suggests they find out together.
Burrell visits Rawls to discuss trying to impress the new administration together. Rawls admits that he has been talking to Carcetti and Burrell acknowledges that Rawls is moving against him.
First Appearances
- Devar Manigault (Bug's father): an ex-convict who is loathed completely by Michael.
Deceased
- New York dealer: shot by Chris Partlow for stepping on Eastside territory.
- Raymond Foerster: complications with cancer.