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Bad Dreams (The Wire episode)
Encyclopedia
"Bad Dreams" is the eleventh episode of the second season of the HBO original series, The Wire
. The episode was written by George Pelecanos
from a story by David Simon
& George Pelecanos and was directed by Ernest Dickerson
. It originally aired on August 17, 2003. The episode was submitted to the American Film Institute for consideration in their TV programs of the year award and the show subsequently won the award.
. In the restaurant, the song playing in the background was "To Psomi tis Ksenitias" (Bread of a Foreign Land). The song played during the montage at the end is a less well-known song, "Efige, efige" (εφυγε εφυγε), a love song. Both songs were chosen by the episode's writer George Pelecanos
who is Greek American
.
, Frankie Faison
, Wood Harris
and Andre Royo
do not appear in this episode.
Although credited, Jim True-Frost does not appear in this episode. Clifton Gross, Steve Lukiewski and Paul G. Sepczynski are all real-life stevedores who appear as stevedores in this episode. Lukiewski is a hiring hall dispatcher and emulates this position when Sobotka uses another members card to work. Gross and Sepczynski are the stevedores helping Sobotka to unload the ship.
leads Bunk Moreland
, Kima Greggs
and Lester Freamon
into the Pyramid Industries warehouse but the place has been completely stripped of evidence. Greggs finds some cocaine residue in a drain. Freamon and Bunk notice the bloodstain from Glekas' shooting. Beadie Russell
finds weapons in Eton Ben-Eleazer's home. Terrence "Fitz" Fitzhugh and Jimmy McNulty
have a tough time subduing Sergei "Serge" Malatov at his home. Thomas "Herc" Hauk and Ellis Carver
search Nick Sobotka
's home. They find drugs and cash but Aimee is in Nick's room alone; Nick slept with Prissy at her place. "White" Mike McArdle is arrested by uniform officers and protests his innocence as he is pulled from his home. Major Stanislaus Valchek
and FBI supervisor Amanda Reese wait for Frank Sobotka
but do not arrest him at home because they want to make it as high profile as possible.
Back at the detail office Daniels and Russell discuss the rationale for leaving Spiros "Vondas" Vondopoulos
on the street. Daniels tells Russell that Vondas is reporting to someone above him and by leaving him free they may be able to identify the man in charge. Bunk and Freamon arrive having learned that Glekas is dead and that Frank's son, Ziggy Sobotka
, was the murderer. Daniels angrily rings the homicide unit to find out who investigated Glekas' death. Daniels leaves to confront Landsman and orders his people to start the interviews. Carver, Herc, McNulty and Fitz return to the office and Daniels walks by without stopping to talk to them. McNulty reports that the madam, Ilona Petrovich, has also been arrested.
Daniels is outraged that Landsman did not think to contact him and collected only evidence relating to the murder. Landsman apologizes for his mistake but it is not enough for Daniels. Daniels then claims that even for a police department that is as backwards as the Baltimore PD, that this incident takes the prize as their investigation has now been severely compromised.
Sobotka arrives at work and begins to discuss what to do about Ziggy. The FBI team storms into the union offices in force. Sobotka and Thomas "Horseface" Pakusa calmly accept their arrests as Valchek gloats. Reese delays taking the captives outside until the press arrive.
Eton refuses to state his name to Herc and Carver. Sergei also refuses to state his name to McNulty and Fitz, so they decide they will call him Boris. Russell and Greggs receive nothing but abuse from Ilona. The FBI agents interrogate Sobotka and ask him to give them information to help himself and his union. Sobotka is disgusted by their suggestion that they want to help his dying union. Sobotka's lawyers shepherd him through a detention hearing.
Greggs and McNulty have far more success with White Mike. When they play him recordings of his voice discussing violence and drugs and tell him they have extensive evidence that he is a drug dealer, Mike gives up information on Eton and Sergei. Mike ties Sergei to a murder but knows nothing about his superiors.
Daniels meets with his detectives to discuss the interviews. McNulty reports his success with White Mike. Greggs reports that Nick is still at large and Herc and Carver are looking for him. Daniels asks Fitz for help in bringing in Vondas and he tells him that with the union figures arrested federal interest has dissipated.
Bunk and McNulty tail Vondas from his home to a meeting in central Baltimore. Bunk displays his knowledge of men's fashion by identifying the designer of Vondas' suit. Greggs and Russell follow Vondas into a multistory parking garage and Russell begins her first foot pursuit with some advice from Greggs. Despite her nerves Russell proves up to the task and tails Vondas to a hotel, even noting the number of the room he enters. Bunk and McNulty are impressed with Russell's development into a capable investigator. McNulty photographs Vondas leaving the hotel with his lawyer and gets a chance shot of The Greek
as he walks by. When Vondas returns to the parking garage he switches cars and loses Greggs who has been waiting by the car he drove in. The Greek walks by Greggs as she leaves the parking garage, still unknown to his pursuers.
Daniels meets with Pearlman to discuss the case. They have identified Vondas's lawyer as Steven Rados and have an address for him because he rented the hotel room; however, they still believe he may be in charge of the smuggling ring. Daniels asks what they can offer White Mike in exchange for his cooperation and Pearlman suggests witness protection seeing as they have the feds involved. Russell asks why Sobotka has not been offered the same thing. Russell suggests that Sobotka would talk if she approached him and Pearlman gives her the OK. Bunk and McNulty wait for Vondas at his home to no avail. Herc and Carver do the same for Nick.
As soon as he is released, Frank visits Ziggy in prison, Ziggy has been beaten by the other inmates. He asks his son to explain what happened and Ziggy says that he was tired of always being a punchline. Frank asks why Ziggy didn't come to him and Ziggy tells him he was too busy with his union business. Ziggy asks if his mother knows he is in prison. Ziggy confesses remorse for shooting the store clerk. Ziggy tells his father they are not the same and Frank assures him that he is a true Sobotka. Ziggy tells Frank he knows he is not his real son, then simply says to Frank that he is "fucked" and leaves the room. Frank watches in horror as his fragile son returns to a pack of hardened felons who taunt him with threats of violence.
Frank meets with his brother Louis. Louis regrets not spending more time looking out for their children. Frank says that he could never control Ziggy and wouldn't have been able to stop him from doing what he did. Louis says he was speaking of Nick. Frank tries to reassure Louis that Nick is only involved in some theft—not drugs. Louis shows Frank the search warrant and tells him that Nick was involved in heroin trafficking. Louis is outraged that Frank did nothing to stop Nick when he was still involved in capers at the docks rather than more serious crime like drug dealing. Frank tells Louis that the theft from the docks was always a means to sustain their way of life. Louis tells him that should never justify what they allowed to happen to their sons and leaves Frank alone at the table.
Frank goes into work and Nat Coxson refuses to look at him, holding up a copy of the Baltimore Sun with a front-page article of the FBI's arrest of Frank and Horseface. Frank borrows Little Big Roy's union card so that he can work a ship while Little Big Roy gets paid for sitting in a bar. He tells the shift supervisor, Phil, that he and Little Big Roy are essentially the same - bald and Polish. The stevedores are bemused by Frank's desire to work and Nat gives a begrudgingly respectful nod to the union leader.
After a hard shift unloading ships, Frank meets with his lobbyist, Bruce DiBiago. Bruce tells him that all of their political machinations have been reversed by the arrest: with the FBI involved politicians are afraid to vote for Frank's suggestions because they have accepted money from him. Frank is dismayed and as Bruce leaves, Frank tells him what the problem is with America. "We used to make shit, build shit. Now we just put our hand in the next guy's pocket."
Frank gets a visit from Beady Russell at the union hall. She is upset and asks him to come forward as an informant to save himself. She tearfully tells him that there are different kinds of wrong and that he is better than those he has gotten involved with.
Beady's appeal is successful—Frank comes in the next day to meet the detail. He asks for lenience for Nick and protection for Ziggy. Pearlman offers to transfer Ziggy to a safer jail in the county and agrees on straight probation for Frank and Nick as long as Frank cooperates fully. Frank agrees with one condition - he will not give up union men. Sensing a breakthrough in the case, a cautious Pearlman stops Frank from saying anything further, urging him to return with a lawyer the following day. On the way out, a curious Freamon asks Frank why he stopped using his cellphone. It's simple, he tells them -- "you flagged my cellphone."
Vondas meets with an embittered Nick at a local playground. He convinces Nick that he could help Ziggy and asks him to arrange a meeting with Frank. Nick phones Frank at the union hall as he returns from his session at the detail office.
At the same time, Fitz faxes a record of the meeting with Frank in to the FBI headquarters.
Nick relates Vondas' offer of a meeting to Frank. Frank is angry with Nick for getting involved with drugs but has accepted Louis' criticism and is even more angry with himself. He tells Nick that he is going to talk to the police. When Nick brings up Vondas' offer of help for Ziggy, Frank reconsiders. Frank decides to take the meeting with Greeks under the Key Bridge, putting his son above his dreams for the docks. He refuses to let Nick accompany him, insisting that Nick will have no further dealings with the Greeks.
As Frank arrives for the meeting, The Greek receives word from his inside man in the FBI, Agent Koutris, that Frank has met with the police and agreed to become an informant. As Frank walks towards him The Greek tells Vondas that his way will not work, implying that Sobotka will not leave the meeting alive.
meets with Stringer Bell
at Butchie's bar. Butchie's nephew Heywood provides protection for Omar; Perry is there to act as Stringer's bodyguard. Stringer tells Omar that Brother Mouzone was solely responsible for torturing Brandon in order to build his reputation. Stringer offers to give up Mouzone if Omar will cease his pursuit of the Barksdale organization.
Omar follows Stringer's tip and finds Lamar guarding Brother Mouzone's hotel room. He watches Lamar to learn the coded knock he is using. Omar uses Kimmy, Tosha and a dog to distract Lamar after seeing him watching a dog earlier. Omar knocks out Lamar as he strokes the dog and then shoots Brother Mouzone in the abdomen as he answers the door. Omar explains why he is there and Mouzone tells Omar that he is mistaken. Omar believes Mouzone's story and leaves him in the motel room. He phones for an ambulance on his way out.
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The WIRE
the WIRE is the student-run College radio station at the University of Oklahoma, broadcasting in a freeform format. The WIRE serves the University of Oklahoma and surrounding communities, and is staffed by student DJs. The WIRE broadcasts at 1710 kHz AM in Norman, Oklahoma...
. The episode was written by George Pelecanos
George Pelecanos
George P. Pelecanos is a Greek-American author. Many of his works are in the genre of detective fiction and set primarily in his hometown of Washington, D.C. He is also a film and television producer and a television writer...
from a story by David Simon
David Simon
David Simon is an American author, journalist, and a writer/producer of television series. He worked for the Baltimore Sun City Desk for twelve years. He wrote Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets and co-wrote The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood with Ed Burns...
& George Pelecanos and was directed by Ernest Dickerson
Ernest Dickerson
Ernest Roscoe Dickerson A.S.C. is an American film and television director and cinematographer. He directed generally urban films sometimes with supernatural stories like Juice, Tales from the Crypt Presents Demon Knight, Bones and Never Die Alone...
. It originally aired on August 17, 2003. The episode was submitted to the American Film Institute for consideration in their TV programs of the year award and the show subsequently won the award.
Title reference
The title refers to the way that Frank's hopes to rejuvenate the docks by becoming involved with crime have had dire consequences for him and his family. It may also refer to the morning raids that wake everyone involved in the conspiracy.Epigraph
Frank Sobotka while talking with his lawyers after his arrest. To get clean is to wash the blood off his hands that he never expected or wanted caused by a desire to simply keep his people at the port able to work properly and progressively. He starts this process by returning to the docks to work a simple hard day's labor, and also by talking to the police about the smuggling organization headed by the Greek.Music
The two Greek songs at the end of the episode were sung by Stelios KazantzidisStelios Kazantzidis
Stylianos Kazantzidis was a prominent Greek singer. A leading singer of Greek popular music, or Laïkó, he collaborated with many of Greece's foremost composers.-Biography :...
. In the restaurant, the song playing in the background was "To Psomi tis Ksenitias" (Bread of a Foreign Land). The song played during the montage at the end is a less well-known song, "Efige, efige" (εφυγε εφυγε), a love song. Both songs were chosen by the episode's writer George Pelecanos
George Pelecanos
George P. Pelecanos is a Greek-American author. Many of his works are in the genre of detective fiction and set primarily in his hometown of Washington, D.C. He is also a film and television producer and a television writer...
who is Greek American
Greek American
Greek Americans are Americans of Greek descent also described as Hellenic descent. According to the 2007 U.S. Census Bureau estimation, there were 1,380,088 people of Greek ancestry in the United States, while the State Department mentions that around 3,000,000 Americans claim to be of Greek descent...
.
Starring cast
Although credited, John DomanJohn Doman
John Doman is an American actor best known for playing Deputy Police Commissioner William Rawls on HBO series The Wire from 2002 to 2008 and Colonel Edward Galson on Oz in 2001....
, Frankie Faison
Frankie Faison
Frankie Russel Faison , often credited as Frankie R. Faison, is an American actor.-Personal life:Faison was born in Newport News, Virginia, the son of Carmena and Edgar Faison. He studied drama at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois, where he joined Theta Chi Fraternity...
, Wood Harris
Wood Harris
Sherwin David "Wood" Harris is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his roles as drug kingpin Avon Barksdale on the HBO television drama The Wire, and as high-school football player Julius Campbell in the 2000 motion picture Remember the Titans.-Life and career:Harris was born in...
and Andre Royo
Andre 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:...
do not appear in this episode.
Guest stars
- Seth GilliamSeth GilliamSeth 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....
as Detective Ellis CarverEllis CarverEllis 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... - Domenick LombardozziDomenick LombardozziDomenico "Domenick" Lombardozzi is an American actor best known for his role as Thomas "Herc" Hauk on The Wire. Lombardozzi was inspired to act by the film State of Grace.-Filmography:...
as Detective Thomas "Herc" Hauk - Jim True-FrostJim True-FrostJim True-Frost, born Jim True, is an American stage, television and screen actor. He is most known for his portrayal of Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski on all five seasons of the HBO program The Wire.-Biography:...
as Detective Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski - James RansoneJames RansoneJames Ransone is an American actor and former musician from Baltimore, Maryland. He is best known for his roles as Ziggy Sobotka in the second season of HBO's The Wire, and Corporal Josh Ray Person in the Iraq War-based mini-series Generation Kill...
as Ziggy SobotkaZiggy SobotkaChester Karol "Ziggy" Sobotka is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor James Ransone. Though his father Frank Sobotka was a well-respected stevedore union leader, Ziggy's often reckless and juvenile behavior gained him little respect among other members of the union and... - Pablo SchreiberPablo SchreiberPablo Tell Schreiber is an American actor known for his dramatic stage work and for his portrayal of the Polish-American character Nick Sobotka on HBO's Baltimore drug-related crime drama The Wire. He was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in Awake and Sing! on Broadway...
as Nick SobotkaNick SobotkaNickolas Andrew "Nick" Sobotka is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Pablo Schreiber. the character of Nick is cousin to, Ziggy Sobotka, the wayward and rebellious son to his uncle Frank Sobotka... - Michael Potts as Brother Mouzone
- Michael K. WilliamsMichael K. WilliamsMichael 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:...
as Omar LittleOmar LittleOmar 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".... - Chris AshworthChris AshworthChristopher Michael Ashworth , better known as simply Chris Ashworth, is an American actor, perhaps best known for his portrayal of Sergei Malatov on The Wire...
as Sergei "Serge" Malatov - Al Brown as Major Stanislaus ValchekStanislaus ValchekStanislaus "Stan" Valchek is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Al Brown.-Biography:Valchek is the Polish-American commander of the Southeastern district, home to many of the remaining white ethnic neighborhoods in Baltimore...
- Bill RaymondBill RaymondBill Raymond is an actor who has appeared in film, television and theatre since the 1960s.-Life and career:He featured in the second and fifth seasons of the HBO drama The Wire as "The Greek", the mysterious head of an international criminal organization. Other TV appearances include Miami Vice,...
as The GreekThe Greek (The Wire)The Greek is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Bill Raymond. The Greek is the head of an international criminal organization involved in narcotics and human trafficking.... - 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... - Luray Cooper as Nat Coxson
- Robert HoganRobert J. HoganRobert J. Hogan is an American actor. While not a stranger to the big screen or the stage, Hogan is best known to audiences for his highly prolific career in American television which began in 1961...
as Louis Sobotka - Bus Howard as Ott
- Doug Lory as Big Roy
- Richard Pelzman as Little Big Roy
- Benay Berger as FBI Supervisor Amanda Reese
- Toni LewisToni LewisToni Lewis is an actress best known for playing Terri Stivers on Homicide: Life on the Street. The role led to her receiving a nomination for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series...
as Assistant United States Attorney Nadiva Bryant - Kevin McKelvy as FBI Agent
- Doug Olear as FBI Agent Terrance "Fitz" Fitzhugh
- William L. Thomas as FBI Agent
- Kelli R. Brown as Kimmy
- Edwina Findley as Tosha Mitchell
- Tom MardirosianTom MardirosianTom Mardirosian is an American actor. He is known for playing Agamemnon Busmalis in the HBO show Oz and Agent Kristos Koutris in the HBO show "The Wire"....
as Agent Koutris - Gordana Rashovich as Ilona Petrovich
- Brook Yeaton as "White" Mike McArdle
- Keith Flippen as Bruce DiBiago
- Aphrodite Georgelakos as Unknown
- Clifton Gross as stevedore
- Steve Lukiewski as stevedore
- Jackie SawirisJackie SawirisJackie Sawiris is a Jordanian/Egyptian Actress, Writer and Film-maker who is best known in the for playing Majida in Knightmare and also her performance in Eyes Wide Shut as Roz.-Career :...
as Unknown - Paul G. Sepczynski as stevedore
Although credited, Jim True-Frost does not appear in this episode. Clifton Gross, Steve Lukiewski and Paul G. Sepczynski are all real-life stevedores who appear as stevedores in this episode. Lukiewski is a hiring hall dispatcher and emulates this position when Sobotka uses another members card to work. Gross and Sepczynski are the stevedores helping Sobotka to unload the ship.
Uncredited appearances
- Derren M. Fuentes as QRT Leader Torret
- Tommy Hahn as FBI Special Agent Salmond
- Merritt WeverMerritt Wever-Early life:She graduated from Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, and then Sarah Lawrence College. She trained in acting in New York and has appeared in Brooke Berman's play, Smashing and in Cavedweller with Deidre O'Connell, both Off Broadway.-Career:...
as Prissy - Lev GorensLev GornLev Gorn is an American stage, film and television actor. Sometimes he is credited as Lev Gorens.-Off-Broadway:**...
as Eton Ben-Eleazer - Charley ScaliesCharley ScaliesCharlie Scalies is an American actor best known for his portrayal of Thomas "Horseface" Pakusa, one of the stevedores and union members on the second season of HBO's The Wire. He has also appeared in TV shows Homicide: Life on the Street, Law & Order, and The Sopranos.- External links :...
as Thomas "Horseface" Pakusa - Jeffrey Pratt Gordon as Johnny "Fifty" Spamanato
- Elisabeth Noone as Joan Sobotka
- DeAndre McCullough as Lamar
- David Simon as reporter at Sobotka's arrest
Sobotka detail
The Sobotka detail serve warrants on the targets of their investigation. Lieutenant Cedric DanielsCedric 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...
leads 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...
, Kima Greggs
Kima Greggs
Detective Shakima "Kima" Greggs is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actress Sonja Sohn. Greggs is a police detective in the Baltimore Police Department who is a dedicated officer and capable detective with some off-the-job issues. Openly lesbian, she has had problems...
and Lester Freamon
Lester Freamon
Lester Freamon is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Clarke Peters. Freamon is a detective in the Baltimore Police Department's Major Crimes Unit...
into the Pyramid Industries warehouse but the place has been completely stripped of evidence. Greggs finds some cocaine residue in a drain. Freamon and Bunk notice the bloodstain from Glekas' shooting. Beadie Russell
Beadie Russell
Beatrice "Beadie" Russell is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actress Amy Ryan. She was featured prominently in the second season, after she discovered thirteen corpses in a container on the Baltimore docks....
finds weapons in Eton Ben-Eleazer's home. Terrence "Fitz" Fitzhugh and Jimmy McNulty
Jimmy McNulty
Detective James "Jimmy" McNulty is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by British actor Dominic West. McNulty is an Irish American detective in the Baltimore Police Department...
have a tough time subduing Sergei "Serge" Malatov at his home. Thomas "Herc" Hauk and 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...
search Nick Sobotka
Nick Sobotka
Nickolas Andrew "Nick" Sobotka is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Pablo Schreiber. the character of Nick is cousin to, Ziggy Sobotka, the wayward and rebellious son to his uncle Frank Sobotka...
's home. They find drugs and cash but Aimee is in Nick's room alone; Nick slept with Prissy at her place. "White" Mike McArdle is arrested by uniform officers and protests his innocence as he is pulled from his home. Major Stanislaus Valchek
Stanislaus Valchek
Stanislaus "Stan" Valchek is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Al Brown.-Biography:Valchek is the Polish-American commander of the Southeastern district, home to many of the remaining white ethnic neighborhoods in Baltimore...
and FBI supervisor Amanda Reese wait for Frank Sobotka
Frank Sobotka
Francis "Frank" Sobotka is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Chris Bauer.-Biography:Frank is a respected Polish-American secretary treasurer for the International Brotherhood of Stevedores at the Baltimore docks...
but do not arrest him at home because they want to make it as high profile as possible.
Back at the detail office Daniels and Russell discuss the rationale for leaving Spiros "Vondas" Vondopoulos
Spiros Vondas
Spiros "Vondas" Vondopoulos is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire played by actor Paul Ben-Victor.-Biography:...
on the street. Daniels tells Russell that Vondas is reporting to someone above him and by leaving him free they may be able to identify the man in charge. Bunk and Freamon arrive having learned that Glekas is dead and that Frank's son, Ziggy Sobotka
Ziggy Sobotka
Chester Karol "Ziggy" Sobotka is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor James Ransone. Though his father Frank Sobotka was a well-respected stevedore union leader, Ziggy's often reckless and juvenile behavior gained him little respect among other members of the union and...
, was the murderer. Daniels angrily rings the homicide unit to find out who investigated Glekas' death. Daniels leaves to confront Landsman and orders his people to start the interviews. Carver, Herc, McNulty and Fitz return to the office and Daniels walks by without stopping to talk to them. McNulty reports that the madam, Ilona Petrovich, has also been arrested.
Daniels is outraged that Landsman did not think to contact him and collected only evidence relating to the murder. Landsman apologizes for his mistake but it is not enough for Daniels. Daniels then claims that even for a police department that is as backwards as the Baltimore PD, that this incident takes the prize as their investigation has now been severely compromised.
Sobotka arrives at work and begins to discuss what to do about Ziggy. The FBI team storms into the union offices in force. Sobotka and Thomas "Horseface" Pakusa calmly accept their arrests as Valchek gloats. Reese delays taking the captives outside until the press arrive.
Eton refuses to state his name to Herc and Carver. Sergei also refuses to state his name to McNulty and Fitz, so they decide they will call him Boris. Russell and Greggs receive nothing but abuse from Ilona. The FBI agents interrogate Sobotka and ask him to give them information to help himself and his union. Sobotka is disgusted by their suggestion that they want to help his dying union. Sobotka's lawyers shepherd him through a detention hearing.
Greggs and McNulty have far more success with White Mike. When they play him recordings of his voice discussing violence and drugs and tell him they have extensive evidence that he is a drug dealer, Mike gives up information on Eton and Sergei. Mike ties Sergei to a murder but knows nothing about his superiors.
Daniels meets with his detectives to discuss the interviews. McNulty reports his success with White Mike. Greggs reports that Nick is still at large and Herc and Carver are looking for him. Daniels asks Fitz for help in bringing in Vondas and he tells him that with the union figures arrested federal interest has dissipated.
Bunk and McNulty tail Vondas from his home to a meeting in central Baltimore. Bunk displays his knowledge of men's fashion by identifying the designer of Vondas' suit. Greggs and Russell follow Vondas into a multistory parking garage and Russell begins her first foot pursuit with some advice from Greggs. Despite her nerves Russell proves up to the task and tails Vondas to a hotel, even noting the number of the room he enters. Bunk and McNulty are impressed with Russell's development into a capable investigator. McNulty photographs Vondas leaving the hotel with his lawyer and gets a chance shot of The Greek
The Greek (The Wire)
The Greek is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Bill Raymond. The Greek is the head of an international criminal organization involved in narcotics and human trafficking....
as he walks by. When Vondas returns to the parking garage he switches cars and loses Greggs who has been waiting by the car he drove in. The Greek walks by Greggs as she leaves the parking garage, still unknown to his pursuers.
Daniels meets with Pearlman to discuss the case. They have identified Vondas's lawyer as Steven Rados and have an address for him because he rented the hotel room; however, they still believe he may be in charge of the smuggling ring. Daniels asks what they can offer White Mike in exchange for his cooperation and Pearlman suggests witness protection seeing as they have the feds involved. Russell asks why Sobotka has not been offered the same thing. Russell suggests that Sobotka would talk if she approached him and Pearlman gives her the OK. Bunk and McNulty wait for Vondas at his home to no avail. Herc and Carver do the same for Nick.
Dock Business
Nick returns home to find his mother and father cleaning up their house. Neither of them will speak to him at first. Eventually Louis Sobotka tells his son that the police confiscated his heroin and money, and have a warrant for him at the Southeastern district.As soon as he is released, Frank visits Ziggy in prison, Ziggy has been beaten by the other inmates. He asks his son to explain what happened and Ziggy says that he was tired of always being a punchline. Frank asks why Ziggy didn't come to him and Ziggy tells him he was too busy with his union business. Ziggy asks if his mother knows he is in prison. Ziggy confesses remorse for shooting the store clerk. Ziggy tells his father they are not the same and Frank assures him that he is a true Sobotka. Ziggy tells Frank he knows he is not his real son, then simply says to Frank that he is "fucked" and leaves the room. Frank watches in horror as his fragile son returns to a pack of hardened felons who taunt him with threats of violence.
Frank meets with his brother Louis. Louis regrets not spending more time looking out for their children. Frank says that he could never control Ziggy and wouldn't have been able to stop him from doing what he did. Louis says he was speaking of Nick. Frank tries to reassure Louis that Nick is only involved in some theft—not drugs. Louis shows Frank the search warrant and tells him that Nick was involved in heroin trafficking. Louis is outraged that Frank did nothing to stop Nick when he was still involved in capers at the docks rather than more serious crime like drug dealing. Frank tells Louis that the theft from the docks was always a means to sustain their way of life. Louis tells him that should never justify what they allowed to happen to their sons and leaves Frank alone at the table.
Frank goes into work and Nat Coxson refuses to look at him, holding up a copy of the Baltimore Sun with a front-page article of the FBI's arrest of Frank and Horseface. Frank borrows Little Big Roy's union card so that he can work a ship while Little Big Roy gets paid for sitting in a bar. He tells the shift supervisor, Phil, that he and Little Big Roy are essentially the same - bald and Polish. The stevedores are bemused by Frank's desire to work and Nat gives a begrudgingly respectful nod to the union leader.
After a hard shift unloading ships, Frank meets with his lobbyist, Bruce DiBiago. Bruce tells him that all of their political machinations have been reversed by the arrest: with the FBI involved politicians are afraid to vote for Frank's suggestions because they have accepted money from him. Frank is dismayed and as Bruce leaves, Frank tells him what the problem is with America. "We used to make shit, build shit. Now we just put our hand in the next guy's pocket."
Frank gets a visit from Beady Russell at the union hall. She is upset and asks him to come forward as an informant to save himself. She tearfully tells him that there are different kinds of wrong and that he is better than those he has gotten involved with.
Beady's appeal is successful—Frank comes in the next day to meet the detail. He asks for lenience for Nick and protection for Ziggy. Pearlman offers to transfer Ziggy to a safer jail in the county and agrees on straight probation for Frank and Nick as long as Frank cooperates fully. Frank agrees with one condition - he will not give up union men. Sensing a breakthrough in the case, a cautious Pearlman stops Frank from saying anything further, urging him to return with a lawyer the following day. On the way out, a curious Freamon asks Frank why he stopped using his cellphone. It's simple, he tells them -- "you flagged my cellphone."
The Greeks
The Greek meets with Vondas for dinner and Vondas is too worried to eat. They decide to leave Baltimore because the investigation is closing in on them. The Greek asks Vondas to tie up their loose ends. Vondas is reluctant to kill the Sobotkas and suggests they could guarantee their loyalty by offering to help Ziggy. Vondas could persuade the witness to Glekas' shooting to change his story. The Greek realizes that Vondas is fond of Nick in particular and tells him he should have a son of his own. Vondas smirks and quips that having a son would mean he would have to have a wife.Vondas meets with an embittered Nick at a local playground. He convinces Nick that he could help Ziggy and asks him to arrange a meeting with Frank. Nick phones Frank at the union hall as he returns from his session at the detail office.
At the same time, Fitz faxes a record of the meeting with Frank in to the FBI headquarters.
Nick relates Vondas' offer of a meeting to Frank. Frank is angry with Nick for getting involved with drugs but has accepted Louis' criticism and is even more angry with himself. He tells Nick that he is going to talk to the police. When Nick brings up Vondas' offer of help for Ziggy, Frank reconsiders. Frank decides to take the meeting with Greeks under the Key Bridge, putting his son above his dreams for the docks. He refuses to let Nick accompany him, insisting that Nick will have no further dealings with the Greeks.
As Frank arrives for the meeting, The Greek receives word from his inside man in the FBI, Agent Koutris, that Frank has met with the police and agreed to become an informant. As Frank walks towards him The Greek tells Vondas that his way will not work, implying that Sobotka will not leave the meeting alive.
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"....
meets with Stringer Bell
Stringer Bell
Russell "Stringer" Bell is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by English actor Idris Elba. Bell served as drug kingpin Avon Barksdale's second in command, assuming direct control of the Barksdale Organization during Avon's imprisonment...
at Butchie's bar. Butchie's nephew Heywood provides protection for Omar; Perry is there to act as Stringer's bodyguard. Stringer tells Omar that Brother Mouzone was solely responsible for torturing Brandon in order to build his reputation. Stringer offers to give up Mouzone if Omar will cease his pursuit of the Barksdale organization.
Omar follows Stringer's tip and finds Lamar guarding Brother Mouzone's hotel room. He watches Lamar to learn the coded knock he is using. Omar uses Kimmy, Tosha and a dog to distract Lamar after seeing him watching a dog earlier. Omar knocks out Lamar as he strokes the dog and then shoots Brother Mouzone in the abdomen as he answers the door. Omar explains why he is there and Mouzone tells Omar that he is mistaken. Omar believes Mouzone's story and leaves him in the motel room. He phones for an ambulance on his way out.
Deceased
- Frank SobotkaFrank SobotkaFrancis "Frank" Sobotka is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Chris Bauer.-Biography:Frank is a respected Polish-American secretary treasurer for the International Brotherhood of Stevedores at the Baltimore docks...
: murdered by the Greeks to prevent him from testifying against them.
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