Game Day (The Wire episode)
Encyclopedia
"Game Day" is the ninth episode of the first season of the HBO original series, The Wire
. The episode was written by David H. Melnick & Shamit Choksey from a story by David Simon
& Ed Burns
and was directed by Milčo Mančevski
. It originally aired on August 4, 2002.
that the War on Drugs
will never end.
, Frankie Faison
, Deirdre Lovejoy
, and Wendell Pierce
do not appear in this episode.
and Avon Barksdale
visit a gym to arrange a junior college athlete to play for them at an upcoming Eastside/Westside basketball game. After their negotiations, they discuss the hunt for Omar Little
. Stringer wants to let it lie until Omar re-emerges, but Avon is adamant that they need to kill Omar for their reputation's sake. Meanwhile in the projects, Wallace
tells D'Angelo
that he doesn't want to work anymore because of the Omar heist and the deaths of Brandon and Stinkum. D'Angelo gives him his blessing to return to school and hands him some cash as well. Poot
later goes looking for Wallace and finds him buying drugs.
Bubbles
and Johnny spot Walon, the speaker from their Narcotics Anonymous meeting, but are distracted by Bodie
throwing out free vials of new product. Bubbles approaches Walon afterwards and learns that he is still clean, but has come to the projects to try to convince his nephew to go straight. Later, Bubbles steals a large stash and shoots up with Johnny, only to realize that the drugs are nothing but baking soda. Bubbles is inspired enough to go and visit his sister and persuades her that he is serious about getting off of drugs. She gives him a key so that he can use her basement to get clean.
The Barksdale detail's surveillance work continues with Thomas "Herc" Hauk and Ellis Carver
on the scene and Lester Freamon
, Leander Sydnor
, and Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski back at the office. They intercept a call and learn that soldier Wee-Bey Brice
is going to be moving some money. Herc and Carver intercept him and take the money, telling him he can get it from the State's Attorney if he can explain where it came from. They discuss keeping some, but Carver decides it would not be worth the risk with the wire running, as the real amount of cash taken might get back to their bosses and expose the theft. They deliver the money back to the office (the bag breaks open in the trunk and the bundles spill out) and listen in on a call Poot makes to his girlfriend. After a substantial amount of phone sex, they hear something pertinent. Jimmy McNulty
and Prez both remind them they cannot use the call as evidence without justifying it. Later, Lieutenant Daniels
finds the money short. Thinking Herc and Carver stole it he tells them they have until roll call the following morning to bring it back. Herc and Carver bicker, each suspecting the other, but when the cash turns up in their car, Carver apologizes to Herc.
Tension is building between McNulty and Daniels. When McNulty remarks they need to extend the tap, Daniels responds angrily. Freamon backs Daniels up when McNulty complains, saying that he is in a difficult position between his men and the bosses. Freamon instructs Sydnor and Prez in tracking the money the crew is making. He follows his own advice and gets records of campaign contributions from city hall, turning up massive contributions to various politicians from the Barksdales. The efforts also return details of Barksdale's front organizations, including a funeral parlor, a strip club, and several warehouses.
At the basketball game, Avon mocks Proposition Joe
's attempt to dress like a real coach, complete with an unused clipboard. Poot and Bodie explain the game to Herc and Carver: the loser has to throw a party for both crews. Carver and Herc try to identify Avon, but have no idea who they are looking for. Sydnor arrives and recognizes Avon straight away from his old boxing photo.
Kima Greggs
and Freamon pick up Shardene Innes, a dancer from Orlando's, the Barksdale strip club and front. They take her to identify the body of Keisha, a friend of hers from the club. They start trying to persuade her to act as an informant for their case. Shardene agrees and moves out of D'Angelo's apartment. When he asks her for a reason, she hints that she knows what happened with Keisha.
Omar continues stalking the projects looking for a way to get to Avon. He eventually makes his way to Proposition Joe's place and delivers some of his takings from the Barksdale's stash. He offers it in exchange for Avon's pager number. Omar tracks Avon down to Orlando's and gets him to answer a page using Wee-Bey's code. Wee-Bey pulls up and Avon realizes that something is amiss. He dives out of the way just as Omar opens fire. Wee-Bey and Omar exchange shots and Wee-Bey wings Omar, who makes a retreat.
: Eastside Drug Kingpin and Avon's rival in the basketball game.
The articles of corporation for the front company B-Squared (viewed by Prez on microfilm) shows that Maurice Levy
's address is 450 North Lombard Street, Baltimore Maryland. The articles give the purposes of the business as that of a funeral parlor, and so are the first mention of the establishment that would later become the Barksdale organization's headquarters.
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 David H. Melnick & Shamit Choksey from a story by David Simon
David Simon
David Simon is an American author, journalist, and a writer/producer of television series. He worked for the Baltimore Sun City Desk for twelve years. He wrote Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets and co-wrote The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood with Ed Burns...
& Ed Burns
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...
and was directed by Milčo Mančevski
Milco Mancevski
Milcho Manchevski , usually credited as Milcho Manchevski, is a film director and screenwriter from Macedonia.-Biography:Milcho Manchevski wrote and directed the feature films "Before the Rain" , "Dust'" , Shadows" and "Mothers" , over 50 short forms, including “TENNESSEE” for Arrested Development...
. It originally aired on August 4, 2002.
Epigraph
Herc says this to Carver when they cannot find anyone in the Baltimore ghettos (not yet realizing that most residents are attending the East Side vs. West Side basketball game), in reference to Carver's comment in The TargetThe Target (The Wire episode)
"The Target" is the pilot episode of the HBO original series, The Wire. The episode was written by David Simon from a story by David Simon & Ed Burns and was directed by Clark Johnson...
that the War on Drugs
War on Drugs
The War on Drugs is a campaign of prohibition and foreign military aid and military intervention being undertaken by the United States government, with the assistance of participating countries, intended to both define and reduce the illegal drug trade...
will never end.
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...
, Deirdre Lovejoy
Deirdre Lovejoy
Deirdre Lovejoy is an American actress. She is most notable for her role on the HBO television series The Wire as Rhonda Pearlman. She graduated from the University of Evansville with an undergraduate degree in theatre....
, and Wendell Pierce
Wendell Pierce
Wendell Pierce is an American actor, best known for his work in HBO dramas, including his portrayal of Detective Bunk Moreland in The Wire and trombonist Antoine Batiste in Treme.-Life and 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 - Clarke PetersClarke PetersClarke Peters is an American actor, singer, writer and director best known for his role as Detective Lester Freamon on the HBO drama The Wire.-Early life:...
as Detective Lester FreamonLester FreamonLester 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... - 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 - Leo FitzpatrickLeo FitzpatrickLeonardo Aurellio Randy "Leo" Fitzpatrick is an American actor.-Biography:Leo Fitzpatrick was born in West Orange, New Jersey. He was discovered at age 14 by director Larry Clark at Washington Square Park in New York City, skateboarding. Fitzpatrick was trying to perform certain skating tricks,...
as Johnny - J.D. Williams as Preston "Boadie" BroadusBodie BroadusPreston "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...
- Hassan JohnsonHassan JohnsonHassan 'Iniko' Johnson is an American actor/producer from Staten Island, NY, born November 19, 1976. His most noted performance was appearing on the HBO program The Wire as Roland Wee-Bey Brice. His first acting role was in the 1995 Spike Lee film Clockers. He also had a significant role in the...
as Roland "Wee-Bey" BriceWee-Bey BriceRoland "Wee-Bey" Brice is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Hassan Johnson. Wee-Bey was the Barksdale Organization's most trusted soldier before being sentenced to life imprisonment for multiple homicides.... - Corey Parker RobinsonCorey Parker RobinsonCorey 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...
as Detective Leander SydnorLeander SydnorLeander 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:... - Steve EarleSteve EarleStephen Fain "Steve" Earle is an American singer-songwriter known for his rock and Texas Country as well as his political views. He is also a producer, author, a political activist, and an actor, and has written and directed a play....
as Walon - Michael B. JordanMichael B. JordanMichael Bakari Jordan is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as teenage drug dealer Wallace on the HBO drama television series The Wire, for his role as Reggie Montgomery in All My Children, as quarterback Vince Howard on the NBC television series Friday Night Lights, and since...
as WallaceWallace (The Wire)Wallace is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Michael B. Jordan. Wallace is a 16-year-old drug dealer for the Barksdale Organization, who works in the low-rise projects crew known as "The Pit" with his friends and fellow dealers Bodie Broadus and Poot Carr... - 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".... - Tray ChaneyTray ChaneyTray Chaney is an American actor. He appeared on the HBO program The Wire as Poot Carr.Chaney began his entertainment career as a dancer at the age of four winning competitions at the Apollo Theater. He appeared in the 2003 music video "My Baby" by rap artist Bow Wow. He later appeared in The Wire...
as Malik "Poot" CarrPoot CarrMalik "Poot" Carr is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Tray Chaney. Poot is a drug dealer in the Barksdale Organization who slowly rises through the ranks, but ends up serving time in prison as his institution collapses around him... - Wendy GranthamWendy GranthamWendy Grantham is an American actress and singer, best known for her role as the sweet-natured stripper Shardene Innes in the HBO crime series The Wire....
as Shardene Innes - Clayon LeBouef as Wendell "Orlando" Blocker
- Michael Salconi as Detective Michael Santangelo
- 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... - Chris ClantonChris ClantonChris Clanton is an American actor. He has a recurring role as Savino Bratton in season 1 and 5 of The Wire. He is credited as Christopher J. Clanton in the fifth series. He also had an uncredited role in The Corner as a street kid...
as Savino
Uncredited appearances
- Micaiah Jones as Little Man
- Perry Blackmon as Perry
- Eisa Davis as Rae
Plot
Stringer BellStringer 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...
and Avon Barksdale
Avon Barksdale
Avon Randolph Barksdale is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire portrayed by actor Wood Harris. Avon is the dominant drug dealer of Baltimore's West Side, running the Barksdale Organization...
visit a gym to arrange a junior college athlete to play for them at an upcoming Eastside/Westside basketball game. After their negotiations, they discuss the hunt for 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"....
. Stringer wants to let it lie until Omar re-emerges, but Avon is adamant that they need to kill Omar for their reputation's sake. Meanwhile in the projects, Wallace
Wallace (The Wire)
Wallace is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Michael B. Jordan. Wallace is a 16-year-old drug dealer for the Barksdale Organization, who works in the low-rise projects crew known as "The Pit" with his friends and fellow dealers Bodie Broadus and Poot Carr...
tells D'Angelo
D'Angelo Barksdale
D'Angelo "D" Barksdale is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire played by actor Larry Gilliard Jr. D'Angelo is the nephew of Avon Barksdale and a lieutenant in his drug dealing organization which controls most of the trade in West Baltimore...
that he doesn't want to work anymore because of the Omar heist and the deaths of Brandon and Stinkum. D'Angelo gives him his blessing to return to school and hands him some cash as well. Poot
Poot Carr
Malik "Poot" Carr is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Tray Chaney. Poot is a drug dealer in the Barksdale Organization who slowly rises through the ranks, but ends up serving time in prison as his institution collapses around him...
later goes looking for Wallace and finds him buying drugs.
Bubbles
Bubbles (The Wire)
Reginald "Bubbles" Cousins is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Andre Royo. Bubbles is a recovering heroin addict. His real name is not revealed until a fourth-season episode when he is called "Mr. Cousins" and in the fifth-season premiere when he is called "Reginald"...
and Johnny spot Walon, the speaker from their Narcotics Anonymous meeting, but are distracted by Bodie
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...
throwing out free vials of new product. Bubbles approaches Walon afterwards and learns that he is still clean, but has come to the projects to try to convince his nephew to go straight. Later, Bubbles steals a large stash and shoots up with Johnny, only to realize that the drugs are nothing but baking soda. Bubbles is inspired enough to go and visit his sister and persuades her that he is serious about getting off of drugs. She gives him a key so that he can use her basement to get clean.
The Barksdale detail's surveillance work continues with 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...
on the scene 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...
, Leander Sydnor
Leander Sydnor
Leander Sydnor is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Corey Parker Robinson. Sydnor is a young, married Baltimore Police detective who was a member of the Barksdale detail and later worked in the Major Crimes Unit.-Season 1:...
, and Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski back at the office. They intercept a call and learn that soldier Wee-Bey Brice
Wee-Bey Brice
Roland "Wee-Bey" Brice is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Hassan Johnson. Wee-Bey was the Barksdale Organization's most trusted soldier before being sentenced to life imprisonment for multiple homicides....
is going to be moving some money. Herc and Carver intercept him and take the money, telling him he can get it from the State's Attorney if he can explain where it came from. They discuss keeping some, but Carver decides it would not be worth the risk with the wire running, as the real amount of cash taken might get back to their bosses and expose the theft. They deliver the money back to the office (the bag breaks open in the trunk and the bundles spill out) and listen in on a call Poot makes to his girlfriend. After a substantial amount of phone sex, they hear something pertinent. 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...
and Prez both remind them they cannot use the call as evidence without justifying it. Later, Lieutenant Daniels
Cedric Daniels
Cedric Daniels is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Lance Reddick. He is a well regarded officer in the department whose focus is on good police work and quality arrests...
finds the money short. Thinking Herc and Carver stole it he tells them they have until roll call the following morning to bring it back. Herc and Carver bicker, each suspecting the other, but when the cash turns up in their car, Carver apologizes to Herc.
Tension is building between McNulty and Daniels. When McNulty remarks they need to extend the tap, Daniels responds angrily. Freamon backs Daniels up when McNulty complains, saying that he is in a difficult position between his men and the bosses. Freamon instructs Sydnor and Prez in tracking the money the crew is making. He follows his own advice and gets records of campaign contributions from city hall, turning up massive contributions to various politicians from the Barksdales. The efforts also return details of Barksdale's front organizations, including a funeral parlor, a strip club, and several warehouses.
At the basketball game, Avon mocks 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...
's attempt to dress like a real coach, complete with an unused clipboard. Poot and Bodie explain the game to Herc and Carver: the loser has to throw a party for both crews. Carver and Herc try to identify Avon, but have no idea who they are looking for. Sydnor arrives and recognizes Avon straight away from his old boxing photo.
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 Freamon pick up Shardene Innes, a dancer from Orlando's, the Barksdale strip club and front. They take her to identify the body of Keisha, a friend of hers from the club. They start trying to persuade her to act as an informant for their case. Shardene agrees and moves out of D'Angelo's apartment. When he asks her for a reason, she hints that she knows what happened with Keisha.
Omar continues stalking the projects looking for a way to get to Avon. He eventually makes his way to Proposition Joe's place and delivers some of his takings from the Barksdale's stash. He offers it in exchange for Avon's pager number. Omar tracks Avon down to Orlando's and gets him to answer a page using Wee-Bey's code. Wee-Bey pulls up and Avon realizes that something is amiss. He dives out of the way just as Omar opens fire. Wee-Bey and Omar exchange shots and Wee-Bey wings Omar, who makes a retreat.
First appearances
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...
: Eastside Drug Kingpin and Avon's rival in the basketball game.
The articles of corporation for the front company B-Squared (viewed by Prez on microfilm) shows that 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...
's address is 450 North Lombard Street, Baltimore Maryland. The articles give the purposes of the business as that of a funeral parlor, and so are the first mention of the establishment that would later become the Barksdale organization's headquarters.