Hot Shots (The Wire episode)
Encyclopedia
"Hot Shots" is the third episode of the second season 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 Elodie Keene
. It originally aired on June 15, 2003.
's novel Junkie
, a hot-shot is a portion of drugs which has been spiked with poison, usually with the intention of killing a police informant or other undesirable.
Although credited, Domenick Lombardozzi
, John Doman
, Deirdre Lovejoy
, Andre Royo
and Sonja Sohn do not appear in this episode.
and Lester Freamon
interview the crew of the container ship that brought the girls into port, but all pretend to speak no English. Frustrated, Bunk and Freamon lose their temper with the ship's lone black seaman (whom Bunk calls Kunta Kinte
). The first mate is more forthcoming and admits that many of the crew asked for pay advances during the trip. He believed that they may have been gambling, but Bunk thinks they may have been spending it on the girls. He shows them the cabin and possessions of two crew members who jumped ship. He tells them that the crew members will speak English again but not in the police's presence. Furthermore he convinces Bunk and Freamon that if they bring in a translator, nothing will be said as the crew generally agrees not to inform on each other, as what happens below decks stays below decks. They then agree to let the ship go with little evidence and jurisdiction for interrogation.
The detectives later report back to Sergeant Landsman
at the homicide unit. He berates them for letting the boat go. He asks Officer Russell
about her status and tells her that she can wear plain clothes while she is detailed to the case. Later, Bunk and Russell try to trace the movements of the container in which the bodies were found and find that much of the paperwork has been falsified.
Officer McNulty
visits the morgue and discusses the case with Frazier, the medical examiner. He learns that three of the girls had received breast implants in the same clinic in Budapest
. Additionally, in the 24 hours before their death, seven of the girls had vaginal intercourse, two had anal intercourse, and six had oral sex. He visits the homicide unit with this information, but Russell, Freamon and Bunk have already come up with the same theory. They shatter McNulty's pride by beating him to everything he was about to say. McNulty and Russell agree that they do not want to see the girls remain unidentified and shipped out as medical cadavers.
Bunk, Russell and Freamon take the French addresses listed on the paperwork to the FBI, who confirm that they are false and give the detectives more information on the international vice trade. Later, McNulty joins Bunk and Russell in a bar. McNulty asks Russell about her children and learns that she is a single mother. They discuss their progress in the case and McNulty tells Bunk of his desire to put a name to the dead girl he pulled from the harbor.
is informed of his missing surveillance van by a sergeant. It is seen being delivered to stevedores in Wilmington. Prez is annoyed that his commander in the detail will not authorize telephone monitoring on their target, Frank Sobotka
, and that their investigation appears to have gotten a false start. Later at Valchek’s anniversary party, Prez tells him that the detail will move slowly under Lt. Grayson and that Lieutenant Daniels
would have brought in a better case on the Barksdale
detail if it had not been for the interference of acting commissioner Burrell
.
Valchek is prompted to visit the detail offices when he receives photos of the missing surveillance van. He finds the detectives playing poker and the lieutenant missing. Enraged, Valchek tracks Burrell to a fundraiser where he is awaiting the vote as police commissioner. Valchek regards the detectives that he has been sent as "a detail of humps." Burrell attempts to quiet Valchek, who then claims he'll tell the first district to vote against Burrell's nomination for commissioner in addition to other politicians he knows. Valchek then warns that Burrell's quest to become commissioner will be made uglier than he wishes for it to be unless he complies with his request for a real police detail. He then forces Burrell into assigning Daniels to the Sobotka detail, claiming he will use all of his city hall connections to make Burrell's life hell unless he cooperates.
is back in town with a new boyfriend named Dante in tow. They stake out a stash house to potentially rip off. They are beaten to the take by Tosha Mitchell and Kimmy, fellow thieves. Omar tails them to their hideout and announces his return to Baltimore, taking their haul from them. Later, the two couples team up to scout out another stash house.
When Dante and Omar are alone, Dante shows a jealous side. Omar tries to convince him he is not interested in the women beyond business. Dante insists that Omar prove that his interests don't lie elsewhere, and the two kiss; however, when Dante claims that this is not enough, Omar teasingly pushes him out of bed. The four later hold up another stash house using Tosha to pose as a caring neighbor to the daughter of the man in charge.
is working in asset forfeiture and has reached the second year of her pre-law course.
McNulty returns his sons to their home after spending the evening with them. Elena tells him that she is sending him a separation agreement. He receives the paperwork shortly afterwards.
has his hair cut by his girlfriend Aimee while their daughter Ashley sits nearby. She complains that their daughter is talking about their not living together in her classes at preschool. She wants them to move in together and he tries to reassure her that they will when they can afford it. At the docks, he complains about the lack of work and his position with Aimee to Ziggy
. Ziggy tries to convince him to join him in the drug trade for a second time. Nick angrily rebuffs his offer, stating that the drug business is high risk for low return. Nick tells Ziggy he will think of something else.
Nick and Ziggy steal a container of cameras from the docks with the help of Johnny Fifty. Horseface is surprised to see Nick driving the container and is later revealed to be the one that told Frank what he saw. They sell the cameras to George "Double G" Glekas, the warehouse manager and fence for the Greeks
. Ziggy haggles up the cameras' selling price and angers Glekas by taking his photo with one of the cameras. Nick firmly demands a 20% share of the profits. Glekas agrees to 10% rather than the 8% because he likes Nick. Glekas checks the deal with Spiros "Vondas" Vondopoulos
and tells him that although he thinks Ziggy is using drugs, they can trust Nick, as he is smart.
Sobotka attends a political evening at Father Lewandewski’s church with his lobbyist Bruce DiBiago. He is complimented on his presence by district seven councilman Bobby, who has promised his support. DiBiago pulls him aside and tells him that he needs to focus on the people who may not support them: John Carter, Lisa Tobin, and Clay Davis
. In particular he says that Davis has taken $40,000 in contributions from them and still not made any promises. Sobotka is outraged but is forced to make nice with Davis to court his support.
visits Donette to ask her to visit D'Angelo
at the prison. The two flirt throughout the discussion and once he has delivered his message Stringer kisses and undresses Donette.
Stringer, Country and Shamrock discuss shares as they tail CO Tilghman. Country asks why Stringer is selling his shares in phone companies and Stringer tells him that he saw Poot Carr
with two phones — a sure sign that the market is saturated
. Later, Tilghman meets with Butchie and they place bets on his dog catching rats. Afterwards, Tilghman buys a package of narcotics from Butchie. Country and Shamrock watch him receive the package and make the connection. On Avon's orders, Stringer contacts Butchie and asks him to supply Tilghman with a bad package the next time he comes to him for narcotics. Butchie is reluctant but agrees when Stringer uses Avon's name and promises compensation. Shamrock sits in Butchie’s bar as Tilghman picks up the package.
D'Angelo is sniffing heroin to get through his long prison sentence. He is also trading comics and working in the prison library with an inmate. Avon Barksdale
visits D'Angelo and convinces him to lay off of the drugs for a few days. He tells him there may be a way to shave some years from their sentences.
Tilghman smuggles the package into the prison. D'Angelo honors his promise to stay clean, but several other inmates are poisoned from the heroin. As prison staff rush the inmates away on stretchers, Avon calmly reads a book.
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 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...
from a story by David Simon & 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 Elodie Keene
Elodie Keene
Elodie Keene is an American film/television director, producer and editor. As a television director her credits include ER, NYPD Blue, The Practice, Ally McBeal, Charmed, Felicity, The Wire, House, M.D., The Closer, Nip/Tuck and among other series.She has won three Primetime Emmy Awards, two for...
. It originally aired on June 15, 2003.
Title reference
The bad package brought into the prison is referred to as 'hot shots' by an inmate. According to the glossary in William S. BurroughsWilliam S. Burroughs
William Seward Burroughs II was an American novelist, poet, essayist and spoken word performer. A primary figure of the Beat Generation and a major postmodernist author, he is considered to be "one of the most politically trenchant, culturally influential, and innovative artists of the 20th...
's novel Junkie
Junkie (novel)
Junkie is a 1953 semi-autobiographical novel by William S. Burroughs. It was his first published novel and has come to be considered a seminal text on the lifestyle of heroin addicts in the early 1950s. Burroughs' working title was Junk.-Inspiration:The novel was considered unpublishable more than...
, a hot-shot is a portion of drugs which has been spiked with poison, usually with the intention of killing a police informant or other undesirable.
Epigraph
Officer Russell makes this statement in reference to the women involved in the illegal sex trade. This also refers to the eventual alliance of Omar, Dante, Tosha and Kimmy, as well as the refusal of the Atlantic Star's crew workers to speak to Bunk and Lester. In the show as a whole, it is an ironic quote, as the stevedore union's storyline shows that the power that unions once had has dwindled to almost nothing.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... - Kristin ProctorKristin ProctorKristin Proctor is a Norwegian-American actress. She is the daughter of actor Phil Proctor and Television producer Barbro Semmingsen....
as Aimee - Callie ThorneCallie ThorneCalliope "Callie" Thorne is an American actress known for her current role as Dr. Dani Santino on the USA Network series Necessary Roughness...
as Elena McNulty - 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".... - Al Brown as Major Stan 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...
- Richard BurtonRichard BurtonRichard Burton, CBE was a Welsh actor. He was nominated seven times for an Academy Award, six of which were for Best Actor in a Leading Role , and was a recipient of BAFTA, Golden Globe and Tony Awards for Best Actor. Although never trained as an actor, Burton was, at one time, the highest-paid...
as Shaun "Shamrock" McGinty - S. Robert MorganS. Robert MorganS. Robert Morgan is an American television actor. He guest starred on Home Box Office drama series The Wire as Butchie from the second season until the show's fifth and final season. Morgan lost his sight in his twenties due to macular degeneration. Morgan is from Fort Washington, Maryland and...
as Butchie - 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 - 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... - Shamyl Brown as Donette
- Luray Cooper as Nat Coxson
- Michael Mack as Special Agent Marcus Lemmel
- Kevin Murray as Special Agent Cleary
- Ernest WaddellErnest WaddellErnest Waddell is a New York City-based actor. He is perhaps best known for his recurring roles on two television series : Fin Tutuola's son Ken Randall on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Omar Little's boyfriend Dante on The Wire...
as Dante - Kelli R. Brown as Kimmy
- Edwina Findley as Tosha Mitchell
- Keith Flippen as Bruce DiBiago
- Jon GarciaJon GarcíaJon García Aguado is a Spanish taekwondo athlete.-References:*...
as Ringo - Tel Monks as Father Jerome Lewandowski
Although credited, Domenick Lombardozzi
Domenick Lombardozzi
Domenico "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:...
, John Doman
John 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....
, 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....
, 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:...
and Sonja Sohn do not appear in this episode.
Uncredited appearances
- Isiah Whitlock, Jr.Isiah Whitlock, Jr.Isiah Whitlock Jr. is an American actor.He is most famous for his role on the HBO television series, The Wire as corrupt state senator Clay Davis. He also is notable for appearing in Spike Lee films She Hate Me and 25th Hour as Agent Amos Flood...
as Senator Clay DavisClay DavisState Senator R. Clayton "Clay" Davis is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Isiah Whitlock, Jr. Davis is a corrupt Maryland State Senator with a reputation for pocketing bribes... - Antonio Charity as CO Dwight Tilghman
- Erik Todd Dellums as Dr. Randall Frazier
- Jeffrey Pratt Gordon as Johnny "Fifty" Spamanto
- Jill Redding as Delores
- Nat BenchleyNat BenchleyNathaniel Robert "Nat" Benchley is a writer and actor who has performed on stage, television, and film. He is the grandson of humorist Robert Benchley, the son of author Nathaniel G...
as Augustus Polk - Antonio Cordova as Michael McNulty
- Eric Ryan as Sean McNulty
The Jane Does
Detectives Bunk MorelandBunk 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...
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...
interview the crew of the container ship that brought the girls into port, but all pretend to speak no English. Frustrated, Bunk and Freamon lose their temper with the ship's lone black seaman (whom Bunk calls Kunta Kinte
Kunta Kinte
Kunta Kinte is the central character of the novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family by American author Alex Haley, and of the television miniseries Roots, based on the book. Haley described his book as faction - a mixture of fact and fiction...
). The first mate is more forthcoming and admits that many of the crew asked for pay advances during the trip. He believed that they may have been gambling, but Bunk thinks they may have been spending it on the girls. He shows them the cabin and possessions of two crew members who jumped ship. He tells them that the crew members will speak English again but not in the police's presence. Furthermore he convinces Bunk and Freamon that if they bring in a translator, nothing will be said as the crew generally agrees not to inform on each other, as what happens below decks stays below decks. They then agree to let the ship go with little evidence and jurisdiction for interrogation.
The detectives later report back to Sergeant Landsman
Jay Landsman (The Wire)
Jay Landsman is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Delaney Williams.-Policing method:Landsman's role in the police department is that of a supervisory detective sergeant who doesn't participate in much investigation work...
at the homicide unit. He berates them for letting the boat go. He asks Officer 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....
about her status and tells her that she can wear plain clothes while she is detailed to the case. Later, Bunk and Russell try to trace the movements of the container in which the bodies were found and find that much of the paperwork has been falsified.
Officer 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...
visits the morgue and discusses the case with Frazier, the medical examiner. He learns that three of the girls had received breast implants in the same clinic in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
. Additionally, in the 24 hours before their death, seven of the girls had vaginal intercourse, two had anal intercourse, and six had oral sex. He visits the homicide unit with this information, but Russell, Freamon and Bunk have already come up with the same theory. They shatter McNulty's pride by beating him to everything he was about to say. McNulty and Russell agree that they do not want to see the girls remain unidentified and shipped out as medical cadavers.
Bunk, Russell and Freamon take the French addresses listed on the paperwork to the FBI, who confirm that they are false and give the detectives more information on the international vice trade. Later, McNulty joins Bunk and Russell in a bar. McNulty asks Russell about her children and learns that she is a single mother. They discuss their progress in the case and McNulty tells Bunk of his desire to put a name to the dead girl he pulled from the harbor.
Sobotka detail
Major ValchekStanislaus 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...
is informed of his missing surveillance van by a sergeant. It is seen being delivered to stevedores in Wilmington. Prez is annoyed that his commander in the detail will not authorize telephone monitoring on their target, 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...
, and that their investigation appears to have gotten a false start. Later at Valchek’s anniversary party, Prez tells him that the detail will move slowly under Lt. Grayson and that 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...
would have brought in a better case on the 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...
detail if it had not been for the interference of acting commissioner 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...
.
Valchek is prompted to visit the detail offices when he receives photos of the missing surveillance van. He finds the detectives playing poker and the lieutenant missing. Enraged, Valchek tracks Burrell to a fundraiser where he is awaiting the vote as police commissioner. Valchek regards the detectives that he has been sent as "a detail of humps." Burrell attempts to quiet Valchek, who then claims he'll tell the first district to vote against Burrell's nomination for commissioner in addition to other politicians he knows. Valchek then warns that Burrell's quest to become commissioner will be made uglier than he wishes for it to be unless he complies with his request for a real police detail. He then forces Burrell into assigning Daniels to the Sobotka detail, claiming he will use all of his city hall connections to make Burrell's life hell unless he cooperates.
Omar's crew
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"....
is back in town with a new boyfriend named Dante in tow. They stake out a stash house to potentially rip off. They are beaten to the take by Tosha Mitchell and Kimmy, fellow thieves. Omar tails them to their hideout and announces his return to Baltimore, taking their haul from them. Later, the two couples team up to scout out another stash house.
When Dante and Omar are alone, Dante shows a jealous side. Omar tries to convince him he is not interested in the women beyond business. Dante insists that Omar prove that his interests don't lie elsewhere, and the two kiss; however, when Dante claims that this is not enough, Omar teasingly pushes him out of bed. The four later hold up another stash house using Tosha to pose as a caring neighbor to the daughter of the man in charge.
McNulty
McNulty visits Daniels in the evidence offices and they discuss their career misfortunes. McNulty is there to return the evidence on the Gant case and discusses looking for Omar at the request of ASA Nathan and Bunk. Daniels tells McNulty that he has put in for early retirement and plans to use his law degree to become a lawyer. McNulty learns that Kima GreggsKima Greggs
Detective Shakima "Kima" Greggs is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actress Sonja Sohn. Greggs is a police detective in the Baltimore Police Department who is a dedicated officer and capable detective with some off-the-job issues. Openly lesbian, she has had problems...
is working in asset forfeiture and has reached the second year of her pre-law course.
McNulty returns his sons to their home after spending the evening with them. Elena tells him that she is sending him a separation agreement. He receives the paperwork shortly afterwards.
Nick's money troubles
Nick SobotkaNick 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...
has his hair cut by his girlfriend Aimee while their daughter Ashley sits nearby. She complains that their daughter is talking about their not living together in her classes at preschool. She wants them to move in together and he tries to reassure her that they will when they can afford it. At the docks, he complains about the lack of work and his position with Aimee to Ziggy
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...
. Ziggy tries to convince him to join him in the drug trade for a second time. Nick angrily rebuffs his offer, stating that the drug business is high risk for low return. Nick tells Ziggy he will think of something else.
Nick and Ziggy steal a container of cameras from the docks with the help of Johnny Fifty. Horseface is surprised to see Nick driving the container and is later revealed to be the one that told Frank what he saw. They sell the cameras to George "Double G" Glekas, the warehouse manager and fence for the Greeks
The Greeks of The Wire
On the fictional TV series The Wire, a man known only as The Greek leads a criminal organization only known as The Greeks. The organization is introduced in Season Two as a mysterious and powerful criminal syndicate. Based in Highlandtown in Southeastern Baltimore, a predominantly Greek...
. Ziggy haggles up the cameras' selling price and angers Glekas by taking his photo with one of the cameras. Nick firmly demands a 20% share of the profits. Glekas agrees to 10% rather than the 8% because he likes Nick. Glekas checks the deal with 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:...
and tells him that although he thinks Ziggy is using drugs, they can trust Nick, as he is smart.
Union business
Frank Sobotka meets with a checker named Ringo who is having trouble getting enough work to live on. Sobotka sends Ringo to Delores' bar and tells him to order a shot and a beer on him. When Ringo arrives at the bar and uses Frank Sobotka’s name, Delores gives him a bundle of cash. Ziggy is there to see the exchange.Sobotka attends a political evening at Father Lewandewski’s church with his lobbyist Bruce DiBiago. He is complimented on his presence by district seven councilman Bobby, who has promised his support. DiBiago pulls him aside and tells him that he needs to focus on the people who may not support them: John Carter, Lisa Tobin, and Clay Davis
Clay Davis
State Senator R. Clayton "Clay" Davis is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Isiah Whitlock, Jr. Davis is a corrupt Maryland State Senator with a reputation for pocketing bribes...
. In particular he says that Davis has taken $40,000 in contributions from them and still not made any promises. Sobotka is outraged but is forced to make nice with Davis to court his support.
Prison blues
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...
visits Donette to ask her to visit 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...
at the prison. The two flirt throughout the discussion and once he has delivered his message Stringer kisses and undresses Donette.
Stringer, Country and Shamrock discuss shares as they tail CO Tilghman. Country asks why Stringer is selling his shares in phone companies and Stringer tells him that he saw Poot Carr
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...
with two phones — a sure sign that the market is saturated
Market saturation
In economics, "market saturation" is a term used to describe a situation in which a product has become diffused within a market; the actual level of saturation can depend on consumer purchasing power; as well as competition, prices, and technology....
. Later, Tilghman meets with Butchie and they place bets on his dog catching rats. Afterwards, Tilghman buys a package of narcotics from Butchie. Country and Shamrock watch him receive the package and make the connection. On Avon's orders, Stringer contacts Butchie and asks him to supply Tilghman with a bad package the next time he comes to him for narcotics. Butchie is reluctant but agrees when Stringer uses Avon's name and promises compensation. Shamrock sits in Butchie’s bar as Tilghman picks up the package.
D'Angelo is sniffing heroin to get through his long prison sentence. He is also trading comics and working in the prison library with an inmate. 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...
visits D'Angelo and convinces him to lay off of the drugs for a few days. He tells him there may be a way to shave some years from their sentences.
Tilghman smuggles the package into the prison. D'Angelo honors his promise to stay clean, but several other inmates are poisoned from the heroin. As prison staff rush the inmates away on stretchers, Avon calmly reads a book.
First appearances
- Butchie: Supplier to CO Dwight Tilghman and adviser to 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"....
. - Aimee: 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...
's girlfriend and mother of his child. - Dante: Omar's new boyfriend and partner in crime.
- Kimmy and Tosha: A young lesbian couple who make their living robbing drug dealers.
- Ringo: Down on his luck checker from Sobotka’s union.