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Margin of Error (The Wire episode)
Encyclopedia
"Margin of Error" is the sixth episode of the fourth season of the HBO original series The Wire
. Written by Eric Overmyer
from a story by Ed Burns
& Eric Overmyer, and directed by Dan Attias
, it originally aired on October 15, 2006.
expresses the amount of the random variation underlying a survey's results. This can be thought of as a measure of the variation one would see in reported percentages if the same poll were taken multiple times. The larger the margin of error, the less confidence one has that the poll's reported percentages are close to the "true" percentages, that is the percentages in the whole population
.
, Deirdre Lovejoy
, Clarke Peters
, Wendell Pierce
, and Andre Royo
do not appear in this episode.
, Councilman Anthony Gray and Councilman Tommy Carcetti
) are in attendance at separate churches with their families. As Randy Wagstaff
arrives at another church with his foster mother, Miss Anna, he is watched by Bodie Broadus
and his crew of drug dealers including Little Kevin. Inside Reverend Franklin's church, other revelers enjoying the gospel music include Carcetti's deputy campaign manager Norman Wilson, State Delegate Odell Watkins, middle school teacher Grace Sampson and Carcetti staffer Gerry.
Reverend Franklin offers a sermon from Exodus about the careful selection of leaders from the people. He urges the people to look for men of truth, who fear God and hate covetousness, to be their leaders. After his ceremony, Royce greets the churchgoers. On his way out Tommy talks to the preacher with his wife, Jen Carcetti. He tells the preacher that Moses is a high standard to hold him to and even blasphemes in front of the preacher. The preacher is jovial and wishes him luck after noticing that Watkins is handing out fliers for him.
Carcetti campaigns in the downtown area with Wilson. He is greeted by a science teacher from Baltimore County who agrees with his policies but is not a city resident and therefore not eligible to vote in the city's election. Watkins comes over to show Carcetti a flier he has found. It claims that Carcetti once defended a notorious slumlord
named Bobby Harrison from prosecution over his poor treatment of his tenants. Harrison is hated throughout Baltimore, and the flier even has a photograph of the two together on the courthouse steps. Wilson recognizes the flier as a last-minute smear
attempt. Carcetti realizes that the photo is a fake and becomes pessimistic about his chances of winning in the face of these tactics. Gerry and Wilson immediately formulate plans to respond to the flier.
Carcetti meets with his campaign staff, including campaign manager Theresa D'Agostino, to discuss their response to the flier. D'Agostino has a printer on retainer and plans to produce counter literature. Wilson offers to use his contacts at the Baltimore Sun newspaper to find the original photo of Bobby Harrison and thereby prove that the photo is a fake. Carcetti remains agitated and his staff urge him to carry on with his schedule while they deal with the problem.
Later Tommy and Jen watch TV news coverage of the controversial flier. The news reports that Carcetti and Royce are in a dead heat while Gray trails. Jen asks about the smear flier and Tommy tells her about his staff's positive response. In the morning Wilson arrives to pick Tommy up, but finds he has already left for the office. Wilson finds Tommy second-guessing their strategy and advises him to follow the advice of the staff he has hired and appear on the morning talk shows.
Carcetti returns to the campaign headquarters feeling more positive after his successful radio appearances. He is still concerned about the smear campaign. Wilson has news that State Senator Clay Davis
is interested in supporting Carcetti, but as usual he is more interested in how much money he can make out of it. Carcetti is dubious about working with Davis, but Wilson convinces him that it may tip the balance.
Carcetti and Wilson meet Davis in a restaurant, and Davis offers to split his support between them and the mayor for twenty thousand dollars, an amount that he writes on a napkin while discussing what he will do. Carcetti and Wilson agree to pay him but leave without eating.
and his mother De'Londa visit Brianna Barksdale at her home. De'Londa urges Namond to be respectful because he is representing his father, Wee-Bey Brice
, a feared soldier in the Barksdale organization before he went to prison without turning on them. De'Londa hopes that Brianna may have work for Namond.
Brianna has actually called the meeting to tell De'Londa that she is cutting them off. Brianna feels that she has amply compensated them for Wee-Bey's support, and with the collapse of the Barksdale organization, there is no longer any income. She no longer wants to protect her imprisoned brother Avon
because she believes he had a hand in the death of her own son, D'Angelo
, so she has nothing more to fear from Wee-Bey because he cannot tie her to any drug trafficking. Brianna tells the mother and son that she wanted them both to be there so that no lies could be told about her decision—implying that she wanted to tell Namond in person so that De'Londa could not lie to him later.
At home De'Londa tells Namond he is going to start dealing drugs to bring in money for the both of them. She still refuses to let him drop out of school but insists that she will convince Bodie to give him a package. Namond asks about what Brianna meant about them already having been given enough money already, and De'Londa tells him that Brianna was lying. De'Londa phones an ambivalent Wee-Bey to tell him what has happened, comparing the situation to coming home to find they had been evicted.
continues surveillance work of Marlo Stanfield
's outdoor hangout. His sergeant Thomas "Herc" Hauk arrives with some coffee and urges him to keep at it despite the absence of anyone to watch.
Later, Sydnor watches as Stanfield, Chris Partlow, Snoop, Monk and other Stanfield lieutenants talk. Stanfield takes a phone call about picking up a "skinny girl from New York" and then insists on doing it himself.
Herc rewatches the video with Sydnor and a lip reader. She correctly follows the discussion and Herc interprets that Stanfield is picking up cocaine from New York. Sydnor is surprised that Stanfield would go near a package of narcotics himself and Herc remains insistent that Stanfield is a soft target.
Herc follows Stanfield to Penn Station
. He has the transport police pick up Stanfield when he meets with a woman and carries her bag. The woman asks who Marlo is and resists his attempts to help her. She appears genuinely shocked when the police stop them. Marlo is led away by the police with a knowing smile on his face. Upon searching the bag, the police find only women's clothes and are forced to release them.
receives news from her partner Ed Norris that a prisoner has offered information on their case in exchange for a deal. They are still working on the politically significant murder of a state's witness named Braddock. Norris hopes to move on the information quickly to have an impact on the election. He is not hoping to sway voters, but figures it will be fun to act out against the politicians' earlier disruption of his work.
Deputy Commissioner William Rawls
arrives at the unit headquarters, which surprises detectives Crutchfield and Holley. Rawls visits Sergeant Jay Landsman
and explains the political danger of allowing a break in the Braddock case on the eve of the election. He then orders Landsman to detail Greggs and Norris to uniformed duty at the election polls.
, Namond Brice
and Michael Lee
as they arrive in the morning. He asks Dukie to accompany him. Prez shows Dukie a locker in the gym where he plans to leave him fresh clothes. He offers to wash Dukie's dirty clothes for him if he leaves them in the locker and to let him in early in the morning so that he can shower.
Namond walks down the corridor with Monell and Paul, two boys who recently had a tryst in a boys' bathroom with a classmate named Tiff while Randy stood watch outside. When they pass Tiff in the corridor they ignore and then insult her.
Grace Sampson meets with the teaching staff to tell them of a new program within the school. Funds from the University of Maryland are being used to set up a class for kids with behavioral difficulties. Ten children will be in the first class but more may follow if the program is deemed successful. Mrs. Shapiro is pleased while Mrs. Scott is disappointed that only three of her worst students will be taken.
Assistant Principal Marcia Donnelly and Grace Sampson arrive in Prez's math class while he teaches fractions. She removes Namond, Zenobia Dawson and Darnell Tyson from the class. Karim Williams asks if they are being arrested. Donnelly pulls students named Markeith, Kwame and Latonya from a second class. Albert Stokes is also among those in the new class. Once the students are assembled they are taken to their new classroom. Namond notices the school security officer talking to a crying Tiff in the office.
Paul, Monell and Randy are also pulled out of class by Donnelly. Donnelly interrogates Randy about his role in what Tiff has characterized as a rape. Donnelly knows that he was a lookout and is forced to suspend him. She rings his foster mother Anna Jeffries but hangs up when Randy tells her that he knows about a murder. Later, Prez appeals to Donnelly to let him hand Randy's confession on to someone that he trusts within the police department.
Ms. Sampson, Dr. David Parenti and Howard "Bunny" Colvin introduce the concept of the special class to their new students. Darnell asks if they have to stay now that they have been chosen and Sampson informs them that the program is mandatory. Albert realizes that the class means that they will be separated from the other children in order to give them more space to learn. Sampson tells them that the new program will ready them for a normal classroom, as they have proven that they are not ready at the moment. Namond draws an analogy of prison for the new class, with their class being solitary confinement and the normal classes being the general population. Colvin jumps on the comment and confirms the analogy, using it to impress upon the children the seriousness of the program's intent.
is wanted for the shooting of a delivery woman in a Western District store. Jimmy McNulty
is unsure whether Omar would kill someone not involved in the drug trade. Officers Anthony Colicchio and Michael Santangelo are excited at the prospect of bringing in the notorious Omar.
Prez meets with his old commander and Western District Major Cedric Daniels
to discuss Randy. He appeals to Daniels to prevent the boy from getting chewed up by the system. Daniels suggests that Sergeant Ellis Carver
is the best person to handle Randy with discretion, having reformed his approach to police work. Daniels questions Prez's interest and Prez tells him he cares about Randy because he is one of his students.
Carver meets with Randy's foster mother Miss Anna at her home. He explains Randy's role as an unintentional go-between in the murder of Curtis "Lex" Anderson, passing a message to Lex from Little Kevin. Miss Anna questions how Randy knows Lex is dead when no body has been found, and Carver tells her Randy claims that Lex's death is common knowledge on the street. She asks about the rape at the school and Carver explains that school will handle it. Randy protests his innocence. Miss Anna worries about Randy's safety should anyone learn that he has spoken to the police. Carver assures her that Randy will be fine if he cleans up his act. She is disappointed in Randy's bad judgment, but Carver tells her he thinks Randy is a good kid.
Gray is the first of the candidates to vote. Carcetti votes and then moves on to Highlandtown
where Wilson thinks they can flush out his base. Carcetti passes out leaflets and flirts with a female supporter. An Italian-American man greets him and implies that it is their turn to take over from the African Americans and that white politicians will be less corrupt. He makes several derogatory racist statements in front of Wilson, who afterwards offers an amused reaction.
Back at headquarters, Davis is seen on live television offering his full support to Royce. Carcetti is shocked that Davis has brazenly failed to deliver on his promise after having taken their money.
Miss Anna and Randy arrive at the polling station, and she is worried that the queue will make her late for work. Randy recognizes Spider from Cutty's gym giving out leaflets. He asks Miss Anna if he can stay with Spider while she votes, and she reluctantly allows him. Meanwhile, Cutty is canvassed to vote, which he cannot do due to the perpetual disenfranchisement he has from felony conviction. Cutty also recognizes Spider and tries to talk to him to find out why he has not been at the gym. Spider runs away and Randy is left to talk to Cutty, who asks him to get Spider to come and see him at the gym. Randy is given a stack of leaflets to pass out by a Carcetti campaign staffer who has noticed Spider's absence. Later, Randy gets a box of leaflets to stuff in doors. The staffer pays him up front. Randy recruits Kenard, Donut and Dukie to help him. Michael is not interested. Donut steals a car to make the work faster despite Randy's objections. The team quickly gets bored and he tells them he will not pay them if they don't finish the job. When they realize that he has already been paid, they ask him why he is bothering, and he explains that it was the job he agreed to do. Randy finishes the work alone after paying his friends.
De'Londa finds Namond playing video games and asks him why he is not in school. Namond explains that the election means that school is closed. De'Londa seizes the opportunity to take Namond to see Bodie. Bodie is initially unsure but De'Londa persists and uses Wee-Bey's name to convince him. After De'Londa leaves, Bodie tells Namond that talking to her gives him insight into his personality.
Michael goes to the gym where Cutty is already flirting with another woman. Namond arrives and asks Michael for help moving his first package and Michael refuses. Cutty talks to Michael about the woman and then asks about Spider. Michael explains that Spider quit because of Cutty's involvement with his mother, then makes a cutting remark about Cutty being no "angel". When Namond returns home he is faced with his mother telling him that she is counting on him, and he assures her that his new corner duties were easy to carry out. Out of his mother's view, he dumps a full bag of drugs on his bed, indicating that he has not sold any of his package.
At home that evening, Jen and Tommy ignore constantly ringing phones. The news reports that there was a massive voter turnout and that Carcetti is in the lead. Similar scenes unfold at Royce and Gray's homes. Tommy learns that Bond is beating Demper in the State's Attorney race. This is good news for Tommy, as it shows a lack of support for Royce's ticket. Jen convinces Tommy to go for a walk with her. They make their way around the harbor and Tommy tells Jen that he hopes to make Baltimore great again. She is positive about his chances. He gets a call from D'Agostino to tell him that Royce has conceded, making him the presumptive mayor-elect because Baltimore is such a heavily Democratic city. Tommy is unsure whether he is happy about the win but finally breaks into a smile. They make their way to a celebration and Tommy thanks his supporters and his opponents, appealing for their help in the forthcoming general election and in improving Baltimore for their children. Council President Naresse Campbell congratulates Carcetti. Jen tells him that she is going home and to enjoy his night. Davis also attends the party and is unashamed of his actions, telling Carcetti he let him off lightly.
The party continues with Gerry, Wilson, Tommy, and D'Agostino in a downtown hotel. Gerry leaves with Wilson. D'Agostino comes on to Carcetti, telling him that he owes her a win bonus. He resists her overtures despite his initial response. D'Agostino tries to convince him that he cannot go against his nature, but eventually backs down when he resists a second time.
during his robbery of Marlo's poker game. When Omar talks back, Walker brutally pushes him into the wall and knocks him over. When Omar claims that Walker is being unfair as there is no charge against him, Walker informs him that he is facing a murder charge. Colicchio and McNulty arrive on the scene, where Colicchio mocks Omar for not having his shotgun with him. McNulty then explains he is being arrested on a robbery/murder warrant. Officer Santangelo arrives with the wagon, and Omar asks McNulty for a phone call before he is taken in. McNulty gives him his own personal cell phone and dials Butchie for him. Butchie reassures Omar that he will pay his bail and offers him support even when Omar tells him there will be no bail because the charge is murder. Santangelo playfully mocks McNulty as being a "Democrat" for aiding Omar.
When Omar is brought into the prison, he is faced with aggression from most of the other inmates, many of whom he has robbed in the past. Omar prepares for the worst when two men are sent into his cell. One of them carries a knife. After a tense stand-off, Omar is immensely relieved to be told that Butchie sent them to protect him.
The WIRE
the WIRE is the student-run College radio station at the University of Oklahoma, broadcasting in a freeform format. The WIRE serves the University of Oklahoma and surrounding communities, and is staffed by student DJs. The WIRE broadcasts at 1710 kHz AM in Norman, Oklahoma...
. Written by Eric Overmyer
Eric Overmyer
Eric Overmyer is a writer and producer. He has written and/or produced numerous TV shows, including St. Elsewhere, Homicide: Life on the Street, Law & Order, The Wire, New Amsterdam, and Treme.-Biography:...
from a story by Ed Burns
Ed Burns
Ed Burns is a producer, screenwriter, and novelist. He has worked closely with writing partner David Simon. They have collaborated on The Corner and The Wire . Burns is a former Baltimore police detective for the Homicide and Narcotics divisions, and a public school teacher...
& Eric Overmyer, and directed by Dan Attias
Dan Attias
Daniel Attias is an American television director and producer. Attias' career has spanned three decades and during this time he has directed a significant number of popular primetime television programs, including Miami Vice and Beverly Hills, 90210...
, it originally aired on October 15, 2006.
Title reference
The title refers to the mayoral primary and the percentages taken in the poll. In statistical analysis, the margin of errorMargin of error
The margin of error is a statistic expressing the amount of random sampling error in a survey's results. The larger the margin of error, the less faith one should have that the poll's reported results are close to the "true" figures; that is, the figures for the whole population...
expresses the amount of the random variation underlying a survey's results. This can be thought of as a measure of the variation one would see in reported percentages if the same poll were taken multiple times. The larger the margin of error, the less confidence one has that the poll's reported percentages are close to the "true" percentages, that is the percentages in the whole population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
.
Epigraph
This is made in reference of Norman chiding Carcetti for trying to handle the vote turnout of the primary election on his own. This also is in reference of Sergeant Hauk trying to lead an improper investigation on Marlo with the use of a camera obtained through improper protocol, as well as Namond becoming further immersed in the drug game.Starring cast
Although credited, Frankie FaisonFrankie 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....
, Clarke Peters
Clarke Peters
Clarke 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:...
, 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:...
, 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
- 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 R. Clayton "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... - Jermaine CrawfordJermaine CrawfordJermaine Crawford is an actor best known for appearing on the HBO original series The Wire as Duquan "Dukie" Weems. He is a cousin to fellow Wire castmember and actor Tristan Wilds....
as Duquan "Dukie" Weems - Maestro HarrellMaestro HarrellMaestro Harrell is an American actor who starred on the HBO original series The Wire as Randy Wagstaff. He was also on the NBC drama ER on April 26, 2007....
as Randy WagstaffRandy WagstaffRandy Wagstaff is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Maestro Harrell. Randy is an enterprising student who is dependent on social services. During season 4, he was an 8th grade pupil at Edward Tilghman Middle School and is friends with Namond Brice, Michael Lee and Duquan... - Julito McCullumJulito McCullumJulito McCullum is an American actor of Afro-Colombian descent best known for his role as Namond Brice on the HBO series The Wire. Currently lives in Staten Island....
as Namond BriceNamond BriceNamond Brice is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Julito McCullum. Namond is the son of Wee-Bey Brice and De'Londa Brice and was a middle school pupil during season 4. He is friends with Michael Lee and Randy Wagstaff and often bullies Duquan "Dukie" Weems... - Tristan WildsTristan WildsTristan Paul Mack Wilds is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Michael Lee on the HBO original drama series The Wire and as Dixon Wilson on the CW drama series 90210.-Life and career:...
as Michael LeeMichael Lee (The Wire)Michael Lee is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Tristan Wilds. He is a middle school pupil and is friends with Namond Brice, Randy Wagstaff and Duquan "Dukie" Weems. He is more soft-spoken than his friends, and appears to have a leadership role among his peers... - Gbenga AkinnagbeGbenga AkinnagbeGbenga Akinnagbe is an American actor, best known for his role as Chris Partlow on the HBO original series The Wire.-Early life:...
as Chris PartlowChris PartlowChris Partlow is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Gbenga Akinnagbe. Partlow is Marlo Stanfield's best friend, bodyguard, and second-in-command in his drug dealing operation. Despite his quiet demeanor, Partlow commits more on- and off-screen murders than any other... - 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.... - Megan Anderson as Jen Carcetti
- Tootsie DuvallTootsie DuvallTootsie Duvall is an American film, theatre and television actress.-Career:...
as Assistant Principal Marcia Donnelly - Michael HyattMichael HyattMichael Hyatt is a British-born film and television actress. Before Hyatt's work in film and television, she enjoyed memorable performances on stages throughout the country, particularly in Ragtime on Broadway.-Early life:...
as Brianna Barksdale - Jay LandsmanJay LandsmanThe book was later developed into the television series Homicide: Life on the Street. He was the inspiration for the fictional character John Munch on that show and a character named Jay Landsman on the television series The Wire, created by Simon. Landsman portrayed himself in a brief appearance...
as Lieutenant Dennis Mello - Ed NorrisEd NorrisEdward T. Norris is an American radio host and former law enforcement officer in Maryland. His talk show, the Ed Norris Show, airs on WJZ-FM in Baltimore, Maryland. Norris, a 20-year veteran of the New York Police Department, served as police commissioner for Baltimore from 2000 to late 2002...
as Detective Ed Norris - 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... - Marlyne AfflackMarlyne AfflackMarlyne Nayokah Afflack is an American actress best known her role as Nerese Campbell on The Wire. She also played an attorney in the FX drama Damages and Thomasina, the efficient palace secretary and aide-de-camp, on the NBC series Kings...
as Naresse Campbell - Brandy BurreBrandy BurreBrandy Burre was born on September 27, 1974 in Sandusky, Ohio. She earned her Master's degree in acting at Ohio University, and has performed on the stage in addition to her work in film and television. She is best known for her portrayal of Theresa D'Agostino on the HBO series The Wire.-External...
as Theresa D'Agostino - Dravon James as Mrs. Grace Sampson
- Karen Vicks as Gerry
- Christopher Mann as Councilman Anthony Gray
- Frederick Strother as State Delegate Odell Watkins
- Reverend Frank Reid as Revered Reid Franklin
- Melvin WilliamsMelvin WilliamsVice Admiral Melvin G. Williams is Commander, U.S. Second Fleet, Director, Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Center of Excellence. He was selected for Flag rank in 2002.-Personal Biography:...
as The Deacon - Tevin Brown as Unknown
- Nathan Corbett as Donut
- Thuliso DingwallThuliso DingwallThuliso Dingwall is an American actor. He is best known for portraying Kenard on the television series The Wire. Dingwall is from Clinton, Maryland.-External links:...
as Kenard - Denise Hart as Miss Anna Jeffries
- Sandi McCree as De'Londa Brice
- Jonnie Louis Brown as Officer Eddie Walker
- Benjamin BuschBenjamin BuschBenjamin B. Busch is an American actor, writer, film maker, photographer, and former United States Marine Corps officer. He is best known for his portrayal of Anthony Colicchio on the HBO original series The Wire.-Biography:...
as Officer Anthony Colicchio - Michael Salconi as Officer Michael Santangelo
- Corbin Smith as Monell
- Brian Anthony WilsonBrian Anthony WilsonBrian Anthony Wilson is an American film and television actor. He first appeared in the 1997 film The Postman as Woody....
as Detective Vernon Holley - Queen Nzinga Ama Linton as female rail passenger
- Isis McCray as Girl who was taken into the bathroom
- Felicia PearsonFelicia PearsonFelicia Pearson is an American actress, author, and rapper. She is best known for playing a character of the same name, Felicia "Snoop" Pearson, on The Wire. She wrote a memoir titled Grace After Midnight.-Biography:Pearson was born to two incarcerated drug addicts and raised in an East Baltimore...
as Snoop - Jack Seeley as Bigoted voter
- Gregory L. Williams as Detective Michael Crutchfield
Uncredited appearances
- 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 (voice only) - Darrell M. SmithDarrell M. SmithDarrell M. Smith is an American entrepreneur, businessman, producer and actor.-Career:He studied at Stella Adler, the drama school where actors like Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro went, in New York City for a few years. After finishing his studies he went on to do numerous off-broadway plays,...
as School Officer Turner - Diana Villamonte as Mrs. Rachel Shapiro – eighth grade teacher
- Demetria Bailey as Mrs. Perlene Scott – eighth grade teacher
- Jeffrey Lorenzo as Karim Williams
- Taylor KingTaylor KingTaylor King is a professional American basketball player currently playing for the London Lightning of the National Basketball League of Canada. Before joining the Lightning, King played for the Villanova University Wildcats, where he played the forward position...
as Zenobia Dawson - Davone Cooper as Darnell Tyson
- Jason Wharton as Albert Stokes
- Michael Coley as Kwame
- Na'Dria Jennings as Chandra Porter
- Edward Green as Spider
- Tyrell Baker as Little Kevin
- Larry Andrews as Donnie
- Derrick Purvey as Big Guy
- Corbin Smith as Monell
- Tony Ruggieri as Amtrak Police Supervisor
- Unknown as Ms. Hanson - older African American veteran eighth grade teacher
- Unknown as Tiff
- Unknown as Paul
- Unknown as Markeith
- Unknown as Latonya
Politics
Churchgoers gather for services two days before the primary election. All three mayoral candidates (incumbent Mayor Clarence RoyceClarence Royce
Clarence V. Royce is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Glynn Turman-Biography:Mayor of Baltimore Clarence V. Royce is a deft political figure and is fixated on remaining in power. Royce is the incumbent Mayor of Baltimore who was elected into office in 1998 and is in the...
, Councilman Anthony Gray and Councilman Tommy Carcetti
Tommy Carcetti
Thomas J. "Tommy" Carcetti is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Irish actor Aidan Gillen. Carcetti is an ambitious Baltimore politician who rises from a seat on the city council to the office of the Mayor of Baltimore, and to the office of the Governor of Maryland by the...
) are in attendance at separate churches with their families. As Randy Wagstaff
Randy Wagstaff
Randy Wagstaff is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Maestro Harrell. Randy is an enterprising student who is dependent on social services. During season 4, he was an 8th grade pupil at Edward Tilghman Middle School and is friends with Namond Brice, Michael Lee and Duquan...
arrives at another church with his foster mother, Miss Anna, he is watched by Bodie Broadus
Bodie Broadus
Preston "Bodie" Broadus is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor J. D. Williams. Bodie is initially a Barksdale organization drug dealer in "The Pit" who slowly rises through the ranks...
and his crew of drug dealers including Little Kevin. Inside Reverend Franklin's church, other revelers enjoying the gospel music include Carcetti's deputy campaign manager Norman Wilson, State Delegate Odell Watkins, middle school teacher Grace Sampson and Carcetti staffer Gerry.
Reverend Franklin offers a sermon from Exodus about the careful selection of leaders from the people. He urges the people to look for men of truth, who fear God and hate covetousness, to be their leaders. After his ceremony, Royce greets the churchgoers. On his way out Tommy talks to the preacher with his wife, Jen Carcetti. He tells the preacher that Moses is a high standard to hold him to and even blasphemes in front of the preacher. The preacher is jovial and wishes him luck after noticing that Watkins is handing out fliers for him.
Carcetti campaigns in the downtown area with Wilson. He is greeted by a science teacher from Baltimore County who agrees with his policies but is not a city resident and therefore not eligible to vote in the city's election. Watkins comes over to show Carcetti a flier he has found. It claims that Carcetti once defended a notorious slumlord
Slumlord
A slumlord is a derogatory term for landlords, generally absentee landlords, who attempt to maximize profit by minimizing spending on property maintenance, often in deteriorating neighborhoods. They may need to charge lower than market rent to tenants...
named Bobby Harrison from prosecution over his poor treatment of his tenants. Harrison is hated throughout Baltimore, and the flier even has a photograph of the two together on the courthouse steps. Wilson recognizes the flier as a last-minute smear
Smear campaign
A smear campaign, smear tactic or simply smear is a metaphor for activity that can harm an individual or group's reputation by conflation with a stigmatized group...
attempt. Carcetti realizes that the photo is a fake and becomes pessimistic about his chances of winning in the face of these tactics. Gerry and Wilson immediately formulate plans to respond to the flier.
Carcetti meets with his campaign staff, including campaign manager Theresa D'Agostino, to discuss their response to the flier. D'Agostino has a printer on retainer and plans to produce counter literature. Wilson offers to use his contacts at the Baltimore Sun newspaper to find the original photo of Bobby Harrison and thereby prove that the photo is a fake. Carcetti remains agitated and his staff urge him to carry on with his schedule while they deal with the problem.
Later Tommy and Jen watch TV news coverage of the controversial flier. The news reports that Carcetti and Royce are in a dead heat while Gray trails. Jen asks about the smear flier and Tommy tells her about his staff's positive response. In the morning Wilson arrives to pick Tommy up, but finds he has already left for the office. Wilson finds Tommy second-guessing their strategy and advises him to follow the advice of the staff he has hired and appear on the morning talk shows.
Carcetti returns to the campaign headquarters feeling more positive after his successful radio appearances. He is still concerned about the smear campaign. Wilson has news that State Senator 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...
is interested in supporting Carcetti, but as usual he is more interested in how much money he can make out of it. Carcetti is dubious about working with Davis, but Wilson convinces him that it may tip the balance.
Carcetti and Wilson meet Davis in a restaurant, and Davis offers to split his support between them and the mayor for twenty thousand dollars, an amount that he writes on a napkin while discussing what he will do. Carcetti and Wilson agree to pay him but leave without eating.
Barksdale remnants
Namond BriceNamond Brice
Namond Brice is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Julito McCullum. Namond is the son of Wee-Bey Brice and De'Londa Brice and was a middle school pupil during season 4. He is friends with Michael Lee and Randy Wagstaff and often bullies Duquan "Dukie" Weems...
and his mother De'Londa visit Brianna Barksdale at her home. De'Londa urges Namond to be respectful because he is representing his father, 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....
, a feared soldier in the Barksdale organization before he went to prison without turning on them. De'Londa hopes that Brianna may have work for Namond.
Brianna has actually called the meeting to tell De'Londa that she is cutting them off. Brianna feels that she has amply compensated them for Wee-Bey's support, and with the collapse of the Barksdale organization, there is no longer any income. She no longer wants to protect her imprisoned brother Avon
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...
because she believes he had a hand in the death of her own son, 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...
, so she has nothing more to fear from Wee-Bey because he cannot tie her to any drug trafficking. Brianna tells the mother and son that she wanted them both to be there so that no lies could be told about her decision—implying that she wanted to tell Namond in person so that De'Londa could not lie to him later.
At home De'Londa tells Namond he is going to start dealing drugs to bring in money for the both of them. She still refuses to let him drop out of school but insists that she will convince Bodie to give him a package. Namond asks about what Brianna meant about them already having been given enough money already, and De'Londa tells him that Brianna was lying. De'Londa phones an ambivalent Wee-Bey to tell him what has happened, comparing the situation to coming home to find they had been evicted.
Major Crimes Unit
Leander SydnorLeander Sydnor
Leander Sydnor is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Corey Parker Robinson. Sydnor is a young, married Baltimore Police detective who was a member of the Barksdale detail and later worked in the Major Crimes Unit.-Season 1:...
continues surveillance work of Marlo Stanfield
Marlo Stanfield
Marlo "Black" Stanfield is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Jamie Hector. Stanfield is a young, ruthless and ambitious player in the Baltimore drug trade who gains control of West Baltimore and is the head of his own drug crew.-Character background and plot...
's outdoor hangout. His sergeant Thomas "Herc" Hauk arrives with some coffee and urges him to keep at it despite the absence of anyone to watch.
Later, Sydnor watches as Stanfield, Chris Partlow, Snoop, Monk and other Stanfield lieutenants talk. Stanfield takes a phone call about picking up a "skinny girl from New York" and then insists on doing it himself.
Herc rewatches the video with Sydnor and a lip reader. She correctly follows the discussion and Herc interprets that Stanfield is picking up cocaine from New York. Sydnor is surprised that Stanfield would go near a package of narcotics himself and Herc remains insistent that Stanfield is a soft target.
Herc follows Stanfield to Penn Station
Pennsylvania Station (Baltimore)
Pennsylvania Station is the main train station in Baltimore, Maryland. Designed by New York architect Kenneth MacKenzie Murchison , it was constructed in 1911 in the Beaux-Arts style of architecture for the Pennsylvania Railroad. It is located at 1515 N...
. He has the transport police pick up Stanfield when he meets with a woman and carries her bag. The woman asks who Marlo is and resists his attempts to help her. She appears genuinely shocked when the police stop them. Marlo is led away by the police with a knowing smile on his face. Upon searching the bag, the police find only women's clothes and are forced to release them.
Homicide
Detective 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...
receives news from her partner Ed Norris that a prisoner has offered information on their case in exchange for a deal. They are still working on the politically significant murder of a state's witness named Braddock. Norris hopes to move on the information quickly to have an impact on the election. He is not hoping to sway voters, but figures it will be fun to act out against the politicians' earlier disruption of his work.
Deputy Commissioner William Rawls
William Rawls
William A. "Bill" Rawls is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor John Doman. Over the course of the series he ascends to the rank of Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.-Season 1:...
arrives at the unit headquarters, which surprises detectives Crutchfield and Holley. Rawls visits Sergeant Jay Landsman
Jay Landsman (The Wire)
Jay Landsman is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Delaney Williams.-Policing method:Landsman's role in the police department is that of a supervisory detective sergeant who doesn't participate in much investigation work...
and explains the political danger of allowing a break in the Braddock case on the eve of the election. He then orders Landsman to detail Greggs and Norris to uniformed duty at the election polls.
School
Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski catches his students Duquan "Dukie" Weems, Randy WagstaffRandy Wagstaff
Randy Wagstaff is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Maestro Harrell. Randy is an enterprising student who is dependent on social services. During season 4, he was an 8th grade pupil at Edward Tilghman Middle School and is friends with Namond Brice, Michael Lee and Duquan...
, Namond Brice
Namond Brice
Namond Brice is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Julito McCullum. Namond is the son of Wee-Bey Brice and De'Londa Brice and was a middle school pupil during season 4. He is friends with Michael Lee and Randy Wagstaff and often bullies Duquan "Dukie" Weems...
and Michael Lee
Michael Lee (The Wire)
Michael Lee is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Tristan Wilds. He is a middle school pupil and is friends with Namond Brice, Randy Wagstaff and Duquan "Dukie" Weems. He is more soft-spoken than his friends, and appears to have a leadership role among his peers...
as they arrive in the morning. He asks Dukie to accompany him. Prez shows Dukie a locker in the gym where he plans to leave him fresh clothes. He offers to wash Dukie's dirty clothes for him if he leaves them in the locker and to let him in early in the morning so that he can shower.
Namond walks down the corridor with Monell and Paul, two boys who recently had a tryst in a boys' bathroom with a classmate named Tiff while Randy stood watch outside. When they pass Tiff in the corridor they ignore and then insult her.
Grace Sampson meets with the teaching staff to tell them of a new program within the school. Funds from the University of Maryland are being used to set up a class for kids with behavioral difficulties. Ten children will be in the first class but more may follow if the program is deemed successful. Mrs. Shapiro is pleased while Mrs. Scott is disappointed that only three of her worst students will be taken.
Assistant Principal Marcia Donnelly and Grace Sampson arrive in Prez's math class while he teaches fractions. She removes Namond, Zenobia Dawson and Darnell Tyson from the class. Karim Williams asks if they are being arrested. Donnelly pulls students named Markeith, Kwame and Latonya from a second class. Albert Stokes is also among those in the new class. Once the students are assembled they are taken to their new classroom. Namond notices the school security officer talking to a crying Tiff in the office.
Paul, Monell and Randy are also pulled out of class by Donnelly. Donnelly interrogates Randy about his role in what Tiff has characterized as a rape. Donnelly knows that he was a lookout and is forced to suspend him. She rings his foster mother Anna Jeffries but hangs up when Randy tells her that he knows about a murder. Later, Prez appeals to Donnelly to let him hand Randy's confession on to someone that he trusts within the police department.
Ms. Sampson, Dr. David Parenti and Howard "Bunny" Colvin introduce the concept of the special class to their new students. Darnell asks if they have to stay now that they have been chosen and Sampson informs them that the program is mandatory. Albert realizes that the class means that they will be separated from the other children in order to give them more space to learn. Sampson tells them that the new program will ready them for a normal classroom, as they have proven that they are not ready at the moment. Namond draws an analogy of prison for the new class, with their class being solitary confinement and the normal classes being the general population. Colvin jumps on the comment and confirms the analogy, using it to impress upon the children the seriousness of the program's intent.
Western District
Lieutenant Dennis Mello briefs his incoming shift and appeals for more officers to man the polling stations. He then introduces a fresh murder warrant – 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 wanted for the shooting of a delivery woman in a Western District store. 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...
is unsure whether Omar would kill someone not involved in the drug trade. Officers Anthony Colicchio and Michael Santangelo are excited at the prospect of bringing in the notorious Omar.
Prez meets with his old commander and Western District Major Cedric Daniels
Cedric Daniels
Cedric Daniels is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Lance Reddick. He is a well regarded officer in the department whose focus is on good police work and quality arrests...
to discuss Randy. He appeals to Daniels to prevent the boy from getting chewed up by the system. Daniels suggests that Sergeant 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...
is the best person to handle Randy with discretion, having reformed his approach to police work. Daniels questions Prez's interest and Prez tells him he cares about Randy because he is one of his students.
Carver meets with Randy's foster mother Miss Anna at her home. He explains Randy's role as an unintentional go-between in the murder of Curtis "Lex" Anderson, passing a message to Lex from Little Kevin. Miss Anna questions how Randy knows Lex is dead when no body has been found, and Carver tells her Randy claims that Lex's death is common knowledge on the street. She asks about the rape at the school and Carver explains that school will handle it. Randy protests his innocence. Miss Anna worries about Randy's safety should anyone learn that he has spoken to the police. Carver assures her that Randy will be fine if he cleans up his act. She is disappointed in Randy's bad judgment, but Carver tells her he thinks Randy is a good kid.
Election Day
McNulty mans a polling station while Dennis "Cutty" Wise prepares for a morning jog. As he leaves, a woman comes downstairs to ask where he is going and when he will be back. She is disappointed when Dennis is non-committal. Norris and Greggs bemoan their assignment to a polling station.Gray is the first of the candidates to vote. Carcetti votes and then moves on to Highlandtown
Highlandtown, Baltimore
Highlandtown is a neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland, United States.The area currently known as Highlandtown was established in 1866 when the area known as "Snake Hill" was established as a village outside of the Baltimore city limits. The first settlers of the community were primarily Greek...
where Wilson thinks they can flush out his base. Carcetti passes out leaflets and flirts with a female supporter. An Italian-American man greets him and implies that it is their turn to take over from the African Americans and that white politicians will be less corrupt. He makes several derogatory racist statements in front of Wilson, who afterwards offers an amused reaction.
Back at headquarters, Davis is seen on live television offering his full support to Royce. Carcetti is shocked that Davis has brazenly failed to deliver on his promise after having taken their money.
Miss Anna and Randy arrive at the polling station, and she is worried that the queue will make her late for work. Randy recognizes Spider from Cutty's gym giving out leaflets. He asks Miss Anna if he can stay with Spider while she votes, and she reluctantly allows him. Meanwhile, Cutty is canvassed to vote, which he cannot do due to the perpetual disenfranchisement he has from felony conviction. Cutty also recognizes Spider and tries to talk to him to find out why he has not been at the gym. Spider runs away and Randy is left to talk to Cutty, who asks him to get Spider to come and see him at the gym. Randy is given a stack of leaflets to pass out by a Carcetti campaign staffer who has noticed Spider's absence. Later, Randy gets a box of leaflets to stuff in doors. The staffer pays him up front. Randy recruits Kenard, Donut and Dukie to help him. Michael is not interested. Donut steals a car to make the work faster despite Randy's objections. The team quickly gets bored and he tells them he will not pay them if they don't finish the job. When they realize that he has already been paid, they ask him why he is bothering, and he explains that it was the job he agreed to do. Randy finishes the work alone after paying his friends.
De'Londa finds Namond playing video games and asks him why he is not in school. Namond explains that the election means that school is closed. De'Londa seizes the opportunity to take Namond to see Bodie. Bodie is initially unsure but De'Londa persists and uses Wee-Bey's name to convince him. After De'Londa leaves, Bodie tells Namond that talking to her gives him insight into his personality.
Michael goes to the gym where Cutty is already flirting with another woman. Namond arrives and asks Michael for help moving his first package and Michael refuses. Cutty talks to Michael about the woman and then asks about Spider. Michael explains that Spider quit because of Cutty's involvement with his mother, then makes a cutting remark about Cutty being no "angel". When Namond returns home he is faced with his mother telling him that she is counting on him, and he assures her that his new corner duties were easy to carry out. Out of his mother's view, he dumps a full bag of drugs on his bed, indicating that he has not sold any of his package.
At home that evening, Jen and Tommy ignore constantly ringing phones. The news reports that there was a massive voter turnout and that Carcetti is in the lead. Similar scenes unfold at Royce and Gray's homes. Tommy learns that Bond is beating Demper in the State's Attorney race. This is good news for Tommy, as it shows a lack of support for Royce's ticket. Jen convinces Tommy to go for a walk with her. They make their way around the harbor and Tommy tells Jen that he hopes to make Baltimore great again. She is positive about his chances. He gets a call from D'Agostino to tell him that Royce has conceded, making him the presumptive mayor-elect because Baltimore is such a heavily Democratic city. Tommy is unsure whether he is happy about the win but finally breaks into a smile. They make their way to a celebration and Tommy thanks his supporters and his opponents, appealing for their help in the forthcoming general election and in improving Baltimore for their children. Council President Naresse Campbell congratulates Carcetti. Jen tells him that she is going home and to enjoy his night. Davis also attends the party and is unashamed of his actions, telling Carcetti he let him off lightly.
The party continues with Gerry, Wilson, Tommy, and D'Agostino in a downtown hotel. Gerry leaves with Wilson. D'Agostino comes on to Carcetti, telling him that he owes her a win bonus. He resists her overtures despite his initial response. D'Agostino tries to convince him that he cannot go against his nature, but eventually backs down when he resists a second time.
Omar
Officer Walker spots Omar in a convenience store. Omar realizes Walker is waiting outside for him and hides his gun in a refrigerator. Walker stops Omar and, as he waits for backup, pockets a ring Omar is wearing—the same ring that Omar took from Marlo StanfieldMarlo Stanfield
Marlo "Black" Stanfield is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Jamie Hector. Stanfield is a young, ruthless and ambitious player in the Baltimore drug trade who gains control of West Baltimore and is the head of his own drug crew.-Character background and plot...
during his robbery of Marlo's poker game. When Omar talks back, Walker brutally pushes him into the wall and knocks him over. When Omar claims that Walker is being unfair as there is no charge against him, Walker informs him that he is facing a murder charge. Colicchio and McNulty arrive on the scene, where Colicchio mocks Omar for not having his shotgun with him. McNulty then explains he is being arrested on a robbery/murder warrant. Officer Santangelo arrives with the wagon, and Omar asks McNulty for a phone call before he is taken in. McNulty gives him his own personal cell phone and dials Butchie for him. Butchie reassures Omar that he will pay his bail and offers him support even when Omar tells him there will be no bail because the charge is murder. Santangelo playfully mocks McNulty as being a "Democrat" for aiding Omar.
When Omar is brought into the prison, he is faced with aggression from most of the other inmates, many of whom he has robbed in the past. Omar prepares for the worst when two men are sent into his cell. One of them carries a knife. After a tense stand-off, Omar is immensely relieved to be told that Butchie sent them to protect him.