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Reformation (The Wire episode)
Encyclopedia
"Reformation" is the tenth episode of the third season of the HBO original series, The Wire
. The episode was written by Ed Burns
from a story by David Simon
& Ed Burns and was directed by Christine Moore
. It originally aired on November 28, 2004.
, and Jim True-Frost
do not appear in this episode.
Tiara Harris' name is mis-spelled in the credits as Tianna Harris.
remains safely protected by numerous bodyguards. Marlo and Chris Partlow set up a night time ambush for Devonne, the woman who acted as bait in a failed trap for Marlo. When she emerges from her home Marlo shoots her twice and when she has fallen fires a third bullet through her mouth. Partlow assures him that the murder was necessary.
, signaling that two of Stanfield's people have been killed. The drug murder prompts another police crackdown on dealers city-wide, affecting dealers from Proposition Joe
's co-op including Fat-Face Rick and Philboy. They complain to Proposition Joe about the ongoing war affecting their business.
Stringer Bell
meets with Shamrock at the funeral home. He is annoyed that his bodyguards have been replaced by Slim Charles. He asks Shamrock about their drug business and learns that they are running out of product and their money count is down for three straight weeks. Stringer drives to a meeting with Proposition Joe and the disgruntled co-op members that takes place in the back room of a pawn shop. Stringer orders his bodyguard to wait outside. Proposition Joe tells Stringer that despite Stringer's contribution, the co-op has voted to shut the Barksdales out if the war continues against Marlo. They have approached Vinson and found that Marlo may be amenable to a truce if he can keep his territory. Proposition Joe tells Stringer that he is faced with a 'crisis of leadership'.
Avon continues to plan his warfare against Marlo Stanfeld for their base of operations. Stringer interrupts to deliver Proposition Joe's news about a potential truce. When Avon seems reluctant, Stringer warns him that the co-op plans to shut them out. Stringer accuses Avon of getting high on the power of leading the war, and asks Avon to consider if they are in "the game" for their reputation or for the power it gives them. Avon informs Stringer that Marlo has murdered Devonne and restates his intention to continue the war.
Stringer returns to the print shop and slowly comes to a difficult decision. Eventually he phones the Western district police. Later he finds that property development grants have been awarded, but not to his company. He gives Shamrock some documents to take to their lawyer, Maurice Levy
.
and thanks him for his loyalty. He tells Carver that he thinks he is a good man and a good supervisor but he is not performing as an investigator. He berates Carver for his lack of confidential informants. Colvin draws a distinction between the drug war (two sides battling against one another, with local residents coming to see the police as a hostile occupying force) and real policing, in which the police protect the community. He urges Carver to learn about this beat and to gather information about the people in his district so that he can protect them properly. Lieutenant Mello interrupts to tell Colvin that reporters have learned of his free zones. Meanwhile, Detective Thomas "Herc" Hauk and Officer Lloyd "Truck" Garrick are taking the reporter on a tour of the free zones and revealing every detail of Colvin's plan. Colvin and Mello arrive at Hamsterdam to talk to the reporter. Colvin spins the reporter a story about the free zones being part of an enforcement strategy, and the reporter agrees to hold the story for a week. Colvin discusses his options with Mello and his community relations sergeant. He decides to admit his involvement and face the consequences.
At the next ComStat meeting Colvin gives a presentation showing his cleaned-up streets where drug trafficking was once uncontrollable. Major Reed is slow to understand how Colvin achieved this, but Deputy Commissioner Rawls
immediately realizes that Colvin has essentially legalized the drug trade in specific areas, and claims that Colvin has "gone insane". Commissioner Burrell
, enraged, immediately ends the ComStat meeting, ordering Colvin into his office with Rawls and Major Reed. In the commissioner's office, Burrell begins fearing for his job, stating that he is "dead", while Major Reed claims that the entire department is going down because of Colvin. Colvin tells Burrell that he acted alone and is willing to take the fall for the scheme, however he insists he is equally willing to lie about who sanctioned his ideas if any of his subordinates are punished for his actions. Burrell is incredulous that Colvin is willing to threaten him. Colvin reminds Burrell about the impact on crime in his district, as attested by a sheaf of commendations and letters from members of the public; Burrell tells him that it's not enough to protect them. Burrell tells Colvin he is to take his vacation time so as to avoid drawing attention to the scandal. On the way out the door, Colvin tells Burrell that a Baltimore Sun reporter is aware of Hamsterdam and is delaying a story from the press.
and Theresa D'Agostino chair a campaign strategy meeting with Carcetti's close friends. The major issue discussed is race; Carcetti's backers agree that they need African Americans in their campaign team and endorsements from black community leaders. D'Agostino outlines the importance of keeping Anthony Gray in the race in order to split the black vote. Carcetti is reluctant to begin making fundraising calls, but D'Agostino tells him they desperately need the funds, with at least one million dollars required for television advertising.
Carcetti discusses his guilty feelings about betraying Gray while in bed with his wife, who is reading a Dennis Lehane
novel. She suggests that he tell Gray that he also plans to run, but Carcetti worries that this may drive Gray out of the race and he knows that his campaign is dependent on Gray remaining a candidate.
Burrell meets with Mayor Clarence Royce
and his Chief of Staff Coleman Parker to tell them about Colvin's actions. Parker suggests that Burrell will be fired and refuses to take his lack of knowledge about the situation as an excuse. Burrell tells Royce about the crime reduction and gives him letters from supporters in Colvin's district, specifically those of citizens and voters who Royce is most concerned with for the upcoming election. Royce is impressed with the drop in crime and refuses Burrell's suggestion to break the story and claim it was planned as a trap for drug dealers. Royce ends the meeting with Burrell and contemplates how to use this information.
complains to his colleague Lester Freamon
that they are still not up on any wiretaps and are probably missing drug conspiracy phone calls. Lieutenant Cedric Daniels
and Assistant State's Attorney Rhonda Pearlman
meet with Judge Phelan to discuss their difficulties with drug dealers discarding phones. Phelan continues to flirt with Pearlman throughout the meeting. He asks her for other options and she says that her boss, State's Attorney Demper, is too focused on re-election and the feds are unable to help. Phelan offers to sign wiretap affidavits at any time as they uncover phone numbers. As they leave Daniels comments on Phelan's attraction.
Daniels and Pearlman discuss the meeting with McNulty. He wants to rush the paperwork but Daniels cautions him. McNulty is disappointed that Phelan is the assigned judge, still angry at his behavior on the first Barksdale investigation. Daniels points out that McNulty believes that anyone who gets in his way is worthless and McNulty concedes the point.
Freamon matches drug dealer Bodie Broadus
' voice to a prior recording when he makes a phone call to his grandmother. This information is used as probable cause for a wiretap. With the wire up and running on Bodie, the unit soon has him talking in code about drugs to less disciplined colleagues who use names on the phone. Bodie is heard ordering a resupply for a dealer known as Tweety Bird. Officer Caroline Massey tells McNulty that the code remains similar to their other investigations apart from one word - Hamsterdam. She guesses that it may have something to do with the stash house. McNulty departs to meet up with Kima Greggs
and observe Bodie's meeting with Tweety Bird. Daniels asks Pearlman to leave the room and tells his detectives the latest news about their suspended co-worker Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski - internal investigations have become involved. Daniels has to ask Massey and Freamon if they ever faced racism from Prez. Massey and Freamon both claim no. When Daniels leaves, Massey wonders if Prez would have shot Waggoner if he were White, while Freamon defends Prez claiming the suspect they were looking for was a number one male (BPD police code for African American male).
McNulty is restless as he and Greggs wait for the meeting to happen. He tells Greggs about his failed relationship with D'Agostino. His main complaint is that D'Agostino seemed to question his intelligence. The next day a more cheerful McNulty reports successfully tailing Tweety Bird to a possible stash house. Other members of the unit are despondent because the Barksdales have ditched their phones after only 30 hours of wiretap had been conducted. Daniels is appalled at the cost of getting the wiretaps for so little return. Sydnor suggests that they should continue to follow Bernard and Squeak to try to get wiretaps on the next batch of phones. Greggs worries that there is little point in expending so much effort for phones that are in use for such a short time. Daniels asks for a way to get ahead of the curve and Pearlman suggests they could try to pre-wiretap the phones. Freamon and McNulty both have an idea that might solve the problems - supplying the phones directly to Bernard, the Barksdale crew member responsible for purchasing them. Leander Sydnor
watches the unit's camera on the printshop and notices Stringer worriedly pacing and smoking. Later, the detail log shows Stringer making a call to the Western district.
McNulty and Greggs visit Bubbles
to ask him about Bernard and his girlfriend Squeak. Bubbles recognizes Squeak and agrees to talk to her. At the detail office Freamon discusses using Bubbles to set up an undercover meeting with Squeak. Daniels and Pearlman meet with Phelan again with their new plan, and despite its being legally shaky he agrees to go ahead with it, no doubt encouraged by a piece of flirting by Pearlman. McNulty gets a call from Colvin and visits him at the Western offices. Colvin tells McNulty about a tip about Avon's whereabouts but does not reveal his source. The next day Greggs and McNulty meet with Bubbles and tell him about their plan to sell phones to Squeak. As they talk, McNulty thinks he spots Beadie Russell
driving past. He chases the car, but the driver was not Russell.
Later, Bubbles stages a reconnection with Squeak and shows her that he is selling cell phones. She arranges a meeting between Bernard and Freamon - who is posing as Bubbles' supplier. Freamon pretends to be a con-man named Calvin and Bernard checks his story by having him prove he can read numbers. Freamon takes Bernard and Squeak to a staged cell phone shop. He explains that he is taking discarded phones and paying to have them reactivated using bogus accounts and then selling them as new. Massey poses as Freamon's niece and assistant. Bernard is taken in, but insists on doctored receipts as part of the deal.
. Vinson tells him that Omar is an independent operator and a homosexual.
Brother Mouzone sends Lamar, a "visceral" homophobe, into various gay bars looking for Omar, claiming he is the "perfect bait" for Omar to notice. During this search, Omar is nowhere to be found, but Deputy Commissioner Rawls
is visible in the background of one of the bars. Lamar is disgusted by the search having little success finding Omar, with his anger drawing the attention of several bar patrons. Lamar finally gets a lead by angering a bartender by referring to him as a "cocksucker" and catching the attention of Omar's boyfriend Dante in the process. Dante approaches Lamar on the street outside of a club with his weapon drawn to ask what he wants and Brother Mouzone subdues and captures him.
Justin and his friends visit the gym and instantly criticize the state of the equipment and start an impromptu football game. Cutty is overwhelmed by the children's ebullience. Cutty cannot control his temper and when Justin insults his masculinity he challenges Justin. Justin reminds him of the consequences of striking a juvenile and then leaves the gym. Cutty discusses his difficulty with the trainer at another, more established gym. The trainer encourages Cutty to remain patient and show the children that he has faith in them by not letting them fail—no matter how hard they try to.
Cutty returns to Hamsterdam and talks to Carver. He tracks down Justin and apologizes for his behavior at the first meeting. Later, Justin returns to the gym and finds Cutty training a young enthusiast.
LaTroy: A Stanfield lieutenant killed by the Barksdale crew, along with another Stanfield member who was linked with Fruit.
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 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...
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 and was directed by Christine Moore
Christine Moore
Christine Moore is an American television director. She has directed episodes of The Wire, Treme, CSI: NY, and other television series.-Biography:...
. It originally aired on November 28, 2004.
Title reference
The title refers to the theme of season three with various characters struggling to initiate reform on a personal and citywide level. In this episode Cutty's attempts at personal reform come to fruition when he starts his gym, Colvin's attempt to reform the drug war are exposed and Brother Mouzone remarks on the empty political promises of reform in Baltimore marked by the collapse of the towers.Epigraph
This phrase is used to describe the problems within the Barksdale organization - Stringer hopes to move away from the street and into legitimate business while Avon wants to protect their roots and claim more territory.Starring cast
Although credited, Wendell PierceWendell 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 Jim True-Frost
Jim True-Frost
Jim 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:...
do not appear in this episode.
Guest stars
- Glynn TurmanGlynn TurmanGlynn Russell Turman is an American stage, television, and film actor as well as a writer, director, and producer. He is perhaps best known for his roles as high school student Leroy "Preach" Jackson in the 1975 coming-of-age film Cooley High, math professor and retired Army colonel Bradford...
as Mayor Clarence RoyceClarence RoyceClarence 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... - Peter GeretyPeter GeretyPeter Gerety is an American actor.Gerety began acting while a student at Boston University, participating in productions at the Charles Playhouse. In 1965, he joined the Trinity Square Repertory Company, a resident theater company in Providence, Rhode Island where he appeared in over 125...
as Judge Daniel Phelan - Jamie HectorJamie HectorJamie Hector is an Haitian-American actor who is known for his portrayal of Marlo Stanfield on the critically acclaimed HBO series The Wire.- Biography :...
as Marlo StanfieldMarlo StanfieldMarlo "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... - Chad L. Coleman as Dennis "Cutty" Wise
- 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 - Michael Potts as Brother Mouzone
- 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 - 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... - 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 Shamrock - Anwan GloverAnwan GloverRalph Anwan Glover is an American actor and musician. He is one of the founding members of the Backyard Band, a go-go band, as well as appearing as gang member Slim Charles in the HBO series The Wire. He has also appeared in music videos, such as Boyz n da Hood's "Dem Boyz" among others, and has a...
as Slim Charles - DeAndre McCullough as Lamar
- 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 - 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 Partlow - Megan Anderson as Jen Carcetti
- R. Emery Bright as Community Relations Sergeant
- Norris Davis as Vinson
- 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 - Sho "Swordsman" Brown as Phil Boy
- Tony D. Head as Major Bobby Reed
- Marty Lodge as Banisky - Baltimore Sun reporter
- 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 - Cleo Reginald Pizana as Chief of Staff Coleman Parker
- Mia Arnice Chambers as Squeak
- Tiara Harris as Devonne
- Melvin Jackson, Jr. as Bernard
- 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 - Troj. Marquis Strickland as Fat-Face Rick
Tiara Harris' name is mis-spelled in the credits as Tianna Harris.
Uncredited appearances
- 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 - Brandon FobbsBrandon FobbsBrandon Fobbs is an American actor.He had a recurring role on HBO television series The Wire as Fruit. He also appeared in Pride and This Christmas and The Devil's Tomb.-External links:...
as Fruit - Justin Burley as Justin
- Melvin T. Russell as Jamal
- Rico Sterling as Tyrell
- Joilet F. Harris as Officer Caroline Massey
- Ryan Sands as Officer Lloyd "Truck" Garrick
- Edward Green as Spider
- Marc Krinsky as Angelo Martin
- Raw LeibaRaw LeibaRaw Leiba Leiba got his first taste of acting in 1999 in an uncredited role as a pro football Wide Receiver in Oliver Stone's "Any Given Sunday"...
as Stringer's Bodyguard - Nakia Dillard as Lambert
- Unknown as Pete Sinopli
- Unknown as Tote
- Unknown as Barman in gay club
Stanfield Organization
Young Stanfield dealers Justin and Jamal leave a convenience store and hear gunfire nearby. They rush away from the store and come across the body of LaTroy, a Stanfield lieutenant. Their colleagues Snoop and Tote pull up in a truck and Snoop orders them to get in for their own safety. Meanwhile 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...
remains safely protected by numerous bodyguards. Marlo and Chris Partlow set up a night time ambush for Devonne, the woman who acted as bait in a failed trap for Marlo. When she emerges from her home Marlo shoots her twice and when she has fallen fires a third bullet through her mouth. Partlow assures him that the murder was necessary.
Barksdale Organization
Detective Vernon Holley attends a crime scene in the Western District, another drug murder. He suggests that the Barksdales are the most likely suspects because the victim is one of Stanfield's people. Fruit is nearby to see the body of his colleague. At a safe house, Slim Charles reports in to Avon BarksdaleAvon 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...
, signaling that two of Stanfield's people have been killed. The drug murder prompts another police crackdown on dealers city-wide, affecting dealers from 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 co-op including Fat-Face Rick and Philboy. They complain to Proposition Joe about the ongoing war affecting their business.
Stringer Bell
Stringer Bell
Russell "Stringer" Bell is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by English actor Idris Elba. Bell served as drug kingpin Avon Barksdale's second in command, assuming direct control of the Barksdale Organization during Avon's imprisonment...
meets with Shamrock at the funeral home. He is annoyed that his bodyguards have been replaced by Slim Charles. He asks Shamrock about their drug business and learns that they are running out of product and their money count is down for three straight weeks. Stringer drives to a meeting with Proposition Joe and the disgruntled co-op members that takes place in the back room of a pawn shop. Stringer orders his bodyguard to wait outside. Proposition Joe tells Stringer that despite Stringer's contribution, the co-op has voted to shut the Barksdales out if the war continues against Marlo. They have approached Vinson and found that Marlo may be amenable to a truce if he can keep his territory. Proposition Joe tells Stringer that he is faced with a 'crisis of leadership'.
Avon continues to plan his warfare against Marlo Stanfeld for their base of operations. Stringer interrupts to deliver Proposition Joe's news about a potential truce. When Avon seems reluctant, Stringer warns him that the co-op plans to shut them out. Stringer accuses Avon of getting high on the power of leading the war, and asks Avon to consider if they are in "the game" for their reputation or for the power it gives them. Avon informs Stringer that Marlo has murdered Devonne and restates his intention to continue the war.
Stringer returns to the print shop and slowly comes to a difficult decision. Eventually he phones the Western district police. Later he finds that property development grants have been awarded, but not to his company. He gives Shamrock some documents to take to their lawyer, 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...
.
Western district
Major Howard "Bunny" Colvin meets with Sergeant Ellis CarverEllis 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...
and thanks him for his loyalty. He tells Carver that he thinks he is a good man and a good supervisor but he is not performing as an investigator. He berates Carver for his lack of confidential informants. Colvin draws a distinction between the drug war (two sides battling against one another, with local residents coming to see the police as a hostile occupying force) and real policing, in which the police protect the community. He urges Carver to learn about this beat and to gather information about the people in his district so that he can protect them properly. Lieutenant Mello interrupts to tell Colvin that reporters have learned of his free zones. Meanwhile, Detective Thomas "Herc" Hauk and Officer Lloyd "Truck" Garrick are taking the reporter on a tour of the free zones and revealing every detail of Colvin's plan. Colvin and Mello arrive at Hamsterdam to talk to the reporter. Colvin spins the reporter a story about the free zones being part of an enforcement strategy, and the reporter agrees to hold the story for a week. Colvin discusses his options with Mello and his community relations sergeant. He decides to admit his involvement and face the consequences.
At the next ComStat meeting Colvin gives a presentation showing his cleaned-up streets where drug trafficking was once uncontrollable. Major Reed is slow to understand how Colvin achieved this, but Deputy Commissioner Rawls
William Rawls
William A. "Bill" Rawls is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor John Doman. Over the course of the series he ascends to the rank of Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.-Season 1:...
immediately realizes that Colvin has essentially legalized the drug trade in specific areas, and claims that Colvin has "gone insane". 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...
, enraged, immediately ends the ComStat meeting, ordering Colvin into his office with Rawls and Major Reed. In the commissioner's office, Burrell begins fearing for his job, stating that he is "dead", while Major Reed claims that the entire department is going down because of Colvin. Colvin tells Burrell that he acted alone and is willing to take the fall for the scheme, however he insists he is equally willing to lie about who sanctioned his ideas if any of his subordinates are punished for his actions. Burrell is incredulous that Colvin is willing to threaten him. Colvin reminds Burrell about the impact on crime in his district, as attested by a sheaf of commendations and letters from members of the public; Burrell tells him that it's not enough to protect them. Burrell tells Colvin he is to take his vacation time so as to avoid drawing attention to the scandal. On the way out the door, Colvin tells Burrell that a Baltimore Sun reporter is aware of Hamsterdam and is delaying a story from the press.
Politics
Tommy CarcettiTommy Carcetti
Thomas J. "Tommy" Carcetti is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Irish actor Aidan Gillen. Carcetti is an ambitious Baltimore politician who rises from a seat on the city council to the office of the Mayor of Baltimore, and to the office of the Governor of Maryland by the...
and Theresa D'Agostino chair a campaign strategy meeting with Carcetti's close friends. The major issue discussed is race; Carcetti's backers agree that they need African Americans in their campaign team and endorsements from black community leaders. D'Agostino outlines the importance of keeping Anthony Gray in the race in order to split the black vote. Carcetti is reluctant to begin making fundraising calls, but D'Agostino tells him they desperately need the funds, with at least one million dollars required for television advertising.
Carcetti discusses his guilty feelings about betraying Gray while in bed with his wife, who is reading a Dennis Lehane
Dennis Lehane
Dennis Lehane is an American author. He has written several award-winning novels, including A Drink Before the War and the New York Times bestseller Mystic River, which was later made into an Academy Award-winning film. Another novel, Gone, Baby, Gone, was also adapted into an Academy...
novel. She suggests that he tell Gray that he also plans to run, but Carcetti worries that this may drive Gray out of the race and he knows that his campaign is dependent on Gray remaining a candidate.
Burrell meets with Mayor Clarence Royce
Clarence 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...
and his Chief of Staff Coleman Parker to tell them about Colvin's actions. Parker suggests that Burrell will be fired and refuses to take his lack of knowledge about the situation as an excuse. Burrell tells Royce about the crime reduction and gives him letters from supporters in Colvin's district, specifically those of citizens and voters who Royce is most concerned with for the upcoming election. Royce is impressed with the drop in crime and refuses Burrell's suggestion to break the story and claim it was planned as a trap for drug dealers. Royce ends the meeting with Burrell and contemplates how to use this information.
Major case unit
Detective Jimmy McNultyJimmy 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...
complains to his colleague 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...
that they are still not up on any wiretaps and are probably missing drug conspiracy phone calls. Lieutenant 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...
and Assistant State's Attorney Rhonda Pearlman
Rhonda Pearlman
Rhonda Pearlman is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actress Deirdre Lovejoy. Pearlman has been the legal system liaison for all of Lieutenant Cedric Daniels' investigations on the show...
meet with Judge Phelan to discuss their difficulties with drug dealers discarding phones. Phelan continues to flirt with Pearlman throughout the meeting. He asks her for other options and she says that her boss, State's Attorney Demper, is too focused on re-election and the feds are unable to help. Phelan offers to sign wiretap affidavits at any time as they uncover phone numbers. As they leave Daniels comments on Phelan's attraction.
Daniels and Pearlman discuss the meeting with McNulty. He wants to rush the paperwork but Daniels cautions him. McNulty is disappointed that Phelan is the assigned judge, still angry at his behavior on the first Barksdale investigation. Daniels points out that McNulty believes that anyone who gets in his way is worthless and McNulty concedes the point.
Freamon matches drug dealer 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...
' voice to a prior recording when he makes a phone call to his grandmother. This information is used as probable cause for a wiretap. With the wire up and running on Bodie, the unit soon has him talking in code about drugs to less disciplined colleagues who use names on the phone. Bodie is heard ordering a resupply for a dealer known as Tweety Bird. Officer Caroline Massey tells McNulty that the code remains similar to their other investigations apart from one word - Hamsterdam. She guesses that it may have something to do with the stash house. McNulty departs to meet up with 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 observe Bodie's meeting with Tweety Bird. Daniels asks Pearlman to leave the room and tells his detectives the latest news about their suspended co-worker Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski - internal investigations have become involved. Daniels has to ask Massey and Freamon if they ever faced racism from Prez. Massey and Freamon both claim no. When Daniels leaves, Massey wonders if Prez would have shot Waggoner if he were White, while Freamon defends Prez claiming the suspect they were looking for was a number one male (BPD police code for African American male).
McNulty is restless as he and Greggs wait for the meeting to happen. He tells Greggs about his failed relationship with D'Agostino. His main complaint is that D'Agostino seemed to question his intelligence. The next day a more cheerful McNulty reports successfully tailing Tweety Bird to a possible stash house. Other members of the unit are despondent because the Barksdales have ditched their phones after only 30 hours of wiretap had been conducted. Daniels is appalled at the cost of getting the wiretaps for so little return. Sydnor suggests that they should continue to follow Bernard and Squeak to try to get wiretaps on the next batch of phones. Greggs worries that there is little point in expending so much effort for phones that are in use for such a short time. Daniels asks for a way to get ahead of the curve and Pearlman suggests they could try to pre-wiretap the phones. Freamon and McNulty both have an idea that might solve the problems - supplying the phones directly to Bernard, the Barksdale crew member responsible for purchasing them. 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:...
watches the unit's camera on the printshop and notices Stringer worriedly pacing and smoking. Later, the detail log shows Stringer making a call to the Western district.
McNulty and Greggs visit 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"...
to ask him about Bernard and his girlfriend Squeak. Bubbles recognizes Squeak and agrees to talk to her. At the detail office Freamon discusses using Bubbles to set up an undercover meeting with Squeak. Daniels and Pearlman meet with Phelan again with their new plan, and despite its being legally shaky he agrees to go ahead with it, no doubt encouraged by a piece of flirting by Pearlman. McNulty gets a call from Colvin and visits him at the Western offices. Colvin tells McNulty about a tip about Avon's whereabouts but does not reveal his source. The next day Greggs and McNulty meet with Bubbles and tell him about their plan to sell phones to Squeak. As they talk, McNulty thinks he spots Beadie Russell
Beadie Russell
Beatrice "Beadie" Russell is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actress Amy Ryan. She was featured prominently in the second season, after she discovered thirteen corpses in a container on the Baltimore docks....
driving past. He chases the car, but the driver was not Russell.
Later, Bubbles stages a reconnection with Squeak and shows her that he is selling cell phones. She arranges a meeting between Bernard and Freamon - who is posing as Bubbles' supplier. Freamon pretends to be a con-man named Calvin and Bernard checks his story by having him prove he can read numbers. Freamon takes Bernard and Squeak to a staged cell phone shop. He explains that he is taking discarded phones and paying to have them reactivated using bogus accounts and then selling them as new. Massey poses as Freamon's niece and assistant. Bernard is taken in, but insists on doctored receipts as part of the deal.
Brother Mouzone
Brother Mouzone returns to Baltimore with his aide Lamar. First of all, they come across detective Holley's crime scene and Lamar admits he has no idea where they are. Later they find their way to the site of the demolished towers they were once paid to defend. To explain what happened to the towers Brother Mouzone tells Lamar that reform has come to Baltimore. Brother Mouzone meets with Vinson and gives him a description of 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"....
. Vinson tells him that Omar is an independent operator and a homosexual.
Brother Mouzone sends Lamar, a "visceral" homophobe, into various gay bars looking for Omar, claiming he is the "perfect bait" for Omar to notice. During this search, Omar is nowhere to be found, but Deputy Commissioner Rawls
William Rawls
William A. "Bill" Rawls is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor John Doman. Over the course of the series he ascends to the rank of Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.-Season 1:...
is visible in the background of one of the bars. Lamar is disgusted by the search having little success finding Omar, with his anger drawing the attention of several bar patrons. Lamar finally gets a lead by angering a bartender by referring to him as a "cocksucker" and catching the attention of Omar's boyfriend Dante in the process. Dante approaches Lamar on the street outside of a club with his weapon drawn to ask what he wants and Brother Mouzone subdues and captures him.
Omar
Omar meets with Butchie to discuss the Barksdale organization's accidental near-shooting of his grandmother, Josephine. Butchie is disgusted that the Sunday truce was broken. Butchie tells Omar about the Barksdales, funeral home base. Omar is outraged that Butchie has kept this information from him until now, but Butchie protests that he was trying to protect him. Omar begins to stake out the funeral home and sees Stringer leaving.Cutty
The Deacon visits Dennis "Cutty" Wise at his gym. He is repairing the equipment as best he can. The deacon discusses getting children to use the gym. Cutty visits Hamsterdam and finds Carver trying to organize a basketball game. Cutty approaches him and discusses the boxing initiative. Carver refers him to his time-out corner, filled with children who can't play without fighting. Cutty breaks up a fight that has just broken out and begins to teach some moves. Justin and Spider are the two children involved in the fight.Justin and his friends visit the gym and instantly criticize the state of the equipment and start an impromptu football game. Cutty is overwhelmed by the children's ebullience. Cutty cannot control his temper and when Justin insults his masculinity he challenges Justin. Justin reminds him of the consequences of striking a juvenile and then leaves the gym. Cutty discusses his difficulty with the trainer at another, more established gym. The trainer encourages Cutty to remain patient and show the children that he has faith in them by not letting them fail—no matter how hard they try to.
Cutty returns to Hamsterdam and talks to Carver. He tracks down Justin and apologizes for his behavior at the first meeting. Later, Justin returns to the gym and finds Cutty training a young enthusiast.
Deceased
Devonne: Killed by Marlo Stanfield as revenge for her attempt to seduce him as part of a trap set up by Avon Barksdale.LaTroy: A Stanfield lieutenant killed by the Barksdale crew, along with another Stanfield member who was linked with Fruit.