History Recap / TheWireS03E08MoralMidgetry

* ReasonYouSuckSpeech: [=McNulty=] lays out a really brutal but fair one to Brianna, all but saying that it’s her fault her son is dead.

* DoesNotUnderstandSarcasm: Colvin, at least as far as Hamsterdam is concerned.
-->'''Colvin:''' If you want to neutralize a threat? Give it a job.
-->'''Carver:''' As?
-->'''Colvin:''' Auxiliary cops. Keep an eye out for the predators. You got the dealers payin' 'em to do nothing now anyway? Kill two birds and all that.
-->'''Carver:''' [[SarcasmMode Right. Throw 'em some bikes, maybe police radios.]]
-->'''Colvin:''' You know, we could do that.
-->'''Carver:''' I was...you're being serious?

* KickTheDog: [=McNulty=] with Brianna.
-->'''Jimmy [=McNulty=]:''' Look, two years ago we hung more wire on your brother's crew than [[ProductPlacement AT&T]] and at the end, [[Recap/TheWireS01E13Sentencing D'Angelo was this close to flipping. Giving up everybody, everything. But you know all that right? You were the one who went down to that detention center and talked your son out of a deal.]] I kinda liked your son, you know? All things considered, [[TokenGoodTeammate he was a pretty decent kid]]. And it grinds me that no one ever spoke up for him and seems to me that nobody ever will. But mostly at this point? I'm sorry I bothered his girl and I'm sorry she bothered you.
-->'''Brianna Barksdale:''' (''barely holding back tears'') Why go to her? Why not come to me first?
-->'''Jimmy [=McNulty=]:''' [[ArmorPiercingResponse Honestly? I was looking for somebody who cared about the kid. I mean, like I said, you were the one who made him take the years, right?]]
** Put it another way, [=McNulty=] rips apart Brianna's narrative of the Barksdales in a few minutes. He shakes her world with the truth, which wasn't an easy thing to do with someone like Brianna. Brianna would have made have made a good kingpin.

** Davis repeatedly tries to convince Stringer that he is this for the world of higher business, and make him understand that he still has a street-corner mentality that will work against him in this case. Stringer refuses to listen.

* ReasonYouSuckSpeech: [=McNulty=] lays out a really brutal, but fair, one to Brianna, all but saying that it’s her fault she’s dead.
* RelativeButton: Avon immediately attacks Stringer when he discovers he killed [=DeAngelo=]. For as much trouble as he caused for them and as distant as they became in prison, he [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes clearly cared for his nephew.]]

* DramaticIrony: When explaining his sharp decrease in crime rates in the COMSTAT meeting, Colvin rattles a list of BS reasons that ends with “{Understatement significant community outreach}” and exchanges a knowing smirk with Mello.

* MistakenForRacist: In a pretty funny moment, when in Middle-of-nowhere, Maryland, [=McNulty=] tries to appeal to a local cop by putting on some thinly-veiled racism. Upon spotting the cop’s black [=wife/coworker=], McNulty immediately and awkwardly backtracks. The cop is less than impressed.

* DramaticIrony: When explaining his sharp decrease in crime rates in the COMSTAT meeting, Colvin rattles a list of BS reasons that ends with “{{Understatement significant community outreach}}” and exchanges a knowing smirk with Mello.

* MistakenForRacist: In a pretty funny moment, when in Middle-of-nowhere, Maryland, McNulty tries to appeal to a local cop by putting on some thinly-veiled racism. McNulty then spots the cop’s black [=wife/coworker=] and McNulty immediately and awkwardly backtracks.

* ReasonYouSuckSpeech: McNulty lays out a really brutal, but fair, one to Brianna, all but saying that it’s her fault she’s dead.

-->'''Jimmy [=McNulty=]:''' Look, two years ago we hung more wire on your brother's crew than [[ProductPlacement AT&T]] and at the end, [[Recap/TheWireS01E13Sentencing D'Angelo was this close to flipping. Giving up everybody, everything. But you know all that right? You were the one who went down to that detention center and talked your son out of a deal.]] I kinda liked your son, you know? All things considered, he was a pretty decent kid. And it grinds me that no one ever spoke up for him and seems to me that nobody ever will. But mostly at this point? I'm sorry I bothered his girl and I'm sorry she bothered you.

* EnhanceButton: [[{{Adorkable}} Prez]] gets positively giddy about the way he's able to get a close-up on the car Bernard drives by using one of these.

* {{Adorkable}}: Prez.
-->'''Prez:''' Okay, on that burner? I called Trac, gave 'em the serial number. Trac Corporation tells me that they sent it to Northland, a purchasing corporation. Northland tells me they sent it to their distribution center in Hagerstown. Hagerstown tells me they sent it to Buddy's Mondo Mart at 1440 Propane Road, Falls Church, Virginia, that's where it went out into the street. (''Daniels and Lester look at him'') [[DefensiveWhat What?]]
-->'''Daniels:''' [[DeadpanSnarker Did Buddy have them on display to the left or the right of the cash register?]]
-->'''Prez:''' [[ComicallyMissingThePoint How would I know that?]] (''{{Beat}}'') Oh, right.

* {{Manchild}}: Upon seeing that the dealers know how to use the photofit software (brushing off their incredulity that he ''doesn't'') Herc promptly starts using it to create his ideal woman. Even Carver seems surprised by this level of childishness from him.

* {{Manchild}}: Upon seeing that the dealers know how to use the photofit software (brushing off their incredulity that he ''doesn't'') he promptly starts using it to create his ideal woman. Even Carver seems surprised by this level of childishness from him.

Hamsterdam is busy as ever, as the drug trade continues to flourish. A man wearing a lot of watches and jewelry come up to one of the dealers and says there's more where that came from if he goes to one of the row houses. The dealer decides to take him on it and goes to the house. When he opens the door, he's immediately ambushed at gun point by a stick-up crew who duct-tape his mouth, wrists, and feet. He sees there are other dealers who've also been captured. Outside, Carver pulls up and asks the officers on duty how things are going; they say things are going normally, with a couple of people who [=OD'd=]. Just then, Carver sees one of the dealers who was ambushed, and who's still taped up, making his way down the stairs of the row house. As Carver makes his way over to help, Truck goes inside and says there's more of them there. Carver rips the tape off the dealer's mouth, and he yells, "[[PoliceAreUseless Can't you ever get a fucking po-lice round here when you need one?]]"

At the detail office, Prez tells Daniels and Lester how he traced the purchase of the cell phones to a Mondo-Mart in Virginia, and they're impressed. He also says from the numbers on the speed dial, he was able to trace the other phones in Bodie's network to phones purchased at other stores, and Daniels and Lester figure out they're all along the same highway route.

Colvin shows the Deacon how clean the corners have been, and offers to show him how. Meanwhile, at Hamsterdam, the dealers who were robbed in the row house are yelling at Carver, Colicchio and Herc for not protecting them. Colicchio and Herc are dismissive of them.

As Kima and [=McNulty=] come into the detail office, Lester mentions how far away Avon's crew has gone to buy phones, and that they only buy two at a time so they won't get caught. When he says he'd love to find out who was buying them, Kima and [=McNulty=] look at each other and sigh, but agree to go.

As the Deacon walks through Hamsterdam, horrified by what he sees, Carver tries to explain the situation to Colvin, and says he had Herc and some of the dealers go down to police headquarters to make an ID, but he's skeptical about that. Carver also adds he's just as worried about the kids inside Hamsterdam as he is by the stick-up crews outside. Colvin suggests he kills two birds with one stone by getting the kids to patrol, which Carver can't believe. Just then, the Deacon comes up to Colvin and says, "[[WhatTheHellHero What in God's name did you do here?]]"

Kima and [=McNulty=] try their luck at a Mondo-Mart, but the owner says there are so many people in general buying cellphones two at a time there's no way he can remember them all, and he recycles the security tapes every week because it's store policy. They go outside, and as Kima pulls out her map and puts it on the car, [=McNulty=] gets a call from Jay, who tells him Brianna's been calling for him. [=McNulty=] takes the number and hangs up, telling Kima it's about [[Recap/TheWireS03E02AllDueRespect his investigation into D'Angelo's death]], which she's surprised by. She then shows him on the map all the other stores where cellphones were bought are Mondo-Marts, and the only one that isn't is a Food-Mart in Dumfries, Virginia. [=McNulty=] is skeptical about going 100 miles for this, but Kima responds, "Do you really wanna go home early and disappoint Lester Freamon?"

At the funeral home, Avon and Slim look at [[Recap/TheWireS03E07BackBurners the crew member Snoop shot]], who's laid out in a casket, and Avon swears revenge on Marlo.

Stringer is in Clay's office, yelling at him because all he sees is money going out without getting any results for it. Clay points out he's got the inspectors he wants coming the next day or two, and he also is a minority contractor for supplying light bulbs. He tells Stringer not to worry, that he'll bring him along slowly through getting money first from the city government, the following year from the state government, and then the year after that from the federal government, where the real money is. Stringer says he's ready for that now, but Clay says he's showing too much of his street-corner mentality, and advises him to be patient.

Herc is letting the dealers use the Identikit to make a photo ID of the man who held them up, but though it starts out serious, they start playing around with it, and Colicchio, who's watching in frustration, storms out of the room. He walks past Colvin in his office, trying to explain to the Deacon that he's trying to make his district livable. Deacon points out he hasn't done enough for the addicts, and Colvin points out he's only the police, and what the Deacon is talking about is work for someone else. Back at Herc's desk, he and the dealers are now making a photo ID of an attractive woman, and Carver looks at them in disbelief.

Kima and [=McNulty=] arrive at the Food Mart; luckily for them, the owner not only knows who they're talking about, but mentions how the guy [[Recap/TheWireS03E07BackBurners bought eight phones recently]]. Unfortunately, he doesn't have a tape, because he re-uses it every day, but lets [=McNulty=] take the transaction record. Outside the store, Kima wonders what their next move should be when [=McNulty=] sees a police car drive by and gets an idea.

As Dennis helps the Deacon load a car, he says he needs to take control of his life in some way or he's afraid he'll [[FaceHeelTurn go back to his old ways]]. The Deacon points out there might be something good in surrendering his life, but Dennis says he's not interested in religion, though he concedes doing something for others might be what he needs.

Burrell and Rawls are before Carcetti's subcommittee again, being asked about the drop in crime in Colvin's district. Burrell says Colvin is willing to admit the numbers may just be an aberration, and when Carcetti brings up the possibility the numbers were cooked, Rawls claims his department not only refuses to do that, but he himself doesn't condone it. After wondering what it is Colvin's doing better than anyone else, Carcetti moves on to witness protection. Burrell and Rawls look at each other in shock, and Gray is even surprised, writing a note that says "Now?", but Carcetti continues to hammer Royce's administration for not providing protection and for passing the buck, even when he sees Terri, who's been watching from the back, walk out of the room. Gray joins in as well, saying how he's also disappointed in Royce's administration and that it's time for a change.

At Hamsterdam, [[Recap/TheWireS03E04Hamsterdam Roman]] breaks up a fight between two kids playing basketball. The Deacon and Dennis walk up to him, and Roman marvels at how the kids [[Recap/TheWireS03E07BackBurners vandalized the good net]] but are careful with the cheap replacement. The Deacon asks Dennis if he plays basketball, and Dennis says he was never much for that, but was a boxer. Roman says he'd be willing to bring them to a gym where some kids go. Dennis looks at Hamsterdam and asks what's going on, and Roman tells him, as well as how he, the Deacon and others are looking to step in.

That evening, Kima and [=McNulty=] pull up beside the Dumfries police station, and says he'd better talk to the sheriff alone, as the sheriff is probably a racist.

Carcetti is out to dinner with Jen and Terri, and Terri tells Carcetti needs to cut out his self-righteous tone if he wants to get anywhere, pointing out politics isn't just about winning the argument. Jen agrees, and says he needs to act in public like he does at home, where he's more engaging and relaxed.

[=McNulty=] is sitting with Sheriff Robert Spore (Jonathan Orcutt), who complains good-naturedly about having to pay $12 for two beers when he and his wife visited Baltimore. [=McNulty=] laughs, and, pretending to be racist, claims the whole city's gone to hell because of who's "running the show". Just then, and African-American woman, also in uniform, enters the room behind Spore, and [=McNulty=] backtracks. Spore introduces her as his wife, and asks [=McNulty=], a bit testily, why he's there.

Avon and Slim are at the funeral home, and Avon tells Slim to put "Devonne" on Marlo, so they can trap him. Avon also tells Slim to have someone contact [[Recap/TheWireS03E05StraightAndTrue Fatface Rick's]] cousin, who works at social services, to find out if Omar has any relatives. Slim is unsure whether they should go after Marlo and Omar at the same time, especially since [[Recap/TheWireS03E03DeadSoldiers Omar hasn't come at them since the last time]], but Avon is insistent. Stringer comes in, hopping mad, and Avon asks if he's taking care of business. Stringer doesn't pay attention, and Avon says, "Me too."

Dante and Kimmy bring all the loot they stole from the eastern district drug crews to Omar, who looks on in appreciation.

Outside the Food Mart, Spore tells Kima and [=McNulty=] the store is constantly targeted by kids, but fortunately, the insurance salesman in the same area has a camera that's overlooking the Food Mart's parking lot, and he'll be happy to give them the tape in the morning. As Kima and [=McNulty=] start to walk to their car, Spore pulls Kima aside.

->'''Spore:''' Your partner there? Bit of an asshole.
->'''Kima:''' [[DeadpanSnarker For real?]]

The Deacon, Dennis and Roman walk inside a gym, and Dennis looks on, entranced by what he sees.

Carver, Colicchio, Herc, Truck and some of the other officers are drinking in the western district parking lot, and arguing about Hamsterdam. Colicchio and Herc are upset at what they're doing, and Herc is doubting they're going to move in on any of the dealers. One of the uniforms says someone should either notify the bosses or the media. Carver points out crime is down on all the corners that have been cleared, that Colvin's always backed them whenever they were in trouble and deserves the same from them, and that he's earned the right after 30 years of service for some elbow room.

Kima and [=McNulty=] are in a motel room. Kima doesn't like it, but [=McNulty=] says he spent half his marriage in rooms like this, and says he'd pretend to be on the road for extraditions if Elena asked. Kima admits she groveled so she could move back in with Cheryl, but she isn't sure she wants to be back.

Colvin visits the Deacon at a bar, where the Deacon is playing pool. The Deacon tells Colvin they need to talk more about Hamsterdam. Colvin says he has a Comstat meeting, and will drop by later.

Stringer drops by the construction site, and Krawczyk tells him the inspectors are there, so everything's good to go. Stringer notices another man hanging outside the site, and Krawczyk identifies him as "Chunky" Coates, who has properties of his own thanks to his association with Clay.

Fitz is at the detail office installing equipment when Kima and [=McNulty=] walk in. Fitz says he's there because Lester called him for the use of the FBI's equipment. As Kima hands over the tape they got from the Food Mart, [=McNulty=] calls Brianna back (Daniels is surprised she's even calling about D'Angelo's death). Prez is able to pull up the license plate of the car Bernard was driving as [=McNulty=] leaves for Homicide.

Stringer storms into Clay's office, and claims he's ready for the big money.

Colvin is briefing Burrell and Rawls at Comstat, claiming the 12% drop in crime over four weeks is due to increased police presence and working with the community. Rawls, [[Recap/TheWireS03E03DeadSoldiers recalling how he ripped into Colvin's numbers weeks earlier]], is skeptical, especially due to Carcetti grilling him about the numbers and because Daniels' Major Case squad hasn't had an impact yet. Colvin assures him the numbers haven't been juked, and Rawls is welcome to check them himself; "[[Recap/TheWireS03E03DeadSoldiers Sometimes, the gods do listen, sir.]]"

At Homicide, Brianna says she heard [=McNulty=] [[Recap/TheWireS03E02AllDueRespect visited Donette]], and [=McNulty=] admits he did. He again says D'Angelo didn't kill himself, which Brianna can't believe, though he admits he's the only one in the department who's saying this and who cares, and they both agree no one in prison would dare try and kill D'Angelo. [=McNulty=] admits he's sorry he brought the whole thing up, except he liked D'Angelo, and thought it was a shame he was squeezed between "both sides". Brianna, tearing up, asks what he means by that, and [=McNulty=] reminds her [[Recap/TheWireS01E13Sentencing D'Angelo was ready to turn state's evidence until Brianna talked him out of it]]. He leaves as Brianna sits, barely holding it together.

That night in Hamsterdam, Dante is in a car with Omar, and crowing at how easy it would be for them to steal from there, but Omar suspects it's all a trap by the police, and refuses to take the bait.

Marlo is at a bar, sitting alone at a table, when he spots Devonne (Tiara Harris), who's with a couple friends, sitting at the bar. The two friends get up and dance, and Marlo walks over to her. She starts flirting with him, claiming he has cat eyes. She asks if he wants to dance or have a drink, but he says he doesn't do either. She asks what it is he does do, and he nods outside. They both get up and walk outside and Chris watches.

Colvin is back in the pool hall, with the Deacon, Roman and Gene (William Zielinski), a public health official who's currently shooting pool They tell him about Hamsterdam, and how ideal it would be for programs such as needle exchange, drug outreach, HIV testing, and others. Gene asks what it means if the city isn't officially sanctioning Hamsterdam, and Colvin admits it's complicated.

Devonne and Marlo have sex in his car, and she asks if he wants to meet her at her grandmother's house the next day. He tells her to give him her number. As she enters it into his cell phone, she tells him she's leaving for Florida the day after, so it's time-sensitive. He tells her to get out, and she does. Chris watches as she leaves.

Kima and Prez are at the rental car agency, marveling over the fact Bernard was so careful about buying phones but rented the same car every time. Kima asks the counter person to make copies of the invoices.

Shamrock visits the department of social services, and pays Fatface Rick's cousin money to get Omar's records. A little later, Gerard, Sapper and Slim pull up outside the place where Omar's grandmother lives. Sapper thinks they should grab her, but Gerard points out she probably doesn't know where he lives, and Slim says they should wait.

Clay takes Stringer to the federal building, and Clay warns Stringer they won't be meeting the "guy" in his office because they don't want to spook him. They wait outside the elevator, and a man comes down. Clay greets him, and Stringer tries to introduce himself, but the man says he doesn't know him, and walks away. Clay tries to talk to him, and it seems to work even though the man won't meet with Stringer, because Clay assures Stringer they're in.

Dennis and Roman visit an abandoned tire plant, and Dennis says it'll do. Roman asks if he needs any help fixing the place up, but Dennis assures him he'll take care of it.

Carcetti is watching a tape of himself as Terri and a media consultant coach him on what to say in public.

Marlo calls Devonne and arranges to meet her at a place called Lake Trout at 5, warning her if she's not there at exactly 5, he'll be gone. After she agrees and hangs up, Marlo tells Chris to go there early in case it's a trap.

Brianna bursts into the office at the funeral home, demanding to see Avon. Stringer, who's there, says Avon is "at war", but he'll let him know she wants to talk to him. Brianna brings up her meeting with [=McNulty=], and Stringer admits he hoped [[Recap/TheWireS03E07BackBurners Levy had tried talking her out of meeting with him]]. He says [=McNulty=] is just trying to draw a wedge between them, and while he can't imagine what Brianna is going through, that prisons are tough on people and D'Angelo probably couldn't take anymore. Brianna again demands to see Avon, and Stringer assures her he'll contact him.

Snoop is sitting in Lake Trout, eating when she sees a Barksdale soldier named Tater ordering four fish sandwiches and drinks. When he leaves with the food, Snoop goes outside and tells Chris, who says they'll wait to see if the car the guy got into is still there after a few minutes.

Gene has his people operating at Hamsterdam, with a woman offering needles. Colicchio, who's sitting by his car, starts to threaten one of the dealers until he notices Colvin (who's with the Deacon and Roman) looking on with concern.

The car still hasn't moved, and upon seeing someone in the car react to a signal from Devonne, Chris immediately confirms his suspicions that this is a trap. Chris orders his driver to drive past them slowly so he can get a shot at them. Once they pull up aside the Barksdale car, Chris fires a shotgun round into the window, wounding Avon in the left shoulder and killing Tater, and then drives away. Avon yells at the driver to take off.

Clay is in the funeral home office, and Stringer, after hesitating, gives him a suitcase of money. Clay says he'll be in touch, and leaves. Shamrock comes in and tells him about Avon, as well as the fact Brianna's been calling him. Stringer storms out, and tells Shamrock to keep Brianna away.

Avon is at his hideout getting stitched up by a doctor, and warning the doctor not to use big stitches.

Colicchio is at the police station when he sees Colvin. He looks uneasy, but Colvin merely asks him [[Recap/TheWireS03E01TimeAfterTime where he's at]], Colicchio is able to answer, which satisfies Colvin.

Avon is briefing his troops when Stringer comes in, saying they need to talk. Avon dismisses everyone, and Stringer again tells Avon how much his actions are costing them, but Avon isn't listening.

->'''Avon:''' You know what the difference is between me and you? I bleed red, you bleed green. What you been building for us? I look at you these days, you know what I see? I see a man without a country. Not hard enough for this right here and maybe, just maybe [[TooCleverByHalf not smart enough for them out there.]]
->'''Stringer:''' [[TranquilFury Not hard enough.]]
->'''Avon:''' No offense. I don't think you ever really were. You got skills, yeah, no doubt, but-
->'''Stringer:''' What? What, 'cause I don't shoot up a block indiscriminate I ain't hard enough? Huh? Because I think before I snatch a life, I ain't into this bullshit?
->'''Avon:''' Snatch a life. What life you snatch, huh?
->'''Stringer:''' You know Brianna went downtown, man, saw that detective. Man stokin' her head sayin' that D'Angelo's death was no suicide.
->'''Avon:''' Yeah, so?
->'''Stringer:''' Man ain't wrong about that.
->'''Avon:''' What?
->'''Stringer:''' I knew you couldn't do it and Brianna wouldn't do that shit. But there goes a life that had to be snatched, Avon.

Avon stares in shock for a moment, then he charges Stringer and they start to fight. However, with Avon's wound (he's wearing a sling), Stringer easily gets the upper hand.

->'''Stringer:''' Yo man, I took that shit off you and put it on me, man because that motherfucker was out of pocket with that shit! He flip, man, they got you, me and fucking Brianna! And no fucking way, man. Hell no! Now, I know you family. You loved that nigga. But you want to talk that blood is [[ThickerThanWater thicker than water]] bullshit take that shit somewhere else, nigga! That motherfucker woulda taken down the whole fucking show starting with you, killer! It's fucking everything and everybody!
->'''Avon:''' (''groaning'') Let me up.

Stringer does let Avon up, and Avon starts pacing up and down.

** Omar takes one look at Hamsterdam and immediately declares it's a trap to get all the dealers in one place for the cops to swoop in. While this is indeed how Colvin justifies it, the cops who are there are getting increasingly suspicious that Colvin is actually trying to make it last.

** Avon is taken completely by surprise and impressed with Marlo's ruthlessness.