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| + | {{Infobox episode |
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| − | {{Episode |
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+ | |name = The Buys |
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+ | |episode = 3 |
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+ | |season = 1 |
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+ | |image = Wire03.jpg |
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+ | |airdate = June 16, 2002 |
| + | |runtime = 55 minutes |
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| − | | viewers = |
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| − | | |
+ | |writer = [[David Simon]] |
| + | |starring = [[Dominic West]] as [[James McNulty|James "Jimmy" McNulty]]<br>[[John Doman]] as [[William Rawls]]<br>[[Idris Elba]] as [[Russell Bell|Russell "Stringer" Bell]]<br>[[Frankie Faison]] as [[Ervin Burrell]]<br>[[Larry Gilliard, Jr.]] as [[D'Angelo Barksdale]]<br>[[Wood Harris]] as [[Avon Barksdale]]<br>[[Deirdre Lovejoy]] as [[Rhonda Pearlman]]<br>[[Wendell Pierce]] as [[William Moreland|William "Bunk" Moreland]]<br>[[Lance Reddick]] as [[Cedric Daniels]]<br>[[Andre Royo]] as [[Reginald Cousins|Reginald "Bubbles" Cousins]]<br>[[Sonja Sohn]] as [[Shakima Greggs|Shakima "Kima" Greggs]] |
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| − | | teleplay = [[David Simon]] |
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| + | |guests = [[Michael K. Williams]] as [[Omar Little]]<br>[[J.D. Williams]] as [[Preston Broadus|Preston "Bodie" Broadus]]<br>[[Seth Gilliam]] as [[Ellis Carver]]<br>[[Domenick Lombardozzi]] as [[Thomas Hauk|Thomas "Herc" Hauk]]<br>[[Clarke Peters]] as [[Lester Freamon]]<br>[[Jim True-Frost]] as [[Roland Pryzbylewski|Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski]]<br>[[Hassan Johnson]] as [[Roland Brice|Roland "Wee-Bey" Brice]]<br>[[Michael B. Jordan]] as [[Wallace]]<br>[[Corey Parker Robinson]] as [[Leander Sydnor]]<br>[[Richard DeAngelis]] as [[Raymond Foerster]]<br>[[Michael Salconi]] as [[Michael Santangelo]]<br>[[Delaney Williams]] as [[Jay Landsman (character)|Jay Landsman]]<br>[[Nat Benchley]] as [[Patrick Mahon]]<br>[[Tom Quinn]] as [[Augustus Polk]]<br>[[Wendy Grantham]] as [[Shardene Innes]]<br>[[Al Brown]] as [[Stanislaus Valchek]]<br>[[Tony D. Head]] as [[Robert Reed|Robert "Bobby" Reed]]<br>[[Brandon Price]] as [[Anton Artis|Anton "Stinkum" Artis]]<br>[[Tray Chaney]] as [[Malik Carr|Malik "Poot" Carr]]<br>[[Doug Olear]] as [[Terrance Fitzhugh|Terrance "Fitz" Fitzhugh]]<br>[[Michael Kevin Darnall]] as [[Brandon Wright]]<br>[[Lance Williams]] as [[John Bailey]]<br>[[William F. Zorzi]] as [[William Zorzi|William "Bill" Zorzi]] |
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| − | | story = David Simon & <br>[[Ed Burns]] |
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| + | |uncredited = [[Curtis Montez]] as [[Sterling]]<br>[[Jeorge Watson]] as [[Marvin Browning]] |
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| − | | director = [[Peter Medak]] |
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| − | | |
+ | |director = [[Peter Medak]] |
| − | | |
+ | |previous = "[[The Detail]]" |
| + | |next = "[[Old Cases]]"}}"'''The Buys'''" is the third episode of the [[Season one|first season]] of ''[[The Wire]]''. It is the third episode of the series overall. It premiered on June 16, 2002. The episode was written by [[David Simon]] and directed by [[Peter Medak]]. |
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| − | }} |
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| − | "'''The Buys'''" is the third episode of the first season of the HBO original series, ''The Wire''. The episode was written by [[David Simon]] from a story by David Simon & [[Ed Burns]] and was directed by [[Peter Medak]]. It originally aired on June 16, 2002. |
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| + | ==Overview== |
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| − | The detectives' brutal actions in the high rises lead to a minor riot, bad publicity for the detail, injury to Herc, and Prez being placed on administrative leave. D'Angelo gives young dealers [[Wallace]] and [[Bodie Broadus]] a lesson about their place in the Barksdale hierarchy. The detail finally starts to see results as [[Lester Freamon]] obtains an old picture of [[Avon Barksdale]]. Stick-up man [[Omar Little]] takes advantage of D'Angelo's crew's lapses and steals their stash of narcotics. The pit is later raided by the police and Bodie receives a beating for striking an officer, but nothing turns up due to Omar's robbery. |
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| + | The Terrace incident stalls the detail's investigation. [[D'Angelo Barksdale|D'Angelo]] gives [[Wallace]] and [[Preston Broadus|Bodie]] a lesson about their place in the Barksdale hierarchy. [[Lester Freamon|Detective Freamon]] obtains a picture of [[Avon Barksdale]]. Stickup man [[Omar Little]] robs the narcotics stash in The Pit. |
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| ⚫ | |||
| − | ==Plot== |
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| + | An undercover [[Leander Sydnor|Detective Sydnor]] and [[Reginald Cousins|Bubbles]] purchase narcotics from the [[Barksdale Organization]]. Valchek uses his political capital to buy Daniels's support of [[Roland Pryzbylewski|Pryzbylewski]] after his assault of [[Kevin Johnston]]. |
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| − | === |
+ | ===Epigraph=== |
| + | {{Quote|The king stay the king.|[[D'Angelo Barksdale|D'Angelo]]}}D'Angelo makes this observation to Bodie and Wallace while teaching them the rules of chess, alluding to the permanence of roles in the drug trade. |
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| + | ==Synopsis== |
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| − | Lieutenant [[Cedric Daniels]] attends a meeting in Deputy Commissioner [[Ervin Burrell]]'s office to account for the actions of his men in starting a riot in the tower buildings. When Daniels suggests that Detective [[Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski]] should be restricted to office work, [[Stanislaus Valchek|Major Valchek]] (Prez's influential father-in-law) insists this would be an admission of guilt. The other officers are more supportive. After the meeting, Burrell again insists on a simple investigation targeted at making arrests and seizures rather than spending time securing convictions against the organization's key members. |
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| + | In the [[McCulloh Homes|The Pit]], [[D'Angelo Barksdale|D'Angelo]], [[Preston Broadus|Bodie]], [[Malik Carr|Poot]], and [[Wallace]] debate the necessity of violence in the drug trade. D'Angelo encourages his young dealers to treat the addicts with more respect. [[Reginald Cousins|Bubbles]] approaches them and places the red wide-brim hat upon each of them as Detectives [[James McNulty|McNulty]] and [[Shakima Greggs|Greggs]] take surveillance photographs. |
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| + | [[Cedric Daniels|Lieutenant Daniels]] attends a meeting with [[Ervin Burrell|Deputy Commissioner Burrell]], [[Robert Reed|IID Commander Reed]], and [[Stanislaus Valchek|Southeastern District Commander Valchek]] to account for the actions of [[Thomas Hauk|Daniels's]] [[Ellis Carver|three]] [[Roland Pryzbylewski|officers]]. Daniels suggests that [[Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski|Detective Pryzbylewski]] be relegated to clerical work. [[Stanislaus Valchek|Valchek]], Pryzbylewski's father-in-law, insists that this would be an admission of guilt. Reed, however, agrees that Pryzyblewski should remain on clerical duty until a grand jury acquits Pryzbylewski. After Reed and and Foerster leave, Burrell reveals that Valchek will provide two unmarked police cars and a surveillance van to the Barksdale detail in gratitude for Daniels's asssisstance to Pryzbylewski throughout the IID investigation. After Valchek departs, Burrell again reminds Daniels to conduct a three-week investigation comprised of felony arrests and drug seizures. |
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| − | Bemoaning the lack of a photograph of the detail's main target, McNulty asks Detectives [[Augustus Polk]] and [[Patrick Mahone]] to get a photograph from the housing department of [[Avon Barksdale]]. This proves to be a dead end. [[Lester Freamon]] takes an interest when Greggs remarks that Barksdale used to box and once made Golden Gloves. The next day, he returns with a poster featuring a picture of young Avon Barksdale. Without saying a word, he returns to his desk and his dollhouse furniture. Daniels arrives, informing the detail that Prez is off the street and [[Thomas "Herc" Hauk|Herc]] is on sick leave for some time. McNulty visits his contact in the FBI, [[Terrence "Fitz" Fitzhugh|Agent Fitzhugh]], with Greggs, looking to get some equipment to wire up [[Leander Sydnor|Sydnor]], who is being sent undercover. When McNulty tells Fitz that Daniels is the commanding officer, Fitz appears to bite his tongue because Kima is present. |
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| + | [[William Rawls|Major Rawls]], [[Jay Landsman (character)|Sergeant Landsman]], and [[William Moreland|Detective Moreland]] speak at a police press conference. After ''[[The Baltimore Sun|Sun]]'' reporter [[William Zorzi]] inquires if [[William Gant]] was murdered because he was a State's witness, Rawls and Moreland both claim that they are investigating Gant's involvement in an unrelated physical altercation. |
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| − | Detective [[Michael Santangelo]] is proven to be a mole in the detail, giving information to Rawls, and especially seeking (but not finding) anything to incriminate McNulty. Waiting around the detail offices, McNulty, Bubbles and Greggs discuss their relationships. McNulty admits to being unfaithful, leading to his current separation from his now-vengeful wife, Elena. Sydnor arrives, in costume, but gets some advice from Bubbles on how to be more convincing. Together, Sydnor and Bubbles later visit the low rise projects, and Kima photographs their activities. Sydnor notices with chagrin that neither drugs nor cash pass through the hands of any key players. |
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| + | [[James McNulty|Detective McNulty]] asks Detectives [[Augustus Polk|Polk]] and [[Patrick Mahon|Mahon]] to secure a photograph of [[Avon Barksdale]] from the housing department. |
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| − | Back at the detail, Daniels reports that the commanding officers have insisted on fast "buy bust" style investigation to render some arrests and seizures. McNulty leaves the office angry that the case is being pushed in the opposite direction he had hoped for. He arrives at [[Rhonda Pearlman]]'s home at 9 p.m. and asks how to clone a beeper. Pearlman suggests that he needs probable cause and to demonstrate exhaustion of other investigative techniques in order to get a signed affidavit from a judge. When he makes sexual advances, she remarks that their relationship is now less romantic than when he was married, but they end up in bed together anyway. Later, Fitzhugh and McNulty have a meeting where it is revealed that the FBI has previously investigated Daniels for "integrity concerns". When the FBI found thousands of dollars of unexplained assets, they turned their findings over to Burrell, who has failed to take the investigation any further. |
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| ⚫ | While waiting for a resupply of heroin and cocaine, D'Angelo observes Bodie and Wallace playing checkers on a chessboard. He teaches the two the game of chess using the analogy of the Barksdale organization: Avon as the king, Stringer as the queen, the stash as the rooks, and soldiers as pawns. When Bodie learns of the possibility of a pawn any other piece of the same color, he draws a comparison with himself. D'Angelo is skeptical and remarks that pawns are removed quickly from the game. Bodie insists that a smart pawn can be successful. |
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| ⚫ | The |
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| + | [[Leander Sydnor|Detective Sydnor]] brings the outdated Nagras audio recorders to Detectives McNulty and Greggs, to the irritation of all. Sydnor says they need to meet with the FBI and Greggs agrees that Sydnor cannot go undercover with the provided equipment. |
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| − | === The Street === |
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| + | [[Michael Santangelo|Detective Santangelo]], Rawls's mole in the detail, asks Rawls to return him to Homicide Unit. Rawls assures Santangelo that he will be in Santangelo's debt if he continues to report on the detail. |
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| ⚫ | |||
| + | That night at the detail's office, Daniels arrives and informs the detail that Prez is assigned to in-office duty only and that [[Thomas Hauk|Detective Hauk]] is on medical leave until Monday. Polk and Mahon return with a photo of "Avon Barksdale", a middle-aged white man. Greggs bemoans how little they know about Barksdale after two weeks of investigation. |
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| ⚫ | |||
| + | After [[Lester Freamon|Detective Freamon]] hears Greggs mention that Barksdale participated in Golden Gloves, Freamon heads to the local Golden Gloves center to inquire about Avon. |
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| − | That night, back at The Pit, D'Angelo leaves to buy food just before Omar and his crew burst in to the stash house & steal the drugs. When the Barksdale dealers refuse to give Omar the location of the stash he shoots one of them, [[Sterling]], in the knee. When his partner Brandon uses his name in front of the dealers Omar is exasperated. Bubbles is on hand to watch the whole proceedings and reports back to Kima. The next day, [[Wee-Bey Brice]] berates D'Angelo for the theft of his stash while he was not even present. Bodie is able to report Omar's name to Wee-Bey. |
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| + | The next day, McNulty and Greggs visit [[Terrance "Fitz" Fitzhugh|Special Agent Fitzhugh]] to request lightweight wireless body microphones. Fitz promises to make the request with his squad supervisor but reacts ambiguously upon learned that Daniels is the detail's commanding officer. |
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| ⚫ | |||
| − | | year = 2004 |
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| − | | title = Episode guide - episode 03 The Buys |
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| − | | publisher = HBO |
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| − | | accessdate = 2006-07-26 |
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| − | | url = http://www.hbo.com/thewire/episode/season1/episode03.shtml |
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| − | }}</ref><ref name = "E3">{{cite episode |
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| − | | title = The Buys |
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| − | | episodelink = The Buys (The Wire episode) |
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| − | | series = The Wire |
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| − | | serieslink = The Wire (TV series) |
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| − | | credits = David Simon, Ed Burns |
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| − | | writers = |
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| − | | network = HBO |
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| − | | station = |
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| − | | city = |
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| − | | airdate = 2002-06-16 |
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| − | | season = 1 |
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| − | | number = 3 |
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| − | }}</ref><ref name="TBT">{{cite book |
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| − | | last = Alvarez |
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| − | | first = Rafael |
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| − | | year = 2004 |
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| − | | title = The Wire: Truth Be Told |
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| − | | publisher = Pocket Books |
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| − | | location = New York |
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| − | }}</ref> |
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| + | At The Pit, Bodie guides drug addicts to pick up "testers", free vials of a new shipment of heroin to incentivize purchasing. Stickup men [[Omar Little]], [[Brandon Wright]], and [[John Bailey]] monitor the operation in the Pit and identify the stash house. |
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| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | This episode introduces the recurring character [[Omar Little]], a homosexual stick up artist who robs drug dealers for a living. Little is played by [[Michael K. Williams]]. Initially intended to die after seven episodes<ref name = "HT2">{{cite web |
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| − | | author = Joel Murphy |
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| − | | year = 2005 |
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| − | | title = One on one with... Michael K. Williams |
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| − | | publisher = Hobo Trashcan |
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| − | | accessdate = 2006-07-21 |
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| − | | url = http://www.hobotrashcan.com/interviews/michaelkwilliams.php |
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| + | At the detail office, McNulty, [[Reginald Cousins|Bubbles]], and Greggs discuss their relationships. McNulty admits to being unfaithful, leading to his current separation from his now-vengeful wife, [[Elena McNulty|Elena]]. |
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| − | }}</ref>, the character instead became a major part of the show, frequently cited by critics and fans as one of the favorites.<ref name = "USA">{{cite web |
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| − | | author = Robert Bianco |
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| − | | year = 2004 |
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| − | | title = 10 Reasons we still love TV |
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| − | | publisher = USA Today |
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| − | | accessdate = 2006-07-21 |
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| − | | url = http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-05-26-tv-mvps_x.htm |
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| − | }}</ref><ref name = "BC2">{{cite web |
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| − | | author = Brent McCabe and Van Smith |
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| − | | year = 2005 |
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| − | | title = Down to the wire: Top 10 reasons not to cancel the wire. |
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| − | | publisher = Baltimore city paper. |
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| − | | accessdate = 2006-07-21 |
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| − | | url = http://cpgo.citypaper.com/film/story.asp?id=9538 |
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| − | }}</ref> By the third season, Michael K. Williams was upgraded to be listed as one of the stars of the show. His character is accompanied by his partners in crime [[Brandon Wright]] and [[John Bailey]]. |
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| ⚫ | That night at [[Orlando's]], [[Russell Bell|Stringer]] is impressed by the profit increase of The Pit under D'Angelo's supervision. D'Angelo suggests that the operation will become more profitable once they receive the new shipment of heroin and cocaine. Stringer reveals that they merely rebrand the resupply to increase profit. He adds that if they sell a low-strength heroin and cocaine, addicts will be forced to purchase more of it to satiate their addiction. As he departs, D'Angelo initiates conversation with [[Shardene Innes|Shardene]]. Although she does not remember their initial encounter, she is receptive to D'Angelo's advances. |
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| − | The episode also marks the first appearance of recurring Baltimore police department officers [[Bobby Reed|Major Bobby Reed]], commander of the internal investigations division (IID), and [[Stanislaus Valchek|Major Stanislaus Valchek]], South Eastern district commander and Prez's father-in-law. Valchek plays a significant role in the second season, and appears in all five seasons of the show. |
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| + | Freamon returns with a poster featuring a picture of young Avon Barksdale. [[Leander Sydnor|Detective Sydnor]] arrives, attired as a drug addict, but gets some advice from Bubbles on how to be more convincing. |
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| − | ==Production== |
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| + | The next day, Sydnor and Bubbles purchase narcotics in The Pit as Greggs takes surveillance photographs. Sydnor notices that neither narcotics nor cash pass through the hands of the leaders. Omar and his crew continue to observe The Pit. |
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| − | ===Cast=== |
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| − | {{Season one starring cast simple}} |
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| + | At the detail office, Greggs and McNulty discuss the results of their hand-to-hand arrests. Daniels reports that the commanding officers have insisted on arresting low-level dealers on Wednesday. McNulty leaves the office angry that the case is being pushed in the opposite direction he had hoped for. |
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| − | Despite being credited, Wood Harris does not appear in this episode. |
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| + | That night, McNulty arrives at the residence of [[Rhonda Pearlman|ASA Pearlman]] to inquire about cloning a pager. Pearlman reveals that he would need probable cause and to demonstrate exhaustion of other investigative techniques in order to get a signed affidavit from a judge. After he makes a sexual advance, she dryly observes that their relationship is less romantic than when he was married, but they sleep together nonetheless. |
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| − | '''Guest Starring''' |
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| − | #with [[Michael K. Williams]] as [[Omar Little]] |
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| − | #[[J.D. Williams]] as [[Bodie Broadus]] |
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| − | #[[Seth Gilliam]] as Detective [[Ellis Carver]] |
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| − | #[[Domenick Lombardozzi]] as Detective [[Thomas "Herc" Hauk]] |
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| − | #[[Clarke Peters]] as Detective [[Lester Freamon]] |
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| − | #[[Jim True-Frost]] as Detective [[Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski]] |
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| − | #[[Hassan Johnson]] as [[Wee-Bey Brice|Wee-Bey]] |
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| − | #[[Michael B. Jordan]] as [[Wallace]] |
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| − | #[[Corey Parker Robinson]] as Detective [[Leander Sydnor]] |
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| − | #[[Richard DeAngelis]] as Major [[Raymond Foerster]] |
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| − | #[[Michael Salconi]] as Detective [[Michael Santangelo]] |
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| − | #[[Delaney Williams]] as Sergeant [[Jay Landsman (character)|Jay Landsman]] |
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| − | #[[Nat Benchley]] as Detective [[Patrick Mahone]] |
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| − | #[[Tom Quinn]] as Detective [[Augustus Polk]] |
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| − | #[[Wendy Grantham]] as [[Shardene Innes]] |
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| ⚫ | |||
| − | #[[Tony D. Head]] as Major [[Bobby Reed]] |
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| − | #[[Brandon Price]] as [[Anton "Stinkum" Artis]] |
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| − | #[[Tray Chaney]] as [[Poot Carr]] |
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| − | #[[Doug Olear]] as [[Terrence Fitzhugh|FBI Agent Terrence Fitzhugh]] |
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| − | #[[Michael Kevin Darnall]] as [[Brandon]] |
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| − | #[[Lance Williams]] as [[Bailey]] |
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| − | #[[Bill Zorzi (actor)|Bill Zorzi]] as [[Bill Zorzi (character)|Newspaperman #1]] |
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| + | Tuesday: That night at The Pit, D'Angelo leaves to purchase food while [[Preston Broadus|Bodie]] serves as lookout during the re-up. [[Anton Artis|Stinkum]] arrives to guard the shipment but Omar Little and [[Brandon Wright|his]] [[John Bailey|crew]] assault Stinkum and corral him, Bodie, and Poot, into the stash house. Omar instructs young dealer [[Sterling]] to reveal the location of the money. Sterling refuses and Omar shoots him in the kneecap. He then turns to another young dealer, who reveals that the money is located in the kitchen oven. [[Brandon Wright|Brandon]] grabs the money and accidentally uses Omar's name in front of the dealers. As the stickup men escape in their van, D'Angelo returns. Bubbles observes the entire robbery and reports back to Greggs. |
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| − | '''Uncredited''' |
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| − | *[[Curtis Montez]] as [[Sterling]] (uncredited) |
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| ⚫ | Wednesday: The next day, Daniels readies the detail to storm [[McCulloh Homes]] in an effort to seize their heroin and cocaine supply. McNulty refuses to participate as he believes it will sabotage their case, and also refuses to sign off sick. Daniels is enraged at his insubordination. [[Thomas Hauk|Herc]] arrives and insists on aiding the detail despite being placed on medical leave. |
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| − | ===Crew=== |
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| − | {{Col-begin}} |
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| − | {{Col-2}} |
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| − | '''Opening credits''' |
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| − | #[[Alexa L. Fogel]] C.S.A. - Casting |
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| − | #[[Vince Peranio]] - Production Designer |
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| − | #[[Thom Zimny]] - Editor |
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| − | #[[Uta Briesewitz]] - Director of Photography |
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| − | #[[Karen L. Thorson]] - Co-Producer |
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| − | #[[Nina Kostroff Noble]] - Producer |
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| − | #[[David Simon]] - Creator |
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| − | #David Simon - Teleplay |
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| − | #David Simon & |
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| − | #[[Ed Burns]] - Story |
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| − | #[[Peter Medak]] - Director |
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| − | {{Col-2}} |
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| − | '''Closing credits''' |
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| − | #[[Robert F. Colesberry]] - Executive Producer |
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| − | #David Simon - Executive Producer |
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| − | #Nina Kostroff Noble - Unit Production Manager |
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| − | #[[Ivan J. Fonesca]] - First Assistant Director (AD) |
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| − | #[[Joseph Incaprera]] - Second AD |
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| − | #[[Alonzo V. Wilson]] - Costume Designer |
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| − | #[[Pat Moran]] C.S.A. - Baltimore Casting |
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| − | {{Col-end}} |
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| ⚫ | [[Roland Brice|Wee-Bey]] berates D'Angelo for leaving during the resupply. Bodie relays Omar's name to Wee-Bey. The detail arrives to arrest low-level dealers. The dealers have changed stash houses, so the detail finds little evidence, though Freamon notices a number written on a wall. Detective Mahon is punched by Bodie, triggering detectives [[Ellis Carver|Carver]] and Greggs to assault him. Carver reports that a television news crew has offered to show their seizures. Daniels is disappointed when Kima observes that they have nothing to show. |
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| − | ==Reception== |
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| ⚫ | |||
| − | The title refers to the deals struck in the various institutions featured. Valchek buys Daniels support of his son in law with resources. Drug addicts buy narcotics from the Barksdale organization. Sydnor makes undercover purchases from Bodie. |
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| + | That night in a parking lot, Fitzhugh reveals to McNulty that the FBI previously investigated Daniels regarding "integrity concerns". The FBI discovered hundreds of thousands in unexplained assets and turned their findings over to Burrell, who declined to investigate any further. |
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| − | ===Epigraph=== |
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| + | |||
| − | {{cquote|The King stay the King. - D'Angelo}} |
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| ⚫ | |||
| − | D'Angelo uses this phrase when describing the rules of chess using the analogy of the drug trade (pictured) when explaining to Bodie that pawns can only become queens, never kings. In the analogy Avon Barksdale is the king. This analogy as applied to Avon resurfaces in [[Season 2]] and Bodie recalls it once more in [[Season 4]]. |
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| ⚫ | |||
| + | *[[Omar Little]] |
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| + | *[[Brandon Wright]] |
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| + | *[[Robert Reed|Robert "Bobby" Reed]] |
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| ⚫ | |||
==References== |
==References== |
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*[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0749446/ "The Buys" at the Internet Movie Database] |
*[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0749446/ "The Buys" at the Internet Movie Database] |
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*[[Wikipedia:The Buys|"The Buys" at Wikipedia]] |
*[[Wikipedia:The Buys|"The Buys" at Wikipedia]] |
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| + | [[Category:Episodes]] |
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[[Category:Season 1 episodes]] |
[[Category:Season 1 episodes]] |
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Revision as of 18:03, 23 March 2020
"The Buys" is the third episode of the first season of The Wire. It is the third episode of the series overall. It premiered on June 16, 2002. The episode was written by David Simon and directed by Peter Medak.
Overview
The Terrace incident stalls the detail's investigation. D'Angelo gives Wallace and Bodie a lesson about their place in the Barksdale hierarchy. Detective Freamon obtains a picture of Avon Barksdale. Stickup man Omar Little robs the narcotics stash in The Pit.
Title Reference
An undercover Detective Sydnor and Bubbles purchase narcotics from the Barksdale Organization. Valchek uses his political capital to buy Daniels's support of Pryzbylewski after his assault of Kevin Johnston.
Epigraph
- "The king stay the king."
- ―D'Angelo
D'Angelo makes this observation to Bodie and Wallace while teaching them the rules of chess, alluding to the permanence of roles in the drug trade.
Synopsis
In the The Pit, D'Angelo, Bodie, Poot, and Wallace debate the necessity of violence in the drug trade. D'Angelo encourages his young dealers to treat the addicts with more respect. Bubbles approaches them and places the red wide-brim hat upon each of them as Detectives McNulty and Greggs take surveillance photographs.
Lieutenant Daniels attends a meeting with Deputy Commissioner Burrell, IID Commander Reed, and Southeastern District Commander Valchek to account for the actions of Daniels's three officers. Daniels suggests that Detective Pryzbylewski be relegated to clerical work. Valchek, Pryzbylewski's father-in-law, insists that this would be an admission of guilt. Reed, however, agrees that Pryzyblewski should remain on clerical duty until a grand jury acquits Pryzbylewski. After Reed and and Foerster leave, Burrell reveals that Valchek will provide two unmarked police cars and a surveillance van to the Barksdale detail in gratitude for Daniels's asssisstance to Pryzbylewski throughout the IID investigation. After Valchek departs, Burrell again reminds Daniels to conduct a three-week investigation comprised of felony arrests and drug seizures.
Major Rawls, Sergeant Landsman, and Detective Moreland speak at a police press conference. After Sun reporter William Zorzi inquires if William Gant was murdered because he was a State's witness, Rawls and Moreland both claim that they are investigating Gant's involvement in an unrelated physical altercation.
Detective McNulty asks Detectives Polk and Mahon to secure a photograph of Avon Barksdale from the housing department.
While waiting for a resupply of heroin and cocaine, D'Angelo observes Bodie and Wallace playing checkers on a chessboard. He teaches the two the game of chess using the analogy of the Barksdale organization: Avon as the king, Stringer as the queen, the stash as the rooks, and soldiers as pawns. When Bodie learns of the possibility of a pawn any other piece of the same color, he draws a comparison with himself. D'Angelo is skeptical and remarks that pawns are removed quickly from the game. Bodie insists that a smart pawn can be successful.
Detective Sydnor brings the outdated Nagras audio recorders to Detectives McNulty and Greggs, to the irritation of all. Sydnor says they need to meet with the FBI and Greggs agrees that Sydnor cannot go undercover with the provided equipment.
Detective Santangelo, Rawls's mole in the detail, asks Rawls to return him to Homicide Unit. Rawls assures Santangelo that he will be in Santangelo's debt if he continues to report on the detail.
That night at the detail's office, Daniels arrives and informs the detail that Prez is assigned to in-office duty only and that Detective Hauk is on medical leave until Monday. Polk and Mahon return with a photo of "Avon Barksdale", a middle-aged white man. Greggs bemoans how little they know about Barksdale after two weeks of investigation.
After Detective Freamon hears Greggs mention that Barksdale participated in Golden Gloves, Freamon heads to the local Golden Gloves center to inquire about Avon.
The next day, McNulty and Greggs visit Special Agent Fitzhugh to request lightweight wireless body microphones. Fitz promises to make the request with his squad supervisor but reacts ambiguously upon learned that Daniels is the detail's commanding officer.
At The Pit, Bodie guides drug addicts to pick up "testers", free vials of a new shipment of heroin to incentivize purchasing. Stickup men Omar Little, Brandon Wright, and John Bailey monitor the operation in the Pit and identify the stash house.
At the detail office, McNulty, Bubbles, and Greggs discuss their relationships. McNulty admits to being unfaithful, leading to his current separation from his now-vengeful wife, Elena.
That night at Orlando's, Stringer is impressed by the profit increase of The Pit under D'Angelo's supervision. D'Angelo suggests that the operation will become more profitable once they receive the new shipment of heroin and cocaine. Stringer reveals that they merely rebrand the resupply to increase profit. He adds that if they sell a low-strength heroin and cocaine, addicts will be forced to purchase more of it to satiate their addiction. As he departs, D'Angelo initiates conversation with Shardene. Although she does not remember their initial encounter, she is receptive to D'Angelo's advances.
Freamon returns with a poster featuring a picture of young Avon Barksdale. Detective Sydnor arrives, attired as a drug addict, but gets some advice from Bubbles on how to be more convincing. The next day, Sydnor and Bubbles purchase narcotics in The Pit as Greggs takes surveillance photographs. Sydnor notices that neither narcotics nor cash pass through the hands of the leaders. Omar and his crew continue to observe The Pit.
At the detail office, Greggs and McNulty discuss the results of their hand-to-hand arrests. Daniels reports that the commanding officers have insisted on arresting low-level dealers on Wednesday. McNulty leaves the office angry that the case is being pushed in the opposite direction he had hoped for.
That night, McNulty arrives at the residence of ASA Pearlman to inquire about cloning a pager. Pearlman reveals that he would need probable cause and to demonstrate exhaustion of other investigative techniques in order to get a signed affidavit from a judge. After he makes a sexual advance, she dryly observes that their relationship is less romantic than when he was married, but they sleep together nonetheless.
Tuesday: That night at The Pit, D'Angelo leaves to purchase food while Bodie serves as lookout during the re-up. Stinkum arrives to guard the shipment but Omar Little and his crew assault Stinkum and corral him, Bodie, and Poot, into the stash house. Omar instructs young dealer Sterling to reveal the location of the money. Sterling refuses and Omar shoots him in the kneecap. He then turns to another young dealer, who reveals that the money is located in the kitchen oven. Brandon grabs the money and accidentally uses Omar's name in front of the dealers. As the stickup men escape in their van, D'Angelo returns. Bubbles observes the entire robbery and reports back to Greggs.
Wednesday: The next day, Daniels readies the detail to storm McCulloh Homes in an effort to seize their heroin and cocaine supply. McNulty refuses to participate as he believes it will sabotage their case, and also refuses to sign off sick. Daniels is enraged at his insubordination. Herc arrives and insists on aiding the detail despite being placed on medical leave.
Wee-Bey berates D'Angelo for leaving during the resupply. Bodie relays Omar's name to Wee-Bey. The detail arrives to arrest low-level dealers. The dealers have changed stash houses, so the detail finds little evidence, though Freamon notices a number written on a wall. Detective Mahon is punched by Bodie, triggering detectives Carver and Greggs to assault him. Carver reports that a television news crew has offered to show their seizures. Daniels is disappointed when Kima observes that they have nothing to show.
That night in a parking lot, Fitzhugh reveals to McNulty that the FBI previously investigated Daniels regarding "integrity concerns". The FBI discovered hundreds of thousands in unexplained assets and turned their findings over to Burrell, who declined to investigate any further.
Appearances
First
References