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Lessons (The Wire)

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"Lessons (The Wire)"

"Lessons" is the eighth 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 Gloria Muzio. It originally aired on July 21, 2002.

Guest Starring roles

Episode recap

Template:Spoilers Detective Jimmy McNulty spots Russell "Stringer" Bell well taking his sons on a shopping trip and has them follow him. McNulty loses his sons but they are capable and manage to write down Stringers number plate. He later discusses his pride in their ability with William "Bunk" Moreland.

The Barksdale detail bemoan the loss of the wiretaps on the low rise project payphones. Lester Freamon hopes that as they are using other payphones traffic will increase on the tower payphones. Thomas "Herc" Hauk and Ellis Carver discuss the upcoming sergeant’s exam. Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski asks them to tail some of the pit crew to see which phones they are using now. They ridicule him as he is acting as though he is their superior when in reality he is a discipline problem. When Shakima "Kima" Greggs asks them the same thing they keep their mouths shut.

While they are out on surveillance a call comes over the wire – Stringer is expecting tower crew enforcer Little Man to hand off "twenty" to someone named Day. Carver, Herc and Greggs pull over Day – who is Senator Davis' driver. They find a bag full of cash on him and bring him in for questioning. Back at the detail the detectives identify the driver as Damien Lavelle "Day-Day" Price, a legislative aid. Daniels recognises the driver and tells the detail to keep the cash but release Day Day with a receipt – if he wants to claim it he will have to explain where it came from. IID Major Bobby Reed comes to talk to Daniels. He is forced to defend his detail's actions to Deputy Commissioner Burrell who tells him to give the money back and write the stop up as unwarranted. Burrell tells Daniels he is shutting down his case for getting into areas they were not supposed to be in.

Daniels discusses his problems with his wife Marla. He tells her his superiors dislike wiretaps because they know that drug money ties into politics. He also complains that McNulty asked him what the deputy had on him and she asks him what he said.

Judge Phelan calls McNulty into his chambers and Greggs accompanies him. They tell him that Burrell is shutting the case down for getting into areas beyond its mandate. Phelan tells them they have to use all the wiretap time he signed off on. He calls Burrell and insists the wiretaps are used for their duration. He grins at the detectives and asks them “who’s your daddy now?”

Later McNulty tails Stringer and sees him abandon his car and switch to a taxi. At the detail Daniels pages McNulty to ask him what his involvement was in overturning Burrells order. He also checks with Greggs who assures him that this time it was on the judge. McNulty follows Stringer to an economics class.

At the police department Herc and Carver take the sergeants exam. Carver is tense while Herc seems nonchalant about the test. After his class Stringer berates the staff at his print shop front.

Barksdale soldiers Wee-Bey, Stinkum and Savino raid Omar’s apartment and torch his van while he watches from his hiding place across the street. Later they pick up D'Angelo Barksdale to go for a meal to celebrate Stinkum's promotion. D'Angelo mentions Orlando's proposition and the others tell him that he should talk to Avon. They are planning a party that evening.

One of Wallace's young charges wakes him for help with his maths homework. He is unable to do a simple counting problem until Wallace phrases it in terms of the drug business – his reason for the difference in performance is that if the count is wrong you will be beaten up. Poot encourages Wallace to come to work.

Avon harangues Orlando for considering getting involved in dealing when he needs him to remain clean to run the club. He beats him and throws him out of his office in front of the dancers.

At the party D’Angelo seems unsure of himself while the rest of the crew embrace hedonistic pursuits. Orlando gives him a baleful look when he smiles at him. D'Angelo goesout for more alcohol and when he comes back the party is almost over. He notices one of the dancers lying on a bed and asks what is wrong with her. On closer inspection he realises she is dead.

Wee-Bey and Stinkum prepare to hit Scar's corners. Stinkum bemoans the lack of Bird. Omar surprises and kills Stinkum as he approaches scar and wounds Wee-Bey.

At the detail wiretaps reveal the murder and indentify Omar. Freamon tells Greggs that Omar is a loose cannon. Avon marshals his soldiers telling them the bounty on Omar has increased to 10,000 and tells them to get to work. Avon asks Stringer for his opinion and Stringer is pragmatic telling him that the vendetta will be expensive and has gotten out of hand.

McNulty and Greggs bring Omar in the next day. Omar denies any involvement. While at the detail Omar spots the photo linking Avon to Orlando’s club. Omar is unapologetic about his actions and detectives have to let him go. Afterwards McNulty asks Freamon if they are still cops, he says "technically, I suppose."

Shardene asks D’Angelo about Keisha, a dancer friend from the club and he tells her she was sick when he last saw her. They discuss his future and she tells him if he is unhappy he should do something else.

Bunk reads Laura Lippman. McNulty asks him who caught the Stinkum murder – it was Ray Cole. McNulty tells him that Omar was the shooter, he asks Bunk to tell Cole that they have some talk on the wire and asks him to persuade Cole to let the case wait until their investigation is complete. Later Omar observes Orlandos club from the shadows.

Bunk and McNulty go drinking and discuss the strange position of protecting Omar from the murder investigation. Bunk asks McNulty to lie to his wife as he has spotted a woman he wants to go home with. Later, McNulty is called by Bunk's one night stand to come and collect him – Bunk is so drunk he decided to burn his clothes to destroy the evidence of his infidelity. When McNulty gets Bunk into his home he tells him that he is bad for the people around him before falling asleep.

Greggs goes to Freamon with her worries that she caused Omar to volunteer as an eye witness by saying she needed one. Freamon reassures Greggs that justice would be served even without Omar as the ballistics matched. They discuss dancers at the club and he picks out Shardene as a potential informant.[1][2][3]

Deceased

Anton "Stinkum" Artis: Ambushed and shot by Omar Little as he tried to take over new territory for the Barksdale organization.

Title Reference

  • The title refers to the classes Stringer takes.

Epigraph

Come at the king, you best not miss. - Omar

Omar uses this phrase while taunting Wee-Bey after shooting Stinkum.

References

  1. ^ "Episode guide - episode 08 The Wire". HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-28-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. ^ David Simon, Ed Burns (2002-28-07). "Lessons". The Wire. Season 1. Episode 8. HBO. {{cite episode}}: Check date values in: |airdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |city= and |writers= (help); Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ Alvarez, Rafael (2004). The Wire: Truth Be Told. New York: Pocket Books.
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