The Buys
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| “The Buys” | |
|---|---|
| The Wire episode | |
 |
|
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 3 |
| Guest stars | see below |
| Written by | David Simon |
| Directed by | Peter Medak |
| Production no. | 103 |
| Original airdate | June 16, 2002 (HBO) |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "The Detail" | "Old Cases" |
| Episode chronology | |
"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.
Contents |
[edit] Guest Starring roles
- Michael K. Williams as Omar
- J.D. Williams as Bodie
- Seth Gilliam as Det. Ellis Carver
- Domenick Lombardozzi as Det. Thomas Herc Hauk
- Clarke Peters as Det. Lester Freamon
- Jim True-Frost as Det. Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski
- Hassan Johnson as Wee-Bey
- Michael B. Jordan as Wallace
- Corey Parker-Robinson as Det. Leander Sydnor
- Richard DeAngelis as Maj. Raymond Foerster
- Delaney Williams as Sgt. Jay Landsman
- Michael Salconi as Det. Michael Santangelo
- Nat Benchley as Det. Patrick Mahone
- Tom Quinn as Det. Augustus Polk
- Wendy Grantham as Shardene Innes
- Al Brown as Major Stanislaus Valchek
- Tony D. Head as Major Bobby Reed
- Brandon Price as Anton "Stinkum" Artis
- Tracy Chaney as Malik "Poot" Carr
- Doug Olear as FBI Agent Terrence Fitzhugh
- Michael Kevin Darnall as Brandon
- Lance Williams as Bailey
- Bill Zorzi as Newspaperman #1
- Curtis Montez as Sterling (uncredited)
[edit] Episode recap
In the projects, D'Angelo instructs Bodie, Poot, and Wallace in showing respect to their customers and shares his belief that if there was no violence involved in their trade, then the police would not be interested in them. Bubbles arrives and repeats the coloured hat scam he used to mark drug dealers for photographing by Det. Kima Greggs.
Lt. Daniels attends a meeting in Deputy Commissioner Burrel's office to account for the actions of his men in starting a riot in the tower buildings. Maj. Foerster is skeptical of witness reports that the brutality was unprovoked. Holly suggests that the charges will be overturned by any judge. Burrel insists that Daniel needs to explain why his men were in the area at all. When Daniels suggests that Det. "Prez" Prezbylewski should be restricted to office work, Maj. Valchek insists this is an admission of some guilt. The other officers are more supportive. Burrel calls Daniels back as he is about to leave, Valchek also remains. Burrel asks if Daniels knew his men were in the towers before the incident and Daniels suggests that answering affirmatively implicates him and negatively puts his men in further jeopardy. Valchek is impressed that Daniels is willing "to take one for the company". Daniels is angry at the suggestion and insists he is more concerned for his men. Valchek thanks him for not pursuing a charge against his son-in-law (Prez) and offers resources to Daniels's detail as a thank you. Realising he is not in as much trouble as he thought he would be, Daniels asks Burrel if a different investigative technique could be used against the Barksdale organization. Burrel again insists on a simple investigation targeted at making arrests and seizures rather than securing convictions against the organization's key members.
Major Rawls holds a press conference about the Gant murder. Bunk attends and toes the party line. McNulty and Kima watch the conference on television. They go back to their investigation board and bemoan the lack of a photograph of their main target, Avon Barksdale. Realizing that all the tower residents are photographed at some point, McNulty asks Det. Polk and Mahone to get a photograph from the housing department of Avon Barksdale. Out of their absolute laziness, they initially refuse until McNulty claims that their alternative is to do vigorous case work on old murders. As they go, Kima is impressed with McNulty and he remarks, "I'm a leader of men."
In the projects, Wallace and Bodie complain about the lack of "product" and being forced to cut their stash thin. D'Angelo spots that they are playing checkers with a chess set (pictured). He realizes they do not know how to play chess and quickly teaches them the moves using the analogy of the Barksdale crew - Avon as king, Stringer as the queen, the stash as the rook, soldiers as pawns. When Bodie learns of the possibility of a pawn becoming a queen when it crosses the board, he draws a comparison with himself. D'Angelo is skeptical, remarking that pawns die early in the game, but Bodie insists that a smart pawn can be successful.
At the Barksdale detail, McNulty and Kima discuss the possibility of having Bubbles wear a wire, but Kima rejects it as too dangerous. Meanwhile, Det. Santangelo meets with his homicide commander (Rawls) and bemoans his assignment to the Barksdale detail as a mole - he is getting little information from McNulty. Daniels arrives back at the detail late to inform Kima that Prez is off the street and Herc is on sick leave for some time. Polk and Mahone return with the photograph from Barksdale's housing file - it is a middle aged white male. Kima jokingly speculates that with the information they have Barksdale could be white; she lists their slight information on Barksdale so far (all of which describes him to be black). Freamon takes an interest when Kima remarks that Barksdale used to box. Freamon later visits a boxing gym and is offered drugs on his way in. Inside, he questions a trainer about Barksdale.
McNulty visits his contact in the FBI, Fitz, with Kima. Fitz has no knowledge of the Barksdale organization. He shows them footage of arrests made from the same case that he demonstrated listening devices on before. He remarks that it would be a career case if his superiors were interested. When McNulty tells Fitz that Daniels is the commanding officer, Fitz appears to bite his tongue because Kima is present.
In the projects, Bodie organizes fast sales because of poor weather while Omar watches from his van. McNulty, Bubbles and Kima discuss their relationships. McNulty finds out through the talk that Kima is a lesbian. She is pragmatic, saying that being out keeps interest from male officers away. They talk about the merits of lesbian police officers (McNulty claims the only other female officer he worked with that was worth anything was also a lesbian) and Kima ends the conversation by saying, "All I know is I just love the job."
At Orlando's, D'Angelo watches Shardene, the dancer who approached him on a previous visit. Stinkum greets him on his way to Avon's office. Inside, Stringer is overseeing money being counted, and when D'Angelo enquires where it goes, Stringer does not answer. Stringer is impressed by the amount of money D'Angelo is making in the courtyard. D'Angelo suggests that things will be better when they get a new package of narcotics. Stringer explains that there is nothing better on the way but that their profits are unaffected by the weak product because the market (drug addicts) is so demanding. On his way out, D'Angelo strikes up a conversation with Shardene. She doesn't remember him but is open to his advances, particularly once he explains that Avon is the real owner of the club and that he is Avon's "right-hand".
Freamon returns to the detail office with a photograph of Avon from his boxing days. Sydnor shows off his outfit for undercover work in the projects. Carver laughs at Sydnor's efforts, while Kima asks Bubbles for criticism. He suggests more stains are needed and tells Sydnor that his wedding ring is a mistake. Sydnor suggests that there can't be anything wrong with his shoes and Bubbles tells him that any addict finds their shoes encrusted with "dead soldiers" - used vials of drugs. Sydnor and Bubbles later visit the low rise projects together and Kima photographs their activities. Sydnor covertly speaks to Kima by standing next to her van. He has noticed that neither drugs nor cash pass through the hands of any key players. Kima asks Sydnor if he wants to do more "hand to hands", but he suggests that a real addict would be using the drugs he had just bought. As they leave the low rises, Omar and his crew continue to observe the courtyard crew. 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.
McNulty 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. She reminds him that he also needs the cooperation of his superiors. 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. When their intercourse is finished, he asks her if she reached orgasm, and she responds by telling him he doesn't care anyway. Her animosity continues and she calls him an asshole. McNulty responds with his characteristic "The fuck did I do?"
At the pit, D'Angelo leaves to buy food and Stinkum arrives to resupply the stash. Shortly afterwards Omar and his crew burst in to 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 following day, Daniels readies the detail to storm the projects in an effort to find a stash. McNulty refuses to participate in the action because he believes it will sabotage their case, and also refuses to sign off sick. Daniels is enraged at his perceived insubordination. In contrast, Det. Herc insists on aiding his co-workers despite being injured.
Before the detail arrives at the projects, Wee-Bey 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. As the detail searches suspects, Det. Polk is punched by Bodie. Herc, Carver, and Kima respond with a savage beating while Mahone places a cigarette in Polk's mouth as he lays on the ground. The detail finds little to seize, but Freamon notices a number written on a wall. Carver reports that a camera crew has offered to show their seizures. Daniels is disgusted when Kima responds by telling him they have nothing to show.
Fitz and McNulty have a late night meeting and Fitz reveals that the FBI has been investigating Daniels for "integrity concerns". When the FBI found thousands of dollars of unexplained assets, they turned their findings over to Burrel, who has failed to take the investigation any further. [1][2][3]
[edit] First Appearances
- Major Bobby Reed: Baltimore police department officer in charge of the internal investigations division (IID).
- Major Stanislaus Valchek: South Eastern district commander and Prez's father-in-law.
- Omar Little: Legendary Baltimore stick up artist who robs drug dealers for a living.
- Brandon: Omar's boyfriend and a member of his crew.
- Bailey: Member of Omar's crew.
[edit] Title Reference
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.
[edit] Epigraph
| “ | The King stays the King. - D'Angelo | ” |
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.
