Transitions (The Wire episode)
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| The Wire episode | |
| "Transitions" "Buyer's market out there." - Templeton |
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| Episode no. | 54 |
| Teleplay by | Ed Burns |
| Story by | David Simon and Ed Burns |
| Directed by | Dan Attias |
| Guest stars | see below |
| Prod. code | 504 |
| Original airdate | 27 January 2008 |
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| Episode chronology | |
"Transitions" is the fourth episode of the fifth 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 Dan Attias.[1] It first aired on 27 January 2008.[2]
Contents |
[edit] Production
[edit] Epigraph
| “ | Buyer's market out there. - Templeton | ” |
[edit] Credits
[edit] Starring cast
Although credited Andre Royo and Jermaine Crawford do not appear in this episode.
[edit] Guest stars
- Frankie Faison as Ervin Burrell
- Amy Ryan as Beatrice "Beadie" Russell
- Paul Ben-Victor as Spiros "Vondas" Vondopoulos
- Robert F. Chew as Proposition Joe
- Bill Raymond as The Greek
- Delaney Williams as Jay Landsman
- Marlyne Afflack as Nerese Campbell
- Benjamin Busch as Anthony Colicchio
- Anwan Glover as Slim Charles
- Felicia Pearson as Snoop
- Method Man as Cheese
- Duane Chandler Rawlings as Hungry Man
- Dion Graham as Rubert Bond
- Melanie Nicholls-King as Cheryl
- Frederick Strother as Odell Watkins
- David Costabile as Thomas Klebanow
- Shamika Cotton as Raylene Lee
- Sam Freed as James Whiting
- Bobby Brown as Bob Brown
- Ed Norris as Ed Norris
- Roscoe Orman as Oscar Requer
- Michael Salconi as Michael Santangelo
- Bruce Kirkpatrick as Roger Twigg
- Donald Neal as Jay Spry
- Todd Scofield as Jeff Price
- William F. Zorzi as Bill Zorzi
- Jeffrey Pratt Gordon as Johnny "Fifty" Spamanto
- Curtis L. McClarin as Florist
- Jeff Roberts as Homeless Employed Man
- Ptolemy Slocum as Homeless Business Card Man
- John Badila as Sun Staff Member
- Valerie Leonard as Washington Post Editor
- Jayne Miller as TV news journalist
- Jerry B. Whiddon as Washington Post Editor
- Miriam Hyman as Social Worker
- Nathan James as Western DEU Officer
- Tim R. McAdams as Motorist
- Joey Perillo as Medical Examiner
- Alan J. Wendl as Southern District Desk Sergeant
- Larry Andrews as Donnie
- Sho "Swordsman" Brown as Phil Boy
- Thuliso Dingall as Kenard
- Edward Green as Spider
- Derrick Purvey as Big Guy
- Troj Marquis Strickland as Ricardo "Fat-Face Rick" Hendrix
[edit] Uncredited appearances
- Mike D. Andersen as Ghost
- Tom McCarthy as Tim Phelps
- Kwame Patterson as "Monk" Metcalf
- Brandon Young as Mike Fletcher
Ryan Sands (Lloyd "Truck" Garrick) was supposed to appear in this episode. But Sands was busy filming The Kill Point. Nathan James was hired to fill in for Sands as an unnamed officer.[3]
[edit] Plot
[edit] Summary
Jimmy McNulty and Lester Freamon collaborate on raising the profile of their fake serial killer. They conduct actual canvassing among the homeless as a cover. Freamon sensationalizes the idea by adding a sexual motive and supplies a set of dentures to create bite marks. Freamon also recruits his old patrol partner to look out for bodies. They soon have their next fake victim and McNulty mocks up the crime scene and mutilates the body to imply another murder. McNulty's binge drinking and infidelity are noticed by his domestic partner Beadie Russell. Kima Greggs finds the child survivor in her case too withdrawn to help and decides to spend more time with her ex-partner Cheryl's son Elijah.
Officer Anthony Colicchio attacks a motorist who irritates him while he tries to arrest Michael Lee's drug dealing crew. Sergeant Ellis Carver offers to help Colicchio through the subsequent internal investigation but Colicchio remains unrepentant. Carver decides Colicchio's behavior cannot continue unchecked and charges Colicchio himself. Thomas "Herc" Hauk later appeals to Carver for leniency but Carver explains his new philosophy that their actions as police are always important. Herc expresses regret over his own misdeeds leading to his dismissal. Michael is signed out of holding by his mother but refuses to pay her to be a parent to him.
Leander Sydnor uncovers new evidence in the Clay Davis investigation. Rupert Bond decides not to file the new charge as it would mean allowing a federal prosecution and would cost him the opportunity to raise his political profile. Bond has Rhonda Pearlman hold a grand jury deposition for Davis. Bond stages a photo opportunity as Davis leaves the court house to mark Davis as his target. Scott Templeton unsuccessfully interviews for a position with The Washington Post. Upon his return the staff at The Baltimore Sun rush to catch up on the Davis story after being left out of the loop.
Mayor Tommy Carcetti must grant favors to Nerese Campbell and the politically influential ministers to smooth the transitions in the police department. Cedric Daniels remains concerned that Ervin Burrell will expose his history of unexplained income and destroy his chances of becoming commissioner. Daniels appeals to Burrell but receives the silent treatment. Burrell gives the file on Daniels' past to Campbell. Campbell convinces Burrell to leave the department quietly with the promise of a well paid replacement position.
Marlo Stanfield convinces The Greeks to consider him as an insurance policy for handling their supply of narcotics into Baltimore. Stanfield's rival "Proposition Joe" Stewart fears reprisal from Omar Little following the death of Butchie and decides to leave town. Stanfield asks Proposition Joe to teach him more about money laundering and is introduced to attorney Maurice Levy. Omar returns to Baltimore and quickly ascertains that Stanfield was behind Butchie's death.
Stanfield observes Hungry Man and Cheese arguing over territory at a New Day Co-Op meeting. Stanfield continues to court Cheese's loyalty and has Chris Partlow capture Hungry Man and deliver him for Cheese to murder. Cheese reciprocates by revealing Proposition Joe's location. Stanfield and Partlow surprise Proposition Joe as he prepares to leave town. Stanfield watches while Partlow kills Proposition Joe.[4]
[edit] First appearances
- Oscar Requer: Freamon's former partner in the patrol division. A retired homicide detective of the same name provided inspiration for the character of Bunk Moreland on the show.[5]
[edit] Deceased
- Proposition Joe: Shot by Chris Partlow on orders of Marlo Stanfield.
- Hungry Man: Delivered as prize to Cheese by Marlo Stanfield.
[edit] References
- ^ Season 5 crew. HBO (2007). Retrieved on 2007-12-12.
- ^ HBO Schedule: THE WIRE 54: TRANSITIONS. HBO (2008). Retrieved on 2007-12-01.
- ^ Nathan James' WAMO interview
- ^ "Transitions". Dan Attias, Writ. Ed Burns (story and teleplay), David Simon (story). The Wire. HBO. 2008-01-27. No. 4, season 5.
- ^ Simon, David [1991] (2006). "Post Mortem", Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets, 4th, Owl Books, 641. ISBN 0-8050-8075-9. “Rick 'The Bunk' Requer left to man the department's retirement servies bureau, though his homicide incarnation lives on in Wendell Pierce's portrayal of the legendary Bunk Moreland on The Wire, right down to the ubiquitous cigar.”
