Lessons (The Wire)
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"Lessons" is the eighth episode of the first season of the
HBO Home Box Office (HBO) is an American premium television network, which is the flagship property of namesake parent subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is ba ...
original series ''
The Wire ''The Wire'' is an American Crime film, crime drama Television show, television series created and primarily written by author and former police reporter David Simon. The series was broadcast by the cable network HBO in the United States. ''The ...
''. The episode was written by
David Simon David Judah Simon (born February 9, 1960) is an American author, journalist, screenwriter, and producer best known for his work on ''The Wire'' (2002–08). He worked for ''The Baltimore Sun'' City Desk for twelve years (1982–95), wrote '' Hom ...
from a story by David Simon and
Ed Burns Edward P. Burns (born January 29, 1946) is an American screenwriter, novelist, and producer. He has worked closely with writing partner David Simon. For HBO, they have collaborated on ''The Corner,'' ''The Wire,'' ''Generation Kill'', ''The Pl ...
and was directed by
Gloria Muzio Gloria Muzio is an American theatre and television director. She has worked on a number of TV shows including ''Criminal Minds'', '' Brothers & Sisters'', ''The Black Donnellys'', ''The Closer'', '' ER'', ''Third Watch'', '' Law & Order'', ''Law ...
. It originally aired on July 21, 2002.


Plot summary


The street

As
Wallace Wallace may refer to: People * Clan Wallace in Scotland * Wallace (given name) * Wallace (surname) * Wallace (footballer, born 1986), full name Wallace Fernando Pereira, Brazilian football left-back * Wallace (footballer, born 1987), full name ...
helps one of his young charges with their math homework, Poot shows up and asks him to return to work. Wallace refuses to leave his room and asks to borrow money from Poot, who begrudgingly obliges. Afterward, Poot reports his concerns about Wallace to
D'Angelo Michael Eugene Archer (born February 11, 1974), better known by his stage name D'Angelo (), is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He first garnered attention after co-producing the single "U Will Know" ...
, who wants to talk with him face-to-face. Meanwhile, at the Barksdale-run print shop,
Stringer Stringer may refer to: Structural elements * Stringer (aircraft), or longeron, a strip of wood or metal to which the skin of an aircraft is fastened * Stringer (slag), an inclusion, possibly leading to a defect, in cast metal * Stringer (stairs), ...
scolds the staff for not acting like professionals.
Wee-Bey Roland "Wee-Bey" Brice is a fictional character in the HBO drama ''The Wire'' played by Hassan Johnson. Wee-Bey is a trusted soldier in the Barksdale Organization. Character storyline Wee-Bey dropped out of school in sixth grade and started deal ...
, Stinkum and Savino raid
Omar ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb ( ar, عمر بن الخطاب, also spelled Omar, ) was the second Rashidun caliph, ruling from August 634 until his assassination in 644. He succeeded Abu Bakr () as the second caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate o ...
's apartment and torch his van while he watches from his hiding place across the street. Later, they pick up D'Angelo, who mentions
Orlando Orlando () is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and is the county seat of Orange County. In Central Florida, it is the center of the Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2,509,831, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures rele ...
's proposition; the others tell him that he should talk to Avon. Orlando is berated and beaten by Avon for even considering getting involved in dealing. The
soldier A soldier is a person who is a member of an army. A soldier can be a conscripted or volunteer enlisted person, a non-commissioned officer, or an officer. Etymology The word ''soldier'' derives from the Middle English word , from Old French ...
s throw a party celebrating Stinkum's promotion, which will be official as soon as they kill a dealer named Scar and chase his crew off his corner. Before leaving to buy more alcohol, D'Angelo notices an extremely inebriated dancer named Keisha being held by Wee-Bey against his chest; he regards D'Angelo coldly before he takes Keisha into a bedroom and shuts the door behind him. When D'Angelo returns, he finds Keisha's naked corpse lying on a bed in the room where Wee-Bey took her. D'Angelo is slightly shaken, while Wee-Bey appears disturbingly unconcerned; it is implied Keisha died of an overdose after Wee-Bey drugged and raped her. Later, Shardene asks D'Angelo about Keisha, and he tells her that she was sick when he last saw her. They discuss his future and she tells him that if he is unhappy, he should do something else. As Wee-Bey and Stinkum prepare to hit Scar's corner, they are ambushed by Omar; Stinkum is killed while Wee-Bey is wounded. Avon increases the bounty on Omar, but Stringer suggests luring him into the open with the promise of a
truce A ceasefire (also known as a truce or armistice), also spelled cease fire (the antonym of 'open fire'), is a temporary stoppage of a war in which each side agrees with the other to suspend aggressive actions. Ceasefires may be between state act ...
.


The police

McNulty McNulty (also spelled MacNulty or McAnulty) is a surname of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic ''Mac an Ultaigh'' meaning "son of the Ulsterman". Usually considered a branch of the Ulaid ruling dynasty of ''Mac Duinnshléibhe'' ( MacDon ...
spots Stringer while taking his sons to Northeast Market and has them follow him. McNulty briefly loses sight of his sons, but they manage to write down Stringer's
license plate A vehicle registration plate, also known as a number plate (British English), license plate (American English), or licence plate ( Canadian English), is a metal or plastic plate attached to a motor vehicle or trailer for official identificati ...
number. Bunk disapproves of McNulty involving his sons in the operation. Meanwhile,
Herc Thomas "Herc" Hauk is a fictional character on the HBO drama ''The Wire (TV series), The Wire'', played by Domenick Lombardozzi. The series introduces Herc as a detective in the Baltimore Police Department's Narcotics Unit, begrudgingly detailed ...
and Carver prepare for their sergeant's exam. Prez and
Greggs Greggs plc is a British bakery chain. It specialises in savoury products such as bakes, sausage rolls, sandwiches and sweet items including doughnuts and vanilla slices. It is headquartered in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It is listed on t ...
ask them to tail the pit crew to see which phones they are using now. Based on information gleaned from the wire, they pull over
Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
Davis Davis may refer to: Places Antarctica * Mount Davis (Antarctica) * Davis Island (Palmer Archipelago) * Davis Valley, Queen Elizabeth Land Canada * Davis, Saskatchewan, an unincorporated community * Davis Strait, between Nunavut and Gre ...
's driver, Damien "Day-Day" Price, and find a bag full of cash in his car. Because of Price's political connections, Burrell demands that his men return the money and tells Daniels he will shut down the detail. Daniels tells
Marla Marla is a town and locality in the Australian state of South Australia located in the state's north-west about north-west of the state capital of Adelaide and about south of the town of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. History Marla ...
that his superiors dislike wiretaps because they know that drug money ties into politics. He also complains that McNulty asked what Burrell has on him; she asks him what he said, and he does not reply. Phelan calls McNulty into his chambers and asks about Burrell's order, and they agree to the opposition involved with it. The judge then threatens Burrell with a
contempt Contempt is a pattern of attitudes and behaviour, often towards an individual or a group, but sometimes towards an ideology, which has the characteristics of disgust and anger. The word originated in 1393 in Old French contempt, contemps, ...
charge if the wiretap is terminated prematurely. Later, McNulty tails Stringer and discovers he is taking an
economics Economics () is the social science that studies the Production (economics), production, distribution (economics), distribution, and Consumption (economics), consumption of goods and services. Economics focuses on the behaviour and intera ...
class at
Baltimore City Community College Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) is a public community college in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the only community college in the city and the only state-sponsored community college in the state. It is accredited by the Middle States Commiss ...
. The detail learns through the wiretaps about Omar's murder of Stinkum. McNulty and Greggs bring in Omar, but he denies any involvement. While at the detail, Omar spots a photo linking Avon to Orlando's club. Omar is unapologetic about his actions and the detectives have to let him go. Later, Omar observes the club from the shadows. Greggs goes to Freamon with her concerns that she caused Omar to volunteer as an eyewitness; Freamon assures Greggs that justice will be served even without Omar, as the ballistics matched. They discuss dancers at the club and pick out Shardene as a potential informant. Bunk tells McNulty that Ray Cole has been assigned the task of solving Stinkum's murder. McNulty tells Bunk that Omar was the shooter and asks him to tell Cole they will give him a closed case once their case is finished, but acknowledges that because of Omar's assistance, he will not ultimately deliver him to Cole; both men regret the lie and go out drinking to soothe their consciences. They discuss the strange position of protecting Omar from the murder investigation. Bunk spots a woman he wishes to bed, and asks McNulty to cover for him with his wife. Later, McNulty is called by the woman to come and collect Bunk, who is so drunk that he decided to burn his clothes to destroy the evidence of his infidelity. McNulty brings Bunk home and deposits him in the empty
bunk bed A bunk bed is a type of bed in which one bed frame is stacked on top of another, allowing two or more beds to occupy the floor space usually required by just one. They are commonly seen on ships, in the military, and in hostels, Dormitory, dor ...
normally used by his sons. Bunk mumbles that McNulty is bad for the people around him before falling asleep.


Production

In the Homicide unit, Bunk is reading a book written by
Laura Lippman Laura Lippman (born January 31, 1959) is an American journalist and author of over 20 detective fiction novels. Life and career Lippman was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and raised in Columbia, Maryland. She is the daughter of Theo Lippman, Jr., a w ...
. Lippman is a Baltimore resident and is married to series creator
David Simon David Judah Simon (born February 9, 1960) is an American author, journalist, screenwriter, and producer best known for his work on ''The Wire'' (2002–08). He worked for ''The Baltimore Sun'' City Desk for twelve years (1982–95), wrote '' Hom ...
.


Title reference

The title refers to the classes Stringer takes, Wallace teaching the math problems to the child in his charge, Judge Phelan showing his control over Burrell to McNulty, the sergeant's exam Herc and Carver take, Freamon teaching Kima about the use of instinct in solving cases, Kima learning that she made an error on the Omar witness case, and Omar teaching a lesson to the Barksdale soldiers. It may also refer to McNulty teaching his sons how to tag a suspect when he has them follow Stringer.


Epigraph

Omar uses this phrase while taunting Wee-Bey after shooting Stinkum. It also relates to the chess discussion in episode #3.


Credits


Starring cast

Although credited,
John Doman John Doman (born January 9, 1945) is an American actor best known for playing Maryland State Police Superintendent, Deputy Police Commissioner and Major William Rawls on HBO series ''The Wire'' (2002–2008), Colonel Edward Galson on '' Oz'' (2 ...
,
Deirdre Lovejoy Deirdre Lovejoy (born June 30, 1962) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Assistant State's Attorney Rhonda Pearlman on HBO’s ''The Wire''. She is also known for her roles as a serial killer List of Bones characters#The G ...
, and
Andre Royo Andre Royo (born July 18, 1968) is an American actor, producer, and writer. He is best known for his role as Reginald "Bubbles" Cousins on the HBO crime drama series ''The Wire'', and his appearances on ''Fringe'', ''Party Down'', ''How to Make I ...
do not appear in this episode.


Guest stars


References


External links


"Lessons"
at HBO.com * {{The Wire episodes The Wire (season 1) episodes 2002 American television episodes Television episodes written by David Simon