The Wire: Unfinished Business
INT. BPD HEADQUARTERS - NARCOTICS DIVISION - DAY
Detective JIMMY McNULTY is poring over a detailed BARKSDALE ORGANIZATION chart pinned to a bulletin board. SGT. ELLIS CARVER and DET. SHAKIMA 'KIMA' GREGGS approach.
KIMA
Jimmy, Lieutenant wants us on this case ASAP. We've got a big fish on our hands.
McNULTY
Another damn drug lord? I thought we'd nailed most of the Barksdale crew.
CARVER
Yeah, well, one kingpin goes down, another rises up. Meet Damond Ellerby. Word on the street is that he's the next big thing.
McNULTY squints at a PHOTO of DAMOND ELLERBY, then back at the chart.
McNULTY
You know what they say...same shit, different day.
CUT TO:
EXT. BALTIMORE STREET CORNER - DAY
BODIE BROADUS, now an INDEPENDENT DRUG DEALER, is arguing with his subordinate, LIL KEV.
BODIE
Kev, how many times I gotta tell you? Count the damn money, right here, before you go handing it over to Terrell.
LIL KEV
I know what I'm doing, Bodie. Ain't my first time. I got this.
Bodie sighs with frustration and watches as LIL KEV walks off.
INT. BPD HEADQUARTERS - NARCOTICS DIVISION - DAY
LT. CEDRIC DANIELS is briefing the entire task force. DET. LESTER FREAMON listens intently.
DANIELS
I've been saying this for years, folks. It doesn't matter how many people we lock up. Until we change the system, they'll always be someone waiting to rise in the ranks.
FREAMON
Maybe we should work on the connections between Ellerby and the Barksdale Organization?
DANIELS
Absolutely. Find the link and we have a better chance of untangling the whole damn web.
EXTERNAL SHOT - VACANT BUILDING - DAY
Police cars surround the abandoned building. McNULTY and KIMA enter, guns drawn.
INT. VACANT BUILDING - DAY
McNULTY and KIMA are searching room by room, carefully scanning their environment for any sign of danger.
KIMA
You ever think about how cities like Baltimore keep the cycle going? Driven by drugs, violence...
McNULTY
(Interrupting)
The system isn't afraid of change, Kima. It resists change with everything it's got.
Suddenly, McNULTY spots something and lowers his weapon.
MCNULTY
(concerned)
Over there!
CLOSE UP on a DEAD BODY, young and brutally beaten.
TO BE CONTINUED
The Wire: Unseen Lines
EXT. BALTIMORE - DAY
An ordinary morning in the city of Baltimore. Despite the hustle and bustle, the tension underneath the surface is palpable.
INT. BUNK'S HOUSE - MORNING
Bunk is standing in front of the mirror, fixing his tie. He hears the news on the TV in the background.
TV ANCHOR
(on TV)
...the newly elected mayor plans to focus on reducing crime rates and cleaning up the streets...
Bunk turns off the TV and heads to the door to leave for work.
EXT. VACANT LOT - DAY
A couple of kids on their bikes ride past the lot.
INT. MCU (MAJOR CRIMES UNIT) - DAY
McNulty and Freamon are at their desks, talking.
MCNULTY
New mayor, same promises. Can't say I put a lot of faith in it all.
FREAMON
Sometimes it takes more than a promise to bring about change, Jimmy.
Kima walks in, holding a box of doughnuts.
KIMA
And sometimes it takes more than doughnuts to make us wanna work, right?
The three of them share a chuckle. Bunk walks in, looking serious.
BUNK
I just got a call from homicide. Dead body on Fulton.
MCNULTY
Alright, let's roll.
EXT. FULTON STREET - DAY
The detectives arrive at the crime scene. They see a young man lying lifeless on the ground. Paramedics are already there.
KIMA
(to a PARAMEDIC)
What've we got?
PARAMEDIC
Late teens, maybe early twenties. Been dead for a few hours, looks like a GSW to the chest.
FREAMON
Any ID on him yet?
PARAMEDIC
Nothing so far.
Bunk crouches down to take a closer look at the body.
BUNK
One less corner boy, I suppose.
MCNULTY
(gesturing around)
Won't change much on these streets, but we'll follow through with it anyway.
As they talk, a CROWD starts to gather around the crime scene, including a MOTHER struggling to comfort her YOUNG CHILD.
YOUNG CHILD
Why'd they have to kill him, Mama?
MOTHER
I don't know, baby. But you stay far away from all this, you hear me?
The detectives exchange a somber glance before turning their attention back to the crime scene.
TO BE CONTINUED
The Wire: Unraveled Truths
INT. BALTIMORE POLICE DEPARTMENT - HOMICIDE UNIT - DAY
Detective JIMMY McNULTY sits at his desk, sorting through a messy pile of case files. His partner, BUNK MORELAND, walks over.
BUNK: Jimmy, you look like a hoarder with all this mess.
McNULTY (smirking): Just reviewing a few unsolved cases, Bunk. The bosses want them closed up.
BUNK: Don't you think you've been obsessing a bit too much over them old cases?
McNULTY: Nah, I've got a hunch.
Bunk shakes his head and walks away.
INT. WEST BALTIMORE - STREET CORNER - DAY
A group of young corner boys, including MICHAEL LEE and DUQUAN 'DUKIE' WEEMS, are hanging around. MARLO STANFIELD approaches them, accompanied by CHRIS PARTLOW and SNOOP.
MARLO: Aight, listen up. Things are getting hot around these parts. We need to keep it low, make sure nobody slips up.
SNOOP: If they do, they know what's coming for them.
Michael looks at Marlo, tension in his eyes.
MICHAEL: Marlo, when are we going to get a piece of a real action? We can handle it.
Marlo raises an eyebrow, intrigued.
INT. BALTIMORE POLICE DEPARTMENT - HOMICIDE UNIT - DAY
Lieutenant CEDRIC DANIELS walks over to McNulty's desk.
DANIELS: McNulty, I need you and Bunk on this new case. A body just turned up in West Baltimore.
McNULTY (grinning): Finally, something fresh to sink our teeth into.
EXT. WEST BALTIMORE - ALLEY - DAY
McNulty and Bunk stand over a lifeless body. Bunk takes notes while McNulty examines the scene.
BUNK: What do we have here?
McNULTY: Looks like he was trying to run away before getting shot. Caliber's gotta be a .45.
BUNK: Just when we thought things were quieting down...
McNULTY (smirking): Guess Marlo can't keep his crew on a leash.
INT. BALTIMORE DOCKS - NIGHT
NICK SOBOTKA meets with BEATRICE 'BEE' RUSSELL, a port police officer, at a bar.
BEE: I can't keep covering for you, Nick. The bosses are starting to get suspicious.
NICK: Just a little more time, Bee. After this job, I'm getting out.
BEE (sighs): We both know that's never going to happen.
INT. BALTIMORE POLICE DEPARTMENT - HOMICIDE UNIT - NIGHT
McNulty and Bunk are tracing possible suspects from the morning's case.
BUNK: You really think it's connected to Marlo?
McNULTY: I'm certain of it. This isn't just a random shooting, Bunk. This... (pauses, looking pensive) This is a message.
Just as Bunk is about to respond, Lieutenant Daniels enters the room.
DANIELS: We got another one. Same M.O., East Baltimore this time. McNulty, Bunk, let's move.
As McNulty and Bunk leave, the screen fades to black.
TO BE CONTINUED
The Wire: Crossed Lines
INT. BPD HEADQUARTERS - DAY
Detective McNULTY is at his desk reviewing case files. Detective FREAMON approaches.
FREAMON
You look like you're buried in paperwork, McNulty.
MCNULTY
(sighs)
Just following up on the Barksdale case. Seems like there's always something new to dig up on these guys.
FREAMON
Seems like it. Speaking of digging, I got a call from a CI claiming there's a new drug stash house in the West side.
MCNULTY
(smirks)
Time to get dirty then. Let's see what we dig up.
INT. WEST SIDE HOUSE - DAY
Detectives GREGGS and CARVER are investigating the alleged drug stash house. They find a cellphone in a drawer.
GREGGS
Wonder who this belongs to.
CARVER
Only one way to find out.
INT. BPD HEADQUARTERS - DAY
GREGGS and CARVER return with the cell phone, handing it to FREAMON.
FREAMON
(nods)
I'll run some checks on it. Let's see if we can connect some dots.
INT. BPD HEADQUARTERS - NIGHT
MCNULTY and FREAMON are still there, analyzing the cellphone data on their office computer.
FREAMON
Well, well, well. Look what we have here.
MCNULTY
What, another Barksdale soldier's phone?
FREAMON
Not exactly. Guess whose number is in the contacts?
MCNULTY
(surprised)
Mayor Royce?!
FREAMON
You got it. Seems like our big fish have some friends in high places.
McNULTY
Damn. Now we're fighting more than just street-level criminals.
FREAMON
Yep. But remember, when you pull one string, the whole web shakes.
INT. MAYOR ROYCE'S OFFICE - DAY
MAYOR ROYCE is working at his desk when his assistant informs him of a problem.
ASSISTANT
Sir, we've received word that the police have found a cellphone linked to your office in a drug stash house in the West side.
MAYOR ROYCE
(angry)
Get Senator Davis on the phone. Now!
INT. BPD HEADQUARTERS - DAY
Mcnulty and Freamon brief the rest of the Major Case unit on the recent developments.
FREAMON
Our next step is investigating the connection between Mayor Royce and the Barksdale organization.
MCNULTY
You can bet they won't make it easy for us.
TO BE CONTINUED.
The Wire: Enemy Lines
EXT. BALTIMORE STREET - DAY
Detectives McNulty and Bunk pull up in an unmarked car to a crime scene. Yellow crime scene tape is stretched across the street.
INT. CAR - DAY
MCNULTY
(politely)
Some things never change, huh?
BUNK
(sarcastically)
Yeah, like your part-time job as Baltimore's poet laureate.
The pair exit the car, and walk towards the crime scene.
EXT. CRIME SCENE - DAY
McNulty and Bunk are greeted by detectives Freamon and Sydnor. A uniformed officer stands next to the body of a young black male, early 20s, riddled with bullets.
FREAMON
Morning, fellas. Just another day in paradise.
MCNULTY
What do we know?
SYDNOR
Single victim, multiple GSWs. Looks like a hit.
The detectives hunch down to examine the body.
BUNK
Shell casings all over the place. Either they wanted to make sure this guy wouldn't be talking, or our shooter sucks at close range.
Police Commissioner Burrell approaches them, flanked by Deputy Rawls.
BURRELL
Gentlemen, we need this wrapped up ASAP. We've got enough bad press on our hands.
FREAMON
(sarcastically)
Always a pleasure, commissioners. We'll put a bow on it for you.
Burrell and Rawls walk away, whispering to each other.
MCNULTY
(to the team)
Alright, let's canvas the area, see if anyone knows our dear friend here.
INT. BARKSDALE DRUG DEN - DAY
Stringer Bell, Marlo Stanfield, and Bodie are discussing the recent hit in their territory.
MARLO
We need to find out who did this, and do it quickly. Can't afford any more chaos in the streets.
STRINGER
Keep your crew on their toes. Let's make sure this doesn't happen again.
Bodie nods in agreement and leaves the room.
EXT. BALTIMORE STREET - DAY
McNulty and Bunk question a young Lookout, TERRENCE, late teens, who is leaning against a corner store.
BUNK
You see anything 'round here today? Somebody got popped a few blocks away.
TERRENCE
(looking away)
I ain't seen nothin'. Why y'all talkin' to me?
MCNULTY
Come on, man. We're just trying to figure out who did it. Your help could save another life.
TERRENCE
(suspicious)
There's snitches in this neighborhood, but I ain't one of 'em.
Bunk reaches for his pack of cigarettes, offers one to Terrence.
BUNK
(smoothly)
You don't have to snitch. Just help us understand what's happenin' on these streets.
Terrence hesitates, then takes the cigarette.
TERRENCE
(slowly)
Old dude in a van was snoopin' 'round here. Word is, he's killin' people for movin' in on his product...
TO BE CONTINUED
The Wire: Forgotten Faces
INT. BALTIMORE POLICE DEPARTMENT - DAY
DETECTIVE MCNULTY sits at his desk, shuffling through a stack of files. DETECTIVE FREAMON approaches with a cup of coffee in hand.
FREAMON: Got something interesting, Jimmy?
MCNULTY: (smirking) More bodies, less time.
FREAMON: (sighs) This city never changes.
A young uniformed OFFICER approaches with a new file.
OFFICER: Detectives, fresh case for you. Just came in.
MCNULTY takes a look at the file and his eyes instantly widen in shock.
MCNULTY: What the hell...?
FREAMON reaches over and flips the file to read it as well.
FREAMON: Recognize him?
MCNULTY: Yeah. Shouldn't know him, but I do. Baltimore royalty.
FREAMON: Avon Barksdale's lawyer.
MCNULTY: (nods) Maurice Levy.
DET. GREGGS walks by, curiously peering at the file.
GREGGS: Looks like Barksdale's crew is losing more key players.
MCNULTY: (frustrated) But it's not enough.
INT. WEST BALTIMORE ROW HOUSE - DAY
MARLO STANFIELD sits on a couch, talking on the phone.
MARLO: (calmly) Levy's gone? Alright. That's what he gets for looking weak.
CHRIS PARTLOW, Marlo's enforcer, stands in the room, listening.
MARLO: (cont'd) I need a new lawyer. Find someone smarter than that fool.
Marlo hangs up the phone and turns to Chris.
MARLO: (smirks) Avon's whole world is crumbling.
CHRIS: (nodding) One less threat to us.
MARLO: Keep an eye on our corners. And bring more people in - we gotta be ready for any surprises.
EXT. BALTIMORE STREET - DAY
BUBBLES is pushing his shopping cart, collecting cans and bottles. He approaches his friend, JOHNNY, who appears to be using a payphone.
BUBBLES: Johnny, man, what you doing?
JOHNNY: (hanging up nervously) Nothing, man, just... making a call.
BUBBLES: You're clean, right? I mean, I know I am, but...
JOHNNY: Yeah, man... clean.
BUBBLES: Good. Can't go back, Johnny. We can't.
A TWO young drug DEALERS approach them, and one whispers something in Johnny's ear. Bubbles watches with concern as Johnny accepts a small envelope from one of the dealers and they walk away.
BUBBLES: (disappointed) You were clean, huh?
JOHNNY: (defensive) It ain't like it was before, Bubbles.
INT. BALTIMORE POLICE DEPARTMENT - DAY
FREAMON, GREGGS and MCNULTY are discussing the murder case.
FREAMON: The killer made sure to leave us without leads. No witnesses, no prints.
MCNULTY: Someone wanted to send a message with this.
GREGGS: (pointing at the file) This was just to weaken Barksdale or was it someone else's power move?
MCNULTY: (nodding) Could be. We need more from those corners if we're going to get any answers.
TO BE CONTINUED
The Wire: Dead Ends and New Beginnings
EXT. BALTIMORE STREETS - DAY
Establishing shot of a gloomy Baltimore, showing its well-worn streets and alleyways.
CUT TO:
EXT. AVON BARKSDALE'S BASE - DAY
Two of Avon Barksdale's soldiers, KEELO and SLIM, are posted outside of the base. They're keeping watchful eyes on the block.
KEELO
Yo, Slim, when we gon' move up in the ranks, man?
SLIM
Man, you need to quit worrying about that and focus on what we got goin' on here.
KEELO
I'm just saying, we been doing this for a minute now... ain't nothin' changed.
SLIM
Ay, man. The game's the game.
CUT TO:
INT. DETECTIVE LESTER FREAMON'S CAR - DAY
Det. Lester Freamon and his partner, Det. Jimmy McNulty, are staking out the Barksdale's crew.
MCNULTY
Lester, how much longer we gonna watch these guys? We know they up to no good.
LESTER
Patience, Jimmy. You know we need more evidence.
MCNULTY
Damn. I just wanna take 'em down now.
LESTER
You rush things, you get sloppy. You know how the bosses are.
MCNULTY
Yeah, true. God damn politics.
CUT TO:
INT. BALTIMORE POLICE DEPARTMENT - DAY
Lt. Cedric Daniels, Kima Greggs, and Herc are discussing the case in the bullpen.
LT. DANIELS
Greggs, how's the inside track from Bubbles?
KIMA
He's close to gettin' some useful info for us, but we still need more time if we wanna take this Barksdale guy down for good.
HERC
You still think we can go for the top dogs?
LT. DANIELS
That's the plan. But we can't make any moves until we got the evidence we need.
HERC
I'm tired of waiting, man.
LT. DANIELS
Tough. It ain't about what you want. It's about gettin' the job done right.
CUT TO:
EXT. BALTIMORE ALLEY - DAY
Bodacious (Bodie) and Poot, two soldiers from the Barksdale crew, are walking after a recent shipment has arrived.
BODIE
Damn, man. We made a fortune today.
POOT
Yeah, we did. But we got to keep our eyes open. The game ain't never easy, Bodie.
BODIE
You know we got to keep movin', keep hustlin'.
CUT TO:
EXT. BALTIMORE STREETS - DAY
A YOUNG DEALER is being watched by Wallace, a Barksdale soldier, while the dealer meets with a buyer.
WALLACE
Do your thing, young'un.
CUT TO:
INT. BALTIMORE POLICE DEPARTMENT - DAY
Bunk Moreland arrives to report his findings to Lt. Daniels.
BUNK
Got some new info from an informant.
LT. DANIELS
What have you got?
BUNK
Barksdale's gettin' shipments from a new supplier. We gotta move fast, and we gotta move smart.
CUT TO:
EXT. BALTIMORE STREETS - END OF DAY
Establishing shots of the sun setting over Baltimore's skyline. Tension is high in the atmosphere.
TO BE CONTINUED.
The Wire: Unraveled Truths
INT. BALTIMORE POLICE DEPARTMENT - DETECTIVE DIVISION - NIGHT
LT. DANIELS, DET. MCNULTY, DET. FREAMON, and DET. GREGGS work late, examining a large board pinned with CRIME SCENE PHOTOS.
LT. DANIELS
We've gotta wrap this case up quickly; pressure's coming down from command.
DET. MCNULTY
(rolls eyes)
Yeah, what else is new?
DET. FREAMON
We have the wiretaps but we're still missing a solid link between Marlo and the dealers.
DET. GREGGS
Maybe we're not applying enough pressure. Give me some time and I'll find a snitch.
INT. LOW-RISE PROJECTS - NIGHT
BODIE and POOT count cash in a dimly lit room. They converse about rival dealers.
BODIE
Marlo's crew's moving in on our territory.
POOT
Man, we gotta let D'Angelo know. We can't afford to lose this turf!
EXT. STREET CORNER - NIGHT
WALLACE picks up a PAYPHONE and dials a NUMBER.
WALLACE
(into phone)
Yeah, it's me. Some serious shit's goin' down. We need ourselves a meeting.
INT. COURTROOM - DAY
ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY RHONDA PEARLMAN approaches BALTIMORE DISTRICT HOMICIDE's DET. LANDSMAN on the stand.
PEARLMAN
And is it common for drug organizations to leave bodies in vacant houses, Detective?
DET. LANDSMAN
The Barksdale Organization preferred to keep things hidden, ma'am.
INT. POLICE CAR - DAY
DET. CARVER and DET. HANKS take part in a low-key surveillance operation.
DET. CARVER
So, when did this new crew come into play?
DET. HANKS
Past few weeks. They're organized, smart, not slipping like most guys.
INT. BALTIMORE POLICE DEPARTMENT - DETECTIVE DIVISION - NIGHT
The DETECTIVES reconvene to discuss their progress.
DET. MCNULTY
Went down to the corners earlier; they were all abuzz about turf wars. Something's brewing.
LT. DANIELS
We need some leverage. Someone's gotta crack.
DET. FREAMON
We can try to shake down Marlo's dealers. Find their weak points.
DET. GREGGS
(smiles)
I think I know just who to lean on...
TO BE CONTINUED
The Wire: Unseen Takedown
INT. BALTIMORE POLICE DEPARTMENT - SQUAD ROOM - DAY
Detectives are working on a new strategy - "Operation Takedown" to dismantle a city-wide drug ring. McNulty and Freamon are at the center table with a map of known drug corners, while Bunk and Sydnor are going through file folders.
FREAMON
(keys clacking on a computer)
There's a new player on the east side. Goes by the name of Dris. Seems like he's moving a lot of product and fast.
MCNULTY
(looking at the map)
You know, for once, I'd like to take one of these guys down before they have the whole city by the balls.
BUNK
(smiling)
We take down one, there'll be another one to fill his place. There's always another player, McNulty.
SYDNOR
(interjecting)
But if we can hit their supply, at least it'll slow them down for a bit.
Freamon nods in agreement.
FREAMON
(agrees)
That should buy us time to find out who the kingpin is.
CUT TO:
EXT. DRUG CORNER - DAY
Poot and Bodie supervise a corner while we see a drug runner, Rico, making a delivery to customers. Snoop watches from a distance with an unreadable but intense look in her eyes.
BODIE
(sternly)
Rico, stop yapping to the fiends and start getting the count right!
Rico nods and gets back to working the corner, visibly annoyed.
CUT TO:
INT. BALTIMORE POLICE DEPARTMENT - SQUAD ROOM - DAY
The detectives are gathering evidence on the new player in the drug scene. They are looking for any connections to past or present criminals.
SYDNOR
(flipping through files)
You guys remember Marlo Stanfield's crew? Look at this.
Sydnor tosses a file folder onto the table. Freamon and McNulty take a look.
MCNULTY
They might be involved with this new player, Dris?
FREAMON
It's not unthinkable. Several of Marlo's people are still on the streets.
CUT TO:
EXT. ALLEYWAY - NIGHT
Kima Greggs is undercover, dressed as a drug user, sitting in a dark alleyway. On the street, we see a car stop and Rico steps out. He hands a package to someone.
RADIO
Greggs, we're in position. Don't make a move until we see the transaction go down.
KIMA
(whispering)
Copy that. He's here. I'll stall him for a minute - make 'em comfortable.
Kima approaches Rico, visibly nervous, and starts talking to him. We can't hear the conversation, but the tension is high. Rico hands Kima a small package, and she gives him some money. Seconds later, a police van pulls up around the corner, and officers including Carver and Daniels jump out.
DANIELS
Baltimore Police! Freeze!
Rico immediately takes off, and Kima drops the package and gives chase.
CUT TO:
INT. BALTIMORE POLICE DEPARTMENT - INTERVIEW ROOM - NIGHT
Rico is handcuffed and sitting in the interview room, scared and sweating. McNulty, Bunk, and Freamon stand just outside the door, discussing their strategy.
MCNULTY
(snarky)
Let's see if our friend Rico here is willing to give us anything on Dris, shall we?
Freamon raises an eyebrow, and Bunk nods. They all step into the interview room, ready to intimidate Rico.
TO BE CONTINUED
