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Old Cases

"Old Cases"is the fourth episode of the first season of theHBOoriginal seriesThe Wire.The episode was written byDavid Simonfrom a story by David Simon andEd Burnsand was directed byClement Virgo.It originally aired on June 23, 2002.

"Old Cases"
The Wireepisode
Episodeno.Season 1
Episode 4
Directed byClement Virgo
Story byDavid Simon
Ed Burns
Teleplay byDavid Simon
Original air dateJune 23, 2002(2002-06-23)
Running time60 minutes
Episode chronology
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List of episodes

Plot summary

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The Police

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McNultyandGreggsattend a court hearing for Marvin Browning, a Barksdale dealer arrested for a hand-to-hand deal. Hoping he will give them information, they pushAssistant State's AttorneyDawkins to pursue a maximum sentence, even though Browning had only been caught selling small amounts ofheroinandcocaine.He nonetheless refuses their offer of a deal.PolkvisitsMahonin the hospital, where he learns that Mahon will be getting an early retirement and an increase in hispensiondue to his injury. Meanwhile, Herc and Carver drive to ajuvenile detention centerinPrince George's County,only to find thatBodiehas escaped from the low-security facility. They raid Bodie's home but find only his grandmother. Embarrassed by the rude intrusion, Herc apologizes and leaves his card.

Bunkand McNulty review old homicide cases and try to match them to theBarksdale Organization.Landsmaninsists they review the case of Deirdre Kresson, a college girl murdered far from thewest side,with a "Dee" listed as a possible suspect. McNulty reluctantly agrees to investigate the seemingly unrelated murder since the homicide unit is currently understaffed. At the crime scene, the two communicate using only variations of the word "fuck" as they recreate the murder and find ashell casingand bullet that previous detectives missed. Landsman visitsRawlsand, while noting McNulty's character flaws, asserts that those very qualities make him a good detective. Relenting, Rawls offers a deal: if McNulty wraps up the detail in two weeks, he can return to normal duty.

Greggs andBubblesdiscuss the recent hit on the Barksdale stash byOmar.McNulty is forced to drive Bubbles to his son's soccer game. During the trip, he discusses sharing parental custody with his estranged wifeElena,but the conversation devolves into profanity. At home, Greggs noticesCheryl'scell phonebill and realizes that the Barksdale dealers usepagersto avoid any documentation of incoming and outgoing calls.Phelanis disappointed whenBurrelltells him they have nothing on the Barksdales and phones McNulty. Daniels meets with Burrell and tells him that he can take the Barksdale case wherever the deputy commissioner wants, raising the possibility of McNulty's suggested wire to make the case.

Greggs suggestspager cloningto monitor Barksdale communications, but Daniels points out that they need to have a number to bug. Freamon surprises everybody by revealing thatthe number he found in the stash housebelongs toD'Angelo.While sharing a drink with McNulty, Freamon explains that he was transferred to thepawn shopunit after pursuing a politically connected suspect against his major's orders. Freamon warns that McNulty is likely on a similar path. That night, McNulty shows up at Greggs' apartment drunk. She confirms that their visual surveillance was unable to follow targets into the towers as planned. Back with Cheryl, Greggs explains that McNulty is lonely, and they begin to make love.

The Street

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Omar,BrandonandBaileyenjoy the proceeds from the Barksdale robbery. Brandon apologizes for using Omar's name during the raid, but Omar points out that he was already well known anyway. He is worried that the Barksdales could attack Brandon, now revealed to be Omar's lover. An addict approaches Omar with her infant son and respectfully asks for a free fix, which he gives her.

Meanwhile,Avondiscusses the loss of the stash with his enforcersAnton "Stinkum" ArtisandWee-Beyand puts acontractout on Omar's crew. Avon doubles the bounty when informed by Stinkum that Omar is gay.Stringertells Avon he is worried about the Pit operation since the robbery coincided with the police raid. He reassures Avon that his nephew D'Angelo is doing well, but is worried there may be a leak from someone else in D'Angelo's crew. Bodie arrives back at the Pit, wherePootandWallaceare surprised that he has returned so soon after his arrest. D'Angelo bristles when Bodie says he would still be there had it been him, telling them that he murdered Kresson, Avon's scorned girlfriend, after she had threatened revenge by testifying to the police. Bodie, who has never killed anybody, is humbled. The dealers destroy some new security cameras around the towers.[1][2][3]

Production

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Title reference

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The title refers to both the old homicide cases being investigated by Bunk and McNulty and to the old bullet cases found at the Deirdre Kresson crime scene.

Epigraph

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Thin line 'tween heaven and here.

— Bubbles

The line is said as Bubbles is being returned to the ghetto by McNulty after the two have spent an afternoon insuburbia,which Bubbles refers to as "Leave It to Beaverland. "Bubbles is referring to the fact that despite the short drive, there is a night and day difference between Baltimore county (heaven) and Baltimore City (here).

Music

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When Freamon and McNulty start talking in the bar,Miles Davis' "All Blues",from the albumKind of Blueplays diegetically in the background. When theheadhas finished and Davis begins his trumpet solo, Freamon opens up and tells McNulty what happened to his career.

Credits

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Starring cast

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Although credited,Deirdre Lovejoydoes not appear in this episode.

Guest stars

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First appearances

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This episode marks the first appearance of Jimmy McNulty's estranged family. Callie Thorne playsElena McNulty,Jimmy's estranged wife and the mother of his two sons. Callie Thorne also appeared onHomicide: Life on the Streetalongside several otherWirecast members. Antonio Cordova playsMichael McNulty,Jimmy's soccer-playing younger son. His older son, Sean, remains unseen in this episode.

Reception

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This episode was noted for the "Fuck scene" in which Bunk and McNulty evaluate a crime scene while repeatedly saying only variations of the word "fuck". TimeOut listed it as one of the Top 5 scenes from the series.[4]

References

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  1. ^"Episode guide – episode 04 Old Cases".HBO. 2004.RetrievedJuly 26,2006.
  2. ^David Simon, Ed Burns (June 23, 2002). "Old Cases".The Wire.Season 1. Episode 4. HBO.
  3. ^Alvarez, Rafael (2004).The Wire: Truth Be Told.New York: Pocket Books.
  4. ^"Top five: Scenes from HBO's classic series The Wire".Time Out New York.
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