D'Angelo speaks to Wallace, who tells him he wants to go back to school and get out of the Game. However, Malik 'Poot' Carr (Tray Chaney) discovers Wallace has started using cocaine to help him deal with his guilt over Brandon's murder. Freamon gets Sydnor and Prez started on the complex Barksdale money trail, including possible political connections, and they are surprised to find Avon's corporations have been buying up vacant buildings in run-down parts of the city. Greggs and Freamon approach D'Angelo's girlfriend, Shardene Ennis (Wendy Grantham), who works at Orlando's, in the hopes they can turn her into a CI. After Bubbles narrowly avoids a beating whilst stealing a package that turns out to be stepped on, he decides to try to get clean. Avon and Eastside kingpin 'Proposition' Joe Stewart (Robert F. Chew) stage the annual East vs. West basketball game, but when the detail follows Avon afterwards, they get something they never expected. Meanwhile, having already killed Stinkum, Omar sets in motion a plan to gain revenge on Avon for Brandon's death.

Season Five premiere. As McNulty and the detail continue staking out Marlo's crew, recently promoted Sergeant Carver is welcomed by a cauldron of discontent from officers coping with unpaid overtime.

With Steintorf ordering Rawls to initiate 'creative' remedies for the rising crime rate, Freamon's vigilance pays off with a promising lead, sending Sydnor and the department into overdrive.

Carcetti maps out a damage-control scenario with the police brass in the wake of a startling revelation from Pearlman and Daniels. Their choice: clean up the mess...or hide the dirt.