The Best The Wire, Season 4, Episode 2 Quotes

- That new driver, the bald-headed, white kid.
- Where did he come in from?
- Hoskins brought him in, I think.
- Hoskins?
- He doesn't have a better rabbi in the department than that?
- Why, you want to lose him?
- Let me think about it.

- There are no bodies on this guy in months, but we get him on the phone and it sounds like a war zone.
- Well, at least he gets on a phone now and then.
- That's something.
- Sounds arrogant, doesn't he?
- Like he's the little king of everything.
- Ah, youth. [Laughs]

- Thought you asleep.
- If you want...
- I could go to school some.
- I ain't been for a while, so I don't even know if I can.
- But if you want me to go...
- Ain't no thing.

[Radio] 10-4. K-g-a to all units...
- I love this. Just like old times.
- I don't need to chase these fucking knuckleheads. I know half of 'em.
- Shit, I know where they hang.
- Besides, you're a little overdressed.
- Let's just call this in and go see the man about your thing.

- But from the look of the court computer, this guy's the state's whole case.
- Don't put it in the 24 that the guy was a witness.
- Trust me, we do not wanna kick shit in an election year.
- Work the case, take the ot, but Bury the witness angle till we know for sure.
- And close the door.

Maj. Stanislaus 'Stan' Valchek: [to Herc, laughing about the oral sex incident between Mayor Royce and his secretary] What I wouldn't give to be in your shoes right now! Kid, careers have been launched on a helluva lot less. Just shut up and play dumb.

[Sen. Davis yells at Mayor Royce after being subpoenaed by Sydnor]
State Sen. R. Clayton 'Clay' Davis: ...because if some federal muthafucka comes through the door, I say hey, it's all in the game! But a city police? Baltimore city? Hell no, can't be happenin', 'cause I know I have raised too much goddamn money for the mayor and his ticket! Hell no, ain't no soul in the world that fuckin' ungrateful!
Mayor Clarence V. Royce: Yeah, well... calm down, Clayton.
State Sen. R. Clayton 'Clay' Davis: Money launderin'? They gonna come talk to me about money launderin'? In *West Baltimore*? Sheeeeit! Where do y'all think I'm gonna raise cash for the whole damn ticket? From laundromats and shit? From some tiny-ass Korean groceries? You think I have time to ask a man why he givin' me money, or where he gets his money from? I'll take any muthafucka's money if he givin' it away!
Mayor Clarence V. Royce: Well, I don't wanna know.
State Sen. R. Clayton 'Clay' Davis: I know you don't wanna know, but I'm scratchin' and clawin' to get it done for you, Clarence! For you, and me, and the rest of the team! And who comes through my door but a Baltimore city police lookin' to get up into my shit about it!
Mayor Clarence V. Royce: Clay, we didn't know about that.
State Sen. R. Clayton 'Clay' Davis: I'm sorry, I gots to leave up outta here before I lose my damn mind!
Mayor Clarence V. Royce: Nobody knew about that!
State Sen. R. Clayton 'Clay' Davis: You wanna run a campaign with my money pillowed under yo' ass? You need yo' people to back the fuck up, Clarence!

- If I see any of y'all little hoppers even smile at a motor vehicle again, it ain't gonna be no juvenile hearing.
- It's gonna be my people settlin' up with y'all in the alleys. Understand?
- You can't do that, yo.
- Try me, namond.
- Yeah, that's right. I know your name.
- I know where you live and I know where y'all hang.

- 'Cause see, if you don't know how to move, you ain't got no business being in that ring.
- So what you think?
- I'd train you myself, personally.
- Nah, really, I just wanna keep doing what I been doing.
- All right.
- Let's see that right. Uh-huh.

- That's it.
- Yankin' that bitch.
- Son, that's too much knuckle.

- keep him in the hole in the hole down in the hole down in the hole keep him in the hole keep him in the...
- Down in the hole down in the hole keep him in the hole keep him in the...
- Down in the hole down in the hole

[Radio] I fell into a burnin' ring of fire
- I went down, down, down and the flames went higher and it burns, burns, burns the ring of fire the ring of fire

- He's interested in you.
- But he doesn't mention no blowjob, and neither do you.
- Uh-uh. It just lays there like a bad pierogi on the plate, both of you pretending it ain't there.
- What if he screws me over?
- Bounces me to a midnight shift?
- He does that, you will talk.

- Sir?
- Lieutenant?

- I'm not even gonna bother with that.
- I'm here because of a homicide, and the way it looks right now, your boy is running from the police behind that killing.
- I don't know where he at.
- Ma'am...

- Anyone comes looking,
- I'm back up on the second floor.
- Sir?
- I understood that the mayor might be going to breakfast at the harbor?
- With kweisi.
- But that's up in the air, I thought.
- Would you happen to know where lieutenant hoskins is?

- Yes, sir, I see what you're lookin' at.
- Two a deck, name brand.
- You can't beat that price.
- Yeah, let me get two decks, man, and a white tee, double-x.
- And give me the rest of them paint cans too, man.
- There you go. That's it?
- Yeah, what's that?
- How much the man owe, sherrod?

Det. Leander Sydnor: Senator.
[hands Sen. Davis a subpoena]
State Sen. R. Clayton 'Clay' Davis: What the hell is this?
Det. Leander Sydnor: Subpoena for records.
[points to a plaque on the wall]
Det. Leander Sydnor: Sphinx Club? Man of the Year!
State Sen. R. Clayton 'Clay' Davis: What kinda bullshit is this? You people must be out yo' damn mind!
Det. Leander Sydnor: You were in the Sphinx Club? My uncle used to tend bar over there. Marvin Thompson? Short guy...
State Sen. R. Clayton 'Clay' Davis: What is your name, officer?
Det. Leander Sydnor: [hands Davis his business card] Detective Sydnor, sir.
State Sen. R. Clayton 'Clay' Davis: [looks at the card, then back at Sydnor] Major Crimes? Sheeeeeeeeeeit.
Det. Leander Sydnor: [smirks and walks out] Enjoy your day, sir.
State Sen. R. Clayton 'Clay' Davis: Son, we're gonna see about this!

- It's not funny, Cedric!
- Those subpoenas went out today!
- The front office is gonna go batshit!
- But you did it anyway.
- I'm sorry, but shit, I'm just glad to see
- Lester doing it to somebody other than me.

- It's soft duty. Lotsa perks.
- All this standin' around and wait.
- You know?
- Hoskins says I do the one year,
- I'll make sergeant on the next list.
- They told me, career-wise, you can't do better than drive the mayor.
- Shit, if you could make rank the right way,
- I'll still be working western drugs.

Patrolman: [Patrolman making his report to detectives at the scene of a homicide] Single wound, upper back, no casings, no witnesses and nothing on the canvas.
Det. Edward Norris: Dead when you got here?
Patrolman: Actually not. He was still conscious and coughin' blood when I pulled up
Det. Edward Norris: Did you ask who shot him?
Patrolman: Yeah, I asked who shot him. He said it was a guy with a gun
[Norris's partner laughs]

- 1400 lanvale, in the street, found by the post officer, no suspects, no witnesses.
- Ah, man.
- Better to be lucky than to be good.
- You wanna work the heavy bag?
- Go ahead. Four rounds.

- well, then... well, then you understand that writing letters will not solve the problem, oh, no.
- Shit, girl.
- You know I'm-a roll wit' you.
- I need some kinda break.
- Mm-hm.

- Want a check, go the fuck up rosemont.
- Come on, man, I'll work for it.
- Na', I took you on out of respect for your father, all right, but I can't go hirin' the whole damn neighborhood.
- You can have my job until you get enough for you an' bug.
- Thanks, man.
- Yeah, work for y'all, work for me, yo.
- Po-po. Step the fuck off.

- I see his broom, but I don't see him.
- Where's your number two been at?
- I ain't seen him.
- Since when?
- I thought we were on better terms.
- Or do you want me rolling past lookin' for Lex every 15 minutes?
- He come past, I'll call you.
- I will.

- I'll hold his for you...
- Yo, don't press, man.
- Don't press.
- Fuck is wrong with you, boy?
- You too good for my money?
- Or is you such a bitch-ass punk you worried about where my money come from?
- Yeah.
- Ain't no thing, shorty. We cool.

- Marvin Thompson? Short guy...
- What is your name, officer?
- Detective sydnor, sir.
- Major crimes?
- Shit.
- Enjoy your day, sir.
- Son, we're gonna see about this.