Contains spoilers for this episode and earlier episodes.
Omar cannot forget Bunk’s criticism, even when Butchie dismisses it as manipulation. He recovers Dozerman’s gun and has Butchie return it. Royce and Burrell celebrate its recovery publicly while Carcetti discovers that the mayor has done nothing about witness protection. Colvin’s statistics show crime falling outside Hamsterdam and rising inside it; he wants to wait before telling his superiors. Carver begins charging dealers to support children whose lookout jobs have disappeared, buying a basketball hoop that is soon damaged. Marlo withdraws from his corners and plans to supply other dealers, while Avon prepares to occupy the apparently abandoned territory himself.
The withdrawal is no guarantee of safety: Snoop kills one of Poot’s men after the Barksdales move in. Daniels receives orders to investigate both Stringer and Marlo and correctly suspects McNulty used Colvin to force the change. He tells McNulty he must leave the unit when Stringer is caught. The detectives need a Barksdale phone to understand the disposable-phone network. McNulty briefly persuades his colleagues to abandon surveillance for a drink, costing them a chance to see Avon meet Bodie. The following morning, they stop Bodie and Puddin’s vehicle on its way to Hamsterdam, looking for the evidence their surveillance has failed to supply.