Contains spoilers for this episode and earlier episodes.
Herc discovers Mayor Royce with his secretary and asks Carver what to do. Carver sends him to Valchek, who sees the incident as a way for Herc to advance if he stays quiet. Carcetti assumes his campaign is lost, but his team persuades the Fraternal Order of Police to stop actively backing Royce. The mayor considers moving Herc off his security detail. At the prison, De’Londa pressures Namond to take his corner work seriously, while Wee-Bey questions his son about the job and gives him advice.
Namond and Michael ask Bodie for work to buy school supplies. Marlo’s crew offers the boys money, but Michael refuses because he does not want to owe Marlo. Donut arrives in a stolen SUV, drawing Carver’s attention and forcing the group to scatter. Walker catches Randy and takes his school money. Freamon serves subpoenas on political figures tied to the Barksdale investigation, including Clay Davis and Andy Krawczyk, prompting pressure on Royce and Burrell. At Cutty’s gym, Michael fights Justin; Cutty offers to coach him, but Michael declines. Bubbles also takes Sherrod to school to ask about enrollment. At the televised debate, Carcetti uses the murdered witness to challenge Royce’s claim that crime has fallen, leaving the mayor defensive.