S02E11 · EP 24
season 2 · 2003-08-17
Bad Dreams
written by George Pelecanos · directed by Ernest Dickerson · 3.7M viewers · image The Wire Wiki (CC BY-SA)

Episode DNA

21 scenes · 1 threads
tense 25%angry 24%investigation 19%pursuit 10%misunderstanding 10%confession 7%deal 2%coincidence 1%menacing 1%violence 1%

Story threads over runtime

click a block to open the scene
0:005:0010:0015:0020:00
01

Every scene

21 scenes · our breakdown
1 · Pyramid Industries Warehouse · setupPD Raid on Warehouse

Lieutenant Daniels and his team raid a warehouse, but it has been stripped of evidence. They find cocaine residue and a bloodstain from a previous murder.

00:24–00:42investigation · coincidence
4 · Eton Ben-Eleazer's home · setupSearch of Eton Ben-Eleazer's Home

Beadie Russell finds weapons in Eton Ben-Eleazer's home.

00:54–01:54investigation · pursuit
5 · Sergei Malatov's home · setupSubduing Sergei Malatov

Terrence Fitz and Jimmy McNulty subdue Sergei Malatov at his home.

01:54–02:38pursuit · violence
6 · Nick Sobotka's home · setupSearch of Nick Sobotka's Home

Herc and Carver search Nick Sobotka's home and find drugs and cash.

02:38–03:24investigation · pursuit
7 · Michael McArdle's home · setupArrest of Michael McArdle

Michael McArdle is arrested by uniform officers and protests his innocence.

03:24–03:38pursuit · confession
8 · Detail Office · setupDiscussion of the Investigation

Daniels and Russell discuss the rationale for leaving Spiros Vondas on the street.

03:38–05:48investigation · misunderstanding
9 · Detail Office · escalationConfrontation with Homicide Unit

Daniels confronts Landsman for not contacting him about Glekas' death.

05:48–06:10confession · misunderstanding
10 · Union Offices · escalationArrest of Sobotka and Pakusa

The FBI arrests Frank Sobotka and Thomas Pakusa at the union offices.

06:10–08:35pursuit · confession
11 · Detail Office · complicationInterviews with Suspects

Interviews with Eton, Sergei, and Ilona yield little information.

08:35–10:13investigation · misunderstanding
12 · Detail Office · revealWhite Mike's Cooperation

White Mike gives information on Eton and Sergei in exchange for hot dogs and a soda.

10:13–12:33deal · confession
13 ▸ 12:33
13 · Detail Office · escalationDiscussion of Vondas and the Case

Daniels meets with Pearlman to discuss the case and the need to identify Vondas' lawyer.

12:33–15:12investigation · misunderstanding
14 · Central Baltimore · pursuitTail of Vondas

Bunk and McNulty tail Vondas from his home to a meeting in central Baltimore.

15:12–16:08pursuit · investigation
15 · Multistory Car Park · pursuitFoot Pursuit of Vondas

Greggs and Russell follow Vondas into a multistory car park and Russell begins her first foot pursuit.

16:08–18:41pursuit · investigation
16 · Hotel · revealVondas' Meeting and the Greek

Vondas meets with his lawyer and The Greek is seen walking by Greggs.

18:41–22:20investigation · misunderstanding
17 · Detail Office · escalationDiscussion of Offering Protection to White Mike

Russell suggests offering witness protection to White Mike and asks why Sobotka hasn't been offered the same.

22:20–25:48deal · investigation
18 ▸ 25:48
18 · Vondas' Home · pursuitTail of Vondas and the Greek

Bunk and McNulty wait for Vondas at his home, and Herc and Carver search for Nick.

25:48–27:08pursuit · investigation
19 · Nick Sobotka's Home · revealDiscussion of the Dock Business

Nick returns home to find his mother and father, and the dock business is discussed.

27:08–32:00investigation · confession
20 · Union Hall · escalationDiscussion of the Union and the Feds

Frank Sobotka discusses the union and the Feds' involvement in the case.

32:00–34:25investigation · misunderstanding
21 · Detail Office · revealDiscussion of the Greek and the Smuggling Ring

The Greek is discussed as a potential leader of the smuggling ring.

34:25–36:34investigation · misunderstanding
22 · Union Hall · escalationDiscussion of the Union and the Feds

Frank Sobotka discusses the union and the Feds' involvement in the case.

36:34–42:21investigation · misunderstanding
23 · Detail Office · resolutionConclusion of the Investigation

The investigation concludes with the arrest of Sobotka and the potential identification of the Greek as the leader of the smuggling ring.

42:21–56:48investigation · confession
03

Same DNA

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Episode facts

Wikipedia · Wikidata
Aired
2003-08-17
Overall
#24
Writers
George Pelecanos
Director
Ernest Dickerson
Viewers
3.7M (US)
Pace
74 words/min · 150 questions

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In this episode

LF
Lester FreamonClarke Peters59 episodes · drives 80 scenes
EB
Eton Ben-EleazerLev Gorn6 episodes · drives 1 scenes
JM
Jimmy McNulty38 episodes · drives 119 scenes
SM
Sergei Malatov13 episodes · drives 1 scenes
EC
Ellis CarverSeth Gilliam59 episodes · drives 6 scenes
A
AimeeKristin Proctor7 episodes
MM
Michael McArdleBrook Yeaton5 episodes
FS
Frank Sobotka14 episodes · drives 24 scenes