Ebb Tide (The Wire)

"Ebb Tide" is the first episode of the second season of the HBO original series The Wire. The episode was written by David Simon, from a story by Simon and Ed Burns, and was directed by Ed Bianchi.^[1] It originally aired on June 1, 2003.

Plot

A few months after his reassignment to the

Bodie Broadus drives to Philadelphia with another Barksdale drug dealer, Sean "Shamrock" McGinty. Bodie is enraged when the car he has collected is devoid of any narcotics and worries over informing his superiors. Stringer Bell, who now leads the Barksdale Organization while Avon Barksdale is imprisoned, reveals that he had Bodie and Shamrock followed. Bodie is later seen running a tower crew. Stringer visits Avon in prison, telling him that the Barksdales' connection with New York, Roberto, failed to deliver the product which Bodie was sent to collect. Stringer later learns that Roberto was arrested by the DEA and had become concerned that Avon implicated him in exchange for a lighter prison sentence. Stringer is assured that his funds are being returned to him, but the New York suppliers no longer feel safe dealing with the Barksdales.

At Delores' bar, the stevedores riotously discuss days gone by. Ziggy shows off and exposes himself while standing on a table. The following morning, Nick is met by Ziggy and Johnny Fifty on his way to meet with The Greek about the container and tells Frank that their cut will be the same. Frank and Thomas "Horseface" Pakusa are dismayed when Sergei "Serge" Malatov, The Greek's lieutenant, leaves the container sitting on the dock for several hours. When they insist that he get on with things, Sergei drives away. Frank orders Horseface to "lose" the container in the stack, so as to make it less conspicuous. Later, Maryland Transportation Authority Police officer Beadie Russell stumbles across the container and notices the broken customs seal. She finds the bodies of over a dozen young women inside and calls for backup. Frank and the stevedores gather around as the police arrive.^[2][3][4]

Production

Starring cast

• Frank Sobotka: International Brotherhood of Stevedores local 1514 checker's union secretary treasurer at the Baltimore port who is smuggling contraband to finance his political campaign to rejuvenate the docks.
• Nick Sobotka: Local 1514 stevedore and nephew of Frank Sobotka who acts as a messenger in his smuggling operation.
• Ziggy Sobotka: Son of Frank Sobotka and an incompetent stevedore at the port with aspirations of becoming a feared criminal.
• Horseface: Longstanding Polish Baltimore port checker and friend of Frank Sobotka who handles all of their smuggled containers.
• Nat Coxson: African American local 1514 stevedores union president who worries about Frank's surge in income.
• Ott: Senior African American stevedore, often found drinking at Delores' bar, who is set to replace Frank at the next election.
• Little Big Roy: Imposing Polish senior port stevedore who is often found drinking at Delores' bar.
• Chess: Large, bearded, senior, African American stevedore at Delores' bar.
• Moonshot: Smaller, bearded, senior, African American stevedore at Delores' bar.
• New Charles: Bald-headed African American Stevedore.
• Big Roy: Long-haired young Stevedore at Delores' bar.
• Johnny "Fifty" Spamanto: Young Baltimore port checker and friend to Nick and Ziggy Sobotka.
• La La: Younger African American Baltimore Port checker and friend to Nick Sobotka.
• Delores: Owner of the bar frequented by local 1514 union members.
• Joan Sobotka: Nick Sobotka's mother and Frank's sister-in-law.

The Greeks

• The Greek
  : Mysterious figure running smuggling in Baltimore from behind the scenes.
• Spiros "Vondas" Vondopoulos: The Greek's second in command and spokesman.
• Sergei Malatov: Driver and muscle for The Greek's smuggling operation. Ukrainian.
• George "Double G" Glekas: Warehouse front operator for The Greek's smuggling operation and fence.

Law Enforcement

• Officer Beatrice "Beadie" Russell: Inexperienced port authority police officer.
• Officer Claude Diggins: McNulty's new partner in the marine unit.
• This is the first episode where William Rawls is ranked as a colonel.

Barksdale organization

• Sean "Shamrock" McGinty: Barksdale crew lieutenant who drives Bodie to Philadelphia and is Stringer Bell's new second in command.
• Country: Recently paroled Barksdale soldier who tails Bodie to Philadelphia.
• Tank: Barksdale soldier who accompanies Country.
• Puddin: Bodie's second at his new tower drug dealing operation.
• Rico: Barksdale enforcer who acts as security at the funeral home.

References