The Cost (The Wire)

After three days clean, Bubbles meets Walon, who supports his attempts at sobriety and recounts how he contracted HIV and unknowingly infected his girlfriend. Later, Greggs assists with finding Bubbles accommodation. Meanwhile, Avon and Stringer meet with Wee-Bey and instruct him to arrange a truce with Omar. Stringer persuades Avon to distance himself further from the drug operation, leading Avon to surrender his pager and require all communication to pass through Stringer.

McNulty visits Phelan, who has suddenly become reluctant to support the Barksdale investigation. Later, Pearlman informs McNulty that Phelan has been removed from the mayor's re-election ticket. Elsewhere, D'Angelo grows increasingly detached from his life, ignoring Donette's plans for their future and requests for money. He then attempts to reconnect with Shardene at Orlando's, but she refuses to speak to him. Freamon traces the Barksdale resupply network to a payphone in Pimlico; Carver and Sydnor go to monitor the location. Alongside Santangelo, they identify Little Man, a Barksdale soldier, using the phone and follow the chain to a suburban stash house. Freamon later organizes surveillance of the property using Sydnor and Prez disguised as garbage collectors.

Meanwhile, Orlando is arrested while attempting to buy cocaine from an undercover officer. To avoid serious charges, he gives up Avon's name. The Barksdales learn of the arrest through Marvin Browning, an incarcerated Barksdale associate. Levy cuts Orlando loose by removing him from the strip club's liquor license, severing his ties with Avon. Burrell orders a buy-bust operation using Orlando as an informant, despite Daniels wanting to wait before acting. McNulty locates Wallace squatting in the towers and bribes uniformed officers to help apprehend him. Wallace, who is in withdrawal, identifies Stringer, Wee-Bey and others involved in Brandon's murder. Because protective custody funds are unavailable, Daniels relocates Wallace to his grandmother's home on the Eastern Shore. Meanwhile, McNulty faces an emergency custody hearing initiated by Elena, who confronts him about his relationship with Pearlman. Elsewhere, Greggs shares the story of her first arrest with Cheryl, helping ease tensions in their relationship.

Omar meets Stringer under Proposition Joe's supervision to discuss a truce. Although Omar wears a wire, little useful evidence is gathered. Suspecting a trap by Stringer, Omar rejects the deal and leaves Baltimore for New York City. The police proceed with the buy-bust with Greggs going undercover as Orlando’s girlfriend, but the operation collapses when armed Barksdale enforcers ambush the vehicle. Orlando is killed, and Greggs is shot twice, suffering serious injuries.^[1][2][3]