Carcetti's in the midst of telling Burrell over drinks that last episode's little spot of unpleasantness between them was not meant to be personal; from the look Burrell is shooting Carcetti, I assume that's cold comfort. Carcetti goes on: "I've been a councilman for almost three years now. And that's a long fucking time to be ignored." Carcetti's problem is that his opportunities for higher office in the city are thwarted by Baltimore's demographic make-up, so he's either got to wait for someone in the state legislature to keel over and die or twiddle his thumbs in a job with no power "except getting potholes filled." "All due respect, Councilman," Burrell says pointedly, "you're fucking with me because, what, you're bored?" Yeah, Erv, I think he pretty much is -- though Carcetti would prefer that we frame it as "improving the city by getting tough on crime." So what do you say, Acting Commissioner? How's about working with your new pal, Tommy Carcetti, to improve the lives of the citizenry? Tell Tommy what you need, and he'll try and get it for you privately. And if not -- well, you've already beheld the awesome destructive power of the Carcetti death star. Burrell sips his cocktail, mulls his options, and decides to play ball: police cars go in for repairs and then don't come back for weeks on end, and the mayor hasn't been terribly helpful. "Not that you heard it from me," Burrell says. "Of course not," Carcetti smiles and assures him that he'll keep the commissioner's confidence. This looks like the beginning of a beautiful friendship of convenience.