It's the 4 PM meeting at the Sun, where the editors outline what stories they have at their disposal. The sports editor is pitching a thumb-sucker -- that's newspaper talk for a piece where the writer pontificates at great length whether the readers want him to or not -- on Bud Selig. Perhaps this is just a little bit too much information to reveal, but on my List Of People I Would Beat Mercilessly If The Laws Of God And Man Didn't Stand In My Way, Bud Selig easily cracks the top 10. Easily. (To an attorneys representing Mr. Selig, I would like to point out that by "easily," I mean, "satirically," and by "Beat Mercilessly," I mean "poke gentle fun at.") Anyhow, after we all get to agree on what a lousy commissioner Bud Selig is, Klebanow gives us the front page rundown -- the Clay Davis indictment, congressional hearings on Iraq (Congress taking an active oversight role on Iraq? Truly, this show is a work of fiction.), Carcetti raising money for a gubernatorial bid, and a feature on John Waters, assuming the art is good. Don't use any stills from Pink Flamingos, then. Gus puts in a good word for the serial-killer-on-the-loose story. "There were other homeless people murdered?" Whiting asks; clearly, he can't be counted on to read below-the-fold stories buried in the B section of his own paper. Gus adds the tidbit about the motive being sexual, though he notes that the cops are being cryptic about what exactly that entails. Klebanow expresses mild interest, but thinks it merits something more before it lands on Page 1. Yes, something like "actually happening."

Dukie and Michael are walking and talking, with the latter promising to unleash hell's fury on Kenard at Dukie's say-so. You know, I'm normally one for fighting your own battles, Dukie, but if it means I get to watch Kenard being bandied about like a racquetball, then I say you take up Michael on his generous offer. But Dukie insists he's going to take care of this on his own. In that case, they're headed to the right place -- they arrive at Cutty's gym, and won't this be an awkward reunion between Cutty and Michael. Or not -- Michael won't set foot in the gym, and Cutty just stares out at him. Guess some people don't like getting shot in the leg on other people's account very much. Anyhow, Dukie asks for Cutty's assistance in learning the sweat science. Cutty looks at the shiner Dukie's sporting from his earlier beatdown, and tells him to get some gloves and get in the ring. I'm going to go out on a limb here, but I don't think we're going to learn Dukie is a natural pugilist whose skills are just waiting to be honed.