McNulty strolls right into Landsman's office and slaps a sheet of paper on whatever sure-to-be-pornographic material the sergeant is reading this week -- it's a request for surveillance teams, ostensibly for the serial-killer investigation, but really for Freamon to keep tabs on Marlo. Into the desk drawer goes McNulty's request, where it will never be heard from again. "C'mon, Jay," McNulty says, with only a trace of confusion. "You heard the mayor. This case is a red ball." Landsman agrees that it is and offers him Kima -- which is generous and all, if Kima hadn't already been assigned to the case. Which is Landsman's point exactly -- that's all the resources McNulty will be getting. "So it's all bullshit," McNulty says of today's press conference. "I dunno," Landsman smirks. "I thought the mayor gave a very nice speech. I, for one, was moved...much like the bull to which you just referred." So many conflicting emotions for me here: On the one hand, it's dispiriting to see the forces of bureaucracy triumph once more; on the other hand, it's nice to see the grin knocked off McNulty's face. Did I say "nice?" That's horribly inaccurate. I meant glorious.

Outside a plush hotel, Fatface Rick -- your cruel nicknames only serve to further drive him to the comfort of food -- and other New Day Co-op members disgorge themselves from their SUVs. "Tell you one thing," Rick remarks to one of his henchmen. "Motherfucker who got the connect, he's the one that did Joe." Fatface Rick is right to be suspicious -- especially when the meeting kicks off with Marlo lamenting the recent losses of both Prop Joe and Hungry Man. "Good people," Marlo says, not at all convincingly. "I know what you're thinking, so I'm-a put it out there," Marlo continues. "I'm responsible." Because you, in fact, arranged for the killings of Prop Joe and Hungry Man? No -- because "a week or so back, I made a move on Omar with Joe's approval. The faggot ain't had heart enough to come at me, so he at those close to me." Ah. So it's a frame-up, then. Marlo ups the bounty on Omar to $100,00, with $250,000 if you just deliver the head. Yeah, yeah, yeah -- vengeance shall be yours. In the meantime, what about the drug supply that Joe used to control? Good news on that front, Marlo reports -- he'll be handling that from now on. The drug dealers share knowing glances with one another.