The Wire Season 5 Episode 10 (Series Finale)

The show opens with Daniels and Pearlman at the mayor’s office delivering the bad news about the serial killer. They explain that the case was a front to bring down Marlo. Now they must figure out what to do, either bring it to the light or sweep it under the rug. Of course by-the-book Daniels wants to get rid of anyone that had anything to do with it but everyone else wants to just sweep this under the rug to avoid a public backlash. Lester heads down to City Hall to let Gary Pascal(?) know that he knows that he’s the courthouse mole. Daniels is upset because they won’t allow him to discipline the troops because the mayor is running for governor and this could hurt his campaign as well as end Pearlman’s career. Bubs is a little leery about letting the reporter print the story about his life and Sherod. Carcetti meets with Commissioner Rawls and State Attorney Bond to let them know that they will bury this story slowly and let it fade away. Everybody seems to be making back door deals in order to let this incident go. dukie goes to Prezbo and asks for a loan, telling him that he’s homeless and that he needs money for a place to stay and to get his GED. Prezbo looks to have the hang of things at the school. Lester catches up with Pearlman in the hall of the courthouse and tells her about the leak at the courthouse and that he has proof. McNulty is slowly trying to bury this serial killer case by telling Jay that he doesn’t need the manpower or the wiretap anymore. “Shit is like war. Easy to get in but hell to get out”- Bunk. Lester tells McNulty that Daniels and Pearlman know everything about everything so they decide to meet at the bar to sort things out. Presbo drops Duk off at the copper spot knowing that he’s not going to enroll in any program and that he will probably never see him again. Duk then takes the money and heads down to the corner with one of the older men to cop some testers. Daniels runs into McNulty in the elevator and tells him “to be continued”. So Lester and McNulty try to figure out the next move. they figure they need to lay low on the killer and let it fade away. Gus (the editor) finds out that most of Scott’s quotes and stories are made up. Levy meets with Marlo and tells him that he has no bail. Neither does Chris. Monk and Cheese get out on $300,000. they discuss who knew the code and how the cops could have broken it. Marlo puts Cheese on to round up some muscle and find Michael. Scott does something to a homeless guy and the next thing you know, McNulty is getting called. Bubs meets with his sponsor to talk about the story the reporter wrote about him and whether or not to let him print it. Scott makes up more lies about somebody trying to kidnap a homeless guy not knowing that there was an undercover cop watching the entire time. The paper wants to print the story but Gus wants no part or it in the paper now that he has proof that Scott is a liar. they still run the piece nonetheless. One lie begets another begets another… Bunk and Greggs go to work on another case and find out that now there is a copycat serial killer on the loose. Levy runs into Pearlman in the hall and tells her he thinks the wiretaps were ilegal and that he has a source (figuratively). When McNulty makes it back to the station commisioner Rawls and Daniels are waiting on him. He tells them that he has nothing to do with the murders. McNulty makes a break in the case when he sees some cards in the evidence from the copycat killer. Gus goes to confront the bosses about Scott and his lies when Alma shows him the notebook that he claims had all his quotes and notes is full of blank pages. Pearlman and Levy meet and she plays the taped convo about the court papers and attempts to make a deal with him to keep the case from trial. Chris must cop to the murders and get life with no parole (similar to what Wee-Bey did) and Marlo gets 10 years along with Cheese and Monk. Levy doesn’t bite and counters with Chris copping to one murder and Marlo walking or taking it to trial. Pearlman than drops the hammer about the mole and he decides to talk it over with Marlo. McNulty goes down under the bridge to pick up the homeless guy that is always asking for cards and pins the murders on him. He did kill the last two, but confesses to kiling them all. Levy meets with Marlo to deliver the news. Marlo takes the deal. Chris gets life for the murders and he walks because of the illegal wiretap. Lester and McNulty meet with Pearlman and find out that they can’t be fired or do any type of policework that can eventually go to trial. Marlo sells the connect for $10 million ans says he’s getting out of the game. The guys have an Irish funeral for one of their own and it pans up to McNulty laying on the table laughing along, faking his death. Jokesters! Lester put in his retirement papers. Noreese gives Daniels ex wife the dirt she got from Burrell. she ( his ex) goes to talk to him and tells him that if he doesn’t feel right going along with the broken program than to get out. He will be okay with his law degree to fall back on. Kima tells Lester and McNulty that she told Daniels about the case. Slim meets with the co-op as they discuss getting the money together. Cheese offers to put up more than his share and they all wonder where he is getting the extra money from. Slim pops him in the side of the head while he’s talking mess about everybody and how much they should have. Now they complain because with Cheese dead they are short $900,000. He says that he did it for Prop Joe’s sake. Bubs agrees to let the story run and it goes Sunday front page. Alma ends up getting sent to Carroll County because she told that Scott was making things up and that Gus was right all along. Carver makes Lieutenant. Daniels decides not to play ball and quits the force. McNulty goes down to find out about the homeless guy that he dropped off only to find that he wandered off a couple of days later. Sidnor goes to speak with Judge Phelan to find out what happened with Marlo and how he was able to walk. Levy now has Marlo Schmoozing with the big timers making connections. Michael bursts into Marlo’s rim shop aka his bank and robs them. The next Omar in training. Marlo leaves the party and goes up to some random corner boys who have no idea who he is and takes their spot. He gets stabbed (nothing serious) in the process. Lester retires with Shandra(?), the stripper from season 1 that was with DeAngelo, by his side. The Co-op gets the money for the connect and meet with the Greek. carcetti becomes governor. Duk is now gone to the streets getting high. Pearlman makes judge and Daniels becomes a lawyer. Bubs finally reconciles with his sister. Chris goes to Jessup and meets up with Wee-Bey in the yard. Seems everything works out somehow for everyone. Some good, some bad but they survive another day. The saga continues….