ON PAPER: On parole or probation. Not to be confused with having paper on you, which means you are wanted on an outstanding warrant.
ON THE SHELF: Desk work. Not working the beat.
ON THE WING: In flight from police, a fugitive.
ONE AND ONE: A single bag of heroin and a single vial of cocaine, suitable for mixing as a speedball, or an injected combination of both drugs.
ONE-PARTYCONSENT: Law regarding the recording of phone conversations in which only one party needs to give consent for the taping to be legal.
OUTTIE 5000: Exit phrase similar to “later.”
PACECO: One of the tall cranes at the Baltimore port, named for its manufacturer.
PACKAGE: Bulk weight of drugs used to refresh a dealer’s supply, or what a junkie calls his or her purchase from a dealer. However, saying someone has “the package” can also mean he has contracted HIV.
PAY LAWYER: Privately hired attorney.
PJs: The projects.
PLAYED: Taken for a fool.
PLAYER: One involved in the drug trade, or in any illegimate activity.
POINTS ON THE PACKAGE: Percentage of profits on sale of illegal drugs.
POLICE RADIO CODES:
10–1: Communications check.
10–13 or SIGNAL 13: Officer needs assistance.
10–2: Loud and clear.
10–20: Location. Also known in slang as simply a 20.
10–29: Record check.
10–4: Affirmative.
10–5: Failed to acknowledge.
10–7: Not available/out of service. Sometimes used by police to describe someone who is dead.
10–8: Back in service.
POPO: Police.
PROFORMA: Court rulings intended to expedite the cluttered judicial system.
PRODUCT: Drugs.
PUZZLE PALACE: Derogatory term for Baltimore City public school headquarters on North Avenue.
RAISE UP: As a lookout, to warn a drug crew of approaching police or stickup crews. Also, to provoke or confront someone.
RED BALL: An important, high-profile, or politically charged case.
RE-UP: Replenishment of drug supply to slingers, which is kept in the stash house.
REACT QUOTES: Quotes from various sources in response to a breaking news story.
READ OUTS: Police department info from recent crime reports.
ROLL SOMEONE UP: Impel a suspect to implicate a superior and cooperate in the prosecution of that superior.
ROLLER: Or harness roller. A uniformed patrol officer in a radio car.
RO-RO: Roll on/roll off. An ocean-cargo service using a vessel with ramps that allows wheeled vehicles to be loaded and unloaded without using cranes.
RUNNERS: Low-level workers, often juveniles, in the drug trade who retrieve the drugs once the customer has paid.
SECTOR: A patrol area under the command of a sergeant. There are three or four sectors in every Baltimore police district.
SERVE UP: To murder.
SHEET: Arrest history.
SHITBIRD: A negative term similar, but not quite as harsh, to calling someone an asshole.
SHOOTING GALLERY: Abandoned building where fiends go to shoot up or smoke crack.
SHORTY: Attractive female or young person of either sex. Alternatively, a half-pint of liquor.
SIGNIFYING: Street slang for hanging out, bearing witness, taking stock of a situation, or, more aggressively, presenting oneself as having some authority or right to be.
SKY OR SKY UP: Flee.
SLINGER: Low-to mid-level worker in the drug trade who sells drugs on the corner. Ranked above a runner, as he is allowed to handle drugs.
SLINGING: Dealing drugs.
SOLDIER: A rank-and-file player in the drug trade, and, more particularly, one capable of enforcement or warfare.
SPEEDBALL: An intravenous injection of both heroin and cocaine.
STASH HOUSE: The house where a dealer’s drug supply is kept.
STEP ON IT: Cut drugs.
STEVEDORES: Companies provide equipment and hire workers to transfer cargo between ships and docks. Laborers hired by these firms are called stevedores or longshoremen.
STINGER: A police report that is bounced back because of clerical or technical problems.
STREET SWEEPS: A quick area raid and round-up of suspicious characters, loiterers, drug dealers, etc. by police.
SUCTION: Influence or power.
TAC: Short for tactical, which includes a variety of specialized police units, but is often used to refer to the heavily armored quick-responseteam officers used on raids and in high-risk situations.
TAKE DOORS: Hit locations with search-and-seizure warrants.
TAP OUT: To run low on the current supply of narcotics.
TESTER: Free drug samples given to fiends to advertise the product.
THE BOARD: The black-and-red-lettered caseboard used in the homicide unit.
THE BOX: The police interrogation room.
THE BUG: The AIDS virus.
THE CUT: The House of Corrections in Jessup, south of Baltimore.
THE GAME: The drug trade.
THE HALL: City Hall.
THE OUT: In an interrogation, the excuse offered to a suspect that convinces him to admit guilt, albeit in such a way that the suspect believes his guilt is mitigated.
THE PIT: Slang term for the courtyard in the low-rise projects in West Baltimore where D’Angelo Barksdale was consigned.
THE POINT: Locust Point, in South Baltimore, home to many Polish stevedores and increasingly a yuppie haven.
THE ROTATION: The process by which homicide detectives catch murders, are given a basic amount of time to work those murders, and then must become available again for fresh cases.
THE VACANTS: Abandoned Baltimore rowhouses.
TIME OUT: What lookouts shout to alert a drug crew that the police or a stick-up crew has arrived.
TITLE III: Legal term for a federally sanctioned wiretap.
TOUT: A street-level slinger who announces what drugs are available and attracts customers.
TRIAL BALLOON: Information or idea sent out in order to observe reaction.
VIAL: The basic unit of street-sold cocaine, named for the small plastic, perfume-sample vials used as packaging. The vials have small, colored plastic tops, hence such brand names as Red Tops or Yellow Tops.
WALK AROUND MONEY: Money given to campaign workers on the street to get out the vote just before or on election day. WALKING FOOT: Walking a beat as a foot patrolman.
WE BRACIN’ UP: Getting ready to fight; getting guns and weapons.
WHIP: A nice vehicle.
WHISTLE: Handgun.
WHODUNIT: A hard-to-solve murder. The opposite of a dunker.
WIRE: A wiretap, or a concealed recording device on a person.
WIRED CI: Confidential informant who is wearing a concealed recording device. WORD IS BOND: Short for “my word is bond,” guaranteeing that what is being said is true.
YOU FEEL ME NOW?: Get it? Understand?
Appendix II: CAST & CREW
SEASON ONE CAST
DET. JAMES “JIMMY” MCNULTY Dominic West
DET. SHAKIMA “KIMA” GREGGS Sonja Sohn
LT. CEDRIC DANIELS Lance Reddick
DET. WILLIAM “BUNK” MORELAND. Wendell Pierce
DET. THOMAS R. “HERC” HAUK Domenick Lombardozzi
DET. ELLIS CARVER Seth Gilliam
DET. LESTER FREAMON Clarke Peters
A.S.A. RHONDA PEARLMAN Deirdre Lovejoy
DEP. COMMISSIONER ERVIN H. BURRELL Frankie R. Faison
MAJ. WILLIAM A. RAWLS John Doman
SGT. JAY LANDSMAN Delaney Williams
D’ANGELO BARKSDALE Larry Gilliard Jr.
AVON BARKSDALE Wood Harris
STRINGER BELL Idris Elba
BODIE J. D. Williams
BUBBLES Andre Royo
JOHNNY Leo Fitzpatrick
WEE-BEY Hassan Johnson
WALLACE Michael B. J
ordan
POOT Tray Chaney
STINKUM Brandon Price
OMAR Michael K. Williams
SHARDENE Wendy Grantham
ORLANDO Clayton LeBouef
PROPOSITION JOE STEWART Robert F. Chew
DET. ROLAND “PREZ” PRYZBYLEWSKI Jim True-Frost
JUDGE DANIEL PHELAN Peter Gerety
DET. LEANDER SYDNOR Corey Parker Robinson
DET. RAY COLE Robert F. Colesberry
DET. MICHAEL SANTANGELO Michael Salconi
DET. PATRICK MAHONE Tom Quinn
DET. AUGUSTUS “AUGIE” POLK Nat Benchley
FBI SPECIAL AGENT TERRANCE FITZHUGH Doug Olear
MAJ. RAYMOND “RAY” FOERSTER Richard De Angelis
ELENA MCNULTY Callie Thorne
CHERYL Melanie Nicholls-King
MARLA DANIELS Maria Broom
BRIANNA BARKSDALE Michael Hyatt
DONETTE Shamyl Brown
BRANDON Michael Kevin Darnall
MICHAEL MCNULTY Tony Cordova
SEAN MCNULTY Eric Ryan
BIRD Fredro Starr
SAVINO Christopher J. Clanton
LITTLE MAN Micaiah Jones
CASSANDRA Sheena Barksdale
WILLIAM GANT Larry E. Hull
MAURICE “MAURY” LEVY Michael Kostroff
STATE SENATOR R. CLAYTON “CLAY” DAVIS Isiah Whitlock Jr.
DAY-DAY Steve Earle
NAKEISHA LYLES Ingrid Cornell
STERLING Curtis Montez
A.S.A. ILENE NATHAN Susan Rome
DET. EDWARD NORRIS Edward Norris
INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION MAJOR REED Tony D. Head
A.M.E. RANDALL “DOC” FRAZIER Eric Todd Dellums
DET. VERNON HOLLEY Brian Anthony Wilson
MAJ. STANISLAUS VALCHEK Al Brown
STATE TROOPER TROY WIGGINS Neko Parham
FBI SUPERVISOR AMANDA REESE Benay Berger
A.S.A. TARYN HANSEN Lucy Newman-Williams
A.U.S.A. NADIVA BRYANT Toni Lewis
SEASON ONE CREW
PRODUCERS
Executive Producer: Robert F. Colesberry
Executive Producer: David Simon
Producer: Nina K. Noble
Co-Producer: Karen L. Thorson
Assistant to Mr. Colesberry: Eric Morgan
Assistant to Mr. Simon: Amelia Cleary
DIRECTORS
Clark Johnson: Episodes 1, 2, 5
Peter Medak: Episode 3
Clement Virgo: Episodes 4, 12
Ed Bianchi: Episode 6
Joe Chappelle: Episode 7
Gloria Muzio: Episode 8
Milcho Manchevski: Episode 9
Brad Anderson: Episode 10
Steve Shill: Episode 11
Tim Van Patten: Episode 13
WRITING DEPARTMENT
Writer: David Simon (Episodes 1–4, 6, 8, 10, 13)
Writer: Rafael Alvarez (Episode 7)
Writer: Ed Burns (Episode 5)
Writer: Shamit J. Choksey (Episode 9)
Writer: George Pelecanos (Episode 12)
Writer: David H. Melnick (Episode 9)
Writer/Script Coordinator: Joy Lusco (Episode 11)
Writers’ Assistant: Norman Knoerlein
PRODUCTION OFFICE
Production Coordinator: Peter Dodge Nichols
Assistant Production Coordinator: Ginny Galloway
Production Secretary: Kim Masimore
Office Production Assistant: Muna Otaru
Office Production Assistant: Tom Rappa
ACCOUNTING
Production Accountant: Marjorie Leder
1st Assistant Accountant: Elizabeth Guste
2nd Assistant Accountant: Kim Garman
Payroll Accountant: Alex Aubrey
Accounting Clerk: Jane Leslie Burka
Accounting Clerk: Ann Christman
ART DEPARTMENT
Production Designer: Vince Peranio
Art Director: Halina Gebarowicz
Art Department Coordinator: Ed Bellafiore
ADs/SET PAs
Assistant UPM: Alison Rosa
1st Assistant Director (Episodes 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12): Frank Ferro
1st Assistant Director (Episodes 3, 5): Ivan J. Fonseca
1st Assistant Director (Episodes 7, 9, 11, 13): Anthony Hemingway
2nd Assistant Director: Joseph Incaprera
2nd 2nd Assistant Director: Xanthus Valan
2nd Unit 1st Assistant Director: Michele “Shelley” Ziegler
2nd Unit 2nd Assistant Director: Julian Brain
Set Production Assistant: Timothy A. Blockburger
Set Production Assistant: Damond Gordon
Set Production Assistant: Stephanie Lovell
Set Production Assistant: Maureen McEvoy
Set Production Assistant: Melissa Morgan
Set Production Assistant: Shanalyna Palmer
Set Production Assistant: Drew Vandervelde
Set Production Assistant: Bobby Wilhelm
CAMERA
Director of Photography: Uta Briesewitz
Camera Operator: Andy Colvin
1st Assistant Camera: Boots Shelton
2nd Assistant Camera: Tom Schnaidt
Camera Loader: John Hamilton
Camera Intern: Goddey Asemota
B Camera/2nd Unit DP: Peter Mullett
B Camera/2nd Unit DP: Dave Insley
B Camera/2nd Unit DP: Richard Chisolm
B Camera Operator: Tom Loizeaux
B Camera/2nd Unit Camera Assistant: Kurt Parlow
B Camera/2nd Unit Camera Assistant: Doug Kofsky
B Camera/2nd Unit Camera Assistant: Lauren Schaub
Still Photographer: David Lee
Still Photographer: Paul Schiraldi
CASTING
Casting Director: Alexa L. Fogel, C.S.A.
Casting Director (Baltimore): Pat Moran, C.S.A.
Casting Associate (New York) (Episodes 1–5): Mercedes Kelso
Casting Associate (New York) (Episodes 6–12): Janice Wilde
Casting Associate (New York) (Episode 13): Brendan Mason
Casting Associate (Baltimore): John Strawbridge
Extras’ Casting Assistant (Baltimore): Shamos Fisher
CATERING
Owner: Philippe Gallichet
Chef: John DeSarno
1st Assistant Caterer: Stephen Toth
2nd Assistant Caterer: Joshua Sayyeau
CLEARANCES
WB Clearances: Rebecca Thornell
CONSTRUCTION
Construction Coordinator: Randy G. Herbert
Lead Foreman: Scott Dunn
Details Set Foreman: Scott Pina
Details Set Gang Boss: Ted Lubonovich
Gang Boss: John Weiffenbach
Carpenter: Steve Blake
Carpenter: Joe Bukovsky
Carpenter: Jim Kelley
Carpenter: John Struss
Carpenter: Marc Braun
Carpenter: Bill Catania
Carpenter: Tom Cowen
Carpenter: F. Dale Davis
Carpenter: Tom Martin
Carpenter: Ted Nolan
Carpenter: Wes Goodwin
Carpenter: Ron Napier
Carpenter: Beau Seidel
Carpenter: Dan Yeager
Carpenter: Jim Doherty
Carpenter: Dale Swavely
Carpenter: Chris Southwick
Carpenter: Walter Wright Jr.
Shop Production Assistant: Dawson Nolley
CRAFT SERVICE
Craft Service: Elena Moscatt
Craft Service Assistant: Ellen Sara Popiel
Craft Service Assistant: Dena Cruz
DIALECT COACH
Dialect Coach: BettyAnn Leeseberg-Lange
ELECTRIC
Gaffer: Evans Brown
Best Boy Electric: Ted Ayd
Rigging Gaffer: Frank Caslin
Genny Operator: Jason Hubert
3rd Electric: Mark Hutchings
3
rd Electric: Brian Johnson
3rd Electric: Phil Kathrens
3rd Electric: Trey Kistler
Additional Electric: Len Applefeld
Additional Electric: Chris Baker
Additional Electric: Kevin Campbell
Additional Electric: Ezra Picard
Additional Electric: Russ Wicks
FILM ELECTRONICS
Coordinator: Tom Farmer
Assistant: Thomas H. E. Scruggs
GRIP
Key Grip: Joe Kurtz
Best Boy Grip: Dave Wilkins
Grip: John Barber
Grip: Kenneth “Meat” Morton
Grip: Paul Thomas
Additional Grip: Chad E. Williams
HAIR
Key Hair: Janice Kinigopoulos
Hairstylist: Wyatt Belton
Hairstylist: Champaigne Lawrence
LOCATIONS
Location Manager: Adam Laws
Location Manager: Charley Armstrong
Assistant Location Manager: Chris Barber
Location Assistant: Doug Jones
MAKEUP
Key Makeup: Debi Young
Makeup Artist: Sandra Linn Koepper
Makeup Artist: Gina Wilgis Bateman
POST PRODUCTION
Post Production Supervisor: Leslie Jacobowitz
Post Production Coordinator (Baltimore): Brian Cooper
Post Production Coordinator (New York): Peter Phillips
Editor (Episodes 1, 2, 5, 8, 11): Geraldine Peroni
Editor (Episodes 3, 6, 9, 12): Thom Zimny
Editor (Episodes 4, 7, 10, 13): Kate Sanford
Assistant Editor: Michael Fay
Assistant Editor: Perri Pivovar
Assistant Editor: Carrie Puchkoff
Assistant Editor: Shelby Siegel
PROPS
Prop Master: Mike Sabo
Props Assistant: James McPherson
3rd Props Assistant: Bob Spore
Additional Props: Stephen Kicas
SCENIC
Charge Scenic: Keith Weaver
Foreman: Suzanna Glattly
Gangboss: Jennie Bell
Scenic: Anthony Ladd Brennan
Scenic: Rick Crandall
Scenic: Fran Gerlach
Scenic: James Hastings
Scenic: Lucy Pealer
Scenic: Craig Schuman
Scenic: Tracy Shusta
SCRIPT SUPERVISOR
Script Supervisor: Christine Moore
SECURITY
Security Supervisor: Perry Blackmon
Assistant Security Supervisor: William “B.J.” Spencer
SET DRESSING
Set Decorator: Bill Cimino
Leadman: John Millard
Assistant Set Decorator/Set Buyer: Rebecca Weidner
The Wire Page 44