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Playing Tight
3x01-no-feet-3
Season 3, Episode 01
Airdate: March 9, 2004
Actual length 50:26
Production Code: 5012-03-301
Written by Shawn Ryan & Kurt Sutter
Directed by Clark Johnson
Previous: "Dominoes Falling"
Next: "Blood and Water"



"Playing Tight" is the Season 3 premiere of The Shield and the 27th episode of the series as a whole. It was originally broadcast on March 9, 2004. The previously on segment is voiced by Michael Chiklis.

Synopsis[]

Vic sets out to stop stolen military weapons from fueling a gang war, unaware that it threatens to expose him as the mastermind behind the theft of the Armenian Mob's laundered money.

Plot[]

One week later, Julien Lowe and his new partner Tommy Hisk arrive on the scene of a man and his son trying to break into the house of another man who spied on his wife while she was naked. The officers move to arrest them, but Hisk is forced to pursue the son when he flees. As the Strike Team monitors a low-tier drug dealer, Shane Vendrell complains about the boring work but Vic Mackey points out that they need to appear clean following the money train robbery. David Aceveda gives Dutch Wagenbach and Claudette Wyms a case to look into, causing Dutch to complain about being overworked. Claudette makes a suggestion about budgets, but Aceveda ignores her and tells them the case is one of "special circumstances." They find two Armenian men at the bottom of an empty pool, shot to death with their feet severed. Dutch asks Claudette that, when she gets promoted to captain in three days, she give him a reportedly attractive female detective to partner with.

The Strike Team jot down the license plate of a car, which Shane runs and discovers that it belongs to a doctor, presumably stolen by his daughter. They move in to make an arrest and the dealer flees in his car, so Vic, Shane and Curtis Lemansky give chase while Tavon Garris and Ronnie Gardocki stay behind to arrest the buyers. Vic calls in the car's location and a police helicopter keeps an eye on it, which informs Vic that the dealer got into a crash. Vic and Shane chase him on foot as he flees. Vic catches him and is hit in the face, having to restrain himself from retaliating as he arrests him. As Lem tries to help driver Jesse Leyva out of his overturned vehicle, gunshots ring out and Vic realizes they are coming from the vehicle. He and Shane approach it, narrowly dodging another bullet as it fires out the window.

In the aftermath, Vic explains to Aceveda that the shots were the hundreds of bullets that Jesse was transporting erupting in the vehicle fire. He asserts that the Strike Team did everything by the book when Aceveda questions him. Vic tries to give the paperwork to Dutch, but he is busy with the Armenian murders. Dutch asks if he knows anything about the Armenian Mob, showing him pictures of the crime scene and explaining that two more dead men were found earlier that week. Vic takes the pictures and promises to run it by the Strike Team. Showing the pictures to them, Shane is relieved to learn that the Armenians think the robbery was an inside job, but Ronnie notes that they will soon realize this is not the case. Tavon informs Vic that Jesse has no priors, and in questioning, Vic asks if his song Diagur, a Byzantine Latinos or "Byz Lats" gang member, is part of the ammo run.

Claudette and Dutch inform Aceveda that the Armenians' apartments showed no signs of struggle, and Dutch notes that Margos Dezerian could be involved due to his fascination with feet. He tells Aceveda that Danny Sofer's appeal to the police commission is tomorrow and asks for him to put in a good word, but Aceveda brushes him off. Vic approaches Aceveda and asks him to put manpower on the Byz Lats case, which he reluctantly agrees to. The Strike Team walk into the Clubhouse and discover Shane kissing his new girlfriend, Mara Sewell, who mentions that Shane is helping her buy a new car. Vic sends Lem, Ronnie and Tavon to keep busting drug dealers, while he takes Shane elsewhere.

3x01-armin-family

Armin Chorekian asks Dutch for protection for his family.

Dutch pulls Interpol's file on Dezerian and states his belief that he is in the city. Armin Chorekian comes to the Barn, believing the killer is coming for him next and promising to give them up if they protect his family. He recognizes Lem, who brushes him off. Vic warns Shane to not buy the car and keep a low profile. Lem warns them about Chorekian, and Vic is appalled to learn that Shane gave him the same alias he used to rent the money's storage locker. As Tavon arrives, Vic warns them that they are moving the money.

Chorekian confirms that Dezerian is not the killer and instead, they should go after "Lyor Slavok" and blames it on the money train robbery. Aceveda, having heard of the train before, is told by Claudette that the Armenians will not stop killing until they find out who is responsible. Worried about how this will affect murder rates, he asks her for advice, and she recommends bringing in the undercover "Decoy Squad", but Aceveda insists that Wilshire precinct Steve Griggs will never let them transfer. Vic detains Diagur, suspecting that the Byz Lats are trying to take back the streets by force. He tells Diagur to warn his superiors not to take action and leaves. Van Bro informs Vic that Kern Little has been buying weapons to arm the One-Niners, who Vic confronts, finding that he is wealthy again. He warns Vic that the Byz Lats are arming themselves with powerful guns, and that the seller is exmilitary. Vic pledges to disarm the Byz Lats, but Little is doubtful after their last job together. He leans on Kern when he hesitates to give him the location of the next arms buy.

Dutch is approached by U.S. treasury agent Quigley, who is there to see Chorekian after the treasury has become aware of the money train and the Armenians's illegal venues. He informs Dutch, Claudette, and Aceveda that the Armenians were given marked bills as part of a sting, which may have been run through the money train. As Vic and Shane finish moving the money to a new locker, the unit's manager knocks on the door to deliver Shane his spare keys. Lem calls Vic and asks him to come down, having found Kern's bodyguard shot dead. The Strike Team and the One-Niners wait for the arms dealer to arrive. Vic suspects a setup and the Strike Team pull their guns when they believe they see a One-Niner reaching for his, and Shane defuses the tension as the Strike Team leaves. Mara is infuriated when Shane pulls his funding, wanting the car so she can look professional after getting her realtor's license.

Vic brings Cassidy and Megan Mackey home to find Matthew Mackey communicating efficiently with his tutor Owen Thigpen. He explains that he is focusing on Matthew's hearing so his other senses will not get overwhelmed and introduces himself to Vic before leaving. Corrine explains that Owen wants to work with Matthew full time and promises to pay for half, wanting to go back to part time work as a nurse. Aceveda visits Danny, now a school security officer and offers to re-hire her, needing trusted officers to fill the Barn. She deduces that he wants her to keep an eye on Vic, but seems open to the idea. Vic approaches Julien, having heard that he is performing poorly from Hisk and wondering if he is planning to take revenge for being beaten. He warns Julien that the Barn is watching him.

Dutch informs Aceveda that they will soon have a warrant to move on Slavok, Vic overhears and asks him for details. He explains that Chorekian was taken into witness protection, and this gives him a lead on the men killed in the money train robbery, as he believes the robbers killed them. Vic relays this to the Strike Team, suspecting that Chorekian is the one who ordered the thieves killed, meaning that they will also be blamed for two murders if the robbery is traced back to them. He gives them keys to the storage locker and warns them to wait at least six months to start laundering it as Tavon enters. He asks why they always seem to go silent around him, and Vic claims the secret is that they plan to illegally tap Kern's phone to catch the arms dealer. He informs the Strike Team that guns matching the ones sold in the area had been stolen from a military base, and Vic orders Ronnie to set up the wire. Vic leaves Shane and Lem to monitor Kern's phone, and Shane remembers that he has a date with Mara. Slavok is arrested and Dutch finds the receipt for a package filled with dry ice (for the feet) send to Dezerian in Greece.

Shane finishes apologizing to Mara over the phone and hears a call from Kern setting up the arms deal. The Strike Team converges outside the deal's location, and Vic calls in backup despite Shane and Tavon's warnings that they are there on an illegal wiretap. Slavok's lawyer and translator denies that he killed anyone. When Slavok refuses to answer if Dezerian will be at the address he sent the package to, Dutch tells him that they are having it rerouted to the Barn.

The police raid the arms deal and arrest everyone present, though a One-Niner holes up in a back room. The Strike Team seize the guns and use them to force him to surrender. Quigley gives Aceveda the marked bills' serial numbers, and Dutch notes that they should check big money busts. He asks Quigley for help getting Greek authorities to look for Dezerian.

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Dutch Wagenbach opens the package with the chopped feet as Claudette looks away.

Vic pulls the dealer aside, who refuses to admit selling guns to both sides when he tries to get who bought the guns for the Byz Lats. Vic threatens to kill him and stage it as justified, and he names their leader, "Garza". Aceveda keeps the bills list and tells Dutch to keep Vic away from the money train case. Dutch gets the package and opens it with Aceveda and Claudette, pulling out a severed foot still in a shoe.

As Julien leads Kern out in handcuffs, Vic frees him by claiming they set up the sting together to catch the dealer, negating a need for a warrant. Vic declares them even and warns him not to go after the Byz Lats. Shane berates Vic for putting them at risk despite him claiming they needed to be careful. Quigley tells Dutch that the Greeks do not want to help the American government, making it impossible to catch Dezerian. Claudette notices Aceveda talking to assistant chief Roy Phillips and realizes after talking to him that Aceveda is not resigning. She confronts him and is enraged to learn that he is staying until the election is over and bringing in the Decoy Squad. She leaves in disgust after he insists that he still has unfinished work to do.

3x01-julien-carlson

Julien Lowe breaks Ray Carlson's arm.

Vic asks Van about Garza, who he heard was retired. He gives him money and asks him to tell Garza that he is an interested buyer. He notices Danny as he returns to the Barn and asks Aceveda for $100,000 for the deal, which he refuses. Dutch argues with the Greek authorities and hangs up, brushing Vic's questions aside. Julien confronts Ray Carlson outside his apartment and demands he confess his part in the attack. When he refuses, Julien breaks his arm.

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Kern Little and his men drive by after shooting a group of Byz Lats.

Shane buys Mara the car, the One-Niners kill a Byz Lat, and Vic takes some of the money from the locker for the deal.


Cast[]

Starring[]

Guest Starring[]

Co-Starring[]

Featuring[]

Uncredited[]

Featured Music[]

  • "Holly Roller Novocaine" by Kings of Leon
    • Heard during the final scene montage.

Episode Title[]

The title might refer to the Strike Team's intentions of "playing tight" (or keeping a low profile) after the Armenian Money Train heist. When Vic Mackey lets go off Kern Little, even after knowing that he was planning to start a war against the Byz Lats, Shane Vendrell tells Vic: "I thought we were playin' it tight".

Notes[]

  • International airdates:
    • Germany: October 21, 2006
    • France: September 20, 2007
  • Dr. Mark Lindman owns a Mercedes Benz ML-430 with a "4UOP211" license plate. The drug dealer steals an 80s Monte Carlo, according to Vic Mackey's description.
  • This episode marks the first appearance of Michele Hicks as Mara Sewell and Nigel Gibbs as Assistant Chief Roy Phillips.
  • Detective Tavon Garris asks Lem if he's riding with "The A-Team" that day, in reference to the popular 80's TV show.
  • Albert Krieg introduces himself as "Albert; like the prince", possibly in reference to Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria from the United Kingdom. After he leaves, Vic calls him "Prince Curious".
  • This is the second episode where Shane Vendrell's alias of "Cletus Van Damme" is mentioned.
  • Vic Mackey uses the alias of "Mr. London" to rent the new storage facility.
  • One of Kern Little albums is seen, with the title Too Big to be Little.
  • Mara tells Shane that no one would buy a "half a million dollar home from somebody driving a '97 Neon?". She was planning to buy a used Lexus with the help of Shane.
  • Owen Thigpen tells Vic that he's using the "Tomatis Method" to help Matthew. This is a real hearing therapy for developmental and learning disabilities that involves listening to classical music.
  • When Shane sees Tavon and Ronnie dressed as construction workers, he refers to them as "The Village People", in reference to the popular music group.

Quotes[]

  • Curtis Lemansky: I don't know, but he recognized me; and he remembered your name, "Cletus."
  • Vic Mackey: Cletus Van Damme? You gave this guy the same alias you used to rent the storage unit where we hid the money?
  • Shane Vendrell: Well, it makes Lem laugh.


  • Vic Mackey: I find out you're arming yourselves with anything more serious than this, I will turn the Byz Lats into my personal piñata.
  • Shane Vendrell: Which means we shove candy up your ass and beat you with a bat.
  • Vic Mackey: You pass it up the daisy chain.


  • Vic Mackey: New stuff?
  • Van Bro: Religious erotica.
  • Shane Vendrell: Where in the Bible does St. Schlong visit Our Lady of the D-cup?


  • Tavon Garris: Why is it that every time I enter the room, y'all stop talking?
  • Shane Vendrell: Maybe it's because we're captivated by your winning smile.
  • Tavon Garris: Or blinded by yours.


  • Lex: What are you doing?
  • Vic Mackey: Instant court-martial. A trained soldier grabbed my spare gun and tried to run for it.


  • Dutch Wagenbach: If my tone sounds superior, it's because I'm American and you're Greek!

External Links[]

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