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Blood and Water

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Blood and Water
3x02-garza-vic
Season 3, Episode 02
Airdate: March 16, 2004
Actual length 46:28
Production Code: 5012-03-302
Written by Charles H. Eglee & Kim Clements
Directed by Clark Johnson
Previous: "Playing Tight"
Next: "Bottom Bitch"



"Blood and Water" is the second episode of Season 3 and the 28th episode of the series as a whole. It was originally broadcast on March 16, 2004. The previously on segment is voiced by Benito Martinez.

Synopsis[]

Vic promises a gang lieutenant the top job if he agrees to set up his boss. Dutch and Claudette's investigation into a gang shooting points to an unexpected triggerman.

Plot[]

Shane Vendrell gets a late night call while in bed with Mara Sewell, and Vic Mackey tells him he is outside when he picks up. He tells Shane that he set up an arms deal with Garza to get the guns the Byz Lats bought back and to leave their badges, as they are going undercover as neo-Nazis. As they leave, Vic notes the new car he told Shane not to buy and promises that the money train cash they are using will only be used to convince Garza that they are serious. They approach Garza at a restaurant, claiming that the arms dealer broke their deal and sold the guns to the Byz Lats and One-Niners, and that they are willing to buy the guns for double the price. They agree to meet in an hour. Tommy Hisk and Julien Lowe find two men shot dead in a car and a third, bloodstained man, sitting next to it.

As Curtis Lemansky scopes out the meeting site, he observes that Garza brought extra men that are covertly armed. Claudette Wyms and Dutch Wagenbach arrive on the scene, where Hisk explains that the third man, Esteban, was a passenger in the backseat. Julien finds a powerful rifle in the alley nearby.

Garza tries to take the money from Vic and Shane without giving them the guns, his men having found and captured Lem. Ronnie Gardocki emerges from the shadows and aims his gun at Garza, who declares that he is not afraid to die for his cause. With the Byz Lats ready to kill Lem, Vic orders Ronnie to lower his gun. Garza beats him and Shane, takes the money, and leaves with his men.

The next day, Vic tells the Strike Team of his plan to take Garza down in a drug sting. He and Tavon Garris agree to find out who supplies the Byz Lats with their drugs. Tavon leaves, and Shane blames Vic for the loss of the money, which he reluctantly agrees to but criticizes Shane for buying Mara's car. Shane insists that, although Vic runs the Strike Team, everyone involved in the robbery should be equals. Vic tells him that they do not need him to arrest Garza. Vic confronts Kern Little on attacking the Byz Lats against his orders, and he warns him that the One-Niners plan to continue attacking them whether he approves it or not. Vic tells him that he will be held responsible for any further One-Niner shootings. Claudette approaches a reluctant Tom Bankston, asking to be put elsewhere if she cannot be promoted to captain. When he refuses, she asks for his word that she will be promoted after Aceveda takes office. He says he will give her support and advises her to engage in some politics with Aceveda.

Shane returns to his and Mara's apartment, angry about how things went. She asks if he and Vic are fighting over the car, but he insists that it is more than that. Dutch asks Vic if the shooter was a One-Niner, but Vic points out that the Strike Team disarmed them. Tavon informs Vic that he found a model of car that delivers drugs to the Byz Lats, tracking it to a "Lonzo Wang", and Vic asks him to get his address. Corrine Mackey comes to the Barn, having gotten her new work schedule and asking him to work around it. She leaves as Aceveda arrives, and Vic asks him for a warrant on Wang. Dutch and Claudette note to Esteban that the victims of the shooting, Calva and Raymond Montes, have criminal records, while his is spotless. He insists that Raymond was his friend who protected him from bullies in high school. They interview Raymond's girlfriend, who they heard was making threats against Garza. She explains that Calva was a Torruco that Raymond was trying to convince to return to the Byz Lats, and that she believes Garza had them both killed.

Tavon meets the Strike Team outside Wang's house with their warrant. They detain him and Lem finds his drug stash. Vic orders him to get Garza to a drug deal, and Diagur Leyva arrives to give him the Strike Team's stolen bag of money. Vic tells Tavon, who is selling with Wang, to give him the drugs and promise to get the money later, knowing they need to get the money without Tavon around. Diagur leaves with the drugs and money. Having heard about her approaching Bankston, Aceveda insists to Claudette that he plans to clean up Farmington, but she notes that he has had two years to do so. He offers her command over the Strike Team and the incoming Decoy Squad, but she rejects this.

The Strike Team pull over Diagur and demand Garza's location. Dutch questions Garza, who has an alibi for the time of Calva and Raymond's murders.

Vic and Lem detain Diagur in a motel room until he gives them either Garza or the guns. Dutch and Claudette show Esteban a lineup of suspects, but he insists that he recognizes none of them. Believing Esteban is frightened, Dutch tries to relate to his struggles with bullying, though he insists he saw nothing. Claudette privately theorizes that he saw Garza do it. Julien and Hisk chase a criminal into an active church, where pastor Gus Cruz watches Julien beat him while being arrested.

Vic brings Kern to the room and introduces Diagur as the Byz Lats's new leader. He orders them to draw up territory lines, having Lem stay to make sure things stay civil. Vic returns to the Clubhouse to find Shane ready to get back to work. Tavon returns, angry that he was abandoned and not let in on the plan. Dutch finds Claudette going over her financials and insists she cannot quit yet, sure that Aceveda will give her the job in a few months. She is doubtful, and Dutch tells a passing Vic that Garza is the prime suspect in his shooting. He gives Vic the name of where Garza claims he was during the shooting, and as he leaves, Vic notes to Shane that their plan would work much better if they got Garza on a murder charge. Dutch and Claudette observe that the crime scene tech has determined the bullets came into the car from a nearby balcony.

Vic and Shane verify Garza's alibi and relay this to Dutch. As Aceveda asks about the warrant's success and Vic tells him that they are now focusing on who actually shot up the car, Dutch thinks and points to a nearby Esteban as the shooter. He questions Esteban about his witnessing of the shooting and reveals that he and Claudette ran a test at the crime scene, finding that from where the shots were fired, the shooter couldn't see the passenger seat where Raymond was sitting. He theorizes that Estaban wanted to join the Byz Lats, which Raymond would not let him do but Garza agreed to if he killed Calva. After learning that Raymond was only with Calva to convince him to come back and save his life, a distraught Estaban confesses to the shooting and that Garza ordered it. He begs Dutch to help him, but he and Claudette know that he has confessed to murder. She points out that they will need someone to corroborate Esteban's story, and Vic offers to help.

Vic returns to the room to find that Kern and Diagur are in a standstill over their territory agreement, so Vic pulls the latter aside and tells him that Esteban gave Garza up, promising to send Garza to jail and protect him if he confirms that Garza ordered the hit on Calva. Diagur confirms that Garza armed and directed Estaban. Danny Sofer confronts Aceveda on not showing up to her appeal, and he tells her that he put in a call that morning and she is almost definitely getting her job back. She gleefully informs Julien.

After Kern and Diagur come to an agreement, Vic warns the former to ensure the One-Niners follow the agreed terms. Diagur emerges from Garza's house as Vic, Shane, Dutch and Claudette watch and signals that he is inside. The police bust in on him making drugs in the shed, but he refuses to give up the guns when Vic presses him. Aceveda confronts Julien after Cruz submits a complaint, telling him that he can get the complaint dropped because Cruz is a friend of his. Julien insists that the force he used was necessary and that he is feeling fine.

As Dutch hopes to also catch Garza on ordered homicide, Vic reminds him to grab Garza's computer. He finds the directions that Garza printed for Esteban, informing him that the possible death penalty can be nixed if he turns in the guns. He continues to refuse and calls Diagur, who gets the location of the guns and passes it to Vic. He tells Shane to return the money to the locker, though notes that some of it was already spent. He sends Diagur on his way. Aceveda tells Claudette that the Decoy Squad is coming next week. She recommends that they use them and the Strike Team working together to make high-profile busts, accepting Aceveda's offer. When he asks who should tell Vic, she merely smiles and leaves. Vic apologizes to Mara and expresses desire to be friendly with her, but she believes he is trying to sleep with her. She wonders if his attempt to insert himself into Shane's life is because of his failure with his own family.

Dutch calls the treasury and confirms that no one has spent the money yet. Claudette notices Esteban in the cage and expresses sympathy for Dutch's connection with him. He derides Estaban as a shooter and is happy to hear that she is staying on the force. Danny asks Julien about partnering when she gets her job back, but he seems hesitant.

Claudette informs Vic of the Decoy Squad's imminent arrival and of her command over them. Vic confronts Aceveda, who cites his apparent failure with the guns and warrant as justification for her taking over. The Strike Team take a boat out on the ocean and toss the guns in.

Cast[]

Starring[]

Guest starring[]

Co-starring[]

Uncredited[]

  • Daniel Lujan as Thug - in Line Up

Featured Music[]

  • Bermudez Triangle - Cu-Cu-Cumbia
 Vic and Shane meet Garza near the fast food place
  • Paco - Maria!
 Tommy Hisk and Julien Lowe arriving to a crime scene
  • Phaser - Sway
 Shane having a talk with Mara about Vic
  • Volovan - Quieres Venir
 Dutch and Claudette at the barber shop questioning the woman
  • Tattoo Ink - La Quemazon
 Raid to the Garza's drug complex
  • Willie Nelson - Nothing I Can Do About It Now
 Strike team at the bay within the ending montage

Episode Title[]

Notes[]

  • International airdates:
    • Germany: October 28, 2006
    • France: September 21, 2007
  • When Vic Mackey is trying to make peace between Kern Little and Diagur Leyva, he says "No one wants to settle this thing in a locked steel container with our bare hands. Right, Kern?". This is a reference to what Vic did with Kern and his rival T-Bonz during the Season 1 episode "Dawg Days".
  • The shirt that Jaelene wears remembering Raymond Montes reads "1983-2004" as his years of birth and death. This establishes 2004 as the current year in the show.

Quotes[]

  • Garza: Mow your own lawns, putas!


  • Claudette Wyms: So you're telling me that a chief has been outpoliticked by a captain?

(Chief Bankston gets up and looks at her)

  • Claudette Wyms: When Aceveda takes office, do I have your word I'd move up?
  • Tom Bankston: You have... my support. But you might try playing a little politics yourself... with him


  • Lonzo Wang: My lawyer's gonna read this warrant. If there is even an apostrophe missing... *poof*
  • Vic Mackey: Why don't you roll the dice on a 20-year stretch. See how good we spell-check... Or you could put your ass on the phone with Garza and tell him you got new shipments of "H" and coke you're selling at deep discounts... *poof*


  • David Aceveda: Think of it as a promotion.
  • Claudette Wyms: I *had* a promotion. You took it away, remember?

External Links[]

The_Shield_on_FX_-_Season_3_Blood_&_water_VHS_promo_(_2004_)

The Shield on FX - Season 3 Blood & water VHS promo ( 2004 )

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