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Carnivores

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Carnivores
Season 1, Episode 11
Airdate: May 21, 2002
Actual length 46:31
Production Code: 5012-01-110
Written by Scott Rosenbaum & Kurt Sutter
Directed by Scott Brazil
Previous: "Dragonchasers"
Next: "Two Days of Blood"


"Carnivores" is the eleventh episode of The Shield. It was originally broadcast on May 21, 2002. The previously on segment is voiced by CCH Pounder.

Synopsis[]

A confrontation between a local drug dealer and Black Muslims places Vic in danger of being exposed.

Plot[]

While Rondell Robinson begs Kern Little to give him money he needs for an upcoming drug buy and Little chastises him for his irresponsibility, a car pulls up and shoots at the one they are in. Vic Mackey and Shane Vendrell wait on Robinson, having helped him set up a deal with a customs agent, who leaves when Robinson does not arrive. Robinson calls them and shows them his shot-up car to explain his absence, explaining that he and Nation of Islam members have been feuding and that he assumes they were the shooters. Vic promises to take care of it. Julien Lowe and Danny Sofer respond to a noise complaint in an apartment, and kick down the door to find an old Korean woman dead and her husband's foot nailed to the floor, the house ransacked. Julien frees his foot and sits him down in a chair, only for the man to seize a gun from a nearby drawer and shoot himself in the head, shocking Julien.

Vic visits local Nation leader Xavier Salaam, who explains that Robinson attacked him when he tried to preach his religion while Robinson's men were selling drugs nearby. When asked if he shot up Robinson's car, he insists that "the Nation does not murder." Vic asks why he chooses the neighborhood he preaches in, and Salaam explains that he believes it needs cleaning. Vic points out that that is his job, but Salaam asserts that he is doing his poorly. Claudette Wyms tells Julien to go home as she and Dutch Wagenbach arrive at the crime scene. Danny explains to Claudette that the neighbors heard arguing for several minutes, followed by screaming and loud music.

Vic informs Robinson that he believes Salaam is not behind the shooting, and tells him to come up with the money he owes the customs agent while he figures out who the shooters actually were. Vic tells Shane to pick up dealers and figure out who has been attacking them, so he and Ronnie Gardocki detain Robinson's close associate Theodore "T.O." Osmond and discover he is dealing drugs without Robinson's permission. When Vic threatens to tell Osmond that he shot up Little's car, Osmond admits he did it, but that he did it because Robinson would not listen to him about the threat posed by the Nation. Dutch and Claudette visit the salon that Rhee-Soo, the Korean man's daughter, work at to inform her of her parents' death. At the same time, assuming the work to be of younger people, they put out a call for businesses to be on the watch for youths spending large amounts of cash. Danny advises Julien not to dwell on the suicide.

David Aceveda visits Maureen Wilmore following the resurfacing of her rape allegations against him. There, she explains what she is saying: that he was obsessed with her in college to the point where he tied her up and raped her, then stalked her until she had to fight him off with a penknife. Aceveda reveals that he can have the story on him removed whenever he wants, and he only came to make peace with her, which she rejects. Salaam's men are attacked by Robinson's gang, and Vic warns Salaam to stay off the case and let him take care of it. Using a translator, Rhee-Soo explains that her father likely committed suicide out of shame, while Dutch explains to her that he believes her father knew his who his attackers were, based on the arguing beforehand. Matthew Mackey is waitlisted for his special needs school because of Vic's notoriety amongst the public. At the request of a couple of male officers, Danny pulls a condom full of crack out of a detainee's vagina.

Salaam brings in a couple of Robinson's dealers for a citizen's arrest, promising to clean the streets of both them and "the police who provide them comfort." Salaam privately explains to Aceveda that he brought the dealers in because they clearly were not afraid of arrest, and that their leaders are still at large. He refuses to name the police who help the dealers until he is certain of their identities, and a dozen Nation members enter the lobby of the Barn, refusing to leave until the matter is resolved. Robinson comes to the Barn, looking to hide from the Nation after failing to kill any of them, but Vic forces him back out on the street despite Robinson's warnings that he will take Vic with him if he is arrested. Julien notices Tomas Motyashik in the Barn's lockup, arrested for stealing CDs and facing possible prison time. Julien asks why he never called, and Tomas points out that Vic told him to stay away from Julien.

1x11 Ronnie-vic

Ronnie Gardocki updates Vic Mackey on Ms. Emerich's records.

Shane and Ronnie Gardocki find nothing on the special needs school's principal nor the family that took Matthew's spot. Aceveda interrupts their meeting with Vic to talk to him alone, warning him that Salaam believes he is connected to Robinson. As Claudette points out that Rhee-Soo's son has priors, an officer gives Dutch an address of a jewelry store where three Korean teenagers spent a large amount of cash. The owner identifies Rhee-Soo's son. Julien snaps at the woman Danny strip-searched when she insults her, much to Danny's ire. She reveals that she knows about the blanket party and states that she thought Julien was better than that. He watches as Tomas is led out of the building to be transported to prison. Tereza Varela visits Aceveda to deliver a draft of her new story: a hit piece about Aceveda allowing violence within his precinct.

1x11 Rondell-roof

Rondell Robinson shoots at Kern Little and Vic Mackey.

Little leads Vic up to a rooftop where he and Robinson used to hang out while searching for him, where Robinson shoots at them out of instinct, causing Vic to consider killing him. Little convinces Vic to spare his life, and Vic leaves them on the rooftop. Vic visits Osmond and demands to know if he planned to kill him after Little and Robinson, but Osmond explains that he instead wanted to work with him, demonstrating his clear intellect and winning Vic over. Aceveda is unable to have sex with Aurora Aceveda, troubled by the day's events. He visits Jorge Machado about what to do, who says he needs to get Wilmore to recant her statement, or the damage to his career could be serious.

Vic visits the principal after finding out that she had a heirloom stolen, explaining that the police have the ability to solve almost every crime but base their focus on importance, and offers to find it exchange for a favor. Rhee-Soo refuses to talk to Claudette because of her race and refuses to surrender any of her family's private business, even when Dutch explains to her that her son's cover story of being with his friends the day of the robbery was a lie. They are interrupted when they are told of another Korean family being robbed. Despite the father's protests, the son explains that his cousin, Rhee-Soo's son, and his two friends were the robbers.

1x11 8266 Alameda party

Orlando pulls a gun at a graduation party.

Julien and Danny are called to the scene of a shooting at a graduation party, where Julien chases the shooter when he flees. He corners him and the shooter aims his gun at him, but Julien instead holsters his weapon and encourages the shooter to fire. Unnerved by his behavior, the shooter freezes, and Julien takes his gun as the police arrive to arrest the shooter. Julien is applauded upon returning to the Barn, but Danny privately tells him that the shooter told her of Julien's behavior. She tells him that she knows he is gay and begs him to stop fighting it, but he tearfully refuses. Little meets with Vic, who explains that despite Osmond being responsible for the car shooting, he and Vic are now partners and Robinson is out. Little admits that, despite their history, Robinson has been a problem for him, and Vic suggests that they "let the street take care of it."

Dutch, Claudette, and a team burst into the teens' hideout, finding their room spruced up with their stolen cash. Rhee-Soo's son admits to robbing his grandparents and letting his friend kill his grandmother, nailing his grandfather's feet to the floor for not saying still, all in front of her. Vic finds and returns the prinicpal's ring, asking for Matthew to be admitted into the school. He informs an unimpressed Salaam, still in the Barn, that Robinson will no longer be an issue. Salaam asks for Vic to admit to being evil, which he brushes off.

Aceveda visits Wilmore, who comes onto him before telling him to admit to what he did to her. She tries to kiss him, only for Aceveda to pull a recording device out of her pants. She accuses him of telling his friends about her, leading to two of them tying her up and raping her. He realizes that he is at fault for her rape despite not committing and tries to earnestly apologize, but she slaps him and tells him to leave. Vic returns home, where Corrine Mackey reveals Matthew was accepted. He refuses to explain what he did when she playfully asks him, and the two kiss. Dutch and Claudette are called to the scene of a murder—Robinson, shot dead in the street by an unknown assailant.

Episode credits[]

Cast[]

Starring[]

Guest starring[]

Co-starring[]

Featuring[]

Uncredited[]

Production staff[]

Featured Music[]

Note all the music originally appears in FX airing release not applicable for streaming websites,they might change music over time due legal disputes

  • SX-10 - Punk Ass
  • Shane and Ronnie go out on the streets for information of Rondell's drug competition
  • Pagliacci,Mario Lanza - Vesti La Guibba
  • Aceveda enters the Maureen place for the first time after many years have passed
  • Mill - Lee Hee Hee (as translated to english)
  • Dutch and Claudette are at the store questioning the storeowner and asking to give out the evidence
  • Daniel Indart - Los Parranderos
  • Julien chases a kid with a gun at the birthday party
  • Goldo - All I Really Want
  • Dutch and Claudette with SWAT raid the apartment of home invasionist boys
  • The Royal Philharmonic - Casta Diva
  • Aceveda visits Maureen hoping she will finally recant her story about the rape allegations
  • Luther Guitar Junior Johnson - I'm Gone
  • At the end of the episode, Dutch and Claudette being in the crime scene.

Episode Title[]

Notes[]

  • International airdates:
    • Germany: October 13, 2004
    • France: August 1, 2007
  • This is the third episode of the season where Curtis Lemansky doesn't appear, although his name still appears in the opening credits.
  • The Nation of Islam both commended and protested their portrayal in the episode during the same week.
  • Kern Little drives a silver Mercedes Benz W-220 with armored body and windshields. Shane Vendrell drives a dark green 2002 Ford Explorer.

Quotes[]

  • White NOI member: As-salaam alaikum, my brother. May I interest you in one of our magazines?
  • Shane Vendrell: You wandered into the wrong prayer group, Frosty.


  • Vic Mackey: So you didn't shoot up Kern Little's car, trying to get to Rondell?
  • Xavier Salaam: The Nation does not murder.
  • Vic Mackey: You committed murder.
  • Xavier Salaam: That was a long time ago, and it was manslaughter.
  • Vic Mackey: Why this neighborhood?
  • Xavier Salaam: Because it needs cleansing.
  • Vic Mackey: What if I said that's my job?
  • Xavier Salaam: I'd say you were doing it poorly.

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