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Homewrecker

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Homewrecker
Season 2, Episode 06
Airdate: February 11, 2003
Actual length 46:33
Production Code: 5012-02-206
Written by Shawn Ryan & Glen Mazzara
Directed by Scott Brazil
Previous: "Greenlit"
Next: "Barnstormers"


"Homewrecker" is the sixth episode of Season 2 of The Shield and the 19th episode of the series as a whole. It was originally broadcast on February 11, 2003. The previously on segment is voiced by Catherine Dent.

Synopsis[]

The Barn mobilizes to investigate a murderous rampage at a battered women's shelter.

Plot[]

Vic Mackey plays a recording of his call with Armadillo Quintero for David Aceveda. Vic insists that Armadillo's death threat is meaningless and the recording is grounds for him to be charged. As he leaves, Aceveda informs him that he has a minority candidate in mind for the Strike Team and warns him to be careful around Armadillo. As the Strike Team discuss adding a new member, Vic apologizes for putting them in Armadillo's crosshairs, but they insists that they are a team (although Ronnie Gardocki is clearly nervous about it). Shane Vendrell wonders if a new member could be a problem should they not understand "how we do things," but Vic insists that he will not bring anyone on who doesn't get it. While on patrol, Danny Sofer promises Julien Lowe that she will not say anything about his sexuality to Vanessa, but warns him that it will be worse if she finds out from someone other than him. They get a report on a 911 call that immediately hangs up.

Vic asks Gordie Liman to put men on his family constantly due to the threat Armadillo could pose on them, noting that they need to stay out of sight. Danny and Julien arrive at the address of the call to find it broken into. They enter and find a woman stabbed to death inside. Venturing further, they find a security camera on a wall destroyed and another dead woman, Danny realizing from a pamphlet on the ground that the place is a shelter for domestically abused women. They find four more dead women and hear noise coming from upstairs, kicking in a door to find a handful of crying young children.

Vic takes the last of his belongings out of his home and informs Corrine Mackey that he is installing a new alarm system in the house. He gets a call about the killings. Dutch Wagenbach explains to those present that the address of the shelter is kept a secret from the women's abusers, and he and Vic agree that the most likely suspect is one of the said abusers. Dutch notes the intentional cutting of the power and destroying the security cameras, making the murders seem premeditated. As officers take the kids out, Emma Prince, the shelter's director, having stepped out to pick up donations, arrives but is stopped at the door. She is unable to give up the victims' real names because the shelter gives them aliases, but claims that the shelter's record keeper Ms. Henry has the names on her computer, to which only she and assistant know the password, both of them dead. Distressed, she asks if "all seven of them?" were killed, and Vic notes that they only found six bodies.

At the Barn, Vic and Prince match the mugshot of a prostitute that claimed to be beaten by her pimp and recent arrival to a photo Prince has of her. Vic orders an officer to get a search started for her. Dutch and computer technician Bello try to crack Henry's computer. Aceveda informs Danny that Yassirah Al-Thani has filed another complaint, claiming Danny made a threatening phone call against her, though Danny claims she just told her that she knew she was behind the recent harassment. Aceveda admonishes her from calling her from her house and creating a record of the incident and orders her to make a formal apology.

Ronnie offers to look at the computer as Vic informs Dutch that the prostitute was identified as Dorea Pinchuk. Vic shows Pinchuk's photo to Connie Riesler, asking her to find the pimp Tecks. Connie asks for help securing a house if she helps catch the killer, which Vic seems amenable to.

Ronnie successfully cracks open the computer. Danny apologizes to Yassirah, and her new lawyer claims that she is filing a temporary restraining order against Danny. Connie points Tecks out to Vic and Shane, who he insists to them that he has not seen Pinchuk for a week. A car of Latino men drive by and Vic and Shane reach for their guns, but it drives away without issue. Vic orders Tecks to call him if he hears from Pinchuk.

Dutch relays to Vic and Claudette Wyms that a seven year old boy is missing from the shelter according to the records, but points out that if someone was looking for children of that mother, they left the two year old daughter behind. Vic points out that a baby is harder to travel with, and Claudette wonders if "maybe he just doesn't like women." Dutch presents them with the file on the father, Mike Holden, a firefighter with a record of soliciting prostitutes. Vic notes that, if Tecks is telling the truth, Pinchuk lied about who beat her and wonders if she may still be with Holden. The Barn is amused to see Aceveda in a police uniform and sarcastically applauds him, explaining to Vic that the new chief wants every captain to wear the uniform on the street at least once a month for image purposes.

Julien and Aceveda take a report on a woman whose son's new bike was stolen from their yard. Prince comes to the Barn with two new shelter residents, Vic having fooled with some paperwork to get them put in temporary witness housing. She thanks him, and he reminds her that she is doing a good thing. She responds with "someone did it for me once."

Aceveda confirms that he got Julien's wedding invitation and asks if he should know anything. Aceveda advises him not to have secrets and they notice Gerard, a kid riding a bike that matches the description of the stolen one. Without giving him a chance to explain himself, Aceveda takes the bike. Vic has Curtis Lemansky and Connie distribute flyers of Holden. Dutch and Claudette question Western division officer Lou Jolles, a close friend of Holden's who he has bailed out of trouble several times. They present him with photos of the bodies and he recognizes Holden's wife Julie. A horrified Jolles insists he would never kill her despite beating her, and Claudette wonders if he gave Holden the address and sent Pinchuk over to confirm Julie was there. Dutch and Claudette press him for Holden's location, but he remains silent.

Tecks informs Vic that Holden and Pinchuk have become a sort of couple. Julien and Aceveda return the bike to its owner, only for him to point out that his initials aren't under the seat. Dutch and Claudette return, having called Jolles's bank and learning that he withdrew four hundred dollars while on duty that day. He gives them his wallet and they find the money is missing, knowing that he gave it to Holden. Jolles refuses to endanger his job. They discuss trying to make a deal with him outside, where Vic sides with Dutch on the side of giving Jolles a deal. Vic and Dutch go in while Claudette watches on the camera, and Vic tries to manipulate him but loses his composure when he resists. Dutch stops him from getting physical and he leaves.

Julien and Aceveda return the bike to Gerard, who accuses Aceveda of profiling him. To protect him, Julien steps in and insists that it is Aceveda's first day on the job, satiating Gerard. Danny mentions to Shane that Aceveda is putting a new member on the Strike Team and wonders if a woman could make the cut. He responds sarcastically and she responds with equal vitriol. Vic interviews Robbie Villanueva, a Latino candidate for the Strike Team, noting his military background and fitting attitude. He also notices that Villanueva has a family, making sure to point out the team is currently greenlit. Aceveda later informs Vic that Villanueva has withdrawn his application and that there won't be many better candidates than him.

Connie informs Vic that a prostitute told her that Holden would pick her up so someone could watch his son while he had sex with Pinchuk. He asks for the woman to call him if Holden comes around again. As Claudette orders a search for every car stolen close to the shelter the night of the murders. Dutch agrees to try interrogating Jolles her way. Shane and Lem mess with Aceveda over him making zero arrests in seven hours. Vic calls from a Corrine about the intensity of the security system and asks if there is anything she needs to know. Liman informs Vic that there have been no problems with the family and posits hiring security to guard the house at night, but Vic insists his current method is working. He also notes that no one is seeing Corrine. He gets a call from Connie, having been picked up by Pinchuk and is now babysitting Holden's son. Holden walks in on her using the phone, hanging it up for her and insisting she join the adults.

The Strike Team arrive on the scene as Holden sees the police outside, putting a gun to Connie's head. Vic orders the assembled police to back off, disarming himself and offering himself up as a hostage. He locks the door and closes the blinds on Holden's orders. Familiar with police tactics, he orders Vic to let the officers know he is inside to prevent them from gassing the room. He refuses to let go of his son, and Vic tries to connect with him over losing his children, but Holden is unconvinced and shoots Connie in the chest. Holden is distracted by his upset son, so Vic tears the blinds down, allowing a sniper to shoot him. Shane shoots him again through the broken window before he can attack Vic, killing him. Vic goes over to Connie and confirms she is dead.

Danny is approached by a pair of IAD detectives, who ask to search her car based on anonymous call that she is selling marijuana out of it. As she explains the situation with Yassirah, the detectives find the drugs in her car. Dutch and Claudette informs Jolles that Holden is dead and that he killed Connie before he went out. As Claudette acknowledges that he will keep his job, she orders him to leave. Vic tests the security system and Corrine notices he is acting different, which he ignores. Having bought a new bike, Julien and Aceveda "return" it to its owner.

Vic visits Prince's new location to drop off groceries. She wonders if she will some day understand why Holden did what he did, and Vic sighs "I doubt it." She thanks him and he leaves silently.

Episode credits[]

Cast[]

Starring[]

Guest Starring[]

Co-Starring[]

Featuring[]

Uncredited[]

Production staff[]

Featured Music[]

Episode Title[]

"Homewrecker" is a slang term for someone that makes an effort to ruin someone else's life. This could refer to firefighter Mike Holden, who murders his wife and kidnaps their son in an attack of rage. It could also refer to Yassirah Al-Thani's efforts to ruin Officer Danny Sofer's career and life, after she killed her husband.

Notes[]

  • International airdates:
    • Germany: March 11, 2006
    • France: August 29, 2007
  • When Officer Danny Sofer asks Shane Vendrell if they're considering a female to join the Strike Team, Shane tells her sarcastically that they will bring "Batgirl and Charlie's Angels".
  • This is the third appearance of the Strike Team's trademark presentation card. Vic Mackey gives it to Tecks so he could contact him.

Quotes[]

  • Tecks: Man, I never put my hand on any of my employees! That's some old school bullshit. They can't go down if their lips are busted up.
  • Vic Mackey: You call me if you hear from Dorea and I don't haul the rest of your stable in... They can't go down if they're locked up.

External links[]

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