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Our Gang

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Our Gang
Shane-interrogation
Season 1, Episode 02
Airdate: March 19, 2002
Actual length 46:29
Production Code: 5012-01-101
Written by Shawn Ryan
Directed by Gary Fleder
Previous: "Pilot"
Next: "The Spread"


"Our Gang" is the second episode of Season 1 of The Shield. It was originally broadcast on March 19, 2002. The previously on segment is voiced by Michael Chiklis.

Synopsis[]

Following the shooting death of a police department informant, Aceveda turns up the heat in the investigation of Mackey and his Strike Team.

Plot[]

Aceveda-notifies-crowley

Captain David Aceveda notifies the officers of the death of Terry Crowley.

Following his shooting of Terry Crowley, Vic Mackey calls 911. Crowley is taken to a hospital where a group of officers gather, and Vic explains that Crowley was shot by Two-Time. Danny Sofer tries to comfort Shane Vendrell, and Ronnie Gardocki and Curtis Lemansky both blame themselves for the shooting. David Aceveda and Assistant Chief Ben Gilroy inform the crowd that Crowley has died, and Vic announces that he is responsible.

In the Barn's interrogation room, IAD officer Francis Housely asks Vic to explain the incident. He claims responsibility for Crowley's death because Crowley was not ready for the operation. As Shane, the only other witness to Crowley being shot, is called in to be interviewed next, Vic stops him and orders him to "just tell them what happened."

Claudette Wyms and Dutch Wagenbach return to the Barn, and explain to Aceveda that IAD dismissed them from the scene of Crowley's murder. Danny reprimands Julien Lowe for not joining his fellow officers at the hospital. Julien apologizes and claims he did not know him well but said a prayer for him, but Danny reminds him that they were both cops and he therefore did know Crowley. Gilroy warns Aceveda not to investigate the Strike Team so as not to cause tension in the department. He asks Aceveda to speak at Crowleys funeral.

Shane-interrogation-iad

Shane Vendrell is interrogated by IAD.

Shane explains to Housely that despite Crowley's status of the new guy, he was as valuable to Vic as the rest of the team. While discussing the murder with Danny, Dutch blames Vic for Crowley's murder, lambasting his planning and safety measures. Danny asks Vic if he is doing alright, but he brushes her off while Dutch watches. Danny explains to Julien that they will need to crack down intensely on crime for the time being, as criminals step out of line following the death of a cop. Aceveda explains to Moses Hernandez that he believes Vic took Crowley with to get him killed, and asks Hernandez if he told anyone about Crowley's deal. Hernandez claims he told other people above him so he could get the deal cleared, and warns Aceveda from going to IAD about it to protect his career.

Terry-family-2

The family of Terry Crowley.

Aceveda reads a eulogy at Crowley's funeral with the Strike Team in attendance, Vic thinking about killing him. At the same time, Two-Time's funeral is held across town. Crowley has an American flag draped over his coffin, while Two-Time has gang colors and alcohol placed over his. Both their mothers have emotional reactions. When the ceremony finishes, Shane steps aside for a cigarette, distressed after seeing Crowley's mother. Vic assures him they did the right thing, as Crowley had violated their trust. As Aceveda gives Crowley's mother her son's badge, he stares at Vic and Shane suspiciously.

Julien and Danny find Nivan Gonzalez, a churro vendor, shot and unresponsive in the street while a man, Felix Contreras, rifles through his pockets. They order him away, and Julien throws him through the cart and arrests him when he refuses. Danny realizes Gonzalez is still alive and calls for an ambulance. Vic's wife Corrine comments on how miserable Shane looks in the aftermath of the incident, but Vic assures her he will be alright. He looks at his toddler son Matthew and remembers introducing Crowley to the Strike Team for the first time. Danny updates Claudette and Dutch on the Gonzalez shooting, and Claudette reprimands Julien for his assault on Contreras when he mentions it.

Julien-arrests-marlon

Julien Lowe arrests Marlon Demeral.

Aceveda meets with Housely and Gilroy, Housely having cleared the Strike Team. After she leaves, Aceveda expresses his disapproval of how quickly she concluded Vic's innocence. Gilroy assures him the report is just preliminary. Yancy, the son of Gonzalez, explains to Claudette and Dutch that his father stopped paying a man named Marlon Demeral for protection so he could pay for his son to go to college. Julien and Danny arrest a protesting Demeral while his wife and mother-in-law record the encounter. They ridicule Julien for joining the police force as a black man. Vic continues to think about Crowley while he works out. Julien is invited by fellow officer Paul Jackson to get a drink with the guys later, which he refuses because of church. Danny tells him to go, explaining it is some sort of initiation that he should conclude quickly.

Demeral explains to Claudette that he did not shoot Gonzalez, the culprits being a Mexican gang called the Los Magnificos (or "Los Mags") that had moved in on his territory. He claims the problem with America is criminals putting people out of their jobs, but Claudette points out that he is a criminal himself. Aceveda recruits Dutch to help him, and has him sit in while he provokes Vic into agreeing to questioning. Vic explains he did not bring backup for the element of surprise and ridicules Dutch for not putting himself in the field like the Strike Team does. Aceveda dismisses him and explains to Dutch they softballed Vic to make him feel like he won, and will now grill Shane, being the "weak link." Claudette asks the Strike Team to look for information related to the Los Mags and the shooting. As they leave, Aceveda pulls Shane aside.

Shane-interrogation

Aceveda presses Shane Vendrell to answer as Dutch looks on.

The Strike Team approaches a wheelchair-bound street artist, Van Bro, who they bribe to explain the shooting was a Los Mags initiation ritual. They find the Los Mags beating up their new recruit, a teenager named Olman, as part of the initiation. They wait for him to finish being beaten before breaking up the party, arresting him and several gang members. Vic leaves a playing card emboldened with the Strike Team's insignia, a snake eating a rat in front of a city backdrop. Aceveda's interrogation of Shane is much more successful than Vic's, making him visibly nervous when he asks about Shane being Crowley's backup and catching him in a lie relating to his involvement with Rondell Robinson. Aceveda reveals that Crowley was aware of their dealings, and tries to get Shane to confess that Crowley was too big of a threat to live. He notes that Two-Time's girlfriend reports hearing a shot after Two-Time was killed, which Shane tries to pass off as Vic shooting Two-Time dead when he moved. Not buying it, Aceveda promises him security if he gives up Vic. Vic bursts in and orders Shane out, berating Aceveda and Dutch for holding him for so long. He warns Aceveda to stay away from his men, and Aceveda smugly tells him he knows what Vic did.

Aceveda-smiles-mackey

Aceveda smiles at Mackey after assuring him he knows what he did.

Claudete tries to cut Olman a deal with his mother in attendance. Olman proclaims Gonzalez would be dead if he shot him, and Claudette warns him they will try him as an adult if Gonzalez dies. Stepping out, Dutch informs her that Gonzales is stable. When he tries to tell her about Vic and Aceveda's confrontation, she stops him, not wanting to get involved. She returns to the investigation room and tells Olman Gonzalez died, but someone else is taking credit for his murder. This provokes him into confessing to the shooting. He refuses to surrender who convinced him to do it, and Claudette tells him he is going to jail. He looks at his mother and muses that he will still have family in the Los Mags, even in prison. Gilroy lambasts Aceveda for investigating Mackey based off Crowley's tip, which Aceveda refuses to tell him the source of. He warns Aceveda that further investigation will damage his career. Vic sees Gilroy out and thanks him for helping him out. Gilroy reminds him that he tipped Vic off to Crowley's deception and asks what really happened to him, but Vic sticks to the story that Two-Time shot him. Despite wanting no one to know it was her birthday, Claudette finds a gift-wrapped tube of denture cream on her desk and takes it in good humor, before going out dancing with her friend Ida.

Final-scene

Aceveda looks down at Vic Mackey as he leaves.

During his initiation, Julien drinks a full pitcher of beer while Danny watches from afar. To complete the ceremony, Jackson tells him to get a blowjob from Betty, a local woman who is attracted to cops. Despite his nervousness, he lets her take him to a back room, where she pleasures him while the other cops secretly watch and snicker. Danny leaves. Insulted with how Aceveda used his nonthreatening composure to relax Vic, Dutch tells him not to do it again. He asks if Aceveda truly believes Vic is somehow responsible for Crowley's death just as the Strike Team leaves the building. Aceveda and Vic lock eyes before Vic smirks and exits.

Episode credits[]

Cast[]

Starring[]

Guest starring[]

Co-Starring[]

Featuring[]

Production staff[]

Featured Music[]

Episode Title[]

The title might refer to the feeling of belonging and protection between gang members, highlighted by the initiations shown in the episode. It might also be a reference to the same feeling of protection felt among the members of the Strike Team, which led Vic Mackey to kill Terry Crowley. Julien Lowe also goes through a process of "initiation" within the officers of the Barn.

Notes[]

  • International airdates:
    • Germany: August 11, 2004
    • France: June 28, 2007
  • This is the first episode to feature the Strike Team's trademark presentation card. Vic Mackey leaves it in front of the Gang leader of Los Magnificos after the raid.
  • This is one of only three instances of The Shield to feature a flashback scene. The others are in the Season 2 episode "Co-Pilot" and in the Season 6 mini-episode "Wins and Losses". The scene in this episode shows the moment when Vic Mackey introduces Detective Terry Crowley to the rest of the Strike Team.
  • Matthew Mackey screams "To infinity and beyond!" which is a reference to the character of Buzz Lightyear from the Toy Story series.
  • Most of the officers are seen wearing a black tape across their badges because of Terry Crowley's death. In reality, the tape remains on the badge for at least three days.
  • Officer Julien Lowe tells Danny Sofer that he's been on the job for three weeks. However, in the Season 2 episode "Co-Pilot", which takes place at the inauguration of the Barn (four months before the "Pilot" episode), Julien was already working with Danny.
  • The first words of David Aceveda's eulogy at Crowley's funeral are taken from a poem from Mary Elizabeth Frye. At the same time, the reverend at Two-Time's funeral first quotes from John 11:25 and then recites the Psalm 23.
  • While at the clubhouse, the Strike Team are joking about a transvestite called "Frank". In the episode "Dragonchasers", Officers Julien Lowe and Danny Sofer arrest a transvestite called Frank Gilmore. However, it is unknown if it is the same person.
  • The Strike Team is playing "pitch", which is a betting card game.
  • Upon receiving a quick preliminary report from IAD regarding the murder of Terry Crowley, Aceveda makes a reference to the Rodney King and O.J. Simpson cases as examples where the police might have rushed to conclusions.
  • While arresting Marlon Demeral, his relatives call Julien an "Uncle Tom", in reference to the black character in the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin. When Julien objects to the epithet, one of them also tells them that "If the Oreo wrapper fits, wear it, brother". This is a reference to the popular Nabisco cookie.
  • Terry Crowley says he was "like Gene Simmons on that" when telling of how he gave oral sex to a woman. Simmons is the bassist of heavy metal band KISS, popular for his long tongue.

Quotes[]

  • Frances Housely: What could you have done differently?
  • Vic Mackey: Terry asked me to move him up.
  • Frances Housely: He was part of your team.
  • Vic Mackey: He wasn't ready for this.
  • Frances Housely: Eight years as a cop, a stint in Robbery, two commendations. Sounds to me like he was ready.
  • Vic Mackey: Strike Team's different.
  • Frances Housely: Really?
  • Vic Mackey: We knock down the doors other cops don't want to. My guys accept the risk because they know I will take care of them. We go out on a mission, I expect every single one of them to come home. Anything else is unacceptable.


  • Shane Vendrell: Aceveda's a water-boy. He can't do dick.


  • David Aceveda: Why'd you go in without more backup?
  • Vic Mackey: A battalion of cops makes noise. It's called the element of surprise.
  • David Aceveda: lmagine my surprise when I heard your guy died.
  • Vic Mackey: Those of us who venture out past our desks sometimes get shot at.
  • David Aceveda: More firepower wouldn't have tipped him off.
  • Vic Mackey: Who should I have had watching our backs? You? I'd hate to have to change your diaper afterwards.
  • David Aceveda: Better than burying one of your own.

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