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Scar Tissue

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Scar Tissue
Season 2, Episode 08
Airdate: February 25, 2003
Actual length 46:31
Production Code: 5012-02-208
Written by Kurt Sutter
Directed by Paris Barclay
Previous: "Barnstormers"
Next: "Co-Pilot"


"Scar Tissue" is the eighth episode of Season 2 of The Shield and the 21st episode of the series as a whole. It was originally broadcast on February 25, 2003. The previously on segment is voiced by Kenny Johnson.

Synopsis[]

Vic and the Strike Team set their sights on taking Armadillo off the streets for good.

Recap[]

As paramedics arrive at Vic Mackey's apartment after he finds Ronnie Gardocki badly burned, he nods when Vic asks if Armadillo Quintero attacked him. The Strike Team wish him well as he is wheeled out. Vic does not answer when Claudette Wyms asks if Armadillo was responsible for the attack and bluffs off why Emma Prince is with him when asked. She notes that Armadillo was looking for Vic and promises to help him take care of it, but he tells her to stay out of it. Outside, Vic tells Shane Vendrell and Curtis Lemansky that they need to find Armadillo before someone makes the connection between his burns and Ronnie's, and they agree to kill him. David Aceveda informs them that the hospital will be able to graft most of Ronnie's face and declares intent to assign a security detail to them, despite Vic's insistence that they are fine. Vic gives Shane and Lem their keys to the retirement fund back and orders them to retrieve money and get Armadillo.

Claudette is affronted to learn that Aceveda let Vic have free reign and asks why they are working together. He orders her to focus on other cases. The Strike Team visit Van Bro, who claims he is sourcing his men directly from Mexico. Vic gives him money to spread the word that he is offering compensation for Armadillo's location. As Danny Sofer asks Julien Lowe about his wedding, Aceveda informs him that he put him up for promotion. They are called to a scene where Thai man Lee Kusa has been brutalized and hung up by the collar of his shirt.

Van informs Vic that Little Pop, a Los Magnificos fresh out of prison that is angry about the destruction of his gang, is willing to talk to them. Little Pop explains that Armadillo promised him higher-up work after his release but went back on it after bringing in his own men. Little Pop wants to go back to prison, but Vic ignores him and is informed him of a man named Quazi who helps Armadillo's men legally cross the border. The Strike Team raid Quazi's hideout and threaten to cut his fingers off with a paper cutter until he gives up Armadillo. Danny explains to Dutch Wagenbach that Kusa's belongings were not stolen and the man who found him saw a young Asian man fleeing the scene. Dutch notices a security camera and tells her to get a warrant.

The Strike Team raids Armadillo's address but only find Torrucos soldiers. Shane is attacked by their dog while chasing one of them and Lem is forced to kill it. Dutch traces the license plate of the car spotted fleeing the scene to the address of a Malcolm Rama, and the police find a bloody handprint of the driver's side door. They knock on the door and his mother answers.

2x08 Paula Meagan

Paula takes care of Megan.

Shane and Lem beat up Torrucos in an attempt to get Armadillo's location, but Vic stops them when it is clear they do not know where he is. Corrine Mackey comes to the Barn looking for Vic, telling Claudette that her house was broken into. Claudette wonders aloud if it is related to the situation with Armadillo and asks Paula Myers to take Cassidy and Megan Mackey while she talks to Corrine. When she realizes Corrine has no idea what is happening, she asks her to answer some questions. Dutch asks Danny for help with the Kusa case and they interrogate Rama, who insists he is making a mistake despite the overwhelming evidence that he is guilty. Outside, Dutch insists that they need him to confess so there is no chance his trial will go awry.

Corrine explains her marital situation, and when Claudette asks about Vic's financials, she mentions Matthew Mackey's tuition. Corrine asks if Vic has done anything to be placed under suspicion. As Vic and Shane put the Torrucos in the cage, Shane pushes one in aggressively and Vic reminds him that they are being watched, warning him to tread lightly. He notices Myers with his children and asks Cassidy why they are there. When she explains, he enters the interrogation room and asks Corrine what happened, only for her to leave in silence. He follows her to the Clubhouse and she confronts him, forcing him to explain all his security measures. She asks if he was involved with Theodore Osmond and how they are paying Matthew's tuition. Vic insists that he is doing everything for their children and asks her to be on his side. She takes her kids back from Myers and leaves, while Vic confronts Claudette and warns her to leave his family alone. Lanie Kellis informs Vic that the Justice department will be watching the Strike Team until Armadillo is in custody. Shane interrupts to tell him that Van called.

Danny presents Dutch with a bloody scepter found in a storm drain near the beating, having been stolen from the cultural center where Rama volunteers. The Strike Team arrive to find Van beaten and his wheelchair stolen. He claims he was attacked by Latino men and got their license plate. As he relays it, Lem promises to get him a new wheelchair. The Strike Team tracks down the truck and arrest everyone present. Shane beats one of the Torrucos until another one agrees to give Armadillo up. Julien and Danny arrive at a restaurant, where a customer, Udel, who was holding up the line had insecticide sprayed in his face by an annoyed customer. The officers break up the two arguing and Julien calms Udel down, asking for more information on the man who sprayed him.

The Strike Team arrives at the apartment where Armadillo is holed up. Vic orders Shane to clear the area as they arm themselves. Armadillo observes the truck arriving outside. Dutch asks Rama if he stole the scepter and notes that he is avoiding saying Kusa's last name.

Before the Strike Team can raid the complex, the police arrive and Armadillo emerges unarmed, an arriving Claudette explaining that he called and turned himself in. She notes the burns on his face as he is arrested. Another insecticide victim, having gotten Dutch's number from his card he left at the restaurant, tells Danny what happened. Full up with this work, Dutch tells Danny that she should look into it herself. She deduces that the man is likely local and will check to see if anyone bought bug spray recently.

2x08 Armadillo interrogation

Armadillo talks to Vic Mackey in interrogation.

Vic tries to convince Claudette to let him help talk to Armadillo. She dissuades Aceveda from forcing anything by threatening to tell Kellis about his unprofessional handling of the case. Inside, she asks what happened to his face, but he refuses to confess to anyone but Vic or his lawyer. She allows Vic to take her place and Armadillo orders him to switch off the camera. He tells Vic that he will inform the authorities about his face being burnt and the Strike Team's involvement with T.O. if he is not aided in returning to Mexico. He brushes off his murders and the rape of Mayda Reyes as "sometimes, life isn't fair," causing Vic to grab him by the throat. He stops, realizing that he will only aid Armadillo's case if he hurts him further, leaving silently. He claims to Claudette that Armadillo wants to see his lawyer and that the interrogation is over. Danny arrests Jarvis Stanley, having found his name through purchasing records and finding insecticide in his pocket.

Vic tells Shane and Lem that either Ronnie recants or Armadillo reports them for police brutality. As the one who attacked him, Vic is willing to take all responsibility to keep the Strike Team safe and leaves. Lem asks Shane what the plan is, and he takes him to "make a deal." Dutch informs Rama that he learned his family has been feuding with the Kusas for centuries. As he leaves, Rama admits that his father was angry after Kusa visited the center and plotted to kill him, so he tried to scare Kusa away to keep him safe. The confrontation escalated when Kusa attacked him, forcing him to fight back with the scepter. He admits that he felt compelled to keep hitting him midway through out of family honor.

2x08 Armadillo dies

Armadillo bleeds to death.

Danny and Julien bring in Little Pop after he blew marijuana smoke in their faces, putting him in the cage with Armadillo. Dutch thanks Danny for her help with the Kusa case, and she admits that she enjoyed working as a detective. She leans in to kiss him, but he reminds her that he is dating Kim Kelner. Embarrassed, she goes back inside and tells Myers what happened, only for Little Pop to stab Armadillo several times while their backs are turned. He dies almost instantly as Claudette asks Danny, who searched Little Pop, how she missed the knife, though she insists it was not on him when he was put in. Aceveda orders her to come upstairs. Vic returns to the Barn to find Armadillo dead, which Claudette flatly describes as "unbelievable." Shane and Lem give him knowing looks.

Claudette gives Aceveda her files on Armadillo, recounting near perfectly what happened between Vic, T.O., and Armadillo. She asks why Aceveda stopped her, and he claims that "I made a mistake." Claudette responds with "you just now realizing that?" Vic tells Danny that he heard she was suspended, advising her to call her PBA representative. He assures her that she is a good officer and she claims to miss him, though he brushes her off. Vic tells Corrine that he is having the broken window replaced, and she asks him to leave the man's number to take care of it herself. He demands more time with their children, and she points out that before, he could barely spend time with them. He insists that he is going "back to basics," though she seems unconvinced. Shane and Lem explain to Vic that Little Pop will be happy in prison, now having the respect and power he craved under Armadillo, and they will take care of his mother financially. Vic thanks them and they leave the Clubhouse as Claudette enters, telling him that Ronnie's burning is on him.

Corrine makes sandwiches for her children, Claudette boxes Armadillo's files, Dutch leaves the station and notices Myers smirking at him, Aceveda watches Kellis leave for the night, Danny leaves while Julien looks at his wedding rings, and Vic returns to his room to find Prince waiting for him. She tries to touch him and he initially turns her down, but soon gives in and takes her to the bedroom.

Episode credits[]

Cast[]

Starring[]

Guest Starring[]

Co-Starring[]

Featuring[]

Uncredited[]

Production staff[]

Featured Music[]

  • "If I Ever Leave This World Alive" by Flogging Molly

Episode Title[]

The term might refer literally to the scar in Armadillo Quintero's face, which is an important element on the events of the season. However, it might also refer to the "emotional scars" left in Corrine Mackey after Claudette Wyms tells her several truths about Vic, or the "scars" shown in Danny Sofer's career and personal life as she loses a promotion and confesses to Vic how lonely she feels, or the "ethnic scars" shown from a long forgotten grudge between the two Thai families: Rama and Kusa.

Notes[]

  • International airdates:
    • Germany: March 25, 2006
    • France: September 5, 2007
  • When Danny Sofer almost kisses Dutch Wagenbach, he backs off and says "Kim's making me dinner tonight" which probably means he is still dating Kim Kelner whom he met in Season 1.

Quotes[]

  • Vic Mackey: I've got a team member in the burn unit, the guy who did it out on the street, and you think now is a good time to screw with my family?
  • Claudette Wyms: I think Armadillo went to your house looking for you, Vic. Lucky your wife and kids didn't end up in the burn ward.
  • Vic Mackey: My family's off limits.
  • Claudette Wyms: You tell that to Armadillo.
  • Vic Mackey: I'm telling you!!


  • Armadillo Quintero: The first few weeks are the worst. Then the skin gets hard. The stinging goes away.

External Links[]

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