spots Sherrod working for a drug dealing crew and chastises him for truanting. Sherrod's customer takes exception to Bubbles's interruption and attacks him for his money. When Sherrod returns to their squat that night Bubbles tells him that must leave in the morning unless he attends school the next day. Production Title reference The title refers to the alliance that Marlo enters into with Proposition Joe. It also refers to the alliances formed by Carcetti in the political world: with Rawls, Valchek and Watkins. It also references the breaking of Watkins' alliance with Royce because of the strength of his support for Marla Daniels, and perhaps most obviously, to the offer made by Chris and Snoop to Michael. Epigraph Partlow makes this statement when trying to convince Michael Lee to join the Stanfield drug dealing organization. It is counterpointed by Wee-Bey's remarks about the heyday of the Barksdale organization. Credits Starring cast Although credited, Dominic West, Chad L. Coleman, J. D. Williams and Michael K. Williams do not appear in this episode. Guest stars Jermaine Crawford as Duquan "Dukie" Weems Maestro Harrell as Randy Wagstaff Julito McCullum as Namond Brice Tristan Wilds as Michael Lee Gbenga Akinnagbe as Chris Partlow Robert F. Chew as Proposition Joe Anwan Glover as Slim Charles Hassan Johnson as Roland "Wee-Bey" Brice Dan DeLuca as Dr. David Parenti Tootsie Duvall as Assistant Principal Marcia Donnelly Dravon James as Mrs. Grace Sampson Christopher Mann as Councilman Anthony Gray Cleo Reginald Pizana as Chief of Staff Coleman Parker Frederick Strother as State Delegate Odell Watkins Boris McGiver as Lieutenant Charles Marimow Ed Norris as Detective Ed Norris Delaney Williams as Sergeant Jay Landsman Sandi McCree as De'Londa Brice Alfonso Christian Lover as Old Face Andre Felicia Pearson as Snoop Al Brown as Major Stan Valchek Brandy Burre as Theresa D'Agostino Tyreeka Freamon as School Secretary Brian Anthony Wilson as Detective Vernon Holley Armando Cadogan, Jr. as Bubbles' tormentor Nathan Corbett as Donut Thuliso Dingwall as Kenard Taylor King as Zenobia Dawson Rashad Orange as Sherrod Uncredited appearances Benjamin Busch as Officer Anthony Colicchio Rick Otto as Detective Kenneth Dozerman Gregory L. Williams as Detective Michael Crutchfield Kwame Patterson as Monk Metcalf Richard Hildebird as Principal Claudell Withers Destiny Jackson-Evans as Crystal Judkins Jeffrey Lorenzo as Karim Williams Rakiya Orange as Charlene Young Jason Wharton as Albert Stokes Corbin Smith as Monell David J. Smolar as Newspaper Reporter