"Duck and Cover" is the eighth episode of the second season of the HBO original series, The Wire. The episode was written by George Pelecanos from a story by David Simon & George Pelecanos and was directed by Dan Attias. It originally aired on July 20, 2003.

The title refers in part to Ziggy's pet duck. It also refers to Frank's realization that the docks are under surveillance and to the coverup measures he has to take. This could also be seen as a warning call to surrounding characters or the audience of McNulty's actions after his failed reconciliation with his ex-wife.

Ziggy asks why the ducks don't leave their cages when they are free to do so, the reason being that their wings are clipped. This serves as a metaphor for many of the groups in The Wire, and the individuals that find themselves in some way caged—the stevedores, the illegal immigrants, D'Angelo, the police, the corner boys.

Ziggy references Stephen L. Miles, a Baltimore lawyer remembered by locals due to the local-run late night commercial advertising his firm.

Although credited, Idris Elba, Frankie Faison, Wood Harris and Andre Royo do not appear in this episode. This is notable for being the first episode where Idris Elba does not appear.

After failing to reconcile with his ex-wife, McNulty goes on a drinking binge and tries to drive home drunk. After he crashes his car and cuts his hand, McNulty eats at a diner and ends up having a one-night stand with the waitress. While drinking with Bunk, he expresses a desire to work with the detail again. Pearlman is shown how phone logs and photographic evidence link Glekas' warehouse to White Mike and Proposition Joe. They have identified Serge and tracked his cell phone through truck rental records. His phone records show that he calls the warehouse every day that a container goes missing. Herc and Carver have linked Nick to Frog, which they have falsely reported as being obtained from an informant. The judge signs off on the detail's request for a wiretap, but has Herc and Carver do chores in his house in exchange.

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