"Family Meeting" is the 13th (and in subsequent broadcasts, the 14th, as it was split in a two-part episode because of its length following the original broadcast) and final episode of the seventh season and the series finale of The Shield. The episode aired on FX on November 25, 2008, and was written by Shawn Ryan and directed by Clark Johnson. The title comes from a line Shane Vendrell (Walton Goggins) calls to his family during the episode.
Plot summary
The episode starts with Vic Mackey meeting Ronnie Gardocki and telling him that Shane didn't show up at the drop off, and that Vic's wife Corinne was arrested. Vic also tells Ronnie (falsely) that ICE Agent Olivia Murray agreed to clear himself, Ronnie, and Corinne once they arrest Beltran. Vic and Ronnie meet with Beltran, who reluctantly agrees to meet with the black board of directors at the exchange. Meanwhile, Dutch Wagenbach tells Corinne about the deal Vic made for full immunity, which causes her to panic. Dutch assures her that they have an idea for keeping her safe from Vic if he finds out what she did to him. At Mara's request, Shane takes Mara and Jackson back to their home, and they plan to leave the next day when the police are busy guarding the president.
Back at the Barn, Claudette Wyms convinces Olivia to put Vic's family in federal witness protection to keep Vic away from them. Olivia says that should be the police department's responsibility, but is persuaded when Claudette tells her it's a favor for her and not Vic, and that it would be a good way to punish him.
Vic goes to Corinne's house to tell her she is safe. Corinne and the kids start to leave immediately after Vic leaves. Shane shows up to surprise Steve Billings and asks him to deliver a message: Mara shot the woman in self-defense. Shane also says he is willing to turn himself in and testify against Vic and Ronnie, if the police can guarantee immunity for Mara. Shane gives Steve an attorney's card and tells him to contact the attorney.
At the exchange, Beltran doesn't show up and sends his men instead. This angers the black board of directors, as do the sample quantities of drugs and Beltran's representative's revelation that Beltran had been paid $100,000 (half the amount Vic had collected from the black board of directors). The deal is about to go sour, so ICE moves in and arrests everyone. Olivia tells Vic that he is no longer involved and orders him to back off the Beltran case. Vic decides to go after Beltran nonetheless, to honor his deal, and Ronnie backs him up believing he has the same deal.
Lloyd Denton shows up at the Barn to report his mother Rita missing, and Dutch believes Lloyd killed her. Lloyd says he last saw her the night before, and that she was upset about a fight she had had with Dutch. He claims she left at 3 a.m. to go to Dutch's house.
Dutch tells Claudette about the mysterious hang-up calls he got from Rita that made him go to her house the morning before. They believe Lloyd killed his mother and made those calls to implicate Dutch.
Julien and Tina respond to a noise complaint about a rally for Robert Huggins, a local man running for mayor whom they end up arresting for disturbing the peace. Shane calls the attorney and finds out that Claudette is only willing to offer reduced charges for Mara. He then calls Vic for help. Vic refuses to help and tells Shane about the deal he cut with ICE. Shane responds by telling Vic that Corinne was working with the police against Vic, because she didn't want Vic near their children and wanted him out of their lives. He tells Vic that no matter what happens to him and Mara and his kids, they would always be a family, while Vic will have nothing. A skeptical Vic tells Shane that he'll check up on Shane's children when Shane and Mara are in prison and tell them all about what they did, and hangs up. Shane gets furious, and distraught over the fact that nothing can save him and his family now. Olivia informs Vic that Corinne requested protection from him and that he would no longer be able to see his children.
Back at the Barn, Claudette pulls Dutch off of the Denton case after uniformed officers find burnt women's clothing in a trash container at Dutch's house. Robert Huggins makes bail and requests police protection since threats were made against him, but the request is ignored. Billings' attorney meets with Dutch and asks him to change his statement because it hurts Billings' case against the department.