THE ROOKIE
Season 4, Episode 13
"Fight or Flight"
NOLAN
Oh, sorry. Visitors can't park down here.
LEO
I-I know. I'm not. My dad sent me down to his car to get the coffees he bought for us.
NOLAN
Oh. Who's your dad?
LEO
Steve Miller.
NOLAN
Property Crimes?
LEO
[ Chuckles ] Yeah. T-That's him. We don't, uh, get to see each other too often since the divorce. Mom got full custody. So he makes me stop by the station for some "father-son" coffee time before school.
NOLAN
Oh. That's nice. After you.
LEO
Thanks.
NOLAN
Four, right?
LEO
Huh?
NOLAN
Property Crimes? Four?
LEO
Uh, yeah. Yeah. Thanks.
NOLAN
Yeah. Divorce is tough. I have a son a few years older than you. I remember when his mom and I split up, I wanted to do everything I could just to show him that I would still be there for him. You know, still be Dad. I'm sure your father's just trying to do the same for you.
LEO
Yeah. [ Sighs ]
NOLAN
And this is my stop. [ Elevator bell dings ] Nice to meet you.
LEO
Uh, you, too.
NOLAN
Oh.
LEO
Just wanted to say thank you for the pep talk. I -- I needed it.
NOLAN
No problem.
CHEN
We need to figure out how he got access to the roof. Okay.
NOLAN
Hey. What's happening?
CHEN
Someone stole a police helicopter.
NOLAN
What?
GREY
Nolan.
NOLAN
Sir, I just heard about the airship. Do you know who took it?
GREY
No. But you do. Airship Three, I repeat, do you copy?
CHEN
Sir, in Nolan's defense, a teenager stealing a police helicopter -- it's highly unexpected behavior.
GREY
We're cops. "Highly unexpected" is what we do before breakfast. Hey, kid, I know you can hear me. See, right now I have the FBI, Homeland Security, and the DOD blowing up my phone, and they're all saying the same thing -- we should launch fighter jets and blow you out of the sky. Now, do you copy?
LEO
This is Airship Three. Please identify yourself.
GREY
Sergeant Wade Grey, LAPD.
LEO
'Sup, Wade? Listen, they're not gonna blow me out of the sky while I'm over a populated area, so tell them to just save the jet fuel, okay? This is a joy ride, not DEFCON 1. I'm just gonna have a little fun. I'll return your helicopter good as new.
GREY
Listen here, boy, I --
NOLAN
If I may. Hey. This is John Nolan, from the elevator.
LEO
Hey! Yeah, yeah. The divorced dad. Look, you are super good at bonding, by the way. I mean, I-I really felt the emotional connection.
NOLAN
Yes. Thank you. Listen, we know Steve Miller's not really your father, so why don't you tell us who you really are and what you want?
LEO
Who I really am is the hero of my own story. And what I want is to complete the hero's journey. Whoa!
NOLAN
What is it? What happened?
LEO
I just saw a cyclist almost get demolished by a vehicle. I mean, this city really needs to add more bike lanes. But, hey, look, this has been fun, but I gotta go because flying a real helicopter is a lot harder than the video-game simulation made it seem. So, we'll talk soon, okay?
NOLAN
No, no, wait, wait, wait. Hero? [ Sighs ]
CHEN
Okay, uh, do we believe him?
NOLAN
I mean, he seemed like a sweet kid on the elevator. He's not talking like he's planning on doing anything violent.
GREY
And he's right. They won't shoot him down unless he poses an imminent threat.
CHEN
So, how do we get him down with no casualties?
GREY
We got four hours to figure that out. That's how much fuel he's got left. Nolan, get out there and shadow him the best you can.
NOLAN
Can I take Lucy with me? She'll help me get in his head.
GREY
Okay. Good idea. And, Nolan, get him to land before gravity does it for him.
NOLAN
Yes, sir.
BRADFORD
Hey. You ready to roll?
CHEN
Oh. Actually, Grey assigned me to ride with Nolan to trail helicopter kid.
BRADFORD
All right. Let me know if you need anything.
LOPEZ
Hey. Guess who's sitting in a holding cell right now?
BRADFORD
Mm-hmm. Yeah. I don't do guessing games.
LOPEZ
Your old friend, Dez Robinson.
BRADFORD
What'd he do?
LOPEZ
Cabot and Lodge pulled him over They found a diamond bracelet in his car that was taken during a home invasion that left a family dead.
BRADFORD
That triple murder in Larchmont Village?
LOPEZ
Yeah. I'm about to go question him. You want in?
BRADFORD
Bet your ass I do.
LOPEZ
I'm surprised you've stayed out of prison for this long, given that you're dumb enough to drive around with stolen property when you're still on probation.
ROBINSON
The bracelet was stolen? I had no idea. I-I bought it from a pawnshop to give to my mother for her -- her birthday.
BRADFORD
Yeah, which pawnshop?
ROBINSON
Man, I don't remember that. I went to like nine of them [chuckles] you know, looking for the perfect gift. I love my mom.
LOPEZ
Do you have the receipt?
ROBINSON
No. I don't believe in them.
BRADFORD
Thing is, Dez, that bracelet wasn't just stolen. It was taken from a home invasion two nights ago, where three people were killed. And we believe the same crew is responsible for two other home invasion murders.
ROBINSON
Oh, wow.
LOPEZ
You guys really don't like to leave any witnesses, do you?
ROBINSON
I don't know what you're talking about. Really. I-I was at work two nights ago. Just check with my boss.
BRADFORD
Oh, I will. Look, Dez... you and I -- we go way back, right? The joy of recidivism. And while you've never been afraid of a little violence, you're not a killer. So I don't think you'd shoot that family in cold blood. No. I think you hooked up with this crew not knowing they were killers, and now you're tied to them.
LOPEZ
If you tell us who they are, we can make a deal. If not, we hang the murders around your neck with the rest of your crew, and you'll die in prison.
BRADFORD
All we need is a name.
ROBINSON
Adrienne Mount.
LOPEZ
Adrienne Mount committed the murders?
ROBINSON
No. She's my lawyer. I'd like to talk to her, please.
HARPER
Are you wearing makeup?
THORSEN
What? [ Chuckling ] No. Okay, yeah. Um...I thought that I got that off.
HARPER
Hmm.
THORSEN
Yeah. We had a late-night shoot at Club Avalon for my reality show pilot.
HARPER
How exactly does partying at a nightclub reset the world's image of you?
THORSEN
Well, no. We were, like, you know, shooting the reenactments of, like, what my life was like before the murder. Which, actually, was pretty cool.
HARPER
Listen, Hollywood, I will put up with this reality show as long as it helps to clear your name. But if it starts to affect your performance --
THORSEN
It won't, okay? I swear. And, look, I couldn't be any less "Hollywood."
SCOTT
Mr. Thorsen. Good morning, sir. I got you your breakfast.
HARPER
Who are you?
SCOTT
Kenton Scott, Mr. Thorsen's assistant.
THORSEN
Uh, no. I mean, yes, but he's only supposed to be assisting me when I'm working on the show. And right now, I'm at my real job. And I'm still on probation, so I need you to go now, okay?
SCOTT
No.
THORSEN
W-What do you mean, no? You work for me.
SCOTT
Uh, technically, I work for your mother. And she...scares the hell outta me. I-In the best way. She's amazing. I love her. But if I make a mistake, she'll catapult me into the sun, so I'm here for you 24/7. So should I ride with you, or just follow in my car? Probably my car, so I can run errands if you --
HARPER
Kenton, Kenton, Kenton, take a breath. Okay? Uh, assistants get lunch, right?
SCOTT
Yes. Absolutely.
HARPER
Okay. I'm having this wild pregnancy craving for some, uh, bulgogi tacos.
SCOTT
Great, I'm sure I can find that around here --
HARPER
Yeah. But not just any bulgogi tacos. They have to be from Apollo Yang's food truck, which is parked at a different location every day. And the only way to obtain that location is to text a secret password to a specific short code, which...I don't have.
SCOTT
On it.
HARPER
Yeah. That'll keep him busy.
THORSEN
I'm so sorry. That -- That won't happen again. I'mma talk to my mom about that, okay?
HARPER
Mm-hmm.
THORSEN
You all right?
HARPER
Yeah. I think so. I just got uncomfortable all of a sudden.
THORSEN
It's the baby?
HARPER
I don't know. Um, maybe we should, um, stop by my OB's office at the hospital, just to make sure.
THORSEN
Okay.
HARPER
All right. [ Exhales deeply ]
CHEN
Oh. They ID'd 'copter kid. Leo Thomas, age 17. No priors. Grey's reaching out to the family.
NOLAN
Clearly, there's trouble there. Well-adjusted kids don't steal police helicopters.
CHEN
I mean, it could be classic teenage attention-seeking behavior. You know, trying to stand out, establish their identity. The whole thing's gotten exponentially worse since social media.
NOLAN
Dyeing your hair is classic attention seeking. Stealing a police helicopter is extremely dangerous.
CHEN
Teenagers don't have fully formed brains. They don't perceive risk in the same ways that we do. You remember that age.
NOLAN
I remember working two part-time jobs to save up for college.
CHEN
You never acted out?
NOLAN
Not in any substantial way.
CHEN
Well -- [ Sighs ] You know, I don't know why I'm surprised.
NOLAN
Oh, like you were such a rebel.
CHEN
I'm -- [ Chuckles ] You have no idea.
THORSEN
Hello?
GREY
How's Harper doing?
THORSEN
Still waiting to hear, sir, but the doctor didn't seem worried.
GREY
Good. Keep me updated. In the meantime, I have an assignment for you.
THORSEN
Yes, sir.
GREY
There were dozens injured and one prisoner airlifted to Shaw for emergency surgery -- Langston Bryant. So I need you to relieve the sheriff's deputy that accompanied him. And, Thorsen --
THORSEN
Sir?
GREY
Langston's 18 years into a life sentence for killing a cop for a routine traffic stop. He did it once, he could certainly do it again. Watch yourself.
THORSEN
Yes, sir.
WOMAN ON P.A.
Nurse Howard to 2 West, please.
THORSEN
Hey, I'm here to relieve you.
DEPUTY
Great. I gotta get back to the prison.
THORSEN
Damn, man, are you okay?
DEPUTY
[ Chuckles ] Not even close. The prisoner in there -- he's as dangerous as they come, so be smart.
THORSEN
Yes, sir. I've been briefed.
LEO
Good morning, Los Angeles! This is Airship Three coming to you live and in the sky. Looks like there's gonna be traffic on... all of the roads. And I'm actually taking a poll about where I should go patrol next. Um, you know, I-I could take a trip over to Santa Monica, maybe see what'll be underwater when all the glaciers melt.
NOLAN
Hey, there, Leo. Divorced Dad here. How's it going up there?
LEO
Me? Can't complain. You know where the bathroom is in this thing?
NOLAN
Listen, Leo -- what you are doing is really dangerous. Your family is worried sick about you.
LEO
Yeah, that's not gonna work and I'm disappointed you thought it would. So, see ya.
NOLAN
Look. Wait. Hang on. Hang on. Hang on. Just -- Did you really learn to fly from video games?
LEO
And a few ClipTalk tutorials.
CHEN
Ugh.
NOLAN
Wow. That's -- Hats off, man. Wow. I mean, I -- I love me some video games, but that's -- You know, uh, "Breath of the Wild" consumed my life for about four months.
LEO
I beat Ganon -- twice.
NOLAN
Impressive. I-I bet you're feeling a little bit like Link and his glider, flying around up there, don't you?
LEO
A little, yeah.
NOLAN
But even Link couldn't fly forever, right? He had to land sometime, save Zelda, right?
LEO
That's right. The hero always has a purpose.
NOLAN
Great. We're gonna find you a nice, open place to land.
LEO
And he can also use help from his allies. Are you an ally, Mr. Nolan?
NOLAN
Yes, I am.
LEO
Great. In order to help me complete my hero's journey... I need you to complete three quests. If you succeed, I'll give myself up.
NOLAN
This is not a video game, Leo.
LEO
No. It's something deeper. Games, fantasy novels, they're all built on the same architecture -- the hero's journey. A universal story so central to our identities, it's as if it's written in our DNA.
CHEN
He's been reading Joseph Campbell.
NOLAN
Ah.
LEO
You're the mentor -- an older, wiser figure like an Obi-Wan or a Dumbledore. They usually die towards the end...to signify the hero's true coming into himself. Who knows? Maybe you'll pull through.
NOLAN
Leo, this isn't a myth. This is real life, and you are in real danger. I can't play along with this quest nonsense.
CHEN
Why not?
NOLAN
Why not slay dragons for a kid I think is increasingly delusional?
CHEN
Look, often the best way -- the only way to deal with people who are in a crisis situation is to accept their reality. I mean, it's either this or we drive around all day, looking up.
NOLAN
All right. What are the quests?
LEO
I'm not gonna give you all of them up front. It doesn't work that way.
CHEN
What do we have to lose?
NOLAN
Lives? A helicopter? Fine. What is the first quest?
CHEN
Okay. 9412 Orange. It's been empty for over a year. Persistent 911 calls about drug activity.
NOLAN
Let's take a look.
LEO
This is a quest based in tragedy. A bunch of kids from my school, they started hanging out at this abandoned house. They party, make a mess -- just the typical rebellion of youth. And some hardcore guys saw a market and they moved in. They started selling some hardcore drugs, and a raven-haired girl OD'd. A young princess the hero liked from afar. You can't save the princess, but you can stop the monsters who hurt her.
[ Knock on door ]
NOLAN
Running!
CHEN
Turn around. Put your hands on your head, fingers interlaced. Don't move.
NOLAN
You got him?
CHEN
Yeah.
NOLAN
Control, 7015. Pull an R.A. unit. We got a drug-addled victim, unconscious but breathing.
LANGSTON
Hey. You. You're that guy. [ Chuckles ] Yo, man, come here. Officer, I need some help.
THORSEN
You need something?
LANGSTON
That uniform threw me off. You're that guy that got railroaded in France for killing your buddy. Hold on. Slow down. Easy. Come on. I really do need some help. I'm dying of thirst. Cruel and unusual, know what I'm saying? Thank you. Thought I was done for sure.
THORSEN
What, the riot?
LANGSTON
Yeah. Just another day in paradise. You a cop now?
THORSEN
Are you done?
LANGSTON
Ah. You and me? We're the same.
THORSEN
No, man, not even close. I'm innocent. You killed a cop.
LANGSTON
Right. And you see me, chained up, tatted, you figure I fit the bill. This isn't who I was. It's who I had to become to stay alive.
THORSEN
Yeah.
LANGSTON
Yo, hold on. You could spare me a few moments of your time, brother.
THORSEN
I'll be outside.
LEO'S MOM
You're sure that's my Leo?
GREY
Yes, ma'am.
LEO'S MOM
Is he okay?
GREY
For now. We're just trying to make sure he doesn't hurt himself, or others. So he hasn't contacted you?
LEO'S MOM
No. He wasn't there this morning when I got home. I work graveyard. I called and texted, but he never responded.
GREY
Is that typical for your son?
LEO'S MOM
Things have been tough for him ever since...
BRIAN
Go on. You can say it.
LEO'S MOM
Since his father passed.
BRIAN
Guy was a deadbeat while he was alive. Suddenly now, he's a superhero.
LEO'S MOM
Brian --
BRIAN
No, I'm sorry. I try to do right by that kid. We both do, but he makes it impossible. He barely talks to us. He spends all of his time reading these fantasy books, playing video games. Did manage to get himself kicked out of school.
GREY
Leo's not in school?
LEO'S MOM
I teach him at home. It's -- It's just hard, uh, with my hours. I'm always tired. I can't lose him.
LANGSTON
And then after my conviction, I found out that there were two eyewitnesses, both who said the killer was a short bald guy who looked nothing like me.
THORSEN
Okay. So, where was your lawyer on all this?
LANGSTON
Drunk off his ass. Court appointed, and he couldn't give a damn. Now you see what I'm saying?
THORSEN
Look, you need to file for a retrial.
LANGSTON
[ Scoffs ] I don't have your kind of money, my brother, and I can't get a lawyer to take me on pro bono.
THORSEN
I'm sorry.
LANGSTON
[ Sighs ] I don't need your sorry, but I could use your help. You did two years for a crime you didn't commit -- I'm going on 18.
NURSE TODD
Officer, you have to wait out here. Surgery should take an hour. There's no other exits.
HARPER
Hey.
THORSEN
Hey. Is everything okay?
HARPER
Uh, yeah. Ultrasound came back clear. [ Sighs ] Doctor thinks that it was just some heartburn. So, they're gonna run some blood tests just to be safe. He getting his shattered arm set?
THORSEN
Yeah.
HARPER
What's wrong?
THORSEN
I think he could be innocent.
HARPER
Don't even go there.
THORSEN
Look, he talked to me about his case, and I think --
HARPER
Who told you to talk to him? That's not your job. He is a cop killer, okay? So just shut up and guard him, okay?
SCOTT
Bulgogi tacos. I didn't know what style you liked, so I got two of each.
HARPER
Kenton, how did you find these?
SCOTT
I tapped into the LA assistant hive mind. The truck was on location in Santa Clarita serving a movie crew. I drove over, put on my headset, and walked right up like I was part of the crew. So your tacos are courtesy of the director of "Murder Dance Party: Part Three".
HARPER
Damn, you are good.
THORSEN
Mm-hmm.
SCOTT
No. I'm the best.
HARPER
Oh.
THORSEN
Ooh!
HARPER
Hmm. Cocky, too. All right. I like that. But what I have for you now is -- it's next level. Are you up for it?
SCOTT
Bring it, Detective.
HARPER
All right, um, I have been looking for this doll that I had when I was a little girl, to give to my daughter. But I can't remember what it was called, and I haven't been able to find it anywhere. But she was the first doll that I ever saw that had hair and skin tone that was just like mine. And she had this, um, French-sounding name with a pink parasol -- or was it yellow?
SCOTT
I'm on it. Watch me do my thing.
THORSEN
What?
HARPER
Here. I-I can't have these.
CHEN
Hey. So, Grey talked to Leo's mom. His home life sounds like a real mess. His parents aren't divorced. His father died two years ago.
NOLAN
That's rough.
CHEN
Hey. Here's the weird thing -- he's been homeschooled for over a year.
NOLAN
So he was making up that whole story about the princess classmate who OD'd?
CHEN
I don't know.
NOLAN
Okay, Leo. Quest one complete. How about we call this a victory and you land?
LEO
The hero's journey never ends after the first quest.
NOLAN
I was afraid you'd say that. What's next?
LEO
You're a gamer. You know it's not all easy stuff. Eventually you get to a boss battle. A great beast you will struggle to defeat.
NOLAN
Leo, how about we cut out the windup and you just go straight for the pitch?
LEO
How do you feel about alligators?
BRADFORD
Hey. Thanks for coming in.
DEZ' BOSS
Yeah.
BRADFORD
I just want to verify a few things.
DEZ' BOSS
Mm-hmm.
BRADFORD
Uh, Dez Robinson -- he works for you, is that correct?
DEZ' BOSS
From time to time. Yeah.
BRADFORD
Okay. He said he worked two nights ago.
DEZ' BOSS
Yeah, sounds about right. We had a construction job down in Hawthorne. Picked up the night shift for a few extra bucks.
BRADFORD
Any chance he checked in and then maybe ducked out for a few hours?
DEZ' BOSS
Nah, I was there. I would've seen that.
BRADFORD
You sure? Because, uh, Dez is suspected in a triple murder that happened that night, so anyone who helps him would be considered an accessory.
DEZ' BOSS
Hey. Hold on. I had no idea about that. I want no parts of that, all right? I thought he was just out here cheating on his girlfriend. I didn't know he was out here killing people.
BRADFORD
Does that mean you want to amend your statement?
DEZ' BOSS
Hell yeah. I'm gonna amend my statement. Dez paid me 500 bucks to clock him in on the nights that he needed an alibi.
BRADFORD
Okay. So, to be clear, Dez did not show up to work two nights ago?
DEZ' BOSS
Right. Oh, and... he paid me yesterday to clock him in for tonight.
BRADFORD
Hey. Dez's alibi fell apart.
LOPEZ
Nice work. So when his lawyer lands, here's the plan --
BRADFORD
We don't have time for a plan. The crew has another target lined up for tonight. If we don't figure out where they're hitting, they're gonna drop more bodies.
NOLAN
Let's never do that again.
CHEN
You're gonna need a much bigger leash than that.
NOLAN
And tranquilizers, lot -- lots of tranquilizers.
MURRAY
Cupcake is a sweetheart.
CHEN
Cupcake ate my Taser. Thank you.
NOLAN
Okay, Leo. Quest two is complete. Funny coincidence -- aside from a reptile straight out of "Jurassic Park", we found a bunch of fentanyl in the house. Two quests. Two drug arrests. We're starting to sense a pattern here.
LEO
Alligator guy had drugs? It's a good thing you caught him.
NOLAN
Do you wanna tell us what these quests are really about?
LEO
Not right now.
NOLAN
Leo --
LEO
Relax. You'll get your third quest soon enough.
BRADFORD
Officer Webb. Find anything?
WEBB
The stuff of nightmares. Man lives like a pig.
BRADFORD
So no gun?
WEBB
Nah.
BRADFORD
We need more leverage. Something that ties this guy definitively to the home invasions. The only way we stop this crew in time is if Dez flips. What have you searched so far?
WEBB
We're going full DEAR system.
BRADFORD
You're off to a good start. Eliminating things we don't have to search again. What's next?
BRADFORD
You know what F.S.T.s are?
WEBB
Yeah, Field Sobriety Tests.
BRADFORD
Yeah, and when searching a house, F.S.T. stands for something else. First, you get all the guys from the outside to come search inside, and vice versa. Fresh set of eyes. All right? L-100, I need all units from the outside to come inside for a sec. Then you do a Systematic grid search.
WEBB
Ah. So Systematic search is the "S." What's the "T"?
BRADFORD
All right, everyone, listen up. I want everyone who was searching outside to swap with people on the inside. Then I want a three-foot search grid. And there's a $100 gift card for the first officer who finds evidence linking this guy to our 2-11. Got it? All right, let's go! The "T" is for Treat it like a contest. Cops love to compete, and they'll push themselves even harder if they know there's something to win.
JAMES
Um, why didn't you tell me you were seeing your OB?
HARPER
I-I didn't want to worry you if it was nothing, and it was. It was just a little aggressive heartburn.
JAMES
I don't care. If you burp funny, I wanna know.
HARPER
He called you here, didn't he? And it wasn't about me.
THORSEN
Yes, ma'am. I, um -- I called them about Langston.
HARPER
Are you trying to get everyone in the LAPD to hate you? Because that is what is gonna happen if you advocate for a convicted cop killer. I told you to drop this.
WESLEY
All due respect, if there is even a sliver of a chance that he is innocent, it needs to be investigated.
THORSEN
Yeah, look. That hardcore dude in there is unrecognizable from the guy that went in 18 years ago.
JAMES
He's been institutionalized. I've seen it a thousand times.
HARPER
A nice haircut and a cute smile does not mean he is innocent.
THORSEN
Yeah, and a conviction doesn't mean that he's guilty, either. I mean, I'm proof of that. If I'd have stayed in prison, that's how I would've ended up. And now that I have a platform to help people who are wrongfully accused, I have to use it.
HARPER
I thought you were trying to "rebrand" yourself. To -- To reclaim your identity separate from your conviction. If you tie yourself to Langston, you will undo all of that.
WESLEY
All right, look, there is no reason to go right to the worst-case scenario. Let James and I talk to him, just see what kind of impression we get.
JAMES
Just to see if there's any merit.
HARPER
All right. You got 15 minutes.
WESLEY
Okay.
NOLAN
Still waiting on that third quest, Leo. Unless you want to just skip it and land? You still up there, Leo?
LEO
Yeah. Yeah, I'm here, just enjoying the view. It's peaceful up here.
NOLAN
You know, we did a little digging after our last conversation. Turns out Murray, the guy with the alligator, one of his known associates is Brian Johst, your mom's boyfriend. I'm guessing they have a little distribution racket running?
CHEN
Yeah, and we'd bet money that one of the dealers they sell to is the guy we arrested in Quest One.
LEO
That's quite an epic tale.
NOLAN
Let's cut out this fantasy crap, shall we, Leo? We know you didn't send us to that house to avenge a classmate. There is no classmate. But I think there is a princess you need us to save.
CHEN
Your mom -- she has a history of drug abuse, but it seems like she'd been clean for a while?
LEO
She relapsed after my dad died. Then she rallied, got herself clean. It was good, like before. Then she met Brian. You have to get her away from him. He's killing her. That's your third quest. Leo out.
CHEN
We have no evidence tying Brian to the fentanyl. We can't arrest him.
NOLAN
And Leo's got 40 minutes before he runs out of fuel.
BRADFORD
Yeah.
LOPEZ
Tell me you found something.
BRADFORD
Some old gloves, possible burglary tools, impact weapons. Nothing that's gonna help us. What's going on?
LOPEZ
Dez is about to walk out of here with his lawyer. Right now, all I can charge him with is possession of stolen property.
BRADFORD
Can you stall them?
LOPEZ
20 minutes.
WEBB
Sorry, Sarge. We've turned this place upside down. These tools here are all we could find.
BRADFORD
'Cause you're only human.
WEBB
Excuse me?
BRADFORD
L-100, I need 8706 at my location, Code 3.
DISPATCH
Copy that.
WEBB
8706? Uh, why the hell do we need him here?
BRADFORD
You'll see.
WESLEY
Okay, taking your statement into consideration...
JAMES
And the few online articles that we read about your case --
LANGSTON
Come on, just -- you can just tell me straight. Can you get me outta here?
WESLEY
Way too early to tell. But what I've read has definitely triggered some alarms.
JAMES
I mean, it's clear there were several investigative discrepancies, and clearly, you were not given adequate counsel.
LANGSTON
So what do I do?
WESLEY
Let me make some calls. There are a few lawyers I would trust to take your case.
LANGSTON
Pro bono?
WESLEY
Pro bono.
LANGSTON
[ Chuckles ] That's great.
JAMES
But there are no guarantees here, okay? There's no promises, just a little hope.
LANGSTON
That's all I can handle.
WESLEY
This will be the hardest fight of your life.
LANGSTON
I'm ready. I appreciate you both. You. You listened. It's been a long time since anybody's done that. Thank you.
BRADFORD
See, bomb sniffing dogs don't look for bombs, they look for bomb ingredients, like gunpowder from an illegal firearm. Come on, boy, you got this. Did you really just get distracted by a squirrel? [ Thor barks ] Do you realize how clichéd that is? [ Thor sniffing ] He found something. [ Knocking ] Okay. Got him.
THORSEN
Oh, hey, you just missed James. He and Wesley went down to the cafeteria to make some calls. They're gonna get Langston an attorney.
HARPER
I'll text them and tell them not to waste their time, 'cause a retrial isn't gonna matter.
THORSEN
Why?
HARPER
Sheriff's Department combed through security footage from the prison riot. Your innocent man here stomped a guard.
THORSEN
Is he okay?
HARPER
No. He is paralyzed from the waist down. They are charging Langston with attempted murder of a peace officer.
THORSEN
That's a 20-to-life sentence.
HARPER
Which is why a retrial is pointless. He's not getting out of prison.
THORSEN
Yo, this system is a joke. I mean, if Langston wasn't wrongfully convicted in the first place, he'd wouldn't have spent half his life stuck in prison, wouldn't have been caught up in that riot, thinking the only way to survive was to stomp a guard.
HARPER
What are you doing?
THORSEN
I'm gonna tell him that it's over.
MURRAY
How's Cupcake?
GREY
The alligator?
MURRAY
Yeah.
GREY
You, on the other hand, are screwed, my friend. My officers found a stockpile of fentanyl in your house. Where'd you get it?
MURRAY
H-Has she seen a vet yet? They -- She swallowed a Taser.
GREY
Hey, you are in a lot of trouble, Murray. You need to focus on the drugs. Now, we know you've been selling to high school kids. Who are you working with?
MURRAY
No one, man. Look, this is important, okay? Cupcake has a very specific diet. I-I can write it down for you.
GREY
Okay, I'll do you one better. I'll let you talk to the people taking care of Cupcake and make sure she's all right. [ Gasps ] But first, you need to name your accomplices.
MURRAY
Deal.
GREY
Okay.
GREY
Murray flipped. We got a warrant on Brian Johst. You want to serve it?
NOLAN
Yes, sir. Thank you very much. Attention, Airship Three, I have a quest for you. Can you see your house from up there?
LEO
Hold on.
NOLAN
Thank you very much. Come on, let's go.
NOLAN
Hey, Young Hero, are you seeing this?
LEO
Every second.
NOLAN
Great. The quest is over. I think it's time to come down now.
LEO
Oh, thank God, 'cause I have been air-sick for the past three hours, and I --
[ Alarm blaring ]
Uh-oh.
NOLAN
What? What's wrong?
LEO
I'm out of gas.
LEO
Come on, come on.
NOLAN
Yes.
[ Helicopter powering down ]
LEO
That was -- Oh, wow. Hi.
NOLAN
Hey. Hey, hey, hey, hey. Hey.
LEO
That was, uh... [ Chuckles ] That was intense.
NOLAN
Never do that again.
LEO
[ Sirens wailing ] Yeah, the, um, hero's journey is over. [ Chuckles ]
NOLAN
Oh. Not yet.
[ Sirens stop ]
LEO
What?
NOLAN
You stole a police helicopter, Leo. You're under arrest.
BRADFORD
What'd he give us?
LOPEZ
Everything. Every job, every guy on his crew.
BRADFORD
And the location of tonight's robbery?
LOPEZ
Yeah, and they're supposed to hit the house within the hour.
LOPEZ
Give me the keys and phone. You know, nobody takes pride in their work anymore. Used to be a getaway driver was hyper-alert during a robbery.
BRADFORD
I blame social media.
ADAM
Look, I don't know what this is about, but you got the wrong guy.
BRADFORD
No, we don't. Dez told us you'd be parked right here, keeping a look-out. He also said there's three guys inside robbing the place.
LOPEZ
Is he right? Is there three men inside? Answer quick, because if they start killing people, those murders are on you.
ADAM
Yeah. It's three guys, supposed to be in and out in 30 minutes, and they're 28 minutes in.
BRADFORD
So, what was the plan going in? Where are we gonna find 'em?
ADAM
Master bedroom's upstairs. That's where the safe is. Don cracks the safe while Terry loots the rest of the bedrooms. Stosh's job is to keep a gun on the family downstairs.
LOPEZ
Get out. Come on. Go that way. We can't go in hot with a guy hovering over the family with a weapon.
BRADFORD
So we go in a different way.
LOPEZ
Alpha team set.
[ Knock on door ]
STOSH
Someone's here. [ Doorbell rings ] Delivery guy. I'll get rid of him. We didn't order anything! Go away!
[ Glass shatters, explosion ]
-Get down! Get down!
-Get down on the ground!
Man: Don't move. [ Handcuffs click ]
Man #2: Clear!
-All clear!
-Clear!
Hostages secure.
TERRY
Ugh!
BRADFORD
Give me a bang!
[ Flash bang explodes ] Ugh!
[ Grunting ]
BRADFORD
You okay?
LOPEZ
You know it.
THORSEN
Hey. Sheriff Department's here to transport Langston back to prison. So we're free to go, if you're ready.
HARPER
I am. Bloodwork came back clear.
THORSEN
[ Elevator dings ] That's great news.
HARPER
No way!
SCOTT
Told you I was no joke.
HARPER
What?! I have not seen one of these since I was 10. Wh-Where did you find this?
SCOTT
You can get anything on the dark web.
HARPER
Wow. Thank you. [ Chuckles ] You really are the best assistant ever. [ Laughs ] You don't lose him.
SCOTT
Actually, I have to tender my resignation. Hulu just bought my pilot!
THORSEN
What? That's great. Congratulations.
SCOTT
Guess I need my own assistant now. (to THORSEN) Good luck with the show. (to HARPER) And your baby.
HARPER
Thank you.
THORSEN
Hmm.
HARPER
[ Chuckles ] Hmm. Don't touch it.
JAMES
Hey.
THORSEN
I'll go pull the shop around.
HARPER
So everything is fine. Best bloodwork she's ever seen.
JAMES
I knew it would be.
HARPER
Listen, I-I am sorry. I should've called you earlier. But to tell you the truth, I was terrified. And I needed to pretend that it was nothing and if I called you, I would have to admit that it could be something.
JAMES
And I-I get that, but you shouldn't deal with these things alone. Look, trust me, fear is the worst thing to have to go through by yourself.
HARPER
There's, uh, something I haven't told you. Um...I was diagnosed with placenta previa when I had Lila, and I started hemorrhaging late in the pregnancy.
JAMES
Which is why you freaked out about a little heartburn.
HARPER
I should be happy, you know, planning her nursery and buying clothes, but I'm just terrified something's gonna happen.
JAMES
Maybe we can take this one day at a time. You know, whatever, we'll -- we'll -- we'll deal with it... together.
HARPER
I'm good with that.
JAMES
So, what is the deal with the creepy old doll?
HARPER
She's not creepy.
JAMES
Oh, no. All dolls are inherently creepy.
HARPER
Spoken like the father of two boys. Here, hold her.
JAMES
Oh, I-I really don't want to.
HARPER
Hold her! Look at how cute this is. Come on.
NOLAN
Got all your stuff?
LEO
Yeah.
NOLAN
And your court summons?
LEO
Yeah. But they took my police ID, though.
NOLAN
The one you stole to access the roof? Not surprised. Where did you get that, anyway?
LEO
I lifted it off some cop. Uh, S-S-Smith? Schmitt?
NOLAN
Smitty?
LEO
Yeah. You know him?
NOLAN
Yeah.
LEO
Well, look, thank you.
NOLAN
Listen, if ever you have a problem, before you go stealing any aircraft, just call me.
LEO
Just aircrafts?
NOLAN
Any vessel. Any wheeled vehicle. Or animal -- Basically, anything you could ride in or on. [ Chuckles ]
LEO
Deal. What if I have another epic quest to go on?
NOLAN
Try the bus.
LEO
Okay, yeah. That makes sense.
THORSEN
Okay, I got it. Yeah. Yeah, look, so, um, just give me some time, and I'll get everything you need over to you. Yeah. Hey, look, man, I-I really appreciate this, and so does Mr. Bryant. All right. Bye.
HARPER
What are you doing?
THORSEN
Wesley gave me a name of a lawyer willing to take Langston's case.
HARPER
Why? I thought we agreed that it was over for that guy. He -- He paralyzed a guard.
THORSEN
Right. And he should be punished for that. But he may not have killed that cop 18 years ago, and we owe it to that officer's family to find the truth. Because if Langston's innocent, then that means there's someone out there right now who got away with murder. Who gets to sleep in his bed every night, gets to walk out of his front door a free man every morning.
HARPER
I can't imagine how hard it must have been for you.
THORSEN
I was locked in a cell for 541 days, in a prison that was built in the 1800s -- and, trust me, it hadn't gotten nicer with age. My best friend was dead. I thought my life was over. But you know what? I got lucky, I got out, and I got a second chance. But the person who murdered Patrick -- he's still out there. And -- And no one is looking for him, because they still think that I did it.
HARPER
You need a little help?
THORSEN
No. I need lots of help. I don't -- I don't know what I'm doing.
HARPER
Okay. Show me what you got.
WESLEY
Hey. Ready to go?
LOPEZ
Yeah. Can't wait to get horizontal. It's been a long day.
WESLEY
I've been doing some thinking --
LOPEZ
I've warned you about that.
WESLEY
I helped Aaron out today, just looking at a case.
LOPEZ
I heard. You think he's innocent?
WESLEY
Maybe. I don't know for sure. You know, what I do know is he had a terrible lawyer. I think when I get my license back, I might want to --
LOPEZ
You want to do even more pro bono work.
WESLEY
Am I that predictable?
LOPEZ
Yes, you are. I always know you're gonna do the selfless thing because that's the kind of man you are.
WESLEY
And you're okay with that?
LOPEZ
Why? Because you're gonna make even less money? [ Scoffs ] Why would I have a problem with that?
WESLEY
[ Chuckles ] Yeah.
CHEN
Hey. You walked Leo out?
NOLAN
Yeah, just left him with his mom. What you got there?
CHEN
It's for completing your quests.
NOLAN
Hey! But you completed them with me.
CHEN
I know. I made a trophy for myself, too.
BRADFORD
Anyone else have a crazy day?
NOLAN
You have no idea.
BRADFORD
You know what? Let's get changed, grab a drink.
NOLAN
Yes.
BRADFORD
On Nolan.
LOPEZ
We're good for one. Then we need to spring the nanny.
GREY
Sorry, hold up. I'm authorizing all overtime. There was an accident at Animal Control, and they need all the help they can get.
BRADFORD
What's going on?
GREY
Cupcake broke free.
LOPEZ
Who's Cupcake?