THE ROOKIE
Season 3, Episode 2
"In Justice"
[The opening shows WEST is fixing the walls of NOLAN’s house with NOLAN, which is broken by NOLAN near the end of “The Hunt”]
NOLAN
Finally finished! Good as new. Hope it'll stay that way this time. What smells like smoke?
WEST
Oh, Lucy. She's, uh, smoke-cleansing your house.
CHEN
Okay, all done. Armstrong's energy is no longer welcome in this home. But if you feel it coming back, just call me. There's a more intensive treatment I can do.
NOLAN
Ah, that sounds awesome, but no, actually, this is -- this is good.
CHEN
You know what? We should really cleanse the station.
NOLAN
Oh, trust me, that process is already under way. They've reassigned about a third of our officers to other divisions, bringing in a bunch of new blood.
WEST
Word is, my new T.O. is from Valley Bureau.
CHEN
Man, it sucks that Lopez couldn't finish your training.
WEST
Yeah, but I'm psyched for her. I mean, being a detective is all she ever wanted.
NOLAN
On the bright side -- even if your new T.O. is a nightmare, you've only got 25 days till you graduate.
CHEN
You should be moving up with us. It is not fair that Grey's holding you back. That letter of reprimand was severe enough.
NOLAN
I screwed up. Actions have consequences. But when you graduate, you have to celebrate. No more Tim Tests? Come on.
CHEN
He's been quiet lately. Too quiet. He's planning something.
NOLAN
Definitely. Where's the paint?
CHEN
In the car.
[ Dog barking in distance ]
[NOLAN, WEST and CHEN are now outside of NOLAN’s house]
NOLAN
Where's your car?
CHEN
Where's my car? Someone stole my car. Who hikes halfway up to the Hollywood sign to steal someone's car?
WEST
I'm surprised they got it to start.
CHEN
Do not speak ill of my baby.
NOLAN
Did you lock it?
CHEN
Wow. Way to blame the victim. That's...
NOLAN
So you locked it?
CHEN
It doesn't actually lock.
Ugh!
Mnh!
[The scene switches to LOPEZ and EVERS’s house, LOPEZ is looking for clothes in the walk-in closet.]
EVERS
I understand there's a lot of pressure to look good on your first day as a detective, but we've already had five housekeepers quit, and I really like this one.
LOPEZ
This is your fault. You got me pregnant. I went up a cup size. Now none of my tops fit.
EVERS
Right. I, uh, had noticed a...change.
LOPEZ
You did? Will everyone else?
EVERS
Oh, I -- I certainly hope that your co-workers aren't as focused on your breasts as I am.
LOPEZ
My co-workers are 60% men.
EVERS
Well, they will find out eventually.
LOPEZ
[ Sighs ] Yeah, but I have to make my mark as detective before they do. Once they know I'm pregnant, they're gonna treat me different, like I'm delicate, so I have until I start showing to prove myself.
EVERS
Hey. You will. You got this.
LOPEZ
I'm just gonna have to buy a new wardrobe on my way to work.
[LOPEZ leaves the scene.]
EVERS
Why is there a pizza box in here?
[The scene now shows the Parking Lot of Mid-Wilshire Police Station.]
HARPER
Why is roll call in the parking lot?
BRADFORD
It was all in the departmental e-mail.
HARPER
You actually read those?
BRADFORD
Chen does.
HARPER
Oh.
BRADFORD
Turns out, that room needs some serious earthquake retrofitting.
HARPER
And we've just been sitting in it day after day?
GREY
Listen up. In the wake of recent events, several changes have been instituted department-wide. Officer Bradford, you want to read the top line change?
BRADFORD
"Any officer requesting a copy of a police report must get written approval by a sergeant. After use, all copies must be destroyed. Failure to do so will result in discipline."
GREY
Officer West?
WEST
"Every recruit in the academy must now report all contact with active-duty officers, no matter how small."
GREY
And Officer Nolan.
NOLAN
"No officer shall buy, own, or possess a phone, without also providing the department with the number."
SMITTY
Do I have to tell my girlfriend about it, too? [ Laughter ]
GREY
These changes are necessary. What Nick Armstrong did has tarnished the badge and made all of our jobs harder. We have to prove to the community that we are still worthy of their trust. And I know each and every one of you will go the extra mile to do that. To business. Among our new faces is Officer Doug Stanton. Where you at?
STANTON
Here, sir.
GREY
Officer Stanton will be taking over the training of Officer West. And finally, we've been asked to man the Fourth Street Community Center this week. Harper, Nolan, you're up.
HARPER
And the punishment continues.
GREY
Be safe out there.
CHEN
U-Uh, sir, real quick. Um, my car was stolen yesterday. It's in the SVS, but I took the liberty of making some flyers.[hands out flyers of her missing car] So if you happen to see it on patrol, I would really be grateful if you could just text.
GREY
Is this the car you left unlocked?
CHEN
Well, technically, I-I mean, it's the door mechanism.
GREY
Dismissed.
CHEN
Thank you.
BRADFORD
Chen, let's go.
CHEN
Yeah, coming. Thank you. Ohh, good. Thanks, Smitty.
CARADINE
Lopez, right?
LOPEZ
Yes, sir. Angela Lopez reporting for duty.
CARADINE
Not like that, you're not.
LOPEZ
What?
CARADINE
Duty manual prohibits detectives from displaying equipment --
LOPEZ
Equipment in public, unless in use. I know. My gun is under my jacket.
CARADINE
But I can still see your cuffs and your pepper spray. And are you wearing a vest? Detectives don't wear vests. Change and get back here quick. Newbies make the coffee run every day.
LOPEZ
Uh...yes, sir.
CARADINE
Lopez? You missed a tag.
LOPEZ
[ Sighs ]
STANTON
Hey. Let me give you a hand.
WEST
Thanks.
STANTON
Technically, I'm your T.O., but I read your file. If it were up to me, you'd already be riding solo. So let's just drop the whole T.O./Boot B.S. and just be partners.
WEST
Yeah. I'd love that.
STANTON
You think this is a test.
WEST
No.
STANTON
A lot of T.O.s out there play mind games, try to make up silly tests, but, uh, I'm not one of 'em. Let's go.
BRADFORD
Grey's right. We need to rededicate ourselves to doing this job the right way, which means the last 25 days of your training are gonna be even more intense.
CHEN
We should check the chop shops, see if anyone brought my car in.
BRADFORD
That's what you're focused on? Even as parts, your car is worthless.
CHEN
Not to me.
BRADFORD
Let the hunk of junk go and focus on the end of your training.
CHEN
Is that what you would do? Let someone get away with stealing the thing that means the most to you? The only constant in your life for the last 10 years?
BRADFORD
It's a car.
CHEN
It's the only place -- [ Radio chatter ] Never mind.
BRADFORD
The only place what?
CHEN
Where I felt safe... after Caleb.
BRADFORD
There's a chop shop on Melrose. We'll start there.
NOLAN
Not what I pictured.
HARPER
They're all like this. Bottom of the funding food chain.
JAMES MURRAY
Well, there goes the neighborhood.
HUGO
Policia.
NOLAN
I'm Officer Nolan. This is Detective Harper.
MURRAY
Don't bother. You won't be here long enough for me to remember.
NOLAN
Okay. Well, if you change your mind, uh, drop on by. We'd love to hear any concerns you have about what's going on in the community.
MURRAY
You're my concern about what's going on in this community. They only staff this place when the department's doing damage control.
HARPER
Well, that way, the higher-ups can congratulate themselves on how much they care, without actually doing anything.
MURRAY
Well, if that's your take, what are you doing here?
NOLAN
Just trying to make a difference.
HARPER
We're being punished.
HUGO
I like her.
NOLAN
Okay. Well, you know where we'll be. (to HARPER) So far, so good.
NOLAN
That was not the warmest of welcomes.
HARPER
You expected otherwise?
NOLAN
Look, I know you think all this is just Grey twisting the knife, to use our newfound perspective to engage with the neighbors.
HARPER
Sure. You go with that.
NOLAN
I will. Is that your lunch?
HARPER
Uh, no, it's enough jollof rice to feed about 30 kids, as well as some egusi and some moin moin. Nigerian food. It's, uh, Heritage Day at Lila's school, and I am supposed to bring a traditional dish.
NOLAN
A dish?
HARPER
I may have gone a little overboard. But I just -- I want Lila to see that I am here for her now.
NOLAN
When did you sleep?
HARPER
I didn't.
[ Chuckles ]
HARPER
Listen, you do not know these moms. They go all out. I swear, I -- Not one of them has a job.
NOLAN
Judging other moms. Now you're getting the hang of parenting.
HARPER
I got a lot of time to make up for. I just -- I want Lila to see that I am invested. Try this.
NOLAN
Wow.
HARPER
Too spicy?
NOLAN
[ Muffled ] For children? Mm. Sure. It's good.
HARPER
Oh, good. [ Chuckles ] Whew! You scared me.
STANTON
Nice speech by the Watch Commander.
WEST
Oh, it wasn't just a speech. Grey means it.
STANTON
Sure. I get it. A few bad apples taint us all. These personnel shifts and rule changes make it harder for good cops to do the job.
WEST
Well, I'm not afraid of a little hard work, sir. Whatever it takes to do things right.
STANTON
Spoken like a true rookie.
WEST
So, tell me about you. Married? Kids?
STANTON
Married, yep, 13 years, two kids.
WEST
Nice. Nice. What's the wife do?
STANTON
Giselle's a teacher. Hopefully, she turns my kids into doctors.
WEST
So no more cops in the family?
STANTON
Nah. Job's changed. People used to respect us, look to us for help. Nah. These days, I wouldn't wish being a cop on anybody. [ Radio chatter ] Not the words of encouragement you were hoping for.
WEST
Hey, I am always happy to hear another point of view. [ Cellphone vibrates ] Oh. You, uh, mind if I get this?
STANTON
Partner, not T.O., remember?
WEST [To his phone]
Yo. How's, uh, community policing?
NOLAN [On the phone with WEST]
Hey, do you have any interest in tutoring for a couple hours this week after shift? [ Copier screeching ] Just wanted to offer some perks here at the CPC, you know, Lucy said she's on board.
WEST
What's the pay?
NOLAN
A sense of accomplishment.
WEST
Sign me up.
NOLAN
You're the best. Thank you. Now, should a copier be making this noise?
[ Copier screeching ]
[STANTON Leaves the shop.]
STANTON
No calls pending. Might as well see if we can help. What's the problem?
NETTLE
Hell if I know. It's like a spaceship in here.
STANTON
It's all computers these days. Let me take a look.
CARADINE
Took you long enough. Almost had to give away your first case.
LOPEZ
There was a line, but I'm good to go.
CARADINE
It's a burglary report from a funeral parlor overnight.
LOPEZ
Could be addicts looking for embalming fluid.
CARADINE
Or weirdo sex stuff. Either way, check it out. Call me when you get back. Newbies pick up lunch, too.
NOLAN
LAPD Community Center, right across the street, over there. We have ticket sign-offs, crime-stat updates, after-school tutoring. Just want to come in and talk, say hi, just come on in, drop in, say hi.
[A man pulled a women out of her car and drove it away.] [ Glass shatters, car alarm blaring.]
NOLAN
Hey! Really?! [To the radio]7-Adam-15 foot pursuit. Northbound on Alvarado at 8th. Male, Hispanic.
WEST [To the radio]
Control, 7-Adam-07, attach us to that. Code 3.
STANTON
That should get you to the garage. Take it easy.
HARPER [To the radio]
7-Adam-15-A also responding.
NOLAN
Blue jacket, green pants. Want is 4-5 -- Look out! [ Tires screech ] Suspect headed west on 5th.
[ Tires screech ]
[ Tires screech ]
[HARPER opens the back door of the shop, only to find out her food in the boxes have splattered everywhere.]
HARPER
Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Come on, come, on. No -- God!
[ Sighs ]
NOLAN
Oh, no.
STANTON
Whew! Something die in there?
[The scene switches to the inside of a Funeral Home.]
LOPEZ
You check embalming-fluid levels?
FISHER
Last night. But they haven't been touched. And nothing else seems to be missing. Why would someone break in and not take anything?
LOPEZ
Could be a weird sex thing.
[ Doors creak ]
[FISHER and LOPEZ enters the room with the Cremation Furnace inside.]
[ Sighs ]
[ Sniffs ]
FISHER
You okay?
LOPEZ
Uh, yeah. It's just -- [ Sizzling ] Did you cremate someone this morning?
FISHER
No. Not for a few days.
[ Whirring ]
[ Whirring stops. The door of the furnace opens to reveal a pile of ash.]
LOPEZ
So, who's that?
[The scene switches back to the streets.]
[ Groans ]
[ Grunting ]
NOLAN
Got him.
MURRAY
Hey, come on! Take it easy!
NOLAN
It's okay, we're just arresting him for burglary
MURRAY
What, you need four cops for a kid stealing a bag?
STANTON
Yo, my man, back off.
NOLAN
It's -- It's okay. It's okay. Look, calling for backup is simply protocol. We don't know if the suspect is armed. Better safe than sorry.
MURRAY
Safe for who? Not for people who look like him. Or me.
STANTON
You want us to stick around?
NOLAN
No, uh, we're cool.
MURRAY
I'm not cool. Are you?
WEST
Look, this guy just made one of your neighbors a victim. Okay? He's going in. Simple.
MURRAY
It's never that simple. Alright? If the city wasn't spending 50% of its budget on cops, then maybe he would have gotten a leg up instead of the short end of the stick.
WEST
Look, I hear you. Trust me, I do. But I don't have a time machine, okay? So right here, right now, this guy broke someone's window, which is not cheap to fix, and he took their property. So if you want to help him, help him get a good lawyer.
MURRAY
I will.
NOLAN
Are we just supposed to ignore crime, in his eyes?
HARPER
I mean, he's fighting against a rigged system, and he is not winning. Wears you down. Uh, you mind taking a walk back to the center? I, uh, can still make it to Lila's school on time.
NOLAN
No. Yeah, of course. What are you gonna do about the food?
HARPER
Improvise.
NOLAN
[ Chuckles ] Good luck.
[ Engine starts ]
NOLAN
[ Radio beeps ] Dispatch, can you connect me to City Services?
[ Radio beeps ]
MIKE
City Services. This is Mike.
NOLAN
Hey, Mike. Uh, this is Officer John Nolan. I'm standing at a park gate on the 500 block of West Elm, with a bike lock on the gate. Is that you guys?
MIKE
A bike lock? No way.
NOLAN
So you wouldn't have an issue if I took it down?
MIKE
No, sir.
[NOLAN approaches HUGO]
NOLAN
Excuse me. Hi. Me again. I don't suppose you have a pair of cable cutters I could borrow?
HUGO
Sure. You're trustworthy enough, I guess.
NOLAN
Oh, I don't know if James would agree with you, but yes, I am. You been working with this crew long?
HUGO
No. James just throws me jobs when he can. Most days, I just line up at the local Home Depot, take whatever work drives up. Used to own my own construction company, but that went belly up when the economy tanked.
NOLAN
I was in construction in Pennsylvania Yeah, I had... more than a few very lean years.
HUGO
Oh, "lean's" being kind. I almost lost my house. Something to be said for day work, though. Doesn't pay great, but it also doesn't keep me up at night worrying about how I'm gonna make payroll.
NOLAN
Write your name and number on the back of one of those for me. I have cops coming to me asking me to do jobs for them all the time. I would be happy to throw them your way.
HUGO
That'd be great. Thanks.
NOLAN
Yeah, no problem. Uh, I'll be right back with these. Write down that number. Yeah.
[NOLAN cuts the bike lock on the park gates]
NOLAN
Park's open.
CARADINE
What the hell is wrong with you? It was a simple burglary call. You could have closed out the case as a nonworker. Instead, I'm hearing that you have the coroner and a full CSU team on site.
LOPEZ
Yes, sir. It's a possible homicide.
CARADINE
No. It's an albatross around your neck. Those ovens burn at 1,800 degrees. The DNA is most likely cooked. And unless you have a victim, the lab moves you to the end of the line, so they won't even get to those fragments for months. No victim, no cause of death means no homicide. All you have is a Health and Safety Code violation for improperly disposing of a body.
STANTON
I'm impressed. couldn't do that even back when I was your age. You ever think about a career in SWAT or Metro?
WEST
Only all the time.
STANTON
Buddy of mine's a commander over at SWAT. I can put in a good word.
WEST
Yeah, that would be amazing.
STANTON
Alright.
[BRADFORD and CHEN arrives on scene and leaves their shop]
BRADFORD [To the radio]
7-Adam-19, show us Code 6...
WOMAN
Get out of my car.
BRADFORD [To the radio]
...for an on-view 415.
WOMAN
Get out! This is your house. Get out -- now!
CHEN
What seems to be the problem?
WOMAN
The problem is the drunk giant in my back seat. We landed here 20 minutes ago, and he refuses to get out!
CHEN
Sir, get out of the car.
BRADFORD
Can you please stand on the sidewalk?
WOMAN
Don't hurt the car. It's my only source of income.
BRADFORD
What is the goal of this call, Officer Chen?
CHEN
To get the Mountain's ugly cousin out of the car.
BRADFORD
Wrong. It is to get him out of the car without making things worse. Now, do you think you can get him out without relying on your weapons?
CHEN
Really? A Tim Test right now?
BRADFORD
Our goal as police officers should be to de-escalate whenever possible.
CHEN
This from the guy who set me up to fight a suspect on day one?
BRADFORD
Does this mean you're not up to the challenge?
CHEN
No, sir. I am game for whatever you want to throw at me.
BRADFORD
Great. So, here's the deal. You start with 100 points. Reach for anything on your belt, and you lose points. Baton is 10. Taser equals 15. If you take out your gun, that's 50. Leave this call with 85 points or less, and you lose and I write up a blue page on you. Getting one of those at this stage of your training would be a real problem.
CHEN
Can I earn points?
BRADFORD
Absolutely. You get him calm, 5 points. He agrees to get out of the car, 10. You get him to apologize to the driver, 20 points. But if you use any of your weapons, game over -- you lose.
CHEN
Back up. I got this. Excuse me. Hi. I'm Officer Chen. What's your name?
MAN
I want the pretty girl. Where'd the pretty girl go?
CHEN
Well, she's right out here. Why don't you come out and see her?
MAN
You're trying to trick me. They told me all about that in the Marines.
CHEN
You're a Marine?
MAN
Two tours in country. Oorah. [ Belches ]
CHEN
Thank you for your service. Why don't you get on out and let the pretty girl have her car back?
MAN
Don't tell me what to do.
[CHEN reaches for her Taser]
BRADFORD
Ooh! That's 15, Officer Chen. You're already in the loss column.
MAN
Let's go out.
WOMAN
Eat a bag of d--
CHEN
Not helping.
MAN
I'm not a bad guy.
CHEN
Sir, look --
MAN
Back off!
CHEN
Okay. Okay. Look, I get it. It's been hard being home, back in your life, where nothing feels normal. But she's just trying to do her job. And I know your mother didn't teach you to disrespect women --
MAN
Don't talk about my mom. She died when I was over there.
CHEN
I'm so sorry. You know she would tell you that you're better than this. You fought for freedom, and that includes this girl's freedom from you harassing her 'cause... 'cause you got drunk and lonely.
MAN
[ Sighs ] You're right. I'm sorry.
CHEN
Don't apologize to me.
MAN
I'm sorry.
WOMAN
Bite me. Fine. [ Sighs ] Thanks.
CHEN
Do you live here, sir? Alright. Head on up, straight to bed. And just take it easy next time you're at the bar.
MAN
Yeah.
CHEN
Calm, plus leaving, plus an apology. I crushed this test.
BRADFORD
Nice recovery.
CHEN
Mm-hmm.
BRADFORD
Have a great day, ma'am.
CHEN
Oh! Uh, just wait one second. [Shows her missing car flyer to WOMAN] Have you seen this car while you've been driving around?
WOMAN
Mm. Super cute.
CHEN
Yeah, thanks.
WOMAN
You know what? I did see it.
CHEN
Where?
BRADFORD
There it is.
CHEN
Somebody's inside.
[ Engine shuts off ]
BRADFORD [To the radio]
Control 7-Adam-19, occupied 10-8-5-1, Wilshire Normandy Station.
CHEN
Stop right there! Put your hands on top of your head. Fingers interlaced.
[ Handcuffs click ]
CHEN
You are under arrest for auto theft.
COLINS
No. You don't understand. I didn't steal the car. The guy who owns it lent it to me, but he lost the keys.
CHEN
I'm the guy who owns the car.
COLINS
You didn't even lock it. What did you expect?
CHEN
Yeah, well, it doesn't lock.
COLINS
It does now.
CHEN
What? How did you fix it?
COLINS
It was easy. Just popped off the door panel. Took like two minutes.
CHEN
Wait, are you living in here? How old are you?
COLINS
17.
BRADFORD
Where are your parents?
COLINS
Dead.
BRADFORD
Alright, anything in here that's gonna stick me? Needles, knives?
COLINS
No.
CHEN
How long have you been living on the street?
COLINS
A year. Careful with that!
CHEN
Oh. Sorry. Must be hard living like this.
COLINS
What do you care?
CHEN
Uh...I-I'm not gonna press charges. Here, stand up.
COLINS
Seriously?
CHEN
Yeah, it's my car, my prerogative.
BRADFORD
Boot --
CHEN
We'll get you set up over at a children's shelter, alright?
COLINS
Oh, you don't have to. I got someplace else I can go.
CHEN
Does it have doors that lock and people that care about you?
COLINS
You know how many times I got my stuff stolen from there? And it's too far from school.
BRADFORD
You still go to school?
COLINS
Yeah. I do. And I get good grades. Any more dumb questions?
CHEN
Look, I don't want to make getting to school hard for you, but I don't have a choice here, so it's either jail or the shelter. But I won't just dump you there, okay? I'll -- I'll help you find a permanent place.
COLINS
Is she for real?
BRADFORD
Officer Chen, a word. You, stand here, hands on the car. Congratulations.
CHEN
On what?
BRADFORD
On your first puppy.
CHEN
What?
BRADFORD
Every rookie adopts a puppy at some point -- someone they think they can save. Honestly, I'm surprised it took you this long.
CHEN
Did you have a puppy?
BRADFORD
That's...not relevant here.
CHEN
Mm-hmm.
BRADFORD
What is is that it never goes well.
CHEN
Okay, well, she's not a puppy. She's a girl in trouble, and I'm gonna help her. Okay?
WEST
7-Adam-07, show us Code 6 on the burglary call at 1119 Brower.
DISPATCH
Dispatch, 7-Adam-07, copy.
SALAH
Hey. Um, I'm D'Andre, and these are my folks. They don't really speak much English.
STANTON
West African?
SALAH
Uh, Somalia, actually. I was born in Long Beach.
WEST
So, uh, someone broke into your home?
SALAH
Yeah. We -- We spent the night in Bakersfield for my basketball tournament. Just got home a few hours ago, and door was busted open. TVs, computers, and my mom's jewelry.
STANTON
Sorry to hear that. Used to play a little ball back in high school. Used to call me the Dougernaut. You got a nickname?
SALAH
Not...really. Uh, "D" sometimes.
STANTON
"D," huh? "D-Ball." Nice. I like it.
WEST
So, did anyone know you'd be gone? Did you post on social or anything like that?
STANTON
Got any tattoos, D-Ball?
SALAH
I mean...one. A little, tiny dot I gave myself when I was 13. See?
STANTON
So, who are you claiming these days, D?
SALAH
What? Uh, I'm not claiming anybody. I'm not in a gang.
STANTON
So, you're not Murder East Nation?
SALAH
No, dude, we got robbed.
STANTON
You owe anybody money, D-Ball?
WEST
Sometimes burglaries will have personal motives. My partner is just trying to narrow the suspect field. Look, sir, could I ask you a favor, partner to partner?
STANTON
What is it?
WEST
Officer Lopez never let me do any interviews alone, and I could use the practice over the next three weeks before I end up riding solo. You'd be doing me a real solid, sir.
STANTON
Alright. I'll be back in the shop. But your report better be bulletproof. If I find as much as a typo, it's a blue page.
WEST
Understood. Look, I, um -- I got to apologize about my partner. He's done a lot of work with gangs, and it gets kind of stuck in his head. [ Car door closes ] Would you please show me the point of entry, sir?
HARPER
Round of applause for the conquering hero.
NOLAN
What happened?
HARPER
I snagged a deep-dish pizza on the way there, 'cause Donovan is from Chicago, so, you know, heritage.
NOLAN
And kids love pizza.
HARPER
Only thing they ate. One mom -- she brought this jellied fish thing. One kid cried when he saw it. [ Chuckles ] Looks like I win at momming.
NOLAN
Not sure that's exactly how you're supposed to see it.
HARPER
Shh! Ba-- Shh! I'm enjoying my triumph. Anyway, how are things going here?
NOLAN
Great. I signed off on a couple fix-it tickets. Came up with some ideas for reaching out to the community. Would you like to hear them?
HARPER
Sure.
WEST
All set. Thanks for letting me do that.
STANTON
Mm-hmm. Get to work on that report.
[ Engine starts ]
MURRAY
Did one of you clip the bike lock in the park?
NOLAN
I did. Yeah. Are the kids using it?
MURRAY
Yeah, luckily, my oldest found the dirty needles in the sandbox before little kids played in it.
NOLAN
I had no idea.
MURRAY
Did you at any point stop to wonder why the lock was even there? Those lights have been busted for a year. Do you know what happens in a dark public park?
NOLAN
Yes. Drug dealers.
MURRAY
And junkies and who the hell knows what else. We lock the park to keep them out.
HARPER
We could have helped. You should have called 911.
MURRAY
To do what? Clear them out for the night? Maybe kill someone in the process?
HARPER
We're not all trigger-happy. I mean, most of us want to help.
MURRAY
I don't know about "most." But I can't roll the dice that a good cop is gonna show up. So we found our own solution. The lock was there to protect us, to protect our kids.
NOLAN
Look, you shouldn't have to trade a place to play for safety.
MURRAY
No. We shouldn't. But we do.
[ Door opens, closes ]
[The scene switches to the park, NOLAN is installing a light bulb.]
[ Blows ]
MURRAY
City gave you permission to work on this yourself?
NOLAN
Took some convincing, and I got to do it on my own time. All the city has to do now is come and inspect. Until then, lights are working.
MURRAY
Hey, that's just great. You must feel real good about yourself.
NOLAN
Actually, my shoulders and my back are a little angry with me.
MURRAY
And what about tonight? When they break the lights again? What then?
NOLAN
Uh, cameras are on the way, and the Watch Commander's approved more patrols in the area, so if anybody's caught messing with the lights, they'll be arrested.
MURRAY
So, more Black and Brown people in prison. And then you'll be gone, and it'll just go back to the way it was.
NOLAN
I'm just trying to help.
MURRAY
You ever wonder why cops spend so much time in neighborhoods like this? It's 'cause the arrests are easy. Hell, I've lost count of the amount of times I've seen rookies brought here and taught, "This is what a junkie looks like, and this is what a dealer looks like." And from that moment on, that's how cops see us.
NOLAN
Okay, look, I wasn't trained like that.
MURRAY
Well, that's because your training officer looks like us. Look, the only person you helped this morning is you. [ Chuckles ] Made yourself feel good while you put a Band-Aid on a systemic wound. You want to make a real difference? Stop picking on us and attack crime at the source. Keep meth out of this neighborhood. [ Scoffs ] Anything less, you're just wasting both our time.
WEST
Morning.
CHEN
Uh...Tamara left the shelter during the night. The girl who stole my car.
WEST
I'm, like, wrapped up in my own little drama.
CHEN
Mm. I talked to her caseworker. Tamara's had it rough. Both of her parents O.D.'d. She got taken in by relatives, but there was violence in the house, so she split.
WEST
What are you gonna do?
CHEN
Try and find her. Even though Tim's giving me a hard time. He calls her my puppy. Says that every rookie gets one. He's just being judgy. You know how he is.
WEST
Uh, all due respect, screw Tim. Yeah, and all the other T.O.s. You know, I am so sick of being at the bottom of the food chain, like, constantly jumping through somebody else's hoops.
CHEN
[ Chuckling ] Are you all right? What is up with all this drama?
WEST
Doug. Like [Sighs] He did something yesterday that really bothered me. The way he treated this one family. Black family.
CHEN
Did he put hands on them?
WEST
No, no, it's just the way he -- he talked to them. Like, the -- the disrespect was, like... [ Sighs ]
CHEN
24 more days.
WEST
Yeah.
[The scene switches to LOPEZ and EVERS’s house.]
LOPEZ
No.
EVERS
It's super healthy.
LOPEZ
Then you eat it. I have too much work to do to spend the next half-hour puking.
EVERS
Can I help?
LOPEZ
I'm dead in the water. Our unknown suspect forced entry into a funeral crematorium and disposed of a body. No prints, no DNA, no gender, age, or race. All we got is a sneaker print from the most popular brand on Earth.
EVERS
There has to be something.
LOPEZ
Suspect approaches, forces entry. Alarm goes off. According to the alarm company, he enters a code. Alarm is still going off, so he cuts the wires. He didn't try two different codes. He tried the same code twice. [ Paper rustling ] Got to go.
[ Door opens, closes ]
EVERS
Now she's got me doing it.
STANTON
We got to get something straight.
WEST
Okay.
STANTON
I was super pissed when I went home last night, the way you pushed me yesterday. Then, I realized you just don't know any better. So it's my job to teach you the right way to think on the street.
WEST
Officer Lopez did that already.
STANTON
Yeah. Sure. But I got a very different perspective I've seen a ton of gang activity in my time. And that experience has taught me that crooks and dirtbags always try to hide who they are.
WEST
D'Andre didn't seem like a crook or a dirtbag.
STANTON
They never do. Do you know the significance of that dot tattoo, Officer West? You see, he has three more on his chest, so when he puts his hand over his heart and holds up two fingers, it makes the area code 213. Birthplace of Crips. That kid, D-Ball, is a straight-up gangster. Maybe I'm wrong. If so, that's on me. But I've seen far too many good cops get caught flat-footed making the wrong assumption. We must remain ever-vigilant on this job. Otherwise, we end our shift in a body bag.
NOLAN
Morning.
HARPER
You are... six minutes late.
NOLAN
Sorry. I was putting up lights in the park.
HARPER
You know they're just gonna smash those out again.
NOLAN
But the lights are up, which means crime will be down, and the patrols and cameras will keep the lights working. That's got to be value-add, right?
HARPER
I know your heart is in the right place, but... ...you can't come at this like you are some kind of... ...savior.
NOLAN
You mean White savior. Look, that's the last thing I'm trying to be. But what am I supposed to do? How can I be an ally to the people who live here?
HARPER
Stop pretending like you know what they need and just ask.
[The scene switches to the interrogation room of the Mid-Wilshire Police Station. LOPEZ is inside with MOORE.]
LOPEZ
Mr. Moore, thanks for coming by.
MOORE
Y'all paintin' in here?
LOPEZ
Something like that. Have a seat. Would you like some coffee or water?
MOORE
I could use a beer.
LOPEZ
You used to work at Saint Dubois Funeral Home. Is that correct?
MOORE
Barely. I mean, it's been so long.
LOPEZ
Your pay stubs show that you worked there up until two months ago.
MOORE
[ Scoffs ] Feels longer.
LOPEZ
Records also indicate that you had your own access code for the security system. It was your code that was entered
MOORE
Anybody could have seen that code, tried to use it.
LOPEZ
True, but the wear on shoes is as unique as a fingerprint. No two people walk exactly the same way. This, you may remember, is your shoe. And this is from the crime scene.
MOORE
[ Scoffs ] Okay, yeah, I broke in. But I didn't kill anyone. I swear. I just burned the body, like all the others.
LOPEZ
Others? Like in more than one dead body?
MOORE
Yeah.
LOPEZ
Okay. I'm going to stop you and read you your rights. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I've just told to you?
MOORE
Yeah. I'm not stupid.
LOPEZ
Of course not. And with these rights in mind, do you wish to speak to me?
MOORE
Okay.
LOPEZ
Mind if I invite in a friend?
MOORE
Is she cute?
[A beat. CARADINE is now in the room.]
LOPEZ
How many bodies did you dispose of while you worked there?
MOORE
Not many. 7...12. I don't know. It was, like, once every couple months. But then I got fired, and I was really scared to tell the guys, so... when they brought me another body, I just broke in.
CARADINE
And who are the guys?
MOORE
They'll kill me!
LOPEZ
You can be a good witness or an accessory to murder. Up to you.
MOORE
Okay, fine. K-Town Mafia -- Brian Simuro's crew. But he's crazy. I need Secret Service protection.
LOPEZ
You mean witness protection.
MOORE
That, too. Give me all of it.
LOPEZ
Pretty sure that albatross just flew away.
CARADINE
Nice work, Detective. I'll finish up here with Mr. Moore. Go coordinate with Ezra in the gang unit. This is gonna be a front-page arrest.
MOORE
What's an albatross?
[ Door closes ]
NOLAN
Okay, and you've reattached your front license plate, which means I can sign off on this fix-it ticket as prepared. There you go. Thank you so much for coming in. As you can see, it's been just a little slow. Still getting up to speed. Don't forget to send in the $10 as the... [ Door closes ] ...processing fee. Another satisfied customer. [ Cellphone vibrating ] Oh. [ Cellphone beeps ] Go for John Nolan.
HUGO
[Tools whirring ] Hey. It's Hugo. I lent you bolt cutters yesterday.
NOLAN
Right! Yes. Hey, how are you?
HUGO
Uh...I'm on a job right now. We're doing a commercial kitchen. They want vinyl composition tiles in the food-prep area.
NOLAN
[ Whispering ] Harper. [Mutes his phone]
HUGO
So we're going through lots of denatured alcohol...paint thinner, drain cleaner...
NOLAN
[To HARPER] Building codes forbid vinyl composition tiles in food-prep areas. He knows that. He knows I know that.
HUGO
The pay is great, but the coffee is terrible. All the filters I found are stained red. Plus, no A.C. until we get the Freon. And don't even get me started on the propane. All the brass on the tanks turned blue.
HARPER
[To NOLAN]Red phosphorus gets run through coffee filters. Freon, denatured alcohol -- these are all ingredients that produce anhydrous ammonia gas. Gas that turns brass fittings on propane tanks blue.
NOLAN
[Beeps, Unmutes his phone ] Where are you?
HUGO
Can't say, but you keep those jobs open for me.
NOLAN
Of course I will. [ Beep, ends the call ] Red phosphorous, ammonia gas? I don't --
HARPER
It means that Hugo has been roped into building a meth lab. Probably a super-lab.
NOLAN
We got to go save him.
HARPER
Alright, I will call Metro. I'll tell them to get a SWAT team together.
NOLAN
No,we have to go. SWAT doesn't know what Hugo looks like. What if they lump him in with the narcos?
[The scene now shows NOLAN and HARPER and some police officers in front of the site where HUGO is located.]
[ Engines revving ]
[ Tires screech ]
NOLAN
This is it. This is where Hugo's phone was when we last hit that signal, but there's nothing here.
HARPER
Nolan, look over there. Gases from a meth lab kill any vegetation near the vent ports. It's somewhere over there.
[ Engine revs ]
HARPER
Okay, listen to me. Some gases from a ruptured meth cook can kill you instantly. So, even with this on, it can give you about 30 seconds, tops. We hear a boom, we get out of there immediately. Do you copy that?
NOLAN
Copy.
SWAT TEAM
Ready.
[ Engine revs ]
[ Breathing echoes ]
[ Heartbeat ]
[ Gunfire ]
[ Indistinct shouting ]
HUGO
Oh! Thank God you found us. They weren't gonna let us go.
HARPER
Where are the keys?
HUGO
Up on the wall! Hurry. We got to get out of here.
HARPER
Come on!
HUGO
Thanks. Oh, my God.
[ Explosion ]
HUGO
Oh!
[ Indistinct shouting ]
HARPER
That's gas. Nolan, we have got to get out of here!
[ Shouting in Spanish ]
HARPER
Okay, go!
SWAT TEAM
We got to go!
HARPER
Nolan, come on! We got to go!
NOLAN
[Trying to free HUGO] I'm not leaving him behind!
HARPER
We got to get out of here!
[ Lock clicks ]
HARPER
Come on. Go, go, go, go!
SWAT TEAM
We got to get out of here!
[ Indistinct shouting ]
[ Gas hissing ]
[ Coughing ]
NOLAN
Come on!
[ Coughing ]
[ Retching ]
[ Coughing ]
NOLAN [To himself]
...29...28...27...26... ...24...23...22... 21...20...
[ Heartbeat quickens ]
[ Coughing ]
[ Gasps ]
[NOLAN escapes the site with HUGO]
HARPER
Ohh, you okay? You good?
NOLAN
Yeah.
[ Coughs ]
[ Door slams ]
[ Groans loudly ]
HARPER
Don't watch. [ Screaming ] Trust me. There's nothing we can do for him.
[ Screaming continues ]
CHEN
Tamara.
COLINS
How did you find me?
CHEN
I checked all the local high schools to see where you were registered, and they told me that you're usually hanging out at the library until closing time.
COLINS
You can take me back to the shelter, but we both know I won't stay.
CHEN
I know, but living on the street isn't any better. You know, you deserve more.
COLINS
There isn't more. There's just this.
CHEN
You don't believe that. Otherwise, you would have given up, dropped out. I think you believe that there's something better out there. You just need someone to help you find it. So, look, um... I'm gonna give you my car.
COLINS
What?
CHEN
Just until you get back on your feet. You know, I know it doesn't run great, but it took me to college, it saw me through three really bad relationships, and it kept me sane after -- well, after I almost died.
COLINS
What's the catch?
CHEN
You got to let Social Services help you find a place to live -- one that I know is safe -- and you have to keep checking in with me regularly until that happens so I know you're okay.
COLINS
Like, once a week?
CHEN
Like, once a day. It's a free car.
COLINS
That barely runs!
CHEN
Once a day until you're off the street, or no deal.
COLINS
Thanks. [ Chuckles ]
BRADFORD
How's life without Lopez?
WEST
Definitely not the same. Hey, have you ever seen anyone with one of those 2-1-3 dot tattoos?
BRADFORD
Not in like a decade. That's some old-school gang stuff. Stanton tell you about that?
WEST
Yeah, right after he told me that I should listen to him because he has a different perspective than Lopez.
BRADFORD
Look, Stanton was originally an L.A. County sheriff. Rookies in the Sheriff's Department, they don't start out on the streets. They do two years as guards, mostly at the Twin Towers.
WEST
That sounds like a nightmare.
BRADFORD
Nothing like having inmates pelting you with bags of feces on the regular to give you a jaded view of humanity.
WEST
Or a certain color of humanity.
BRADFORD
Look. [ Sighs ] I hear he's a solid cop. Learn what's useful and ignore the rest. Alright? If you quote me on that to Chen, I'll deny it.
[The scene switches to the Community Policing Centre.]
HARPER
You all done?
MURRAY
I got to pick up the kids from my mom.
HARPER
Hmm. How old?
MURRAY
70. You were talking about Moms, right?
HARPER
Mm.
MURRAY
12 and 14.
HARPER
Mm!
MURRAY
You got any?
HARPER
I do. Uh, her name is Lila. She's 7.
MURRAY
Right on. Right on. You grow up around here?
HARPER
Inglewood.
MURRAY
You still live there?
HARPER
Is this a side door into a conversation about cops living in the communities they serve?
MURRAY
Busted.
HARPER
Mm.
MURRAY
But you got to admit, It would make a difference.
HARPER
Yeah, sure, but it would also mean that anyone who was angry at the police could take it out on me, my family, my home... my little girl. And don't act like you don't know nobody who wouldn't do it.
MURRAY
I mean... we're not tight, but...
HARPER
[ Chuckles ]
MURRAY
I get it. I get it. It's complicated.
HARPER
[ Sighing ] Yeah. For both of us.
MURRAY
But I appreciate you're willing to talk about it. Thanks for looking out for Hugo. He said you straight-up saved his life.
HARPER
Well, that wasn't just me. I mean, Nolan insisted that we both go personally so that SWAT would not see Hugo as a criminal. Don't write Nolan off. He is more of a guardian than any other cop I have ever worked with. I mean, right now, his shift is over, and yet he's still inside, waiting for kids to come by for tutoring. Anyway, have a good night.
NOLAN
Whoa. Hold on. No, no. Whoa, whoa. You -- You gave her your car?
CHEN
Listen, I can't deal with any more judgment.
NOLAN
I was gonna say that's very generous.
CHEN
Thanks.
NOLAN
Hey! Uh, hi. Come on in.
MURRAY
Oh, thanks. These are my boys, Aaron and Michael.
NOLAN
Uh, hi. I'm John.
CHEN
Hi. I'm Lucy. Nice to meet you.
MURRAY
Look, I -- I know I've been giving you a tough time, but I really do appreciate what you were trying to do this morning.
NOLAN
Even though it was misguided.
MURRAY
Yeah. [ Chuckles ] Plus, they've changed the way they teach math again, so I'm a little lost.
NOLAN
Well, you came to the right place. Lucy is excellent at math. Jackson is excellent at math.
CHEN
Yes, and he will be here soon. Why don't we, uh, get you guys settled?
NOLAN
Right this way, gents.
MURRAY
Look, I don't take handouts, so if you're gonna tutor my boys, I am gonna pay.
NOLAN
Well, how about this? Uh, we'll tutor Michael and Aaron, and you sit down and talk to us a little more about what this neighborhood really needs.
MURRAY
I can do that.
[ Door opens. WEST enters]
NOLAN
Perfect timing. Jackson, this is James. You met him outside the park. Right this way. These are the guys that need your help. This is the numbers guy. [ Laughter ] Why don't you grab that chair.
CHEN
How old are you?
MICHAEL
12.
AARON
13.