THE ROOKIE
Season 3, Episode 6
"Revelations"
Previously on "The Rookie"...
CHEN
I'm gonna give you my car.
CHEN
with me until you're off the street, or no deal.
TAMARA
Thanks.
CHEN
Hey!
GREY
I am hereby placing you under administrative leave. Gun and badge.
NOLAN
Guys like Doug Stanton should not be training our next generation.
HARPER
If you had your college degree, you would be able to be T.O. in two years.
NOLAN
Looks like I'm going back to school.
TAMARA
Thanks for letting me do my laundry here. I swear my cousin's dryer is possessed.
CHEN
Any time. Plus, it means I get to make sure you have a vegetable this month.
TAMARA
I told you -- all the cool kids are getting scurvy.
CHEN
Mm-hmm.
TAMARA
Listen -- I have to write a paper for school about gender roles in the workplace, and I'm supposed to interview someone who's working a job that was traditionally considered male.
CHEN
And you want to interview...me?
TAMARA
If you're not busy.
CHEN
I would be honored.
TAMARA
If you're gonna make this weird, I'll just ask someone else.
CHEN
No! I'm in. We can --
TAMARA
I still have to get the questions together.
CHEN
Okay. Well, how about tomorrow night? I could pick you up after my shift? I should be done on time for once. My sergeant has us doing site security for the CCOA convention. It's the California Covert Operators Association.
TAMARA
Undercover cops have a convention?
WEST
Yeah. At a hotel, if you can believe it. And it's advertised on their website, so...
TAMARA
Well, sounds like the opposite of covert.
CHEN
But I guess it's a space for them to share trade secrets.
WEST
And party on the city's dime.
CHEN
While we make sure no bad guys get close enough to ID an undercover cop.
WEST
Well, sadly, I'll be missing the fun because I'll be working the Community Policing Center with Smitty tomorrow.
CHEN
Ah. Only 10 more days until no more T.O.s. [ Cellphone ringing ] Mm. I thought you were starting college classes tonight.
NOLAN
I'm actually just about to head into my Ethics and Criminal Law class. But I'm having second thoughts about identifying myself as a police officer. I mean, I should, right?
WEST
No.
TAMARA
No.
CHEN
Yeah.
NOLAN
That's...not helpful.
CHEN
Why shouldn't you?
TAMARA
Because it'll isolate him right away. You think I introduce myself as homeless at school? Unless you want the class to be about you, I'd keep your head down and blend in.
RYAN
Good evening. I'm Professor Ryan, and this is Ethics and Criminal Justice. Now, tell me, what do those words make you think?
VICTOR REYES
That...the two don't go together.
RYAN
Why?
REYES
Because the criminal justice system is inherently biased, designed to punish poor people and people of color.
RYAN
Okay, so if that's a problem, what is a solution?
FEMALE STUDENT
Defund the police, for starters.
RYAN
Anyone disagree?
NOLAN
Uh, well, I don't think it's quite that simple -- just defunding the police.
FEMALE STUDENT
Defunding doesn't mean get rid of cops. It means stop prioritizing them.
NOLAN
Yeah, no, I appreciate that, and I agree. I think a lot more money needs to be invested in communities, but it will take time for those investments to effect any real change. If we drastically cut policing before that happens, it would leave people unprotected.
REYES
It can't be worse than it is now.
NOLAN
Sure, it can. Don't you agree?
RYAN
Oh, I'm not here to agree or to pick sides. Ethics are often at odds with the law. What's right and what is legal are very often all too different. And that tension is what we are here to explore. And it is going to get uncomfortable, so y'all better strap in.
NOLAN
By then, the class had ended, and I still hadn't identified myself. Did I make a mistake?
HARPER
I can't answer that for you. As a cop, you have to judge social situations on a case-by-case basis.
NOLAN
I just hate the feeling like I'm hiding something. All of these people can't be undercover cops, can they?
HARPER
Okay, so, think of the undercover world like high school, right? So, first, you have your UCs. They are like the star quarterbacks. No undercover operation can happen without them, They take the most risk, and they reap the most reward.
NOLAN
Meaning?
HARPER
They get laid. A lot.
NOLAN
Oh.
HARPER
Then you have your Case Officers. They think they're smarter than everyone else, and they see themselves as puppet masters who use UCs as just a tool in their kit.
NOLAN
I'm guessing they don't get laid near as much.
HARPER
Correct. Then you have your Tech Squad. They basically are smarter than everyone else, but they have a real criminal streak. They commit legal burglaries and break-ins, planting cameras and bugs. Finally, you have your Freshmen. They're easily identifiable. Just off patrol. Still at that awkward stage of trying to let their hair grow out, where they're mullet-adjacent.
NOLAN
So you were a star quarterback.
HARPER
Oh, baby, I was the Heisman Trophy.
CHEN
All right, thanks. You're good to go. Hey, do you work the convention every year?
BRADFORD
No. L.A. hasn't hosted one in a long time. But I did go with Isabel once.
CHEN
What kind of classes do they teach?
BRADFORD
No idea. Patrol isn't allowed to know UC trade secrets. So I just ordered room service, worked on my tan.
MACK DANIELS
Bradford!
BRADFORD
Mack!
DANIELS
Ugh! You bastard! You get prettier with age.
BRADFORD
Yeah, and you're still the same part Neanderthal. Lucy Chen, Mack Daniels.
DANIELS
Hey, how are you?
CHEN
Oh, hi. Nice to meet you.
DANIELS
Oh, uh, this is actually, uh, my friend Candace.
CANDACE
Hi. Mack's right. You are pretty. [ Chuckles ]
BRADFORD
Uh, Chen, why don't you go and get Candace's info?
CHEN
Yeah.
BRADFORD
Mack, come on over here, bud.
DANIELS
Uh-oh. Am I in trouble?
BRADFORD
If you wanna run around on Beth, that's your business. But did you really expect me not to notice?
DANIELS
Notice what?
BRADFORD
Your pupils, man. They're pinpoints. You're looking 5-50. What are you on?
DANIELS
It's just a little Oxy. Okay? Relax, I got a prescription. Jacked up my shoulder on the job about a month back. Pain's a, uh, mother.
CANDACE
Mack! I got a spa appointment.
DANIELS
Hey, it's good seeing you, bro.
BRADFORD
Yeah. You, too.
CHEN
He seems...nice.
BRADFORD
Yeah, believe it or not, he used to be the most clean-cut guy I ever met.
WEST
James, it's good to see you. Am I, uh, still on for Aaron and Michael tutoring tomorrow night?
JAMES MURRAY
Just Aaron. Michael has drama club.
WEST
That boy's such a ham. I love him. Who's this?
MURRAY
This is Silas.
WEST
Silas, good to meet you. I'm, uh, Jackson, and this is Smitty.
SILAS
Jackson. Last name West. Badge number, please? For my records.
WEST
3-3-3-5-6.
SILAS
Badge number?
SMITTY
2-8-7-1-7.
SILAS
First name, please.
SMITTY
Smitty's sufficient.
MURRAY
Silas is the eyes and ears of the neighborhood. He does a daily patrol, gives me a heads-up on problems that need fixing.
SILAS
Well, City Sanitation neglected to empty the Dumpster in front of Matteo's Deli. That will attract rodents. And a Cadet Blue 1978 Dodge Aspen is blocking Sally Nelson's driveway, and she has work at 10:00.
SMITTY
Kid would make a good CI.
MURRAY
Forget it. Silas is here because he wants to help his neighbors, not make it easier for you to hassle them.
WEST
Of course. That's not what we're looking for. Look, I can call the city and have them tow away the Aspen so Sally can get to work. Is there anything else we can help you with?
SILAS
Um, I've actually made a list of potholes, and they can cause accidents, car damage. But the Bureau of Street Services
WEST
Smitty, doesn't your uncle work for City Services?
SMITTY
Ugh -- Artie. Yes. Guy is such a slacker.
WEST
Can you call him about the potholes?
SMITTY
No. I owe him money.
WEST
Okay, fine. Give me the number, and I'll call.
NOLAN
Do you really think there could be trouble at this convention?
HARPER
Criminals would kill to infiltrate this place. The damage that undercover operations do to their business is incredible.
[ Cellphone ringing ]
[ Cellphone clicks ]
HARPER
June! Wh-- Are you here?
JUNE ZHANG
Oh, good. You're at the convention. I'm scheduled to teach a seminar this morning, but I can't get there. Can you fill in for me? It's the same class you used to teach. You could do it in your sleep.
HARPER
I can't. I'm working security.
ZHANG
Please. You still owe me from that op in Bakersfield, and you know I wouldn't ask if I didn't have to.
NOLAN
Go ahead. I got this covered. Go ahead.
HARPER
Okay. Uh, sure.
ZHANG
Thanks. I'll text you the details. You are the best.
[ Chuckles ]
[ Cellphone clicks ]
NOLAN
What's the seminar on?
HARPER
Women make up just 12% of law enforcement. But they're attacked almost twice as often as male officers. And yet, male officers are three times more likely to fire their weapon, they are three times more likely to get injured while on duty, and they make up 95% of citizen complaints. Which begs the question, are women just better cops? Oh, you better believe it.
[ Cheers and applause ]
[ Harper speaking indistinctly ]
NOLAN
You're not supposed to be listening.
CHEN
Why? 'Cause they don't trust patrol with all their Secret Squirrel stuff?
NOLAN
It doesn't matter why. Rules are rules. And I'm already on thin ice, so I'm outta here.
HARPER
This seminar today is about being a female undercover cop and the unique risks that that poses. Now, I will warn you, this is not gonna be an easy ride. Some of what you're about to see is hard to watch. But if we can learn from the UCs who died in these videos, then maybe we can save some lives. Are you with me?
[ Cheers and applause ]
BRADFORD
Chen.
CHEN
Yes?
BRADFORD
Thought you were running to the bathroom.
CHEN
I was. I am. Sorry.
WEST
Next time he calls about potholes, take it seriously, okay? Yes, I work with Smitty. Yeah. No. No, I-I won't tell him that. Because it's disgusting.
[ Screaming ]
EVE
No! No! No! No! No! No!
[ Tires screech ]
EVE
My baby's in the back!
WEST
7-Adam-07, carjacking, suspect headed westbound on Fourth near Waverly. I'm on foot. I need any unit in the area.
[ Woman screaming indistinctly ]
[ Horse neighs ]
ISAAC YOUNG
I guess you didn't need that assist after all.
WEST
You're...?
YOUNG
A cop on a horse? Yep. Any other suspects?
WEST
No. Can you watch him? Victim said her baby was in the car.
EVE
[ Gasps ] Oh!
WEST
Ma'am, that's your baby?
EVE
Yeah.
WEST
Oh! [ Dog whimpering ] Oh, I'm sorry.
[ Horse neighs ]
BRADFORD
So you were spying on one of the seminars?
CHEN
No. Maybe a little bit. I mean, what's the big deal? I'm a cop, too.
BRADFORD
The likelihood of patrol officers getting fired or flaming out are much higher than ranked officers. The information and tactics the CCOA present are so unique and so sensitive, they're literally on a need-to-know basis. Got it?
CHEN
Yeah.
BETH DANIELS
Tim?
BRADFORD
Beth.
BETH
I'm here to surprise Mack. He's barely been home the last three months.
BRADFORD
I bet. Yeah, undercover work's a full-time gig.
BETH
Is he here yet?
BRADFORD
Yeah. He rolled through a few hours ago. It's great seeing you.
BETH
You, too.
CHEN
Seriously? You're not gonna give her a heads-up?
BRADFORD
No way I'm getting in the middle of that.
CHEN
Tim. Check this out. [ Camera shutter clicks ] Those cars belong to the undercover cops.
BRADFORD
Well, they'll have switched-out license plates But they can't cover the VIN numbers.
CHEN
If he gets those numbers, he'll be able to identify them. -- Gun. Back pocket.
BRADFORD
Hey! Police! Hold up! -- All units, be advised, we have a perimeter breach. White male, blue ballcap, gray jacket, blue jeans. Made it in through the south rear door. Armed with a handgun, and may be targeting police.
NOLAN
He won't get far. Hotel's on lockdown, and his description just went out to 200 armed police officers. Really, he's trapped in here with us.
HARPER
Yeah, that description's useless now. [ Radio beeps ] Be advised, our suspect no longer has on a ballcap or jacket. Which means we are searching for a white guy in blue jeans.
[ Indistinct conversations ]
NOLAN
Yeah, that could be our guy.
HARPER
Could just be a twitchy UC. They're hardwired to avoid uniformed cops. You think you can tell if he's a cop just by talking to him?
NOLAN
Is that a challenge?
HARPER
Yep.
NOLAN
How's it going? Ah. Here for the convention?
SUSPECT
I'm not really supposed to say.
NOLAN
That's a yes. I'd kill to work undercover.
HARPER
God, me, too.
NOLAN
You must have the best stories.
SUSPECT
[ Scoffs ] Nah.
NOLAN
Oh, come on. Give us one. I've never seen any real action.
SUSPECT
All right, well, this one time, a couple years back, I get in with this biker gang, and we're movin' a hell-ton'a smack. Now, the buyer, he smells a rat, and suddenly, I've got six sawed-off shotties right to my grill.
HARPER
Mm.
SUSPECT
They wanted me to try the batch, make sure it wasn't bunk.
NOLAN
What'd you do?
SUSPECT
Man, I got high as the Hindenburg and came down just as messy.
NOLAN
[ Mimics buzzer ] Sorry. Wrong answer.
[ Tasers clicking ]
SUSPECT
[ Grunts ] Ah.
NOLAN
Real undercover cops don't behave like characters in movies. [ Grunts ] Taste the drugs, your case, your career are shot.
[ Handcuffs click ]
[ Radio beeps ]
HARPER
Suspect in custody.
WEST
Thanks for the assist.
YOUNG
Ah, no problem. I was giving a talk at the local elementary school.
WEST
Yeah, I gotta admit, I've actually never seen a cop on a horse before. Well, not out on the street, anyway. It's...weird.
[ Chuckles ]
YOUNG
You must have been looking in the wrong direction.
WEST
Yeah, well, I am not now.
[ Horse snorts ]
SILAS
Officer Jackson West, badge number 3-3-3-5-6.
WEST
What's up, Silas?
SILAS
I don't know him.
WEST
Uh, this is Officer Young.
YOUNG
Isaac. Badge number 2-9-1-9-6. And this here's Ruby, official police horse of the West Adams Mounted Patrol.
SILAS
Does she have a badge number?
YOUNG
No, but she lives in stall number 11.
WEST
Uh, how's patrol? Is there anything else we can do?
SILAS
Actually... a sprinkler head at Edgewood Park broke off and is spraying the swings.
WEST
Okay. Well, I am on it. It's, uh -- it's nice to meet you.
YOUNG
Yeah, you, too.
SILAS
You two are looking at each other funny.
[ Laughs ]
BETH
I am his wife! Open the damn door!
CANDACE
He doesn't want to see you!
BETH
Mack, I'm done. Can you hear me? You're never gonna see your sons again!
BRADFORD
What's going on? Are you okay?
BETH
Mack's in there with some stripper whore. [ Crying ] He's wasted out of his mind.
BRADFORD
What's going on?
CANDACE
Nothing. We're just hanging out. No, he's sleeping -- I think. I don't know! He won't talk to me.
BRADFORD
Open the door.
CANDACE
No, I can't.
BRADFORD
Open -- Back up! Mack. He's not breathing. [Radio beeps] Control, 7-Adam-19--
BETH
What did you do?!
CANDACE
Nothing. We were just partying.
BRADFORD
--send an RA to the Augustin Hotel, 9212 West 6th Street, Room 623. Adult male, possible OD. [ Radio beeps ] Come on, Mack. Come on. Wake up, Mack! Come on.
CHEN
Tim. Narcan.
[ Spray hisses ]
DANIELS
[ Gasps, coughs ]
BRADFORD
You're all right, man. You're all right. I'm here, okay? Beth's here. [ Gasps ] You're okay, bud. Try and sit up.
DANIELS
Beth...baby...
BETH
I can't do this anymore.
DANIELS
Wait, wait, wait. Come back. I love you.
CANDACE
You said I was the one you loved.
NOLAN
Okay, tell me the truth. Did working the convention as a patrol officer feel like a demotion?
HARPER
At first, yes. But then, I don't know, I got a contact anxiety high. I do not miss the constant fear and the lying so much you don't know what the truth is.
REYES
Hey! I know you.
NOLAN
Victor, right? Hey. How you doing? Victor's in my Ethics class.
REYES
You're a cop.
NOLAN
Um, but to be fair, this uniform could also mean I'm a male stripper.
[ Cellphone camera shutter clicks ]
HARPER
Whoa, what's all that for?
REYES
To show everyone in class we got a narc inside.
NOLAN
Victor. Hey. It's a little harsh. Victor.
HARPER
Well...can't wait to hear how class goes.
[ Exhales sharply ]
DANIELS
Hey.
BRADFORD
Were you trying to kill yourself?
DANIELS
[ Scoffs ] God, Bradford, no.
BRADFORD
Okay, then what the hell were you thinking? You told me you were taking Oxy because you were injured.
DANIELS
I was. All right? I am. It was a mistake.
BRADFORD
A mistake?
DANIELS
Yeah.
BRADFORD
You downed opioids with whiskey. All right, that's not pain management. That is a problem.
DANIELS
I know. I screwed up, okay?
BRADFORD
Yeah.
DANIELS
I was just trying to push through the pain a-a-and keep working. It got away from me. Y-You know how it is.
BRADFORD
I do. And I know addicts lie so much they don't know what's true anymore.
DANIELS
Hey, I am not your ex-wife.
BRADFORD
Really? 'Cause from where I'm standing, you look exactly like Isabel. Look, I'm not gonna make the same mistake I did with her. You are going into a program. Tomorrow. You can't keep doing this to your family, Mack.
DANIELS
I know. I know. I will. I promise.
[ Chuckles ]
HARPER
Hello.
CHEN
Hi.
HARPER
Mm-hmm. So, you know we're gonna have to talk about it, right?
CHEN
Look, it was a momentary lapse in judgement, and Tim has already scolded me for listening in, but I gotta say, um, what I heard at your seminar was amazing.
HARPER
I was a little rusty, but thank you.
CHEN
Listen, I've been thinking a lot about what I want to do once I'm eligible to test, and... I think I could be really good at undercover work. I would love to pick your brain sometime -- not about tactics, just... what I should focus on to prepare for the job.
HARPER
I actually -- I...have time for drinks right now, if you want.
CHEN
Yeah. Great. All right. Uh...no. I have a homework thing with Tamara. She won't mind if we do it a little bit later. Let me just give her a call.
[ Cellphone beeping ]
[ Line ringing ]
Hey, it's me. Are we cool if we do the interview a little bit later tonight? Is 9:00 too late for you? Okay. Great. I will see you then. [ Cellphone clicks ] I am all yours.
[ Cellphone ringing, beeps ]
HARPER
Hey. You know you owe me big time, right?
ZHANG
Yeah, but can we keep my tab open? I could use another assist.
HARPER
Uh, I was about to go out for drinks with a colleague of mine, Lucy Chen.
CHEN
Hey.
ZHANG
I'm in a bind. Look, the real reason I couldn't make the convention today is because I spotted a tail on my way down from Sacramento.
HARPER
Who?
ZHANG
I think it's the buyer in this op I've been running. of liquid Fentanyl I'm selling.
HARPER
And you think they're onto you?
ZHANG
I think there's a lot of money in play and they're paranoid as hell.
HARPER
Are they still surveilling you?
ZHANG
Yeah, I couldn't lose them. I think they put a tracker on my car. Look, I'm at The Smoke House in Burbank, but my whole team's up in San Jose.
HARPER
What are you driving?
ZHANG
Black Mustang GT. They know me as Coco.
HARPER
All right, I'm on my way.
[ Cellphone beeps ]
HARPER
Sorry. I'm gonna have to call Grey now, and we're gonna have to take a rain check on our drinks, but --
CHEN
Totally.
HARPER
Unless you wanna come with?
[ Woman clears throat ]
FEMALE STUDENT
Narc.
NOLAN
Hey. There's no call for that. At least let me explain first?
RYAN
Explain what?
REYES
That he's a cop.
RYAN
Yeah, I know.
FEMALE STUDENT
What do you mean, you know?
RYAN
Well, I saw it on his application when he signed up for my class.
FEMALE STUDENT
And you didn't tell us?
RYAN
Oh, it wasn't my decision to make.
REYES
How can you say that? Cops have been spying on people like us for 200 years.
FEMALE STUDENT
He could be taking this class to get close to us, to get into LULAC or Black Lives Matter.
NOLAN
Oh, I'm not undercover. I'm -- I'm actually just a rookie.
REYES
Dude, stop lying.
NOLAN
I'm not. Um... Two years ago, I was working construction back east. I moved out here to join the police and make a difference. I'm actually taking this class to finally get my degree.
RYAN
It's true. I read his transcript. Plus, do you really think the LAPD's gonna send a 40-something-year-old white guy to infiltrate BLM? Come on, now.
REYES
Probably not. He still should have told us he's a cop.
RYAN
Hmm. Who here thinks that John is ethically obligated to identify himself?
FEMALE STUDENT
I do.
RYAN
Why?
FEMALE STUDENT
This is supposed to be a safe space. What if one of us admitted to a crime in the middle of a discussion?
RYAN
Well, then, you'd be stupid. There are no truly safe spaces -- I mean, certainly not in a college classroom.
NOLAN
But believe it or not, I, uh, was wrestling with whether or not to tell you last night, and... honestly, I still don't know what the right decision is.
RYAN
Okay, well, let's explore that further. I want everyone in here to write a five-page essay. Tell me why or why not you think that John had an ethical obligation to tell us he's a cop.
[ Students groaning ]
[ Car door closes ]
HARPER
There's June's car. Tracker.
CHEN
What's the plan?
HARPER
You go in, find June. Remember, her undercover name is Coco. She's a friend in town. Buy her a drink, chat her up. I will hang back and try and spot who her tails are.
CHEN
Okay.
HARPER
You up for this?
CHEN
Hell yeah. Coco?
ZHANG
Hey.
CHEN
Hey. Harper found a tracker outside. We think they're here.
ZHANG
Yeah, I know. One's at your 4:00. Haven't spotted his backup yet.
WAITRESS
Hey, honey. Can I get you something?
CHEN
Yeah, sure. Uh, I will have what she's having. Do you want another one?
ZHANG
Sure.
SATO
Make it three. Hey, what a coincidence, seeing you all the way down here.
ZHANG
Like hell. You followed me.
SATO
We got a lot of money on the line with this deal, so we need to be very careful. A lot of people in this business, you know... they don't have integrity.
ZHANG
Yeah, 'cause you're just filled with integrity, aren't you, Sato?
SATO
Oh, you say my name in front of someone that I don't know? What is wrong with you?
CHEN
No, what's wrong with you? No one asked you to sit.
SATO
Who is this bitch? (CHEN throws her water in his face) Oh, you just killed yourself. I'm looking at an empty chair right there.
CHEN
Then who's gonna conduct the hydrogenation process? Who's gonna perform the molecular synthesis to get the acid tables balanced? You get that wrong, you're gonna have buyers with brain bleed.
SATO
You're the chemist. She's the chemist.
ZHANG
Yeah, she is. Now back off. And tell your boss the price just went up 5% for the lack of trust.
SATO
Oh, I don't think so. Let's take a walk, talk about this somewhere a little more private. Hmm? We're gonna go for a little ride. Think about why, uh, I got such a bad feeling about you.
HARPER
These guys are cops. They put a tracker on your car.
ZHANG
Got a bad feeling about me, huh?
SATO
Hey, we're not cops.
HARPER
You want me to do 'em here or take 'em to the farm?
SATO
Hey, you gotta believe me. Coco, you know me.
ZHANG
Then what's with the tracker?
SATO
Salonga wanted you surveilled, in case you guys tried to rip us off. I swear. Look, we want this deal to happen. We need this deal to happen, okay? We just wanted to make sure.
ZHANG
Well, now you are. But the price just went up 10%. Consider it a tax for pissing me off.
SATO
Salonga ain't gonna go for that.
ZHANG
Hmm, then this is goodbye. I got plenty of other buyers.
SATO
Yeah, okay, okay! I'll make it happen. But she comes, too. At that price, I want her to test the product in front of us to make sure that it's pure.
HARPER
Forget it. No. She doesn't go out on buys.
CHEN
What? N-No. I'll go. I've already spent my share of the money in my head.
ZHANG
I'll call you on this phone with the new location. And you better pick up on the first ring. Now piss off.
SATO
(to his henchman) Come on.
CHEN
I can't believe we just did that. "You want me to do them here or take 'em to the farm?" You are so badass!
ZHANG
Wait, how much do you know about opioid chemistry?
CHEN
I mean, just what they taught me at the Academy. But I got straight A's in high school chemistry, so...
HARPER
Then you're gonna have some homework to do.
CHEN
What time is it?
CHEN
Hey. Look, I am so sorry.
TAMARA
It's cool.
CHEN
No, it's not. Drinks turned into this undercover thing, which was super cool -- but not the point. Look, there's no excuse for me leaving you hanging. Can you do the interview now? Or tonight? When is your paper due?
TAMARA
It's fine. The drunk lady across the hall used to be a luchadora. I'll just ask her.
CHEN
What?
TAMARA
Mexican wrestler.
CHEN
No. No. Look, give me another chance. Okay? Tonight. I promise I'll be there.
TAMARA
Okay. Sure. Now I gotta get to school.
CHEN
Okay.
[ Knock on door ]
BRADFORD
You get my report on Mack Daniels?
GREY
Yeah, I did. Are you sure this is the way you want things to go? He'll get fired, might do jail time.
BRADFORD
Mack didn't get hurt a month ago. He got hurt six months ago. He's deep into an addiction, and he's walking around with a loaded gun. And, sir, i-it's not just that. I-I went back to his hotel room. There were prescription bottles with other people's names on 'em. And he could be doing anything to get those pills. Cops have to be held to a higher standard. Anything less, all hell breaks loose.
GREY
I agree. I just wanted to make sure you saw the repercussions. He's going to lose his pension.
BRADFORD
Yeah. I-I struggled with that. But it's what I should have done with Isabel.
GREY
All right. So, one more thing. Chen's going on a special assignment today. She'll be joining Harper on an undercover operation.
HARPER
This is Sergeant June Zhang of Fresno PD. We are gonna help out on her op today.
ZHANG
Appreciate the assistance, guys. I'm June, the UC. My case officer, Lieutenant Balasco, who is not nearly as mean and awful as he looks. For the last eight months, I have been up on a crew out of San Jose who made bank selling precursors of liquid Fentanyl. But they got greedy, tried to go from selling the parts to making and selling the finished product. But their lab blew up, killing their chemist and destroying their entire supply, leaving them with no product and a lot of pissed-off buyers.
ZHANG
Which is when I swooped in, promising enough product to satisfy all their customers and then some. But last night, all our hard work almost fell apart, until the quick thinking of Officer Chen saved my ass.
HARPER
Chen, stand up so they can see what you're wearing.
CHEN
Yeah.
ZHANG
The op today is simple. Trade drugs for cash, then arrest everybody and try to get them to flip on Aldo Salonga, their boss.
HARPER
All right. You have your assignment. Everyone in position by 10:00 a.m.
BRADFORD
You can't pit an untrained probationary officer against one of the most dangerous crime syndicates in California.
HARPER
I don't want to hear it, Tim. She volunteered. Plus, Grey authorized it, and we have some of the best operational expertise she could ask for.
BRADFORD
They know the gladiator cage you're walking into. You don't. That's not volunteering. That's being used.
HARPER
Hey, don't let Bradford kill your confidence, okay? His...hang-ups about UC work are his to deal with, not yours.
CHEN
I kinda hoped that he would be proud of me. Wow. That sounds stupid when I say it out loud.
HARPER
No, it doesn't. He's your training officer. There's nothing wrong with wanting his approval.
ZHANG
And for what it's worth, you've got mine. You handled yourself like a pro last night. Those instincts can't be taught.
CHEN
Thanks.
MURRAY
Hey! I need your help! Somebody hurt Silas! Come on! I came by this morning, found him like this. He won't say what happened. Silas. Look, Officer West is here.
WEST
Hey, Silas. Looks like it hurts. Did you, uh, crash your bike? Someone hurt you? Where is your bike?
MURRAY
It's okay. You can talk to us. If anything happened, let us help. I called his mother. She's -- She's on her way back from work now.
WEST
Okay, well, in the meantime, Silas, come back to the Center, and we'll get those wounds cleaned up, all right?
SILAS
I'm never going back there.
MURRAY
What? Why?
WEST
Look, uh, I'm sorry to hear that. Do you mind if I borrow your notebook? Finish up your patrol for you? Look, I'll, uh, bring it back. Promise. Hey, can you, uh -- can you stay with him?
MURRAY
Yeah.
[ Line ringing ]
WEST
Hey. Yeah, it's, uh, Jackson West. Are you still working in the area?
[ Car doors closing ]
[ Click, radio beeps ]
WEST
Control, 7-Adam-07, show us Code 6. Silas' last entry was a broken street light at this address. Something happened.
YOUNG
Check it out. -- The bike. [ Pounds on door ] Police!
[ Cheers and applause on television ]
EARL
What?
WEST
Sir, we need to talk to you about this bike over here and what happened to the young man who was riding it.
Bobby: ...Madness,"
YOUNG
Sir, open the door right now. -- He's running!
[ Door bangs ]
...and win the gold.
Now here he is.
WEST
Nothing.
with the gift of gab, your "Money Madness" host, Sam Lovejoy.
YOUNG
Show yourself now!
Lovejoy: Thank you, Bobby, and hello, everybody. This is "Money Madness." I'm Sam Lovejoy, and I just can't wait to give away all this cash. [ Cheers and applause ] Just look at my suit pocket. It's bursting at the seams with cash. Now, Bobby, who's tonight's first soon-to-be winner?
Bobby: Sam, this is Miss Donna McGee from Akron, Ohio.
McGee: Hello.
Lovejoy: Now, Bobby, who do we have playing on the phone?
Bobby: Just darling Donna.
[ Lovejoy speaking indistinctly ]
EARL
Get out of my house! [ Bang, objects clattering ] This is my house! Get out of it, I said!
WEST
Hey, hey! Come on. Come on. Come on! [ Handcuffs click ]
EARL
[ Grunting ] Ow! He was spying on me! I saw him, outside, writing things about me, saying I'm crazy. I'm not crazy!
WEST
He's just a kid. He was staring at a broken street light. You didn't have to hurt him.
EARL
Liar. Liar! I taught him. I taught him. I taught him!
[ Siren wailing in distance ]
NOLAN
I know you're worried about Lucy.
BRADFORD
Who said I was worried?
NOLAN
I'm just saying, she can handle herself.
BRADFORD
I know she can. I trained her.
[ Radio beeps ]
NOLAN
Eagle One in place.
HARPER
All right, uh, let's go over this one more time. Salonga's crew arrives, you test the Fentanyl, give them a show, we get the money, they get this van, and then, boom, strike team takes them down.
ZHANG
Walk in the park.
HARPER
And if not... [ Shotgun cocks ] ...we make some noise until the cavalry arrives. You want to go over the signals again?
CHEN
Yeah. "Workhorse" means we're in trouble. And "Beautiful day," we're all good.
HARPER
Lucy.
CHEN
Mm-hmm?
HARPER
Are you all good?
CHEN
Yeah. Yes.
HARPER
You know, if you're not nervous, you're not human. Okay? So, use this to your advantage. Be scared. Be wild. Be unpredictable. Be a cobra. [ Hisses ]
[ Both laugh ]
NOLAN
Can I ask you a question?
BRADFORD
No.
NOLAN
What's your formula for when you tell people you're a police officer
BRADFORD
I try not to put myself in social situations where I need to.
NOLAN
Right. It's just that I got outed as a cop in my Criminal Law class, that I should've been upfront about it.
BRADFORD
You did the right thing keeping it a secret. Now you gotta sit in the back row, always have your eyes on the door.
NOLAN
Why?
BRADFORD
Because they know you're a cop now, which means they know you carry an off-duty weapon. Somebody may try to take it from you, or maybe just attack you because they hate cops.
NOLAN
All due respect, I can't live my life like that -- with being suspicious of people, seeing the world as dangerous.
BRADFORD
The world is dangerous. Being vigilant is the price of admission. [ Radio beeps ] It's go time.
SATO
Let's do this!
HARPER
Where's the money?
SATO
First things first. I wanna test the shipment.
CHEN
Hard positives on every scale. When's the last time you saw that? Never. There's nothing available this pure.
ZHANG
Now let's see the cash.
[ Radio clicks ]
SATO
We're in business.
[ Vehicle approaching ]
NOLAN
Who the hell is that?
BRADFORD
[ Radio beeps ] We've got another guest at the party. Stand by for rescue.
HARPER
If this is a set-up, you're the first to go.
SATO
Relax. It's just my boss. And he wants to talk...to you.
CHEN
Me?
[ Window motor whirs ]
SALONGA
Good morning. My apologies for last night. Sato overstepped. It won't happen again. Come in and talk to me.
CHEN
Why?
[ Chuckles ]
SALONGA
A monkey can be taught to test for drugs... or a cop. I need to see that you really know the science.
NOLAN
Why aren't we going in there and arresting everybody?
BRADFORD
We need to see the money first.
[ Inhales sharply ]
CHEN
What the hell. It's a beautiful day. Nothing's gonna go wrong.
SALONGA
Don't concern yourself with him.
CHEN
It's a little hard not to. [ Car door locks ] Okay, stop trying to scare me and just tell me what we're doing here.
SALONGA
Simple. I know a little chemistry. The hydromorphone hydrochloride you're selling -- remind me of the formula.
SALONGA
(in Tagalog) If she makes a mistake, put a bullet in her brain.
CHEN
(in Tagalog) I'm leaving off sodium metabisulfite, because it's a trace byproduct. So I'd appreciate you not shooting me for that.
SALONGA
You speak Tagalog.
CHEN
My best friend in elementary school grew up in Quezon City. I...basically lived at her house. I picked up a little bit.
[ Marker scribbling ]
SALONGA
Problem?
CHEN
Nope. I just have a flair for the dramatic. Okay. Are we done?
SALONGA
I like you. So I have an offer. I kill Coco and the other one. You keep half the money. Come work for me.
[ Exhales sharply ]
CHEN
Betrayal's not really my style, but I'm flattered by the offer. Can we finish the deal now?
[ Exhales sharply ]
[ Car door unlocks ]
ZHANG
Now, that's sexy.
[ Tires squealing, vehicles approaching ]
[ Sirens wailing ]
NOLAN
Weapons down! Weapons down on the ground right now!
BRADFORD
Drop the gun! Hands above your head!
NOLAN
Put your hands behind your head! Interlace your fingers now! Hands behind your head. Do not move.
[ Handcuffs click ]
POLICE
Hands up, weapons down.
BRADFORD
You okay? Give me your hands.
ZHANG
Sato! You set us up, you snitch! You're dead! You hear me?!
POLICE
Eyes on him.
ZHANG
You're dead! You watch your back!
NOLAN
This brings back some memories. First day together.
HARPER
Oh, right.
NOLAN
Watch your head.
[ Police radio chatter ]
BRADFORD
You did good.
BRADFORD
Beth. Hey. You okay?
BETH
Tim Bradford, my hero and savior.
BRADFORD
I didn't have a choice.
BETH
When your coked out ex-wife was working undercover, you had all kinds of options. Now, all of a sudden, your hands are tied? Hypocritical bastard.
BRADFORD
I-I can't excuse the past, okay? But this is now, and Mack crossed too many lines.
BETH
I have three young kids and a husband who is looking at years in state prison and no more pension. How am I supposed to feed my kids?
BRADFORD
I'm sorry this happened. But I didn't do it to you. Mack did.
BETH
You...are a cop. You're supposed to look out for your own.
[ Grunts ]
WEST
Hey.
[ Chuckles ]
YOUNG
You gotta be kidding me.
[ Scoffs ]
WEST
What's so funny? -- Wow. [ Chuckles ] So, what do we do now?
YOUNG
Let the kid choose.
WEST
You know he's gonna choose mine, right?
[ Chuckles ]
YOUNG
You wanna put money on that?
WEST
How about dinner?
YOUNG
I don't know, I heard you had a boyfriend.
WEST
Hmm.
YOUNG
The actor?
WEST
[ Laughs ] Doing a little background on me, huh? Well, that boyfriend is no more. Long story.
YOUNG
I look forward to hearing about it over dinner.
RYAN
You know we don't have class tonight, right?
NOLAN
Right. I-I just -- I needed some help.
RYAN
I'm not gonna write your paper for you.
NOLAN
No. No. I-I was hoping maybe you could tell me what to write. I've spent the last two days talking to cops about whether I should've identified myself, and the answers have ranged from "probably not" to "no way." But...I am struggling with how betrayed my classmates felt. So, I just...need a little outside perspective.
RYAN
You should've said something. I'm sure there are a dozen reasons why cops think that your job is a need-to-know thing, but come on. It's 2021. You guys have a hell of a lot to make up for. So, you want to win back trust? You gotta assume a higher level of responsibility. You gotta go the extra mile every single time.
NOLAN
You think I have a chance to mend some fences here?
RYAN
Yeah. I do. Everyone in this classroom wants to change the system, and they're driven by hope and a ton of anger. But hope is what keeps them moving forward. So if they see that you're serious about being part of the change, they'll let you back in.
NOLAN
Thank you.
RYAN
Mm-hmm.
NOLAN
That's so -- I -- I should've written that down. What was the part in the beginning, when you said that... It's -- Thank you very much. It's good stuff.
[ Laughter ]
ZHANG
Oh, and they always want us to go undercover as strippers.
HARPER
Yes.
ZHANG
As if our bodies are the only thing we have.
HARPER
Well, actually, my -- my body does have magical powers, but it does, a lot of the times, feel like, as a female UC, that they just want to get you naked for the guys in the van.
ZHANG
Mm-hmm, so that they can drool over you in a cloud of their own farts.
[ Laughs ]
TAMARA
I don't think I can use any of this for my paper.
CHEN
Okay, all right. What -- What exactly do you need to know?
TAMARA
Women have been cops in the LAPD over 100 years now, but does it still feel like you have to act like a man to fit in?
ZHANG
Good question.
HARPER
Well, you're the rookie, the last one in. What do you think?
CHEN
Um... Mm, I think... I think fitting in is a trap. I'm sitting between two of the best cops in the state...
ZHANG
Mm.
CHEN
...who had to navigate an avalanche of obstacles just to get to the mountaintop. They didn't do it by trying to fit in. They did it by -- you know, by, um... being stronger, smarter, more agile. They had to navigate a system that still believes being a girl is inherently soft or weak, as though empathy is somehow a liability. There isn't a guy in the force who can do what these guys can do.
ZHANG
Mm.
CHEN
And there sure as hell isn't anyone tougher.
HARPER
Hoo! I will drink to that.
ZHANG
Hell yeah.
[ Laughs ]
[ Glasses clink ]