THE ROOKIE
Season 5, Episode 20
"S.T.R."
Previously on "The Rookie"...
BRADFORD
Isabel. I've been trying to find you. Are you okay?
ISABEL
I'm fine.
BRADFORD
That was my wife.
CHEN
You were a nurse?
ISABEL
No, a cop. Narcotics.
RANDY
Hi, it's Skip Tracer Randy. I'm a bounty hunter now.
HARPER
Promise you'll call me if you get into any trouble.
RANDY
Of course.
NOLAN
Weird guy.
HARPER
Mm-hmm.
INT. JOHN NOLAN'S HOUSE, DAY - BEDROOM
JOHN NOLAN hears ominous sounds from the bathroom; he goes over to find his fiancée, BAILEY NUNE, hunched head-first over the toilet.
NOLAN
Bailey? Ooh. Are you okay?
BAILEY
Why is alcohol?
NOLAN
You and Libby really tore it up, didn't you? I didn't even hear you come in last night.
BAILEY
I'm officially too old to do shots.
NOLAN
How many did you do?
BAILEY
Which bar?
NOLAN
Yikes. Well, maybe you should think about not trying to relive your college days.
BAILEY
It is all Libby wants to do. She says it makes the other 360 days of diaper changing more tolerable. Like tonight, she wants to go to some underground party where a van picks you up on a street corner and blindfolds you.
NOLAN
Yeah, that's not a party. That's a--that's a kidnapping. Just tell her you don't want to go.
BAILEY
I can't.
NOLAN
Why not?
LIBBY pops into the bathroom, far too cheerful for BAILEY's company.
LIBBY
Dude. Last night was so much fun. Oh, thanks again for letting me crash here. But don't tell Roger if he calls. I'm using the hotel allowance to upgrade our festivities. Why are you down there?
BAILEY
Oh. I'm, um--I'm just posing for this photography project that I'm working on. It's like--it's like the disconnect between beauty and, um...
NOLAN
Aging. (off her look) Not aging. Consumerism.
LIBBY
Fun. Well, I'm gonna go for a run. Do you wanna come?
BAILEY
Yeah, of course. Just let me put my clothes on. I'll be right there.
LIBBY exits.
NOLAN
You are in no shape to go running.
BAILEY
I can't let her beat me.
NOLAN
That is a super mature attitude.
BAILEY
Shut up and hold my hair.
NOLAN comes over to hold her hair while she throws up.
NOLAN
Oh. You had the clams.
INT. CHEN'S APARTMENT, DAY - KITCHEN
CHEN
That looks good.
BRADFORD
Mm, thank you.
CHEN
Mm-hmm.
TAMARA
Hey. There are other rooms in the apartment for that.
CHEN
I thought you were sleeping in today. No classes.
TAMARA
I was, but then I was pulled out of my slumber by the smell of pancakes.
BRADFORD
Yeah? You want some? One or two?
TAMARA
Uh, three, please.
BRADFORD
Three. -- No, wait. Um, shoot. Totally forgot. Um... Isabel, uh, texted me. She's in town and needed to talk, so I--I just told her to come here. I hope that's okay.
CHEN
Oh, yeah, um... Of course.
BRADFORD
Hey, I'm sorry. I meant to tell you after you got out of the shower, but you know, I got in the shower, and--
CHEN
Stop.
TAMARA
Oh, please, stop. I'll get it.
BRADFORD
Sorry.
CHEN
It's okay.
TAMARA opens the door and greets ISABEL BRADFORD.
TAMARA
Hi. You must be Isabel. I'm Tamara.
ISABEL
Hey.
BRADFORD
Hey. Look at you. You look great.
ISABEL
Oh, thanks. Amazing what a few years of sobriety does for the skin. It's nice to see you again, Lucy. Thanks for letting me crash your breakfast.
CHEN
No, no, not at all. Um, can I get you something?
ISABEL
Wouldn't say no to some coffee.
CHEN
Okay.
BRADFORD
Come over here. When did you get in?
They sit on the sofa while CHEN pours some coffee in the kitchen.
ISABEL
A few hours ago.
TAMARA (low, to CHEN)
Is that the Isabel? The ex-wife, Isabel?
CHEN
Stop. You're so loud. Yes.
TAMARA
Tim invited her here? That's weird, right?
CHEN
No. I mean, it's totally fine. It's... It's a little weird.
TAMARA
I'm going to do a little digging.
CHEN
No.
TAMARA
Yes, I am.
CHEN
Tamara, seriously, don't.
BRADFORD
So is everything okay?
ISABEL
Oh, yeah, I'm fine, but I need your help. I worked a UC assignment eight years ago, before I fell from grace, infiltrating the Teska family.
BRADFORD
Oh, I know all about 'em. Yeah, they're big time in Sylmar. Guns, drugs, prostitution.
ISABEL
Yeah, back in the day, they were up-and-comers, but they had big ambitions. The boss was Frank. He had a 10-year-old daughter, Dara. Great kid. Super bright.
BRADFORD
I'm sure you took her under your wing.
ISABEL
Yeah. I mean, someone had to. He was a single dad. Barely paid any attention to her. I was part of the crew, so I was at the house all the time, and we became close... in that weird way you do when you're pretending to be someone else. But after we arrested her dad, I scattered, you know, left that identity behind, and went on to the next case. I hadn't heard from her in eight years.
BRADFORD
Until now.
ISABEL
Yeah, I had a answering service through the department as a firewall between that life and my real one. Last night, they forwarded me a message from Dara.
DARA TESKA (recording)
Nikki, it's Dara. I know it's been forever. I don't even know if you still check this, but I'm scared, and I didn't know who to call. Sorry. This was dumb. I shouldn't have-- I have to go.
ISABEL
I called her back a few hours later. No answer. Ran a quick social media check. Reached out to her friends. No one's seen her.
BRADFORD
And you can't go knocking on doors in the old neighborhood 'cause you're out of cover.
ISABEL
Exactly.
BRADFORD
No, why don't you come down to the station? I'll get a warrant for her phone. We'll find her.
ISABEL
Thank you.
BRADFORD
Yeah.
INT. MID-WILSHIRE STATION, DAY
LOPEZ
Well, that's where that lives now.
GREY
I got it.
LOPEZ
Show-off.
GREY
You can start maternity leave at any time.
LOPEZ
Too many open cases. I'll take my leave in a couple weeks.
GREY
All right. Are you sure you're okay?
LOPEZ
I have to pee every five minutes, there's a stabbing pain in both my hips, and I barely sleep, but I am glowing, right?
GREY
Radiant. Thorsen. You're assigned to Detective Lopez as her personal aide until further notice.
THORSEN
Yes, sir. Thank you.
GREY
Don't thank me yet, son.
THORSEN
Officer Thorsen, at your service. What you need?
LOPEZ
Honestly? Antacids. Like, a lot. I bought this on my way in to work this morning.
THORSEN
You know, I don't think you're supposed to take that many. Antacids it is. Need anything else while I'm out?
LOPEZ
No. Uh, yes. Canned Chilorio, Sinaloa style.
THORSEN
I don't think canned meat's gonna help with your indigestion. On it. Yeah.
LOPEZ
And a cherry soda.
THORSEN
Got it.
LOPEZ
What?
INT. MID-WILSHIRE STATION, DAY - BULLPEN
ISABEL
It's weird to be back.
BRADFORD
Yeah, well, at least it's under better circumstances.
ISABEL
Much.
SMITTY
Bradford. Welcome back. Isabel?
ISABEL
Hey, Smitty.
SMITTY
I almost didn't recognize you without the, uh--
ISABEL
Greasy hair and track marks?
SMITTY
No. I was gonna say the badge.
ISABEL
Good to see you. "Welcome back"? Were you on vacation?
BRADFORD
No, I was on leave for a shooting. I just got cleared.
ISABEL
You okay?
BRADFORD
Yeah. Well, mostly. Lucy thinks I should start meditating. I know, right?
HARPER
The famous Isabel.
CHEN
Yeah. You ever work with her?
HARPER
No, but I knew of her, first as a rock star UC, then as a cautionary tale. Why is she back?
CHEN
Uh, an old case.
HARPER
You okay with that?
CHEN
Why wouldn't I be? It's not a big deal. I mean, he--he's over her.
HARPER
I know that. Just making sure you do.
CHEN
Totally. I--stop it.
TAMARA
So I did a deep dive on Isabel.
CHEN
Yeah--what deep dive?
TAMARA
The one we talked about. I'm pretty sure she's single, and she's working with a police officer support network in Santa Fe while she gets a degree in social work.
CHEN
See? I mean, it sounds like she's built a whole new life for herself. This is amazing.
TAMARA
Sure. Or she wants Tim to see she's doing well. He did say she looked good.
CHEN
Look, it--okay. Why, then, would she agree to meet and his new girlfriend's apartment?
TAMARA
Keep your enemies close. I'm just saying.
CHEN
Tamara...[scoffs]
BRADFORD
Chen, let's move. Dara's uncle's on his way in.
CHEN
Goodbye.
NOLAN
Hey.
CHEN
Hi.
NOLAN
Good morning.
HARPER
Morning. Where's your boot?
NOLAN
Oh. Grey gave her a personal day.
HARPER
Rookies don't get personal days. Well, I guess if anyone deserves an exception, it is Juarez. [chuckles]
NOLAN
Side note--got something. Bailey has a friend from college visiting us right now.
HARPER
Oh, let me guess. They are partying like it's 1999.
NOLAN
I have never seen Bailey so hungover.
HARPER
I have a friend like that. She texts me every Friday night at midnight to ask me what I am up to as if I do not have babies at home. All right, so when does Princess Bad News leave?
NOLAN
Tomorrow, which is good. I don't think Bailey's liver can take another day.
HARPER
Oh.
NOLAN
Do not answer that. Oh, you--
HARPER sees the caller's name and answers her phone.
HARPER
Randy, is this another butt dial?
RANDY (on the phone)
Nyla Harper, you jokester. I would never dial you with my buttocks. No, I actually have a teensie, tinesie Frage for you. Hypothetically, when is trespassing a crime?
HARPER
Always.
RANDY
But what if you're trying to help somebody?
HARPER
Randy, I don't know how to make this any clearer. Do not trespass.
RANDY
Okie-dokies. Danke schoen, my wisest friend.
NOLAN
What was that about?
HARPER
I hope to never find out.
INT. MID-WILSHIRE STATION, DAY - INTERROGATION
BRADFORD is talking to ED TESKA while CHEN and ISABEL watch in Observation.
BRADFORD
Thanks for coming in. I'm Sergeant Bradford. We got a call this morning about your niece Dara.
ISABEL
Ugh, Ed always gave me the creeps. He used to talk directly to my chest.
CHEN
What did you do?
ISABEL
Nothing. I was trying to get a foothold. I needed him to like me.
BRADFORD
Said she seemed to be in a bit of distress last night and hasn't been able to get in touch with her since.
ED TESKA
I haven't seen her since yesterday morning. She's 18; she comes and goes as she pleases. What friend was this?
BRADFORD
I've got her name written down over at my desk. Um, listen. What I'm trying to figure out here-- can you think of any place that Dara might like to hang out? A boyfriend's house?
ED
Not that I know of. You sure this isn't just an excuse to jam me up, business I'm in?
BRADFORD
No, sir. No. This is purely a welfare check on your niece. You know, her dad gets out of prison tomorrow. What's his relationship like with her? Any strife about him coming home?
ED
Nah, nah. We're excited to have him back. Gonna throw a party.
BRADFORD
That's great. You did bring up your business. I mean, is there any chance that could be connected to her disappearance?
ED
Look, you-- you keep saying "disappeared." She's probably just sleeping one off at a--at a friend's house.
BRADFORD
Of course. Yeah. Well, listen, if you hear from her, uh, please give me a call. Okay?
OFFICER
This way, Mr. Teska.
BRADFORD enters Observation.
CHEN
Any chance we can get a warrant on his phone?
BRADFORD
Not based on what we have so far.
ISABEL
You should talk to Frank, see if it's all one big, happy family like Ed said.
NOLAN
Hey, I need a surefire hangover remedy.
HARPER
Uh, pickle juice.
NOLAN
Harper says pickle juice. Thank you.
HARPER
What now?
RANDY
Hypothetically, if a person did end up trespassing and then found a dead body...
HARPER
Whoa. Dead or murdered?
RANDY
Uh, hypothetically murdered.
HARPER
Okay, look. Whatever you do, do not touch it. In fact, don't touch anything.
RANDY
Oh!
HARPER
Especially if it looks like it was related to the crime.
RANDY
Ah! [gasps] Uh, h-- h-hypothetically, if I, uh, fell in the man's blood...
NOLAN
Okay, seriously, what is going on?
HARPER
Randy broke into someone's house, found a murdered man, and then fell in his blood.
RANDY
Hypothetically.
OFFICER JAN
Police! Show me your hands!
SCANLON
Right there.
RANDY
Nyla, I have to go.
SCANLON
Don't move.
SCANLON
Cut it out.
RANDY
Oh, there you are! Meine bestest Freunde.
HARPER
Hey, Randy.
SCANLON
You know this nutjob?
HARPER
I do, which is why I need to ask for a favor. Let me take over this case.
SCANLON
Oh, forget it. Easiest solve I ever had. I'm not just gonna hand it to you.
NOLAN
Yeah, he didn't do it.
SCANLON
Like hell, he didn't.
HARPER
We have been communicating with him all day. This is just a really bad case of wrong place, wrong time.
RANDY
Oh, no, no, no. I am excellent with time. I'm German.
NOLAN
Randy. You're not helping.
HARPER
Please. Look, in exchange, I will take something else off of your plate. What--what's a case that has been giving you grief?
SCANLON
NoHo Doe.
HARPER
Mm.
RANDY
Ooh, that sounds fun. What's a NoHo Doe?
HARPER
A torso found in a vacant lot with no definitive cause of death, no witnesses, and no way to ID him. You give us this case, I will take NoHo Doe.
SCANLON
Deal. Dieter's all yours.
RANDY
It's Randy. Dieter was my uncle. He is not a very good detective. What's up, guys? What's the haps?
HARPER
Randy, we need you to tell us everything about why you were in this house.
MONICA STEVENS enters the booking area and speaks to RANDY.
MONICA
Don't answer that.
HARPER
What are you doing here?
MONICA
Representing my client.
NOLAN
Monica is your lawyer? How do you two even know each other?
MONICA
He's helped me track down a few... hard to locate witnesses.
RANDY
Oh, yeah, that guy was hard to find, but no one hides from the fingers of Skip Tracer Randy.
HARPER
Look, we're just treating Randy as a witness in this case, not as a suspect. We just want him to tell us what he knows.
MONICA
That's fine, as long as I'm present.
RANDY
My freedom's been restored. What should I do with this second chance at life? Eat a ghost pepper? Oh, declare my secret love to an unsuspecting friend?
MONICA
Definitely not the last one.
RANDY
Oh, just the ghost pepper, then.
THORSEN
Okay, so what's next?
LOPEZ
Interdepartmental meeting. I've been looking forward to it all morning. The chairs are super comfy, and the donuts are heaven.
THORSEN
I mean, you could always just buy yourself donuts.
LOPEZ
Free donuts taste better. Oh, crap.
THORSEN
What?
LOPEZ
They switched the location.
THORSEN
To where? Oh.
LOPEZ
I can do this.
THORSEN
Yeah, you can do this.
LOPEZ
Yeah. -- I can't do this.
THORSEN
Okay, you know what? How 'bout I just go and grab you a donut and I can FaceTime you in the meeting?
LOPEZ
Deal.
Yeah.
THORSEN
Yeah. -- You know what? Uh...I got you. Yeah.
INT. MID-WILSHIRE STATION, DAY - INTERROGATION
RANDY
I met her at a bar.
HARPER
Met who?
RANDY
The woman who hired me.
NOLAN
To do what? Randy, just pretend like we don't know anything.
RANDY
Right. Okay. So a bar is a place where people--
HARPER
I'm giving him back to Scanlon.
MONICA
Hold on. Randy, I know linear thinking is difficult, but try.
RANDY
Emily Johnson. She'd read online about my fame as a skip tracer bounty hunter and asked to meet me.
HARPER
At a bar.
RANDY
Exactly. Yeah. She told me she was being stalked by a man named Nelson Friske, and would I scare the bejesus out of him? I don't know who is this "BeJesus," but is he, like, from the sequel?
HARPER
Uh, yes. Okay, so you showed up at Nelson Friske's house, and he was already dead?
RANDY
Oh, as a dormouse.
MONICA
Who exactly is Nelson Friske?
NOLAN
A 43-year-old day trader with a prolific side hobby of being an internet troll.
MONICA
Oh, so potentially dozens of suspects.
HARPER
Yes, which is why we need to find this Emily Johnson. Do you have a phone number for her?
RANDY
Yeah, I can send to you.
HARPER
Great. Now you go home.
RANDY
But why? I want to be with you guys, my partners.
NOLAN
Sorry, Randy, you're just too close to this one. So I think, legally, it's best for you just to sit at home and wait for us to unravel this mystery.
MONICA
He's right. Go home. Stay out of trouble.
RANDY
Of course, because trouble is not my middle name. It's actually Randy. Randy Randy. Yeah. If anyone cares.
ISABEL
So how long you been dating Lucy?
BRADFORD
A few months.
ISABEL
Mm.
BRADFORD
Are you seeing anyone?
ISABEL
I was, and then I wasn't. And then I wa-- you know the drill. They were nice. It just-- you set the bar really high.
BRADFORD
Here we go. Frank Teska. I'm Sergeant Tim Bradford. I'm in charge of locating your daughter. She's missing.
FRANK TESKA
What do you mean, missing? You talk to my brother, Ed?
BRADFORD
I did. He said he hasn't seen her since yesterday. Has she been in contact with you at all?
FRANK
Not recently. I get a card at Christmas. Not for Father's Day, though. Can't say I blame her.
BRADFORD
Can you think of anywhere she might go when she's upset?
FRANK
I don't know. I mean, who'd go after Dara? She's never hurt anyone.
BRADFORD
Yeah, I mean, you've made a lot of powerful enemies. Is there any chance someone's trying to get to you through her?
FRANK
No one would dare.
BRADFORD
Okay. Well, if you think of anything.
FRANK
She's a good kid. She deserves better than... Find her.
BRADFORD
Yeah, we're doing everything we can.
FRANK
Yeah. Thanks.
ISABEL
How long till he makes the call?
Sergeant, I have the tap on that call from the prison to Ed Teska.
BRADFORD
Patch it through.
FRANK
Where the hell's my daughter? Police are telling me she's missing.
ED
Relax. She's a teenager. She'll turn up.
FRANK
When I'm out of here tomorrow, you and I are gonna have to have a talk. I'm hearing things, and I'm not happy.
ED
Stop listening to the rumors. People are trying to come between us. Don't let 'em.
FRANK
Find my kid.
BRADFORD
Well, maybe Ed's telling the truth. Maybe he doesn't know where Dara is.
ISABEL
Maybe, but he is a professional liar. He once had Frank convinced someone greenlit a hit on him. Had him running from his shadow. The motel.
BRADFORD
What?
ISABEL
When Frank thought he'd been greenlit, he told me to take Dara somewhere safe while he dealt with it. We stayed at a motel by the beach. Maybe she's there.
BRADFORD
Okay.
HARPER
So the number Randy gave us for Emily was a fake.
NOLAN
Well, then I'm guessing her name was fake too.
HARPER
Well, if she is one of Nelson's victims, a fake name would make sense. She wouldn't want us to track her through her online communications.
NOLAN
But then why involve Randy?
HARPER
To create reasonable doubt? I mean, it wouldn't even have to be a good frame job in order for it to work. All her lawyer would have to do is point to the 6'4" German man found at the crime scene covered in the victim's blood. Oh, speaking of.
NOLAN
Huh.
HARPER
Tell me you are at home.
RANDY
Are you familiar with the Britney Spears classic "Oops!...I Did It Again"? Uh, I have to go. I'll see you back at the station.
OFFICER JAN
Let me see your hands!
RANDY
Hi, Jan. And friends.
HARPER
Randy, you're making it very difficult for us to not prosecute you.
RANDY
I was just trying to help you guys find the real killer.
NOLAN
If you find a lead, just text us.
HARPER
The good news is, we know that fake Emily's real name is Ariel Riser.
NOLAN
Uniforms found $5,000 in cash in her bedroom, along with a note that had your phone number on it.
MONICA
Mm, so someone paid her to frame my client and then killed her to cover their tracks?
HARPER
Yes, that is what it looks like. But the question is, why Randy? Was he just a patsy, or does our killer hold a grudge against him too?
RANDY
Why would anyone have a grudge against Skip Tracer Randy? Everybody loves me.
NOLAN
Right. But pretending they don't, why don't you give us a list of all your bounties and skip traces from the past five years?
HARPER
Hopefully, one of the names on that list will match one of Nelson's victims, and we will have our killer.
RANDY
Great, and I will start looking at Nelson's social media.
HARPER
No, you will not. You will get us that list, and then you will go home.
MONICA
Randy, as your lawyer, I'm begging you to stay there.
RANDY
God, you are no funs. You are zero with the funs. You're like a monkey allergic to bananas.
BAILEY
Please remind me why we had to drive all the way to this specific coffee cart instead of the one five minutes from my bed.
LIBBY
Because they have a liquor license, and it... Hi.
BAILEY
Oh, hang on. Please tell me we did not come all the way here so you could meet up with some guy.
LIBBY
What? We've been chatting online, and he asked if we could meet.
BAILEY
Is that why you came to LA?
LIBBY
No! Oh, come on, Bails, please. I need this.
BAILEY
What about your husband?
LIBBY
Ugh, whatever. Roger's in love with his physical therapist.
BAILEY
Okay, fine.
LIBBY
Yes.
BAILEY
But I'm staying here with you. I'm not having you get murdered by some random man you met on the internet.
LIBBY
You are the best. Grab us some margaritas?
ISABEL
Dara and I stayed here for a week. We ate junk food, swam in the ocean, danced on the bed. I know it doesn't sound like much, but when you're spending every second of the day on high alert, waiting for it all to go sideways, it--it feels good just to breathe.
BRADFORD
I get it... 'cause I held my breath every time you left on a long-term assignment. And then you'd come home, and...
ISABEL
And I'd still be gone in my head, no matter how much I wanted to be there with you.
BRADFORD
Anyway, um, so is that escape why you think Dara will come here?
ISABEL
I don't know. I could be projecting. It just--she was scared. She--she called me for a reason. Maybe it's 'cause this is where she felt safe.
BRADFORD
Okay, well, if she does come here, you're gonna need backup, all right? You're not a cop anymore-- no gun, no badge-- so Lucy's on her way here.
ISABEL
I can't believe, after everything I put you through, you're dating another UC.
BRADFORD
I know. But Lucy's different.
ISABEL
She isn't a junkie in waiting?
BRADFORD
You know that is not what I meant.
ISABEL
I know, I just-- seeing you again brings it all back up, you know?
BRADFORD
I do.
HARPER
I still have not been able to find a connection between Friske and Randy. What about you?
NOLAN
Uh, no, but I did make a list of all the people that Friske was trolling who seem most likely to kill him.
HARPER
Who's at the top?
NOLAN
Brian Cole. He is an accountant from Glendale. Friske hacked Cole's dead wife's ClipTalk account to send him taunting messages.
HARPER
That's sick.
NOLAN
Yeah. But he has an airtight alibi. Next on the list are a chef in Venice whose restaurant closed after Friske posted a wave of fake reviews and a gym owner in Hollywood who lost his wife after Friske leaked DMs he'd sent to a female employee.
HARPER
Mm.
SMITTY
Hey, Nolan. Your fiancée's here.
NOLAN
Oh, great. Uh, reception?
SMITTY
Holding. Just got brought in for being drunk in public.
HARPER
Mm.
NOLAN
Excuse me.
WESLEY
Uh, hey, why haven't you arrested Randy yet? He's been found at two murder scenes.
HARPER
Okay, I know from the outside it doesn't make any sense--
WESLEY
To the DA, it looks like you took Scanlon's case to help out a friend.
HARPER
Tell the DA to come say that to my face.
WESLEY
Look, I know that's not what's happening here, but if you don't make some headway on a new suspect soon, the DA's talking about going over your head.
HARPER
All right. Thanks for the heads up.
WESLEY
Of course. Where's Angela?
HARPER
Uh, lunch. Again.
WESLEY
Again. [chuckles]
NOLAN
Thank you. Hey.
BAILEY
Hey.
NOLAN
What happened?
BAILEY
Libby took me on her date with a guy she met on the internet. He turned out to be a creep. She started throwing fists and ran away when the cops showed up.
NOLAN
Okay, I'm starting to think that maybe Libby isn't the greatest friend to have around.
BAILEY
I know. I'm just so tired, and I just really want to go home and sleep.
NOLAN
I'm so sorry. Um... Randy, this really isn't a good time.
RANDY
John, I found the killer! I'm in the trunk of his car right now!
NOLAN
Randy combed through Friske's troll accounts and came to the same conclusion I did. Brian Cole is a prime suspect.
HARPER
Except for the fact that Cole has an airtight alibi.
NOLAN
Exactly, but Randy didn't know that. So he went to Brian's house to "gather evidence," and...[scoffs] Hid in the trunk of Brian's car when Brian came out to take out the trash, and now he's stuck in there.
HARPER
'Kay. Is that the car?
NOLAN
That's him.
HARPER
Okay, we gotta get him out of there on the DL. Otherwise, the DA is gonna flip out, have the case reassigned, and throw the book at Randy.
NOLAN
I might have an idea.
HARPER
How you doing, sir?
COLE
Uh, good afternoon, Officer.
HARPER
License and registration, please. So we received a call saying that you swerved over the double yellow line. Have you been drinking today, sir?
COLE
Absolutely not.
HARPER
Okay, great. Can you step out of the car, please?
COLE
Sure.
HARPER
Front of the car. I'm gonna give you a little field sobriety test.
COLE
Oh, that's not necessary.
HARPER
Stand on your left foot, please. Yep. Ah, ah, ah. Eyes on me, sir. Can you recite the alphabet backwards, only saying every other letter?
COLE
Um...uh, Z...
HARPER
Uh-huh.
COLE
X...
RANDY
Wow, this is exciting.
NOLAN
Shh. Stay down.
RANDY
Noted.
COLE
V...
HARPER
Yeah.
COLE
T...
HARPER
Leg up, please.
COLE
Oh, higher?
HARPER
Yeah.
COLE
P...
HARPER
Yeah.
COLE
Uh...
HARPER
All right. Thank you.
COLE
Does that-- does that mean I can go?
HARPER
Uh, yeah. Uh, drive safe out there.
COLE
Okay.
RANDY
Wow, that was thrilling! I felt like Thomas Cruise in "Missions Impossible."
HARPER
Do you have any idea how stupid that was?
RANDY
No.
NOLAN
We already looked into this guy. He had nothing to do with the murder.
HARPER
Okay, I know you want to help, but involving yourself with this case will only give the prosecution more ammunition against you at trial.
RANDY
Wait, does this mean I have to go home again?
HARPER
Oh, absolutely not. No. Obviously, you cannot be trusted to stay out of trouble, so you are coming with us.
RANDY
Whoo-hoo! Reunited partners! Uh, when am I issued a service weapon?
NOLAN
Oh, my God.
BRADFORD
Oh, here she is. All right, be careful out there, okay? You haven't seen Dara in eight years. You don't know what she's gotten herself into. She's not a kid anymore. And it's been a minute since you've done this.
ISABEL
Yes, sir. Always the protector.
BRADFORD
You wired up?
CHEN
Yeah. The receiver's in my car.
ISABEL
Hey. Thanks for helping out.
CHEN
Yeah, of course.
ISABEL
You have a history that might work here?
CHEN
I've got a backstory that puts me in Chowchilla for two years.
ISABEL
Let's go with that if we have to, say we met there.
CHEN
Done. I gotta admit, I was hoping to, uh, pick your brain a bit.
ISABEL
You want to know my cheat codes for dating Tim?
CHEN
What? No! No. I've got him all figured out. No, I wanted to ask you about your time undercover. I mean, you are a legend.
ISABEL
Hmm.
CHEN
The cases you closed, the people you put away. I know it didn't end the way you wanted.
ISABEL
No, it, uh--it didn't.
CHEN
I'm sorry. I... I guess what I'm trying to ask is, with all the bad things that can and did happen, um...
ISABEL
You want to know if it was worth it?
CHEN
Yeah.
ISABEL
Yeah, um... honestly, I-- I can't answer that.
CHEN
Mm.
ISABEL
Being undercover derailed my entire life. I--I lost my husband, my job, my self-respect. Almost lost my life. But I--I can't put all that on being a UC. Plenty of people make it out without becoming a full-blown addict. There were just-- there were things from my past that-- anyway, I, um... from what Tim tells me, you have much healthier coping mechanisms. Being a UC is hard. You have to keep secrets from the people that are closest to you, and you live in this constant state of fight or flight. That wears on your relationships no matter what, but if you go in with your eyes open and you're prepared to make those sacrifices, your experience might be different than mine. I hope it is.
THORSEN
Yeah, unis brought this guy in. He's suspected of attacking his boss with a bat. Suspect wore a ski mask, no DNA, but the boss is convinced it's him.
LOPEZ
So we need a confession.
THORSEN
That would be ideal.
LOPEZ
Good afternoon, Mr. Hayden. I just have a few questions, and we'll have you out of here as soon as possible.
HAYDEN
I didn't do anything.
LOPEZ
Hold that thought.
THORSEN
What's wrong?
LOPEZ
Gotta pee. Where were you at the time of the attack?
HAYDEN
Uh, the bathroom.
THORSEN
Again?
LOPEZ
Did anyone see you?
HAYDEN
Um, I'm not...
LOPEZ
Sorry. Never get pregnant. I'm basically disgusting 24/7 now.
THORSEN
Should I call somebody to take over?
LOPEZ
Nah, I got him right where I want him.
THORSEN
Okay.
LOPEZ
How would you characterize your relationship with your boss?
HAYDEN
Uh...uh, normal. I mean, you know how bosses can be.
LOPEZ
Hold that thought. I have to pee again.
HAYDEN
It was me! I attacked him. He called me an idiot, so I went and got a bat. Just please let me out of this room!
LOPEZ
Great. Let me get some paper so we can write up your statement.
THORSEN
How 'bout I get it?
NOLAN
The Venn diagram of the people Randy knows and the people he annoys is a circle.
HARPER
Yeah, but who did he annoy enough to want him dead? That's the tricky part. Wh--hey, did we say you could get up?
RANDY
It is so boring over there. I think I could be more helpful here... Working the case with my partners. Where do we start?
NOLAN
Randy, who just texted you?
RANDY
Oh, it's from my friend Cooper.
NOLAN
Cooper Logue? He owns a gym?
RANDY
Ja! You know the Coops?
HARPER
Is that the guy that Nelson doxxed for sexting his employees?
NOLAN
Yes. Randy, what did he text you?
RANDY
Oh. Oh, just a hilarious indoor joke.
NOLAN
Yeah, Randy, that's the symbol for death. He's actually threatening you.
RANDY
Oh, no, that is ridiculous. We play pickleball together. He sends me this emoji to let me know that I killed it on the court. He is such a good sport. I've defeated him, I think, 21 times in a row, and he does not mind at all. Oh. Mm. I see now. Context is very important. I think Cooper Logue is the one who wants me dead.
NOLAN
Randy, I think you might be right. Do you know where we can find him?
RANDY
I do.
HARPER
The only problem is, we don't have any hard evidence tying him to either murder.
RANDY
What if he tried to kill me? Hmm? I will be your decoy duck.
HARPER
No, Randy, we can't do that.
RANDY
Oh, come on. Just say yes. I will go there, get him all riled up, say provocative things, get his angry juices flowing.
NOLAN
No need. I think you can just be yourself.
RANDY
Oh, really? You think that would do it?
NOLAN
I got a great feeling about this.
RANDY
There he is.
NOLAN
I wouldn't have pegged him for a pickleball guy, but all right.
HARPER
You ready to do this?
RANDY
Ready.
NOLAN
Really think he'll take the bait?
RANDY
Hey, Cooper! Ready for Randy to hand you your hintern again? Yeah! What's up, man? I'm gonna treat you like Seabiscuit ri-- Oh.
HARPER
Well, there's your answer.
NOLAN
Hey, drop the German! Put the German down!
BRADFORD
Hey, you get the issue with the wire sorted out?
CHEN
Yeah, we're all good. It got disconnected somehow. Check, one, two.
BRADFORD
All right, got you.
ISABEL
There's Dara.
CHEN
Babe, we gotta go. Time for you to put Nikki back on.
ISABEL
Let's see if I still got it. Hey, it's Nikki. Look at you. You're all grown up.
DARA
I didn't think you'd actually come.
ISABEL
Well, I'm here. You gonna let us in?
DARA
Who's she?
CHEN
Amber. Nik brought me for, uh... emotional support.
ISABEL
Your message made it sound like things were poppin' off. Thought we could use some backup.
DARA
So how do you guys know each other?
CHEN
I did a stint in Chowchilla.
DARA
That's where you've been all these years?
ISABEL
For part of it. Listen, I know I left without saying goodbye, but when your old man got busted, I had to bounce, or I would've been picked up too. I didn't have a choice.
DARA
Right. Everyone else gets to leave, and I get left behind.
ISABEL
What's going on, D? Why'd you call the old number?
DARA
My dad's getting out tomorrow, and last night, I heard my uncle talking about taking him out so he doesn't have to hand back the crown.
BRADFORD
Hey, it's Bradford.
GREY
What's up?
BRADFORD
We found the kid. She says Ed Teska ordered a hit on his brother.
GREY
I'll alert the prison, get him put in solitary until he's released.
BRADFORD
Hey, four shooters just showed up at the motel. I need backup, code 3.
CHEN
Hey, what's up?
BRADFORD
Four shooters just landed. You got less than a minute. Two are going in the front, two are going around back.
CHEN
They're here.
DARA
Who?
ISABEL
How many?
CHEN
Four. Tim says we've got 60 seconds.
DARA
Who's Tim?
BRADFORD
Is there a back window, someplace you can escape to?
CHEN
There's a balcony, but we're on the second floor.
DARA
What the hell is going on? Who are you talking to?
BRADFORD
Put me on speaker. Look. If you get caught up in there, it's a fatal funnel. What else you got?
ISABEL
I say we take the hallway. Do a feigned retreat to the south. Dynamic entry on opposing adjacent rooms. Take long angles. Wedge out and post up until backup arrives. But I'm gonna need a weapon.
BRADFORD
That's not bad. Lucy?
CHEN
Yeah, I can do that. How long until backup arrives?
BRADFORD
Backup's en route.
DARA
What the hell is going on? Who the hell are you with this-- this "hallway, wedge, post" crap?
ISABEL
We're cops. I'm retired. She's active current.
DARA
You were undercover?
ISABEL
I know it's a lot, but I--
DARA
You're the reason my dad was sent to prison! You lied to me!
ISABEL
Dara, please. I can explain, but right now, we need to focus on getting--
CHEN
Hey! -- Get back!
THUG
Get back here!
ISABEL
Hold still! -- It's okay, all right? We got you. You're safe now. All right? It's okay.
INT. JOHN NOLAN'S HOUSE, DAY - LIVING ROOM
BAILEY
Hey, I thought you weren't leaving till tomorrow.
LIBBY
I changed my flight. A car will be here any moment.
BAILEY
Oh. Car? I can just take you.
LIBBY
That's not necessary.
BAILEY
Is something wrong?
LIBBY
I have something I need to talk to you about, but I just don't know how.
BAILEY
How long have we been friends? You can say whatever you want to me.
LIBBY
I think you might have a drinking problem.
BAILEY
I might have a drinking problem?
LIBBY
Listen, I've done my best to keep up on these yearly visits, but I'm a mom of two now, and I just don't have it in me anymore. I don't know how you manage with all of your jobs and hobbies, but I'm afraid you might be an alcoholic. Oh, that's my ride. I hope you're not mad, and I hope that you take what I said to heart.
BAILEY
Oh, I heard every word. Why don't we take next year off and just give me a little time to get my life together and things?
LIBBY
I'm proud of you.
BAILEY
Yeah.
RANDY
Oh, guys. That was so much fun.
NOLAN
Not by my definition, but you do you. No, actually--yeah. Stop--stop doing you.
HARPER
And stop accepting jobs that break the law or put you in danger, please, for all of our sakes.
RANDY
I will...as soon as I help this mysterious and glamorous widow discover who dumped her husband's body in the reservoir. Wow, I joshed you good. That's the plot to Chinatown, a classic film. Want to come over tonight and watch it?
HARPER
No.
NOLAN
I have plans.
RANDY
Okay, rain check it is.
NOLAN
Get better soon.
RANDY
I will do. Bye!
LOPEZ
Hey, Sarge. Need something?
GREY
I'm here to escort you to your car.
LOPEZ
Oh, I just have some paperwork to finish.
GREY
No, you're going home, and you're gonna stay home. I don't want to see you back here until you've given birth to this child. Understood?
LOPEZ
Yes, Sarge.
GREY
Good. Relax. Kick your feet up. Let Wesley dote on you. You deserve it.
LOPEZ
Thank you.
GREY
Where you going?
LOPEZ
To pee and get a snack.
GREY
You just live five minutes away.
BRADFORD
You think she'll be okay?
ISABEL
I hope so.
BRADFORD
And you?
ISABEL
Yeah. You know, when you go undercover, people always warn you about the fear, the danger, but no one ever talks about how hard it is when you have to leave someone behind.
BRADFORD
And it's not like you could come home and talk to me about it. This girl was clearly important to you, and I'd never heard her name until this morning.
CHEN
Patrol just found Ed Teska murdered in an alley in Koreatown.
BRADFORD
Made a run at the king.
ISABEL
And his daughter, and missed.
BRADFORD
That gets you killed ten times out of ten. Want me to tell her?
ISABEL
No. I got it.
DARA
I don't even know your real name.
ISABEL
It's Isabel. I know you're going through a lot right now, but it is vital that you don't tell anyone I was a cop. It would endanger not only me, but everyone who helped me, whether they knew who I was or not.
DARA
Meaning I'd put myself in danger too. Tell me the truth. Was I just a way for you to get to my dad?
ISABEL
At first, maybe, but you needed someone. Your dad barely remembered to feed you. And I saw how alone you were at a moment where I felt alone myself. So I looked out for you and took care of myself in the process. I have something difficult to tell you. Your uncle's dead.
DARA
Good. He tried to kill me.
ISABEL
The police are pretty sure that your dad ordered it.
DARA
And he's getting out of prison tomorrow?
ISABEL
Yeah. You gonna be there when he walks out?
DARA
No. I got money hidden away. I'm gonna disappear for a while. I need to figure out what the hell I want my life to be and whether my dad will be part of it.
ISABEL
If you ever need me, you know the number.
DARA
Thanks for coming when I called.
ISABEL
Anytime.
CHEN
Ooh. Do you want a beer?
BRADFORD
Yeah. Sounds great.
CHEN
She seems good. Happy.
BRADFORD
Isabel?
CHEN
Mm.
BRADFORD
Yeah. Yeah, she deserves it.
CHEN
Hmm. It was nice to get to know the, uh, actual person behind all your stories.
BRADFORD
Is that what you were doing when you turned your mic off?
CHEN
No. We were talking trash about you, of course.
BRADFORD
Funny.
CHEN
Mm. Can I share something vulnerable with you?
BRADFORD
Yeah. Of course.
CHEN
I love working undercover. I love it, but, um, you know, I've never gone as deep as Isabel did. Six months here, a year there.
BRADFORD
And you're worried you won't be able to handle it?
CHEN
No. Um... I'm worried that you won't.
BRADFORD
I'll be fine.
CHEN
Yeah.
BRADFORD
Okay? I will. Come here.