All language subtitles for Homicide.Life.on.the.Street.S07E18.Self.Defense.1080p.PCOK.WEB-DL.AAC2.0.H.264-NTb_track3_[eng]

What are you so happy about?

Roland Park. Homicide.

Combination kinda revs
my engine.

You like when rich people
get murdered?

No, not exactly,
you see, it's just--

it's a nice change of pace
every once in a while

when a guy with some dough
gets his number punched.

- It appeals to my sense
of cosmic justice.
- Ah, the big get even.

Well, why's it always gotta be
some Westside mope
shooting an Eastside mope

over a $10 drug debt?

You know, I got nothing
against fat cats in general,

but they tend to forget
that the simple fact is
nobody gets out of here alive.

You know,
a rich guy gets whacked,

it kind of makes the world
a little less lopsided.

Burke, Loren. 43.

Divorced. Lived alone.

What'd he do for money?
Any idea?

According to the neighbors,
high-priced corporate exec.

- Who found the body?
- Cleaning lady.

- Any signs of robbery?
- No forced entry.

Salerno, what's
with the sentence fragments?
What, are you bored?

What, are you nuts?
You don't catch
a case like this every day.

The furniture's nicer.
The paperwork's still the same.

I'm counting five holes minimum
in the blanket.

Well, at least one round
went through the mattress.

So he's definitely
flat on his back,
with the covers over him

when he got plugged.

Think he's asleep?

Well, if he was,
he got a hell of a wake-up call.

Hey, take a picture of me.

Homicide.

I've got an investigator
from an independent agency
in my shop,

and I have
no real authority over him.

This hasn't exactly been
a walk in the park
for me either.

Between the Lieutenant here,
and my superiors at the Bureau.

What about
the father-son factor?
How's that working out?

That has nothing to do with it.

The point is,
Mike's in his unit.

He has all kinds of access
to case information,

and we have no control
over what he does with it.

And ultimately, neither does he.

- You're talking about
the McBride case?
- I made a mistake.

He ended up being the lead
that got a suspect killed
in New York.

No, I told the Bureau
what I knew.

How was I to know
they'd take what I told them,
and screw it up?

- You could have guessed.
- Al.

Now look, these are tough times.

The department's strapped
for resources.

Are you seriously asking me
to call the Bureau

and tell them we want to close
down the Liaison Office,

refuse the help
they are offering?

Either that or fix it
so Mike has to report
directly to us.

To you, you mean?

Like all my other detectives.

The Bureau
will never agree to that.

Look, the McBride case proves
what I already knew.

Something has got to change.

What was it, a robbery?

There's no sign of break-in,

and we don't know yet
if anything's missing.

You could help us out with that,
take a look around.

Yeah, sure.

Now, you told the officer
that Mr. Burke lived alone.

Divorced. A year and a half ago.

- Mrs. Burke?
- Eleanor, moved to Guilford.

- How was the break-up?
- Bad.

It was bitter, really bitter.

You seen Mrs. Burke since then?

Has she ever come by to visit?

Yeah. Just the other day.

They were out in the driveway
going at it, hammer and tong.

She, um, drove up
just as he was leaving for work
and started screaming at him,

pitching a fit
about one thing and another.

About what, could you tell?

Well, money'd be my guess.
He owed her.

He owed her, and if he thought
he was getting away
without paying,

he didn't know
who he was dealing with.

Well, words to that effect.

Homicide, Lewis.

Yeah, I know
that particular bucket of blood.

Oh, literally, huh?

- Okey dokey.
- What you got?

Bar stabbing.
One dead, one wounded.

Bar fight at this hour, huh?

It's not even nine o'clock.

Yeah, well, you know
how it is in East Baltimore.

They like to get going
bright and early.

And it wasn't an argument.
It was a hold-up.

A little early in the day
for a bar hold-up.

Like I said, they got some
real go-getters
in that neighborhood.

So, that's interesting,
a stabbing.
I mean, for a hold-up.

- Yeah, a little unusual, huh?
- Yeah. Want me to tag along?

Nah, got this one surrounded.

Oh,
'cause I'm a free agent today.

Yeah? Where's Gharty?

- He has the flu.
- The flu?

He spent all night
on his knees worshipping
the porcelain goddess.

- Are you sure he's got the flu?
- What do you mean?

Because Gharty likes
to tie one on
when he's in the mood,

and I hear he is a lot lately.

He has the flu. Okay, Munch?

Yeah, live in a dream world.
See if I care.

So...

Nah, nah, finish your book.
I got this. No problem.

Hmm. So it's true.
You really do have a problem
partnering with women.

- What?
- Since Sheppard's beatdown.

That's horse pucky.
I got no problem
partnering with women.

Let's ride, me and you.

- All right.
- Yeah.

- Ain't no problem.
After you, ladies first.
- Hmm. That's very gallant.

Ain't no problem
riding with a skirt.

So where does this leave us?

Well, we'll monitor
the situation,

review it again in a few months.

In the meantime, I'll call
the special agent in charge,

see if we can reach
an understanding
about who Mike reports to.

Send me a memo.

Wait, Al. A word.

Listen, McAllister's taking
his retirement,

and the Commissioner
has his vacancy going to you.

- What?
- You take the exam.

This time next month,
you'll be Captain Giardello,

Commander
of the Property Section.

- What's the catch?
- There's no catch, Al.

No politics, no backroom deals,
no quid pro quo?

No. This is straight up, Al.

He had everybody in the bar
empty out their pockets.

Watches, wallets, purses.
And he just went off.

Juked Tiny there, jabbed me,

grabbed up his score,
and jumped in his get-gone.

Did you see the car?

Man, I never made it
out the door.
I heard the car.

Some sorry-ass rust bucket.
Needs a new muffler.

- Guy who poked you,
Black or white?
- White.

Don't ask me
what he looked like.
He was wearing a ski mask.

Black with a red band
across the eyes.

Well, uh, then how did you know
he was white?

Explain it to her, will you?

Tell me about the knife.

Big old pig sticker
with a taped handle.

- About a foot long.
- Tape.

Yeah. Black tape.
Electrician's tape.

Yeah, we're going to need
something on that car.

Look at them all.

They're signifying a day away.

- What does that mean exactly?
- Signify?

Man, it's complicated.

Oh, because
it's another Black thing,
and I wouldn't understand?

Why don't you try me?

Another time, Ballard. Observe.

All right,
now, here's the dealio.

The low-bottom dog
that tore this bar up

and robbed everybody in it,
he killed one man,

and he cut another one,
all right?

Now, before y'all start thinking
maybe you got to protect
this young brother

from the criminal
injustice system,
let me point something out.

The mook
that perpetrated this crime

is a white man.

Now, I know in my heart
that somebody
is going to come forward

that maybe saw that getaway car.

My man.

What's up
with that country-ass hat?

Can you hold this?

You running down
my stingy brim, huh?

- You running down my brim?
- Get off me, man!

I ain't playing with you.
Now, what you know
about this robbery?

Look, man, I wasn't even here,
and I didn't see nothing,

and you ain't gonna get me
to see nothing past nothing.

Black folks.

It's a little early for it,
don't you think?

- Not at all.
- You're not working again today?

Well, I called in some vacation.

Taking another
mental health day.

What does that mean?

It means I am drinking myself
into oblivion.

- For what reason?
- Wedding anniversary.

- 30th.
- Oh.

Your first without Flora.

You must feel awful.

On the contrary,
I never felt better.

Hey.

You want to get married
and settle down
and have a couple of kids

and maybe grow old
and wrinkled together?

Stuart, we've been through this.

I'm engaged.

- I'll be the fourth Mrs.--
- Fourth, yeah.

Fourth Mrs. Munch, right.

Here's to oblivion.

How long did the cleaning lady
say they were divorced?

A year and a half.

You think she still has keys
to the Roland Park address?

Well, she might.
But don't you think
he would have changed the locks?

- Yes.
- Baltimore Police.
We're looking for Eleanor Burke.

I'm her attorney,
Ezra Greenfeld.
Please come in.

I've instructed my client
not to make an oral statement
to the police.

We acknowledge, however,
that she shot and killed
her former husband

as an act of self-defense,

and we've prepared
a brief written statement
to that effect.

We are also relinquishing
the weapon voluntarily,

so you have no need to obtain
a search and seizure warrant.

Do you wish to Mirandize me
at this time, or...

My client's on the team.

Assistant U.S. Attorney,
Baltimore Office.

Six years
with the Criminal Division,

two years
with Narcotics Task Force.

You worked on
the Alonzo Barnes investigation,
didn't you, Detective?

- I was in Narcotics then, yeah.
- It was
very good police work.

We were so glad to get Alonzo
some serious federal time
in that case.

I remember you now.

Eleanor Burke.

- Terry Stivers.
- Right, of course.

I'm Detective Falsone.

Well, Detective,
do you wish to do the honors?

Ms. Burke, you have the right
to remain silent.

Uh, if you give up that right,

anything you say
can be used against you.

Um...

I'll stipulate to the rest.

Thanks.

Stivers, Falsone.

Hey, Mike. What's going on?

- Well, since Eleanor is...
- Eleanor?

...Ms. Burke
is an Assistant U.S. Attorney,

the Justice Department
wants me involved.

Mike's assigned to this case
for the duration.

Thanks, but we don't need
any help.

I'm sorry
about the circumstances.

Me too. We'll get through this.

Why don't you two have a seat,

and I'll get Detective Stivers
and Falsone up to speed

- on the background.
- Absolutely.
Come right this way.

Look, I know she's supposed
to be on our side,
but come on, Danvers.

She laid five hot ones
into her ex,
and never looked back.

- It's complicated.
- No, it's simple.

She shot him, she confessed.

She explained.
She shot him in self-defense.

Don't you think
you're jumping to conclusions,

huh, we don't know that,
and from what we've seen--

Look, we're gonna be thorough.
We're gonna hear everyone out
on this.

Oh, tell me the fix isn't in.

All of the facts
will be considered.

- I promise you.
- Yeah.

What do you expect, huh?
She's one of them.

He's gonna make sure
everything comes out right.

- Hey, Shep, you seen Lewis?
- Got a call.

- Tore out of here
about ten minutes ago.
- Did he say what it was?

Not to me, but I think
he might have left you a message
on your desk.

Thank you.

Oh.

- Bad news?
- Lewis.

We are working
this case together,
this stick-up artist, right?

And I go to the john,
I get a cup of coffee,

he gets a call that says
that the stabber
has struck again.

Takes off without me.

Went to the crime scene alone

and told me to go
to the M.E.'s office
to go do the paperwork.

- That is blatant.
- Yeah.

I don't get it.

- He doesn't want
to work with me.
- Well, why not?

Because she's a woman.
He doesn't want to work
with any of us.

Come on, look, that's not it.

Lewis may have a problem with,

you know, certain individuals
due to certain circumstances,

but you ain't one.

Where you going?

To the M.E.'s office.
What do you think?

Good God.

Eleanor Burke called police
on six separate occasions

during four years of marriage.

When she moved out,
she got an order of protection
and he violated that, too.

Charged once for striking her
in a restaurant,

and once more
for harassing her verbally
at her home.

Well, she wasn't in her home
when she shot him.

She was in his house,
in his bedroom.

Why was she in his bedroom
if she's the one
with the protective order?

I admit, that troubles me, too.

Yeah, well,
think about this.

Looks to us like all five shots
hit Loren Burke

when he was prone on that bed,
covered by a blanket.

Now, that doesn't exactly
spell self-defense.

- Battered spouse syndrome.
- Which is a legitimate defense.

Recognized by the Maryland court

- since 1991.
- Don't give me that.

I have been in Narcotics,
I've worked Sex Crimes,

I have seen
plenty of abused women.

This is not
battered spouse syndrome.

How do you know?
Are you a psychologist?

Okay, okay, look, look.
This Loren Burke,
he's garbage, all right?

He's a wife-beater and a half.

But he's in his own house,
in his own bed,

when his ex-wife,
who's been divorced from him
for more than a year,

shows up to empty a .38
in his midsection.

The battered spouse defense
allows that the victim
of prolonged domestic abuse

may, in fact, choose
to strike back at the abuser

at the point when the abuser
is most vulnerable.

If Eleanor chose to strike back
when he was vulnerable,

she could still,
in her mind, be engaged
in an act of self-defense.

Wait a minute, I thought
you were supposed to be
prosecuting her, Danvers.

She already has a lawyer.

- I'm just anticipating
her courtroom defense.
- Bull.

You're trying to justify
giving Eleanor Burke
a free pass.

I resent that, Detective.

The field office
has an open file on Loren Burke.

He harassed his ex-wife
on and off the job so often

that the U.S. Attorney
asked the Bureau

to look into the possibility
of charging him

with threatening
a federal officer.

That's why
the U.S. Attorney's Office wants
an FBI presence

- in the investigation.
- Why, to make sure she gets off?

To make sure
she gets a fair hearing.

- Her career is in jeopardy.
- Please.

Even if she pleads
for a reduced charge,

- Eleanor Burke can be disbarred.
- Disbarred, huh?

I guess that's nearly as bad
as getting shot to death
in your own bed.

Can you get her
to make a statement?

Once I let her attorney know
that we're sympathetic

to the possibility
of a battered spouse defense,

I think they'll be happy
for the chance to keep this
from a grand jury.

All right.
Conduct a thorough interview.

Begin a background check
into both the victim
and the suspect.

I want to know everything I can
about the war
between the Burkes.

From the looks of these,
I would say the bastard
got what he deserved.

Comin' through here,
coming through.

All right, let me guess.

White male, 5'10", maybe 160,

black ski mask
with a red stripe,

big-ass pig sticking
with black electrical tape
on the handle,

come in here,
robbed everybody in the joint,

poked you in the leg
just for fun.

- Friend of yours, huh?
- You happen to get a look
at the getaway car?

The street was empty by the time
I dragged myself out here.

All right, boys and girls,
looks like we got us
a live one here.

The man who did this
has now cut two, and killed one.

Citywide crime spree.
He's on a rampage.

Anybody know anything?
Anybody got anything
they want to tell me?

Anybody see anything,
know anything, hear anything?

I didn't think so.

White folks.

If you had the protective order
from the courts,

why were you even
at your ex-husband's house?

Six months of back alimony.

I'm dead broke, Detective.

Loren knew that.
He was withholding the checks
to be punitive.

But you make your own salary
as a federal prosecutor,
even if the alimony was late--

What I make is not enough
to cover my bills.

How much do you make?

- The maximum
for an Assistant U.S. Attorney.
- Which is?

95.

$95,000 a year?

During her years of marriage,
Ms. Burke became accustomed
to a particular lifestyle.

And as a result,
the court awarded her

a generous
rehabilitative alimony.

Mr. Burke, however,
has consistently defaulted
on his obligation.

I presume you tried
to remedy the problem.

He just blew us off.

We dragged him into court,
he'd nod at the judge,

agree to pay, and then nothing.

So you went
to his house this morning?

Reluctantly.
I was at my wit's end.

I didn't want to default
on the mortgage.

And you took a handgun with you?

I'm terrified of Loren.

You've seen the pictures.

What happened
when you got to the house?

I rang the bell.

There was nothing. No answer.

So I used my key.

I called out his name
to let him know I was there.

I didn't want any surprises.

He was still in bed.

I brought up the alimony.

He laughed.

Told me to take off my clothes
and come join him
under the covers,

maybe we could work
something out.

A deal.

He was touching himself.

I told him maybe
we would talk about it later.

And I turned to leave.

And then he said to me,

"Don't even
think about leaving, bitch."

What did you do then?

I, uh,

I reached into my purse
and I took out the gun.

And I backed up toward the door.

And then he started to get up,
and I-- I was terrified.

I, um, I fired.

How many shots did you fire?

I-- I-- I don't remember.

You shot him five times.
You emptied your weapon.

- Did I?
- Mm.

- You were afraid of Loren.
- Always.

You said
that Loren was lying in bed
during the conversation,

and then he started to get up

- when you went toward the door.
- Yes.

So even the slightest move
by your ex-husband
in your direction

would be enough for you to want
to do everything possible
to defend yourself.

I knew
if he came across that room
he would beat me.

I didn't want
to be beaten anymore.

Eleanor, did you go
to your ex-husband's house
this morning

with the intent of harming him?

No. Of course not.

God, I never should have gone.
I just-- I thought I--
I don't know.

I just hoped that Loren
might be reasonable, for once.

Unless our investigation
turns up something more damning,

your client pleads
to manslaughter

carrying a concealed
deadly weapon,
and discharging that weapon.

She agrees
to court-monitored counseling,

and she receives probation
before judgment.

So, no conviction,
and she keeps her career
on track.

Forgive me
for being blunt, Detective,

but Loren Burke's done
enough damage already.

I'm not going to let him
continue to destroy
this woman's life.

Come in.

Eleanor Burke gave
her statement.

And?

Self-serving, to say the least.

- Most suspect statements are.
- She knows
what she's doing.

She's using the battered spouse
syndrome to hide behind.

It's cynical,
and it raises doubts
about all the legitimate cases.

She's rich, she's a prosecutor,

She knows
how to work the system.

If you think
she's lying, prove it.

Don't let anyone
make a mockery of the law.

The shape and size
of the wounds indicate a weapon

that was pretty formidable.

I'd say one
with a serrated edge.

Serrated, like a bread knife?

Oh, sharper.
Much sharper than that.

And the depth and severity
of the wounds suggest

that they were delivered
with some considerable energy,
and strength of purpose.

- Thank you.
- You're welcome.

- Ballard.
- Falsone, Stivers.

What's going on?

Knife-wielding armed robber.

- Is that one yours?
- Yeah, pistol-packing ex-wife.

It's been a very busy morning.

I'll see you
tomorrow night, Detective.

Yeah,
I got big-time butterflies.

- You'll be fine.
- Yeah.

You going out with Ballard?

- Bowling.
- Bowling.

Duckpins.

- Really?
- Yeah.

She's very talented.

I know, I taught her the game.

My compliments.

And before she met me,
she didn't know
a spare from a split.

Well, she's so good now,
we asked her
to join our team.

- Uni leagues?
- Big match coming up
with the EMS.

The Resuscitators
versus the Cutters.

I presume you're here
because of Loren Burke.

Completely straightforward.

The manner of death is homicide.

The cause of death
is massive internal trauma

as a result of gunshot wounds
to the front torso.

Five, to be exact.

Is there any evidence
to suggest self-defense?

Self-defense?
I don't understand.

Well, you see,
the victim's ex-wife claims

that she shot him
in self-defense.

Well,
the victim is lying in bed,

covers are drawn up,
and he's shot five times.

Every hole in the blanket will
match up to an entrance wound,

and the trajectory of the wounds
are very sharply angled,

with the posterior exits
much higher than the entrances.

Right, so she's standing
a few feet away--

And he never
even sits up in bed.

There are no defensive wounds,

no indication
that he tried to escape
or even knew what was happening.

I doubt he even had
a chance to open his eyes,
and see who was doing him.

In fact, my guess is that
he was sleeping like a baby

when she aired him out.

Hey, Gharty,
boycott finally over?

Cesar Chavez
versus the grape growers,

students against apartheid,
Stu Gharty, and The Waterfront.

Hey, I love this place,
I've always loved this place.

This is my favorite bar.

Yeah, that's great.
Glad to hear it.

- Hey, baby.
- Hi.

Is it my imagination or is he
half in the bag already?

Picking up
where he left off yesterday.

How long
has he been here?

Since I opened the doors.

Detective Munch.

Have a drink.

I'm working.

Across the street, remember?

Police headquarters, Homicide.

You should
come over there sometime.

I'll show you
where your desk is.

Maybe we'll refresh your memory.

Cash. No tab.

It's not that I'm pessimistic
about where your next paycheck
is coming from, but--

Who's
the wheeler-dealer over there?

That's
Marcus Reynolds, state delegate.

I guess, he's here
to make sure everything goes
smooth with his favorite niece.

- Burke?
- You got it.

Oh, man.

Mr. Danvers.

State calls criminal information

199-093-853,

Burke versus Maryland.

One count manslaughter,

and one count
of carrying and discharging
a concealed deadly weapon,

- to wit, a handgun.
- Proceed.

Your Honor,
the state recognizes a history

of spousal abuse in this matter,

and will be recommending
that the court consider

rendering a verdict of probation
before judgment on both counts.

The defendant
is a veteran prosecutor

over at the federal courthouse,

and well-respected
by colleagues.

There's no risk of flight.

And we're comfortable
with Miss Burke

being released
on the lowest possible bail.

Mr. Greenfeld?

Nothing to add, Your Honor.

Mr. Danvers
speaks for the defense.

That seems
to be the problem here.

Your Honor?

Who in this room
speaks for the victim?

One Loren Burke.

Who speaks for that man?

Your Honor, Maryland courts
have, since 1991,

recognized
battered spouse syndrome
as a legitimate defense.

Mr. Danvers, I'm familiar
with that legal defense.

I'm willing to let
a jury consider it at trial,

but I'm setting bail at 250,000.

Your Honor, a quarter
of a million dollars for bail?

My client is financially
strapped.

We won't be
able to schedule a hearing
for bail reduction until Monday.

She'll spend a weekend
in women's detention.

That sometimes happens
when you shoot someone
to death, Mr. Greenfeld.

Sheriff,
take the defendant into custody.

So, he already knows?

I told your father
after our meeting yesterday.

- When's it official?
- Next month.

Your father will
take over property section
when McAllister retires.

He'll be leaving Homicide?

You get promoted, you go
where the vacancy takes you.

Well, thanks for the good news.

Keep your fingers crossed.

Wait a minute, what do you mean?
I thought this was a done deal.

Everybody thought that
about the Burke case, too.

Then Judge Ramsey
throws them the big curve,

sets the bail sky high.

So, what does that
have to do with my father?

Nothing, except he's
in charge of this investigation.

And he and Ramsey go way back.

You're telling me
that if my father

doesn't come out
on the right side
of the Burke case,

he won't make captain?

I didn't say that.

But I'll tell you this,
everybody loves Eleanor Burke.

Everybody thought
that her ex-husband
was a pointless piece of scum.

We just want
to see justice done.

Ah.

Maybe Danvers is right,

maybe we should look at this
from Burke's point of view.

She bought the handgun
six weeks prior to the shooting.
That's premeditation.

She's been beaten
and threatened by the man.

She wants protection.

She goes
to his house unannounced,

even though she has
the protective order on him.

You know,
all her records check out.

Loren Burke hadn't paid

court-ordered alimony
in six months.

- And she is dead broke.
- How about
the crime scene?

Griscom has this guy
prone on the bed,
with the covers over him.

She has the guy sitting up,
making a move toward her.

Well, she knows criminal law,
so she's embellishing a bit,

making him seem like more
of an immediate threat
than he actually was.

So why are we
trying to make a case here?

Everyone in town
wants this woman to get off.

You know, what's
bothering me is just
how many people in this town

are riding
to Eleanor Burke's rescue.

The U.S. Attorney's office
wants her cleared.

So does Danvers,
and the State's Attorney.

Not to mention Marcus Reynolds.

She's got all kinds of drag.

Yeah, that she does.

Reynolds is handing out
all kinds of favors

to see that his
favorite niece gets a walk.

What kinds of favors?

Just forget I said that.

What do you think?

Should we fold our cards,
and give Danvers what he wants?

Yeah, maybe so.
Make it easier for everyone.

What the hell?

We'll write it up
clean tomorrow,

and you can sign off
for the U.S. Attorney.

Close enough
for government work.

- Adios.
- See ya.

Yeah, Civil Filings?
Mike Giardello, FBI.

Yeah, I need
to request a file right away.

Yeah.

Where is he?

Behind the bar.

Him and his bayonet.

Is that legal?

Nope.

Well, that's the problem.

Not a big one, relatively.

Yeah, well,
considering the alternative.

How you gonna plead this?
Self-defense?

Well, damn straight.

He said, "Stick 'em up,"
I said, "Help yourself."

He started to,
I pulled my piece out

from under the bar,
and put him down.

- End of story.
- End of story.

Well, I hate to say this, but--

- But what?
- But you have to come with me.

I'm gonna need
a statement from you.

- I figured.
- How's that?

Way the world works.
Guilty get away with murder,

you play by the rules,
they hand you your oysters
on the half shell.

Well, he didn't
get away with murder.

No, but what do you bet,
he's gonna cause me
no end of trouble?

I can't take that bet, partner.

Let's go, sir.

You gotta talk to him now.

You want me
to approach a member
of the city court bench,

and question his judgment
on a particular case.

You go back a long way
with Ramsey, he trusts you.

He'll listen
to what you have to say.

I've been worried ever since
Ramsey picked up the case.

You know,
he and Marcus Reynolds
had tangled before.

When Ramsey was being
considered for the bench,

Reynolds lined up
against the appointment,

and Ramsey and Eleanor
have never seen eye-to-eye.

And you think
Ramsey's gonna get even?

I don't know how else to explain
his behavior in court.

All right,
I'll see what I can do.

You know, I asked Ballard
to join an all-detective
Uni league bowling team,

and she turned me down.

Well, maybe bowling
for the ME's office
is more prestigious.

You're kidding, right?

Look,
I feel personally betrayed,
like she's stepping out on me.

Come on, it's not like
she's going out with--

Well, another man.

Besides, you broke up with her.

You don't understand.

You see,
duckpins was our thing,
the bond we shared.

I mean, before me,
she never even heard
of Toots Barger.

The holy trinity
of Baltimore sports,

Johnny Unitas,
Cal Ripken, Toots Barger,
the queen of duckpins.

God, take a pill.

- Hey.
- Hey.

Hey, how's it going
with the stick-up artist?

Yeah, good news, bad news.

Bad news is,
he killed one, cut two.

What's the good news?

Good news is,
he got himself shot last night.

Tried to knock off another bar,

went to the well once too often.

Hey, how come
you didn't take Ballard
with you yesterday?

- What?
- You left her in the lurch.

In the lurch?
She went to the john.

She's your partner on that case.
That ain't right.

No, she ain't
my partner on that case.

She just came on with that
one scene with me, what up?

Look, after what
happened with Sheppard,

I know we're all feeling
a little hinky on the subject.

Oh, man.

Not you, too.
She put you up to this?

- No, this is on me.
- It's on you?

Well, do me a favor.

Stay the hell out of my face,
and out of my business.

I know she's your woman and all,
but she want to find me,
she know where I'm at.

Nice going.

My God. These are awful.

Awful enough to make
any jury think twice
about convicting her.

Then she'll be acquitted,
but the should would
still go to jury.

Why?

Look, why take
that risk with a woman

who's never violated the law
in any other respect?

A woman who's served
the law her whole life.

She shot a man, Al.
I can't just make that go away.

But battered spouse syndrome
is recognized in this state.

I have no problem
with battered spouse syndrome.

I do have a problem
reconciling it with the idea

that a man
who was divorced for over a year

was shot to death
in his own house,
in his own bed?

This has nothing to do
with Delegate Reynolds

or the fact
that Burke's his niece?

You know me, Al.

Do you think
I'd go out of my way
to punish Eleanor Burke

because I had a political spat
with her uncle four years ago?

Or because she and I have had
our differences in court?

No.

I'm taking heat from everyone
in the state on this case.

Everyone's lined up
behind this woman,

because they know who she is,
and what she's been through.

And now you.

You come into my chamber
with these photographs.

What can these photographs
possibly tell me

that are gonna change
the way I view the law?

I'm sorry I came.

Funny.

Usually a judge,
especially a Black judge,

takes heat
for being too lenient.

- Remember "Cut 'Em Loose" Bruce
Wright up in New York?
- Of course.

Highly skeptical of the fairness

of the very judicial system
he was sworn to uphold?

Me, I'm the darling
of the conservatives.

A political
establishment poster boy,
because I believe in the law.

And as long as I'm dropping
the hammer on corner boys
and hillbilly drug dealers,

I'm everybody's
favorite minority judge.

But in a case
like Eleanor Burke,

now I'm in the jackpot
for standing firm.

I'll see you around, Cliff.

Yeah.

Do you plan to issue
this press statement?

I do.

Have you lost your mind?

Let the case go to trial,
and let the jury decide.

The man is trying
to follow the law,
and he's being crucified for it.

Do you know how important
Marcus Reynolds is

to this department,
to this city?

He's the vice chairman
of the Appropriations Committee.

I don't care
about Delegate Reynolds
or the Appropriations Committee.

See, that's your fatal flaw.

You have no political
sense whatsoever.

Respectfully, Colonel,
there are days when I think
you have nothing else!

They're making you a captain.

How many years
have you been waiting for that?

And all they're asking
is for you to show a little
less profile on this case.

Is that all they're asking?

How is it you even know
what they want of me?

Mike, listen, I've been
a lieutenant ten years,
but I kept it clean.

I don't want it anymore
if it can't be that way.

I didn't want to be
the one to ruin this for you.

But what does it really matter?

He beat her.

- I know that.
- He beat her for years.

Why don't you just shut up,
and take the promotion?

What do you know
about this case?

What is it, Mike?
What is it you know?

Ah! I raised you
better than that.

How can you
even think of doing this?

How?

You're my father.

I love you.

Or do you need more
of an explanation than that?

Hey.

Hey, what'd you do last night?

Had first night of leagues.

- Ah, how'd it go?
- We won.

We kicked EMS ass.

You feeling any better?

Honestly, no, I feel like hell.

Well, you probably
still have the flu.

- You should go home.
- I don't think so.

I need more
structure in my life.

I need to be here, I'm not here,
I'm gonna get myself in trouble.

Did you have a tough night?

Ah, that's the impression
I get this morning.

I don't remember it
all that well.

Well, drink your coffee.

Take a lot of these.

And I'm around if you need me.

Yeah, thanks, Laura.

Motive and premeditation.

It's all there
in the separation agreement.

Lauren Burke was required
to obtain a $4 million
insurance policy

so that money due as alimony
would still be paid
in the event of his death.

How do we know
that Eleanor Burke was even

thinking about the insurance
when she shot her husband?

I spoke to the agent
who wrote that policy.

He took a call from a woman
four days before the shooting.

She knew that
no insurance company pays out

in the event a beneficiary
murders an insured party.

But what she wanted to know was,

was a payout still possible
if the death was ruled

a justifiable act
of self-defense.

- And this woman?
- She gave a fake name.

But I checked the LUDs
from his office phone.

The call came
from Eleanor Burke's extension
at the federal courthouse.

For someone
who thought she knew
how to work the system

she was awfully careless.

She was arrogant.

Why'd you sit on this?

They had him tied up
over my promotion.

I want you both
to know that I was trying
to save Eleanor Burke,

because I thought
it was the right thing to do.

I had no idea
that anyone was twisting arms.

Understood.

Time for court, then.

Your Honor,
the state wishes
to re-arraign Eleanor Burke

on charges
of second-degree murder,

and the use of a handgun
in the commission of a felony.

To that end, we ask
for a continuation of bail

of $250,000.

So ordered.

- Delegate Reynolds.
- Captain Giardello.

Are you mocking me, sir?

Let's wait and see.

What do you mean by that?

Well, he's going to leave me
twisting in a wind

until he sees
how the public and press reacts.

Then he's going to decide
whether to punish or reward me.

So you still
might get your promotion?

Anything's possible,
the world might come
to an end next year at midnight

with the coming
of the new millennium.

But you doubt it.

At this rate, Jesus
will come back on this earth
before I make captain.

You can believe that.

Buy you lunch?

Hey, I have no objections.

Thanks.