Original subtitles

- Previously on "Shades of Blue"...

- I heard shots. They sounded real.

- A video game?

- I got to make this right.

Neighborhood's raising money to bury the man I killed.

This a friend of yours? - My cousin.

- You donated a lot of money.

- Want you all to know that I'm sorry, all right?

- Let's go.

- Crooked-ass police. - Yeah.

Murderers.

- There's a rat on my team.

I told you, I'm gonna start looking at everyone.

- Portuguese, right?

But when I realized the escort was Brazilian,

I asked her to teach me how to say a few things.

- Far as Wozniak knows, we were together all morning.

- Saperstein said he was with Tufo when he spotted your guy.

- Why are you hiding the mail?

- The man you're framing, Miguel Zepeda,

the paper trail leads right back to you.

- He threatened to kill me, and I knew he would.

- Let's go.

- It's been a long time.

- Guess I just had to ask nicely.

Then again, you always took convincing.

- Why did you call me here, Miguel?

- I need you to find somebody.

Frank Kovach.

He did seven years for assault and battery.

He made parole a few months ago.

The word is, he was bragging about killing some runaway girl.

I think it's the same one I got locked up for.

- A lot of runaways meet a bad end.

- This guy Frank knew details,

things I only know 'cause I heard the testimonies.

I'm tired of serving his time.

- You're putting a lot of faith in coincidence.

- For a long time, I thought you had a hand in this,

in putting me away.

- I did everything I could back then.

Look, we went a few rounds,

but I know you're not a murderer.

I never thought you were guilty.

- Have you told our daughter that?

She should also know that I'm innocent of this,

that I've changed.

I'd like to tell her that myself.

- Look, I'll think about it.

What's good for you could be really hard for her.

Why didn't you have your defense team contact the police?

- I don't trust lawyers, and I don't trust the police.

I only trust you.

Or at least I did once.

I'm hoping I can still do that.

- So the abusive ex-boyfriend we framed for murder

calls you for a visit

and you decide that is a good idea?

- Look, his hearing's coming up,

and Nava doesn't even know his defense yet.

Now I do.

This was a gift.

- A gift? How is it a gift?

- A parolee named Frank Kovach

bragged about a killing

that sounds a lot like the one we put Miguel away for.

- And he hasn't mentioned this to anyone else?

- Why would he?

He got railroaded last time, and he knows it.

But this isn't just about trying to keep Miguel behind bars.

I need to know.

- Why? To assuage your conscience?

- There were no leads on that case.

That's why I used it.

If this guy Kovach killed this woman and got away with it,

that's on me.

- Harlee, stay away from this.

That's an order.

Wait two days. Then send a message to Miguel.

Tell him that you reached a dead end.

You're chasing ghosts, Harlee.

We got flesh-and-blood problems right here.

- What?

You got a lead on our rat?

I found it.

Saperstein wasn't with Tufo when he caught the tail.

He lied to me.

He was at some house in Flatbush.

Last night, he met a Fed after hours,

and he made a handoff.

- How do you know it was Feds? - I followed him.

I watched him betray us.

He was smiling. It was nothing for him.

- A few days ago, it was me that you suspected.

- Loman killed an unarmed man.

Tess is screwing up her family life with Espada's help.

Tufo thinks with his balls.

It's just the process of elimination.

It's Saperstein.

- Hey, look, why don't you just let me talk to him?

- No! No. - And I'll find out...

- I'm gonna handle him.

- Hey. Got your message.

Found the address. Frank Kovach?

- Feel like keeping me company?

- Sure.

Is this a coincidence or an ambush?

- I'm telling Joe what we did. I thought you should know.

- Why would you do that?

- Because that was the point.

He needs to know what it feels like.

Besides, if I don't come clean, I'm just as bad as he is.

And I'm not.

- This high road you walk

is gonna end up with me in traction.

- Oh, come on. You carry a gun, Carlos.

I'm trying to save my marriage.

- What do you think's gonna happen, Tess, hmm?

You're gonna come clean.

You're gonna cry it out.

And then what?

You're gonna go back to your spectacular relationship?

Hmm?

- Sap, I'm gonna ask you something,

and I need you to be straight with me.

- For the last time, Harlee, I'm saving myself for marriage.

- Have you been skipping out on the job lately?

- Is that a joke?

I have a perfect attendance certificate.

Gold star and everything.

- Sap, if you tell me what you've been doing,

I can cover for you.

- Or you could stop busting my balls.

- I'm not kidding.

Where were you yesterday when Tufo thought he caught a tail?

- Right next to him, like he said.

- And last night?

- This line of questioning end with a waterboard?

- Just trying to help you out, Sap.

Rumor has it you've been ducking shifts.

- Rumor has it wrong.

We gonna do this or not?

- Just cover me from out here. I got it.

- What'd this guy Kovach do?

- He lost a bet to Wozniak.

I'm supposed to bat my eyes and suggest he make good.

- Hey, Woz.

- Saperstein, desk sergeant said

you're running an errand with Harlee?

- Frank Kovach. I don't know.

Some parolee. She said you have some beef?

- What address?

- 5722 Troutman.

- All right, I'm gonna be there in 25 minutes.

Don't go anywhere, you hear me?

- I'm really hoping this is a strip-o-gram.

- Frank Kovach?

Harlee Santos, NYPD.

Got time for a few questions?

- Now that my hopes are dashed, sure.

- This is a little awkward.

There's an inmate at Rikers

looking for a second chance at life.

He was put away for the murder

of a 19-year-old runaway named Rita Martin.

- Never heard of her.

- Yeah, I'm not surprised.

I talked to your parole officer,

and he said you're really looking to turn over a new leaf.

I would hate for anything to jeopardize...

- What's his name?

- Miguel Zepeda. - No, my parole officer.

You said you talked to him. What's his name?

Yeah.

No, I... I'm sorry. I can't help you.

- You don't want to do this, Frank.

- Easy. You're okay.

Doorframe kept him from winding up too much.

- Feels like he wound up plenty.

- Guy took off out the back.

We'll get after him once Woz gets here.

- How does Woz know where we are?

- He just called. He sounded pissed.

He said he'd be here in 25.

- Yeah? - How far are you from Red Hook?

- Around the corner.

- Look, Wozniak's convinced that Saperstein's the mole.

He's on his way to interrogate him.

I got a pretty good idea how that ends.

- Harlee, then you convince him he's wrong.

- It's too late for that.

He's already ruled out everybody else.

If I don't get him out of here now,

I might not get another chance.

You have to arrest him.

- What's Wozniak's ETA?

- 20 minutes. - All right.

Well, I'm closer than that, so you text me the address

and you get out of there, all right?

- I'm not leaving him.

- Well, you can't look connected to this, Harlee.

Trust me. I will be there, I promise.

Just go.

- Tell Wozniak I went back to the precinct

to chew on some pain meds.

- Maybe somebody should come get you.

- No, I'm fine.

Look, I'm sorry that I was riding you in the car.

You're one of the good ones, Sap.

- You're funny.

- Hi. - Where's Mikey?

- Jimmy's.

You know, the little snag-toothed redhead,

just moved in down the street?

You know where the opener went?

- Dishwasher.

Who was the woman?

With the yoga pants.

- Angie,

Jimmy's mom.

Why? What'd I do wrong this time?

- This time, you cheated on me.

- We were talking about our kids.

- Not her, the bartender.

Don't make me drag it out of you.

We've been together too long.

- Look, this girl was texting me...

- No, no, no, no, no. She told me everything.

You know, I bend over backwards

trying to be everything you want,

but the one thing I can't be is young again, Joe.

- I don't need you to be.

Listen...

it wa... It was stupid.

I was feeling old...

midlife crisis.

I don't know. Call it what you want.

It's done.

- No, no, no. - No, no, come on. Baby.

- Get your hands off of me. - Hey, hey.

- Joe, no! No! - No, no. Hey, hey.

- Get off me, Joe. - Hey, hey, baby.

- No. - I'm sorry.

- Okay. Okay.

What's this about, hmm? Some kind of hazing?

- Internal Affairs wrapped up

their investigation of your shooting.

- No more anonymity.

Your name was just released as the shooter of Jamarr Malcolm.

"Times" ran it.

I mean, it's pretty deep, but, you know, word gets around.

Bullets are a tradition.

It's a show of solidarity.

- You ain't gonna be the most popular cop

on the street for a minute.

- Then again, no one's gonna resist an arrest

from Detective Loman.

- Guys, come on.

This is not exactly the reputation I was going for.

- Anybody bothers you, you let us know.

- Your friends and loved ones know who you are.

That's all that matters.

- Harlee, Saperstein called, told us about this Kovach guy.

- Forget about Kovach.

This was a personal favor for Wozniak.

Guy owed him some cash. - Guy also drew blood.

Somebody cracks you on the head,

it's all of our business, Harlee.

- I'm fine.

- This Kovach guy did seven years

for domestic assault and battery,

left an ex-wife and a son on the outside.

Soon as he got released,

he starts making unscheduled visits.

Ex-wife took out a restraining order

to protect her kid.

- Thank you, really.

I'll go talk to the ex-wife.

But please, keep this to yourselves.

- She didn't stick around to hear about Kovach's girlfriend.

- Oops. Guess she's our problem.

- Hey, it's me.

Listen, I know you're at work, but...

I need to talk to you.

- Saddle up, tenderfoot. We're going for a drive.

- Come on, just help me find the permission slip.

- You sure she signed it? We got to get back before fifth.

- Yeah, no, she knew the trip was Friday.

It's got to be around here somewhere.

You see it up there?

- No, but there's a letter addressed to you from a prison.

- Listen to me,

this is the third time that I've called now.

I can't wait anymore.

- That's Wozniak.

- My potential threat just became a reality,

so you either pull Baker out of that meeting,

or you get me Sweeney.

- Easier to ask forgiveness. We'll get him out the back.

- All right, never mind.

Tell her I'm making a command decision.

- Don't move. FBI.

- Harlee?

Saperstein?

- Don't.

Trust me.

- Hello?

Sap?

Sap? Harlee?

Are we playing hide-and-seek, Saperstein?

- "Trust me" doesn't usually end in handcuffs.

I want a lawyer.

- Lieutenant Wozniak thinks you're working with us.

He was on his way to question you.

- And by question you, we mean shoot you in the head.

- Look, what are you arresting me for?

- Fraud, extortion, misconduct.

- We're taking you to a safe house.

Once we've completed our investigation,

you'll be given the opportunity to testify

in exchange for immunity.

- That's not gonna happen.

- Good choice, Detective.

Your mother looks able-bodied enough to visit you in prison.

- I need to talk to her. - No.

- If I disappear to a safe house, it'll kill her.

You want me to even consider testifying against my friends,

I talk to my mother.

That's the deal.

- Well, let's go see Mom.

- Heard they pulled this dude's permits.

- Here's hoping the port-a-john still works.

- Are we sure this parolee's girlfriend is even here?

- Works security. Harlee's checking his ex-wife.

- If you hit a cop, who would you run to,

your ex-wife or your girlfriend?

- Y'all need me, holler.

- Tiffany Harris? Detective Espada.

- This is private property.

You got a problem, you can call the owner.

- Ma'am, have you heard from Frank Kovach today?

- Wouldn't tell you if I did.

- You mind if we take a look around?

- Not if you've got a warrant.

- That wouldn't be a crack rock in there, would it?

If he's not here, then where is he?

- I don't know, okay?

- Ma'am if that's true, you mind if I look in your phone?

- Don't scroll through the pictures.

- I didn't know you two were engaged.

That must be a whole 1/10 of a carat.

- Five outgoing calls to Frank Kovach

that weren't returned.

No incoming calls, no texts.

- Maybe he used the desk phone.

- Then why didn't he pick up when she called back?

- You're gonna stay put until you hear from us again.

And if you behave, we'll let you keep your phone.

And if you leave,

you're gonna get arrested for having a real crack rock,

which I'm gonna come back with.

Comprendes?

Come on.

- What'd you get? - Nothing.

But I'm about to get a lecture from our resident Boy Scout.

- Yo, yo, yo, you can't do that.

- This guy hurt Harlee, all right?

We don't need admissible.

We need right now.

- I got to make a stop.

- Mrs. Kovach. NYPD.

We're looking for your ex-husband, Frank.

- Where's Saperstein? - I left him at Kovach's house.

- He's not there,

and you should have never been there in the first place.

I told you not to go.

- I had to know.

- Tufo and Espada are chasing leads, Harlee.

- They just think it's some guy who owes you money.

Look, Miguel might be right.

This guy Kovach, he killed Rita Martin.

- Great, you and I can trade places with Miguel in prison.

You like that?

- Did your ex do this?

- He made me call the school,

give permission to pick Brian up.

He's taking him away from me.

- What school? - PS 257.

He has a gun!

- It's okay. Look at me.

We're gonna get your son.

Sweetie, this is a really bad time.

- What, for you to talk

or for you to tell me who my father is?

Look, I found the letter on your dresser,

the one addressed to me?

- Cristina, I'm sorry.

- You told me he didn't care about me,

that he was just some random jerk

who didn't want to be a dad.

- He is. - Then why is he writing me?

The man that's writing you is not your father.

Look, just please let me explain.

- You know, just don't... Don't bother.

I'm gonna give him a crack at it.

- You all right?

- Cristina's going to see Miguel.

She found a letter he wrote her.

- Go. Come on, I'll handle this.

Go on.

- Mom?

Mom? - Hey.

Just... just stay where we can see you.

- She's got book club today. She should be back.

- If she's not here in 15 minutes,

you call her from the road, okay?

Go pack what you need.

Stahl.

- 15 minutes?

What would you take?

- A few changes of clothes.

- No, I'm not asking what you would suggest.

I'm asking, what you would take

if somebody walked into your life

and said they were gonna strip you out of it?

- We're the good guys, Detective.

- How's it feel

being the good guys?

- Hey, I got your message.

I was gonna call you as soon as I got off work.

- Is there somewhere we can talk?

- I can't. I just got off my break.

- Erica, it's very important.

- Okay, what is it? What's going on?

- I, uh...

- Look, I'm so sorry.

I really only have a second.

- It's not easy for me. - Okay.

- I don't expect you to understand.

Maybe... maybe later is better.

- Yeah, meet me at Jay-Jay's practice.

We can talk then, okay?

- Okay. - Okay.

Sorry, Mr. Nieves.

- What part of honk don't you understand?

- You couldn't give me a minute? - No, Loman.

Frank Kovach might be kidnapping his son.

- Did the school get notified?

- Wozniak wants this handled quietly.

- Kovach is a white dude. 5'11", dark hair.

Son's name is Brian.

- Whoa, he drive a truck? - How'd you know?

- He just slammed Brian into it.

- Hey! - Police! Stop!

Stop the car!

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

- Stop! Police! Kovach! Kovach, just stop!

- Kovach, freeze!

- Police! Stop!

- Ow, what is that, battery acid?

- You want me to fetch your dolly?

- I just got hit by a car, bro.

- Excuse me, I need to talk to these guys for a minute.

Kovach's rent-a-cop girlfriend, is she decent leverage?

- This guy's got to be broke.

But he sprung for an engagement ring.

I'd say he's smitten. - All right, good.

Kidnapped kid, maimed cop...

Every agency in the city's gonna be put on notice.

I want to handle this discreetly.

Is she at the construction site now?

- I made sure of it. Her phone is in the glove box.

What's the play?

- A little black op.

- Yeah, my favorite kind.

- Does this hurt? - Ah!

Ah, what the...

- I'm gonna get a beer. You want anything?

- I cheated on you too.

- What's that?

- Nothing.

- David, who are these people?

- They're... friends, Ma.

- I know your friends.

- I got some new ones.

Sit down, Mom.

- Who is that man,

telling you to hurry with your own mother?

- Listen to me.

I'm gonna have to go away for a while.

- What are you saying?

David, are you in trouble?

- No, it's work. It's a... it's a big case.

I... I'm the guy they want on it.

- You don't do big cases.

You're a neighborhood policeman.

You come home after your shift.

- Listen. Look at me, Mom.

You'll be fine.

I need you to know that, okay?

- I don't like this, David.

You're acting strange.

You're lying to me. - I'm sorry.

I love you. I'm so sorry.

Hey, Ma,

how's your blood sugar been?

- Christina.

- They won't let me in without parental consent.

Think you can handle that?

- Look, just hear me out first.

- You've had 16 years.

You couldn't find a time before now to tell me the truth?

- I have told you the truth, always.

- Your truth doesn't make any sense.

- Miguel Zepeda was my boyfriend when I got pregnant.

But he's not your father.

You're old enough now to understand

that that was a hard thing for me to tell you.

Look, I'm not here to try to stop you from seeing him.

I'm just asking that you let me explain.

- You'll tell me everything?

- Everything.

Just come home.

All I want to do is prepare you

for what's on the other side of those doors.

- Okay.

- Okay.

Go wash away those tears, okay?

- Okay.

- I'll be right out.

- How can I help you, Detective?

- I'm her mother.

I need you to make a note in the system.

Under no circumstances does Cristina Santos

have permission to visit with Miguel Zepeda.

- Yes, ma'am.

- You good? - No, and neither is she.

I need to get her heart medication.

- Hey. Easy.

- She's having heart palpitations down there.

- All right, go check it out.

What's she got?

- Coronary heart disease

caused by diabetes.

Don't. Trust me.

- Who the hell are you?

- I'm the best chance your boyfriend's got

at staying out of jail.

If I were you,

I'd be on my best behavior.

Frankenstein,

my man.

Yeah, I'm here with your fiancée, Tiffany.

- Listen to him, Frank, please.

- Yeah, stealing a kid, running over a cop...

those are things that get you sent back to prison, Frank.

A cop? Hell no, I hate cops.

I'm a friend of your ex-wife's.

And I'ma give you some money

and a fresh car to disappear in.

But first things first, Frank.

You're gonna need to bring me that kid.

- Hey.

- You shouldn't be here.

- I decided I couldn't miss it.

- You made my mother cry.

- Jay-Jay, look, I'm sorry about that, okay?

I just...

- You also said you were my friend.

- Look, I know this is hard to understand.

If you just calm down...

- You killed my cousin!

It was in the newspaper.

- It's a mistake. It was... If you give me a chance to...

Get out of here!

Get out!

- Come on. Easy.

- Hey. Tufo called.

Kovach is on his way to the construction site.

He's willing to trade his kid for the girlfriend,

a car, and some cash.

Woz, why don't we just call SWAT on this loser?

- Sins of the past.

- He always wanted a dog.

Maybe he went to the pet store.

- Mrs. Saperstein, this is important.

Does he have any friends outside of work,

other relatives here in the city?

- He has me.

- Mrs. Saperstein, are you familiar

with the concept of aiding and abetting?

- This is pointless. We need to find him.

- He's gonna lay low. - Best-case scenario.

Worst-case scenario, he contacts Wozniak.

He won't risk using his phone,

which means he'll do it in person.

- If we surveil Wozniak and Saperstein shows up,

we're not gonna have any choice but to intervene.

Operation over.

- So, what, we go back to questioning Mom?

- No. We put out a federal warrant.

- His crew sees a Fed warrant,

he might as well have a target on his back.

- He already does.

At least this way, his crew's

not the only ones looking for him.

Blow him up.

- Man, could he make me laugh.

He was, like, charismatic, you know,

and handsome.

And I don't know; He made me feel special.

And that wasn't something a lot of people

made me feel back then.

- Those are all the letters he wrote me?

- Yeah.

There's a lot of them.

- I don't know; Shouldn't I at least write him back?

- I guess that's gonna be up to you.

You know, these letters are yours now, if you want them.

But there's something that I need you to see first.

- He did this to you?

When?

- That time?

Couple years before you were born.

- Why didn't you leave him?

- I think I didn't want to be alone.

Then I met someone,

and I saw a chance at a better life

with a better man than Miguel.

- My dad.

- I wanted him to be.

But when he found out I was pregnant, he took off.

And I tried to tell Miguel the truth,

but he didn't want to believe that you weren't his.

And things got scary again.

- Baby, don't... Don't cry, okay?

This doesn't... This doesn't hurt me anymore,

all right?

It just...

It just reminds me of how strong I've become.

- I don't think I need these anymore.

- Hey, traffic cop is looking for Woz,

said that there was a CI waiting for him.

This some kind of prank?

- I can't use my cell phone. None of us should.

They could be listening. - Sap, what is this car, man?

- This is my mother's. I'm in a lot of trouble, Tess.

I need to talk to Wozniak. - In what kind of trouble?

- Please. I don't have time.

- Okay, he's on his way to that construction site on Iverson.

He's baiting the hook for that dick who ran over Espada.

Where have you been? - Step away from the car, Tess.

- Sap, what's going on here? You're shaking.

- Step away now.

- Was that Detective Saperstein?

- Not the one I know. Why?

- FBI put a warrant out for his arrest.

- He's here.

I told him he had to meet you up on the fourth floor.

Get him isolated. Where are you?

- Five minutes. Did he bring the kid?

- Yeah, and a piece tucked into his belt.

Are you sure you want to do it like this?

- We've got to.

- For Detective David Saperstein

of the 64th precinct.

Repeat, a federal warrant is issued for David Saperstein.

- Woz, you still there?

- Armed and should be considered dangerous.

- Hey, Saperstein just showed up at the precinct

looking for Wozniak.

And he was jumpy as hell. - Hey, slow down, Tess.

- There is a federal arrest warrant out for him.

We could all be in big trouble.

- Where's Sap now? - He's on his way to Wozniak.

I had no idea there was an APB on him until after.

I told him right where to go.

- Okay, uh, did you call Woz?

- No, Sap said we shouldn't use our phones.

- Why not?

- Oh, department isn't allowing

personal calls on company minutes.

- Next thing you know,

we're gonna have to pay for our own gas.

- Look, Aunt Tess has a flat tire.

So do you mind if I go help her change it?

- Okay. - I'm gonna wait outside.

Bye.

- You sure this is okay?

- Yeah, yeah, I'm just gonna practice a little bit,

maybe take a nap.

- This is David. Make it snappy.

- Sap, this is Harlee.

Look, I know you got picked up by the Feds.

I told them to.

I know you're scared,

but I need you to sit tight and call me.

And whatever you do, do not go to Wozniak.

- Harlee, I can't go to jail. I can't. My kids need me.

- Don't jump to conclusions about Saperstein.

If there's a warrant,

maybe the Feds tried to pick him up and he ran.

- Or maybe he tried to save his own ass and sold us all out.

- Frank!

You made it.

Tiffany's gonna be relieved.

- Where is she?

- She's out front. Take a look.

Hey, Brian, hi. I'm Matt.

It's okay.

I'm here to help you, okay?

It's gonna be okay.

Got you everything that we promised,

but you're gonna have to put your gun down.

- Yeah, right. Like you're not packing?

- We'll both put our guns down.

But just remember,

anything bad happens up here,

leads to something bad down there.

Give a distance.

Ready?

Throw.

Car I drove is clean.

Nobody's gonna be looking for it.

Tiffany's downstairs.

$5,000 in cash.

Everything we promised.

All right?

On three, you let him go. I throw the money.

One, two, three.

Come on, son. Brian.

Hey, what are you doing?

That's not part of the deal. No surprises.

That counts as a surprise.

- New deal.

I'm taking my son,

I'm taking my girlfriend, and we're leaving.

Turn around, and put your hands behind your head.

- My man downstairs is not gonna let this happen.

- You were gonna trade.

I'm guessing he will too.

- Drop the gun.

- No surprises, huh?

- You can't shoot both of us, Frank.

- Drop it.

- There is no way he's going back to his mother.

That bitch dimed me out.

- Okay.

Easy. I'm putting it down.

- You said no cops!

- Run downstairs.

Run downstairs, Brian. Go! Go!

- Have you seen Saperstein?

- Pulled up and asked for Wozniak.

When I told him he was up top, he just lit out.

I couldn't leave the fiancée.

- Take her inside.

Keep her away from the windows.

- Little help here, Woz?

- Hey, it's okay. Are you Brian?

- They have guns. - This is Tess.

She's gonna take you to call your mom.

- All right. - Be careful, Harlee.

- Yeah.

- You been talking to the Feds.

- It's not like that.

They picked me up.

The said they were gonna put me away.

I had no choice, Woz.

- Neither do I.

- Whoa!

- No. Please!

- They fell.

Sap shot him, and they fell.

No. No.

- Sap! Sap!

Sap!

- Oh, no. No.

Harlee.

There was nothing I could have done.

There's nothing I could have done.

- Hey, he's still breathing!

He's still breathing!