All language subtitles for Equal.Justice.S01E05.Start.Of.The.Fire.1080p.AMZN.DDP2.0.H.264-BTN_4_text

[indistinct conversations
over police radio]

[police sirens wailing]

[radio conversation continues]

[man 1] They were asking for it!

[man 1] Hey, bro!
Where's the ghetto blaster?

[man 2] And I guess that
wraps it up here.

Let's, uh...
How about him over here?

[man 1] You get
the message, bro!

[officer] Excuse me...

-Can I ask you a few questions?
-No.

Pardon me?

-How's he doing?
-He's gonna be all right.

-It's kinda scary, isn't it?
-Yeah, it is.

[siren blaring]

[police radio chatter]

[indistinct conversations
continue]

[man 1] Hey, bro! Go back
to your own neighborhood.

Who are you?

Mike James, D.A.'s office.

Detective Owens.

What happened here?

The story we're getting is,
a couple of Black kids

had a fight
with three white kids.

-Some fight. Those kids
haven't got a mark on them.
-Black kids had a tire iron.

Could that have
to do with the fact
that they were fixing a flat?

The white kids
had baseball bats,

they all started calling names,
things got out of hand.

There was a third white kid,
but he panicked and ran.
We just picked him up.

-Any witnesses?
-Not so far.

Three white kids
with baseball bats

attacked two Black kids
in front of a movie house,

a video store and a drug store,

and nobody saw anything?
Who called the cops?

First thing I want you to do
is get those perps in handcuffs.

Second, I want those bats
in evidence bags.

What for? Never get
prints off them anyway.

Put in evidence bags.

Then I want you
to get on the radio
and I want 30 detectives.

I want them to knock
on every door
in this neighborhood,

you got that?

Look, James...

Look, I got
15 years on this gig,
those kids are good kids.

These other kids
shouldn't be here.

-They know they're not
supposed to be in this area.
-[sighs]

This is not
South Africa, Owens.

We do not need a pass

to drive through
a white neighborhood.

♪
Living in a real world
♪

♪
We try to rise above
♪

♪
All we see, searching
for something to believe
♪

♪
One day, you'll find
you can make a life
♪

♪
That's worth living through
♪

♪
If you are living
for the truth
♪

♪
All that we're trying to win
♪

♪
Feels like a mountain
to climb
♪

♪
We can make it over
over time
♪

♪
Hold on
♪

♪
Hold on
♪

♪
We can make it over
over time
♪

♪
Hold on
♪

♪
Hold on
♪

♪
We can make it over
over time
♪♪

[reporter] Hey, there's Rogan.
Let's go.

[overlapping chatter]

-That's it, fellas.
-[Arnold] Yes, sir.
We are on top of it.

I did promise you
no surprises. Oh, no,
we are really on top of it.

Right. No, there really is
no need for that, Mr. Mayor.

But I will get back to you.

And thank you, sir.

He is really reading me
the riot act,

wants me to appoint
a special prosecutor.

Special prosecutor?

To investigate as
a racially motivated killing.

I told him a special prosecutor
would undermine our authority
in the area.

He bought it so far,

but they're gonna be
watching me like a hawk
on this.

Mike, what's the background
on these kids?

The boy who died,
Clayton Andrews,

-was an honor student
at Lincoln High.
-Oh, wait a minute.

Sharon, cancel my luncheon
appointment this afternoon

and find out where
the Andrews family lives.

I want to pay my respects
this afternoon.

Okay? Right.

And what about the other kid,
Isaiah Webb, how's he doing?

He's in stable condition
at County Med.

The arraignments this morning--
I'm gonna take a look
at the arrest reports.

Oh, Mike, I want both you
and Rogan to handle this case.

-Why?
-Take a look at the headlines.
The press is gunning for us.

[Gene] Wait a minute,
it's Mike's case.
He was on the scene.

Trust me on this one,
will you, Gene?

So, I'm being second-seeded?

-In a technical sense.
-What does that mean?

Gene Rogan is bureau chief.
But I want you to go with him
every step of the way

for the good of the case, okay?

That's it.

Oh, by the way,
when are we gonna get
a statement from Isaiah?

We'll go right after
case review.

Oh, hi. Morning.

Well, did you do it?

Jo Ann, Rogan's party
is Sunday afternoon.

-What are you waiting for?
-What if he says no?

He's not going to say no.

Okay, so what if he says yes?

We go out and we hit it off.
I mean, you know, Peter's a PD.

I'm an ADA.
What'll happen then?

Jo Ann, it's not the future
you have to worry about,

it's the past.

It was a chance meeting.

What street corner
was she hanging out on?

Unlike you, my girls
don't work nights.
This one's a knockout.

You're gonna see her
at Rogan's party.

She's a nurse.
You know what I'm saying?

You have to ask him
about sexual history,
everyone he's ever slept with.

I'm not a little girl.
I know about these things,
but you're way ahead of me.

I'm wondering
if I have the courage

-to walk up to him
and ask him out.
-You've got the courage.

Boy, today was like
Attack of the Killer
reported.

Did you see those guys?
They were sticking microphones
into people's faces.

They want to know
if I was anybody important.

I hope that you gave them
the correct response.

Yes, I did.
Who's handling the case?

I heard that Rogan and Mike
are handling the case.

Makes perfect sense.
Salt and pepper
for the prosecution.

Bach covered all the bases.

-Where'd the murder take place?
-Fulton, near 3rd.

What are they doing
in that neighborhood?

So, did you pick up your dress?

Tomorrow morning,
hope it's all right.

-Bring it in.
You can try it on for me.
-Oh, thanks.

Listen, about Rogan's party,
can we double date?

-Yeah, I guess so.
-Great.

Uh, has she got
a friend for me?

No.

[announcer over P.A.]
Dr. Rose, 4721.

Room in the back here.
His family's here.

There's lots of press.
I promised the doctor
I'll give him a call.

Good morning, Mr. Rogan.
Got some information
right after your call.

Two of the kids are clean.
One has a prior assault.

What about witnesses?

How about the woman
from the drugstore?

Claims she didn't see it.

She heard some screams
when she looked out.

She saw the kid
laying in the street,
called an ambulance.

-Is he awake?
-Regained consciousness.
His family's with him.

But I told 'em you'd better
take the kids' statement
without them.

Good. Thanks.

Mr. Rogan,
I'm really glad
you're taking over.

Mike James is the wrong guy
for this case.

Mike James
is my head trial lawyer

and a very close
colleague of mine.

We're gonna be handling
this case together.
You got a problem with that?

-No, sir.
-Good.

[indistinct chatter]

Talked to Jo Ann.
They just made bail.

[reporter]
Mr. Rogan! Mr. James!

No comment.
Excuse me. Excuse me.

[reporter] Going for murder one.
Can I get a statement from you?

Mrs. Webb, I'm Gene Rogan.
This is Mike James.

We're from
the district attorney's office.

We're sorry about your son.
We will use every means possible
to prosecute those involved.

What kind of people do this?
I don't understand.

He-- He was just
driving through.

[reporter] Mrs. Webb,
where was your son going?

[reporters clamoring]

Isaiah, I'm Gene Rogan from
the district attorney's office.

And this is Mike James,
our head trial attorney.

We're gonna be prosecuting
the boys who did this.

Now, I know
you're in a lot of pain.

-But I need to question
you about the attack.
-[scoffs]

I'm not talking to you.

-What?
-You heard me.

I said I'm not talking
to a white DA.

-Isaiah...
-Get out.

I'm here to help you.

Let me try.

Wanna wait outside?

-Isaiah, will you tell me
what happened?
-[door shuts]

[machine whirring]

What do you want to know?

Start from the beginning.

We were heading downtown.

Been at a party.

It was late.

Clayton said we'd get home
faster if we went up Fulton.

It seemed okay at the time.

But then, we got a flat

in the middle
of the street, so...

he and I got out of the car

and we pushed the car
over to the side of the curb.

Was anyone around?

No.

Not then. It was pretty quiet.

So, you got out the jack,
tire iron, and spare.

Yeah. [breathes deeply]

I started fixing
the tire myself. And...

Clayton was standing
near the front of the car.

And they came out of nowhere.

Who?

Three white guys
with baseball bats.

And they were running toward us.

I was on my knees by the tire.

And they were yelling,
"Get the niggers.

Get the damn niggers."

So, I took off running.

I thought Clayton
would do the same.

But he stayed there
and he tried to fight.

So, I turned around.

And I went back, and I--
I tried to help him.

Because I couldn't leave
him there, you know?

So, like I said, it was...

It was three guys
all together.

And two of 'em,

they kept just hitting him,
and hitting him,

and hitting him.

And then-- And then,
there was a third guy.

But he was...

He was just standing there
and just watching everything.

And all of a sudden,
he started hitting Clayton.

Man, I did everything
I could to pull him off
of him, you know?

But then one of the guys,
he took the bat,

and he hit me upside the head.
And he knocked me down.

And when I got up...

I looked over.

They were all just
looking down at Clayton.

[voice trembles] And Clayton...

Clayton wasn't moving.

He wasn't moving at all.

Then they looked at me,

and they started to come over
towards me.

And...

I told them, I said,
"Don't hit me, please."

And when I told them...
I told them,
"Don't hit me, man."

And they hit me.

[sobbing] Clayton
was my best friend, man.

Did you do anything
to provoke them,

threaten them with a tire iron,
call them names?

Man, we were just there.

We wasn't threatening anybody.
We were there.

Okay, okay, okay.
It's okay.

Mr. James. Mr. James,
Is he conscious?
Did he make a statement?

The DA's office will issue
a statement this afternoon.

-Did he talk?
-Yeah.

-I heard the whole thing.
-Did you explain

that he's gonna
have to work with us?

I was into hearing his story.

I have to know
if he's gonna cooperate.

I'll tell you right now,
with me, he might.
With you, no way.

[Delia] What's new
on the Webb case?

Proceeding to grand jury.

No independent witnesses.

We were at the hospital today.

Isaiah looks pretty bad.

He wouldn't even talk
with Rogan in the room.

Can you blame him?

Yes.

Rogan wasn't swinging
a baseball bat today.

-Rogan is white.
-Ah, you noticed. Good.

The kid watched his best friend
being beat to death

-by a bunch of white kids.
-Gene and I are friends.

We are working together.
The kid shouldn't have
told him to leave.

-Maybe he knows something
that you don't.
-Yeah.

And what's that?

That they'll get off
with a hand slap?
They always do.

Not this time.

Mike, the whole system
is segregated.

-You know that.
-I know that.

80% of your victims
are Black.

80% of your arrests
are Black.

But 80% of your lawyers
and judges are white.

Now, with those kinds
of numbers, you can't expect--

My secret
to marinara sauce...

-Fresh basil.
-Mm, good.

Now, now. Try this.

Just a little dab
will do you.

-Mm.
-Yeah?

Ah...

-Good?
-Mm, good.

[romantic music playing]

[men conversing indistinctly]

-Is that a direct flight?
-Came back, they retried him.

-Hey, Jo Ann.
-Hi, Peter.

-How is everything?
-Great, fine.

It's busy.
You want something?

Oh, no, thanks. No.

You come to see
how the other half lives?

Oh, no, not exactly.

Came to see you.

-Yeah?
-I was just wondering
if you'd like to go with me,

that is, to Rogan's party
on Sunday afternoon.

It's sort of this
annual DA thing.

I mean, it's--
it's very informal.

-It's no big deal.
I know it's the last minute--
-Yes.

Yeah, I'd love to.

Really?

-Yeah, really.
-Oh.

-What's the time?
-Oh, it's three o'clock.

-So, we can just meet.
-No, I'll pick you up.

2:30, all right?

Yeah. Okay.

So, I'm just gonna go.

Oh, uh, this is my address.

You know, I just wrote it down
just in case you wanted to go.

I'll see you Sunday. Ooh.

-Watch your--
-Yeah.

Bye. See you then.

[Julie] Jo Ann, I knew
that he'd say yes.

Oh, why do my palms
get so sweaty?

It's a good thing
he didn't shake my hand.

I've been on lots of dates.
Why is this so different?

Because you like this date.
Want to see the back?

Yeah.

-Looks good.
-Yeah, you know, I really do.

I really do like him.

You think he likes me?

Oh, Julie, I don't understand
this, you know?

I'm a professional.

I walk into a courtroom,
and I take charge.

Why is it that I take
one look at this guy,

and I'm back
in the eighth grade?

Well, um,

you know, we get older,
Jo Ann, not more secure.

-What time are they meeting us?
-11:30.

Did I tell you
who's representing
the Sawyer kid?

-No, who?
-Rapkin.

Bill Rapkin?

-The one and only.
-You're kidding.

-How can they afford him?
-He's not charging them.

It's the publicity
that he's after.

He wants to discuss a plea.

I don't care
if he offers murder two.
We're going all the way.

We don't have any witnesses,
and we don't know what happened.

I believe what that kid said.
I was there, Gene.
I saw those people's faces.

Fine, but you didn't
see it happen.

Oh, Mr. Rogan, Mr. James,

any comment regarding
all three defendants?

Hello, Detective.
What do you got?

I'm sorry, Mr. Rogan.
I'm coming up blank.

Our boys swept the area clean.

Nobody admitted
to seeing anything.

Damn. What about prints?

I want to know
which boy used which bat.

I told your guy here,
we never get anything
off those things.

How hard are you
trying to make your case?

-How hard are you trying yours?
-What does that mean?

We should do more than
we usually do 'cause
these kids are Black?

Do your job.
You're phoning it in,
and I know why.

You don't know squat.
From now on, I'm dealing
with your chief, pal.

Hey, Owens, maybe you're not
the right guy for this case.

I'm calling your captain.
You are coming off it.

[scoffs] Well.

Hello, Mr. Rapkin.
Gentlemen, may I
take your coats?

They're here.

-Come on in, guys.
-Hey, Gene.

Hi, Bill. How you doing?

Do you know Marty Ballard
and Alan Rivers?

-Hi.
-Mike James.

Nice meeting you.

I'll be representing
Bruce Hurley.

Edmund is representing
Glenn Rivers.

Good. Have a seat.

-How's the wife?
-She's very well. Thanks.

-Hey, Mike.
-How you doing?

You're not gonna get
rich off this one, are you?

-No, but it's good
for my conscience.
-It's good for your book.

[laughs] Touche.

So, gentlemen,
what are you looking for?

We'll go for man two,
three to nine.

What about 10 to 20 with a cap?

Involuntary manslaughter?
No sale.

-We're going for murder one.
-Murder one?

-What are we doing here?
-You got three white kids

-who pummel a Black--
-Wait a minute.

Um, look, why don't you
give us a little time?

We'll talk it over,
and get back to you.

No problem.
It's Friday anyway,
and take the weekend.

We'll talk Monday morning.

[Gene] Good.

Thanks.

What the hell
was that all about?

I can't take the plea.
Not good enough.

Since when is manslaughter
with zero evidence
not worth discussing?

-I could've put those kids
away for six years.
-They'll be out in three.

That may be
the best that we can do.

We do not have
an independent witness.

You cannot prove murder one
without premeditation

-or intent to--
-Intent?

What do those kids
think was gonna happen

after they beat him in the head
15 times with a baseball bat?

-That sounds like intent.
-Come on. You know
what I'm talking about.

No, I don't.

They could argue
emotional disturbance,
a jury could buy that.

That'll bring us
to manslaughter anyway.

Guess they were
emotionally disturbed

to have Black kids
in their neighborhood.

-What are you doing?
-What am I doing?

Trying to discuss
the weaknesses of this case.
Don't start jumping over me.

I care about
what happened too, Mike.

Do you?

Take a good look, Gene.

This kid was killed
for one reason.

Because he was Black.

He was an African-American.
That could have been me.

That could be any
African-American.

Those kids didn't care
who Clayton was,
what he wanted to be.

He was Black, period.
End of discussion, end of life.

I understand that, Mike.
Thank you.

Will you look at this case
objectively for one minute?

You wanna win this case
and get these kids
off the street,

or go after revenge and risk
blowing the whole thing?

The facts are clear.

This was a hate killing.

Those kids were looking to kill.

I won't accept anything
less than murder one.

You are not running the show.
I am, and I don't like
what I'm hearing.

I'm not gonna argue with you
about who feels more
about the murder.

I want the same thing you do,
and I intend to get it.

-I don't care whether
you believe that or not.
-Fine.

[door shuts]

-Hi.
-Hi.

-Is Mike coming?
-As far as I know, yeah.

-Have you spoken to him?
-Barely.

-I've never seen him like this.
-Oh, my God.

You can't expect him
not to be affected.

Yeah. I've gotta
get to the bar.

-How are you?
-I'm fine.

-Jesse, this is Delia Wayne.
-Delia, this is Jesse Rogan.

-Can I take your coat?
-Sure.

We've got lots of wonderful
food, wonderful drinks.

-So, help yourself.
-Thank you.

-All right, see you later.
-[Linda] Mike.

Linda, how are you doing?
This is Delia.

Has Rogan assigned
you any winners yet?

Oh, no way. Sometimes,
when he looks at me,

even when he compliments me
on something,

I just get the feeling
he's patting a little girl
on the head.

Maybe he just
doesn't trust me
to take on a big case yet.

Well, you've got
to give it time, Jo Ann.

-You're still a rookie.
-Yeah.

I was defending
loiterers for two years

before they gave me
anything meaty.

You okay?

Of course. Why?

No reason.

Excuse me a second, please.

-Yeah.
-I'll be right back.

[doorbell rings]

Julie.

Uh, excuse me a second.

-How's it going?
-Oh, great.

Yeah, but just got
finished telling him
what a loser I think I am.

Take it easy on this.
I thought you didn't drink.

I don't. I just thought
it would help me
relax a little bit.

[exhales deeply]

I feel much better now.

Thanks.

An ADA?

I thought you were
just a regular lawyer.

You know, like divorces
and car accidents.

No, no. I'm an officer
of the court.

I even carry a badge.

Hey, you want to meet
the rest of the gang?

I think I'd rather be alone
with you, if that's okay.

Wow. [chuckles]

My kind of woman.

Uh, oops.

Briggs, meet Lisa Cummings.

Lisa Cummings, Peter Brigman.

Have I met you
somewhere before?

No, I don't think so.

Let's get something to drink.

Yeah, sure, sure.

Nice dress, huh?

[Peter] It was a tough case.

It was a doctor, a surgeon.

And he got hooked
on amphetamines.

Did you see
Doctor Zhivago
?

God, that was so sad,
you know?

When Lara came back and...

they loved each other
so much, you know?

And they had to pretend that...

and the way he looked...

[laughing]

In that scene, you know,

when he had those icicles
hanging off his nuts?

You want to get a little air?

-Oh, sure.
-[doorbell rings]

Oh, ooh, sorry.

-[Jesse] Arnold.
-Thank you.

-I'm so glad you could make it.
-Thank you, Jesse.

Apologies from Claire,
Junior league.

I'm just glad that
you could make it,

because I made those
chicken croquettes
that you love so much.

Don't get me anywhere
near them.

She says if I put on
three more pounds,
I'll deliver in June.

-Come on.
-Hi, how you doing?

Oh, well,
if it isn't the head honcho.

Do you know that I could
not afford a $120 dress,

because we make less than
sidewalk carters--

-Who was that?
-On behalf of all the ADAs,

I just want to tell you,
if you want our respect,

you're gonna have to
pay us a decent wage.

Heidi Peckle.

Heidi Peckle.

Heidi Peckle.

Heidi Peckle.

I knew it was you.
I never forget her face.

At least not while I prosecute.

-When did you get out?
-Out?

Don't worry.
It was instantaneous.

He never felt a thing.

Isn't this sweet?

I have a room
just like this at home.

My mom kept it just like
it was when I was a kid.

Mine too.

Still have all
the football pennants

on the wall
and the baseball card.

I want a really big family,

and a big house
just like this one.

Yeah?

That's nice.

No, I mean, I like it here.

But it's not home.

You know, people don't
really know you here.

You know, not like when
you grow up with someone.

You know what I mean?

Yeah.

Do you?

Exactly what you mean.

I do, too.

I like you, Peter Bauer.

I liked you the minute
I saw you.

I'm starving.
Let's get some dessert.

Gene, how are you?

-Hey, Arnold.
-Nice party.

I heard that Rapkin asked
for man two in the Webb case.

-Yeah.
-Are you gonna give it?

We haven't decided yet.

Well, I heard
they need an answer
by Monday morning.

-What's going on?
-Well--

Hey, Mike, glad to see you.

We were just talking about
the Webb case and the plea.

I strongly suggest
you both take it.

Well, I suppose
you have your reasons.

Mike, this has nothing
to do with politics.

If you had one piece
of substantial evidence,

I'd support you,
but you have no witnesses.

One victim and his word
against three kids
with private counsel.

What if we upped
the ante to murder two?

-Not good enough.
-Don't think
they'd take it anyway.

What about murder one
with a ceiling of ten?

-Then I'd rather go
for murder two for 12.
-What is it really worth?

-At least 10.
-It's really worth 25 to life.

-So I'd split the difference.
-Just what is one dead Black boy

-worth these days?
-I beg your pardon?

Uh, Delia Wayne.
This is Arnold Bach, the DA.

-We were just--
-Making a deal.

I heard.

-Delia?
-I shouldn't be here.

The city's burning
and you people
are part of it.

That's not true.
The case is moving forward.

-We've got our indictment.
-How can you defend them?

-Who's them?
-Your white bosses.

Gene and I have been working
together for seven years.

-We are on the same side.
-So I heard.

How could you stand there
and make a deal

for a bunch of white boys
who beat a Black kid to death?

Delia, you don't understand.
It's part of the process.

Black or white
has nothing to do with it.
I can't speak for every ADA.

When I prosecute someone,
I don't care what color he is.
I care if he's guilty.

If three Blacks attacked
and murdered one white boy,

you know they'd be
warming up the electric chair.

I don't know.
The system isn't perfect.

What are my alternatives?
You want to pick up a bat?

I want you to fight
for your own kind.

My own kind.

My own kind?

God!

I just can't win with you.

You're like every
other Black person

who asks why aren't there
more Black DAs

and then call me an Uncle Tom
for doing the master's bidding.

My white colleagues say
that I'm too sympathetic

to Black defendants,
and you accuse me of complicity
with a racist system.

Now... this is all
I have to work with.

-Why can't you understand that?
-Words, Mike.

That boy was lynched,

and right now, you look
like part of the mob.

Lady at the liquor store,
Alice Brendon,
was about to spill her guts.

The owner of
the liquor store walks in,
gives her the evil eye.

-Now, she has amnesia.
-What about a subpoena?

Put her on the stand.
Maybe she'll break.

-I doubt it.
-What about the bats?

Blood matches, but so what?

They're not denying
there was a fight.

In short, it's a big zip. Sorry.

It's okay. Thanks.

Well, Rapkin, Ballard,
and Rivers will be here
any minute.

What are you gonna do?

What are "we" gonna do?

I made my decision,
now I'd like to hear yours.

I want to go all the way,
to trial if we have to.

Lean on the woman
from the drugstore.
All we need is one witness.

I agree.

-[laughs] You do?
-Yeah.

I know that taking the plea
would be the strategic thing
to do under the circumstances,

but I do not like the statement
we would be making,

that it wasn't premeditated,

that they weren't just looking
to kill a couple of Black kids.

[chuckles]

Yesterday,
I told Delia that, um,

deal making
was part of the process.

I know that's true.

But this time,
I can't stomach it.

I just can't make a deal
on this one, Gene.

If I did, I couldn't look
at myself in the mirror.

Yeah, I got
one of those mirrors, too.

So what do we do now?

You remember those
all-night poker games
we used to have?

Yeah, I wish I could forget.

You, uh, bluffed your way into
a hefty portion of my paycheck.

I think...

we should play again.

Bach is gonna speak
with Judge Ryan.

We're asking for a maximum
sentence if convicted.

The community's demanding it,
and we'll get it.

Twenty-five to life.
Now, if you want
to talk about a plea,

we'll go for murder one
with minimum sentence.

We know your kid
was not an initiator,

that he hit Clayton, then ran.

If you don't cooperate,
if he doesn't testify,

we're gonna
go all the way with him.

Murder one,
and we'll push for the max,
25 years to life

just because he was there.

You haven't got a case, Rogan.

Who are you trying to kid?

-You haven't got enough
to convict.
-Fine.

For the sake of argument,

let's say we only have
a 20% chance for conviction.
Just 20%.

You're gonna risk sending
Blondie upstate for 25 years?

I haven't got a case?

I've got a complaining
witness, Isaiah Webb.

Football hero, model student.

I've got a dead boy,
Clayton Andrews.

I got presence. Your boys
were ID'd at the scene.

I got a murder weapon.

And I got an eyewitness.

-Who?
-Come on, guys.
You know the players.

Can I help it
if they'll talk to me,
but they won't talk to you?

You wait until court.
It's too late.

Once we step
inside the courtroom, no deal.

You know what's upstate.

A lot of Black men.

I wonder what Mark is gonna
look like when they find out

that he beat a Black man
to death with a baseball bat.

He won't come out alive.

And if he does,
he'll wish he hadn't.

We better wait
until Rapkin gets here.
I don't know--

Forgot to tell you,
he's with Mike James.

They had some
business to discuss.

-You're bluffing.
-Then call.

You don't have a witness.
Our office interviewed
everyone on that street.

You don't think so?

Fine.

You find out in court.

-[telephone ringing]
-[knocking on door]

[Jo Ann] Okay, okay.
You don't have to break
the door down.

Hey.

Hi, Peter.

How are you feeling?

Like my head's in a blender
and someone just pushed pulse.

You're definitely
feeling no pain.

I had summation this morning.

You know, I didn't think--

Grand theft auto.

I think I won.

Yeah?

That's great.

Well, life goes on.

Yeah.

Well, I better get going.

Got a lot of work to do.

Yeah, me too. It's just--

it's just-- you know,

it's just a lot of work,
doing a trial.

Yeah, I know.

So, I guess
I'm going to go now.

Yeah.

Yeah, you got to get to court.

Right.

Come here.

What's going on?

Want to forget about yesterday?

Well, I wouldn't mind
forgetting some of it.

What about the things
you said to me?

What things?

Come on, Jo Ann.
You know what I'm talking about.

Did you mean it?

Every word.

In the cold, sober light of day?

[scoffs]

Afraid so.

Hey, hey.

I'm glad, because
I feel the same way.

-I know Rapkin's gonna turn.
I can smell it.
-Why hasn't he done it?

We're going in front
of the judge now, Mike.

Maybe we should've
accepted the plea.

We could lose
the whole ball of wax here.

Where is our eyewitness, anyway?

I sent a detective
with a subpoena.

That was three hours ago.
She'll be here.

She said she wouldn't testify.

Right, but they don't know that.

And here they come.

So we go with Isaiah.

That's not enough.
Those kids could walk.

Wait a minute. Not dead yet.

Good afternoon.

Gentlemen, have you all met
Mrs. Brendon, our witness
from the drugstore?

Meet us inside.

I think we better talk.

We all had bats.

Somebody said
they'd seen some Black guys
in the neighborhood,

and we saw the car.

And I heard Glenn yell out,
"Let's get him."

And then, we all
started running at him.

It happened so fast.

I didn't think they'd do it.

I thought we were
just talking, but...

then they started swinging.

He was holding on
to the bumper of the car,

holding on.

They just kept hitting him.

And then,
Glenn looks up at me

like I'm supposed
to do something. And...

Bruce looks up at me too,
and I'm just standing there.

And then I'm-- I'm hitting him.

I'm hitting him with this bat.

I swear I didn't even know
I was doing it.

It was like
I wasn't really there...

until I saw the blood.

It was coming out of his ear.

I was shaking so bad.

I looked at Bruce
and Glenn, and...

they were, uh, crazed.

They were liking it,

screaming at me to get him.

But I couldn't.

I couldn't hit him anymore.

But they were still going at it.

And I looked at his face...

and he didn't have any eyes.

There was so much blood...

on his face.

His nose was broken...

and there was so much blood.

I wanted to tell him to stop...

but I didn't.

Glenn and Bruce
are my best friends.

I knew they were killing him.

Oh, God.

I knew they were killing him.

Mark...

would you wait outside
with your dad?

-I'll just be a few minutes.
-Okay.

[door shuts]

So, it's no immunity,

and he cops to the assault,
aiding and abetting.

It's livable,
with a one-year county lid.

-That's the deal.
-And I think you'll get

your murder one plea
from the other attorneys.

Let me ask you something.

What did you guys have?

Was Mrs. Brendon
really gonna testify?

Come on. You know when
you fold, you don't get to look
at the other guy's hand.

[doorbell rings]

-Hi.
-Hi.

Everything okay?

Yes.

I'm sorry I'm late.

I was at the shelter,

and the pipe's busted,

and there was
flooding everywhere.

It's okay.
Let me take your coat.

Still, uh, pretty cold
out there, huh?

Yes, it is.

We won, Delia.

They pled to murder.

That's great, Mike.

-Congratulations.
-Thanks.

I'm glad you're here.
I wanted to talk to you about--

Mike...

I'm sorry about yesterday.

I shouldn't have made that
scene in front of your friends.

Don't apologize. You were--
You were upset.

Let's, uh--
let's put it behind us.

No, thank you.

I can't stay long.

I-- I came here tonight because

I knew you wanted to talk.

I want to talk, too.

I've been, um, thinking a lot...

about the party
and about what you said.

Forget about what I said.
It's not important.

Oh, yes, it is.

It's very important.

Mike...

we could-- we live
two different lives.

They just don't mix.

It's just a party, Delia.

You don't want
to go to parties,
we won't go to parties.

It's not just that, Mike.

It's everything. It's--

It's our friends,

our goals, our jobs.

You try to make
the system work.
I try to change it.

Delia, the only thing
that's important is how
we feel about each other.

We can talk this thing through.

I knew you would say that.

And we-- we talk it through,

and we smooth things over
for tonight.

And we make love...

-and everything will be okay.
-Yeah.

But it won't.

What are you saying?

I'm saying...

I don't think we should...

see each other anymore.

Just like that?

Is it so... easy for you
just to walk away?

Mike, you know it isn't.

Delia, we can work this out.

You've always been a fighter,

ready to take on issues,
fight for causes.
Fight for us, Delia.

Mike, I am tired of fighting.

I fight every day of my life.

I fight with landlords
getting rent for
rat-infested apartments.

I fight with
social workers, politicians.

I don't want to fight with you.

I...

I can't change you.

I don't want to.

But you can't change me.

I don't want that either, Delia.
I respect you, what you do,
the choices that you've made.

-I know there are differences--
-Yes.

And I can't ignore them.

It will only get worse.

We'll end up hating
each other, and I don't
want that to happen.

-Not to us.
-It won't.

I won't let it.

-We're not gonna make it, Mike.
-I can't accept that. I won't.

You have to.

You have to.

Delia.

[whispering] Don't go.

Don't go.

Goodbye, Mike.

[theme music playing]

[roaring]