Original subtitles

All right, thank you.

Hi, how are you, beautiful?

There you go, hot and waiting for you.

Thank you so much.

- Good night. - Thank you.

Good night.

All right, let's shut it down, huh?

Oh good, going home.

Okay, motherfuckers, let's go!

Give me what I want or I'll give you what you don't want.

Give the money right now, you wop, let's go.

Hurry up!

Okay, okay, please.

Hurry up, give it to me.

All right, all right, you got what you came for.

Leave.

What the fuck you looking at?

That's not all the money.

What the fuck you said?

That's not all the money.

The old wop got a safe in the back.

You heard the little nigger, let's go.

Okay, okay.

What the fuck you waiting on, let's go.

This shit is not a game.

Get out my way!

Little nigger, where is the safe?

Second bottom drawer of the file cabinet.

Jump to it, motherfucker, let's go.

Okay, okay.

Get the money, cracker nigger!

I will kill your woman.

Just give him the money!

Hurry the fuck up and get my money!

Put the money in the bag, all of it.

God, I hate to rob you, my niggas, yes.

Let's go!

Hurry, Roberto!

Nigger, today, listen to your bitch.

I got shit to do.

Give me my fucking money.

Any more money left?

This is one nice fucking piece.

Like my wife, almost too fucking pretty to shoot.

I'll tell you what, I'll take the lot of them.

Go see Frankie in the back, he'll set you straight.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, where you going, heh?

Come on, I open up the joint in an hour.

You think I want my customers to look at these?

Hey, hey, hey!

There he is, this is him.

Look who's here, the man of the hour.

How you doing, kid?

What's your name?

Bernard James.

Bernard, heh?

I tell you the truth, I appreciate what you did, kid.

But the truth be told, if you didn't open your mouth

about the safe, we wouldn't be here in the first place.

What the fuck were you thinking about,

jeopardizing my fucking money for fucking pizza money?

Roberto gave me a job to help take care of my mom.

I like Roberto, he's a good man.

I like you, kid.

I like a kid who stands up for his friends

and takes care of his mother.

You're good in my book.

But one thing I'm not too crazy about is your name, Bernard.

I don't know, you don't look like a Bernard.

What do I look like?

There was a guy I come up with years ago,

he didn't take shit from nobody.

He saved my life once, God rest his soul.

He had fucking steel balls just like you.

His name was Dutch.

How about we call you Dutch?

Dutch, yeah, it'd be an honor, Mr. Cerrone.

All right, Roberto, hook him up with the chop shop

in North Newark, all right.

All right.

Let the kid start earning for a living.

You hungry, kid?

I got a guy in the back fix you a fucking plate

of spaghetti make your hair curl.

Have them bring my usual.

I'll be at my table in a few minutes.

Sure, Miss Nichols.

Excuse me, but you're at the wrong table.

Not if you're Michelle Nichols.

Food is important to me.

I don't like being interrupted while eating.

Make an appointment and see me at my office.

Well, it's kind of an urgent matter.

They all are.

Bernard James.

Dutch.

Nice to meet you.

You're a drug dealer.

Does that scare you?

I'm a criminal defense attorney, Mr. James,

very little scares me.

This is a certified check.

You're incredibly naive if you think you're the only rich

drug dealer in New Jersey who needs my services, Mr. James.

Ms. Nichols, I'm not being arrested for selling narcotics.

What are you being arrested for?

Being black.

That's not a crime.

Who's being naive now?

Black men are incarcerated six times the rate of white males

if they're not killed first.

That's your defense because white people get away with it,

you should too?

Oh, if you think it'll work, I'm game.

I appreciate the offer, Mr. James,

but I don't think I can represent you.

Any particular reason why not?

No, but you haven't given me a good reason why I should.

Well, Johnny Cochran wasn't available.

And you're not very funny.

Oh, no disrespect to Johnny Cochran, God rest his soul.

I meant it as a testament of your legal skill.

The system is corrupt,

I just happen to care a little bit more

than the people who work in the system.

Oh, I think it's a little bit more than that.

You're a true believer.

People of color are incapable of receiving equality

of justice in the American judicial system.

Sound familiar?

Fundamental principles of the Sixth Amendment

are systematically undermined by racism, economic disparity

and political oppression.

Are these your words?

How'd you get that?

It's good, it's better than good.

I know what it is, I wrote it second year Harvard Law,

what's your point?

We both believe in justice.

Now, I've been to prison, Ms. Nichols.

It's not a pleasant place and I'm never going back.

If I can't get a fair trial with you in court,

I'll hold court on the streets.

That would be suicide.

No, it would be self defense.

What exactly are you being charged with?

I think they'll know better than me.

Bernard James, you're under arrest.

Cuff him.

He better look as good as he does now

after he gets to booking.

Who the hell are you?

Michelle Nichols, his attorney.

Good morning, you're watching Wake Up New Jersey.

I'm David Greenwood, we're glad you could be here.

Let's get right to the top story of the day, shall we?

It has now been six months since alleged drug dealer,

Bernard Dutch James was arrested at a New Jersey restaurant.

Now, ironically, Mr. James was not picked up

for a drug-related offense,

rather this is more serious than that.

He's been charged with orchestrating the mass bombing

of a New Jersey police station that led to the deaths

of 27 good officers and the wounding of scores more.

It's an act many are calling terrorism.

Now, Bernard James has always denied these accusations

through his attorney, Michelle Nichols, who just so happens

to be our guest on the program today.

Thank you for having me.

Now, I gotta say, Michelle, when our viewers found out

that you were gonna be on the program,

our social media pages basically shut down

with the sheer amount of comments people were leaving.

Well, I don't know if that's good or bad.

Well, I've been going through a lot

of these comments and many of them are less than flattering

towards you and your client.

And a good number of them aren't even suitable

to air on television.

Does that worry you?

You know what worries me

and it should worry your audience, too?

The Constitution mandates that everyone should be afforded

a good and capable defense, not just...

Yo, turn this up.

People get caught up in the sound bytes on the internet

and suddenly volunteer

to abandon their Constitutional rights

because they're not aware of the facts.

Well, here we go.

What are the facts?

Anthony Jacobs knows that William Brent

is responsible for this heinous crime, yet he insists

on using the powers of the district attorney's office

to persecute Mr. James.

But District Attorney Anthony Jacobs believes your client

is complicit with the actions of William Brent.

Well, you know what?

I believe I can fly, but the judicial system doesn't operate

on what we believe.

It's about what you can prove.

And there is no evidence of any malfeasance

or of culpable intent by Mr. James.

You do need evidence.

Just because a person has been arrested,

you can't automatically conclude they're guilty.

Documents were sent over.

When did this happen?

We're going in right now, I gotta call you back.

Michelle Nichols, saw you on TV.

You did an amazing job.

- Thank you. - You're welcome.

We want the Wake Up New Jersey piece

on all social media sites and local news outlets.

Wait, I gotta call you back.

All rise for the honorable Judge Whitaker.

You may be seated.

Bring in the jury.

Is the state ready to proceed with its opening statement?

Hello, I am District Attorney Anthony Jacobs

and I wanna thank you for your attendance today.

I know some of you may deem my gratitude unwarranted

because let's be honest, if you didn't have to be here,

you probably wouldn't come, right?

And I agree.

I'd much rather be playing golf

or going to my child's piano recital

or just enjoying a quiet day at home.

But I can't 'cause this is my duty, just like it's your duty

to assure your fellow citizens will remain safe,

just as it is the police to do the same for you and I,

our civic duty.

But above and beyond our civic duty,

above and beyond the inconvenience duty sometimes imposes

on the dutiful, therefore it is our right.

It is your right to be safe in your home.

It is your right to oversee the justice system

and it is your right to be heard as citizens,

even if the uncivilized play mockery

with our sense of security.

Now, we're all God-fearing human beings and those of you

who aren't, well, you wouldn't be here

if you didn't recognize the law.

And you certainly wouldn't be sitting there

if you didn't know the difference between right and wrong.

So I say to you, what if I could present to you

the very embodiment of wrong?

Would you hesitate to look wrong in the face?

Would you banish wrong from our society?

Would you turn away from guilt

if it was staring you right in the face?

Well, I'm gonna give you that chance.

Because I'm gonna prove beyond any reasonable doubt

that Bernard James is the embodiment of this city's wrong.

He is the root cause of fear that is prevalent in this city

and the degradation of our civil order.

It all stems from the actions of this one man.

Bernard James is an instigator, an agitator

and head of the organized crime

that has terrorized New Jersey for the past 12 years.

You have a chance to look evil in the face and in the name

of the state of New Jersey, you say one word, guilty.

Thank you.

As the day is drawing long, we'll continue these proceedings

tomorrow morning at 9 AM.

Your honor.

Thank you, Ms. Nichols.

Relax.

Court is now adjourned.

And let Jacobs' statement be the last thing

the jury remembers before they go to sleep tonight?

Don't worry about it.

Hi, this is Lady D.

I'm not available to take your call right now.

Please leave a message at the tone.

Dutch had assembled a young team of raiders

from all over New York to steal cars as a kid.

And he was arrested and sent

to Mountain View Correctional Facility

for trying to steal a dozen BMWs at the port.

BMWs?

Y'all wanna make this shit interesting?

Shit, shooting motherfuckers, that'll make it interesting.

Shit, that's your answer for everything.

What's better than that, Angel?

Money.

What you thinking, Dutch?

I'm thinking whoever has the fastest time,

the other three throw them a G apiece.

Ooh, extra three grand, I'm in.

All right then, let's do it.

You wanna roll?

Share.

Yes, sir.

Everybody give Angel her share.

She did that.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait a minute.

Y'all know I was way faster than Angel.

Yeah, you would've been

if you didn't waste time picking up random bitches.

Man, whatever.

Hey, look, I ain't even mad at you, man, 'cause look,

I see what it got you, playboy.

I ain't mad at you, go ahead.

Here, take your little money.

Yeah, come over here.

I got you, you know I got you.

I ain't tripping about that.

Mine is in there.

Whatever they want, it's on me.

Roberto, man.

How you doing, kid?

- Good, you? - Good.

You remember Qwan, Angel and Craze.

Hey, how are y'all doing?

Oh man, we doing real good.

You got a minute, I need to talk to you.

Yeah, whatever you want.

Get something to drink, man.

Hey, bartender.

$100 to the bartender.

So what's going on?

Fat Tony wanted me to talk to you.

What, we do something wrong?

Nah, no, no not at all.

I think you been doing a great job.

In fact, they wanted me to give you this.

Damn, I don't even know what to say, but thank you.

And there's more, all right.

He's taking you out of the car business

and putting you into narcotics.

Man, what you mean he wanna take us out

of the car business?

No, no, no, it's a good thing, all right.

With your street connections, it just makes sense.

You're gonna be working under Frank.

You're gonna be making 10 times the money

and have 10 times the responsibility.

You think you can handle that?

Man, they haven't invented a hustle I can't handle.

But what about my team?

Yeah, hire whoever you want.

There's enough money to go around for everybody,

but if they shit on you, that's your problem.

If they shit on us, that's your problem, too.

And Frank is okay with that?

Comes from Fat Tony.

Frank doesn't have a choice in the matter, all right.

But there's this guy.

He's got a 1956 Bel Air Coupe, a real beauty.

Frank tried to buy it from the guy,

but the guy wouldn't budge.

It would go a long way to smooth things out with Frank

if you could get him that car.

You just tell me where it's at and it's yours.

According to Frank, the guy goes to Joe's Steakhouse

every day at 7 like clockwork, parks with the valet.

You can consider it done.

Congratulations.

You've come a long way, kid, huh?

I gotta give it to him, he never thought small.

Hello, Mrs. Jasmine.

How are we doing?

I see you're doing well.

- Thank you. - Absolutely, welcome back.

Thank you.

Park up front.

Always, yes sir.

- Hi. - Excuse me.

Can you help me get a package out of my trunk?

Sure, where's it at?

- Right in here? - Yeah.

Where's it at right here?

What the...

We've been set up.

Get out of the car.

Out of the car, face forward.

Face forward!

Get down, get down.

Spread out, put your hands behind your head.

Another kid was arrested with him, Eqwan Taylor.

He was sent to Jamesburg.

Gladiator camp.

Eqwan Taylor was just added to Jacob's witness list.

He's the reverend at First Street Baptist Church

in Los Angeles.

Jacobs is using Taylor to introduce Dutch's criminal past

to the jury.

Then we're gonna take a hit.

Maybe not, do we have anything

to impeach the good reverend's testimony?

Nothing yet, but our investigators

are still in LA working on it.

Get them to work faster.

In the meantime, I'm gonna gut Jacobs' first witness.

Can you state your name for the court, sir?

Kenneth Jackson.

And where do you currently reside?

In a halfway house off of Broad Street.

And do you know Bernard James?

Of course I do, who don't?

He's sitting right over there.

And when was the first time you met Bernard James?

- Objection. - Overruled.

Again, when was the first time you met Bernard James?

Not until he came to Mountain View.

And that would be Mountain View

Correctional Facility, right?

Yes, sir.

And can you describe Bernard James's stay

at Mountain View correctional facility?

Well, from the jump, Dutch came in like he had something

to prove, like he had a chip in his shoulder.

He wasn't inside five minutes

and he was already stirring up shit.

So Bernard James came into prison a violent person,

is that correct?

I mean, he wasn't a killer or nothing,

but he definitely made his presence known.

And I respected that.

Was there any gang activity at Mountain View?

Everybody was in a gang, if that's what you wanna call it.

It was just cliqued up.

I mean, they got together on a county versus county

or a city versus city basis.

Narc, nigga.

Fuck off me, man.

Sometimes it's street versus street basis.

It depended on where you were at

to determine who you were with.

Now, I'm gonna ask you

was Bernard James involved in a gang?

Everybody was, especially him.

Especially?

Dutch ran Mountain View.

And if Newark was brought up, he would be frontline.

He was the man, bottom line.

Thank you.

Your witness.

Mr. Jackson, you testified that everybody

at Mountain View was in a gang.

That's right.

So were you in a gang?

Like I said, everybody was.

And if one gang member had a problem

with another gang member, they would do anything

to take them out, right?

Wasn't no picnic.

You had to do what you had to do to survive.

Like what?

Whatever it took.

Lie?

That's the least of it.

Kill?

Guards won't let you kill nobody, but short of it.

Good for them.

Are you from Newark?

No, ma'am.

I'm from North Bergen Township, Hudson County.

A lot of tough guys come out of North Bergen.

You'd be surprised, ma'am.

Are you a tough guy?

Let's just say I can hold my own.

And you and Mr. James were in a rival gang

at Mountain View, right?

What are you talking about?

You said earlier that inmates at Mountain View

got together on a county versus county

or city versus city basis.

Mr. James is from Newark, you're from North Bergen,

therefore you're rivals, right?

We wasn't homies or nothing like that

if that's what you asking.

That's why you're here testifying today

because you and Mr. James were rivals

and a gang member will do anything

to take out a rival gang member, right?

I don't know what you're talking about.

So it wasn't true when you say lying is the very least

you would do take out a rival gang member?

Were you lying then or were you lying now?

Which is it, Mr. Jackson?

Objection, argumentative.

Sustained.

Mr. Jackson, one last question.

Where are you staying while appearing in court?

The district attorney's office put me up at the Hilton.

I'd imagine the Hilton is a lot nicer

than the halfway house on Broad Street.

Objection.

Withdrawn, I'm done with this liar, I mean, witness.

Jacobs.

Gah, shit, it was supposed to be done an hour ago.

What time?

5:30, it's gonna be ready.

But look, if I can't make it, let's just leave the keys

at the service department.

Yeah, I know.

All right, bye, thanks.

I'm going to visit Roc and Angel

and I'm gonna make them a deal.

Okay.

There he is.

Roc, right?

I am District Attorney Anthony Jacobs.

They treating you well in here?

District attorney Anthony Jacobs, what you want?

Look, we know you're not top of the chain.

We know it's Bernard James, Dutch.

Now, I could cut a deal with you right now

and have you back on the streets in less than a month.

The only thing I want is Dutch.

You must not know me.

I ain't no snitch.

I respect that.

Oh, what was I thinking?

Congrats, on the baby, right?

What did you have a boy or a girl?

I guess it really doesn't matter

because you won't be seeing him or her for quite some time.

Now, what did you tell Aisha that you didn't want your kids

to see you caged like an animal?

Look, get me some McDonald's.

When you come back, I might remember something.

Can you do that?

Oh yeah, Big Mac, fries, Coke?

- Yeah. - Done.

How was the meal?

This'll last me till I get out.

Okay, well, I guess we can talk

about the bombing at the police precinct.

Look, I already told you.

I ain't no fucking snitch.

Get the fuck outta here.

Wait a second, I thought we had a deal here.

Yeah, the deal is get the fuck outta here.

You're making a big mistake.

You will never see the light of day, I guarantee it.

Get the fuck outta here!

Get dressed.

Hands behind your back, inmate.

What the fuck do you want?

You're a very pretty girl, Angel.

Oh,

Let's see here.

Possession with the intent to distribute,

accessory to murder.

That's 20 to life.

You won't be so pretty when you get out, if you get out.

Yeah, look, I know how much Dutch meant to you.

Took you out of that hellhole on Dayton Street,

but you were young, impressionable.

You didn't know what you were doing.

And now, look where you are now.

I can make your time here easier.

Do yourself a favor, testify against him.

I'm not a fucking snitch.

I appreciate that loyalty.

Let me ask you, would Dutch do the same for you?

Fuck you and fuck your deal.

Get that fucking cunt out of my face.

I saw the way the jury watched you, they like you.

They want you to win this.

I can dazzle the jury with clever rhetoric,

make the men want me, make the women wanna be me,

but when the show is over, nothing is going to be able

to blind them from the fact

that there are 27 police officers dead

and they're gonna want someone to answer for it.

And that is gonna be Bernard James.

You know what my wife tells me?

That you have a shitty boss that makes you work too much.

That trials aren't won by clients, they're won by lawyers

and you're gonna win it for him.

That would be true if our client was anyone else

but Bernard James.

His presence commands attention

and the jury, they can't take their eyes off him

sitting there like a king daring to find him guilty.

But all we need is one juror looking for a reason

to let him go and you're gonna be that reason.

What have you got me into?

Good evening, counselor.

What the fuck did you get me into?

I told you.

Like hell you did.

I told you everything you need to know

to represent me on this case.

Now tell me everything I don't know

and I'll decide what's important.

That wasn't our agreement.

Our agreement changed the moment some nut case

in a Monte Carlo did a drive-by on my house.

Are you sure it was a Monte Carlo?

I'm asking the questions and you're answering

or you're gonna need a new lawyer.

Ha-ha, it's been a long time.

Too long.

Man, finally some fresh air, free air.

Nobody telling me what to do, I'm good.

Dutch!

Hey!

Ay Papi, you're out.

I can't believe it, I missed you so much.

You know I wasn't gonna be able to stop her from coming.

Man, now I know I'm blessed.

Two of my favorite people in the world on the day I get out.

And you've got a new ride.

No shit.

Real shit, bruh.

Damn, let's get the fuck out of here.

Let's go.

You free now.

So where you wanna go first, your mom's, Roberto,

Fat Tony or some thots?

My moms.

Who poppin' in the streets now?

This cat, Kazami, popped up out of nowhere on Springfield

after you got locked up and started housing shit.

You making this motherfucker sound like a super hero

or some shit.

For real, within a year Kazami took over Newark,

Elizabeth, Linden and East Orange,

shit most of Jersey City honestly.

People thought dude was Haitian, but he's really Nigerian,

brought a whole crew with him

that's used to guerrilla warfare out in Africa.

Fat Tony just let him do it?

I mean, Frank Sorbonno moved up in the family,

put a couple hits out on Kazami, missed twice, pathetic.

That shit only gave Kazami more street cred.

Frank got Monte Carlo on him now.

Wait, you talking about that Italian cat

that be in the old Monte Carlo?

Yep.

No wonder they can't get Kazami,

Monte Carlo is shit for brains.

Only reason he ain't been tipped over

is 'cause of police protection.

So what are you doing?

It's like I've been stuck.

I've known you forever and it's always been us.

Rock and Zoom my people and Shock rest in peace

but without you here on point, man,

it's like I ain't been able to get no traction.

Hey, Ma.

When did you get home?

Today, just now.

So you moved, huh?

Yeah.

What did you do with all the stuff I bought you?

You bought?

Ma, listen, I know I messed up

and I know you're probably mad at me, but you could have

at least came and seen me once or wrote back.

I wrote you every week and you just up and move?

Well, that's 'cause you a goddamn fool

and you're a goddamn coward.

And yeah, I was mad not for what you did do

but for what you didn't do.

You let them lock you up like you was a dog.

And you expect me to write you.

You must be crazy, boy.

What I got to say you don't want me to write.

You let them take you away from me.

And you didn't do nothing about it.

And yeah, all that shit that you bought me,

I left it where it was.

I let it rot, I left it.

All that bullshit you traded your freedom in for,

you think I want that?

You think that's what I want?

You think I wanna keep that?

I ain't going back.

You damn right you're not going back.

I'll kill you myself.

I'll kill you myself.

Get off of me, get off of me.

You go get what them people took from you.

Go back and get what the people took from you.

Bernard.

Your mother seems like a special type of woman.

Imagine being raised by her.

At some point in the near future,

we're gonna finish this conversation.

I could offer you protection.

I'm good, trust me.

Look, I didn't know they were gonna come after you

to get to me.

You're doing a great job, you can't lose your cool now.

I win 98% of my cases,

run a six-minute mile with a .45.

The last thing I'm gonna do is lose my cool.

Good night, Mr. James.

Fuck you, Monte Carlo.

Boy, Qwan wanna holla at you.

What fat boy want?

I don't know.

All right.

He ready for you.

What up?

Hey, I appreciate everything you done for me, Dutch,

but I be waking up sweating tears.

I can't tell the difference between the two.

And it's so many people out here dying, it's too many.

I be thinking somebody gonna kill me

or my mom or my sister.

Don't you ever have thoughts like that?

No.

Well, I do, man, I think about it a lot.

I couldn't live with myself if I did something

that would cause pain to my family.

It ain't in me no more, Dutch, it ain't.

If I said it was, I'd be frontin'.

Ain't no future in that.

I know, man, so yo, I'm moving out to L.A.

I'm gonna stay with my aunt.

I told you he wasn't built for this shit.

He knows too much, way too much.

We shouldn't have let him walk out of here.

Let me take care of that.

What he gonna do?

Nothing but go to California

and become some preacher or some shit.

Let him go.

Shit, if that's what he wanna do, all glory to God.

Do you solemnly swear

that the evidence you're presenting today is the truth,

the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

I do.

You may have a seat.

State your name for the court.

Reverend Eqwan Taylor.

And where are you currently residing?

In Los Angeles, California.

I'm the reverend of First Street Baptist Church.

And where did you live prior to California?

Right here in Newark.

And were you ever connected

to the defendant, Bernard James?

Yes. How so?

We were friends.

In fact, isn't it true

that you and Bernard James were in prison together

for grand larceny?

Yes, sir.

Have you ever heard of a man name Azugol Kazami?

Yes.

How so?

Bernard and I had discussed killing Kazami.

Objection, your honor, Mr. James has never been charged

with the murder of Azugol Kazami.

A point I'm sure you'll make clear

in your cross, counselor, overruled.

So Reverend, in your best ability,

can you share with us the conversation you had

regarding the murder of Azugol Kazami?

Look, what I'm about to put y'all up on

ain't like shit we ever did before.

So if y'all ain't bout it, y'all can bounce.

Man, why you talking to us like that, Dutch?

You know we down.

Oh yeah?

I'm taking over the drug trade in Newark.

What the fuck, Dutch?

What you gonna do, compete with Kazami?

Nah.

We kill Kazami.

Kill Kazami?

I ain't saying you wrong or nothing, Dutch,

but killing dude, he'd murc us

if he thought we was thinking about sticking him,

let alone killing him.

We don't know where he lives or how to get to him.

He's married and got a kid.

Boom, that's how we get to him.

What, we gonna kidnap his girl and his kid?

You wanna snatch her?

She know what she signed up for when she got with him,

but nah, Kazami ain't breaking his neck over no bitch.

We get her to set him up.

She ain't gonna turn on her meal ticket.

Sugar Ray will flip her.

That wannabe pimp motherfucker?

Yeah, Sugar Ray ain't going for that.

Sugar Ray like money just like anybody else.

He'll do it for the paper.

Reverend Taylor, Reverend Taylor, are you all right?

Yes, I'm good, I'm okay.

You need a break?

Yeah, I think I need a moment.

Your honor, short break for my witness.

This court stands for a 30 minute recess.

What were we talking about?

Kazami.

Right, right, the African.

Mm-hm.

I don't know about that, man.

It may be too hard.

Come on, man, anybody could get got.

Yeah, that shit go both ways.

Didn't Kazami get two hits put out on him?

They missed twice.

What the fuck make you think we can get him?

Well, that's why we need you, Sugar Ray.

His broad's the weak link.

They always are.

If anybody can bag him, it's you.

Now, shit, the mob might miss twice,

but everybody know Sugar Ray don't.

You trying to gas me up.

Of course, Sugar, I'm the Sugar Man, of course I don't miss.

That's to show you we real about this.

And if you go at Simone and miss, my word,

my car is yours.

The beamer in front?

Yep.

See, Kazami, he can give a bitch everything she want

except that understanding.

That's when the Sugar Man come into play,

you know what I'm saying?

See, I'm the shelter to a bitch storm.

Gotta create the storm.

The storm?

Like some emotional shit

that Kazami can't buy himself out of.

Like what?

I don't know, like kill his bitch daddy or something.

Shit.

We'll be in touch, Sugar Ray.

Be creative.

Ay, you got some panties on?

So Sugar Ray suggested it,

even though he wasn't serious about you doing it?

Objection, the district attorney can't possibly expect

the witness to know what Sugar Ray was thinking.

Sustained.

Reverend Taylor, do you think Sugar Ray was serious?

Nah.

Do you think the defendant thought Sugar Ray was serious?

Yes.

How so?

You sure you got this?

I got my killer fit on, I'm ready.

You know I can do this for you.

I'm gonna show Dutch, man, I got this.

All right, let's get it.

The murder of Mr. Smith not only served as a message

to Kazami but to the rest of the crew.

No!

The stronger message was that he was willing

to do anything to get what he wanted, anything

and just like Sugar Ray said, Simone fell apart.

Whoa, slow down, slow down.

You don't know what it's like, Ray.

I do know how it is to be with a man

that don't protect you from your enemies.

You know he's using all the time.

We got a child in the house.

Baby, that's just to cure his soul

from the guilt he's consumed with.

Let me tell you something, his days of reckoning,

oh, they coming.

Yeah, but how long are we gonna have to wait for?

Kazami makes my skin crawl every time he touches me.

You know, I wouldn't be able to see you

if he didn't let me come and work out.

I can't take this no more.

Baby, I'm the Sugar Man, that's why I'm here

to protect you, make sure your financial resources

is all together for the rest of your life

for you and your family,

but you gotta trust me, you gotta believe me.

Can you do that for me?

I'll do anything you want, Ray.

You just gotta help me with my needs.

Oh, most definitely.

Ay, bring some champagne.

We celebrating over here, man.

I don't think you will get an argument from anyone

if you decided to quit.

Or you can call a priest

and y'all can discuss your future.

You do know regardless of what we do,

there's no chance of us winning.

It's problematic for me

when my client sides with the prosecution.

I make no excuses for who I am.

We covet what we see first.

Where I grew up,

being a drug dealer's how you make your money.

You get one time to be big time.

Great argument, but it's not gonna stop you

from getting the lethal injection.

I wanna talk to you about the deal.

Y'all needed me to crack a bitch.

You know me, I crack five bitches

like I crack five knuckles,

you know what I'm saying and ball my fist.

So it's only right, 50/50 split, 50/50 deal.

I hear what you saying.

I mean, we did call you.

So I'm cool with a 50/50 split under one condition.

Conditions?

You come with us.

I mean, 'cause we could look and come back

and tell you anything.

Now, if you feel shitted on,

that could ruin a beautiful partnership.

I ain't got a problem with that.

So can we get to business?

I got two one-way tickets to Miami.

She wants to go together after all this shit go down.

You know what I mean, but you know me.

I roll alone.

Now, Kazami, if he don't trust the bitch,

what the fuck I look like trusting the bitch?

You know what I'm saying?

So I feel like her and Kazambi should go

on the trip together without me.

Far as the crib, he don't really keep no real money

in there, you know what I mean?

I mean, she's sprung but he ain't no fool.

You know what I mean?

He got two trap houses, one in Newark, one in Elizabeth.

Oh, we got that covered.

The main house in Roselle, high security,

500 thou on them, Simone gonna have that packed

in the kitchen waiting for us.

You know what I'm saying?

We gonna go as satellite repairmen.

Only problem is we can't bring our straps.

But Simone will have two guns waiting for us.

So we're going in unarmed,

depending on some chick to gun us.

I ain't feeling that.

It's the only way, you know what I'm saying?

You think I wanna go in there without my heat?

It works for me as long as that kid ain't there.

Nothing to it, I swear to God, I'll make her take

that little bastard to her grandparents.

So we good, let's get it done.

We're here to repair the satellite.

It's inside, but I gotta check you first.

Shit, now we committing a crime?

Can I get my tools?

Hi, I'm Simone.

Nice to meet you.

Do you think you could show us

where your primary box is, please?

Yeah, right this way.

Who the fuck is this?

They're here to fix the satellite

and you said you weren't doing that anymore.

What's the point of sending a boat to your mom

if I can't enjoy myself?

It's cool, I fixed them already.

Right this way.

Hey!

Wanna ball?

We working, man.

You ready?

Let's do it.

Babe, do you have a minute?

Please, please.

Come on, you never dance with me.

It's clear.

Yo, yo, yo, drop the fucking gun.

Son of a!

Put it on the table.

Now face the fucking wall on your knees.

We gonna keep this real simple.

We here for the money.

Now, if it's where it's supposed to be at, we good.

If it ain't, I'm blowing her fucking brains out.

I got the baby, bro, let's get it.

Okay.

Are we good?

Yeah, damn right, we good.

Told you.

Yeah, we got your kid.

It's over.

I have no further questions.

Your witness, Ms. Nichols.

I should cross examine him.

Yeah.

Defense has no questions, your honor.

Hey, Craze , what is it with you?

Why the stone face?

Shh.

You did have a problem with Kazami,

but you ain't got that problem no more.

What?

Whoa.

Now I know why they call you Craze.

What are you a fucking psycho walking around

with this fucking head in this bag?

Your man, Lil Frankie right here,

yeah, he couldn't finish the job.

So we did it as a favor.

Roberto, what is it with these fucking kids?

Here, here, get rid of this shit.

Get rid of that, just get it out of here.

I gotta admit, though, you know what?

This fucking Kazami's been a thorn in my side for years.

You got a guy we've been trying real hard to get.

So for that, I guess we owe you a favor

and I think I know what that favor is.

I think you guys wanna take over the drug trade, right?

And you need us to provide police protection,

so you could be bosses.

Is that the long and the short of it?

And you got yourself a friend, believe me,

as long as you live.

Smile, will you?

You want me to call Detective O'Neal?

That's a good idea,

tell him they're with us now, all right.

Come on, let's go munch.

Whoa, whoa, I got something to say.

I'd take a bullet for the both of yous right now,

you know that.

I don't trust these mulignans.

They're animals, they speak a language

I don't even know what the fuck they're talking about.

And that head in a duffel bag,

it's gonna come back to bite us in the ass.

And let me tell you something right now.

I'm going on record with you, Tony, I am not taking a fall

for these fucking niggers.

And I'll wack the both of them right now, it's what I do.

Do I fucking stutter when I talk, heh?

Did you not just hear me?

Did you not hear me give him my word,

you know what my fucking word is?

But what is it with you, heh?

Smarten up, all right, stop being so fucking color blind.

Change with the times.

I know where we can get some good veal and peppers.

Oh, look at this, what is this Mount Everest here?

Jesus Christ.

Holy shit!

Who hired this kid?

We should take a vote, you know, to gauge things.

That's against the rules.

Yeah, but save a lot of time

once you get into deliberation.

I'm sorry this process is inconveniencing you,

but we haven't heard everything yet.

I've heard enough, that boy is guilty.

Don't y'all feel the same?

Anybody don't feel the way Henry does?

Don't get me wrong, I think he's guilty

of a lot of things, just not what he's being charged with.

I like his lawyer, I wanna hear what she has to say.

Yay!

There she go.

- Hey, beautiful. - Hi.

What's up, birthday girl?

Look at the birthday girl.

Hi.

Go ahead, make a wish.

These are Angel's Charlies.

They're down for whatever.

Oh yeah, let's get down to the whatever.

Wait, wait, wait, glasses, glasses.

For sure.

Everyone, now look, in the seven years I've been released

from prison, we've been more successful

than most motherfuckers do in a lifetime.

Now, I'm not just talking about the street oglers.

The entertainment, the fashion, the restaurants,

like this one here, Mr. Cerrone's blessed me with.

Angel has been instrumental in all of it.

Now, this is Angel's night,

but none of this could've happened without all of you.

You're my brothers, you're my sister

and I owe all you motherfuckers.

- Family. - Family.

Now let's get to the everything.

Come on, Dutch, let's take a picture.

Oh, you know I don't like being in no pictures.

Come on, just one.

Come on, I'll take it.

Come on, Dutch.

Ay, how was that party?

Fire.

It was lit.

Lit, Angel brought out all the bad bitches.

All of them.

All of them.

Man, the traffic on the highway was so bad,

I ain't going up to Bmore no time soon.

Shut yo ass up, if it wasn't for them crab cakes

you ordered, we would've been there on time.

Uh, there go the truth.

Man, I wasn't the only one eating crab cakes.

You had crab cakes, too.

You know she expect the whole family to be there.

She gonna kick your ass.

Hey, fellas, what's happening?

Where's Dutch?

Roc, let me talk to you.

You know what one of the most dangerous parts

of our business is?

It's not aiming too high that you miss it,

it's aiming too low that you reach it.

Buona fortuna, lots of good fortune.

I wanna make you rich.

I want you to come with me and be part of my family.

Dutch, he's nothing without me, he's washed up.

What, Dutch, that's my brother.

We been down for life.

Loyalty, you feel me?

Loyalty, I love that.

I just hope that Dutch cares about your little clique

just as much as you do.

Do you feel me?

Think about it.

I don't trust them Italians.

Dutch think Frank had something to do with that stolen car

that y'all got locked up in.

I know what Dutch think,

but I don't think they had nothing to do with it.

But Dutch is always on point, so...

Fake ass Tony Montana Italians.

That nigga said Tony Montana.

At this juncture, the prosecutor has painted

an incredibly unflattering picture of you to the jury.

Now mind you, it has nothing to do with the case

and I'll cover it in my closing,

but we have to put on a defense and we'd be idiots

to think that we can unring that bell.

And we not idiots?

I go out of my way not to look like an idiot.

So it would be good for you to have someone speak well

on your behalf.

If not, change the perception that Jacobs has presented

but at least question it.

Right.

Is there anyone that can say good things about you?

Dozens, but they're all dead or in jail.

That's not good.

No childhood friends, impartial third parties, girlfriends?

No.

No significant other of any kind?

In my lifetime, Ms. Nichols, I've had my share of women,

but no, I've never been in a relationship.

- No? - No.

Jacobs won't be done with putting on his witnesses

until the middle of next week, so give it some thought.

Thank you.

Sure, I'll see you tomorrow.

Yeah.

Dutch, hey, come on over here.

Ladies, this is the owner.

- Hi. - Hey.

Give us a minute.

Have a seat.

I love what you did to this place.

Thanks.

But I have been hearing some rumblings.

Yeah, what sort of rumblings?

Frank thinks that the restaurant should be given

to someone in the family.

Well, I'm like family with Mr. Cerrone.

So Frank could go see him if he has a problem with it.

I don't have a horse in this race.

I just wish you should give me a little something.

Yeah, yeah, I'll cop you a bottle of champagne.

What kind you drink?

That's not what I'm talking about.

You know what I'm talking about.

Give me a little info on one of your rivals,

it'll make me look good.

Yeah, well I don't snitch on anyone, anywhere, anytime

or under any circumstance.

You might wanna rethink that.

Just did, the answer's still no.

You take care.

Y'all went, what?

I got one and a pimp.

Hello, nuh-uh, Tamika, no, no not today, okay, girl.

I have money on this game.

And you over there eye fucking dude, Tamika.

I'll be right back.

There she go.

Come on, Nina, you gonna pay or play?

I ain't got all day.

How am I gonna play?

I mean, you see my partner ran off hoeing.

I could play.

Come again?

I can play until your partner comes back.

What's up, boss?

Sure, if he's forfeiting.

So I got five and a possible.

What you got?

I'm sorry, excuse me?

How many do you have?

Oh, yeah, I got two.

Put us down for eight.

Eight out the gate, somebody's feeling lucky.

Thank you, nice doing business with you.

Seriously?

Didn't you just see me play all hearts?

I thought you said you could play.

My fault.

It's been fun, but I have to go.

Stop, come on, Nina.

Yo, how much she lose?

500.

I don't know where he is.

I don't wanna fucking wait.

What are we, a couple of jerk offs over here

- waiting for... - There he is.

Hey, it's the fucking Ly brothers, Hugly and Ugly.

Ha-ha, funny, come on, let's go.

I went to see Dutch like you sent me.

Yeah, he hands me a bag of money.

I said, what's this?

He says it's a start.

A start, I say.

Let me tell you something, you stupid black son of a bitch,

you know what your problem is?

You took what another man earned.

You tried to build your foundation

on another man's reputation.

I told them this, you forgot the one thing in our business.

You live and die on you and you alone.

I mean, sure I know he's crazy, a little more ruthless,

he had to be, I'll give him that, okay.

But he plays by his own rules.

He doesn't play by our rules.

He pisses me off.

So then I told him, now I got you by the balls.

And I'm gonna keep squeezing and squeezing

until I get fucking blood.

And then I'm gonna crush you

like the piss ass nigger that you are.

And he just stands there, he looks at me,

he doesn't say anything, he's a chump.

You done?

Yeah.

What is your fucking problem, huh?

Those guys make us a ton of fucking dough, all right.

Nobody's gonna connect them to us, so just re-fucking-lax

and forget about it.

It's a lot of fucking money and it goes in my pocket.

What's your fucking problem, huh?

What the fuck is your problem?

You're my fucking problem!

- Fuck you! - All right, all right.

, all right.

That's it, finito, all right.

If this keeps up, we're gonna sit down

with the old man, all right.

You're gonna get slapped on the wrist, maybe more than that,

all right, Frank?

You ain't going to see him again, all right.

You don't deal with them anymore

because I can't fucking trust you.

Hey, I'm talking to you all right, capiche?

, enough, now come on, let's go.

You're gonna fuck this up for us!

All right, stop, stop!

Stop,

I'm not riding with him.

I'll ride in my own car, fuck it.

Hey, Roc, ain't Aisha supposed to be having the baby soon?

Yeah, any day.

Ay, ain't that about your fourth, fifth baby with Aisha?

You need to get your tubes tied.

Shut up, nigga.

What's up, baby girl?

Hi, where's Dutch?

I got somebody who wants to talk to him.

Who?

William Brent.

And who the fuck is that?

Bill Blass.

What he want?

Trabajo?

All right, fuck it, send him in.

Yo!

Oh, there he is.

What's up, Bill, go on have a seat.

What's going on, man?

Hey, guys, I really hate that I'm here

but my family and I are really down on our luck right now.

And I'm just looking for any type of work right now

if you have any.

All right, what you think, Roc?

Give us a minute.

All right.

Who he fuck with?

Joe from Newark.

He on the run from the feds.

Man, fuck it.

Just have him take Bliss' spot.

Yeah.

All right, let's move, let's make it happen.

Let's make it happen, let's move.

- All right. - All right.

On another note, nigga, is you sterile?

'Cause you ain't got no kids.

Fuck you.

Susan said you wanted to see me, sir.

Nina, come in.

I wanted to introduce you to our new client

I was telling you about, Mr. James.

Mr. James.

You can call me Bernard.

I'm sorry, I've gotta take this.

You guys keep talking, I'll be right back.

I thought your name was Dutch.

Nickname.

So how do you get Dutch from Bernard?

It's a long story.

So the Cerrone Social Club is one

of the six restaurants that you own?

No, but I manage it for a friend.

You're not exactly the person you pretend to be, are you?

Look, I said I could play cards

till your friend came back.

I didn't say I was good at it.

Nice, go ahead.

One, two, head body, head body, there you go, come on.

Come on, come on.

Body, body.

There you go, hit it, hit it...

Don't listen to him, he don't know shit.

Oh, Tony, veni ca.

Hey.

Kid looks good.

He does, you'll fuck that up.

I trained him myself.

I could see that.

Thank you for coming down here to sit with me.

No problem, for reasons passed understanding,

I'm out picking up a few things for the old lady

tomorrow being our wedding anniversary.

Buona fortuna, did your wife get the flowers I sent her?

Yes, by the way, that was an incredibly nice gesture.

You made me look bad, you fuck.

I didn't think it was appropriate

to talk to you about this over the phone.

What are we talking about?

I'm talking about our street holdings here.

Dutch?

Yeah, Dutch.

Come on, we all know these people are inferior to us.

Things ain't being ran right.

No, no, things are being ran very fucking right

from where I'm sitting.

And the reason I know this is my accountant told me so.

And just so there's no more fucking confusion

about where I'm sitting on this,

the next time you wanna get ahold of me,

you call me on a fucking phone.

You mean you're gonna take the side

of that bottom feeding nigger over one of your own?

Nice work, Lou.

That's it, head body, head body.

Come on, keep up that footwork.

You come here a lot?

A few times, a lot of doctors,

lawyers and financial analysts come here.

I get it, rich people like to hang with rich people.

Well, I ain't gonna lie.

I enjoy the harvest of my labor.

But to be honest, all this is a result

of wanting it for someone else.

Okay, I'm confused.

My father walked out of my mom's life before I was born.

She went hungry many a day to feed and provide for me.

So I promised myself when I got old enough that if able

I would give her everything that my father should have.

So it's not a holiday, birthday or any day that goes by

where I don't try to give her the best

that life has to offer.

Well, your mother is very fortunate

because I don't think there's a woman alive

that wouldn't wish for that quality in a man.

Well, I'm not trying to win an award or nothing.

You sure are easy to talk to.

So are you.

You have the lawyers for Martin and Kendall at noon.

That meeting's gonna run long,

so will you order us something to eat?

Sure, what do you feel like?

Whatever you had yesterday is fine.

Can we try something different?

I had lasagna, you had spaghetti.

I had a bad experience with it.

Why?

Well, they delivered the meatballs

but they forget the spaghetti and the sauce.

They clearly have zero compassion

for young starving assistants.

They took care of it, right?

Yeah, but I was hungry.

By the time they brought the spaghetti,

I had already eaten the meatballs.

That must've sucked.

Tell me about it.

Okay, well we won't be ordering from them.

Hey.

Hi.

I forgot to tell you, Mr. James is here.

What stopped you?

The meatballs.

Thank you, Sam.

I'm sorry.

Why, did you do something wrong?

I didn't call you, but by no means does that

reflect the time that we spent together.

It was incredible.

Yeah, it was.

Excuse me.

Nina, what are you trying to tell me

that you're not telling me?

I liked you from the moment I met you,

but I can't do this.

I spoke with Tamika and she let me know what you do

beyond the restaurants and stores.

When I told you my brother died,

he was murdered by a drug dealer.

So you think I'm gonna end up like him

and you gonna lose me, too.

You're far too smart to get caught up

the way my brother did.

It's about respect, respect for his life, his memory.

I can't see myself living off what he died for.

I can respect that.

And I probably shouldn't say this,

but I'm gonna say it anyway.

You will never ever get over me.

I was meant for you and you were meant for me.

How do you know that?

Nobody knows that much.

I know 'cause I know what love is.

Mrs. Cerrone, this is Bernard James, a business associate

and very good friend of your husband's.

Rose, Tony was like a brother to me, I'm so sorry.

Whatever you need.

Reach out to Detective O'Neal.

I want this boy put to bed as soon as possible.

Bill Blass, you was just gonna leave

without saying goodbye, after we gave you a job?

Ow, fuck!

Look, guys, it's not what you think it is.

Oh yeah?

No.

What is it?

You guys saw how shit was going down.

I was gonna give the money back, I was only holding onto it

in case there was a raid or shit got complicated.

It's true.

Yeah.

Come on, guys, you gotta believe me.

Man, shut up.

Hold on.

Yo.

All right.

Ay, y'all let Dutch know whatever he needs,

whatever it is, I got him, whatever.

Yeah, I know, Dutch told us.

He got a job for you.

Only you can do it, Bill.

Well, can I at least get dressed first?

Of course, Dutch has a special outfit for you.

Like I said, anything for Dutch.

What the fuck is that?

It's an option vest.

You got two options.

Either you put this vest on that Dutch made for you

and you take some people out along with yourself.

Option two, we kill your whole family.

What the fuck you wanna do?

Your wife, your daughter, your mother, your dad,

your grandfather, your cousin

and bubblefuck, we killing everybody.

Fuck, I think I just pissed myself.

Fine, I'll fucking do it.

I'll put the fucking vest on.

I thought you might say that, wise choice.

Yo, that nigga Roc is really having another baby.

Man, didn't Aisha say it wasn't gonna be no nother one?

Ha, Roc's a little bitch.

Secure all the exits, we're going upstairs.

Move!

Yeah, yeah bro, it's a boy.

Big boy.

Rahmin Abdul, also known as Roc, you're under arrest.

It's over.

You have the right to remain silent.

I just had a baby.

- Let's go. - I just had a baby.

If you give up that right...

What the fuck?

Fuck he smiling at?

What they call it when you don't wanna have the baby no more

and you get your nuts clipped?

The snip, that's a vasectomy.

Vasectomy?

Yeah...

Come on!

Get a couple bottles to table 12, no sparklies, though.

Keep it low key.

Dutch, bruh, Zoom is dead.

and they got Angel on lockdown, the feds.

Roc and Angel ain't gonna flip.

Detective, you claim that Mr. Bernard James is the cause

for your early retirement.

Yes, he ordered that the 27th Precinct be blown up.

He sent a psycho into the station strapped with C4.

He blew himself up and my fellow officers.

Objections, your honor, calls for facts not in evidence.

Overruled.

Exception.

Noted.

Now, Mr. O'Neal, how can you be sure

that Mr. Bernard James was indeed responsible

for that explosion?

The suicide bomber's name was William Brent.

He also went by Bill Blass.

He was a small-time hustler.

He sent his wife a letter the morning

before he entered the building.

Is this the letter?

Objection.

Counsel, get up here now.

I'm very surprised.

The defense has never received a copy of this letter.

Your honor, we received this this morning by the witness.

You knew he'd be introducing this letter

as your witness prep.

I'll allow it.

He has a duty to turn over all evidence.

I said I'll allow it.

Your honor.

Counsel, I made my ruling, step back now.

Dear Monique, by the time you get this, I'll be dead,

but I wanted you to know that it's because of Dutch.

He said if I don't do what he says, he's gonna kill you,

the kids and my whole family.

So this is my sacrifice.

I gladly make it, too.

When you get this, deliver it to the authorities,

the DA or someone like that.

Don't give it to no regular cop, though.

I love you, pray for my soul.

Love always, Billy.

Hey, Michelle.

You're blessed.

Your best was good but it wasn't good enough, accept it.

The trial isn't over, you haven't won yet.

I'll do you a favor,

I'll take the death penalty off the table.

That's your offer?

Look, I don't wanna see your client executed.

I prefer to watch him rot in prison for the rest of his life

as a gleaming example for those who break the law

on my watch.

You mean as an example for financial donors

in your bid for governor.

I'll even let you choose the prison

where he serves out his life sentence.

You haven't met the elements, I can still win this.

If not now, then on appeal.

Unless you become a magician,

we all know what's gonna happen.

You have until before closing arguments tomorrow,

take that to your client.

We'll take the next one.

The jury is split.

I've been advocating strongly on behalf of Mr. James.

So when I flip against him, everyone else will follow.

He's toast.

I asked my judge, Dutch will never see daylight,

I promise you that.

Nobody fucks with me.

You know you're a very sexy woman, right?

If I didn't, I would be an idiot.

You'll go out your way not to be an idiot.

Are you getting enough to eat?

I was on a diet.

Exercise?

I was waiting for you to stop by

to see if you wanted to get in a pickup game.

You like doing that, don't you?

Doing what?

Pretending things are worse than what they are.

Oh, I ain't gotta pretend.

I'll spend a couple of years in here and then be executed.

The judge and the jury are already bought and paid for.

Can you prove that?

No, but you'll know I'm telling the truth

because the man that bought and paid for it

will be in court tomorrow.

He ain't gonna miss the opportunity to see me burn.

Then why are they offering to take the death penalty

off the table and get you to choose the prison?

That's to torture me first.

It's still a death sentence.

It's a discreet phone call

from one prison official to another.

Suddenly, a Newark drug dealer is found dead

in his cell from suicide.

Nobody'll question it.

I'll question it.

It doesn't matter.

It'll be like the Freddie Gray case

and countless others before me.

Nobody'll be convicted.

If you felt that way, why did you hire me?

Here Comes the Sun.

Nina Simone song?

Somebody told me once

that song promised a better tomorrow.

I'm not done yet.

You're watching Wake Up New Jersey.

I'm David Greenwood.

Today, we're keeping a very close eye

on what could only be described as the most important trial

in the history of Newark.

District attorney Anthony Jacobs

and defense attorney Michelle Nichols

are about to begin their closing remarks

in the trial of Bernard James.

This is all happening today and I can tell you guys

from personal experience that at most trials,

it all hinges on these closing arguments by the attorneys.

However, the defense attorney appears to be playing

by the New Jersey Nets rule,

as in they've already lost the game

but they're still on the court.

Stay with us as we follow this developing story

as it all unfolds.

All rise for the honorable Judge Whitaker.

You may be seated.

Bring in the jury.

Are you prepared to proceed

with your closing statements, counselors?

Yes, your honor, I am.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you have just sat

through three weeks of the biggest

and baddest gangster movie ever performed.

It was better than the Godfather, better than Casino.

It reminded me of Scarface and just as fictitious.

It was written, directed and produced by your very own

district attorney Anthony Jacobs.

He deserves an Oscar.

But this isn't Hollywood, ladies and gentlemen.

There's a man's life at stake.

And in these past few weeks, not a single fact

has been presented by Attorney Jacobs, not one.

He has merely presented circumstantial evidence

held together by the weak glue of assumption.

Assumption of crooked cops, gangsters turned ministers,

five and dime hustlers and not one law abiding citizen

in the bunch, not one.

He brings waywardness and the faith of truth and glorifies

every word that comes out of his mouth as to lure you away

from what's real, what's true.

And the witnesses he produced certainly

aren't credible enough to hang a man's life on.

The district attorney

has not proven Mr. James committed any crimes.

What crimes did he commit?

I still don't know.

And it's supposed to be up to you to find out based

on the evidence supplied by the state?

I don't think so.

I don't think the jury should confuse itself

with the manuscripts attorney Jacobs presented

with the real facts of this case.

If you do that, then you will only see

that Mr. James is innocent of these crimes.

Thank you.

Ladies and gentlemen, I wanna thank you for your time

and your patience throughout these past few weeks.

As I said in the beginning, I mean, we could be doing a lot

of other things but it was our duty

to ourselves and to each other.

These past few weeks, we've been submerged

in the murky waters of Bernard James' life,

his disregard for life, law and order and the property

of others from his youth, stealing cars to the present.

His existence has been filled with bloodshed,

murder, innocent victims and shattered lives.

Now, we must do for Simone Greenwood, her mother and father

what they are not here to do today.

And Detective O'Neal from the 27th Precinct,

the survivors and their families.

Your duty is to them now.

Your duty is to honor each and every life

that Bernard James has taken because if you don't,

the lives that he takes in the future

will be blood on your hands.

Let's hope and pray that the next victim isn't you

or you, your brother, your sister, your mom, your dad,

your husband, your wife

or your children.

If you we do not find justice

and find the defendant Bernard James guilty today,

then each and every one of you

will leave this courtroom today

as guilty as this man right here.

Thank you, Attorney Jacobs.

Michelle Nichols, I saw you on TV.

You did an amazing job.

- Thank you. - You're welcome.

Hey, check it out, king.

Ay, you work in that courthouse, huh?

Yeah, bruh.

Yeah, I got an opportunity of a lifetime.

You'll get the other 100 when the job's done.