Original subtitles

NARRATOR: Previously, on The Shield...

VIC: We're targeting Cruz Pezuela.

Aceveda's one‐man campaign bankroll?

He's buying up Farmington with cartel money.

Blackmail. That's how Pezuela's getting everyone

on board the train to cartel town.

Pezuela's got it into his head

that the Armenians have the blackmail box.

We need a quick Armenian political win.

MAN: City controller... Robert Martin.

VIC: He's in the blackmail box?

(GUNFIRE) Robert, oh my God!

That was a goddamn assassination.

I want Pezuela in prison and out of my life, now!

Agent Murray's looking to take down the cartel.

She's in the blackmail box?

I'm turning over the box to Justice.

What about Olivia?

So if she's got to get dragged down to bust Pezuela, so be it.

Shane?

You just dropped a grenade in his lap?

And what did you do? Did you run?

I got a plan and that will give Lem the justice he deserves.

This is taking too long.

Take a look around.

VIC: I want that bullshit out of there, man.

It's not too late. We still have a choice.

Do you think that Shane gave Lem a choice?

I'm not Shane.

MAN: How did you get those Mexicans, man?

Almost got my dick shot off.

MAN 2: I tried to call you.

Yeah, Rezian took my cell phone.

WOMAN: Where you been?

Vic and Ronnie tried to kill me tonight.

You know, the worst part is,

is they think I'm too stupid to even realize it.

This may take a few days.

WOMAN: What about today?

Today, I watch my back.

Vic didn't get another crack at me.

Just be careful, okay?

Always. Come here.

I love you.

So much.

[BOY HUMS]

We'll always be together. All of us.

Bye‐bye, buddy. I love you.

Talk to you later. Okay.

Bye.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Vic.

I wanted to talk to you outside of the job.

I didn't feel good about the tone of our last conversation,

especially on my end.

I appreciate the apology.

But if you're doing right, relinquish your rights to Lee.

Can I come in so we can talk this over?

No, he's about to wake up. I gotta feed him.

I'll make it quick.

This is for him.

It's one of those things you hang over the crib.

It's supposed to be good for the hand‐eye thing.

Thanks.

Look, Danny,

I don't want us to be at odds over our boy.

Then sign the quit claim form.

Well, you hit me up with your paperwork.

I'm just here to give you a heads‐up.

I'm about to hit you up with mine:

A court‐ordered DNA test.

I'm pursuing my legal remedies.

Jesus Christ, you wanna have a kid so bad?

I know a lot of women who'd like to get knocked up.

I got things to do.

We can slug it out in court,

spend a lot of time and money we don't have,

or we can work together on a plan.

Vic, don't you dare turn this into something ugly.

I'm just trying to figure out a way

we can make an arrangement that we can both live with.

That acknowledges my rights and my responsibilities

as the father, that's it.

All right.

Look, I can pull a court order anytime

between now and the end of business tomorrow.

You let me know how you wanna handle it.

[BABY COOING]

[CRYING]

Director Chaffee, when these files turned up at my office,

I realized that Cruz Pezuela was using them

to blackmail prominent citizens.

Any idea why this anonymously landed on your doorstep?

ACEVEDA: I wouldn't wanna speculate.

My guess is, whoever was sitting on this

got nervous after the Martin killing.

Realized his file was in there,

which could implicate him in a murder.

Wanted to dump the hot potato.

ACEVEDA: Mr. Pezuela is one of

the biggest contributors to my campaign,

but that doesn't buy him any rhythm.

If anything, it obliges me to bend over backwards

to see that he is brought to justice.

KOUF: RHD has been running the Martin case.

As lead detective,

I'd be open to some sort of joint investigation here.

Take a look at this.

Amando Rios, veteran lieutenant in the Mexican drug cartel.

We believe the cartel is using Pezuela as a front

for their California operation.

What are we looking at, detective?

I met with Rios.

Tried to develop him as an intel asset.

Was trying to prove your hunch, connecting him to Pezuela.

When I realized that Martin's file was in there,

my first impulse was to go to Detective Mackey,

figuring it could be evidence in a homicide.

So in point of fact,

you didn't come to ICE first with these files?

Vic and I thought it could be managed at a local level.

But after the Armenian bloodbath,

we both realized that this was more

than Farmington Division was equipped to handle.

Right. KOUF: You knew this was

an RHD investigation, you were to stand down.

I was hip‐deep. I wanted to put the pieces together

and bring you a package with a bow on it‐‐

It's clear Detective Mackey disobeyed an order by meddling,

which we'll deal with on our end.

That said, if you'd like to imbed your agents with‐‐

This agency will take it from here.

Sir, my people are down the line‐‐

This is an ICE investigation now.

Hey, you just cost me a high‐profile case,

you little prick.

I'll try to live with the disappointment.

Thank you.

Well, Vic, it looks like Pezuela's blackmail box

is finally someone else's headache.

Thought you wanted to take down that menudo shitter

so you could get credit for cleaning up Farmington.

Oh, I intend to.

Plus, kissing ICE into this should win me

some friends at a federal level.

Pezuela's gonna grind up half of L. A.

before these dipshits

come up with a code name for their operation.

But I guess as long as the Times gets a photo of you

in an ICE windbreaker, that's all that really matters, right?

I just handed you an alibi while you were on surveillance

jaw‐boning with one of Pezuela's thugs.

What about Olivia?

Her file's in there.

By giving it back, you might as well have pushed her

in front of a freight train.

Yeah, well, I took out Olivia's file.

You gave it back to her?

No.

But I got her out of a bad situation.

[SCOFFS]

Bet she can't wait until that bill comes due.

[DOOR OPENS]

How'd it go?

Oh, another Mexican donkey show

and Aceveda had me playing the reluctant virgin.

Seen Shane this morning?

Not yet.

We gonna talk about finishing what we started?

Bad enough I called an audible trying to pull Shane,

and you didn't back my play.

Because you were right the first time.

Yeah, and now we have no idea what Shane knows,

what he suspects or what he'll do.

On a good day, this prick's a wild card.

I've known Shane from way back, before the Strike Team.

He wasn't always like this.

So?

I played a big part in where he is right now.

I gotta own that.

That's why you got to put him down.

I got a daughter traipsing around

in a French maid's outfit

in front of boys, popping X.

Is that the way you'd advise me to deal with her too? Huh?

I'm gonna work with her,

try to get her going straight again.

Maybe that's what I have to do to Shane. I'll fix him too.

I wish that you could hear your goddamn rationalizations.

[DOOR OPENS] Vic,

you need to be downtown in an hour

for your review‐board hearing.

That's not‐‐ That's not for another two weeks.

CLAUDETTE: The schedule's moved. You're up.

PBA rep will meet you there.

[DOOR CLOSES]

[DOOR OPENS]

Termination without pension.

Effective 10 days from now.

Jesus.

What happened?

I didn't have Pezuela's box to hand them

to offset my shaky jacket.

That bastard, Kouf.

He's the one who sealed the deal.

Said I cost him the Martin investigation.

Didn't follow orders.

Taking down the public face

of the Mexican cartel got you canned?

Apparently, the brass thinks this asshole shits spumoni.

You're gonna fight this, right?

Detective Mackey, we're not done.

In spite of this, the final determination's up to the chief.

Go to your captain and get her to put in a good word.

I see you're a married man. Is your wife pretty?

Beautiful. Mind if I take her to Vegas

for a dirty weekend?

Ride her ass hard and put her away wet?

What?

That's about the level of cooperation

I can expect from my captain on anything.

♪ Just another day ♪

♪ Come on ♪

♪ Day ♪

[MEN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY] [SIREN BLARES]

Hey.

What's this buzz I'm hearing about them taking your badge?

Done deal. Ten days.

Holy Christ, man. What are you gonna do?

You doing okay after that close call?

Yeah, it was a long dark night

to think about what almost happened.

Just makes you wanna hug your kid and not let go.

You're telling me.

I thank God I'm blessed with a wife who loves me.

That's right.

So, uh, we gonna track down those Mexis

that put me in the middle of that shooting gallery?

Damn straight.

Let's find out what bullshit we're facing here first.

SHANE: What are we looking at?

Assault, working girl, sketchy vitals.

Why'd you dime us?

Strike Team has no stake in half‐dead blow girl.

A co‐worker found her. Says she knows you.

What is it with you and whores?

Trying to keep them from tempting you.

JULIEN: Might as well start the canvass.

Don't work up a sweat, I'll be quick.

Where's the chickenhead?

It's the pretty lady waiting right there.

[CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY]

Vic.

It's me, Farrah.

Holy Jesus Christ.

You gotta get the guy who did this.

It was Bombay, our pimp.

VIC: A hooker scoring a beat down is below my pay grade.

A friend of yours is even lower.

Amber and I were getting clean for each other.

That's why Bombay did this.

He'll be coming for me next.

You had your chance.

I gave you a bus ticket out of the life.

Instead of doing the smart thing, you played me.

Why are you mad at me‐‐?

I don't give a rat's ass about you, lady.

Did bad shit go down between us? I don't‐‐ I don't remember.

You don't remember whose cock you gagged on

this morning either.

I'm not like that anymore.

Amber and me had two weeks without using.

We're going to meetings and everything.

Hey, Vic. EMT's just pronounced her.

FARRAH: She's dead?

Oh, my God. Oh, my‐‐

You gotta catch the guy who did this. Please, Vic.

Please, Vic!

[SOBBING]

Get this skank on record and get her out of here.

I thought you were gonna help me.

I accidentally touched you

and I haven't had a tetanus shot in a while.

My girl gets murdered and you don't give a shit?

Don't care I'm next?

By me, that's euthanasia.

Hey.

I've already been down the road with this slut.

Her mouth is only good for two things

and one of them is lying through her teeth.

FARRAH: I need help, Vic.

JULIEN: Have a seat.

When was the last time you saw Amber?

Yesterday. She works nights.

Manager at the liquor spot

lets her clean up in the back sink on the way home.

Usually gets to the car about the time

the sun comes up.

When she didn't show, I knew something was bad.

JULIEN: You told Vic you know who did it.

Damn straight. Our pimp, Bombay.

How do you know it was him?

Because he said he was gonna.

Bombay turns you out,

puts you on the track, you don't leave.

Where's Bombay get his drugs?

Manufactures them.

Crystal's the main gig.

Running bitches is just a hobby.

Said it's like owning racehorses.

[DOOR OPENS]

I trusted you.

Now I find you had Pezuela's box the whole time?

Yeah, I had the box.

And you were in it.

I had to make sure I could trust you.

Then I lost the box to Aceveda.

And he flipped it over to your boss against my objections.

Know a good trial attorney?

Aceveda pulled your file before he turned it over.

Why? W‐‐

One side of his mouth would call it a good deed.

The other would call it

leverage over you for favors to be named later.

So I've traded one blackmailer for another?

You've been granted a reprieve.

That's all that matters right now.

My here and now is how to bring down Pezuela

in the 10 days I still have a badge,

because there's no way in hell the geniuses

in your agency are up for the job.

Chaffee is making this case a priority.

[CHUCKLING] Whatever that means.

Rios has disappeared.

Pezuela's insulated. He knows there's heat.

You need someone on the inside.

And that only means me.

Chaffee will never go for it.

Far as he's concerned, local cops are incompetent or dirty.

Really? What's his plan, then?

He's gonna raid Pezuela's construction site today.

Looking for what? Surveillance has Rios

going into that job site two days ago.

He was never witnessed coming out.

We find a body,

Chaffee goes after Pezuela on conspiracy homicide.

You're not gonna find a body, trust me.

The only thing this raid is gonna do

is send Pezuela scurrying for his bunker.

You have to stop it.

I could tip Pezuela off.

Keep alive the fiction he's still got a hook in me.

Ah.

I got a way we can both curry some favor.

By the end of business,

the feds are gonna be crawling all over this place.

Where'd you get the information?

I got a real deep throat in D. C.

Tipped me the local office

is waiting on approval to move forward.

A local cop with federal reach?

Well, when you're a grower, not a shower,

it helps to have a deep throat with no gag reflex.

And if your information should have some merit?

Then we should start talking about

a promotion and a raise.

I had another thought.

This week's pay and severance.

You haven't found my missing box.

And in 10 days, you won't have a badge.

You're no use to me.

Hey, I handed you the Armenians on a platter,

and I'm telling you, the feds are about to show up here,

pry your mouth open and take a big long piss.

What have you done for me lately?

Listen, I have kids.

I'm about to lose my job.

I'm scrambling.

Our business is done.

I was in my room getting ready for work

when someone tried to break in.

Heard the glass, got scared and went for my gun.

Did you get a look at the intruder before you fired?

Not really. I yelled, "I have a gun."

I was just trying to scare him,

but I think I might have shot him.

So you probably couldn't identify him

if you saw him again?

You live here alone?

Yeah, this area was supposed to be on the way up.

I was gonna flip the house like on those infomercials.

Do me a favor and finish up.

Why? Claudette's house is five doors down.

I wanna go over and check it out.

Thanks. All right, no problem.

That's what partners are for, right?

[DIALS]

CLAUDETTE [OVER PHONE]: This is Claudette,

leave a message. [MACHINE BEEPS]

Hey, Claudette, are you there?

Pick up. I, uh, see your car here.

I'm, uh‐‐ I'm walking up your front steps.

Pick up.

Hello? Hello, hello?

That's me, knocking.

Oh, shit.

Claudette?

Claudette?

Hello? Claudette?

Claudette?

Whatever dance you and Vic got going on,

I don't wanna be a part of it.

Vic is taking me to court

to prove that he's my son's father.

I don't want him in our lives, period.

I don't even want child support, okay?

And on a cop's salary,

I can't imagine you want him paying money

that should been going to you and your kids.

What exactly do you want?

I want sole custody, and no visitation rights.

But the thing is, to get that,

I have to make a case to the judge that he's an unfit parent.

Vic may be a lot of things, but he cares about his kids.

Yeah, well, when Cassidy came to my house,

she had a different take on it.

Sorry, it's not my business, all right?

That's why I called you to come get her.

But Lee is my business.

Come on, you know this guy better than anybody.

And with Vic, it's all about him all the time.

What good does it do my kids

to drag their father's dirty laundry into a courtroom?

Just tell your side of things to the judge, okay?

The records are gonna be sealed. They never even have to know.

Corrine, don't even think about it as a favor to me.

Think about it as a long‐term business decision

in the best interest of your kids.

DUTCH: Hey.

CLAUDETTE: Crime scene's this house, not mine.

All this excitement right down the block from you.

I‐‐ I saw your, uh, car in the driveway.

Alternator trouble.

Black and white gave me a lift to work this morning,

and then the neighbors started calling,

which is why I want you to clear this, pronto.

Okay. See you back at the Barn.

BILLINGS: Unis found blood around the side of the house.

Looks like Annie Oakley winged the guy.

Let's get a sample.

Tried to get a read on Shane.

Looks like we might be all right.

As long as he's alive, we're not all right.

What about saving your badge? Any ideas?

A squeaking noise like that,

you probably wanna check your fan belt.

I hear you'll be moving on.

You still got me for another week and a half.

I'll make a deal with you.

You clean out your locker and leave today,

and I'll go personally to the chief

and get a piece of your pension restored.

I, uh, still got a few loose ends to tie up.

I'll stick around, thanks.

In that case,

I want your people deployed on this working‐girl murder.

RONNIE: You want the Strike Team on pimp patrol?

This guy also manufactures and moves meth in quantity.

Which, if memory serves, is one of the hot spots

you people are supposed to be on top of.

JULIEN: Bombay's government name is Marcel Letourneau.

Ran his priors, no address.

The girl didn't have a 20 on him.

Get ready for a long, lazy afternoon on the stroll,

turning down free BJ's while we look for this idiot.

Who said anything about turning them down?

Count me in. JULIEN: Farrah did have info

on one of Bombay's new earners.

Calls herself Capuchina.

VIC: Probably stole Farrah's crown

as bottom bitch.

Why wouldn't she rat her out?

Anything else? JULIEN: Pretty much it.

Waiting on forensics.

VIC: Shane and I will meet Capuchina.

You guys hang tight, stay on the lab rats.

Let's do it.

VIC: I'll catch up with you outside.

Come here.

What's going on?

Danny came to see me.

What did she want?

First, why don't you tell me why you want joint custody.

Don't worry about any of that.

You tell me, I'll stop worrying.

Why do you want shared custody?

Because I have shared responsibility.

That's bullshit, Vic.

You've had 14 years

to be the most important part of Cassidy's life.

Never once has she been your top priority.

Given where she is in her life right now,

I'd do things differently.

I don't wanna make the same mistake with Lee.

This baby gives you a do over?

How can I be an example to our three kids,

look them in the eye, if I walk away from this child?

They know about him, for chrissake.

How can I prove to Cassidy

that I love her if I won't even fight for my son?

Now, goddamn it, what did Danny want?

You out of the picture.

She wants me to help her to make a case

that you're not fit to even see this kid.

Are you signing on?

I know why you think you want this,

but you need to ask yourself if you're just putting up a fight

just because you're a fighter,

or if this is what's best for this kid.

You didn't‐‐ Before you answer,

just sit with the question.

What's up?

Shit can jump off with these 187 cats, man.

[HIP‐HOP MUSIC BLARING LOUDLY]

Detective,

do you smell the sickly sweet odor of Cannabis sativa?

Uh, yes, indeed I do.

[GRUNTS]

Sit down.

Bag of skunk, some drug paraphernalia.

Ha! Undisclosed earnings.

Possession of a concealed weapon.

VIC: Jesus Christ.

CAPUCHINA: I keep that for protection.

One of my regulars likes me to use it on his nuts.

[LAUGHING] Who could blame him?

What do you boys want? We wanna find Bombay.

That gray bitch turned you onto me, didn't she?

VIC: What do you know about Farrah?

Bitch couldn't handle her business.

Chose the white smoke over her black pimp.

Bitch is paying the price now.

Word on the street is, Bombay murdered her squeeze.

CAPUCHINA: Farrah ain't right in the mind.

Why she got kicked to the curb?

I'm down for mine, got vision.

Run bitches of my own one day, be an entrepreneur.

Well, you help us find Bombay,

and we'll sponsor you for the Rotary Club.

Baby, I don't do anal.

What about bondage?

Now, you can add

obstructing a police investigation to the list.

I swear the nigga only come here to hit my shit, hold his paper.

Stop fighting. Two‐Man'd know where he's at.

Who's Two‐Man? His boy.

Collects his dope money.

Where do we find him? I don't know.

What's he look like? Big, ugly, black as a flat tire.

Puts the hurt on folks who can't pay.

Man, talk to Farrah, she'll know where Two‐Man's at.

Word, if I knew anything else,

I'd tell y'all, because I don't love County.

FARRAH: Two‐Man collects in the Jungles every Mother's Day.

When the County checks come in.

That's his car.

SHANE: Ronnie, suspect vehicle is on your left.

Pull over where you can. RONNIE [ON RADIO]: Got it.

How come you didn't you turn us on to this guy at the Barn?

I don't know. I didn't think of it.

Wasn't sure if he was still working for Bombay.

Now, we are gonna sit here until this guy shows up.

You're gonna point him out. When are we‐‐?

Until then, we're gonna keep talking to a minimum.

There's been a 15‐percent increase

in B and E's the last three months

in Claudette's neighborhood.

Mostly electronics and jewelry.

Couple of private security companies work in that area now.

Figure they're worth a conversation.

Rent‐a‐cops? Oh, more like rent an ex‐cop.

PRP Protection is owned by guys who used to be on the job.

We should call over. Maybe their patrols saw something.

Way ahead of you, Dutchman.

Oh, as a matter of fact, uh, this must be my guy.

Lester, thanks for coming in.

Are you kidding me? Happy to help.

Say hi to Dutch Wagenbach.

Hey. Hey.

So ex‐cops running a security company.

It's genius. I think I see my future.

I recognized an opportunity. No‐brainer, really.

I got a business bone myself.

Yeah? What are you into?

Most recently, vending machines.

Not the cheap stuff. High‐end gourmet food and beverages.

Good money there? Oh, huh...

...it's not bad. [LAUGHS]

So, what can I do for you guys?

Recent increase in B and E's in your service area.

What do you make of it? Gentrification.

White people moving in because the real estate's cheaper.

They bring better gear to steal.

For the blacks and Mexicans, it's a crowbar Christmas.

Company logs and files for the past three months.

It's a general who's who and what's what

of crimes we've responded to in the area.

I'd take a look at a couple of troublemakers in particular.

Elliott Gallardo, he's a recently paroled crackhead,

lives in the area.

The other guy's called Paolo.

He owns a Luxury Pawnshop down on 6th.

Got an interesting way of compensating

for his low inventory.

You gonna break this whole thing on your own?

RONNIE [ON RADIO]: Here's a new one.

White shirt, coming out the gate.

That's him, right there.

That's Two‐Man.

Stay in the car. Try to keep your clothes on.

[HIP‐HOP MUSIC BLARING OVER RADIO]

[CAR DOORS SLAM]

JULIEN: Stop. Police.

[BRAKES SQUEAL] [HORN HONKS]

MAN: Look out!

RONNIE: The court, cut him off.

Shane, wake up, brother. Up and at them.

[BABY CRYING] Oh!

MAN: Yo, watch out, man.

[GRUNTS]

Take it easy. Take it easy.

TWO‐MAN: I didn't do nothing, man.

VIC: Shut your hole. Don't move.

[TWO‐MAN GRUNTING]

VIC: We're looking for Bombay Letourneau.

TWO‐MAN: Who?

How's that? [SCREAMS]

I understand you do this for a living, except to girls.

Anybody feels the need to write me up for excessive force,

you better do it in the next 10 days.

TWO‐MAN: God, you gonna break it!

VIC: Get up, get up. [HANDCUFFS CLICK]

Up!

VIC: Give me your hand.

[LAUGHS]

Tell us where he is,

we'll forget the track‐and‐field tryout.

And you get to keep this.

That grip belong to Bombay.

SHANE: Well, he won't be needing that anymore.

He got a new cook‐up spot in the dust bowl

off the Five in Glassell Park.

[SPITS]

I think he broke my goddamn jaw, man.

You broke your own jaw, asshole.

SHANE: It smells like cat piss.

Means they're in the middle of a cook‐up.

We could catch them off‐guard. Should we wait for uni backup?

Take them hard to the paint, they won't know what hit them.

Vic, Connie was always saying you were nice.

How you helped her.

Whatever I did to make you mad, I'm sorry.

My life's different now.

And mine too.

Four or five people in the main trailer.

I don't know about the other one.

VIC: We go in, roust everyone.

Little Miss Claptrap IDs our bad guy.

You stay here and keep your mouth shut

until we need you to eyeball mac daddy.

Come on.

Be careful.

[MACHINE‐GUN FIRE]

[SCREAMS]

Suspect down!

VIC: Get out of there!

Get out of the trailer!

SHANE: Let's go, right now!

VIC: Get against there!

Get out of there! Get against the wall!

SHANE: Spread your arms. VIC: Get against the wall.

Clear!

VIC: Ronnie, you got that? Clear.

Julien, clear that other structure.

JULIEN: Clear.

[POLICE SIREN BLARING] [POLICE RADIO SQUAWKING]

JULIEN: I did what I had to do.

CLAUDETTE: You fellas took a few rounds.

I only returned two shots.

Okay, I don't want you talking to anyone.

OIS is on its way. I want you to contact Protective League.

Get a rep standing by, okay?

IAD will take your formal statement at the Barn.

I'll take possession of your weapon.

It'll be all right.

One of you guys get him back.

Glad I stuck around?

Might even pick up a letter of commendation for this one.

Looks good in the jacket, raises my rate next gig.

We appreciate all the help.

Hey, just doing my part as a citizen.

I point them out, you put them away.

That sounds like a plan. Thanks.

Hey, Danny, you got a minute?

What's up?

[DOOR BUZZES]

Danielle Sofer?

Yeah?

You are ordered to appear in family court

on the date indicated.

Have a good day.

You son of a bitch.

You told me I had until tomorrow night.

That was before you went behind my back

and dragged Corrine into this.

Shredding another family for your own agenda

isn't gonna win you world's best mom in a courtroom.

Guess we do this the hard way.

DANNY: After the shit you've pulled Corrine through

she comes back to you like a whipped puppy.

Jesus Christ, what kind of hold do you have

on that poor woman anyway?

She understands a basic human concept.

Children need fathers.

I'm not gonna let you puzzle over that little brainteaser

one more day at my son's expense.

[DOOR CLOSES]

You missed one hell of a show at Pezuela's place.

Two helicopters with thermographic display,

field command module with satellite uplink,

two dozen agents, canine team, a posse of forensic accountants.

And your boss came up with jack shit and no body.

Your tax dollars at work.

Chaffee walked himself out onto a limb

with the big boys in D. C. on this one.

And the limb just snapped.

When can you get me into a room with Chaffee?

I'll find out.

DUTCH: Hey, Vic. There was a guy here earlier,

Lester Spirakus, ex‐cop. You know him?

I've seen him around, why?

Got a sense you two had some history.

Good ob. You should be a detective.

Guy is an asshole. Into all kinds of wrong shit.

Really?

What did he do now?

Well, maybe nothing.

If you think he did something shitty,

he probably did.

Captain, I need signatures on last week's OT reports.

I couldn't help catching you and Vic square off earlier.

Sorry about that. It won't happen again.

Is that a promise you can keep?

Probably not.

Not even for the next 10 days?

Vic's being terminated. He'll be gone after that.

Wow. I don't mean to insert myself,

but if I've got a personnel problem on my hands,

even a short‐term, I'd like to know what I'm dealing with.

Oh, captain, it's not a secret around here.

I mean, everybody knows Vic is the father.

I've heard rumors.

I tried to keep him out of the mix.

It's just things have gotten messy.

You ought to know that that's the book on Vic going in.

Right. I think I was just focused on the baby of it all.

Take whatever time you need.

Handle your business.

I don't wanna leave you in the lurch.

I can look out for myself, and you should do the same.

BILLINGS: Talked to Elliott the crackhead.

Alibi checks out. Four people saw him stealing food

from a soup kitchen.

How do you steal from a soup kitchen?

That was his argument.

How about we head over to the pawnshop?

Hey, maybe we've been going the wrong direction.

What about Lester? That's a good one.

No, I've been, uh, going through these logs he gave us.

Most of his new accounts

are from residences where there were recent 211's.

Makes sense. Probably gets a list of B and E's from a cop.

Or maybe he's staging them himself,

create a market for his product.

He's an ex‐cop, for chrissake.

Then let's let him come in and clear himself.

VIC: You showed your hand on a covert investigation and came up empty.

I'm out of my department because of this thing.

Sounds like we both had a bad day.

I have a way to take our respective shit piles

and recycle them into something useful.

MURRAY: Pezuela's guard's up.

It'll take more than turning your pockets

inside out to get next to him.

That's why I have to deliver

something that matters to him.

I have to give him back the blackmail box.

We'd be handing the man a loaded gun.

Do the math.

If Pezuela can't lean on people to do his bidding,

it costs him juice with the cartel.

The harder it becomes for us to use him

to move up the food chain.

VIC: I'm in your wingtips.

I'm going after the guy that's making Pezuela

lose sleep at night.

And the box by itself

is nothing but a tell‐all about human weakness.

It doesn't even get you Pezuela.

Let him put the box in play.

That keeps him positioned as the cartel's go‐to guy.

At the very least,

we get him on conspiracy and extortion.

With me on the inside, keeping a travel log

of all the dark and dirty places he visits.

Unless you have a better plan.

Only one problem with your idea.

VIC: Pezuela's gonna smell a rat

when he gets this back and your file's not inside it?

Especially since he knows

the agency's dogging his every move.

That's why I gotta get it back from Aceveda,

and put it back inside.

You gonna be all right with that?

This sting works,

maybe I'll finally be able to hang up my kneepads.

Maybe keep them on just a little while longer,

and this all goes away.

Aceveda's not gonna just hand it over.

I already went to his office today and asked.

I've known David a long time.

It's all about how you ask.

VIC: I'm working undercover for ICE.

The box is back in play.

We need Olivia's file in order to sell it to Pezuela.

When the hell did this happen?

You said something about wanting to see justice done?

Time to jump onboard the karma train.

Well, I have to handle Pezuela very carefully.

He could hurt me.

And you‐‐ You say you wanna bring him down?

You were just working for the man.

VIC: She had no choice.

Look, I'm sorry,

but Vic doesn't make a compelling character witness.

Your file gives me a card to play

in case you're tempted to switch sides again.

Here's what happens if you don't give the file:

Pezuela doesn't take the bait.

ICE doesn't understand why,

so they put his balls through the wringer

just on general principal,

and he gives up Olivia anyway.

Then I roll on you for blackmailing me.

VIC: And I back her story.

You two make quite a team.

You know how much of my life I spent in interrogation rooms?

Oh, it's quieter in here. You mind?

No, I'm fine with it.

What's up, guys?

DUTCH: You mind if I cut to the chase?

I'd love that.

The more security systems you sell,

the more money you make.

And what better way to stimulate demand

than breaking into houses?

I spent 15 years on the job.

This is a hell of a way to thank me for my time and service.

BILLINGS: A quick way to clear this up.

Perp got grazed by a bullet, left a trail of blood.

What, you wanna check me out?

Why didn't you say so?

Fifty‐three, still ripped.

You guys are too busy on the job

to get to the gym regularly.

I remember.

Um, can you turn around,

so we can see the back of your legs?

LESTER: Liking that ass?

Can I go now, or do you wanna tickle my balls?

Uh, your partner, J. R. Cornelius,

I'd like to talk to him. How do I reach him?

He's on vacation.

Since when? Last weekend.

J.R. wasn't in town when this happened.

But you're welcome to knock on his door.

Woman's here to see someone from the Strike Team.

Somewhere we could talk?

Bombay's as hard as they get, but he didn't kill no girl.

Why you say that? Because I saw who did.

I'm working the track, Two‐Man rolls up on Amber,

tells her to get in.

Bitch wasn't trying to hear it on account of what's in store.

Just because she got in his car doesn't mean that he killed her.

I'm gonna be real with you.

Nigga gets a cut of what he collects

and any pussy he wants.

He ain't about hitting no trim, he about banging on shorties.

So he's into rough stuff? Shit,

that brother don't even get his swole on.

Two‐Man about bringing the pain.

All the bitches he sent to Killah King

with broken bones and shit. That's bad for business.

Bombay put up with that?

He never let him beat on his earners.

But, daddy, it was open season on low‐end skeezers.

Amber should've taken her beat down

same as every other ho.

Minute she said no, it was on.

Two‐Man snatched her by the hair,

bashed her in the face, banged her head against the car

and threw her in the back.

When he drove off,

I knew I wasn't ever gonna see that breezie again.

You would've saved everybody a lot of time and ammunition

if you told us this before.

If I'd have snitched on Bombay's dude

I'd be in the mortuary right behind gray girl.

Pimp juice dead, it's all good.

Be even safer if you toss Two‐Man in, lose the key.

You seem like a good person.

You're just trying to do the right thing.

And maybe you saw Two‐Man do those things,

maybe you didn't. I know what I seen.

Point is, you're in a cloud of chronic all day.

You're not a credible witness.

And I also have concerns about your personal safety.

Now, what if you testify, and we don't get a conviction?

I don't want anything happening to you.

I'm gonna treat this as an anonymous tip.

I ain't mad.

Keeping it in the cut.

DUTCH: Looks like J.R. decided to vacation

in the ER out in Riverside.

Well, that's news to me.

BILLINGS: He was being treated for a gunshot wound.

Arrived two hours after the shooting.

Told the doctors he was an ex‐cop who was wounded

when his gun accidentally discharged.

He always was clumsy.

Riverside P. D. picked him up. They're bringing him here now.

You know what it'll mean for us to clear these open B and E's?

Go easier for you if you tell us what happened.

We found blood at the crime scene.

When we test it it's gonna match J. R.'s.

[SIGHS]

He's my partner.

Well, I respect that kind of loyalty.

And since he's got more to lose than you do,

I hope he does too.

I walk on the B and E's.

Trespassing and vandalism.

Gotta make sure you're out of the home‐protection business.

We thought the house was empty.

I was on the lookout when he went in.

I heard the gunshot and then he came running out.

Then I drove him to his car.

Shit.

Bombay never posted lookouts during a cook‐up.

He needed everybody in the lab.

So why did he come out guns blazing?

The phone call.

What phone call?

Somebody called his cell.

Said there were cops outside, who are gonna kill him.

He told us to get down,

went for his gun, started shooting.

[MEN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]

You spun that sob story

about your pimp killing your girlfriend?

You set up Bombay

for a death‐by‐cop payback for kicking you out?

He's the one who started her on the pipe.

He got what he deserved.

I don't give a shit about your goddamn pimp!

You understand?

You called him.

You warned him, so he'd come out blasting.

You used me.

You used one of my guys as the shooter.

You could've gotten us all killed, you sick bitch.

Oh, I used you.

Played you same as last time.

I remember it all now.

You were an asshole back then too.

[PANTING]

And you just keep getting more pathetic and miserable.

I still got you handling my business for me.

May not be so pretty anymore,

but I am walking, talking pussy

and you let me lead you around by your dick.

You ever thought about just cutting it off?

Free your mind once and for all?

[LAUGHS]

When I went over to your house this morning

to check on you,

I had to break a window and go into your house.

Had to?

I was worried.

Oh, you thought I was lying dead on the floor, because I'm sick?

You‐‐ You live alone, your car was in the driveway,

nobody came to the door,

there was a B and E down the block,

and a potentially dangerous suspect on the loose.

I'm gonna send you the bill for that window.

I know I've been a little lax.

It was obvious you're not taking care of yourself.

James isn't in your life anymore.

We need to get you a little help.

I don't need help.

Claudette‐‐ Look, the house is messy.

I'll clean it up.

Look, you have to‐‐

You have to understand,

it takes every ounce of energy

for me to be here every day,

to do what I need to get done.

But by the time I get home, I don't have nothing left.

I‐‐ I, uh, hired you a cleaning lady.

No! Her name is Cecilia.

She'll be coming on Mondays and Thursdays.

Dutch‐‐ I will pay for it.

I'll pay for it.

No, I will,

so I know she's doing the job.

Is she even legal?

[CHUCKLES]

Uh, she's coming on Mondays and Thursdays.

I just need a key, so she can get in the house.

Vic, please don't‐‐

I thought I'd give another shot to talk this out.

I'm sure we'd both rather see the money

we're about to burn through going to Lee's college, right?

Okay.

I give.

But I'm gonna need parameters that I can live with.

I'll put your name on the birth certificate,

but I want sole custody.

And we gotta work out visitation rights.

I can live with that.

I talked to this family arbitrator.

She said that we can sit down and work out the details.

I'm there, just tell me when and where.

I'll call tomorrow, get some times.

Hey, I'm glad we're gonna be able

to reason our way through this.

In the end, it's really gonna work out for the best.

That's what I want for Lee.

All right, I'll see you in the morning.

I'll see you in the morning.

[COOING]

[HIP‐HOP MUSIC BLARING DISTANTLY]

Need to get a better lock, Two‐Man.

Some lowlife could break in.

You got a warrant?

Shit, no.

What you want, then?

Chop it up with you,

about that strawberry you beat to death.

I don't know about no dead strawberry‐‐

Cut the shit.

Bombay, now deceased, FYI, loaned you his gash crew

as a part of your compensation package.

Don't mean I killed the bitch.

You went too tough on Amber.

I got an eyewitness who saw the whole thing go down.

There are two different ways we can handle this.

I can take you in, an eyewitness fingers you,

I arrest you for murder with special circumstances.

But you know where that gets you.

[SIGHS]

Or you can work with me,

and make this whole thing go away.

Work with you how?

I need your help getting rid of somebody.

That's gonna mean looking somebody in the eye,

and pulling the trigger, though.

TWO‐MAN: You ain't serious.

You don't know how goddamn serious I am.

[SCOFFS]

Ain't no thing.

Who?

How's your jaw feeling?

♪ Day ♪

♪ Come on ♪

♪ Day ♪

♪ Come on ♪

♪ Day ♪

♪ Livin' the good life ♪

♪ Throw your hands up ♪

♪ Just another day ♪

♪ Just another day ♪

♪ Come on ♪

♪ Day ♪

♪ Come on ♪