City on Fire (2023–…): Season 1, Episode 5 - Brass Tactics - full transcript

Are you sure this is okay?
I mean, I don't wanna...

I don't wanna get you in trouble.

It's most definitely not okay,

but if we get caught,
it's gonna be worth it.

Hi. He's with me.

Thank you.

- What is this?
- My happy place.

Okay. Next tray.

- The corner?
- Corner.

- Yep.
- Gently. Into the stopper.

- Same way or...
- Up.



- Facing up. Yeah.
- Up?

- Very nice.
- Nice.

So, did Nicky like that present?

The book you got him?

Yeah, he did.

Cool.

Fresh tongs, Charles.

Don't cross the streams, okay?

Okay. Sorry.

Do you and Nicky hang out a lot, or...

I guess so.

I try to spend as much time
with him as I can.

I feel like I have a lot
to learn from him.

Just like you have a lot to learn from me.



You ready for the wash?

Yeah. Yes.

Thank you.

Just make sure you press it
all the way down.

'Cause you wanna finish strong.

Okay. Twenty-four frames, black-and-white.

That is 16.99 including tax.
Be ready tomorrow. Pay when you pick up.

Cool. That'll give me some time
to get my hands on 16.99,

which I will do,
'cause that film is very valuable.

To me, I mean.

Oh, yeah?

Yeah. Do we have some kind of agreement,

like a doctor-patient
confidentiality thing?

I mean, I have that
with Dr. Altschul, my therapist.

Right. Definitely not, but don't worry.

I've seen it all.
Nudity, dead bodies, every kind of sex.

I mean, what's on this roll?
Can it top that?

Please, if we could just
keep this between us.

Cone of silence, brother.

There are no secrets
in the city of New York.

Someone saw something, heard something.

Plus, you're shedding hair
and fibers 24-7,

- leaving fingerprints...
- Bodily fluids.

There's cameras everywhere.

Credit card receipts,
phone records, parking tickets...

Berkowitz got caught on a parking ticket.

Exactly. The city always knows.

When I told you the girl in the park
was Samantha Yeung,

it didn't seem like fresh information.

Her name hasn't been made public,
so you know this how?

My wife, actually.

You mean your ex-wife?

She's not my ex yet.

Regan told me that an NYU student
had been shot on the Fourth

in the park across from her father's.

There's 40,000 students at NYU.

About half of them are girls.
Why think it was her?

I didn't necessarily think it was,
but it made me wanna check in on her.

When she didn't return my calls,
I went to the dorm...

The city always knows.

Then I went to the hospital.

Paper said where she was.
I wasn't allowed in,

but I heard this random song
that she likes, and I knew.

Where were you when Sam was shot?

Home. I was home alone.

It's not the best alibi,
but not the worst.

- It's tough for you to prove.
- Well, it's also tough for us to disprove.

You can ask my doorman.
City always knows, right?

This affair you had with a teenager,
if it ever got out,

you would have a lot to lose.

Makes sense that you would want
to shut her up.

Or maybe it just ended,

and she saw you as a fucking pathetic,
middle-aged cliché,

and you didn't like that.

There's no lack of motive.
All you need is a weapon.

You ever own a gun, Mr. Lamplighter?

A gun? No.

Mr. Lamplighter, you're free to go.

He's been free to go this whole time.
He came voluntarily. We're just talking.

- He doesn't have a lawyer.
- He didn't ask for one.

Mr. Lamplighter, please.

I...

This is over.

You heard the boss.

Thank you for your time.
I really hope you figure out who shot her.

It's not me.
This is coming from above.

Who's above you?

Get in.

I guess I should say "thank you."

That's usually how it goes
when someone saves your ass.

I didn't ask for your help.

You didn't have to. You're family.

That gun you gave me,
if I didn't have it anymore,

could it be tracked back to either of us?

You lost the gun, or someone took it?

Was it Regan?
Did she shoot that girl out of jealousy?

No. Absolutely not.

Then who?

Unburden yourself, and start by telling me
what happened to your face.

Like you don't know.
Like they don't work for you.

Stop the car.

Hey, stop, please. Now.

I can keep the police off your back.

My family is my responsibility.
I'm gonna take care of this.

Forgive me if I don't feel confident
about your chances.

Can you open the door, please?

Unlock.

I'm here if you change your mind.
At least, until I change mine.

I tell you,
it's the Hamilton-Sweeney connection.

I gotta learn more about these people.

And spend less time jerking off
into cups and read the paper for once.

Money for generations.

Built our skyline.
Got friends in high places.

This right here,
that's the head of the family.

Billionaire with a B.

And he's about to go down
for some kind of financial crime

I don't totally understand,
but it's a big fucking deal.

What if that's the connection?

Forget about jealousy
or keeping Sam quiet about the affair.

Maybe it's the business.

Maybe, through Lamplighter,

she got wind of something
she wasn't supposed to.

You can bet these rich fucks
will do whatever it takes

to keep dear old Dad out of the MCC.

Maybe tomorrow we go back to their office,
ask some questions.

You know, find a disgruntled employee
or two who's willing to talk.

No one is that fucking happy.
They're hiding something.

Come on, Sam.
What are you trying to tell me?

Of course.

Amory Gould, you motherfucker.

Why is it my fault Charlie's gone?
I'm not the babysitter.

It's not that he's gone
that's the problem.

It's that he was here in the first place.

- He can't be trusted.
- You don't trust anyone, Sol.

Yeah, 'cause the world
is full of fucking traitors.

I like living here.
I actually believe in what we're doing.

And I don't? What...

- What have I been doing this whole...
- Look who I found outside.

Hey. The fuck you been, kid?

- Just out for a walk.
- A walk? You're a wanted fucking man.

No one saw me, all right? Jesus.

Just been frustrated
about not getting anywhere

with what happened to Sam,
and I just thought I'd clear my head.

And it's clear now?

Yeah, totally.

DT, grab some beers.

Charlie, I'm a Pisces,
and you can't bullshit a Pisces.

I can literally see your soul.

Respectfully, I don't think that's true.

Okay, fine.

But I know your head is not clear.
It's cloudy as fuck.

I'm not gonna lie to you.

When I left,
I thought about just going home.

On foot if I had to.

Just whatever it would take
to get back to Flower Hill.

So why didn't you?

Besides the fact
that it's a seven-hour walk?

I just,

kinda realized that I don't have
anything to go back to.

That I've given up my old life.

This is my home now.

Then welcome home, Charlie.

He's lying.

He knows something
or at least suspects the fuck out of it.

Finally seeing things my way.

Cover's been ripped off.
There are pages missing too.

Sometimes Sam used her books as a journal.

Who knows what she wrote down?

Nick.

What the fuck? Don't do that.

You scared the fucking shit outta me.

I told you, don't fucking interrupt me
while I'm working.

That's for your safety as well as mine.

We got a problem.

Thank God.

I wasn't sure
if you were even coming home.

Where's Will?

He's asleep. It's late.

What happened?

They let me go. I didn't say anything.
Nothing they didn't already know.

Well, what else is there?

They...

I had a gun.

I kept it hidden in the closet, in a bag.

It wasn't loaded, of course,
but there was ammunition.

You had a gun in the house.

That gun...

is missing.

And unless we were robbed by strangers,

and that is all that they took...

Wait... Oh, my God.

Will knew about my relationship with Sam.

If he found the gun...

Yeah, I...

I suppose he could have snuck out,

but do we really think that...

Did he know I was going to the party?

Yeah.

He could have been coming for me.
Found her instead.

Maybe he knew she wanted to talk to me.

Maybe Will is what she wanted
to talk to me about.

No.

What are we even saying?

Is this even possible?

Of course not,
but isn't that what all parents say?

You saw that Klebold kid's mom on TV.

Who knows? Who fucking knows?

We have to talk to him.
We have to ask him point-blank.

Yeah.

But, tomorrow.

I'm so fucking tired.

You don't have to sleep on the couch.

No, it's... I don't mind.

Neither do I.

Sorry to interrupt,
but I come with some news.

So, there is this street art group show
coming up.

And I thought maybe, you know,
your stupid little spot signs

could maybe work in context,
like your wordplay and... Wow.

I actually am interrupting.

What is this new piece you're working on?

William, it's...

It's unlike any piece of art
I've ever seen you do.

That's because it's not art. This is life.

The girl in the park, she left me clues.

She was onto something,

a link between my former bandmate
and my family's business.

And the answer to who shot her
is here somewhere.

Or it will be soon.

Just do whatever you want
with those signs.

I was high when I made them.

They're dumb as fuck.

Yeah, well, "dumb as fuck"
is selling right now, honey.

Well, if I am not here, you have a key.

You can let yourself in.

You going somewhere?

I think I'm finally ready
to face my demons.

Well, my demon.

Okay.
I could never understand your riddles,

but if this mystery
is inspiring you to create,

well, then that's a good thing. Okay?

I'll let myself out.

- Hey.
- Yeah?

You know that I wouldn't be...

here if it weren't for you, right?

I'd be dead.

Suicide, a dirty needle, the plague.

Good friends, clean needles,
and a shit ton of condoms.

That is how any one of us
made it out alive. Okay?

Those early conversations with your father
were difficult, but, you know,

in the end, he was relieved
that there was someone looking after you.

Well, you put up
with a lot of shit after that.

Whatever they said in Artforum,

you never thought I was a genius.

I never thought you had to be.

Geniuses die young,

and I believe that you will make
a very fine old man.

Will, you need to trust that you can
tell us anything,

and we will still love you.

It's our job as parents to protect you.

Do you understand?

I think you found my gun.

I think you took it,
and I'm scared that you used it.

I'm sorry.

Will.

I did find the gun.

I took it, but you didn't notice.

Then I sent that note to Mom.

We moved out,
but you still didn't say anything.

Only stupid stuff about how sometimes

people are better parents
if they're not married.

You wanted your dad to know that you knew.

And I just wanted to feel
what it was like to pull the trigger.

But I never thought I'd hit it.

Hit what?

The bird.

And then what happened?

I felt sick. S...

I got scared and came home.

You never went to the park.

- Central Park. You didn't...
- No.

I swear.

Where is the gun now, honey?

I threw it under our house.
Our house in Brooklyn.

Okay, that's okay.

Find what you were looking for?

Hey. I thought you already left.

I was just gonna grab some stuff
to go on a food run with.

- I thought you guys might be hungry.
- I changed my mind.

Think you should come with us.

I thought you said there were gonna be
reporters and photographers and,

I mean, I'm a wanted man.
It's not gonna be safe.

Yeah, that's why I bought you this.

Come on.

It's a Bloomberg mask.

It's funny, right?

Come on, Charlie.

Everyone's waiting. Come on.

You sure?

Yeah. Just get rid of it.

I'm glad we did this together.

Yeah.

It's definitely a top-five moment
for sure.

Yeah.

College graduation, our wedding day,

birth of my kids,

then the time my ex and I disposed
of potential evidence

in the shooting of his teenage mistress.

If you think today
is some kind of victory, you're insane.

Hey, my name is on the building,
and I would like to go upstairs, please.

- Of course.
- Thanks.

So the rumors are true.

This is a surprise.

Hello, Amory.

You look exactly the same
as you did the last time I saw you.

Pilates, protein,
and a certain doctor in Baden-Baden.

Right.

I meant you looked like
a two-faced, deceitful prick then,

and you still do now.

William, as tart-tongued
and delightful as ever.

Would you like to go in?

Have a seat.

No, I'm not staying.

That's too bad.

I always enjoy my time with parasites
who squander their privilege,

then use sarcasm
to cover their track marks.

Yes,
if only I was born on your side of town,

you and I could be fighting shoulder
to shoulder right now.

To be clear,
that was sarcasm covering my track marks.

What the fuck do you know about
where I come from?

You've always been one pen stroke away
from the jackpot,

which is why you're here, correct?

Your father's business troubles?

Come to claim what's yours,

or at least to stop the demon brother
from claiming it.

Yes, I know what you call me.

And I know that you never got rid
of your voting rights.

I don't give a shit about this business.

I never have. I never will.

I am here to solve a mystery.

The girl that was shot in Central Park
loves my band.

The Hamilton-Sweeney's are buying up
a bunch of burnt-out buildings

out in the Bronx.

Nicky Chaos knows the girl.

And in some weird, fucked-up way,

which I will soon figure out,

Nicky, well, he also knows you.

And I know you're too smart
to say something stupid right now.

I am here because it feels so good

to look you in your beady little eyes

and let you know that I am finally going
to take you down, motherfucker.

I know this girl's world,
I know your world,

and I got the cops on speed-dial.

I'm actually working
on my greatest piece yet.

It's this giant, beautiful collaged canvas

that tells this entire story.

And right there, smack-dab in the middle...

it'll be your mug shot.

Consider yourself warned.

Shall I convey your regards
to your father?

I know you haven't seen fit
to keep in contact,

but he doesn't have much time.

So I've heard.

But he's not dead yet.

Who knows?

Maybe once you're gone,
we can be a family again.

- What now?
- Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Gould,

but we're getting a report
of something happening out front.

- What's happening?
- Not sure exactly. A protest?

Yes, thank you, everybody!

Let me hear you make some noise.

Thank you everyone for coming out today,

but more importantly,
for giving a shit about this city.

Now every day we see people struggling
in these streets...

Yeah!

...just trying to keep
their fucking families' businesses afloat.

Get their rents paid.

And then there are people
like these assholes.

The Hamilton-Sweeney's,

who are scooping up whole blocks
of this city for dirt cheap.

And they're building luxury apartments
for people so rich,

- they don't even fucking live there.
- That's right!

All right? This is not okay!

No!

Fuck.

Fucking detox.

And the media,
the media wants to discredit our movement,

but all they do is amplify our message.

All right. Scientia potentia est.

Knowledge is power.

- Repeat after me. Knowledge...
- Knowledge...

- Is power!
- Is power!

Knowledge...

- Is power!
- Is power!

- Knowledge...
- Knowledge...

- Is power!
- Is power!

- Knowledge...
- Knowledge...

- Is power!
- Is power!

- All right! Hey, hey!
- Yo.

I'm assuming this pitiful protest
is revenge for my firing you.

...have to go!

Detective Parsa and McFadden.
We're expected upstairs.

We're just bringing the fight
to your front door.

Well, here's a heads-up.

William Hamilton-Sweeney III
is about to exit that door.

- Ho, ho!
- Ho, ho!

He mentioned something
he's working on.

A new canvas.

We're gonna need to reschedule.

He's hell-bent on proving
our connection

to each other,

and to that girl in the park.

I think you know what I'm asking you
to do.

- Ho, ho!
- Ho, ho!

- Hamilton-Sweeney has got to go!
- I don't kill people.

Not what I heard.

Ho, ho!
Hamilton-Sweeney has got to go!

- Hey, hey! Ho, ho!
- Hey, hey! Ho, ho!

Hamilton-Sweeney has got to go!

- Hey, hey! Ho, ho!
- Hey, hey! Ho, ho!

Hamilton-Sweeney has got to go!

- Hey, hey! Ho, ho!
- Hello?

I'm on it.

- Hey, hey! Ho, ho!
- Go. Go follow!

No, you keep going. Go...

Hey, Nicky... What the hell?

Wait! We didn't get to case the building!

We'll come back later! Sol, with me!
You, go to his studio!

Fuck, man.

- Our city!
- Where did he go?

- Whose city?
- Our city!

- Whose city? Who's city?
- Our city! Our city!

Hey. Police!

Hey! Stop!

- Stop! Hey!
- Hey, hey.

The cops are here to shut us down.

No cops, free speech!

Oh, fuck!

Excuse me.

- Jesus.
- William, remember me?

You were handcuffed to my partner's desk.

- You followed me here?
- Yeah, and I'm not the only one.

Okay. You're on my side, right?

I can trust you to protect and serve?

Well, how do I know
you're the good guy here?

Well, I am wearing pinstripes. So...

Plus, if you could help me get out
of here, I can help you solve this thing.

All right? I can help.

Gentlemen.

What are the chances?

- So, how's it going?
- Not so good, Billy.

- Not so good.
- That's too bad.

This is our stop.

All right. NYPD.

I'm gonna need some names
and some answers right goddamn now.

Hey, get the fuck off of me!

Whatever you say, lady.

Fuck. Hold the fucking door.

Excuse me. Sorry. Excuse me.
My friend is actually up this way.

Sorry. Excuse me.

- If I could just squeeze past.
- Yo, move.

- I'm sorry.
- People, people move, move.

Out of the way.

What the fuck, bro? Move!

Excuse me.

- You wanna go? Let's go. All right, bro.
- Calm the fuck down.

This is my father's watch.

This is a Timex.

Rich in sentimental value only.

I'll take 16.99.

Why would you hide any of these?

Two, three, four, five...

How many photos are there
on a roll of film?

- Twenty-four.
- There are 21 here. Three are missing.

Maybe three weren't good.
Sometimes they're blank or blurry.

Somebody leaves the lens cap on
or whatever. We don't print...

No. Sam did not take pictures
with the lens cap on, okay?

- Just tell me where they are!
- Hey, calm down, kid.

I don't have 'em.

Some guy came by this morning,
paid me a hundred bucks to have a look.

Must have slipped a few in his pocket.

Print them for me. Now.

We don't print singles.

You got another 16.99?

Fuck you, Doug!

Now where you gonna go?

Come on, you're too tired.

Too fucked up to run.

Besides, what would be the point?

We're doing this?

Well, you didn't shoot me
on a crowded subway.

You're not gonna fucking shoot me here.

Yeah, you're right.
We got too much history for that.

I just wanna have a talk.

Come for a walk with me.

Talk. You walk with me?

After you.

Yeah. Actually,
I got some questions of my own, Nicky.

William, it's me.

Who are you?

What gallery do you work with?

Oh, no, no. Don't do that.

Okay.

Hello? Hello. Yes, I'd like
to report an intruder...

Fuck!

Excuse me. Hey.

Did you know that gentrification
is displacing an entire,

socioeconomic strata of city residents?

Not interested. Thanks.

You could at least
take a look at our literature.

I just want to enjoy my slice in peace,
okay? Maybe someone else.

I mean... Yeah.
You could read it later, you know?

Scientia potentia est.

- Knowledge is power.
- I said fuck off.

I'm so sorry.

I just...
I get so passionate sometimes, you know?

- Yeah.
- And I just... I don't know.

I'm sorry to bother you. That's...

It's for a Deitch Projects group show.

- Yeah.
- Kind of a post-punk,

hyperrealist take on civic semiotics.

Very cheeky.

Jenny, hey.
I'm surprising William with dinner.

Is that smoke?

Holy shit! Call 911!

Bruno's car is here. Where's Bruno?

Oh, my God. What's happening?

Fire.

- Yeah. I'm at the corner of Meserole...
- What?

...and Bushwick Place.

I need to report a fire.

Alone at last.

This is more like it.

Hey, if this really is the end
of the road for me,

at least tell me the story.

What happened to the girl, Nicky?

You little f...

You don't fucking talk about her.

You don't know shit about Sam.

Well, I kind of feel like I do.

Read everything she wrote.

She really ate your shit up, huh?

But wouldn't follow you off the cliff.

No, she was a good girl.

She had morals, limits.

Did you find them?

Is that why she had to go?

No, Sol, Sol, Sol!

Yo! Sol, leave that shit.
Leave that shit. Come on.

Yo, where's SG? Where's SG?

I heard someone in the back screaming.
I think he's trapped.

- Help!
- We have to go back. We have to help him.

- No. We need to get out of here.
- Somebody help!

You promised no one would get hurt!

Fuck!

Fuck that. We're gonna get hurt.

- We have to go back!
- No.

- We can't leave him!
- Sam!

We have to go back! We have to go back!

We have to save him!

Nicky, we gotta go right now.

Sam, come on. Let's go.

I'm sorry, Billy.

You're gonna have to die
without the answers you're craving.

You're just gonna kill me?

You're just gonna kill the leader
of your band?

The leader?

You quit.

It's my band now.

Your band?

Hey, look. I'm not gonna kill you.

I am.

Hey.
You chill the fuck... Get the fuck down.

Here.

It's gonna make too much noise.

I saw you took that photo.

- Give me the film.
- Okay. Just let me go.

Just let me go.

Sam!

Sam, open the door!

Sam, open the door!

Give me the film, Sam.

Sam, open the door!

Okay. Just take the film though.

Leave the camera.
Please! Please leave the camera!

Please! It was my mother's!

Damn.

Once upon a time,
I fucking loved that guy.