Good Trouble (2019–…): Season 1, Episode 3 - Allies - full transcript

Previously on Good Trouble...

The police shot him seven times.

You really believe you
can make a difference?

You're the counter-clerk.

He hired you to make
the progressive argument

so he was prepared to knock it down.

You told your friends I'm
clerking the Jamal case?

No one's supposed to know
what cases I'm working on.

That's the only picture I have of us.

- Mom is sick.
- For real this time?

Why you got to be so hard on her?



Who do you think you
are? You've got the nerve

to bother the C.E.O.
with some stupid app idea?

Pull something like that again,

you're gonna be unemployed.

- Hey, do you think that's him?
- Who?

The guy we saw hooking up
with Gael the other night.

Black lives matter! Black lives matter!

Black lives matter!

Black lives matter!

Black lives matter!

Black lives matter!

Black lives matter!

Black lives matter!

Black lives matter!



Black lives matter!

Black lives matter! Black lives matter!

Black lives matter! Black lives matter!

Please rise.

The United States District Court

for the central district of
California is now in session,

the Honorable Judge
Curtis Wilson presiding.

Calling case number 18-50189,

Jamal Thompson versus police officers

Amir Turani, Lawrence Griffin,

and the city of Los Angeles.

You may be seated.

I'm prepared to rule on the
plaintiff's ex parte motion

to prevent the city's
destruction of 911 calls.

And the defense's motion
to dismiss the case

against the officers for
excessive use of force

in the shooting and
death of Jamal Thompson.

The police shot him seven times

after he made the fateful

and aggressive move towards them.

Jamal Thompson died on the scene.

So what's the deal with these 911 calls?

Jamal's family thinks
that there might have been

some other calls that night
that weren't turned over.

Calls that didn't describe
the suspect as a black man,

which could show that the police

targeted Jamal because
he was a black man

walking through a predominantly
white neighborhood.

Why are they destroying
the 911 calls at all?

They call it a "routine purge."

Well, if they didn't
have anything to hide,

why not turn them over
and then purge them?

Right?

Of course...

this new judge might rule to
dismiss the case entirely, so...

Morning.

Hey.

Hey.

So...

do you know Jamal's family?

Girl, no, we don't all know each other.

I'm just gonna grab a yogurt.

So what's the story with this new judge?

Umm...

Historically,

Judge Wilson has always
sided with the police.

I understand emotions are running high,

and after the protests
at City Hall this week,

I expect everyone to comport
themselves in a manner

appropriate to a court of law.

Do you know Jamal's family?

Girl, no, we don't all know each other.

Now, let's begin...

Where were you?

In the bathroom.

All night?

Like it?

I do.

But... ?

It's a little phallic.

Maybe you just have a dirty mind.

Maybe I do.

A dirty mind's a
terrible thing to waste.

What's it called?

- "Nurture."
- Is that meant to be ironic?

Yeah, well, that's the point.

That the masculine
can also be nurturing.

You sure you like it?

Yeah.

Good, 'cause I'm casting
it in bronze this week,

and it is not cheap.

So once it's done, it's done.

How much did it cost?

Like two grand.

Oh, my God!

Wow.

And I have to finish three more pieces

- before the show that I'm in.
- Show? Where?

It's a group show in a small
but pretty legit gallery.

That's exciting.

Yeah.

Sun's coming up.

I should go.

But you want to stay.

I don't see why you guys
have to sneak around.

I'm sure everybody knows
everybody's business here,

but I don't want 'em knowing mine.

You think they know
about Bryan and Gael?

Davia must. She's Bryan's friend.

No idea.

And you're cool with just being casual?

I don't have time for a
relationship right now.

Unless, of course, I get fired today.

Stop. You're not getting fired.

Judge Wilson gave you the night off,

it's not like you're a
doctor and you're on call.

Yeah, well, when Rebecca tells him

that she wrote the bench memo,

at the very least he'll
take me off the Jamal case.

Yeah, well, maybe it's for the best.

It'll be less awkward with Malika.

And if anyone's getting fired...

You can't get fired
'cause Davia called Alex

an asshole on Instagram.

On my Instagram.

Well, those guys have
done much worse to you,

so if Alex is a jerk about it, just...

go to H.R.

Remember, you've got a
lawyer, and I will cut you

a very good deal.

You haven't passed the bar yet.

Thanks for reminding me.

Hey.

I expect you to represent me pro bono.

Ha, ha!

Well, historically,

Judge Wilson has always
sided with the police.

Too bad we lost the other judge.

Oh, I gotta run!

- Everyone have a good day!
- You, too!

Whoa!

- Hey.
- Hey.

See ya later.

So that's a thing, right?

Oh, they're totally hooking up.

Yeah, that's what I mean,
that's what I thought.

Sure you can be seen with me?

As long as we don't talk about the case,

and you keep that jacket on.

So was that your brother
at the party Saturday night?

Jude? Yeah.

You seem tight.

Were you in foster care together?

Yeah, six years until we were adopted.

Y'all ever get split up?

No, we were in a bunch of homes,

but they always kept us together.

Except when I was in juvie.

Wait, hold up. You were in juvie?

Three times.

It's a long story.

One I want to hear.

What about you? You have any siblings?

Yeah, a brother, Dom.
But they... split us.

Sorry.

Were you guys close?

Not really. He's close with our mom.

Says she's sick, wants to see me.

Are you in contact with her?

Try not to be.

Martin Luther King, Jr. said,

"True peace is not merely
the absence of tension:

it is the presence of justice."

- See ya later?
- See ya.

We got no justice for my son, Jamal,

who was shot seven times in the back

for doing nothing wrong.

The D.A. refused to bring charges

against the officers who murdered him.

So now, our only hope for
justice is in federal court.

Judge Wilson,

do not allow those 911
calls to be destroyed

and do not dismiss this case.

Do not dismiss another mother

who has lost her
child, her only child...

for no other reason than
for the color of his skin.

- It's clear you're the one with the problem.
- I am?

Yeah, you're angry
that the judge gave me

the Jamal Thompson case.

Don't listen to her.

I'm not saying she has an agenda,

but being a clerk is all about
trying to impress your judge,

so when you get an opportunity, take it.

Judge Wilson called, like, hours ago.

I could get fired!

I appreciate you all coming
back in Saturday night.

It's a well-written memo.

Who wrote it?

We all did. It was a group effort.

Well, nice teamwork.

Hey, Alex! Hey, Alex! Trying you again.

Umm, I wanted to explain
about my friend Davia.

How dumb are you to
not come through, Alex?

- You giant asshole!
- Dude!

I think she might be on molly.

Give me a call when you
get this... or 'shrooms!

I have a lot of good ideas.

I didn't call you an asshole.

I'm not sure if you saw my text.

... really fun to hang out with.

We can talk Monday. I'd
love to talk about this more.

Sorry about all the calls...

- Hi, Alex!
- Hey, Mariana! Have a nice weekend?

Uh, yeah.

Hey.

I... your party looked rad.
I really wanted to come.

Yeah, it was... it was poppin'.

Sorry we didn't make it.
Alex was really into the whole

Guys' Night thing.

So like every other night?

Well, Sam passed out.

I'm starting to think he's narcoleptic.

And, uh, Alex dropped a bunch

of sad pick-up lines all night, so...

So, yeah, yeah, pretty much.

Blue team, blue team, blue team,

let's scrum here today. Let's do this.

Hey man, what's up? What's
up! Hey, how's it going?

So Evan wanted me to start

by giving my man, Alex
here, a little shout-out.

Dude, Evan's legit stoked

about your user-customizable
photo filters app idea.

We could incorporate photo
filters in the eGIFany app.

It's gonna rock the new app so hard.

Thanks, man.

We'll get started refactoring the code

and improve build time

and testing through
a three-week sprint.

I love it! Evan's gonna love it!

You guys rock! Get back to work.

Okay, uh, we'll divide between
Sam and Raj the back-end classes.

Mariana, you handle front-end.

All right? Go blue team!

- Ah!
- Yeah boy!

Blue team!

- Hey, Alex?
- Hey, Mari-anne-a.

- Mari-ah-na.
- Oh, sorry.

The customizable filters was my idea.

- You sure?
- Yeah.

I pitched it to you in the voicemail?

During my party?

Huh, you left me a voicemail?

A couple.

That's weird, I didn't get 'em.

Great minds, right Mari-anne-a?

Now let's get back to work.

You know, I wish the press

would use that photo of Jamal,

but I'm not surprised they don't.

Why they got to make him
out to look like a criminal

in every picture when he's the victim?

You're the girl that's been tweeting

about the case all week.

- You got all these people here.
- Some of them.

I mean, people are
good with the retweets,

but showing up...

- that's not so easy.
- I know.

When Jamal first got killed,

people took to the streets.

But it's been five years,

and with a new shooting every month,

people forget by the time
the case gets to court.

If it gets to court.

I won't forget.

Thank you.

I can see there's four paladins.

- I see you.
- Why aren't you the dwarf?

- I'm the mage.
- You're, well...

- Why aren't you the dwarf?
- Because I'm a paladin.

I'm telling you, there's
four dragons around.

Well, no, you hold on...

Fireball!

Can you hold on two sec... ?

Can we actually plan
out something, please?

Well, why are there dragons charging in?

Need to borrow my invisibility cloak?

Why didn't you tell
Wilson you wrote the memo?

Because, in spite of what you think,

I'm not a backstabbing bitch.

I don't think that.

Isn't that what your best
friend, Ben, told you?

I couldn't be trusted

because I was born with
a silver spoon up my ass.

That's not exactly how he put it.

Oh.

Look...

Ben turned the last clerk against me,

and it would be nice

if we could have each
other's backs, right?

Yeah.

Thanks for having mine.

Well, don't be too grateful.

I wrote a conservative opinion

recommending against the
injunction on purging the 911 calls.

Which is exactly what
I would have written.

- Really?
- I'm not gonna be the counter-clerk.

I'm not gonna be used to knock
down the progressive argument.

I'm only writing from his
perspective from now on.

Makes sense.

Judge wants to see me.

D... did you really accost
Evan in the elevator?

I did not accost him.

Umm...

Excuse me?

Mr. Speck?

I just...

asked him if I could
pitch him a few app ideas.

Your second day on the job.

Look, you have to pay your dues.

Eventually, you will get
your chance to impress Evan.

I already did.

Apparently, he's super stoked
about an idea that I had,

but Alex took credit for it.

At least you had an idea
that was worth stealing.

You gotta be patient.

Work harder than the boys,

and eventually you'll
get noticed for it.

And, hey, in the meantime,

make a few allies.

Not every guy here is a jerk.

Mystic Mango?

Isn't that your favorite?

Yeah, um, it is.

- Thanks.
- You're welcome.

Hey, um, everything okay
with Alex over there?

Yeah, fine. Thanks for asking.

Close the door, please.

Am I to believe that
you had anything to do

with the writing of this memo?

- I...
- Got bulldozed?

By Rebecca and Ben? Or just gave up?

When I instructed you
to write your bench memos

without empathy clouding them,

I didn't mean I didn't want
to hear your point-of-view.

I chose you to clerk this case,

because I want to hear
the liberal opinion.

So rewrite this memo
from your point-of-view.

Have it on my desk by tomorrow morning.

Yes, Your Honor.

So sorry. One second.

Oh, hey, you're home early.

Well, you didn't actually
get fired, did you?

No, I have to rewrite this memo,

so I'm working from home all night.

Well, you look like
you could use a drink.

Uh, no, I shouldn't.

Oh, come on, one drink.

I'm having such a good
time with your sister.

I need to know more about you.

Yeah, I guess, like, half a glass.

Famous last words.

So Mariana's been venting
about the broholes at her job.

How's the legal business treating you?

It's challenging.

She works all the time.

Well, I mean, not all the time.

Anyway, um, like I was saying,

we could easily get through all
three phases of our build in a week,

but they just keep screwing around.

Honey, you are getting paid
a lot to do next to nothing.

What's the problem?

I could do so much more.

Then do it! As long as your boss

looks good in front of his boss,

then he's gonna think
you're a rock star.

And maybe he'll stop
treating you like crap.

Callie, what do you do for fun?

Not much lately.

You know what they say
about all work and no play?

Yeah, I'm a pretty dull girl.

Oh, I don't believe that.

Hey, what's going on?

Just having a drink.

Actually, I'm gonna be late.

- Where are you guys going?
- 71 Above.

That high rise restaurant?

Damn, money moves!

Enjoy yourselves.

I'll see ya. Bye.

- See ya.
- Have fun.

Oh, I will.

I have a lot of work to do, so...

Thank you for the wine.

Sure!

I haven't seen you since you was

showing your face off at Pride,

telling people you were Rainbow Dash.

Thanks for reminding me.

That was, like, forever, right?

I know, between work and my art...

Yeah, well, your art
should be your work.

So, how is your job?

You know, just making
customers uncomfortable.

It's whatever, I mean...

I'm applying other places and
looking for something better.

Didn't you have, like, the
highest sales in the store there?

Yeah, well...

It only takes one indignant
person to ruffle feathers, right?

I got the message.

I mean, they don't want me there.

Especially my manager,
and he's a gay guy.

Apparently, "T" is
optional when you're LGB.

I'm sorry, Jazmin.

Um...

Look...

I know you. You got your own ish.

But um...

I'm kind of behind on rent.

Shouldn't you ask Mom or Dad?

You know that's not an option for me.

If they knew that you were in trouble?

I don't want their help.

I'm done tolerating intolerant people.

How much do you need?

Eighteen hundred dollars.

_

_

_

Hey, free for a drink?

- Hey, you!
- Hi, Jamie!

It's so good to see you.
How's L.A. treating you?

I mean, it's no Turks and Caicos,

but it's better seeing a familiar face.

I'm glad you called, then.

I went ahead and ordered us drinks.

I, uh, don't know what kind of dive bars

you went to at UCSD, but
this isn't gonna cover it.

Not that I'd let you pay.

Thank you.

But I hope it's enough to cover
your friends and family rate,

because I need a lawyer.

He picked you to clerk a high
profile constitutional case?

That's huge!

Except that I'm the counter-clerk.

Counter-clerk?

He chose me to help him
anticipate the progressive argument

so he could shoot it down

and make sure his
decisions are appeal-proof.

Is that what he said?

Rebecca told me.

Your competition.

This conversation's covered

under attorney-client privilege, right?

Yes.

Cause I can't talk to
anyone outside of chambers

and I don't know what to do.

Look, if Judge Wilson knew
how he was going to rule,

why is he delaying?

How do you know he's not on
the fence about the 911 calls

and that's why he asked
you to write this memo?

- Oh! Oh!
- Whoa!

Oh, my... I am so sorry!

Are you okay?

Yes.

Are... are you okay?

Yeah... your white shirt, um...

It... it's just coffee.

Um, or is that bad?

It's... just a shirt.

- Oh. Ow!
- Ow!

Ouch, uh...

Here, let... let me get it.

Oh, no.

It's... okay.

I'm really sorry.

I know.

Okay.

_

Why are they taking him away?

Why can't we stay together?

I'm sorry, honey, we have
a a family who'll take you.

You shouldn't have called C.P.S.

- Why didn't you call?
- It's not right.

Why'd you call them?

People don't want to take in black boys.

I thought they would keep us together.

Was the system any better for you?

Dom!

'Cause it sure as hell wasn't for me.

Dom!

Dom!

_

_

Think I need to disclose

that she lives in my building?

Unless Malika's involved
with the actual case

or she's close to Jamal's family,

I don't think you're in any
danger of ethical violation.

Look, Callie, as your
lawyer and your friend,

don't underestimate yourself

because some competitive
clerk got in your head.

Trust your ability to
make a compelling argument

and you might just have
an impact on Judge Wilson.

So write the memo?

Write the memo.

I'd better get to it.

Thank you.

Anytime...

Uh, and maybe we can
grab dinner sometime.

Without attorney-client privilege.

I'm not sure I have
time for a personal life.

Ah, I get it, uh...

The first year out of
law school is brutal,

but if you need more legal advice,

consider your dollar my retainer.

So for eGIFany,

we'll stay with the colors
users associate Speckulate with,

but create 2-D vectors the
engineers have asked for.

Cool. Oh, look who's here...

Our fearless leader.

All right, everyone. Uh, good work...

and, oh, congrats to blue team

for completing all three
phases of the code refactoring.

Alex, your team is killing it this week.

Who's the man... who's the man?

Uh, I guess I am.

That's right. Everyone else take note,

Alex is raising the bar
for the other team leaders.

Okay?

So let's get out of here
and, uh, get back to work.

- Sorry, Raj.
- All right.

- What happened to your phone?
- Dropped it.

Isn't that the girl I told
you about in the elevator?

I thought she had an app to pitch me.

Yeah, yeah, uh...

I reached out to her. She
never got back to me, so...

Hey, you completed all three phases?

Yeah, I finished my work,

so I thought I'd take the initiative.

Oh, you thought.

Now they're going to expect us
to deliver this fast every time.

Well, we can.

This time, yeah, maybe.

What happens if we get a more
challenging build next week, huh?

- We're screwed.
- Yeah.

Look, I don't give a crap
if you think I'm an asshole

or what you tell your
druggy friends about me.

I'm team leader.

I assign the work and
the time that it takes.

He's the leader.

Maybe I need to go to Angela

and tell her you can't take direction.

Huh?

Hey, sorry about those guys.

Those guys?

What about you?

You go along with his
bullshit all the time.

You know, being a nice
guy behind his back

doesn't make you a hero.

Thank you for the opportunity
to rewrite this, your honor.

I think I managed to
keep emotion out of it.

What's your recommendation?

To grant the plaintiff's
motion for an injunction

against the destruction
of the 911 calls.

No surprise there. On what basis?

The doctrine of
spoliation should prevent

the destruction of potential evidence.

If the court finds it as a
duty to preserve the evidence.

In Brookshire Brothers v. Aldridge...

Which was reversed by
the Texas Supreme Court.

Only for the harshness of the verdict,

not the merit of the argument.

Which is in relevance to this case.

They refused to turn over
all the security footage

to show the conditions
of Aldridge's injury.

Exactly. Video footage.

The bodycam footage in the Jamal
Thompson case isn't in question.

- Yet... they haven't turned it over.
- Well let's not get ahead of ourselves,

the video footage
will provide conditions

of the shooting of Jamal Thompson.

The 911 calls are tangential.

In Smith v. Superior Court...

Superseded by Cedar
Sinai v. Superior Court.

Your Honor, if you're not
gonna consider my arguments,

am I just here to help prepare you

to shoot down the progressive argument?

What do you mean?

Did you hire me to
be your counter-clerk?

You think I need a kid

straight out of a five-year
undergrad UC law school

to prepare me for the liberal argument?

You're here because I like to spar...

and teach young legal dilettantes

how to formulate
well-reasoned arguments,

regardless of your
misguided politics and belief

that the Constitution is a
living document you can manipulate

into making law instead
of interpreting it.

Uh, so you can relax.

You're in no danger of arming me

with some liberal legal kryptonite

that I wouldn't already
be well aware of.

Oh, and, uh...

the simple recommendation
is to have me listen

to all the 911 calls
and cameras you assess

if relevant evidence is being withheld.

And even though you failed
to present that option,

I'll consider it in my
ruling this afternoon.

The judge is going to rule
on the 911 calls first.

If he rules against the plaintiffs,

it would indicate he doesn't
believe there's merit to the case.

And many legal experts predict

he'll then rule on behalf of the
defendants to dismiss the case.

If he does, with protesters
outside City Hall,

the police are on high alert,

hoping to prevent the crowd
from erupting into violence.

Upon reviewing the
plaintiff's ex parte motion...

I rule to deny their motion to prevent

the destruction of
the reported 911 calls

due to lack of relevance.

- What are we celebrating?
- Not being at work.

- You want some?
- No thanks.

You're going out?

Yeah, Davia invited me to a jazz club.

Don't you have work in the morning?

Mm-hmm.

But since no one wants
me to do any actual work,

I'm just gonna take the
paycheck and have fun.

Hey, what happened in there?

Thought you were bronzing that piece.

I needed the money for something else.

It sucked anyway.

It was a little phallic...

but maybe that's why I liked it.

What was that about yesterday?

What?

With Callie.

I know.

Davia told me.

I don't like playing games.

I don't like being lied to.

I wasn't seeing her when you asked.

I mean, I was before, but...

I thought it was over.

Okay...

We're not exclusive.

Does she know about me?

Yeah.

And it's not that you can't
come to see Davia, it's just...

It's awkward.

'Cause Callie lives here.

- Talk about home court advantage.
- It's not a competition.

But if it was, I would
totally win, right?

As to the defendant's motion
to dismiss this case...

... motion is denied.

- Court is now adjourned.
- We got a trial.

First constitutional case...

It's gonna look great on your r?sum?.

Wilson isn't using me
as the counter-clerk.

But thanks for getting in my head.

Did you see the way Callie
was looking at that girl

sitting next to Jamal's mother?

No, why?

I don't know. I think
they know each other.

I know you had a lot to do with
those people out there today.

Yeah, I just tried to put the word out.

You did.

I saw you tweet the video of my speech.

Thank you.

We're gonna have people at
the house tonight to celebrate.

I'd love you to join us...

if you don't have plans.

I thought you didn't
know Jamal's family.

I didn't. It just...

sort of...

Sandra really liked my t-shirt

and that I've been working
to get people out there.

I can't know about
anything she might tell you.

Okay.

And maybe we should...

Steer clear of each other.

Maybe for a little while, yeah.

It's just kind of tricky for
me until the trial's over.

Got it.

Maybe then, you and
I can get that drink,

and you can tell me
all about how you became

a hardened juvenile delinquent.

Deal.

I'm glad he didn't dismiss the case.

Me too.

- Don't worry about this. This is gonna be on me.
- Oh, I know.

This is Dom...

Leave a message, and I'll
call you right back...

probably.

Hey, D, it's Mika...

Sorry about tonight. I just...

couldn't with Mom.

But I want you in my life.
I really do, I just...

can't let her back in.

I hope you get that.

I love you.

Bye.

The point was to show the
nurturing side of masculinity.

But...

Okay, technically,
maybe it was a phallus.

A phallus without malice?

Yeah, exactly.

So what's going on with the show?

So glad you could find time
for me in your busy schedule.

A girl's gotta eat.

Our table should be
ready in a couple minutes.

Oh, you know that guy?

Yeah, he lives in my building.

Oh.