Hunter (1984–1991): Season 7, Episode 5 - The Incident - full transcript
Hunter and Molenski battle a neighborhood watch group whose members are taking the law into their own hands.
-Right there, don't move!
Relax, turn around.
-About time you cops
do your damn job!
-Shut up.
Molenski!
Take this guy.
Mark!
Come here.
Ring up these guys out of here.
And what's your problem?
-If you hadn't caught
that son of a bitch,
we would've killed him!
-That's not your business!
-When are you gonna
get these nigger dope
dealers off the streets?
-Come here.
-What?
-Would you settle and relax, OK?
Just calm down.
Stay put.
-Look what we got here.
-Really?
Businessman uh?
Get going.
-I was just minding
my own business
I don't know they getting it.
-Come on.
Come on!
Get over there.
-Have a seat there, Mr. Danko.
Relax a little bit.
Cool off.
Let me explain something to you.
In a community watch you
report all suspicious behavior
to the police department.
That's why they're called
the community watch,
instead of a
community lynch mob.
-Look, I'm block captain
of the Jackson Street watch
and we're sick and tired
of dirt like that trashing
the streets that
our kids play on.
You cops talked us
into forming the watch.
Now are you going to haul
us down here every time
that we try to help you out?
-Every time you break the
law I'm going to bring you in.
-Well what the
hell do you expect?
We call you guys
and maybe, maybe you
get around to
coming by next week.
You cops don't do squat.
If you can't keep those
drug pushing creeps off
of our streets then
by God, we will.
-Possession,
buying, selling, using.
Is there anything we
don't have on you, Fitch?
-What happened to my phone call?
-Your phone call is coming.
Narco's been watching
you the last six weeks.
We got a short novel here
on what you've been up to.
Nothing's going to change that.
-Yo, sis, you can't
hold me with this.
-Come on, Fitch, give it up!
You're a two-time
loser, this ain't
gonna go down good for you.
-Now wait a minute!
I get chased by a
pack of racist dogs
and I'm the one that needs
a hanky and a lawyer?
-You know the song,
sell crack, go to jail.
-I wasn't doing nothing.
-Come on, pal, we
had you staked out.
Six cops saw you make the sale.
-No, what they saw was a
bunch of white boys trying
to kill my black butt for being
in the wrong neighborhood.
In their neighborhood!
-Maybe the jury will buy that.
Of course there is the five
grand and the bag of crack
you had stuffed in
your back pocket!
Now you get your phone call.
-We had the guy
under surveillance
until you butted in, Danko.
-So what?
With our court system
that crack dealer
will be back on the
same corner in two hours.
-He's already got two
convictions on his sheet.
We can put away again.
If the jury doesn't buy how
a poor innocent black got
hammered out by
a group of vigilantes,
empowered by the
police department.
-Two convictions?
That's exactly what
I'm talking about.
Two convictions and he's
still out there selling dope!
-Will you give it a rest?
-Hey you don't know
how to do your job.
Don't blame me.
-Let me tell you something,
bad guys come in all colors,
don't you ever forget that.
Get out of here, your friends
are outside waiting for ya.
Go on, get out!
What you're looking at, Jerry?
-Fitch is calling his lawyer.
You get him squared away?
-Gonna take more than
talk to get him squared away.
-Sam, watch programs don't work.
They never have
and they never will.
Somewhere down the
a lynch mob develops.
-You might be right.
I hear the watch was ready
to beat the crap out of this guy
until the police stepped in.
-Yeah.
Can you imagine a watch
program for today's drug dealers?
Who were the arresting officers?
-Sergeant Hunter,
officer Molenski.
-Hunter?
-Yeah.
-Mr. Storm Trooper himself, huh?
-I didn't know you knew him.
-Yeah, sure.
So do half the city
officials in this town.
Molenski I ran into
a few years ago
at the 77th street division.
There's a good mix of
characters here, Sam.
-Why don't you take a run at it.
Go ahead.
-If the cops can't keep this
filth out of our neighborhood,
Mr. Danko continued, then
the law abiding taxpaying citizen
has every right
to protect himself
and his family in any
way that's left to him.
-I thought you have an
agreement with this guy Danko?
-Who wrote that?
-Who do you think wrote it?
Andy McBride, the
Dr. Sardonicus of the press.
-Andy McBride, I know him.
-Yeah, everybody
knows Andy McBride.
He's a pain in the butt.
I want you to personally
handle this matter now.
-It's not exactly a metro case.
-The watch program
is the chief's baby.
He went out on a limb
to guarantee a success.
Where the hell's my jacket?
Needless to say, something
like this could easily sink him.
All McBride needs is more
fuel from a creep like Danko.
- No, we'll get right on it.
- All right.
If you need more
officers, let me know.
-Yeah.
How well do you know McBride?
-Enough to give him
the other side of the story.
-Good.
Give it to him.
-What are you doing here?
-Read the newspapers,
want to talk to you about it.
-What's there to talk about?
I got a right to express myself.
If I rubbed you the wrong
way, it's not my problem.
-Now when did talk to McBride?
-Butt out, Hunter.
-Pretty high strung, aren't ya?
-You ever raise
any kids, sergeant?
-No I haven't.
-Yeah, well I got three of 'em.
And every day I send
them off to school
I got to worry
about what's gonna
happen to them on the streets.
Somebody's got to
take care of problem.
If not you, then us!
-Look it, we can't clean
up the streets over night.
I wish to God we could.
I know what I do
if it was up to me.
But some people might
interpret that as a blow
to personal rights.
-Yeah well I got rights too.
-Look, I know you do, but you
can't go running up and down
the street beating up on people.
That's not what
the watch is about.
-Look, I got the
right to bear arms
and I have to use them to
protect my property and family,
I will.
And if I have to talk
to reporters to let 'em
know how I feel then that
is exactly what I will do.
Community watch woke
us up, sergeant that we all
feel the same way about things.
We can take care of
our own neighborhood.
-Let me tell you
something, Danko.
You better be careful.
Go by the rules or you can turn
this neighborhood upside down.
-I got work to do, Sergeant.
-Hey, Danko, you
break the law and I'll
arrest like any other criminal.
Don't make me come back here.
-Andy McBride?
-Well, well, well,
Joanne Molenski.
-You remember.
-What are you kidding?
How could I forget?
Cold coffee, stale donuts,
blazing gunfire, long sleepless
nights watching you toss
felons into the paddy wagon.
-I read your article.
So did my captain.
-You mean the one
on Jackson Street?
-Yeah.
-Ah, and I thought
you were going
to stop by to
catch up on my life.
You know, why haven't
I won the Pulitzer yet?
Has some lucky lady landed me?
-No, I'm afraid not.
-And you're wondering
where I get off
making the cops look
like The Three Stooges?
-Yeah, that's right.
-I guess Hunter sent you, huh?
Tell me, how is the sergeant?
Still busting heads
and cracking cases?
-Still trying to do his
job, like the rest of us.
Now about that article.
-Listen, Molenski.
I'm not just going
after the cops,
I'm going after the
whole stinking system that
says that decent people have
to just stand by and do nothing
while a good neighborhood
just slowly sinks into the sunset.
-You're just stirring people up.
-I didn't make the
situation on Jackson Street.
-You're not helping the
situation on Jackson Street
either?
Jackson Street has
enough problems
already without you
adding wood to the fire.
That article was unfair to
the reality of the situation
and you know it.
-OK, so what is the reality
of the situation, Molenski?
-How many police
officers did you interview?
Not one.
You talked to a hot head?
That's irresponsible.
-Really?
I seem to remember a case
I covered a few years ago
in Griffith park, and I also
remember a young police officer
who came off looking
pretty good in those articles.
-That's not what
we're talking about.
-Those articles got
you noticed, Molenski.
There are people who
say that you might still
be at 77th street division if it
hadn't been for, uh, McBride.
-LAPD does not staff metro
from newspaper articles.
-All right.
So where do we go from here?
-You're an investigative
reporter, investigate.
Find out the truth, help us.
Help Jackson Street.
-Look Molenski, I'd like to.
But watch programs don't work.
They may have in World War II or
in some suburbs where there may
be some petty
thievery but that's it.
No, the police department
is trying to fool the public
into believing that they have
to cure for their own problem.
And that's irresponsible.
-Lisa.
Joe.
-In the kitchen, ma.
-Where's your sister?
-She's upstairs.
-You should of seen the
line at the grocery store.
Everybody in town wanted to
buy groceries at the same time.
-Did you get the tomatoes?
-They're right on top.
-You know I told you I'd
take care of the shopping.
-You got enough to do.
-I got it!
-I got it!
I said I got it.
-Don't eat up the phone, OK?
-Mind your own business.
-Look, all you do
is talk on the phone.
Make it quick.
-Hello?
Yeah, uh, it'll take
me about 10 minutes.
OK.
OK.
Bye.
See you later.
-Where do you
think you're going?
-Out.
-Don't be late for dinner!
-What are you so
upset about, Joe?
Lisa can take care of herself.
You're her brother,
not her father.
Let her live her
life, you live yours.
-Look I don't want her
out on the street, OK?
You know if dad
were alive, he wouldn't
want her out there either.
Now there's all those
dope dealers, muggings.
-What about your
community watch?
Isn't that doing some good?
-It's fine, ma.
Look, where does
she always go anyway?
-There's other
ways of protecting
your family than
fighting in the street.
You listen to the police, Joe.
-Look, I got to
run an errand, OK?
-You're as bad as your sister.
Don't be late for dinner.
-Hey Danko.
-Hey Joey, what's up?
-Oh, Lisa's what's up.
-What's the matter?
-Oh, I don't know, man.
I don't know what
she's doing anymore.
I don't know where she's going.
-Come on, she's just a kid, Joe.
Just, a kid.
That cop Hunter got
in my face again today.
-Hey Chuck, can I
get some change?
Why?
-I don't know, I guess he
got nothing better to do.
He only rides around all
day in that police car of his,
insulated from what's
happening on the outside.
He hasn't gotten any
kid being hit over the head
by these dope dealers.
-Thanks, Chuck.
What did you tell him?
-I told him I don't
know nothing.
-Be careful man.
-Why did you say that to me?
-I don't know.
Look, you want some smokes?
-Yeah.
Get Ray and Bob, now.
Now!
-You live in this
neighborhood boy?
-No I don't.
-Then where do you live?
-What's all this about?
-What this is about is
you're in the wrong place
at the wrong time, bud.
-Maybe you're here
to visit somebody, huh?
Somebody wants to buy
some dope or something?
-Hey look, man, I don't know
what you're talking about.
I...
-You take a message, nigger.
I don't want any
more of you dope
dealers anywhere
on Jackson Street.
Get him!
Come on!
-Come on, let's go.
-What do you have?
-Head injury.
-Any other injuries?
-Minor contusions.
-I want plasma, stat.
Open IV all the way.
Call x-ray.
Watch his head.
Get a hematic grid,
type and cross match.
-X-rays on the way.
-What's BP?
-80 over 50.
-Let's prep the area.
Give him more deep five LR.
I want 1% Xylocaine.
-Should I call OR?
-Have 'em stand by.
-You want O2?
-Yes, five liters.
Update BP?
-80 over 48.
-Hunter.
I heard the call
on the way home.
What's happening?
-Kid got beat up over
in Jackson Street.
-What's his condition?
-Took a hell of a
beating, doesn't
look good though right now.
-G Mary and J. I knew
this was going to happen.
Any witnesses?
-Well, we do have one woman
who saw the whole thing happen
from her fourth
story fire escape.
-Great, that means she
can't ID anyone, right?
-Where is he?
I want to see my boy.
Where is he?
Somebody please talk to me.
Please?
-Molenski.
Could you help
this lady out please?
-It's OK, officer.
-I want to see my boy.
-Are you Randy Ellis' mother?
-Yes!
Is he all right?
-I'm officer Joanne
Molenski, LAPD.
- Is he in there?
- Let's go over here and talk.
Calm down, relax.
-Please.
Ms, please tell me.
-They're doing
everything the can.
Have a seat right here.
-Two of these
incidents in two days.
The chief called me this
morning wanting an update.
I told him all was well
and you were on the case.
-Well I'm on the
case, all right,
but all is not well, Charlie.
Our witness didn't describe
anybody specifically,
but she did say Randy's
attackers were white.
-Don't tell me there
were five of them.
-Yep.
-We have got to pray to God
one of them wasn't Danko.
-Why do I feel his is?
-I thought you
talked to him again?
-Well I did talk to
him, but apparently he
didn't listen to me.
-Oh, no.
-What?
What's he doing here?
-I don't know.
-McBride!
-Wait a second, Hunter.
-What are you doing here?
-I'm doing my job.
Just like you, sergeant.
-My job doesn't include pumping
up an entire neighborhood.
-Relax, Hunter.
-I am a reporter.
I'm objective and I'm
here to get the facts.
-You don't need the facts.
You write whatever you want.
-Well you seem to have
a lot of trouble with facts.
-Let me just tell you something.
-All right, relax.
-I only write what's there.
-That's a lie.
-Yeah, as a matter of
fact that last piece you did
was a little one-sided,
wouldn't you say?
Decent hardworking
citizens protecting their home.
You make it sound like
there were murderers...
-Look I am not going
to be intimidated
by this police department.
-I'd like to hear the song
you're going to sing when
your editor gets a phone call
from Commander Burns, pally.
-Molenski, what did
Ms. Ellis have to say?
-Randy was supposed
to be meeting a girl
from his school
named Lisa Baker.
They were going to get
together for a tutoring session
at the library in
Sierra Heights.
-Now wait a minute,
what are you saying?
This kid may not
be a drug dealer?
He's an innocent student
on his way to the library?
-Tomorrow, bright and earlier,
you're at the Baker house,
you got it?
-Got it.
-I'm gonna go see a jerk.
-You stay away from Danko.
Tonight, anyway.
-Hi, how's it going?
-Good.
Sorry I don't have
time for breakfast
but how about dancing
Thursday night?
-Oh, heck.
Thursday nights I
have karate class.
-Friday then.
I mean I got a job, a
car, all my own teeth.
-Me too, small world.
-See we have so much in common.
So what's keeping us apart?
-I'm officer Joanne Molenski.
You know someone
named Lisa Baker?
-Yeah I know her,
she's my sister.
Look, she already
went to school.
What do you want
to talk to her about?
-I just want to ask
her some questions.
-Joe.
Oh, hi.
What's going on?
-Police officer, ma.
She wants to talk to Lisa.
Look I told her she
already went to school.
-Well is Lisa in
some sort of trouble?
-No, I just wanted to talk
to her about something
that happened yesterday evening.
-Oh, what was that?
-Mom.
Oh, hi.
Sorry, didn't know
I was interrupting.
-Look, I thought she
already went to school.
-I'm officer Joanne Molenski,
Los Angeles police department.
You know a young
man named Randy Ellis?
-Yeah.
-Randy was apparently jumped
by a group of men in a vacant lot
not far from here
yesterday afternoon.
He's in the hospital
in serious condition.
-Oh my God.
Randy's mom said he was on
his way to the library to meet you.
Is that true?
-Yeah, he was
tutoring me in art and I
was helping him
with chemistry class.
I was going to meet him
but he never showed up.
-Hunter.
Come here a second,
I need to talk to you.
This is detective
Ray Snyder, narco.
He's got something for us.
-Detective.
-Sergeant.
You think, with all the heat
on the Jackson Street area,
the homeboys would lay low.
But we zeroed in on
a crack house that's
been doing serious
business all summer.
We're talking nonstop
around the clock.
Place is run by a man
named David Allen Walker.
Early 30's, 6'2, brown
on brown, emerald ring.
A gold rolex you
could bench press.
Your average white trash
pusher. Showtime's midnight.
-Open up!
Police!
-Freeze!
Police!
-Don't shoot, man.
Don't shoot.
I want to make a deal.
-You ain't got nothing
to make a deal with.
-The black kid, over on
Jackson Street, the one that got
beat up.
-What about him?
-I know who hammered him.
-Surely there's no need for a
pair of handcuffs on the boy.
And Joe, I'll call Mr. Mills.
He'll know a lawyer, he'll
know what we should do.
He didn't do
anything, you'll find out.
-Don't worry, Mom.
It's going to be all right.
-Hey, Hunter.
-Oh, and I just had lunch.
-Well, hear you made an arrest
based on the word of a crack
dealer who would sell
his lungs if he had to.
-Walker was an eyewitness.
His story checks out.
-That's bull.
Let me tell you something.
-If I slammed the
stories your slamming,
I'd have been fired a long time.
-Listen, Joe Baker
works six days a week
to support his
mother and his sister.
He takes classes at night and
he still has time for that watch
program that's trying to
clean up his neighborhood.
-Too bad he listened to Danko.
-Well at least Danko
and Baker have
the guts to do the dirty work.
-Have you been drinking?
If you want to write
the story, the real story,
write our side of it.
You'll sell more papers.
-Yeah?
No, the story is police
manipulation and I know that.
-Joe Baker beat up a kid.
A good kid, a decent kid.
An honor student even.
Did you know he
has a full scholarship
to Cal Conservatory?
Yeah, he does.
Now take a nap, wake
up and write the truth.
-He's a good kid, huh?
-Hi.
Randy?
I'm officer Joanne
Molenski, LAPD.
How you feeling?
-Better, thanks.
-Good.
I met your mom the other night.
They brought you
into the hospital.
She's real nice, and
real worried about you.
-Yeah, my mom is the greatest.
-So what happened
the other day, Randy?
-I was on my home
from the library,
when five men jumped me
and chased me down the street.
-Five white men?
-Yeah, five white men.
-Did you see any of their faces?
-It all happened so fast, I
wasn't concentrating on much
except for getting out of there.
-I see.
Do you have any idea
why they attacked you?
-No.
-You live at 129
Green Street, right?
-Yes.
-What were you doing
over on Jackson Street?
-I was walking
home from the library.
-Well isn't Jackson
Street about a mile
out of the way
from where you live?
Randy, your mom said
you meeting Lisa baker
at the library to do homework.
-I think my mom
must've made a mistake.
-No, I don't think so.
She seemed real sure about it.
-No.
I went to study by myself.
-You do know Lisa Baker?
-Yes.
She's in a couple of my classes.
-But you weren't over on
Jackson Street to meet her?
-No.
I said no.
-You know Lisa
Baker lives about two
blocks from where
you were beaten up.
Do you know Joe Baker?
-That's Lisa's big brother.
-So you know Lisa pretty well?
-Like I said, we're in
a few classes together.
-We arrested Joe Baker
as one of the five men
who chased you and beat you up.
Something doesn't
make sense here, Randy.
What's going on?
-Randy, can I talk
to you for a second?
-Yes.
-This won't take a minute.
-So what's on you mind?
-Well, I just got a phone call.
Have a seat.
-What's with the phone call?
-That Jackson Street thing.
Got a call from Commander
Burns a little while ago.
-Sam, Joe Baker's
gonna beat this rap.
There is not a jury
in the world that's
going to convict this kid.
Forget about it.
-Now listen, Andy, are you
sure you're not using that story
to attack the police department?
-What the hell are
you talking about?
-Burns asked me
if this newspaper
is condoning vigilantism.
-That's ridiculous!
-That's not ridiculous.
Let me tell you
something, Andy McBride.
The way it sits
right now, it looks
like this newspaper is
condoning vigilantism.
And I'll tell you
something, we do not.
-That's, that's just great.
Everywhere I go,
somebody's trying
to pull me back every
time things get a little hot.
The truth is out there
on the streets, Sam.
But you don't want
to stir things up.
And that's too bad,
because that's what
a newspapers for,
to stir things up.
That's what sells.
-It's not just about
selling newspapers, Andy.
-Yes it is.
You brought me in here to
boost the circulation, something
this newspaper needs really bad.
Let me do my job, Sam.
-Andy.
OK, you're right.
We do want to sell newspapers
and we do need that story.
But, please, make
sure you're right.
-Sam, we've know each
other a long time, right?
A long time.
You got to trust me.
Got to trust me.
You also got to buy a new tie.
I mean, you don't even have
a newspaper for God's sakes.
-Andy, that information
you wanted from San Jose
just got in.
-Gloria, I love you.
-Randy Ellis, the alleged
victim was arrested
in San Jose in 1987 for
possession of marijuana.
Convicted in juvenile court,
he was sentenced to 40 hours
community service
and two years probation.
Why am I hearing about
this from Andy McBride?
-Ellis was 13 years of
age when that happened.
It doesn't mean he was down
on Jackson Street selling dope.
-Well our case against
Baker is severely damaged.
-Look, I know, I just didn't
think to check his background.
-Well Andy McBride
sure as hell did.
Now Baker's lawyer's
gonna stroll into court
and say, "here's my
stand up, white client just
trying to protect his neighbor
against a black drug dealer.
And all we got that
says anything different
is the word of
David Allen Walker,
a two-time time drug dealer.
Now get me some evidence.
-Forensics has already
gone over every square inch
of this place.
-Now, the woman who
saw Randy being beaten
said the men came out of here
and took off down the street.
I say we give the street the
once over and see what we find.
I say they made a right-hand
turn and ran up the street.
Come here for a minute.
What's that look like to you?
-Looks like a
stinking sewer to me.
-No, no, no.
The pipe.
-Oh, no.
-Yeah, come on,
I'll hold your jacket.
-Man, this is great stuff.
What does the lab say?
-Nothing yet, but
checking for prints
and the possible max
on Randy Ellis' blood type.
-Fabulous, fabulous.
So how soon will
we hear from the lab?
-Uh, within the hour.
-All right, great.
Let me know when
the lab comes through.
-OK.
-I'm going to commander
Clayton's office.
You come with me I want to
give you a complete update.
-Yeah, Molenski here.
Yeah, I think I can make
it in about two hours.
OK, got it.
-Officer.
-Don't you think you're pushing
that press pass a little far?
You got a lot of nerve
showing up here.
-This is one of my most
treasured possessions.
I mean without it
I'm on the outside.
-You don't get it, do you?
-I guess Hunter told you
about our little conversation
on Joe Baker, right?
-Look, I'm real busy.
-I've been thinking, maybe
you and Hunter are right.
I want to discuss
the case and get
the police department's
point of view.
Can you give me a little time?
Please.
-Metro, Molenski.
Oh, yeah.
OK, that's great.
Great.
I'll be right there.
OK.
Have a seat.
I'll be right back.
-Thanks.
-Joe what if they do find
your prints on that pipe,
what you did was right.
-Look, Danko,
fingerprints are fingerprints,
and no alibi is
going to erase that.
-That may very well
be but we've to build
public sympathy for you.
Look, we can appeal to the
court that you acted emotionally
to a dope dealer in
your neighborhood.
-What do you mean?
-Look, Lisa, you
don't know everything
there is to know
about Randy Ellis.
Considering that your
brother's freedom is on the line,
you can't say for sure
that Randy doesn't still
sell dope occasionally, can you?
-Why?
Randy was never selling
dope to anyone at anytime.
-Look, Lisa, just give
Joe the benefit of a doubt.
That's all.
-Are you asking me to lie?
-Honey we're talking
about your brother here.
You want to help
Joe out, don't you?
-Lisa, it's chance
to help me out.
Now after all, Randy
did sell dope once.
-Joe was just trying to
protect his neighborhood
and his family.
Now it's your turn.
You got to help Joe out, Lisa.
You could be a very
big part of this case.
Those cos and those
judges could get nuts with this.
We don't know what'll
happen with Joe.
Think about that,
will ya, honey?
-So you're sure about
all this now Lisa?
-Yes.
-Randy Ellis did use drugs
at school occasionally?
-Yes.
-And sometimes when
you were studying together,
he offered them to you, right?
-Yes.
-Now, the night that
Randy got beat up,
he was down on Jackson
Street to sell you drugs,
is that correct?
-Yes.
-So will you make
a formal statement?
-Of course she will.
-He's not talking to you.
-Now Lisa, a formal statement
is like testifying in court.
It's very important
that you tell the truth,
now you understand
that, don't you?
-What, are you
calling her a liar?
-No, sir, I'm just
trying to make
sure she understands
what she's in for.
You do follow me now, don't you?
-Yes, I'll make a statement.
-Good.
Come with me.
-You see Hunter, people
like us know more about what's
happening on the
street than you do.
-Get out of here!
-Let's go, Danko, come on.
-What did Randy
Ellis say when you
him that Joe Baker
might have beat him up.
-He didn't react.
He just clammed up.
-Yeah.
These kids are hiding sometimes.
Let's find out what it is.
-Lisa Baker made a formal
statement this morning, Randy.
She said you were
on Jackson Street
that day to sell her dope.
-She said that?
-Yes she did.
What do you think about that?
-I was on my way
home from the library.
I told officer Molenski about...
-I know what you told
officer Molenski, Randy.
You also said you didn't see
the people who attacked you.
-That's right.
That's what I said.
-You sure you didn't
recognize Joe Baker?
-Yes, I'm sure.
-Randy, if you
did, it's OK, but you
got to speak up and
speak up right now.
Stop protecting Lisa.
-Hey I'm not protecting Lisa.
-You don't seem to understand.
If you don't tell us
what's going on,
Randy, the men who beat you
up are gonna look like heroes.
-Mind if I sit down?
-Sure.
Go ahead.
-How you doing?
-Find.
-Lisa, I know how hard
this has all been of you.
How hard it was to do what
you had to do this morning.
-I just want everything
to be all right.
-I know you do.
But lying for Joe
isn't gonna solve it.
I believe you didn't
mean for this to happen.
But lying for him
only makes it worse.
It poisons
everything it touches.
It'll effect Joe's life, Randy's
life, and your life, Lisa.
Got to tell the truth.
-Randy and I helped each
other with our homework.
He was helping
me with art history.
Should see some of his drawings.
-I have seen.
Randy's art teacher
showed me this.
Took a lot of talent
to do that kind of work.
You're in love with
Randy, aren't you, Lisa?
-Yes.
You know how my brother is.
How my family is.
Randy is so good.
I was saving for him.
You could see it.
That afternoon he called me.
He wanted to come
over and meet my family.
I said no.
He called back, I
agreed to meet him.
Can you imagine
the looks he would've
gotten when he walked in?
The look I would've gotten?
-Randy saw his
attackers, didn't he?
-He saw them.
All of them.
He saw Joe.
He's just protecting
us by not saying
anything that would
hurt the family.
-Danko!
-What's your
problem now, Hunter?
-Got a warrant for your arrest?
-Oh yeah, what for?
-Obstruction of justice,
attempted murder.
-You're crazy.
-Really?
Molenski!
You had Lisa lie about Randy.
You couldn't keep your
mouth shut, could ya?
-You act so brave and tough.
But I think the
reason you beat up
Randy is because you're afraid.
Afraid of anyone that
is different than you.
-See Randy identified
you from a photograph
as the one who led
the attack against him.
-I don't have to take this crap.
-Hey, Molenski.
How are the street?
-You opened the forensics
file that was on my desk.
You stole the information and
gave it to Danko, didn't you?
-Hey, hold on.
What are you crazy?
-It doesn't bother
you that Randy
Ellis could've been killed.
That Lisa Baker had to lie
to keep her brother out of jail.
All you care about
is your byline.
-I printed what I believed in.
-You don't believe in anything.
You're an opportunist.
You just stir up the
pot, you don't give
a damn about the
truth or who gets hurt.
-Oh, is that so?
-Yeah, that's so.
I don't want to see you
face in metro anymore.
Your press privileges
have been suspended.
Relax, turn around.
-About time you cops
do your damn job!
-Shut up.
Molenski!
Take this guy.
Mark!
Come here.
Ring up these guys out of here.
And what's your problem?
-If you hadn't caught
that son of a bitch,
we would've killed him!
-That's not your business!
-When are you gonna
get these nigger dope
dealers off the streets?
-Come here.
-What?
-Would you settle and relax, OK?
Just calm down.
Stay put.
-Look what we got here.
-Really?
Businessman uh?
Get going.
-I was just minding
my own business
I don't know they getting it.
-Come on.
Come on!
Get over there.
-Have a seat there, Mr. Danko.
Relax a little bit.
Cool off.
Let me explain something to you.
In a community watch you
report all suspicious behavior
to the police department.
That's why they're called
the community watch,
instead of a
community lynch mob.
-Look, I'm block captain
of the Jackson Street watch
and we're sick and tired
of dirt like that trashing
the streets that
our kids play on.
You cops talked us
into forming the watch.
Now are you going to haul
us down here every time
that we try to help you out?
-Every time you break the
law I'm going to bring you in.
-Well what the
hell do you expect?
We call you guys
and maybe, maybe you
get around to
coming by next week.
You cops don't do squat.
If you can't keep those
drug pushing creeps off
of our streets then
by God, we will.
-Possession,
buying, selling, using.
Is there anything we
don't have on you, Fitch?
-What happened to my phone call?
-Your phone call is coming.
Narco's been watching
you the last six weeks.
We got a short novel here
on what you've been up to.
Nothing's going to change that.
-Yo, sis, you can't
hold me with this.
-Come on, Fitch, give it up!
You're a two-time
loser, this ain't
gonna go down good for you.
-Now wait a minute!
I get chased by a
pack of racist dogs
and I'm the one that needs
a hanky and a lawyer?
-You know the song,
sell crack, go to jail.
-I wasn't doing nothing.
-Come on, pal, we
had you staked out.
Six cops saw you make the sale.
-No, what they saw was a
bunch of white boys trying
to kill my black butt for being
in the wrong neighborhood.
In their neighborhood!
-Maybe the jury will buy that.
Of course there is the five
grand and the bag of crack
you had stuffed in
your back pocket!
Now you get your phone call.
-We had the guy
under surveillance
until you butted in, Danko.
-So what?
With our court system
that crack dealer
will be back on the
same corner in two hours.
-He's already got two
convictions on his sheet.
We can put away again.
If the jury doesn't buy how
a poor innocent black got
hammered out by
a group of vigilantes,
empowered by the
police department.
-Two convictions?
That's exactly what
I'm talking about.
Two convictions and he's
still out there selling dope!
-Will you give it a rest?
-Hey you don't know
how to do your job.
Don't blame me.
-Let me tell you something,
bad guys come in all colors,
don't you ever forget that.
Get out of here, your friends
are outside waiting for ya.
Go on, get out!
What you're looking at, Jerry?
-Fitch is calling his lawyer.
You get him squared away?
-Gonna take more than
talk to get him squared away.
-Sam, watch programs don't work.
They never have
and they never will.
Somewhere down the
a lynch mob develops.
-You might be right.
I hear the watch was ready
to beat the crap out of this guy
until the police stepped in.
-Yeah.
Can you imagine a watch
program for today's drug dealers?
Who were the arresting officers?
-Sergeant Hunter,
officer Molenski.
-Hunter?
-Yeah.
-Mr. Storm Trooper himself, huh?
-I didn't know you knew him.
-Yeah, sure.
So do half the city
officials in this town.
Molenski I ran into
a few years ago
at the 77th street division.
There's a good mix of
characters here, Sam.
-Why don't you take a run at it.
Go ahead.
-If the cops can't keep this
filth out of our neighborhood,
Mr. Danko continued, then
the law abiding taxpaying citizen
has every right
to protect himself
and his family in any
way that's left to him.
-I thought you have an
agreement with this guy Danko?
-Who wrote that?
-Who do you think wrote it?
Andy McBride, the
Dr. Sardonicus of the press.
-Andy McBride, I know him.
-Yeah, everybody
knows Andy McBride.
He's a pain in the butt.
I want you to personally
handle this matter now.
-It's not exactly a metro case.
-The watch program
is the chief's baby.
He went out on a limb
to guarantee a success.
Where the hell's my jacket?
Needless to say, something
like this could easily sink him.
All McBride needs is more
fuel from a creep like Danko.
- No, we'll get right on it.
- All right.
If you need more
officers, let me know.
-Yeah.
How well do you know McBride?
-Enough to give him
the other side of the story.
-Good.
Give it to him.
-What are you doing here?
-Read the newspapers,
want to talk to you about it.
-What's there to talk about?
I got a right to express myself.
If I rubbed you the wrong
way, it's not my problem.
-Now when did talk to McBride?
-Butt out, Hunter.
-Pretty high strung, aren't ya?
-You ever raise
any kids, sergeant?
-No I haven't.
-Yeah, well I got three of 'em.
And every day I send
them off to school
I got to worry
about what's gonna
happen to them on the streets.
Somebody's got to
take care of problem.
If not you, then us!
-Look it, we can't clean
up the streets over night.
I wish to God we could.
I know what I do
if it was up to me.
But some people might
interpret that as a blow
to personal rights.
-Yeah well I got rights too.
-Look, I know you do, but you
can't go running up and down
the street beating up on people.
That's not what
the watch is about.
-Look, I got the
right to bear arms
and I have to use them to
protect my property and family,
I will.
And if I have to talk
to reporters to let 'em
know how I feel then that
is exactly what I will do.
Community watch woke
us up, sergeant that we all
feel the same way about things.
We can take care of
our own neighborhood.
-Let me tell you
something, Danko.
You better be careful.
Go by the rules or you can turn
this neighborhood upside down.
-I got work to do, Sergeant.
-Hey, Danko, you
break the law and I'll
arrest like any other criminal.
Don't make me come back here.
-Andy McBride?
-Well, well, well,
Joanne Molenski.
-You remember.
-What are you kidding?
How could I forget?
Cold coffee, stale donuts,
blazing gunfire, long sleepless
nights watching you toss
felons into the paddy wagon.
-I read your article.
So did my captain.
-You mean the one
on Jackson Street?
-Yeah.
-Ah, and I thought
you were going
to stop by to
catch up on my life.
You know, why haven't
I won the Pulitzer yet?
Has some lucky lady landed me?
-No, I'm afraid not.
-And you're wondering
where I get off
making the cops look
like The Three Stooges?
-Yeah, that's right.
-I guess Hunter sent you, huh?
Tell me, how is the sergeant?
Still busting heads
and cracking cases?
-Still trying to do his
job, like the rest of us.
Now about that article.
-Listen, Molenski.
I'm not just going
after the cops,
I'm going after the
whole stinking system that
says that decent people have
to just stand by and do nothing
while a good neighborhood
just slowly sinks into the sunset.
-You're just stirring people up.
-I didn't make the
situation on Jackson Street.
-You're not helping the
situation on Jackson Street
either?
Jackson Street has
enough problems
already without you
adding wood to the fire.
That article was unfair to
the reality of the situation
and you know it.
-OK, so what is the reality
of the situation, Molenski?
-How many police
officers did you interview?
Not one.
You talked to a hot head?
That's irresponsible.
-Really?
I seem to remember a case
I covered a few years ago
in Griffith park, and I also
remember a young police officer
who came off looking
pretty good in those articles.
-That's not what
we're talking about.
-Those articles got
you noticed, Molenski.
There are people who
say that you might still
be at 77th street division if it
hadn't been for, uh, McBride.
-LAPD does not staff metro
from newspaper articles.
-All right.
So where do we go from here?
-You're an investigative
reporter, investigate.
Find out the truth, help us.
Help Jackson Street.
-Look Molenski, I'd like to.
But watch programs don't work.
They may have in World War II or
in some suburbs where there may
be some petty
thievery but that's it.
No, the police department
is trying to fool the public
into believing that they have
to cure for their own problem.
And that's irresponsible.
-Lisa.
Joe.
-In the kitchen, ma.
-Where's your sister?
-She's upstairs.
-You should of seen the
line at the grocery store.
Everybody in town wanted to
buy groceries at the same time.
-Did you get the tomatoes?
-They're right on top.
-You know I told you I'd
take care of the shopping.
-You got enough to do.
-I got it!
-I got it!
I said I got it.
-Don't eat up the phone, OK?
-Mind your own business.
-Look, all you do
is talk on the phone.
Make it quick.
-Hello?
Yeah, uh, it'll take
me about 10 minutes.
OK.
OK.
Bye.
See you later.
-Where do you
think you're going?
-Out.
-Don't be late for dinner!
-What are you so
upset about, Joe?
Lisa can take care of herself.
You're her brother,
not her father.
Let her live her
life, you live yours.
-Look I don't want her
out on the street, OK?
You know if dad
were alive, he wouldn't
want her out there either.
Now there's all those
dope dealers, muggings.
-What about your
community watch?
Isn't that doing some good?
-It's fine, ma.
Look, where does
she always go anyway?
-There's other
ways of protecting
your family than
fighting in the street.
You listen to the police, Joe.
-Look, I got to
run an errand, OK?
-You're as bad as your sister.
Don't be late for dinner.
-Hey Danko.
-Hey Joey, what's up?
-Oh, Lisa's what's up.
-What's the matter?
-Oh, I don't know, man.
I don't know what
she's doing anymore.
I don't know where she's going.
-Come on, she's just a kid, Joe.
Just, a kid.
That cop Hunter got
in my face again today.
-Hey Chuck, can I
get some change?
Why?
-I don't know, I guess he
got nothing better to do.
He only rides around all
day in that police car of his,
insulated from what's
happening on the outside.
He hasn't gotten any
kid being hit over the head
by these dope dealers.
-Thanks, Chuck.
What did you tell him?
-I told him I don't
know nothing.
-Be careful man.
-Why did you say that to me?
-I don't know.
Look, you want some smokes?
-Yeah.
Get Ray and Bob, now.
Now!
-You live in this
neighborhood boy?
-No I don't.
-Then where do you live?
-What's all this about?
-What this is about is
you're in the wrong place
at the wrong time, bud.
-Maybe you're here
to visit somebody, huh?
Somebody wants to buy
some dope or something?
-Hey look, man, I don't know
what you're talking about.
I...
-You take a message, nigger.
I don't want any
more of you dope
dealers anywhere
on Jackson Street.
Get him!
Come on!
-Come on, let's go.
-What do you have?
-Head injury.
-Any other injuries?
-Minor contusions.
-I want plasma, stat.
Open IV all the way.
Call x-ray.
Watch his head.
Get a hematic grid,
type and cross match.
-X-rays on the way.
-What's BP?
-80 over 50.
-Let's prep the area.
Give him more deep five LR.
I want 1% Xylocaine.
-Should I call OR?
-Have 'em stand by.
-You want O2?
-Yes, five liters.
Update BP?
-80 over 48.
-Hunter.
I heard the call
on the way home.
What's happening?
-Kid got beat up over
in Jackson Street.
-What's his condition?
-Took a hell of a
beating, doesn't
look good though right now.
-G Mary and J. I knew
this was going to happen.
Any witnesses?
-Well, we do have one woman
who saw the whole thing happen
from her fourth
story fire escape.
-Great, that means she
can't ID anyone, right?
-Where is he?
I want to see my boy.
Where is he?
Somebody please talk to me.
Please?
-Molenski.
Could you help
this lady out please?
-It's OK, officer.
-I want to see my boy.
-Are you Randy Ellis' mother?
-Yes!
Is he all right?
-I'm officer Joanne
Molenski, LAPD.
- Is he in there?
- Let's go over here and talk.
Calm down, relax.
-Please.
Ms, please tell me.
-They're doing
everything the can.
Have a seat right here.
-Two of these
incidents in two days.
The chief called me this
morning wanting an update.
I told him all was well
and you were on the case.
-Well I'm on the
case, all right,
but all is not well, Charlie.
Our witness didn't describe
anybody specifically,
but she did say Randy's
attackers were white.
-Don't tell me there
were five of them.
-Yep.
-We have got to pray to God
one of them wasn't Danko.
-Why do I feel his is?
-I thought you
talked to him again?
-Well I did talk to
him, but apparently he
didn't listen to me.
-Oh, no.
-What?
What's he doing here?
-I don't know.
-McBride!
-Wait a second, Hunter.
-What are you doing here?
-I'm doing my job.
Just like you, sergeant.
-My job doesn't include pumping
up an entire neighborhood.
-Relax, Hunter.
-I am a reporter.
I'm objective and I'm
here to get the facts.
-You don't need the facts.
You write whatever you want.
-Well you seem to have
a lot of trouble with facts.
-Let me just tell you something.
-All right, relax.
-I only write what's there.
-That's a lie.
-Yeah, as a matter of
fact that last piece you did
was a little one-sided,
wouldn't you say?
Decent hardworking
citizens protecting their home.
You make it sound like
there were murderers...
-Look I am not going
to be intimidated
by this police department.
-I'd like to hear the song
you're going to sing when
your editor gets a phone call
from Commander Burns, pally.
-Molenski, what did
Ms. Ellis have to say?
-Randy was supposed
to be meeting a girl
from his school
named Lisa Baker.
They were going to get
together for a tutoring session
at the library in
Sierra Heights.
-Now wait a minute,
what are you saying?
This kid may not
be a drug dealer?
He's an innocent student
on his way to the library?
-Tomorrow, bright and earlier,
you're at the Baker house,
you got it?
-Got it.
-I'm gonna go see a jerk.
-You stay away from Danko.
Tonight, anyway.
-Hi, how's it going?
-Good.
Sorry I don't have
time for breakfast
but how about dancing
Thursday night?
-Oh, heck.
Thursday nights I
have karate class.
-Friday then.
I mean I got a job, a
car, all my own teeth.
-Me too, small world.
-See we have so much in common.
So what's keeping us apart?
-I'm officer Joanne Molenski.
You know someone
named Lisa Baker?
-Yeah I know her,
she's my sister.
Look, she already
went to school.
What do you want
to talk to her about?
-I just want to ask
her some questions.
-Joe.
Oh, hi.
What's going on?
-Police officer, ma.
She wants to talk to Lisa.
Look I told her she
already went to school.
-Well is Lisa in
some sort of trouble?
-No, I just wanted to talk
to her about something
that happened yesterday evening.
-Oh, what was that?
-Mom.
Oh, hi.
Sorry, didn't know
I was interrupting.
-Look, I thought she
already went to school.
-I'm officer Joanne Molenski,
Los Angeles police department.
You know a young
man named Randy Ellis?
-Yeah.
-Randy was apparently jumped
by a group of men in a vacant lot
not far from here
yesterday afternoon.
He's in the hospital
in serious condition.
-Oh my God.
Randy's mom said he was on
his way to the library to meet you.
Is that true?
-Yeah, he was
tutoring me in art and I
was helping him
with chemistry class.
I was going to meet him
but he never showed up.
-Hunter.
Come here a second,
I need to talk to you.
This is detective
Ray Snyder, narco.
He's got something for us.
-Detective.
-Sergeant.
You think, with all the heat
on the Jackson Street area,
the homeboys would lay low.
But we zeroed in on
a crack house that's
been doing serious
business all summer.
We're talking nonstop
around the clock.
Place is run by a man
named David Allen Walker.
Early 30's, 6'2, brown
on brown, emerald ring.
A gold rolex you
could bench press.
Your average white trash
pusher. Showtime's midnight.
-Open up!
Police!
-Freeze!
Police!
-Don't shoot, man.
Don't shoot.
I want to make a deal.
-You ain't got nothing
to make a deal with.
-The black kid, over on
Jackson Street, the one that got
beat up.
-What about him?
-I know who hammered him.
-Surely there's no need for a
pair of handcuffs on the boy.
And Joe, I'll call Mr. Mills.
He'll know a lawyer, he'll
know what we should do.
He didn't do
anything, you'll find out.
-Don't worry, Mom.
It's going to be all right.
-Hey, Hunter.
-Oh, and I just had lunch.
-Well, hear you made an arrest
based on the word of a crack
dealer who would sell
his lungs if he had to.
-Walker was an eyewitness.
His story checks out.
-That's bull.
Let me tell you something.
-If I slammed the
stories your slamming,
I'd have been fired a long time.
-Listen, Joe Baker
works six days a week
to support his
mother and his sister.
He takes classes at night and
he still has time for that watch
program that's trying to
clean up his neighborhood.
-Too bad he listened to Danko.
-Well at least Danko
and Baker have
the guts to do the dirty work.
-Have you been drinking?
If you want to write
the story, the real story,
write our side of it.
You'll sell more papers.
-Yeah?
No, the story is police
manipulation and I know that.
-Joe Baker beat up a kid.
A good kid, a decent kid.
An honor student even.
Did you know he
has a full scholarship
to Cal Conservatory?
Yeah, he does.
Now take a nap, wake
up and write the truth.
-He's a good kid, huh?
-Hi.
Randy?
I'm officer Joanne
Molenski, LAPD.
How you feeling?
-Better, thanks.
-Good.
I met your mom the other night.
They brought you
into the hospital.
She's real nice, and
real worried about you.
-Yeah, my mom is the greatest.
-So what happened
the other day, Randy?
-I was on my home
from the library,
when five men jumped me
and chased me down the street.
-Five white men?
-Yeah, five white men.
-Did you see any of their faces?
-It all happened so fast, I
wasn't concentrating on much
except for getting out of there.
-I see.
Do you have any idea
why they attacked you?
-No.
-You live at 129
Green Street, right?
-Yes.
-What were you doing
over on Jackson Street?
-I was walking
home from the library.
-Well isn't Jackson
Street about a mile
out of the way
from where you live?
Randy, your mom said
you meeting Lisa baker
at the library to do homework.
-I think my mom
must've made a mistake.
-No, I don't think so.
She seemed real sure about it.
-No.
I went to study by myself.
-You do know Lisa Baker?
-Yes.
She's in a couple of my classes.
-But you weren't over on
Jackson Street to meet her?
-No.
I said no.
-You know Lisa
Baker lives about two
blocks from where
you were beaten up.
Do you know Joe Baker?
-That's Lisa's big brother.
-So you know Lisa pretty well?
-Like I said, we're in
a few classes together.
-We arrested Joe Baker
as one of the five men
who chased you and beat you up.
Something doesn't
make sense here, Randy.
What's going on?
-Randy, can I talk
to you for a second?
-Yes.
-This won't take a minute.
-So what's on you mind?
-Well, I just got a phone call.
Have a seat.
-What's with the phone call?
-That Jackson Street thing.
Got a call from Commander
Burns a little while ago.
-Sam, Joe Baker's
gonna beat this rap.
There is not a jury
in the world that's
going to convict this kid.
Forget about it.
-Now listen, Andy, are you
sure you're not using that story
to attack the police department?
-What the hell are
you talking about?
-Burns asked me
if this newspaper
is condoning vigilantism.
-That's ridiculous!
-That's not ridiculous.
Let me tell you
something, Andy McBride.
The way it sits
right now, it looks
like this newspaper is
condoning vigilantism.
And I'll tell you
something, we do not.
-That's, that's just great.
Everywhere I go,
somebody's trying
to pull me back every
time things get a little hot.
The truth is out there
on the streets, Sam.
But you don't want
to stir things up.
And that's too bad,
because that's what
a newspapers for,
to stir things up.
That's what sells.
-It's not just about
selling newspapers, Andy.
-Yes it is.
You brought me in here to
boost the circulation, something
this newspaper needs really bad.
Let me do my job, Sam.
-Andy.
OK, you're right.
We do want to sell newspapers
and we do need that story.
But, please, make
sure you're right.
-Sam, we've know each
other a long time, right?
A long time.
You got to trust me.
Got to trust me.
You also got to buy a new tie.
I mean, you don't even have
a newspaper for God's sakes.
-Andy, that information
you wanted from San Jose
just got in.
-Gloria, I love you.
-Randy Ellis, the alleged
victim was arrested
in San Jose in 1987 for
possession of marijuana.
Convicted in juvenile court,
he was sentenced to 40 hours
community service
and two years probation.
Why am I hearing about
this from Andy McBride?
-Ellis was 13 years of
age when that happened.
It doesn't mean he was down
on Jackson Street selling dope.
-Well our case against
Baker is severely damaged.
-Look, I know, I just didn't
think to check his background.
-Well Andy McBride
sure as hell did.
Now Baker's lawyer's
gonna stroll into court
and say, "here's my
stand up, white client just
trying to protect his neighbor
against a black drug dealer.
And all we got that
says anything different
is the word of
David Allen Walker,
a two-time time drug dealer.
Now get me some evidence.
-Forensics has already
gone over every square inch
of this place.
-Now, the woman who
saw Randy being beaten
said the men came out of here
and took off down the street.
I say we give the street the
once over and see what we find.
I say they made a right-hand
turn and ran up the street.
Come here for a minute.
What's that look like to you?
-Looks like a
stinking sewer to me.
-No, no, no.
The pipe.
-Oh, no.
-Yeah, come on,
I'll hold your jacket.
-Man, this is great stuff.
What does the lab say?
-Nothing yet, but
checking for prints
and the possible max
on Randy Ellis' blood type.
-Fabulous, fabulous.
So how soon will
we hear from the lab?
-Uh, within the hour.
-All right, great.
Let me know when
the lab comes through.
-OK.
-I'm going to commander
Clayton's office.
You come with me I want to
give you a complete update.
-Yeah, Molenski here.
Yeah, I think I can make
it in about two hours.
OK, got it.
-Officer.
-Don't you think you're pushing
that press pass a little far?
You got a lot of nerve
showing up here.
-This is one of my most
treasured possessions.
I mean without it
I'm on the outside.
-You don't get it, do you?
-I guess Hunter told you
about our little conversation
on Joe Baker, right?
-Look, I'm real busy.
-I've been thinking, maybe
you and Hunter are right.
I want to discuss
the case and get
the police department's
point of view.
Can you give me a little time?
Please.
-Metro, Molenski.
Oh, yeah.
OK, that's great.
Great.
I'll be right there.
OK.
Have a seat.
I'll be right back.
-Thanks.
-Joe what if they do find
your prints on that pipe,
what you did was right.
-Look, Danko,
fingerprints are fingerprints,
and no alibi is
going to erase that.
-That may very well
be but we've to build
public sympathy for you.
Look, we can appeal to the
court that you acted emotionally
to a dope dealer in
your neighborhood.
-What do you mean?
-Look, Lisa, you
don't know everything
there is to know
about Randy Ellis.
Considering that your
brother's freedom is on the line,
you can't say for sure
that Randy doesn't still
sell dope occasionally, can you?
-Why?
Randy was never selling
dope to anyone at anytime.
-Look, Lisa, just give
Joe the benefit of a doubt.
That's all.
-Are you asking me to lie?
-Honey we're talking
about your brother here.
You want to help
Joe out, don't you?
-Lisa, it's chance
to help me out.
Now after all, Randy
did sell dope once.
-Joe was just trying to
protect his neighborhood
and his family.
Now it's your turn.
You got to help Joe out, Lisa.
You could be a very
big part of this case.
Those cos and those
judges could get nuts with this.
We don't know what'll
happen with Joe.
Think about that,
will ya, honey?
-So you're sure about
all this now Lisa?
-Yes.
-Randy Ellis did use drugs
at school occasionally?
-Yes.
-And sometimes when
you were studying together,
he offered them to you, right?
-Yes.
-Now, the night that
Randy got beat up,
he was down on Jackson
Street to sell you drugs,
is that correct?
-Yes.
-So will you make
a formal statement?
-Of course she will.
-He's not talking to you.
-Now Lisa, a formal statement
is like testifying in court.
It's very important
that you tell the truth,
now you understand
that, don't you?
-What, are you
calling her a liar?
-No, sir, I'm just
trying to make
sure she understands
what she's in for.
You do follow me now, don't you?
-Yes, I'll make a statement.
-Good.
Come with me.
-You see Hunter, people
like us know more about what's
happening on the
street than you do.
-Get out of here!
-Let's go, Danko, come on.
-What did Randy
Ellis say when you
him that Joe Baker
might have beat him up.
-He didn't react.
He just clammed up.
-Yeah.
These kids are hiding sometimes.
Let's find out what it is.
-Lisa Baker made a formal
statement this morning, Randy.
She said you were
on Jackson Street
that day to sell her dope.
-She said that?
-Yes she did.
What do you think about that?
-I was on my way
home from the library.
I told officer Molenski about...
-I know what you told
officer Molenski, Randy.
You also said you didn't see
the people who attacked you.
-That's right.
That's what I said.
-You sure you didn't
recognize Joe Baker?
-Yes, I'm sure.
-Randy, if you
did, it's OK, but you
got to speak up and
speak up right now.
Stop protecting Lisa.
-Hey I'm not protecting Lisa.
-You don't seem to understand.
If you don't tell us
what's going on,
Randy, the men who beat you
up are gonna look like heroes.
-Mind if I sit down?
-Sure.
Go ahead.
-How you doing?
-Find.
-Lisa, I know how hard
this has all been of you.
How hard it was to do what
you had to do this morning.
-I just want everything
to be all right.
-I know you do.
But lying for Joe
isn't gonna solve it.
I believe you didn't
mean for this to happen.
But lying for him
only makes it worse.
It poisons
everything it touches.
It'll effect Joe's life, Randy's
life, and your life, Lisa.
Got to tell the truth.
-Randy and I helped each
other with our homework.
He was helping
me with art history.
Should see some of his drawings.
-I have seen.
Randy's art teacher
showed me this.
Took a lot of talent
to do that kind of work.
You're in love with
Randy, aren't you, Lisa?
-Yes.
You know how my brother is.
How my family is.
Randy is so good.
I was saving for him.
You could see it.
That afternoon he called me.
He wanted to come
over and meet my family.
I said no.
He called back, I
agreed to meet him.
Can you imagine
the looks he would've
gotten when he walked in?
The look I would've gotten?
-Randy saw his
attackers, didn't he?
-He saw them.
All of them.
He saw Joe.
He's just protecting
us by not saying
anything that would
hurt the family.
-Danko!
-What's your
problem now, Hunter?
-Got a warrant for your arrest?
-Oh yeah, what for?
-Obstruction of justice,
attempted murder.
-You're crazy.
-Really?
Molenski!
You had Lisa lie about Randy.
You couldn't keep your
mouth shut, could ya?
-You act so brave and tough.
But I think the
reason you beat up
Randy is because you're afraid.
Afraid of anyone that
is different than you.
-See Randy identified
you from a photograph
as the one who led
the attack against him.
-I don't have to take this crap.
-Hey, Molenski.
How are the street?
-You opened the forensics
file that was on my desk.
You stole the information and
gave it to Danko, didn't you?
-Hey, hold on.
What are you crazy?
-It doesn't bother
you that Randy
Ellis could've been killed.
That Lisa Baker had to lie
to keep her brother out of jail.
All you care about
is your byline.
-I printed what I believed in.
-You don't believe in anything.
You're an opportunist.
You just stir up the
pot, you don't give
a damn about the
truth or who gets hurt.
-Oh, is that so?
-Yeah, that's so.
I don't want to see you
face in metro anymore.
Your press privileges
have been suspended.