In Contempt (2018–…): Season 1, Episode 5 - Necessary Force - full transcript

Miss Sullivan,
you are in contempt.

She's disrespectful,
undisciplined.

- Holy shit.
- Let's see, there, right there.

Remember,
it's all about your client.

- He may look like a creep...
- He is a creep.

You need to drop the revulsion.
Touch on the shoulder,

something to telegraph
that you're not afraid.

Harder.

Never in my wildest dreams
would I imagine

that I'd feel good
about getting a rubber off.

Drinks on me.



Except you never
carry your wallet.

- I'm going to get my wallet.
- Thank you.

Step away from the vehicle.
Hands in the air, now!

I didn't do nothing, man,
I didn't do anything!

Get off of me! Ah!

[camera shutter clicking]

Oh my God! DateMatcher is like
the Wild West for black women.

You have no idea, like this guy.

He said he was looking
for his own personal Tar Baby.

- Ugh!
- That is so wrong, oh my God.

He likes women nice and black.

[music playing]

Where's my damn phone call?

Press down.
Get it nice and black.



- Oh, he's kind of cute.
- He has a good body too,

and he says he's working
on getting his black belt.

You don't know
what that means do you?

A black belt is when a white guy
finally bangs a black chick.

No!

Bend your knees
and open up for Jesus.

You can't do a strip search!
I'm a lawyer.

Yeah? Well, you mouthed off.
So you're my bitch now.

Okay, listen to this.
The darker the berry. Right?

Talented with their lips.
Kinky hair, kinky sex.

And this one is
my personal favorite.

I want to make you
my Nubian bitch.

Oh, I apologize on behalf
white people, oh my God!

You guys, I'm really worried
about Charlie, though.

I mean I know he never liked
to pay, but just ghosting us?

Oh please, he probably ran
into Sheila from Accounting.

He's buttering his biscuit
as we speak.

My cell, my rules.

No pissing on the floor,
no fighting, no complaining.

I don't know when you're going
to see judge and I don't care.

Make some room.

[music playing]

Two months in jail
for whooping my own child?

The DA's office
considers it child abuse.

But he stole my car
and crashed it.

He's nine years old.

He could have killed
somebody or got killed.

The problem is the video.

It doesn't look good
and it went viral.

Alright, what about Jason?

Child services already took him
and gave him to my sister-in-law

because my husband
is stationed overseas.

She and I, we don't get along,

so she's been arguing
against me seeing him.

So, if I took the plea,

would I get my son back
when I got out?

The prosecutor doesn't have
any control over that.

It's possible you could lose
custody of Jason for at least

two years, if your husband
can't come home, maybe three.

Okay, look.
You do have a defense.

- It's called justification.
- Gwen.

The law allows parents
to use force

to discipline their children
or safeguard their welfare.

- Yes, that's what I was doing.
- Except the force you use

has to be reasonable
and you broke Jason's arm.

I didn't break his arm!

He fell while he was trying
to get away from me.

Miss Lyons,
you used a doubled up belt.

I was trying to help my son.
Do you know, last year,

Jason's best friend Frankie,
he was playing tee-ball.

Come to find out, some of
the so-called volunteers,

they were still gang banging
and we didn't know this,

but Frankie,
he was being groomed

and he was killed a week
before his ninth birthday.

I'm just worried
about taking this to a jury.

You know, family services
already took my son

like I'm some kind of criminal.

I am not pleading guilty.
I didn't do nothing wrong.

What was that?

I asked you to help me
convince her to plea.

You pretty much talked
her out of it.

It didn't seem like pleading
was the best move.

I pulled Blackburn as a judge
and I'm up against Milltown.

She's playing that
"I'm cool and liberal" act

and meanwhile,
she goes hard on child cases.

Girl, you got this.

You know, you need a black jury.
Black people don't trip

about corporal punishment
like white folks.

We get an Upper East Side, take
a time out Mommy and Me panel,

and we are dead
before we even start.

Mmm.

Still want me to second chair?

Let's just sing
from the same hymnal.

Where is Bennett?

Shadowing prosecutors this week.

Ah! Traitor, screw him.
Moving on.

Hey, listen up!
Everyone listen up!

I need everyone in AR2 now.

Docket ending 875,
The People versus...

Charles Riggs. Step up.

What the hell happened?

Judge, Mr. Riggs was admiring
a classic car last night,

when he was mistaken
for a carjacking suspect

- and arrested.
- Is that right?

And what dumbass did that?

Your honor, the DA's office
moves to dismiss.

I should hope so.

Case dismissed, Mr. Riggs,
with apologies from the court.

I want you to take
a few days off. Alright?

Regroup.

[soft music playing]

Juror number 3, how do you
feel about corporal punishment?

I don't think it's necessary.
I use time outs.

Juror number 21,
were you spanked as a child?

Yeah. Kept me in line.

Juror number 3,
did you spank your children?

I was spanked, but no,
I don't spank mine.

Juror number 52, you said
you were not spanked as a child.

Would you spank
your own children?

Yes, I would.

The People challenge
number 52 and number 21.

Defense challenges number 3.

Juror number 36.
Have you seen the video

of the defendant
flogging her child?

- Your Honor, flogging, really?
- Overruled.

Yes, I've seen the video.
It's horrifying. Use your words.

Juror number 4,
did you spank your kids?

No, I did not.

I can't see putting
someone in jail

- for disciplining their kid.
- Thank you, juror number 10.

The defense moves
to excuse juror number 36.

Juror number 36,
if I instructed you

to be fair and to consider
all of the evidence,

- could you do that?
- Of course.

I will not excuse her for cause.

The People move to excuse
juror number 10 for cause.

Granted. Juror number 10
is thanked and excused.

- Blackburn's screwing us.
- Yeah.

Ladies and gentlemen,

you are the empanelled jury
on this case.

- Is this a bad jury?
- To be honest, I don't know.

[soft music playing]

- Okay, I got it.
- What, diabetes?

Blackburn. I found some
forum posts that she's written.

You think we could recuse her?
How do we know this is her?

Who else would use the name,
JudgeyMommy?

Those posts are really
anti-corporal punishment.

Oh, damn,
look who funds the site?

Plentiful Hope
Children's Foundation,

- her donation jar.
- Mm-hmm.

No, she'll never recuse herself

and then all we've done
is piss her off.

JudgeyMommy is already
pissed off. That's the problem.

Yeah, but at least
it's Blackburn,

her bias is obvious
on the record.

We recuse her, we could get
some stealth judge

who protects herself and then
we got nothing on appeal.

Recuse who?

Well, Tom, it is nice to know
that you are not circumcised.

Blackburn, she's got a lot of
anti-corporal punishment posts.

And negative, she holds grudges.
It'll have a domino effect.

She'll have it in
for everyone from our office.

- But, Tom...
- Absolutely, no recusal.

Damn.

It's fine, I didn't think
it was a good idea anyway.

♪ "Tears Away"
By Mehcad Brooks ♪

I've been in here for two days

and if I'm here any longer,
my job's going to fire me.

It's just a summons,
you'll be out of here shortly.

Docket ending 934,
The People versus Fabian Reyes.

- Step up.
- Okay.

- What do we got?
- Return on a warrant, Judge.

Desk appearance ticket,
unlicensed dog,

no vaccination certificate.

The defendant never
showed up for court.

The People offer
three days' community service.

Your Honor, he's already
been in here almost two days.

Well, when you don't come back
the first time,

you get the slow justice.

His friend said that he would
take care of the ticket.

Don't waste my time
with sob stories, counselor.

Just tell me he doesn't want
to take the plea.

Bail set at 500.

I don't have that kind of money.

Your Honor,
the dog wasn't even his.

He was walking it for a friend.

Post bail or plead guilty.
I got cases to move here.

Why should I plead guilty
to something I didn't even do?

Sounds like you're going
to post bail. Next case.

No wait, I'll lose my job!

[baby crying]

All children should be
removed from the courtroom.

If you have an upcoming case,
please come back after...

No, no, no, Jim, it's okay.

Truth be told,
sometimes it's nice

to have some kids
in the courtroom.

Forget what Tom said,
we've got to recuse her.

Wait, Gwen, no, wait!

Your Honor,
before you bring in the jury,

the defense respectfully moves
that you recuse yourself.

On what grounds?

You've made some remarks
regarding corporal punishment

that gives the defense
cause to believe you're biased.

"Spanking as
a disciplinary tactic

is barbaric
and completely ineffective.

Any individual who engages
in corporal punishment

should be prosecuted
to the full extent

of the law where appropriate."

I'm not recusing myself
because you stumbled

onto some posts
you suspect I wrote.

We're prepared
to subpoena the ISP.

Alright, approach.

This is off the record.

That you had the temerity

to investigate my out of court
opinions is one thing,

but that you would seek
to undermine and embarrass me,

- is another.
- Your Honor...

Miss Campbell,
I would think long and hard

before asking me
to recuse myself.

Yeah, thought about it.
We still want you to step down.

You want another judge?
Be my guest.

But, as I tell my grandkids,
actions have their consequences.

Back on the record.

Defense motion is granted.

Wow. That is a lot
of political capital

to spend on a roll of the dice
you'll probably lose.

What part of "I don't think
that's a good idea"

made you think I was down
with what you just did?

Shit, Tracy, I'm sorry,
but it worked, right?

That is not the point, Gwen.

You know you can get
the case recalled.

I can?

AB.

What?

Yeah, get over here.
What is it?

Your Honor.
I was wondering

if you would be willing
to recall Mr. Reyes' case.

The absconder with the pit bull?

No, we run a tight ship here,
kiddo.

You're going to have
to learn to toughen up.

You're going to give me
those puppy dog eyes all day?

Yeah, well, I can't see you.
You're invisible.

The sincerity is killing me.

Okay, fine.
Bring out the dog man.

Do you understand
the charge against you?

- How do you plead?
- Actually, your Honor,

I was hoping we could revisit
the issue with bail.

No one's doing a trial over
dog walking tickets, counselor.

He pleads guilty to a violation,
that's not a crime

and he pays a fine
and then he can go home.

- But, he didn't do it.
- I don't care.

You want to waste the court's
time with this stuff,

he can just post the bail.

The point is,
he can't pay the bail.

Look, I'm done with this
nonsense, forget about it.

Next case.

Hey. It's the last time I do
something nice for you, kiddo.

[phone buzzing]

All rise. The Honorable Judge
Martha Radcliff presiding.

You were saying something
about rolling the dice?

You got lucky.

Let's bring in the jury.

Oh my God, baby!
Are you okay?

Huh? Okay, are you bleeding?
You got broken bones?

What the hell were you thinking?
Why would you take my car?

You could have killed somebody
or your goddamn self!

What the hell do I gotta do
to get this through to you?

What the hell
is wrong with you, boy?

Huh? You mind
your goddamn business.

Get up! Get yo ass up!
Get up!

Dr. Montgomery,
as Jason Lyon's caseworker,

you examined him
after he was hit with a belt.

I'm handing you
what's been marked

as People's Exhibits
2 through 4,

an x-ray of Jason's broken arm
and photos of his injuries.

What was Jason's condition
after the incident?

You can see the red marks
and welts here,

and of course, the broken arm.

This incident was painful,

extremely humiliating
and traumatizing.

- Aren't you going to object?
- No.

It wasn't at all reasonable.

Objection, speculation and move
to strike the last statement,

improper opinion
and ultimate question.

- Overruled.
- Your Honor!

Overruled. Counselor.

- Nothing further.
- We'll resume after lunch.

- What's wrong?
- Honestly, I'm not sure.

Why didn't you object

to Montgomery's
testimony unreasonableness?

Because I thought
we'd look like idiots.

She's an expert
rendering an opinion.

Getting overruled just gave her
testimony more credibility.

But he was rendering a legal...

I don't have to agree
with you, Gwen.

Why do you have
such a problem with that?

- I don't, I...
- You seem to.

Look, forget it, just...
it's done, okay?

What we got to do now
is we need to show

that Donielle is a good mother
and not a monster

and we need to emphasize
the part of the statute

that says corporal punishment
is okay if you reasonably

believe it's necessary
to maintain discipline.

And so, the more misbehaving
your child is,

the more reasonable
the spanking is.

That is some misbehaving.
Look at the carnage he caused.

So, we have the photos to show
the punishment fit the crime

and that he needed
to be disciplined.

But, the pictures are so boring.

So, so, devious.

[rap song]

- Watch that.
- Right there.

- What's happening in life dawg?
- Life's happening, man.

- Life?
- Yeah. Whooo!

What was that?
Nothing, let's go, let's go!

Where you've been, home boy?
You're too good for us

and now you're working
for the man?

- What if that?
- I got it, baby!

- What?
- Good thing.

Check it out, let's go.
Let's go, come on.

You think you got skills. boy?
Oh, you're my bitch now.

- What the hell was that, fool?
- I ain't nobody's bitch.

I don't work for the man
and I don't work for the money.

Do my job because don't nobody
give a damn about black people!

Yo, we hear you, fam.

You taking it to another level,
man, it's just jokes, baby.

It ain't funny.

Ain't nothing funny about
being a black man in America.

Don't call me a bitch again.

Judge Lasker is a wonderful man,

but perhaps
he was a bit in tempered.

- Fear not, we'll make it right.
- Thank you so much, your Honor.

I'm sorry, Judge, we looked.
Guy's not in the back.

What? He was just arraigned
at the end of the last session.

I'm sorry, counselor.
I can't release him

if he's not physically
before me.

Isn't there some other way?

Can't you order Corrections
to let him go?

I can issue a cut and release,
but that could take day or two.

It wasn't even his dog, please.

If you can find him, bring him
to me and I'll let him out.

Let's go. I will not live in
a Kafka story another minute.

Dr. Montgomery, teachers are
mandatory reporters of abuse?

Correct.

Yet, in the five years
Jason has attended school,

none of his teachers ever
reported signs of abuse?

- That's correct.
- In fact, Jason's teachers

wrote very positive things
about Jason's mother,

- Miss Lyons, didn't they?
- They did.

So, Miss Lyons would appear
to be a good parent, right?

And if a good parent
reasonably believed

her child's welfare was at risk

or she needed to correct
a seriously misbehaving child,

she would act accordingly,
wouldn't she?

Hitting can't be
for a child's welfare.

Really?

Objection. What's all this?

Best evidence rule, your Honor.

Why look at photos
of the damage Jason caused

when you can have
the real thing?

I'll allow it.

Dr. Montgomery, this was once
a part of a sidewalk mailbox.

And this was
a side mirror on a car.

Jason hit both of these in turn,
here and here.

And here, he ran over
a child's tricycle.

What if a child
had been riding this?

Corporal punishment
in this context could be used

for the purpose of maintaining
discipline, couldn't it?

Or for promoting
the welfare of a child

for driving home
the point that what he did

was incredibly serious
and dangerous.

She didn't spank her son,
she beat him.

Not my question.
My question is whether

given the seriousness
of what her son did,

she could've reasonably believed
that the force she used

was for the purpose
of maintaining discipline

or promoting his welfare.

I suppose that's what she could
have thought she was doing.

Nothing further.

If your child ran into a mailbox
with your car,

- would you hit him?
- No.

If he sideswiped a car,

ran over a tricycle
smashing it flat,

- would you hit him then?
- I wouldn't.

There would be consequences.
I would talk to him.

You would talk to him.

And why would you talk
instead of hit?

Well, for one, studies
show corporal punishment

results in a decrease
in gray matter in the brain,

which inhibits
mental development.

It also leads to an increase
in aggression, delinquency,

- mental illness and drug abuse.
- Objection.

Your Honor, corporal punishment
is not on trial here.

- The law actually allows it.
- Sustained.

Is there anything
that could reasonably justify

the type of corporal punishment
Miss Lyons used?

- No.
- Thank you, Doctor.

I can't read this jury
right now.

I can. They're not with us.

People cannot just disappear
into the system.

We don't have him,
the courts have him.

I just tried the courts.
They said you had him.

I don't know
what to tell you, counselor.

He'll probably turn up,
they always do.

Unacceptable.

Hey, you can't go back there.

Mr. Reyes?

Fabian Reyes.

Fabian!

I lost my job.
I kept asking to call them,

but the cops wouldn't let me use
the phone until they fired me.

I'll call your boss
and explain the situation, okay?

Here's my card if you need me
to follow up with you.

You know those guys in the cell,

they said you'd never
come for me.

The more questions I asked,
the longer I'd be in there for,

they said the cops
would just disappear me.

So, thank you for finding me.

Donielle should have plead.
The jury hates her.

- A white jury maybe.
- I don't know.

Montgomery made
a pretty strong case

that it's never okay
to beat your kids,

- black or white.
- She didn't beat her kid.

- She disciplined him.
- Let's just be real, Gwen.

She didn't just give him a slap,
she beat him hard enough

with a belt that he tried
to get away and broke his arm.

I don't care what the law says,
you don't beat your kids.

- Period.
- Okay, wake up, Trace.

Donielle's husband is overseas.

She's basically a single mom
raising a black boy in the hood.

She spanked him
to keep him alive,

because if she didn't whip
some sense into him, he'd end up

in jail or in a body bag
and that is being real.

I get that. I do,
but hitting your kids,

it teaches fear, not obedience.
It is worse in the long run.

Well white people have
the luxury of thinking

- about the long run.
- Don't throw white privilege.

- I get it. I just disagree.
- Because you never lived

in the hood and don't know
what it means...

You have no idea
what I know or don't know, Gwen.

Tracy, what is going on
with you? Hey!

- Are you okay?
- I'm fine. I'm just frustrated.

- With me?
- With the case.

Okay, well look,

all I'm saying is that
the black jurors are an asset.

We just have to remind them
of the psychology

of raising black boys
and Donielle's state of mind

and then they can teach
the white jurors.

- It's really our only move.
- Well, you're right about that.

So, you should
do Donielle's direct.

Black defendant, black lawyer,
talking to black jurors.

- Okay.
- Okay.

My bad about earlier, man,
I was bugging.

Nah, the cops
got into your head.

You got me jacked up
for a minute, though.

You still got that same temper
you had when we were shorties.

- Hell, yes.
- Hell.

They ain't putting no respect
on a black president's name.

- I don't know how I got a shot.
- Yeah.

Same shit, different brother,
we all been there.

Kissing pavement, handcuff,
pig car, the whole nine.

Just cause what, we brown
and they got power?

I don't know, man. Sometimes,
shit just gets exhausting.

- Yo, you know what I need?
- A slice.

Dang, Nico's is about to close.
We got about eight minutes.

Last one in the door pays!

Oh, yeah, you're buying.

Miss Lyons, why didn't you use
other disciplinary methods

with Jason?
Warn him. Do timeouts.

Because that don't work.
Not in my situation.

Can you tell the court
what you mean by "my situation"?

I mean the high school
that my son is going to

in a few years, there's
about 100 security cameras,

police officers in the hallways.

You don't get detention,
you get arrested.

- But Jason's only 9 years old.
- My son, he is a good kid.

He gets good grades,
but he wants to be cool.

His dad is stationed overseas.
He can't be here to role model,

so Jason sees the other kids
on the corner.

He wants to be just like them,
a thug.

- Where is your neighborhood?
- 187th and Overlook.

Would it surprise you to hear
that just since 2003,

there have been 97 murders

and 14,654 major
felony offenses in that area?

No. You know, some kids

go to birthday parties
and sleepovers.

Our neighborhood,
we go to kids' funerals.

And my son
is a black boy in America

born with two strikes
against him.

He can't make the same mistakes
as white boys make.

Your Honor, may we approach?

The defense is trying to argue
some kind of cultural defense.

They're saying that the danger
to boys in certain

black communities is higher
than in white communities.

Because it is.

And therefore, black parents
are somehow entitled to use

greater force against their
children than white parents?

I don't think so.
There can't be separate rules

for black people
and white people.

Your Honor, we're not arguing
for a racial exemption here.

But, you're implying one.

Counselor, you can't argue
a cultural defense here.

You are to stick
to justification.

But there's a cultural angle
to justification.

We can't argue one
without the other in this case.

It's dangerous to argue
that black boys require

more severe discipline
to be kept in line.

- That's not what we're saying.
- We're saying black boys have

particular perils facing them
that justify their parents

using particular force
with them.

Well, that's not
what white folks hear.

They hear that black boys
need to be beaten.

- I don't think that's...
- I think that the jury

is capable of making
the distinction, your Honor.

Well, I don't.

So, if I catch even
a whiff of a cultural defense,

I'm declaring a mistrial
and you can be damn sure

that the retrial will be
in front of Judge Blackburn.

Now, step back.

I guess the black judge
isn't turning out to be

quite the soul sister
you thought she'd be.

Have several seats, Milltown.

It's like I wasn't
even standing there.

- What are you talking about?
- You interrupted me.

- You talked over me.
- What is wrong with you?

- This is my case.
- It's our case.

- No, I asked you for help.
- Oh, so now I'm the help.

Don't twist my words.

See, this is what you do,
you take over.

You did that with the plea,
you did it with the recusal,

you did it with the expert
and now with the judge.

God, you think you know
better than anyone else.

Girl, I take over,
that's what I do.

Since when does it
make you so mad?

You think you got it
all together, Gwen,

but you're just a hot mess.

I've been bailing your ass out
for a long time.

This is the third month
in a row I've had to pay

- your share of electric bill.
- I will pay the electric bill.

It's not about
the electric bill, Gwen.

I have never seen
your fuse this short.

Do you want to tell me what
the hell is going on with you?

No, not really, no.

Ah!

Let's just say this case

is bringing a lot of stuff
up for me, okay?

My dad, he used to beat
our collective asses

and I do mean beat.

I still got
the scars to prove it

and when I look at Donielle,
I just see my own childhood.

- Sorry.
- Oh, my God.

Why didn't you tell me?
No wonder you're such a mess.

Ah.

So crazy because I look
at Donielle

and I think maybe if my father
had whooped David more,

he wouldn't be in prison.

Your daddy
never whooped you guys?

Never once.
Remember that mom in Baltimore

who found her son in the riots
and whooped his ass?

- Yeah.
- When I saw that, I thought,

man, that kid is lucky
to have a mom who gives a shit.

God. It made me cringe

and not just
because it gave me flashbacks,

it was the way some white people
just seem to love her

just smacking her kid
upside the head.

- Really?
- Yeah.

I mean, you should have seen
my Facebook page.

There was like this...
this glee.

Wait.

What if we use white people's
racism against them?

Oh, we're back on the case?

I thought we were having
a girlfriend moment.

No, seriously, seriously.

Radcliff thinks we're leaning
into white people's perception

of black boys as being like...

- A threat?
- Yeah,

the frightening shadow
in the dark.

So, we play the race card,
but we play the white race card.

Oh, that's good. That's good.

- So, are we good?
- Yeah.

You get on my freaking
nerves sometimes, girl,

- but oh my lord. I love you.
- I love you too, Trace.

Donielle Lyons knows her son
Jason better than anyone.

She knows when he's advanced
his reading level,

even before his teacher.
She knows that he needs

twice as much physical activity
as most kids

and what she needs to do to make
sure he learns good behavior.

Back when I was a little girl
in North Carolina,

the mamas used to hang over
the fences and gossip

about each other.

Who made peanut
butter sandwiches

and who just slathered bread
with pork fat?

Who kept their kids in line
and who let their kids run wild?

They would even predict
the future success of your child

based on your skills
as a mother.

Today, we do the same thing,
only now it's over Twitter.

If Jason grew up to steal cars,

you would say Donielle
should've been a better mother.

She didn't discipline enough.

Well, I say you can't have
it both ways.

Would you rather have Donielle
whoop her son

like I know half of you
have done to your kids

or would you rather
have him become a thug?

Because you can't prosecute her

and then complain
when he steals your car.

Let's be clear.

A swat on the butt with a hand,
that's a spanking,

but what Donielle Lyons did
was beat his backside repeatedly

with a leather belt.
He cried for her to stop.

She left raised welts
on his skin. He's nine.

Donielle inflicted bodily injury
on a child.

She hit him so hard

that when he tried to run away,
he fell and broke his arm.

Now, the defense
would have you think

that this is routine discipline
to thwart future infractions.

I want you to see it
for what it is: child abuse.

And you need to hold Donielle
accountable for that.

[soft music playing]

Why the long face, Bambi?
I heard you went

all the way into the jail
to find your lost client.

He was in jail for two days
for a dog walking ticket,

I mean, how does
that even happen?

Oh come on, your cherry
must be popped by now.

Why don't you quit acting
like a virgin in a whore house.

Why are you so mean?

Go grab us a couple
more martinis.

You know I don't work
for you, right?

Judge Sullivan.
Congratulations.

Well, thank you. Have you, um...
Have you seen my Gwen?

She's not coming, is she?

You know she avoids me
when she's angry at me

or when she's behind
in her bills.

So, how are you girls doing
with your bills?

Good, good.

Mm-hmm.

- You don't know who I am.
- Should I?

I'm Audrey Dotson.

Oh. Judge Dotson's wife.
Pleasure.

- You're not the first you know.
- Beg your pardon?

I know you're sleeping
with my husband.

- I'm sorry, I...
- Don't bother.

You're not the first
and you won't be the last,

so you go have your fun,
but know this.

He always comes home.

And frankly, he's done better.

In the matter of the People
versus Donielle Lyons,

on the charge of assault
in the second degree,

we the jury find
the defendant...

guilty.

Donielle, we are so sorry.

Thank you. Thank you.

I have my quarrels
with hitting your kid,

but 18 months of state
and losing custody.

As if he's better off
without his mother.

Jesus.

Let me see if I understand.
You recuse Blackburn,

even though I explicitly
told you not to and you lost?

Take your vacation days,
all of them.

But Tom, she was not going
to give us...

Every part of me wants
to suspend you right now,

so don't push it.
I don't want to see your face

until those days
have zeroed out.

- Am I making myself clear?
- Yes.

- I hate losing.
- Yeah, me too.

[music playing]

[shots fired]

So, what happened?
L or W?

We lost.

- Okay, so are we doing this?
- Yeah.

[knock]

[soft music playing]

[knocking on door]

Finally.
I was worried about you.

Ah.

You and Tracy lose?

Yeah, they hauled
our client off in cuffs.

I'm glad you came over.

You alright?

- Charles Theodore Riggs.
- I'm alright.

You are far from alright.

I hate them all.

Every last one of them cops
is a piece of shit.

You should have seen
the way they looked at me.

Like I was garbage.

Our clients get pulled up
on all the time by the cops.

Stopped, frisked, searched
on the way to work.

Kid sitting
on the curb handcuffed

because he was wearing
a hoodie on the way

to the bodega to get some milk
for his mom.

We see it every day.

Which I don't know
how I could possibly think

that it wouldn't happen
to me now.

You know, if I paid my taxes,
if I got a law degree.

If I wore a suit.

Somehow, stupidly,
I got comfortable.

Thought I was inoculated
and boom, they got me.

No escaping it either.

If you're a black man,
it's only a matter of time

before the police...
emasculate you.

You know, I thought I was...
that I had broken free.

I thought
when they looked at me,

they could see m...

could see me.

Not just another nigga.

Charlie.

I see you.

♪ "The Hole"
By The Soul of John Black ♪

Next time, on "In Contempt"...

Still coming
to the wedding shower, right?

Of course.
I'm bringing Charlie.

- Charlie from the office?
- Yeah, we're friends.

What's up with you
not opening your mail?

Monthly bills.

To maintain my self-esteem,
I open ones I can't pay last.

Ah, live like a superstar
on a reality star's budget.

I'm cheating on her with you.

Well, if you're so worried
about it, stop cheating.

Just cause I'm new does not mean
you can take advantage of me.

Don't mistake my generosity
for weakness.

What's the one thing Bennett
would save in a fire?

- His manuscripts.
- Gwen got it.

You are the queen
of bad choices.