In Contempt (2018–…): Season 1, Episode 7 - Stop and Frisk - full transcript
Still fiery from his own run-in with racial profiling, Charlie and Vanessa try a stop and frisk case. Bennett takes Gwen on a get away to determine the next steps in their relationship.
Get off of me!
- Favorite comfort food?
- My dairy-free Mac and Cheese.
- Chicken and waffles.
- Yes!
- Chicken and waffles!
- Damn, girl, you'’re killing it!
How does she not
know those things?
And why not me, Bennet?
I'’m cheating on her with you.
Well, if you'’re so worried
about it, stop cheating.
Some things can'’t be fixed.
Just learn to deal and move on.
You guys keep saying this,
but it'’s not getting any better.
It'’s getting worse.
You had sex with him.
At the man'’s wedding shower?
♪ I thought we were over ♪
I know I'’m not innocent in this.
I turned a blind eye when
everything in me told me
that there was a connection
between the two of you.
Alison, I'’m so sorry.
I didn'’t mean to hurt you.
Really, Gwen?
When you screwed my fiancée
at my wedding shower
in my house, in my bathroom...
- This is on me!
- It'’s on both of you!
But life doesn'’t allow us to go
back and undo what happened.
It allows us to do better
moving forward.
I don'’t understand,
why are we here?
I want you,
but I'’m not willing to share.
If you want me, it'’s all in.
No looking back.
Can you look me in my eye right
now and promise that to me?
The answer is no.
There'’s obviously unfinished
business between the two of you.
I want you to finish it.
Maybe it'’s my connection
with Buddhism,
that life is permeated
with suffering caused by desire.
And that suffering ceases
when desire ceases.
Or I'’m just completely
masochistic.
Either way,
I'’m giving you 30 days.
- Thirty days for what?
- To resolve, finish,
or confirm whatever this is.
- What'’s the catch?
- No catch.
If you want to be with her,
then so be it.
But if you come back to me,
you'’re with me.
- No more bullshit. Fair?
- This whole thing seems weird...
Gwen, if I were you, I would
just shut up and say thank you.
Do we all understand each other?
You might want to come by
the house and grab a few things.
I don'’t want to see or hear
from you until you decide.
And don'’t worry.
I get 30 days too.
Is she even human?
What the hell just happened?
Alison!
♪ Your wild affection
Sweet Deception ♪
♪ Taking over me ♪
♪ You know you'’ll find a way
To get me back ♪
♪ Give it time ♪
He went back
to the stick figure?
I don'’t know.
He just left me sitting there
and got up and ran after her,
which I get, I guess.
The whole thing
was just so messed up.
Alison was Stepford Wife-calm.
If it were me, there would be
a lot more hair pulling.
We'’d definitely knuckle up.
[phone ringing]
My creditor'’s calling you too?
- No, just Dodson.
- What does he want now?
Sex on top of the
Empire State Building?
- He left his wife.
- He what? For you?
That shocked reaction
is less than flattering.
No, I mean... it'’s great news.
Right?
I don'’t know.
Him trying to make things easier
just made things
far more complicated.
Girl, only you can think that
a man wanting to be with you,
no strings attached,
was complicated.
I know that it sounds horrible,
but him being married
was part of the thrill.
Without the secret sex in his
office and sneaking around,
- what'’s the point?
- Um, emotional connection.
You should, you know,
give it a try.
- Are you not going to work?
- No.
I'’m still under Tom'’s
forced vacation.
So, the walls will be washed
and the grout will be cleaned
when I get home?
If you hire a housekeeper.
My name ain'’t Florence.
- OK, Wheezy.
- Bye.
I was on my way to work.
A cop car pulls up.
Punk-ass cop asks me for my ID
and what I was doing.
I was late and I knew
the stop was bullshit.
So I told him I wasn'’t going
to allow him to search me.
- So, what happened?
- Let me guess.
Your face ended
up against a brick wall.
Hood of a car.
Cop called me a nigga,
said that he was gonna
crack my skull open.
Did he tell you
why he stopped you?
He said he saw a bulge
in my pocket.
- Smokes?
- Cell.
Well, I talked to the prosecutor
and, since you don'’t have
a criminal record,
they'’re offering to drop
the obstruction
and resisting arrest charges
and give you time served,
if you plead guilty
to disorderly conduct.
It'’s a violation, not a crime.
It'’s like pleading guilty
to a parking ticket.
Oh, hell no. No, no.
I ain'’t copping out.
Well, since it'’s a misdemeanor,
you don'’t get a jury.
It'’s a judge trial.
And, to win, we have to prove
that the arrest was illegal,
which means we have to prove
that it was done
without what'’s called...
Reasonable suspicion. I know.
I'’ve been stopped like 40 times
in the past 11 years.
- Excuse me?
- The first time I was stopped,
I was ten years old.
In the past six months,
probably 12.
- Three times by this same cop.
- The hell with that.
- No plea.
- But...
But here'’s what
you need to know.
It'’s not a slam dunk, OK?
The officer'’s going to lie
about why he stopped you.
It'’s going to be your word
against his.
I'’m tired of this shit.
Tired of bending over cop cars
and kissing the pavement.
I'’ve got to fight this.
'‘Cause if I don'’t
fight it in here,
I'’m gonna keep fighting it
out there,
- and I'’ll probably end up dead.
- Then let'’s take it to '‘em.
Did you know that
between 2002 and 2015,
over five million people were
stopped and frisked in NY City,
and 86% of all stops-and-frisks
were done
without reasonable suspicion?
In a city that is 66% minority,
81% of all stops-and-frisks
are of black and brown people.
I didn'’t know it, but I knew it.
From personal experience.
- You mean your arrest?
- Yeah.
Don'’t tell me you'’ve never been
stopped in a department store.
Never had a white person ask
"“may I help you?" ” in that tone
where you know they don'’t
really want to help you?
Actually, no. I mean...
I know it happens.
I'’m not saying it doesn'’t.
- Followed in department store?
- Well...
There it is.
After Oprah got stopped in Paris
I started to wonder.
I mean... if it happens
to Oprah, right?
So I noticed this guy
following me at the mall,
but it was only
that one time, though.
Trust me.
You got followed 100 times.
- You just didn'’t notice it.
- The thing is, I don'’t know
that he was following me
because I'’m black.
He wasn'’t following Suzie Q,
you can believe that.
And, if you had confronted him,
he would have made some
bullshit excuse that sounded
plausible on its face.
Which is what the cop
will do here.
It'’s called tester-lying.
The cop who stopped Marcus
will lie about the basis
for the stop.
It'’s standard cop procedure.
DA'’s condone it.
Judges don'’t question it.
So, how do we prove
that he'’s lying?
- You mean, how do you prove it?
- Wait, what?
You'’re going to cross-examine
the cop, rookie.
- Oh, my Gosh.
- Don'’t panic. Focus.
Now, how would we prove
that he'’s full of shit?
Well, I read that
the Bronx Defenders
and the Center for
Constitutional Rights
took the City to Federal Court
over their stop-and-frisk policy
- and won a consent decree.
- Uh-huh.
Now, all the cops
have to fill out a form
stating their reasons every time
they stop-and-frisk someone.
And you want to see
all this cop'’s forms
and see if all of this stops
are bogus.
That'’s a great idea.
Except, when you subpoena
the police department,
they'’re going to move
to quash it. Do you know why?
The prosecution will argue
that the forms related
to the cop'’s previous stops
aren'’t relevant to evaluating
reasonable suspicion
in this particular case.
Look who'’s been
paying attention!
So, what do we do?
Get that cop
to make it relevant.
♪ Two peas in a pod
Something was missing ♪
♪ So good on paper
We weren't listening ♪
♪ To the sound of our hearts
Thumping in sync ♪
♪ We were yelling so loud
But heard nothing... ♪
Aaaaargh!
Tracy, take your key with you
next time you go running!
God!
Oh, my God! Hi!
- I wasn'’t expecting company.
- Can I come in?
It'’s a nice place.
Yeah, well, Architectural Digest
wanted to photograph it,
but I told them "“nah" ”.
Gwen, I want to apologize
for yesterday...
Bennet, you don'’t owe me
an apology. I made a mistake.
You are not my man and...
someone was bound to get hurt.
That someone was me.
But that'’s what I get.
'‘Cause I know better
than to play with fire.
- How spontaneous are you?
- What?
I have a car waiting for us
downstairs.
Pack a bag. That 30 days...
it starts now.
Okay, give me...
Give me ten minutes.
♪ To the sound of our hearts
Thumping in sync ♪
♪ We were yelling so loud
But heard nothing... ♪
I observed the defendant
in a high-crime neighborhood
with a bulge in his
waistband area,
that I suspected was a weapon.
We followed him for
a short distance,
at which time he engaged
in furtive behavior.
- What did you do?
- I got out, I asked the suspect
to take his hands
out of his jacket pockets
and to show me some ID.
He immediately became
verbally combative with me.
- How so?
- He refused to be searched.
I informed him that, if he
continue to be uncooperative,
that I was going to
have to arrest him.
He continued to refuse
so I placed him in custody.
No further questions.
So, you say you had
several reasons
you decided to
follow Mr. Dumay?
- Don'’t ask him. Tell him.
- Yeah, like I said: bulge,
neighborhood, furtive gestures,
trifective suspiciousness.
- But the first thing...
- Was the bulge.
- Could'’ve been a gun...
- Um, is she new?
- It'’s okay. Re-focus.
- Officer, you stated
that the defendant
acted suspiciously, right?
- Objection!
- Sustained.
When you stopped him you said
he didn'’t want to be searched.
- Objection!
- Sustained.
Seriously, Noreen?
Officer, can you please re-state
what the defendant'’s furtive
movements were exactly?
When he saw that we were
following him,
he changed direction, kept
looking over his shoulder at us.
He looked at you.
That sounds so suspicious!
Now you can object.
Okay, let'’s quite the game,
counselors.
The bulge in Mr. Dumay'’s jeans
turned out to be a cell phone,
- right?
- Yeah, but...
And there are lots of reasons
why a person
walking down the street,
carrying a cell phone,
might turn in another direction
when they see you coming.
- Correct?
- Legitimate reasons, no.
How about, they don'’t like cops?
Or their cousin was beat up
by a cop?
Or how about:
it'’s their God-given right
to walk in whichever direction
they damn well choose?
Counselor, I'’ve got
10 years in the force.
And, let me tell you.
Usually, when someone'’s
avoiding the police,
they'’re doing something wrong.
So when you stop someone
it'’s always justified, right?
- Yes.
- Because you would never
illegally stop someone on a whim
or because they just looked
- fishy, would you?
- Never.
Judge, this officer suggests
his stops are always justified
and that he never illegally
stops someone.
The subpoena for the
UF-250 forms
allows us to evaluate
the credibility of that answer.
Grant Gathers, counsel for the
New York City Police Department.
Your Honor,
this subpoena is overly broad,
cumbersome to respond to,
and requests material
that is irrelevant
to the matter at hand today.
How is it irrelevant?
Because the other stops
the office made are not relevant
as to whether he had reasonable
suspicion in this stop.
Of course they are!
Let'’s say he stops 100 people
and all forms for those stops
appear to give valid reasons
for those stops, but maybe
one or two of those people
actually have contraband.
Then, arguably, he'’s lying
when he fills out those forms,
and thus lying here.
And, if he stops more people
than his fellow officers,
then we'’ll know that he thinks
that every person he sees
in a high-crime neighborhood
is a criminal
in need of a good frisk.
Atta girl, Miss Hastings!
Nice to see a rookie
gain her footing.
Your Honor, this is the worst
kind of fishing expedition.
I tend to agree with
the fishing expedition part.
This police department
is turning communities of color
in this city
into Civil Rights-free zones.
By way of example,
in Brownsville, Brooklyn in 2009
93 out of every 100 residents
were stopped by the NYPD.
And that'’s why the Bronx
defenders won their lawsuit,
and that'’s why these officers
have to fill out this form.
It'’s also why a federal monitor
is dealing with this issue.
I'’ll take the defense'’s request
for a subpoena under advisement.
- Your Honor!
- No, no!
Mr. Riggs,
don'’t press your luck.
♪ I would sleep out in the
rain, Give up everything ♪
♪ Just to be with you... ♪
- What is this place?
- A wellness retreat center.
- With activity periods?
- Come on! It could be fun.
It'’s like a cross between
a spa and a summer camp.
You know being around
white folks and robes
makes me nervous, right?
Well, when they'’re sipping
herbal tea,
it probably reduces
their threat level.
Yeah, but no one here is
wearing any regular clothes.
It'’s not a nudist colony, is it?
In our suite, maybe.
I thought we had a rule,
Richard.
No public meetings.
Thank you.
Well, I left Audrey,
and this is far enough away
from the courthouse.
Except we can'’t
have sex here, honey.
Unless you have a thing
for public bathrooms
that I don'’t know about.
I thought it would be nice
if we shared a meal.
Where we just talked, actually
got to know each other a little.
A glass of Chardonnay.
Thanks.
Okay. What do you
want to know?
Well, I know you grew up
in North Carolina.
So, tell me about your family.
- Two brothers, one sister.
- Uh-huh.
And were you all close,
growing up?
- We got along fine.
- Define "“fine" ”.
My brothers and I
were like peas in a pod,
and my sister and I,
we just always fought.
- Was she jealous of you?
- I don'’t know, actually.
She just...
never really liked me.
- That must have been hard.
- Your turn!
I grew up in New Jersey.
My father was a lawyer.
I wanted to be a painter,
but then I met Audrey,
and she got pregnant.
You know you'’ve never asked me
about Audrey?
You never asked
why the marriage wasn'’t working.
Because I don'’t really
want to know, sugar.
Okay. Why wasn'’t your
marriage working?
- Thank you.
- Well,
I don'’t think I was
ever really in love with her.
I think we reached a point
where marriage
was the next right step.
Also, you never asked me
why I didn'’t leave her.
I just figured
you didn'’t have the balls.
- Well, okay. What about you?
- What about me what?
Why are you sleeping
with married men?
- Men?
- I assume I'’m not the first.
Which begs the question,
doesn'’t it:
What are you avoiding?
You know what, sugar?
I forgot that I have cases
going on in Part F
this afternoon.
I booked a hotel room
for us tonight.
Yeah? Is it going to be
20 questions again?
Or can we just screw?
- We can just screw.
- Good.
I'’ll see you tonight, then.
I was on my way to class
at Manhattan Community College.
Cops rolled up on me.
That one asked for my ID
and what I was doing.
I told him I knew my rights and
I ain'’t consenting to no search.
He threw me on top of his car,
searched me anyway,
cussed me out,
called me a nigga.
Did you explain why you didn'’t
cooperate with Officer Porter?
I was just tired
of being stopped.
It'’s always the same:
I got a bulge in my waistband,
my jacket pocket, in my pants,
or I "“fit the description" ”.
You know, that'’s a favorite one
of theirs.
Except they never tell you
what the description is.
How has constantly being stopped
by police affected your life?
Objection, Your Honor!
Relevance.
It goes to show Mr. Dumay'’s
state of mind, Your Honor.
To be convicted of obstructing
governmental administration,
he has to have intended
to interfere with the officer'’s
lawful duties.
If he only intended
to assert his rights
during an unlawful stop,
that intent did not exist.
- Overruled.
- I'’ve gotten five cell phones
broken by being slammed
against walls,
I got a scar on my left cheek
from being thrown to the ground.
- Anything else?
- My time.
I gotta build
an extra 30-45 minutes
just to get where I'’m going,
just in case I get stopped.
And that'’s not even enough time.
Last time I was stopped,
I was late for a job interview
and I didn'’t get hired.
It just messes with you.
All I want is to be able
to walk down the street in peace
in my neighborhood, in my city.
Thank you, Mr. Dumay.
Mr. Dumay, you said you did not
cooperate because you were tired
of being stopped,
- is that correct?
- Yes.
- So you were angry.
- Yes.
You didn'’t want the officer
to search you.
I wanted to be treated
with respect.
If he treated you with respect
you would have cooperated?
Maybe, I don't know.
Your Honor, being tired
of being stopped isn'’t a defense
to obstructing governmental
administration.
It is if the stop was unlawful.
Which is why, again, we need
a ruling on the subpoena.
You'’ll have my decision soon,
Mr. Riggs.
Why is he putting us off?
He wants to give it to us.
But he knows if he does,
he'’ll have the Chief Judge
banging on his door.
The Chief of Police
was already banging on hers.
- Which way he'’s gonna go?
- Honestly, I have no idea.
I mean,
look at these activities!
"“Mineral forging
for mindfulness,
quantum consciousness..."”
Okay, wait.
"“Floating meditation.
Watch stress, tension and worry
dissipate
as you flow weightlessly
in our silk hammocks
and experience the serene
vibrations of healing crystals"”.
Hold on!
"“May cause motion sickness" ”.
Well, they have drumming
and tightrope walking.
- That could be fun.
- Hold on! Horse-painting?
They'’re painting the side
of an actual horse?
- Okay, that'’s stupid.
- Yeah.
Uh, but keep an open mind.
Why, so I can work
with bees in an apiary?
No, there could be some
fun stuff here, you know?
Okay. Okay.
Look, Brazilian martial arts!
Martini master class... now
I can get behind those things!
I have to say,
this place is relaxing.
♪ Uh, yeah,
You don't want this problem ♪
NYPD doesn'’t want to set
a precedent
for releasing this data.
So I'’m offering your guy an ACD.
Interesting.
Take the deal before judge rules
or it'’s off the table.
They don'’t want the judge
to sign this subpoena,
so they'’ve made an offer.
They'’ll dismiss the charges
after six months,
as long as you don'’t
get arrested again.
So I gotta act like a good
little nigga
- anytime they stop me, huh?
- That'd be a fair assumption.
- What d'’you think?
- I think the DA'’s seen the data
and they know they don'’t have
a pot to piss in.
I think they'’re running scared
and I'’d love to hem that cop up.
- Then that'’s what we do.
- Aight.
Okay. Really, hon, why don'’t
you just do me from behind, OK?
I'’ve got to get home.
- What'’s wrong?
- Nothing.
- I'’m fine.
- Is it the hotel room?
I know, it'’s a little
too clandestine, isn'’t it?
No, it'’s... a nice room.
How about you and I
get an apartment together?
What?! No!
No.
How are we going to take this
to the next level?
Next level? Honey, this is the
only level you'’re gonna get.
I risked my career for you.
I covered for you.
You want to blackmail me into...
Tracy. I love you.
Don'’t say that.
Don'’t ever say that.
I'’ve got to go.
The last step before we close
our dream catcher is the beads.
Now, as you reach for the beads,
let'’s all offer a silent prayer
to Grandmother.
Glorious Grandmother,
Diwa spirit,
guide me toward healing my body
and catching my dreams.
Just three Not-guilty'’s
in a row, please.
Now, let'’s open our eyes
and weave with wonder.
- Thank you, Grandmother.
- Yeah, thank you, Grandmother.
- Yours is very beautiful.
- Thank you.
Oh, my God!
You'’re Bennet Thompson.
I'’ve read all of your books.
Thank you, Younesse.
That'’s very flattering.
Oh, I just saw on Twitter
you got engaged!
This must be your fiancée.
Is it Ashley? Or Alison?
No, actually, this is my sister.
It'’s nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you too.
I'’ve considered the defense'’s
motion for a subpoena,
and while I am sensitive
to the issues,
I find that the forms
the officer filled out
for other stops
have little bearing on this one.
The motion for the
stop-and-frisk data is denied.
Judge, you can'’t let these cops
continue to get away with this!
I'’m sorry, Counselor.
This just isn'’t the right forum.
They roam around
black communities
- like an occupying force...
- I gave you my decision.
They do whatever the hell
they want!
- Counselor, stop talking!
- That cop stopped my client
for no other reason
than he'’s black!
You know it, I know it,
and she knows it.
Mr. Riggs!
I have given you my decision.
The forms are not relevant.
Now, how would you like
to proceed?
We need a continuance so I can
secure a witness, Your Honor.
What witness?
I don'’t owe you a heads-up
on our witnesses.
Now, now, let'’s keep it civil.
The case is continued
until tomorrow.
- Who'’s the witness?
- We don'’t have a witness.
Charlie, I want a witness too,
but we can'’t lie to the court.
Were you even listening?
Everybody'’s lying.
Nobody cares!
Damn it! I just want to
take his face and...
You talking'’ about Judge Adler,
Nasah, or the cop?
All of them.
Honey, you knew you weren'’t
gonna get that subpoena!
'‘Cause if you'’d got it, we'’d
all subpoena them at every stop.
Adler would have NYPD
up his old, wrinkly ass.
Yeah, yeah.
I know this one feels personal,
but it'’s not.
It damn sure felt personal
when they had me face-down
on that cop car with my hands
cuffed behind my back.
And I'’m sure it feels pretty
damn personal to Marcus, too.
He was stopped by
that particular cop three times.
But it'’s not personal to them,
which gives them the advantage.
Honey, you have to take
your emotions out of it.
I'’m starting to think we'’re
never gonna get these guys,
- unless we get them on tape.
- What if we already have?
This cop has stopped Marcus
numerous times,
so he'’s probably stopped a lot
of people more than once.
What if there'’s a video
of one of those stops
just waiting for the opportunity
to be put to good use?
But how are we going to find out
if there'’s a tape?
Ride through the neighborhood
with a bullhorn?
Sort of.
I'’m starting not to
hate her as much.
- Gwen!
- Your sister?
- Gwen!
- Your sister?!
Look, I panic
when they recognize me!
Who do you think you are?
Stephen King?
- Who cares who recognizes you?
- What was I supposed to say?
Yes, this is Alison?
Or no, this is not my fiancée,
this is woman I cheated on her
while she gave us 30 days?
Who cares?
Hey! I'’m boning the writer
Bennet Thompson for 30 days
and his fiancée, Alison,
knows it!
- Stop!
- Get off me!
Look, I'’m sorry, okay?
I'’m a public figure.
What was I supposed to do?
I mean, we never got sat down
and got our story straight.
We do not need a story.
It is simple.
- Are we here together or not?
- Yes. We are.
But I spent an entire life
with Alison,
and until you came back into
the picture,
I was going to spend the rest
of my life with her.
I just can'’t press a button
and erase all of that.
So where does that leave me?
Here.
Now.
With me.
Like a sister?
Yes.
Like a very...
very hot "sistah".
You heard me say "sistah",
right?
Oh, so this was all just
a vowel problem?
Yes. Vowel problem.
Those damn vowels!
Hey!
This is Charlie Riggs with
the Defendants'’ Association.
And I'’m looking for people.
In particular black folks,
- who...
- Cut, cut!
Cut? You ain'’t Ava DuVernay!
You ain'’t directing my video!
Well, someone has to.
That was terrible.
What happened to making love
to the camera?
You just...
blew chunks all over it.
Really helpful, Trace.
Okay, I took a public speaking
class once, and they taught us
that it helps to have
a mental image of someone
and pretend you'’re speaking
to them.
So, I'’ll just stand behind
the laptop and you can pretend
- you'’re speaking to me.
- Okay.
Hey, what'’s up?
This is Charlie Riggs
and I'’m a lawyer,
defending a young brother
that'’s tired
of getting stopped and frisked
by this guy.
If you have video proof
of him messing with you,
or someone else,
I could really use it.
Please share it with the hashtag
#nothinginmypockets.
- Could be worse.
- Could be worse?
- I was Denzeling that shit!
- Okay, Denzel, calm down.
Now, how are we going to
get this out there?
What about Bennet?
He has, like, 200,000
followers on Twitter.
- You want me to call Gwen?
- Where is she?
- With Bennet.
- No, I'’ll call her.
Good luck, sugar.
- Hey, Charlie.
- Hey!
- Where you at?
- At the Belandini.
- What'’s that?
- You wouldn'’t believe it.
It'’s like a psych ward
for the granola crowd.
Oh.
About the other night...
I was out of line.
No, I... I should have
never dragged you
to that whack-ass wedding shower
in the first place.
No. What you do
and who you do it with,
that'’s your business.
Yeah, but our friendship
is important to me.
No worries.
Friends to the end, right?
So, listen, I can'’t really talk
right now, '‘cause...
Well, just, I need a favor.
I put together a little video
trying to hustle up black men
that have been stopped
by this one cop,
using the hashtag
#nothinginmypockets.
Ooh, I like it.
But, I need somebody
with a huge following,
so that we can get
the video to go wide.
You think Bennet
would do me a solid?
I don'’t see why not.
Hold on, you can ask him.
- Bennet!
- Yeah.
Charlie has a question.
Hey, Charlie, what'’s up?
Right.
Good.
That I can make work.
I'’ll text you my publicist'’s
number
and she'’ll take it from there.
Waiting on your
DateMatcher date?
Excuse me?
I'’m not on DateMatcher.
Oh, you'’re just on
The Mate, then.
Aren'’t you the nosy bartender?
- No, I'’m Derek.
- Tracy.
No ring. With my luck,
you'’re either gay and/or taken.
Neither.
So, what'’s your pleasure?
If we'’re talking about a drink,
vodka soda, splash of cran.
Alright, F-you then.
Bourbon, straight up.
Now we'’re getting somewhere.
So, which is it?
Your place or mine?
Whichever'’s closer.
How did you snag
a job at Snapchat?
Oh, they recruited me!
I know! They flew me out to L.A.
four times for interviews.
Did he tell you how much
he'’s banking?
Oh, are we seriously
talking money at the table?
Yeah.
- That much?
- Yeah, well. Greed is good.
So, how'’s the Defender
Association?
It'’s definitely an adjustment.
I have, like, 100 misdemeanor
cases at any one time,
and I'’ve just had
my first trial.
What? Lucky you!
I don'’t get
any trial experience.
But, I am getting
a bigger office.
You are?
I spearheaded
the document review
on one of our biggest
pharmaceutical cases...
The partners sat me down
last week.
People work at the Association
for years before they even
get their own office.
You'’re just constantly hustling
trying to get your client
- a fair deal.
- Fair?
- They'’re criminals.
- You'’re wrong.
I just defended a guy
that got stopped by the cops
40 times
just because he'’s black.
And a woman who went to jail
because she bounced a check
for 356 dollars. She has kids.
Van, you need to
get out of that place.
Yeah, I mean,
if you want to do criminal,
you could just do white-collar
at ColdWell.
Why work in gutter,
if you can work in penthouse?
♪ Happy birthday to you! ♪
♪ Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday... ♪
For tonight'’s main course,
we will be preparing
sticky peanut cauliflower wings.
Oh, hold on, sorry.
Cauliflowers have wings,
or do you actually mean chicken?
Ah, no.
We just call them wings.
So it'’s... cauliflower?
Right. The idea of vegan food.
You signed us up
for the vegan class?
I didn'’t know
it was straight up.
She was second runner-up on
Competitive Kitchen 2015.
Sorry, there'’s been
a misunderstanding.
I thought we were making
actual food.
Don'’t save the leftovers.
Miss Hastings,
call your next witness.
At this time, the Defense
would like to call everyone
who'’s been stopped and frisked
by Officer Porter
in the last six months.
Objection!
What is going on?
These men were all stopped
by Officer Porter
for having bulges,
which turned out to be keys,
phones, wallets,
cigarettes, tissues...
If any of you were subsequently
arrested, raise your hand.
And these are just the people
we know about.
Your Honor, the visual aids
are inappropriate.
And, yet, effective.
Officer Porter does appear to be
a little trigger-happy
- on the stop-and-frisk.
- This is crazy!
How do we know what each one
of these men is saying is true?
Are we going to put
all 40 of them on the stand,
- so I can cross-examine them?
- I do also have 20 videos.
I'’d be happy
to play them for you.
I don'’t think that
will be necessary.
Do you have a motion,
Miss Hastings?
I move for a directed verdict
of "“Not guilty" ”.
- Granted.
- Yes! Yes! I knew it!
- Thank you.
- Good work.
I suggest you give these
to the Serge'’ over at the 2-5
and he can hand them out
at roll call tomorrow.
Any officer that illegally
stops Mr. Dumay again
is going to be joined to the
civil suit he's about to file
against the City
and the police department.
Gwen!
- I don'’t want to talk.
- We don'’t have to!
I understand,
but I'’m not going anywhere.
How were the vomit
peanut non-wings?
Not nearly as good as
if I'’d have been
- sharing them with you.
- You know this is bullshit.
- Which part?
- All of it.
This whole place is ridiculous.
It'’s so Alison.
And that'’s the thing:
I'’m not her.
I'’m not vegan, or perfect,
or any of that.
- And you can'’t just slot me in.
- I'’m sorry! Okay?
I thought all women
kind of liked this place.
- I didn'’t think it through.
- What are we doing?
- I mean, really.
- We'’re trying.
You'’re trying. It'’s like
I'’m a new pair of sneakers,
or a new vegetable,
and you'’re experimenting.
Which makes me the experiment.
And I feel like
I'’m constantly auditioning,
and that sucks!
You don'’t have to audition.
You got the part!
Can we just...
take a second and reset?
- Hey, we still have 28 days!
- No, you have 28 days!
You get to just sit there
and decide who you love,
and I got nothing.
You have all the power.
Hell, Alison, has all the power.
She'’s no dumbass.
She'’s the one who'’s setting
the timetable,
and giving you "“the choice" ”.
And she'’s turning me into
a frickin'’ performing seal.
And this is you being
a performing seal?
Yes!
And I hate this shit.
But I'’m running around here
pretending to dream-catching
and I'’m turning summersaults
and barking for fish!
Gwen! You don'’t have
to prove anything.
I want you just the way you are.
And to prove it... Come in!
Aw! Chicken waffles!
To be honest, I kind of
really hate vegan food.
- And Flamebolt!
- You can say what you want
about the activities
in this place,
but they really do let you
do anything. Have some.
Oh! Goodbye, Mudra meditation,
hello, New York City!
Do me a favor and get the map
out the glove compartment.
- Who uses paper maps anymore?
- Call me retro,
but I have a shortcut
and I want to make sure.
There'’s no map,
but what are these?
I have an apartment.
I have mine; those are yours.
- Are you serious?
- Yes.
Let'’s spend some real time
together, let'’s make go at this.
- Really?
- Yes.
- You want to drive?
- Hell yeah!
- Thank you.
- You'’re welcome.
Ooh.
- I forgot this is stick shift.
- Mm-hmm.
I think I'’ve got this.
- Hey!
- Sorry! Sorry.
- You want me to take over?
- No, I don'’t think so.
I think I got it.
- Gwen!
- I'’m just messing with you.
Tracy.
- Is... something wrong?
- What I'’m about to say
isn'’t the beginning
of a discussion,
but the announcement
of a decision.
- Okay.
- It'’s been fun.
- But?
- But this is where I leave you.
Why? I'’m a free man.
We don'’t have to hide anymore.
We can be together in public.
What did you think this was?
Dating? Going steady?
Tracy, I left my wife for you.
We'’ve got something going.
No. We had sex going.
Lots of great, kinky sex.
But, if you thought that this
was anything more
than mutual getting off,
or if you thought that
giving me a pearl necklace
meant we had a relationship,
that'’s on you.
So you think you can
just end this, hmm?
- Like that.
- Sugar, I just did.
Can I get a shot of whisky?
I need to wash this day away.
One more here too, please.
Looks like somebody unclenched.
Do not come for me,
unless I send for you.
Well, well... look at that.
Bambi finally grew a backbone.
Why are you depressed?
You won.
- Well, it'’s my friends.
- Never mind, two more.
- Make that three.
- What is with you two?
You'’d think you just got
hammered in court,
instead of making that cop look
like the asshole he is!
- Where'’s Gwen?
- Catskills!
Good for her!
- Isn'’t it?
- Vanessa, hon,
- do you have a Hamilton?
- Yeah.
- Good, go to the...
- Feed the jukebox.
Okay, new rule:
my money, my picks.
Uh-oh.
Don'’t give up.
Last man standing wins.
What are you talking about?
Gwen and I are just friends.
Okay.
♪ You know you love me
I know you care... ♪
- Oh, no, please, no!
- Really, Vanessa?
I told you not to let her pick!
Or dance.
- Stop the madness.
- Yeah. I had the same idea.
Holy shit!
Tessa? Campinelli?
You must be mistaking me
for someone else.
No, no, I'’m not!
I'’ve been looking all over
for you! You'’re Tessa!
Uh-huh. I must just have
one of those faces.
♪ Baby, baby, baby oh
Like baby, baby, baby no ♪
♪ Like baby, baby, baby no oh ♪
♪ Thought you'’d always
be mine, mine... ♪
Next time on In Contempt...
This guy burned
his girlfriend alive,
- and then watched her die!
- Allegedly.
As your new supervisor,
it'’s my duty to prepare
your performance review.
Tom usually
just lets me write it
- and then he signs.
- New sheriff in town.
Bennet and I are sort
of moving in together.
Wow, Bennet! This is great!
We are supposed
to be fighting for justice!
Wrong, wrong, wrong!
- Take me off this trial.
- Easy, now.
You'’re the one
who wanted more serious cases.
I can'’t do this. Please.
I'’m asking you as my supervisor.
- Favorite comfort food?
- My dairy-free Mac and Cheese.
- Chicken and waffles.
- Yes!
- Chicken and waffles!
- Damn, girl, you'’re killing it!
How does she not
know those things?
And why not me, Bennet?
I'’m cheating on her with you.
Well, if you'’re so worried
about it, stop cheating.
Some things can'’t be fixed.
Just learn to deal and move on.
You guys keep saying this,
but it'’s not getting any better.
It'’s getting worse.
You had sex with him.
At the man'’s wedding shower?
♪ I thought we were over ♪
I know I'’m not innocent in this.
I turned a blind eye when
everything in me told me
that there was a connection
between the two of you.
Alison, I'’m so sorry.
I didn'’t mean to hurt you.
Really, Gwen?
When you screwed my fiancée
at my wedding shower
in my house, in my bathroom...
- This is on me!
- It'’s on both of you!
But life doesn'’t allow us to go
back and undo what happened.
It allows us to do better
moving forward.
I don'’t understand,
why are we here?
I want you,
but I'’m not willing to share.
If you want me, it'’s all in.
No looking back.
Can you look me in my eye right
now and promise that to me?
The answer is no.
There'’s obviously unfinished
business between the two of you.
I want you to finish it.
Maybe it'’s my connection
with Buddhism,
that life is permeated
with suffering caused by desire.
And that suffering ceases
when desire ceases.
Or I'’m just completely
masochistic.
Either way,
I'’m giving you 30 days.
- Thirty days for what?
- To resolve, finish,
or confirm whatever this is.
- What'’s the catch?
- No catch.
If you want to be with her,
then so be it.
But if you come back to me,
you'’re with me.
- No more bullshit. Fair?
- This whole thing seems weird...
Gwen, if I were you, I would
just shut up and say thank you.
Do we all understand each other?
You might want to come by
the house and grab a few things.
I don'’t want to see or hear
from you until you decide.
And don'’t worry.
I get 30 days too.
Is she even human?
What the hell just happened?
Alison!
♪ Your wild affection
Sweet Deception ♪
♪ Taking over me ♪
♪ You know you'’ll find a way
To get me back ♪
♪ Give it time ♪
He went back
to the stick figure?
I don'’t know.
He just left me sitting there
and got up and ran after her,
which I get, I guess.
The whole thing
was just so messed up.
Alison was Stepford Wife-calm.
If it were me, there would be
a lot more hair pulling.
We'’d definitely knuckle up.
[phone ringing]
My creditor'’s calling you too?
- No, just Dodson.
- What does he want now?
Sex on top of the
Empire State Building?
- He left his wife.
- He what? For you?
That shocked reaction
is less than flattering.
No, I mean... it'’s great news.
Right?
I don'’t know.
Him trying to make things easier
just made things
far more complicated.
Girl, only you can think that
a man wanting to be with you,
no strings attached,
was complicated.
I know that it sounds horrible,
but him being married
was part of the thrill.
Without the secret sex in his
office and sneaking around,
- what'’s the point?
- Um, emotional connection.
You should, you know,
give it a try.
- Are you not going to work?
- No.
I'’m still under Tom'’s
forced vacation.
So, the walls will be washed
and the grout will be cleaned
when I get home?
If you hire a housekeeper.
My name ain'’t Florence.
- OK, Wheezy.
- Bye.
I was on my way to work.
A cop car pulls up.
Punk-ass cop asks me for my ID
and what I was doing.
I was late and I knew
the stop was bullshit.
So I told him I wasn'’t going
to allow him to search me.
- So, what happened?
- Let me guess.
Your face ended
up against a brick wall.
Hood of a car.
Cop called me a nigga,
said that he was gonna
crack my skull open.
Did he tell you
why he stopped you?
He said he saw a bulge
in my pocket.
- Smokes?
- Cell.
Well, I talked to the prosecutor
and, since you don'’t have
a criminal record,
they'’re offering to drop
the obstruction
and resisting arrest charges
and give you time served,
if you plead guilty
to disorderly conduct.
It'’s a violation, not a crime.
It'’s like pleading guilty
to a parking ticket.
Oh, hell no. No, no.
I ain'’t copping out.
Well, since it'’s a misdemeanor,
you don'’t get a jury.
It'’s a judge trial.
And, to win, we have to prove
that the arrest was illegal,
which means we have to prove
that it was done
without what'’s called...
Reasonable suspicion. I know.
I'’ve been stopped like 40 times
in the past 11 years.
- Excuse me?
- The first time I was stopped,
I was ten years old.
In the past six months,
probably 12.
- Three times by this same cop.
- The hell with that.
- No plea.
- But...
But here'’s what
you need to know.
It'’s not a slam dunk, OK?
The officer'’s going to lie
about why he stopped you.
It'’s going to be your word
against his.
I'’m tired of this shit.
Tired of bending over cop cars
and kissing the pavement.
I'’ve got to fight this.
'‘Cause if I don'’t
fight it in here,
I'’m gonna keep fighting it
out there,
- and I'’ll probably end up dead.
- Then let'’s take it to '‘em.
Did you know that
between 2002 and 2015,
over five million people were
stopped and frisked in NY City,
and 86% of all stops-and-frisks
were done
without reasonable suspicion?
In a city that is 66% minority,
81% of all stops-and-frisks
are of black and brown people.
I didn'’t know it, but I knew it.
From personal experience.
- You mean your arrest?
- Yeah.
Don'’t tell me you'’ve never been
stopped in a department store.
Never had a white person ask
"“may I help you?" ” in that tone
where you know they don'’t
really want to help you?
Actually, no. I mean...
I know it happens.
I'’m not saying it doesn'’t.
- Followed in department store?
- Well...
There it is.
After Oprah got stopped in Paris
I started to wonder.
I mean... if it happens
to Oprah, right?
So I noticed this guy
following me at the mall,
but it was only
that one time, though.
Trust me.
You got followed 100 times.
- You just didn'’t notice it.
- The thing is, I don'’t know
that he was following me
because I'’m black.
He wasn'’t following Suzie Q,
you can believe that.
And, if you had confronted him,
he would have made some
bullshit excuse that sounded
plausible on its face.
Which is what the cop
will do here.
It'’s called tester-lying.
The cop who stopped Marcus
will lie about the basis
for the stop.
It'’s standard cop procedure.
DA'’s condone it.
Judges don'’t question it.
So, how do we prove
that he'’s lying?
- You mean, how do you prove it?
- Wait, what?
You'’re going to cross-examine
the cop, rookie.
- Oh, my Gosh.
- Don'’t panic. Focus.
Now, how would we prove
that he'’s full of shit?
Well, I read that
the Bronx Defenders
and the Center for
Constitutional Rights
took the City to Federal Court
over their stop-and-frisk policy
- and won a consent decree.
- Uh-huh.
Now, all the cops
have to fill out a form
stating their reasons every time
they stop-and-frisk someone.
And you want to see
all this cop'’s forms
and see if all of this stops
are bogus.
That'’s a great idea.
Except, when you subpoena
the police department,
they'’re going to move
to quash it. Do you know why?
The prosecution will argue
that the forms related
to the cop'’s previous stops
aren'’t relevant to evaluating
reasonable suspicion
in this particular case.
Look who'’s been
paying attention!
So, what do we do?
Get that cop
to make it relevant.
♪ Two peas in a pod
Something was missing ♪
♪ So good on paper
We weren't listening ♪
♪ To the sound of our hearts
Thumping in sync ♪
♪ We were yelling so loud
But heard nothing... ♪
Aaaaargh!
Tracy, take your key with you
next time you go running!
God!
Oh, my God! Hi!
- I wasn'’t expecting company.
- Can I come in?
It'’s a nice place.
Yeah, well, Architectural Digest
wanted to photograph it,
but I told them "“nah" ”.
Gwen, I want to apologize
for yesterday...
Bennet, you don'’t owe me
an apology. I made a mistake.
You are not my man and...
someone was bound to get hurt.
That someone was me.
But that'’s what I get.
'‘Cause I know better
than to play with fire.
- How spontaneous are you?
- What?
I have a car waiting for us
downstairs.
Pack a bag. That 30 days...
it starts now.
Okay, give me...
Give me ten minutes.
♪ To the sound of our hearts
Thumping in sync ♪
♪ We were yelling so loud
But heard nothing... ♪
I observed the defendant
in a high-crime neighborhood
with a bulge in his
waistband area,
that I suspected was a weapon.
We followed him for
a short distance,
at which time he engaged
in furtive behavior.
- What did you do?
- I got out, I asked the suspect
to take his hands
out of his jacket pockets
and to show me some ID.
He immediately became
verbally combative with me.
- How so?
- He refused to be searched.
I informed him that, if he
continue to be uncooperative,
that I was going to
have to arrest him.
He continued to refuse
so I placed him in custody.
No further questions.
So, you say you had
several reasons
you decided to
follow Mr. Dumay?
- Don'’t ask him. Tell him.
- Yeah, like I said: bulge,
neighborhood, furtive gestures,
trifective suspiciousness.
- But the first thing...
- Was the bulge.
- Could'’ve been a gun...
- Um, is she new?
- It'’s okay. Re-focus.
- Officer, you stated
that the defendant
acted suspiciously, right?
- Objection!
- Sustained.
When you stopped him you said
he didn'’t want to be searched.
- Objection!
- Sustained.
Seriously, Noreen?
Officer, can you please re-state
what the defendant'’s furtive
movements were exactly?
When he saw that we were
following him,
he changed direction, kept
looking over his shoulder at us.
He looked at you.
That sounds so suspicious!
Now you can object.
Okay, let'’s quite the game,
counselors.
The bulge in Mr. Dumay'’s jeans
turned out to be a cell phone,
- right?
- Yeah, but...
And there are lots of reasons
why a person
walking down the street,
carrying a cell phone,
might turn in another direction
when they see you coming.
- Correct?
- Legitimate reasons, no.
How about, they don'’t like cops?
Or their cousin was beat up
by a cop?
Or how about:
it'’s their God-given right
to walk in whichever direction
they damn well choose?
Counselor, I'’ve got
10 years in the force.
And, let me tell you.
Usually, when someone'’s
avoiding the police,
they'’re doing something wrong.
So when you stop someone
it'’s always justified, right?
- Yes.
- Because you would never
illegally stop someone on a whim
or because they just looked
- fishy, would you?
- Never.
Judge, this officer suggests
his stops are always justified
and that he never illegally
stops someone.
The subpoena for the
UF-250 forms
allows us to evaluate
the credibility of that answer.
Grant Gathers, counsel for the
New York City Police Department.
Your Honor,
this subpoena is overly broad,
cumbersome to respond to,
and requests material
that is irrelevant
to the matter at hand today.
How is it irrelevant?
Because the other stops
the office made are not relevant
as to whether he had reasonable
suspicion in this stop.
Of course they are!
Let'’s say he stops 100 people
and all forms for those stops
appear to give valid reasons
for those stops, but maybe
one or two of those people
actually have contraband.
Then, arguably, he'’s lying
when he fills out those forms,
and thus lying here.
And, if he stops more people
than his fellow officers,
then we'’ll know that he thinks
that every person he sees
in a high-crime neighborhood
is a criminal
in need of a good frisk.
Atta girl, Miss Hastings!
Nice to see a rookie
gain her footing.
Your Honor, this is the worst
kind of fishing expedition.
I tend to agree with
the fishing expedition part.
This police department
is turning communities of color
in this city
into Civil Rights-free zones.
By way of example,
in Brownsville, Brooklyn in 2009
93 out of every 100 residents
were stopped by the NYPD.
And that'’s why the Bronx
defenders won their lawsuit,
and that'’s why these officers
have to fill out this form.
It'’s also why a federal monitor
is dealing with this issue.
I'’ll take the defense'’s request
for a subpoena under advisement.
- Your Honor!
- No, no!
Mr. Riggs,
don'’t press your luck.
♪ I would sleep out in the
rain, Give up everything ♪
♪ Just to be with you... ♪
- What is this place?
- A wellness retreat center.
- With activity periods?
- Come on! It could be fun.
It'’s like a cross between
a spa and a summer camp.
You know being around
white folks and robes
makes me nervous, right?
Well, when they'’re sipping
herbal tea,
it probably reduces
their threat level.
Yeah, but no one here is
wearing any regular clothes.
It'’s not a nudist colony, is it?
In our suite, maybe.
I thought we had a rule,
Richard.
No public meetings.
Thank you.
Well, I left Audrey,
and this is far enough away
from the courthouse.
Except we can'’t
have sex here, honey.
Unless you have a thing
for public bathrooms
that I don'’t know about.
I thought it would be nice
if we shared a meal.
Where we just talked, actually
got to know each other a little.
A glass of Chardonnay.
Thanks.
Okay. What do you
want to know?
Well, I know you grew up
in North Carolina.
So, tell me about your family.
- Two brothers, one sister.
- Uh-huh.
And were you all close,
growing up?
- We got along fine.
- Define "“fine" ”.
My brothers and I
were like peas in a pod,
and my sister and I,
we just always fought.
- Was she jealous of you?
- I don'’t know, actually.
She just...
never really liked me.
- That must have been hard.
- Your turn!
I grew up in New Jersey.
My father was a lawyer.
I wanted to be a painter,
but then I met Audrey,
and she got pregnant.
You know you'’ve never asked me
about Audrey?
You never asked
why the marriage wasn'’t working.
Because I don'’t really
want to know, sugar.
Okay. Why wasn'’t your
marriage working?
- Thank you.
- Well,
I don'’t think I was
ever really in love with her.
I think we reached a point
where marriage
was the next right step.
Also, you never asked me
why I didn'’t leave her.
I just figured
you didn'’t have the balls.
- Well, okay. What about you?
- What about me what?
Why are you sleeping
with married men?
- Men?
- I assume I'’m not the first.
Which begs the question,
doesn'’t it:
What are you avoiding?
You know what, sugar?
I forgot that I have cases
going on in Part F
this afternoon.
I booked a hotel room
for us tonight.
Yeah? Is it going to be
20 questions again?
Or can we just screw?
- We can just screw.
- Good.
I'’ll see you tonight, then.
I was on my way to class
at Manhattan Community College.
Cops rolled up on me.
That one asked for my ID
and what I was doing.
I told him I knew my rights and
I ain'’t consenting to no search.
He threw me on top of his car,
searched me anyway,
cussed me out,
called me a nigga.
Did you explain why you didn'’t
cooperate with Officer Porter?
I was just tired
of being stopped.
It'’s always the same:
I got a bulge in my waistband,
my jacket pocket, in my pants,
or I "“fit the description" ”.
You know, that'’s a favorite one
of theirs.
Except they never tell you
what the description is.
How has constantly being stopped
by police affected your life?
Objection, Your Honor!
Relevance.
It goes to show Mr. Dumay'’s
state of mind, Your Honor.
To be convicted of obstructing
governmental administration,
he has to have intended
to interfere with the officer'’s
lawful duties.
If he only intended
to assert his rights
during an unlawful stop,
that intent did not exist.
- Overruled.
- I'’ve gotten five cell phones
broken by being slammed
against walls,
I got a scar on my left cheek
from being thrown to the ground.
- Anything else?
- My time.
I gotta build
an extra 30-45 minutes
just to get where I'’m going,
just in case I get stopped.
And that'’s not even enough time.
Last time I was stopped,
I was late for a job interview
and I didn'’t get hired.
It just messes with you.
All I want is to be able
to walk down the street in peace
in my neighborhood, in my city.
Thank you, Mr. Dumay.
Mr. Dumay, you said you did not
cooperate because you were tired
of being stopped,
- is that correct?
- Yes.
- So you were angry.
- Yes.
You didn'’t want the officer
to search you.
I wanted to be treated
with respect.
If he treated you with respect
you would have cooperated?
Maybe, I don't know.
Your Honor, being tired
of being stopped isn'’t a defense
to obstructing governmental
administration.
It is if the stop was unlawful.
Which is why, again, we need
a ruling on the subpoena.
You'’ll have my decision soon,
Mr. Riggs.
Why is he putting us off?
He wants to give it to us.
But he knows if he does,
he'’ll have the Chief Judge
banging on his door.
The Chief of Police
was already banging on hers.
- Which way he'’s gonna go?
- Honestly, I have no idea.
I mean,
look at these activities!
"“Mineral forging
for mindfulness,
quantum consciousness..."”
Okay, wait.
"“Floating meditation.
Watch stress, tension and worry
dissipate
as you flow weightlessly
in our silk hammocks
and experience the serene
vibrations of healing crystals"”.
Hold on!
"“May cause motion sickness" ”.
Well, they have drumming
and tightrope walking.
- That could be fun.
- Hold on! Horse-painting?
They'’re painting the side
of an actual horse?
- Okay, that'’s stupid.
- Yeah.
Uh, but keep an open mind.
Why, so I can work
with bees in an apiary?
No, there could be some
fun stuff here, you know?
Okay. Okay.
Look, Brazilian martial arts!
Martini master class... now
I can get behind those things!
I have to say,
this place is relaxing.
♪ Uh, yeah,
You don't want this problem ♪
NYPD doesn'’t want to set
a precedent
for releasing this data.
So I'’m offering your guy an ACD.
Interesting.
Take the deal before judge rules
or it'’s off the table.
They don'’t want the judge
to sign this subpoena,
so they'’ve made an offer.
They'’ll dismiss the charges
after six months,
as long as you don'’t
get arrested again.
So I gotta act like a good
little nigga
- anytime they stop me, huh?
- That'd be a fair assumption.
- What d'’you think?
- I think the DA'’s seen the data
and they know they don'’t have
a pot to piss in.
I think they'’re running scared
and I'’d love to hem that cop up.
- Then that'’s what we do.
- Aight.
Okay. Really, hon, why don'’t
you just do me from behind, OK?
I'’ve got to get home.
- What'’s wrong?
- Nothing.
- I'’m fine.
- Is it the hotel room?
I know, it'’s a little
too clandestine, isn'’t it?
No, it'’s... a nice room.
How about you and I
get an apartment together?
What?! No!
No.
How are we going to take this
to the next level?
Next level? Honey, this is the
only level you'’re gonna get.
I risked my career for you.
I covered for you.
You want to blackmail me into...
Tracy. I love you.
Don'’t say that.
Don'’t ever say that.
I'’ve got to go.
The last step before we close
our dream catcher is the beads.
Now, as you reach for the beads,
let'’s all offer a silent prayer
to Grandmother.
Glorious Grandmother,
Diwa spirit,
guide me toward healing my body
and catching my dreams.
Just three Not-guilty'’s
in a row, please.
Now, let'’s open our eyes
and weave with wonder.
- Thank you, Grandmother.
- Yeah, thank you, Grandmother.
- Yours is very beautiful.
- Thank you.
Oh, my God!
You'’re Bennet Thompson.
I'’ve read all of your books.
Thank you, Younesse.
That'’s very flattering.
Oh, I just saw on Twitter
you got engaged!
This must be your fiancée.
Is it Ashley? Or Alison?
No, actually, this is my sister.
It'’s nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you too.
I'’ve considered the defense'’s
motion for a subpoena,
and while I am sensitive
to the issues,
I find that the forms
the officer filled out
for other stops
have little bearing on this one.
The motion for the
stop-and-frisk data is denied.
Judge, you can'’t let these cops
continue to get away with this!
I'’m sorry, Counselor.
This just isn'’t the right forum.
They roam around
black communities
- like an occupying force...
- I gave you my decision.
They do whatever the hell
they want!
- Counselor, stop talking!
- That cop stopped my client
for no other reason
than he'’s black!
You know it, I know it,
and she knows it.
Mr. Riggs!
I have given you my decision.
The forms are not relevant.
Now, how would you like
to proceed?
We need a continuance so I can
secure a witness, Your Honor.
What witness?
I don'’t owe you a heads-up
on our witnesses.
Now, now, let'’s keep it civil.
The case is continued
until tomorrow.
- Who'’s the witness?
- We don'’t have a witness.
Charlie, I want a witness too,
but we can'’t lie to the court.
Were you even listening?
Everybody'’s lying.
Nobody cares!
Damn it! I just want to
take his face and...
You talking'’ about Judge Adler,
Nasah, or the cop?
All of them.
Honey, you knew you weren'’t
gonna get that subpoena!
'‘Cause if you'’d got it, we'’d
all subpoena them at every stop.
Adler would have NYPD
up his old, wrinkly ass.
Yeah, yeah.
I know this one feels personal,
but it'’s not.
It damn sure felt personal
when they had me face-down
on that cop car with my hands
cuffed behind my back.
And I'’m sure it feels pretty
damn personal to Marcus, too.
He was stopped by
that particular cop three times.
But it'’s not personal to them,
which gives them the advantage.
Honey, you have to take
your emotions out of it.
I'’m starting to think we'’re
never gonna get these guys,
- unless we get them on tape.
- What if we already have?
This cop has stopped Marcus
numerous times,
so he'’s probably stopped a lot
of people more than once.
What if there'’s a video
of one of those stops
just waiting for the opportunity
to be put to good use?
But how are we going to find out
if there'’s a tape?
Ride through the neighborhood
with a bullhorn?
Sort of.
I'’m starting not to
hate her as much.
- Gwen!
- Your sister?
- Gwen!
- Your sister?!
Look, I panic
when they recognize me!
Who do you think you are?
Stephen King?
- Who cares who recognizes you?
- What was I supposed to say?
Yes, this is Alison?
Or no, this is not my fiancée,
this is woman I cheated on her
while she gave us 30 days?
Who cares?
Hey! I'’m boning the writer
Bennet Thompson for 30 days
and his fiancée, Alison,
knows it!
- Stop!
- Get off me!
Look, I'’m sorry, okay?
I'’m a public figure.
What was I supposed to do?
I mean, we never got sat down
and got our story straight.
We do not need a story.
It is simple.
- Are we here together or not?
- Yes. We are.
But I spent an entire life
with Alison,
and until you came back into
the picture,
I was going to spend the rest
of my life with her.
I just can'’t press a button
and erase all of that.
So where does that leave me?
Here.
Now.
With me.
Like a sister?
Yes.
Like a very...
very hot "sistah".
You heard me say "sistah",
right?
Oh, so this was all just
a vowel problem?
Yes. Vowel problem.
Those damn vowels!
Hey!
This is Charlie Riggs with
the Defendants'’ Association.
And I'’m looking for people.
In particular black folks,
- who...
- Cut, cut!
Cut? You ain'’t Ava DuVernay!
You ain'’t directing my video!
Well, someone has to.
That was terrible.
What happened to making love
to the camera?
You just...
blew chunks all over it.
Really helpful, Trace.
Okay, I took a public speaking
class once, and they taught us
that it helps to have
a mental image of someone
and pretend you'’re speaking
to them.
So, I'’ll just stand behind
the laptop and you can pretend
- you'’re speaking to me.
- Okay.
Hey, what'’s up?
This is Charlie Riggs
and I'’m a lawyer,
defending a young brother
that'’s tired
of getting stopped and frisked
by this guy.
If you have video proof
of him messing with you,
or someone else,
I could really use it.
Please share it with the hashtag
#nothinginmypockets.
- Could be worse.
- Could be worse?
- I was Denzeling that shit!
- Okay, Denzel, calm down.
Now, how are we going to
get this out there?
What about Bennet?
He has, like, 200,000
followers on Twitter.
- You want me to call Gwen?
- Where is she?
- With Bennet.
- No, I'’ll call her.
Good luck, sugar.
- Hey, Charlie.
- Hey!
- Where you at?
- At the Belandini.
- What'’s that?
- You wouldn'’t believe it.
It'’s like a psych ward
for the granola crowd.
Oh.
About the other night...
I was out of line.
No, I... I should have
never dragged you
to that whack-ass wedding shower
in the first place.
No. What you do
and who you do it with,
that'’s your business.
Yeah, but our friendship
is important to me.
No worries.
Friends to the end, right?
So, listen, I can'’t really talk
right now, '‘cause...
Well, just, I need a favor.
I put together a little video
trying to hustle up black men
that have been stopped
by this one cop,
using the hashtag
#nothinginmypockets.
Ooh, I like it.
But, I need somebody
with a huge following,
so that we can get
the video to go wide.
You think Bennet
would do me a solid?
I don'’t see why not.
Hold on, you can ask him.
- Bennet!
- Yeah.
Charlie has a question.
Hey, Charlie, what'’s up?
Right.
Good.
That I can make work.
I'’ll text you my publicist'’s
number
and she'’ll take it from there.
Waiting on your
DateMatcher date?
Excuse me?
I'’m not on DateMatcher.
Oh, you'’re just on
The Mate, then.
Aren'’t you the nosy bartender?
- No, I'’m Derek.
- Tracy.
No ring. With my luck,
you'’re either gay and/or taken.
Neither.
So, what'’s your pleasure?
If we'’re talking about a drink,
vodka soda, splash of cran.
Alright, F-you then.
Bourbon, straight up.
Now we'’re getting somewhere.
So, which is it?
Your place or mine?
Whichever'’s closer.
How did you snag
a job at Snapchat?
Oh, they recruited me!
I know! They flew me out to L.A.
four times for interviews.
Did he tell you how much
he'’s banking?
Oh, are we seriously
talking money at the table?
Yeah.
- That much?
- Yeah, well. Greed is good.
So, how'’s the Defender
Association?
It'’s definitely an adjustment.
I have, like, 100 misdemeanor
cases at any one time,
and I'’ve just had
my first trial.
What? Lucky you!
I don'’t get
any trial experience.
But, I am getting
a bigger office.
You are?
I spearheaded
the document review
on one of our biggest
pharmaceutical cases...
The partners sat me down
last week.
People work at the Association
for years before they even
get their own office.
You'’re just constantly hustling
trying to get your client
- a fair deal.
- Fair?
- They'’re criminals.
- You'’re wrong.
I just defended a guy
that got stopped by the cops
40 times
just because he'’s black.
And a woman who went to jail
because she bounced a check
for 356 dollars. She has kids.
Van, you need to
get out of that place.
Yeah, I mean,
if you want to do criminal,
you could just do white-collar
at ColdWell.
Why work in gutter,
if you can work in penthouse?
♪ Happy birthday to you! ♪
♪ Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday... ♪
For tonight'’s main course,
we will be preparing
sticky peanut cauliflower wings.
Oh, hold on, sorry.
Cauliflowers have wings,
or do you actually mean chicken?
Ah, no.
We just call them wings.
So it'’s... cauliflower?
Right. The idea of vegan food.
You signed us up
for the vegan class?
I didn'’t know
it was straight up.
She was second runner-up on
Competitive Kitchen 2015.
Sorry, there'’s been
a misunderstanding.
I thought we were making
actual food.
Don'’t save the leftovers.
Miss Hastings,
call your next witness.
At this time, the Defense
would like to call everyone
who'’s been stopped and frisked
by Officer Porter
in the last six months.
Objection!
What is going on?
These men were all stopped
by Officer Porter
for having bulges,
which turned out to be keys,
phones, wallets,
cigarettes, tissues...
If any of you were subsequently
arrested, raise your hand.
And these are just the people
we know about.
Your Honor, the visual aids
are inappropriate.
And, yet, effective.
Officer Porter does appear to be
a little trigger-happy
- on the stop-and-frisk.
- This is crazy!
How do we know what each one
of these men is saying is true?
Are we going to put
all 40 of them on the stand,
- so I can cross-examine them?
- I do also have 20 videos.
I'’d be happy
to play them for you.
I don'’t think that
will be necessary.
Do you have a motion,
Miss Hastings?
I move for a directed verdict
of "“Not guilty" ”.
- Granted.
- Yes! Yes! I knew it!
- Thank you.
- Good work.
I suggest you give these
to the Serge'’ over at the 2-5
and he can hand them out
at roll call tomorrow.
Any officer that illegally
stops Mr. Dumay again
is going to be joined to the
civil suit he's about to file
against the City
and the police department.
Gwen!
- I don'’t want to talk.
- We don'’t have to!
I understand,
but I'’m not going anywhere.
How were the vomit
peanut non-wings?
Not nearly as good as
if I'’d have been
- sharing them with you.
- You know this is bullshit.
- Which part?
- All of it.
This whole place is ridiculous.
It'’s so Alison.
And that'’s the thing:
I'’m not her.
I'’m not vegan, or perfect,
or any of that.
- And you can'’t just slot me in.
- I'’m sorry! Okay?
I thought all women
kind of liked this place.
- I didn'’t think it through.
- What are we doing?
- I mean, really.
- We'’re trying.
You'’re trying. It'’s like
I'’m a new pair of sneakers,
or a new vegetable,
and you'’re experimenting.
Which makes me the experiment.
And I feel like
I'’m constantly auditioning,
and that sucks!
You don'’t have to audition.
You got the part!
Can we just...
take a second and reset?
- Hey, we still have 28 days!
- No, you have 28 days!
You get to just sit there
and decide who you love,
and I got nothing.
You have all the power.
Hell, Alison, has all the power.
She'’s no dumbass.
She'’s the one who'’s setting
the timetable,
and giving you "“the choice" ”.
And she'’s turning me into
a frickin'’ performing seal.
And this is you being
a performing seal?
Yes!
And I hate this shit.
But I'’m running around here
pretending to dream-catching
and I'’m turning summersaults
and barking for fish!
Gwen! You don'’t have
to prove anything.
I want you just the way you are.
And to prove it... Come in!
Aw! Chicken waffles!
To be honest, I kind of
really hate vegan food.
- And Flamebolt!
- You can say what you want
about the activities
in this place,
but they really do let you
do anything. Have some.
Oh! Goodbye, Mudra meditation,
hello, New York City!
Do me a favor and get the map
out the glove compartment.
- Who uses paper maps anymore?
- Call me retro,
but I have a shortcut
and I want to make sure.
There'’s no map,
but what are these?
I have an apartment.
I have mine; those are yours.
- Are you serious?
- Yes.
Let'’s spend some real time
together, let'’s make go at this.
- Really?
- Yes.
- You want to drive?
- Hell yeah!
- Thank you.
- You'’re welcome.
Ooh.
- I forgot this is stick shift.
- Mm-hmm.
I think I'’ve got this.
- Hey!
- Sorry! Sorry.
- You want me to take over?
- No, I don'’t think so.
I think I got it.
- Gwen!
- I'’m just messing with you.
Tracy.
- Is... something wrong?
- What I'’m about to say
isn'’t the beginning
of a discussion,
but the announcement
of a decision.
- Okay.
- It'’s been fun.
- But?
- But this is where I leave you.
Why? I'’m a free man.
We don'’t have to hide anymore.
We can be together in public.
What did you think this was?
Dating? Going steady?
Tracy, I left my wife for you.
We'’ve got something going.
No. We had sex going.
Lots of great, kinky sex.
But, if you thought that this
was anything more
than mutual getting off,
or if you thought that
giving me a pearl necklace
meant we had a relationship,
that'’s on you.
So you think you can
just end this, hmm?
- Like that.
- Sugar, I just did.
Can I get a shot of whisky?
I need to wash this day away.
One more here too, please.
Looks like somebody unclenched.
Do not come for me,
unless I send for you.
Well, well... look at that.
Bambi finally grew a backbone.
Why are you depressed?
You won.
- Well, it'’s my friends.
- Never mind, two more.
- Make that three.
- What is with you two?
You'’d think you just got
hammered in court,
instead of making that cop look
like the asshole he is!
- Where'’s Gwen?
- Catskills!
Good for her!
- Isn'’t it?
- Vanessa, hon,
- do you have a Hamilton?
- Yeah.
- Good, go to the...
- Feed the jukebox.
Okay, new rule:
my money, my picks.
Uh-oh.
Don'’t give up.
Last man standing wins.
What are you talking about?
Gwen and I are just friends.
Okay.
♪ You know you love me
I know you care... ♪
- Oh, no, please, no!
- Really, Vanessa?
I told you not to let her pick!
Or dance.
- Stop the madness.
- Yeah. I had the same idea.
Holy shit!
Tessa? Campinelli?
You must be mistaking me
for someone else.
No, no, I'’m not!
I'’ve been looking all over
for you! You'’re Tessa!
Uh-huh. I must just have
one of those faces.
♪ Baby, baby, baby oh
Like baby, baby, baby no ♪
♪ Like baby, baby, baby no oh ♪
♪ Thought you'’d always
be mine, mine... ♪
Next time on In Contempt...
This guy burned
his girlfriend alive,
- and then watched her die!
- Allegedly.
As your new supervisor,
it'’s my duty to prepare
your performance review.
Tom usually
just lets me write it
- and then he signs.
- New sheriff in town.
Bennet and I are sort
of moving in together.
Wow, Bennet! This is great!
We are supposed
to be fighting for justice!
Wrong, wrong, wrong!
- Take me off this trial.
- Easy, now.
You'’re the one
who wanted more serious cases.
I can'’t do this. Please.
I'’m asking you as my supervisor.