Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999–…): Season 12, Episode 11 - Pop - full transcript

A young boy is found dead on a park carousel after being dropped off by his uncle Joe Gilbert. When Detectives Benson and Stabler learn that the boy was beaten to death they suspect that it could be the result of a bully at school. The investigation leads to an unsettling gambling ring. Detectives suspect that Gilbert's acquaintance, Joe Roberts is beating his wife Sandra and the case takes a horrifying turn.

male announcer:
IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM,

SEXUALLY BASED OFFENSES ARE
CONSIDERED ESPECIALLY HEINOUS.

IN NEW YORK CITY,
THE DEDICATED DETECTIVES

WHO INVESTIGATE
THESE VICIOUS FELONIES

ARE MEMBERS
OF AN ELITE SQUAD

KNOWN AS
THE SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT.

THESE ARE THEIR STORIES.

[calliope music]

[bell ringing]

- NEED A HAND
GETTING 'EM OFF, MA'AM?

ALL RIGHT, BUDDY.
MISS, YOU ALL RIGHT?



COME ON, GUYS, LET'S GO.
LET'S GO, EVERYBODY.

LET'S GO, KID.

FAKE SLEEPING AIN'T GONNA GET
YOU A FREE RIDE.

OH. OH, CRAP.
SOM--SOMEBODY CALL 911!

- ANY FRANTIC PARENTS
REPORT A MISSING KID?

- NO PARENTS, NO I.D.

ALL WE HAVE ARE THE CLOTHES
ON HIS BACK.

- SOMEBODY HAD TO SEE
WHERE HE CAME FROM.

- UNLESS HE HOPPED THE FENCE.
WE'LL KEEP LOOKING.

- INTERNAL BODY TEMP'S DOWN
A LITTLE MORE THAN TWO DEGREES.

- SO HE'S BEEN DEAD
A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR.

- YOU'RE GETTING GOOD AT THIS.
- I WISH I WEREN'T.

- HE'S GOT CLEAN CLOTHES,
NEW SHOES.

DOESN'T LOOK HOMELESS.
- MIGHT HAVE RUN AWAY.



I WOULD HAVE.

BRUISES--
YELLOW AND HEALING.

- HOW OLD?
- AS LONG AS TWO WEEKS,

COULD BE AS LITTLE
AS 18 HOURS.

- COULD HE DIE
FROM THIS INJURY?

- I WON'T KNOW
TILL I DO THE AUTOPSY.

- WELL, ONE THING WE DO KNOW.

SOMEONE BEAT THE HELL
OUT OF THIS KID.

- SO THIS KID WAS DEAD
ON THE CAROUSEL

FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR
BEFORE THE OPERATOR NOTICED?

- HE SAYS IT WAS CROWDED,

AND HE DIDN'T CHECK
AFTER EACH RIDE.

THE KID MUST HAVE SNUCK ON.

- WE HAVE ANY IDEA
WHERE HE CAME FROM?

- UH, SCHOOL SAFETY HAS CHECKED
EVERY ELEMENTARY

SOUTH OF 96TH STREET.

THERE'S NO REPORTS
OF ANY KIDS GOING AWOL.

- WELL, THERE'S LOTS
OF AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES HERE,

PLENTY OF CAMERAS ALL AROUND.

- YEAH, ELLIOT'S GOING
THROUGH THE VIDEO NOW.

- WE NOTIFY MISSING PERSONS?
- [sighs] THERE'S NOTHING.

NOTHING FITTING
JOHNNY DOE'S DESCRIPTION.

I MEAN, BUT IT'S STILL
EARLY, RIGHT?

SO THE PARENTS MAY NOT EVEN KNOW
THAT HE'S GONE.

AH, WHICH IS WHAT
I NEED TO BE.

I'VE GOT TO FIND THE MISSING
WITNESS ON THE MORAN TRIAL.

- ALL RIGHT, GO.
WE'LL GET THIS DONE.

- OKAY.

- I WILL GET PATROL
TO LEND US SOME BODIES.

YOU AND I'LL SPLIT UP
AND CANVASS.

- NO NEED.

SURVEILLANCE CAMERA CAUGHT HIM
GETTING OUT OF A CAB

TWO HOURS AGO--

CAB NUMBER 5Y62.

- JOE GILBERT?

- YEAH.

- TRIP SHEET.

- YOU DRIVING THE CAB
ALL DAY?

- YEAH. YOU GUYS WANT
TO TELL ME WHAT'S UP?

- YOU DIDN'T LIST
ALL YOUR FARES.

WHAT, YOU PLAYING
A LITTLE BEAT THE METER, JOE?

- NO, NOT ME.

I WRITE 'EM ALL DOWN,
AND I REMEMBER THEM.

- DO YOU?
WELL, MAYBE YOU CAN TELL US

WHERE HE GOT IN,
2:00 THIS AFTERNOON.

- THAT'S MY NEPHEW ETHAN.

SOMETHING HAPPEN TO HIM?

- TENSION PNEUMOTHORAX.

BROKEN RIB PUNCTURED HIS LUNG.

AIR ESCAPED
INTO THE CHEST CAVITY

UNTIL THE PRESSURE
COLLAPSED BOTH LUNGS.

- OKAY, SO WHOEVER HIT ETHAN

BROKE HIS RIB
AND CAUSED HIS DEATH.

IT'S A HOMICIDE.
- NOT NECESSARILY.

I FOUND SEVERE CONTUSIONS
AND CRUSH INJURIES

TO THE MUSCLES
AND CONNECTIVE TISSUES

OF HIS HIPS AND BUTTOCKS
ABOUT A WEEK OLD.

- WHAT ARE YOU TELLING ME?

- ETHAN'S DEATH COULD HAVE
BEEN CAUSED BY AN ACCIDENT.

UNTIL YOU FIND OUT,

I HAVE TO RULE IT
INCONCLUSIVE.

- THE MOTHER'S HERE.

- [sobbing]

THAT'S HIM.

OH, NO.

MY BABY.
- IT'S OKAY.

- [sobbing] MY BABY.
- OKAY.

OKAY.

- WE'RE SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS,
MS. GILBERT.

- DOES ETHAN'S FATHER KNOW?

- UH, MY BROTHER DIED LAST YEAR
BREATHING DUST AT GROUND ZERO.

NOW THIS.

- WE'RE HOPING YOU CAN HELP US
FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED.

DID ETHAN SEEM OKAY

WHEN HE WENT OFF
TO SCHOOL THIS MORNING?

- NO. HE SAID HE HAD
A STOMACHACHE,

SO I KEPT HIM HOME.

- ETHAN STAYED WITH YOU
LAST NIGHT?

- I WORK THE NIGHT SHIFT.
JOE'S BEEN HELPING OUT.

- BOY NEEDS A DAD.

- IF HE WAS SICK, WHY'D YOU
DROP HIM OFF IN CHELSEA?

- I STOPPED HOME FOR LUNCH.

ETHAN SAID
HE WAS FEELING BETTER,

ASKED IF HE COULD GO
TO A BIRTHDAY PARTY...

DOWN AT THE BOWLING ALLEY
BY THE PARK,

SO I JUST
DROPPED HIM OFF EARLY.

- HOW DID MY BOY DIE?

- OUR M.E. SAYS A BROKEN RIB

PUNCTURED HIS LUNG.

- OH, MY GOD.

IT WAS HIM.

- WHO?
- A KID AT SCHOOL.

TWO WEEKS AGO, ETHAN CAME HOME
WITH A BLACK EYE,

AND HE TOLD ME
HE WALKED INTO A DOOR.

[sniffles]
AND I BELIEVED HIM.

- TILL I FOUND OUT
IT WAS REALLY THIS KID,

BLAKE MURPHY.

- SO HE WAS BEING BULLIED.

- YOU KNOW HOW KIDS ARE.

SCHOOL MADE A FEDERAL CASE
OUT OF NOTHING.

BLAKE, GET YOUR HEINIE
OUT HERE.

- WELL, HE DID ASSAULT
A TEACHER.

- AND I GOT TO TAKE A WEEK OFF
FROM WORK WITHOUT PAY

TO STAY HOME WITH HIM.

BLAKE!

DAMN IT! I TOLD YOU,
THIS ISN'T VACATION!

- WHAT THE--

WHO ARE THESE DUDES?
- THE POLICE, DUDE.

- WE'RE HERE
ABOUT ETHAN GILBERT.

HE'S DEAD.

- BLAKE, WHAT DID YOU DO?
- NO, MOM, I SWEAR!

- BLAKE, YOU BEAT UP
ETHAN AT SCHOOL?

- NO, I DIDN'T BEAT HIM UP, BUT
I SHOULD'VE, 'CAUSE HE HIT ME.

- OH, ETHAN WAS HITTING YOU?

- YEAH, THE DAY
BEFORE THEY SUSPENDED ME,

HE TOLD ME HE WAS LEARNING
HOW TO FIGHT

SO HE COULD KICK MY ASS.

- HE SAY WHO WAS TEACHING
HIM HOW TO FIGHT?

- YEAH, HIS--HIS UNCLE JOE.

- CAN YOU TELL US
WHERE JOE GILBERT IS?

- I CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT.
I CAN SHOW YOU WHERE HE IS.

- YOU GOT ALL YOUR CABS
ON GPS?

- MM-HMM. SO I KNOW
THEY'RE OUT MAKING MONEY

INSTEAD OF SCREWING AROUND.

- INWOOD HILL PARK?

HE'S NOT PICKING UP
ANY FARES THERE.

- YEAH, AND HE WON'T HAVE A JOB
WHEN HE GETS BACK EITHER.

HE HASN'T MOVED
IN HALF AN HOUR.

- OVER THERE
THROUGH THE TREES.

- I GOT JOE.

- WHAT THE HELL'S
HE PAYING HIM FOR?

[overlapping shouting]

- POLICE!
DON'T MOVE!

- YEAH, NICE!

- HEY, HEY, YOU!
BACK UP, BACK UP!

- GET OVER THERE!
YOU, OVER THERE!

- HEY, YOU, GET ON THE CAR!
- GET UP.

PUT YOUR HANDS ON THE HOOD.
- PUT YOUR HANDS ON THE CAR.

- NOBODY'S BREAKING
ANY LAWS, OFFICER.

- WHAT'S YOUR NAME, DOUCHE BAG?
- HANK ROBERTS.

YOU'RE MAKING A MISTAKE.

- DON'T MOVE.

HIYA, JOE.
HOW YOU DOING?

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
YOU, AT THE END--

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
- ANTHONY BARONE.

- UH-HUH.
HOW ABOUT YOU?

- NICKY ROBERTS.

- WHAT WERE YOU TWO
FIGHTING ABOUT?

- NOTHING. WE'RE IN A CLUB.
WE DO IT FOR FUN.

- HOW YOU FEELING, CHAMP?

- I LOST.
- WELL, YOU GOT SUCKERED.

I GUESS THAT WAS
KIND OF MY FAULT.

SO YOU AND THIS ANTHONY KID,
YOU FIGHT A LOT?

- JUST TONIGHT.

- HOW'D YOU MEET HIM?

- POP SET IT UP.

- WHICH ONE'S YOUR DAD?
- THE GUY IN THE HOODIE--

HANK ROBERTS.

IS HE HERE?

- HE'S IN ANOTHER ROOM.

HANK SEEMS A LITTLE YOUNG
TO BE YOUR DAD.

- HE MARRIED MY MOM
FIVE YEARS AGO.

HE ADOPTED ME AND SAYS
HE GAVE ME HIS NAME,

SO I HAVE TO CALL HIM POP.
- UH-HUH.

AND DOES POP
LIKE YOU TO FIGHT?

- SAYS IT'S TOUGHENING ME UP.

- THEY MAKE YOU DO IT?

[door opens]

- MOM.
- WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

- MRS. ROBERTS,
I'M DETECTIVE STABLER.

- SAVE IT.
COME ON, LET'S GO.

- EXCUSE--EXCUSE ME.

I'M NOT FINISHED TALKING
WITH YOUR SON.

- OH, YES, YOU ARE.
COME ON, LET'S GO.

WHERE'S MY HUSBAND?
- HE'S LOCKED UP.

- NOT FOR LONG.
- MRS. ROBERTS,

YOUR SON WAS FIGHTING
ANOTHER BOY.

YOUR HUSBAND
WAS BETTING ON 'EM.

- YOU TOUCH ME AGAIN,
AND I WILL SCREAM.

- LET'S GO.

- HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON?
YOU'RE LETTING BARONE WALK?

- NOT ME--HARDWICKE.
SAID NO PRIORS, FIRST OFFENSE.

TOLD ME TO WRITE HIM
A DESK-APPEARANCE TICKET

AND CUT HIM LOOSE.

- HEY. HEY.
A DESK APPEARANCE?

WHAT'S WHAT?

- PROMOTING GAMBLING.

- THOSE DIRTBAGS
ARE FORCING THEIR SONS

INTO BARE-KNUCKLE
FIST FIGHTING.

- NO, NO, WAIT. DID--DID NICKY
SAY HANK FORCED HIM TO FIGHT?

- LOOK, HE WAS SCARED,
BUT WE SAW WHAT WE SAW.

- THESE BOZOS RISK
THEIR KIDS' LIVES

FOR A COUPLE OF BUCKS.

- AND UNLESS IT WAS
AGAINST THE BOYS' WILL,

THE LAW CONSIDERS IT SPORT.

- SO COCKFIGHTING
OR DOG FIGHTING,

THEY SEE JAIL TIME,

BUT IF THERE'S A DEAD KID,
THEY GET A SLAP ON THE WRIST?

- WAIT A MINUTE.
WHAT DEAD KID?

- ETHAN GILBERT.
HE WAS TEN YEARS OLD.

HE DIED YESTERDAY
ON THE CAROUSEL IN CHELSEA.

AND TONIGHT WE SAW
HIS UNCLE JOE

PAYING OFF
NICKY'S STEPDAD.

- PRESUMABLY BECAUSE ETHAN
LOST A FIGHT AGAINST NICKY.

- YOU'RE SAYING ETHAN
DIED OF INJURIES

FROM THIS PRESUMED FIGHT.

- OH, NO, THERE WAS A FIGHT.
WE JUST HAVE TO PROVE IT.

- I'M SORRY, DETECTIVE.

WE DIDN'T KNOW
WE WERE DOING ANYTHING WRONG.

- WELL, PROMOTING GAMBLING
IS ILLEGAL,

SO I'M GONNA ISSUE
YOU A SUMMONS.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO APPEAR
IN COURT.

- SO ALL THIS DRAMA
FOR A TICKET.

YOU COULD HAVE WRITTEN THAT
TWO HOURS AGO.

- NO. WE HAVE OTHER ISSUES
TO CLEAR UP.

- YEAH, LIKE WHAT?

- WELL, WHY DON'T WE START

WITH JOE GILBERT
AND THAT WAD OF CASH

THAT HE HANDED
OVER TO YOU TONIGHT.

- JOE OWED ME SOME MONEY.
- MM-HMM.

BECAUSE HIS NEPHEW
LOST A FIGHT TO YOUR SON.

- NO, I LOANED JOE SOME CASH
SO HE COULD GET HIS CAR FIXED.

HE CAME BACK OVER TO THE PARK
TO PAY ME BACK,

END OF STORY.

- REALLY?

BECAUSE JOE IS NEXT DOOR
RIGHT NOW

DOING AN AWFUL LOT OF TALKING

SINCE HE FOUND OUT
HE'S FACING A MURDER RAP.

- MURDER?
NO, NOBODY MURDERED ETHAN.

- YOU DID...

TWO NIGHTS AGO WHEN YOU
TOOK HIM TO INWOOD PARK

AND LET HANK ROBERTS' KID
BEAT HIM DOWN!

- I WASN'T EVEN UP THERE
THAT NIGHT.

- YEAH? THEN WHY DOES
THE TRIP SHEET ON YOUR CAR

SHOW 19 MILES UNACCOUNTED FOR
ON THE METER?

- I-I TOOK A FARE
OUT TO BROOKLYN.

I GUESS I FORGOT
TO TURN IT ON.

- YOU CAN'T EVEN LIE
LIKE A REAL MAN.

- ETHAN WAS MY BROTHER'S KID.

I WOULD NEVER LET
ANYTHING HAPPEN TO HIM.

- YOU'RE NOTHING BUT A PIMP THAT
MADE A COUPLE OF LOUSY BUCKS

WATCHING YOUR OWN NEPHEW
GET BEAT TO DEATH!

- PLEASE STOP.
- SCUMBAG LIKE YOU

PROBABLY BET
AGAINST YOUR OWN NEPHEW.

- THAT'S AGAINST THE RULES.

- WHAT RULES?

- THE RULES...
OF YOUR KIDDIE FIGHT CLUB.

ALL YOUR CABBIE BUDDIES

GO UP TO THE PARK
WITH THEIR SONS.

NICKY KICKS THEIR BUTT, AND
YOU POCKET AN EXTRA BIT OF CASH?

- [scoffs]

I GOT THE RIGHT
TO REMAIN SILENT, DON'T I?

- DO YOU SAY THAT WHEN
THE COPS COME TO YOUR HOME?

'CAUSE I GOT POLICE REPORTS.

YEAH, THREE 911 CALLS
FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

- NEIGHBORS MADE THOSE CALLS--
NEVER BEEN ARRESTED.

- NO, BECAUSE A GUY LIKE YOU
KNOWS WHERE TO PUNCH

SO NO MARKS ARE LEFT,
AND YOUR WIFE--

WELL, SHE'S NOT GONNA PRESS
CHARGES, IS SHE?

- WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
SANDRA'S NOT SCARED OF ME.

OKAY?
WE GET ALONG GREAT--

- HEY, BUFF STUD,
WHAT ARE YOU,

TEN YEARS YOUNGER
THAN SANDRA?

SHE MUST HAVE THOUGHT
SHE HIT THE LOTTERY

UNTIL YOU STARTED
SMACKING HER AROUND.

STILL, SHE STICKS UP
FOR YOU...

HUH, WIFE BEATER?

- YOU GOT A BIG MOUTH.
- YEAH, TOUGH GUY?

'CAUSE I KNOW
YOU BEAT UP NICKY, DON'T YOU?

UNLESS YOU'RE WATCHING
SOMEONE ELSE BEAT HIM UP.

- I LOVE MY SON.
- IS THAT WHY

YOU WHORE HIM OUT
AS A PUNCHING BAG?

COME ON.
OH, LOOK AT YOU.

HUH? COME ON, TELL ME.
WHAT KIND OF MAN DOES THAT?

- YOU SHOULD TAKE OFF THAT GUN,
AND I'LL SHOW YOU.

- I'M NOT WEARING MY GUN.

- DETECTIVE STABLER.
- OH, LOOK AT THAT.

- DADDY'S COMING IN
TO SAVE YOUR ASS!

- THE ASS I'M SAVING IS YOURS.
LET'S GO. LET'S GO.

- REALLY?
YOU'RE JUST GONNA TUNE HIM UP

WHEN I'M STANDING RIGHT THERE?

- YOU'RE FREE TO LEAVE
ANYTIME YOU WANT.

- OH, IS THAT HOW YOU DO IT?

YOU JUST BAIT 'EM
AND THEN CHOKE 'EM OUT?

- I'M NOT GONNA LET YOU
CUT THIS GUY OFF THE HOOK.

- HOW ABOUT THIS ONE?

- HANK DIDN'T TELL ME

HIS KID WAS OLDER
AND BIGGER THAN ETHAN.

NICKY WENT AFTER MY NEPHEW.

I TRIED TO STOP THE FIGHT.

HANK HELD ME BACK.

BY THE TIME I BROKE FREE...

ETHAN WAS ON THE GROUND.

I DIDN'T MEAN FOR HIM
TO GET HURT.

- ARREST HIM FOR CRIMINALLY
NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE

FOR ETHAN'S DEATH.
- AND WHAT ABOUT HANK?

- WE CAN'T CHARGE HIM
SOLELY ON THE SAY-SO

OF A CO-CONSPIRATOR.

FIND ANOTHER WITNESS
WHO SAW THE FIGHT THAT NIGHT,

OR LET HIM GO.
- YOU MIGHT AS WELL

GIVE HIM A LICENSE TO BEAT UP
HIS WIFE AND STEPSON.

- COME ON, BABY,
LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.

- NICKY.

HEY.

- I TOLD YOU,
STAY AWAY FROM HIM.

- NICE MEETING YOU.
I HOPE I DON'T SEE YOU AGAIN.

- DON'T WORRY.
YOU WON'T.

- I'M JUST GONNA SAY IT ONCE.

STAY AWAY FROM HIM.
- I'M GOING HOME, CAPTAIN.

[school bell rings]

- NICKY.

WAIT A MINUTE.

I JUST WANT TO TALK
TO YOU A MINUTE.

- AH!

- WHAT HAPPENED?

- I FELL LAST NIGHT.

- NO, YOU DIDN'T.

- JUST--JUST PLEASE
LEAVE ME ALONE.

- NICKY, LOOK...

YOU CAN'T LET HANK
GET AWAY WITH THIS.

SOMETIMES WORDS CAN DO
A HELL OF A LOT MORE

THAN ANY PUNCH.

YOU'VE GOT THE POWER
TO STOP THIS.

JUST TALK TO ME.
TELL ME.

- HE PUNCHED ME IN MY CHEST

WHEN HE FOUND
YOUR BUSINESS CARD.

- OKAY. OKAY.

COME ON.

COME ON.

- WHAT'S GOING ON?
- I DON'T KNOW.

STAY HERE.

- HEY, HEY!
THERE HE IS!

THAT'S THE GUY.
ARREST HIM.

- WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON?

- STABLER, YOU SAVED ME
THE TRIP.

- NICKY, GET OUT OF THE CAR.

I SAW HIM!
HE BEAT MY HUSBAND!

- SHE'S A LIAR.

- FUNNY, I BELIEVE THEM.

- YOU REALLY THINK
I'M STUPID ENOUGH

TO BEAT UP A GUY
IN BROAD DAYLIGHT

IN FRONT OF HIS OWN HOME?

- YOU REALLY WANT ME
TO ANSWER THAT?

- I DIDN'T LAY A FINGER
ON HANK ROBERTS.

- THE CAPTAIN SAYS HE SAW YOU
SLAM THE GUY INTO A WALL.

- YOUR COP'S GOT A SHORT FUSE.

I--YOU SAW WHAT HE DID
TO ME YESTERDAY.

- WHY DON'T YOU TELL ME
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TODAY?

- WELL, NICKY LEFT FOR SCHOOL,

AND I-I WATCHED HIM WALK
DOWN THE STREET, AS USUAL,

AND, UH, STARTED
BACK TO THE HOUSE.

AND THAT'S WHEN THAT BASTARD
CAME UP FROM BEHIND ME.

- AND YOU'RE SURE
IT WAS DETECTIVE STABLER.

- WELL, HE THREW ME
DOWN TO THE GROUND.

I LOOKED UP.
IT WAS HIM.

- YOUR PARTNER SAID
HE WAS GONNA TEACH HANK A LESSON

FOR DISRESPECTING HIM,

AND THEN HE KICKED HIM
IN THE FACE.

- AND YOU SAW THIS?

- I WAS STANDING
AT THE FRONT DOOR.

WHAT--I DON'T GOT EYES?

- WERE THERE
ANY OTHER NEIGHBORS OUTSIDE?

- OH, HOW THE HELL
DO I KNOW?

I WANT TO SEE MY SON.

- SO YOU'RE STICKING
TO THAT STORY.

- WHAT I TOLD YOU
IS HOW IT WENT DOWN.

- THIS IS ABOUT REVENGE

BECAUSE I BROKE UP
HIS BOYS' FIGHT CLUB.

AND THEN HE BRINGS IN
HIS BATTERED WIFE

TO BACK UP HIS LIE.

- I ASKED WHERE YOU WERE
THIS MORNING.

- PICKING UP HIS STEPSON,

WHO CAN'T EVEN MOVE HIS ARM
BECAUSE HE'S IN SO MUCH PAIN.

- SEEMS LIKE THIS WHOLE FAMILY
STARTS HURTING

WHEN YOU'RE AROUND.
- EL, YOU BETTER COME OUT HERE.

- HE'S NOT AVAILABLE,
DETECTIVE.

- WHY DO YOU KEEP LYING
FOR HIM?

- COME ON, GET BACK HERE.

- STOP TALKING
ABOUT YOUR FATHER THIS WAY.

- HE'S NOT MY FATHER.
- NICKY.

NICKY, WHAT'S GOING ON.
- SHE WANTS ME TO LIE

AND SAY THAT YOU HIT ME
AND THAT I SAW YOU HIT HIM.

- NOT ANOTHER WORD, NICKY.
- NICKY, STOP THIS.

WITHOUT HANK, WE WERE GONNA BE
OUT ON THE STREET.

- MA, BUT THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID
ABOUT THE OTHER GUYS TOO.

I MEAN, AT LEAST THEY DIDN'T
BEAT YOU UP LIKE HANK DOES.

- WHAT? I LOOK LIKE
SOMEONE PUNCHED ME?

- WHAT DO I LOOK LIKE, MOM?

DETECTIVE STABLER
DIDN'T DO THIS TO ME.

HANK DID...

MY LOVING POP.

- BABY, PLEASE,
TELL ME THIS ISN'T TRUE.

- NO, OF COURSE NOT.

TELL 'EM, NICKY.
- NICKY SAID

THAT YOU HIT HIM LAST NIGHT.

- AND HE MADE MOM HIT HIM

AND SAY THAT YOU DID IT
TO GET YOU IN TROUBLE.

- YOU'RE UNDER ARREST
FOR ASSAULTING YOUR STEPSON.

- HOW'S THAT FEEL, POP?
- TAKE A LAST LOOK.

HE'S NO LONGER
YOUR MEAL TICKET.

- GET HIM OUT OF HERE.

- I NEVER TOLD MY MOM
ABOUT THE FIGHTING.

SHE WORKS A LOT OF HOURS,
AND I DON'T WANT HER TO WORRY.

- MM-HMM.

SO WHEN DID HANK
FIRST GET YOU TO FIGHT?

- LAST YEAR.

PICKED ME UP AT SCHOOL AND SAID
WE WERE GOING FOR A RIDE.

- TO THE PARK?

- THE OTHER KID WAS ALREADY
THERE WITH HIS DAD.

THEY JUST...

TOLD US TO GET OUT ON THE GRASS
AND START FIGHTING.

- NO RULES?

- NO.

- HOW'D YOU DO?

- KNOCKED HIM OUT.

AND THEN--AND THEN
I THOUGHT I KILLED HIM

UNTIL HE MOVED.

AND THEN POP WAS SMILING AND--
AND SAID HE WAS PROUD OF ME.

- WHAT HAPPENED
IF YOU DIDN'T WIN?

- WHEN I LOSE, POP SAYS
THAT IT'S MY FAULT

THAT WE CAN'T PAY OUR BILLS.

THEN HE HITS ME.

AND ONE TIME...

SOME KID MESSED UP MY SHOULDER,
AND I LOST.

AND WHEN WE GOT HOME,

POP KEPT PUNCHING ME
IN THAT SAME SHOULDER

OVER AND OVER.

- [sighs] OKAY.

WE HAVE TO TALK
ABOUT THE OTHER NIGHT.

ETHAN GILBERT.

WHAT HAPPENED?

- [voice breaking]
HE WAS JUST A LITTLE KID.

I-I TOLD HANK
THAT IT WASN'T FAIR.

I TOLD HIM.

HE SHOVED ME OUT THERE
AND SAID, "BE A MAN."

SO...

I PUNCHED ETHAN REAL LIGHT
AT FIRST.

HE WENT DOWN
BUT GOT BACK UP.

AND POP SAID THAT
IF I DIDN'T KNOCK THE KID OUT

THAT I'D GET IT EVEN WORSE.

SO I HIT HIM
A LITTLE HARDER,

AND HE GOT BACK UP SLOWER.

AND THEN POP STARTED TO CHEER,
"BREAK HIS NOSE.

GET HIM IN THE EYE."

I MEAN, THE POOR KID
STARTED PUKING.

AND POP SHOUTED,
"KNOCK HIM OUT!"

SO I STARTED POUNDING HIM.

I STARTED POUNDING HIM,
AND IT FELT GOOD,

AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHY.

AND I COULDN'T STOP IT.

AND THEN HE WENT DOWN.

HE DIDN'T GET UP.

I'M SORRY.

[sniffles]

[crying]
I'M REALLY SORRY THAT HE DIED.

- I KNOW.

- I DIDN'T MEAN TO.

- WHAT HAPPENED
TO NICKY'S REAL DAD?

- [sniffling]

HE TOOK OFF
WHEN NICKY WAS TWO.

- DID YOU KNOW
HANK WAS ABUSING NICKY?

- HE ALWAYS SAYS HE'S SORRY.

- UNTIL HE HITS HIM AGAIN...

AND YOU.

- HANK GOT LAID OFF

FROM HIS CONSTRUCTION JOB
TWO YEARS AGO,

AND ALL HE COULD FIND
WAS DRIVING A CAB.

AND HE HATES IT SO MUCH.

I FEEL HORRIBLE FOR HIM.

- IT DOESN'T GIVE HIM
THE RIGHT TO BEAT YOU

OR YOUR SON.

- HANK'S A GOOD MAN DEEP DOWN.

HE--HE LEGALLY ADOPTED NICKY
BECAUSE HE LOVES HIM SO MUCH.

AND I KNOW HE LOVES ME,

'CAUSE HE TELLS ME
ALL THE TIME.

- THEY ALL SAY THAT,
EVERY LAST ONE OF 'EM.

YOU PRESS CHARGES AGAINST HANK,

AND WE WILL GET HIM
OUT OF YOUR LIFE AND NICKY'S.

- I AM HAVING HIS BABY.
I NEED HIM!

- YOU NEED TO GET RID OF HIM
BEFORE HE KILLS ONE OF YOU.

- I ALREADY LOST ONE FAMILY
WHEN NICKY'S FATHER LEFT.

I'M NOT GONNA BREAK UP
THIS FAMILY TOO.

- DOCKET ENDING 419,

PEOPLE VERSUS
HENRY SHAW ROBERTS--

ONE COUNT EACH,
ASSAULT IN THE SECOND DEGREE,

CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE,

ENDANGERING
THE WELFARE OF A CHILD.

- BUSY MAN, MR. ROBERTS.

HOW DO YOU PLEAD?

- NOT GUILTY.
- ON ALL COUNTS, YOUR HONOR.

AND THE HOMICIDE CHARGE
IS A STRETCH.

- THE DEFENDANT FORCED
HIS STEPSON

TO FIGHT A TEN-YEAR-OLD
AND BET ON THE WINNER.

WHAT WOULD YOU CALL
THE DEATH OF THAT CHILD?

- I'LL LET
THE GRAND JURY DECIDE.

BAIL, MS. HARDWICKE?
- REMAND, YOUR HONOR.

WHEN HE'S NOT PROMOTING
KIDDIE FIGHTS,

THE DEFENDANT
SPENDS HIS SPARE TIME

BEATING UP HIS WIFE
AND STEPSON.

- MY CLIENT
HAS NEVER BEEN ARRESTED,

HAS A STEADY JOB AND STRONG TIES
TO THE COMMUNITY.

- FIRST OFFENSE,
MS. HARDWICKE.

CAN YOU LIVE WITH $50,000 BAIL?
- IF IT'S CASH ONLY

AND COMES WITH AN ORDER
OF PROTECTION FOR MRS. ROBERTS.

- SO ORDERED.

MR. ROBERTS, YOU ARE NOT TO COME
WITHIN 200 FEET OF YOUR WIFE,

YOUR STEPSON, OR YOUR HOME.

- THEN WHERE THE HELL
AM I GONNA STAY?

- RIKERS ISLAND
IF YOU VIOLATE THE ORDER,

UNLESS YOU'D RATHER GO NOW.
- THAT WON'T BE NECESSARY.

MR. ROBERTS WILL ABIDE
BY YOUR RULING.

- THEN WE'RE DONE,
AREN'T WE?

TEN-MINUTE RECESS.

- WE'LL GET THE MONEY
TOGETHER, BABY.

- IT'S OKAY.
NO BROAD IN A BLACK ROBE

IS GONNA KEEP ME
FROM WHAT'S MINE.

- IF SHE DOESN'T, I WILL.

- WE DON'T NEED
A RESTRAINING ORDER.

- LADY, HE JUST THREATENED YOU
RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME.

- HANK WOULD NEVER HURT US.

- WELL, I'M GONNA
DRIVE YOU HOME.

I'M GONNA HAVE A PATROL CAR

SIT OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSE ALL NIGHT
JUST IN CASE.

- HOW'D IT GO?

- SANDRA'S THE QUEEN OF DENIAL,

AND HANK IS A HAND GRENADE
WITH A LOOSE PIN.

- IF CRAGEN
HADN'T STEPPED IN YESTERDAY,

HE WOULD HAVE BLOWN--

TOO BAD.

- I GOT A SON TOO, REMEMBER?

- I HOPE YOU DON'T HAVE
ANY PLANS.

- YEAH?
YOU BUYING US DRINKS?

- TWO-FOUR IS SHORT-HANDED.

C.O. IS PULLING THE RADIO CAR
OFF THE ROBERTS' PLACE

AS SOON AS WE GET THERE.

- CAPTAIN, I'LL GO WITH ELLIOT.
- NO, I'LL GO.

IF HANK SHOWS, HE'S NOT
SETTING ANYONE UP THIS TIME.

AH, SO MUCH FOR PATROL
WAITING AROUND.

- [sighs]
OKAY, I'M GONNA CHECK,

MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S
ALL RIGHT.

[gunshot]

- 10-10, SHOTS FIRED,
502 WEST 139--

SEND BACKUP AND A BUS.

- NICKY?
SANDRA?

- POLICE!

NICKY?

- [moaning]

- SHE'S ALIVE.

- NICKY.

NICKY, DROP THE GUN.

IT'S OKAY.
DROP THE GUN.

[gun thuds]

- MOM LET HIM IN...

AND HE STARTED
BEATING HER UP.

I DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT ELSE TO DO.

- I'M SORRY I LET HIM
DO THIS TO YOU.

- IS MY BABY OKAY?

CAN--CAN YOU CHECK TO SEE
IF HE'S MOVING?

- WE HEARD A HEARTBEAT.
- I LOVE YOU, MOM.

- YOU OKAY?
- I'M GLAD HE'S DEAD.

HE DESERVED TO DIE
AFTER WHAT HE DID TO MOM.

- NICKY, DON'T SAY
ANYTHING ELSE.

- I DON'T CARE.
- NICKY.

- I PUT THE GUN TO HIS HEAD--
- STOP! STOP IT.

[indistinct conversation]

UNLESS YOU HAVE
A LAWYER WITH YOU

AND HE SAYS IT'S OKAY,

YOU CANNOT TALK
ABOUT THIS TO ANYONE.

ME INCLUDED.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?

- I UNDERSTAND.
- OKAY. GOOD.

OFFICER SMITH...

TAKE THIS YOUNG MAN
DOWN TO THE PRECINCT.

I'LL BE THERE AS SOON AS I CAN.
YOU'RE GONNA BE ALL RIGHT.

- IT'S PRETTY CUT AND DRY.

THE VICTIM, MR. ROBERTS,

SUSTAINED AN EXIT WOUND
TO THE FOREHEAD.

STIPPLING INDICATES HE WAS
SHOT IN THE BACK OF THE NECK

AT POINT-BLANK RANGE.

I'M RULING IT A HOMICIDE.

- AND WE'RE THINKING
IT WAS JUSTIFIABLE?

- WELL, NICKY SAW HANK BEATING
THE CRAP OUT OF HIS MOTHER.

HE GOT HANK'S GUN

AND MADE SURE THE SON OF A BITCH
DIDN'T KILL HER.

- BUT NOT NECESSARILY
IN THAT ORDER.

- YOU FIND SOMETHING
TO SUGGEST OTHERWISE?

- IN THE BASEMENT.

THE SLUG THAT KILLED
HANK ROBERTS

WAS LODGED IN THE FLOOR
OF THIS CABINET.

- SO HANK'S STANDING THERE,
NICKY SHOOTS.

THE BULLET GOES THROUGH HANK
AND THE DOOR.

- UH, ONLY IF NICKY
WERE THE JOLLY GREEN GIANT.

- TRAJECTORY
IS ALMOST STRAIGHT DOWN.

- AND NICKY'S ABOUT
FIVE INCHES SHORTER THAN HANK.

IF HANK WERE STANDING,

NICKY WOULD HAVE
TO RAISE HIS ARM

AND FIRE DOWNWARDS.

- HANK WAS KNEELING.

- NICKY SHOT THIS GUY
EXECUTION-STYLE.

- OR HANK WAS ALREADY
DOWN THERE,

GETTING SOMETHING
FROM THE CABINET...

LIKE THIS MAYBE.

- WAS ANYTHING ELSE IN THERE,
LIKE A WEAPON?

- MM-MM.

- THEN THERE WAS NO IMMINENT
THREAT TO NICKY'S LIFE.

- DID YOU SEE
HIS MOTHER'S FACE?

- WITH THIS FAMILY,
LET'S SEE WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY

BEFORE WE JUMP
TO ANY CONCLUSIONS.

- HANK SHOWED UP
AT MY BACK DOOR, PLEADING.

I-I COULDN'T JUST LEAVE HIM
OUT IN THE COLD.

BUT ONCE I LET HIM IN,
HE STARTED SLUGGING ME,

SAYING I WAS A NO-GOOD SLUT.

- WHERE WAS NICKY?

- HE CAME RUNNING AS SOON
AS I STARTED SCREAMING.

AND THEN HANK
THREW HIM TO THE FLOOR

AND JUST KEPT...
KICKING ME.

THAT'S ALL I REMEMBER.

- OKAY, SO YOU DIDN'T SEE
NICKY SHOOT HANK.

- NO. WHY?

- THE EVIDENCE
DOESN'T SUGGEST SELF-DEFENSE.

- YOU'RE SAYING
YOU DON'T BELIEVE NICKY?

- WE NEED TO TALK TO HIM.

- HANK ONLY GOT CLOSE
TO MY HOUSE

BECAUSE YOUR COPS TOOK OFF,

AND YOU ACCUSE MY BOY
OF LYING?

- MRS. ROBERTS--

- AND DON'T YOU GO
ANYWHERE NEAR MY SON.

- NICE BEDSIDE MANNER.

- I WANT THE TRUTH.

LOOK, AFTER HANK WENT BY
IN A BODY BAG,

NICKY SAID SOMETHING TO YOU.

- THIS ISN'T
ABOUT WHAT NICKY SAID.

THIS IS ABOUT HANK VIOLATING
THE PROTECTION ORDER.

- HANK WASN'T THREATENING
ANYONE ON HIS KNEES

WHEN NICKY SNUCK UP BEHIND HIM
AND BLEW HIS BRAINS OUT.

- HANK WAS ABUSING HIM.
SANDRA LOOKED THE OTHER WAY.

THE BOY SNAPPED.
- NICKY'S 13.

THE LAW SAYS I CAN CHARGE
THE BOY AS AN ADULT.

- SO WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO,
PARADE HIM INTO COURT,

WIN YOUR BROWNIE POINTS
WITH THE D.A.?

- JUST DO YOUR JOB.

ARREST NICKY
FOR SECOND-DEGREE MURDER.

- DO IT YOURSELF.

- I SPEND ALL DAY IN COURT,

AND YOU'RE THE ONE
PISSING OFF LAWYERS.

- SO HARDWICKE CALLED YOU.

- SHE THINKS YOU'RE HOLDING
SOMETHING BACK.

- MM-HMM.

- THOUGHT
YOU MIGHT HAVE TOLD ME.

I TOLD HER TO SHOVE IT.

- SHE WANTS TO CHARGE NICKY
WITH MURDER TWO.

- IS SHE WRONG?

- I DON'T KNOW.

HE SAID SOME THINGS TO ME
LAST NIGHT OUTSIDE THE HOUSE.

HE'S GLAD HANK'S DEAD.

- IT'S PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME

HE'S FELT SAFE IN YEARS.
- SAFE?

IF HARDWICKE HAS HER WAY,

THE KID'LL BE LOOKING
AT 25 TO LIFE.

- ELLIOT, YOU DIDN'T DO
ANYTHING WRONG.

- TELL THAT TO ME TOMORROW.

I DON'T WANT TO ARREST NICKY.

- SO FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE.

- I AM NOT CHANGING MY MIND.
NICKY IS NOT GONNA TALK TO YOU.

- HE'S A MINOR.
YOU NEED TO BE PRESENT

WHEN I READ HIM
HIS MIRANDA RIGHTS.

- MOM!

- NICHOLAS ROBERTS,
YOU'RE UNDER ARREST

FOR MURDER
IN THE SECOND DEGREE.

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
TO REMAIN SILENT.

IF YOU GIVE UP THAT RIGHT--
- NO, HE'S NOT.

SORRY I'M LATE.

- WHO ARE YOU?

- DEBBY MARSH.

DETECTIVE STABLER SAYS
THAT YOU NEED A LAWYER.

- OH, W-WELL,
I CAN'T AFFORD YOU.

- THIS IS ON THE HOUSE.
[chuckles]

PROUD OF YOURSELF, HMM,
CHARGING A BATTERED KID

WITH MURDER TWO?

- I'M MORE THAN OPEN
TO A DEAL.

- OH. [chuckles]
WELL, I'M NOT.

NO, NICKY SHOT HIS STEPFATHER
IN SELF-DEFENSE

AFTER YEARS OF ABUSE.

WHEN THEY HEAR WHAT
THAT BASTARD HANK ROBERTS DID,

NO JURY IS EVER GOING
TO CONVICT HIM.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE
NICKY'S STATE OF MIND

WHEN YOU FOUND HIM
THE NIGHT OF THE SHOOTING?

- HE WAS SCARED TO DEATH.

HE WAS COWERING IN THE CORNER
OF HIS BASEMENT.

THE HAND, UH, THAT WAS HOLDING
THE GUN WAS SHAKING.

I ORDERED HIM TO DROP IT.
HE DID.

- DID HE SAY ANYTHING TO YOU?
- YES, HE SAID

THAT HIS STEPFATHER,
MR. ROBERTS,

WAS, UH, BEATING UP HIS MOTHER,

AND HE DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT ELSE TO DO.

- WHAT DID YOU TAKE THAT
TO MEAN?

- THAT NICKY HAD NO CHOICE
BUT TO STOP MR. ROBERTS,

WHO WAS IN VIOLATION
OF HIS ORDER OF PROTECTION,

FROM ASSAULTING OR...

KILLING HIS MOTHER.

- AND YOU BELIEVED HIM.

- THEN AND NOW, YES.
- THANK YOU, DETECTIVE.

NOTHING FURTHER.

- WHAT ELSE
DID NICKY SAY TO YOU

OUTSIDE THE HOUSE,
AFTER THE SHOOTING?

- OBJECTION--
ANYTHING MY CLIENT SAID

IN RESPONSE
TO THE DETECTIVE'S QUESTIONS

IS INADMISSIBLE WITHOUT A PARENT
OR LEGAL GUARDIAN PRESENT.

- I WITNESSED
THAT CONVERSATION, YOUR HONOR.

IF THE DEFENDANT
SAID ANYTHING INCRIMINATING,

IT'S ADMISSIBLE
AS A SPONTANEOUS UTTERANCE.

- HE'S A MINOR
AND HAD NOT BEEN MIRANDIZED.

- OBJECTION OVERRULED.

ANSWER THE QUESTION,
DETECTIVE.

- UH, HE TALKED
ABOUT HIS STEPFATHER.

- BE SPECIFIC,
DETECTIVE STABLER.

- HE SAID,
"I'M GLAD HE'S DEAD.

HE DESERVED TO DIE
FOR WHAT HE DID TO MOM."

- AND THEN HE YELLED
SOMETHING AT YOU.

- "I PUT THE GUN TO HIS HEAD."

- NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
- YOU MAY STEP DOWN.

WE WILL TAKE
A 15-MINUTE RECESS.

[gavel bangs]

- REALLY?
YOU'RE SMOKING.

- YOU EVER STOP BEING A COP?

- WELL, I WILL ONCE YOU
START BEING A MOTHER.

YOU'RE ON THE STAND
IN TEN MINUTES.

- I CAN'T.
I CAN'T DO IT.

- YOU HAVE TO.
NICKY NEEDS YOU.

- YOU KNOW THE NIGHT
THAT HANK WAS HITTING NICKY

IN THE SHOULDER?

I WATCHED HIM DO IT.

I FELT EVERY PUNCH.

I KNEW WHERE HANK HID HIS GUN,
AND I-I WANTED TO GO GET IT...

BUT I DIDN'T.

I DIDN'T DO A DAMN THING
TO PROTECT MY SON.

AND I'M SUPPOSED TO GO
IN THERE NOW,

STAND UP IN FRONT OF THAT JURY,
AND TELL THEM WHAT--

THAT I WAS A BAD MOTHER?

- THIS ISN'T ABOUT YOU.

THIS IS ABOUT NICKY.
- GOD, YOU JUST THINK

I DON'T GIVE A CRAP
ABOUT HIM, DON'T YOU?

- NO, I THINK
YOU'RE A BATTERED WOMAN

WHO DOESN'T KNOW
WHERE TO TURN.

- HANK PAID THE BILLS.
HE FIXED THE HOUSE.

HE PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.

HE KEPT EVERYTHING
UNDER CONTROL.

WHAT AM I GONNA DO
WITHOUT HIM NOW?

- WELL, NOW YOU'RE IN CONTROL.

YOU HAVE TO PROTECT NICKY.

THIS MAY BE
YOUR LAST CHANCE.

- HANK SAID
I WASN'T BEING LOYAL,

THAT HE WAS GONNA MAKE ME PAY
FOR RATTING HIM OUT TO THE COPS.

- WHEN WAS THIS,
MRS. ROBERTS?

- WHEN HE WAS BEATING ME
IN THE KITCHEN.

- TELL THE JURY
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT.

MRS. ROBERTS?

- I GOT SOMETHING
I WA--I WANT TO SAY.

- ANSWER THE QUESTION,
MS. ROBERTS.

- I NEVER THOUGHT
YOU WOULD GO AFTER NICKY.

I CAN'T LET HIM GO TO PRISON
FOR SOMETHING THAT I DID.

IT WAS ME.
I KILLED HANK.

- MOM, NO!
- MS. ROBERTS.

- YOU'RE CONFESSING TO MURDER
ON THE RECORD IN OPEN COURT.

I'M REMINDING YOU

YOU HAVE FIFTH AMENDMENT RIGHT
TO REMAIN SILENT.

- I DON'T WANT TO REMAIN SILENT!
HANK WAS BEATING ME!

HE WAS GONNA KILL
THE BOTH OF US.

I WENT AND FOUND
HANK'S GUN.

AND WHEN HE WAS
BY THE WORKBENCH,

I SNUCK UP BEHIND HIM,

AND I BLEW
THE BASTARD'S BRAINS OUT.

- DON'T LISTEN TO HER.
SHE'S LYING TO SAVE ME.

I DID IT!
I KILLED HIM!

- NO. I DID IT.

- THAT'S ENOUGH.
[gavel bangs]

THE COURT WILL BE IN RECESS
TILL AFTER LUNCH.

- DON'T SAY ANY MORE.

- MY PARADE
JUST BECAME A CIRCUS.

- SANDRA ROBERTS
MURDERING HER HUSBAND

IS ENTIRELY PLAUSIBLE.

- NICKY FINDS HER
ABOUT TO SHOOT HANK.

HE TIRES TO STOP HER,
BUT HE'S A SECOND TOO LATE.

- NICKY GRABS THE GUN
FROM SANDRA

WHO ENDS UP ACROSS THE ROOM.

THAT'S WHY
WE NEVER SUSPECTED HER.

- AND WHY WE NEVER
TESTED HER CLOTHES.

TURNS OUT,
SANDRA'S TURTLENECK

WAS SATURATED
WITH GUNSHOT RESIDUE

AND FINE BLOOD-SPATTER
PARTICULATE.

- SO NICKY DIDN'T KILL HIM.

- I CAN'T TESTIFY TO THAT.

- DIDN'T YOU
JUST PROVE IT TO US?

- I SAID THAT SANDRA BEING
THE SHOOTER WAS PLAUSIBLE,

BUT NICKY ALSO
TESTED POSITIVE FOR GSR

AND HAD THE SAME PATTERN
OF BLOOD SPATTER.

- OKAY, SO EITHER SANDRA
SHOT HIM,

AND NICKY TRIED TO GRAB
THE GUN.

- OR NICKY SNUCK UP
BEHIND HIM,

PUT THE GUN TO HIS HEAD
JUST AS HE TOLD YOU,

AND SANDRA TRIED TO STOP HIM.

- THE ONLY THING
THE EVIDENCE PROVES

IS EITHER ONE OF THEM
COULD HAVE SHOT HANK.

- I'M SCREWED, AREN'T I?

- NOW YOU KNOW
HOW THEY FELT.

YOU BOTH LIED TO US,
YOU AND NICKY.

YOU'VE BEEN LYING TO US
ALL ALONG,

AS WELL AS YOUR OWN LAWYER.

- THEN WHY DOESN'T SHE
HAVE TO BE HERE?

- AH...

[sighs]
BECAUSE NEITHER OF YOU

ARE BEING CHARGED
IN HANK'S DEATH.

- JUST BECAUSE WE CAN'T PROVE
WHICH ONE OF YOU ACTUALLY DID IT

DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T WANT
TO KNOW THE TRUTH.

- ONE OF YOU
PULLED THE TRIGGER...

AND ONE OF YOU TRIED
TO KNOCK THE GUN AWAY.

- YOU HAVE MY WORD.

NO ONE WILL PROSECUTE
EITHER OF YOU,

SO JUST TELL US.

WHICH ONE OF YOU SHOT HANK?

- I DID.
- I DID.

- YOU'RE FREE TO GO.

- [chuckles relievedly]

- WE'RE NEVER GONNA KNOW
WHICH ONE OF THEM DID IT.

- DOES IT MATTER?