Low Winter Sun (2013): Season 1, Episode 1 - Pilot - full transcript

Are you drunk enough?

I don't think so.

Don't get so lit you can't
do what needs doing.

Remember what brought you here.

- I'm not a bad person.
- No, but he is.

Man's a disease.

- There are lines...
- Hey, don't.

- What?
- That.

Don't be doing that.

Folks talk about morality
like it's black and white.

Or maybe they think they're smarter
or they're at a cocktail party



acting all pretentious
and then they say it's gray.

But do you know
what it really is?

It's a damn strobe.

Flashing back and forth and
back and forth all the time.

So all we can do--

all we can do is try to figure
out how to see straight enough

to keep from getting
our heads bashed in.

- Ain't that right?
- I'm not drunk enough.

She's really gone.

No. Don't keep doing that
to yourself.

Just...
tell me again, please.

- Brendan, stop.
- No!

- You don't have to do this!
- Shut up! Shut up!

- Think what you're doing here, man.
- Shut it, Joe!



Frank, please.

I'm-- I'm sorry.

- Sorry for what?
- Frank, stop.

And after?

He really cut off her head?

- Her hands and feet?
- I don't know.

That's what he told me.

There was a lot of blood.

I'm never gonna
find her body, am I?

Man ain't human.

You don't know the half of it.

But we here,

we're making it right.

What if I can't?

Well, you tell me, Frank.

'Cause you already had a second
chance and he killed that.

Now, do you really think
you get a third?

Hmm.

- Thank you.
- Uh-huh.

Not that.

Salt water.

We can't have that showing up.

- He worse than usual?
- If that's possible.

We'll sober him up.

Hey, we could lock up for you
and leave the keys out back.

All right.
Appreciate it.

Hey, big man.

Brendan, wake up.

Come on, wake up. Time to go, man.

We're gonna drive you home.

I can drive.

- Don't be stupid.
- I can drive.

Your car will be there when
you wake up in the morning.

Yeah, we'll put your keys
through the mailbox.

All right.
All right.

That's a good idea.
Big day tomorrow.

Just need to get some sleep.

You got my back?

I always got your back.

Put your coat on.

- Hey, whoa. Hey, hey.
- There's rats!

- Brendan! Hold still.
- Rats are everywhere! Get 'em off of me!

Hey, listen, you're drunk. You
need to get yourself together.

Come on. Shh.

Come on.

Hey, Frank. Frank, where's that
new piece of ass of yours, huh?

- I wanna tap that.
- What did you say to me?

Shut your mouth, Brendan.
You shut your mouth!

- What did you say to me?
- Shut your mouth.

What did you
say to me, you--

No! No!

That's why I crack!

Frank, stop it!
It's enough, man.

No marks!

Come on!

He's almost gone.

Just a little bit more.

That's it.

You let go, Brendan.

You let go.

- What could screw us up?
- I don't know.

Down.

You're the best of the best. If you can't
think of anything, then nobody else can.

We made the swap clean.
That's all I can think of.

Then let's finish this.

On three.

One, two, three.

Yeah.

- Make sure your window's open.
- Okay.

There's one thing.

A determined suicide--

sometimes they'll attach
themselves to the car

- so there's no going back.
- Okay.

So would a guy like Brendan
cuff himself to the wheel?

- I don't know.
- Oh, come on.

He's fished out
plenty of suicides.

But it might look like
somebody else cuffed him.

If Brendan really meant
to kill himself,

I think...

I think...
we should do it.

Use his own cuffs.
Throw the key on the backseat.

Make it look right.

- Give me his cuffs.
- Okay.

Here.

Oh! Whoa!

- Jesus.
- Psychology.

This murdering prick would know he'd
be too weak to go through with it.

He'd know he'd have to
cuff himself in real tight.

All right.

I think you might
have just screwed us.

What are you gonna do?

Arrest me?

You think McCann got cold feet?

After six months
of paying him off,

he better hope not.

I don't care if he is a cop.

Hey.

Heads up.

Did you put eyes on McCann?

Man, why are we waiting for a cop
outside a trap house, anyway?

- And on the East Side?
- You find Brendan McCann or not?

- There's no sign of him, man.
- And you could see around back?

That boy who usually guards
the stash still AWOL.

So there's only
one asshole in there?

You said it yourself--
play it safe.

Let the cops do our dirty work.

You know what?

Plan's changing.

Okay, you two, you find McCann.

You tell that prick that I need to talk to him.
Michael, come on.

It's broad daylight.

Wait here.

If McCann called in units,
we need to disappear.

- What the hell you want?
- Yo, man, is that your dog outside?

- Somebody's dog keeps barking.
- What the hell you talking about, "dog"?

Where's the coke?
Where is it?

- You don't wanna do this, man.
- Shut up!

- Where's the coke, huh?
- Trash bag under the stairs.

Michael, go get it.
Go!

I'm telling you, man, think.

- You got it?
- At least a month's worth of business.

You know who that belongs to?

There are gonna be
repercussions.

- We gotta move.
- You know who I am?

I've seen you.

That's what I figured.

Yeah, what you got?

So what'd I miss last night?

Hmm.
Nothing much.

Says the man wearing the same
suit he wore to work yesterday.

I suppose you got up, did
your morning prayers already.

- It's good for my abs.
- Hamdullah.

- Looks like you could use
a little religion yourself. - Uh-huh.

- Hey.
- Good morning.

Smells like
a damn brewery in here.

I was home for
the babysitter by 9:00.

I'm telling you, last night
was my breaking point.

I went home, couldn't
even try to go to bed.

- So I just came in here.
- How was Brendan?

Same old crap.

Me and Frank had
to drag his ass home.

But I'm serious, I'm done.

Sick of having Brendan
as my partner.

Thank God for Frank, though.

- Couldn't have handled him on my own.
- What's up with Frank?

- What do you mean?
- Seems edgy lately.

I think it's his love life.

I wouldn't know.

- Maybe he's rushing into
something too soon. - Come on.

- It's been three years.
- I know.

I just want him to be happy.
That's all.

From what Brendan says, Frank
ought to be plenty happy.

And what exactly
does Brendan say?

Her name's Katia.
Total piece of ass.

- Nice.
- It's Brendan's words.

- I'm sure they are.
- Well, you know Brendan,

- anything with an accent.
- Anything with a pulse.

Yeah, I hold my breath
when I'm around him.

Sergeant Morton.

- Who the hell is that?
- Simon Boyd, Internal Affairs.

Either we're about to have
a dog and pony show

or someone's going down.

You could have given me
the courtesy of a heads up.

Charles, come on.
You of all people.

- You know how a corruption case works.
- What's that supposed to mean?

It's not supposed
to mean anything.

It's a fact.
You know that's true.

I am trying to stay civil here.

I couldn't give
you prior notice

of an investigation
even if I wanted to

because prior notice
would compromise your position.

So which one of them is it?

- Hey, Lou.
- Hey.

- Who's that?
- IA. Straight into the Lieutenant's office.

Legit investigation or the
Mayor's new election campaign?

Nobody knows.

Curtis, can you come in here?

Yes, sir.

What's going on?

I need Detective McCann.

I already tried him.
Home phone just rings.

- What about his cell phone?
- Straight to voice mail.

Try him again.

It's Brendan.

It's Brendan, isn't it?

Internal Affairs?

Which desk
is Detective McCann's?

It's over here.

Across from me.

This is Brendan's desk.

That is Brendan's partner.

Do you have an empty room?

Interrogation?
Someplace no one's using?

Yeah.

I'm sure we can
find you something.

- Here you go.
- Thanks.

- Appreciate it.
- No problem.

If you could let people know,

no one's allowed in here
until we're done with this.

Sure. What exactly
are you looking for?

- Can't say.
- Uh-huh.

Carry your own shit
on the way out.

Take a deep breath, Frank.

Did you know about this?

- Of course not.
- He said it, didn't he?

- Who?
- Brendan.

Last night.

He said tomorrow was a big day,

he needed you to have his back,
and that the rats were on him.

Brendan was blackout drunk.

He was talking about Internal
Affairs and you know I'm right.

- You need to calm yourself.
- I need to know what's going on.

What--

What is going on is that
you wanted your revenge,

so you took it.

And now we need to have
each other's backs.

- Like you had Brendan's?
- Deep breath, my brother.

We did what we did.
Now we deal with it.

Did you play me?

You need to get
your mind right, Frank.

This isn't a game.

This is grown-up shit.

What kind of trouble
is Brendan in?

Just talk us through
last night, Joe.

All due respect,
everybody knows

Lieutenant Boyd here is IA.

What shape was Detective McCann
in by the end of the night?

He was vintage Brendan.

You mean he was drunk.

You can start there
if you want.

- I'm serious.
- So am I.

He was loaded, he was maudlin,

he was self-pitying,
he was totally abusive.

What about drug use?

I did not see any.

But my guess...

is yes.

- And you didn't say anything?
- I look like a drug counselor to you?

Did he say anything at all
about Internal Affairs?

No, sir, he did not.

You think Detective McCann
is worried he's under investigation?

I think Brendan is worried
that he's older

and he's fatter and he can't get
it up as much as he'd like.

You were in a Jesuit seminary
when you were younger?

Is that correct?

That question have a point?

There just seem to be
a lot of vows

you consider gray areas.

- That is totally irrelevant.
- But then you are a cop...

not a priest.

- Last I checked.
- Again...

Do you think detective McCann

is concerned
with Internal Affairs?

I don't think he would
tell me even if he was.

Why not?

We're partners.
We're not friends.

I don't socialize with Brendan.

- So why were you with him last night?
- Because he asked.

Even though you're not friends?

You know,
sometimes with Brendan,

it's just easier
to do what he asks.

And does that apply
on the job, too?

As his partner, do you do
whatever he asks without arguing?

- What's that?
- Better ask your husband that one.

Jesus.

I'm fine.
It's not my blood.

McCann didn't show.

What's the one thing
I always say about cops?

I know.
You can't count on 'em.

Yeah, well,
that's for damn sure.

Tell me what happened.

I'll get with Steven and Gus.
Figure out where McCann is.

Talk to me.
It was a trap house?

East Side.

McCann was supposed
to make a bust,

we roll in after, he gives
us most of the product.

That belongs to the old man?

Hey, I know, but don't worry.

All right?
I know.

There are no witnesses.
No one can connect me.

It had to be done.

Now is the time.

All right?

- Okay.
- Okay.

Baby, no matter
how you gotta play it,

I don't waiver.

I wish we could
never leave here.

Then let's stay.

This isn't real world, Frank.

I wanna know
everything about you.

No, you don't.

Frank, you in here?

Just a sec.

You all right in there?

Yeah, must have been
something I ate.

Clean yourself up and get
your ass in my office.

Yes, sir.

Hey, this is crazy.

Why don't I just
drive over to Brendan's

and drag him out of bed
by his balls?

Frank, head over to Brendan's, see
if you can bring him in here.

Don't bother.
He's not there.

He's probably
just sleeping it off.

He's not. I know for a
fact he's not there.

- You think he's a rabbit?
- Brendan's not a rabbit.

He couldn't even speak
the last time we saw him.

That not-on-a-cop's-salary
McMansion Brendan lives in?

It's got security cameras.

Got the last 12 hours on film.

This you arriving?

Yeah. Looks like it.

Talk me through this.

Hmm?

Uh...

Well, that's Brendan letting
himself into his place.

I sit in the car
and wait for Joe Geddes.

This is Joe arriving
in Brendan's car.

He drops the keys
in Brendan's mailbox.

Then he runs, jump in my car.

Yeah, I take us both home.

Do you know how long IA
have been watching Brendan?

Why, you got something
to worry about?

All due respect,

I know we all
preach the gospel.

How everybody hates cops
who spy on other cops.

Praise the Lord
and all hail the blue line.

But you know what?
It's a load of crap.

'Cause if Brendan is dirty,
then screw him 'cause I'm not.

And I don't want
to be associated

with whatever the hell
he's been up to.

And I would hope that someone
I've known close to 15 years

and the leader
of this command--

- You are not under investigation.
- Right.

- As far as I've been made aware.
- Then you wanna tell me

why Boyd's been grimmin' me since
the moment he stepped foot in here?

And then two hours
and 11 minutes

after you and Joe Geddes
drop him off,

Brendan leaves his house.

Jesus.

I could have sworn
the bastard could barely stand.

- Gus.
- Yeah?

You don't want me inside?

Just saving you the bother.

You were always
a considerate girl.

Soon enough.

- The old man step foot in here?
- Of course not.

Was he sniffing around
about the coke?

Yeah, but he played it like it
was just for protection money.

- Coming here himself?
- The boys don't have a line on McCann yet.

Listen, McCann was supposed

to take the old man down.

You think
he double-crossed you?

I don't know, but I told him
I could give him that prick on a platter--

bodies, dates,
everything airtight.

Go with your guys.
Find your cop.

I'm sorry.
I am, I'm sorry.

But I am speaking truth
to power here.

I have been Brendan's partner
for four years,

so that means for me...
guilty.

- No, it doesn't.
- Stone-cold guilty by association.

- That's the way it works.
- It doesn't work that way.

No, that's the way
that IA works!

Especially now.

- Especially now.
- That's enough.

Jesus, it's taken this long
for IA to show up here?!

I said that's enough!

Listen close.

I have watched seven chiefs
get investigated out of office

since I've been a cop
and I have survived every scam

and trap that this job
can spring.

So in three years,

when they finally move us
outta this hellhole,

I am gonna be there
to see my brand-new office.

Corner, river view.

I'm not about to let
your partner bring me down.

Get the hell out.

Someone please tell me
that they found Brendan McCann.

I checked the parking garage
at DPD-- Our boy never showed.

- And you checked his place?
- Car's not there, D.

So he didn't show.
Guy's a drunk.

If he's drunk, sick, called
to a scene, that's no problem.

But if he's having
second thoughts about this,

that's something that could
blow back on us.

Michael, come here.

So how come you never talk
to Damon and them?

- What do you mean?
- You've known them all half your life.

You just say hey, then sit by yourself.
What gives?

You working at all?

I get army disability.

That doesn't mean
you can't look for a job.

Psych disability.

Besides, the only thing
I got any training for

is killing people.

No, it's on the house.

- What's tripping you?
- What's not?

Gus said the old man was here.

- He doesn't know anything.
- Still, maybe we just go to ground.

Yeah, well, maybe I should have

put a bullet in him
when I was 12.

Tell me all this
isn't about that.

Just find McCann.

Please.

Joe Geddes says he and Brendan
McCann aren't friends.

That's right.
I don't think they are.

Are you friends
with Joe Geddes?

- How do you mean?
- Are you and him friends?

- I need a minute.
- Excuse me.

- What's wrong?
- We got a problem.

Show me.

You're telling me
that he scrubbed

the whole hard drive?

Not just scrubbed.

My best guess, he went back over the
drive sectors five or six times.

- There must be a data
restoration program. - Not for this.

- What the hell you doing?
- We're talking Defense Department...

I'm finding out
where we all stand.

Khalil.

Oh, Jesus.

What's going on?

Are you sure it's his?

In the front seat.

Yeah, yeah.
Okay.

Yeah, I got it.

Thanks.

What is it?

They found Brendan's car...

in the water
off the Delray boat launch.

There's a body inside.

Fishing trawler tried to launch
this morning and they hit metal.

Divers have already
been down twice.

Tow truck's here now.
They should have it up soon.

Is it Brendan McCann?

Sorry, sir. The divers don't
know Sergeant McCann.

Can't be sure.

- Is it Brendan?
- We don't know.

Divers say the body's handcuffed
to the steering wheel.

- So, what, somebody murdered him?
- Starting to look like that.

- I don't know.
- What do you mean?

We also have the possibility
of a determined suicide.

I don't think we need Internal
Affairs on the crime scene.

We'll keep you apprised.

I'm not leaving.

A little more!

Possible determined suicide.

Boyd's exact words.
Man, you are a genius.

You wiped his computer.

You knew IA was after him.

You knew he'd give you up
because you're as dirty as he is.

Hey, let go of me.

Dani!
See what's keeping Frank.

Yeah.

Somebody wiped Brendan's hard drive.
Everything.

Brendan could barely
turn the damn thing on.

Hey, you are gonna
screw the pooch here, man.

Now get the hell off me.

You knew about
Internal Affairs.

Come on.

Boss wants you.

I'll be right there.

Okay, bring her up.

Rat squad.

Excuse me?

Last night,

Brendan was talking about
how today was gonna be a big day

and how the rats
were all over him.

- Really?
- Yeah, really.

"I can't keep
the rats off of me.

I would rather--
I would rather drown," he said.

Right before we took him home.

You can check with Frank
Agnew if you want.

See if he remembers.

- You just remembered this?
- I didn't know what he was talking about.

I thought he was drunk
and imagining rats.

How was I supposed to know
he was talking about you?

We're on.

Definitely Brendan.

- You seen the body?
- Too many cops. It's a cluster.

You don't really think
the old man killed McCann?

- He's old-school.
- There is no old-school anymore.

I'm just saying--
you don't rat,

you don't kill a cop.

- What?
- Nothing.

It's McCann.

All right, easy.

Racking my brain
trying to think of a next of kin.

Do you know anyone?

No wife, no kids.

I know for a fact
his parents are dead.

You know Brendan, he was
Detroit born and bred.

He was a cop. That's two
different strains of cockroach.

I didn't think
he could be killed.

Sir, there's
somebody in the trunk.

Looks like they were butchered.

I don't know
if I can look at this.

Unidentified male.

Head, hands, feet,

all of them removed.

Christ.

- This is a complete shit storm.
- Yeah.

Jackoff-dead-dirty-cop,
chopped-up, no-name-body, Christ.

Screw the blue code of silence.

If Joe Geddes is doing Brendan's
dirty work, I need to know.

This is yours.

I'm not gonna trust it
with anybody else.

What did you mean, you didn't
know if you could look at this?

What?

You told Joe.

You said, "I don't know
if I can look at this."

Jesus, Dani,
can you turn it off?

Just for a minute, huh?

Can you do that?

It's been a long 24 hours.