Murder in the First (2014–2016): Season 2, Episode 4 - My Sugar Walls - full transcript

Thanks so much for coming down.

I, uh, know your schedule
must be completely insane.

I'm missing my book club,
a World War I saga with...

Surprise... Orphans and tuberculosis.

This will be much more interesting.

Well, I'm interested in hearing your take.

A take is all I'm giving
you, so we're clear.

Of course.

We have to run.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, w-what
do you think you're doing?

Nap time is over. We're
taking him to county lockup.



On whose orders?

- The sheriff.
- No, unless your sheriff

is also a judge, his
orders are meaningless.

This young man has not
been cleared by his doctor

or fully evaluated by his counsel.

And until we know he
can physically withstand

the transfer, he's not going anywhere.

You take him one step out of this room,

and I will crawl up your
ass with a court order

that will make your lives

very uncomfortable for
the foreseeable future.

Be smart, boys. You're in my wheelhouse.

I know you from somewhere.

My name is Jamie Nelson.



You defended Rick Allen grace.

Yes, I did.

Did you follow the case?

I read about it.

It was pretty boring.

A lot of second-hand
accounts and speculation.

So, what do you want to know about it?

What was he like?

I mean, did he really
have voices in his head,

telling him to bomb the airport,
or was that just a tactic?

He really heard voices.

- How do you know?
- He told me.

You believed him?

Ricky... Isn't a liar.

He's a schizophrenic.

Right.

And he's my friend.

So you're my lawyer now?

I brought Kaleb's mom

some focaccia from Liguria
Bakery this morning.

That's good. She coping?

Oh, she's trying to make
sense of it, you know.

She said he definitely
wasn't on any meds, though.

No, uh, unnecessary stress?

No, not since Walt was killed.

She says she saw him a week and a half ago,

made him dinner, everything seemed normal.

Hmm. I mean, Terry, Kaleb and
Walt liked each other, you know?

Did you ever hear about
them ever having problems?

No, I really didn't.
Maybe it was friendly fire.

The only thing we do
know is that the bullet

that killed Walt came from Kaleb's gun.

No, Kaleb wouldn't have killed
himself if it was friendly.

I don't see that. What did you tell them?

Uh, to stick to the story in the press.

Alfie Rentman killed Walt.

Talking about
a cop murder-suicide

- isn't gonna do anybody any good.
- No.

Oh. Hey, guys.

Hey, man. Hey.

Lieutenant. What's happening?

Hey, Mulligan, let's do this
before the tide rolls in.

Suger-land gets dangerous after dark.

Yep.

Five-oh! Whoo-whoo!

What's up?

Next time, I pick the lunch place.

That is crazy. Really?

It's quiet, huh?

Uh-huh. Rats are in their holes.

Is this it?

Yeah.

Mrs. Thompson?

Mrs. Thompson. SFPD.

What do you want?

We need to talk to you
about your son, Jalil.

Hi.

So, what, you're here to say sorry?

I know you don't believe me,
but we want to help Jalil.

You already put him away.
How you gonna help him now?

By figuring out what really happened.

Was... Was he protecting someone

when he confessed to the murder? W-what?

Even if you could tell us

what other kids he might
have been with that day?

I mean... oh, now I'm
supposed to get myself killed

to fix what y'all did to my family.

I understand that that's how your feel,

but you and Jalil would
qualify for witness protection.

You could move away
somewhere, somewhere safe.

Y'all need to go. I can't
have the police here.

How you doing, Mrs. Thompson?
Got your surround sound.

Okay.

What's up?

My blood pressure.

Jalil confesses to a murder
he didn't commit.

His future's done.

His mom gets a new TV with surround sound.

Check this out.

Oh, shit. Look who it is.

Man.

I appreciate you guys

for coming all the way
out here, inspectors.

It's not often we get SFPD out here

looking out for one of our own.

Mm-hmm.

Look I'm
gonna keep it real with y'all.

Oh. Hmm.

Jalil's a good boy, but Potrero's got a way

of bringing out the worst
in a nigga, you feel me?

Jalil didn't kill that kid.

He was covering for somebody else.

And it's just a matter of
time before we figure out who.

Mm-hmm. You feel me?

Hmm.

Get your punk ass out of here.

With pleasure.

Hey, your cuz want to holler at you.

For sure.

Go on in, man.

Hey, yo. What up, big man?

Yo, Sug, what you doing?

I heard that you were the one that dropped

that triad kid in the growhouse.

Ching-Chong nigga was
mad-dogging me hard.

So I figured I'd make my mark.

Oh, so, you looking for attention?

You got my attention now.

What? What you want to say?

Come on, man. What?

I said, "come on, man." It
don't got to be like this, man.

What? What the hell you doing, man? Stop!

What do you want to say?
What you want to say?

Come on, Sug. I'm your nephew.

But this ain't the playground, nephew.

Get off me!

Stop moving. We got rules.

I didn't do nothing like that, man!

You ain't supposed to pull nobody's number

unless I tell you to. Do you know why?

Get off me! 'Cause you
too ignorant to know the

difference between a Ching-Chong
nigga and the blood of Dai Lo.

Keep your ass still.

So now I got to teach you some lessons.

Let's go, nigga.

Come on, man. We family. It
don't got to be like this.

And that's why I'm doing this.

If you wasn't my nephew,

it would be a lot worse,
I promise you that.

You should appreciate what I'm doing.

Put him in there.

You better chill out, Kormega.

Everybody want to be the boss.

If I were you, I'd save my breath.

Latrell, what are you
doing? Plaster him up.

All right. You got it.

Yeah, all right.

Yeah, we talked a little bit.

I probably danced three,
four shifts with her.

She was nice.

Did she ever say anything
about being in trouble or...

Or wanting to run away or...

It's a strip club, sweetie.

Every girl talks about running away.

I think she said she wasn't really

feeling it with her husband anymore.

A stripper with a husband.

We're not the most stable of people.

Well, you seem pretty... Self-aware.

Well, you seem pretty cuddly for a cop.

Is your partner for real?

No, Molk is magical. Like a unicorn.

Why don't...

You two get to know each other?

A lap dance? Come on. We're working here.

For what?

Tran's wife said she was distant.

Your girlfriend here said
she had a wandering eye.

Tran was an undercover cop
working at a strip joint.

Of course she wanted to bail on her life.

She's probably down in Mexico

with cabana boy right now. Or girl.

Well, that seems like
a pretty big assumption.

We've lost two of our own.

Walt by that little prick,

and then Kaleb puts a bullet in his head.

Take your nose off

the goddamn grindstone for one second.

How does that happen?

I don't know.

Come on, boys.

don't leave my girl hanging now.

Ah.

You see, we're either gonna
get drunk and talk about it

or stay here and have a good time,

because I don't give a shit
about Sarah Tran right now,

and neither should you.

Make it rain, Molk.

All right, I'll... Take that lap dance.

Come on.

What happens in there?

Cost you at least a grand to find out.

Just have to wait until the song ends.

No problem.

So, um...

Do you play sports?

I like to rock-climb.

- Really?
- Yeah.

Cool.

It's really good for my booty, too.

So, um...

Can I just ask you a few more questions?

Shoot.

You picture me in this?

Hmm, sure.

Put a baby seat in the back,

maybe a vanilla latte in the cup holder.

What, it's that soft?

The car ain't soft, but
you... Different story.

You must be high.

Oh, you got that glow, Raff,

ever since you've been
seeing that new dude.

There's no new dude.

Oh, come on, now, partner.

The car is definitely hot.

Interior's 100% Italian leather, too.

Check it out.

How you doing, Sharisse?

Hmm? You're looking good.

Just keeping my head down, staying clean,

trying to make some money
so I can move out of Potrero.

Go somewhere maybe like Glen Park.

Yeah, well, maybe we can
help you find a place.

Yeah? Sure, if you can help us

find the First National
Bank of Suger Cascade.

Thought you had eyes on that.

Look, I ain't messing
with those boys no more.

My girlfriend, she's still
kind of mixed up with it.

She told me that Suger be keeping his cash

in a safe house in Bayview Heights.

But it's temporary.

Well, you better let your boss know

that you're clocking out early.

I can't do that, miss.

You know I need this job.

- I'll talk to him.
- No, no, no, no, wait!

Fine.

I skipped my lunch break
anyway. I'll meet you out back.

Bathroom clear.

Clear. Clear.

Clear.

Clear.

Yeah, we've got nothing.

All right, well, the walls look clean.

No rebuilds or repairs.

We could dig up the floor.

Nah, it's a temporary spot, anyway.

But you'd think they'd hide the money

someplace they could get to it quick.

- How's the attic look?
- Same.

Nothing in the crawl space, either.

There ain't nothing here.

Let's get the hell out of here.

Waste of time.

- Yeah.
- Or maybe we were just too late.

- What up, Five-oh?!
- Oh!

- You son of a bitch.
- Ohh.

Hey! Hey, come here!

Get him!

Hey, kid! Get back here!

That kid Potrero? What?

My whole crew just got made, Sharisse.

- You set us up.
- No, no, I didn't set you up.

No, Suger had the money
in there, I swear to god.

Don't be weak. Look at
me and tell me the truth.

I didn't have a choice.

- Bullshit.
- No, no, no.

Suger come get me after the
cops rolled up on Potrero, okay?

He knew I was a C.I. He knew everything.

SFPD came to Potrero?

Who are they talking to? I-I don't know.

A-all I saw was a blonde lady
a-and some esse with a star.

Next thing I know,

Suger's telling me that I got to do this.

You see? I didn't have a choice.

Yeah, well, Suger's gonna kill you now,

and I can't help you anymore.

Toughest thing at first was just accepting

the facts about what Dustin did.

We had no idea that he was...

That there was anything unusual going on.

And once you do accept it, you just...

Can't stop thinking about what those...

Other families lost.

We just want to help.

Yeah.

Was it normal for you to leave

Dustin alone for almost a week?

Dustin's very self-sufficient.

He has his driver's license.
He knows how to cook.

He has money from his job.

What was his job?

Um, tutoring... S.A.T. Prep.

He's very smart.

Did Dustin have any other access to money?

No. Not that we know of.

No?

Okay, because I'm just trying to figure out

how he and his friend managed to buy

two semiautomatic pistols,

two AR-15 fully automatic
rifles with 100-round drums,

15 30-round clips,
army-grade flash grenades,

and over 3,000 rounds of ammunition

without either one of you
knowing anything about it.

Let me guess. They're clueless.

There he is.

Hey, buddy. What's happening?

- How you been?
- All right, all right.

All right. Hildy getting
anything from them?

No. No, not yet.

Ah, look who's back from the dead.

Koto. Hey, welcome back.

- You look great.
- Thank you, Molk.

Yeah.

You, uh... you just paying us a visit,

or you kicking me out of
the office, like, today?

No, you're still in charge, Terry.

A couple of days, I'll make it official.

Did you miss us?

Oh, uh... I didn't miss this.

- Well, pretty gnarly.
- Yeah.

You got the interim appointment from hell.

Hmm.

So, we got any idea why Kaleb did it?

Anybody see it coming?

No.

We're working on it, though.

We're working on it.

Right in front of our eyes, man.

I mean, the guy must have been in a bad way

for a while, and then his partner goes down

and pushes him over the edge.

It never should have happened.

We need to watch each other better.

We do.

All right.

All right, man.

That's them.

Mr. and Mrs. Maker?

Oh, no, no, I-I-I'm Aaron Mazur.

I'm Dustin's attorney.

Can we go somewhere and talk?

L-let's go over here.

I can't have you do that again.

I don't see the problem.

We've got nothing to hide from the police.

That's fine, and I understand
the impulse to cooperate.

But you have to understand,

the police are aligned
with the prosecution.

Anything you say to them

can be used against Dustin in court.

But he's clearly guilty, though.

What difference does it make at this point?

Well, if we're really
gonna answer that question,

it could make the difference

between Dustin living or dying.

You mean the death penalty.

Yes.

Do you...

Do you think that's what
they're gonna try to do?

It's possible, and that's why we have to do

everything we can to prevent it.

So, please, no more conversations

with the police, not without me.

Did Dustin say why he
doesn't want to see us?

Not to me, no.

It's like he turned into a person

we've never seen before.

Never?

You've... He's never been violent?

Ohh. We never saw it.

I'm gonna ask
you a difficult question.

Did Dustin ever experience any significant

physical trauma when he was very young?

Abuse of any kind?

No. Ohh.

There was nothing like that.

Jalil Thompson confessed, didn't he?

That case has been cleared?

He's not the real shooter.
He's covering for somebody else.

So, what, you figured
you'd just go to Potrero

and fix things?

I think you better watch
the way you speak to me.

Let me explain something.

Suger Cascade isn't just some gangbanger.

He's a kingpin with
lines in every major city.

He's created a network
that no one's cracked...

Not the D.E.A., A.T.F., I.C.E., nada,

'cause he's quiet and innovative,

and he's bred loyalty from
his captains to his mules.

And the only one that's gotten close is me.

Right.

I was in deep.

I was about a week away from making

the biggest arrest of my career,
and all I needed was quiet.

But you just had to roll into Potrero

and play Dudley do-right

on a nothing case that's already closed.

You kicked the hornet's nest.

You got him panicked. I need him calm.

If the Victor Chan murder's a nothing case,

why is Suger panicked?

You're not hearing me.

No, I'm hearing you.

I'm hearing you.

You want me to back off, and
I'm telling you that Jalil

was forced into a confession

because the murder leads
to something bigger,

maybe big enough to nail Suger, too, so...

Suger's never gonna let some
amateur hit blow back on him.

I know this guy.

He's smart. He's way smarter than that.

So, you want to waste your
time, I don't give a shit,

but stay in your Lane and
don't mess with my work.

Captain Knubbins?

You, uh, got a couple of seconds?

Lieutenant English!

Oh. For a couple more days, at least.

Sit down, if you can find a place to sit.

Okay.

Working cold cases is
like living with ghosts.

Not for everybody, but I don't mind.

Yeah. You, uh... you
like scary movies, too?

At my age, I like any movie

I can understand what
the hell they're saying.

What can I do for you, son?

Uh, I'm, uh, tying up some loose ends

on the Kaleb Peat suicide.

Yeah. It's a tough one.

Yeah, he... he... he called
you here the night before...

Yeah, he called, said he
wanted to come in and talk.

Needed a shoulder to lean on.

Right. Did you know him well?

Not at all, no.

Do you know why he came to you?

Probably because he knew about this.

What's that?

I lost my partner back in '86.

We rolled up on a couple of
dummies robbing a liquor store.

One of them had his girlfriend
in the car with a gun.

Ohh. Never saw her.

Michael O'Leary.

He told the worst jokes. Hmm.

What did Kaleb say when he was in here?

Well, he blamed himself,
said it should have been him.

All stuff I'm pretty familiar with.

Mm-hmm. And what did you tell him?

One day at a time.

Not much else you can say
when it's fresh like that.

Mostly, I just listened.

Right.

I gave him my cell number before he left,

told him to call me if
he needed to talk more.

Next day, I went to my nephew's
birthday party in Oakland.

But, um...

Kaleb never called me.

I wish he had.

Yeah.

We, uh... We all feel that way.

So, in studying the torah,
we find so many reminders

that we are not on this earth to be alone.

We are here for each other, our families,

our friends, our loved ones, our community.

And while we may require
courage to avoid isolation,

we must put energy

into the connections we have
with the people around us,

as well as with those
who are no longer here.

We have a yahrtzeit for ze'ev maier.

We ask any mourners to
rise now for the kaddish.

Yit'gadal v'yit'kadash sh'Mei raba.

B'al'ma Di v'ra khir'utei,

v'yam'likh mal'khutei,

b'cheyeikhon uv'yomeikhon, uv'chayei d'khol

beit yis'ra'eil, ba'agala
uviz'man kariv v'im'ru...

Wait, wait, wait. You didn't...

You didn't return any of my
calls, and I-I had no choice.

You had a choice.

I don't like being followed.

Well, wasn't nobody
following you, first off.

Your, uh... your doorman
told me where you were

after I said I would take care of

a couple of his parking tickets.

It's not cute, Terry.

I'm sorry.

Look, I know that you,
uh...

You had some beef with Hildy.

And I just wanted to make sure that wasn't

the reason why you... You canceled.

Look, my problem with her
is professional, all right?

And the only one making it
personal right now is you.

Well, who... Who was the person

that you were standing
up for at the synagogue?

That's personal, too.

So is sex.

Raffi, we've been doing that a lot, so...

Look, I lost somebody, too, all right?

I know how it feels.

He was I.D.F. Special Forces,

and he was killed...

By a Hamas sniper five years ago.

Okay. Uh, I'm sorry.

Yeah.

So, every year, on this day,

I come and I say a kaddish for him,

which is something I
promised his mother I'd do.

Wait, wait, wait.

You know, you could
have told me that, Raffi.

- No, I couldn't.
- Raffi!

Look, I forgot, okay?

This year, I almost forgot.

Terry...

This isn't me,

and this isn't good for me on...

So many levels.

Wait, wait, wait, wait. Wait, Raffi.

Raffi.

So, no prescription
drugs. What about marijuana?

No.

'Cause I like to be in control of my body.

Did you feel like you were in control

during the shooting?

Completely.

You know...

It was a rush.

But at the same time,

it was the most focused
feeling I've ever had.

Everything got quiet.

And... It slowed down.

The only thing I could
feel was my breathing.

I mean, that and the...

Well, the kick of the gun
every time it went off.

Are you familiar with Lonnie Athens?

Ugh. I hated criminology.

"The process of violentization."

Right, okay, yes, uh, the theory is

that a series of violent
experiences over a lifetime

lead to a crisis of identity,

where the individual has lost all hope

of a lasting, meaningful role in society,

which then leads to the
killing of others or themself.

Traumatic physical abuse as a child

being the first violent experience.

Which you suspect may
have happened to Dustin.

Every client I've had
that wasn't mentally ill

fit Athens' profile.

That's why I don't trust Dustin's parents

when they said there was no abuse.

Well, maybe he is mentally ill.

It would certainly make
our jobs a lot easier.

Well, then, you have
your work cut out for you

because, uh, I don't see
anything severe enough

to exempt him from standing trial.

Or facing the death penalty?

He's lucid. He engages.

And I believe he understood the difference

between right and wrong when
he opened fire on that bus.

He just felt like he didn't have a choice.

No, no, no, you and I are not getting in

another argument about
the concept of free will.

If only the decision
were actually up to you.

Ah, but... It is.

Mm.

Hmm. That one's pretty.

Hmm, I guess.

I don't know. I'm in like, not in love.

I'm taking the Dustin Maker case.

Of course you are.

What about teaching?

Stanford will give me a leave of absence.

Do you expect the same from me?

Holly.

This doesn't have to turn
everything upside down.

Do you really believe that?

You think you're gonna
be able to do that work

and live that life...

The obsession and the late nights...

And then come home to
me and really be here?

Of course not.

You've been distant for months as it is.

You're right. I've been restless.

I've been... Wanting something else,

something more.

But I have that now with this case.

I can try harder with us.

I don't want you to try.

You live for those cases,
Jamie. They feed you.

They... they make you who you are.

Let's be honest with each other.

It's never worked for me,
and it's not going to now.

- Ooh, what about her?
- She fine.

This horny-ass nigga
ain't got no standards.

Oh, shit.

Right swipe, boy.

She want to see Suger.

I don't know no Suger.

Then take me to someone who does.

Damn.

You Latina, right? You
ever been with a real nigga?

I had a few...

Handcuffed in the back of my
car, crying for their mamas.

Sergeant Veracruz.

Wow.

Who knew you had a green thumb?

I like green across the board.

Those are wild boar heirlooms right there,

Napa's finest right here in Potrero.

You like salad?

If you toss it for me.

Girl, I'll blow your mind.

But this ain't no social visit, is it?

Where's your crew?

Didn't want to freak you out.

You mind?

If you show me your card.

Raphaelle Veracruz.

Let me see what you got.

"Purple ox."

That's funny. White
people say this shit cool.

In a couple years, it's
gonna be like Google.

Hmm. Yeah, when that happens,
where are you gonna be?

Jamaica, in a hut on a beach,

listening to reggae, straight-up chilling.

What are you waiting for?

I mean, you got $9 million stashed away.

All right, man. You take care.

Says who?

So you think I should
make a run for the border?

I would.

It ain't that simple.

Even if a boss did have that kind of money,

it wouldn't all be his.

The benevolent king.

Look around.

Ain't nobody else looking out for Potrero.

And when Potrero sees
that your business is dying

and that you're not their savior,

they gonna look out for you?

I handle my business.

Potrero kids knocking over greenhouses,

killing each other for no reason.

That how you handle your business?

'Cause from here, it looks sloppy.

You're Gang Unit and Tactical, right?

Yeah.

I know you not from the streets.

So you was in the military.

And your little medical card,

that's legit, huh?

PTSD?

You're a little PTSD case, huh?

You a soldier, and I respect that.

So I'm gonna keep it 100 with you.

You come in here talking
some weak-ass bullshit

about my business and the way I handle it,

'cause you think that's gonna
make an impression on me?

You done took

way too many hits to the head, baby girl.

If I wanted to make an impression on you,

I'd tell you what I know about your sister.

When you're ready to
have that conversation,

let me know.

Damn.

Help me open it up.

You know how this works now, right?

Mm.

What?

I don't understand.

Did that sound like "yes" to you?

I couldn't hear him.

I said you know how this works now, right?

Speak louder, man.

Mm-hmm.

Christ's sake.

There. Easy.

Yeah, oh, you not even gonna
grow a mustache now, boy.

The only reason you still
alive is 'cause you blood.

Let's get out of here.

I'll leave this for you.

Hey, Ken.

Inspector.

My wife, Sarah Tran... She's alive.

Come with me.

It showed up in my voicemail last night.

Hi, it's me. I'm
sorry I haven't called.

I'm not sure I can do this anymore.

I just need some time
to think about things.

That's her. That's Sarah's voice.

And there you have it.

She's alive. At least I know that.

Yeah, that's good news. I'm, uh...

I'm sorry for what you're
going through, all the same.

Brian, hi. I'm Lieutenant Koto.

I thought you were the lieutenant.

I was. He is now.

Hey, would you mind if we played
that message for the chief?

He'll want to hear it. This way.

Glad you're back, Terry.

Thanks, man.

Ooh. Walk with me?

Yeah, what's going on?

Kaleb.

Last night, I had this
little voice inside my head

bugging me about all this,

telling me to go back over everything.

So upon further review,
like they say in the NFL,

um, here we have a fairly
standard entry wound

and what looks like muzzle burn.

Right, gun up against the chin.

Oh, yeah, you'd... You'd think,

but this burn around the wound was made

at a higher temperature than
your typical muzzle flash.

If it was muzzle flash,

then the searing skin would
have been a little different,

been less crispy.

I just missed it the first time.

Sorry.

I don't understand.

So, the hole was made by the gunshot,

but the burn wasn't.

So, then it wasn't a
gun up against the chin.

No.

Well, what caused the burn, then?

Not sure.

I found traces of propane
in the burnt tissue.

Propane?

Yeah, it's common in a blowtorch.

If that was done by a blowtorch,

then the burn was posthumous, right?

And if Kaleb was really
trying to kill himself,

then he wouldn't be pointing
a gun away from his skin.

No, he'd put it right up against his chin.

Somebody killed Kaleb.