NYPD Blue (1993–2005): Season 3, Episode 10 - The Backboard Jungle - full transcript

[ No Audible Dialogue,
No Audible Sound Effects ]

You see what happened
over here?
I was watchin' the game.

You didn't see anybody
with a gun?
Nope.

Look over there. There was
a lot of people got shot.

Sure you didn't see anything?
When they started shootin',
everybody started runnin'.

Sergeant. Get these people
out of my crime scene.

I don't wanna see
any cameras around here.

‐ This thing was a disaster
waitin' to happen.
‐ Oh, yeah.

There should have been
a police presence here.
The job should've known that.

Stand over there and wait
until I come back.

[ Officer ]
Come on. Clear this area.



This big rush of people came
running into the street,
and so I hit the brakes.

And we heard gunshots,
and then Eileen
started screaming.

[ Crying ]
And I looked over,
and she was bleeding.

‐ Did you see anybody
holding a gun?
‐ No.

Just people running at us
like maniacs.

Did you see who shot you?
Shots were goin' off
all over the place.

‐ What set this off?
‐ I don't know, man.

[ Siren Approaching ]

What set this off?

We were into the game.
We don't know
what the hell went on.

Do I know you?
What's your name?

Zack Swanson. Played
for North Carolina State
between '79 and '83.

I tried out
two seasons straight
for the Bullets.

Man, that's impressive.
You got some real great
talent out here.



Guys, how much you get paid
for a game like this?

200 apiece?
Get paid?

Yeah, get paid.
You know, like, uh,

this drug dealer
versus that drug dealer.

Put together
a good, strong game,
a nice neighborhood event.

Maybe even an opportunity
for wagering.

I mean, who's to figure violence
would break out, right?

Look, we were just ballin'.
I don't know what
you talkin' about.

You know what?
Why don't we take 'em
down to the station house?

We'll hear more about
their college playin'
careers.

Yeah, let's do that.
That all right
with you guys?

N.C. State, right?

[ Siren Wailing ]

[ Officer Chattering ]
[ Helicopter Whirring ]

Back behind the line.

Run it for me.
We got two dead‐‐
shot at close range‐‐

seven wounded by gunfire.

Three more seriously
injured by trampling
after the shooting began.

We got shell casings all over
the court from at least
five different shooters.

‐ Any idea how it started?
‐ Somebody missed a layup?

Somebody told us there were,
like, 200 people here
watchin' the game.

Most of them gone by the time we
got here. The ones we talked to
said they didn't see no guns.

It's drug related
in some kinda way.

This scumbag here,
I arrested myself last year.

He had a shopping bag
full of crack.

‐ You find Kwasi Olushola?
‐ Nah. Booked.

Why should he hang around?
All he did was bring
the brothers together, right?

You got something useful
to add, Andy?
It's just I'm wonderin'.

‐ I wasn't privy
to any negotiations‐‐
‐ That's right. You weren't.

I'm havin' a hard time
seein' how the precinct gets
talked out of policin' this.

That decision was made.
We need to focus now
on the job at hand.

So, uh, we'll find Kwasi.

Yeah. Find Kwasi.

Yeah, let's talk to Kwasi.

You got your hand on the pulse
of the streets, Lieutenant.

I wanna hear again why we should
have stayed away from this game,

how a police presence
might inflame a bad situation.

I turned out wrong.

I know the same recommendation
came from a lot of other places,

like Community Relations
and so forth.

But, Arthur,
you're the one I trusted.

You said this Brother Kwasi
had everyone's respect
in those projects.

I also named three other
public gatherings where
he was a go‐between.

The department
kept its distance,
and everything went right.

But this one didn't,
did it, Arthur?

You know what's waitin' for us
down at One Police Plaza?
I got a pretty good idea.

They're lookin' to hang
a bull's‐eye on somebody.

It was my recommendation.

Arthur,
the information at hand,

I absolutely understand
your thinking.

The game's a memorial
to a kid who dies
in police custody.

Anticop sentiment running high
in the neighborhood‐‐

I'll let 'em know
it was me.
[ Exhales ]

Arthur, you take this hit, and
I'll make it right with you
down the line.

You know my word's
good on that.

‐ We do it now?
‐ Yeah. I think we oughta go.

[ Chattering ]

We got somethin', Lieu.
Inspector.

Good news, Detective?
Possibly.

I'll meet you down there.
Yeah, all right.

What's up?
Liquor store owner two blocks
from the basketball court...

recognized the guy
running past his place
at the time of the shootout.

Looked like
he was holding a gun.
Street name's Bo‐Bo.

That's the first witness
puttin' a gun
in somebody's hand?

Yeah. I came back,
and I checked
with Narcotics.

The guy works for a Petey Green
dealing out of the projects
on Avenue "D."

Green was one
of the game's backers.
Yeah.

He sponsored one of the teams.
The other dealer, Charlton
Moody, backed the other one.

Narcotics gave me
Bo‐Bo Thomas's address.

Get Bobby and Andy.
Pick him up.

They're lookin'
for that activist Kwasi
at the hospital.

We got a tip that he was
seein' someone there.
Get backup from Anticrime.

‐ I'll be at One Police Plaza.
‐ All right, Lieutenant.

Boss is lookin'
to pin this mess on you?

Go get your guy.

This Kwasi's got some set
of balls. Visits people
he put in the hospital.

The guy funds some good
community programs, Andy.

Off drug money.
You know that
for a fact?

I heard it was city grants.
This was a drug dealers'
basketball game.

These guys are whackin'
each other two a day.

They start throwin'
bullets at the game,
and we're in Hoboken...

'cause this hump tells Fancy
everything will be mellow.

‐ There's Kwasi.
‐ [ Chattering ]

[ Exhales ]
You better deal
with this jerk.

Do not rule out the possibility
the first shot came from
an agent provocateur.

Workin' for who?
Who stands
to benefit from this?

Kwasi Olushola?
Detective Simone.
We gotta talk to you.

May I please finish
my conversation first?

You organized an event
where several homicides
took place.

Whatever you got to say,
you need to be tellin' us.

‐ I don't need to be
tellin' you anything.
‐ We're hearin' that a lot.

You tellin' witnesses
not to cooperate?

Black folk do not need me
to tell them not to talk
to the police. Believe that.

‐ You a reporter?
‐ Yeah. Dave Bloom.
Village View.

Oh, the Village View, huh?
You were at
this basketball game?

Yeah. I'm doin' a story
on it.
What'd you see?

‐ Uh, I'm a reporter, you know?
‐ Yeah, and I'm a detective.

And you got somebody else's
blood and brain matter
on your clothes.

So I'm guessin' you were
pretty close to the action,
and I wanna know what you saw.

Do you abolish
the First Amendment, Detective?

Our only purpose here
is to find out
who shot who.

So you can pin
a medal on 'em.
You shut up.

Instead of First Amendment,
you oughta start worryin'...

how whoever's responsible
for that might come lookin'
to hit witnesses.

You people wanted this
to happen. The cops resented
this game from the outset...

because it was in memory
of a young black man
murdered by police.

All right, Kwasi, calm down.
That kid died from
some kind of seizure.

He was murdered,
and the racist NYPD
covered it up!

‐ Let's tell it
at the station house.
‐ Am I charged with a crime?

Don't be flailin' your arms.
I don't have to go anywhere
with you.

You dealin' with that one nigger
in a thousand who knows what
you can and cannot do.

I'm dealin' with the nigger
whose big mouth is responsible
for this massacre.

‐ Shut up, Andy.
‐ Back off!
‐ Now I know you're nuts!

Come here!

‐ Oh, yeah, go ahead.
Go ahead and cuff me.
‐ That's right.

See, you made a bad choice
there, Kwasi, 'cause now
you are a collar.

Weak! Typical‐‐
Typical police move!

Wait up a minute.
You use that word
often, Detective?

Hold that elevator,
please.
Well, do you, Detective?

We have got a prisoner
on this elevator.
You are not gettin' on.

I'm just curious.
Are you a racist? Do you
use the word "nigger" often?

Back off!
Kiss my ass,
you smart‐mouth little punk.

Fool wants to know
if your partner's a racist.

When he figures that out,
he's gonna work on
how babies get here.

‐ Shut up, Kwasi.
‐ Black people shootin' each
other, me in handcuffs.

This day just keeps gettin'
better and better for you.

I'm doin' my job, Kwasi.

Plus, you know,
a white girl was shot too.

Her only mistake
was bein' in a car
on Houston Street...

when your lowlife homeys
decide to act their color.

You racist son of a bitch.

I knew you were
stone‐cold racist
the minute I laid eyes on you.

You're gonna make me
bust out crying,
you keep calling me that.

‐ [ Elevator Door Opens ]
‐ Come on, come on.
Let's go, Kwasi.

I wanna see Arthur Fancy.

Remember we called ahead, Kwasi?
He's not available just now.

Just now, he's at
One Police Plaza gettin'
reamed by his bosses...

for takin' your word
that ball game was
gonna come off...

like one of them
happy sneaker commercials.

You guys can get
as busy as you want,

but I'm not talkin' till
Arthur Fancy gets here.

[ Sipowicz, Scoffing ]
If I was lookin' to get
busy on you, Kwasi,

that would've
happened before.

You gonna behave yourself
I take these cuffs off?

I wanna make a phone call.
I wanna talk to my daughter.

‐ What's her number?
‐ You don't get
my daughter's number.

‐ Oh, this guy's a gem.
‐ Wait a minute, Kwasi.
You asked to use the phone.

Once we know it's your daughter
and not one of your runnin'
buddies, then we'll be straight.

‐ You don't get the number.
‐ Then you don't get
the phone call.

When Fancy gets here,
send him in.

Next time I lay eyes on that
hump, I got relocation plans
for this phone.

Hey. You collar
Brother Kwasi?
Yeah.

Not for the case.
Disorderly and resisting.

How'd you do
on those gunshot victims?

‐ Nobody saw anything.
‐ Nobody wants to say.

We grabbed up a guy
named Bo‐Bo Thomas.

Liquor store owner saw him
running from the scene
with a gun.

Where do you have him?
Two. Here's my notes.

‐ Thanks, Adrianne.
‐ Guy's got
a great personality.

Bo‐Bo, my man.
What's happenin'?

[ Mumbling ] How long
I gotta be here?
What?

How long
I gotta be here?

‐ You answer a few questions,
and you could be on your way.
‐ Cool.

Hell of a thing
what happened today, huh?

‐ I don't know nothin'
about that.
‐ Oh, you were at the game.

‐ Yeah, I was at the game.
‐ Speak up, Bo‐Bo.

I was at the game.

‐ What'd you do when
the shooting started?
‐ I ran. [ Scoffs ]

‐ You ran with your gun out?
‐ I ain't got no gun.

‐ Somebody saw you with a gun.
‐ Oh, yeah? Who?

You were running
with a gun in your hand.
That's been established.

What you got to do
is explain why.

Shots being fired
every which way.

Makes sense that you'd wanna
protect yourself.
I ain't got no gun.

You knew Lorenzo Gaines,
didn't you?

Say Lorenzo Gaines?
Yeah. Lorenzo Gaines.

The guy that somebody shot
point‐blank in the face in the
middle of all this excitement.

You knew him, right?
Mm‐mmm.

No? He used to sling dope
out of the Avenue "D" projects.

You sling dope out of
the Avenue "D" projects.
I don't sling no dope.

Oh, you don't?
Well, I'm glad
to hear that, Bo‐Bo.

'Cause slingin' dope‐‐
That's a dangerous career path.

And after gettin' to know you
a little bit here,

I‐‐ I can't take the thought
of seein' you windin' up
like poor Lorenzo.

[ Laughs ]

‐ What's so funny?
‐ Both y'all.

‐ Your facts ain't
too straight. That's it.
‐ No? In what way?

Lorenzo Gaines
ain't no dealer.

No, not now, Bo‐Bo,
'cause he's dead.

But I had the pleasure of
arrestin' that scumbag myself
with the crack in his pocket.

Not last year.
He was out the game.
Okay, so 13 months ago.

But I thought you didn't know
any Lorenzo Gaines, Bo‐Bo.

I just seen him
around the projects.

And he quit sellin' dope?

Yeah. Too much drama.

Why do you think he got
shot in the face today?

Just his time to go,
I guess.

You know, y'all, uh,
ain't gonna arrest me.

‐ I wanna go.
‐ No, no, no, no, no.

See, you gotta walk us
through it one more time,
Bo‐Bo.

Yeah.
Make up some interestin' fib
why you weren't packin', hmm?

That was the worst of it,
Arthur. I won't let it
get to paperwork.

Yeah, all right.
Just keep your head down.

Don't look to these guys for
any favors the next few months.

I don't expect favors
from chiefs.

From me, you get today back
times 10.

I know you could've looked
to spread the blame. I won't
forget you for standing up.

You wanna see
where we are?

No. I better keep an eye
on the puzzle palace.

Arthur, I want you to jump
on this, work the hell
out of it, clear it,

and rub their noses in it.

Hmm?
Yeah. All right.

All right.

Yeah. I will give him
the message.

I'm back, Donna.
Hold on.
Lieutenant.

Yeah?
Desk sergeant said
a reporter just came in...

claiming that Detectives
Simone and Sipowicz have
one of his notebooks.

What's the story,
Sergeant?

I appreciate the phone call.
Thank you.

Hey. We just got
an anonymous tip.

Charlton Moody's
one of the shooters.

‐ He's at Grey's Funeral Home
with a couple bodyguards.
‐ Let's go get him.

I bet he gets a volume deal
with the mortuaries.

‐ [ Simone ]
How's it goin', Lieu?
‐ My office.

We just got a push
on Charlton Moody
for one of the shooters...

and where to grab him up.

And Brother Kwasi's in three.
He'll only talk to you.

‐ He came in voluntarily?
‐ Not exactly.

‐ What does that mean?
‐ He put his hands on Andy
when we went to talk to him.

So we collared him
for disorderly conduct
and resisting.

Can that go away if Kwasi
gives us something?

Yeah, I guess
it could go away.

There's a reporter downstairs.
Says you guys have his notebook.

Guy drops somethin'
in the elevator.
Could've been a notebook.

‐ I do not need this crap today.
‐ Lieu, that reporter's
an eyeball witness,

good enough that he's got blood
all over his clothes, and he
doesn't wanna say what he saw.

If the guy doesn't get
his notebook back,
he's goin'...

to the Deputy Commissioner
for Public Information
to tell him you two stole it.

Before you move on Moody,
I want you to go downstairs,
talk to this guy,

and work out a way
to help him find
what he lost.

Do we understand
each other?

Kwasi's in Interview 3.

Probably wasn't
his current notebook anyway.

Probably just background
on the game.

[ Clears Throat ]

I came upon that
at the hospital.

Maybe you could drop it
at their Lost and Found.

Meet you at the funeral parlor.
Yeah, once I'm done
lovin' up this hoopoe.

How's it goin'?
Detective.

How ya doin', Dave?
Seems like old times.

I spent a lot of hours
in this station house
after Jimmy Leggett died.

I understand you, uh,
misplaced a notebook.

Yeah.
Where'd you see it last,
Dave?

Well, it was in the pocket
of this coat here,

and it was missin' after I got
the coat back from you and
your partner at the elevator.

You inquired
as to its whereabouts with
the hospital personnel,

janitorial and the like?

Go get your ho‐ho's, Detective,
because the notebook I lost...

wasn't the one that quotes you
calling Kwasi a nigger.

I don't take
your reference.
Okay, whatever.

Am I gonna get my notebook back,
or am I gonna file a complaint?

You lost somethin'
at the hospital. Maybe you'd
find it at Lost and Found.

‐ Don't jerk me around
on this, all right?
‐ Hey, kid.

Two people are dead,
seven more shot.

You think I wanna
waste more time with you?

You were there.
You got a trained eye.

But you don't wanna stumble
over your big journalistic
principles...

on cooperatin'
with the authorities.

Look, if I had knowledge
of a crime being committed,
I'd put it in my story.

If I got taken to court,
I'd testify that what
I reported is accurate.

That's all I feel obliged to do.
You sound like
you're on the potty.

Go find your notebook.
Don't you wanna call me
a kike first?

You wanna try screwin' me
for somethin' you think
you heard, that's on you.

I'm workin' a case.
I am too.

Oh, yeah?
You're goin' with that
"agent provocateur" theory,

you're gonna
bust this thing wide open.
[ Mouths Word ]

Yeah, all right.

No, I don't know
how long.

No, I don't need one
for this trumped‐up
nonsense.

Yeah, all right.

You wanna get
these charges dropped?

Let's talk about
the ball game, Kwasi.

The healing event
you gave up
to drug dealers.

Let's talk about
how Avenue "D" versus
the Houston projects...

turned into
Petey Green's ringers
against Charlton Moody's.

That game was a memorial
to Jimmy Leggett.

Anybody gets to grieve.
Who you talkin' to,
Kwasi?

That game wasn't a memorial,
and it wasn't grieving.

It‐‐ It was a vanity tug‐of‐war
for gangsters.

I sat down and talked
with those brothers
like men.

It warn't about making trouble.
You and I
sat in a room.

You think I'm God,
Arthur? Huh?

I mean, people I know,
people I see every day‐‐

You think I wanted them shot,
lyin' in blood?

That's what happened.
Who did it?

That is for us
to take care of
in the community.

You couldn't take care
of a ball game.

You can't take care
of your own cops.

You got people workin' for you
that like to toss around
"nigger"...

just like sayin',
"How you doin'?"

Talkin' about
how that gunfight is just
brothers acting their color.

Who said that?
Bald asshole.

‐ Gut and a stupid mustache.
‐ That's mine to deal with.

It's cops like that
that killed Jimmy Leggett
and lied to cover it up.

The M.E. said Jimmy Leggett
wasn't murdered.

Boy, they got you wrapped up
like a Christmas present,
don't they?

[ Exhales ]

You disappoint me
so much, man.

I want those shooters,
Kwasi, and if you don't
know who they are,

you can get in the street
and find out.

You gonna release me?
You gonna work with me?

I want that cracker
with the mustache.
I want his badge.

We clear these homicides,
you get your charges
dropped. The rest is on me.

That guy has no business walkin'
around with a license to kill,
not in my neighborhood.

Can anyone verify
him usin' that language?
How about a reporter?

You got a name?

Jewish kid‐‐ David Bloom.
Writes for the View.

We're talkin' about
Detective Sipowicz?
Sounds right.

Am I released?
I want those shooters.

I feel like
we'll work somethin' out.

Yeah.

You're released.

[ No Audible Sound Effects ]

Nah.

‐ How much is this, man?
‐ $8,800.

All right, guys. Police.
Just relax. Put your hands
where we can see them.

‐ On the casket!
Put your hands on the casket.
‐ [ Shouting ]

‐ What do y'all want?
‐ I want you to be quiet.

You see? This is wrong.
You're gonna have
to come in with us.

I got another piece here.
[ Medavoy ]
Right here, James.

Why do I have to come in?
Ain't no weapons on me.

That's a very interesting
point there, Charlton.

Whose funeral
you plannin' anyways?

Not my own.
I want my lawyer.

I want your tailor.
Come on. Let's go.

I'm gonna run it
through Fancy.
Yeah.

Lieu. This Moody‐‐
He just lawyered up.

We're gonna have to talk
to his guy. How you want
me and Andy to play it?

‐ Both of you come in here
a second.
‐ Okay. Andy.

I'm figurin' maybe we hint
there's an eyewitness,
somethin' like that.

Yeah. You can do that.

Close the door.

So, what's up?

I'm takin' you off the case.
Russell will work with you.

What's this about?
It's about you showin'
your ass in public.

Decidin' to call
someone whose help we need
to clear this case a nigger.

This Kwasi told you
I called him that?

He said you called him that
in front of that reporter
from the View.

I'd call him to find out
what happened, except
he'd ask me for a statement.

I guess me and the commissioner
have to read about it next week.

This guy was provokin'
the hell outta both of us.
You call him a nigger too?

I did not call him that.
He called himself that,
and I threw it back at him.

He said somethin' like,

"I'm the one nigger
you cops can't mess with."

‐I threw it back at him how he's
the one caused these shootings.
‐The one nigger.

‐ I was throwin' it back at him!
‐ You don't get
to throw that back.

I been partner with Andy‐‐
what, a year and a half?

I have never heard him
use that word before.
It was off the guy.

Save your breath, Bobby.

You want me catchin'
other cases?
For now.

[ Donna ]
I'm sorry. I'm going
to have to take a message.

Can you believe that?
Just be cool, Andy.

Be cool? You were there.
You saw the context
how that happened.

Well, I guess Fancy's
just actin' his color.

What you said
in that elevator‐‐

'bout those lowlife homeys
decidin' to act black.

You got a problem with me too?
Partner, I was not comfortable
with those words.

I am not comfortable
with the thoughts behind it.

I just want you
to understand that.

So Kwasi can break my balls.
When I decide to give a little
back, I'm the asshole.

‐ Givin' it back‐‐
Was that all it was?
‐ Do me a favor, all right?

Finish your sermon
another time.

How far you think I can bluff
this drug lawyer with this
weak‐ass hand we got?

‐ I don't know.
Ask somebody less bigoted.
‐ Come on, Andy.

‐ Go talk to Moody's lawyer.
‐ [ Door Opens ]

Diane, wanna work this
with me?

How's it goin'?
Bobby Simone.
Mike Alvarado.

This is Diane Russell.
How you doin'?

Is Mr. Moody being charged?

If you got two minutes,
I'd like to lay out
your guy's situation.

I'd like him charged
or released.

Don't you wanna know
what this is about, Mike?

We picked up Charlton
at the funeral home.

He's makin' arrangements
for this Eddie Holloway,

which Eddie was executed
at this basketball game.

Muzzle of a .380
flush up against
the back of the head.

And then‐‐ I don't know
if you heard about this,
Mike‐‐

all hell breaks loose.

And Charlton's name
keeps comin' up
in a lot of statements.

What he oughta understand
is that his bodyguard
got capped,

and we recognize there
could be a scenario here
for self‐defense.

Charge or release.

The D. A.'s makin' that call
right now, Mike.

Maybe you could use the time
to talk to Charlton.

You know,
lay out what we've got,
self‐defense scenario.

He cooperates,
it could be close
to a walk.

Of course, that isn't
your call, is it?

It's our strong impression,
right?

Conversations
with the D. A., Mike.

If you want to convey that.

‐ Where is he?
‐ Interview room next door.

Sit over here, all right?

We'll be back in a second.

Hey, guys.
That girl over there
could be an eyewitness.

I know the day guy
at the rec center
on Houston Street.

He beeps me, says she's been
tellin' people she was at the
game and saw one of the murders.

She's cooperating?
The guy says she's been
in and out of trouble,

so Greg and I
ran her through B.C.I.

She's got a shoplifting beef
pending family court.

‐ We brought her in off of that.
‐ [ Russell ] She won't
get a day off that charge.

She's a tough read,
but I think we could tip her.
Mind if we watch?

Nah. Maybe you could
pick up some pointers.

[ Scoffs ]

[ Martinez ]
You guys wanna come with us?

I didn't see nothin'.
Somebody said I did, they lying.
Let's have a seat over here.

[ Medavoy, On Speaker ]
Here we go.

[ Sighs ] What people say,
Shirelle, is what you've
been sayin' yourself.

‐ You saw somebody get killed.
‐ I didn't see nothin'.

If she says she didn't
see anything, then she
didn't see anything.

Here's the situation,
Miss McClintock.

This shoplifting matter‐‐
Your daughter's lookin'
at a year...

in the juvenile
house of detention
for that.

A year?
For shopliftin'?

It's her third offense.
The district attorney
has discretion.

We can urge them to dismiss
the case if Shirelle will
testify against the shooter.

Testify?
A year in jail is not
somethin' you want, Shirelle.

Whatever wrong you've done,
this is your chance
to turn around from that...

and get your life
on the right track by sayin'
what you saw in that game.

What kinda life
I'm‐a have if I rat?

Is it a matter
of you bein' scared?

We can place you
in protective custody‐‐

you and your mother‐‐
till after the trial.
And what about after that?

If necessary,
we could get you moved
to another part of the city.

Did you see somethin'?

Answer me!
Do you wanna
go to prison?

Y'all gonna have
to protect me.

We'll protect you.
What'd you see, Shirelle?

It was wrong,
that man gettin' killed
in front of his own son.

Who?
That man.

He was watchin' the game
with his little boy,
like, four years old.

Then there was a gunshot,
and people started running.

While he was trying to keep
his son from gettin' stepped on
and trampled and stuff,

this guy came up and stuck
a gun this close to his face
and just shot him.

You saw who shot him?
Yeah.

Somebody you recognize?

Charlton Moody.

Good answer, Shirelle.

Well, I don't know, Lillian.
Not till we make
some kind of progress.

No, I don't wanna decide
what to do about him
while I'm still pissed off.

I wasn't there, Lillian.
I don't know if it was
malicious or just stupid.

Um, yeah. I'll talk
to you later.

Yeah, I love you.

‐ I see he's still at his desk.
‐ He's not workin' this case.

‐ Is he turned in yet?
‐ You had your say
on Sipowicz.

My say? I finally get some
leverage to get one racist cop
outta this sick department‐‐

You had your say with me, Kwasi.
Whatever else you do with
Sipowicz, that's up to you.

And the kid
from the Village View.

I'm hopin' you're here to get
right with what happened
on that basketball court.

What I'm hearin'
is a young knucklehead
named Bo‐Bo Thomas.

He deals in the projects
with Petey Green.

Steps up behind Holloway,
who's bodyguardin'
Charlton Moody,

and blows Holloway's
brains out.

‐ Was it a hit?
‐ I don't know.

But his bodyguard goes down,
Moody takes out Lorenzo Gaines.

Our Narcotics people
say Gaines didn't work
for Petey Green anymore.

Maybe somebody
should've told Moody.

Arthur, you say Jimmy Leggett
died of a seizure.

I say some cop
choked him to death.

All I knew is big thing
everybody said about him‐‐

The boy was crazy
for basketball.

So you wanted
to give him a game.
Yes.

Some people get behind,
and maybe some kids
get some new sneakers.

Except that you
turn around, and...

the kids aren't playin'.

The dealers...
got their own squads.

Is there any way I can
get anybody on record...

on Bo‐Bo pullin'
the first trigger?

Not through me.

I got you dead in my sights.

You a shooter too, Kwasi,
just like your
drug‐dealin' pals?

No, I'm a practical man.

I know that if it's just
my word, I got no chance
goin' after you.

So I must be livin' right.

You poppin' off in front
of a white‐liberal reporter.

Geez, Kwasi, you mean
that kid might load
the dice against me?

He might not write
how I wasn't cursin' you,

how you used
that word first?

You're gonna pay for every
single cop that ever
called me nigger...

back when I was just
Kenny Parker growin' up
in the projects.

Fill the boat up, Kwasi.
Your difficult childhood,
Kunta Kinte,

Martin Luther King
gettin' shot.

You don't wanna make it
just simple stuff
like man‐to‐man.

You figure I insulted you,
so we throw down.

Just man‐to‐man...
here in your station house.

Just name the time and place.
I will tune you up
anywhere you want.

‐ Step away, Andy.
‐ I'm a practical man.

Kwasi! You got
any more business here?

Kwasi's decidin' does he
want an honest shot
at workin' out...

his bad feelings
he's got for cops.

Shut up, Sipowicz.

You got my back?

That kid you cut loose before‐‐
Bo‐Bo Thomas.

The witness backed off
on seein' him packin'.

We got an anonymous tip
he threw the first shot.

‐ Took out Charlton Moody's
bodyguard.
‐ Want me to pick him back up?

Yeah. Take Russell
and Martinez.

Either you shut your mouth
to anyone involved in this case
or get the hell out.

♪ [ Hip‐hop ]
♪ Uh ♪

♪ Don't stop ♪
♪ Uh ♪

♪ [ Continues, Loud ]

♪ Don't stop ♪
♪ Uh ♪

Bo‐Bo. Don't you move.

Come on, man.
Police. Don't move.

Get up against the wall.
Hands flat against the wall.

Go.
I told you
I didn't do nothin'.

You're gonna have
to tell us again.
Yeah. Check this out.

A .380?
Hey, man, that ain't mine.

Oh, yeah. I never
heard that before, bra.
It's a new one.

Now what, Bo‐Bo?
You're under arrest.

[ Mumbling ]
Hey, you're crazy.
Shut up.

See, we got your gun.
And Ballistics is gonna
match your gun up...

with that slug
that we pulled out
of Eddie's skull.

You know what that means?
Lights out for Bo‐Bo.

Yeah, but Bo‐Bo
didn't do noth‐‐
Shut up!

Was this a hit?

We know you work
for Petey Green, Bo‐Bo.

Did your boss
put a contract on this guy?

The only option
you got right now
is to tell the truth.

I didn't do it.
You did it, and I'm sick of
you sittin' here lyin' to me.

I didn't do nothin'.

‐ You hauled ass after that
little execution of yours.
‐ No.

But I was on
that basketball court there
cleanin' up the mess.

You were lookin' to start
a bloodbath there?

'Cause there was a whole lot
of innocent people who got
shot today, Bo‐Bo,

includin' women, and I'm hopin'
that you're man enough that
that'll bother you.

Well, if that don't
mean much to you,
maybe this will.

What?
If you don't start tellin'
me the truth right now,

I'm gonna start
bouncin' your ass
up against these walls!

You understand me now?
You understand me now?
Yeah, I understand you.

Well? Well?

He had it comin'.
He had it comin'?
Eddie Holloway had it comin'?

Yeah. Punk shot Fruit Loop.
Who the hell's Fruit Loop?

My cousin!
Eddie Holloway
shot Fruit Loop?

When?
September.

And you went and you shot him
at this basketball game?
Yeah.

[ Bo‐Bo Gasping ]

Andy Sipowicz,
ladies and gentlemen.
How's it goin', Gotelli?

I hear the bosses
came down on Fancy behind
this basketball mess, huh?

It shouldn't have
taken Einstein to figure
that game was bad news.

Couple a hundred.
Yeah, there you go.

Ah. Sarge said
there were collars.

They're talkin' to one guy,
runnin' a lineup
on another one.

‐ You're not workin' it?
‐ If I was, Vince, would I
be here talkin' to you?

‐ Whoa. Andy.
‐ You're sure
no Einstein either.

[ Sighs ]

[ Tapping On Window ]

Recognize anybody, Shirelle?

Remember,
no one can see you.

‐ Two.
‐ What?

Number two.

Where you recognize
number two from?

From the basketball court
this morning.
[ Fancy ] What did he do?

He shot a man in the face
in front of his little boy.

All right. You guys
can relax for a while.

We appreciate this.
The district attorney
will get you situated.

We're just gonna be
a few minutes.

Where's Andy?
He's in the squad.

Hi.

That girl make the I. D.?
Yeah. I thought you
were working that case.

I'm off the case.
How come?

I got into a beef
with that...
Brother Kwasi.

So Fancy took you
off the case?

I don't know if I can even
keep workin' for him‐‐ gettin'
slapped in the face like this.

What kind of beef was it?
Some language.

Racial language.

Excuse me. Ms. Costas,
we'll be downstairs, huh?

We're gonna put them
in a hotel tonight, so I've
gotta deal with the paperwork.

Yeah, all right.
I'll see you at home?

All right.
And we'll talk
about this?

We'll get through this,
Andy.
Yeah.

‐ Finish with Bo‐Bo?
‐ Yeah.
‐ Just signed off.

I'll get my coat.
Yeah, good.

[ Thunder Rumbling ]

You gotta do this
tonight, Andy?

Wouldn't it be better
to just sleep on it?

No.

You got a minute for me?

‐ Good night, guys.
‐ Yeah, night, Bobby.

Good night, Lieu.
Good night, Andy.
Good night.

Yeah.

‐ Give us a minute here, Vince.
‐ Sure. Anybody want a soda
from downstairs?

It would've been smarter
for you to go home
when the shift ended.

If you're goin' after me,
you bring charges
or let Kwasi do it.

'Cause I want a chance
to answer him in front
of somebody besides you.

Yeah, this is about me,
Andy. I'm the racist.

I've said that word.
I've thought it plenty.

But I've never used it
on the job till your hump pal
put us on that road.

This isn't about a word, Andy,
or your impure thoughts.

This is about you makin'
this case harder to work.

Not about you bein' black?
Not about givin'
some back to me?

It's about
what I say it's about.
Then say.

Part of what it's about
is watchin' me sweat.

A hell of a lot went down today,
so I'd have to check my notes.

But I thought I spent
some of that time tryin'
to save your sorry ass.

Give me a break.
I'm not gonna
take you out, Andy.

I move you out,
my white bosses‐‐
They send me a little message.

They send me another one
just like you,

but maybe that one
can't do the job
like you can.

Geez, thanks a lot, boss.

If you go, it'll be
somebody like Kwasi
or like that reporter.

I been dealin'
with white cops like you
ever since the academy.

I can manage you
with my eyes closed.

Now, maybe you can't handle
a black man being your boss.

I can handle it.
I've been covering you
three and a half years.

Except when
you get so tied up in
your brother‐brother crap,

you won't let us
work the streets.

That's when you get
yourself in trouble.

Hey, Lieu. We got a report
of a person shot near
the Houston Street projects.

Want me to handle it?
Was it a homicide?

‐ I don't know.
‐ That teenage girl,
the eyewitness.

Isn't she in those projects?
Yeah. I think
we got 'em out though.

Sylvia was involved there.

Check it out.

You want me
to check it out?
Yeah.

Sipowicz will handle it.

[ Chattering On Police Radio ]

What do you got?
A guy's fired on while
he's walking down the block.

Gets to his car,
tries to drive himself
to the hospital.

Multiple wounds.
Guy's bleedin' like crazy.
Looks like he's goin' out.

Anybody else shot?
Not as far as we know.
He's a reporter.

Who shot ya?
[ Gasping ]
They‐‐ They were in a car.

I didn't see 'em.
I'll tell you
who it had to be.

‐ Charlton Moody.
‐ Charlton Moody's in custody.

It had to be his guys.
'Cause I saw what
happened at the game.

Okay.
I'd be lying if I told you
I recognized anybody.

Can you describe the car?
Dark‐Dark‐‐ Dark color.

Listen‐‐ Listen,
you write this down.

I know how to help you,
'cause I'm‐‐ I'm gonna die.

You write this down.
You calm down.

They're workin' on you.

[ Gasping ]
This‐‐ This is a dying‐‐
dying declaration.

All right?
Charlton Moody‐‐

I saw him... today...
shoot a man... point‐blank.

[ Medic ]
Blood pressure's dropping.
[ Coughing ] At the ball game.

Whoever started it
shouldn't have done that.
He shouldn't have done that.

[ Gasps ]
Oh, God.

You're gonna write this
in your story, kid.

You're not gonna die.
They're gonna fix you up,
all right?

All right. Okay.

Okay?
You're gonna have to
let us work on him here.

His blood pressure's
bottomed out.
Let's get him outta here.

[ Siren Wailing ]

[ Medic #2 ]
We're losin' him.
Let's get him on O2.

Give me a hand
with the gurney.
You get it?

Yeah. This kid's gone.
I need the ambu bag
over here.

Who is it?
That reporter.

It occurred to him a little late
that Moody's people might be
gunnin' for witnesses.

Where's Sylvia?
Guess she wasn't here.

Kid corroborated Moody
from the second shooting.
Cop wrote it down.

Okay. I'll get the night watch
to handle this.

[ Chattering ]

Watch the I. V.
[ Chattering On Police Radio ]

Swing it around. Let's go.
Watch your back, people.

[ Chattering ]
Head first.

[ Door Opens, Closes ]

Hi, Andy.
Sorry I'm late.

We had a shooting
near those projects.

I was afraid Moody might
send somebody after that girl.

No. We got her into a motel.

[ Sighs ] Winds up
they killed the reporter
who was at the game.

He witnessed the murder.

What happened
with you and Fancy?

This guy Kwasi‐‐
We're mixin' it up.

He throws out the "N" word.
I throw it back at him.

Fancy comes at me
like I killed somebody.

‐ Is it gonna come
to charges?
‐ Not from him.

He wants to watch me
walk on eggs.

And the kid heard me,
but he's dead.

[ Sighs ]

I don't know where
this Kwasi'll go with it.

Let him bring charges.

[ Muttering ]

‐ You ever hear me
use that word?
‐ No.

But I have seen you
do this.

That's not the same thing.
That's something cops do so
you don't have to mention race.

"Hey, did you hear
about the shooting
at this barber shop?"

"This barber shop?"
"Yeah."

So it doesn't have to be said
and nobody gets offended.

Andy, it's code
for the word.

It's code so you don't
have to say it.

Don't ever show that
to our child.

‐ Yeah, all right.
‐ Don't teach him that.

Don't teach him
to think that way.
Yeah.