Numb3rs (2005–2010): Season 4, Episode 17 - Pay to Play - full transcript

♪ Call me the juice
when I'm at a strip club ♪

♪ I put down a
hundred or a dub ♪

♪ I'm a mac to a
playa, I'm a stud ♪

♪ Cuz when I leave
the club, I'ma... ♪

♪ Ride with the man
and be giving up the... ♪

♪ Little skinny, ride with ya, I
don't even know your name ♪

♪ There's a whole lotta room
in the front of the Range ♪

♪ Like Barack Obama
said, it's time for a change ♪

♪ Pull over on the
roll, on the back seat ♪

♪ Pop that body, now ya got me ♪

♪ You'll find a
chick kinda classy ♪



♪ Said her name was
ten, now I'm grabbin' ♪

♪ Now she got a
grip on the whip ♪

♪ With her big round
booty, with the silicone... ♪

♪ She bouncin' on my lap
And she tryin'a own the six ♪

♪ I whispered in her ear,
yo, it's hard for a pimp ♪

Yeah, happy birthday.

Come on, give it up for "B"!

Yeah.

Happy birthday, "B," give it up!

Yeah!

Happy birthday, "B." All right.

All right, all right, listen up.

I know tonight's about me,
but I got something to say

to these two artists
on stage here.



Okay, true and heartfelt.

(laughing): These two guys...

Hunter and 2BY4.

Without ya'll, we
wouldn't be here.

(cheering)

They're the cornerstones
of Center Mass Records,

brought us a whole
lot of business

and attention, and, man...

I just love ya'll.

I love you.

I love you.

All right, give
it up, give it up

for Hunter and 2...

Yo, people, what
ya'll clapping for, huh?

This mediocrity? (crowd booing)

You giving it up for a sellout
and a wannabe? Cut the mic.

You's a chump!
I'm tired of this fool.

Get this bitch off the stage!

All right, all right,
all right, all right, yo!

(all clamoring)

All right, hey, it's
enough, it's enough!

It's not the place.

It's not the place,
get him out... back up!

(grunting)

Yo, that's 'cause
I'm real witty, yeah!

I got skills!

I ain't no wangster,
ain't no punk bitch, either!

Get him out, get him out.

We came to have
a good time, right?

All right, it's my
damn birthday.

Let's get this thing started.

Come on. Hey, hit the music!

(hip-hop music begins) Yeah.

♪ That lolli, lolli, lolli ♪

♪ Please, Lord,
have some mercy ♪

♪ This girl is throwing
Judy, I think she... ♪

Hey, so what do you think?

I mean, I can probably
just take the 110 to the 105,

and there shouldn't be
too much traffic, right?

Yeah, yeah, the
Dodgers are in Houston.

The rush hour will
be long over. Okay.

If you want, we can run

an aggregated
speed density function,

do a mesoscopic
traffic simulation...

Charlie, give the abacus a rest.

The 110 to the 105 will be

just fine, Amita. Do you
want me to come with you?

Uh, I mean, my parents
are going to be exhausted.

They're getting off
such a long flight.

I think we should just
hold off till tomorrow.

You're worried they're
not gonna like me?

No.

I think we should just
wait till tomorrow night.

Um, what are you
gonna wear tomorrow?

She is worried they're
not gonna like me.

Charlie, you're
gonna make her late.

All right, I'll wait up for you.

Oh, um, no, no, I don't know.

I mean, I think
it's kind of weird

me staying here while
my parents are here.

Well, they'll be at a hotel.

I mean, how would
they ever know?

Yeah, I know, I didn't
say it was rational.

You know, I
just... it feels weird.

My dad knows
you spend the night.

That's never been weird.

Well, it's weird now,
thank you very much.

I'll call you later.

Okay.

Bye. Drive safe.

Okay, thanks. Bye, Alan.

Good-bye, Amita. (door shuts)

(hip-hop music playing)

Hey, Hunter, what about it, man?

You coming up to B's
house, keep this thing going?

No, man, I'm gonna
head on home, man.

Ya'll take it easy, man.
Thank you, brother.

Hey, man, everything
cool, you good?

Yeah, I'm good...
what ain't good, right?

I guess, man.

Ya'll take it easy, man.

Yo, chill.

(engine starts)

(rapid gunshots, glass
shattering, people screaming)

(sustained horn honking)

(crowd exclaiming)

(horn honking)

Agent Warner,
what brings you out?

Hey, I'm the one who
called you, Granger.

What do you say, Liz?

Hey. So the victim's a
multiplatinum rap star

on Center Mass Records.

FBI drug squads have
had an eye on the label

for about six months...
Can't say it's related,

but LAPD's agreed to let us

roll on this one,
see where it goes.

DON: Any idea if it was
random, targeted, what?

LIZ: Well, one of the valets

noticed the shooter's
car idling in the lot

over there, so it sounds
like it was waiting for him.

They didn't get a
plate number, though.

No other witnesses?

Probably, but
none talking to us.

That's my husband in
there! That's my husband!

Ma'am, you don't
need to see this.

Easy, ma'am, just relax,
just step back, okay?

LIZ: Mrs. Hunter, listen
to me, do you know

who might have done
this to your husband?

Rival crew, gang?

My husband wasn't
like that, okay?

He wasn't a gang member,
didn't pretend to be.

DON: Okay, all right, what
was he? Wait, how about...?

Why don't you help us out, then?

What good is that gonna
do me helping you out?

It's not gonna
bring Hunter back.

Well, don't you want
to see his killer caught?

That's your job.

Mine is to make arrangements
to bury my husband.

What have you got there?

This guy's a musician.

Having two iPods, is that weird?

(beeps)

(electronic whirring)

I don't care what your taste is.

That is not music.

Yeah, this encryption code

is somewhat elementary.

Okay, there.

Looks like some
kind of similarity

or a string metric,
I'm pretty sure.

Does that mean
like an algorithm?

Yeah, uh, it looks
for commonalities

in complex systems.

It's used in a lot of things.

Plagiarism detection programs,

for one.

You know, a book
is a complex system.

It's made up of individual
words and letters,

but comparing those
words and letters

would be meaningless.

To detect plagiarism, you
need to look at the larger strings:

sentences, paragraphs,
entire pages.

A string metric allows us
to compare two systems

and expose the plagiarist.

Okay, so what would
a rap star be doing

with one of these equations?

Well, the narc guy said

they had an eye on Center Mass.

So, what, maybe drugs?

Could be... I don't know yet.

I did a full run on the
victim, Robert Hunter,

and like his wife
says, um, he's clean.

I mean, even his music,
it's no more violent

or provocative than
anything else that's out there.

Well, look, something
got him killed.

(hip-hop music playing)

LIZ: Here's my card... if you
hear anything, I'd appreciate a call.

All right, how'd you do?

I think if these were
Travis Tritt fans,

I might have better luck.

Huh. Not your peeps, huh?

Hey, for what it's worth,

by the way, I just
wanted to tell you,

I'm glad you're
working this one.

I mean, I get you
transferring out,

the whole thing
with Don and all that,

but I've always liked
working with you.

Oh, thanks, Granger.

Now, I wish I could say
the same thing about you.

Who's this guy?

Name's 2BY4.

He's another artist on
Center Mass Records.

Hunter, you were loved

and will be missed, homie.

And this won't go unanswered.

Excuse me.

Might as well

pack that badge and go home.

We handle our
own family business.

Yeah, what business is that?

Cycle's in motion.

Hunter got killed 'cause of
what went down at the party.

Now there's gonna
be retaliation for that.

That's the cycle, baby,

Circle of Life, know
what I'm sayin'?

What's up, baby?

So what went down at
the party? Guess it's just

one of those things
where you had to be there.

MAN: Mr. Blanchard,
those Feds are here.

Over here.

I have a very busy schedule.

Hope you don't mind
if I do this while we talk.

For Hunter's funeral?

Yeah, I gotta show
him all the respect.

We'll be mourning
his loss for a long time.

Financial loss, too,
I would imagine.

He's one of your top
money makers, right?

See, that's the bitter irony.

Hunter's new album
pops in three weeks.

And when it does,

it'll be our biggest
release ever

because he got shot.

And tell me how I'm supposed

to feel good about that.

LIZ: Maybe you do
something for him in return.

Help us catch his killer.

I'm sorry, I wasn't out there

when he got shot. Come on.

Someone of your stature?

I gotta figure nothing goes
down without you hearing about it.

Oh, I might hear, but
I don't point fingers.

Ah.

Look, you already lost
one artist to the grave.

2BY4 goes for revenge,

you're gonna lose another.

Yo, Howe, take a break.

You might want to check
out a dude named Derek.

All right, who's he?

A hothead with limited talent.

Always pestering me
to sign him to the label.

He showed up that night.

Look, I'm not saying
anything happened,

but an event like that,

a lot of people
with cell phones.

People shooting video.

Maybe one of these videos
winds up on a Web site.

BLANCHARD (on
video): 2BY4! Whoo!

All right, so that's
him right there.

His full name's Derek Raines.

He's no Boy Scout,
but nothing big.

Mainly juvie stuff.

Vandalism, minor assault.

DAVID: Anybody ever
heard about this guy?

Apparently, he's
been rapping for years

and puts his own
stuff out independently.

But not even in the same
league as Hunter and 2BY4.

Seems a little pissed
about it, don't you think?

(shouting and fighting on video)

Oh... you know, why don't you

grab Liz and go
check him out, huh?

Okay.

Hey, Colb'.

You, uh, talk to
Megan, by any chance?

You know she asked
ASAC for a week off?

No, she didn't say
anything to me.

I can give her a
call if you want.

Yeah, why don't you do that?

DEREK (on video):
That's 'cause I'm real witty!

Yeah, I got skills!

I ain't no wangster,
ain't no punk bitch, either!

(knocking on door)

Hey, Larry.

How was the
departmental breakfast?

It was less than stellar.

I was running late.

And the only available seat
was next to Professor Hindslaus.

The slurper.

You know, all he
had was the fruit plate,

and he was deafening.

(chuckles) Have you had time

to distill any of my data
from the Hadron collider?

Ooh, no, I haven't.

Sorry, it's just that

Don's got me doing this,

and I've been so preoccupied

over my dinner
with Amita's parents.

So... Oh, that's right.

They're in town.

I spent the whole night

plotting a dinner strategy.

A little game theory.

A little Sun Tzu.

The Art of War?

What are you so

worried about?

I'm not Indian,

for one.

Listen,

her parents were
both schooled here.

They raised her here.

I'm sure they're
very intelligent,

cosmopolitan people.

They tried to arrange
a marriage for her.

Yeah,

that had slipped my mind.

What ever happened to him?

He married some

French chick he met in Belgium.

It doesn't mean they don't
have someone else in mind.

I'm sure all they want
is what is best for Amita.

They will spend
some time with you,

and they will soon be
singing your praises.

That's why he had the algorithm.

So, this program

is meant to analyze music.

No kidding.

And its mechanism is inspired.

It's brilliant, actually.

It can process any song

and predict its expected
level of success.

You're saying it can tell

whether a song's
going to be a hit or not?

Yeah. Yeah. What?

Within a certain, uh, level

of statistical
probability, yeah.

No, no, come on, look.

Music is subjective.

It's visceral.

There's no way an
equation can tell you

if a song's good or not.

Well, we all like to think

that we have our own
unique tastes, but we don't.

There are certain

rhythms, certain key changes,

chord patterns that we
all, as humans, respond to.

Just like there are-are
smells that we all find

pleasant or not.

This program samples thousands
and thousands of hit songs,

analyzes what they
all have in common,

and then from there
creates a fairly accurate

statistical guess as
to what will be a hit

and what won't. I agree

with him; where's the art?

It's not art.

This is about business.

Okay, so you're saying
that Hunter was carrying

this thing around, trying

to engineer his songs
to be hits? Maybe,

but from what I can tell,

he hadn't analyzed
his own tracks yet.

I mean, the data
folders were set up,

for his album and
for 2BY4's as well.

But, but the analysis
was never run.

All right, so how
about you run it?

Well, the albums
haven't been released yet.

So... Get a subpoena.

Okay.

(knocking on door)

FBI, Mr. Raines.

Mind stepping outside
so we can chat?

I got a choice?

You got a choice

where we chat.

Ah, you've done this before.

You grow up around here,
cops just looking for a chance,

know what I'm saying?

What's this? You carrying?

Right away you just
assume I got a gun.

No, it's my recorder.

I use it

for my rhymes.

Step inside.

(hip-hop music playing)

Gotta say, you're not
someone I expected

to find here.

Nina Hunter. The victim's wife.

So what?

Love triangle's the
oldest motive in the book.

Hold on, man, you
got that all wrong.

Mrs. Hunter, why don't you and I

go talk in the other
room here, okay?

Come on.

Figures the FBI sent a brother

to come talk to me.

What, you, like, the
resident rap expert?

I go the more Curtis Mayfield,

James Brown,
early Stevie direction.

You know, guys you're
always stealing from.

All right, you said
you wanted to chat.

Chat. I saw a video

of what went down
at the party last night.

You have an alibi

for where you were
after you got tossed out?

Derek and Hunter
were inseparable.

All three of us were.

I used to hang out
while they worked

on rhymes together
and laid down tracks.

But you were always with Hunter.

There's nothing going
on between Derek and me,

if that's what you mean.

Why are you so angry, Derek?

Your magic career didn't
blow up like Hunter's?

Nah, man, that's
not even my style.

I taught Hunter
everything he knows.

Yeah.

Yeah, we used to be real
tight before he sold out.

I'm here because I wanted
to be around somebody

who knew Hunter the way I did.

Were Derek and Hunter
still in contact? No.

Hunter tried reaching
out, but Derek

wouldn't return his calls.

Too much pride.

Why was Hunter reaching
out? I mean, why now?

DAVID: Let me ask you something.

I mean, you got so
much spite for these guys.

Right? Why'd you
crash their party?

Yo, I ain't crash nothin'.

I was invited.

Yeah, Blanchard's
been sweatin' me

for years, trying to get me to
sign to Center Mass Records.

He knows I'm the
superior product.

Is that so?

So, but you chose all of this

here instead.

What do you know about a complex
math program he was carrying?

An analytical program?

Nothing at all.

I chose to make my music
my way, so I control everything.

(rapid gunfire)

(glass shattering)

(gunfire ceases)

(car tires squealing)

You okay? Yeah!

Damn it!

You see the shooter?

No, not enough.

Derek!

This is Agent David Sinclair.

Yeah.

I need an ambulance
to, uh, 632...

DAVID: Get this. 2BY4's real
name is Theodore Durenberger.

Bad-conduct
discharge from the army.

Assault charge from Vegas PD.

He as good as promised

he was going to go after Derek.

Yeah, but you guys can't ID him.

And Raines, how's he?

He's gonna pull through.

All right, so what, Derek
pulls a drive-by on Hunter,

and-and 2BY4 returns the favor?

DAVID: I don't know about that.

Derek grows up in a really
rough neighborhood, right?

He defies the odds
all these years,

stays out of any real trouble.

Then he pulls off a
drive-by execution

in front of a crowded club.

I mean, that's a
hell of a first step.

I'd still like to know

what Hunter was working
on before he was killed.

We get anywhere
with that iPod yet?

Speak of the devil.

What do you got?
Got the subpoena.

So, Charlie can run the
analysis on the music,

but the catch is, the recordings
can't leave Center Mass Records.

(hip-hop music playing)

All right, guys, I'll let
them know you're here.

So much for popular culture.

WOMAN: Yo, yo, check this out.

The comic book
store's down the street.

(laughter)

I haven't heard of
any of these artists.

And it's not like I've
been living in a cave.

No, just a space
station and a monastery.

And, oh, yeah,
the steam tunnels.

All right, point taken.

This is Professor
Eppes and Fleinhardt.

They're the ones who'll
actually be doing the analysis.

Hey. Pleasure. Hey.

Sorry you had to come
all the way down here.

It's just, uh, I'm
kind of nervous.

These albums are set to
drop in a couple weeks, and...

I don't want to let
them out of my sight.

It's no problem.

We totally understand. Good.

Well, Kilo here should be
able to help you with everything

you need. Thank you.

All right, see you later, guys.

Follow me.

(Charlie clears throat)

So, I, uh... All right.

Well, I guess we'll just, uh...

Is it okay if we set up here?

I know you, you know.

You know me?

No.

You...

Eppes.

I bought your book.
The one on making

friends. Oh, my goodness.

Uh, did it help you out at all?

I'm a fairly charismatic
guy to begin with,

you know what I mean?

Now, this here is Reese.

And that cat there,
that's Repete.

They're gonna
run the joints for us.

We're gonna start with one
of Hunter's cuts. Is that cool?

Yeah, sure. Yeah.

Let's, uh, kick it off

with one of Hunter's joints.

Man, first hibbie's so tight,

heads'll be losing they minds

while we stack chips

like Lays, you heard? Yeah.

(laughing) Oh.

My man. All right,
drop the joint.

(hip-hop music blaring)

♪ Let me see you pop that body ♪

♪ Lotsa lolli, jolly lolli... ♪

Feel the vibe?

♪ ♪

(hip-hop playing)

Sugar, you want to get
with the playa, just say so.

You ain't gotta be chasing me

around like this.

Thanks, yeah,

I'll make a note of it.

You go for a
drive earlier today?

Maybe by Derek Raines's house?

Yeah, I heard someone
'bout put his punk ass down.

But you had nothing
to do with it, right?

Nothing you could prove.

Yeah, well, what if it hit Nina?

You think you'd be showing

Hunter some great
respect by capping his wife?

If Nina was at Derek's,
bitch gets what she deserves.

Sleeping with the enemy.

Not with us, against us,

know what I'm saying?
MAN: We're ready.

Love to talk some
mo, but life is calling.

I got to roll.

MAN: All right,
let's go, let's go.

I don't forget
being shot at, okay?

Next time I come to
see you, you are done.

MAN: All right,
quiet on the set.

(hip-hop music playing)

♪ You're a club girl, huh ♪

♪ Corruptin' the world, yeah ♪

♪ You're a club girl,
corruptin' the world ♪

♪ You're a club
girl, I love you, girl ♪

♪ You're a club girl,
corruptin' the world... ♪

I'm sorry.

Just for clarification
here, please.

You know, earlier we said

that being “corrupt”
was a good thing.

But now here,
suddenly it carries this,

uh, negative connotation.

It's not about what

you say, it's about how
you say it, right, Kilo?

Look at the Professor
droppin' knowledge.

Hey, maybe you
ought to come through

the lab one day, lay down some

friendship math rhymes.

Oh. Trust me, I don't

think either of us wants to hear

that happen.

(blipping)

Hey, you what?
I think I have it.

I-I think we got what we need.

Okay, well, thank
you for the education.

No doubt, my man. Okay.

Uh...

Word!

The hit prediction algorithm
from Hunter's iPod correlates,

within a fairly narrow range,

with how commercially
successful a song will be

over 80% of the time.

The problem is,

2BY4's songs invariably
fall into that other 20%, so...

Yeah, you lost me, Charlie.

CHARLIE: Okay.

Uh... Candy bar, nice.

And... What is that?

Flavored tofu chips.

This is perfect. So I
tested both rappers' music.

Hunter's scored high marks.

His raps are like candy bars.

At least, according
to the algorithm,

they're exactly what you'd
expect people to want.

They're big sellers.

However, 2BY4's songs
scored significantly lower.

So, according to the
algorithm, 2BY4's stuff

is like musical tofu.

Aah, you stole my punch line.

Ho-Ho-Hold on.
So why do they sell?

Well, maybe some
people like tofu.

Not enough to make him rich,

not enough to make him a star.

(cell phone rings)

Oh, no... Oh, my
dinner. Uh, bye.

Dad... Yeah, no, I'm on my way.

I know. I just
looked at my watch.

Okay, so maybe
2BY4 found out, right?

And he was scared that
Hunter would out him.

You know, tell the world
his music was crap?

So you're thinking
you can make a case

against him for doing Hunter?

I don't know. I just was never
sold on Derek as the killer.

And keeping Hunter quiet

would definitely be a
strong motivator. Right.

With Hunter gone, 2BY4 becomes
the number one act at the label,

and tofu or not, the
son of a bitch was

soaking up the spotlight today.

Okay, run with it,
see what we get.

Hey, Colb, so,
you talk to Megan?

I left messages for her on
her home machine and her cell,

but I haven't heard
anything back.

There was a minimal
probability that we'd be late.

I-I don't know how
I let this happen.

Charlie, there's nothing
you can do about it right now,

so just breathe and relax.

Last thing you want to do
is show up late and sweaty.

Come on. Yeah.

Hi. Good evening.

Hey, listen. I'm,
uh, really very sorry.

I started what I
thought was going to be

a very simple, um,
plumbing repair.

And before I knew it,
I was up to my knees.

My sincere apologies.

Oh, it's quite all right.

Our clocks are
still getting used

to the time change ourselves.

Mom, this is
Charlie's father, Alan.

And, uh, these are my
parents, Tapti and Sanjay.

It's nice to meet you
both. Nice to meet you, too.

And, uh, this,
obviously, is Charlie.

Hi. It's a real pleasure
to meet both of you.

I've been looking forward to
meeting you for quite some time.

And us, you, believe me.

Okay, well, why
don't we all sit down.

Charlie.

All righty.

I'm sorry... What?
(chuckles nervously)

He's even cuter in person.

(chuckles)

We worry about Amita,

especially now
that our work has us

spending so much
time back in Delhi.

It's a great comfort

knowing there are people
here that really care about her.

Very much.

ALAN: Oh, yeah, we all do.

Having raised two
boys, let me tell you,

it's a real treat to
have Amita around.

It's very impressive, Charlie,
all that you've accomplished.

Oh, thank you, thank you.

You know, Amita's been
a big part of a lot of it.

Well, you're going to make

some lucky girl
very happy someday.

(chuckling)

MAN: Amita!

Oh, my God, Kapil?!

How are you? (chuckling)

(chuckles)

Hi! Oh, my God, look at you.

AMITA: What a surprise!

It's so good to see you!

KAPIL: It's been a long time.

Yes! Charlie,
Alan, this is Kapil.

Um... we've known each
other pretty much forever.

We grew up together.

How you doing? I'm Alan...

AMITA: Look at you!
TAPTI: I hope it's okay.

We're going to be in town
such a short period of time,

and when we found out Kapil was
going to be here on business, too,

we couldn't not see him.

We invited him

to join us for dessert.

Yeah, no, of course. I'm
gonna go grab a chair.

It's so good to see
you. Do you live here?

I'm thinking about relocating.

I got an offer from UCLA Medical,
and I think I'm going to take it.

I'm moving over here. I got
to get out to the West Coast.

Really? Yeah, I
just love it out here.

It's such a nice
surprise, you guys.

I don't care what
the doctor said!

And I don't care what
orders the FBI left!

I want to see him!
Let me through!

Mrs. Hunter... They
won't let me see Derek!

Okay, talk to them.
Tell them who I am.

Okay, first thing you
need to do is calm down.

Thanks for the
call. I got it now.

Why don't you tell me what's
going on? What happened?

I didn't come
here to talk to you.

I came here to talk to Derek.

Come on.

(heart monitor
beeping rhythmically)

Understand now?

He's in no shape
to talk to anyone.

Mrs. Hunter, what's going on?

You found something
out, didn't you?

I don't know.

Is that your husband's computer?

Is there something on
there I should know about?

Mrs. Hunter, please.
You have to trust me.

Why would I trust you?
I don't even know you.

Look, if you know something
about Hunter's death,

or you know what
he was working on,

you have to tell me.

I don't have to
tell you anything.

You owe it to your husband.

Don't you tell me what
I owe my husband.

You don't know
anything about us.

(keyless entry
remote chirps) (sighs)

(car alarms blaring)

Hey, how you
doing? You all right?

I was thinking we should
duck you into the ER,

have somebody check you out.

I'm fine... fine.

(indistinct radio broadcast)

I played it wrong, Colby.

I said the wrong things.

I talked to the bomb squad.

Um, it wasn't a
sophisticated device.

It was tied to the ignition.

She turned the
key, and, uh, boom.

COLBY: Still,
that's a little above

2BY4's pay grade, no?

He had some military training.

I mean, it could have
included demolitions.

MAN: Sir, we got something here.

You okay?

Yeah.

It's the laptop
Nina was carrying.

I got the feeling
she knew something.

She figured out what
Hunter was working on.

This thing is pretty
trashed. (phone rings)

We'll have to see what
the lab can salvage from it.

Sinclair.

I'll be right up.

Be back.

In there?

What are you doing?

What does it look like,
man? How far do you think

you're gonna get before
you're right back in here?

Far enough to do right
by Hunter and Nina.

Don't... Don't do this.

Okay, man, don't
fall into this now.

Ain't no fall, man.

I was pushed.

It was a disaster.

It was an unmitigated disaster.

I mean, no other
way to explain it.

Oh, come on. It couldn't
have been that bad.

You should've seen this guy.

I mean, he was handsome.

He was, like, tall
with the perfect hair,

the perfect teeth.

Hmm... He was
like a Hindu Adonis.

Really? Oh, dear.

And did I mention he's a doctor?

Because Amita's
mother certainly did.

Alan, you're just in time.

Give us some objectivity.

I think Charlie may
be overreacting.

Did he mention
the word “disaster?”

Numerous times.

It was a disaster. Thank you.

Oh, hey. Excellent. Charlie...

Can you do me a
favor? Take a look at this.

We think it's a spreadsheet
for Center Mass.

What are all those
holes in the data?

It's from a
messed-up hard drive.

It's the best the lab could do.

But I figure, maybe,
you can fill it in.

We may not need to fill it in to
know what we're looking at here.

You're thinking of
a Groebner basis?

It's regularly used
used in long-distance

astrophotography... those amazing
images we get from the Hubble.

Sure.

It's a way to infer the
missing information

without having all the data.

You know, like, uh,
remember when were kids,

and we used to sit in the
cheap seats at Dodger Stadium,

under the Jumbotron?

It wasn't because
the seats were cheap.

It was the best place
to catch a home run ball.

Oh, yeah.

We had gloves on. Oh, yeah.

The point is, we couldn't see

the screen because
we were sitting under it.

We were too close. Right?

So think of your
missing information

as burned-out panels
on the Jumbotron.

At that range, at a data
level, it's impossible to know

what the panels should be.

Using the Groebner basis
is like sitting way back,

and seeing the screen
from the box seats.

Despite the missing information,

we can see the overall picture.

We can see what the system is,

and once we
understand the system,

we're far better equipped
to fill in the holes.

Yeah, yeah. Okay.

How about you take
it with you? Yeah.

Hey, what's going on with Megan?

I assume she
arranged for time off.

That's what I'm talking about.

Is it something I need
to be worried about?

No. She... She's fine.

She's back in New York.

Listen, more I dare not say.

Well, I will clear.

♪ The boy got a lot of
cheddar and it only gets better ♪

♪ Paid full grand
for the sweater ♪

♪ Stacks in my hand,
gave money to my man... ♪

♪ Little money in the stack,
market that, don't hurt... ♪

Theodore Durenberger.

This is the FBI!
We have a warrant!

You have one minute
to show yourself

before we enter by force.

Liz, got anything around back?

LIZ (over radio): All clear.

You think I'm scared of
you?! Like I'm some bitch?!

You got a warrant?!

Let me see your warrant!

(quietly): I want protection.

You want what?

I want help. Take me in.

Derek's out, man.

He's gunning for me.

Please? You can't
let him get me.

Yo, be cool!

These jakes can't hold me.

I'll be out in an hour!

Word up!

Hey, Charlie.

Hey. Hi.

I think that went really
well last night, don't you?

Yeah. I think my
parents really liked you.

Oh, they're sweet,
and the food was good.

Yeah, it was, wasn't it? Mm-hmm.

Did you get to try
Kapil's pomegranate tart?

Actually, I, uh...

I couldn't get a
spoon in edgewise.

Amita, I have to run.

I have to go drop off
some results for Don...

Charlie, is something wrong?

Um, let's think.

A guy shows up in the
middle of our dinner.

Pretty much sweeps
you off your feet.

Uh, wha... You can't
seriously be jealous of Kapil.

Of course not. He's only
handsome and successful,

and he makes you... giddy.

Charlie, he's gay.

Oh.

Well, how the hell was I
supposed to know that?

You're right.

I guess you couldn't.

Which means the whole thing

must have seemed
really bad. I'm so sorry.

So...

do your parents
know that Kapil's gay?

I don't know.

Probably not.

Oh, my God.

They were trying to
set me up with him.

2BY4: This is whack.

You don't need to
treat me like a criminal.

I came in voluntarily, remember?

Yeah, well, because
you're scared.

The thing I don't

understand is, I
thought you were

supposed to be
this tough guy, right?

This hard-ass. Oh, man...

Look, I was playing
a part, all right?

Going through

the motions to sell

some records. Two
murders? An attempted

third at Derek's house?
That's "going through

the motions"? What murders?
All we did was spray down

Derek's house a little.

Had to meet my
fans' expectations.

DON: What about

Hunter and Nina?
Everyone knows Derek

did Hunter.

Nina?

I got nothing there. All
right, you know what?

Cut him loose.
Derek can have him.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, wait!

What about Blanchard?

He and Hunter were
fighting over money.

Hunter said he
was being ripped off.

Blanchard has an alibi.

Does Kilo?

Blanchard's shadow,

big, massive cat... Does
whatever Blanchard says.

Yeah, but you got
the bomb training.

Kilo handles all

the pyrotechnics
for the music videos.

Dude loves to blow stuff up.

Don't listen to me.

Neither did Derek.

Wait a minute.

You told Derek
that Kilo killed Nina?

Hell yeah, I did.
Dude called me,

said he's coming to kill me.

You think I'm gonna
keep that a secret?

Don't move.

Looks like our boy 2BY4
handed Kilo over to Derek.

So you coordinate with LAPD.

I got Kilo's and you guys
the record label, all right?

All right. Let's go.

DAVID: Now, if Blanchard
stole Hunter's money,

then he only has
two options, right?

Either he pays him
back... Or he has him killed.

Yeah. Right.

Hey, I figured it
out. Hey, come on.

Tell us in the elevator. Okay.

Um, so remember how we were
stumped by 2BY4's record sales?

That according to the
algorithm, his music

shouldn't be selling.
Yeah, the musical tofu?

Right, those spreadsheets you
gave me belonged to Center Mass,

but they weren't meant

for anyone to see.
What do you mean?

It's an accounting log.

It's a list of payola.

Blanchard's been

paying off radio stations
to play 2BY4's rap.

You flood the airways enough,
people will buy anything.

That explains why
2BY4's music's so popular.

DON: Where did Blanchard
get the money he used?

He skimmed it off the
artists' percentages.

Right, so then he was

stealing from Hunter, right?

Wait, wait, hold on...
Where are you going?

Well, I have more to
tell you. That's all right.

You can just call me, okay?

Hey, man, I took the
FBI training course.

All right, I'm more than

qualified to ride with you.

You got to put this on. Awesome.

(hip-hop music playing)

♪ Let's roll, let's roll ♪

♪ Let's rock, let's rock ♪

♪ Keep the move... ♪

(groaning)

Don't, Kilo. You're done.

Oh, man, he took...
He took Blanchard.

Derek? Ooh, I got him.

I got him good. Yeah, just like

you got Hunter and Nina?

(cell phone ringing)

(phone beeps on)

DON: Eppes.

Don, Derek hit the record label.

He's got Blanchard.

Looks like they took
off in Blanchard's car.

And Kilo?

We got him and the
gun that I'm guessing

is going to tie him
to Hunter's murder.

Wait, what?! Kilo killed Hunter?

Why? I just

can't believe that
Kilo would do that.

What about Derek? Any
idea where he's headed?

No, not a clue. Well, listen.

If we can get him on his

cell phone and keep
him on long enough,

we can track him,
right? All right.

It's just a suggestion.

Okay, we're all set up.

I've got Derek's cell number.

DON: All right, dial it
up, patch us through.

David, you've got the
most juice with the guy,

so try keeping him
on the line, all right?

All right, I'll do what I can.

(speed dialing) We're dialing.

All right, I'm going on mute.

(line ringing)

(phone ringing)

Who's this? Derek,
it's Agent Sinclair.

I don't want to
talk to you, Sinclair.

All right, then how about
you just listen, okay?

It's not too late to
turn this thing around.

Kilo's going to be fine.

You haven't killed anybody yet.

That's about to change.

Blanchard, he had
Hunter and Nina killed.

This has got to be.

LIZ: All right,
guys, we got him.

They're headed east on
Washington near LaBrea.

All these years, you've
kept it about the music.

You stayed clean.

And for what, huh?

What was the payoff?

I got to stop kidding myself.

DAVID: No, no... don't
throw it away like this.

Derek, don't do it.

You should listen to him, Derek.

Shut your mouth!

LIZ: They're turning
onto Crenshaw.

Going south.

All right, got it. DAVID:
Don't throw it away.

DEREK: I'm done hearing
you, Sinclair. I'm hanging up.

Wait! (beeps)

Hey, Derek, don't
hang up. Not yet.

Who's this?

CHARLIE: You don't
know me, but I have

information for you, all right?

I know why your music
isn't selling like it should.

What you talking about, man?

It's Blanchard. Just
like he's been paying

radio stations to
play 2BY4's music,

he's been paying
them not to play yours.

You been suppressing me, man?

That's what I was going
to tell you. Hunter found

the proof and now I have it.

You've been holding me back?!

Why? 'Cause I wouldn't sign
to your little corny-ass label?

Yo, Derek, we can make
this all good. All right?

I can fix this thing.

LIZ: Don, they're now east

on Adams.

(tires screeching)

Look, I'm done talking to y'all.

I'm tired. Derek.

I'm hanging up. Derek!

LIZ: Don, signal's
gone. We lost him.

Last we had,

they were east on Adams.

Sorry, man, I tried to
keep him on long enough.

I think I know where
they're headed.

Yo, Derek,

you look real bad, man. Let
me get you to the hospital.

Shut your mouth.

Go where I told you.

Yo, D, man, just imagine.

All right? We join forces...

Man...

you can have it all, D.

It's too late.

Nah, it's too
late for all of that.

It's over for Hunter and Nina.

Now, it's over for you.

Stop the car.

(brakes screeching)

Just stay in the car!
Just stay in the car!

Okay.

Derek! Do you hear me?!

Derek!

You think you can
jump out of this car

before I bust a
cap in your head?

I can't make them out.

Just keep dialing.
(speed dialing)

This is stupid, Derek.

What a waste.

What you did to
Hunter was a waste!

Man, it was business.

He was going to bring the whole

damn label down. (phone ringing)

(ringing continues)
What about Nina, huh?

That hurt me, too.

All right, but...

the ball was in motion.

(ringing) I couldn't stop it.

He's got something in his hand!

No, it's okay! Don't shoot!

It's just a recorder!

I got it.

I got it all.

Get out of the car! Get out!

(chuckles): What'd you
think I was gonna do?

It's okay. (groans)

You did good.

COLBY: Hey, you
been at the hospital?

Yeah. Guy's either
tough or lucky,

or maybe he's a little
bit of both, but, uh...

he's gonna pull on through.

No way of getting around

what he did, though.

He's definitely going away.

Not forever, though.

Yeah.

I'll catch up with you later.

Hey. Hey.

So I just got off the
phone with your girlfriend

in the U.S. Attorney's
Office. Oh, did you?

She's putting together
a deal for 2BY4.

What's he got? Says he has

info on Blanchard's
drug business.

Time will tell.

All right.

What's the matter? You
worried about Megan?

I don't know.

I mean, she'll be back
tomorrow, we'll see.

Probably just
needed a little break.

Everybody does once in a while.

Hey, guys, so
David's bailing on me.

Anyone up for grabbing a beer?

Oh, I would,

but I'm hooking up with Robin.

Leaves just the two of us,

huh, Granger?

Well, go for it. He's not going

to mess with you.
Yeah, I'm just heading out

to this little dive
honky-tonk in the valley.

You know, me and my peeps.

Ah! All right,
curiosity's killing me.

All right, I'm in.

All right.

Okay. Here we go.

What is this?

You baked us cookies? Yes.

I did. Aw.

Because I feel...

ALAN: Amita, you
don't have to pay

penance for what
happened at dinner last night.

It wasn't your fault. (knocking)

Oh, now, Dad, don't let
her off the hook so easy.

My abject suffering is worth
a lot more than cookies.

I don't know, Charlie.

These cookies are awfully good.

Thank you, Alan.

Charlie. Hey. Uh,
yeah, come on in.

Hi. What are you
guys doing here?

Amita, we wanted to talk to you

before we flew out again.

Charlie, I think we should
give them some privacy.

No, no, that's okay.
Stay. No problem at all.

Actually, I wanted to apologize

to everyone for how awkward

things were last night.
But, Mom, the problem

isn't that things were awkward.

The problem is that you
tried to set me up with Kapil.

Kapil comes from
a wonderful family,

and we've known his
parents a long time.

CHARLIE: I'm sorry,
but you're lobbying

for Kapil right
here in my house.

No, not at all.

What Tapti was
going to say is that

we arranged for
Kapil to be there,

and, yes, it was our intention.

But this was before
we met Charlie.

And that's your defense?

That's a pretty good defense,

when you think about it.

Until last night,

we didn't realize how well
you'd done for yourself.

Thank you.

Why don't we all just
come in and sit down?

We would, Alan, but we can't.

Our flight's early. Yeah.

Okay, well, I'll walk
you guys out, then.

Yes. Hey, listen, it was

really nice to finally

meet both of you.

All right.

Have a safe flight. Thank you.

Yeah, once again, even briefly.

Good night. Good-bye.

So what do you think? Hmm?

I'm in? Oh, yeah, you're in.

Yeah, but you must
realize, of course,

that now you have to marry her.

I think I'll have one
of those cookies now.