Southland (2009–2013): Season 1, Episode 1 - Unknown Trouble - full transcript

Rookie Ben Sherman's first day on the job is with his experienced partner who belittles him due to his silver-spoon upbringing. Their busy day ends with a call to investigate a noise complaint that deteriorates into a shootout. This incident involves a gang that had, earlier in the day, gunned down a teenage boy for no reason. Meanwhile Det Lydia Adams is assigned a missing child case, which appears to be a kidnapping by someone into pre-teen sex.

*

*

(women screaming)

(sirens wailing)

You okay, son?

You okay, son?!

(camera shutter clicks)

NARRATOR:
Ben Sherman just finished
phase one

of his probationary training.

He still needed
to have his daily book

signed by his training officer.



The night had not gone well.

(cocking gun)
Look sharp. Act sharp. Be sharp.

These guys coming out of prison,

they're buff and on drugs.

You do what they teach you
in the academy, you will die.

Knucklehead wants
to take your gun.

So, if it's you or some
300-pound naked guy on PCP,

you take his ass down
any way you can.

You ride with me,
you back your badge.

Whoa...

Great, that's all I need.

Nice little staph infection.

Detective over at Central,
she's gonna lose her foot.

It's going around.



(indistinct radio transmission)

Roll down your window.

When'd you get out of the
academy? About a month ago?

Yes, sir.

You know your penal codes?

Yes, sir.

What's a 203?

Mayhem, sir.
Mayhem...

I get this mayhem one time,

go over to Killer King,

there's this guy with a little
tent over his genitals.

Doc keeps, you know, signaling
for me to look under there.

This guy had scooped out
his nuts with a spoon.

(laughing)

He said they'd gotten him
into trouble his whole life.

So, I took a Polaroid, right?
Put the picture in my pocket.

Captain shows up.

You know what he says?

"Make sure you attach
the picture to the report."

What are you? Canadian?

(indistinct radio transmission)

(ball thudding)

Great...

Barry the Basehead...

he's spun.

Meth-- it gives him
that disheveled look.

Hey, hey, shitbird,
how you doing?

A friend of mine has a kitten,
and it won't come off the roof.

Yeah, well, usually a cat
gets up on its own,

it can get down on its own.

No, man, my friend
threw it up there.

You are too stupid to live.

Get out of here.

asshole rodeo.

Hey, you can't take my phone.

Stop wiggin. I'm gonna
just borrow it.

I'm calling Ma!

So, call her.

Try to explain to her
why you still at home

on a school day.
I got strep throat

and that girl
you texting with is a ho.

Chill, li'l sis.

Ooh, I hate you!

(huffs)

No, I did not have a woman
in the car with me.

I can't talk about this now.
I gotta go.

Hey, Brian.

Yeah?

You closed Suarez?

He copped out to you?

I reread the transcripts.

He confessed telephonically.

Excellent.
What'd I miss?

Anything good happen?

Didn't you deport that
little buster "Droopy"

from over at Leimert Park?

Yeah, Miguel Ramos.

What happened?
He, uh,

raped and murdered this girl
last Friday.

Well, God bless America.

How was Cancun?

Oh, it was good.

If I ever talk about marriage
again, tell me to go out,

find some chick I don't like
and buy her a house instead.

Sammy's wife just
kicked him out.

The first marriage?

Don't even count.
That's a starter marriage.

Didn't you, uh, didn't you take

that crazy bomb dog,
had a breakdown?

Uh, drug dog, Richter.

He's doing better.

We put him on medication
for Delayed Stress Syndrome.

My wife?

Hates him though.

Yeah, I'm almost there.

Hey, cuz, where you from?

I don't bang.

They said they didn't
see anything.

And they're crying because...?

Bring them in.

Hey, you guys wanna
know how to stop

all this gang-bangin'?

Then start giving them all
free marijuana.

If not, we're gonna see
this shit over and
over and over again.

Thank you, sir.
And that's all you keep
saying is "thank you."

We're gonna bring it up at
the next city council meeting.

I promise you.
I promise you.
I wanna see this stop!

I turned my back for one minute.

I mean, one minute, you know?

She plays there all the time.

Are you high?! Are you?!

Whoa, whoa.
What did you do with her?!

I didn't do anything!
What did you do?!

No, no, where is my daughter?!
Where?!

Ms. Davis, Ms. Davis,
I'm Detective Adams.

I can only imagine
how upsetting this is for you.

No...
Okay, we're doing

everything that we can
to find Kayla.

Sometimes kids just wander off.

(tires screeching)

You gotta be kidding me.

Light him up.

(siren whooping)

Get out of the car.

Why do I have to get
out of the car?

Get out of the car
now, numbnuts.

Know who my father is?

Why? Your mother
didn't tell you?

Step to the curb.

Dude, you became an actor?

I'm not an actor.

I'm being punk'd, right?

Search the car.

Hey, you're making
a big mistake.

You can't search my car
without just cause.

(chuckling)

You're watching way
too much TV, dude.

Put your hands on the car,
palms down; spread your legs.

What, you're arresting me?

What are the charges?
No charge.

The services of the LAPD--
see, they're free for you.

You're a dick!

Yeah? Cops have feelings
too, you know?

Now I'm gonna need a hug.

Hook him up.

Hey, Ben, right?

Can you help me
out here, dude?

No.

Fine, I'll hire your dad.

He'll come bail me out.

He know
you're doing this?

He must be real proud.

(cell phone ringing)

(heart monitor beeping)

(beeping and ringing continue)

When is somebody gonna
claim this kid?

He's got no ID.

Does the tattoo
tell you anything?

He a Blood? Is...

I don't think so.

(cell phone ringing)

(siren whooping)

I'm gonna get you
something hot to drink.

What would you like?

WOMAN:
Hurry, hurry.
We know this girl.

Give her a hot tea
with some honey.

We know this girl.

We like her very much.

Always playing.

We say hello
and, um, so forth.

What we can do to help?

Is there anything
we can do to help?
I'm sorry.

My son Arsham.
I am Agata.

We live right here.

Do not hesitate.

Thank you.

And if you see anything,
just let us know.

Thank you.

I seen her just last night
coming home with her dad

and she had on this,

this heavy bookbag
on her shoulders

and it was
weighing her down,

so, she was walking
real slow.

I mean, they're
real heavy nowadays.

You ever notice that?
Uh-huh.

I'm thinking that
this is a little kid.

I mean, why do
they have to lug

all that heavy crap around?

You know, why can't her dad
just carry it?

I mean, she was...
she was little for her age.

I mean, kids nowadays
are so developed.

But she wasn't. She...

She looked like
a little kid.

Um, you guys are
all being so helpful.

Uh, you think I can get your
names down here just in case

I need to contact you?

(Agata speaking Armenian)

(sirens wailing)

MAN:
Hey, what do you call two female
officers in a squad car?

A tuna boat.

Oh, yeah!
(groans)

(laughing)

Hey, Chickie's thinking
about going to SWAT.

She should go to SWAT.
She rocks.
Yeah.

How many times
you win Baker to Vegas?

Four.

Four times.

It's this relay race
in the desert.

Chickie's our star.

DISPATCH:
All units: we have
a critical missing.

Described as a ten-year-old
white female,

last seen at Fountain and Virgil

wearing a pink tank top,
tan skirt, and pink sneakers.

Clear us
from code seven.

Show us handling.

Later, guys.
See you guys.

Why don't you get
an all-female SWAT
while you're at it?

That way you can just
get people together
and nag suspects

till they come out.
Nee-nee-nee-nee.

COOPER:
Dewey, shut up.

You're giving me
a headache.

You really think

you can drag a 200-pound man
out of bad scene?

With all his gear
and his weapons?

COOPER:
Keep it up, Dewey.

I'll knock you out
and we can see.

Hey, you know what's wrong
with this guy?

He come he's quiet?

He's Canadian
or something.

Where you from
in Canada?

Hmm? Mmm.

I'm not Canadian.

Whoa!

Get off, man.

DEWEY:
Hey, easy, kid.

(Dewey laughing)

(car door alarm bell dinging)

So we got a warrant
on that blond kid Dwayne,

but I need you to get her
out of here.

Take her to get some coffee,
all right?
Okay.

And I'll let you know
when we're done.

Sounds good.
Russ?

She has people she can call.

Get her to do that.

I'm sure she has
friends, family.

Get her to call
somebody, okay?

(sighs)

Okay.

Yeah.

(car door alarm bell dinging)

DISPATCH:
Any available unit: neighbors
have reported a bad smell

coming from 322 Wilcox,
apartment A.

It's probably
a DB call.

By the time you pull
in the driveway

you should know what you have:

the hair on your arms
tells you.

Buy the call.

Show us handling.

So, what is this
for you?

It's gonna look good
on the resume?

Nice little

steppingstone till you land
that cushy job?

Go be a slapdick somewhere?

Sound about right?

I'm a cop, same
as you're a cop, sir.

Oh, I doubt that,
Richie Rich.

You got 90210 written
all over your face.

(phone ringing)

What do you want?

Come home
and make a baby with me.

Do you still love me?

I still love you, Sammy.

It's not that simple.

Why not?

Why not? Of course it is.

Because we don't have that much
in common anymore.

Oh, so who do you have stuff
in common with,

all those badge bunnies
lining up to blow you?

I told you
I'm not seeing anybody else.

Why aren't we close anymore?

(sniffling)

Why don't we make love?

I don't... I don't know.

I mean, I get... I get...

I get... I'm not doing this.
I gotta go.

Don't go.

I gotta go, Tammi. Good-bye.

Fine. I'm keeping the dog.

You hate the dog!

You hate the dog.

(sighs)

Hey.

I'm Detective Bryant,

and I appreciate
what you're doing.

Uh, which one of you is Nyesha?

Um, do you mind coming
in this room over here

to talk to me and my partner?

Mom says not to.

To wait till she gets here.
That's all right.

Uh, who is...

Janila? Janila?

Do you mind talking to me?

It's okay.

Good, thank you.

Um...

you're Tanya?

Ah.

Ha-ha-ha.
We just want

to get a general idea of what
you guys saw this morning, okay?

NYESHA:
We gonna have
to go to court?

No, where'd you hear that?

I-I don't even remember
your names.

I-I could give you
some code names.

You want to do that?

Yeah?

Come on.

I smell this
from two blocks away.

Turn the electricity off?
No.

Telling me
the truth?

He doesn't pay his rent.

(dogs barking)
What am I supposed
to do?

He's got dogs.

I forgot.

Hello?

Sir?

(barking continues)

Call Animal Control.

1585, request Animal Control.

Our location.

Something's going on,
right?

That's why you brought me here.

Could you tell me
what it is, please?

Look, I'm never going
to lie to you, okay?

Ms. Davis?

Look at me.

I promise.

Hey.

I promise.

Okay?

(dogs barking)

We're ready.

(dogs growling, barking)

(Cooper sighs)

(Sherman moans)

(gagging)

(panting)

(growls, whines)

You sure you gotta
put 'em down?

I'll take 'em.

That little pink nose--
kind of a sweetie.

WOMAN:
He's tasted
human flesh.

Once they've tasted human flesh,
you just can't be sure.

Yeah, well, I went south
on my wife about a year ago,

you gotta put me down?

(Dewey laughing)

DEWEY:
What the hell's wrong
with your partner?

He looks kind of
sick down there.

Yeah, Tori Spelling
threw up

all over his brand-new
patent leather Mary Janes.

You guys be nice
when you say good-bye today.

It could be his last day
on the job.

No, no, no, no, no.

Do not let him
get to you.

It's not personal,
you know.

What is his
problem?!

There's a lot of theories
on that one.

Why you wearing
purple, Janila?

You affiliated
with Grape Street?

That's cool.

You got a boyfriend
in Grape Street?

Yeah.

Janila,

help me out here.

I promise you,
I'll keep you out of it.

It don't work
like that.
Where did you hear that?

I learned that
before I learned the alphabet.

(laughs)

BRYANT:
You're cute.

I went on
the Web site once.

You think I could
be a cop?

Sure.

OFFICER:
Clear.

It's clear.

OFFICER 2:
It's clear.

OFFICER 3:
Detective Adams?

APB's been put out.
Good.

If he comes home,
put out a call.

I don't want him spooked
and taking off.

Nobody goes near

this apartment just
in case he's watching.

Stay out of sight
and on the radio.

(siren whooping in distance)

DISPATCH:
Uh, can I have a backup
on Morris?

COOPER:
Hey, baby, show me your tits.

(laughing)

Yeah, no freebies
for you, asshole.

Mmm. Shawna, Ben.

Ben, Shawna.

Hey.
SHAWNA:
Howdy.

I trained this
crazy chick.

Shawna works Vice
in case you didn't guess.

Where's the guys?

Oh...

(laughs)

(laughing):
Oh, Mr. Holmes,

could I just touch it once?

I heard it's really big.

It's huge, bro.

(laughter)
This is Ben.

Ben, I'd like
you to meet

two of the biggest
degenerates

I have the pleasure of knowing:
it's Vid and Eddie.

What's his story?

He's working the bushes
at Barnsdall Park.

COOPER:
Barnsdall, right.

It's this public
park, right?

Has these huge
posted signs, like,

(shouting):
every two feet.

"This area is
under surveillance

by the Los
Angeles Police."

(laughter)

Freaking idiot.

(radio crackles)

MAN:
How... How much?

SHAWNA:
Depends.
What'd you have in mind?

MAN:
I don't know.

The act and the price.

You got to say it
out loud, dude!

MAN:
Fif... 50 bucks
for a blow-and-go?

EDDIE:
Bingo!

SHAWNA:
Just get out of here, okay?

EDDIE:
She had him.
What is she doing?

SHAWNA:
What's the matter with you?

MAN:
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.

What's the
matter with me?

You're on...
You're on the street

selling your
body for sex.

Yeah? Well, I'm not the one

with a baby in a car seat
in the backseat,

you asshole.

Just get out of here, okay?

I'm a cop,

you moron!

(tires squealing)

Nice hanging
with you guys.

VID:
Later, bro.

Later. Nice
meeting you.

See you, man. Sure.
Yeah, take it easy.

It's like driving
through the sewer

in a glass-bottom
boat, right?

We getting to you, boot?

You don't think
you can handle it,

get out now.

Do us all a favor.

Quit.

What right you got
to keep my kid?

You don't have the right

to interview a 14-year-old
without a parent!

Let's go, the both of you.

Where's Tanya?

Baby, your mama's coming.

You keep your
mouth shut.

Listen, I don't want
to offend you in any way,

but this was
an attempted murder,

and these girls
were witnesses.

You threatening me?

No, we're not
threatening you.

We're asking you for your help.

If it ever came down to them
having to go to court,

which would not happen--

but if it did,
we could move you.

Move me?

I'm not moving anywhere.

Where do you live, sir?

Where do I live?

That's right.

I live in Castaic.

When you live around here,
in this world,

with what we got going on,

then you got the right
to tell me what to do.

Let's go, the
both of you. Now!

You have anything else
you want to ask me,

I got free incoming.
You can call me.

He calls you, he
better get a lawyer.

Come on, girls. Let's
get out of here. Come on.

She's definitely
filing a complaint.

FEMALE DISPATCHER:
All units, I have a Code 2

call for Unknown Trouble
at Fletcher and 136th Street.

Neighbors are complaining
about noise.

We're end of watch now.

What do you want to do?

Unknown troubles
can be funky.

15-A-85, show us
responding Code 2

to Fletcher and 136th Street.

MORETTA:
When we spoke earlier,

you said you had a pretty
good view of those men

from the front window
of that bus.

"I got a
good look

at all three
of those boys."

No, no.

I never said that.

BRYANT:
Excuse me. Uh,

does he have to be here?

I'm her ex.

BRYANT:
Yeah?

You live here?

Came to see my kid.

Well, your kid's
not here.

(siren blaring)

(Bryant sighs)

Thanks.

(sighs)

Wait. You got to understand.

I lost two nephews.

My best friend
lost her son.

Everybody's
lost somebody.

Everybody bangs around here.

Shoot, we got our own war
on terror right here.

(indistinct shouting,
ball bouncing in distance)

MAN:
Hey! Hey!

(phone ringing)

What's up, Janila?

What?!

Okay. All right,
all right.

All right.

Repeat it slowly.

Yeah, I think
you'd make an outstanding cop.

Thank you, Janila.

You're the best,
sweetheart.

She wrote the license plate
number down on her hand.

She just didn't want to say it
with the other girls around.

Didn't want anyone
to know.
That makes sense.

Mm.
Smart one, huh?

Yeah.

(barking in distance)

(music playing)

(loud barking)

Uh, run

the car first.

Then call for backup.

Unknown trouble calls
could be cop ambushes.

(garbled radio transmission)

(sighs)

(dogs barking and howling)

Okay.

There he is:
Hector Munoz, aka Zig-Zag.

This kid just got out
of prison two days ago.

Droopy says they
been out doing ABGs.

What?

Anybody goes.

Yeah, this is William 52.

I'd like to put out
a citywide broadcast.

Hector Munoz, age 18,
wanted for attempted murder.

Considered armed
and dangerous.

Vehicle's a '64
blue Impala.

California license plate
number 2-Sam-Boy-Ida-6...

5-3.

Show us Code 6 George with
backup at 136th and Fletcher.

Do you request an airship
at this time?

Airship alert and on
standby, not overhead.

(loud, booming music plays
in distance)

(glass breaking, dog barking)

We should call
SWAT in.

This is not a SWAT callout.

It's a bunch
of drunk cholos.

Cuff first,
then search.

(dogs barking)

(gate squeaking)

(dogs barking and howling)

(glass breaking)

(coughing)

(loud barking)

(loud rap music playing)

(glass breaking)

(barking continues)

(loud rap music playing)

(glass breaking)

Stand up. Put your
hands in the air.

Gun!

CHICKIE:
Get down on your tummy.

COOPER:
I will shoot you
through your head.

CHICKIE:
Hands on the side.

COOPER:
Put your hands
in the air now!

(barking)

(bottles clinking)

Get down!

Relax, fool.

COOPER:
Hey, stay down.

CHICKIE:
Get your hands
above your head.

Relax, man.
You cuff him.
I got the gun.

MAN:
No!
Shut up!

(dogs barking,
loud rap music playing)

(man grunts)

Take him down
to the car now.

No, I haven't finished
searching him yet, sir.

What are you,
Generation Y?

When I ask you
to do something,

you do it!

I'm your superior officer.

(barking)

(dogs barking and howling)

Get your ass
down here.

How you doing?

I'm doing great.

Huh? That's good,

'cause you look
like a dead man to me.

You just got temporary use
of your arms and legs.

Shut the fuck up.

Get him in the car now!

COOPER:
Officer down.
Shots fired.

Roll me an RA now!

(dogs barking, siren blaring)

Dewey?

(groaning)
I got you.

I got you. Look at me.
Look at me.

Look at me.
I got you.

(monitor beeping)

(sniffling)

(sighs)

(sniffling)

Listen, Miss Cole,
we know who did this.

Who are they?

Some kids in a gang.

One of them got out
of prison two days ago.

How can that be?

My son's not affiliated.

Henry never messed with that.

Little kids running around
killing each other

'cause they wear
the wrong colors,

or they are the
wrong color.

They need to
leave that alone.

Yes, ma'am.

Baby, go and see your brother.

Go on, now.

(sniffles)

Henry?

I don't hate you.

ADAMS:
We need to band together
and try to bring

this young lady home
to her family.

Thank you, Detective.

And that's the latest
from the scene.

We're gonna send it back
to you in the studio.

Hey, guys,
I need ten minutes.

I'm gonna go home
and check on my mom.

(siren chirps)

Mr. Davis, we are gonna stay
on this as long as it takes.

If you need anything,
give me a call.

Okay?

I'll be right back.

(loud, indistinct shouting,
helicopter whirring)

(loud, indistinct shouting)

(helicopter whirring,
indistinct shouting)

(women shouting)

You okay, son?

CAPTAIN:
You can't do that.

Listen up.

Sit down.

Sit down.

Where did you learn
to shoot like that?

Beverly Hills Gun Club?

Why don't you shut
the hell up, sir?

(chuckles)

COOPER:
Right in his
ten-ring.

Superb.

(engine starting)

(siren blaring)

COOPER:
Burn squad
just showed up.

You heard of Warner Brothers?

This is "warn a brother."

You don't lie.

That's how
they get you.

Lying is worse than an
out-of-policy shooting.

You just tell it
like it happened,

you'll be fine.

No big deal.

Taking a life

is a big deal to me, okay?

What the hell did you think
the gun was for, huh?

Show-and-tell?

Look, you'll
get over it.

All right, they'll
send you to BSS.

You'll do all that Buddhist

"I love and revere
all sentient beings" crap.

Then, at o'dark 30
next time you're up,

you will drag
your weary, fried ass

out of bed; you will put
on your gun and your vest,

and you will do it
all over again.

You know why?

Because it's a front row seat
to the greatest show on earth.

Can you abuse it?

Yes, sir.

You can,
and you will.

I guarantee it.

Because it is relentless,
and it gets to you,

and it seems like
it changes nothing.

But a day
like today--

with some interesting capers

and a few good arrests--
that's good.

But every once
in a while,

you get to take a bad guy
off the streets for good...

and that, my friend,
is God's work.

So, now, you want

to be a pussy
and quit, you quit.

You're a cop

because you don't know
how not to be one.

If you feel that way,
you're a cop.

If you don't,
you're not.

You decide.

WOMAN:
Lydia?

Yeah, Ma.

Sorry.

Want me to make you
something to eat?

I'm not hungry.

Go back to sleep.

We have ants?

There was a dead
cockroach.

They were all
over it.

I would have used
that spray,

but you said
it was too toxic.

All right, Ma.

POLICE CHIEF (over speaker):
Yes, there has been a surge

of gang violence
over the past few weeks.

(hip hop music
playing in distance)

(crickets chirping)

(thump, thudding)

(sighs)

It's Arsham, right?

(sobbing)

I didn't want
to hurt her.

(sobbing):
But, you know, just...

she started screaming...

and I panicked...

so I put my hand over her mouth.

(sobbing)

(cuffs locking)

(radio crackling)

One King 54 requesting
assistance at my location.

(radio crackling)

I'm going in now.

(sobbing)

(garbled radio transmission)

(sniffles, stops sobbing)

(resumes sobbing)

(gasping)

Arsham!

What did you do?

(speaking Armenian)

(Agata sobbing)

Is he...
is he okay?

(sighs)

(baby crying softly in distance)

I like that book.

How come you read this book?

My black studies class.

For real?

My brother got shot.

What?

My brother got shot.

Oh, oh... I'm sorry.

Is he going to be okay?

They say so.

Good... good.

You need me to do anything?

Can I check with anybody
about anything?

Oh, no, he's fine.

He's sleeping.

You a cop?

Yeah.

Yeah.

We got a look or something?

No, it's just the hair.

That's all.

I don't look mean or anything?

(chuckles)

* Stay out super late tonight

* Picking apples, making pie

* Put a little something
in our lemonade *

* And take it with us

* We're half awake

* In a fake empire

* We're half awake

* In a fake empire

* Tiptoe through
our shiny city *

* With our diamond slippers on

* Do our gay ballet on ice

* Bluebirds on our shoulders

* We're half awake

* In a fake empire

* We're half awake

* In a fake empire

(sighs)

WOMAN:
Lydia?

Yeah, Ma.

I left something at work,
and I had to go back.

Go back to sleep, all right?

It's early.

* Turn the light out,
say good night *

* No thinking
for a little while *

* Let's not try to figure out

* Everything at once

* It's hard to keep track
of you *

* Falling through the sky

* We're half awake...

I had the day
from hell.

I got arrested.

* We're half awake

* In a fake empire

I had a crap day, too.

* Tiptoe through
our shiny city *

* With our diamond slippers on

* Do our gay ballet on ice

* Bluebirds on our shoulders

* We're half awake

* In a fake empire

* We're half awake

* In a fake empire.

COOPER:
It is my opinion

that despite the circle jerk
of this night,

Officer Ben Sherman
performed his duties

to the highest standard.

He is and will continue to be
a superior police officer.

We will be very lucky
if he serves

his sworn career
with the Los Angeles Police.