Southland (2009–2013): Season 3, Episode 8 - Fixing a Hole - full transcript

[ Dramatic music plays ]

♪ Southland 3x08 ♪
Fixing a Hole
Original Air Date on February 22, 2011

♪
♪

You think I'm scared?

This ain't shit.

Uncuff me,
mother [bleep]

It wasn't me.

I swear on my grandmother,
it wasn't me.

Just let me go,
mother [bleep]

[ Camera shutter clicks ]

Sometimes cops find a case
can dig them into a hole.



Before sunrise,
Detective Sammy Bryant

will discover just how hard
it can be to dig yourself out.

I'm telling you,
this was an airtight case.

It could float.

Yeah, right.
Not in this line of business.

So, this fool
killed the guy,

and he's standing
over the dead body,

talking crap to the dead body
right here.

Oh, here?

So, he drops the gun when he sees
a rookie pull up in the u-boat.

oh, who pulled up?
Muro?

Nick Albert.

Oh, man, Albert -- he could
mess up a one-car funeral.

Exactly.



Kind of makes you wonder
him or the suspect.

[ chuckles ]
So, Albert asks the guy, "what happened?"

And the guy says,
"I shot the bastard."

Wow.
Oh, no, no,
but here's the punchline.

Albert doesn't
mirandize him.

He just hooks him up,
puts him in the car,

and starts interrogating him.
- Oh, please you got to be kidding me.

Without a Miranda warning,
none of it is admissible.

I guess he was so excited
to make the murder arrest,

he just forgot.

Great. Now the court's gonna
throw out Albert's testimony.

Gone, and now all we have
is Naomi Chester.

You know what sucks?

A cop sees a murder
and can't talk about it.

She's supposed to be
pretty reliable.

Case still
has a chance.

[ Knock on door ]

You're early.

Now,
what's the call time?

And did they send a limo
or just a town car?

Okay.

Maybe not so reliable.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

More coffee?

Oh, no, I'm fine.

That's certainly true.

I guess your partner
wasn't hungry.

Uh...

He's not my partner,
not fully.

I'm --
I'm still a trainee.

Sound thrilled.

Yeah. Well,
I'm almost done.

He's taught me a lot,
actually.

I'm just, uh,
ready for more.

Just give me the damn ball,
you know?

[ Chuckles ] Yeah.
Slow your roll, Keyshawn.

Sure you'll get
your chance.

You watch football?

Hey, I got two older brothers.
I don't really have a choice.

Man: Kaya,
3 needs tabasco sauce,

and 4 wanted eggs
with onions, not cheese.

- I'm on it!
- He sounds angry.

[ Scoffs ] Whatever.

It's not like I even
want this job.

- What do you want to do?
- Sing.

But, um,
criminal justice

will probably end up
paying the bills,

so I'll transfer soon.

- You go to law school?
- Hell no. Are you kidding?

My dad would kill me.
He's a cop.

Yeah.

[ Chuckling ] Yeah.
I'll be back.

I hope so.

[ Breathing heavily ]

[ Pills clatter ]

[ Toilet flushes ]

[ Bottle clatters ]

[ Breathes deeply ]

[ Indistinct conversations ]

I was gonna send a search party.
You all right?

A drunk and disorderly call
came out around the corner.

I already bought it.

You didn't eat.

Um...

Pay the girl.
Let's roll.

[ Sighs ]
Just, uh, keep the change.

- Oh, you don't want your receipt?
- No, I'm all right.

Well, you know what?

You might need it.
[ Chuckles ]

Uh, yeah.
[ Chuckles ] Right.

I gotta go.

Well, be careful out there
protectin' and servin',

officer...Sherman.

You too...Kaya?

Kaya.
Kaya.

Kaya.
Kaya.

[ Chuckles ]

Petey,
you want to flip one?

Petey: Sure.

[ Stool scrapes ]

It's really hot,
so don't touch.

Okay.

When do I flip it?

Now's good.

Good.

Who taught you?

My mom.

But the real secret is to...

Marry a woman
who knows how to cook.

My dad said
the same thing.

Is mom up yet?

Uh...No.
Uh, not yet.

She was -- she was up
with the baby.

How much longer
are you staying with us?

I don't know.
A while, I guess.

Is that all right
with you?

Mom doesn't cry as much
when you're around.

[ Cellphone rings ]

[ Cellphone beeps ]

Detective Bryant.

10:30, okay.

See you then.

[ Cellphone beeps ]

Something smells good!

Pancakes?
[ Gasps ]

My favorite!

Hey, can you turn on the heat
back here?

What are you looking at?

Nothing.

Why are y'all
so quiet?

Watching "Cops,"
all y'all do is drive, yap,

talk shit
about your wives.

Well, this ain't TV.

Whew! I sense a little tension
between you guys.

What? Someone leave
the toilet seat up?

Aw, come on!
Come on!

[ Siren chirps ]

Pay attention!

It's colder than a witch's tit,
and you are sweating bullets.

Are you high?

What did you say?

Must be some strong shit.
Can I get some, too?

[ Tires screech ]

Ugh!
[bleep] My nose!

Aah!
You broke my nose!

Aah!

You [bleep] Broke my nose,
you pigs!

Aah!
John! John!

- On the right.
- What's that about, dude?!

[ Woman crying ]

You broke my nose!

Ma'am, what's wrong?
You all right?

They had guns!
Guns!

Who did?

Who?

All right.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!

Guys, guys, guys, come on.
Be safe.

What is wrong
with what I have on?

Oh, you really
have to ask?

We don't have time
for this.

No, listen, we cannot
have her testify

looking like
the fourth Charlie's angel.

I guested
on "Charlie's Angels" --

a couple of times.

They didn't have me back,
though.

Farrah was jealous.

Look, we have to
cover your chichis.

If you've got it,
flaunt it.

Who's paying for this?

Hey, we get the conviction,
Fernandez is gonna reimburse us.

Going on your card,
not mine.

Oh, no, no, no, no.
This is a 50/50 split partner.

Hey, look,
memory is a fragile thing,

and you had an incredibly
traumatic experience.

Don't beat yourself up
about it.

So, now what?

We're working
several other angles.

Something will break.

Yeah.

Listen,
let's get this straight.

A police officer was killed,
Detective.

No one in this department
is giving up

on catching the men
who killed your partner.

Uh, um...

A witness from another case
just showed up.

- Uh, can you give me a few moments?
- Thank you.

Okay.
[ Clears throat ]

Hey...

[ Camera shutter clicks ]

[ Telephone ringing ]

Stealing field-trip money
from little kids --

that is some twisted...

Tell you something,
man.

Two 13-year-olds
with 9-millimeters?

You got to love
the ghetto.

Well, makes sense.
Unarmed fourth graders.

What are they gonna do,
throw a transformer at somebody?

Where the hell's Optimus Prime
when you need him?

Yeah.
Right.

I'll be right back.
I'm gonna grab a coffee.

Sorry about
the other day.

You all right?

It's like Coop says.

If I'm not out here,
who else is it gonna be?

Is he all right?

Eh, hard to tell.

Not if your eyes
are open.

- He's my training officer, Chickie.
- Okay.

Well, rank doesn't matter
if you're dead.

You got to be able to trust
the guy watching your back...

No matter who it is.

-Hey, let me out...
-Officer: Shut up!

What's up?

I don't think that kid
was on the bus.

Hey.

Hey,
what's your name?

Michael.

Hey, Michael.
I'm John.

Were you, uh -- were you
on that bus that got robbed?

No.

No?

Do you go to school,
Michael?

Do you know
who robbed it?

Did you see it happen?

Where are your parents,
Michael?

Gone.
You gonna take me to jail?

No.
No, of course not.

Where do you live,
though, Michael?

What's your address?

The magic cave.

Okey dokey smokey makes us
hide in the magic cave

so they don't
take us to jail.

Okay.

Go get the paramedics.

According to
the fingerprint database,

Michael Peterson
is 9 years old.

9? He looks 6.

Malnutrition probably
stunted his growth.

- He was in the system?
- Mm-Hmm.

Parents
should be shot.

Well, his father's at Folsom,
and his mother's dead.

She was a prostitute.

Where's Michael been?

No other relatives, so he's been
at a Foster home over on 89th.

Went missing
about three weeks ago.

Three weeks?

What, no Amber alert?

We've been looking.

Right.

Talked about
a magic cave.

Kids at that age like to imagine
any small space as a cave.

He's at a pre-operational
state of development.

Pre-operational?

You just told me the kid
was alone for three weeks.

He mentioned
two other kids, also.

He's probably
making it up.

I've done hundreds
of these cases.

I don't need the M.E. to tell me
Michael's been abused.

But a kid this traumatized
will engage

in all sorts
of magical thinking...

You know,
he was pretty specific.

...As a self-protective
mechanism.

I understand that.
He was specific, though.

Called them by name --
Tyrell and Andy.

Look, I-I appreciate

the great work that you've done
in spotting him.

Okay? I really do.
But now it's my case.

And expert care is what
this child needs.

Expert care?
What expert? You?

I have a master's degree
in child psychology.

And I got a PhD in street.
Who gives a shit?

- And 20 years' experience.
- Oh, 20 years!

You know what?!
I don't care!

That kid
is telling the truth,

and you're too [bleep] lazy
to do your job!

- John!
- Do your [bleep] job!

Mike was a good guy.

He didn't deserve
to get shot.

You know, what happens between
a man and another man's wife

is nobody's business,
especially her husband's.

We, uh -- we appreciate
you doing this.

- When we do this?
- It's at 3:00.

I -- I thought
it was this morning.

- Tooley was a miss-out.
- What?

He missed the bus
from jail to court.

There won't be another one
till at least noon.

You okay with that?

Sure.

Great. You're gonna do
just fine, Naomi. I know it.

Can you, uh, excuse me
for a moment?

Counselor, can I speak to you,
please?

Oh, man, man.
That is four hours from now.

I cannot go that long...

Without my medication.

That woman's
a straight-up drunk.

I don't think
she's gonna make it.

Well, she better.

She's gonna need to
get something soon.

[ Sighs ]

Look, legally, I can't make
any suggestions.

But a happy witness
is a cooperative witness.

Catch my drift?

[ Sighs ]

[ Cellphone rings ]

[ Cellphone beeps ]

Hey.

Mariella?

Calm down.

I'll be right there.

[ Cellphone beeps ]

McBride from sex crimes
has it covered.

So what?

She's good at taking tests,
right?

That's all it takes
to be a Detective.

She doesn't know
the streets.

Dispatcher: A-43, possible 459,
suspects there now --

4478 Vance Street.

A-43 --
unable to respond.

Show us code 6.

We're not buying
the call?

Nope.

We're not gonna respond
to a burglary call?

You questioning
my instincts, too?

- Yes!
- Oh, really?

Now you're the [bleep] man,
huh?

What we're gonna do,
Boot,

is we're gonna roll around
all day,

and we're gonna show the [bleep]
kid's picture to everyone --

anyone who'll
look at it!

We're not gonna chase
the goddamn radio!

So,
you respect my stripes,

or you get the [bleep]
out of my car!

- Obviously, he's dead. I'm his wife.
- I understand.

- And I'm his wife.
- Yes. Ma'am...

She won't transfer the money from Nate's
savings account into our checking account.

I'm sorry,
Mrs. Moretta.

I've explained the situation
as clearly as I can.

Well,
explain it to me.

I need an original copy of
Mr. Moretta's death certificate.

And what's that
right there?

It's a printout
from a pdf.

[ Breathing
unsteadily ]

Can you wait outside
for a second?

[ Sniffles ]

That's the wife
of my partner.

Okay, he was killed protecting
your right to give her shit.

I'm a reservist.

I didn't lose this finger
in the kitchen.

So, then, you understand
what it's like

to see a friend killed.

Your world stands still.
The rest of the world moves on.

No one seems to care.

I sympathize
with Mrs. Moretta.

I do.

But rules are rules.

I respect your rules.

I do.
I respect your rules.

But I'm asking you
for a favor,

from one servant
to another.

I'll do the transfer,

but I'll need an original copy
by morning.

Thank you.

[ Crying ]

Hey,
it's gonna be okay.

I'm gonna go downtown,
get his documents together,

and I'll bring
the paperwork back here.

Okay?

Thank you so much.
Thank you.

I'm gonna get this guy.
I promise.

What?

We're gonna get him.

Okay.

- We're gonna get him.
- Okay.

- I promise.
- All right.

[ Sniffles ]

I promise.

This lady has got stories
for days.

Ooh.
She looks beautiful right there.

I bet if we gave her
that drink,

it would really
get started.

Hey. 2:12 --
we got to get back to court.

Mm.
You get lunch.

Oh, what happened
to "50/50, partner"?

[ Scoffs ]

How long has she been
in the bathroom?

Shit!
Shit!

Oh! I'll bet
she went out back!

[ Indistinct conversations ]

Hey! Hey, Naomi!

[ Both whistle ]

[ Groans ]

Shit. Okay, look...
I'll get the car.

Ben: Señor, señor.
Perdóname.

¿Has visto este niño?

Hmm? No?

Excuse me.

You seen this kid?

Can't say that I have.
Is he okay?

Yeah, he is now.
Thank you.

What are you
looking for?

He was found
in the area.

We're just trying to backtrack,
find out a history.

With all the gangs
out here,

you don't really see kids
much anymore.

I wish I could be
more helpful.

Thank you.

[ Ben sighs ]

How long are we
gonna keep doing this?

They're gonna start
looking for us.

Oh, come on.
What the hell are you doing?

What does it look like?
Getting my swerve on.

Ugh!

Aw, what the hell, lady?
Look at this mess.

Ahh!
Damn it!

I'm calling the cops.

Hey!
We are the cops, okay?

Come on,
get out of here.

- Sorry about that.
- Yeah, sure.

Chuck: How long you need it?
Couple of days.

We need another decoy
for a surveillance.

It doesn't matter to me.

Everything you see in here
is gonna get crushed

in the next few days,
anyway.

It's a waste of American
ingenuity, if you ask me.

They'll be ready for you
any minute.

Oh, God.
I can't do this!

Oh, listen, listen.
Look, he can't hurt you.

We're right here.

Yeah. Tooley shot Mike down
like a dog.

Tooley did that
to make a statement.

Well, he made a statement,
all right. I get the message.

Okay, listen --
God, I don't know
what the hell I was thinking.

You know what?

You don't strike me as the type
to get scared very easily,

so why now?

I was flattered
when they asked me to testify.

Silly, ain't it?

It's just been so long
since...

Anybody wanted anything
from me.

[ Scoffs ]

But I didn't think I would
really have to really do it.

Yeah, but here we are,
and you speak for Mike.

And everybody wants to hear
what you have to say.

This is the biggest show
imaginable.

And they're gonna be
hanging on every word.

Not only is this
the role of a lifetime,

but there's no way

that they'll ever, ever
be able to cut you out.

And if you don't talk,
Tooley skates.

Bailiff: They're ready for you,
Ms. Chester.

Sharpshootin' Dave.
How are you, man?

Johnny.

Hey, kid.

How's the dynamic duo?

Uh-oh.

Someone pee
in your cornflakes?

Hey, it all right, man.
You know how it is.

Kid's salty --
used to hang on your every word.

Now he's smelling
his own piss,

looking at you
like you're the asshole.

[ Sighs ]

Fatherhood, man.

Natural course
of things.

You know, if he didn't chafe
and buck up against you,

you wouldn't know you were
turning him into a good cop.

Now you know.

[ Water runs ]

You all right, man?

Why don't you lay off that shit?
You don't look so good.

You should come with me
to a meeting.

You should kiss my ass.

Mike had his --
his hands in the air.

He was shaking.

He was pleading
with Tooley,

"come on, look, man,
I'm -- I'm -- I'm sorry."

But Tooley just walked
closer to him.

He put the gun to his head,
and he blew him back.

Mike was laying
on the ground.

His --
his legs were twitching.

Tooley stood over him,
laughing.

He still had the gun
in his hand.

He looked at Mike,
and he said,

"guess who just got fu--"
oh.

[ Feedback whines ]

Excuse my language,
judge.

Is it okay if I say that
in court?

Judge:
You may continue.

"Guess who just got [bleep]"

Damn.

She does have presence.

You did good, kid.

All right, where do you
want to go to dinner?

My pick?
It's on the state.

Pacific Dining Car.

Ooh.
Ooh.

Snap!

[ Laughter ]

Go home, Ben.

Just tell me why.

What about this kid
makes it worth losing your job.

Kid's telling the truth.
I feel it.

So, what's the plan?
There is none.

Just gonna go out and canvass
until I can get some answers.

Okay.

I'm going with you.

No, if I get caught,
I'll just get demoted.

They'll fire you.

If I'm gonna
get fired,

might as well be for doing
the job the right way.

[ Car door closes ]

♪ There is something
on your mind ♪

♪ by the way you look at me ♪

♪ there is something
on your mind, honey ♪

♪ by the way you look at me ♪

Kill those damn lights.

♪ ...Brings happiness ♪

♪ oh, and it brings misery ♪

♪ no, no, please... ♪

What you want, ese?

You don't remember me?

What about my partner?
You remember him?

♪ ...Understand ♪

Huh?

♪ No, no, you don't have to
tell me, pretty baby ♪

♪ I think I understand ♪

♪ you want me to try
and forget you ♪

♪ well, I'll do the best I can ♪

[ Engine turns over ]

This is James Elroy's
favorite restaurant.

I had a callback
for "L.A. Confidential."

[ Chuckles ]

Then I heard Kim Basinger
was interested.

Mm.
Story of my life.

You know,
you come here with...

with such promise.

And it grinds you up
and spits you out.

And Kim won an Oscar.

But you were great
today.

I was.

You know,
something strange happens.

When everyone's
looking at me...

I go into this --
this zone.

I-I-I'm outside of myself.

It's like I could see...

Tooley kill Mike.

Like you could
see him?

Yeah.

Wait a minute.

You did see him,
right?

Pfft!
Of course not.

What?!
What?

I was in my apartment.

It was that Matt -- uh,
Matt Johnson across the street.

He's the one who actually
saw what happened.

I don't believe
this shit.

Why didn't Johnson
come forward?

Meth.

He's not
all that dependable.

You know,
Mike was a nice guy.

And that Tooley was
a piece of shit.

Oop! Excuse me.

Mike was just trying
to help her.

Wasn't his fault
they fell in love.

All right, so you lied
in open court?

Hey, everybody on that block
knows what happened.

And when you people came around
asking questions,

I told I'd seen it.

I was flattered --
this is true.

But there was more at stake
than my ego.

I mean,
somebody had to stand up.

I mean, it's the truth.

He killed Mike.

Your cop saw him
with the gun.

He is guilty as hell.

Unfortunately,
so are you.

- Hey!
- You have the right to remain silent.

Anything you say
can and will be used against you

in a court of law.

- Hey!
- Excuse me.

Can I get another
vodka on the rocks?

Oh, for Christ's sakes.
Double, please.

I do not believe this.

Yeah, well, it's gonna be a long time
before you get another drink,

so you might as well
get your swerve on.

You think I'm scared?

Uncuff me,
mother [bleep]

Hey, you that white boy,
huh?

I heard about you.

Crying like a bitch,
falling all over the ground.

Everybody in the hood
was talking about it.

But I wasn't there.
It wasn't me.

I swear on my grandmother,
it wasn't me.

Just let me go,
mother [bleep]

[ Horn blares ]

You seen this kid?

Why don't you take a look
at him for two seconds?

It's a little kid.

Have you seen
this kid before?

Have you seen this kid?
This little boy?

Have you seen this kid
around at all?

[ Siren wailing ]

[ Horn honking ]

[ Man speaks indistinctly
over P.A. ]

Place is awful.

You know how many registered
sex offenders live around here?

Yeah.
You get anything?

No. You?

No.

Nothing glamorous
about being a Detective.

Why do you think
I stayed in patrol?

This cave...

Could be anything.

Yeah. We got to think
like this kid.

I mean,
how far could he get?

You know, a...kid that young,
alone for so long?

He couldn't
have gotten far.

Someone around here
has seen him.

You guys seen this kid?

Man: Let you know
if we find something.

Appreciate it.
All right.

I don't know.

[ Scoffs ]

Sometimes the only satisfaction
you get in this job

is knowing you...
tried your best.

- You know what? Just go home.
- I'm staying.

[ Chuckles ]

All right.
You take the east side.

I'll take the west.
All right.

[ Engine shuts off ]

[ Insects chirping ]

I'm gonna
free your wrists.

You move too fast,
I'll blow you up.

[ Gun cocks ]

All right.

[ Sighs ]

[ Grunts ]

What you want me to do?

I want you to dig.

Are they gonna
let Tooley go?

I don't know. It's gonna be
a mistrial at the very least.

Everyone was so scared.

Nobody was gonna do
the right thing.

Yeah, well, sometimes doing the
right thing is the wrong thing.

Can you give us
a second?

You're gonna have to dig deep
to get through this.

You don't need
that liquor crutch.

You're stronger
than you think.

[ Sighs ]

Thank you.

[ Sighs ]

[ Sighs ]

[ Buzzer ]

[ Door closes ]

Hey.
[ Grunts ]

You guys have any spare change
I can have?

Hey, shitbird.

Hey!

You feeling okay,
buddy?

You seen this kid?

I think
I have seen this kid.

Yeah,
he goes around saying

"okey dokey smokey"
all the time.

[ Chuckles ]
Remember where you saw him?

No. Mnh-mnh.
No idea.

But I do remember seeing him
at the New Lofts.

There was
a skate park there.

- What -- what Lofts?
- Yeah.

- I know the skate park.
- Yeah.

Yeah. Okay.

You think
this is fair?

You ain't shit.

You can't do it,
can you?

I don't put in no work
no more!

It was
one of the pee wees!

They don't know no better!
They don't respect nothing!

Sammy: It was you.
I was there!

It was you!
I never said I wasn't!

I stopped doing dirt
a while ago, ese.

You've obviously
been following me.

I got a job.
I got a life.

I got a kid on the way.
I want to see my son get born.

[ Gunshot ]

You're that dude
on the other side of the glass.

My lawyer told me
about you.

You couldn't
I.D. me then.

What makes you sure
you're so right now?

[ Breathing heavily ]

Nate had a family.
You hear me?

Nate had a family!

Well [bleep] his family!
And [bleep] yours, too!

If you're gonna do it,
do it!

Turn around.

Turn around!

[ Breathing heavily ]

I ever see you again,
I'll kill you.

You're just gonna
leave me out here?

Hey! Hey!

[ Breathing deeply ]

[ Car door slams ]

[ Coughs ]

[ Breathes heavily ]

What do you want me
to say?

You know,
no one believed me

when I told them my dad
was molesting my older sister.

[ Sighs ]

It wasn't until
he raped and murdered

my 16-year-old girlfriend

that anyone paid any attention
to anything I had to say.

That's the power
of the badge.

When we say something,
people listen.

We got to speak up for those
who can't speak for themselves.

Yeah, but, John,
the guy was a basehead.

How many lofts
did we hit?

- Coffee's on me.
- We're gonna need it.
[ Cellphone rings ]

You sure you're ready
to go back to work?

Yeah.
Think we have a choice?

Cooper.

Yeah. Yeah,
we'll be there in 10.

[ Police radio chatter ]

Okay, Tyrell and Andy, right?
I'm officer Brown.

Why don't we get you guys
something to eat, huh?

John Cooper.

Ben Sherman.

I need a drink.

I was surprised
you called.

What happened?

Couldn't get what you said
out of my head.

So I went down the
sex-offenders list one by one.

Stopped here,
I talked to him, and left.

[ Camera shutter clicking ]

Magic cave.

Okey dokey smokey.

McBride: The letter mentions
encountering police officers

in the park
with Michael's picture...

And my subsequent visit.

He said the walls
were closing in.

How'd you find the body?

He called it in
before he hung himself.

Hanged.

You were right.

Was wrong.

Petey,
what's going on?

Ask mom.

[ Door opens ]

What's going on?

Um...I'm...

I'm moving back to El Paso,
with my parents,

just until
we figure things out.

You're selling
the house.

[ Voice breaking ]
Yeah, um...

Every time I look around,
I just -- I see Nate.

And I'm driving
myself crazy.

I just..

Things are moving
so fast.

I just --
I need to slow down.

You understand,
right?

♪ Mmm, Mmm ♪

♪ Mmm, Mmm ♪

Yeah.

♪ You want me to try
and forget you ♪

Yeah.

♪ Well, I'll do the best I can ♪