(gavin degraw's "I don't want to be" plays)
Newscaster: v*olence
continued overnight in iraq
With some of the fiercest
fighting to date..."
(radio switches off)
¶ I don't need to be anything other ¶
¶ than a prison guard's son ¶
¶ I don't need to be anything other ¶
¶ than a specialist's son ¶
¶ I don't have to be anyone other ¶
¶ than a birth of two souls in one ¶
¶ part of where I'm going... ¶
¶ is knowing where I'm coming from ¶
Come on. Push through.
Push through. Don't give
up on me now. Come on.
You got it. You got it. Don't give up on me.
Come on! Come on!
(grunting): All right.
¶ all I have to do is think of me... ¶
What's bugging you, bobby?
Nothing.
¶ I'm tired of looking 'round... ¶
Hey. ¶ wondering what I gotta do ¶
¶ or who I'm supposed to be ¶
You remembered?
You're today.
You haven't talked about anything else
For three whole months.
How could I forget? (chuckles)
My family did.
I'm your family now.
You know that.
Go ahead.
¶ I'm surrounded by liars ¶
It belonged to my buddy, johnny hughes.
It's a compass.
Carried it with him on every single jump.
He gave that to me to help me find my way.
Now it's yours.
Doesn't matter where you been.
Only matters where you go.
Listen.
I'm not talking to you right
now as your recruiter.
Okay, I'm talking to you as a brother,
'cause that's how I see you, right?
Yeah, man.
I am proud of you
No matter what you decide to do.
¶ I don't wanna be
anything other than me... ¶
I want to sign my contract...
Today. Yeah?
(claps) yeah!
(laughing) oh, y-you're not going
to regret this, bobby. You're not.
The army put me on the right track, man.
It's going to do the same for you.
Thank you.
¶ I don't wanna be anything other than me. ¶
(crickets chirping)
(siren blaring in distance)
(dog barking)
(weakly): Ah, it's so... Beautiful.
(dog barking)
¶ ¶
(phone ringing)
Jeffries: Homicide.
Yeah.
Lil, dad's on the line.
Mind taking a message?
Rush: I'm tied up.
At ease.
Bumper, huh?
That's what they call me.
Name's bobby, though.
Well, bobby, I found mike
donley's m*rder file.
Says here that he broke
into the prestige pawnshop
Over on th street.
Now, the body was found in
an alley a few hours later.
November , .
Cops found some of the
stolen jewelry near his body.
Figured he was jacked for the rest.
You got some new information?
Found the article from the paper online.
It says the pawnshop alarm
got tripped at : p.M.
So? Staff sergeant donley
was with me at : .
Putting me on a bus to fort bragg.
Ticket... For the night of the m*rder.
He didn't rob that store, ma'am.
It's been four years, bobby.
What took you so long to come forward?
I'm special forces.
Green berets.
Went from training at fort bragg
to two tours in afghanistan.
Just got home.
Well, bus ticket doesn't
prove he was with you.
Ma'am, army thinks one of its
top soldiers is a criminal.
Gotta make it right.
Staff sergeant donley changed my life.
The least I can do is honor his.
Rush: Staff sergeant michael donley-
now, years old.
Served with the nd
airborne in afghanistan.
Awarded a bronze star with a "v"
for valor and a purple heart.
Moved back to philly in
When he got assigned as an army recruiter.
Long way from bleeding to death
in the alley at th and oxford.
Well, he'd just gotten orders to go to iraq.
Due to deploy two days after he was k*lled.
Miller: Mike had a few run-ins
With the cops before he enlisted.
B & e, petty theft.
Old habits die hard.
Well, witness saw someone
running from the site
Of the pawnshop burglary,
wearing an army ski cap,
Found at the m*rder scene
half a mile from the pawnshop,
Along with four stolen necklaces.
Mm. The rest of the jewelry
was never recovered.
Circumstantial.
The investigation never tied him
to the burglary conclusively.
So if mike was with bobby at the bus station
When the alarm went off,
how'd he end up in that alley after?
Catching detective was walter gardner.
Look at his interview notes.
Almost nothing here.
Well, walter was a marine.
He wouldn't have pushed too hard
If it was gonna disgrace a w*r hero.
No. Questioned mike's recruits,
other recruiters.
Got their phone numbers,
some alibis... Not much else.
Then we re-interview 'em.
Where are we on the m*rder w*apon?
Pulled a . slug from the body,
casing from the scene.
No matches in ' .
I'll run it again,
See if it's surfaced since then.
Test the hat and jewelry for dna.
Well, mike's supervisor,
First sergeant gomez, is coming in.
Well, talk to the widow, too.
Oh, dad.
I was... I was gonna call you back.
I tried you three times.
I've... Been busy.
Not too busy to be seeing finn.
Well, I thought that's what you wanted--
For me to meet your family. At our house,
Not behind my back.
Well, I can't get into this right now.
He's gone.
I found your card in his things.
We had an argument.
He stormed off.
Well, teenagers do that.
Not finn. Not until recently.
Oh, you're saying it's my fault.
Of course not.
Here's the files you asked for.
He took some cash--
A thousand dollars-- the car, too.
He's been gone since yesterday morning.
I was hoping there was something
you could do as a cop.
I'll get into it.
Okay?
Gomez: Mike was hard-core.
Up in the afghan mountains,
there was an enemy ambush.
He held them off for two days.
Took two rounds.
They medevac'd him out,
And he's back in rotation
less than two weeks later.
Doesn't answer my question
About his state of mind, sergeant gomez.
It's first sergeant gomez.
He struggled a little bit at first.
It was hard going from combat to recruiting
Till he realized how vital the mission was.
How do you mean? As a volunteer army,
It falls on the recruiter
To send support or troops overseas.
It wasn't easy in .
Not a popular w*r.
How'd mike do at it?
He was our top recruiter.
Deps really took to him.
Deps?
Delayed entry program.
That's what we call prospective recruits.
Well, th and oxford's a tough block.
A lot of dr*gs, gangs.
What do you think he was doing there?
Well, it's like I told the cops back then,
Most of his deps lived in that area.
Well, dangerous neighborhood
to be making house calls.
Mike grew up there.
He had a lot in common with those kids.
That's why he succeeded.
Shared experience.
We're going to need access
to mike's recruiting files
And phone records.
You'll have to speak to
my officer in charge.
Well, we'll do that, first sergeant gomez.
Near the end...
Mike was distant.
I'm not going to lie to you.
I was worried for him.
We'd just gotten back from the poconos.
A belated honeymoon.
It was supposed to be relaxing, but he was
Tense, distant.
You two have any money problems?
You don't join the service to get rich.
How'd mike feel about
getting his orders for iraq?
I don't know.
I find out after he d*ed.
He didn't tell you?
Like I said, he was distant.
Your husband saw combat in afghanistan.
A lot of soldiers change
when they come back from w*r.
Look, those last few weeks,
mike was troubled.
I was concerned for him.
I just assumed it was because of these kids.
His recruits?
They brought a lot of problems with them.
Bottom line, it wasn't iraq I was afraid of.
(the jayhawks' "stumbling
through the dark" plays)
Mike: Johnny hughes was small.
Lousy at sports.
Came from a town with no opportunities.
Ain't going to lie.
"ain't"?
It's a turn of phrase.
It's bad grammar.
I'm trying to connect with the kids.
Well, you can still connect
with proper english.
Oh... Okay.
Uh, I'm not going to lie:
Johnny had a hard life.
Well, he didn't let that keep him down.
He enlisted on his th birthday,
went airborne,
And he made something of himself. (knocking)
It's after midnight, mike.
What do you want me to tell her?
To go someplace else.
Fine.
Sergeant mike, he's going to k*ll her.
Mike: What happened?
They were throwing things at each other.
He said he was going to
go get a g*n. He means it.
We need to call the police. What?!
No! Don't kick me out!
Let me handle this, all right?
I'm all she's got.
You can't go over there again.
The man is going to k*ll you.
I'll be fine.
Come on, victoria.
(door opens, closes)
Victoria montero.
Our weekly dose of drama.
Her stepdad was a violent alcoholic.
Mike always intervene?
He was like the united nations.
I was sure one day he'd
go over to victoria's,
And he'd never come back.
Sergeant donley saved my life.
No question about it.
He's the reason I survived my teens.
Is that why you came back to
the same recruiting station?
As soon as I served my time in iraq,
I requested recruiter
duty doing for the kids
What mike did for me.
I understand mike intervened
In some family trouble you were having.
If by family trouble,
You mean my mom and stepdad
trying to k*ll each other?
Yeah.
I heard your stepfather was a violent man.
How did he take to mike helping you out?
He loved having sergeant donley around.
Big hero in the house, macho crap.
Any idea where he was
the night of the m*rder?
No. I was working.
And your mom, how did she feel
About mike trying to send you off to w*r?
She didn't care as long
As she got half of my $ , signing bonus.
It's a lot of money.
No kidding.
I was working part-time in a bodega,
stocking shelves.
So, mike was offering you an
opportunity of a lifetime.
Yeah. It was a lifeline for a lot of us.
But not everyone saw it the same way.
(foo fighters' "miracle" plays)
Does the army teach you how to
sh**t and jump out of planes?
No doubt. But combat is such
a small part of what we do.
Victoria wants to learn
about computers, right?
She can qualify for advanced training
On the best technology in the world.
Plus, they'll be taking care of my rent,
food, and medical.
Now, you guys, no community
college is going to do that.
Is there risk involved?
Of course there is.
But if it weren't for the army,
I wouldn't be standing here today.
And I'm not alone in that.
And it's not just about what
the army has to offer you.
Jerry: A chance to die?
Dad?
This the guy who's been stalking you?
Staff sergeant donley, sir.
You need to stay away from my son.
Stop pressuring him.
Nobody's pressuring me.
Army clothes and stickers.
Thinks this is all some
damn adventure movie.
Now, let's go.
No. No. I'm staying with sergeant donley.
Damn it, kevin. Let me make this clear.
You are not enlisting!
Do you have a problem
with the m*llitary, sir?
I served four years in the navy.
I have no problem with kevin
signing up in college.
Rotc. But he is too smart
to be a part of your quota.
I agree, sir. Kevin is an outstanding kid.
Maybe if you would just take
the time to listen to him,
You'll understand why he's interested.
I don't care why.
And this is the last
time I'm going to say it.
You stay away from him.
Guy didn't get it.
The more he fought, the more
he pushed his son to enlist.
That's how kids are.
That what happened? Kevin enlisted?
He went infantry. He was on patrol,
Maybe a week into deployment in iraq.
k*lled by a sn*per.
Jerry harkin went off the deep
end when his son got k*lled.
Arrested for d & d,
Loitering...
And a dui on the night of mike's m*rder.
Guy lives in chestnut hill.
So, what's he doing in
north philly, at : a.M.
A mile from where mike was k*lled?
Looks like our grieving father
May have made good on his thr*at.
I keep my g*ns under lock and key.
They're all registered.
I don't see how one could
have been used in a crime.
You mind if we take a look?
Don't you need a warrant?
Only if you got something to hide.
I got it.
Remember a sergeant mike donley?
d*ed a few years ago, right?
He was m*rder*d.
Are you suggesting I sh*t him,
and then brought the g*n home?
Wouldn't be the first.
"no," is the answer you're looking for.
I didn't k*ll him.
Well, you blamed him for your son's death.
I blamed everyone for kevin's death.
I heard from mike's fellow recruiters
That you called the recruiting
station a few times a day.
Doesn't ring a bell.
Threatening you were going to "
make him pay."
That ring a bell?
You know, the school gives
out our information.
Phone numbers. Everything.
To the m*llitary.
So they can solicit our children.
How can that possibly be right?
Took out your frustration on mike.
It's unnatural to outlive your child.
That's why you started drinking heavy.
Caught a dui blocks from
where mike was sh*t.
I was at a bar in the neighborhood.
Desperate to know why your boy had to die.
No one would have blamed you
For going after him.
I didn't have to go after him.
He came to me.
Ma'am.
I just want to tell you how
honored I was to know your son.
Kevin was an inspiration.
Thank you.
He want to make sure the body's still cold?
Just offering his condolences.
He has no right. Don't make a scene.
Jerry!
Ethan, right?
Yeah.
Your brother talked a lot about you.
I'm sure that everybody's telling you
You got to be strong for your pop
And that you got big shoes to fill.
None of that answers any
of your questions, right?
About why this all had to happen?
I wish I could tell you.
I can't.
No one can.
But if you ever get sad
about your brother...
I want you to remember this.
Sorry. Uh...
(breathing shakily)
Take your time.
He, um...
He told my son ethan that...
He shouldn't feel sad
About never seeing kevin again.
Because every time he saw a soldier
On tv, in the news, on the street...
Anywhere,
That...
That he was seeing a piece of kevin...
That kevin was now a
part of something bigger.
You know...
(sniffles)
I might not have agreed with mike that much,
But what he said
Stays with me today.
It's how I get by.
Miller: Got ballistics on the g*ns
Rush and valens took from jerry harkin.
No match on the m*rder w*apon.
What about dna from the crime scene?
Inconclusive.
No traces found on the army ski cap
Or on the pieces of jewelry
found by mike's body.
The army came through on
mike's recruiting files
And cell records from .
The night of his m*rder,
he received several calls
From a disposable cell phone.
A burner phone like that
is sold over the counter.
No way to trace it unless
we get the serial number.
Well, contact the manufacturer.
Find the store that sold it.
Whatever you need to convince them to help.
I'll get on it.
Hey, boss.
Mike took meticulous notes on his recruits.
Who needed money.
Which ones had trouble in school.
Any of these guys look good
for the pawnshop break-in?
Took the names of recruits,
Cross-checked with criminal records.
Trey "meathead" newman.
One of mike's prospects
Before he got popped for the
first of many felony arrests.
Burglary. as*ault.
Burglary again.
You know, meathead had a
thing for smash-and-grabs.
Just like our pawnshop.
Serving eight to up in frackville.
Thought I'd drop by.
Send my regards.
Miller: You had options as a teenager,
trey.
Career soldier on one hand.
Career criminal on the other.
How the benefits compare?
Ain't no thing. You had a chance, though.
With mike donley's help,
you could have been something.
You want something from me?
What do you know
About the pawnshop break-in on th street?
I know pawnshops is small time.
And you just scream "big time," meathead.
That's why we're here.
m*rder's as big as it gets.
(sighs)
Sergeant mike was a pain in my ass.
But I didn't k*ll him.
Maybe he pushed too hard.
Made you push back.
Pushed? No.
I was being pulled another way.
(hip-hop plays)
Come on. You can do it, man. Stay on my hip.
I can't.
Hey. Come on. Look me in the eye, man.
Do not give up on me because
I will not give up on you.
You understand? Come on.
There you go. There you go. You're doing it.
Oh, look at you.
Hey, come on, man.
You got something belonging to us.
Trey ain't not going to be
Needing no army. He already got one.
th street mafia. In for life.
I don't think so.
It's your funeral.
(groaning, coughing)
Go for it.
(grunting)
Sergeant mike, chill!
I'm serious, man.
Look at him. You're hurting him.
Stop! For real!
You okay?
Bumper?
You and me going to be having a reckoning.
Come find me.
I ain't running. Army will shape you up.
That look in sergeant mike's eyes
When he was squeezing bumper's throat...
The guy had some demons.
Bumper?
You mean bobby kerns?
Yeah, that's right.
Sergeant mike made life hard for me
With all that karate crap.
They would have made me pay for
it if I didn't quit training.
What about bumper?
I got busted a couple weeks later.
Lost track of him.
He the type to go looking for payback?
Getting punked like that?
On th street?
Would have been a necessity.
Rush: I thought bobby kerns
Had a clean record
Until we got the da to open his juvie file.
A dozen arrests before his th birthday.
Something he neglected to tell us.
Past isn't the only thing he lied about.
Spoke to army cid.
Bobby's alibi for mike
and himself fell through.
He wasn't on the : p.
M. Bus to fort bragg.
Took the : a.M. Instead.
Means he had plenty of
time to rob the pawnshop.
k*ll mike.
Why would bobby bring us the
case if he was involved?
Sometimes people need to confess.
They just don't know how to do it.
(cell phone rings)
Hello?
I'm on my way.
(phone beeps off)
Everything okay, lil?
Yeah. Um...
I just got to take care of something.
Dad!
Atlantic city.
Nothing happened.
My car got towed.
Well, it's not my fault
That the impound lot doesn't
open until the morning.
You're up at : a.M.
With me to go pick it up.
And pay for it.
Fine. I won, like, bucks anyway.
With money you stole from me.
Maybe this is a conversation you
two can have in the morning.
Easy for you to say.
You don't have to think about his future.
Then maybe just not
inside my car at : a.M.
If cornell admissions finds out
About your little adventure,
They'll rescind your acceptance like this.
So what? I'm not going there anyway.
I want to be a cop.
What? Don't be ridiculous.
What's ridiculous about being a cop?
I meant for him. Oh, but it's okay for me?
Don't be defensive, lilly.
I'm not attacking you.
No, it's just my job.
Which, by the way, is how we found him.
Oh, I should have guessed
That you'd be the one to narc me out.
We waited two hours outside
that casino for you.
If it wasn't for us,
you'd be taking the bus home.
Gee, thanks a lot.
Watch your tone. Or what, dad?
You'll walk out on me, too?
(knocks)
Inside!
What are you waiting for?
You stood me up four times for dinner.
The least you can do is
Try my lemon chicken.
Come on. Let's go.
Please, help yourself.
There you go.
Thank you.
My pleasure.
Well, now...
Don't we make quite the tableau?
I'm sorry that it took such
a dramatic act of stupidity
On my son's part to finally get you here.
Mom!
Napkin?
It does gives me an
opportunity to clear the air.
For the last few months,
I sat back while you and paul
Participated in this excruciating ritual
Of secret meetings, intrigue, angst.
Four perfectly ruined
Pot roasts later, here we are.
Celeste. No, I'm not done.
I know you've had some hard times.
Your mother, god rest her soul,
Your work.
But honestly, we all have something, right?
It's really no excuse.
I'm thrilled that you've
been spending time with finn.
And despite my husband's
Unfathomable recent behavior, he is, too.
But the drama stops tonight,
Hmm?
We're family.
Full stop.
That means birthdays, holidays,
Hospital visits, god forbid, funerals.
The whole thing.
Whether you like it or not,
Lilly rush, you are tied to us for good.
Are we clear?
Okay.
Hey, bumper... Nice to see you again.
Unfortunately, you left some key information
Out of your story last time we talked.
Juvie record for one.
as*ault,
Robbery, weapons possession.
What does that have to do with anything?
Where were you when the prestige pawnshop
Was broken into? The bus station,
like I told you.
See, now that's a lie, bobby.
You missed the : p.M. Bus.
I'm going to ask again.
Where were you when the burglary went down?
At the bus station.
Yeah, : a.M.
That gives you plenty of
time out there on the street.
We got witnesses remember you that night
Looking for mike.
Went to the gym, neighborhood diner,
But what happened?
I had a look at mike's files.
You were his favorite recruit.
Thought of you like family.
So the question is
What went down between you and your brother?
I brought this to you.
Why would I do that if I was involved?
Guilt, bobby, plain and simple.
I didn't make the : p.M. Bus
Because mike was supposed to take me,
But he never showed.
Why? He changed.
Started missing appointments,
Losing his temper.
He wasn't the same guy I knew.
Did you do something about it?
I tried.
Staff sergeant donley?
Bobby! (chuckles)
You okay?
Just having a drink.
You want one?
Missed our morning workout.
Sorry.
I was, um...
I went to the barber today.
Um... Old friend of mine.
He gave me this letter
From his son roberto.
I ever tell you about roberto?
First recruit I ever signed.
Roberto is with the corps of engineers.
Doing water purification in iraq.
An ied embedded in some
scrap metal went off.
Roberto was caught in the blast.
Lost his legs.
So roberto writes this letter... To his dad
Telling him to thank me
For giving him the opportunity to serve.
His dad's... Broke up.
And I just don't got the words.
Like you say, there's
always casualties in w*r.
Bobby...
I do not want to have to go to your funeral.
I'll be fine, staff sergeant,
But you need some coffee.
I'll make a pot.
He said he'd sober up and go home,
But I could tell...
He was living there.
When was this?
Day before he d*ed.
Why didn't you tell us? If I'd told you
About it, you wouldn't
have looked into the case.
You don't know that.
People'd think he was
some kind of statistic,
Collateral damage for the w*r at home.
Staff sergeant donley's a
better man than I'll ever be.
If he's some kind of statistic,
what'll I become?
So mike's living out
Of the recruiting station
The week before he was k*lled,
how come his wife kristen claims
They were up in the poconos
on a belated honeymoon?
Bad memory?
More like selective.
Took a road trip to the
cabin where she was staying.
Manager remembers her.
She came up alone.
Fits bobby's story.
But it didn't stay that way.
A man joined her the last night.
Showed the manager a photo of mike.
Let me guess.
Wasn't him. (chuckles)
I admire you, kristen.
Choosing to marry mike,
Being a soldier's wife.
It wasn't a choice. I loved him.
Even though you knew
That with him, the army always came first.
He believed in something.
I believed in him.
Sure.
But all those months with mike gone...
You didn't stray once?
No.
How about after he got back?
Excuse me. I was loyal to my husband.
Not up in the poconos.
Spent your honeymoon with another man.
Look,
Mike moves you to a strange city,
No friends, no money,
And he was never around.
You're only human.
You're wrong.
Mike must have found out
What you were doing.
You were scared.
Hell, mike was airborne, right?
A professional k*ller.
Would have been ugly if he caught you.
Mike wasn't like that.
You said yourself he had changed.
He was tense,
Distant.
Could have been afraid for your life.
Maybe your boyfriend
Decided to do something to him;
self-defense.
I never would have hurt mike.
The only reason he found
out is because I told him.
We'd just talk, you know? We'd have lunch.
It was nothing physical... Until...
I stayed true to you
Through two deployments
to afghanistan, mike!
Through every other thing
the army's thrown at us.
Listen to me!
I've asked for nothing!
Except for three lousy
days up in the poconos
For a honeymoon that we should
have had five years ago.
You couldn't even give me that.
So this is my fault?
That's not what I'm saying.
When you got back from afghanistan,
I thought that we'd be able to spend time.
It's like you're still gone.
That's crap.
That is crap, and you know it.
You're in a constant
state of mourning, mike,
For johnny.
You write these speeches about him.
And you give away his things
Like they're relics.
I honor him!
You didn't even like the guy!
He drove you crazy!
But you feel responsible.
I am responsible.
You are a hero, mike.
Nobody gives more than you do.
Every day you're sending support over there
So that johnny won't have d*ed for nothing.
That's, that's what I thought.
Yeah, but come on.
Be honest.
I used him to meet quotas,
To put... Fresh bodies in the foxholes.
If that's how you feel,
Then quit.
Not an option.
Then don't.
But please, do something
because I want my husband back.
Come on. You remember when we got married?
That first deployment,
It was nine months, remember?
And we agreed if we could survive that,
We could survive anything,
No matter what.
Do you still believe that?
Answer one question:
Who was it?
I told him, and he walked
right out the door.
Last time I ever saw him.
Night he d*ed?
My entire life comes down
to one stupid decision.
I'd give anything to take it back.
Who was it, kristen?
The man you were seeing?
Mike's boss, sergeant gomez.
You familiar with the term "jody,"
First sergeant gomez?
It's what we call a man or woman
who's cheating with a spouse
Of a soldier who's overseas.
It can't get much lower than that, right?
But you didn't
Even have the decency to
wait for mike to deploy
Before going after his wife.
Where's the honor in that?
There is none.
I made a mistake.
About the affair.
What about the m*rder?
You and kristen got your stories straight.
Said the same thing about mike when he d*ed.
He was distant, tense,
Not himself.
I didn't lie about that. Mike... Mike
Was suffering.
And your answer was to
get him out of the way
So you could have his wife to yourself.
You recognize this?
Orders for deployment to iraq.
For mike donley.
Who processed them?
It's right there at the
bottom of the page. I did.
See, if mike reported you for the affair,
You would have lost your job
at the recruiting station.
You don't get it.
Mike requested iraq.
He wanted to go?
He was tired of seeing his
kids getting hurt and k*lled.
Couldn't take it anymore.
I didn't want to lose my best recruiter,
But it was what he needed.
I was trying to help.
I'm sure you're the last person
He wanted help from.
At first, I thought he was going to k*ll me.
(grunting)
Do it, mike! I deserve it!
(panting)
I'm sorry, man. I messed up.
I'll get a transfer. I'll make it scarce.
You and kristen can work it out.
How am I supposed to work it out?
I don't know, man.
I've been divorced three times.
All I know is soldiering.
She expects me to come
back home and be okay.
They gave me a medal.
Called me a hero.
Still don't know why.
You held off an enemy ambush for two days.
Or maybe I walked us into it.
Trying to rewrite history?
I read the after-action report.
You and johnny were wounded, pinned down.
Johnny didn't want to move.
I ordered him.
You made a call.
I dragged him down that
mountain inch by inch,
Both of us losing blood.
After a while, he got real quiet.
Started staring off at nothing.
You know the last thing
he said before he d*ed?
"it's so beautiful."
What do you think he saw?
All I saw were those damn mountains.
You didn't k*ll him.
They sh*t me twice. I should have d*ed.
But you didn't. He did.
You're just one soldier, mike.
You got to learn your place
In this thing.
My place is over there
with those kids I sent.
I know.
Your orders to iraq.
You deploy in hours.
Whatever it is you're looking for,
I hope you find it.
(phone rings)
Staff sergeant donley.
Stay there.
Gotta go.
That was the last I saw him.
I never spoke to kristen again, either,
Not even at the funeral.
So why didn't you
Report yourself to your officer in charge?
Take your punishment?
Finding more kids to send over there
Instead of going over to fight myself,
That's my punishment.
Who was on the phone?
Always assumed it was kristen.
Rush: So mike wasn't putting
bobby on the bus to fort bragg
The night of his m*rder.
The guy was confronting
first sergeant gomez.
When he was supposedly
breaking into the pawnshop.
: , he gets the call.
Leaves the recruiting station.
Never seen alive again.
The phone records say that call came
From the same disposable
phone called mike's cell
Five times that night.
Someone desperate to reach him.
I tracked the
Cell's serial number.
It was purchased a few days
Before mike's death
At a convenience store on th and girard.
That's close to where mike was k*lled.
Yeah. Guess who used to work
there part-time after school.
Rush: You had a tough childhood,
Didn't you, victoria?
Family who didn't give a crap,
A dead-end job at the bodega,
No hope of a future.
Doesn't matter where you been,
only matters where you're going.
I like that.
Learn it from mike?
I guess so.
The army was your way out.
Education, benefits, bonus.
How much was it again?
$ , .
You just had to wait
till your th birthday.
Your life was going to change.
Recognize this?
No. You barely looked.
Take your time.
It's a pretty piece.
Tasteful.
Not cheap either.
You could never afford it on minimum wage.
When this is done,
I could do you a solid. Make it disappear.
Look, what's your point?
Remember the prestige pawnshop?
You'd go in there all the
time and try this necklace on.
The owner recognized your photo.
If you say so.
Minute you got that bonus,
you were going to buy it.
Only problem,
You didn't pass that army entrance exam.
Wasn't a big deal.
I retook the test.
Passed the second time.
After they lowered their requirements.
Army was hungry for recruits,
no matter how unqualified.
Ma'am, I am an outstanding soldier.
Now.
But four years ago, you were an
angry girl looking to lash out.
You saw this necklace that
you could never afford.
You decided
To just take it.
Neighborhood's dangerous.
Stores are always getting robbed.
Is that why your boss
at the bodega kept a g*n
Behind the counter?
Ran it through ballistics.
It's the same g*n that k*lled mike.
If you respect that uniform at all,
You're going to tell me what happened.
Don't you see that I'm taking on his work,
Helping kids change their lives?
It's got to count for something.
Sure, it does.
So be a good soldier, victoria.
Tell me the truth!
I got the g*n.
I smashed the window in the store.
I knew right away
I messed up.
That's why I called mike.
'cause you had
No one else to call.
'cause I was trying to make it right.
And he was going to turn you in.
Worse.
He was going to abandon me.
Mike: Victoria!
Victoria! Hey, you okay?
I ruined everything, mike.
They're going to lock me up.
What happened?
I broke into the pawnshop.
I wanted this so bad.
I just... What am I going to do?
Cops are everywhere.
How am I supposed to get home?
You're going to come clean.
We're going to go to the cops.
You're going to give the jewelry back.
It's what soldiers do.
But I'm not a soldier, mike.
Didn't they tell you?
I failed the exam.
You're going to pass the next time.
Not if I'm a felon.
I will talk to whoever
I have to, smooth it over.
My word of honor, victoria.
I will clear this up
For you.
Come on.
(sniffling)
You're going to study for the test again
And you're gonna ace it.
I'll even get some of the guys
At the recruiting station to tutor you.
You can tutor me.
Got my orders.
I deploy iraq in two days.
What?
You can't leave.
I have to, victoria.
I got to serve with the kids I sent there.
Who'll be with me?
Victoria...
My mom's kicking me out
If I don't get that bonus money.
Where am I going to go?!
Put the g*n down, okay? I will help you.
How are you going to help
me if you're not here?
You don't care about what happens!
You're just trying to get rid of me!
Stop it. That is not true.
I thought you believed in me,
But you're a liar
Like everyone else! No, I...
(gasping)
(sobbing)
(gasping)
("politik" by coldplay begins)
¶ look at earth from outer space ¶
¶ everyone must find a place ¶
¶ give me time and give me space ¶
¶ give me real, don't give me fake ¶
¶ give me strength, reserve control ¶
¶ give me heart and give me soul ¶
¶ give me time, give us a kiss ¶
¶ tell me of your politik ¶
¶ and open up your eyes ¶
¶ open up your eyes ¶
¶ open up your eyes ¶
¶ open up your eyes ¶
¶ give me one 'cause one is best ¶
¶ in confusion, confidence ¶