08x02 - g*ng Unit

[bunniefuu]

Previously on SWAT...

DEACON: With my retirement coming up,
I need to choose someone

to take over SWAT Academy for me.

I'm honored. That means a lot, Deac.

You're gonna do an amazing job, Victor.

I guess even retirement can't
stop you from saving the city.

I'm never gonna be able
to ignore the call.

This is where I belong.

HICKS: If we're gonna rebuild

this department,
you get carte blanche

on the pick for six slot,
whoever you want.

- How did Gamble do out there?
- Good, good.

She's quick on her feet,
she seems sharp.

So what's the issue?

Commander, are you gonna blame
her for what her father did?

I don't blame her, Hondo,
but she brings a lot of baggage.

Gamble is the right person for this job.

The only thing worse
than a day-long barricade

is one that ends with a sudden sprint

through downtown.
Think I pulled my hammy.

They had 12 hours inside that bank

to think of an escape plan,

and the best those
geniuses could come up with

is to runfor it?

Not everyone who moves to L.A.
is a creative, Deac.

POWELL: Gamble, did they have
criminals that dumb

up in Oakland?

A few. Ours tended to attack with g*ns,
not the money itself.

POWELL: I can't believe they thought

throwing cash at us would slow us down.

I can't believe Gamble jumped in the way

just to protect Miko.

If that's the worst b*llet
I got to take for this team...

Hey, she knows I got a date tonight.

Getting hit by that dye pack
would have been worse

than a b*llet, believe me.

So, Gamble, one week on the job

and you already need a new vest.

You know, the city's gonna take
that out of your paycheck, right?

Those are the rules around here, Gamble.

You break it, you bought it.

Welcome to the LAPD.

That's not fair, boss.

She took one for me.

I'll take this for her.

Okay, Mr. Hospitality.

Let's go.

[CHATTING INDISTINCTLY]

Team's gelling, Hondo.

You did good.

Thanks, man.

TAN: Hey, Hondo. You mind taking a look

at a few proposals
for SWAT Academy changes?

I want to run 'em by Hicks tomorrow.

Uh, changes?

I just had a few ideas
on how to incorporate our gear

into the curriculum.
Our tools are getting

more advanced,
we should be looking for people

who know how to use them.

I don't think that's wise.

We gotta teach these kids how to walk

before we can let them play with toys.

SWAT Academy, it's about fundamentals.

It's tech we use every day,
Deac. It is fundamental.

Okay, hey, hey.

I know SWAT Academy was your baby,

but you gave up the reins
to Tan when you retired.

Now just cause you're back,
that doesn't change.

- [SIGHS]
- Come on, man.

You gotta let the kid do his own thing.

Yeah. No, of course.

You're right.

That actually sounds pretty good.

Yeah. You're gonna like this stuff.

HONDO: It's all right.
Just keep me updated.

["I'M THE GOAT" BY CHEL STRONG PLAYING]

♪ Sacrificed so much
to make it here ♪

♪ I came too far for this ♪

♪ They was sleeping,
I was up and training... ♪

One.

Two.

Three.

Bruh, you can't do that in your head?

You're k*lling my rhythm.

What, you want me to mess up the amount?

♪ I just do it... ♪

It's ten to a bag.

You really need help counting to ten?

Oh. [LAUGHS]

[BOTH LAUGHING]

♪ I'll lead 'em gracefully ♪

♪ I'll lead the fakes to hate ♪

♪ But this what it takes
to make the GOAT ♪

♪ So we tune 'em out, don't... ♪

[MUSIC SHUTS OFF]

[RHYTHMIC KNOCK ON DOOR]

Aw.

[SIGHS]

[GRUNTS]

[g*nshots, MAN CRIES OUT]

[GROANING SOFTLY]

- [g*nsh*t]
- [CRIES OUT]

[DOG BARKING,
SOMEONE SHOUTS IN DISTANCE]

[CLATTERING]

[GASPS]

[g*nsh*t]

[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]

Thanks for coming on such short notice.

Wasn't far for me, sir.

What are we looking at?

A robbery gone very wrong.

That's a Compton Tiger stash house

across the street. Someone cleared

the place out.
The only thing they left behind

were four dead bodies.

Looks like a fifth tried
to make a run for it,

but he didn't get far.

And the civilian?

Some poor woman
who picked the wrong time

to take out the trash.

Social services are with her kids now.

Look, the mayor doesn't like waking up

to photos of dead mothers
on the front of The Times.

He wants LAPD's best on it.

That means 20-Squad.

VIGNISSON: Mr. Mayor doesn't need

to get his satin panties in a bunch.

L.A.'s best is already here.

Lieutenant Raul Vignisson.
L.A. Sheriff's Department.

Commander Hicks.

Vignisson. You run the
sheriff's g*ng Suppression Unit.

That's a pretty elite squad.
I know a bunch

of deputies who would
give up their pension

for a shot to ride with the GSU.

There's always a spot open
for the Hondo Harrelson

if you ever feel like switching teams.

You think the action is hot here?

Wait till you leave city limits.

Start getting statements
from the neighbors.

Every detail matters.

Yeah, no one told me the LASD

was joining us this morning.

Afraid SWAT's the one actually
crashing the party.

My team's been hunting the crew

behind these stash house hits
for weeks now.

You mean this isn't the first
house they've knocked over?

Try four... so far.

Same pattern every time.

They come in hard, fast,

and they don't leave
a single person alive.

[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING]

VIGNISSON: Wasn't a forced entry.
The bolt's not broken.

HONDO: Shooters must've
known the secret code,

caught the Tigers by surprise.

They did their research.

Do we know what they took?

Our CIs say this was
the central weigh station

for the Tigers' entire operation.

Drugs, money, weapons,
they kept it all here.

Oh, a pharmacy, bank and
an armory job all in one.

HONDO: And now, all that product

and firepower's in the hands of a crew

that's showing no signs of stopping.

We'd appreciate all the files

your team's collected so far.

We're going to find these K*llers
before they hurt anyone else.

[SIGHS]

All due respect, but this case is still

an active Sheriff's
Department investigation.

Maybe, but last night's murders
crossed into city limits.

Means it's an LAPD case now, too.

Thanks, but no thanks.

We're already
miles ahead of you on this.

Miles ahead?

This was the crew's fourth hit.

And you said yourself, you've
been after these guys with no luck.

Doesn't mean we're stepping aside.

HONDO: Okay, hold on, now.

Vignisson, the more houses
this crew rolls over,

the more g*ns they get,
the more dangerous they are.

If we don't stop 'em,
that woman next door's

not gonna be the only innocent
caught up in the crossfire.

We're offering a fresh set of eyes.

My team would be happy
for SWAT's assistance.

But this is still a GSU case.

We run this from our station, our way.

We're calling the shots.

All right, then.

I'll call my team and
tell them to buckle up.

SWAT's riding with the sheriffs today.

Right on.

♪

♪

[INDISTINCT CHATTER
AND RADIO TRANSMISSIONS]

Yo, 20-Squad. Over here.

Welcome to South Central Station.

Not as polished as your place,

but we make up for it with raw talent.

I'm Cesar, this is Lang.

Deacon and Tan.

We know the GSU's rep.

- You guys don't mess around.
- Yeah. It's true.

LANG: Hey, nice to see a friendly face.

You ever get tired of being the
best looking guy on your team?

Nah, never gets old.

CESAR: So, listen, we move pretty fast

around here, so if you guys

need us to slow down so
you can catch your breath,

just say the word.

Think we'llbe okay.

SWAT only rolls out
when things are fast.

When you're the last line
of defense like SWAT is,

there's no one you can call for backup.

LANG: Must be nice, coming to the rescue

after the rest of the LAPD

has done all the heavy lifting.

DEACON: Now, I seem to remember SWAT

keeping the entire city
from burning to the ground

this summer all by ourselves.

All right, respect where respect's due.

Yo, I saw you hanging
from that whirlybird on TV.

Pretty sweet.

Whoa, whoa, whoa,
where's the love for the guy

hanging off the back
of the speeding tanker?

We done figuring out who's biggest?

Come on, I'll show you
where the magic happens.

Whoa.

What do you know?

TAN: You know that deputy?

Yeah, that's Dobes.

That's my old partner from
way back in my patrol days.

Let me tell you, we were
a force to be reckoned with.

We competed for everything.

Arrests, accommodations, girls.

When did he join the
Sheriff's Department?

I don't know. We kind of lost touch.

- You know, different life paths?
- Mm-hmm.

We actually tried out for SWAT together.

I made it, he didn't.

Well, I'm sure he'd love
to see you and catch up, Deac.

First partner's someone
you ride with for life.

Hmm.

VIGNISSON: This is the center
of the GSU's operation.

From here, we keep tabs on
every g*ng in the county.

If two kids share ink,
from Six Flags to Disneyland,

you can bet your a*s we know about it.

CESAR: Here's everything we have

on the stash house attacks so far.

We marked all four robberies
on the map here.

These guys are hardcore.

They leave no physical evidence behind.

Weapons seem to vary, too.

Automatics one job, shotguns the next.

Never the same.

Could be using the g*ns
they steal at one house

to stick up the next.
Makes them harder to track.

Robbing Peter to sh**t Paul.

So far, each of the stash
houses that have been hit

- belonged to different gangs.
- Yes, sir.

L2D's, Los Mags, 42's,

all different sets with no
affiliation to one another.

Our working theory is these thieves

are being backed by a supplier.

A cartel, maybe.

TAN: You got another big board

with cartel movements hiding somewhere?

[CHUCKLES]

We don't

keep as close an eye on them.

We stick to our own backyard.

HONDO: Well,
it's a good thing we're here.

Deac, let's have the team
run every LAPD database,

and see if any major cartel players

have been spotted in L.A.
in the last month.

Tan, you start digging
through these files.

Even if a cartel is behind this,

someone local's helping 'em.

Does that sound good to you, Vignisson?

[CHUCKLES]

All I care about is
getting these scumbags.

If you want to do all the leg work,

I'll be happy
to take all the credit later.

[LAUGHS] Let's go get these b*stards.

Dobes?

Damn.

It really is you.

Deacon.

I heard SWAT was here,

but I didn't expect
to see you with them.

Heard you retired.

Yeah, well, I found it
pretty hard to quit.

Uh, Hondo, this is Alex Doberstein.

Deputy Doberstein these days.

Nice to meet you, my man.

Deacon says the two of you
used to tear up Mid City.

Back in the glory days, I guess.

Before he became
a big time SWAT officer.

DEACON: So, uh, when did you hop over

- to the Sheriff's Department?
- Ten years ago.

Caught a few promotions in Wilshire,

but started to get
a little belly behind the desk.

[LAUGHS]

It's not much better over here,
but at least I'm back on the street,

- chasing bad guys.
- Well, you look great.

Been training for Vignisson's g*ng Unit.

Hoping this is the year
a slot finally opens up.

Those are the guys that
really get to have fun.

Well, we're working a case with GSU now.

I-I could put in a word for you.

I'm good, Deacon.

Vignisson's the guy who
convinced me to come overto LASD.

His team is tight, but...

we're all one big family here.

It's a nice feeling.

I got to run this paperwork upstairs.

- It was nice to meet you, Hondo.
- Yeah.

Can't believe we're stuck
staring at screens

while the boys get to roll in
the field with the freaking GSU.

Happy working as far away

from those LASD blowhards as I can be.

You know, I did a stint
with the LASD before SWAT.

Uh, sorry, Powell. I...

I didn't mean it. Um,

it's a... personal thing.

You know you don't have
to hold back with us.



Kind of our whole thing. Hmm.

Uh, my experience,

family can mean a lot
of different things.

But thank you.

[DOOR WHOOSHES OPEN]

I wasn't having luck
with traffic cams in the area,

so I expanded my search.

Caught this hotshot

running a red, half-mile
from the crime scene.

GAMBLE: That's a Soldado sign.

The Soldados and the Tigers
have a very ugly history

of territory beefs.

Yeah, which means
Speed Racer and his homies

shouldn't be anywhere near
that part of town.

Maybe that's why he was in such a hurry.

The timestamp's two minutes
after the first 911 call.

Could be our shooters making a getaway.

Yeah, I'll run the plate
and get it to Hondo.

These g*ng notes are intense, man.

Your team really tracks it all.

Friendships, breakups.

Favorite fast food. Damn.

Hey, I got to ask.

Your team feels super tight.

How do you feel safe with that
new chick watching your six?

- You mean Gamble?
- Gamble, huh?

She must be using a fake name
or something. [CHUCKLES]

You really don't know who she is?

Don't know what?

Gamble's got a history.

Her dad ran his own
little corner of L.A.

Had a nice racket
until his luck ran out.

Got caught robbing a warehouse.

k*lled the responding officer.

Sheriff's deputy.

[SIGHS]

Gamble couldn't have had
anything to do with that.

You sure?
Her whole family's in the life.

Got a fat file with their name
on it somewhere around here.

And... she still hangs with them.

Was with them all weekend.

How the hell do you know that?

Guys in the department
have kept an eye on her

since she moved back.

Her dad k*lled one of our own.

We never forget,

and we never forgive.

It's a bad look, standing next
to a cop-k*ller's kid.

You should talk to your boss.

She shouldn't be allowed
anywhere near a badge.

[DOOR OPENS]

Miko found a Soldado car caught
fleeing the scene last night.

Car belongs to a Danny Parra,


We know the name.

Danny's brother, Arturo?

He runs the Soldado crew.

Of the stash houses hit,

none have belonged to the Soldados.

That's awful convenient, isn't it?

Maybe you've been overthinking this.

The Soldados could just be making a play

for the big leagues,
taking out their competition.

There's only one way to find out.

Knock and ask, our specialty.

VIGNISSON:
The Soldados don't play, Hondo.

We've got three open murders
tied to their top lieutenants alone.

If they are the ones
behind these stash house hits...

They're not going
to like us crashing their party.

Well, it's a good thing
that never stopped us before.

Right on.

Yo. If SWAT's really
the best of the best,

why do you need all that crap
on your belt, huh?

Do you want to borrow my spare?

If you suck in that gut,

you might be able to squeeze into it.

[LAUGHS] Wow. No, thanks.

No need to lug around
an entire medicine cabinet.

Does it make you jealous
that even with 20 pounds

of gear around my waist,

I'll still smoke your a*s
in a foot race?

[CHUCKLES]

LANG: Hey, by the way, Gamble?

This patch? It means
we're the good guys.

Try not to sh**t us in the back, yeah?

Hey, hey, hey, hey.

Just walk away, Gamble.

Careful, Tan.

She'll come for you next.

Deac's back from recon.

DEACON: We spotted both Danny,
and Arturo Parra inside the house.

Hard to tell how many Soldados
are in there with them.

How secure are the premises?

Reinforced iron bars,
doors and windows, all sides.

Alfaro and I could make a covert
approach, use the laser cutter

on the bars on the front.

SWAT's way might work
when you've got time

to sit with your hands in your pocket,

but we can't waste another
second stopping these guys.

What's your play, then?

We go in GSU-style.

Only our laser cutter has


[ENGINE REVVING]

[TIRES SQUEALING]

[TIRES SQUEALING]

[TIRES SQUEALING]

Deacon, flashbang.

[GLASS BREAKING]

[MUFFLED expl*si*n]

Turn around! Turn around!

Move! On the ground! Freeze!

DEACON: Show me your hands.

Show me your hands, Arturo!

VIGNISSON: Got a runner,
headed toward the back.

Mine!

Damn it! Gamble, stick close.

Tan, hold up!

- Duck!
- [g*nshots]

LANG: We're clear in the back.

One casualty. It's Danny Parra, sir.

What the hell happened?

LANG: Parra popped out of the closet,

ready to ice your boy Tan.

It's a good thing I was
clearing back here already.

I was trying to catch up to you, Lang.

SWAT moves as a pack.

Yeah. Tell that to your teammate
you left in the dust.

You got to say something, Arturo.

We're gonna make assumptions.

We found g*ns, money
and product at your place.

Those things are a luxury to crews

in your part of town right now, man.

VIGNISSON: You talk to all your suspects

like you're having them
over for Sunday supper?

[VIGNISSON LAUGHS]

When was the last time
you saw your mama, Arturo?

Sara, right?

Over on Cottage Street?

Red mailbox?

When I leave this room, I am going to go

to her house and arrest her

for associating with a g*ng member,

stick her in County

with all the addicts and the working
girls they brought in last night,

let her lawyer sort it out.

Might take a few days.

You have an auntie
who lives next door, yeah?

Might just grab her, too.

There's room in our car.

I don't know anything
about those robberies.

The Soldados had nothing
to do with them.

Explain the g*ns, then.

Protection.

Everyone knows what's been going down.

We all think we're next.

- We armed up, just in case.
- You're lying.

Your brother was
at the Tiger hit last night,

along with someone else.

We have video.

I don't know what Danny was doing there.

- He's not like that.
- Yes, he is.

He just tried to jump a SWAT officer.

Who else was in the car with Danny?

Tell me,

or he won't be the only family
member you never see again.

All right, Vignisson,
chill out, that's enough.

What did you mean,
Danny wasn't like that?

Danny wasn't a Soldado?

He liked the cars, making stupid videos.

He never rolled for real.

I don't know what
he was doing there that night,

but it wasn't Soldado business.

He was just a kid.

Tell me we found something useful

in that raid of Arturo Parra's house.

Hell of a lot of heroin,

but that's the Soldado stock and trade.

Didn't find anything that ties back

to any of the stash house robberies.

After four hits, this
crew must be sitting

on a mountain of stolen product.

We know they haven't tried
to resell it in L.A.

We would have traced it by now.

Yeah, but why would
they be sitting on it?

That doesn't make any sense.

What if their motive had nothing
to do with drugs at all?

Ballistics just came back.
Got a ping from a shell casing

from the g*n used to k*ll
the mother next door.

That's a match to a g*n
belonging to John Flynn.

He's a Compton local.

DEACON: Flynn owns an auto shop

that was robbed a couple years ago.

He used his own g*n to defend the store.

That's how it got in our system.
After that, he became

a vocal anti-g*ng advocate.

Neighborhood watches, city petitions.

You think this is some kind
of take-back-the-neighborhood

vigilante movement?

How does Danny Parra fit in?

We still don't know what he was
doing in Tiger turf last night.

Impound is bringing Danny's car in now.

Maybe there's something in it
that can tell us.

Alfaro, grab Hondo
and pay Flynn a visit.

Deacon, stay with the Parra car.

Something tells me this kid's
wrapped up in all of this.

So, some LASD jerk talks
sideways to your teammate,

and you've got nothing to say?

Guess both of us have been quiet
about a lot of things... Gamble.

Gamble is my mother's name.

And I'm not hiding from my past.

I was waiting for the right time
to tell the team.

Well...

[CLEARS THROAT]

...got my attention now.

I never wanted anything
to do with my father's life.

It's the whole reason
why I became a cop...

just to prove him wrong.

The second I got my badge, I said

if I saw anything ill*gal,
I'd personally haul him in.

That didn't stop him, though, did it?

No. It didn't.

And it caught up to him in the end.

Nearly destroyed my life,

my entire family's life in the process.

- Does Hondo know?
- Of course.

He got me the slot with Oakland
P.D. after the sh**ting.

He saw all this coming.

The stares, suspicions, the threats.

I meant, does Hondo know you're
still in touch with your family.

I know you saw 'em this weekend.

It's been ten years since
I've seen my mom in person.

I actually got to hug her
on her birthday.

I do not regret that.

I get hiding what your dad did.
That wasn't your fault.

But if you're still associating
with criminals...

They're still my family, Tan.

I'm sorry you found out this way.

I wasn't ready to tell the team,

but after seeing you

side with some guy you just met over me,

and for some bro points,

maybe I was right to wait.

Dobes! They got you doing delivery?

Sometimes that's the job.

- Can you sign these impound papers?
- Sure.

Do you want to stay,
check the car out with us?

I'm good. Thanks.

Hey, Dobes.

You were cold this morning, but
now you're practically subzero.

What the hell's going on?

Come on, Deac.

[SIGHS] We're too old to be
dredging up ancient history.

Let's just leave the past in the
past and get back to our own lives.

What are you talking about?
We were each other's first partner.

There's no way
I'm turning my back on that.

Then why haven't I heard
from you in 20 years?

We were best friends, man.

Deacon and Dobes.

And then you made SWAT and poof.
You disappeared.

[SIGHS] Look, those first
few months were very intense.

I had to prove that I belonged here.

You know how bad I wanted SWAT.

We wanted it.

SWAT was my dream, too.

I mean, it didn't feel good
not making the cut,

but it felt worse
going back to the beat alone.

I... [SIGHS] Every day,
the dream got further away.

I needed my partner,

and you never reached out.

Guess you were too busy for me.

- Oh, come on.
- I mean, admit it.

You moved on to-to bigger things.

You didn't have time for some
patrol cop as a friend anymore.

No, that's ridiculous.

I didn't think I was bigger than anyone.

Yes, SWAT took up a lot of my time.

I also got married.

I had children.

Dobes, it's called getting older.

Everyone gets older.

Most find a way to keep in touch
with people they care about.

[STAMMERS] I'm... I'm over it, really.

I made real friends in the LASD.

Vignisson, the rest of the guys,

they pulled me out of my spiral,

got me motivated again.

They're real family.

- [SIGHS]
- POWELL: All good, Deac?

- Yeah.
- Who was that guy?

Just someone I used to work with.

So, did you find anything
that might explain

why Danny was racing through
Tiger territory last night?

How about hair ties and some lipstick?

Look like something that a


Danny doesn't have a sister.

And his brother didn't mention
anything about a girlfriend, either.

Maybe because Danny didn't want
his brother to know.

She look like someone a Soldado
should be dating?

This girl's name is Emma Roddy.

She's a straight-A senior
at Compton High School.

Her brother was one of the
Tigers who was k*lled last night.

She lives in the stash house
that was hit.

We couldn't find
Danny's phone at the raid,

but we were able to get
a warrant for its data.

We found secret messages

between Danny and Emma.
They were dating.

Star-crossed lovers from rival sets?

- No wonder they kept it a secret.
- DEACON: Well, there's more.

Emma texted Danny while
the robbery was going down.

POWELL: Danny says,
"Go hide," that he's "on his way."

DEACON: Wait.
Emma was the other person in Danny's car

at the red light camera.

He was picking her up after the robbery.

That makes Emma the only witness

to survive one of these attacks.

All right, we already put out a BOLO.

- We have to find her.
- Deac. Tan.

We got to talk to the commander, now.

What's going on?
Something happen at Flynn's auto shop?

Not hardly.
That guy's done a spiritual 180

in the past few years.

He's all namaste, wouldn't hurt a fly.

We asked about the g*n used
in the Compton Tiger robbery.

Flynn said he got rid
of it last Christmas.

Part of his new outlook.

So that g*n could be in
anyone's possession right now.

No. Flynn said he traded
the g*n in at a police buyback.

The hell? To which station?

South Central Sheriff's Department.

I checked the records, and
the officer running the buyback:

Lieutenant Raul Vignisson.

What exactly are you accusing
these deputies of, Hondo?

Sir, think about the group
we've been chasing.

Enough skill to storm
fully-armed houses,

enough intel to find them,

and enough insight to avoid
leaving any evidence behind.

DEACON: This is a list.

The GSU arrests in the last month.

The night before each
g*ng stash house robbery,

Vignisson's teamhauls in
a street-level dealer

from the same g*ng.

It could be how they pick their targets.

Bust a small fish,
get the location of the stash.

Commander,

the GSU are the stash house robbers.

DEACON: It explains why
they never leave a witness alive.

No matter how well you hide your face,
a cop still moves like a cop.

HONDO: And it can't be lost on you, sir.

The only body that dropped today

was been a potential witness
SWAT discovered on our own.

- Danny Parra.
- HONDO: That's right.

Tan, I need you to think very carefully.

Did you see a g*n on Danny Parra
during the raid?

I... I didn't really see Danny.

He came at me from behind.
Lang took the shot.

But afterward. The weapon.

Lang went right to the body,
kicked the g*n away.

He could've planted it.
I wouldn't have known.

Wait a minute.
Danny wasn't the only witness

at the Tiger house robbery.

No, his girlfriend, Emma.
We've got a BOLO out.

It won't take long for Vignisson

to figure out why we're looking for her.

Well, we need to find her first.

Well, Danny probably took her
somewhere safe to lay low,

somewhere not connected to the streets.

Powell went through her social media.

She's got an aunt
who lives down in Torrance.

Well, that's our best shot.
Get down there now.

If we figuredit out,
you can bet Vignisson will, too.

This is LAPD!
We're looking for Elsa Roddy.

Officers, good Lord.
What's this all about?

Ma'am, we're looking
for your niece, Emma.

Have you seen her in the last 24 hours?

She showed up here this
morning looking scared.

I wish she would move out
that horrible house

and get away from her brother.

We need to speak to her, ma'am.

[SIGHS] I'm sorry.
Her boyfriend Danny texted her.

Asked her to meet him
at a park by her house.

She left about 20 minutes ago.

Thank you for your time.

[SIGHS]

The GSU must've pocketed Danny's phone.
They sent that message to Emma.

Which means she's headed
straight to them right now.

Let's go.

Patrol just arrived at the park
by Emma's house.

No sign of her.

All right, we got to find Vignisson

and get him to come back to HQ
without a scene.

Find me? I'm right here.

SWAT catch a break in the case?

HONDO: Where's the girl,
Vignisson? Where's Emma Roddy?

I have no idea who that is.

Drop the act. We know everything.

Oh. [LAUGHS] That's a relief.

Felt like you were chasing your tails.

Where's the rest of your team?

Following a lead.
But it must be a dead end,

seeing as you already
solved this, right?

How about you call them into SWAT HQ?

We could talk about it more there.

My men don't answer to you.

And neither do I.

This is your one chance
to end things cleanly.

You tell us where Emma Roddy is,
and you turn yourself in,

or I promise you, we will
hunt your whole team down.

I don't know where she is, Hondo,

but girls like that
run away all the time.

Sometimes very far away.

And they're never heard from again.

Good luck with the search.

Hey. Give me a second.

I'll meet you at the car.

Did you know?

Did you know what
Vignisson's crew was up to?

What are you talking about?

Oh, come on. The GSU. They're
the ones robbing the stash houses

and murdering people to cover it up.

What kind of cop says that
about other cops? Disgraceful.

- Did you know?
- I don't know what kind of

messed-up head game this is,

but Vignisson is like a brother to me.

You're talking about my family.

For God's sakes, Dobes,

he doesn't care about you.

His team is a bunch of th*gs.

He just dangles that open slot

to surround his guys
with gullible deputies

desperate for his attention.

You are never gonna make GSU.

Just like I never could
make SWAT, right?

Guess I was right about the way
you looked at me all these years.

Yeah. Yeah, you're right.

You remember how we used to

look at the SWAT guys?

Like they walked on water.

When I finally got in,

maybe I let that go to my head.

I thought I was better
than everybody else,

- including you.
- [SIGHS]

I'm sorry.

Back at Wilshire,

I hated how we used to always
try to outdo each other.

I mean, I always just trying
to keep up with you, but you...

you wanted to win.

I just wanted to be the best,

to stand out, and I still do.

And sometimes, I hate myself for it.

I wasted a long time being bitter

when I didn't make team leader.

Even now,

I can't handle someone else
running SWAT Academy.

You retired and came back, Deac.

You still get to be SWAT.

Don't you realize what a gift that is?

Dobes.

I'm not here as your friend.

The GSU, they are holding
a young girl hostage,

and we need to find her, please.

They're such a tight group, Deac.

They don't share much with anyone.

Well, anything,
anything could be helpful.

I overheard Lang

mention a place out by Diamond Bar

where they "sh**t tin cans."

I... I never understood that.

We got a range here at the station.

Okay. Well, that-that's something.

I'll run it by my team.

Thank you for trusting me.

Vignisson's playing dumb, but
he knows we're coming for him.

Rest of his team's MIA.

They're probably destroying anything
that ties them to the robberies,

but that's all hearsay unless
we find physical evidence.

- Yup. [SIGHS]
- What's that mean for Emma?

TAN: They'll need to
find out if she's talked

to anyone else, any last loose ends.

After that...

We'll find her.

We never found their stolen stash.

If their hideout is safe enough,
for all that money and drugs,

then it's safe enough
to hold and question Emma.

Deacon's old partner heard the GSU guys

talking about sh**ting
tin cans in Diamond Bar.

I remember competing in
an LASD sh**ting competition

back when I was a deputy.

It was at this old
building-turned-sh**t house

out in Diamond Bar.

Check out who hosted the event.

Vignisson. This is the place.

Tan, fire up Black Betty.
I'll reroute Hondo and Deacon.

What about Vignisson? He's still
at the sheriff's station.

You leave him to me.

Come on, sweetheart. We need to know

where you ran off to that night.

Who else did you talk to
besides your boyfriend, Danny?

Vigs said torch it all.

That's a cool mil, up in flames.

Plenty more where that came from
when this all blows over.

Look at me!

You know what's gonna happen here,

so tell us who you talked to.

We can end it this way,
or we can end it that way.

What's the hurry, Lieutenant?

[CHUCKLES]

Commander.

What, you here to arrest me?

I'll let Hondo have that honor

when he returns with
the girl you kidnapped.

I'm just here to make sure
you don't go anywhere.

And I brought a couple
of black-and-whites with me,

in case you get any funny ideas.

[CHUCKLES]

Do you know why all the other
cops can't stand you SWAT guys?

Hmm?

It's this holier-than-thou schtick.

The rest of us are out here
doing the best we can,

trying to survive.

Is that what you call theft and m*rder?

We clean up the streets,
we stop the flow of drugs.

We're just doing our jobs.

I don't think you'll have one
for much longer.

Let's wait to see
whose team makes it back.

Looks like they're here.

HONDO: All right,
our priority is Emma Roddy.

She's an innocent caught up
in all of this.

Now, they can try and hold us off,

but we are not leaving here without her.

These men will protect
their secret at all costs.

They will sh**t to k*ll.

Now, they may not be acting like cops,

but they're still trained like them.

Probably protected
by the same gear we are, too.

Only difference is, they play dirty.

Hey, don't get it twisted.
They may have training,

but they do not have
our training. They are not SWAT.

Keep tight to your two,
heads on a swivel.

Let's go. We're moving in.

HONDO: Niko, door.

[RAPID BEEPING, ALARM WHOOPING]

That's the motion sensors.

Ronnie, cover the fire.
Lang, hide the cash.

- Then gear up.
- How are they here already?

Doesn't matter.

All that matters now
is they don't leave.

HONDO: Hold.

Cover.

You know, I stayed out
of the trash talking all day,

but now I gotta warn you.

SWAT's about to run circles around you.

Doubt it. Your toys won't save you here.

You're in our house now.

Hondo, visual. Suspect deep moving.

[RAPID BEEPING, ALARM WHOOPING]

- Damn it, I lost him.
- Does anybody have eyes?

- Cover, cover!
- [g*nf*re]

We can't all stay
pinned down in this room

or they're gonna pick us off.

We've got to find Emma.



[ALARM WHOOPING IN DISTANCE]

TAN: 25-David,
found another training room.

Checking it out.

Damn it.

Stay focused.

Remember our training.

This is just target practice.

[MECHANISMS CLICKING]

[MECHANISM CLICKS]

[GRUNTS, GROANS]

ALFARO: Stay down! Don't you move!

[ALARM WHOOPING IN DISTANCE]

How about this time we stick together?

Gamble!

Tan!

[GRUNTS]

I'm so glad I get to be
the one to do this.

[GRUNTING]

Stay down!

Honor's all yours, Gamble.

[g*nf*re] Cover fire, Deac!

We can't let them pin us down!

We got to keep moving! On me.

This guy's firing at us like a madman.

He thinks he's got us over a barrel.

Then we got to take away his advantage.
k*ll that confidence.

If this sh**t house
is anything like ours,

there's a system control
for the instructor.

There it is. Far wall.

I'm on it. Cover me.

HONDO: Go!

♪

Drop it, now!

Put it down! Put it down!

On your knees.

Hands behind your back.



ALFARFO: 25-David,
GSU number two in custody.

GAMBLE: 26-David,
that's a hat trick, sir.

HONDO: Get up. Get up.

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

Y'all took on SWAT.

It was never a competition.

[GRUNTS]

[PHONE BUZZES]

Looks like you backed the wrong horse.

Emma's safe.

A lot of mistakes got
you here, Vignisson.

Don't make another one.

[SCOFFS]

You see, that's where
our departments differ.

SWAT is so damn meticulous.

Sheriffs?

We sh**t from the hip.

[g*nshots]

[GROANS]

[GROANING]

[PANTING]

Well, I guess we won't
be waiting for Hondo.

[GROANS] You're under arrest,
Lieutenant.

You know the drill.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

We recovered a lot of the evidence

these guys were trying to destroy.

Hopefully, we can trace it back
to the houses it came from

and pin the GSU to each robbery.

Along with Emma's testimony,

this case should be open-and-shut.

I know it must've been
tough for you two,

having to go up against fellow officers.

HONDO: No.

They're nothing but criminals,
plain and simple.

Amen to that.

Come on, we got a
meeting with the sheriff.

We got a lot to discuss.

Okay. Bye.

Well, I guess there's finally
a slot open on the GSU.

Too bad the sheriff's
scrapping the whole team.

[SIGHS]

Just my luck. I did all those

push-ups for nothing.

[CHUCKLES]

Dobes, we never would have found
Emma if it wasn't for you.

You chose SWAT over the GSU,

and I'll never forget it.

I didn't choose SWAT, Deac.

I chose you.

Despite everything that happened,

you're still one of
the best cops I know.

And I hate to admit it, but...

...I still look up to you
after all these years.

Dobes, I j... I just want to say...

Don't need another apology.

Fresh start'll do just fine.

How 'bout a fresh start and a cold beer?

Maybe a couple steaks on the grill?

Ah. [CHUCKLES] Now you're talking.

How come you never gave SWAT
another shot?

It's not like I didn't want it.

Hell, I still want it.

But being told you're
not good enough, it...

cuts deep, man.

Well, it's-it's
never too late to try again.

[CHUCKLES] You're joking.

Enrollment just started. I mean,

you've got the experience.
You got the training.

Oh, come on, Deac. I'm pushing 50, man.

We don't have an age limit at SWAT.

I mean, if I can pass the PFQs,

you sure as hell can, too.

You push yourself as hard as you can.

You sh**t for your dream.

This time, pass or fail,

I will be right there by your side.

Be just like old times.

- Deacon and Dobes.
- Deacon and Dobes.

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

Come on.

[CHUCKLES]

♪

Hey, Gamble. Hold up.

We barely had a minute
to check in today.

You good?

I heard you caught some flack
over your family history.

Uh, y... A little.

Slapping the cuffs on those GSU b*stards

did ease the pain.

What about you and Tan?

Damn. You don't miss a beat.

Yeah. We, uh...
Me and Tan, we had some words.

But we worked it out.

Mm, all good.

The hell are you talking about, Gamble?

Way more than good.

- Hey.
- More than good.

HONDO: All right.

I like that.

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

Is that my car?

Scuse me. Scuse me.

Wait, what?

This is all the details
of my dad's arrest.

Where the hell did this come from?

POWELL: It was just blasted to HQ

from an anonymous LASD email.

Someone here must have
printed out a bunch of copies.

Is this real, Gamble?

Did your dad k*ll a cop?

TAN: Hey.

Gamble's the one on this team,
not her father.

HONDO: That's right. And
she's done nothing

but earn her place on this team
since she got here.

Anybody got a problem,
you speak on it right now.

Nah. Just needed to know
if people were spreading lies

or running their mouths.

Look, either way,

you don't mess with one of our squad.

I told you...

we've got your back, no matter what.

Thanks. But that's everything my dad did

right there in black and white.

Now that it's out,

this kind of stuff's not gonna stop.

Hey, listen up!

Whoever put these out,
you got one warning.

You mess with Gamble,
you mess with 20-Squad.

That means you mess with me.

♪

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

ALFARO: We got you.