01x02 - Pilot

[bunniefuu]

[Lost boyz' "straight
from da ghetto"]

♪ Yo check this out

♪ the rap skills they flow
just like water from a faucet ♪

♪ I been here from
queens thought I lost it ♪

♪ well I've been
waiting hibernating ♪

♪ it's mad peoples
eyeing on the streets ♪

♪ so with the streets
I'm debating, see ♪

♪ the government
is one some ill skit ♪

♪ that's why my
peoples sling rocks ♪

♪ they bust shots
either k*ll, kid ♪

♪ so yo, we need to
face the fact, black ♪

♪ once a fellow
blows from the ghetto ♪

♪ see there's no turning back ♪

♪ my mom Dukes needs she
need some loot I can't seed it ♪

♪ that's why I do my thing
here so I can be there ♪

♪ I'm on this Lane and
I'm talking from the slum ♪

♪ the cheeks is from the slum
from the slum, here I come ♪

♪ aiyo, I thought
I'd give it to ya ♪

♪ peoples try holdin' fam back
because they felt we couldn't do it ♪

♪ aiyo, I live out
in the gutter ♪

♪ now you see how long it
takes for cheeks to make butter ♪

♪ coming straight
from the ghetto ♪

♪ yo I come from the ghetto

♪ I live for the ghetto

♪ I even cry for the ghetto

♪ aiyo, I might have a
verse for the ghetto ♪

♪ that means I might
have to die for the ghetto ♪

♪ yo I come from the ghetto

♪ I live for the ghetto

♪ I even cry for the ghetto

♪ aiyo, I might have a
verse for the ghetto ♪

[Car alarm chirps] ♪ that means I
might have to die for the ghetto ♪

♪ the rough times will
remain in my brain ♪

♪ I make it hard to maintain
tearing clowns out the frame ♪

♪ I been away for mad
peoples thought I fell ♪

♪ but I just came back
from my visit in hell ♪

[Car alarm blaring]

♪ And other foul things
that never mattered ♪

♪ he said it's time
to get ya props ♪

♪ but still watch ya
back from jealous fellas ♪

♪ and them crooked type cops

♪ so yo I did what he got
it police never reported ♪

♪ the day they found my
little man Shawn snorted ♪

♪ with selling drugs, busting
shots, how local th*gs ♪

♪ money we divided now they
works under works from the ghetto ♪

[Indistinct police
radio chatter]

♪ I even cry for the ghetto

pretty cool.

♪ That means I might
have to die for the ghetto ♪

[Tires screeching]

[Suspenseful theme playing]

[Siren wailing]

[Truck horn honking]

[Theme music playing]

Croupier: Here we go,
coming out, coming out.

[Lively chattering]

Croupier: Place your
bets. Place your bets.

Come on.

Place your bets...

[Indistinct chatter]

[Pager beeping]

Croupier: Keep 'em coming out.

Place your bets.

Place your bets. No more bets.

No more bets. New sh**ter!

New sh**ter, ladies
and gentlemen!

Roll 'em out!

Seven!

[Indistinct chatter]

Croupier: You got to
sh**t it with rhythm.

Seven!

The man's on a roll!

Here we go...

Croupier: Seven!

- What's your problem?
- You are so lucky,

we have someplace
to be right now,

because if we didn't
I'd be all over your butt,

and when I beep
you, you book, okay?

And I'm not talking
about in a half of an hour.

Look, I just made
seven passes in a row.

You're buggin' if you
think I'm gonna leave

- a winning streak like that.
- I don't care

if you're breaking
the bank, man.

I beep you, you book, period.

This better be good,
that's all I'm saying.

'Cause I was eyeballin'
Archie Hamilton,

setting up a deal,
I could of had him!

Are you threatening
me? You threatening me?

'Cause I'll light your
little narrow a*s up.

You'll light me
up? Light this up.

[Indistinct chatter]

- Excuse me, doc.
- Hirsch: Yeah.

Detective Williams.

This is my partner,
detective torres.

You're cops?

- I'm Dr. Hirsch.
- Where's the fire?

My car was stolen.

- Excuse me?
- Hirsch: I went outside

to sit in it, it was gone.

Thank you, nurse.

'94 Jaguar xjs.

According to this, it
was stolen at 5:00, doc.

- It is now 11:00.
- So?

So all that's left of
your car is the name.

- It's parts, baby.
- Now, why would anybody do that?

- It's brand new.
- For the same reason

you went to medical
school, for the money.

Your car sells
for 70 g's, right?

- Yes.
- On the street,

the parts are worth a
hundred and a quarter.

Listen, call your insurance man.

Look, I got to go. Find my car.

"Find my car."

That guy's trippin'.

- [Man grunting]
- [Phone ringing]

Woman: Harlem youth center,
Mr. Brooks' office.[Thumping]

See how many dope rides
we brought in this week?

See, that's what you
get from me and Mark.

You been saving that
paper you been getting?

Scooter: Yeah, we even opened
up bank accounts like you told us.

When you're ready to invest,

you let me know.

Thanks, d.

- Donald: Any problems?
- Nah, no problems.

You ain't say nothing
about the police, man.

Yo, I ain't doing
no year in spofford.

Nobody's talking about spofford.

I came down for some karate.

Man, them dudes are chumps.

Don't you listen to the man?

They paying d 15 a week
when he should be paying them

to do what we do.

Karate don't buy respect.

That's respect.

And if you ain't
with it, you can step.

Yo, hold up.

Cooper: All right,
just out of curiosity,

can either one of
you explain to me

why it's necessary to give
grief to an auto theft victim?

C'mon, coo, some stuck up
doctor bitchin' about his 70k car?

Cooper: It wasn't
one doctor, it's nine

- in the last three weeks.
- We're on a case.

Now you're on this one.

I'm very interested
in this case.

One of the doctors'
brother's is a deputy mayor.

I get a call, so you get a call.

Just like plumbing.

- They think it's g*ng-related.
- This sucks.

We got better open
cases than this.

Look, I'm on the job 18 years

and they give me a
two-hour commute uptown.

You hear my bitching?

You break this case, and
it could make the papers...

A couple of
articles in the post,

and I'm downtown.

So help me out here.

J.c.: It's not g*ng-related,
it's too organized.

All right, so tomorrow,
go to the impound garage,

get a car worth stealing,

park it on the street
and see who bites.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Hey, gramps, what's happening?

What's happening's been
happening without you.

You haven't been
to church in months.

I've been busy.

I brought you something.

Nice pipe.

How many commandments
did you break to buy this?

I bought that with
hard-earned money.

That's the same lie
your daddy told me.

You remember your daddy?

He thought he knew
everything just like you.

I know you're trying
to make me proud,

to show me that you're a man.

Come to Sunday
service in your suit and tie

and ask the lord
for forgiveness.

Why are you sweating me?

I love you, boy...

But I don't want to
see you until then.

Bronski: J.C.

- J.c.: Yo.
- Chantal on line three.

Yo, I'm ghost. Damn it.

What?

He's out of the
office at the moment.

Hey, man, you always
take Chantal's calls.

What's up?

Problems, man.

[Puerto rican accent]
So talk to me, baby.

I'm not talking to
you, you're crazy.

[Normal voice] Yo, look,
ain't no one else in here

gonna listen to you b*tch,
so why don't you just shut up

and tell me what's going on?

Chantal, man...

She wants another
hundred dollars a month

so she can send g to
that woodbridge school.

- That private school?
- Yeah, man.

Filled with all those
old rich white kids.

Hey, it's not about being white,

it's about getting some
smarts, and looking smooth.

Look, I'll teach my
boy to be smooth.

She's just all freaked out.

You know, last
week at the school,

a g*n goes off and it turns out

that a third grader's strapped.

- Anybody get shot?
- No.

I told, her I said, "you
know, running away

from the problem is
not going to solve it."

And besides that, ed,

I really don't have another
hundred dollars a month.

You know what I think?
I think you're just scared

your kid is gonna grow
up smarter than you are.

He's in the third
grade. It's too late.

Yo, yo, yo, let's go
down to impound

- and grab a ride.
- Now?

Yeah, get a jump on business.

[Upbeat music playing]

J.c.: This could take days, man.

Eddie: Yo, nights,
the Porsche is mine.

[Upbeat music playing]

Chantal: Well, your father
better be home this morning.

Hurry up, Gregory.

[Knocks on window door]

How you doing?
Listen, Gregory's taking

the entrance exam at
woodbridge at 8:30, okay?

I can't do it, I've
got E.R., all right?

I made him a sandwich
and everything,

all you got to do,
go to the store,

get him an apple or
something and it's over.

- Thank you.
- [Door closes]

I guess you really
handled it, huh, dad?

Natalie: ♪ good
morning heartache ♪

♪ you're the one who
knew me when... ♪

Nice, but you're still late.

You want your man
to be fly or on time?

Just... [scoffs]


would be standing in the dark.

Natalie: ♪ good
morning heartache ♪

♪ sit down ♪

♪ ooh, ooh ♪

♪ sit down ♪

[Cheers and applause]

Now that was a trip.

That car is right.

[Jazz music playing
over speakers]

So what's up? Am I in or what?

Eddie.

Got some trouble coming.

Excuse me?

Gina, I'll be back.

Okay...

Bartender: Good
evening, Victoria.

[Indistinct chatter]

Victoria's been looking for you,

and I'll bet she's
downstairs right now.

God, she's sweating me crazily.

You'd think I promised
to marry the girl?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Well, I'm glad
you're here, anyway.

Mike's out of rehab.

Yeah, so?

That's all you
got to say is "so"?

What am I supposed to do?

Drop everything and
run to him and say,

"hey, poppy, glad you're out.

"How long you gonna
stay clean this time?

A week? A month?"

Is that what you
want me to do, nat?

It's been six months, Eddie,

and he is clean.

He gigged at the blue
note Thursday night.

- For real?
- Yeah, two sets.

He wasn't the old Mike,
but he was damn close.

He can't do that on junk.

That's his address.

Come on. Come on.

[Dramatic music playing]

[Knocks on door]

Hey, poppy.

[Puerto rican music playing]

[Baby crying in distance]

- Eduardo.
- [Door closes]

Eddie: You look good.

[Chuckles]

Thanks for lying.

So...

I heard you got a badge now?

I guess that means
you ain't stealing cars.

You going to be
different this time?

Don't worry, Eddie, you
won't have to bust me.

Didn't Natalie
tell you anything?

She said you gigged
at the blue note.

Eddie, I found my soul, again.

This is it, listen.

[Saxophone music playing]

J.c.: Lt wants to
know how'd the car

get 600 miles on it in five days

and we ain't catched nobody yet?

What do I say, Holmes?

Lie.

She's got a point.

What point?

The point is, how are
we going to catch anybody

stealing it when you
driving it all the time?

That is a point.

I don't give a damn
about it, but that is a point.

Yo, ed, what's up
with this attitude?

Look, ain't no thing! Forget it.

I get it.

Oh, I get it.

You driving around
in that Porsche

and you still ain't
getting nothing

from that girl, huh?

That's it?

I saw my old man last night.

Is he straight?

He's trying.

Yo, yo, yo. Check 'em out.

[Suspenseful music playing]

[Car alarm wailing]

Damn.

- Get out of the car!
- Damn, five-oh!

[Police siren whirrs]

Freeze! Police
officer, don't sh**t!

I'm lovin' it.

[All talking at once]

- Put your hands on your head.
- Police officer! Don't sh**t!

Officer: Put your
hands over on the car.

- Face front.
- Eddie: It's in my pocket.

- Shut up and face front.
- Go, go, go.

- [Car engine revving]
- [Tires screeching]

- [Police siren wailing]
- [Suspenseful music playing]

They turned there. Yo.

[Sirens stop]

That's cool.

Oh, that's cool.

All right.

Damn, it's jacked.

L.t. Ain't gonna be happy
about this at all, man.

- Where's the merchandise?
- Mark: We didn't get it.

I mean, we got it, but
then it got wrecked.

I mean, the man was everywhere.

I stayed cool, it was
Mark who bugged out.

Is that right, Mark?

Nah, forget you, man.

You bugged just like me.

I couldn't see, the
seat was too low.

I needed that car today.

You cost me a lot of money.

Look, we'll make
it up to you, d.

Yeah, give us another chance.

Okay.

I've got a special order.

I need a Mercedes station wagon.

Mercedes station wagon?

We can't get in those.

Hey, now let me
make it real simple.

I'll put it to you this way.

Now either my
people get in the cars

or they get out of
the business, huh?

[Men grunting with
karate moves nearby]

J.c.: And make the
mouth a little bit wider.

Hmm, try it without the glasses.

- That's him.
- Yo. Print it.

J.c.: Mmm.

[Queen latifah's
"just another day..."]

♪ Like just another
day living in the hood ♪

♪ just another day
around the way ♪

♪ feeling good today

♪ feeling lovely-yay

♪ just another day
living in the hood ♪

♪ just another day
around the way ♪

♪ feeling good today

♪ I hear the [g*nsh*t]
but I'm here to stay ♪

♪ well it's a beautiful
day in the neighborhood ♪

♪ a beautiful day in
the neighborhood ♪

♪ can't go wrong, I feel
strong and the flavor's good ♪

♪ I'm with whateva comes
my way, hip-hop hooray ♪

♪ latifah's on vacation I'm
just plain on day to day ♪

♪ just another day
living in the hood ♪

♪ just another day
around the way ♪

♪ feeling good today

♪ feeling lovely-yay

give to the blind.[Dog barks]

Stay, stupid.

Stay, stay.

Come on, give to the blind.

If it ain't slick Rick
with a walking stick.

What's up, my man?

Hey, Rick, I can't figure
out who looks worse,

you or this little dog here.

Oh, nice. Very nice.

You diss a poor blind man.

Yo Ricky, we need
some information, Ricky-d.

- So call 411.
- Rick, you know this kid?

Oh, yeah, that's
my cousin Ernie.

Very funny. What
do you know about



I heard some kids talking
about this guy over on a 125th.

Drop a name, Rick.

I, uh, wish I could

- help you boys.
- Yo, man, forget this, j.C.

Let's take him in and
his dog 'cause you know...

All right, all right,
all right, all right.

It's Brooks, it's
Brooks. Donald Brooks.

Now can I get back
to work, please?

J.c.: No, you cannot.

- Take the rest of the day off.
- [Coins clatter]

And stay out of trouble.

- [Dog barks]
- [Upbeat music playing]

Give to the blind.

Yo, anybody know
a Donald Brooks?

Aka Brooks donaldson,
Don brookline,

Daniel Williams, Don astor.

Fourteen arrests,
one conviction.

A misdemeanor.

Criminal facilitation three.

- So you know him?
- Up close and personal.

Busted him three times.

Fourteen arrests, old
school. One conviction.

Ooh, come on now,
who's the man's lawyer?

- Perry Mason?
- I'm telling you, he's slick.

[Car horns honking]

Donald: No, no,
it's not black tie.

That'll be the
next one. All right.

Hey, can I help you brothers?

Yeah, we have a
couple questions we think

you might have some answers to.

- You know that guy?
- Yeah, I know him.

But hundreds of kids
come through the center.

I can't say I recall his name.

Take a moment.

He steals cars. We think
he might work for you.

Well, the friends of
opportunity of the youth center

is dedicated to giving the
children of this community

the skills and motivation

to keep them away from
that kind of ill*gal situation.

Look, why don't you
just give it up, all right?

We see through you.

Do you know I've just
been named man of the year

by the chambers
foundation for children?

We're going to be watching you.

Listen, uh, the dinner
is next Thursday.

I'll hold two tickets for you.

Here's my card...

In case you want to get
something off your chest.

Yeah, before we
have to rip it open.

You're more than welcome to try.

I can't stand that man.

Yo, old school's right, money.

He's slick.

Let's go to Natalie's
and talk it over.

No, I'm gonna go
over to Sandy's.

[Chaka Khan's "sweet thing"]

Oh, yeah, Ms.
Water meet Mr. Oil.

Why are you sweating me, man?

No man, she's out
of your league, baby.

She loves me, okay?

Ah, she loves
you like a chia pet.

♪ I will love you anyway

j.c.: Mmm.

Hallelujah, baby.

What are you cooking up in here?

Hey.

Mmm.

Ow.

Why don't you go
take a shower, hmm?

Mmm. Only if you promise
to come in and wash my back.

♪ Don't you hear
me talkin', baby ♪

Thank you.

♪ Ohh, sweet thang

♪ don't ya know
you're my everything ♪

♪ whoa ohh, sweet thang

♪ don't ya know
you're my everything ♪

What's wrong? You're so tense.

It's g and woodbridge, right?

Is it the money?

You know, I'm not taking
any money from you.

That's all Chantal
would have to hear.

What do I have to do?

You grew up with all the
advantages that she didn't.

Yes I did, which
is why I understand

what she wants
to do with her son.

My son, okay. It's my son.

And if I let g go to
that woodbridge school,

he's gonna come home dancing
all off beat and he's gonna...

♪ Oh, sweet thang

♪ don't ya know
you're my everything ♪

♪ yes, you will

[Indistinct chatter]

[Car alarm chirps]

- Give me this bag. Give me this!
- [Woman exclaims]

[Clamoring]

Oh, no! Help, help!

Scooter: Give the
damn bag, lady.

Woman: No, I'm not giving it!

- Scooter: Give me this bag!
- You're getting nothing! Help!

- C'mon, man, let's go.
- Give me the bag!

Mark: Come on, now, man! We've got to go!
-[Groans]

Mark: What's you hit
her so hard for, man?

- You could've k*lled her!
- I didn't mean to, man,

but she wouldn't give
up the damn purse.

[Tires screeching]

[Tires screeching]

[Phone ringing]

Detective torres.

On our way.

Yo, another one, come on.

[Siren wailing]

[Woman groaning]

- Eddie: Yo, Mike, what's up?
- Mike: Hey Eddie, j.C.,

- how's it going?
- What's going on?

Mike: Ah, a couple
of black kids,

they knocked the old lady
down, they grabbed her keys,

take her car, a benz wagon,
and their heading uptown.

- Who's the victim?
- Oh, ah, Mrs. San... santucci...

- Mrs. B. Santucci.
- As in Bruno santucci?

Gambino capo?

Widow of... Mother
of Johnny santucci.

Those kids are dead.

Damn.

[Hip-hop music playing]

J.c.: The prints on the purse

belong to James
"scooter" Braxton.

And the other kid,
the 13-year-old?

Nothing, probably
not in the system yet.

That was the hospital.
Mrs. Santucci's hip's broken.

You know, a little bird
told me you know santucci.

We grew up in the same hood.


I ran with my crew, he
ran with the gambinos.

Well, if the gambinos
are involved,

why don't we let
organized crime handle this

and do ourselves a favor?

Eddie: No, by the
time o.C. Gets to this,

these kids'll be over.

Loo, you know that o.C.,
all they want is the mob.

They won't give a damn about
two little black kids in trouble.

Eddie: It's gotta
be us on the street.

You get this one on emotion,

not merit.

Thank you.

Pa-dow.

The name's John santucci.
Do you know who I am?

Uh-huh. What can I do for you?

Well, two of your
juvenile delinquents

assaulted my mother
yesterday and stole her car.

They broke her hip.

She's in the hospital
in a lot of pain.

Mr. Santucci, I don't know
what you're talking about.

[Chuckles]

You've been boosting cars
around St. Matthews hospital.

My mother lives four
blocks from there.

You think I'm not going
to know about you?

You don't earn one dime
we don't let you earn,

do you understand me?

- I'm not deaf.
- Good.

Because if you want to live,

you're gonna tell me
what I want to know.

They took a gray
Mercedes station wagon.

I don't know nothing
about that car.

Wrong answer.

Listen, I will k*ll you
as soon as look at you.

Now I want those names.

Now.

Do you mind if I get my pen?

Very good. That's nice.

And the car?

It'll be parked in front of
your door in the morning.

Thank you.

[Tense music playing]

My uncle says you want a favor.

Since you got a badge
now, I guess it's cash.

Wrong.

Suppose I say I
don't know who that is.

Look, I've got a soft spot
for kids who remind me of me.

And when I've got to
put a toe tag on them,

I take it personally.

Are you threatening me?

All I'm saying is,

you got any ideas about
them kids, forget 'em.

They'll go to spofford,

and your mother
will get justice.

I'm guessing it's
not about justice.

I'm guessing it's about respect.

Remember us at that age?
The problem's not the kids,

it's who's teaching
them to boost cars.

Then talk to him, not me.

Eddie: We out.

What?

[R&b music playing]

J.c.: Hey g, how many
dogs do you want?

I want two.

Hey, dad, ain't we
going to the movies?

No, it just stopped snowing.

We're gonna hang out and
spend some time together.

Hey, um, did you find
out about that test?

I probably flunked.

And why do you say that?

Dad, it was hard.

There were a lot of
things I didn't know.

Rich people have it fixed.

We ain't never gonna
catch up with them.

What kind of nonsense
are you talking?

I don't want to
go to that school.

They aren't turning me,
Gregory Williams, into no sissy.

Nobody's gonna turn
you into a sissy, son.

You know, you're street
smart, and that's me.

[Lost boyz' "straight
from da ghetto"]

♪ Aiyo, I come from the ghetto ♪

♪ I live for the ghetto

♪ I even cry for the ghetto

♪ aiyo, I might have a
verse for the ghetto ♪

♪ that means I might
have to die for the ghetto ♪

♪ I seen the demon and we
chatted about this and that ♪

♪ and other foul things
that never mattered ♪

♪ he said it's time
to get ya props ♪

♪ but still watch ya
back from jealous fellas ♪

♪ and them crooked type cops

♪ so yo I did what he got
it police never reported ♪

♪ the day they found my
little man Shawn snorted ♪

[Police radio chatter]

- What's up?
- Excuse me.

Damn! How long, man?

Estevez: Two,
three hours. No rigor.

Multiple contusions on
the face, arms, and back.

He was worked over pretty good.

It was that b*stard
santucci, man.

J.c.: Yeah.

J.c.: Anybody know
scooter Braxton?

Eddie: Yo, anybody?

What about his little
homeboy that he runs with?

Oh, you're gonna
act like suckers, right?

Yo man, we out. Come on.

[Man speaking Japanese]

[Kids speaking Japanese]

J.c.: We're on our way to
scooter Braxton's funeral.

And you know that you k*lled him

just as much as if you were
to pull the trigger yourself.

So you still think I had
him steal some cars?

Where's your evidence?
You got a witness?

'Till you do? There's the door.

J.c.: When you're on
that long ride to attica...

Oh, and it's long...

I'm gonna call some
folks that I know

that's waiting on
a girl, just like you

and that's after I
rearrange your face.

[Indistinct chatter]

- Excuse me.
- Yeah? What do you want?

- We need to talk to your son.
- Reverend Braxton says

scooter and Mark
were best friends.

- I don't know where he is.
- Tell us the truth,

otherwise Mark's gonna
end up joining scooter,

you hear what I'm saying?

Look, sister, you really need
to tell us where your son is.

- Woman: Here you go, sir.
- Man: Thank you. Thank you.

- Wake up.
- You remember us?

You almost got us shot
the last time we saw you.

- I didn't do nothing.
- Let's go, come on.

- Come on, let's go.
- Eddie: We're jamming.

Mark: I don't want to do this.

Eddie: It isn't a
choice kind of thing.

Woman [over P.A.]:
Doctor Ford to obstetrics.

- Doctor Ford to obstetrics.
- Whoa.

What the hell do you want?

Eddie: You've got some
stones coming in here.

- The kid's dead, Johnny.
- Johnny: So what?

I got nothing to do with that,
now get the hell outta here.

Well, who are they?
What's going on here?

- It's nobody, ma.
- Mrs. Santucci, no disrespect.

I'm detective torres,
this is my partner,

j.c., and this is Mark,

one of the boys
who took your car.

He's got something he
wants to get off his chest.

I'll talk to him... Alone.

Ma, you don't know
what you're talking about.

- Please, please.
- All right, just remember,

because of him you
might have to use a cane

the rest of your life.

Mrs. Santucci:
Come on over here.

Sit down.

What is it you want
to get off your chest?

I didn't mean to hurt
you. I yelled at scooter,

I said, "what'd you
hit her so hard for?"

That was scooter that hit me?

Scooter said stealing
cars was one way

to get bread without
hurting nobody.

He was wrong.

He was my best friend
and now he's dead.

Dead?

What happened to him?

He got k*lled.

By who?

Johnny. Johnny.

Oh, Johnny.

This has gone too
far. It's over, now.

Johnny: Ma, I swear to you,
I had nothing to do with that.

- You got my word here.
- Mrs. Santucci: Okay. Okay.

I don't interfere
in your business,

but this is mine.

You're not doing it?
Fine, then take care of it.

This family don't k*ll children.

Do you understand
me, Johnny, huh?

Yeah, yeah, I understand, ma.

Sandy, what's up? You beeped me,

so I know it an emergency.

G what?

Did Gregory...?

No, no, no, no, no.

When he runs away
from home he's Gregory.

Look, I-I-I appreciate
what you're doing.

No, as soon as I can.

- You guys have enough, yet?
- Thomas: No, we don't.

What we've got is the
word of a 14-year-old

against Donald Brooks,

a highly respected
man in the community.

It's very interesting, but
all accomplice testimony,

it's worthless without other
witnesses or hard evidence.

What do you mean
"worthless"? I stole his car.

- What?
- Mark: Me and scooter

boosted that black s500
Mercedes that he drives.

- Thomas: Are you sure?
- Mark: Sure I'm sure.

And we know exactly where
he's gonna be for dinner.

- Yo, it's tonight?
- J.C.: Mm-hmm.

Thomas: Get your warrant. And
don't come back without that car.

[Suspenseful music playing]

[Crowd applauding]

Donald: Now up from
our roots is a beautiful tree.

Down through our
roots is our history.

The roots of a
community is its children.

And the greatest honor
is the love and respect

that I've received
from your children.

[Crowd murmuring]

I would like to take
this time, if I might,

to tell those of you
who may not know

about the programs
at my youth center.

Can I finish my speech?

No.

Let's go.

Oh, yeah, please resist.

Please.

[Crowd gasps]

Ladies and gentlemen, it
looks like you're gonna need

to find a new man of the year,

'cause this one ain't gonna
be around for the next 25.

[Crowd clamoring]

- So how do you plead?
- Excuse me?

To charges of false arrest.

Harassment. Slander.
Defamation of character.

Libel with malicious intent. Do
you want me to keep on going?

You know, your two
th*gs with badges

should start puckering up,

because I'm going
to light them up.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Boilerplate.

- You got anything substantive?
- Lasker: Look, for these charges

I should billing my
client by the minute.

Your witness, Mark Hopkins,

said that he saw scooter Braxton
get into a black Mercedes...

Can't be too many of those
kind of cars in New York.

- Mark says he saw your client.
- Oh, come on.

The lights, the
glare, the traffic.

It'll never hold up in
court, and I'm telling you,

you put that


on the stand and
I will rip him apart.

Eddie: We found 40
gs worth of hot car parts

in your clients garage
on 145th and Amsterdam.

Lasker: Oh, you may
have found stolen car parts,

but not in my client's garage

because he doesn't
own it, he rents it.

Therefore, if you haven't
seen him receiving the goods...

Now, did your
witness see my client

m*rder scooter Braxton?

All right, look, this
charade is over.

All they've got
is uncorroborated

accomplice testimony,
which will never be admitted.

- Goodbye.
- Thomas: Ah, ah.

Does your client own a
black s500 Mercedes?

Yeah, so?

Our witness says
he stole that car.

That's corroborative
as hell, sit down.

My client has just informed me

that he has a sales
receipt for that car

and a first lien.

Nice try, Anita.

He's right.

Lasker: Well,
we'll be seeing you.

Ah, come on. Arraign him,

at least... at least give
us a 24 hours to hold him.

Eddie: J.C., don't
worry about it.

Don't sweat it. Let him go.

- Thank you.
- Go ahead, take a walk.

- Sandra: J.C.
- Where is that boy?

Don't punish him
for coming here.

I'm not going to punish him.

I'm just gonna
whup that little butt.

There he is.

- J.c.
- What?

He was accepted at woodbridge.

[Sighs]

His mother says he has to go,

but he says he ain't going
unless you want him to go.

That boy said that?

Why don't you want
him to go to that school?

Look, I want... i want him to
have what I never had, okay?

But I don't want nobody
changing that boy,

and I still want
him to be like me.

Well, his head's as hard
as a rock, just like yours.

He worships you. That's
never going to change.

You know, I think you
could take g to school,

on mondays, your day off,

and Fridays when
you usually go in late.

And where am I gonna find
another hundred dollars a month?

Cancel the cable I made you get.

We'll eat out less.

Hmm.

And I think I would be
a nice gesture for you

to send Chantal some flowers

for the hard time you gave her.

Those first two were cool,
but that last one, I think,

I have to think about it.

[Hip-hop music playing]

Man: My brother. My brother.

Are you, Don...
Ah, Donald Brooks?

- Donald: Yeah.
- Ah, John santucci...

- Donald: Uh-huh?
- Man: He said goodbye.

- [g*nsh*t]
- [Woman screams]

[Police radio chatter]

- J.c.: Santucci?
- Eddie: The lights, the glare,

the traffic, it would
never hold up in court.

Pa-dow.

[Indistinct chatter]

Hey, mom, you
don't want me in...

Gregory, you get
ready to go to school.

J, I was worried sick.

How you gonna leave me
one message on the machine

and keep him out all night?

Look, Chantal, I
apologize, okay?

This is what I'm gonna do,
I'm gonna cut out my cable,

and I'm gonna stop
eating out all the time,

and that's a hundred
dollars for you.

And on mondays and on Fridays,

I'm gonna drive him to school.

You always come
through for Gregory.

J.c.: And I always will.
You know me, baby,

I'm like money that way.

Also, um,

I just wanted to say thank you.

Thank you for everything
that you do for g, you know,

I really appreciate it.

J, I hope you did not
tell her my business.

I'm gonna go
talk to g. All right?

Hey, what's
happening, little man?

Pretty great.

Listen a minute.

You know, being street
smart, being down,

all that's good stuff for now,

but brother you've got
to be smart everywhere.

And, uh, that's why I want
you to go to this school.

I think that, I think it'll
be a good thing, okay?

Okay.

You can go as far as you want.

Remember this.

No matter how far you go,

don't forget where
you come from.

And most importantly,

don't forget me.

I won't.

Who's this?

This a young man

whose old man
wasn't there for him.

So that'll never be me.

Nope, that'll never happen.

I love you, dad.

I love you, too.

[Dramatic music playing]

♪ Good morning heartache ♪

♪ you're all blue inside ♪

♪ good morning heartache ♪

♪ I thought we said goodbye ♪

♪ last night ♪

♪ I tossed and turned until ♪

♪ it seemed you had gone ♪

♪ but here you are ♪

♪ with the dawn ♪

[Wolf howls]