02x09 - What a Man Can Be

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Hand of God". Aired: August 2014 to March 2017.*
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"Hand of God" follows a corrupt judge who suffers a breakdown and believes God is compelling him onto a path of vigilante justice.
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02x09 - What a Man Can Be

Post by bunniefuu »

You know we'll never be able
to prove he was m*rder*d.

Maybe not.

I'm not sure I even care.

I probably should, but...

it's almost enough to know that he...

He didn't give up on us.

Jocelyn needs to know that.

[sighs]

♪♪

Man: Yes, come on.

Stop. To the right, to
the right, to the right.

Come on, everybody go out to the
side, all right, let's go, come on.

One more time, one more time.

[cheering, whooping]

Here we go right one more time. Okay?

Here we go, here we go.

Be right back.

Sorry for the intrusion, sergeant.

I promise this won't take long.

Not today, Judge. Not any day.

Daughter's birthday, huh?

- Congratulations.
- We are done with each other.

Sergeant, look, I hear ya.

You got every right to be angry.

But you gotta help me find Alcala.

I helped you before and
you tried k*lling him.

After you gave me your word.

That was unfortunate.

Have a good day, Judge.

If you don't do it for me,
do it for Alcala's kids.

What the f*ck you say?

He's got two boys. Great kids.

Smart. Happy.

This is his oldest going
to school just this morning.

You gotta help me find Alcala,

otherwise, I got no choice.

I can't go to prison.

I'll get what you want.

Oh, and, uh...

Please apologize to Mrs.
Kessler for the intrusion.

You get the f*ck away from my house.

[laughter]

Boy: Look, Dad, look.

Yes!

There you go, PJ.

Boy: Hold on. I can do this.

Right, Dad?

[cheering]

[screaming]

Boy: Get some, Dad, get some.

I said get outta here. Now!

Everything's fine.

I'm leaving.

♪♪ [Fantastic Negrito's "An Honest Man"]

[blues vocalization]

♪ Now I'm in love again ♪

♪ No, this time it's not ♪

♪ With my hand ♪

♪ Wandering, murdering ♪

♪ Every time that I get ♪

♪ The chance ♪

♪ I'm a human ♪

♪ But remember first ♪

♪ I'm a man ♪

♪ These streets ♪

♪ Got me wandering ♪

♪ Looking for my fix again ♪

♪ I should've prayed ♪

♪ The night before ♪

♪ Now I'm losing ♪

♪ Everything I have ♪

♪ Yesterday it felt so good ♪

♪ But now today ♪

♪ It feels so bad ♪

♪♪

So, your phone does work.

I'm not gonna tell you where she is.

- I need to talk to her.
- Call her.

She's like you. She doesn't answer.

She needs space.

From me?

Not just you.

Look, you're trying to be a good friend.

I get that.

Why don't you be a good
mother-in-law and let her be?

Let me ask you a question.
Since you're her friend.

What do you think she needs more,

space... or closure?

[groans]

[sighs]

Oh, God. [groans]

[sighs]

[pills rattling]

Ahh.

Dad.

Hey, you should probably
have another cup,

I can still smell the single malt.

[chuckles]

Look, I'm... I'm not hungry.

I got biscuits, sausage and a waffle.

Are you trying to k*ll me?

'Cause you're, like,
number th in the will.

- [laughing]
- The most you're looking at getting

is, uh, some old sneaks. Maybe a hoodie.

Eh, whatever. Look,
I got wheatgrass, too.

It's good for the blood pressure.

You know why black people
don't drink that sh*t, right?

Why?

Because we suffered enough.

[chuckles]

How's the endorsement list coming?

I need everybody in before
we, uh, make the announcement.

I'm marking them off.

Goldstein even asked if he can co-chair

the re-elect Robert
Boston finance committee.

See? [laughing]

That's building a bridge.

A long, skinny Jewish bridge.

I didn't see Pernell's name on the list.

No, you didn't.

Okay, so, where's the
campaign money coming from now?

- Brooks hasn't endorsed yet.
- Yeah, he will.

Dad, you know his money
doesn't come free, either.

Nobody's does.

Just about setting the price.

It's perfect.

And the way the market is right now,

you're gonna do very well, Tessie.

Great.

Now, let's talk timeframe.
Have another place in escrow.

I don't want to carry both
mortgages any longer than I have to.

Are you kidding? I'm
gonna have multiple offers

before the first open house.

Perfect.

- Hey. Hey, hey.
- Hey.

You're not bringing this in here.

Oh, uh, where would you like
it? I got more in the truck.

Shay, why don't you go take
some pictures of the backyard.

Okay.

Um...

How you been?

What the hell is this?

Judge Harris thought you
might need some things,

it's for the baby.

- Here.
- You are taking all this sh*t back.

- Now.
- I can't do that.

You're gonna need these things.

Baby's gonna need these things.

I don't want anything from Pernell.

That includes you.

Go.

[barking]

Get it, Moonlight,
get it, get it, get it.

Good boy. Good boy, bring it here.

Bring it here.

Out, out, out, out.

Out.

Okay. [laughs]

- Ready? Ready?
- [barking]

You ready?

Are you ready?

Go get it.

Ohh.

Good boy, get it.

[chuckles] Get it, come here.

Bring it here.

Yeah.

[panting]

[knocking]

Did you find Alcala?

No. He's nowhere.

Nobody knows where
they have him stashed.

Bullshit. You're lying.

f*ck you, I don't lie.

I called in all my favors.

Chief put him down real tight.

Hey, look at me.

If you mess with that family,

- I swear to God, I will find...
- Scott.

Listen. I thought
maybe you were the guy.

Maybe take a hose to the
department and clean it out.

But you threatened that
man's family, his kids.

Scott, relax. I'd never do that.

It was just some kids at
school I took pictures of.

I gotta find Alcala,
man. It's all I got.

Yeah? Well, you got nothing.

You hear that? Nothing.

You're not wearing
that to voir dire today.

What?

No. No. No.

Pernell.

Pernell.

I need your head in the game today.

We... We need a fair jury.

Which would be a miracle.
You need to go home,

and change into the "I am so
f*ckin' innocent" shirt and tie combo

the jury consultant sent over.

You think maybe we
could persuade the judge

to postpone this thing
for a couple of days?

Why? Somebody die?

You plannin' on bein' in the ICU?

I need a reason to give her.

I-I... I just... I just
got somethin' I gotta do.

Oh. What?

I want to hear this.

I want to hear what you're choosing

over making a good first impression

on the people that will
be deciding your fate.

I really want to know what trumps that.

[sighs]

Boy: Look, Daddy, look.

PJ.

What do you got there, kid?

Excuse me?

What are you lookin' at?

Pernell, I don't have time for this.

I love Mommy and Daddy.

I made it for you.

- You like it?
- I love it.

What? Love what?

- I gotta go.
- No, wait, wait.

- Okay.
- PJ.

Wait. PJ!

All right, I'm gonna
make this easy, Pernell.

Be at voir dire ready to
be sympathetic at : ,

or find a new lawyer.

Nick. Nick, come on.

[sighs]

Do you know why I took this case?

Because Crystal asked me to.

And I said yes.

Because I don't want
to owe you anything...

when I take her from you.

Hey.

Did you get the gifts?

Stop calling me, and stop
sending things for my son.

Our son.

No. This child is gonna
have a normal life.

Without a father.

I didn't say that.

What does that mean?

The best chance this
kid can have is with me,

and the stable home I am making for him.

You need to step back
and let me do this my way.

Understood?

How'd you get pregnant, Tessie?

Huh?

Get out of my way.

Woman in your profession,
as smart as you are,

doesn't make a mistake like this.

You ever read the warning label?

No contraception is
percent effective.

But you kept it.

Why?

Because it's a miracle, and you know it.

No.

I saw a way to make some money.

My wealthiest customer
was losing his mind,

and I figured I could take
care of myself for good.

It wasn't a miracle, it was math.

So, why didn't you tell me
if you were just cashin' in?

Why did you hide it from me?

I said it started that way.

It's not like that now.

Now, move.

Tessie.

If this turns into a w*r,

you're gonna lose. You gotta know that.

Is that so?

I never heard of anybody winning
a custody battle from prison.

[engine starts]

[engine revving]

Man: All rise.

The Honorable Judge Stanton presiding.

Be seated.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

You are all being considered as jurors

in the state of California's case

against Pernell Harris,

who is being charged with m*rder.

Counselors, are we ready
to proceed with voir dire?

Men: Yes, your honor.

You may question your
first juror, Mr. Tramble.

Thank you, your honor.

Good morning, ma'am.

[exhales]

Are you familiar with Pernell Harris?

I saw him on the Lavey Show.

And did you form an
opinion of Mr. Harris

when you were watching that show?

To me, it's pretty obvious.

He's guilty.

I'm sorry, and what makes
you think he's r*cist?

My son's a freshman at Eli Harris High.

The school has a graduation
rate of just percent,

but that doesn't matter to Judge Harris.

He's more interested in protecting
the name of the damn school

than helping the students.

I don't trust him. He just says

anything he can to distract us.

I've got a daughter like that.

I don't see her anymore.

Woman : I don't like how
he called the cops dirty.

Man : Rich people think they
can do whatever they want.

Man : I am open-minded,
but DNA doesn't lie.

Nick: Are you or any
of your family members

in the law enforcement profession?

Lawyer: Do you consider
yourself religious?

Nick: How would you
define reasonable doubt?

You've heard me ask this
question a few times today.

Have you met or do you have
an opinion of Mr. Harris?

Yeah, I know him.

He sentenced my son to
eight years for weed.

And he didn't even k*ll
a cop like the judge did.

What kind of sh*t is that?

Lawyer: How do you feel
about the death penalty?

Woman : I don't have a
problem with the death penalty.

It just depends on the crime.

Mr. Harris has damned
himself for an eternity.

Man : Some people deserve to die.

PJ: There he is. Have a seat.

I'm glad you could make it, Dad.

Can I start you guys
off with some drinks?

What would you like?

Uh, two single malts.

Since when do you drink scotch?

Ever since I was and I started
stealing it from your cabinet.

Huh.

The way you drink, you never noticed.

Look, Dad.

Look.

This is something I've been working on.

"Bathwater."

I need grand to
get things started up.

I know it's a lot of money,

but I... I thought that, uh...

You don't need grand.

[scoffs] I knew you wouldn't understand.

I don't know why I thought
this would be any different.

You need at least grand.

To get capitalized.

I tell you what.

I'll give you thou, just to be safe.

You will?

Yeah, I will.

You can do anything, kid. Anything.

I believe in you.

Wish you'd said that
the first time around

instead of telling me to get a real job.

Yeah, that sucked.

Probably wouldn't have cheated
on Jocelyn if you believed in me.

Which means she
wouldn't have been r*ped.

And my best friend would still be alive.

And Shane Caldwell.

And me.

Don't say that.

Don't say that!

Don't say that!

Don't say that!

Pernell. Man, what are you doing?

What?

You have to at least act
like you're paying attention.

What are you writing? Is that
supposed to mean something?

_

I have to go.

[sighs]

Here you go.

Yeah, thank you.

Good morning to you.

That work?

Mr. Mayor.

Always good to see you.

That's the, uh... what, the
Alexander Graham Bell trick, right?

Trying to brainstorm on the edge

between a wink and a sleep?

Hypnagogia.

- Yeah.
- Yes, it works.

At least, for me.

Coffee?

Single plantation Kenyan.

Sure. Nice to see something else

from Africa in this building.

Try the chair.

It's engineered to stimulate
thought and creativity.

Nah, yeah. No, I'm more
of a think the shower type.

This morning I was in the
shower thinkin' about you.

- Did you have an epiphany?
- I did.

We need to formalize what we've
been talking about, you and me.

And I believe we're on the same page

regarding the future of this city.

But you haven't committed
to, uh, endorsing me

for re-election yet.

I'm not going to.

Excuse me, the last time
we spoke we were all kumbaya

talkin' African bees
taking over the hive.

Chaos and a new power
structure, you and me.

We were?

Then I learned about the subpoena.

You're dirty laundry is about
to be aired in a major trial,

diminishing your contribution
to the new power structure,

and, unfortunately, eliminating
my contribution to you.

What if there's no trial?

Then we'd have a lot to talk about.

Yeah, I'll just see myself out.

[waves crashing]

Thank you for coming
out here to tell me.

It's not something I'd
want to hear over the phone.

We don't know who k*lled him.

There's something else.

If PJ was k*lled,

that means his...

su1c1de note...

wasn't a su1c1de note.

This is why you came here.

I... I don't... I don't want to...

- I don't want to read this, I...
- Jocelyn.

- No.
- He wrote it for you.

He's trying to tell you something.

- Just read it.
- If I do that,

then it all comes
back. Do you understand?

And it hurts just as
much on the way back up

as it did going down.

He was ready to move on, all right?

- A new love and a new life...
- No.

I just want to do the same thing.

No, he wasn't gonna do that to you.

- No, he loved you.
- Oh, please.

He might have lost his way, but...

He loved you.

PJ's Voice: Please.

Please, Ann, stop calling.

[sniffling]

Jocelyn and I...

we're trying to have a baby.

[sobbing] No, I can't.

I can't.

[sobbing]

What did you find out?

[scoffs] How about a "How are you?"

"I know this has been
tough on you as well."

Seriously?

That's what you want, seriously?

No, you idiot. I want you to b*at this

so we get back to work.

If I watch any more Fox TV,

I'm gonna sh**t myself in the face.

My guy in records
confirmed that - -Q- - - -

is a motorcycle license plate.

I knew it.

For a dead guy.

sh*t!

Now, just slow down.
That actually helped,

because I had time to
dig a little deeper,

and I found out that dead guy

is renting a trailer over in Alameda.


That's gotta be where
they're holding Alcala.

Did you get an address?

Jocelyn: I don't see
anything I haven't seen

a hundred times before.

Crystal: There's something
there, there's gotta be.

Jocelyn: Maybe not.

Crystal: He wrote poetry

while somebody held a g*n to his head.

He could have written "I'm
sorry, I love you, goodbye,"

but he didn't.

PJ wrote a lot of poetry.

It's one more thing you
didn't know about him.

Come on, Moonlight, let's go.

I know that he wouldn't want
"Bathwater" lost forever,

and I know that he wrote code,

so I think he's trying
to tell us where it is,

or maybe who k*lled
him or, I don't know,

something else.

Thought I left all this behind me.

It'll still be waiting for you

when you get back to San Vicente.

I'm not going back to
San Vicente, Crystal.

I already put the house up,

and looked at some places in Portland.

I like it up there, there's nice people,

and no memories.

Let's go. Come on. Let's go.

Your honor,

given the bias of this jury pool,

I'd like to ask for additional...

I think we're done, Mr. Tramble.

You're out of challenges.

If all the jurors currently seated

would remain in their seats.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

I instruct you to not
discuss this case with anyone.

This is a big case.

Maybe the biggest in
San Vicente's history.

I instruct you to not form an opinion

until all of the evidence
has been presented.

Now, we will begin in two days.

I suggest you all get some rest,

visit with family,

and prepare yourselves.

[gavel bangs]

Good luck, counselor.

You think your, uh, client will
bother to show up for the trial?

Really think it would make a difference?

Oh, how about a hug?

f*ck you.

. Over there.

Excuse me.

You know the guy who lives in ?

Ray? Not really.

He keeps to himself pretty much.

- Is he home?
- Nope.

This Ray, has he, uh, got a
beard, kind of a stocky guy?

Ray's got a beard. I
don't know about stocky.

Thank you.

Easy, easy.

Here we go. Come on.

Why don't you let me go in there first?

Make sure that kid's right.

Eh. We can wait for Alcala here, right?

This is the guy.

What guy?

The guy who was talkin' to
Chief Clay in the warehouse.

The one who cut me.

What's Alcala got to do with this guy?

Holy sh*t.

What?

This isn't about Alcala at all.

What?

That license plate
was given to me by PJ.

He's the one that sent us here.

- For what?
- For the video.

The one Heather Caldwell
was tellin' me about.

Didn't you say he said he had it?

Yeah. sh*t.

Let's go. Move that f*ckin' pen.

Move that f*ckin' pen!

- Let's go.
- Come on, buddy!

- Shane, grab his arm.
- Move it. Hurry up.

Start your writing,
son. Come on. Come on.

Don't fight us. Don't fight us!

- f*ck you!
- Don't f*ckin' fight us!

- f*ck you!
- This doesn't go right,

we'll bring your wife here, we'll
sh**t her right in front of you.

You don't f*ckin' touch her.

We will f*ckin' sh**t
her in front of you.

Get up. Get up.

You stay away from her.

- Either way, it's gonna happen.
- Sit the f*ck down.

You're not gonna f*ckin' hurt her.

Give him the g*n.

Give him the g*n. Do it.

[panting]

Come on. Do it. Now!

[panting] I'm sorry, Jocelyn.

I love you.

[breathing heavily]

[g*nsh*t]

Oh, sh... sh*t! Oh, sh*t!

Come on. Get back in here.

- Settle the f*ck down.
- sh*t, there's a lot of blood.

Put his g*n hand by his head.

- Come on, get this right.
- Hey!

Watch where you're steppin', man.

We already have enough to clean up.

- Okay, listen, listen.
- Shh. No. It's too perfect.

Okay, uh, pull him down.

Twist his body.

And bend him forward a little.

Put that g*n hand up by his head.

- All right.
- How's that?

It's good.

Let's get the f*ck out of here.

Judge Harris!

Boss! Boss.

[groans]

We gotta go.

Let me finish this.

Come on. We're in a hurry.

Get in the car.

[retching]

Dad, you okay?

Yeah.

Same old sh*t every election.

I got Brooks onboard, though.

I hope that's a good thing.

- [exhales]
- At least with Pernell,

we knew what we were getting into.

What?

You backin' Pernell up now?

I'm not backin' him, he's just...

The rich devil you know, I guess.

Pernell had baggage, he always did.

Hell, Pernell was baggage.

Brooks is just money.

He's a fire hydrant full of money.

- Look, I know what I'm doing.
- I know you do, Dad,

but it takes more than money

to open the doors Pernell opened.

m*therf*cker, can you
give a man his due?

Huh? You know how
much I did without him?

You think he had his hand up
my ass making this city work?

Dad, I'm not sayin' that.

What are you sayin'? What
are you sayin', boy?

You sayin' I can't sit in this chair

without some assh*le
pulling it out for me?

- No.
- That's my chair!

I'm making choices no one wants to make

every single day. Is that enough...

Dad. Dad!

- Dad!
- [groaning]

Get my pill.

My pill.

f*ck!

Mr. Mayor.

Open your mouth, open your mouth.

You're all right, Dad.
You're all right. Okay.

- [groans]
- Okay. Just breathe.

I'm okay.

That never would have happened,
Tessie, if you called me first.

You're supposed to consult me

before any large purchases.

I will consult with you
whenever I damn well please.

This is my money we are dealing with.

You work for me.

Now, explain to me why
my escrow check bounced?

Your money's tied up, long term stuff.

You didn't tell me to
plan for early retirement.

Well, now you know the plan.

Where is my money?

Exactly.

A lot of it's gone.

What do you mean, gone? Gone where?

The stock market has been
doing fine. Bonds, too.

I thought we had more time,

so I took some chances
that didn't work out.

- You...
- They might. Eventually.

[sighs] I told you to
put it into boring sh*t.

My job was exciting enough,

I didn't need big returns,
I needed steady returns.

Let me be straight with you, Tessie.

Well, it's about damn time.

I figured there was no down side.

Either we make a sh*t load of money,

you're happy and I'm
driving something Italian.

Or it goes south, and
since you're just a whore,

who are you gonna complain to?

You made your money on your back,

and there's no IRS line item for that.

That money doesn't exist.

Not as far as the law is concerned.

[grunting]

Jesus.

I'm calling the cops.

What are you gonna do, press charges?

You're a whore's accountant.

You don't exist

as far as the law is
concerned, m*therf*cker.

Get out of my damn house!

[panting]

sh*t!

[waves crashing]

[sighs]

[open door ringing]

It's empty.

Relax, Keith.

Toby didn't pick this place to k*ll me.

Then why meet here?

I call the meeting, he picks the spot.

Here he comes.

- What do you want?
- Let's go inside.

He's not armed. You leave your g*n.

Is he serious?

He's got trust issues.

What's this?

A video.

You k*lling my son.

Found it. Ray Kelly's trailer.

What do you want?

I want you to make sure that
my m*rder trial goes away.

You're feelin' pretty good right now.

I'm feelin' like I want to
hurt you really bad right now.

But I'll settle for this.

I got a surprise for you, too.

Pernell: Whatever you
want to know, just ask.


Bobo: Tell me what
happened to Shane Caldwell.


- Pernell: Come on, Bobo.
- Bobo: You said anything.


Pernell: [sighs]

Caldwell was dirty.

He r*ped Jocelyn.

I did what had to be done.

Bobo, wait.

Just wait. Hear me out.

I didn't k*ll him.

But I ordered it done.

Instead of watching him go free,

and I wasn't gonna do that.

Did he know?

Who? Your BFF? Of course.

Ordering a m*rder.

That's first degree.

Special circumstances of
Shane being a cop then...

puts a needle in your arm.

We got a problem, you and me.

Yeah.

We've got a problem.

Stalemate.

You're gonna make sure
my m*rder trial goes away.

'Cause if I go to prison,

I can't see any reason why that
video doesn't make the light of day.

If anything happens to me...

after I do this for you,

your confession goes
straight to McCauley.

Likewise.

Let's go.

Wait here.

Hi, Dad.

I'm so sorry.

I couldn't be there with you that day.

Why? Would you have
taken that b*llet for me?

Yeah.

Sure, of course I would have.

Like you did just now?

PJ.

I didn't have any choice. I mean...

I can't do anybody any
good if I'm in prison.

You let the guy who m*rder*d me walk.

Judge maximum.

We always have a choice.

Look, Dad.

Look.

♪♪

♪♪

♪ I remember every breath we took ♪

♪ Every song we sang had massive hooks ♪

♪ Why do ♪

♪ Good feelings ♪

♪ Always go by ♪

♪ Love that lasts as long as cigarettes ♪

♪ Ultimately leads to an untimely death ♪

♪ I guess I'm getting what I paid for ♪

♪ I just wanted to get high ♪

♪ Couldn't find it at the drugstore ♪

♪ You're not something I can buy ♪

♪ Why do ♪

♪ Good feelings ♪

♪ Always go by ♪

♪ Go by ♪

♪ Go... ♪
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