02x05 - Greenlit

[bunniefuu]

NARRATOR: Previously on The Shield:

VIC: You need help. I can't... be helped.

He needs his mother.

[CRYING]

I do things that can't be forgiven.

You're gay, okay?

I'm not allowed to ask someone out on a date while I'm on duty. Come by.

Maybe I'll be home.

No! No! No! No!

Dead guys may have been cooked by Mexican nationals.

Quintero. They're brothers. Navaro and Armadillo.

Armadillo Quintero?

Yes?

DUTCH: You're a prime suspect in the fire murders of two men last night.

You're not here to fight the Torros or the Los Mags, you're here to unite 'em.

Isn't this what Armadillo does to people who don't cooperate?

VIC: Feds want him, I say we let him start doing his time.

Time for you to leave.

I don't have to leave!

[YELLING]

Tell me you're leaving. I want to hear you say it.

Say it!

Come on! Let go of him!

Ever heard about a money train?

Supposedly runs out of L.A. every couple of months to clean their dirty money overseas.

You can't really be talking about making off with the Armenian mob's entire western U.S. kitty.

Right into our pockets.

Hey, you guys.

[DOOR OPENS]

LEM: What's up, boss?

[MUSIC LOUDENS OVER SPEAKERS]

While you two were playing putt-putt, Shane and me were taking down a slice 'n' dice gem operation, an Armenian kingpin, two dozen of his crew.

SHANE: One guy shall remain faceless.

I can't believe we missed out on that, man.

VIC: Oh, it gets better. It gets better.

We found out the Zeroun family isn't only making illegal money, they're also cleaning it and shipping it.

So we're gonna take down a money-laundering ring?

Sweet.

VIC: Yes, it is.

We're gonna bring it down, pack it up, and save it for a rainy day.

We found out how and where they distribute their dirty cash.

This is it, boys.

This is the one we've been waiting for.

VIC: One big hit, in and out, we're set for good.

What? Told you he'd be speechless.

[VIC AND SHANE LAUGH] LEM: You're not serious.

You want to rip off the Armenian mob?

Shh.

We have two months to plan this.

We can absolutely do this.

No, not me.

What are you saying? It's all of us.

No, man, it's crazy. It can't be that easy.

I mean, we'd... We'd have the mob chasing us on one side, the law on the other. Come on.

What about you, huh? You bailing too?

No, no. Sounds... interesting.

Lem, no one's rushing into this.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

You know a Connie Reisler?

Yeah. Why?

She's here.

Oh, man.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Hi, Vic.

[DOOR BUZZES]

You're clean.

Yeah.

I did 90 in County.

Must've been hard on you.

It's what I needed.

What do you need from me?

I want to help you.

Provide information on a professional basis.

Look, Connie, I'm here for you, but I don't have throwaway money like I used to.

Well, I'm talking about making it official.

I met someone inside, told me that the state can give CIs a contract.

I can do that.

I hear things all the time.

I blend in on the street.

No.

Well, I'm tired of sucking on pipes and balls, Vic.

You know my résumé.

Who else is gonna give me a job?

It's not as simple as all that.

Well, I don't need that much to live on.

Without it...

I got to go back to tricking.

I start tricking, it's back to being a junkie.

I heard... about this guy... who's selling heroin to kids.

Yeah?

This tip's real solid.

Okay.

I'll see what I can do long term.

In the meantime, tell me about this dealer.

Teenage kid.

Felipe Gomez.

I know his sister.

He just started dealing to kids.

Where?

Opposite direction.

Which of Newton's laws of motion applies?

Police.

Which one of these kids is Enrique?

SHANE: Schoolmates say you've been flashing thumbnail bags of heroin that you got from Felipe.

Smack got your tongue, Enrique?

You got the wrong Enrique.

Oh, really?

Well, let's pat you down, then.

All right, up against the wall, "Wrong Enrique."

Can he do that?

You're in public school, Beaver. You've got no rights.

It wasn't just me, man.

Felipe was hanging out by the east gate, handing 'em out to everyone.

Handing them out?

You know, giving it away, like free samples.

[BELL RINGING]

DANNY: I come out to go to work and I find my car like this.

What do you expect me to do? This isn't my district.

Sir, the widow did this.

She knows where I live!

Are you sure it wasn't random?

A prank?

You heard her thr*aten me. "Justice will find you."

Well, you need to file a report with Hollywood Division.

I take those reports. It's a waste of time.

If she's responsible, you need to document it.

I guess.

Look, the board's been on my case to get them Julien's six-month review.

[SIGHS]

I'm almost finished with it.

I need it today.

VIC: We had officers search every student, every locker.

If they found dr*gs, I told them to keep their lockers open.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

I think you should start calling some parents.

[♪♪♪]

[URINE TRICKLING]

I can't believe Lem's being such a p*ssy about this.

Ah, who knows? Maybe he's right.

Hey, we don't need him to pull this off.

Yes, we do.

Lem doesn't care if we ride solo on this thing.

Well, I care.

Either we're all in, or we're all out.

[TOILET FLUSHES]

One guy knowing, who isn't accountable, isn't an option.

We're a team.

That's the only way it works.

[TAPPING SOAP DISPENSER]

WOMAN: ...my education reform if middle schoolers are high on heroin, and if the police can't keep drug dealers out of our schools, is there any place our children can be safe?

How do you answer your opponent's challenge?

I'm here as a police officer, not as a candidate.

I want to remedy the situation, not turn it into political hay.

Excuse me.

ACEVEDA: Jesus, what the hell went down here?

Some scumbag was handing out tastes of heroin like they were g*dd*mn cookies.

Heroin?

Not your daddy's smack, either.

Pure and cheap.

Snort it, smoke it, same high as sh**ting up, without the float.

Addictive as sh*t.

ACEVEDA: You're responsible for drug busts.

I thought you had a handle on things.

I did, then my handle got burnt at the stake by Armadillo.

That drug dealer, Tio?

You wanted to know what my relationship with him was about?

It was about not letting things like this happen.

I gave him slack, but I gave him rules.

He never dealt to kids.

With Tio out of the way, somebody else saw these kids as an untapped market.

So how do we fix this? No. Well...

No more arrangements with any drug dealers.

Just cr*ck down on them, publicly and hard.

I can do that too.

[MAN SPEAKING IN SPANISH OVER TV]

[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]

Police! Get your hands in the air!

Get down! Get down.

Get your hands on your head!

Down! Down! SHANE: Get down!

Get down!

Word is... you think you can start selling in schools...

turn kids into clients.

Nope.

No heroin here.

Here either, boss.

Nothing here either, boss.

A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A.

All the As, on your feet.

You tell your fellow Torucos, the next assh*le I catch selling dope to kids I'm gonna find a soft, dark place to jam this stick.

Now, get out.

Bs, on your feet!

You're all busted. Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Felipe, where you going?

You're not an A.

You were handing out samples at Truman East Middle School today, which makes you a special kind of B.

My bitch.

[HORN HONKING]

JULIEN: This guy's probably gonna need a medic.

Okay, call it in.

Get the rest of these guys carred and barred.

JULIEN: One-Tango-13, we need an RA.

Hello, officer.

Can I help you?

You work with a Detective Mackey?

Maybe. Why?

I sometimes have information for him.

You one of his CIs?

Not officially.

I need to get a message to him.

I lost his number, and I...

It's important.

What's the message?

The guy he's looking for isn't stopping, and I'm afraid if Vic isn't careful, he might start talking.

That's the message?

Mm.

What's your name?

Tell him about the face.

He'll know.

Look at you, Felipe.

You barely got hair on your nads and you're already dealing hard stuff to kids.

I'm not going to jail.

[LAUGHS]

What fantasy world are you living in?

I'm 15. Minors don't get time.

Unless the crime's serious enough.

You moved heavy weights of H, amigo, to hundreds of kids.

You're done.

But... But I'm a minor.

And a major pile of sh*t.

But... But I was told... You were told wrong!

[SOBBING]

It's all right. You can cry.

You wouldn't be the first.

And you damn sure won't be the last.

Nah.

Everybody's got game on the street...

and then you get caught, reality sets in.

Life as you know it is over.

I was just following orders.

Well...

Go ahead. Let it all out.

You don't understand.

You can't say no to him.

To who?

Armadillo.

You work for Armadillo?

You've seen him in town? No.

No. Everything goes through Duardo.

Where is Armadillo?

I don't know, but Duardo would.

Armadillo's back?

You start kids off for free, get customers for life.

I'm throwing everyone I have on this.

No, you can't do that.

Why not?

The last time you couldn't read between the lines, so this time let me draw you a clear picture.

Keep other cops, Claudette especially, off my ass.

What's your plan?

Armadillo knows the law.

He's using minors to distribute because they can't serve major time.

He'll also know that they can't be used as undercover CIs in a major sting operation.

Okay?

I use Felipe as an undercover informant.

He leads us to Duardo. Duardo leads us to Armadillo.

Absolutely not.

Are we gonna do this or aren't we?

I'm for doing it in a way that will secure a conviction.

It's illegal.

My way would be more of a gray area.

The last time we used a kid, Armadillo r*ped and tattooed her.

Think of something else, and do it fast, or I am putting every unit I got on tracking him down.

DANNY: Vic?

What can I do for you, gorgeous?

Got a message for you.

Yeah? From who?

Well, I guess you know the guy.

Left side of his face was all scarred up, like he'd been in some sort of fire or something.

Armadillo's declaring g*dd*mn w*r.

What does he mean, you don't want him talking?

SHANE: Means he's gonna explain the grill marks on his face, talk about how we were protecting his drug competition.

If somebody else finds him... Can't happen.

We have to find him first.

And w-what? Wha...? Hand him over to Aceveda?

He'll pull his g*n.

We'll have no choice.

You see a better way?

No.

assh*le should've gone back to Mexico like you told him.

What about Lem?

If he's not down with ripping off the money train, how the hell you think he's gonna feel about this?

Keep him away from the action. Watching the door or something.

[DOOR OPENS]

What's up?

What's going on?

Aceveda wants us to find Armadillo.

We're just trying to figure out the best way to do it.

My grandfather had Alzheimer's.

I know how hard it is.

I was only gone an hour.

The cleaning lady said she would watch her.

We'll find her, I promise.

Is there anyplace where she might go?

People she might visit?

No, most of her friends have moved or passed away.

Any other family members in town?

No. I'm her only child.

Good news is I talked to the morgue and hospitals, no matches on a Jeannie Sutton.

Listen, uh... we've notified our patrol cars, we're gonna distribute a flyer with your mom's photo.

Someone will find her.

Dutch and I will oversee the search until someone does.

Hey.

Uh, you busy a week from Sunday?

I don't think so. Why?

Uh... Mmm.

Actually, I'm getting married.

Married? To who? Vanessa.

That mom you've been seeing for like a month?

It's been seven weeks.

Please tell me this is a joke.

No. I love her. She loves me.

Julien, Jesus.

MAN: How goes it?

JULIEN: Good. Good.

I'm getting married.

Holy crap. Yeah.

Congratulations. Heh. Thanks.

Better you than me.

Yeah, that's what I hear. Heh.

Look, it's... It's going to be a small ceremony, but I really want you to be there.

Julien... you are gay.

No, I was misguided, but with the help of God, I'm now on the right path.

No, I have heard all about that re-orientation crap.

It's completely twisted.

That is just anti-religious propaganda.

Julien...

They're not helping you.

They are helping me.

I just need to know whether or not you're coming to my wedding.

CLAUDETTE: She took three bags of candy and then what?

Then I yelled at her to stop and pay me, but she was really out of it.

You know, like loco.

I was really worried about her.

If you were so worried about her, why didn't you stop her?

I'm gonna tackle some old lady?

I called you, didn't I?

Yeah, I know that store.

My mom used to work there.

She did? Yeah, a long time ago.

It used to be a soda shop, called something else, but that was her first job.

What other things did she do back then?

CLAUDETTE: Where have you been?

Uh, I felt like a sandwich.

Your break was over two hours ago.

We've got a case here.

I was hungry, heh, and I... I wouldn't exactly call this a case.

Jeannie was spotted in a store she used to work in as a teenager.

Now if she's in a delusional state, she might be going back into her past.

If we do our homework...

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

We're not gonna find her by psychoanalyzing the last 60 years of her life.

God knows how many defining moments she's had.

You have another theory, pitch it out.

She's an old white lady wandering around a black and Hispanic neighborhood in pajamas and slippers.

Somebody's gonna call her in.

Detectives?

Someone spotted your woman trying to get into a locked apartment an hour ago.

960 Chester Avenue, number 16.

See?

How much you want to bet that's a blast from the past?

Um, excuse me?

Okay. Excuse you.

No, assh*le, you bump into somebody, show some manners, apologize.

[SNICKERS]

That's funny to you?

Yeah.

How funny would it be if I knocked those over-sized teeth out?

Why don't you back up, Dutch-boy, before you find my boot print halfway up your ass?

VIC: Whoa, whoa.

We got more important things to do. Come on.

What's the matter with you?

Nothing.

I'm just not gonna take sh*t from people anymore.

Come on, man.

Hey, that's not my lawyer, bro.

Sit down.

If your baby brother is stupid enough to stay in town, you tell him that I got some new rules for him.

No more dealing to kids.

I don't talk to Armadillo.

You can get him word.

Farmington is my house.

Nothing gets dealt there without my approval.

You keep it away from the kids.

There's plenty of junkies to go around.

Armadillo... doesn't like rules.

See that One-Niner over there?

I've done a few favors for his crew out on the street.

He's willing to pay me back.

One phone call from me and you're greenlit.

Greenlit?

It's an American prison term.

Means you'd be shanked in the shower, assh*le.

Bleed out before the guards even know you're late for breakfast.

You tell Armadillo about my new rules, and if he says one thing about me or my crew, I'll make that call.

You greenlit Navaro?

No, I just threatened to.

Greenlighting Navaro's a bluff.

Hopefully, it'll get him to contact Armadillo, give us his location.

If Navaro or any of his crew make a call, the county guards will monitor it and let us listen in.

Ronnie, work on tracking those calls.

I'm gonna wire us up.

LEM: And if Armadillo's on the other end? Wha...

We just bring him in?

I mean, what if he talks about... you know.

We're cops. He's a fugitive.

We got a job to do.

I don't know, man.

Maybe he'll buy this whole greenlighting thing, keep his mouth shut to save his brother.

Okay.

MAN: She was banging on my door, jiggling the knob.

I opened up and she just started yelling, "Who are you?"

This the woman?

Crazy...

Yeah, that's her.

She was babbling, mostly.

Kept asking about Earl.

Earl?

Yeah.

"Where's Earl?" That's what she said.

Earl, you lived in Apartment 16, 960 Chester Avenue?

Yeah, a long time ago.

1946 to 1948?

If you say so.

Do you remember a Jeannie Sutton?

No.

What about her maiden name, Jeannie Russell?

Jeannie Russell.

Yeah, her. Her I remember.

Oh, you date her?

Yeah, for about a year, on and off, uh... right after the w*r.

I met her at a soda shop she worked at.

Hmm.

You two keep in touch?

No, no, I haven't seen her since, uh...

I don't know, uh, but if she still looks as good as she used to, give her my number.

CLAUDETTE: Well, Earl, Jeannie has Alzheimer's now.

She's lost, we're trying to find her.

EARL: Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.

CLAUDETTE: We think she might try to contact you.

If she does, would you give us a call?

Oh, oh, a-absolutely.

A civilian saw one of my fliers, called in, said she saw Jeannie hanging around Echo Park.

Sorry to waste your time.

Thanks.

This is a Cl contract.

DA's grateful for your school tip.

You'll be required to provide four tips every month, tips that lead to arrests.

And I get paid?

Two thousand a month.

It's not free money, Connie.

Four tips every month, and you got to stay legit.

You'll be tested at random.

Why are they gonna test me?

Because they care where their money goes.

Why, you worried?

No.

I just don't like peeing in a cup three times a week.

When do I get my check?

As soon as you give us a tip.

I gave you a tip.

That was in good faith.

The clock starts as soon as you sign.

MAN: I'll take a look.

[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]

VIC: What happened?

Three-year-old opened a packet of candy from his brother's backpack... except it wasn't candy.

The free H?

Jesus Christ.

Poor kid.

His brother over there says he got it from school.

He's too young to go to Truman East.

He doesn't go to Truman East. He goes to South Torres.

Armadillo's running this sh*t through the grade schools too?

I am sick of this.

Whatever you're gonna do, do it quick.

Already done it.

Well, do more.

Yeah, like what?

I don't know. Anything.

You can't use Felipe in an undercover capacity.

Even though he'd lead us to Armadillo, he's a minor.

Yeah, and it's illegal to use a minor as a Cl.

Right.

WOMAN: Uh, I don't know, maybe about another, uh, half-hour.

How'd that two hours in the cage feel?

Huh?

How's 20 years gonna feel?

L-I can't go when someone's watching me.

[CHUCKLES]

You better get used to it.

I'm gonna be watching you for a while.

What do you mean?

You're gonna do a good deed, Felipe.

Make the Boys Club proud.

[URINAL FLUSHES]

What kind of good deed?

The state of California has a little problem with me using minors undercover, so, technically, we're just gonna let you go free, keep an eye on ya... for your own safety.

Keep an eye on me?

You try to lose us, you go right back in the can.

You're gonna reconnect with Duardo, find out where Armadillo is hiding.

Yo, man, shuffle broad.

Hey, hey, hey!

Police! Hold it!

Hey, who taught you you could treat an old woman like that, huh?

BOY: She can't tell.

Crawling around, clawing at the sidewalk?

She's crazy.

Okay, honey. It's all right.

Get out of here. Go on.

All right?

I got her. Come on.

VANESSA: Danny, right?

Hi.

Vanessa. We met before.

Is Julien around?

Uh, he should be right back.

We're going over floral arrangements for the wedding.

Right. Congratulations.

Thanks.

It's all happened so fast.

Yeah, well, Julien's a special guy.

I have never met a man with such integrity.

He's gonna make a great father for Randall.

I'm really lucky.

Hi.

You ready?

Yeah.

Hey, Julien, can I see you for a sec first?

Oh. I'll meet you at the car.

My God, you haven't told her yet?

It's not necessary.

Julien, she is a single woman with a child.

It's in my past. It is not important.

She has a right to know.

About every mistake I've ever made? Yeah, about something as important as this, absolutely.

So you tell every man you've ever been with about every shameful thing you've ever done?

You know what?

If you don't tell her before the wedding, I will.

[MEN CHATTERING IN SPANISH]

[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]

RONNIE: What are you gonna do with your cut?

What?

Your cut. From the money train.

Look, we discuss this only when we have to.

The more we talk about it, the more chance someone else hears.

VIC: Our fugitive is calling in.

SHANE: Yeah, I got it.

I'm telling you, this money train, it's a sure thing.

Taking mob money, it's not why I signed up, joined the force.

g*dd*mn, you get any softer, you're gonna start lactating.

You know, all the stuff that we been into, there... There was a reason, a point to it.

Where's the good in this?

Money in our pockets instead of those Balkan bastards.

I don't know, man.

You think I'm doing this for me?

Vic's got a sick kid, tuition payments, doctor bills kicking his ass.

I mean, the guy could be facing a divorce.

He really needs this.

Heroin at grade schools.

It's awful.

I'm gonna have to go on the att*ck now, find a way to turn this into votes.

[CHUCKLES]

Baby, what's wrong?

I don't know how I got here.

Hard work, intelligence.

That's not what I meant.

You'll catch whoever's doing this.

Or Mackey will.

Mackey?

It's his investigation.

Can you trust him?

No.

Then why?

It made sense when it started, and now there's so many loose threads, to even pull just one...

Oh, Christ.

David, you're gonna win.

Well... that's what everyone keeps telling me.

And if I don't...

I embarrass myself, embarrass you.

We have a daughter.

The only way you would embarrass me was if you weren't doing everything you could to make those schools as safe as possible.

Are you?

No.

What's stopping you?

ACEVEDA: I want a wide net. Hit the streets hard.

Check out all the schools, grill every kid who got a free sample and find out where they got it.

Sooner or later it's gonna lead us to Armadillo.

All right, now, talk to all the gangbangers who got pushed out when the Torucos consolidated and call me with anything.

All right, let's go.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Armadillo's in town?

Yeah.

He's the one dealing dr*gs in the schools.

And you didn't tell me.

I just found out.

I need to talk to him.

I know, and as soon as I find him, you'll get first sh*t.

And you and Mackey won't interfere?

No one will get in your way.

Okay, we'll give you a head start.

You go in and ask for a new batch of samples.

Phone.

I'll call you 10 minutes after you're in.

If the dr*gs are visible, you pick up and say something clever.

You don't answer, I know they're not out.

I'll keep calling you until you pick up.

Then what?

Then we make a little house call, pick up you and your buddies.

Once we get you back to the Barn, we cut you loose because you're a minor.

No one knows we had this little arrangement.

Okay.

[SPANISH RAP MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]

Cheers, Little G.

Cheers.

Heh. Thirsty, huh?

Yeah, I guess so.

Hey, uh, I got some kids asking for some more of that stuff.

I guess they like that sh*t, man.

All right, all right.

Costs them 20 now. You got that?

Yeah, yeah, I got it. All right.

Yo, get him something to carry this with, man.

[CELL PHONE RINGING]

Yo.

What, bitch?! I told you not to call me.

Little G setting the hos straight already.

Yeah.

Hey, what's the matter, dog?

That's what I want to know. Let's see who called you.

[DOOR BURSTS OPEN]

VIC: Get down! Down, down, down!

Down! RONNIE: It's clear.

[CELL PHONE RINGING]

You're dead.

Shut up!

You okay?

No.

I'm dead.

[KNOCKS] You wanted to see me?

Uh, yeah. Close the door, please.

I just got a call from the police.

About my car?

Sit down, Danny.

What?

The call was from Maryland.

Your mother d*ed.

A car accident.

What?

I'm so sorry.

Can I call my dad?

Yeah. I'll...

I'll be outside.

MAN: Yeah, I'm leaving now, hold on.

Dad?

It's me.

It's a g*dd*mn prank! What?

A prank. My mother's fine. Slow down. What?

I want her records subpoenaed to prove she made the call.

Danny, stop. I want a cop tailing her.

Just calm down.

She destroys my car, tries to ruin my career, and now it's my family?

Okay, all right, we'll take care of this.

I'll take care of this.

The doctor said she can go home now.

ANNE: Great. Great.

Thank you for all you did.

Anne, hold on a second.

Your mom must've been 17, 18 when she dated Earl?

Pretty conservative times back then.

Excuse me? Dutch?

DUTCH: You said she was going back into her past.

I didn't believe you, but then Jeannie went back to the store she used to work at, an apartment where her old boyfriend lived...

So why go back to a piece of sidewalk in Echo Park?

Why?

According to the L.A. Times archives, a newborn baby was found smothered to death in that park.

November 18, 1947, buried in a shallow grave.

You want to know where that grave was located?

Right where your mother sat today, clawing at the asphalt.

They built a sidewalk over a garden... three blocks from Earl's old apartment.

No.

That's impossible.

Someone in there helped k*ll a baby boy, didn't they?

[SPANISH RAP MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]

I'm not even gonna waste my time with you.

You're running Armadillo's dr*gs through the schools.

Where is he?

Arma-who?

[COUGHING]

Tell me.

Tell me.

[POUNDING ON DOOR] ACEVEDA: Vic!

sh*t. Come on.

ACEVEDA: Vic, open this door!

Cállate.

Good?

What's going on?

I'm interrogating a suspect.

Duardo here runs the dr*gs through the schools.

Isn't that right?

ACEVEDA: I'm taking him back to the Barn.

I'm not done.

I'm taking him with me. Hand him over.

Come here.

You gave me the green light to get Armadillo.

I'm one step away.

I'm a little uncomfortable with the steps you're now taking.

I saw the underage Cl outside.

His cover's been blown?

We both knew that was a risk.

You've done a good job getting this far.

I just need to take it from here.

Hey, you want Armadillo or not?

I do, and Claudette and I will get him.

Claudette?

She overheard.

There's nothing I can do about it.

We've got to do it by the book now.

Ah...

Shane, put him in my car.

[PANTING]

I spoke to Aceveda.

He said I passed my performance review.

You deserve to.

He also said that I had communication and stress-management issues.

Look, you passed, okay?

This is because I didn't cover you on that sh**ting?

Still think I'm holding that over you?

Or maybe it's because I'm getting married.

It's because it's the truth.

Well, look, I think it's about something else.

Maybe because somebody's messing with your car or calling your mom, and then you take it out on me?

Hey, you are way past out of line.

I deserved higher marks.

That... That review goes on my jacket.

Truth is, Julien, I could have been a whole lot tougher on you.

Your inability to communicate is a serious problem.

You have this bottled-up pressure because of your personal life and no release valve.

Things I've seen, ugh, your review could've been a lot worse.

I thought about what you said about Vanessa.

Good.

I'm not gonna jeopardize the only good relationship I've ever had because of something I'm not and will never be again.

If you want to tell her, fine.

That's on your conscience.

We found the heroin, your little sample bags.

We establish the ties to the schools and you're sure to get the death penalty for that little boy.

The only way to avoid it is to give us Armadillo.

ACEVEDA: He's your boss, right? Your supplier?

How does he contact you?

Where is he?

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

WOMAN: Let me know when you're back.

MAN: You got it.

[DOOR BUZZES]

Yo, what's up?

I got something for you.

This pimp's getting his girls to roll johns in an alley off Western.

Okay, we'll check into it, but tips like this you can give us over the phone.

Okay. Vic.

[DOOR BUZZES]

I really need to know where Brian is.

I need to see my son.

Connie... you can't.

I want him back, Vic.

I'm clean. I've got a job now.

He's with a new family.

You signed him over.

I was high then.

That's why you gave him up.

[SOBBING] No.

No, I gave him to you to take care of him for me.

You knew I'd get clean. You saw how hard I was trying.

You don't know what this is like, to lose your kid.

Please, Vic.

Brian's gone.

You have to accept that.

Okay.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry too.

Uh, that tip I just gave you?

I need a cash advance.

Thanks.

[DOOR OPENS]

Navaro make any calls yet?

Nope.

They get Duardo to roll?

I don't know.

I'll be back.

MAN: We'll be headed out in about five.

Hey, Carlton.

What's up, Vic?

See this guy?

He's with the Lancaster g*ng unit.

We got you a spot in their clean slate program.

Is that like juvie?

It's better.

Get rid of the ink, your balls will drop, come back in a couple of years a new man.

No one will even recognize you.

Hey, I had to pull a lot of favors to get this to happen.

Okay.

Well, I'm waiting.

Thank you.

Go.

You k*lled your baby, didn't you, Earl?

You and Jeannie.

"Baby boy Doe, buried

"in the unidentified graves section in the L.A. County cemetery."

We're gonna dig him up, Earl, get your DNA, prove you were his father.

You really think Armadillo's gonna reward you for your loyalty?

ACEVEDA: When we bust him, he's gonna think it's because of you.

He's got a lot of friends inside.

You're gonna end up b*rned to death in your cell.

And we're gonna get him.

All you guys think you're so brilliant.

We got you, didn't we?

What happens if I tell you where he is?

We'll make sure you're safe and sound in Ossining, New York.

I can only tell you where he's been staying lately.

What's up?

Duardo gave us Armadillo. He's at a place in Inglewood.

Great, I'll go get my guys.

Not necessary. SWAT's already on their way there.

SWAT?

I'll let you see him as soon as we bring him in.

All right, let's go.

DANNY: Vic.

MAN: Hey, Vic.

Hi. What's up?

I was thinking that, you know, we could get together tonight.

Oh, I can't do it tonight. Rain check?

Look, name the time and the place.

You know what?

I don't think that I can do this anymore.

Sure you can. Just another time.

No, you know what? Um... this isn't working for me the way that it used to.

I got to get out of here.

You're wrong, detective.

You don't know my mother.

I just wish you had a chance to know your brother.

Should I be worried about you?

Not about me.

Maybe about the rest of humanity.

Bunch of sociopathic little narcissists out for ourselves, begging, stealing, lying, screwing, raping, k*lling our babies.

Whatever it takes to have a good time and save our own asses.

I can't even believe in an old woman who's too sick to feed herself, and it's not sad, it's not some big surprise.

It's just nature.

We're animals, nothing more.

And you know what?

I'm learning to be okay with that.

[DOOR OPENS]

VIC: Navaro's on the phone?

Less than a minute.

Prison switchboard confirms he's talking to Armadillo.

Give me the number.

This is 323.

Aceveda's going to Inglewood. That's 310.

Well, he's got the wrong address.

Go get the right one, quick.

What's he saying?

Um, uh, Armadillo's asking him something in Spanish.

Something about a lawyer.

Vic...

What?

We can't bring him in alive.

What? Armadillo.

We can't bring him in alive.

Why is that?

If we take him in, the only thing he has to deal is us.

Look, I don't like it, but this bastard has to go, Vic.

Jail won't slow him down, you tried reasoning with him.

I am not going to lose my job so some kid-raping piece of sh*t can bargain down his sentence, make me his bunkmate.

Uh-uh.

You talk to Shane about this?

No, but I can.

3938 Bonita Vista.

VIC: Okay, let's go.

Ronnie, stay on the line.

Call us with anything we need.

Lem, you drive.

Hey, uh, shouldn't...

Shouldn't we be taking two cars?

No, we're good.

Yeah?

Armadillo's still on the phone with his bro.

First guy that gets a good sh*t takes it.

Go.

[SPANISH POP MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]

SHANE: Nothing.

g*dd*mn it.

Think somebody tipped him off?

Who?

I don't know.

[GASPING AND CHOKING OVER PHONE]

VIC: Yeah?

I hope you all made it.

VIC: Hey, weren't you supposed to meet me here to suck my d*ck?

I wanted to speak to you one last time.

You better talk to your brother before you start making death threats.

I've already taken care of my brother.

[GASPING]

ARMADILLO: And now... you've been greenlit.

[♪♪♪]