Power Book II: Ghost (2020) s01e01 Episode Script
The Stranger
1
[TASHA.]
Previously on Power [TARIQ.]
Where's Dad? You the man of the house, a'ight? Hold it down.
- A'ight.
- I love you.
Nothing's the same with him anymore.
Everything's just different.
He's different.
[RAINA.]
I'm worried about you, 'Riq.
There was this cop at school looking for you today.
Are you in trouble? You should tell Mom.
Listen to me.
You cannot tell anyone.
- You can't.
- I won't tell.
I swear.
I know who you are, Ray Ray.
You need to leave my brother alone.
[GUNSHOT.]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS.]
[TARIQ.]
Raina was my better half.
When I-when I find myself in a place of trouble, I think to myself "What would Raina do?" [TASHA.]
Well, here we are.
This is Choate.
There's something I gotta say to you.
You deserve the truth.
We thought we were protecting you, but all we did was teach you how to lie.
I told her I-I would handle it, but I watched her die.
- [TARIQ.]
I miss her so much.
- [TASHA.]
I miss her too.
[EFFIE.]
What happened to your sister? You were twins? Yeah, and half of me is gone.
- I feel so alone.
- You're not alone.
I'm here.
[ORSON.]
He's expelled, effective immediately.
[TARIQ.]
That's all it is.
It's just baby aspirin.
[ORSON.]
Do they think they're buying baby aspirin? [TARIQ.]
Ma, what happened to your arm? [TASHA.]
Ghost happened to my arm.
He laid hands on me.
And I would kill Ghost to protect you, 'Riq.
I should be the one protecting you! And I will.
I promise you that, Ma, no matter what.
- A'ight.
- [TARIQ.]
Don't get it twisted.
You might've given me life.
But you were never my fucking father.
He said he would kill you? He didn't have to say it, Ma.
I'm gonna stop him.
If you don't want this, 'Riq, you gotta tell me now.
Ma, I just don't want you to go to jail.
I won't.
[KANAN.]
What if she gets caught? [TARIQ.]
Man, she ain't gonna get caught; she too smart.
There's only one way to be sure.
It was always gonna go this way.
Just gotta step into it.
[GHOST.]
Tariq, if you do this shit, you can never go back.
I'd do anything to go back to go back to how it was before you left us for Angela.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS.]
[GUNSHOT.]
- Come on! - Wait.
We take care of each other, right? Right.
- [TARIQ.]
I saw you at Truth.
- Wasn't me.
I don't want to have to say I saw you if you're not the one that did it.
- Dre did it, right? - Right, it was Coleman.
Good.
The entire portfolio goes to your children.
Ma, don't worry about it, okay? I'll take care of you.
You don't inherit until you complete a four-year degree from a university.
You do want Truth back, right? How much? I'll pay asking.
You get him into your alma mater, Stansfield, and my son's trust will give you Truth.
- [KNOCK AT DOOR.]
- [TASHA.]
What do you want now? Tasha Green St.
Patrick, you're under arrest - for the murder of James St.
Patrick.
- No, she didn't do it.
Mom, tell her you didn't do this! - Tell her what really happened! - Tariq, go to school! No.
Live your life.
[JOE.]
They say this is a big, rich town I just come from the poorest part Bright lights, city life I gotta make it this is where it goes down I just happen to come up hard Legal or illegal, baby I gotta make it [50 CENT.]
I never took a straight path nowhere Life's full of twists and turns, bumps and bruises I live, I learn I'm from that city full of yellow cabs and skyscrapers It's hard to get a start in these parts without paper Homey, I grew up in hell a block away from heaven That corner every 15 minutes they moving seven Pure snow, bag it then watch it go Occupational options get some blow or some hos Shoot the ball or the strap learn to rap or to jack Fuck it, man In the meantime Go head and pump a pack This my regal, royal flow my James Bond bounce That 007 that's 62 on my count I'm an undercover liar I lie under the covers Look a bitch in the eyes And tell her Baby, I love ya You're my inspiration you're my motivation You're the reason that I'm moving with no hesitation [JOE.]
They say this is a big, rich town Yeah, I just come from the poorest part Bright lights, city life I gotta make it this is where it goes down Oh, yeah, yeah I just happen to come up hard Legal or illegal, baby I gotta make it [CELL PHONE BUZZING.]
[JACOB BANKS' "MONSTER" PLAYING.]
Oh-ah, oh-eh - Oh-ah, oh-eh - Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh - They made a monster out of me - They put a sword in my back They gave me till the count of three They set the hounds on my tracks They made a demon out of me Then they put a cross through my flesh [MEREDITH.]
First-degree murder.
You don't look like you could pull that off.
Nails too nice for that.
My husband beat me up, a'ight? [SCOFFS.]
You're not a battered woman.
I've seen a million girls with that same story here and at Bedford Hills.
If they didn't find you crying on the ground next to the body, that's bullshit.
Maybe you could sell that shit to the jury but not to me.
[GATE BUZZES.]
She's headed to arraignment.
Good luck, Tasha Green St.
Patrick.
If the locals don't keep you, I'll see your guilty ass tonight.
[MEREDITH LAUGHS.]
[GATE SLAMS.]
They made a monster out of me Listen, you need to come and stay with me right now.
Grandma, I have to stay at Stansfield.
It's what Ma wants.
No, your mother doesn't know what's best for you right now.
She has enough to worry about.
'Riq, please come home with us.
I mean, I would think that you would want family at a time like this.
You don't understand, Grandma.
I do, but [TAMEIKA.]
Mrs.
Green.
I'm Tameika Washington, Tasha's attorney.
- Nice to meet you.
- You too.
[TAMEIKA.]
This must be Yasmine.
- And you're Tariq.
- Yeah, so what happens today? Does she get bail? I brought money.
One step at a time, Tariq.
We're gonna argue a justification defense.
That means Tasha says she did it.
What? No! She has to say she killed James but she did it in self-defense.
It's her best chance at less jail time or maybe none at all.
Wait, so she has to say she did it in court? Yes, and your mother is very sure that's what she wants to do.
Wait, no, I-I need to speak to her first.
Her mind's made up.
Tariq, in order to get the judge to give bail, I need to say some pretty ugly things about your father.
Are you gonna be okay with that? Go ahead.
Okay.
[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYS.]
Tasha St.
Patrick had a plan, and she executed it.
She duped her lover, Quinton Wallace, into driving her to the scene of the crime.
She waited until her husband turned off all the cameras at Truth, and she calmly pulled the trigger, with her unwitting getaway driver waiting outside.
She showed premeditation with malice aforethought.
She even had a scapegoat all lined up in case she got caught.
She committed first-degree murder, and she deserves no bail.
She thought he was gonna kill her, Your Honor.
Can the defense prove that James St.
Patrick - made such a threat? - We can show the bruises on her arm from the conversation they had about it the night before.
Your Honor, Ms.
Washington can't argue that the defendant thought she was in imminent danger - 24 hours later.
- She's right, Ms.
Washington.
Your Honor, James St.
Patrick was a monster of untold proportion.
The Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor was a monster? The Democrats didn't do their homework on James St.
Patrick.
He was suspected of and investigated for multiple homicides, numerous narcotics charges, and violations of laws both state and federal.
James St.
Patrick was cleared of the only charge ever brought against him.
[TAMEIKA.]
Your Honor, if we go to trial, I will show that my client was the long-suffering wife of a smiling sociopath, a man as vicious as he was successful, as capable of slitting a throat as he was of making a speech.
My client is not a flight risk.
She has children.
I ask you, Your Honor, what kind of a stand against battered women would you like to make? Hmm.
Ms.
Sullivan, it sounds like you need to call your boss before you go too far with this prosecution.
Thank you, Your Honor.
[GALANTI.]
Oh, don't thank me yet.
Your client is facing murder one.
I can't just let her go home.
Tasha Green St.
Patrick, you are remanded to custody.
- No bail.
- [GAVEL BANGS.]
No bail! [SOBS.]
Is Mommy coming home? Not yet, Yas.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS.]
[JENNY.]
This is Jenny Sullivan.
- I need to speak to - [CELL PHONE BUZZES.]
Take her to the attorney conference room.
I think we have a meeting.
How was your phone call with the DA? I'm here, aren't I? We want criminally negligent homicide, E felony, probation.
She showed up with a gun, and she pulled the trigger, Tameika.
What the hell is negligent about that? Man two, I'll recommend five years.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS.]
[JENNY.]
He killed all those people? [TAMEIKA.]
And more we couldn't nail him for.
Hell, we couldn't nail him for these; he was that good.
My client knew she'd be just another one of these photos, either herself or her children.
[JENNY.]
You didn't prove any of this; it's not admissible.
[TAMEIKA.]
My client's state of mind is at issue, not the evidence.
Tasha, do you think James committed these murders? I know I would have been next.
[TAMEIKA.]
I put these photos in front of a jury, it's a walk.
Shit, they'd throw her a goddamn parade.
You might not get them in fair warning.
[TAMEIKA.]
But I sure will try, and once the entire Democratic Party is humiliated, let's see where you end up fair warning.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
[STERN.]
Why, Tariq, I had almost given up hope.
Has your watch stopped? Young African Americans have a responsibility to be prompt, young man.
We must subvert expectations whenever possible.
Yes, ma'am, I apologize.
I had a family emergency.
[STERN.]
Yes, well, I suppose you have the family emergency these days, don't you? He really is remarkably resilient, wouldn't you say, Ida? Tariq, I was surprised when our esteemed alumnus here reached out on your behalf and suggested that you wanted to matriculate so soon after your father's passing.
Are you really ready for the academic rigors of Stansfield? [TARIQ.]
Yes, ma'am, I believe so.
In fact, I think that school will help distract me from the things I'd rather not think about.
I think Stansfield will be a great refuge from the outside world for me.
[BROOKS.]
Well, I certainly understand that, young man.
[STERN.]
I'm glad to hear you feel prepared, because unfortunately, in exchange for your admission here at Stansfield, we've had to add a little extra to your plate.
We'd like you to tutor one of our students, a basketball player.
Do you like basketball? Of course he likes basketball.
[DRAWER CLATTERS OPEN.]
- Uh, may I? - Please.
What's the student's name, ma'am? Ezekiel Cross.
Have you heard of him? - Wonderful jump shot.
- No, I haven't.
Well, we've actually arranged for him to be your roommate in the dormitory.
You move tomorrow.
And in which subject will I be tutoring Ezekiel, ma'am? All of them.
Zeke doesn't play, you don't stay.
[BROOKS.]
Now you need to go meet your advisor.
- [DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS.]
- [WOMAN CLEARING THROAT.]
[WOMAN.]
You lost? Oh.
Damn, was it that obvious? Yeah, a little bit.
What building are you looking for? Um, University Hall.
I'm headed that way.
What year are you? Freshman.
Wait, are you gonna take Canonical Studies? I'm not sure.
I'm supposed to be meeting someone named Caridad Milgram.
She's my "minority student counselor".
Yeah, she's mine too.
Most of the freshmen have her.
But Professor Milgram also teaches Canonical Studies.
It'd be nice to have another Black kid in there with us.
There's only, like, four now.
What do you mean "like, four"? Everyone who's Black isn't Black, you know? Really willing to own it.
Speaks up when the white kid oversteps.
Right now, you got me, this one girl BruShaundria, and this other guy Khalid.
And then there's Richard.
[SIGHS.]
It's like he was dipped in chocolate but the inside doesn't match.
[TARIQ CHUCKLES.]
I'm guessing you're not too shy about your opinion, huh? What would be the point of that? University Hall is the next building to your right.
You'll get used to this place pretty fast, I promise.
See you around.
Hey, wait.
What's your name? I'm Tariq.
Lauren.
I hope to see you in class.
[SOFT MUSIC PLAYS.]
[TENSE PERCUSSIVE MUSIC PLAYS.]
Oh, fuck.
[CARRIE.]
It can be hard for students of color at first at Stansfield.
I mean, my own mother struggled here as a young Black woman in the late '70s.
And as an interracial couple, well, my parents were still an anomaly.
But times have changed, and well, the school's now invested in our concerns.
You know, I don't understand why the dean wanted me to come see you.
I've been going to all-white schools my whole life.
Well, I'm sure she thought your personal circumstances required extra support.
Um, "my personal circumstances"? Your parents, Tariq.
Your father's unfortunate death, your mother's arrest.
You can talk to me about anything.
How are you feeling? Look, my parents, I think, would want me to concentrate on my schoolwork.
And I heard you teach something called Canonical Studies, and I read in the course catalog that in that class, the students get to graduate early.
Well, the level of difficulty for Canonical Studies is very high, Tariq.
Course credit is double that of a normal freshman workload.
Students can elect to graduate after their third year, but most choose not to do so.
You just got here.
Why are you in such a hurry to leave? I have to help my grandmother with my baby sister.
I have to help my family.
Canonical Studies requires a verbal entrance exam on this book, The Stranger by Camus.
Okay, so when can I take the test? Professor Milgram, I'm not asking for any special treatment.
I'm asking not to lose an opportunity.
The DA has agreed to four years' probation for criminally negligent homicide with all the other charges included.
No jail time? No jail time.
Somebody wants your husband's secret life to stay a secret.
You allocute tomorrow morning accurately and specifically, and you go home tomorrow afternoon.
How can I ever thank you? Thank your husband's ambition.
If he hadn't gotten in bed with politicians, we'd be stuck with that man two charge.
There is one last thing with Quinton Wallace's testimony.
He said you rushed him out the door.
You were on a schedule.
You arrived at the precise moment where James would be alone no guests, no security detail.
How did you know? What does that matter? If your story isn't airtight, the prosecutor can ask you questions right there in front of the judge.
If that happens for any reason, we have to be prepared.
How did you know James would be alone? [TASHA.]
When he gets in the elevator to the loading dock, you text me and let me know.
[TAMEIKA.]
It's an allocution under oath.
You cannot lie.
What are you not telling me? I'm telling you everything.
No, you must have had a cue.
Someone else was there.
Someone told you he was alone.
You gotta be gone by then.
Okay, I will be.
No, nothing like that.
I can't suborn perjury, Tasha.
If you lie and they prove it, you will go to jail, and I will lose my license.
If you had an accomplice, you have to tell me who it is.
They might come forward.
They might expose you.
That won't happen.
How can you be so sure? [DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS.]
Is it your son? No.
You are my client.
I can't let you lie for Tariq.
I can't let you go to jail for him.
- Tameika, you're fired.
- What? Tasha, you will lose your deal.
Get out! I mean it.
Go.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS.]
[POUNDING ON DOOR.]
[DOOR CLICKS OPEN.]
Hello? [TAMEIKA.]
Tariq, this is Tameika Washington.
Hey, Ms.
Washington.
What'd they say about my mom? Did she get a deal? I don't know what's gonna happen to your mom.
She just fired me.
Wait, what? You told me all she had to do was tell them exactly what happened.
That's exactly right, but she won't.
She won't tell the truth.
She is protecting someone, Tariq.
I think you might know who it is.
What did she say? Nothing.
And even if she told me everything, our conversations are privileged, and I can't say a word to anyone.
Without me, Tariq, your mom is in a lot of trouble.
You're gonna need to get her a good attorney fast, someone who doesn't need the truth to win.
What lawyer doesn't need the truth to win? Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, my client [CHUCKLES.]
Mr.
William Ryan, has been railroaded by his colleagues, his board of directors, and, in fact, the US Attorney's Office.
He's a scapegoat, the classic fall guy.
Innocent as the day he was born, trusting as his parents raised him to be, he fell for the oldest trick in the book.
But instead of the red-hot shame of the fool, his innocence has led him to the cold, hard steel of the shackle.
Look at my client.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS.]
Does he look like he needs to steal? [TRIUMPHANT MUSIC PLAYS.]
- Davis MacLean? - Oh, no, no, no, kid.
I'm in a rush.
I got a meeting across town.
I do not have time for pictures.
I don't want a picture.
My mother's on trial for killing my father, and I want to hire you.
St.
Patrick.
You're James St.
Patrick's son.
That was a good picture of you in The Times next to his obituary.
Classic African-American family, you know, except for the wife with the smoking gun.
My mother's innocent.
Yeah, I'm sure that's what she told you, but you should accept the fact that she's going to jail and you get to start your life over again.
Oh.
Don't let your parents define you.
You can be anything that you want to be, and that advice I'll give you for free.
I said I wanted to hire you.
How much? - You don't have it.
- How much? Five hundred K, liquid, up front.
You get that, we'll talk.
[DETERMINED MUSIC PLAYS.]
[ESTELLE.]
Tariq, we need to start planning your daddy's funeral.
Tariq.
Tariq, are you all right? Boy, look at me when I'm talking to you.
Listen I know that you gotta talk to somebody, and I know baby, I know that you're hurting.
Just talk to me.
Grandma, I have to get back to school.
I have an oral exam in the morning.
All right, then just stay the night, okay? Because your sister needs you.
You both need me, Grandma! You guys need me to finish school so I can get my inheritance so I can help you, Ma, and Yas.
Whatever happens with Ma.
Grandma, if you really want to help me, help me look.
Is this the only place that Ma kept the books from the day care? Yeah, yeah, that's everything.
Why? What are you looking for? - [TELEPHONE RINGING.]
- Get the phone.
- [DARK MUSIC PLAYS.]
- Hello? Yes, I'll accept the charges.
Yasmine.
- Come here and talk to your mommy.
- [YASMINE.]
Hi, Mommy.
[ESTELLE.]
Yeah, actually, he's here right now.
You want to talk to him? Tariq? Your mother.
Hey, Ma.
You okay? Yeah.
Um, I'm okay.
I'm okay, 'Riq.
Grandma, can I speak to her alone? I don't understand why I can't listen when the guards can.
Ma, why'd you fire Tameika? - How'd you hear about that? - She called me.
We need to get you a new lawyer.
No, I'm fine.
I have a public defender.
I'll figure everything out.
Don't worry.
[SIGHS.]
You think any of the parents from the day care still need help? Remember that one lady you used to tell me about? She used to come pick up her son late? She worked this weird job at night? No, listen to me.
Tariq, you don't need to worry about opening up the day care again, okay? What I need is for you to concentrate on school, all right? If you take care of yourself, you'll take care of all of us.
Tariq, do you hear me? I need you to promise me that you'll focus on school.
Yeah, I promise, Ma.
[SIGHS.]
Okay.
I love you.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
- Jabari - Hey, uh, what is this about another student interview tomorrow morning? It showed up on my schedule, but I thought we were done.
Tariq St.
Patrick.
His father was James St.
Patrick, the candidate for lieutenant governor.
His mom is on trial for the murder.
I've been assigned as his counselor.
He's really motivated to do the work.
This kid was in high school two weeks ago.
He was squeezed in by a booster.
He's rich, connected.
He doesn't need us to bend over backwards for him.
Canonical Studies is closed.
You know, I would have thought you of all people would want to help this kid.
Why, because he's Black? Yes, and because he can't help having unique circumstances getting here.
So what he's not from the hood? Does that mean he doesn't pass your blackness litmus test? [CHUCKLES.]
So you're telling me if the same kid came in with the same story but he was white, you expect us to change the rules? We already have enough white students in the class.
True, but he's already a whole week behind, and this course is rigorous, and do you think Oliver is gonna sign off on this? Well, if we both argue for it, he won't have a choice.
Don't make this about you and me.
It's not.
And as you like to say, there is no you and me, not anymore.
At least meet him.
Fine.
If he impresses me, then I will help you make the argument to Oliver, but he won't.
[MUFFLED HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING.]
Where I know you from? You used to keep your son at my mom's day care.
Right, Tasha's place.
That's where I met you.
Ain't you a little young to be getting in here? I'm not here for that.
I was wondering if you was willing to make some extra money.
Listen, I already told your mama that the block is hot around her, okay? - My mom is in jail right now.
- For real? But not for drugs.
They think she shot my father.
[SUCKS TEETH.]
A bitch gotta start watching the news.
That's crazy.
Okay, so listen, I owe your mother, so I'll help you out, but you gotta find your own products, okay? All right, I gotta go 'cause Cinnamon be stealing all the good body glitter and shit.
[CHUCKLES.]
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING OVER STEREO.]
[BRAYDEN.]
Yo, so my friend's here, people.
So I gotta go.
Say hi, 'Riq.
Man, get that shit out of my face.
[BRAYDEN.]
'Riq's feeling camera shy, y'all, but I'll be back in the Bray-Den tomorrow.
Stay thirsty, my friends.
Bro, what the fuck are you doing at Stansfield? I go here; everyone in my family goes here.
Check this shit out.
- [TARIQ.]
Oh, shit.
- Your family built the auditorium? And the swimming pool.
My brother's a water polo dude.
[WHISPERING.]
He's a douchebag.
Listen, let's not talk about that shit.
That shit's boring.
You know what we need to talk about is how many girls we're gonna get now that we're both here! - [LAUGHS.]
- Crazy ass.
I figure we work a kind of old-school, interracial buddy comedy thing.
You know, you're like Danny Glover Black, serious.
And I'm like Mel Gibson but not drunk.
- You know what I mean? - Yeah, man, whatever.
I just got a lot of work to do.
Got an entrance exam for the Canonical Studies tomorrow, so Canonical Studies? Damn, I wouldn't even try that shit.
People fail out of that all the time.
College is supposed to be fun, bro.
What are you doing? You are right about that.
But I don't got that much time to have fun, bro.
Plus, I gotta move soon, so I'll hit you later, if anything.
All right.
Listen, I'm really glad that we're both here together, you know? The shit that went down between you and Effie was so fucked up, and I was really hoping that we would connect again and be bros, you know? About Effie, you still happen to have her number? [BRAYDEN.]
She got into Yale, man.
[GATE BUZZES.]
[GATE SQUEAKS.]
So you came all the way down here.
You must really need this product or something.
Or maybe you just wanted to see me.
I need the product.
Yeah, I deserve that.
Are you okay, though? I heard about your parents.
Look, if you need someone to talk to, Tariq, I'm here, and I'll listen to you.
Now, why the fuck should I trust you, huh? You ruined my whole life, Effie.
You ain't need to move pills at Choate.
That was a hobby to you.
I couldn't even buy books.
I had to take out the competition.
It wasn't personal, okay? It was just business.
So you were just playing me this whole time, huh? All of that? Not the part about liking you, okay? That was real.
So you're not gonna pay me for that? It's nothing personal, Effie.
It's just business.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS.]
[INHALES SHARPLY.]
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS.]
[CARRIE.]
Tariq, there you are.
I'm so sorry I'm late, Professor Milgram.
Tariq St.
Patrick.
Jabari Reynolds.
I'm Oliver Simmons, Tariq.
Professor Milgram told us all about you.
She didn't forecast you'd be late, of course.
I apologize.
Well, let's begin.
Uh, please take a seat.
[UNEASY MUSIC PLAYS.]
[JABARI.]
Well, first of all, did you enjoy the book? You know, I don't think he wrote the book to be enjoyed.
Uh, what do you mean? Well, it wasn't written in that way.
Because the main character was sort of bored, I feel Camus wanted us to be bored as well.
What'd you think of the end? That certainly isn't boring.
What-what-what part, sir? When he attacks the priest.
Professor Milgram, don't help.
[SIGHS.]
All right, I didn't finish the book.
Uh, thanks for telling the truth, I suppose.
But honestly, I don't really relate to the main character.
He shoots someone for no reason, and we're supposed to be sympathetic to that? And we're supposed to relate to that? I mean, I don't.
He has his reasons, of course, but the book doesn't give it to us.
I think you missed the point.
It's hard to get the point if you don't finish the book.
[JABARI.]
Amen to that.
I'm sorry I didn't finish the book.
Hey, I want to do this work, and I want to be challenged in this way.
I want to make you guys proud.
I just I just didn't have enough time.
Well, that was a waste of time.
Professor Milgram, next time you feel the need for charity, maybe you should donate to the Red Cross.
Hey, Oliver, look, I didn't say I was off this kid entirely.
You're not? It takes a lot of balls to come in here and say you didn't like the book we asked you to read.
Balls are not what I look for in a student.
No, but maybe you should.
We want to teach new thinkers, passionate thinkers, the greatest minds of our next generation.
- That was a great mind to you? - Well, it could be.
He has been through extensive trauma in his life and in the last month, and he's still here, and he still read the book.
[BOTH.]
He didn't finish the book! Okay, fair, but he got it 24 hours ago.
His mother is on trial for his father's murder.
I don't know what else he had to do yesterday.
Do you? I think we should give him another shot.
[GATE BUZZES.]
Ms.
Green, I am so sorry I'm late.
I have a lot of other clients.
My name is Dana Patterson.
I'm your public defender.
Can you get me the same deal Tameika did? What deal was that? It's not mentioned here in your paperwork.
[JENNY.]
Funny thing about that deal.
It went out the window along with your story about you being the shooter.
Forensics just came back.
Whoever shot your husband was between 5' 11" and 6' 2" tall.
So unless you were standing on a ladder, Ms.
Green, you didn't pull the trigger.
Okay, so if you know my client didn't kill her husband, why is she still in here? Quinton Wallace we know Tasha set him up to take the fall for this murder.
Accessory after the fact, okay.
No, Dana, she started that plan in motion while James St.
Patrick was still alive, so it's conspiracy one, plus aiding and abetting, plus the gun possession charge, which is all we'll charge if she gives us the name of the shooter.
What kind of time? She can plead on conspiracy, 15 years.
What? If you don't give us the name of the shooter and we do go to trial, we can charge you with murder.
Just give me the name.
You already lied to me once, Ms.
Green.
Don't do it again.
[DANA.]
I think you should cooperate.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS.]
Andre Coleman.
He wanted my husband dead.
He said he would help me.
It was his gun.
I'll check out your Coleman story, Ms.
Green.
Dana, we'll be in touch.
[DANA.]
Okay, Jenny.
Love the dress.
[LAUGHS.]
- [DOOR SLAMS.]
- [DANA.]
Okay, um I know ten to 15 years sounds like a lot, but it's not gonna get better than this, I promise.
Why did you fire Tameika Washington, by the way? I hear she's really good.
Sorry, I just need you to sign So sorry, I am j I am having a day.
[DANA CHUCKLES.]
John, what the fuck you doing here? Who's this guy? [MAK.]
Well, we're hearing some disturbing news about the James St.
Patrick case.
I thought it was federal, but I heard you kicked it over to the locals.
[SCOFFS.]
Excuse me, sir.
I don't know who you are, but I'm not sure we should be discussing prosecutorial discretion in front of you.
I'm Steven Ott, DNC, and I was a prosecutor for 15 years before I left to work for the party, so I think I can keep up.
Yeah, doesn't explain what you're doing here in my office.
It's important to the Democratic Party that certain details about James St.
Patrick's life not come out in court.
[SCOFFS.]
I don't know what that has to do with me.
Well, Tasha's using a justification defense, Cooper.
She's saying that James St.
Patrick was a drug-dealing homicidal monster.
Yeah, he was.
Yeah, well, we see it differently.
[CHUCKLES.]
Okay.
You-you know, I-I'm-I'm-I'm sorry, John.
What game are we playing here? Well, Steven and I, we have an idea.
We'd like you to charge Tasha St.
Patrick under the Kingpin Statute.
Well, Queenpin in this case, I guess.
We got a friendly judge to sign over an arrest warrant.
For what? For running St.
Patrick's organization.
Drug trafficking, murder, assaults, the whole thing.
I mean, you wanted to build a RICO, there it is.
St.
Patrick's murder is the predicate crime that can open this whole thing right up.
You say she was silencing the ex-husband as a witness.
You could hang the whole thing on her.
But she isn't the head of this organization.
She knew what he was doing.
She's an accomplice.
But she was never the boss.
Gentlemen, I'd love to help you, but I can't.
St.
Patrick roughed Tasha up the night before she shot him.
I saw the bruises myself.
It's a local case, a domestic.
I gotta let the DA handle it.
[OTT.]
Huh.
Okay.
You know you owe me, Mr.
US Attorney.
Yeah, you think about that, okay? I got you this job, and I can take it away.
[DOOR CLICKS SHUT.]
[MUFFLED HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING.]
- [TARIQ.]
Oh, shit.
- [SHANISHA.]
You ain't lock it? [TARIQ.]
Yo, my bad.
My bad, bro.
Hey, you my new roommate, Tariq? Yeah, I am, but I can come back if you need me to.
- I'll be done in a minute.
- You better not be.
Can he leave, please? Hey, uh hey, give me 15 minutes.
[MOUTHING WORDS.]
- [SHANISHA MOANS.]
- [TARIQ.]
Got it.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER, LAUGHTER.]
[SIGHS.]
Oh, God.
- [CAMERON.]
Oh, look at that.
- [SOFT LAUGHTER.]
- Beautiful, Mom, as usual.
- It's Nancy's favorite.
Mom, I am the US Attorney for the Eastern District now.
I was hoping we'd stop with that idiotic nickname.
- No way.
- It's not gonna happen.
[CAMERON.]
I don't even remember what your real name is, to be honest, Nancy.
Jesus, if Claire were here, she would say something on my behalf.
[COURTNEY.]
Oh, you mean your favorite sister? Well, I'll do it.
[CHUCKLES.]
Guys, we should all honor Cooper's pronouns of he, him, and his and that he identifies as a cis heterosexual male and that using a traditionally feminine name could be viewed as an intentional assault on his gender identity.
[CAMERON.]
That's exactly what she would have said.
That was good.
[MARTIN.]
All right, kids, leave your brother alone.
You've made it through a hard year, Coop, and we're all proud of you.
Before we eat, let's raise a glass to your brother, US Attorney Cooper Andrew Saxe, returning the family name to public service.
To Coop.
[ALL.]
To Nancy.
[MARTIN.]
I am proud of you boys.
You're both doing so well.
Good night.
[SAXE.]
Night, Dad.
- Actually - [DOOR CLICKS SHUT.]
our general counsel is gonna retire in a few months.
You should take the job at our fund, Nancy.
[SCOFFS.]
Fuck you.
I just got a new job, or did you forget the entire purpose of this evening? Oh, no, I didn't forget.
It's just US Attorney? Ooh, it's a lot of pressure.
[BOTH CHUCKLE.]
And historically, you don't do well under pressure.
You and I both know you're gonna screw this up, but this time, Dad's emotions are all involved.
You heard him, a return to service.
But you've probably already made the bonehead move that's gonna get you fired, embarrass Mom and Dad, and ruin the family name.
I should punch you in your smug, bullshit face.
You're my little brother.
I do not need you to give me a job.
Not yet.
[MUFFLED HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING.]
You been to Queens before? Yeah, I used to come out here a lot, actually.
What's this party for? My family congratulating me on Stansfield.
I know you're gonna help me stay there, so they wanted to meet you.
I gotta do this report on Moby-Dick.
Man, the book is mad long.
[TARIQ CHUCKLES.]
Man, you ain't never read Moby-Dick before? Every school I've been to had me read that shit.
The schools I been to ain't want me to read.
Damn, so you grew up over here? I grew up in the South, came up for high school.
This is my Aunt Monet's house.
Her kids are my cousins but more like my brothers and a sister.
You know how it is.
I ain't got that much family, bro.
I got too much sometimes.
You'll see.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE.]
[NAUGHTY BY NATURE'S "FEEL ME FLOW" PLAYING.]
This is my boy Tariq.
Show him some love! [CROWD CHEERING.]
[WOMAN.]
What up, Tariq? What up? What up? What up? Okay, okay, okay.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
[LAUGHS.]
"Congratulations, Zeke".
Okay.
Aw, man, y'all are crazy.
Look at that drip.
All right.
Y'all funny.
[LAUGHS.]
What you think? Man, this shit is crazy.
This ain't even big.
The real fun is in the backyard.
Come on.
Hold up, where's your bathroom at? Oh, uh, near the, um, front door, where we came in at.
- A'ight, excuse me.
- What's up, baby? [LAUGHS.]
Aw, shit, girl.
All we want to know is if your body want to party It's the poo tang tang for everybody [ZEKE.]
Hey! What up? What up? What up? What up? What up? What up? [LAUGHS.]
What's good? Yo, Tariq, this is my cousin Dru.
[TARIQ.]
Yo, what up, bro? So I ain't gonna lie.
The bathroom was kind of occupied.
I think it's gonna be a little minute.
[ZEKE.]
There's another one in the basement.
Hey, but before you go, I want you to meet somebody.
Diana! [MAN.]
What's up, Rel? What you doing here? [ZEKE.]
This is my cousin Diana Tejada.
This is my boy Tariq.
We go to Stansfield together.
Hey.
What's up? How are you? What's up? How are you? I'm great.
I just seen him in the bathroom with some girl.
[DIANA.]
Yeah, that's my brother Cane, and it's probably the girl that nigga Rel is looking for.
- Damn.
- [REL.]
Hey, yo.
- [REL.]
Where my girl at? - [ZEKE.]
Aw, shit.
Why you asking me about your bitch? What? You Oh, her? [CHUCKLES.]
Come on, bitch.
There goes the party.
- [CANE.]
This my house, bitch.
- [ZEKE.]
Hey, back, back, nigga! Is you stupid? Is you dumb? - Nigga, is you stupid? - Yo, I will fuck you up.
What the fuck is going on out here? [MAN.]
Back up, back up, back up.
[WOMAN.]
Damn, that's Monet.
Get inside, Zeke.
[CROWD OOHS.]
- [ZEKE.]
Auntie Monet.
- Cane can handle himself.
And you're too valuable to the family.
Go ahead.
This'll be squashed in a minute.
[CROWD CHATTERING.]
Get the fuck out of my crib.
[LAUGHTER.]
Oh, but your bitch, yeah, she can stay, though.
Hey, yo, let's go.
I'm stayin'.
[CROWD OOHS.]
Get the fuck out of here, man.
[MAN.]
Get your punk ass out of here.
[CROWD YELLING.]
[WOMAN.]
Bye, Rel.
He'll be back.
Yeah, he just gonna go get somethin'.
You know what to do.
So tell me about Stansfield.
You're not worried about nothing that's going on right now? Nah, it's just another night out here with this family, trust me.
What does he tell you about us anyway? Nothing like this.
So your mom's Monet, and your father is Lorenzo Tejada.
We're Black and Puerto Rican.
Hmm.
How many of you are there? Just the three of us.
It's me, Cane, and Dru.
With Zeke here, it was all boys and me.
So where's your father at? - He's inside.
- Hmm.
Yeah, my mom's inside too.
What's he in there for? What you think? Hmm.
Who is this? - [DIANA.]
That's me.
- I knew she looked familiar.
- [BOTH CHUCKLE.]
- [REL.]
Cane, get out here! Damn, I knew that nigga would be back.
[REL.]
Cane, I'm talking to you, motherfucker! [MONET.]
Rel, you better get your ass out of here.
You don't want no trouble.
[REL.]
Cane, stop hiding behind your mama! Rel, you need to go home now.
[REL.]
Cane need to come out here.
He can't hide behind you no more.
He ain't hiding; he's standing right there about to blow your motherfucking head off.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS.]
- [SIREN WHOOPS.]
- Go home, Rel.
[VEHICLE DOOR SLAMS.]
Everything okay here? Everything's good.
I handled it.
[BOTH CONVERSING INDISTINCTLY.]
[CELL PHONE CHIMES.]
That's your girlfriend? - [CHUCKLES.]
- No, I don't got a girlfriend.
But I gotta go.
Tell Zeke I'll see him back at the dorm, a'ight? A'ight.
[SMOOTH R&B MUSIC PLAYING.]
Cooper, I can't talk to you about the St.
Patrick case.
You know better.
But Tasha's not your client anymore.
Privilege still holds.
[SIGHS.]
Okay, then, uh let me present you with a hypothetical, okay? Mm-hmm.
What if you had a-a witness who, uh, saw your client uh, a public official, let's say at the scene of a murder? This murder? With a handgun.
Saxe.
What the fuck did you do? Nothing, it's a hypothetical.
Bullshit.
I saw you that night you found out you were going to jail.
Did you go to Truth after that? With a weapon? Whatever witness this is has you by the balls.
Is that why you asked me to take Tasha's case? Cooper, what the fuck did you get me into? It's a fucking hypothetical.
Then hypothetically, you are fucked.
I am on the thinnest ethical line here, Cooper, but I can tell you this: Tasha is going to be under tremendous pressure to name a second person involved in her husband's murder.
If she names you, can you prove you're innocent, if indeed you are innocent? Come on, Tameika.
[SCOFFS.]
I didn't kill him.
I hope not, for both our sakes.
You are not my client.
This conversation isn't privileged.
You understand that, right? If I get subpoenaed, I'd have to testify to what you just said.
Eh, you don't have to.
Get out.
This conversation never happened, Saxe.
- You were never here.
- I need your help.
- I don't know you.
- Tameika, please.
I don't know you! Let me strip so I can tease So I can bring you to your knees Let's get high smoke some trees Pay your Gs I'm here to please Now we gotta take heed follow my lead I know your need I won't mislead Give me the cheese I'll do your deeds - Is it hot enough - [WOMAN.]
Come here.
You know I'm gonna take all of your money, honey.
- Oh.
- Every little bit.
Oh, you're welcome to it, baby.
- Mm-hmm.
- Do you take credit cards? - Credit cards? - Um, I have this one.
It's just for emergencies only.
My mom gave it to me, but I don't think she's gonna mind, to be honest.
- Mommy? - Yeah.
No, no, no, I take Bitcoin, baby.
So all you have to do is stick it in the right slot.
Okay, my bad.
I'm sorry.
Yo, make sure you get as much as you can, all right? I always do.
And hit me on this tomorrow morning.
My number's already locked in.
- All right.
- A'ight.
[JACOB BANKS' "MONSTER" PLAYING.]
Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh They made a monster out of me They put a sword in my back They gave me till the count of three They set the hounds on my tracks Hold that, bitch-ass nigga.
They made a demon out of me Then they put a cross to my flesh They put a search out for me 'Cause I got some blood on my hands [TARIQ.]
I got you, bro.
[ZEKE.]
Nigga, I been to the gym already - [CELL PHONE BUZZES.]
- and gotta be back - in two hours for practice.
- Is you sure you can handle my classes too? Because that white-whale shit is due at the end of the week.
Bro, don't worry.
I got you, a'ight? [ZEKE.]
Okay, man.
I guess you know what you're doing.
Just make sure it sounds like I did it.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS.]
Oh, yeah, good looks on last night.
- My Aunt Monet, she really likes you.
- [CELL PHONE BUZZES.]
- - Hey, hey.
Hello, stranger.
Ah, should've gotten that restraining order after all.
I'm not here for a social visit.
- Thank God.
- Hey, take it easy.
I want to know how the St.
Patrick case is going.
It's going pretty well, actually, once Tameika Washington came off the case.
Had Tasha Green about to take a plea.
What do you mean? What happened? [INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
[TARIQ.]
I'm surprised you hit me up.
I thought the girls usually let the guys do that.
Mm, wow.
Look who's on himself.
I hit you because Professor Milgram asked me to.
She said you were having a rough time the other day with The Stranger, but they're willing to give you another shot.
She said you hadn't even finished the book.
I finished it last night, actually.
I got it.
I don't need help.
I figured you'd say that.
Look, Tariq, I-I can't imagine what you're going through Don't even go there.
It's just, like, the most boring book ever.
He shoots a guy in cold blood, and somehow it's like you miss it.
That's the point.
Meursault doesn't even know what's happening.
He doesn't make a real decision to kill someone.
- He just does it.
- That's bullshit.
Killing someone is always a real decision.
Even carrying a gun is a real decision.
He doesn't want to own up to it, and he's just mad that people hate him for it.
But people will always hate you for what you do.
You can't care about that.
But in the end, he's killed because people didn't like how he reacted to his mother's death.
People didn't like him because he shot the guy.
He was killed because he committed a murder.
He knew what he was doing.
He knew the consequences.
He still pulled that trigger.
He did it anyway.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS.]
You should tell them that that you see it that way and also what you said about killing is a choice.
I don't think they want to hear that.
[LAUREN.]
They're gonna think they're seeing the real you.
That's what they want.
I'm going to the bathroom.
I'll be back.
[TAPPING ON WINDOW.]
Your mom's supposed to be out by now.
What the fuck is going on? The DA said they're taking her to trial.
I'm trying to get her a new lawyer right now, and you're supposed to be helping her.
What? I-I already helped.
Your mother was supposed to take that sweet-ass deal that Tameika and I got for her.
Wait, so that deal was you? Why do you think Tameika took the case? I signed a waiver so that she could represent your mom.
It was handled.
So let's just get Tameika back.
- I have money.
- It's not about money.
Tameika's not gonna suborn perjury.
Your mother lied twice.
First she left out that she had an accomplice.
Someone else pulled that trigger.
Damn.
Do you know who it was? [SCOFFS.]
Tasha told ADA Sullivan that Andre Coleman killed your father.
Lie number two.
- Wasn't it his gun? - It was.
But we still had the clothes he wore that night.
No GSR.
Andre Coleman didn't shoot anyone 20 minutes before his arrest.
Even if we wanted to blame him, now we can't.
Wait, you-you-you told me it was Dre too.
That's what my mother told me.
Tariq if you know who your mother's protecting, you tell me.
Look, man, I don't know, a'ight? But you know my mother didn't shoot anyone.
You know she's innocent.
So if you don't fix this, I'm gonna have to tell the cops that I saw you at Truth.
- I don't have a choice.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
You-you don't have to tell anyone anything about me.
We can still save your mom.
I can still push Sullivan to take a deal, but Tasha has to name the shooter.
If she does that and I can confirm it, I can get her out.
We can all walk away from this, Tariq.
Just get your mom to tell the truth.
[BRAYDEN.]
Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah, just put that shit in your ass, dog.
I'm not playing this game anymore.
I quit.
Yo, Zeke, I need to borrow your phone, bro.
The fuck you need to borrow my phone for? I'm trying to make an Instagram Live or whatever the fuck it's called.
- I don't got an account.
- Oh, dude, just use mine.
You know I'm always ready to go.
Now, you know Zeke got more followers than you, bro.
That's hurtful.
I'm just gonna say it.
You'll be a'ight.
But, yo, I need to do something, bro.
It's for my mom.
[GUNFIRE ON TELEVISION.]
I got you.
Good looking, bro.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS.]
[BRAYDEN SIGHS.]
[TARIQ.]
Hey, what's up, guys? I don't really do the social media stuff like that.
I don't like it, but I need to take the time out to tell everyone how grateful I am that the famous Davis MacLean has agreed to take my mother's case.
We're a Black family in need, and he heard us.
He showed up.
Thank you.
Most people look at The Stranger as an exposure of how other people's opinions can shape our destinies.
Most people think that if Meursault would have visibly mourned his mother and then expressed that emotion, then he wouldn't have been put to death.
He would've just died by bad press.
But Meursault, he took those actions.
You know, every single action along the way was his.
All those decisions were his, even the decision to pull the trigger.
Meursault, he was he was different.
He was a killer.
He was alienated.
He was special.
Maybe too special to live by everyone else's rules.
Because of that difference, he couldn't survive.
But, you know, that doesn't mean Meursault was the one who was wrong.
Most people survive by trying to live up to others' opinions and court the public favor.
You know, I think to do that is to die while you're still here.
Meursault went out on his own terms.
He didn't bend to a prosecutor or the priest.
He controlled his own destiny.
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYS.]
[LIGHT PERCUSSIVE MUSIC PLAYS.]
[CELL PHONE CHIMING REPEATEDLY.]
Son of a bitch.
[TARIQ.]
Hello.
[DAVIS.]
Where do you want to meet? [TARIQ.]
Meet me at the chapel in 15.
You forced my hand.
This'll buy you the week, until I can find you other counsel without attracting public attention.
All I need is the week.
We official now? Yes.
Can I trust you? You gotta trust someone, kid.
Seems like I'm all you got.
A'ight, well, the DA knows my mother didn't shoot my father.
Then why would they hit her with a full murder charge? That doesn't make sense.
'Cause she lied to them about having an accomplice.
She lied to them about who it was.
She was protecting him because he shot my father trying to protect her.
They said she could get a deal if she tells them the whole truth.
Tariq, for a criminal defendant, the truth rarely sets you free.
Doesn't matter what the DA told her.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS.]
A'ight, well, tell my mom I said that she needs to come home.
A'ight, she doesn't deserve this.
She's innocent.
I know she's afraid to say his real name, but I'm not afraid anymore.
Tell my mom I said if she loves me, then she should tell the truth.
[CHUCKLES.]
Tariq really got you here.
You raised that kid? I don't know whether to congratulate you or have you brought up on charges by Child Services.
Okay, ADA Sullivan is offering you the deal of the century.
Obstructing governmental administration, second degree, and tampering with physical evidence.
Three years' probation, you allocute, you go home.
[TASHA.]
That's the same deal Tameika got me.
Exactly.
But this time, you have to tell the whole truth.
If they can't verify your story, you go on trial for murder.
It was Andre Coleman.
[DAVIS.]
It was not Andre Coleman.
There was no GSR on Coleman's clothing from that night.
He's not the shooter.
And you wouldn't frame Quinton Wallace to protect Coleman.
Look, you may be the first client I've ever said this to, including my own brother, but you need to tell the truth, right now to me and tomorrow in court.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS.]
[DAVIS SIGHS.]
I saw your son before I got here.
He wanted me to tell you something.
Well, what did he say? He said you don't deserve this, that you're innocent.
He said you need to come home.
That boy loves his mother.
I'm not surprised he said that.
Oh, I wasn't either.
But then he said something else.
He said he knew that you were afraid to say the name of the person who shot your husband, but he's not afraid for you to say it.
He said if you love him, you need to tell the truth.
Are you sure that's what he said? That's what he said.
And you don't have a choice.
[DOOR CLICKS SHUT.]
[DOOR CLICKS OPEN.]
[DOOR CLICKS SHUT.]
[BAILIFF.]
All rise.
The Honorable Judge Janine Galanti presiding.
[SIGHS.]
Ms.
Sullivan, I hear we have reached an agreement with the defense.
That's correct, Your Honor.
In exchange for the name of her accomplice, the People have agreed to obstructing governmental administration, second degree, and tampering with physical evidence.
Three years' probation.
Ms.
St.
Patrick, are you ready? Yes, Your Honor.
When I was charged with this crime, I told the police and Ms.
Sullivan that I pulled the trigger, but that wasn't true.
Someone else killed James, and they gave me the gun to frame Quinton.
He said that we would both walk away, but he was wrong.
I'm sorry, Ms.
Sullivan.
I was simply trying to hide the identity of my accomplice because I was afraid, Your Honor.
I was afraid of what might happen to my family if I told the truth.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS.]
The man who killed James St.
Patrick is Tommy Egan.
[PEOPLE MURMURING.]
RICO.
I told you.
They silenced St.
Patrick to keep him from turning witness.
What? I told you no.
- No.
- 1Your Honor, may the People inquire? Your Honor, my client held up her end of the deal.
I don't know what else the DA might need to ask.
- One question.
- Proceed.
I find it hard to believe that James St.
Patrick's lifelong best friend would kill him, Mrs.
St.
Patrick.
Why on earth would Tommy Egan have killed your husband? - Because I asked him to.
- Your Honor, I object.
- No, you're not gonna do that.
- [GALANTI.]
Objection overruled.
Queenpin.
Are the People satisfied? Now, you go in there, and you make me proud.
[PEOPLE MURMURING.]
Mr.
Saxe, are you addressing the court? Uh, uh, no, Your Honor.
She will.
Sorry.
Your Honor, the People move to drop all charges against Tasha Green St.
Patrick.
- What? - [DAVIS.]
Your Honor, we have - an executed plea agreement.
- [JENNY.]
Not anymore.
- [TASHA.]
What does she mean? - Your Honor.
Motion granted.
I hope you know what you're doing, Ms.
Sullivan.
[GAVEL BANGS.]
Tasha St.
Patrick, you're under arrest for the murder of James St.
Patrick under the federal Continuing Criminal Enterprise Kingpin Statute.
Ma! No! Ma! Ma! Kingpin? What the fuck? You know I wasn't running shit, you motherfucker.
Stay strong.
We're gonna fight this together.
What kind of headline-grabbing bullshit is this? Kingpin Statute? You're gonna give her the needle? You and I both know this is not a federal case.
It is now.
What don't I know about your mother? - Hmm? - Tariq, what have you done? Listen, I had to be the one to do it, Ma; I had to.
I'll say it was me.
Take the gun out back and dump it, all right? I know what to do.
What have you just gotten me into, kid? We take care of each other, right? Right.
I got you into the biggest case of your career.
Look, my mom is innocent.
Saxe has an agenda.
The publicity on this case is huge, and you're right under the spotlight.
Look, if you win when you win we can take down Saxe and blow up the whole entire US Attorney's Office.
Once you do that, you'll be known as the most powerful criminal defense attorney in New York.
[EXCITING MUSIC PLAYS.]
You owe me $450,000, kid.
You paid for the appetizer, but we're about to get into the full meal.
They made a monster out of me They put a sword in my back They gave me till the count of three They set the hounds on my tracks [MEREDITH LAUGHING.]
They made a demon out of me Welcome home, bitch.
Then they put a cross to my flesh They put a search out for me 'Cause I got some blood on my hands But they won't see me when I'm coming I'll be laughin' while you're runnin', oh Oh, you won't see me when I'm comin' I'll be that monster you've been wantin', oh, no They made a story out of me They laugh and joke about my name - They put a bounty out on me - They're all excited by my shame But they won't see me when I'm coming I'll be laughin' while you're runnin', oh - Oh, you won't see me when I'm comin' - I'll be that monster you've been wantin', oh, no - - Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Remember when you wanted to forget me? You'd let me rest in pieces And let the rest piece me together Yeah, we ain't never had spirit in the flesh These people These people let me loose Bet they wish they would've kept me now I'm verbal, feet out Told my sponsor I don't write bars I get freestyle And if your hand never held me down Don't fucking reach out All's fair in love and war but I love a war How you picking on the chosen one? 'Cause when it rains bows it ain't colorful I'ma be the last man standing, yeah, the only one Blacked out moving through the jungle Got me feelin' like my name is Rambo Oh, hey, let's rumble We can do it any way you want to Blacked out moving through the jungle Got me feelin' like a Rambo Oh, hey, let's rumble We can do it any way you want to Oh, you won't see me when I'm coming, oh I'll be laughin' while you're runnin', oh Oh, you won't see me when I'm comin' I'll be that monster you've been wantin', oh, no Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh
Previously on Power [TARIQ.]
Where's Dad? You the man of the house, a'ight? Hold it down.
- A'ight.
- I love you.
Nothing's the same with him anymore.
Everything's just different.
He's different.
[RAINA.]
I'm worried about you, 'Riq.
There was this cop at school looking for you today.
Are you in trouble? You should tell Mom.
Listen to me.
You cannot tell anyone.
- You can't.
- I won't tell.
I swear.
I know who you are, Ray Ray.
You need to leave my brother alone.
[GUNSHOT.]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS.]
[TARIQ.]
Raina was my better half.
When I-when I find myself in a place of trouble, I think to myself "What would Raina do?" [TASHA.]
Well, here we are.
This is Choate.
There's something I gotta say to you.
You deserve the truth.
We thought we were protecting you, but all we did was teach you how to lie.
I told her I-I would handle it, but I watched her die.
- [TARIQ.]
I miss her so much.
- [TASHA.]
I miss her too.
[EFFIE.]
What happened to your sister? You were twins? Yeah, and half of me is gone.
- I feel so alone.
- You're not alone.
I'm here.
[ORSON.]
He's expelled, effective immediately.
[TARIQ.]
That's all it is.
It's just baby aspirin.
[ORSON.]
Do they think they're buying baby aspirin? [TARIQ.]
Ma, what happened to your arm? [TASHA.]
Ghost happened to my arm.
He laid hands on me.
And I would kill Ghost to protect you, 'Riq.
I should be the one protecting you! And I will.
I promise you that, Ma, no matter what.
- A'ight.
- [TARIQ.]
Don't get it twisted.
You might've given me life.
But you were never my fucking father.
He said he would kill you? He didn't have to say it, Ma.
I'm gonna stop him.
If you don't want this, 'Riq, you gotta tell me now.
Ma, I just don't want you to go to jail.
I won't.
[KANAN.]
What if she gets caught? [TARIQ.]
Man, she ain't gonna get caught; she too smart.
There's only one way to be sure.
It was always gonna go this way.
Just gotta step into it.
[GHOST.]
Tariq, if you do this shit, you can never go back.
I'd do anything to go back to go back to how it was before you left us for Angela.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS.]
[GUNSHOT.]
- Come on! - Wait.
We take care of each other, right? Right.
- [TARIQ.]
I saw you at Truth.
- Wasn't me.
I don't want to have to say I saw you if you're not the one that did it.
- Dre did it, right? - Right, it was Coleman.
Good.
The entire portfolio goes to your children.
Ma, don't worry about it, okay? I'll take care of you.
You don't inherit until you complete a four-year degree from a university.
You do want Truth back, right? How much? I'll pay asking.
You get him into your alma mater, Stansfield, and my son's trust will give you Truth.
- [KNOCK AT DOOR.]
- [TASHA.]
What do you want now? Tasha Green St.
Patrick, you're under arrest - for the murder of James St.
Patrick.
- No, she didn't do it.
Mom, tell her you didn't do this! - Tell her what really happened! - Tariq, go to school! No.
Live your life.
[JOE.]
They say this is a big, rich town I just come from the poorest part Bright lights, city life I gotta make it this is where it goes down I just happen to come up hard Legal or illegal, baby I gotta make it [50 CENT.]
I never took a straight path nowhere Life's full of twists and turns, bumps and bruises I live, I learn I'm from that city full of yellow cabs and skyscrapers It's hard to get a start in these parts without paper Homey, I grew up in hell a block away from heaven That corner every 15 minutes they moving seven Pure snow, bag it then watch it go Occupational options get some blow or some hos Shoot the ball or the strap learn to rap or to jack Fuck it, man In the meantime Go head and pump a pack This my regal, royal flow my James Bond bounce That 007 that's 62 on my count I'm an undercover liar I lie under the covers Look a bitch in the eyes And tell her Baby, I love ya You're my inspiration you're my motivation You're the reason that I'm moving with no hesitation [JOE.]
They say this is a big, rich town Yeah, I just come from the poorest part Bright lights, city life I gotta make it this is where it goes down Oh, yeah, yeah I just happen to come up hard Legal or illegal, baby I gotta make it [CELL PHONE BUZZING.]
[JACOB BANKS' "MONSTER" PLAYING.]
Oh-ah, oh-eh - Oh-ah, oh-eh - Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh - They made a monster out of me - They put a sword in my back They gave me till the count of three They set the hounds on my tracks They made a demon out of me Then they put a cross through my flesh [MEREDITH.]
First-degree murder.
You don't look like you could pull that off.
Nails too nice for that.
My husband beat me up, a'ight? [SCOFFS.]
You're not a battered woman.
I've seen a million girls with that same story here and at Bedford Hills.
If they didn't find you crying on the ground next to the body, that's bullshit.
Maybe you could sell that shit to the jury but not to me.
[GATE BUZZES.]
She's headed to arraignment.
Good luck, Tasha Green St.
Patrick.
If the locals don't keep you, I'll see your guilty ass tonight.
[MEREDITH LAUGHS.]
[GATE SLAMS.]
They made a monster out of me Listen, you need to come and stay with me right now.
Grandma, I have to stay at Stansfield.
It's what Ma wants.
No, your mother doesn't know what's best for you right now.
She has enough to worry about.
'Riq, please come home with us.
I mean, I would think that you would want family at a time like this.
You don't understand, Grandma.
I do, but [TAMEIKA.]
Mrs.
Green.
I'm Tameika Washington, Tasha's attorney.
- Nice to meet you.
- You too.
[TAMEIKA.]
This must be Yasmine.
- And you're Tariq.
- Yeah, so what happens today? Does she get bail? I brought money.
One step at a time, Tariq.
We're gonna argue a justification defense.
That means Tasha says she did it.
What? No! She has to say she killed James but she did it in self-defense.
It's her best chance at less jail time or maybe none at all.
Wait, so she has to say she did it in court? Yes, and your mother is very sure that's what she wants to do.
Wait, no, I-I need to speak to her first.
Her mind's made up.
Tariq, in order to get the judge to give bail, I need to say some pretty ugly things about your father.
Are you gonna be okay with that? Go ahead.
Okay.
[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYS.]
Tasha St.
Patrick had a plan, and she executed it.
She duped her lover, Quinton Wallace, into driving her to the scene of the crime.
She waited until her husband turned off all the cameras at Truth, and she calmly pulled the trigger, with her unwitting getaway driver waiting outside.
She showed premeditation with malice aforethought.
She even had a scapegoat all lined up in case she got caught.
She committed first-degree murder, and she deserves no bail.
She thought he was gonna kill her, Your Honor.
Can the defense prove that James St.
Patrick - made such a threat? - We can show the bruises on her arm from the conversation they had about it the night before.
Your Honor, Ms.
Washington can't argue that the defendant thought she was in imminent danger - 24 hours later.
- She's right, Ms.
Washington.
Your Honor, James St.
Patrick was a monster of untold proportion.
The Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor was a monster? The Democrats didn't do their homework on James St.
Patrick.
He was suspected of and investigated for multiple homicides, numerous narcotics charges, and violations of laws both state and federal.
James St.
Patrick was cleared of the only charge ever brought against him.
[TAMEIKA.]
Your Honor, if we go to trial, I will show that my client was the long-suffering wife of a smiling sociopath, a man as vicious as he was successful, as capable of slitting a throat as he was of making a speech.
My client is not a flight risk.
She has children.
I ask you, Your Honor, what kind of a stand against battered women would you like to make? Hmm.
Ms.
Sullivan, it sounds like you need to call your boss before you go too far with this prosecution.
Thank you, Your Honor.
[GALANTI.]
Oh, don't thank me yet.
Your client is facing murder one.
I can't just let her go home.
Tasha Green St.
Patrick, you are remanded to custody.
- No bail.
- [GAVEL BANGS.]
No bail! [SOBS.]
Is Mommy coming home? Not yet, Yas.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS.]
[JENNY.]
This is Jenny Sullivan.
- I need to speak to - [CELL PHONE BUZZES.]
Take her to the attorney conference room.
I think we have a meeting.
How was your phone call with the DA? I'm here, aren't I? We want criminally negligent homicide, E felony, probation.
She showed up with a gun, and she pulled the trigger, Tameika.
What the hell is negligent about that? Man two, I'll recommend five years.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS.]
[JENNY.]
He killed all those people? [TAMEIKA.]
And more we couldn't nail him for.
Hell, we couldn't nail him for these; he was that good.
My client knew she'd be just another one of these photos, either herself or her children.
[JENNY.]
You didn't prove any of this; it's not admissible.
[TAMEIKA.]
My client's state of mind is at issue, not the evidence.
Tasha, do you think James committed these murders? I know I would have been next.
[TAMEIKA.]
I put these photos in front of a jury, it's a walk.
Shit, they'd throw her a goddamn parade.
You might not get them in fair warning.
[TAMEIKA.]
But I sure will try, and once the entire Democratic Party is humiliated, let's see where you end up fair warning.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
[STERN.]
Why, Tariq, I had almost given up hope.
Has your watch stopped? Young African Americans have a responsibility to be prompt, young man.
We must subvert expectations whenever possible.
Yes, ma'am, I apologize.
I had a family emergency.
[STERN.]
Yes, well, I suppose you have the family emergency these days, don't you? He really is remarkably resilient, wouldn't you say, Ida? Tariq, I was surprised when our esteemed alumnus here reached out on your behalf and suggested that you wanted to matriculate so soon after your father's passing.
Are you really ready for the academic rigors of Stansfield? [TARIQ.]
Yes, ma'am, I believe so.
In fact, I think that school will help distract me from the things I'd rather not think about.
I think Stansfield will be a great refuge from the outside world for me.
[BROOKS.]
Well, I certainly understand that, young man.
[STERN.]
I'm glad to hear you feel prepared, because unfortunately, in exchange for your admission here at Stansfield, we've had to add a little extra to your plate.
We'd like you to tutor one of our students, a basketball player.
Do you like basketball? Of course he likes basketball.
[DRAWER CLATTERS OPEN.]
- Uh, may I? - Please.
What's the student's name, ma'am? Ezekiel Cross.
Have you heard of him? - Wonderful jump shot.
- No, I haven't.
Well, we've actually arranged for him to be your roommate in the dormitory.
You move tomorrow.
And in which subject will I be tutoring Ezekiel, ma'am? All of them.
Zeke doesn't play, you don't stay.
[BROOKS.]
Now you need to go meet your advisor.
- [DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS.]
- [WOMAN CLEARING THROAT.]
[WOMAN.]
You lost? Oh.
Damn, was it that obvious? Yeah, a little bit.
What building are you looking for? Um, University Hall.
I'm headed that way.
What year are you? Freshman.
Wait, are you gonna take Canonical Studies? I'm not sure.
I'm supposed to be meeting someone named Caridad Milgram.
She's my "minority student counselor".
Yeah, she's mine too.
Most of the freshmen have her.
But Professor Milgram also teaches Canonical Studies.
It'd be nice to have another Black kid in there with us.
There's only, like, four now.
What do you mean "like, four"? Everyone who's Black isn't Black, you know? Really willing to own it.
Speaks up when the white kid oversteps.
Right now, you got me, this one girl BruShaundria, and this other guy Khalid.
And then there's Richard.
[SIGHS.]
It's like he was dipped in chocolate but the inside doesn't match.
[TARIQ CHUCKLES.]
I'm guessing you're not too shy about your opinion, huh? What would be the point of that? University Hall is the next building to your right.
You'll get used to this place pretty fast, I promise.
See you around.
Hey, wait.
What's your name? I'm Tariq.
Lauren.
I hope to see you in class.
[SOFT MUSIC PLAYS.]
[TENSE PERCUSSIVE MUSIC PLAYS.]
Oh, fuck.
[CARRIE.]
It can be hard for students of color at first at Stansfield.
I mean, my own mother struggled here as a young Black woman in the late '70s.
And as an interracial couple, well, my parents were still an anomaly.
But times have changed, and well, the school's now invested in our concerns.
You know, I don't understand why the dean wanted me to come see you.
I've been going to all-white schools my whole life.
Well, I'm sure she thought your personal circumstances required extra support.
Um, "my personal circumstances"? Your parents, Tariq.
Your father's unfortunate death, your mother's arrest.
You can talk to me about anything.
How are you feeling? Look, my parents, I think, would want me to concentrate on my schoolwork.
And I heard you teach something called Canonical Studies, and I read in the course catalog that in that class, the students get to graduate early.
Well, the level of difficulty for Canonical Studies is very high, Tariq.
Course credit is double that of a normal freshman workload.
Students can elect to graduate after their third year, but most choose not to do so.
You just got here.
Why are you in such a hurry to leave? I have to help my grandmother with my baby sister.
I have to help my family.
Canonical Studies requires a verbal entrance exam on this book, The Stranger by Camus.
Okay, so when can I take the test? Professor Milgram, I'm not asking for any special treatment.
I'm asking not to lose an opportunity.
The DA has agreed to four years' probation for criminally negligent homicide with all the other charges included.
No jail time? No jail time.
Somebody wants your husband's secret life to stay a secret.
You allocute tomorrow morning accurately and specifically, and you go home tomorrow afternoon.
How can I ever thank you? Thank your husband's ambition.
If he hadn't gotten in bed with politicians, we'd be stuck with that man two charge.
There is one last thing with Quinton Wallace's testimony.
He said you rushed him out the door.
You were on a schedule.
You arrived at the precise moment where James would be alone no guests, no security detail.
How did you know? What does that matter? If your story isn't airtight, the prosecutor can ask you questions right there in front of the judge.
If that happens for any reason, we have to be prepared.
How did you know James would be alone? [TASHA.]
When he gets in the elevator to the loading dock, you text me and let me know.
[TAMEIKA.]
It's an allocution under oath.
You cannot lie.
What are you not telling me? I'm telling you everything.
No, you must have had a cue.
Someone else was there.
Someone told you he was alone.
You gotta be gone by then.
Okay, I will be.
No, nothing like that.
I can't suborn perjury, Tasha.
If you lie and they prove it, you will go to jail, and I will lose my license.
If you had an accomplice, you have to tell me who it is.
They might come forward.
They might expose you.
That won't happen.
How can you be so sure? [DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS.]
Is it your son? No.
You are my client.
I can't let you lie for Tariq.
I can't let you go to jail for him.
- Tameika, you're fired.
- What? Tasha, you will lose your deal.
Get out! I mean it.
Go.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS.]
[POUNDING ON DOOR.]
[DOOR CLICKS OPEN.]
Hello? [TAMEIKA.]
Tariq, this is Tameika Washington.
Hey, Ms.
Washington.
What'd they say about my mom? Did she get a deal? I don't know what's gonna happen to your mom.
She just fired me.
Wait, what? You told me all she had to do was tell them exactly what happened.
That's exactly right, but she won't.
She won't tell the truth.
She is protecting someone, Tariq.
I think you might know who it is.
What did she say? Nothing.
And even if she told me everything, our conversations are privileged, and I can't say a word to anyone.
Without me, Tariq, your mom is in a lot of trouble.
You're gonna need to get her a good attorney fast, someone who doesn't need the truth to win.
What lawyer doesn't need the truth to win? Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, my client [CHUCKLES.]
Mr.
William Ryan, has been railroaded by his colleagues, his board of directors, and, in fact, the US Attorney's Office.
He's a scapegoat, the classic fall guy.
Innocent as the day he was born, trusting as his parents raised him to be, he fell for the oldest trick in the book.
But instead of the red-hot shame of the fool, his innocence has led him to the cold, hard steel of the shackle.
Look at my client.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS.]
Does he look like he needs to steal? [TRIUMPHANT MUSIC PLAYS.]
- Davis MacLean? - Oh, no, no, no, kid.
I'm in a rush.
I got a meeting across town.
I do not have time for pictures.
I don't want a picture.
My mother's on trial for killing my father, and I want to hire you.
St.
Patrick.
You're James St.
Patrick's son.
That was a good picture of you in The Times next to his obituary.
Classic African-American family, you know, except for the wife with the smoking gun.
My mother's innocent.
Yeah, I'm sure that's what she told you, but you should accept the fact that she's going to jail and you get to start your life over again.
Oh.
Don't let your parents define you.
You can be anything that you want to be, and that advice I'll give you for free.
I said I wanted to hire you.
How much? - You don't have it.
- How much? Five hundred K, liquid, up front.
You get that, we'll talk.
[DETERMINED MUSIC PLAYS.]
[ESTELLE.]
Tariq, we need to start planning your daddy's funeral.
Tariq.
Tariq, are you all right? Boy, look at me when I'm talking to you.
Listen I know that you gotta talk to somebody, and I know baby, I know that you're hurting.
Just talk to me.
Grandma, I have to get back to school.
I have an oral exam in the morning.
All right, then just stay the night, okay? Because your sister needs you.
You both need me, Grandma! You guys need me to finish school so I can get my inheritance so I can help you, Ma, and Yas.
Whatever happens with Ma.
Grandma, if you really want to help me, help me look.
Is this the only place that Ma kept the books from the day care? Yeah, yeah, that's everything.
Why? What are you looking for? - [TELEPHONE RINGING.]
- Get the phone.
- [DARK MUSIC PLAYS.]
- Hello? Yes, I'll accept the charges.
Yasmine.
- Come here and talk to your mommy.
- [YASMINE.]
Hi, Mommy.
[ESTELLE.]
Yeah, actually, he's here right now.
You want to talk to him? Tariq? Your mother.
Hey, Ma.
You okay? Yeah.
Um, I'm okay.
I'm okay, 'Riq.
Grandma, can I speak to her alone? I don't understand why I can't listen when the guards can.
Ma, why'd you fire Tameika? - How'd you hear about that? - She called me.
We need to get you a new lawyer.
No, I'm fine.
I have a public defender.
I'll figure everything out.
Don't worry.
[SIGHS.]
You think any of the parents from the day care still need help? Remember that one lady you used to tell me about? She used to come pick up her son late? She worked this weird job at night? No, listen to me.
Tariq, you don't need to worry about opening up the day care again, okay? What I need is for you to concentrate on school, all right? If you take care of yourself, you'll take care of all of us.
Tariq, do you hear me? I need you to promise me that you'll focus on school.
Yeah, I promise, Ma.
[SIGHS.]
Okay.
I love you.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
- Jabari - Hey, uh, what is this about another student interview tomorrow morning? It showed up on my schedule, but I thought we were done.
Tariq St.
Patrick.
His father was James St.
Patrick, the candidate for lieutenant governor.
His mom is on trial for the murder.
I've been assigned as his counselor.
He's really motivated to do the work.
This kid was in high school two weeks ago.
He was squeezed in by a booster.
He's rich, connected.
He doesn't need us to bend over backwards for him.
Canonical Studies is closed.
You know, I would have thought you of all people would want to help this kid.
Why, because he's Black? Yes, and because he can't help having unique circumstances getting here.
So what he's not from the hood? Does that mean he doesn't pass your blackness litmus test? [CHUCKLES.]
So you're telling me if the same kid came in with the same story but he was white, you expect us to change the rules? We already have enough white students in the class.
True, but he's already a whole week behind, and this course is rigorous, and do you think Oliver is gonna sign off on this? Well, if we both argue for it, he won't have a choice.
Don't make this about you and me.
It's not.
And as you like to say, there is no you and me, not anymore.
At least meet him.
Fine.
If he impresses me, then I will help you make the argument to Oliver, but he won't.
[MUFFLED HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING.]
Where I know you from? You used to keep your son at my mom's day care.
Right, Tasha's place.
That's where I met you.
Ain't you a little young to be getting in here? I'm not here for that.
I was wondering if you was willing to make some extra money.
Listen, I already told your mama that the block is hot around her, okay? - My mom is in jail right now.
- For real? But not for drugs.
They think she shot my father.
[SUCKS TEETH.]
A bitch gotta start watching the news.
That's crazy.
Okay, so listen, I owe your mother, so I'll help you out, but you gotta find your own products, okay? All right, I gotta go 'cause Cinnamon be stealing all the good body glitter and shit.
[CHUCKLES.]
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING OVER STEREO.]
[BRAYDEN.]
Yo, so my friend's here, people.
So I gotta go.
Say hi, 'Riq.
Man, get that shit out of my face.
[BRAYDEN.]
'Riq's feeling camera shy, y'all, but I'll be back in the Bray-Den tomorrow.
Stay thirsty, my friends.
Bro, what the fuck are you doing at Stansfield? I go here; everyone in my family goes here.
Check this shit out.
- [TARIQ.]
Oh, shit.
- Your family built the auditorium? And the swimming pool.
My brother's a water polo dude.
[WHISPERING.]
He's a douchebag.
Listen, let's not talk about that shit.
That shit's boring.
You know what we need to talk about is how many girls we're gonna get now that we're both here! - [LAUGHS.]
- Crazy ass.
I figure we work a kind of old-school, interracial buddy comedy thing.
You know, you're like Danny Glover Black, serious.
And I'm like Mel Gibson but not drunk.
- You know what I mean? - Yeah, man, whatever.
I just got a lot of work to do.
Got an entrance exam for the Canonical Studies tomorrow, so Canonical Studies? Damn, I wouldn't even try that shit.
People fail out of that all the time.
College is supposed to be fun, bro.
What are you doing? You are right about that.
But I don't got that much time to have fun, bro.
Plus, I gotta move soon, so I'll hit you later, if anything.
All right.
Listen, I'm really glad that we're both here together, you know? The shit that went down between you and Effie was so fucked up, and I was really hoping that we would connect again and be bros, you know? About Effie, you still happen to have her number? [BRAYDEN.]
She got into Yale, man.
[GATE BUZZES.]
[GATE SQUEAKS.]
So you came all the way down here.
You must really need this product or something.
Or maybe you just wanted to see me.
I need the product.
Yeah, I deserve that.
Are you okay, though? I heard about your parents.
Look, if you need someone to talk to, Tariq, I'm here, and I'll listen to you.
Now, why the fuck should I trust you, huh? You ruined my whole life, Effie.
You ain't need to move pills at Choate.
That was a hobby to you.
I couldn't even buy books.
I had to take out the competition.
It wasn't personal, okay? It was just business.
So you were just playing me this whole time, huh? All of that? Not the part about liking you, okay? That was real.
So you're not gonna pay me for that? It's nothing personal, Effie.
It's just business.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS.]
[INHALES SHARPLY.]
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS.]
[CARRIE.]
Tariq, there you are.
I'm so sorry I'm late, Professor Milgram.
Tariq St.
Patrick.
Jabari Reynolds.
I'm Oliver Simmons, Tariq.
Professor Milgram told us all about you.
She didn't forecast you'd be late, of course.
I apologize.
Well, let's begin.
Uh, please take a seat.
[UNEASY MUSIC PLAYS.]
[JABARI.]
Well, first of all, did you enjoy the book? You know, I don't think he wrote the book to be enjoyed.
Uh, what do you mean? Well, it wasn't written in that way.
Because the main character was sort of bored, I feel Camus wanted us to be bored as well.
What'd you think of the end? That certainly isn't boring.
What-what-what part, sir? When he attacks the priest.
Professor Milgram, don't help.
[SIGHS.]
All right, I didn't finish the book.
Uh, thanks for telling the truth, I suppose.
But honestly, I don't really relate to the main character.
He shoots someone for no reason, and we're supposed to be sympathetic to that? And we're supposed to relate to that? I mean, I don't.
He has his reasons, of course, but the book doesn't give it to us.
I think you missed the point.
It's hard to get the point if you don't finish the book.
[JABARI.]
Amen to that.
I'm sorry I didn't finish the book.
Hey, I want to do this work, and I want to be challenged in this way.
I want to make you guys proud.
I just I just didn't have enough time.
Well, that was a waste of time.
Professor Milgram, next time you feel the need for charity, maybe you should donate to the Red Cross.
Hey, Oliver, look, I didn't say I was off this kid entirely.
You're not? It takes a lot of balls to come in here and say you didn't like the book we asked you to read.
Balls are not what I look for in a student.
No, but maybe you should.
We want to teach new thinkers, passionate thinkers, the greatest minds of our next generation.
- That was a great mind to you? - Well, it could be.
He has been through extensive trauma in his life and in the last month, and he's still here, and he still read the book.
[BOTH.]
He didn't finish the book! Okay, fair, but he got it 24 hours ago.
His mother is on trial for his father's murder.
I don't know what else he had to do yesterday.
Do you? I think we should give him another shot.
[GATE BUZZES.]
Ms.
Green, I am so sorry I'm late.
I have a lot of other clients.
My name is Dana Patterson.
I'm your public defender.
Can you get me the same deal Tameika did? What deal was that? It's not mentioned here in your paperwork.
[JENNY.]
Funny thing about that deal.
It went out the window along with your story about you being the shooter.
Forensics just came back.
Whoever shot your husband was between 5' 11" and 6' 2" tall.
So unless you were standing on a ladder, Ms.
Green, you didn't pull the trigger.
Okay, so if you know my client didn't kill her husband, why is she still in here? Quinton Wallace we know Tasha set him up to take the fall for this murder.
Accessory after the fact, okay.
No, Dana, she started that plan in motion while James St.
Patrick was still alive, so it's conspiracy one, plus aiding and abetting, plus the gun possession charge, which is all we'll charge if she gives us the name of the shooter.
What kind of time? She can plead on conspiracy, 15 years.
What? If you don't give us the name of the shooter and we do go to trial, we can charge you with murder.
Just give me the name.
You already lied to me once, Ms.
Green.
Don't do it again.
[DANA.]
I think you should cooperate.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS.]
Andre Coleman.
He wanted my husband dead.
He said he would help me.
It was his gun.
I'll check out your Coleman story, Ms.
Green.
Dana, we'll be in touch.
[DANA.]
Okay, Jenny.
Love the dress.
[LAUGHS.]
- [DOOR SLAMS.]
- [DANA.]
Okay, um I know ten to 15 years sounds like a lot, but it's not gonna get better than this, I promise.
Why did you fire Tameika Washington, by the way? I hear she's really good.
Sorry, I just need you to sign So sorry, I am j I am having a day.
[DANA CHUCKLES.]
John, what the fuck you doing here? Who's this guy? [MAK.]
Well, we're hearing some disturbing news about the James St.
Patrick case.
I thought it was federal, but I heard you kicked it over to the locals.
[SCOFFS.]
Excuse me, sir.
I don't know who you are, but I'm not sure we should be discussing prosecutorial discretion in front of you.
I'm Steven Ott, DNC, and I was a prosecutor for 15 years before I left to work for the party, so I think I can keep up.
Yeah, doesn't explain what you're doing here in my office.
It's important to the Democratic Party that certain details about James St.
Patrick's life not come out in court.
[SCOFFS.]
I don't know what that has to do with me.
Well, Tasha's using a justification defense, Cooper.
She's saying that James St.
Patrick was a drug-dealing homicidal monster.
Yeah, he was.
Yeah, well, we see it differently.
[CHUCKLES.]
Okay.
You-you know, I-I'm-I'm-I'm sorry, John.
What game are we playing here? Well, Steven and I, we have an idea.
We'd like you to charge Tasha St.
Patrick under the Kingpin Statute.
Well, Queenpin in this case, I guess.
We got a friendly judge to sign over an arrest warrant.
For what? For running St.
Patrick's organization.
Drug trafficking, murder, assaults, the whole thing.
I mean, you wanted to build a RICO, there it is.
St.
Patrick's murder is the predicate crime that can open this whole thing right up.
You say she was silencing the ex-husband as a witness.
You could hang the whole thing on her.
But she isn't the head of this organization.
She knew what he was doing.
She's an accomplice.
But she was never the boss.
Gentlemen, I'd love to help you, but I can't.
St.
Patrick roughed Tasha up the night before she shot him.
I saw the bruises myself.
It's a local case, a domestic.
I gotta let the DA handle it.
[OTT.]
Huh.
Okay.
You know you owe me, Mr.
US Attorney.
Yeah, you think about that, okay? I got you this job, and I can take it away.
[DOOR CLICKS SHUT.]
[MUFFLED HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING.]
- [TARIQ.]
Oh, shit.
- [SHANISHA.]
You ain't lock it? [TARIQ.]
Yo, my bad.
My bad, bro.
Hey, you my new roommate, Tariq? Yeah, I am, but I can come back if you need me to.
- I'll be done in a minute.
- You better not be.
Can he leave, please? Hey, uh hey, give me 15 minutes.
[MOUTHING WORDS.]
- [SHANISHA MOANS.]
- [TARIQ.]
Got it.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER, LAUGHTER.]
[SIGHS.]
Oh, God.
- [CAMERON.]
Oh, look at that.
- [SOFT LAUGHTER.]
- Beautiful, Mom, as usual.
- It's Nancy's favorite.
Mom, I am the US Attorney for the Eastern District now.
I was hoping we'd stop with that idiotic nickname.
- No way.
- It's not gonna happen.
[CAMERON.]
I don't even remember what your real name is, to be honest, Nancy.
Jesus, if Claire were here, she would say something on my behalf.
[COURTNEY.]
Oh, you mean your favorite sister? Well, I'll do it.
[CHUCKLES.]
Guys, we should all honor Cooper's pronouns of he, him, and his and that he identifies as a cis heterosexual male and that using a traditionally feminine name could be viewed as an intentional assault on his gender identity.
[CAMERON.]
That's exactly what she would have said.
That was good.
[MARTIN.]
All right, kids, leave your brother alone.
You've made it through a hard year, Coop, and we're all proud of you.
Before we eat, let's raise a glass to your brother, US Attorney Cooper Andrew Saxe, returning the family name to public service.
To Coop.
[ALL.]
To Nancy.
[MARTIN.]
I am proud of you boys.
You're both doing so well.
Good night.
[SAXE.]
Night, Dad.
- Actually - [DOOR CLICKS SHUT.]
our general counsel is gonna retire in a few months.
You should take the job at our fund, Nancy.
[SCOFFS.]
Fuck you.
I just got a new job, or did you forget the entire purpose of this evening? Oh, no, I didn't forget.
It's just US Attorney? Ooh, it's a lot of pressure.
[BOTH CHUCKLE.]
And historically, you don't do well under pressure.
You and I both know you're gonna screw this up, but this time, Dad's emotions are all involved.
You heard him, a return to service.
But you've probably already made the bonehead move that's gonna get you fired, embarrass Mom and Dad, and ruin the family name.
I should punch you in your smug, bullshit face.
You're my little brother.
I do not need you to give me a job.
Not yet.
[MUFFLED HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING.]
You been to Queens before? Yeah, I used to come out here a lot, actually.
What's this party for? My family congratulating me on Stansfield.
I know you're gonna help me stay there, so they wanted to meet you.
I gotta do this report on Moby-Dick.
Man, the book is mad long.
[TARIQ CHUCKLES.]
Man, you ain't never read Moby-Dick before? Every school I've been to had me read that shit.
The schools I been to ain't want me to read.
Damn, so you grew up over here? I grew up in the South, came up for high school.
This is my Aunt Monet's house.
Her kids are my cousins but more like my brothers and a sister.
You know how it is.
I ain't got that much family, bro.
I got too much sometimes.
You'll see.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE.]
[NAUGHTY BY NATURE'S "FEEL ME FLOW" PLAYING.]
This is my boy Tariq.
Show him some love! [CROWD CHEERING.]
[WOMAN.]
What up, Tariq? What up? What up? What up? Okay, okay, okay.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
[LAUGHS.]
"Congratulations, Zeke".
Okay.
Aw, man, y'all are crazy.
Look at that drip.
All right.
Y'all funny.
[LAUGHS.]
What you think? Man, this shit is crazy.
This ain't even big.
The real fun is in the backyard.
Come on.
Hold up, where's your bathroom at? Oh, uh, near the, um, front door, where we came in at.
- A'ight, excuse me.
- What's up, baby? [LAUGHS.]
Aw, shit, girl.
All we want to know is if your body want to party It's the poo tang tang for everybody [ZEKE.]
Hey! What up? What up? What up? What up? What up? What up? [LAUGHS.]
What's good? Yo, Tariq, this is my cousin Dru.
[TARIQ.]
Yo, what up, bro? So I ain't gonna lie.
The bathroom was kind of occupied.
I think it's gonna be a little minute.
[ZEKE.]
There's another one in the basement.
Hey, but before you go, I want you to meet somebody.
Diana! [MAN.]
What's up, Rel? What you doing here? [ZEKE.]
This is my cousin Diana Tejada.
This is my boy Tariq.
We go to Stansfield together.
Hey.
What's up? How are you? What's up? How are you? I'm great.
I just seen him in the bathroom with some girl.
[DIANA.]
Yeah, that's my brother Cane, and it's probably the girl that nigga Rel is looking for.
- Damn.
- [REL.]
Hey, yo.
- [REL.]
Where my girl at? - [ZEKE.]
Aw, shit.
Why you asking me about your bitch? What? You Oh, her? [CHUCKLES.]
Come on, bitch.
There goes the party.
- [CANE.]
This my house, bitch.
- [ZEKE.]
Hey, back, back, nigga! Is you stupid? Is you dumb? - Nigga, is you stupid? - Yo, I will fuck you up.
What the fuck is going on out here? [MAN.]
Back up, back up, back up.
[WOMAN.]
Damn, that's Monet.
Get inside, Zeke.
[CROWD OOHS.]
- [ZEKE.]
Auntie Monet.
- Cane can handle himself.
And you're too valuable to the family.
Go ahead.
This'll be squashed in a minute.
[CROWD CHATTERING.]
Get the fuck out of my crib.
[LAUGHTER.]
Oh, but your bitch, yeah, she can stay, though.
Hey, yo, let's go.
I'm stayin'.
[CROWD OOHS.]
Get the fuck out of here, man.
[MAN.]
Get your punk ass out of here.
[CROWD YELLING.]
[WOMAN.]
Bye, Rel.
He'll be back.
Yeah, he just gonna go get somethin'.
You know what to do.
So tell me about Stansfield.
You're not worried about nothing that's going on right now? Nah, it's just another night out here with this family, trust me.
What does he tell you about us anyway? Nothing like this.
So your mom's Monet, and your father is Lorenzo Tejada.
We're Black and Puerto Rican.
Hmm.
How many of you are there? Just the three of us.
It's me, Cane, and Dru.
With Zeke here, it was all boys and me.
So where's your father at? - He's inside.
- Hmm.
Yeah, my mom's inside too.
What's he in there for? What you think? Hmm.
Who is this? - [DIANA.]
That's me.
- I knew she looked familiar.
- [BOTH CHUCKLE.]
- [REL.]
Cane, get out here! Damn, I knew that nigga would be back.
[REL.]
Cane, I'm talking to you, motherfucker! [MONET.]
Rel, you better get your ass out of here.
You don't want no trouble.
[REL.]
Cane, stop hiding behind your mama! Rel, you need to go home now.
[REL.]
Cane need to come out here.
He can't hide behind you no more.
He ain't hiding; he's standing right there about to blow your motherfucking head off.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS.]
- [SIREN WHOOPS.]
- Go home, Rel.
[VEHICLE DOOR SLAMS.]
Everything okay here? Everything's good.
I handled it.
[BOTH CONVERSING INDISTINCTLY.]
[CELL PHONE CHIMES.]
That's your girlfriend? - [CHUCKLES.]
- No, I don't got a girlfriend.
But I gotta go.
Tell Zeke I'll see him back at the dorm, a'ight? A'ight.
[SMOOTH R&B MUSIC PLAYING.]
Cooper, I can't talk to you about the St.
Patrick case.
You know better.
But Tasha's not your client anymore.
Privilege still holds.
[SIGHS.]
Okay, then, uh let me present you with a hypothetical, okay? Mm-hmm.
What if you had a-a witness who, uh, saw your client uh, a public official, let's say at the scene of a murder? This murder? With a handgun.
Saxe.
What the fuck did you do? Nothing, it's a hypothetical.
Bullshit.
I saw you that night you found out you were going to jail.
Did you go to Truth after that? With a weapon? Whatever witness this is has you by the balls.
Is that why you asked me to take Tasha's case? Cooper, what the fuck did you get me into? It's a fucking hypothetical.
Then hypothetically, you are fucked.
I am on the thinnest ethical line here, Cooper, but I can tell you this: Tasha is going to be under tremendous pressure to name a second person involved in her husband's murder.
If she names you, can you prove you're innocent, if indeed you are innocent? Come on, Tameika.
[SCOFFS.]
I didn't kill him.
I hope not, for both our sakes.
You are not my client.
This conversation isn't privileged.
You understand that, right? If I get subpoenaed, I'd have to testify to what you just said.
Eh, you don't have to.
Get out.
This conversation never happened, Saxe.
- You were never here.
- I need your help.
- I don't know you.
- Tameika, please.
I don't know you! Let me strip so I can tease So I can bring you to your knees Let's get high smoke some trees Pay your Gs I'm here to please Now we gotta take heed follow my lead I know your need I won't mislead Give me the cheese I'll do your deeds - Is it hot enough - [WOMAN.]
Come here.
You know I'm gonna take all of your money, honey.
- Oh.
- Every little bit.
Oh, you're welcome to it, baby.
- Mm-hmm.
- Do you take credit cards? - Credit cards? - Um, I have this one.
It's just for emergencies only.
My mom gave it to me, but I don't think she's gonna mind, to be honest.
- Mommy? - Yeah.
No, no, no, I take Bitcoin, baby.
So all you have to do is stick it in the right slot.
Okay, my bad.
I'm sorry.
Yo, make sure you get as much as you can, all right? I always do.
And hit me on this tomorrow morning.
My number's already locked in.
- All right.
- A'ight.
[JACOB BANKS' "MONSTER" PLAYING.]
Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh They made a monster out of me They put a sword in my back They gave me till the count of three They set the hounds on my tracks Hold that, bitch-ass nigga.
They made a demon out of me Then they put a cross to my flesh They put a search out for me 'Cause I got some blood on my hands [TARIQ.]
I got you, bro.
[ZEKE.]
Nigga, I been to the gym already - [CELL PHONE BUZZES.]
- and gotta be back - in two hours for practice.
- Is you sure you can handle my classes too? Because that white-whale shit is due at the end of the week.
Bro, don't worry.
I got you, a'ight? [ZEKE.]
Okay, man.
I guess you know what you're doing.
Just make sure it sounds like I did it.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS.]
Oh, yeah, good looks on last night.
- My Aunt Monet, she really likes you.
- [CELL PHONE BUZZES.]
- - Hey, hey.
Hello, stranger.
Ah, should've gotten that restraining order after all.
I'm not here for a social visit.
- Thank God.
- Hey, take it easy.
I want to know how the St.
Patrick case is going.
It's going pretty well, actually, once Tameika Washington came off the case.
Had Tasha Green about to take a plea.
What do you mean? What happened? [INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
[TARIQ.]
I'm surprised you hit me up.
I thought the girls usually let the guys do that.
Mm, wow.
Look who's on himself.
I hit you because Professor Milgram asked me to.
She said you were having a rough time the other day with The Stranger, but they're willing to give you another shot.
She said you hadn't even finished the book.
I finished it last night, actually.
I got it.
I don't need help.
I figured you'd say that.
Look, Tariq, I-I can't imagine what you're going through Don't even go there.
It's just, like, the most boring book ever.
He shoots a guy in cold blood, and somehow it's like you miss it.
That's the point.
Meursault doesn't even know what's happening.
He doesn't make a real decision to kill someone.
- He just does it.
- That's bullshit.
Killing someone is always a real decision.
Even carrying a gun is a real decision.
He doesn't want to own up to it, and he's just mad that people hate him for it.
But people will always hate you for what you do.
You can't care about that.
But in the end, he's killed because people didn't like how he reacted to his mother's death.
People didn't like him because he shot the guy.
He was killed because he committed a murder.
He knew what he was doing.
He knew the consequences.
He still pulled that trigger.
He did it anyway.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS.]
You should tell them that that you see it that way and also what you said about killing is a choice.
I don't think they want to hear that.
[LAUREN.]
They're gonna think they're seeing the real you.
That's what they want.
I'm going to the bathroom.
I'll be back.
[TAPPING ON WINDOW.]
Your mom's supposed to be out by now.
What the fuck is going on? The DA said they're taking her to trial.
I'm trying to get her a new lawyer right now, and you're supposed to be helping her.
What? I-I already helped.
Your mother was supposed to take that sweet-ass deal that Tameika and I got for her.
Wait, so that deal was you? Why do you think Tameika took the case? I signed a waiver so that she could represent your mom.
It was handled.
So let's just get Tameika back.
- I have money.
- It's not about money.
Tameika's not gonna suborn perjury.
Your mother lied twice.
First she left out that she had an accomplice.
Someone else pulled that trigger.
Damn.
Do you know who it was? [SCOFFS.]
Tasha told ADA Sullivan that Andre Coleman killed your father.
Lie number two.
- Wasn't it his gun? - It was.
But we still had the clothes he wore that night.
No GSR.
Andre Coleman didn't shoot anyone 20 minutes before his arrest.
Even if we wanted to blame him, now we can't.
Wait, you-you-you told me it was Dre too.
That's what my mother told me.
Tariq if you know who your mother's protecting, you tell me.
Look, man, I don't know, a'ight? But you know my mother didn't shoot anyone.
You know she's innocent.
So if you don't fix this, I'm gonna have to tell the cops that I saw you at Truth.
- I don't have a choice.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
You-you don't have to tell anyone anything about me.
We can still save your mom.
I can still push Sullivan to take a deal, but Tasha has to name the shooter.
If she does that and I can confirm it, I can get her out.
We can all walk away from this, Tariq.
Just get your mom to tell the truth.
[BRAYDEN.]
Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah, just put that shit in your ass, dog.
I'm not playing this game anymore.
I quit.
Yo, Zeke, I need to borrow your phone, bro.
The fuck you need to borrow my phone for? I'm trying to make an Instagram Live or whatever the fuck it's called.
- I don't got an account.
- Oh, dude, just use mine.
You know I'm always ready to go.
Now, you know Zeke got more followers than you, bro.
That's hurtful.
I'm just gonna say it.
You'll be a'ight.
But, yo, I need to do something, bro.
It's for my mom.
[GUNFIRE ON TELEVISION.]
I got you.
Good looking, bro.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS.]
[BRAYDEN SIGHS.]
[TARIQ.]
Hey, what's up, guys? I don't really do the social media stuff like that.
I don't like it, but I need to take the time out to tell everyone how grateful I am that the famous Davis MacLean has agreed to take my mother's case.
We're a Black family in need, and he heard us.
He showed up.
Thank you.
Most people look at The Stranger as an exposure of how other people's opinions can shape our destinies.
Most people think that if Meursault would have visibly mourned his mother and then expressed that emotion, then he wouldn't have been put to death.
He would've just died by bad press.
But Meursault, he took those actions.
You know, every single action along the way was his.
All those decisions were his, even the decision to pull the trigger.
Meursault, he was he was different.
He was a killer.
He was alienated.
He was special.
Maybe too special to live by everyone else's rules.
Because of that difference, he couldn't survive.
But, you know, that doesn't mean Meursault was the one who was wrong.
Most people survive by trying to live up to others' opinions and court the public favor.
You know, I think to do that is to die while you're still here.
Meursault went out on his own terms.
He didn't bend to a prosecutor or the priest.
He controlled his own destiny.
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYS.]
[LIGHT PERCUSSIVE MUSIC PLAYS.]
[CELL PHONE CHIMING REPEATEDLY.]
Son of a bitch.
[TARIQ.]
Hello.
[DAVIS.]
Where do you want to meet? [TARIQ.]
Meet me at the chapel in 15.
You forced my hand.
This'll buy you the week, until I can find you other counsel without attracting public attention.
All I need is the week.
We official now? Yes.
Can I trust you? You gotta trust someone, kid.
Seems like I'm all you got.
A'ight, well, the DA knows my mother didn't shoot my father.
Then why would they hit her with a full murder charge? That doesn't make sense.
'Cause she lied to them about having an accomplice.
She lied to them about who it was.
She was protecting him because he shot my father trying to protect her.
They said she could get a deal if she tells them the whole truth.
Tariq, for a criminal defendant, the truth rarely sets you free.
Doesn't matter what the DA told her.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS.]
A'ight, well, tell my mom I said that she needs to come home.
A'ight, she doesn't deserve this.
She's innocent.
I know she's afraid to say his real name, but I'm not afraid anymore.
Tell my mom I said if she loves me, then she should tell the truth.
[CHUCKLES.]
Tariq really got you here.
You raised that kid? I don't know whether to congratulate you or have you brought up on charges by Child Services.
Okay, ADA Sullivan is offering you the deal of the century.
Obstructing governmental administration, second degree, and tampering with physical evidence.
Three years' probation, you allocute, you go home.
[TASHA.]
That's the same deal Tameika got me.
Exactly.
But this time, you have to tell the whole truth.
If they can't verify your story, you go on trial for murder.
It was Andre Coleman.
[DAVIS.]
It was not Andre Coleman.
There was no GSR on Coleman's clothing from that night.
He's not the shooter.
And you wouldn't frame Quinton Wallace to protect Coleman.
Look, you may be the first client I've ever said this to, including my own brother, but you need to tell the truth, right now to me and tomorrow in court.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS.]
[DAVIS SIGHS.]
I saw your son before I got here.
He wanted me to tell you something.
Well, what did he say? He said you don't deserve this, that you're innocent.
He said you need to come home.
That boy loves his mother.
I'm not surprised he said that.
Oh, I wasn't either.
But then he said something else.
He said he knew that you were afraid to say the name of the person who shot your husband, but he's not afraid for you to say it.
He said if you love him, you need to tell the truth.
Are you sure that's what he said? That's what he said.
And you don't have a choice.
[DOOR CLICKS SHUT.]
[DOOR CLICKS OPEN.]
[DOOR CLICKS SHUT.]
[BAILIFF.]
All rise.
The Honorable Judge Janine Galanti presiding.
[SIGHS.]
Ms.
Sullivan, I hear we have reached an agreement with the defense.
That's correct, Your Honor.
In exchange for the name of her accomplice, the People have agreed to obstructing governmental administration, second degree, and tampering with physical evidence.
Three years' probation.
Ms.
St.
Patrick, are you ready? Yes, Your Honor.
When I was charged with this crime, I told the police and Ms.
Sullivan that I pulled the trigger, but that wasn't true.
Someone else killed James, and they gave me the gun to frame Quinton.
He said that we would both walk away, but he was wrong.
I'm sorry, Ms.
Sullivan.
I was simply trying to hide the identity of my accomplice because I was afraid, Your Honor.
I was afraid of what might happen to my family if I told the truth.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS.]
The man who killed James St.
Patrick is Tommy Egan.
[PEOPLE MURMURING.]
RICO.
I told you.
They silenced St.
Patrick to keep him from turning witness.
What? I told you no.
- No.
- 1Your Honor, may the People inquire? Your Honor, my client held up her end of the deal.
I don't know what else the DA might need to ask.
- One question.
- Proceed.
I find it hard to believe that James St.
Patrick's lifelong best friend would kill him, Mrs.
St.
Patrick.
Why on earth would Tommy Egan have killed your husband? - Because I asked him to.
- Your Honor, I object.
- No, you're not gonna do that.
- [GALANTI.]
Objection overruled.
Queenpin.
Are the People satisfied? Now, you go in there, and you make me proud.
[PEOPLE MURMURING.]
Mr.
Saxe, are you addressing the court? Uh, uh, no, Your Honor.
She will.
Sorry.
Your Honor, the People move to drop all charges against Tasha Green St.
Patrick.
- What? - [DAVIS.]
Your Honor, we have - an executed plea agreement.
- [JENNY.]
Not anymore.
- [TASHA.]
What does she mean? - Your Honor.
Motion granted.
I hope you know what you're doing, Ms.
Sullivan.
[GAVEL BANGS.]
Tasha St.
Patrick, you're under arrest for the murder of James St.
Patrick under the federal Continuing Criminal Enterprise Kingpin Statute.
Ma! No! Ma! Ma! Kingpin? What the fuck? You know I wasn't running shit, you motherfucker.
Stay strong.
We're gonna fight this together.
What kind of headline-grabbing bullshit is this? Kingpin Statute? You're gonna give her the needle? You and I both know this is not a federal case.
It is now.
What don't I know about your mother? - Hmm? - Tariq, what have you done? Listen, I had to be the one to do it, Ma; I had to.
I'll say it was me.
Take the gun out back and dump it, all right? I know what to do.
What have you just gotten me into, kid? We take care of each other, right? Right.
I got you into the biggest case of your career.
Look, my mom is innocent.
Saxe has an agenda.
The publicity on this case is huge, and you're right under the spotlight.
Look, if you win when you win we can take down Saxe and blow up the whole entire US Attorney's Office.
Once you do that, you'll be known as the most powerful criminal defense attorney in New York.
[EXCITING MUSIC PLAYS.]
You owe me $450,000, kid.
You paid for the appetizer, but we're about to get into the full meal.
They made a monster out of me They put a sword in my back They gave me till the count of three They set the hounds on my tracks [MEREDITH LAUGHING.]
They made a demon out of me Welcome home, bitch.
Then they put a cross to my flesh They put a search out for me 'Cause I got some blood on my hands But they won't see me when I'm coming I'll be laughin' while you're runnin', oh Oh, you won't see me when I'm comin' I'll be that monster you've been wantin', oh, no They made a story out of me They laugh and joke about my name - They put a bounty out on me - They're all excited by my shame But they won't see me when I'm coming I'll be laughin' while you're runnin', oh - Oh, you won't see me when I'm comin' - I'll be that monster you've been wantin', oh, no - - Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Remember when you wanted to forget me? You'd let me rest in pieces And let the rest piece me together Yeah, we ain't never had spirit in the flesh These people These people let me loose Bet they wish they would've kept me now I'm verbal, feet out Told my sponsor I don't write bars I get freestyle And if your hand never held me down Don't fucking reach out All's fair in love and war but I love a war How you picking on the chosen one? 'Cause when it rains bows it ain't colorful I'ma be the last man standing, yeah, the only one Blacked out moving through the jungle Got me feelin' like my name is Rambo Oh, hey, let's rumble We can do it any way you want to Blacked out moving through the jungle Got me feelin' like a Rambo Oh, hey, let's rumble We can do it any way you want to Oh, you won't see me when I'm coming, oh I'll be laughin' while you're runnin', oh Oh, you won't see me when I'm comin' I'll be that monster you've been wantin', oh, no Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh Oh-ah, oh-eh