Copper s01e03 Episode Script

Tell me about Kevin Corcoran.
If you should happen to come across a distinctive gold locket When the rebellion broke out, he volunteered to fight.
engraved with the letters "E" and "C" on its face.
Then he found out his wife had disappeared and his daughter had been murdered.
I want to buy Five Points, from Chatham to Canal to Elm.
SULLIVAN: Mr.
Haverford was a victim of the panel game.
The case is closed.
The girl has a sister, name of Annie.
Where is she? (STRUGGLING) You must tread carefully.
(CELTIC MUSIC PLAYING) - (PEOPLE LAUGHING) - (GLASS TINKLING) Before we begin our first course, I'd like to say how happy I am that Detective Corcoran agreed to join us for dinner.
I've wanted to thank him for helping my husband, even if saving our dear Annie cost Winfred his own life.
My husband and Detective Corcoran, like all good Christian men, could see the true soul of a child.
A rough diamond which we will polish and which will shine.
- Hear, hear.
- Hear, hear.
And that is why I plan to run Jake McGinnis for alderman.
Irish Jake, the boxer? An Irish alderman for Irishmen.
- Yes.
- I'm going up to Albany tomorrow.
I'll bring him back, put him in the ring, get a crowd rooting for him.
Politics might be the right place for Jake because no matter how hard you hit the man, he don't notice.
(ALL LAUGHING) You're good.
Brandy.
CORCORAN: Excuse me.
- MOREHOUSE: May I? - Certainly.
I wanted to show you this.
Winnie refused to hang it.
He said the portrait bore an uncanny resemblance.
What do you think? Well, so far, so good.
But I'm no critic.
You're no gentleman, either.
When you arrived earlier and took my hand, you didn't kiss it.
I didn't know what was proper.
But did you want to? Yes.
MOREHOUSE: You have to acknowledge it.
NORBERT: You say that now, but you're a Morehouse.
A man can't shake that name.
MOREHOUSE: As long as the name comes with the money.
(LAUGHING) Corky, join us.
- Why not? - (CHUCKLES) They're to be quarantined for 17 days.
Make them drink lots of water and eat apples.
If any of their fevers get worse or their skin breaks, let me know.
Now, don't be scratching your rashes.
You'll make yourself sicker.
Just do as the reverend tells you and you'll all be outside playing, soon, hmm? (MAN IMITATING MONKEY) We know you're in there, nigger! We're giving you five seconds to get your arse out here! Get out here, monkey boy! GERRY: Come on! Get out here, Garland! There he is, Gerry.
The holy reverend who called me a coward.
I did not call you a coward, sir.
I simply questioned your reasons for not renting me a horse.
He says I won't rent to a colored man because then no one would do business with me.
He's right about that, for sure.
I didn't rent him a horse, you idiot, because niggers ain't trustworthy.
We burned down your last orphanage, Garland.
We'll burn this one down, too.
(DOG BARKING) No man, black or white, will harm these children.
I'd tell you to go to hell, but you won't have to wait for hell to burn.
(PEOPLE CLAMORING) What did Elizabeth Haverford want? Nothing.
To thank me.
People in her class always want something.
They think they deserve everything.
She, uh, wanted me to kiss her hand.
(SCOFFING) Did you? Now I know how a hanging man feels right before he drops.
Did you kiss her hand? No.
Good.
Hands are dirty.
You would not believe the tricks the Creoles in New Orleans showed me.
You sure he's a white man? I know the difference between a white and a colored.
Sweet Mother Malone.
Told you he was white.
(ROOSTER CROWS) BYRNES: The deceased is a one Diarmuid O'Connor, the owner of the stable.
Was he hanging with his mouth closed like that when you found him? Captain.
Every time I've seen a man drop, he tries to grab one more breath of air.
Meaning? He was dead before he was lynched.
Gerry I mean, Mr.
Crotty was friends with Diarmuid O'Connor.
Do you know anything useful about this murder? No.
Only the identity of the culprit.
Uppity coon tried to rent a horse yesterday afternoon.
Diarmuid didn't let that happen.
Have you seen this Negro fellow before? Mmm-hmm.
Dresses like a white man, wearing a bowler hat, a suit and waving a Bible.
- Just give us the name.
- CROTTY: Garland.
Reverend Garland.
(SIGHS) Remember, Francis, us first off the boat.
We saw a nigger, we chased him close to half a mile just to touch his black skin.
(SCOFFS) Now I can't stand the sight of them.
We need to get some bodies swinging from the trees today.
Take your friend Crotty to the tombs.
What? Why? - I didn't kill Diarmuid.
- Take him and hide him.
The last thing I need is to be back on the street trying to stop a riot.
In the name of Christ, why put me in here? At least have the decency to jail me with the other men.
(WOMEN SHOUT ANGRILY) I won't forget this, Maguire.
You're committing an insult against our people! If I wanted to be locked up for being Irish, I'd go to Belfast! CHOIR: (SINGING) The angels opened up the windows Just to hear what Daniel had to say Daniel, he - You know why we're here.
- Diarmuid O'Connor's been murdered.
May the good Lord rest his soul.
Are you giving me lip? I will knock that sanctimonious pout off your face.
He was no friend of mine, but he was a child of God.
What's that mean, huh? Reverend, you seem awfully calm for a guilty man.
Come along.
Sara.
I was thinking maybe the time has come for us to have a child.
Maybe if you had someone to care for, you'd find some happiness.
I have you.
CORCORAN: Freeman! Your detective friend is here.
- (HORSE WHINNIES) - Whoa, whoa, whoa.
You need more cinnabar.
Hello, Sara.
- What do you want? - What does he always want? He has a dead body.
Never too happy to see me, is she? I'm thinking O'Connor was killed before he was lynched.
I want to know how he actually died.
And, if you can, how long between the time he died and the time he was hung.
Come back tomorrow.
Matthew, you need to do this right now.
Your friend, Reverend Garland, he's under arrest.
The church was barren, but considering how the bride looked It was a blessing.
A hog draped in silk is still but a hog.
Poor Albert, wed to such an unfortunate creature.
(WHISPERING) There's a Negro boy at the front door asking to speak with you.
Please excuse me a moment.
You're from Reverend Garland's orphanage, yes? My dear, what's wrong? (INAUDIBLE) You were right.
O'Connor didn't die from hanging.
He was pierced right here with a thin, sharp needle which was sent up and into his brain, then hung.
All within the same hour, based on the bruising.
Did the Reverend admit to killing O'Connor? No.
No, he's stoic, concerned.
And presumed innocent according to the law.
Give me a hand, will you? You told me that O'Connor was part of the mob that burnt the first colored orphanage, and that last night he tried to burn the new one, too.
So for the Reverend this is revenge? Maybe Garland (GRUNTS) Went to the stable to confront O'Connor, to stop him.
Maybe his passions got a hold of him.
You deny that's possible? It's possible, but unlikely.
White man's fantasy.
What are you accusing me of, Matthew? Since Chancellorsville, have I ever treated you with anything but respect? All I know for certain is this.
A good way to start another riot is to blame a Negro man for the crime.
You think I want to see a Negro man swing for something he didn't do? I killed white men protecting you! You killed rebel soldiers, and that was to protect yourself! No, I killed my own people during the riots protecting yours! You're Irish, to the pit of your heart, and you Irish know how to hate! Oh, I hate, all right, but not in general.
My hate is as specific as my affections.
And you, Matthew, need only look at the woman in your bed to know the Irish hold no patent on a brooding heart.
(URGES HORSES) Herr Schwarz.
Herr Schwarz, may I see that locket? Ja.
- This one? - This one.
Justice! I demand justice for my dear, dead father! (CROWD AGREEING) What are the coppers doing to find Papa's killer? CROWD: Nothing! Why have they imprisoned his best friend, Gerry Crotty? I'll tell you why.
To cover over the truth! Papa was brutally murdered by that nigger, Garland! I say we find Garland and lynch him! CROWD: Yeah! Garland is guilty! Who's with me? Who's with me? How the Christ did Kayleigh O'Connor find out about Garland? I'm sure I don't know, Captain.
The crowd out there is ripe for a lynching.
And I'll have to let Crotty out of the tombs eventually.
He'll stoke the fire.
I'll talk to Tammany, get him a job or some money and shut him out.
I barely know Crotty, but trust me, the man can't shut up.
The only way around this is to hang Garland now, without a trial.
Captain.
I'm not sure yet if Garland's guilty.
I am sure that O'Connor was killed with a long, thin needle.
More of your scientific nonsense? Let me prove Garland's guilt before we hang him.
Let me go to his house and find the evidence.
- MAN: You're beautiful.
- Thank you.
I love you.
(LAUGHING) - Is that the Mayor's son? - (LAUGHING) Yes.
Come slumming it.
Left us a souvenir.
Oh.
Mighty kind of him.
What's this? Oh, this.
This is a surprise for Corky.
Give it to me.
No! Give it to me at once.
I paid Herr Schwarz $7 for this Ah! And I don't want you telling Kevin that you've seen the locket.
I won't.
I won't, if you say Did Schwarz say who pawned this? I didn't think to ask.
Go back to work.
Go back to work! - Molly? - Hi, handsome.
Yeah, I'm Molly.
O'BRIEN: The sooner we noose Garland, the sooner everyone will calm down.
Andrew, did you mention Garland's name to Kayleigh O'Connor or anyone? No, not even my wife.
- Francis? - No, Kevin, I wouldn't.
Keep looking.
We need proof.
It's a waste of time.
Not if he didn't do the deed.
He did! It's clear as day.
It's not that clear, but, yeah, he did.
MAN: Quiet! (DOOR UNLOCKING) Matthew, what are you doing here? Trying to convince Reverend Garland to confess.
To his innocence.
God brought me to this place in this time for a reason.
Well, guess what, Reverend? I went to your private quarters for a reason, and God let me find this.
This is blood.
REVEREND: Ox blood.
We wrap the meat to keep the flies away.
We like to give the children meat at least once a month.
He's innocent, Kevin.
Even if he doesn't seem to want to be.
(FREEMAN SHUSHING) Let's not wake Sara.
So your wife, she actually does sleep? One eye at a time.
Hey, that's evidence.
You'll have plenty left over.
(SIZZLING) Compare.
Smell.
(SNIFFING) - Different? - Same.
And this? - (SNIFFS) - And this? They're both the same.
Freeman, I And this? And this.
Oh! That smells awful.
Human blood has a different stench than animal blood when treated with acidum sulfuricum.
The first three, pig.
Next one, goat.
That's Garland's rag and that's human.
How do I know that's human blood? You don't believe me? - Give me your wrist.
- Stop.
Your little demonstration doesn't prove Garland is innocent.
Well, it proves that this rag isn't evidence.
You still have no case, Detective.
Hello, pet.
Sorry I'm so What's wrong? Eva's a bitch.
What did she do now? Hmm? I went down to Schwarz's pawn shop, and I found a (SIGHS) Never mind.
Just hold me.
- (STAMPS CANE) - All right! Everybody, give me your attention.
If you should happen to come across a distinctive gold locket engraved with the letters "E" and "C" on its face, it might have pictures of a man and a little girl on the inside O'BRIEN: Corky! A coachman delivered this for you.
From the smell of it, it's nothing criminal.
(SNIFFS) At least not yet.
What are you looking at, you scum? Sorry I couldn't be here any earlier.
I'm working on a case.
I understand.
Please, take a seat.
Um, I have a favor to ask.
Well, that's fortunate.
I brought you here to ask a favor of my own.
Next time, could you ease up on the rosewater? I will not hear the end of it at the precinct house.
Embarrassing you was not my intention.
It's just the way I smell.
Sits well on the wall, does she not? Yes, she does.
You have a favor to ask? Yes.
Um You have arrested Reverend Garland, a kind and holy man.
His orphanage means quite a lot to me.
I trust he will receive fair and proper treatment.
I'll make sure he does.
Detective Corcoran, you are never what I expect.
Never.
I'm sorry for I forgot to take your hand at the door again.
I can't sleep.
I keep hearing voices.
Men's voices.
Thank you, James.
Is he here yet? Yes, sir.
He arrived moments ago.
Excellent.
(DOOR OPENING) Detective Maguire.
Thank you for coming.
Did I keep you waiting? The train from Albany is unreliable.
- No, I was able to - I see James has taken care of you.
Oh! Cold for September, isn't it? - Aye.
- Anything? Nothing, Mr.
Morehouse.
To business, then.
I'm told the owner of the stables on Baxter Street has died.
Diarmuid O'Connor.
Murdered.
A tragedy, I'm sure.
I'm told you and he were friends.
Acquaintances, really.
He has an heir, a daughter.
Assuming she could use the money, I'd like to buy the stables.
Sir, they're a lousy investment.
The stable's half-burned.
I'm well aware.
I would like you, Detective, to handle the matter.
I don't want to run a stable.
No.
You wouldn't have to.
You'd simply hold the deed until such time as I ask you to sign the property over to me.
Meanwhile, this transaction remains between us.
You will tell no one.
No one.
Not even Detective Corcoran.
There will be a proper commission, of course.
All right.
(EXCLAIMS) Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm tired after my long trip.
Goodnight.
What the hell just happened? Welcome to the world of high finance.
You've got no right to keep me, to treat me like a slave.
I need to eat, to wash under my arms.
Nah.
I know what O'Connor did to you.
- You do? - Mmm.
How, uh How did you find out? I'm a detective.
It's what I do.
So I understand why you would want O'Connor dead.
I swear, I didn't kill him.
Oh, I didn't say you killed him, only that he deserved to die.
Maybe the others involved might've felt the same way.
The others? There was only her.
She's capable of murder.
No! Never.
How can you be so sure? I love her, that's how.
(CHUCKLING) Love blinds a man.
(CROTTY SCOFFS) O'Connor pushed her to the point where she had to kill him.
I tell you, no.
As much an arse as Diarmuid could be, Kayleigh wouldn't harm him.
His daughter.
Wait, you didn't really know what Diarmuid did, did you? No, but now I got a pretty good idea.
(CROTTY SIGHS) - Lock him up.
- Shite! Copper! CORCORAN: Your father was a (CHUCKLES) difficult man.
He cared little about the desires of anyone else, except his own.
A young girl A young girl falls in love I didn't kill him.
- Then Gerry Crotty did.
- No.
They were best friends.
Best friends, one who didn't want the other to marry his daughter.
That must have made Gerry Crotty feel like a shingle of shite.
He didn't kill my father.
Gerry and I were in bed together that night.
- You're lying.
- I'm not! And that's what I'll say in court, my hand on the Bible.
All right.
Sorry for your sadness.
Six months this locket sits here, and now the whole world's asking about it.
Who has been asking? The girl who bought it.
Who pawned this locket? Madame Grindle.
Do you know her? There isn't a woman in New York who's unaware of the services Madame Grindle provides.
Excuse me, dear.
Is that dress not a bit ostentatious for your mourning period? Winnie always loved me in this color.
Of course, dear.
(LAUGHS LIGHTLY) Elizabeth, we wanted to speak with you, counsel, nothing more, regarding your dedicated charity work for the colored children.
And bless your heart for your efforts.
But surely you have heard the news of, uh Reverend Garland? You must be more careful.
That Negro is a murderer.
The lot of them.
Their proven proclivity for violence is Appalling.
And you stood right next to Garland.
Who knows what he Yes, it's a wonder he didn't throw me to the ground and rape me in front of God and his congregation.
All this chatter has made me quite ill.
You may show yourselves out once the performance is over.
And then, please, never call again.
In all my years, I've never seen anything like this.
I came back to say an "Our Father" and this Negro boy was taking the clothes right off O'Connor's body.
He ripped the sleeve right off the jacket.
Describe this male Negro.
Well, he was big, strong.
He seemed a bit slow.
Would you recognize his face? Well, he was moving quickly when he left, he knocked me down, but, yes, I think I would.
Come on.
Father.
Now, who would steal a dead man's clothes? Damn cheap matches.
- FREEMAN: Say "Ah.
" - Ah - Is Jasper going to be all right? - Oh, yes, physically.
But he appears to be suffering from melancholia.
Anything happen recently that'd cause him to grieve? My brother was born grieving.
Dr.
Freeman, you think Reverend Garland will hang? Probably.
Lord, Lord, Lord.
Well, I suppose one black neck is as good as the other.
Bessie, what's wrong? Nothing.
I'm sorry.
Thank you.
Evening.
You got any medicine? My leg's acting up something awful.
You any closer to catching O'Connor's killer? Right now, I'd just like to find his clothes.
Corky? I'm not by nature a suspicious man - Here.
and it's your world, but there's a woman, Bessie Longfield, who has caused me to think that she knows something about the murder.
- She a witness? - Maybe.
Maybe more.
How well does this Bessie know the Reverend? She's a parishioner at the church.
You know what I mean.
He's not that kind of man.
Well, what kind is he? The kind who might be covering for a lost soul.
Like Bessie Longfield? A seamstress.
Wait, you're saying a Negro did kill O'Connor? Yes, but, as usual, you people just grabbed any Negro.
(KNOCKING ON DOOR) JASPER: Is that you, Bessie? No, Jasper, it's Dr.
Freeman.
Bessie's not here.
I want to talk to you.
Jasper, Bessie'll be mad if you don't let the doctor in.
Who's that? That's my assistant.
His name is Kevin.
Hello, Kevin.
Hello, Jasper.
Why's he doing that? Bessie don't like folks messing with her work.
Bessie gave us permission.
(JASPER GROANS) What's the matter, Jasper? You can't take that.
It's Bessie's.
She'll get mad at me again.
What'd you do to make her mad? I ripped the sleeve on the suit.
Show us the suit.
Jasper, please, show us the suit.
Jasper, give me the suit.
Now! He wouldn't give us the money he owed.
Be careful.
"D.
O'Connor.
" Jasper, where's Bessie? She went away 'cause she's mad at me.
She said she's not coming back.
I don't want Jasper accused so I'll tell you what I know.
Bessie made the suit, but O'Connor wouldn't pay.
He said the work was shoddy.
Well, you've seen the suit.
Bessie's a fine seamstress.
Well, she and Jasper went to the stable to collect the money.
O'Connor hit Jasper.
Jasper hit him.
O'Connor fell, then Bessie stuck him in the neck with a needle.
Then they strung him up.
Why? Why hang him? Their father was lynched during the riots.
By O'Connor? He was an Irishman.
That's all that was important.
And you knew what happened how? Bessie came to see me.
She was in the auditorium when you arrested me.
Well, why Why didn't you tell me the truth? I did.
I told you I was innocent.
I was willing to take the risk that an innocent man wouldn't hang.
- CORCORAN: Well, that's quite a risk.
- Not really.
I could tell by the look in your eyes that you wouldn't let that happen, Detective Corcoran.
It could still happen, Reverend, unless we deliver a culprit to the mob.
Guard! Bessie's gone.
You can't punish Jasper for her crime.
First things first.
We need to get you an alibi.
I was with the Reverend earlier that night.
- Maybe I could - No.
No offense, Matthew, but given the color of your skin, your testimony wouldn't be worth a Confederate dollar.
No, we need the word of a white man.
A white man willing to lie for a Negro.
(CLAMORING) (BOTH PANTING) So, uh, if you found that locket of Ellen's, what would you do with it? Why do you ask? Just curious.
No.
Ellen wouldn't part with it for the world.
I find the locket, I'll find Ellen.
That's all well and good for you.
What about her? Maybe she doesn't want to be found.
Well, then I'd want to know why.
Are you all right in there, McGinnis? When you open your eyes real quick, like that, you see little white stars.
You got a real winner here, Major.
You met any other aldermen? He'll fit like a thumb in a glove.
(LAUGHS) Another whiskey? It's good for the leg.
I want to talk to you about Garland.
Elizabeth Haverford's told me some.
Might be time innocent men stopped facing the gallows in this city.
Easier said than done.
What the Reverend lacks is an alibi.
Don't you recall, Corky? I was with Garland at the time of the murder, offering money to the orphans' asylum.
And having been in Albany, I've only just heard the accusation.
That's right.
I'd forgotten.
Unfortunately, that still leaves you one murderer short.
I've figured a way around that, too.
According to the findings at Saint Vincent's, your father hung himself.
Suicide? That's simply not true.
This isn't about the truth, it's about resolution.
Kayleigh, your father was dying of cancer.
He didn't want you to have to look after him, so he took his own life.
But suicides can't remain buried in sacred ground.
Father Burke said that since the body's already in the grave, there's no reason to disturb the bones.
It's time to let the past go, Kayleigh.
Get on with the rest of your life.
Marriage.
You'll let Gerry out of the tombs? How will we live? Before he died, Diarmuid and I made a deal for me to buy the stables.
You, buy the stables? An investment.
We can use the space for boxing matches.
You and Gerry can move up to Greenwich Village.
All right.
God bless my dear father.
WOMAN: Gerry! Where you going, Gerry? (WOMEN SHOUT ROUGHLY) You're getting married, you're getting a new house, and you're keeping your mouth shut.
Can you do that for me, Gerry? Uh, yeah.
If there's troubles, I'll first come banging on your door.
(SINGING) Daniel, he was a good man He prayed three times a day The angels opened up the windows Just to hear what Daniel had to say Daniel, he was a good man (CLAPPING RHYTHMICALLY) He prayed three times a day Oh, I thank God I'm in his care Watch your step, ma'am.
I'm reading Mr.
Dickens' latest novel, Our Mutual Friend.
The hero's not unlike you, Kevin Corcoran.
For all you have done, I am most grateful.
FREEMAN: Sara.
Jasper's going to stay with us for a while, if that's okay.
He can be here when I'm off doing my rounds.
You hungry? All the time.
Come over here, then.
Here now, I'll trade you.
(KNOCKING ON DOOR) EVA: Madame Grindle? Madame Grindle.
Julia, it's Eva.
O'BRIEN: She'll rot in hell, this one.
She performed a service.
O'BRIEN: An illegal service, godless.
Who killed her? That's the question.
You all right? (SCOFFS) It's not the first dead body I've seen.
I've got to ask, um Why are you here? (SCOFFS) Oh, one of my girls, she's with child.
Well, I guess you're lucky there are more Madame Grindles in the world.
Elizabeth? Kevin.
I had to see you.
I can't stop thinking about the night The night we were together? We were never together.
The night we killed Winfred Haverford.
I never felt such powerful sensations.
And I know you feel them too, towards me.
Annie! I don't want you like that.
I never did.
You don't need to offer yourself to men anymore, sweetheart.
Understand? Go upstairs and put your clothes on, child.
MAN: Get everything you wanted, Annie? Don't you ever bring her here again.
Or what, Detective? Or else I'll stick this pistol up your arse.
(GUN CLICKS) Kevin, I'm sorry.
Truly sorry.
God bless you, child.