Reckless (2014) s01e03 Episode Script

Previously on Reckless: Ms.
Marcus is suing the city of Charleston for sexual harassment Okay, Jamie, game on.
They have a tape.
It's footage of you and three other men having sex on a police car.
- We had something.
- Yeah, we did Until you decided to share me with your buddies.
Next time you touch my wife, I'll kill you.
There's no sex ring.
This was an affair between two officers that got way out of hand.
You want to be my boyfriend? - Missing footage.
- I'm not in it.
You may want to rethink that answer.
Preston was there.
I'm telling you the truth.
- Without proof.
- Ask him.
Ask Preston yourself.
Literally, every day, get home from school, throw my books down and run out to play stickball until it was so dark you could just barely see what you were hitting.
Yeah.
Only knew it was time to come in for dinner when the smell of my mom's fresh-baked bread would make it out to the street.
That woman was all about the bread.
It's crazy how much you two are alike.
What's the matter? Why are you so quiet? - Me? - Yeah.
I'm not.
Okay, that would not hold up under cross-examination, counselor.
What's up? I was listening, I promise.
It's just I do have something that I need to ask you.
I'm sorry.
It's work, all right? One second.
This is Detective Cruz.
Yeah.
All right, I'll be there.
Got a homicide on Johns Island.
I'm afraid I'm gonna have to drop you off.
I'm all the way on the other side of town.
I'll just go with you.
No, no, I wouldn't do that to you.
I'll take you.
No, it's okay.
I'll stay outside.
All right.
Just hang here.
I'll be right back.
Let me find out what's up.
All right? They're waiting for you over there! I left it inside.
Be right back.
All right, let's notify general.
Our victim is deceased.
I'd say about 20 minutes.
- Nobody else upstairs, all right? - Yes, detective.
Curtis, give James a hand upstairs, all right? Thanks.
Mr.
and Mrs.
Hope? Detective Cruz, Charleston homicide.
Tell me what happened here tonight? We were upstairs asleep in bed.
I-I heard a noise.
I grabbed my gun.
I-I came down.
Someone had broken into the house, and I Is your firearm licensed? Yes.
Had you ever seen the victim prior to this evening? - No, never.
- And this is weird, I know, in the heat of the moment, but did you think about contacting the police before confronting him yourself? No.
I didn't.
Did he attack you? You're not obligated to answer this officer's questions, sir.
Not without an attorney present.
Wait do do I need an attorney? Well, I am one, and it seems pretty clear to me that you're just defending your home against an intruder.
No one in his right mind would arrest you for that.
Thank you, miss Jamie Sawyer.
Excuse us.
Thank you.
What do you think you're doing? That man has rights.
You were asking him leading questions.
No, I was doing my job, okay? Then you go and undermine me in front of everyone in there? That was not my intention.
What was your intention, Jamie? To come to my crime scene and troll for clients? I thought you were better than that.
Well, I guess there's a lot of things we don't know about each other.
I'll find my own ride.
I'm serious.
Dinner was supposed to be on me.
Nancy, no self-respecting gentleman is going to let you pick up the check.
Even though I made you suffer through a two-hour interview? And it was torture.
I mean, pure, outright torture.
What's torture is trying to get any information out of you.
How am I supposed to do this profile piece? The station's dying for it.
Me on TV? Can't see why.
You're Charleston's new city attorney, and a partner at one of the city's most elite law firms, and you can't see why? Are you for real? I am just a local boy defending the city I love in court.
End of story.
I'm not out for personal publicity.
Then you're just a tease.
Otherwise, why meet me for dinner? Because I watch you on the news.
And possibly find you interesting.
Oh In that case, think I can use my feminine wiles to get at least one little morsel out of you regarding the Lee Anne Marcus case? Way to bury your lead.
It's your first big case as city attorney.
And I've heard whispers of a possible sex scandal within the ranks of the Charleston PD.
Don't believe everything you hear.
I believe you.
So here's my boat.
You want to go for a ride? Love to, but I, um, better get back to the station.
Right.
Well, if anything comes up worth reporting, you'll be the first one that I call.
I hope you don't wait that long to call me.
Good morning.
It is now.
I keep thinking about the other night.
It just felt so good to connect with you again.
Arliss, baby There's something you gotta know.
Don't.
Look, Lee Anne I know I haven't been exactly the easiest to live with since I got back from Iraq.
I was mad at everything under the sun.
But that's not your fault.
So whatever you have to say No matter what, I just, I want you to forget it, all right? All right? Fresh start.
Okay.
You and I, right here, right now.
Deal? Yeah.
I love you, baby.
Morning.
Morning.
I checked the voice mail.
Roy left two more messages.
He called my cell, too.
He can wait.
- I'll see him in court.
- You leaving already? Scheduling on Lee Anne's case don't start till 10:00.
Gotta grab a bite on my way.
You pushing for an early settlement conference? No.
In fact, I'm trying to delay it as much as possible.
I don't want Roy thinking we're trying to get a quick payout from the city.
Sawyer and Associates.
Just a second, sir.
You better take this.
This is Jamie.
Ms.
Sawyer, this is Gavin Hope.
You were at my home last night? Mr.
Hope, yes, what is it? I'm at the police station.
They're placing me under arrest.
I need your help.
Deputy Chief Knox.
You got a minute? You've got some nerve showing your face in this department at all, let alone my office.
I want to know why you arrested my client, Gavin Hope.
And you think I have any interest in helping you? I was there last night.
I know what happened.
He was just defending his home against an intruder.
Anybody around here ever heard of The Protection of Persons and Property Act? Yeah, that's rich.
A yankee trying to throw "stand your ground" in my face? When in Rome.
You're seeing only what you choose to see.
Your client's story's chock-full of holes.
We didn't find any evidence of breaking and entering.
He said the intruder was armed; no gun was found.
He shot the victim four times in the back.
So that means the victim was running away from him, not attacking him.
Manslaughter.
Terry? - What the hell? - You don't return my calls, Lee Anne.
You don't leave me much of a choice.
I told you, you and me, we've got nothing to say.
I know, I know, it's the lawsuit.
Blah, blah, blah.
You need to go now.
He left.
Don't worry.
Drove off like a bat out of hell, too.
Trouble in paradise? It's none of your business.
Well Your boy Arliss paid me a visit the other night.
Yeah? Yup.
I gotta say, he's got some fight left in him.
Impressive.
I know you told him about us.
And for your information, we're good.
Better than we've been in a long time, in fact.
Still don't hold a candle to what we had.
This is my life, Terry.
Why'd you come here? I came here to let you know that I gave Arliss a free pass.
I was messing around with his wife.
After all, you can't blame a man for boiling over.
But you best muzzle your watchdog, Lee Anne, 'cause next time, I ain't gonna be so generous.
There you are.
I was getting worried.
I appreciate the concern.
I have been trying to call you.
And I've been trying to avoid you.
Look, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry.
I could've told you about Preston a lot sooner.
You talk to him? No.
So you still don't believe me that he was on the tape.
To be honest, Roy, I don't know what to believe.
A scheduling order has been requested regarding the case of Lee Anne Marcus vs.
the city of Charleston.
Charges of sexual harassment, wrongful termination and defamation of character.
Now, before I set a date certain on this thing, do you have a trial length estimate? - Two days, your honor.
- Two months, your honor.
Are you kidding me? I assume you two have discussed settlement.
I have presented several dates and times to Ms.
Sawyer, and she has rejected them all.
Because, conveniently, he only wants to meet at his office.
And what is wrong with my office? - It could be bugged, for all I know.
- Children! All right, listen up.
I'm not a young man.
And the minutes I have left here on God's green earth grow more precious to me by the day.
You've just robbed me of three of 'em.
Don't even think about bothering this court again until you've discussed settlement.
Do I make myself clear? Roy just told Judge Garner he only needed two days to try Lee Anne's case.
That means he has something.
Already? Discovery's barely even begun.
We have to talk settlement, and I need some ammo.
Where are we at with Charlene Wilcox? That cop that Lee Anne mentioned? Lee Anne said Charlene was being harassed, too, and may be willing to speak out.
She's coming in next week.
That's too late.
We need her now.
Meet with her ASAP.
Get her story.
See if she'll be willing to cooperate.
That could be a huge win for us.
Gavin, you were arrested because the police felt there were some inconsistencies with your story.
Now, I can fight this, but I need you to be completely honest with me.
Of course.
They're saying that you shot the intruder four times, in the back, and that he wasn't armed.
I-I could've sworn he had a gun.
So now you're not sure? It was so dark.
And when I saw that man standing in my living room I-I didn't even think.
I just kept pulling the trigger until he fell.
I-I was just I was just so scared.
Fine.
That's all I need.
- Wait, what do you mean? - In the eyes of the court, as long as you were defending yourself against an intruder, the homicide can be considered justifiable.
So what's the next step? An immunity hearing.
I'm going to present your case in front of a judge who can dismiss the charges outright.
Preston.
Chief wants an update on the Gavin Hope case.
I looked into our victim a little more.
Couple of things jumped out at me about Walt Yeager.
Like what? Single guy, holds down a six-figure-a-year job.
He owns a home south of broad.
So why would a man like that break into a home to presumably rob it? Exactly.
Let's run this key card.
- Hotel? - Mm-hmm.
Willow Tree Inn, right here in town.
Man owns a home nearby but still rents a room? Judge Sturgess, I requested this immunity hearing on behalf of my client, Gavin Hope, whom you see in front of you today.
He was arrested because he shot an intruder who broke into his home.
As my opposing counsel will most likely point out, the victim was not armed.
She'll also assert that my client was not acting out of self-defense and request that the manslaughter charges against him stand.
And what do you say about all that? In the eyes of South Carolina law, Your Honor, he had no duty to retreat.
And it is my hope that you will choose to recognize The Protection of Persons and Property Act here in your courtroom today and grant him immunity from prosecution.
Ms.
Bishop, how do you respond? Although I do appreciate Ms.
Sawyer attempting to speak for me, I would still like to argue that The Protection of Persons and Property Act does not apply in this case.
- Why is that? - Detective Cruz? You know, you mind if I approach the bench, Your Honor? Bring it on.
Through the course of my investigation, I discovered some photographs that prove the alleged intruder, Walt Yeager, was, in fact, having a sexual affair with Mr.
Hope's wife, Mindy.
Hey.
Hey! How could you blindside me like that? Doesn't feel so good, does it? Oh, is that what this is about? Payback? Of course not, Jamie.
I'm just doing my job.
Your client's wife was having an affair with the man that he killed.
And you chose not to share that with me? I'm not obligated to.
Look, I knew when we first started dating that at some point, because of our jobs, the lines would blur.
Well, they finally did, and maybe I don't like how easy it was for you to hide things from me.
Makes me wonder what else you might be hiding.
What's that supposed to mean, Jamie? You have a problem with me, with us, tell me.
I don't want to play games.
Fine.
So you had no idea your wife was sleeping with Walt Yeager? Not him, not anyone.
I I thought we were happy.
Gavin, we can still fight this.
If you didn't know about the affair and Walt was in your home, "stand your ground" still applies.
What I want to know is, why was he there in the first place? I did come home a day early from a business trip.
Maybe he came over to see Mindy, thinking I wouldn't be there.
Or maybe she wanted you to be there.
I'm going to find out what really happened, Gavin.
I promise.
Did you know Walt was coming over the other night? No.
No, how could I? We met in the same hotel room a couple of times a week.
I never even told him where I lived.
Then why was he at your house? I don't know, and that's what scares me.
I-I broke up with him earlier that day.
I broke it off.
I told him I couldn't do it anymore, and he got real angry.
Do you think he wanted to hurt you? Or Gavin? Walt just kept saying he couldn't let me go.
But I never thought he could go that far.
Don't stop.
Keep walking.
Charlene? Thank you for meeting me.
Lee Anne is a great girl.
Makes me sick what happened to her.
So how long have you known her? Well, we met in the academy, patrolled together as rookies.
And you know Terry McCandless pretty well, too? Yeah, and all his buddies.
They ever harass you? Oh, they call it flirting, but yes.
Always hitting on me, talking about what they'd love to do to me.
- Did you report anyone? - No.
I was too worried about losing my job.
But not anymore.
No job's worth keeping if you're living in fear all the time.
And someone has to stand up for Lee Anne.
So you'd be willing to testify on her behalf? Yes.
I will.
That's music to my ears, Charlene.
I'll call you to set a time to go over the specifics with my boss, Jamie Sawyer, okay? So, you, uh, settle that city attorney case that seems to be taking up all your time? Working on it.
But I have no interest in rolling over.
Then you better be certain you have a case.
You try it and lose, there may be some blowback on the firm.
May lose us some clients.
So you only care because it could affect you.
All politics are local, right? Speaking of which, as you know, we have a mayoral election coming up in the not-so-distant future, and a certain name has come up recently in some of my various social circles.
Holland Knox.
Knox? - For mayor? - It's not so illogical.
He's a local boy who has dedicated his life to law enforcement after a knee injury killed off his shot at college ball.
And since he transferred here from north Charleston, he's brought our police force into the 21st century, and the crime stats show it.
All right, and what-what exactly does this have to do with me? A few subtle overtures have been made, but he won't even entertain them.
And you want me to talk to him.
You're his best friend.
He has got it good being deputy chief.
Now, why would he want to ruin that? Could've said the same thing to you when you were an assistant solicitor, but you got comfortable here right quick, didn't you? Think about it.
I will.
Pardon me, miss.
Jamie Sawyer, correct? Mm-hmm.
Aren't you the one that-that's taking on Roy and the entire police department? Dec Fortnum.
Very nice to meet you.
I do so admire your free spirit, Ms.
Sawyer.
The way you just fluttered on down to Charleston and started shaking all the old trees.
I sincerely hope that our paths do cross again.
My ex-father-in-law.
You didn't tell me what a charmer he was.
A real peach.
- Please.
- Uh, no.
I won't be long.
Regarding a settlement.
Think it over, and get back to me.
Did you call the cops? Cops.
Hello there, girls.
How y'all doing this evening? Fine.
Someone called the police with a noise complaint.
Come on, y'all.
Maybe you can tell me who's throwing this little party.
Will you come with me outside, please? A lot of underage drinking going on in there.
And I smell weed.
But you wouldn't know anything about that, now, would you? Please, officer, if-if I get busted, I'll lose my scholarship.
Well I guess I could look the other way.
That'd make you feel good, right? So, then, maybe you should make me feel good, too.
W No, no, no, no, no.
No, you thought I meant No.
Don't flatter yourself.
I like my ladies with a little more danger around the edges.
But you ain't off the hook just yet, sweetheart.
Alana? Hey.
You have fun at that party? It was all right.
Not really my crowd, I guess.
Come here.
Come join me.
Oh, I'm tired, mama.
I-I'm just gonna go to bed.
I feel like I never see you anymore.
Well, I-I have a break from class tomorrow.
How about I come by your office around noon, take you to lunch? It's a date.
Good night.
Good night, baby.
Here we go.
Seasoned Uh, to perfection.
Got to love a man who appreciates the culinary art of barbecue.
You serving anything that didn't used to have a face, Roy? The old lady's suddenly a card-carrying vegan.
Shame on you, Susie.
We might as well just ship you over the Mason-Dixon line.
I mean, the boys will miss their mama, but we'll make do.
So, Holly, Dec here says that you've been asked to run for mayor.
Is that true? Yeah.
Care to elaborate on that? Why didn't you say anything? That is huge! Your husband here has got the goods.
Admittedly, Charleston's so preoccupied with its own history, we tend to be a bit too steeped in tradition to adapt to the times.
Holland here gave us a nice, big kick in the pants.
Who'd want a job like that? Someone who wants to make a real difference.
Well, I'm making a difference in my job right now.
I-I know you are, sweetie.
You get what I mean.
- How about another round? - Mm.
Good thing beer does not have a face.
Mr.
Rayder, we are now in closed session.
Thank you.
Now, you all know the facts of the Lee Anne Marcus case.
I am here because a settlement figure has been presented to me by Ms.
Marcus's counsel.
I am presenting that figure to the city council for your approval.
Go ahead.
$3 million.
I imagine, Mr.
Rayder, you find that sum to be exorbitant.
That I do, ma'am.
Our city will not be held hostage by this woman of questionable morals.
Ms.
Marcus needs a Bible, not a lawsuit.
If this case even gets to trial, it could pose a nuisance.
Besides the obvious financial burden it poses, the good gentlemen serving us on the police force would have to endure some very untoward publicity.
Or they could be vindicated.
Now, I know that I can win this, Mrs.
Reed.
We've already conferred on the matter, and we're prepared to make a counteroffer, not to exceed $500,000.
You really do want this to go away.
We trust you'll use your best judgment.
Next item on the agenda, please.
Closed session is now ended.
Did you set that meeting with Charlene Wilcox yet? Because Roy.
Jamie.
Regarding a settlement.
Think it over and get back to me.
Have a nice day, Ms.
Briggs.
That boy's so hot you could fry an egg on him.
A hundred grand? If it's a fight he wants, it's a fight he's going to get.
Ah.
Alana! Hi, Jamie.
How's school? Uh, tough but good.
We're going to lunch.
You want to join us? Um Oh, I'd love to, but unfortunately, there's somewhere I need to be.
It's great seeing you, Alana.
- You, too.
- I'll call you later.
I'm gonna go freshen up, and I'll be right back, baby.
Hey.
Thanks for coming.
I want to apologize.
I also knew that when we started dating, lines could blur, and although this is the first time that that's happened I admit I I could have handled it better.
I could have handled it better, too.
So nice of you to say that.
Well, I, uh got a peace offering.
I'm gonna go out on a limb.
Got some new information on Gavin Hope.
What is it? Well, I spoke to his wife after I found out she was having an affair with Walt Yeager.
She said she had broken it off, insinuating that he may have come over that night to hurt her or Gavin.
She told me the same thing.
Well, I dug a little deeper, and it turns out that, uh, security camera footage from the hotel where they would meet up showed them leaving the lobby holding hands, all smiles on the day of the murder.
Not exactly a break-up scene.
So Mindy was lying.
I did a little more background on her, and I found out that last week she started having divorce papers drawn up.
So she was planning on leaving Gavin for Walt.
'Cause she realized if she divorced Gavin, she'd only get half of everything they had.
If he's dead, she gets everything.
Gavin swore he saw a gun in Walt Yeager's hand that night.
What if he and Mindy conspired to kill him? Unfortunately, these are all just theories, Jamie.
Without proof, the solicitor's not going to budge.
Gavin's going on trial for murder.
Not if I can help it.
Miss Sawyer.
Please, come in.
Gavin's going to be put on trial.
- For murder.
- But why? What about "stand your ground"? Well, that would have been my defense strategy, but you made that very difficult, if not impossible.
You were having an affair with the victim, Mindy.
I know.
But I told you - I told you I - Broke it off? But that isn't true, is it? I also know that you were planning on divorcing Gavin, that you were filing papers.
That was a mistake.
I wasn't gonna go through with it.
Well, all the jury will see is discord within the marriage, that Gavin had a motive to kill Walt.
But I do have one other way that I can defend Gavin.
You do? How? I'm going to put you on the stand.
Me? Wait until I paint a picture for the jury.
You and Walt were lovers, having kinky sex in hotel rooms.
You thought about divorcing Gavin, but then you realized Why stop there? That is not what happened.
You told Walt to come over the other night.
There are no signs of breaking and entering because You left the back window open for him, knowing that the husband who loved you was lying next to you in bed about to be killed.
No, you're wrong.
I would never, never do that to him.
What did you do with Walt's gun? It's not real.
It's a replica.
I loved Gavin, I really did.
But something changed, you know.
I changed.
I stopped feeling anything.
I met Walt online on one of those casual hookup sites, and It was just sex.
It was just a diversion.
I told Walt one night that I read about intruder fantasies.
The man breaks into a woman's house, and he ends up seducing her in the bedroom.
He was role-playing.
Yeah, but I wasn't.
I didn't know I didn't know that he was going to come over that night.
And Walt knew that Gavin was out of town, but He didn't know he came home early.
So, after the shooting, you hid the gun before anyone could see it.
I thought if I didn't say anything, it would It would go away.
Gavin shouldn't pay for what I've done.
Gavin.
What's going to happen to Mindy? She'll be brought up on charges.
Tampering with evidence, obstruction of justice.
I am such a fool.
How could anyone be so blind? It's not blindness.
We all want to trust people so badly.
So, when we do trust someone We give ourselves over to them completely.
You can't blame yourself for that.
Thank you, Miss Sawyer.
For everything.
Hey.
I have a meeting right now, but can I come over to your place tonight? We need to talk.
Another old-fashioned, please.
Yes, ma'am.
What are you doing here? $100,000? I can't even look at you.
Well, I have a great case.
Well, I have a better case.
So, if you want to have a serious discussion, we can arrange that.
Otherwise, if you don't mind, I'm meeting someone.
You mean Lee Anne's friend, Charlene Wilcox? Whoa, what do you know about Charlene? Enough to know that she's not coming.
Why not? Well, if I had to guess, I would say that she is off somewhere celebrating her very recent promotion to desk sergeant.
And let me guess.
Suddenly, she's not willing to testify for Lee Anne.
Wait.
You.
No, I had nothing to do with this, Jamie.
I promise.
I play fair.
Though There are some people on my team who apparently do not.
Now Here is my final offer.
And the city has put a clock on it.
You have 48 hours.
Half a million dollars? Oh, my God.
That's obviously really good money, Lee Anne.
But? Honestly? These government agencies have huge insurance policies.
It doesn't hurt them to settle.
And they get to walk away scot-free without having to take any real responsibility for their actions.
So what are you saying? I shouldn't take it? No.
No, I'm not saying that.
But I do need to remind you that if the city is willing to hand you that much money, there's a possibility of a lot more.
What if we lose? I mean, with 500 grand, I can take care of Arliss.
Give us a fresh start.
Go talk to him.
Think it over.
Thank you.
We've got two days to decide.
Good night.
Good night.
Good girl, Alana.
Good girl.
Hello? You here? Preston? Hey.
I'll be out in a minute.
Unless you want to come in.
I'm gonna get some wine.
All right.
Hey, are you hungry? I wish I could whip you something up, but I haven't been to the market yet.
Besides, I can't cook to save my life.
Jamie? What's your favorite thing about Charleston? It's the water, man! Well, come no further.
I'm Russ waterman, and I've got the widest variety of water sports rentals in the Hey, baby.
What? What is it? A half a million dollars.
They offered me a half million to settle the case.
You're kidding me, right? I told you, honey, it wasn't right what they did.
And now they admitted it.
What do you think? What do I think? Well Come here.
Arliss? Arliss?! Oh, my God! Talk to me, baby.
Arliss? Help! Somebody, help us! Help!