The Cleaner (2008) s01e04 Episode Script

Previously on The Cleaner: Everyone in position? Depends on what position you want.
-Akani.
-I slept with her, but Melissa and me were separated, and I'm sorry.
All right? I'm sorry.
every day since.
When Lula was being born in the hospital, I was down the hallway slamming dope, and I made a deal that if he got me through that day that I would become his avenging angel.
What I love and hate the most about numbers is that they're infinite.
Never-ending.
Everlasting.
The numbers up here have been haunting me for almost a year, so I try to remind myself there are only ten numbers that we use.
The same ten that we learned to count to, using our fingers and our toes.
Plus $1 ,600.
Plus gas? -I included gas, Swenton.
-God, not this again.
Ooh, you know what? Back off, Ivanka Trump, all right? Um, no, I'm talking about gas for the, uh for the night that I was on surveillance.
You were on the same address for 11 hours, Swenton, and the mark never moved.
-Plus $1 ,600.
-So, no gas? -Darnell? -Yo.
One, two, three, four, 500, six, seven, eight.
When you put them into different configurations, they grow, and they multiply.
They split and divide.
Everything in the universe can be measured by our fingers and our toes.
Ten numbers.
Just ten.
Akani, plus $1,600.
Please.
It's not like she's gonna cash it anyway.
No, she's gonna use it as a torch and stick it up your ass.
Okay, that makes us square on the Oxy mom case.
Rock star, too.
As long as he stays clean.
Cynic.
-Realist.
-Gosh, you know, -boots, new phone.
-Phone.
-Phone.
-But you guys should really check out these boots.
They're kind of a faux endangered reptile -kind of thing.
-Swen, get a new phone.
Hey.
We got all the food.
Which means you got what? Oh, sodas, chips, avocado and salsa for the guac, corn on the cob, -salad, pie-- cherry.
-And rhubarb.
Okay, so we need, uh, beef kabobs, fish kabobs, and two vegetarian for Quinn.
Don't let me forget.
Hey! He's coming, huh? Yeah, he's coming.
Well, that's good.
Who is Quinn? When I was a kid, I worked in my father's diner-- his father's before that.
One day, my mom got sick, and I had to work the register.
You got to understand, math-- not my strong suit.
My dad was too busy on the grill to show me what to do.
I just jumped into it.
Three dollars for a tuna melt.
Dollar fifty for fries and a soda, $6.
89 for the Gyros plate.
Suddenly, the numbers started making sense to me.
I don't know why, but they did.
Something clicked, and since then, they're my only constant.
My ship in the tempest-tossed seas of life.
Oh, it wasn't that funny.
You're late for your next class.
Go.
So, when your dad was in prison This is the second time, right? Yeah.
For possession.
Anyway, he needed someone.
A friend.
Another prisoner? Inmate.
Same difference.
Will you let her finish? So that was Quinn, the friend? Mm-hmm, and he And what was he in for? Robbery.
I'm gonna lie to you.
It's the same old story, right? -Wrong place at the wrong time.
-It can happen.
And I was I was in a bad way.
I mean, I'm real bad.
So it was Quinn who got me sober.
No, scratch that.
Quinn saved my life.
Hmm.
"He shall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee lest anytime thou dash thou foot against the stone.
" Poetic.
Luke.
Chapter four, verse ten.
Sounds like somebody spends a lot of time in hotel rooms with Mr.
Gideon.
Wait.
I met that guy with Mick, right? Uh, Quinn the Eskimo? Yeah.
Mick knew him.
But the trip is, his name ain't Quinn.
He ain't even an Eskimo.
I mean But, Darnell, you're right, he is he is some kind of angel.
Hmm.
You know, back then, Quinn doesn't save me, I'm thinking I don't know.
I end up like, uh Well, like Mick.
I don't even know how you wrap your mind around all this theory, Professor.
I've been working this theory for ten months.
If I can't wrap my mind around it now Go on, get out of here.
Oh, I don't mind.
I'll help.
Harry, go.
See you in class tomorrow, Professor.
Yeah, I'll pick it up.
Charcoal for the grill, mesquite chips.
Got it.
Yeah, I'll be home soon.
I'm just, uh, finishing up here.
Bye.
Buying a new truck? Some day.
Sounds like you're throwing a big party.
Mega-- disco ball, DJ, tons of blow.
Oh, nice.
Special occasion? Nah.
Oh, just immediate family? Couple of friends.
Yeah, I could cancel my plans.
Party might be a little too low-key for your taste, Akani.
Are you sure? Yeah.
Have fun.
You feel like conserving water? Not so much.
What are you doing up so early? I wanted to get my homework done before school.
That's good.
That's that's mature.
I wouldn't push that maturity thing too much.
I peed in the shower.
Let me warm you up.
How have you been? You and Teddy didn't come to the house for dinner Friday.
I know.
I'm sorry.
We're good.
Busy.
I'm taking a few more classes at school.
Teddy's trying to get published before the deadline.
-Hi, Mom.
-Oh.
Hi, Teddy.
Let me get you some breakfast.
Same weight since high school, Mama.
Hey, Pop.
Come on.
I want to get to class early.
Bye, honey.
Tess, is he doing okay? He's doing great.
He's just under a lot of pressure.
We'll come by for dinner this week.
Sofi, leave the beautiful professor alone.
We got customers.
Bye.
Quinn.
Get out of my head.
The kids asked about him.
Good.
What did you say? What they needed to know.
Which means what? Which means, not as much as you wish I did, but more than I would have on my own.
Well, that's the tricky part, right, babe? Telling our kids just enough to, uh, keep their heads clear, their eyes open, but not so much that you scare them off from taking risks.
-Hmm.
-You know, the good ones.
We'll figure it out.
Mmm.
Get out of my head.
Just so you know, this is really gonna help when I have nothing to say in confession.
Do I have to stay here for the party? Yes.
Can I have a friend over? -Of course you can, sweetheart.
-Good.
'Cause I was thinking maybe I could invite Charlie Mintz.
You know what? On second thought, no friends.
I told you.
Go get in the truck, all right? We're gonna be late for school.
We're not, uh we're not at the boy talk moment, are we? No.
Not yet.
Unless you got something you might want to talk to me about.
Can I talk to you later? You sure can.
-All right, wait here.
-Dad, we're gonna be late! Get in the truck! I'll be right back.
ln 12 hours.
So, if I transfer my balance to your card company, how soon can I get a cash advance? It would normally take two weeks, -No.
-but I can arrange to have it done in ten business days.
That's-That's too long.
How about frequent flier miles? No, I don't want airline miles, Goddamn it! -Hi, Teddy.
-Tess.
You missed the department meeting again.
I covered for you.
The staff's sick of hearing me talk.
-They'd rather dump me and keep you.
-And you? I want to keep you, too.
You have to stop.
I will stop once I get through this, but it helps me write.
Tess, you understand what this means for us if I get published.
Tenure, a house, kids.
Teddy are you serious? Come here.
Completely.
Mmm.
Hey.
You're looking good, Quinn.
Yeah.
Mrs.
Banks, you're a liar and I love you for it.
Check out my husband with Jasmine Marks.
-Flirt.
-Relentless.
I meant her.
How's he doing? -He's good.
-Yeah.
Coaching Ben's football, which basically just gives them another reason to be pissed at each other.
Lula's got him wrapped around her finger.
Just like her mother? Hardly.
He's clean.
Yeah.
And, you know, I think this deal he made-- if he's tempted to use, the deal he made with God, it stops him.
At least so far.
How's the marriage going? Wow.
Quinn, free therapy.
Yeah.
When he was shooting dope, I was this heroic woman just for sticking by him, and now that he's some kind of personal savior, I'm just a lucky chick who landed a guy like William Banks.
I didn't mean that the way it sounds.
You know what D.
H.
Lawrence said about marriage? Yes, I did a lot of reading in the joint.
D.
H.
Lawrence said that marriage was three things.
It was you, it was him, and the third thing was the thing that you created together.
I don't know, maybe you just got to work on that third thing.
You getting soft on me, Quinn? I'm just counting on you two to make it all work.
Cheers.
And I helped out his wife, so he gave us an opportunity Excuse me? -Yeah.
-Hi.
I'm looking for William.
D, you want to give me a minute? I'm William.
What can I do for you? A couple years ago, you helped my cousin's wife, Janelle Banick.
You may not remember.
Cross addicted to Valium and alcohol.
How's she doing? Sober.
Almost two years.
Ah, good.
And you? I'm not here to talk about me.
I have a colleague, a brilliant mathematics professor actually.
He started using speed about a year ago when he started working on his paper.
He, hopefully, will get published this summer.
He used it to balance his class schedule with his writing, just speed.
And then he graduated to cocaine.
Yeah.
Janelle told me about your fee.
Half now.
Please, I-I need your help.
Ben, if you want a ride, we're leaving.
I'm coming.
Damn it.
All right, sit down, everybody.
We got a case up.
His name is Teddy Souplos.
He's a professor of mathematics at Alta California University.
He's also a cocaine addict.
He's up for tenure this year.
If he doesn't publish, he's done.
Publish or perish.
What? I watch TV.
Who made the touch? Colleague.
All right, Akani, Darnell, I want you hitting all the dealer tracks on the West Side.
I don't actually have to purchase or take narcotics, do l? Well, sometimes you might have to make a buy.
Otherwise, you get made as a cop.
And that is not so bueno, okay? Let's go.
East Side are your weed dealers.
Mellow guys, good businessmen.
West Side: pharmaceuticals, some meth dealers.
Not so nice.
Down by the water, that's Shooters Row.
These fools even suspect you're a cop, they will drop you on the spot.
I don't want to speak out of turn, but you seem like such a nice girl.
l-I Don't patronize me with the "nice girl" speech.
I'm here for the same reason you are, William is and I'm pretty sure Swenton.
We're all here looking for something better than we had.
Coke dealers take up the entire North Side of the park.
You go with cash, you make a buy, keep the conversation to a minimum.
Got it? But William didn't say I had to buy any drugs William's not here.
I have seniority.
So go.
And, Darnell, I'm not a nice girl.
Everything's been arranged for you to go under at the university.
Here's your lD, your class schedule.
Now, I want you to go into that school's payroll office and I know, I know, I know.
-Stick to financials.
-Right.
I'm kind of excited I'm going back to college.
I mean, l-I told you about how I applied to college? By taking my old man's "Girls of the Pac 10" issue of Playboy, and I let that ship steer my academic future.
I applied to all ten schools.
And how many did you get into? Uh, surprisingly, Arizona State.
Swenton, do not make me regret this.
Come on.
Ah! Ah! Ah! Pre-med? My mom is gonna be so proud.
I know I promised.
I just I just need a little bit more so that I can write.
Teddy, no.
You-you We want a house one day.
Right, Tess? Tess I need the money.
I'll pay you back.
Tess? Hello? Hello?! Professor Souplos.
Hey.
Hi, Harry.
Yeah, come on.
Come on in.
You okay? No, l-I'm okay, thanks.
Look, I realized today what l want to write my thesis about.
When you were talking about your parents, something just clicked.
lt was completely inspiring.
And, like you said, it would click, and it did.
That's excellent news.
Good for you.
Good.
Can I ask you something, Harry? Sure.
This is a rather awkward request, so And feel free to say no.
But, uh, I just paid my rent, and I'm being told that the bank hasn't cleared my paycheck.
I-I know it's odd -that I would even -How much do you need? No, forget it.
You know, you don't have to I want to.
How much money do you need? Uh, I guess $500 would do.
Okay.
Actually, uh it would make my life easier if we could get the cash, Harry.
Okay.
Teach just showed up.
Let's grab him.
Hey, there's about 150 yards between him and us and about Four hundred and eleven.
Darnell, don't.
This is what we do, right? We protect the client.
-Shit! -Unless you want to stand around and buy more drugs.
Oh, William, pick up, pick up.
Man, we have a problem.
Pick up, pick up, pick up.
William, we've got a problem.
Darnell's gone rogue at the park.
Shit.
Don't say a word.
-Just keep moving.
-What are you doing, man? What the hell are you doing? What you doing, William? Keep moving.
You had one thing to take care of, Akani.
You want to get into a pissing contest with me? What the hell are you doing having him make a buy? -Do you want to hear my side of the story? -Not unless it ends in "Yes, William, we did exactly what you told us to do.
" It's a slight variation on that, man.
And you.
You think you're some kind of cowboy now, huh? You gonna ride in and save the day? All you needed to do was make the mark.
You do not make a move on him.
And you don't carry unless the rest of the team is aware.
I make the calls, I set the plays.
You don't authorize that kind of move.
Okay, I was just trying to Yeah.
I'm a patient woman, babe, wouldn't you say? Some would say saintly.
So, do you think it would be out of character for this saint to want to put her foot up our son's ass? What did he do? Our son seems to think that smoking is a good idea.
Are they ours? Nope.
Well, then, babe, you-you can handle this.
William, you better get home, or you may be down one child.
I'm on my way.
All right, get off my truck.
Go home, get out of here.
Swenton's going under in the morning.
Hey, do you want us to stay on surveillance? What, after you've been made? Get off my truck.
Nothing to say? Go to bed.
What about my homework? Do your homework, then go to bed.
What about dinner? You don't get dinner.
You know, you're making some great decisions with your life.
I guess that makes me the apple then, huh, tree? Are you ready for school? I've been thinking about Mom and Dad's party.
What about it? lt was almost normal, right? Mom and Dad were getting along.
There were sort of normal people in our house.
The singing along on the guitar was queer, but it was normal, for our family.
We have to hurry.
I'm meeting Charlie Mintz to help him cram for the marine science quiz.
I heard about the cigarettes.
Dad got really mad, right? It's none of your business, Lu.
Hey, did Lula talk to you this morning? No, uh-uh.
About what? I don't know, she wouldn't tell me.
But I think it's about boys.
That horny little Charlie Mintz.
Huh? I'll talk to her.
Hey, are we alone right now? Yeah.
Alone is nice.
Alone together is really nice.
Could be.
Really? Maybe.
Hey, wait.
Hey, let's go to the bedroom.
What? -What's wrong? -Nothing.
What? What did I do? -No.
-Is it about the bedroom? About going to the bedroom? No, baby.
I'm sorry, baby.
I'm sorry, I thought I was ready.
Damn it.
You've only been home for a while.
I'm sorry.
I'm almost done.
I cracked the equation.
I'm almost done.
You're not even close to being done.
-What are you talking about? -I read it.
That morning that you went out to score, I read your paper.
What were you doing on my computer? lt doesn't make any sense, Teddy.
It's just thoughts that don't connect.
That's because you couldn't possibly, possibly understand that paper.
It's words that don't connect to anything.
It's the best thing that I've ever written, and the fact that you can't understand it means absolutely nothing.
Tess! Tess! Okay Hey, Dr.
Hanson, how are you? Very well, thank you.
Fire.
Fire alarm, people! There's a fire alarm! I-I smell smoke.
I hope my car is okay.
Oh, wow, somebody Does somebody have a phone? Anybody? I-I should I should We should probably call somebody, right? Go ahead.
All right, William, I'm in.
This college sucks, bro.
lt doesn't even have a football team.
On point, Swenton.
What's that noise? Um, nothing.
Souplos hasn't been paid in months.
His last eight paychecks were advanced.
All right, forget about Teddy's financials.
Get Tess's.
-Why? -Just do it.
Same thing.
They're advancing her checks, too.
All right, look, get back in the classroom.
Get eyes on Teddy.
Roger that.
And don't do a thing unless you call me first, you got it? -All students and faculty -I got it under control.
may return to their offices and classrooms.
Go away, Lu.
It's me.
I'm busy.
I don't give a damn if you're busy, Ben.
I want to know what the hell you're doing smoking cigarettes.
You and Mom smoke.
Well, that's because we're old enough to make that stupid decision.
When you're older, you want to do something that asinine, be my guest.
Thanks, I'll give it some thought.
You want to tell me what the problem is here, young man? I don't know, Dad.
Why don't you tell me? You better cut the crap.
What are you talking about? Where did you get this? ln the bathroom, on the floor.
-When? -Yesterday.
ls it yours? You know it's not mine.
-How come? -What do you mean, how come? What kind of question is that? Because I'm clean, that's how come.
And how am I supposed to know that? Because I told you that I am! Where do you get off asking me that?! This is bullshit.
And I wanted you to hear this from me, not Ben.
What? ls it yours? What the hell is that supposed to mean? ls it yours? Wow.
What am I supposed to think, William? You're supposed to think it's not mine, babe.
You used to leave them all over the house.
I used to pick them up so the kids wouldn't find them.
And you always used to tell me that they weren't yours.
Well, I took responsibility for that.
After you got clean, what, the third time? Don't give me that.
Don't give me that.
William, you're a great liar.
Okay, I know that.
So I'm gonna ask you one last time.
ls it yours? No.
It's not mine.
Then you find out whose it is, who brought this into our home, and you take care of it, because whoever this belongs to is not welcome in this house.
I'm terribly sorry I'm late.
Excuse me.
Terribly sorry I'm late, everyone.
I was working on my paper, and I got to thinking about a couple of things.
The numbers that and there are only ten of them.
I told you this.
About the fingers and the toes, right? Uh, but if you look at the-the equation, the numbers that What's on my board? Who was working on my board? I saw an amazing opportunity on the third parallel.
Did I ask for your help, Harry? N-No, but you were Well, I just thought You thought what? Thought I needed your help? That-That you-you were just gonna solve this and save the day? Shit, write my paper for me? ls that what you thought? I don't need your help, Harry.
I don't need any of it.
Wait, stop, I only figured out a small piece of it.
Stop! I didn't ask for your help.
I didn't ask for anything! I'm sorry, I'm Please give me bars.
lt was just awkward as hell, Quinn.
lt you know, it completely freaked me out.
There's my son, my wife looking at me, you know, looking at me like they used to look at me, practically calling me a liar to my face.
No, you know what? Melissa did call me a liar.
Whose rig do you think it was? Oh, man, you don't think it was mine.
Quinn, I don't know what to think.
You don't think it was mine.
You know, I don't know what to think.
I think you better sit down right now, brother.
I think you better sit down before I stand up.
I'm sorry.
I swear on the heads of your children.
Look, you don't have to do that.
I swear on the heads of Lula and Ben that was not my rig.
Man, I wouldn't do something like that to you in your own home.
Hell, man, the old Quinn wouldn't even do something that low.
Well, maybe.
Whose do you think it was? I don't know, but I got to find out.
You're damn right you do.
I'm sorry, man.
Unbelievable.
The guy goes wacko, okay? I can't get bars.
I'm thinking, "When is this building built-- like, the 1940s or something?" It's like a bomb shelter.
Couldn't get a signal for like a quarter of a mile.
-Get a new phone.
-Still waiting on that phone call.
I couldn't get bars.
Get a new phone.
You know what? lf it were up to me, I would have just dropped him right there in the room.
I mean, you had the green light.
You know what? I couldn't get a signal.
I would have done it if it were up to me.
Bullshit.
I tend to believe her.
Excuse me, I'm looking for William.
Hi, um William is right out front.
You were paying for his drugs and you hired me.
I didn't know what else to do.
I should have told you.
I didn't want to keep giving him money.
I didn't.
I also didn't want to lose him.
He's such an amazing person, William.
Oh, I really wish that you could see him the way that I do.
So, what now? Now? He's lost your money.
He's not getting published.
He's losing his job.
He's losing his mind.
He's losing his family.
With everything he's lost, I still can't promise you he's bottomed out.
I made you some tea.
Oh, honey, I'm not a tea kind of guy.
It's chamomile; it will relax you.
Oh, I don't need to be relaxed.
A boy tried to kiss me.
Give me the tea.
I'm gonna kick that Charlie Mintz's ass.
Actually, I tried to kiss him.
But Charlie didn't want to kiss me.
Well, Lula, listen to me now.
Sometime in the very, very distant future-- and I mean very distant-- there's going to be another boy, not Charlie Mintz Dad.
and this boy, he's going to think you're the prettiest girl he's ever seen, he's going to think you hung the moon, and there will come a time eventually when he'll want nothing more than to kiss you, and when that time comes, baby Yeah? I'm gonna want to kick his ass, too.
All right? -Okay? -Okay.
Yeah.
Well, first off, l'd just like to say that it was a nice surprise when I heard from you.
I mean, I thought our encounter was You'll get your money if my guy is there.
Well, that would be terrific, William.
Now, the financial agreement we had was, uh -Three hundred.
-Cool.
Look, your boy is down at MacArthur.
Dude is sketchy as hell.
His ass should be teaching home ec.
First class-- how to take a bath.
Look, he ain't got shit to buy shit and he's looking to score.
He ain't going to be leaving without scoring and he ain't scoring anytime soon.
I'm on my way.
With my money? Yep.
Hey, Quinn.
Hello, Mrs.
Banks.
You, uh, selling a little door-to-door D.
H.
Lawrence? No, I just came to get my guitar.
Oh, right.
Uh, hey, Lula, can you grab Quinn's guitar? One second.
Your esposo told me about the rig somebody left.
That's bad.
Yeah, you have no idea.
Oh, I do.
I saw the look on Will's face.
Hmm.
You have any idea who it might have been? Nah, it's maybe Crazy Kenny or Joy.
Here you go.
Thank you, darling.
It never ends.
-Bye, Quinn.
-I'll give you a call.
Okay.
Excuse me, Quinn? Yes.
I don't know if, well What is it, Lula? I just I wanted to thank you for saving my dad's life.
Hey, Lula, the phone's for you.
Coming.
-Bye.
-Bye.
Hey, man, can you hook me up? Nah, man, I don't mess with them illegalities, bruh.
See that cat right there? He's been slinging all morning.
Hey, man, can you hook me up? Maybe.
What you need? Blow.
I got I got this.
It's worth a lot.
It's worth -Oh, I know what it's worth.
-Yeah.
Ow What are you doing? How are you feeling? Numb, mostly.
I can't believe all the horrible shit I did, -the things I said.
-Well, nothing that hasn't been done bigger and better before you.
It's a start.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Man, I just Man, I just couldn't I just couldn't keep clean.
Leaving the rig in your bathroom I just was really high, man.
l heard somebody and I just freaked.
I'm sorry, Will.
I get it.
I swore on your children.
I get that, too.
I need your help.
I know.
And I'm going to help you, Quinn.
I'll help you get straight, I'll help you keep straight, but you can't ever come to my house again.
Not ever.
Why? Don't ask me that.
Just know that I'm gonna do my best to help you and that you're not welcome in my house ever again.
Man, I saved your life.
I know you did, and now I need to live it.
We're even.
Thanks for waiting for me.