Cracked s01e12 Episode Script

Previously on Cracked - And you are? - Sorry.
Rachel Fenton, Organized Crime Joint Taskforce.
What kinds of things would Dr.
Ridley tell you about Detective Black? She would keep me apprised of Aidan's state of mind.
- Aidan - Aidan, wait! Caligra was worried about you.
She asked me to keep an eye on you.
I did it for the unit in the beginning, and then I did it for you.
I can't do this anymore.
Just the person I'm looking for.
I want a divorce.
Until further notice, Aidan, you're partnered with Leo.
- Poppy, you're with Daniella.
- What?! - So what do you want? - A child.
Your son.
I never should've given him up.
It's an ambush! Go! Get down! Get down! Get down! Get down! Get down! Get down! Don't go back inside, no! No! Don't go inside! I got out of bed today Swear to God, couldn't see my face I got out of bed today Staring at a ghost Oh have you seen my ghost Seen my ghost, seen my ghost Oh have you seen my ghost Staring at the ground Na na na na na na na Sorry.
- Hey.
- Hey there.
- I didn't call.
- You should have.
I've been busy at work.
I'm pretty sure we work in the same building.
- I've been meaning to.
- Please just don't try and be sweet.
- Wouldn't know how.
- Maybe you could learn.
That thing you do where I say something and you turn it around and you stick it to me? I like that.
Good.
So let's set this up.
When are you free? Aw, shit.
I forgot to plug my phone in.
Was up all night.
Moving furniture.
Of course.
What else could you be doing? Still not sleeping? Damn it.
I went on call an hour ago.
- Only it turns out you weren't.
- I gotta go.
Yeah Not so fast.
My number.
Don't sweat that off.
Have a good one.
- Sleep in? - I wish.
My phone died.
What's up? Four guys blew in and out of this jewelry store in like less than a minute.
Impressive.
Hardly looks worth it.
How much did they get? Don't know yet.
Jewelry store owner's on his way down.
It looks like whatever was in the safe.
- So why were we called in? - Special request from Robbery Squad.
Apparently one of the guys goes nuts, he attacks a female bystander, starts shooting in the air.
His partners had to haul him off of her.
Where is she now? St.
Stephens.
Daniella and Poppy they're headed down there to talk to her.
- What have we got? - Oh, Ho, ho! Some pretty elite explosive use.
Shaped charges, minimum damage.
They didn't even break the display cases.
- Pros.
- Good ones.
I mean really good.
I was terrified.
I thought he was going to shoot me.
Can you take us through what happened? I was at my door when they all came out.
They had masks.
There was a van, I think.
And then he saw me.
One of the robbers? He was looking all around and then he saw me.
And he just I tried to get inside, but he knocked me down.
He got on top of me.
He was shooting, and then the other men pulled him off.
He was crazy, they knew it.
They put him in the van, he was struggling.
Can you describe him for me? Was he tall? Short? Skin color? All I saw was the mask.
But he moved funny.
Stiff.
Leaning to one side.
Do you know what set him off? The siren maybe? There was a siren in the distance, an ambulance.
As soon as he heard it, he was coming for me.
Leaning to one side, acting crazy, no height, no skin color.
- Wow, she was a big help.
- When you're that scared, the details can get all jumbled up.
Scared, like the robber who's afraid of a siren? So, we have a high-stress situation and noise triggering an erratic outburst, the siren.
- I could list things all day long.
- Oh, please don't.
- Look what they've done to me.
- Are you the owner? Excuse me, I have to see in the back.
No, no.
Hey, buddy, easy, easy.
Did they get in the safe? - Only thing they touched.
- Oh, my God.
No! I'm screwed.
- Hold on.
Why do you say that? - The stones.
They weren't insured yet.
- What stones? - I'm a small store.
Normally I keep maybe But I buy wholesale as part of a group.
We get better leverage.
Every month it's someone's turn to hold the stones 'til we make the divvy.
And how much are we talking about? - Maybe 1.
5 retail.
- Million? Now you see why I'm freaking out? Excuse me.
Stay here, man, just stay here.
- How long had the stones been here for? - Two days.
Tomorrow we make the division.
Sometimes it gets to be a bit of a discussion, you understand? This is no accident.
OK.
We're gonna need a list of all your employees, and the name and addresses of all these stores in your group and anyone else you deal with on a regular basis, alright? - Any surveillance video? - Yeah, one there, and there.
These guys are not first timers.
They have to have records.
Robbery Squad says there's no match for it in Canada.
- No match for what part? - The explosives mainly.
Not common.
But the whole thing's not common.
The weapons.
The speed.
The way these guys don't even look at the display cases.
Hold on.
Back that up.
OK, stop.
Play.
That, right there.
Those hand signals.
I've seen that before.
With Doctors Without Borders in the Sudan.
- You think these guys are African? - No.
I think they're military.
I've seen Special Ops guys use those same hand signals and run a complete mission in total silence.
- What? - I'm thinking if these guys are military, maybe the siren triggered some kind of stress spsponse.
PTSD? That's your theory? Well, it doesn't explain everything, but it's definitely possible.
The military angle fits.
How else would you explain these guys getting so good at using explosives - without leaving a criminal record? - Any of the employees - exmilitary? - No.
But the company does use an armored car company for deliveries.
Hold on.
Yeah, here it is.
Jesse Powell.
Ex-corporal in the 123rd Regiment.
The car company fired him just over a month ago.
Maybe he's angry about it.
Or maybe he just saw an opportunity to cash in or recruit some other veterans.
Let's go take a look at him.
Yes? I'm Detective Aidan Black, this is Leo Beckett.
- We're looking for Jesse Powell.
- What did he do? We just want to talk to him.
Is he home? - Jesse doesn't live here.
- His disability checks come here, right? It's complicated.
- Maybe you could explain it to us.
- Alright, come in.
Jesse stayed with us for a few months after he got out of the service in Afghanistan.
You'd think he was still there, from the way he behaved.
Half the time he'd sleep on the floor instead of his own bed.
- When did he move out? - About six months ago.
We asked him to leave.
So where is he now? We don't - we've sort of lost touch with him.
- It wasn't our fault.
When we made plans, he wouldn't show up.
If he did, he was drunk.
Lucas! I told you not to spy.
That's Jesse's son.
Has Jesse been working much lately? He was driving an armored car last time we talked.
Not anymore.
Oh.
Well, he stops in once in a while to pick up a check.
I don't know.
Look, Mr.
Powell, we really need to find him.
There's gotta be some way you can contact him.
I wish I could.
But Jesse's We're brothers, you know.
Sometimes, it just seems like I push his buttons.
Hey, he wanted to meet you.
Are you talking about Dad? Is he coming to my birthday? - It's in two days.
- Of course he is, Lucas.
- He wouldn't miss it for the world.
- I don't buy it.
He's the guy's brother.
He's protecting him.
No.
Jesse's behaviour is clearly causing problems in that marriage.
Still, you think Jesse's really gonna leave town with his kid here? Plus, if he's suffering from post-traumatic stress Again with the PTSD? Where do you get that? You know that occupational stress injuries are common among vets returning, especially from Afghanistan.
Add that to the drunkenness and sleeping on the floor Presto! We have our trigger- happy, bank-robbing psychopath.
That's not what I'm saying.
Psych Crimes.
It's for you.
Aidan Black.
Hey, it's George Powell.
I had a thought about my brother Jesse.
- You know where he is? - You promise me that you're not gonna hurt him.
OK? He needs help.
Tell me where he is, Mr.
Powell.
I take Lucas downtown sometimes, to a homeless shelter.
The boy needs to see his father, no matter what my wife says.
- You have an address? - Yeah, yeah.
The guy at the shelter said that he's down here.
Alright.
You know what, just stay back, - just just in case.
- OK.
Jesse? Police.
Here you go, another coffee.
So you were with Alliance Armored Cars for how long? - I don't know.
Six months.
- Why'd you get fired? Drinking on the job.
You ever deliver to Hemlock Rare Gems? Once in a while.
You know they got robbed this morning? Team of guys blew open the safe.
Turns out there was an unusually large stock of gems on hand.
Yeah, well Delivered by your old truck, by the way.
Nothing to do with me.
You sure about that? Yeah, how would I know about some special delivery? Well, the owner told me it happens on a regular basis, even back when you were working there.
Where were you last night, Jesse? I don't know.
I was barely functional yesterday.
Drank too much.
- When was the store robbed? - Early.
Six A.
M.
Well, I was in my bunk.
You can check with the shelter.
They'll remember.
I left a little mess.
It's why they kicked me out.
Must've been kind of pissed off when you got fired.
No.
Maybe you told some of the old military buddies about it? No.
It's a good story.
Big shipment to a little store.
No.
No.
No.
No! Maybe you don't remember.
Maybe you were drunk.
If I'm awake, then I fricking remember, okay? - Really.
What's the date today? - I Who cares? Your son, Lucas, for one.
He might care.
He's got a birthday coming up.
What day is it? It's the 12th.
Okay.
Tell me about your old army buddies.
- I'm not talking about them.
- Were you guys close? - I'm not talking about them.
- Alright, well listen to me.
How about if one of them lost his shit and shot up a street in broad daylight? You can help us here.
So, guys, the shelter confirmed that he was there all night.
They lock the place up, nobody gets out before 7.
- So he wasn't there.
- It's a pretty strong coincidence.
I think he knows something he's not telling us.
Pull his service records, let's find out who he served with.
Do we let him go? No, please please don't put me on hold.
I have to call you back.
Thanks.
Mr.
Powell? I'm Dr.
Ridley, psychiatrist.
They let shrinks be cops? You'd be surprised at what they let us do nowadays.
are you getting any counselling? I don't see how that's any of your business.
Don't mean to be rude.
No, I completely understand, but I can arrange an assessment for you at St.
Stephen's.
- There are a lot of treatment options.
- Treatment for what? Look, it doesn't take a shrink to see that you're not doing so well.
You were in Afghanistan? A lot of people coming home are not doing great.
Yeah.
Look, you don't have to go through this alone.
- There's support groups, medication.
- It's all crap.
OK, please take this.
Please.
And just think about it.
Got some cooperation from Veteran's Affairs.
Current files from Jesse Powell's unit, at least those no longer serving.
- You can take them home.
- Who says I'm going home? Pack it in, Aidan.
I will.
- You should get some sleep.
- No doubt.
I'm 5 minutes behind you, man.
Just go.
I said go home.
What's the crime? Working late? Wait.
I got something.
Watch.
You see how he picks up the bag, he scoops it with his forearm? His hand doesn't work.
It's a prosthetic.
- Are you sure? - Send it to analysis.
- They'll say I'm right.
- Right about what? One of the robbers has a prosthetic hand.
Anyone in Jesse's unit missing one? Right or left? - You got someone? - No.
Just asking.
- Leo, anyone in your pile? - No, just got a guy with no legs.
Get over to Veterans Affairs.
See if they can help out.
- On it.
- So you believe me now? Yeah, I believe you.
But that doesn't mean you get to treat this place like the bloody roadside motel.
Are you gonna talk to somebody about this, Aidan? I got it under control.
I'm gonna hit the showers.
- Hey, how'd it go with Veterans Affairs? - It didn't.
What, they don't have a database for disability claims? Oh, they do.
They said they could compile a list for us.
With a warrant and three weeks' notice.
The woman we spoke to said there are over 200 active files.
And hundreds of more people that aren't even in the system.
in the streets.
We send these guys overseas to get shot at, and they get tangled up in red tape when they come home.
OK, there's gotta be a way to find this guy.
Four vets, working together to stage a robbery.
One with a prosthetic hand.
And possible PTSD.
Don't start.
I'm just - It's my opinion.
- No, you might be on to something.
- Where are you going? - Recon.
We were the best damn fighting unit in North America.
And they threw us out on our asses.
No thank yous, no options.
I sucked dirt in four countries, man.
To get stabbed in the back by my own.
I walk around looking to looking to punch somebody in the face.
Waiting for that one little thing that's gonna set me off, man.
OK, that's not PTSD; That's just you being an asshole.
Let's hear from the newest member of our group here.
Why don't you introduce yourself? I'm Aidan.
And I can't sleep.
You feel like talking about it? Your sleeplessness? Not really.
That's not gonna work for him.
You came for a reason.
I'm a workaholic.
I bring it home, I stay up too late.
Do you mind if I ask what you do? I'm a cop.
That's a first for us.
You're a cop? This is a veteran's group, man.
It matter what uniform you're wearing when you shoot someone? Fair enough.
Do you have flashbacks about it? The shooting you mentioned? - Sometimes.
- Do you dream about it? - No.
- Are you afraid - of dreaming about it? - I deal with it.
- I hear that.
- I have insomnia.
It's No you don't.
You have Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder.
You're working your ass off to avoid sleeping.
And don't don't pretend otherwise.
At least not with this group.
Myself, I'd pass out at my desk at work.
I was in advertising for a while when I got back.
If I finished my own project, I'd start work on somebody else's.
Anything to avoid relaxing, letting my mind open up.
'Cause that's when it hits you, right? So.
What brings a cop to a veterans' support group? Saw a notice.
Thought I'd give it a try.
And? You want the truth? Ah I think I'm doing better than most of those guys.
And yet you're still here.
You want the truth? I think half those guys will sleep better tonight than you will.
Um, can I ask you a question? - As a policeman? - There's a guy, he's got a prosthetic hand.
He's probably a veteran, wound really tight.
Group is confidential.
You're not a doctor, are ya? No.
It's not actually your choice.
I could get a court order.
Look, I'm not looking to arrest a guy just because he has a prosthetic hand.
The guy I'm looking for, he's armed, he's in a really bad place.
So if he happens to be one of your guys, I'm not sure how you keeping it a secret is gonna help him.
Need a current address on Kovacks.
K-O-V-A-C-K-S.
Peter Elias.
Lost his hand in Afghanistan two years ago.
I'm on it.
Where did you get this? I joined a PTSD group.
- A veteran PTSD group? - Well, they didn't kick me out.
Did they know why you were there? Does it matter why I was there? Can I talk to you one minute? Thanks, man.
You saved me from another lecture.
You understand how inappropriate that is? These people have to trust each other.
Who's it hurt? They don't know why I'm there.
Yeah, but they have a right to privacy.
And to know who's listening, especially when they're there just to try and heal.
Thank you.
Alright, got a service record for Peter Kovacks.
Twelve years, never rose above corporal.
One, two, three tours in Afghanistan.
Got out six months ago.
- Explosives expert.
- Served in a bomb disposal unit.
Ton of specialist training to.
Kind of guy who can shape a charge to blow open a safe while he's in the same room.
- Can we get an address? - Not on here.
No disability, not pulling a pension.
But now that we know what unit he was in, we can find out who he served with.
We're still looking for the other three.
- Hey, we should send this to Robbery.
- Yeah, - 'cause that'll speed things up.
- No.
She's right.
They need to know.
- Hey, you comin'? - Yeah.
Hi.
- So, you served with Pete Kovacks? - Two tours.
Were you there when he lost his hand? Is Pete in trouble? We need to find him.
Do you know where he is? We never kept in touch.
Saw him at Petawawa when we were both getting out.
Ran into him at a sports bar a few months ago.
Anyone else in your unit you can think of that might know where he is? I doubt it.
Pete was a bit of a loner, never really got along with the other guys in the unit.
- Spent a lot of time with the 123rd.
- Where was that? Kandahar.
We used to bunk beside each other on base.
Guys got to know each other.
You know a guy named Jesse Powell? Sure.
I mean, to say hello to, yeah.
- Did Pete know him? - He and Jesse were close, looked out for each other.
I think Jesse was there when Pete got injured.
If you wanna find Pete, you should talk to Jesse.
We gotta go, that was the deal! We do the job, then we hit the road.
- I can't.
- You trying to get caught? How you doing, buddy? - Glad to see you.
- You got trouble.
The cops talked to me about Hemlock Jewels.
You need to talk some sense into him, or we're all screwed.
He's right.
They're gonna track you down.
Why didn't you tell me what you were gonna do? - Didn't wanna get you involved.
- Well, I am! They think - that I helped plan it.
- Just tell 'em you didn't do it.
They said you were screaming.
That you shot up the street.
- What happened? - I don't know, OK? I'm walking to the van, and next thing I know, I'm right back there, man.
Right in the thick of it.
Sights, sounds, everything, man.
It scared the shit out of me.
You gotta get a hold of yourself.
The cops, they're gonna find you here.
- You don't think I know that? - So get the hell out of town! I can't! I can't do that! Look, it's not safe for me out there anymore.
Man, it's I can't.
So come with me.
We'll go together.
No! You're not listening! If I go out there, I'm pinned down and there's no way out.
So what are you gonna do? If they leave me alone, I'll be fine.
- But that's not gonna happen - That's the way it is! - We're done waiting.
- We're out of here.
Just forget 'em! OK? I'm making a stand here.
And if this is the way it ends, then so be it.
But I'm not moving.
Not for you or anybody else.
We've gone through all of Pete and Jesse's personnel files.
Most are accounted for, but there's still a few hold-outs.
- Does anyone look good for the robbery? - Roger Langdale.
Sergeant.
Served in Kandahar for Pete's last tour.
His roommate said he packed up his car this morning, going on a long trip.
We got a dispatch to send out a plate number and a description.
- What about Jesse Powell? - No dice.
We checked the shelter; he's packed up and moved on.
They're all scattering in the wind.
- Not Jesse.
Not yet.
- Why not? He's still got something he's gotta do.
- Late for your son's birthday.
- Better late than never.
Get in.
Come on.
Hey, Jesse.
Uh, uh, uh, uh.
No, no.
So four guys rob a store on your old route.
Four guys who know what's inside 'cause someone tipped them off.
And one of them has a prosthetic hand.
- Anyone you know match that description? - No one I can think of.
How about a guy named Pete Kovacks? I want you to understand something here, Jesse.
You're about to cross a line.
You were uncooperative before.
As of right now, you keep lying, you're going to be facing charges.
Obstruction of justice.
Aiding and abetting.
And conspiracy.
Pete and I were in Kandahar.
Lots of guys were.
Have you seen him since you came back? - Time to time.
- You tell him about Hemlock Jewels? No.
I don't know.
Maybe.
I don't remember, OK.
I was drunk.
You said you always remember, as long as you're awake.
OK, so what if I did? It's not a crime to talk about your work.
- It is if you're planning a robbery.
- I didn't have anything to do with it.
And I'm not going to help you put one of my friends away.
You think he did something, catch him yourself.
You really think you're helping Pete, Jesse? Pete just broke into a place like a pro.
He was in, out, done.
But then something set him off.
He attacked a woman and he fired his weapon.
You leave Pete out there, on the path that he's on, he's gonna kill someone.
Just got a call from the border crossing at Fort Erie.
They stopped a car matching Langdale's plates.
Three men, Our jewelry thieves.
We'll find out.
They're holding them for questioning.
Go.
You know, I think Pete's got more than just PTSD.
I think he's got an axe to grind.
And I think you know why.
What's going on inside his head, Jesse? I don't know that.
Were you there when he lost his hand? Tell us about it, Jesse.
Pete was a good guy.
He was like ice.
You couldn't rattle him.
Guy was built for bomb squad duty.
We were clearing out a town.
Taliban had come in and blown up a school.
Punishment for letting girls attend.
Left a bunch of sniper nests, IEDs everywhere.
Sirens going off the whole time.
We're moving house to house, slow and methodical, letting the bomb guys clear out each room.
We get a message to start working down this one street, meaning they've cleared the snipers out.
Turns out that's not right.
Guy next to me takes one in the throat.
Me and Pete are calling out for support, but we both know it's not gonna make it in time.
So we ran.
Missed a trip-wire, I guess.
That's what they were using for triggers, these little bits of fishing line you can barely see.
Pete took it full on, but he had his suit on, so all he lost was his hand.
- And that's not all he lost, huh? - No.
You go over to some godforsaken place, they don't even want ya.
Can't tell the good guys from the bad guys, everybody maybe gonna put a bullet in your back.
For what? So you can come home and realise no one gives a shit? No one has a damn clue what we're fighting for.
People looking at you like you're crazy, like there's something wrong with you.
'Cause there is.
Pete needs you, Jesse.
You know that.
So why don't you just tell us where he is? I'll take you to him.
Why don't you just give us the address? Only if you let me come with you.
- What are you doing? - What do you mean? You heard the guy.
He's not gonna give us the location unless he comes with.
One loose cannon isn't enough? We need to complicate the situation? - What would you have us do? - Pete Kovacks is extremely dangerous.
If he feels threatened, he could turn violent.
We've got it.
Just be careful.
Stay down.
Stay down.
Phalen? What the hell is going on? The instructions were to establish a perimeter and stay out of sight.
So patrolman approached the building.
He jumped the gun.
Guy inside opened fire.
Patrolman barely got out of there alive.
- We're gonna have to gas him out.
- Won't work.
Mask.
- I'm sorry, who are you? - He's a friend of the suspect.
They served together in Afghanistan.
Jesse, you think you can talk to him? I can try.
Hold on there, Black.
This guy's a civilian.
Bet I've seen more hostile fire than you.
We're gonna give him a shot.
Someone get me a megaphone.
Talk to him, Jesse.
Pete, it's Jesse.
Guys, he's boxed in.
The noise is probably just gonna make it worse.
I gotta talk to him.
Whoa, whoa, Jesse, hold on, man! Aidan! Aidan! Pete? Pete, there's a tactical squad outside that's gonna bust in here in about 30 seconds.
I'd rather not be here when that happens, but I'm not leaving without you.
Just like that shit storm over there, buddy.
We got to get out of this together.
Pete? This is Detective Aidan Black.
I need you to surrender your weapon.
Down! Pete, if there's gonna be any shooting, it's gonna start with me.
Don't make me do this, Jesse.
There's not gonna be any shooting, alright? Nobody needs to get hurt here.
Get out! Both of you, now! I can't do that, Pete.
We're all in this together now.
Drop the gun.
No! I need to protect myself.
Look, man, I understand you're afraid.
Believe me, I know what that feels like.
But you're not protecting yourself.
You're just gonna get yourself shot, Pete, and you know it.
And what's that gonna matter to anyone else, huh? How about me? You gonna make me watch that happen? Huh, Pete? After what we've seen? You gonna give me another reason I can't close my eyes? You shouldn't be here, Jesse.
Yes, I damn well should! The hell else am I good for? One of the only good things I ever did was carry you out of that shithole place.
For what? So you can blow yourself all to hell and take a bunch of cops with you? Where's it all end, Pete? You kill me, then what? Kill Jesse here and let Lucas grow up without a father? Kill a bunch of cops out there, let their kids suffer? There's only two ways this is going down, man.
Either all three of us walk out of here together, or we don't.
And our names get forgotten just like everyone else's.
It's your choice.
How's it feel to be a bona fide hero again? Come on, man, if we hurry, we can make it back for your son's birthday in time for cake.
Let's go.
Hi, this is Daniella Ridley.
I'd like to speak to someone about getting in touch with a child who was put up for adoption.
Sometimes the guns come out and it all gets cranked up to insanity and you're down to wondering if you're ever gonna make it home, and then a couple minutes later you're walking out like nothing happened.
I like it better when no one gets hurt.
Tactical guys are calling you some kind of hotshot tonight, I bet.
Only 'cause they're jealous.
Mmhmm.
Another round? I actually gotta be somewhere.
You invited me out to rush me off? - You invited me.
- He said, she said.
This thing I'm doing I hope it's gonna help me.
Us.
Us? You know what I mean.
Mmhmm.
I like the sound of that.
Good.
Alright, I'll - I'll see you later.
- Mmhmm.
So my kid, Lucas, he wants to build a rocket.
I say he's crazy, he says no, he's got this little do-it-yourself kit.
So I'm loading the propellant in and all of a sudden, my hands just start shaking.
I mean, it's safe, right? But you know.
Did you finish building it? I took a little break, went back and packed that bastard to the gills and we blew her off.
He couldn't get the smile off his face.
So, you know, it was a pretty good day.
You want to go? Uh, my name is Aidan.
And, uh I need help.