Fastlane (2002) s01e12 Episode Script

Man, I can't stand needles.
I don't know how she does that.
Jarod, I'm trying to line up a shot.
Sorry.
His name was Scott Hellner.
We were the same age, went to the academy together graduated last year, ended up at the same station.
He was into coke.
Pretty heavy, on the job.
One day, some pictures show up.
Him using in his patrol car.
Then a call comes.
Says, "These are gonna get mailed to your captain.
" That's how it started.
Then they said the pictures would disappear if he stole something from the evidence locker.
He came to me, asked me what he should do.
I didn't know.
I didn't wanna go to Internal Affairs.
Two days later, he shot himself.
He's dead.
This is everything I've been able to find out since.
I got a pretty good idea who the blackmailers are and I think they're doing it to other cops.
I have to be part of this case.
Obviously, I'm gonna need a little outside help here.
But this has to be mine, okay? Sir, uh, can I talk to you for a second? Yeah.
I know what you're gonna say, okay? Take the case, but ditch the kid.
He's too green, he's too arrogant.
- And too emotionally involved.
- Heh, you rule.
We'll take the case and work with the kid.
I don't care what you think.
How do you think this uni knows about the Candy Store? Did you recognize his last name? Calloway.
- His dad is Deputy Chief - I don't care.
You want us to team up with some kid who couldn't write a parking ticket just because Because this is Earth, a planet ruled by politics.
If you don't like it, try space travel.
You always have to go straight for the sarcasm body slam.
You keep him away from the action, don't let him get in your way.
And don't let him get killed on my watch.
I know you can make this work.
Okay, we're done.
- How you feeling? - A little amped.
What did you feed me, about a pound of B12? Let's just say you're gonna feel very perky for a few days.
Dude, you ready? We gotta roll.
- You know, I was thinking.
Maybe I should take the Aston Martin, to be in character for my end of the play.
Yeah, uh, Jarod, your end of the play is more of a backup thing.
- You know what I'm saying? - He means you get the Toyota.
- Yeah? Hey, it's Jarod.
I was thinking maybe I should do more than just stay in the car and watch the door.
You know, because I'm not feeling like I'm really involved here.
Here's the thing, Jarod.
You've gotten us a lot of good information and, uh, this is definitely gonna be a serious score.
But this couple you put us on, man, they're like, uh They're like Frankenstein and the bride, all right? A full-on, happily married freak show.
He does it for the money.
She does it for kicks.
And you ain't ready for what they putting down, you feel me? Now, everybody needs to play their position.
We're going in, get them comfy, you watch our backs.
Stay in the car, hit us on the two-way if something goes down.
How am I supposed to help you guys if I can't see if I'm just stuck out here? Jarod, you just gotta trust us on this.
Rudy and Randi need special handling.
Deaq and I have long, documented, vouched-for criminal histories.
These people feel safe with us.
- Okay? - Okay, I hear you.
All right, listen, we're almost there.
Get in character.
We're hanging up.
Here's what I don't like.
This kid's angling for the bust working to get his name on the report.
- He's young, let him have it.
- How about letting him earn it? Yo, you got a hard side, man.
And it's weird, because it don't come out often but when it does, it's like you get this whole jaw twitch.
And you get all serious.
Next thing you know, your lip gets tight, then Van goes away and here comes Captain Van.
Steel Van.
The Van.
I guess I don't have your teddy-bear tender side.
I ain't no teddy bear, all right? I'm just saying.
We're in a drug game, man.
I've been her Dr.
Fix for about a year.
And to be honest with y'all, I hate her stank ass.
Always hardballing me, never paying on time.
She's messing with how we get our money.
Now, I can't do nothing about it, because she's all over my parole.
She got me by the sack.
I need some payback.
Do you have any tape on her? Video? Audio? Miles and miles.
- Did you bring it with you? - After we know what the deal is.
RANDl: It's not complicated.
We deal in information, specifically this kind of information.
You give us everything that can hurt her, we handle the contact and the payout.
You stay clean, we split the take fifty-fifty.
What take? Heh.
She's a cop making 55,000 a year before taxes.
Ain't no money in that plan.
Look, every day of the week we know what's in every evidence locker in the county.
Money, drugs, swag, whatever.
We get the lists off the cops from the inside.
And we tell her what, she walks in and gets it.
Cop looking at jail time is a cop looking to deal.
You guys might wanna step outside.
Found somebody poking around the side door.
My guy thinks he's a cop.
He's with us.
Heh.
What the hell is wrong with you? Didn't I tell you to wait in the car? - L - Shut up.
Sorry about that, guys.
You believe this kid? Rudy, Randi, uh, really embarrassed right here.
- We apologize.
He's Jarod, he's been with us forever.
- How come we've never met him? - He stays wide, watches our back.
You don't bring him in, we don't get to check him out? We like to know our partners, all our partners.
You're right, totally right.
Our bad.
- I mean, look at him, he's - He's like a pet, you know? You don't even think about him.
When you meet a family, do you say, "Can we meet your dog?" He's like a little Shih Tzu.
Heh.
Just like that.
Uncuff him.
You, come here.
You know how we do it? We don't like surprises or new faces.
You and your partner were researched before you ever stepped foot in here.
We like to know everything.
It's what we're about, right? Like we said, our bad, lady.
He radiates Joe Regular, maybe even five-0.
Anyhow, it's your guy, your problem.
- You get my point? - Yeah.
Have a nice night.
I've seen bonehead moves in my life before, and what I haven't seen, I've done.
But this, this is Olympian.
You get the gold.
All I did was get out of the car and walk to the door.
Okay.
And here's the question you'd better be able to answer: - Why? - I just It was a while.
I was waiting.
I was getting worried.
You had a two-way, a phone, more importantly, you had orders.
Okay, know what, it happened.
What are you gonna do? I don't know, the deal's blown and they're fully shy now.
- What's gonna bring them back? - Look, here's the thing, they're right.
He's got no jacket, no back-story.
He gives off bright-blue, straight-out of-the-academy, beat-cop energy.
Wanna make me feel bad, feel like an idiot? Okay, you did it.
I'm not trying to make you feel like an idiot.
That, you can do.
I'm trying to get you to see the crucial information: You blew the case.
I don't know the case.
You won't let me near it.
I dug up all the information, I brought it to you, but you stick me in the follow car.
You make me sit outside and wait for you.
Closer than you ever would've gotten if your father was deputy janitor.
Oh, you're an ass.
Tell your dad, maybe he can get me fired.
- You know what? - You know what, this part, it's over.
We're moving on, okay? All right, man, just relax your lip, okay? You're doing that whole tight thing again.
Loosen up.
Loosen.
All right, we got two options right now.
- Option A, Jarod disappears.
- Yeah, that won't look suspicious.
You're supposed to be relaxing your lip, man.
Don't talk.
But you're right.
Option B, let's make him into somebody they trust, okay? We build him into a hardcore, full-on, set-tripping, boy-wonder pusher man with platinum street credibility.
They wanna believe, or more importantly, they wanna be sold.
So let's get this kid into showroom condition.
He's right.
You up for some school? Convince me not to shoot you.
- Okay, don't shoot me.
- You think I'm playing? Do you know for a fact this gun isn't loaded? Convince me not to put a bullet in your neck.
Okay, give me a second.
Is this supposed to be like I'm the cop and you're the bad guy? This is me and you, right here, right now.
In 10 seconds, I'm pulling the trigger.
You don't believe me, ask him.
I shot him once.
- And I'm his partner.
- Ten, nine, eight, seven, six You need me to make the case.
Not bad.
You used something you have against me.
That's good.
Okay, now convince me not to kill Deaq.
Whoa, whoa, hold up, man.
Can the hostage finish his taquito at least? No, the hostage has to shut up and hope the cop can save the hostage.
Otherwise, you'll be eating taquitos from a straw.
- Take me.
- Why? I already got him.
You don't want him, you want me.
You want somebody you can use, somebody who means something.
Aim the gun at me, let him go.
I don't know, you seem to care a lot about him.
I shoot him, that's really gonna hurt you, right? - Bang, bang.
- Stupid, now we're both dead.
Here's what you did wrong.
You acted like you gave a crap.
You acted like it was life or death.
You acted like a beat cop would.
They smell that, they get the advantage.
Wanna get out of a situation like that alive you don't show fear, need, loyalty or love ever.
Man, you shot me while I was chewing.
I could have died.
Okay.
How long have they been married? - Uh, nine years.
- What do we know about the marriage? Uh, it's rock-solid.
They're never apart.
They worship each other.
No one's ever gonna get between them, no one's gonna ever tear them apart.
- Randi's maiden name? - Sev Rick.
Rick.
- Can I talk to you for a second? - Sure.
- Van giving you a hard time? - Nothing I can't handle.
Come on, you can't give him the answer.
What good is that gonna do? Every minute we're in here, they're getting suspicious out there.
We've gotta get that kid ready to roll, man, not take the SAT.
We can't be arguing in front of him.
It's like a Mom-Dad thing.
- We have to be a unified front.
- I don't wanna fight in front of him.
But you need to move past the homework stuff.
- Homework stuff is important.
- No, no.
Passing the test is important.
- You were a terrible student.
- Straight A's, baby.
- But did you ever learn anything? - Yeah, how to get A's.
I'm not gonna argue.
We have to settle this, be one voice.
- They always like that? Look Yeah, it usually ends in some juvenile contest to see who wins the argument.
- Ah, see? There you go.
- Heh, heh.
What's that? You lost, go.
All right, here's something I'll never get.
How does paper beat rock? How does a piece of paper covering a rock make you lose? - That's the way it is, just accept it.
- The game's a metaphor.
Rock is power, scissors intelligence, paper's money.
Money can wipe out power.
Uh-huh.
For the first time, this game is making sense.
The student is teaching, I love it.
Here's the thing.
You have to become everything the mark wants.
Rudy and Randi are all about the lifestyle.
Do you fit? Can you hang? What kind of a vibe do you give off? So this is Ivar.
Hottest bar in L.
A.
Nobody gets in unless you're on the list.
- You guys are on the list? - Shut up.
In that club is a friend.
He'll get you in tight with Rudy and Randi.
Your challenge is to get in the club by yourself.
- You're not on the list.
- Here you go, man.
That's your piece, your celly, your Berry, your 2 G's.
You got five minutes.
You know what, forget the gun.
Give me the gun.
And the money too.
Give me the money.
And your watch.
I thought we wasn't gonna do this in front of the kid.
No, no.
Here, it's cool.
You guys can take these too.
All right, I guess you're gonna go in raw-dogging it.
- All right.
- You know what? Make it three minutes.
Starting now.
Oh, no, man, not the back of the line, fool.
It's gonna be a long night.
That's right, that's right.
Go to the lady with the headset on.
Go.
Ah, there you go.
All right! Yes.
Ninety seconds.
Man, ease up, man.
You see my boy is doing good.
He ain't gonna get in, but at least he's using some sense.
You know what I'm saying? We gotta give him props for that.
Wait a minute, hold on.
Whoa, whoa.
There you go, there you go, man.
He's got the stuff, he's got the flavor.
You know that is a raw talent protégé right there.
We can mold and shake that, you understand? I say we go get our Henry Higgins on.
You wanna do that? I wanna see how he did this.
I like that white boy.
Hey.
- Hey, Van.
- Hey, what's up, baby? - Deaq, what's up? How you doing? - I'm doing good.
- You're looking sexy tonight.
- Thank you.
Know that short, stocky dude that just came through? Yeah.
He's with you guys, right? - Yeah.
- Yeah.
Said you had some kind of a bet, and, uh, that if I let him in Van would give me 2 grand.
- No, he didn't say that.
- Yes, he did.
- Two thousand? - Yes.
Whoo, man, do you ha? Do you need help? - Thank you.
Very nice.
- There you go.
Enjoy.
- You wanna take me out to dinner? - Know what? I'm buying drinks tonight.
That was crazy, thinking on your feet.
Do you feel fly? - I feel fly.
- You should feel fly.
I think right now he's officially coming over to my town.
- Fly town.
- You ready, fly boy? Let's go to work.
All right, pay attention.
My friend you're about to meet, Johnny O.
Short for Johnny "Oregano.
" That was his nickname when he was weed-dealing in Laguna.
I've known him since I was 10.
- What's he do now? - Everything and anything.
He's the supplier to the stars, rock gods, TV icons, movie moguls.
Whatever they need that's illegal, immoral or just bad for their image they call Johnny O.
Everybody knows Johnny O.
Johnny O knows everybody.
If he pals up with you, you're on every list.
- Johnny O.
What up, dawg? Van the man.
Two kinds of people in my life: Van, and everyone else.
- I owe him my life like what, 27 times? - Try doubling that, all right? - Look, I need a favor.
- Anything.
Okay.
Rudy and Randi Metz.
- Yeah, no way.
- Come on.
Does the word "anything" mean something different? Right, I meant anything but them.
So you must've crossed paths with them? I know enough to stay on their good side.
Have you heard the thumb thing? Thumb thing? No.
Rudy loves this.
He decides you need a little discipline in your life.
So he straps you down and he carves your thumb off like a turkey leg.
Randi drops it in a smoothie.
And they bet on the odds of reattachment depending on how far the nearest hospital is.
That's how they live it.
All right, let me just break it down for you, okay? Zero danger, high pay.
And that Jamaican passport problem you got off the Kingston bust I can make that go away.
- You're a penis-tease, man.
- Come on.
I come through for you, you come through for me.
What do you say, should we do it? - We're in.
- That's my man.
Oh, I love this guy.
Enjoy.
Johnny O.
No, no.
Look, dude, I know it sounds silly, okay? But it's like a big emphasis on the "ny" and then you hit the O.
Johnny O.
- Johnny O.
- That's not bad.
Okay, then you dive right in for Yeah, just don't grab it.
There you go.
Look, you gotta loosen up, okay? Just loosen up a bit.
Loosen the jaw, okay? They gotta see that you're part of his crew, okay? That you guys have history, all right? So, um, I laid down some bait for Rudy and Randi that I don't think they're gonna be able to resist.
Fifteen pounds of heroin at the Rampart evidence locker.
Street value: $8 million.
I guarantee you they know about it.
And I guarantee you they're gonna wanna do business with you guys again.
- So how's Jarod doing? Phew.
Well, Van's getting his grouch-faced Yoda on right now.
But I think what the boy needs is some smooth-moving Obi-Wan.
Hey, partner.
Let me take a pass at him.
You go call that couple and, uh, get this party cracking.
- It's hard being white, ain't it? - Huh? I feel your pain, man, it's okay.
Rudy, Van Strummer.
We need to have a sit-down.
What about? You do a lot of business over the phone? - No.
Me neither.
Ivar tonight, 1 a.
m.
Bring the missus.
You check out this Rampart rumor? - No rumor.
Fifteen pounds off a bust.
- Hmm.
And this cop, Chambers? Full Rampart access.
Well, maybe we should meet, see what the boys have to say.
There you go.
You gotta loosen up a little bit, because your stuff is too tight.
See, you feeling it? I'm feeling you right now.
- Johnny O.
- Who the man? - I'm the man.
- No doubt.
- Then let's do this.
- Mm-hm.
- You ready? - I'm ready.
He was doing so good.
Did you give him a drink? I told you not to give him a drink.
Okay, all right, they're here.
- You ready? - Come on.
- I can't.
- What do you mean, you can't? I can't do this.
You were right, I cannot go out there and do this.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
I'm bailing.
Are you serious? Are you seriously having, like, what, a panic attack on me, man? - I don't know, I just - This is great.
This is just great.
This is your only chance to get back Rudy and Randi in your palm.
I mean, you're unbelievable, dude.
I can't Okay, Van.
Look, man, all right? Let me do this, okay? You go out there, you stall.
You do your thing and let me do mine, all right? Thanks for coming by.
We got a table set up right over here.
Talk to me, man.
What's up? I don't belong here.
Doing this with you guys I can't remember what I'm supposed to do.
- Van's right, I don't have it.
- It ain't about Van, man, it's about you.
Now, I know your whole life, you've had this idea in your head what it was gonna feel like when you got in the big game.
But it wasn't like that toilet seat in your hand, right? The kind of cop you are, the kind of cop you wanna be, maybe they're different.
I don't know that, but I know one thing: It's time to find out.
Now, I'm going out there with my partner.
You make the play, we got the case.
If you don't, you gotta live with whatever you become after tonight.
Get your mind right, man.
Thanks for coming down.
We just wanted to clear the air.
We figure this is all about trust.
And we sort of shook that trust with the kid dropping in on us and all.
But we wanna make sure we're on the same page and nobody comes crying later.
We're moving on with our information.
So look us in the eye, say it's cool, get up, get out, get amnesia.
Because here's the thing about partners: You can always get new ones.
Johnny O.
Hey, yo, my man, Jarod.
How you doing, man? You know that cat, Johnny O? Supposed to be all-time.
Fully hooked-up.
Kind of like the two of you without all the paranoia and bull.
Dude, you look a little salty.
I've been macking on this shorty all night.
Damn, young hustler.
Yeah, strictly seafood, though.
No red meat.
Maybe she's a mad cow.
Stay close.
It's gonna be a long night.
Rudy, Randi, what's up? Haven't seen you in, like, forever.
You know my man Jarod here? They were just leaving.
These are the guys I was telling you about.
- Van, Deaq, meet Johnny O.
- What's up? - What's up? - Hey, hear we've got some business to do.
Yeah, just give us a minute.
- Can we talk to you guys? - Alone.
Whoa.
Are you two trying to rod-ram my action here? No.
We're old friends.
Yeah, we're old friends, right, Jarod? Yup.
And, Rudy, Randi, we are not old friends.
Easy.
Heh.
All right.
I mean, we did call you down here.
- You wanna talk? - Let's talk.
All right, maybe we jumped the gun.
We're just trying to be careful.
Obviously, we still wanted to do business.
That never changed, we just felt We needed to know what you guys were about what Jarod was about, and now we know.
- I don't know.
- You guys were rough on the kid.
- He's sensitive.
- And he promised Johnny O.
I mean, they go way back, you know? Jarod, what do you think? These guys are sorry for the misunderstanding wanna get back in the business.
- Forget it.
- What are you talking about, man? - You haven't heard what they have to say.
- Johnny O's got the same juice.
He's got cops on the inside willing to roll he's got brains, he's got the money to front and more importantly, he's not an asswipe.
Look, you want cautious partners because the other type will get you killed.
Now, there's still a deal here.
Yeah, there is.
How about 60-40? - That sound about right? - Yeah.
Johnny O's kind of a flake anyway.
Hey, he's been my friend since we were 10.
- That's your problem, shorty.
- All right, guys, calm down, okay? Rudy, Randi, look it's gonna mean I got strife with the third member of my team but okay.
Okay, we've got them exactly where we want them.
Give them everything.
She's gonna pay up big.
All we have to do is wait.
Soon, I'll get the demand.
Bingo.
We're gonna play this just the way they want.
Payment, drop.
Then give them the heroin from the evidence locker.
But this is when it gets tricky.
I want to apply maximum pressure on the spot before the arrest, before the lawyers.
It's our only way to get exactly what we're after.
The names of every cop they're blackmailing.
This is our one and only objective: To see who they turned and who's working for them on the inside.
Clear? You wanna tell me what's on your mind before you hurl again? Everybody thinks that because my dad was a cop that's why I wanted it.
That's not it.
He never wanted me to become a cop.
But I wanna show him that I was right to pick this.
That I can do it.
You really think that's a good enough reason? I mean, I got father issues too, you know.
What guy doesn't? But you check them at the door.
You shouldn't be thinking about him or what you're trying to prove because when we get out there, it's all about what we have to do and how we do it to keep each other alive.
That's it.
- You telling me to quit? - I'm asking you why you're here.
I think you're looking for a gold shield.
Burn the bad cops, use them as a spotlight.
You are seriously out of line.
- I lost a friend, you know what that's like? - Yeah, I do.
I wish I could look at you and tell you all I see is a kid who's hurting because that kid, I know.
But you? I see fear, ambition, confusion.
Yo, fellas, it's time.
You don't have to like my reasons, and you don't have to know them.
But I'm here.
You're not gonna get me to step off.
Yo, man, you all right? - Yeah.
I think I'll be the one puking this time.
Did you bring it? Yeah.
- Do you wanna check it? - I have a strong feeling it's all there.
I mean, if it's not, you're just creating more problems for yourself.
And you've got enough problems already, lieutenant.
Speaking of problems, uh, I wanna show you something.
I see one of their guys behind the red Mustang.
- I'm gonna take him.
- Be careful, man.
- Yo, Jarod, you see anybody else? - No.
Keep an eye on van, I'm going to Billie.
If anybody knows where this is going, I think it's you guys.
In two minutes, you're gonna be arrested.
Get your hands up.
But for the next 109 seconds, there's a deal to be made.
You give me the names of every cop you've flipped and you'll be arrested for misdemeanor extortion.
You stand silent, and you double down for extortion and felony possession.
So Don't move.
Drop it.
Put your hands behind your head and drop the piece.
Van! Ready? - Go.
Van! Van, come in.
Jarod, somebody.
I can't even get a look at what I'm shooting at.
Neither can they.
But there's more of them, and they got bigger guns.
Yo, Van.
Hey, where are you, man? - All right, where's Jarod? - I don't know.
I don't see him.
I can't get nobody on the radio.
Car's missing.
Look at this.
This is Jarod's.
And he won't be checking in.
We have a black SUV, California plates.
Four, Edward, Henry, Ocean, 329.
Two officers are missing.
We believe one is driving a red Toyota Supra.
Four, Peter, Charlie, Ida, 346.
I need a countywide net.
We believe both officers are in danger, possibly hostages.
Okay, I'm sending a plainclothes team to the club.
Not there.
They're too smart for that.
- What do you think they're gonna do? - I don't wanna think about it.
Maybe you shouldn't either till we hear from somebody, okay? But I got an idea on somebody that might give us a lead.
- Yo.
- Deaq.
I've got an emergency.
Look, if this is about Rudy and Randi, I don't - It is.
- Okay, dude you gotta bounce me out of the loop on this.
Am I not crystal? I want nothing to do with this.
These people scare me.
- They got Van, man.
- What? What are you talking about? It was a bust that went bad and they got away with him.
Man, don't tell me this.
I think they're gonna use Van to bargain their way out of a big problem, okay? Get me information off of somebody that's tight with them.
They're on the run, they got a cop, where would they be? All I can say is, if I get you a locale, you'd better move, all right? You're a cop.
You're all cops, huh? Whole thing was just a play to nail us.
Nice.
Well done.
Big hand.
You know, it's a good thing she and I have such a strong marriage because this kind of thing could really test a couple.
And she's gonna be telling me for the rest of my life that she knew for a fact something was hinky.
Do you hear what I'm saying? My wife is gonna nag me for the rest of my life because of what you did.
Get a divorce.
Heh.
You've obviously never been married.
Honey.
Yeah, baby? Make the call.
Hello? Van? Van? Hello? - Van? - He's being real tough.
He must not want the girls to know how bad it hurts.
- Tell me what you want.
- Right now, his thumb.
But I'm thinking a little bigger.
I'm thinking we get out of the country tonight and you help.
Everybody, freeze.
Jarod? Hands in the air.
You're under arrest.
No.
Put the knife down, step away now.
I won't tell you again.
- Yo.
- Tell me you have a lead.
I got a lead.
- How close? - Five minutes.
van, they've got him.
Jarod's there too.
- Damn it.
- You need to get there fast, now.
This is not gonna be good.
You look a little unsteady.
Is this your first bust? You sure the safety's off? - Got backup on the way? I told you to drop the knife.
Everyone on the floor now.
Don't you want me to unlock your partner first? - My what? - I got the key right here.
I don't care what you do to him.
He's my snitch.
You don't show fear, need, loyalty or love.
Kill him.
I'm here for you, Rudy.
- And as you can see - No! My safety is off.
So when I say put the knife down, I mean put the knife down.
- How long have they been married? - Nine years.
The next bullet is going into your husband's head.
You don't wanna be a widow, you love him too much.
You got nine years and a whole lot more if you play this smart.
Tell your guys to get on the floor, put their hands above their head now.
What part of now do you not understand? I'm gonna count to five, and I'm gonna start shooting your husband.
- Ten, nine, eight - You need me to make the case.
Five.
Four.
Three.
Two.
- All right.
You out of here? - Filled out all my paperwork.
Time to get back in uniform, get ready to take down all the jaywalkers.
Jaywalkers, okay.
Be careful with them.
- Yeah, they're fast.
- Heh.
Listen, uh, thanks I just wanted to tell you, I don't think I'll ever forget you.
Most of all in the nightmare kind of way, but, uh, for real.
Whatever I end up, as a cop, as a guy, all of it's gonna be because of you.
I take no credit or responsibility.
But whatever you do, be sure you turn out amazing.
Don't make me smile, it hurts.
Get out of here.