Diggstown (2019) s02e01 Episode Script
Vince Hu
1
[SIREN WAILING] Amazing grace ♪
[ENGINE REVVING] [CAR CRASHES]
How sweet ♪
The sound ♪
That saved ♪
[GLASS TINKLING] ♪
A wretch ♪
Like me ♪
I once ♪
Was lost ♪
[GLASS TINKING] ♪
But now ♪
I'm found ♪
[SIREN WAILING]
BOYS: Lila!
Oh my god!
Oh my god!
Can see ♪
Oh my god!
Oh god, call an ambulance!
- Help, somebody!
- Ma'am, back up!
Stand back, ma'am!
Ma'am, ma'am, are you with me?
What's your name? What's her name?
- What's her name?
- Lila.
CONSTABLE HU: Lila, Lila.
OCC, this is Constable Vince Hu.
Bravo 22.
- [DEENA SOBBING]
- [AMAZING GRACE SONG]
CONSTABLE HU: Come on.
Simmons Road, North Preston.
At the scene of a motor
vehicle accident with injuries.
Send an ambulance immediately.
- [LILA SIGHING]
- [AMAZING GRACE SONG]
DEENA: Oh my god!
Lila, Lila!
I once ♪
Was lost ♪
CONSTABLE: Come on, Lila, come on, Lila.
[ECHOING] Please.
But now I'm found ♪
[SIRENS WAILING]
Was blind ♪
But now I see ♪
[FAST-PACED RAP MUSIC]
[RAP SINGING]
[CROWD CHEERING]
[RAP MUSIC]
♪
Y'all ready?
- [IN UNISON] Yeah!
- Let's go.
[RAP SINGING]
♪
[BOAT HORN]
MARCIE: To Iris, welcome back.
- REGGIE: Welcome back.
- IRIS: Thank you.
COLLEEN: Are you excited to be back?
IRIS: Yeah,
I'm definitely lookin' forward
to putting my social
work degree to good use.
COLLEEN: And we got you an office.
REGGIE: And it's not a storage closet.
And I like my storage closet.
[CHUCKLING]
MARCIE: My storage closet is just fine.
PAM: Yeah Reg,
her office is bigger than mine.
DOUG: Oh is that what you
were doin' when I caught you
- with the measuring tape?
- MARCIE: You saw that.
Hey, I see nothing's
changed around here.
REGGIE: Well, not nothing.
Marcie's back on the market.
MARCIE: Oh wow, look at that.
Look at the time. I gotta go.
IRIS: Conveniently enough.
- PAM: Have a good one.
- IRIS: What happened?
REGGIE: I think we'll have
to fill you in on all the latest.
IRIS: Yeah.
[CROWD CHATTER]
MARCIE: Are you sure you wanna do this?
Being a cop is all I ever wanted.
Now it's become some nightmare,
all because of some accident.
I know.
CONSTABLE HU: All these people they
They think I wanted this.
I didn't want this.
- If I had the choice I
- MARCIE: Listen to me.
The cops, the prosecutors,
they want this case to just go away,
for you to disappear.
That's why the RCMP
terminated your employment.
It's politics.
But I am not gonna
let them do this to you.
It's not right.
[CROWD SHOUTING]
- [CROWD SHOUTING]
- [DRAMATIC INSTRUMENTAL]
Keep your eyes straight ahead.
- [CROWD SHOUTING]
- [DRAMATIC INSTRUMENTAL]
TARA: We're gonna be okay, Vince.
- [CROWD SHOUTING]
- [DRAMATIC INSTRUMENTAL]
Your Honour, I'm here today
on behalf of Constable Vince Hu.
We're seeking injunctive relief
with respect to his
termination by the RCMP,
as Constable Hu was not treated
to all of the necessary
internal processes.
Your Honour, Constable Hu was
behind the wheel of an RCMP cruiser
when he struck and killed Lila Downey
when she was returning
from choir practice to pick up
- her two boys.
- A tragic death, Your Honour.
But SiRT,
the Serious Incidence Response Team,
concluded that his
actions were imperfect,
but did not rise to a
sufficient level of negligence
to warrant criminal
liability or dismissal.
Mr. Conway's own bosses
at the public prosecution service
declined to pursue criminal
charges against Constable Hu.
Constable Hu filed an
appeal to his termination.
However, the RCMP-
[FAINT WHISPERING]
JUDGE SPINKS: Mr. Conway.
One moment, Your Honour.
Who's this guy?
The last person you
want in this courtroom.
Your Honour, I've just been
informed that Mr. Lincoln
has filed an Information for
a Private Criminal Prosecution
against Constable Hu.
What's going on, Marcie?
JUDGE SPINKS: Okay, well, I, uh,
guess we're done here until such a
time as that matter can be disposed of.
BAILIFF: All rise.
Why?
Why would you do this?
The law allows the family
to file charges
- against Mr. Hu directly.
- VINCE: Who's he?
- I don't know.
- And they've trusted me
to mount a robust prosecution.
What happened to the big picture?
PERCY: I don't think it
gets any bigger than this.
Would we be having this conversation
if Lila Downey was white?
Nah, your client don't just
get to walk away like that.
The Downey family don't
get denied justice
because the Crown and the cops
have their heads up each other's asses.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
CLAUDE: It's just math.
Her expenses on average
were about $2200 per month.
Piano lessons, tutors,
sports, clothing for her kids,
it's all in my report.
The basic monthly amount
Miss Toulany would've received
in social assistance was $1200.
This includes everything:
shelter allowance,
personal allowance, etc.
MS. MITCHUM: And working
as an escort would have-
PAM: Objection,
assumes facts not in evidence.
MS. MITCHUM: Your Honour,
I refer to exhibits B23 and B24.
Ms. Mitchum,
you're not wearing perfume, are you?
No, Your Honour.
Continue.
MS. MITCHUM: Exhibits B23 and B24
are ads the defendant placed
on the websites Craigslist
and Available.com
to solicit clients.
Witnesses will testify
to having sex with
Miss Toulany for money.
JUDGE FURLEY: And you can
make your point when you call them.
For now, Ms. MacLean's
objections are sustained.
[SCOFFS]
Let's move on.
In your expert opinion,
would it be possible for Miss Toulany
to cover her expenses
without supplementing her income?
Absolutely not.
MS. MITCHUM: I've no more questions
for the witness at this time,
Your Honour.
Ms. MacLean.
Mr. Seguin, you concluded
my client's expenses
double the social assistance benefit
- she receives?
- Yes.
PAM: And you interviewed Miss Toulany
as part of your assessment.
Did you ask her where
that extra money came from?
MR. SEGUIN: Yes, she said friends.
PAM: Mr. Seguin,
the communication for the purposes
of solicitation charges
against my client
carry cumulative fines
that total six figures,
so I need you to be really accurate
when I ask you a question.
When you asked Miss Toulany
where the extra money came from,
what did she say exactly?
MR. SEGUIN: Miss Toulany's answer was,
"Gifts from friends."
"Gifts from friends."
And so you have any direct evidence
that suggests my client is lying?
It's $24,600.
She'd have to have good friends-
PAM: Sir,
I'm not interested in your speculation.
Do you have evidence that
contradicts her response?
No.
PAM: Thank you, Mr. Seguin.
I'm done with the witness.
[BOAT HORN TOOTS]
Avery, it's Marcie Diggs.
Steve tells me you're the boss now.
So why the hell are you
allowing Percy Lincoln
to pursue this private prosecution?
Avery, call me back.
Saw you're on Halifax's Legal
Aid structural sub-committee?
How'd you get on that?
Mhm, it pays to know people.
What's she talking about?
Ah, enough of that nonsense.
What are you talking to Avery for?
You trying to get the
Crown to kill Mr. Lincoln's
- private prosecution?
- Mmhm.
REGGIE: Well he's creative,
I'll give him that.
That cop did kill someone.
MARCIE: Yeah,
but he still deserves a defence.
But you're saying he's innocent.
I'm not saying anything, actually.
SiRT and the Crown didn't
think that his actions were-
IRIS: I know what SiRT says but,
what about you, Marcie Diggs?
DOUG: Iris, you can't ask that.
If every case becomes personal,
you're screwed before you start.
IRIS: So someone kills
an indigenous woman
you're not gonna ask Colleen
to assign the files to someone else?
- Ah, well
- IRIS: I mean there's no need to answer.
I know you made that request
like twice last year.
I bet you wish you kept walking.
MARCIE: I feel for that family,
for those two boys.
But there were two
cops in that cruiser.
Why does the old white guy get a pass
and the diverse newbie
gets hung out to dry?
ELLA: Wow.
Looks good.
Is this Nico's design?
Pretty fly, babe.
Can't wait to see the final product.
Sorry.
I was hoping we could
talk about the witnesses
the Crown intends to call.
So we've got Wayne Coolie
and Carlile Brandise.
- [CELLPHONE RINGING]
- Sorry, I gotta take this.
[CLEARS THROAT] No, I can
bring it to you on Sunday.
Yep, $300.
But it needs to be in small bills.
Fives, can you do fives?
No, I'm not a drug dealer.
Okay.
Okay great, see you Sunday.
What's with all the bags?
Just holding stuff for a friend.
ELLA: Okay so Wayne and Carlile.
Mmhmm.
Wayne just texted me.
Said he was in Edmonton for work,
so he won't be testifying.
The court can issue a bench
warrant for him to testify.
- What about Carlile?
- [CELLPHONE CHIMING]
Hold that
Hey, excuse me.
PAM: You're selling a
$3000 blazer for $300 on Kijiji?
Ella, what's going on?
I'm just doing a favour for a friend.
PAM: Okay.
Why don't you tell me
about this Carlile guy.
That's touchy.
Carli got up in his
feelings when it came to me,
so I had to get a restraining order.
[CELLPHONE RINGING]
VELMA: Marcie, you're coming out
to the dinner at the hall on Saturday?
No, what dinner?
VELMA: The Ladies Auxiliary
is hosting a Hootenanny
out at the East Preston Hall.
Your father and I are just
dropping off some squares
at Mrs. Sparks' house.
I don't think so, Mom.
You don't think so.
You got a date?
- Well, bring him.
- No date, I just
You know about that case
that I'm working, right?
VELMA: No, no, no.
I'm not having that.
You are coming out on Saturday.
People have a problem with that,
they can talk to me.
Destroy him.
They're not just trying to take away
- his livelihood
- VELMA: Marcie?
But they want him to go to jail,
- for doing his job.
- VELMA: Marcie, are you still there?
Mom, I gotta go.
- TARA: But every day,
- TARA: I have to listen to what a saint
- VELMA: I better see you on Saturday.
- Lila Downey was.
- Okay, okay, bye.
She was a junkie with multiple
drug possession charges,
assaults.
She left her kids in a
car in the heat of summer.
Social services had to be called in.
This is all public information,
but you guys would rather demonize
the name of my fiancee.
[SUSPENSEFUL INSTRUMENTAL]
Please tell me that
interview wasn't your idea.
What are you thinking?
TARA: Lila Downey was investigated
by Child & Family Services for neglect.
She had amphetamines in her
system the day of the accident.
People need to know this.
VINCE: She's right, Marcie.
We gotta do something.
If I don't win this,
we can forget about the
reinstatement hearing.
- I'll be in prison.
- Not this way,
not with me.
Lila Downey is dead.
Two boys are going to grow
up without their mother.
Doesn't that matter to you?
I'm fighting for my life.
MARCIE: Well I won't be introducing
any of that evidence in court.
I'm not going to smear a dead woman.
I'm the client.
Then send me home.
Or let me defend you my way.
Okay, I'll do it your way.
MS. MITCHUM: What is
the "girlfriend experience"?
CARLILE: Well it's when you
hire a girl to go out with you,
like a date and then, um,
well, you know.
I don't, Mr. Brandise.
And then what exactly?
You have sex.
MS. MITCHUM: And how
much did you pay for the sex?
Well it would depend on,
um, on what we did.
I mean, if we did something
different like anal
Shh!
Asked and answered, Ms. Mitchum.
Move along.
MS. MITCHUM: Your Honour,
the defendant is charged with
communicating under Section 286, sub 1
and fraud over $5,000.
I think, especially
considering the fraud charges,
it's critical that we have an actual
accounting of the amount
of money that was
JUDGE FURLEY: Wasn't that
the point of Mr. Seguin's testimony?
The evidence and facts
you have presented
are very clear to me.
- Move along.
- MS. MITCHUM: Okay.
Mr. Brandise,
Ms. Toulany currently has a
restraining order against you.
Well we both filed against one another.
She was harassing me and my wife.
MS. MITCHUM: Thank you, Mr. Brandise.
I'm done, Your Honour.
Ms. MacLean.
Mr. Brandise,
were you in love with Ms. Toulany?
MS. MITCHUM: Objection,
Your Honour, relevance?
It matters if Mr. Brandise
was paying for sex
or paying to keep the
attention of his crush.
Carry on.
Mr. Brandise, were you
in love with Ms. Toulany?
Well
[SOFT PENSIVE MUSIC]
- Yes.
- PAM: Okay.
And at what point in your
acquaintance with Ms. Toulany
did you realize you
were in love with her?
I don't know.
Was it two weeks into
the relationship, a month?
I don't
I don't-I don't know.
It's just after the first night,
I just, I wanted to be
around her, you know?
I wanted to be with her.
- [SOFT PENSIVE MUSIC]
- [SPECTATORS MURMURING]
♪
MARCIE: Your Honour,
my client and Corporal Harold Davis
were in pursuit of a sex trafficker
when Lila Downey was slain.
We submit the life and death
stakes of this situation
warranted their actions as
law enforcement officers.
As a result, there's
no criminal negligence.
This private prosecution
is a deliberately malicious
and vexatious action in
the name of politics,
not justice, and it
should be dismissed.
Thank you, Your Honour.
Hmm.
[CLEARS THROAT]
160 kilometres an hour in a 50,
in a school zone, Your Honour.
Does he get a pass because his crime
of reckless driving
occurred on the job?
How many "Get Out of Jail Free"
cards do the cops get
when it comes to us, Your Honour?
I am asking this court to say,
"Enough is enough"
and give Lila Downey the justice,
the Crown, and SiRT,
seem so eager to deny her.
Thank you, Your Honour.
JUDGE MORRISON: Mr. Lincoln,
I'd like to explore
some of this evidence
before I rule on Ms. Diggs
motion to dismiss.
Let's reconvene at 11:30.
BAILIFF: All rise.
[LIVELY MUSIC]
♪
[INDISCERNIBLE WHISPERING]
Let's stop it with the protests.
- I'm not your boy.
- AVERY: Okay Percy, Steve,
we're just asking you to
tone down the rhetoric.
Brotha,
I think you're under the impression
I have strings to pull.
MARCIE: I love a super-hero team up.
Which one of you is Captain America?
PERCY: I'm here to
remind these gentlemen
that if they interfere with my case,
I'll set a fuse in this city.
So if it is a save you're looking for,
you can forget it.
I'll see you back there.
Well, that was a waste of time.
- Bye.
- Bye.
MARCIE: You let your
employees speak to you like that?
Are you shit disturbing, Marcie?
Well I think that position's already
been filled in this case.
It's so funny, I was,
this close to asking Colleen
to let me bail on this one.
And I'm sure you're
catching hell for it.
Oh I'm about to get my
"Black card" revoked.
[CHUCKLES]
But then I come here and I,
I see all of you plotting.
Ooh, Marcie.
MARCIE: You know what?
Percy launching this
private prosecution,
it's a win-win for you.
The cops are satisfied
'cause you're not going
after one of theirs
and the Black community, well,
they're not mad 'cause
you're letting Percy do
what Percy does.
So, the only person that's losing,
is my client.
A very green constable,
a baby who no one minds
throwing to the wolves.
He was behind the wheel, Marcie.
MARCIE: Right 'cause
he was taking orders,
from a senior officer
sitting right beside him.
Your office made the right
call not to prosecute.
But you are allowing Percy and the RCMP
to make Vince Hu a
scapegoat to in this mess
and it's not right, Avery.
Right?
This is rarely about
what's right, Marcie.
Excuse me.
[SOFT BLUES MUSIC]
PAM: The Crown has established
the Communicating charge.
I can't get around that.
But if you're found guilty,
you won't go to jail for that.
The issue with the communicating
charge is the fines:
It's $1,000 for the first offence
and $2,000 for every offence afterward.
I don't have that kinda money, Pam.
I understand and that's why
we need a credible witness,
someone who can back up the claim
that the majority of
the $24,000 you used
to supplement your income
were gifts from friends
and not solicitation income.
If there's insufficient
solicitation income,
they can't prove the fraud
over $5,000 and we win.
Otherwise, jail becomes a thing.
I need names, Ella.
Just one name.
[DOOR BUZZING]
One second.
I need you to talk to a client of mine.
She's facing jail time
and she has two kids.
The youngest is seven.
IRIS: Sure, whatever you need.
Hi.
Ella, I'm Iris Beals.
I'm the in-house social worker
at this office.
So Pam told me a bit about your case.
You have two daughters and
the dad's not in the picture.
- Is that right?
- Long gone.
What happens to her
kids if she goes to jail?
They'd likely end up in
the foster care system
until they're adopted or age out at 18.
But Pam said your youngest
daughter is seven,
so she'd have a good
chance for adoption.
It's really tough for older kids.
And, very tough to keep
siblings together.
PAM: You claim you're
doing this for your girls,
but what happens when they realize
that you chose to protect the
identity of a "john" over them?
That's not what I'm doing.
PAM: That's exactly what you're doing.
What's it gonna be?
We were just walking
home for dinner like usual,
but Aunt Deena called Mom back
'cause my little brother
forgot his sweater.
No, I forgot my sweater.
PERCY: It's okay, little man.
Take your time.
Then we heard sirens.
This car out of nowhere raced by.
Mom grabs hold of us.
But, there was this, police crash.
It just-
They just killed Mom.
They killed her.
You loved your mother, didn't you?
Yes.
PERCY: I'm sorry
she's not here for you.
No more questions, Your Honour.
JUDGE MORRISON: Ms. Diggs?
I am so sorry for your loss.
I have no questions for
the witness, Your Honour.
JUDGE MORRISON: Thank you, Julius.
You may step down.
Are you crazy?
Why aren't you questioning the kid?
Because it's not helpful.
What's helpful is you not doodling
while this witness is crying
about his dead mother.
PERCY: Your Honour,
I would like to call
Corporal Harold Davis
to the witness stand.
[SOFT PENSIVE MUSIC]
♪
Good morning.
Good morning.
Is this for real?
[SNIFFS] Ugh.
Mr. Walden, have you ever had any
sort of sexual
relations with my client?
MR. WALDEN: No,
this is only the second time we've met.
Hello, Ella.
PAM: Have you ever given her money?
MR. WALDEN: As gifts, yes.
Do you know how difficult it is
to raise two kids on $1200 a month?
PAM: In the last three
years that you've known Ella,
could you estimate how much
you've provided in gifts?
Probably in the range
of tens of thousands.
Thank you, Mr. Walden.
MS. MITCHUM: Where'd
you get the t-shirt, sir?
MR. WALDEN: I purchased it
from this lovely homeless man.
- Ya like it?
- Ugh.
MS. MITCHUM: Isn't
it true the defendant
asked you to exchange clothing
with a homeless man right
outside this courthouse?
As a lark, yes.
So she tells you what
to do and you do it.
Of course, she's my FinDom.
My financial dominatrix.
MS. MITCHUM: So there
was a sexual relationship
between you and the defendant.
MR. WALDEN: You misunderstand.
I spend my days in complete control
of hundreds of millions of dollars.
In my private life,
I cede control to Ella
and it gives me pleasure.
Ella gives me that.
If she wants me to
light $10,000 on fire,
I light it on fire.
If she wants me to take a
stroll down Spring Garden
doling out cash to the homeless,
I'll do that too.
MS. MITCHUM: So you
are sexually submissive?
No see, there's nothing
sexual about it-
MS. MITCHUM: Are you
in a discipline and bondage,
dominance and submission
relationship with the defendant?
Leather gives me a rash.
Does wearing that
homeless man's t-shirt
give you an erection, sir?
MR. WALDEN: Um-
Not that I've noticed.
[GAGS] Sorry, my apologies, Miss
- [GAGGING]
- Sir, are you okay?
The subject matter of
this case and there's this,
there's this odour in the room.
I'm feeling quite nauseous.
A call had come in from dispatch
about a missing teenaged girl, 13, 14.
She'd last been seen
getting into a Honda Civic
with tinted windows.
Constable Hu and I were on our
way to a call in Forest Hills
when we spotted a vehicle
fitting the description.
We called it in,
let dispatch know that
we were in pursuit.
The driver must've made us,
because as we came up
on Cherry Brook Road,
he started to accelerate.
Given the possibility that
this was an abduction,
my partner and I engaged.
What happened next?
We were maintaining the tail, but
Constable Hu seemed
to be losing control,
- driving erratically.
- He's lying.
MARCIE: Vince, we'll have our turn.
CORPORAL DAVIS: Next thing I know,
he's headed straight for
this woman and her two kids.
I tried to grab the wheel.
I told him to slow down, to stop.
But he wasn't hearing me.
Finally, I had to slam my
foot down on the brake,
ripped my bloody knee apart.
It was too late though.
The young woman was dead.
PERCY: Thank you, Corporal.
Nothing more, Your Honour.
MARCIE: How long you
been with the force, sir?
CORPORAL DAVIS: Going on 20 years.
And you're also a part-time instructor.
Full-time now.
But yes, I was.
MARCIE: Would you
consider yourself an expert
on the rules and laws that
govern police behaviour?
- Have to be.
- MARCIE: And you were the one,
who ordered, as a ranking officer,
my client to engage
in a high speed chase
against RCMP policy?
Yes, but I was concerned.
MARCIE: So, with all of
your knowledge and expertise,
you as the senior officer,
ordered Constable Hu,
a newly-minted RCMP Constable,
to do just that.
The rest of my career is
behind a desk because of him.
I told Vince to stand down,
he didn't listen.
That's a lie.
- You know that.
- Sit down, Vince.
Why are you lying, Harold?
You never said anything.
- You never said anything!
- Take your seat, Mr. Hu.
You never said anything!
Why are you doing this?
Miss Diggs, get your client
- Why are you doing this?
That's enough, Vince.
They're in there spewing lies about me
and you're just, what?
I know you're not defending me.
I'm trying to make this
about RCMP training.
But all you did out
there was remind them
of the out of control
person behind the wheel
when Lila Downey died.
This isn't his fault.
MARCIE: Let me talk to Percy.
If you're willing to not challenge
the RCMP's decision to fire you,
I might be able to make this go away.
[SCOFFS]
I should've known better
than to put my trust in you.
I'm sorry?
You think I'm responsible
for killing that woman,
don't you?
I think you messed up.
And I think that you
won't admit the truth
about what you already know.
Why is this all falling on me?
Haven't I paid enough?
Lila's boys were in
that courtroom today
and you couldn't even once
so much as glance their way.
I know that you've been done
wrong and it's not fair.
But the life that
you left those boys
They deserve for you to see them.
Get out.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]
Get out.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
[GENTLE INSTRUMENTAL]
♪
He dropped like a stone.
Everyone thought he had a heart attack.
Leave it to you to have a judge
collapse in the middle of your trial.
I thought you said it was
an allergic reaction.
PAM: Na-uh. Vasovagal syncope?
Oh god, when it's a woman it's a spell,
and when it's a man it's a vasovaginal
something something.
[CHUCKLES]
I've been reading all about your trial.
I'm pretty sure your
Uncle Ted had a "FinDom".
Oh.
The proclivities of men
with more money than brains.
I hope neither of you drove today.
They make a mean cocktail
don't they, Avery?
- PAM: Oh no, I'm okay.
- THEA: Come on,
don't be a goody-two-shoes
in front of Avery.
I'm sure he knows better.
PAM: Really, Mom.
THEA: Did she tell you
all about the engagement
to the cocaine dealer in Fairview?
Jesus, your dad came this
close to hiring a killer.
Sounds like you had a way more
interesting past than I did.
Honestly, I'm surprised my
mom knows anything about it
considering the fact
that she was in France,
my entire senior year
taking art classes.
THEA: Pam likes to remind
me what a poor mother I've been.
She does forget though
that I had my hands full
with her sister back then.
[CELLPHONE BUZZING]
Ah, my apologies.
Ah, excuse me.
THEA: I like him.
- Yeah.
- PAM: Yeah?
It's Saturday.
Well, I can't.
[INTRIGUING MUSIC]
Bernard Schachter?
I can meet you this evening.
COLLEEN: All right.
EMILY: Marcie Diggs on time.
Hell must be freezing over.
Oh wow, very funny.
EMILY: Seriously,
I thought you were out,
with your girls at Martinique.
[SIGHS] It seems I'm a bad influence.
Most of the girls didn't even show up.
Parents wouldn't let them.
COLLEEN: Don't they understand
you're just doing your job?
You always like to hide
behind that, don't you?
Hey, do you believe in
innocent until proven guilty?
- Yeah, but
- Then shut your mouth, please.
Hey, I am not going to let
public opinion change
the way I do my job.
Even if I'm starting to
believe my guy's the type
who would turn off his body cam.
[SOFT BLUES MUSIC]
- Baby, I gotta know ya ♪
- I gotta know ya ♪
I'm too tired, I can't take no more ♪
I gotta know ♪
- You been around all the time ♪
- I gotta know ♪
Baby, love messing with my mind ♪
I gotta know this, yeah ♪
Where would you like this?
AUSTIN: Loretta, you lose your manners?
[SOFT BLUE MUSIC]
Thanks, Daddy.
Marcie, you remember
Edna Clayton's son, Isaiah?
A cop, Mom?
What, too soon?
[SOFT PIANO INSTRUMENTAL]
♪
Thank you for coming, Avery.
No problem.
Do you know Ezra Elvins?
Venture capitalist.
He was a client of
M&M when I was there.
POESY: I know, and the police
are taking him into custody
within the hour.
I'm sorry, sir,
I don't understand why I'm here.
Poesy
Enlighten him.
POESY: The minister
thinks you're ready to sit
with the grown folks.
Let's discuss the case that's
gonna make your career.
[SOFT INTRIGUING MUSIC]
♪
- [FUNKY ROCK MUSIC]
- [PEOPLE CHATTERING]
♪
Very funny.
PATSY: You're pulling in some tips,
huh?
IRIS: That's how we do it around here.
Have you been good?
Yeah, I'm good.
Missing Carson?
Yeah he had this thing,
that he needed to do and I get that.
So-
But yeah, I'm fine with it.
EMILY: Oh no, they know she's with me.
But you know those ignorant ass men.
COLLEEN: Oh, please.
If I had a dime every
time a straight guy
tried to "change" me.
MARCIE: Don't you mean a dollar?
Nope, a dime.
[CHUCKLING]
I was just saying.
IRIS: Mom!
Hey, we missed you at
Book Club last week.
Oh, just busier than I was expecting.
Oh but girl, I got an office.
PATSY: An office,
you gave her an office?
Ooh wow, movin' on up.
COLLEEN: It's nice. It's really nice.
[PENSIVE INSTRUMENTAL]
[SOFT BLUES MUSIC]
Ooh ♪
Yeah ♪
This ♪
Bitter earth ♪
What fruit it bears ♪
What good is love ♪
C'mon, let's do one.
Like old times.
Alice, not tonight.
- When you're prepared.
- ALICE: Aww, I can't do one song?
VELMA: Oh honey, come on.
This isn't the time or the place.
Hey, Ms. Beals,
- um maybe
- Who are you,
to say anything to me?
No one even wants you here.
You off defending that
Asian boy who killed Lila.
What about defending your own?
IRIS: Mom, be quiet.
Girl, don't make me have
to smack the black off you.
Alice, it's time to go.
ALICE: That Percy Lincoln,
I hope he wipes the floor with you.
At least he is in our corner.
- MARCIE: Is he?
- Mmhmm.
Where-where's he at?
You see him?
I can count the times Percy Lincoln's
been to Preston on one hand.
He only cares about what happens here
if it helps him get on the news.
I'm here.
And even though a bunch of you
may be mad at me this time,
I'm still gonna be
here doing what I do.
So, with all due respect, Ms. Beals,
get out of my face.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
[CROWD MURMURING]
[CELLPHONE RINGING]
Marcie Diggs.
I'm glad you called Ms. Downey.
DEENA DOWNEY: Can
you just get him out of here.
MARCIE: Thank you.
You can't be here, Vince.
Vince.
You were right.
I needed to see those boys.
The way her sons looked at me that day.
Like I was some monster.
That's not me.
That is not me.
But-
Everything Corporal Davis
said in court,
I, uh
I
It's true.
I could
I could hear him yelling
at me to stop but I
I couldn't.
I couldn't stop, Marcie.
I-I killed that woman.
I-I killed those boys' mother and
I just wanted to say sorry.
You know? To tell them that
Uh, listen, uh
I want you to talk to that lawyer,
and then make the deal.
I won't fight my dismissal.
MARCIE: I found several
recent studies about cops,
being psychologically unable
to disengage during
high alert situations.
This is why law enforcement
agencies don't sanction it.
Lila Downey is still dead.
I talked to my guy.
He wants to make this right.
Agree to dismiss the
criminal charges and he'll
Give up the appeal to his termination.
I want jail time,
even if it's 30 days.
Well I think that you
believe that I'm capitulating.
You saw my cross of
Corporal Davis, right?
If I go back to him with these
Time.
I'm done.
Vince leaves with his badge
and a million dollar civil suit
against the RCMP and you for slander.
Hm.
Okay.
Okay, but if that's what you wanted,
we wouldn't be here.
My client is ready
to take responsibility,
and I only want what's just.
Everyone lost.
There's no win.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]
I believe we have a deal.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]
You two young ladies have literally,
and figuratively turned my
courtroom into a trash bin.
Your Honour, my client's being tried
for communicating and fraud over $5000.
And I need to be able
to get into the details
of these relationships.
You asked someone in my
courtroom about their-their
Erect [GULPS]
John Thomas.
I've been on the bench
for over 20 years,
and that is a first, young lady.
- Your Honour
- No.
There will be no more talk of
[WHISPERING] Erections.
Subversives, dominance,
shirt-swappers.
It's an embarrassment to
the honour of this court.
Perhaps you may want
to recuse yourself.
Oh, we're not starting over.
PAM: How about declaring a
mistrial and we'll call it a day?
JUDGE FURLEY: No,
we're not doing that either.
We're going to adjourn until Wednesday,
and I strongly encourage
you to cut a deal.
TARA: It's the best thing for us.
VINCE: Thank you for the opportunity.
I really appreciate it.
- This will be good for us.
- Yeah.
Looks like we missed the party.
JUDGE MORRISON: Ms. Diggs, Mr. Lincoln.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
JUDGE MORRISON:
Mr. Mueller has advised me,
that the family of Lila Downey,
wishes to discontinue
the private prosecution
against Constable Hu.
And the Crown does not wish to proceed
with criminal charges against him?
AVERY: No, Your Honour, We do not.
Further to my office's
earlier decision,
we accept the findings of SiRT,
with respect to Constable Hu's actions
not rising to the level
of criminal liability.
JUDGE MORRISON:
Well, seems we are done.
BAILIFF: All rise.
Hey.
You got me.
Well played, brother.
Sister, this is why we fight
with rocks in our fists.
I hope the cheque was fat.
MARCIE: After last night,
you knew that the RCMP wouldn't
be the best choice for you.
What changed?
Marcie, being a cop
is all I ever wanted.
Tara has family in Richmond.
She spoke with the superintendent,
and
They're willing to give me a transfer.
TARA: Honey, c'mere.
This is the right move for me, Marcie.
I think we both know that's untrue.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
She pays ten thousand in fines
and six months for the
fraud and we have a deal.
Look, I'm happy to go
back in on Wednesday.
I still have questions for Mr. Walden
and I can't wait to see what he wears.
She does not just walk.
I think house arrest
and a years probation seems fair.
She is stealing from the system.
No, she's taking back everything
the system takes from her.
That's my offer.
[SCOFFS] You wanna take it or not?
[SOFT LIVELY MUSIC]
[SCOFFS]
♪
Take it.
[SOFT LIVELY MUSIC]
♪
AVERY: I've got the
information and I'm working on it.
[CLEARS THROAT]
There's the puppet master.
Hope you're not too mad.
Hm, don't hate the player.
Listen, you were making
things too hot for the RCMP,
so things were getting
too hot for my office.
How much did you convince the cops
to pay the Downeys,
to leave Percy Lincoln in the dust?
Marcie, your guy won.
- You should be happy.
- Don't change the subject.
How much?
All I can say is those boys
will never want for anything
for the rest of their lives.
Except for their mother.
[SOFT DRAMATIC INSTRUMENTAL]
♪
[SIREN WAILING] Amazing grace ♪
[ENGINE REVVING] [CAR CRASHES]
How sweet ♪
The sound ♪
That saved ♪
[GLASS TINKLING] ♪
A wretch ♪
Like me ♪
I once ♪
Was lost ♪
[GLASS TINKING] ♪
But now ♪
I'm found ♪
[SIREN WAILING]
BOYS: Lila!
Oh my god!
Oh my god!
Can see ♪
Oh my god!
Oh god, call an ambulance!
- Help, somebody!
- Ma'am, back up!
Stand back, ma'am!
Ma'am, ma'am, are you with me?
What's your name? What's her name?
- What's her name?
- Lila.
CONSTABLE HU: Lila, Lila.
OCC, this is Constable Vince Hu.
Bravo 22.
- [DEENA SOBBING]
- [AMAZING GRACE SONG]
CONSTABLE HU: Come on.
Simmons Road, North Preston.
At the scene of a motor
vehicle accident with injuries.
Send an ambulance immediately.
- [LILA SIGHING]
- [AMAZING GRACE SONG]
DEENA: Oh my god!
Lila, Lila!
I once ♪
Was lost ♪
CONSTABLE: Come on, Lila, come on, Lila.
[ECHOING] Please.
But now I'm found ♪
[SIRENS WAILING]
Was blind ♪
But now I see ♪
[FAST-PACED RAP MUSIC]
[RAP SINGING]
[CROWD CHEERING]
[RAP MUSIC]
♪
Y'all ready?
- [IN UNISON] Yeah!
- Let's go.
[RAP SINGING]
♪
[BOAT HORN]
MARCIE: To Iris, welcome back.
- REGGIE: Welcome back.
- IRIS: Thank you.
COLLEEN: Are you excited to be back?
IRIS: Yeah,
I'm definitely lookin' forward
to putting my social
work degree to good use.
COLLEEN: And we got you an office.
REGGIE: And it's not a storage closet.
And I like my storage closet.
[CHUCKLING]
MARCIE: My storage closet is just fine.
PAM: Yeah Reg,
her office is bigger than mine.
DOUG: Oh is that what you
were doin' when I caught you
- with the measuring tape?
- MARCIE: You saw that.
Hey, I see nothing's
changed around here.
REGGIE: Well, not nothing.
Marcie's back on the market.
MARCIE: Oh wow, look at that.
Look at the time. I gotta go.
IRIS: Conveniently enough.
- PAM: Have a good one.
- IRIS: What happened?
REGGIE: I think we'll have
to fill you in on all the latest.
IRIS: Yeah.
[CROWD CHATTER]
MARCIE: Are you sure you wanna do this?
Being a cop is all I ever wanted.
Now it's become some nightmare,
all because of some accident.
I know.
CONSTABLE HU: All these people they
They think I wanted this.
I didn't want this.
- If I had the choice I
- MARCIE: Listen to me.
The cops, the prosecutors,
they want this case to just go away,
for you to disappear.
That's why the RCMP
terminated your employment.
It's politics.
But I am not gonna
let them do this to you.
It's not right.
[CROWD SHOUTING]
- [CROWD SHOUTING]
- [DRAMATIC INSTRUMENTAL]
Keep your eyes straight ahead.
- [CROWD SHOUTING]
- [DRAMATIC INSTRUMENTAL]
TARA: We're gonna be okay, Vince.
- [CROWD SHOUTING]
- [DRAMATIC INSTRUMENTAL]
Your Honour, I'm here today
on behalf of Constable Vince Hu.
We're seeking injunctive relief
with respect to his
termination by the RCMP,
as Constable Hu was not treated
to all of the necessary
internal processes.
Your Honour, Constable Hu was
behind the wheel of an RCMP cruiser
when he struck and killed Lila Downey
when she was returning
from choir practice to pick up
- her two boys.
- A tragic death, Your Honour.
But SiRT,
the Serious Incidence Response Team,
concluded that his
actions were imperfect,
but did not rise to a
sufficient level of negligence
to warrant criminal
liability or dismissal.
Mr. Conway's own bosses
at the public prosecution service
declined to pursue criminal
charges against Constable Hu.
Constable Hu filed an
appeal to his termination.
However, the RCMP-
[FAINT WHISPERING]
JUDGE SPINKS: Mr. Conway.
One moment, Your Honour.
Who's this guy?
The last person you
want in this courtroom.
Your Honour, I've just been
informed that Mr. Lincoln
has filed an Information for
a Private Criminal Prosecution
against Constable Hu.
What's going on, Marcie?
JUDGE SPINKS: Okay, well, I, uh,
guess we're done here until such a
time as that matter can be disposed of.
BAILIFF: All rise.
Why?
Why would you do this?
The law allows the family
to file charges
- against Mr. Hu directly.
- VINCE: Who's he?
- I don't know.
- And they've trusted me
to mount a robust prosecution.
What happened to the big picture?
PERCY: I don't think it
gets any bigger than this.
Would we be having this conversation
if Lila Downey was white?
Nah, your client don't just
get to walk away like that.
The Downey family don't
get denied justice
because the Crown and the cops
have their heads up each other's asses.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
CLAUDE: It's just math.
Her expenses on average
were about $2200 per month.
Piano lessons, tutors,
sports, clothing for her kids,
it's all in my report.
The basic monthly amount
Miss Toulany would've received
in social assistance was $1200.
This includes everything:
shelter allowance,
personal allowance, etc.
MS. MITCHUM: And working
as an escort would have-
PAM: Objection,
assumes facts not in evidence.
MS. MITCHUM: Your Honour,
I refer to exhibits B23 and B24.
Ms. Mitchum,
you're not wearing perfume, are you?
No, Your Honour.
Continue.
MS. MITCHUM: Exhibits B23 and B24
are ads the defendant placed
on the websites Craigslist
and Available.com
to solicit clients.
Witnesses will testify
to having sex with
Miss Toulany for money.
JUDGE FURLEY: And you can
make your point when you call them.
For now, Ms. MacLean's
objections are sustained.
[SCOFFS]
Let's move on.
In your expert opinion,
would it be possible for Miss Toulany
to cover her expenses
without supplementing her income?
Absolutely not.
MS. MITCHUM: I've no more questions
for the witness at this time,
Your Honour.
Ms. MacLean.
Mr. Seguin, you concluded
my client's expenses
double the social assistance benefit
- she receives?
- Yes.
PAM: And you interviewed Miss Toulany
as part of your assessment.
Did you ask her where
that extra money came from?
MR. SEGUIN: Yes, she said friends.
PAM: Mr. Seguin,
the communication for the purposes
of solicitation charges
against my client
carry cumulative fines
that total six figures,
so I need you to be really accurate
when I ask you a question.
When you asked Miss Toulany
where the extra money came from,
what did she say exactly?
MR. SEGUIN: Miss Toulany's answer was,
"Gifts from friends."
"Gifts from friends."
And so you have any direct evidence
that suggests my client is lying?
It's $24,600.
She'd have to have good friends-
PAM: Sir,
I'm not interested in your speculation.
Do you have evidence that
contradicts her response?
No.
PAM: Thank you, Mr. Seguin.
I'm done with the witness.
[BOAT HORN TOOTS]
Avery, it's Marcie Diggs.
Steve tells me you're the boss now.
So why the hell are you
allowing Percy Lincoln
to pursue this private prosecution?
Avery, call me back.
Saw you're on Halifax's Legal
Aid structural sub-committee?
How'd you get on that?
Mhm, it pays to know people.
What's she talking about?
Ah, enough of that nonsense.
What are you talking to Avery for?
You trying to get the
Crown to kill Mr. Lincoln's
- private prosecution?
- Mmhm.
REGGIE: Well he's creative,
I'll give him that.
That cop did kill someone.
MARCIE: Yeah,
but he still deserves a defence.
But you're saying he's innocent.
I'm not saying anything, actually.
SiRT and the Crown didn't
think that his actions were-
IRIS: I know what SiRT says but,
what about you, Marcie Diggs?
DOUG: Iris, you can't ask that.
If every case becomes personal,
you're screwed before you start.
IRIS: So someone kills
an indigenous woman
you're not gonna ask Colleen
to assign the files to someone else?
- Ah, well
- IRIS: I mean there's no need to answer.
I know you made that request
like twice last year.
I bet you wish you kept walking.
MARCIE: I feel for that family,
for those two boys.
But there were two
cops in that cruiser.
Why does the old white guy get a pass
and the diverse newbie
gets hung out to dry?
ELLA: Wow.
Looks good.
Is this Nico's design?
Pretty fly, babe.
Can't wait to see the final product.
Sorry.
I was hoping we could
talk about the witnesses
the Crown intends to call.
So we've got Wayne Coolie
and Carlile Brandise.
- [CELLPHONE RINGING]
- Sorry, I gotta take this.
[CLEARS THROAT] No, I can
bring it to you on Sunday.
Yep, $300.
But it needs to be in small bills.
Fives, can you do fives?
No, I'm not a drug dealer.
Okay.
Okay great, see you Sunday.
What's with all the bags?
Just holding stuff for a friend.
ELLA: Okay so Wayne and Carlile.
Mmhmm.
Wayne just texted me.
Said he was in Edmonton for work,
so he won't be testifying.
The court can issue a bench
warrant for him to testify.
- What about Carlile?
- [CELLPHONE CHIMING]
Hold that
Hey, excuse me.
PAM: You're selling a
$3000 blazer for $300 on Kijiji?
Ella, what's going on?
I'm just doing a favour for a friend.
PAM: Okay.
Why don't you tell me
about this Carlile guy.
That's touchy.
Carli got up in his
feelings when it came to me,
so I had to get a restraining order.
[CELLPHONE RINGING]
VELMA: Marcie, you're coming out
to the dinner at the hall on Saturday?
No, what dinner?
VELMA: The Ladies Auxiliary
is hosting a Hootenanny
out at the East Preston Hall.
Your father and I are just
dropping off some squares
at Mrs. Sparks' house.
I don't think so, Mom.
You don't think so.
You got a date?
- Well, bring him.
- No date, I just
You know about that case
that I'm working, right?
VELMA: No, no, no.
I'm not having that.
You are coming out on Saturday.
People have a problem with that,
they can talk to me.
Destroy him.
They're not just trying to take away
- his livelihood
- VELMA: Marcie?
But they want him to go to jail,
- for doing his job.
- VELMA: Marcie, are you still there?
Mom, I gotta go.
- TARA: But every day,
- TARA: I have to listen to what a saint
- VELMA: I better see you on Saturday.
- Lila Downey was.
- Okay, okay, bye.
She was a junkie with multiple
drug possession charges,
assaults.
She left her kids in a
car in the heat of summer.
Social services had to be called in.
This is all public information,
but you guys would rather demonize
the name of my fiancee.
[SUSPENSEFUL INSTRUMENTAL]
Please tell me that
interview wasn't your idea.
What are you thinking?
TARA: Lila Downey was investigated
by Child & Family Services for neglect.
She had amphetamines in her
system the day of the accident.
People need to know this.
VINCE: She's right, Marcie.
We gotta do something.
If I don't win this,
we can forget about the
reinstatement hearing.
- I'll be in prison.
- Not this way,
not with me.
Lila Downey is dead.
Two boys are going to grow
up without their mother.
Doesn't that matter to you?
I'm fighting for my life.
MARCIE: Well I won't be introducing
any of that evidence in court.
I'm not going to smear a dead woman.
I'm the client.
Then send me home.
Or let me defend you my way.
Okay, I'll do it your way.
MS. MITCHUM: What is
the "girlfriend experience"?
CARLILE: Well it's when you
hire a girl to go out with you,
like a date and then, um,
well, you know.
I don't, Mr. Brandise.
And then what exactly?
You have sex.
MS. MITCHUM: And how
much did you pay for the sex?
Well it would depend on,
um, on what we did.
I mean, if we did something
different like anal
Shh!
Asked and answered, Ms. Mitchum.
Move along.
MS. MITCHUM: Your Honour,
the defendant is charged with
communicating under Section 286, sub 1
and fraud over $5,000.
I think, especially
considering the fraud charges,
it's critical that we have an actual
accounting of the amount
of money that was
JUDGE FURLEY: Wasn't that
the point of Mr. Seguin's testimony?
The evidence and facts
you have presented
are very clear to me.
- Move along.
- MS. MITCHUM: Okay.
Mr. Brandise,
Ms. Toulany currently has a
restraining order against you.
Well we both filed against one another.
She was harassing me and my wife.
MS. MITCHUM: Thank you, Mr. Brandise.
I'm done, Your Honour.
Ms. MacLean.
Mr. Brandise,
were you in love with Ms. Toulany?
MS. MITCHUM: Objection,
Your Honour, relevance?
It matters if Mr. Brandise
was paying for sex
or paying to keep the
attention of his crush.
Carry on.
Mr. Brandise, were you
in love with Ms. Toulany?
Well
[SOFT PENSIVE MUSIC]
- Yes.
- PAM: Okay.
And at what point in your
acquaintance with Ms. Toulany
did you realize you
were in love with her?
I don't know.
Was it two weeks into
the relationship, a month?
I don't
I don't-I don't know.
It's just after the first night,
I just, I wanted to be
around her, you know?
I wanted to be with her.
- [SOFT PENSIVE MUSIC]
- [SPECTATORS MURMURING]
♪
MARCIE: Your Honour,
my client and Corporal Harold Davis
were in pursuit of a sex trafficker
when Lila Downey was slain.
We submit the life and death
stakes of this situation
warranted their actions as
law enforcement officers.
As a result, there's
no criminal negligence.
This private prosecution
is a deliberately malicious
and vexatious action in
the name of politics,
not justice, and it
should be dismissed.
Thank you, Your Honour.
Hmm.
[CLEARS THROAT]
160 kilometres an hour in a 50,
in a school zone, Your Honour.
Does he get a pass because his crime
of reckless driving
occurred on the job?
How many "Get Out of Jail Free"
cards do the cops get
when it comes to us, Your Honour?
I am asking this court to say,
"Enough is enough"
and give Lila Downey the justice,
the Crown, and SiRT,
seem so eager to deny her.
Thank you, Your Honour.
JUDGE MORRISON: Mr. Lincoln,
I'd like to explore
some of this evidence
before I rule on Ms. Diggs
motion to dismiss.
Let's reconvene at 11:30.
BAILIFF: All rise.
[LIVELY MUSIC]
♪
[INDISCERNIBLE WHISPERING]
Let's stop it with the protests.
- I'm not your boy.
- AVERY: Okay Percy, Steve,
we're just asking you to
tone down the rhetoric.
Brotha,
I think you're under the impression
I have strings to pull.
MARCIE: I love a super-hero team up.
Which one of you is Captain America?
PERCY: I'm here to
remind these gentlemen
that if they interfere with my case,
I'll set a fuse in this city.
So if it is a save you're looking for,
you can forget it.
I'll see you back there.
Well, that was a waste of time.
- Bye.
- Bye.
MARCIE: You let your
employees speak to you like that?
Are you shit disturbing, Marcie?
Well I think that position's already
been filled in this case.
It's so funny, I was,
this close to asking Colleen
to let me bail on this one.
And I'm sure you're
catching hell for it.
Oh I'm about to get my
"Black card" revoked.
[CHUCKLES]
But then I come here and I,
I see all of you plotting.
Ooh, Marcie.
MARCIE: You know what?
Percy launching this
private prosecution,
it's a win-win for you.
The cops are satisfied
'cause you're not going
after one of theirs
and the Black community, well,
they're not mad 'cause
you're letting Percy do
what Percy does.
So, the only person that's losing,
is my client.
A very green constable,
a baby who no one minds
throwing to the wolves.
He was behind the wheel, Marcie.
MARCIE: Right 'cause
he was taking orders,
from a senior officer
sitting right beside him.
Your office made the right
call not to prosecute.
But you are allowing Percy and the RCMP
to make Vince Hu a
scapegoat to in this mess
and it's not right, Avery.
Right?
This is rarely about
what's right, Marcie.
Excuse me.
[SOFT BLUES MUSIC]
PAM: The Crown has established
the Communicating charge.
I can't get around that.
But if you're found guilty,
you won't go to jail for that.
The issue with the communicating
charge is the fines:
It's $1,000 for the first offence
and $2,000 for every offence afterward.
I don't have that kinda money, Pam.
I understand and that's why
we need a credible witness,
someone who can back up the claim
that the majority of
the $24,000 you used
to supplement your income
were gifts from friends
and not solicitation income.
If there's insufficient
solicitation income,
they can't prove the fraud
over $5,000 and we win.
Otherwise, jail becomes a thing.
I need names, Ella.
Just one name.
[DOOR BUZZING]
One second.
I need you to talk to a client of mine.
She's facing jail time
and she has two kids.
The youngest is seven.
IRIS: Sure, whatever you need.
Hi.
Ella, I'm Iris Beals.
I'm the in-house social worker
at this office.
So Pam told me a bit about your case.
You have two daughters and
the dad's not in the picture.
- Is that right?
- Long gone.
What happens to her
kids if she goes to jail?
They'd likely end up in
the foster care system
until they're adopted or age out at 18.
But Pam said your youngest
daughter is seven,
so she'd have a good
chance for adoption.
It's really tough for older kids.
And, very tough to keep
siblings together.
PAM: You claim you're
doing this for your girls,
but what happens when they realize
that you chose to protect the
identity of a "john" over them?
That's not what I'm doing.
PAM: That's exactly what you're doing.
What's it gonna be?
We were just walking
home for dinner like usual,
but Aunt Deena called Mom back
'cause my little brother
forgot his sweater.
No, I forgot my sweater.
PERCY: It's okay, little man.
Take your time.
Then we heard sirens.
This car out of nowhere raced by.
Mom grabs hold of us.
But, there was this, police crash.
It just-
They just killed Mom.
They killed her.
You loved your mother, didn't you?
Yes.
PERCY: I'm sorry
she's not here for you.
No more questions, Your Honour.
JUDGE MORRISON: Ms. Diggs?
I am so sorry for your loss.
I have no questions for
the witness, Your Honour.
JUDGE MORRISON: Thank you, Julius.
You may step down.
Are you crazy?
Why aren't you questioning the kid?
Because it's not helpful.
What's helpful is you not doodling
while this witness is crying
about his dead mother.
PERCY: Your Honour,
I would like to call
Corporal Harold Davis
to the witness stand.
[SOFT PENSIVE MUSIC]
♪
Good morning.
Good morning.
Is this for real?
[SNIFFS] Ugh.
Mr. Walden, have you ever had any
sort of sexual
relations with my client?
MR. WALDEN: No,
this is only the second time we've met.
Hello, Ella.
PAM: Have you ever given her money?
MR. WALDEN: As gifts, yes.
Do you know how difficult it is
to raise two kids on $1200 a month?
PAM: In the last three
years that you've known Ella,
could you estimate how much
you've provided in gifts?
Probably in the range
of tens of thousands.
Thank you, Mr. Walden.
MS. MITCHUM: Where'd
you get the t-shirt, sir?
MR. WALDEN: I purchased it
from this lovely homeless man.
- Ya like it?
- Ugh.
MS. MITCHUM: Isn't
it true the defendant
asked you to exchange clothing
with a homeless man right
outside this courthouse?
As a lark, yes.
So she tells you what
to do and you do it.
Of course, she's my FinDom.
My financial dominatrix.
MS. MITCHUM: So there
was a sexual relationship
between you and the defendant.
MR. WALDEN: You misunderstand.
I spend my days in complete control
of hundreds of millions of dollars.
In my private life,
I cede control to Ella
and it gives me pleasure.
Ella gives me that.
If she wants me to
light $10,000 on fire,
I light it on fire.
If she wants me to take a
stroll down Spring Garden
doling out cash to the homeless,
I'll do that too.
MS. MITCHUM: So you
are sexually submissive?
No see, there's nothing
sexual about it-
MS. MITCHUM: Are you
in a discipline and bondage,
dominance and submission
relationship with the defendant?
Leather gives me a rash.
Does wearing that
homeless man's t-shirt
give you an erection, sir?
MR. WALDEN: Um-
Not that I've noticed.
[GAGS] Sorry, my apologies, Miss
- [GAGGING]
- Sir, are you okay?
The subject matter of
this case and there's this,
there's this odour in the room.
I'm feeling quite nauseous.
A call had come in from dispatch
about a missing teenaged girl, 13, 14.
She'd last been seen
getting into a Honda Civic
with tinted windows.
Constable Hu and I were on our
way to a call in Forest Hills
when we spotted a vehicle
fitting the description.
We called it in,
let dispatch know that
we were in pursuit.
The driver must've made us,
because as we came up
on Cherry Brook Road,
he started to accelerate.
Given the possibility that
this was an abduction,
my partner and I engaged.
What happened next?
We were maintaining the tail, but
Constable Hu seemed
to be losing control,
- driving erratically.
- He's lying.
MARCIE: Vince, we'll have our turn.
CORPORAL DAVIS: Next thing I know,
he's headed straight for
this woman and her two kids.
I tried to grab the wheel.
I told him to slow down, to stop.
But he wasn't hearing me.
Finally, I had to slam my
foot down on the brake,
ripped my bloody knee apart.
It was too late though.
The young woman was dead.
PERCY: Thank you, Corporal.
Nothing more, Your Honour.
MARCIE: How long you
been with the force, sir?
CORPORAL DAVIS: Going on 20 years.
And you're also a part-time instructor.
Full-time now.
But yes, I was.
MARCIE: Would you
consider yourself an expert
on the rules and laws that
govern police behaviour?
- Have to be.
- MARCIE: And you were the one,
who ordered, as a ranking officer,
my client to engage
in a high speed chase
against RCMP policy?
Yes, but I was concerned.
MARCIE: So, with all of
your knowledge and expertise,
you as the senior officer,
ordered Constable Hu,
a newly-minted RCMP Constable,
to do just that.
The rest of my career is
behind a desk because of him.
I told Vince to stand down,
he didn't listen.
That's a lie.
- You know that.
- Sit down, Vince.
Why are you lying, Harold?
You never said anything.
- You never said anything!
- Take your seat, Mr. Hu.
You never said anything!
Why are you doing this?
Miss Diggs, get your client
- Why are you doing this?
That's enough, Vince.
They're in there spewing lies about me
and you're just, what?
I know you're not defending me.
I'm trying to make this
about RCMP training.
But all you did out
there was remind them
of the out of control
person behind the wheel
when Lila Downey died.
This isn't his fault.
MARCIE: Let me talk to Percy.
If you're willing to not challenge
the RCMP's decision to fire you,
I might be able to make this go away.
[SCOFFS]
I should've known better
than to put my trust in you.
I'm sorry?
You think I'm responsible
for killing that woman,
don't you?
I think you messed up.
And I think that you
won't admit the truth
about what you already know.
Why is this all falling on me?
Haven't I paid enough?
Lila's boys were in
that courtroom today
and you couldn't even once
so much as glance their way.
I know that you've been done
wrong and it's not fair.
But the life that
you left those boys
They deserve for you to see them.
Get out.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]
Get out.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
[GENTLE INSTRUMENTAL]
♪
He dropped like a stone.
Everyone thought he had a heart attack.
Leave it to you to have a judge
collapse in the middle of your trial.
I thought you said it was
an allergic reaction.
PAM: Na-uh. Vasovagal syncope?
Oh god, when it's a woman it's a spell,
and when it's a man it's a vasovaginal
something something.
[CHUCKLES]
I've been reading all about your trial.
I'm pretty sure your
Uncle Ted had a "FinDom".
Oh.
The proclivities of men
with more money than brains.
I hope neither of you drove today.
They make a mean cocktail
don't they, Avery?
- PAM: Oh no, I'm okay.
- THEA: Come on,
don't be a goody-two-shoes
in front of Avery.
I'm sure he knows better.
PAM: Really, Mom.
THEA: Did she tell you
all about the engagement
to the cocaine dealer in Fairview?
Jesus, your dad came this
close to hiring a killer.
Sounds like you had a way more
interesting past than I did.
Honestly, I'm surprised my
mom knows anything about it
considering the fact
that she was in France,
my entire senior year
taking art classes.
THEA: Pam likes to remind
me what a poor mother I've been.
She does forget though
that I had my hands full
with her sister back then.
[CELLPHONE BUZZING]
Ah, my apologies.
Ah, excuse me.
THEA: I like him.
- Yeah.
- PAM: Yeah?
It's Saturday.
Well, I can't.
[INTRIGUING MUSIC]
Bernard Schachter?
I can meet you this evening.
COLLEEN: All right.
EMILY: Marcie Diggs on time.
Hell must be freezing over.
Oh wow, very funny.
EMILY: Seriously,
I thought you were out,
with your girls at Martinique.
[SIGHS] It seems I'm a bad influence.
Most of the girls didn't even show up.
Parents wouldn't let them.
COLLEEN: Don't they understand
you're just doing your job?
You always like to hide
behind that, don't you?
Hey, do you believe in
innocent until proven guilty?
- Yeah, but
- Then shut your mouth, please.
Hey, I am not going to let
public opinion change
the way I do my job.
Even if I'm starting to
believe my guy's the type
who would turn off his body cam.
[SOFT BLUES MUSIC]
- Baby, I gotta know ya ♪
- I gotta know ya ♪
I'm too tired, I can't take no more ♪
I gotta know ♪
- You been around all the time ♪
- I gotta know ♪
Baby, love messing with my mind ♪
I gotta know this, yeah ♪
Where would you like this?
AUSTIN: Loretta, you lose your manners?
[SOFT BLUE MUSIC]
Thanks, Daddy.
Marcie, you remember
Edna Clayton's son, Isaiah?
A cop, Mom?
What, too soon?
[SOFT PIANO INSTRUMENTAL]
♪
Thank you for coming, Avery.
No problem.
Do you know Ezra Elvins?
Venture capitalist.
He was a client of
M&M when I was there.
POESY: I know, and the police
are taking him into custody
within the hour.
I'm sorry, sir,
I don't understand why I'm here.
Poesy
Enlighten him.
POESY: The minister
thinks you're ready to sit
with the grown folks.
Let's discuss the case that's
gonna make your career.
[SOFT INTRIGUING MUSIC]
♪
- [FUNKY ROCK MUSIC]
- [PEOPLE CHATTERING]
♪
Very funny.
PATSY: You're pulling in some tips,
huh?
IRIS: That's how we do it around here.
Have you been good?
Yeah, I'm good.
Missing Carson?
Yeah he had this thing,
that he needed to do and I get that.
So-
But yeah, I'm fine with it.
EMILY: Oh no, they know she's with me.
But you know those ignorant ass men.
COLLEEN: Oh, please.
If I had a dime every
time a straight guy
tried to "change" me.
MARCIE: Don't you mean a dollar?
Nope, a dime.
[CHUCKLING]
I was just saying.
IRIS: Mom!
Hey, we missed you at
Book Club last week.
Oh, just busier than I was expecting.
Oh but girl, I got an office.
PATSY: An office,
you gave her an office?
Ooh wow, movin' on up.
COLLEEN: It's nice. It's really nice.
[PENSIVE INSTRUMENTAL]
[SOFT BLUES MUSIC]
Ooh ♪
Yeah ♪
This ♪
Bitter earth ♪
What fruit it bears ♪
What good is love ♪
C'mon, let's do one.
Like old times.
Alice, not tonight.
- When you're prepared.
- ALICE: Aww, I can't do one song?
VELMA: Oh honey, come on.
This isn't the time or the place.
Hey, Ms. Beals,
- um maybe
- Who are you,
to say anything to me?
No one even wants you here.
You off defending that
Asian boy who killed Lila.
What about defending your own?
IRIS: Mom, be quiet.
Girl, don't make me have
to smack the black off you.
Alice, it's time to go.
ALICE: That Percy Lincoln,
I hope he wipes the floor with you.
At least he is in our corner.
- MARCIE: Is he?
- Mmhmm.
Where-where's he at?
You see him?
I can count the times Percy Lincoln's
been to Preston on one hand.
He only cares about what happens here
if it helps him get on the news.
I'm here.
And even though a bunch of you
may be mad at me this time,
I'm still gonna be
here doing what I do.
So, with all due respect, Ms. Beals,
get out of my face.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
[CROWD MURMURING]
[CELLPHONE RINGING]
Marcie Diggs.
I'm glad you called Ms. Downey.
DEENA DOWNEY: Can
you just get him out of here.
MARCIE: Thank you.
You can't be here, Vince.
Vince.
You were right.
I needed to see those boys.
The way her sons looked at me that day.
Like I was some monster.
That's not me.
That is not me.
But-
Everything Corporal Davis
said in court,
I, uh
I
It's true.
I could
I could hear him yelling
at me to stop but I
I couldn't.
I couldn't stop, Marcie.
I-I killed that woman.
I-I killed those boys' mother and
I just wanted to say sorry.
You know? To tell them that
Uh, listen, uh
I want you to talk to that lawyer,
and then make the deal.
I won't fight my dismissal.
MARCIE: I found several
recent studies about cops,
being psychologically unable
to disengage during
high alert situations.
This is why law enforcement
agencies don't sanction it.
Lila Downey is still dead.
I talked to my guy.
He wants to make this right.
Agree to dismiss the
criminal charges and he'll
Give up the appeal to his termination.
I want jail time,
even if it's 30 days.
Well I think that you
believe that I'm capitulating.
You saw my cross of
Corporal Davis, right?
If I go back to him with these
Time.
I'm done.
Vince leaves with his badge
and a million dollar civil suit
against the RCMP and you for slander.
Hm.
Okay.
Okay, but if that's what you wanted,
we wouldn't be here.
My client is ready
to take responsibility,
and I only want what's just.
Everyone lost.
There's no win.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]
I believe we have a deal.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]
You two young ladies have literally,
and figuratively turned my
courtroom into a trash bin.
Your Honour, my client's being tried
for communicating and fraud over $5000.
And I need to be able
to get into the details
of these relationships.
You asked someone in my
courtroom about their-their
Erect [GULPS]
John Thomas.
I've been on the bench
for over 20 years,
and that is a first, young lady.
- Your Honour
- No.
There will be no more talk of
[WHISPERING] Erections.
Subversives, dominance,
shirt-swappers.
It's an embarrassment to
the honour of this court.
Perhaps you may want
to recuse yourself.
Oh, we're not starting over.
PAM: How about declaring a
mistrial and we'll call it a day?
JUDGE FURLEY: No,
we're not doing that either.
We're going to adjourn until Wednesday,
and I strongly encourage
you to cut a deal.
TARA: It's the best thing for us.
VINCE: Thank you for the opportunity.
I really appreciate it.
- This will be good for us.
- Yeah.
Looks like we missed the party.
JUDGE MORRISON: Ms. Diggs, Mr. Lincoln.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
JUDGE MORRISON:
Mr. Mueller has advised me,
that the family of Lila Downey,
wishes to discontinue
the private prosecution
against Constable Hu.
And the Crown does not wish to proceed
with criminal charges against him?
AVERY: No, Your Honour, We do not.
Further to my office's
earlier decision,
we accept the findings of SiRT,
with respect to Constable Hu's actions
not rising to the level
of criminal liability.
JUDGE MORRISON:
Well, seems we are done.
BAILIFF: All rise.
Hey.
You got me.
Well played, brother.
Sister, this is why we fight
with rocks in our fists.
I hope the cheque was fat.
MARCIE: After last night,
you knew that the RCMP wouldn't
be the best choice for you.
What changed?
Marcie, being a cop
is all I ever wanted.
Tara has family in Richmond.
She spoke with the superintendent,
and
They're willing to give me a transfer.
TARA: Honey, c'mere.
This is the right move for me, Marcie.
I think we both know that's untrue.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
She pays ten thousand in fines
and six months for the
fraud and we have a deal.
Look, I'm happy to go
back in on Wednesday.
I still have questions for Mr. Walden
and I can't wait to see what he wears.
She does not just walk.
I think house arrest
and a years probation seems fair.
She is stealing from the system.
No, she's taking back everything
the system takes from her.
That's my offer.
[SCOFFS] You wanna take it or not?
[SOFT LIVELY MUSIC]
[SCOFFS]
♪
Take it.
[SOFT LIVELY MUSIC]
♪
AVERY: I've got the
information and I'm working on it.
[CLEARS THROAT]
There's the puppet master.
Hope you're not too mad.
Hm, don't hate the player.
Listen, you were making
things too hot for the RCMP,
so things were getting
too hot for my office.
How much did you convince the cops
to pay the Downeys,
to leave Percy Lincoln in the dust?
Marcie, your guy won.
- You should be happy.
- Don't change the subject.
How much?
All I can say is those boys
will never want for anything
for the rest of their lives.
Except for their mother.
[SOFT DRAMATIC INSTRUMENTAL]
♪