Memphis Beat (2010) s02e06 Episode Script

Want to come over in the yard and play while I'm planting them, like when you were young? We made lemonade.
You got it wrong.
There was lemonade, but I planted and you played.
Well, can you blame me? You had such nice little friends.
That little George mathias down the street.
And Walter.
And Jimmy.
I liked that Jimmy.
Yeah.
He was a-a fun guy.
His mama called me.
He got arrested a couple nights ago.
Yeah.
I heard.
It's a shame.
Well, I know you care more than that about .
You two had your little band together.
Banjo Jameson, mama.
And it wasn't just a little band.
All right, see? You do care.
The boys down at the 9th picked him up.
I'm sure they had good reason.
Well, maybe you can check on it.
You know, make sure that he's not in trouble for something he didn't do.
Look, we're just not really friends anymore.
You know, all that happened a long time ago.
I know.
I just -- I'd rather not get involved.
Look, you two may not be friends, but his mama is my friend.
And she has asked me for help.
And now I'm asking you.
Can I help you, Miss Estelle? Davey, where's my daughter? Uh, she's, uh, working on official business.
Well, I'm here on official business, too.
Now get out of my way, or I'll move you.
And don't you think I won't.
Hey, mama.
What brings you -- I just went down to the DMV to renew my license, and -- You know what? Why don't I come by later? We can have coffee -- Child, do not interrupt me.
You had my driver's license revoked! If you want to drive, you got to pass the test.
It's the same rule for everybody.
I've been passing that test since Charlie Parker was alive, and nobody's ever sat down and watched me take it like they did today! Maybe they thought you needed watching.
I know you had something to do with this.
And I'm here to tell you I've been driving damn near my whole life, and I've got no intention of stopping now! Out of my way, beanpole! Did you talk to somebody from the DMV? It had to be done.
I'm goin' to Memphis where the beat is tough Memphis I can't get enough oh, well, it makes you tremble and it makes you weak gets in your blood, that Memphis beat Not that I don't enjoy soaking up this serenity, but I'd love to know where we're going.
Well, a family friend got into a bit of trouble.
My mama asked me to look into it.
What'd this friend do? You know that armed robbery at the harbor - a couple nights ago? - Yeah.
Well, that's what they're saying he did.
Detective Moran, thanks for coming down.
Not a problem.
Now, you were cryptic on the phone.
You boys have some new information on my case? No, this is more of a personal thing.
Wanted to see if you'd be willing to answer some questions about Jimmy Wagner.
You're out of your jurisdiction a bit on this one, aren't you? Well, believe me, I don't want to be up in your dishes, but my mom asked me to look into it.
He's an old family friend.
Well, it's It's pretty straightforward.
About 10:00 P.
M.
Saturday, two armed men in masks boarded the boat.
Thieves took diamond rings, watches, wallets, purses, and all the cash the newly married couple had been given.
All told, about $100,000 worth of loot.
Probably not the wedding day the bride had in mind.
Mm.
After they swept the place, the two guys and a third man, waiting in the water with the jet skis, took off across the lake.
How'd you come up with Wagner? We looked for possible landing sites along the shoreline.
Jimmy's boat shop is just down the way.
That's right.
Owning a boat shop's not enough to make him a suspect in an armed robbery.
No, but we found fresh tracks coming out of the water and three damp wet suits in his boat house.
He lawyer up? Immediately.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
This friend of yours deaf? Not that I know of.
Kind of hard not to hear three guys on jet skis coming up to your yard in the middle of the night.
I know.
Armed robbery doesn't fit the guy I knew.
When was the last time you saw him? About 15 years ago.
Plenty of time to turn into somebody else.
Hey, Jimmy.
Your mama called me.
She shouldn't have done that.
They treating you all right? Yeah.
Yeah, I'm fine.
You asked for a lawyer, so I can't really ask you any questions.
Then why are you he? To see if I can help.
Don't need your help.
I didn't do it.
These are some pretty serious charges.
I wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.
I'll tell mama you You did what you could.
Well? He said thanks but no.
You offer to help a guy in jail for armed robbery, and he turns it down? Sometimes things don't make sense.
You've been acting like a wounded baby bird since we started looking into this thing.
What's up? Well, the two of us -- We had a band.
The band broke up.
Oh, so this was about a girl.
If I say yes, will you leave me alone? Ah, the trials and tribulations of young and vulnerable hearts.
It was a long time ago, Whitehead.
I had a girlfriend.
She hooked up with Jimmy.
End of band.
End of story.
My mom asked me to look into it.
I did and now I'm done.
Was this girl a blonde? Blue eyes? Yeah, why? Dwight? Margo.
I'll let you two talk alone.
Did you come to help Jimmy? Yeah, but he didn't want to talk to me.
Well, you guys haven't seen each other in years.
Whatever he said, he didn't mean it.
I think he did, margo.
I can't get involved.
Dwight, please.
I was with him at 10:00 P.
M.
when the robberies happened.
Did you tell the police that? Yes, but I'm his wife.
They don't believe me.
They said he can go to jail for 10 years.
You can't let that happen.
I'll see what I can do.
Thank you.
I can't believe I got suckered into helping with this.
Are you kidding me? Of course you did.
You're that guy.
What do you mean, "that guy"? You help every stray that crosses your path whether they deserve it or not.
This coming from the man who stops his car for every mangy dog in Memphis.
At least mine start out as dogs.
Hey, Sutton, you want to do a little bit of research on that marina heist? The one with the jet skis? That'd be the one.
I need to get my hands on the case file.
I'm not supposed to be doing this, am I? That's a way of putting it.
Excellent.
Hey.
You got 20 bucks I could borrow? All I got's a $10 and a couple ones.
See? That guy.
Ha ha ha.
Bill! Hey.
Uh, can I have a minute? Are you okay? Of course I'm not okay.
I don't have a damn driver's license.
But it's obviously best that you don't.
This was not my fault.
Mama, you rear-ended somebody.
Which I blame on you.
How does that make any sense? You ruined my confidence by getting my license revoked.
You are a driving menace.
How would you know? You never go anywhere with me.
You cannot be on the roads.
Why not? You think I'm too old? I didn't say anything about age.
You don't have a license! That never stopped you from driving when you were a kid.
That is completely different.
Keep driving.
You're gonna end up in jail.
Wouldn't be any worse than the cell you're trying to put me in.
The whole thing was over in a matter of minutes.
I tried to get a look at them, but it was dark.
All I could see were the jet skis heading out into the lake.
No skin color, hair color, tattoos? I didn't see anything.
I told this to the police already.
We're just doing a little interdepartmental check.
Any of your employees quit recently? No.
I've owned this marina for 20 years.
My employees are like family to me.
Look, if you don't mind, I've got something I need to tend to.
Hold on a second.
That's a fancy-looking timepiece you just put in your pocket.
You mind if I take a look at it? Look at this, Whitehead.
That's a hell of a watch.
What is that etched in there? An arrowhead? They're my initials.
There was a pocket watch reported stolen in the robbery, just like this.
Is this it? No.
Find you in possession of stolen property, it's gonna look like you were involved.
It was my grandfather's.
I had to get it back.
I put a word out to some fences I'd pay top dollar -- No questions asked.
Well, now questions are being asked.
And I suggest you start answering them.
Hey, Sutton.
Any luck at tracking that fence down? The description the guy from the marina gave you was pretty vague, but I managed to narrow it down.
I pulled some mug shots.
If it helps you, he drove off in an old yellow Mercedes, diesel type.
Okay.
Got it.
His name is Winston Spady.
Owns an architectural salvage yard on the east side of town.
Perfect.
So you think this Wagner guy is guilty, huh? Absolutely.
How can you be so sure? Well, for starters, he stole Dwight's girlfriend in high school.
Yeah, but Stealing a guy's girlfriend in high school doesn't exactly make you a criminal.
It's a character issue.
You backstab a friend as a boy, you rob a wedding as a man.
I don't know.
I guess I like to think that people become better as they get older.
Hey.
There are few cheeses that get better as they age -- There's your blues and your bries, but unfortunately, people are like shredded cheddar.
The longer you leave them in the refrigerator, the more they start to stink.
Oh.
I have to run -- Customers.
What can I do for you gentlemen? I've been itching for a gargoyle.
You got any? Sorry.
We're out.
What about engraved pocket watches? You got any of those? We sell architectural salvage, not chronometers.
Hmm.
Really? 'Cause we heard you sold a watch just like that this morning.
I think you're mistaken.
Oh, please, don't do that.
That's very expensive.
You tell us who brought you that watch, or you're gonna be polishing silver in the prison dish pit.
Three guys came by the other day with a bunch of loot -- It included the watch.
And I'd heard that the gentleman at the marina wanted it back, so I got it -- Just the watch, I swear.
You got names on these guys? No.
White guys.
Two of them about my height.
The third one had a tasteless moustache.
Three guys? You sure? Yes.
When did they come in? Yesterday about 5:00.
You need to go to the station and give descriptions to our sketch artist.
Right now? Now.
Let me lock up.
Three guys committed the robbery, but Jimmy was in custody when those three guys came here yesterday.
Well, well, what do you know? Jimmy could be telling the truth.
What do u know? Dwight.
Jimmy.
Didn't think you'd be back.
I was such a prick to you yesterday.
Yeah, but that doesn't make you a criminal.
So So you believe me? I didn't do it? Well, it turns out, three guys tried to pawn some loot from the robbery last night.
Got these sketches.
Do you recognize any of them? No.
Anyone similar to that snooping around the boat shop? Asking about jet skis? No.
Yeah, I'm sorry, Dwight.
It's all right.
We're gonna show these around.
Look, I was able to pull a favor with the DA get your bail reduced.
Your mom's gonna put up the money.
I'm getting out? You serious? Oh, my God, Dwight.
Thank you.
As soon as you get out of here, we need to go down to your boat shop.
I want you to walk me through what happened that night.
Definitely.
Definitely.
I'll just run home, see margo, grab a shower, and I'll meet you there.
Look, Jimmy, until we find the guys who did this, you're still suspect number one.
I've been in here for three days, man.
I'm ripe.
It'll just take an hour.
Come on.
All right, call me as soon as you're out of here.
All right.
Hey, hey.
You're the best, man.
The best.
Yeah.
Estelle, I think it's a great idea.
Highlights will let you be the young, vibrant woman you are.
Yeah.
Okay.
I will.
All right, bye-bye.
Your mom wants you to pick her up from the beauty parlor in an hour.
You were talking to my mother? Yeah.
She does not need highlights.
And you need to stay out of my business.
Hey.
It's her hair, and she wanted my opinion.
So, technically, you're in my business.
Man, you scared me.
Nice hat.
Yeah, well, I promise -- Not the same one I wore in high school.
So, uh, why don't you take me through what happened the other night? All right.
Well, I had to install a new drive on an old inboard/outboard.
Re-cut the transom hole, so both the drill and the saw were both running full bore.
So you couldn't hear anything? Come on, man.
I had to crank that music pretty loud just to drown out all that drilling.
I'm lucky I can hear anything now.
Why don't you show me where the suspects made land? Will do.
According to the police, the suspects came up the landing, right there next to the dock.
Yeah, that's where the tracks were.
You keep the access gate to the road open? Oh, no.
Usually there's a lock on it after hours, but that night, I left it open for Margo.
You work late a lot? I have been lately.
You know, recreational boating ain't quite what it used to be.
So there's a chance those guys could have known the gate was open? Hey, look, man There's something I got to get off my chest.
About Margo.
You were a great friend, and I should have just been a man and come to you.
I blew it.
I'm -- I'm real sorry about what happened.
Appreciate you saying that.
How about you let me buy you and your mama a drink tonight, huh? Maybe when the case is closed.
Come on, now.
I'm not gonna take no for an answer.
We'll see.
Hey, man.
Check this out.
Is that some kind of rudder? Uh, no.
Stabilizer fin.
From a jet ski.
Must have fallen off when they made land.
Yeah, the water level was higher that night because of the rain.
That explains why the tech team missed it.
Now This is a good thing, right? Well, it could be.
You know what that means.
9:00, Rinky Dink's.
Sure.
One beer.
All right.
Hey, Sutton.
I need you to get as much information on this stabilizer fin as you can.
It might have fallen off one of the jet skis used in the heist.
I'm on it.
Also take sketches of the suspects down at the local boat shops.
Maybe a store clerk will give you an ID.
Dwight.
In my office Now.
Detective Moran here tells me that you have been butting in to one of his cases.
I told him I was gonna look into a few things.
You got the perp's bail reduced.
I came across some new information.
I don't know how you do things around here, but in my house, it's our job to put the bad guys in jail, not get them out.
Dwight, looking into a case is one thing, but you have gone way too far on this one.
Detective Moran, we will turn over whatever information has been gathered.
Thank you.
They got no evidence on Jimmy.
They picked him up with no eyewitnesses.
You don't have to convince me.
I know if I tell you to keep out of it, you won't.
Thank you, lieutenant.
Going forward, Dwight, don't leave me hung out with my spanx down.
I know I'm the reason that you're helping Jimmy, but I do feel bad about stirring up all these old feelings.
It's been 20 years.
Well, you're a good man.
Some woman is gonna be real lucky to have you.
So, how's Tony? Good.
Yeah.
My sweetheart's taking a pottery class.
That's great.
He brought me a vase shaped like a woman's torso.
Ah, look who's back.
Who wants another drink? While we were on break, we noticed a special guest in the audience, and maybe with your help, we can get him on stage to play a song with us.
Dwight Hendricks, everybody! Uh, you guys are doing just fine! I'm not singing anything else until you come up here.
Go on up.
Go on.
I saw you a while back at earnestine and hazel's.
You still got it.
Why didn't you say hello? It was a busy night.
Well, I'm not getting up there unless you are.
They're not asking for me.
Come on, Jimmy.
You really gonna let that stop you? Love is a burning thing and it makes a fiery ring bound by wild desire I fell into a ring of fire I fell into a burning ring of fire I went down, down, down, and the flames went higher and it burns, burns, burns the ring of fire the ring of fire The taste of love is sweet when hearts like ours meet I fell for you like a child oh, but the fire went wild I fell into a burning ring of fire I went down, down, down, and the flames went higher and it burns, burns, burns the ring of fire the ring of fire and it burns, burns, burns the ring of fire the ring of fire the ring of fire the ring of fire the ring of fire Yeah! Hey, tried to call you last night.
Sorry I didn't call you back.
I ran the suspect sketches against the mug shots, and nothing came up.
Have a rough night? Went out for a bit.
Let me guess.
You and Jimmy.
With mama and margo.
He wanted to buy me a drink, say thanks.
Being spotted around town with a guy charged with armed robbery is not particularly good for you or him.
It was a one-time thing, you know? Just for old times' sake.
You ever think that if you two didn't split up, maybe banjo Jameson would be on tour instead of you being a cop? Well, you got to be able to write songs to make it in the music business.
I always wondered if you had original material.
Remind me sometime.
I'll give you a little taste of my masterpiece, "Scent Of The Wind.
" It's as bad as it sounds.
Excuse me.
Sir? Uh, excuse me.
Is your name Mr.
Denman? Yeah.
We think these men might have been involved in an armed robbery.
Do you recognize any of them? Nope.
Sir, please take a look at the sketches.
Still nope.
This is a photo of a jet ski stabilizer found recently at a crime scene.
Have you sold one like it in the recent past? Mr.
Denman, I've been to five other shops, and everyone else has been fully cooperative.
That your Chevy pick-up parked out there? Yeah.
I noticed when I rolled up that you were parked illegally, so I ran your plate.
Turns out you got 13 unpaid parking tickets.
It only takes 5 for me to run you into the station.
And, of course, we'll have to impound your car indeterminately.
So since you're not in the mood to help, I guess I'll just make that call.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
All right.
All right.
See? That wasn't so hard.
Okay.
Now, that boy two doors down said that he would take you to the store on Tuesdays.
But now you got to be back at work at 10:00, so don't be talking to the butcher too long.
And then on wednesdays -- Take this back.
You hardly even looked at it.
Don't need to.
I already know that thing is gonna make me crazy.
Here.
This list will help you.
I know I'm gonna be old someday, but right now you are rushing me.
I am not, mama.
Come on.
You're not old.
You don't have a driver's license.
I'm just doing all this to make your life easier.
What about this makes my life any easier? My life was easier before you started messing with it.
Okay, I know this is gonna take some getting used to, but we have no choice.
It's your life you need to be concerned with, not mine.
See, that's why you are impossible to talk to.
And that's why you're alone.
Fine.
You don't want my help, figure it out yourself.
Oh, hey, Whitehead.
Sutton.
I didn't know y'all were in the precinct.
I-I was looking for Dwight.
He's at his desk.
What's up? Nothing.
Sutton, trust me.
You do not have a poker face.
IFound out some information about Dwight's friend.
It doesn't look good.
Well, that's too bad.
You don't want to tell him? Well, I just feel bad because they go back so far.
When I was in high school, I dated a girl by the name of Loretta rivers.
Cutest little thing you ever did see.
And when summer would roll around, my mom took me up to white river.
I wasn't gone a minute before Phil Jernigan came in and swept her right off her feet.
Yeah.
You roughed him up, right? No.
Unfortunately, he had arms the size of hay bales.
So what happened? They got married.
I spent a large portion of my youth wondering what the hell would have happened if he'd have minded his own business.
How's th story supposed to help me? Well, I ran into her 15 years later at Mort's burger shack.
She was yelling at some waitress, and she looked like a wall-eyed water buffalo.
Okay.
I still don't understand how this helps me.
Things have a way of working out the way they're supposed to.
You got something to tell Dwight? Tell him.
It'll be fine.
You're right.
Thanks, Whitehead.
You bet.
I hate to bother you, Dwight.
I got back from checking out the local boat shops.
What have we got? Turns out that fiberglass stabilizer you found at the crime scene is from an old-model jet ski.
They only sell it at a handful of places here in Memphis.
One of those being Jimmy's boat shop.
Yeah.
So I had the lab take a look.
There's no scratches, no wear and tear.
That fin has never been mounted on a jet ski.
I'm sorry, Dwight.
No, you were just doing what I asked you to do.
No way you could have known my friend was lying to me.
I guess I better go get him.
Dwight, I don't understand.
Why'd you have a police car pick me up like I'm some kind of criminal? Sorry, margo.
I just needed to speak with you.
We need to know where Jimmy is.
I assume at work.
Jimmy's gone, margo.
I know it, and you know it.
He had something to do with the robbery.
He couldn't.
You two needed the money.
Maybe he felt like he didn't have a choice.
You said you were with him that night.
That's not true, is it? I was gone by 9:30.
When he got picked up, I said later because I just don't think he could do what the police said he did.
We need to find him.
I'll need a list of his friends and places he spends time.
Okay.
I don't know all the names of the guys in the band.
Jimmy's in a band? Yeah, he joined a couple of months ago.
Just give me whatever information you can.
That couldn't have been too easy.
You okay? Sounds to me like band practice was when Jimmy was planning the heist.
What makes you think that? When we played the other night, he told me he was rusty.
Based on what I heard, he wasn't lying.
Margo said the band practiced on Monday nights.
So let's see if we can get anything from his cell or home phones on those evenings.
We need a warrant? No.
Wife's given permission for a records search.
Uh, I-it's your mom.
Tell her I'm busy.
That's not gonna work.
Looks like Jimmy made several calls home on Monday nights -- All from an 1805 Elmhurst Avenue.
Thank you, Sutton.
Let's go, Whitehead.
I'll call moran on my way over.
Let him know where we're headed.
She needs you to pick her up at the podiatrist's office.
I do not have time to be worried about my mother's feet.
Sutton, you go pick her up.
Uh, is that an order, lieutenant? 'Cause your mom's kind of scary.
Don't be scared of her.
No, it's not an order.
Good, 'cause I'd really rather not.
I manage 200 people a day.
My mama never listens -- Am I supposed to be listening? No! You realize, of course, I had the guy we're looking for in jail, right? I know.
That looks like one of the guys that tried to fence the stolen goods! You guys check inside! What happened? Guy got away.
I found something.
That's Jimmy's cap.
There's a board back there covered in blood, too.
Looks like they roughed him up pretty good.
What the hell's going on with these guys? Could be the guys he's in business with afraid he's gonna talk.
Yeah, or they found out he's friends with a cop, want to make sure he keeps his mouth shut.
You okay? I'm fine.
You can go home.
I'll call you if there's any news.
I'd rather not be at the house, if that's okay.
Sure.
Dwight? Is he gonna be okay? I don't know.
I can't imagine my life without him.
I love him so much.
I'm gonna do everything I can.
I just got caught up in the nostalgia of it all, you know? It clouded my judgment.
I think I'd have done the same thing.
If I'd stayed out of it, Jimmy'd still be in jail, but at least his life wouldn't be at risk.
Maybe you guys can do one of those folsom prison things.
You could sing "Scent Of The Wind.
" Hendricks.
Dwight.
J-Jimmy, where are you? Are you hurt? Y-you've got to back off.
Jimmy, just tell me where you are.
We can set this right.
No! Dwight, you got to stop, or they're gonna kill me! Jimmy? Y-you got to back off.
Jimmy, just tell me where you are.
We can set this right.
No! Dwight, you got to stop, or they're gonna kill me! I'm impressed you know how to illegally record a call.
I use the feature to record music I hear all the time.
It's the best thing about this phone, as far as I can tell.
J-Jimmy, where are you? Are you hurt? Y-you got to back off.
You hear that? Hear what? We got the ID on that motorcycle.
It's registered to a guy named Jacob hill.
Guy's got a rap sheet a mile long.
Robbery, assault, assault with a deadly weapon.
Y-you got to back off.
Jimmy Y-you got to back off.
You hear that horn? Sounds like the horn they blow right before a drawbridge raises up.
That's what I thought, too.
There's only two in town.
Sutton, let's get the addresses of all of hill's known associates.
Narrow the list down in proximity to one of those Bridges.
I'm on it.
Y-you got to back off.
Factory is around the corner.
We sure Jimmy's in there? SWAT team got a peek at him through a window.
Pulled back when they were afraid they might get spotted.
What's the plan? I don't think we have too many options.
Freeze! Dwight.
We got guns at every exit! Nowhere to go, hill! Whitehead.
Let's go.
Freeze! Thanks, Dwight.
Let's get you out of here.
I don't know what you think I need these new glasses for.
My old ones worked just fine.
Your old ones might be the reason you couldn't see the drive.
Well, I don't like these one damn bit.
Mama.
Put them on.
The glass does seem clearer than my last pair.
Clearer? I'll try to make them work.
Okay.
Then maybe you should go and take your driver's test again.
You're gonna let me do that? If you can pass it, that's the state of Tennessee's business.
Come on.
Gonna get you down to the library so you can get your community service going.
Can't you get me out of that? And interfere with your life? I wouldn't think of it.
Moran.
Appreciate your help on this.
I'm glad your buddy's all right.
They beat you up pretty good, huh? Yeah.
Nothing a little neosporin won't fix.
I just went to tell them I wouldn't say anything.
I guess they, uh, didn't believe me.
They're armed robbers, Jimmy.
Not the most trustworthy types.
I know.
First they just offered me money to use my landing.
Then one of them offered me a lot more money to Drive jet skis.
I thought it Would get us out of the hole we were in.
I'm sorry, Dwight.
I'm not the one you need to be apologizing to.
How much does she know? As little as I could get away with.
I didn't feel it was my story to tell.
Thanks, man For everything.
Don't look so depressed.
You did a good thing.
I put my oldest friend in jail, Whitehead.
He was on a bad path.
You probably saved him from doing something a lot worse.
That's a pretty piss-poor version of the cup being half full.
Glad to be of help.
Let's get the hell out of here.
I'll buy you a drink.