Copper s02e11 Episode Script

I'm sorry, Eva, you'll be prosecuted for murder.
We'll start organizing your defense.
About my shop window.
Relax.
The only qualifying bid that remains is that of gen Brendan Donovan.
Gen Donovan has presented us with offers for each of the properties we own in Five Points.
Donovan is going to level his own ward? You're chasing two stale cases, Bartlett and Ramsey? Are you covering for him, for Donovan.
I got your one Teresa Trembley in hiding, but, tonight, Donovan ordered me to silence her.
Teresa! hey! What the hell's the matter with you two?! My God, what are you doing?! Joe, you goddamn prick! Don't leave me here alone with these animals! What do you want from me? Take whatever you want.
You want money? I got money.
Take it! Leave me be, please! One tiny crack on the head and this bastard's already quivering.
Shame he don't got five or six of his pals here to help him out, huh? The 6th precinct don't take kindly to mobs dispensing whatever it is they consider justice.
But I don't care if you're a negro, a chinaman, or an asshole like you, the only beatings allowed in this neighborhood are comin' from our fists, understand? Yeah.
You better.
Otherwise, we'll come back here, each and every week, to remind you of this little lesson.
Matthew, come to bed.
It's late.
Oh, just a little while longer.
Matthew, you haven't been getting near enough sleep these past few days.
I know, and I can, I will, but right now, I'm close to finding something that could treat this unknown bacteria.
Couldn't it wait until morning? I said, I'll come to bed when I am finished! Goodnight! How can a man take the life of a young girl, discard her body like a piece of trash? I I couldn't say, Mr.
Trembley, but we're doing everything we can to find her killer.
You said that she came to you.
You were supposed to protect her.
You're just as responsible for her death as the monster who did the deed.
I'm sorry, I I didn't mean to leave us in peace! I'd tell you and the rest of the godless savages inhabiting this city to go to hell, but you're already there.
She was a beautiful girl.
I grieve for your loss.
All right! Bring in the jury.
Scheisse.
Oh, excuse me.
Hey, there.
Oh, hello, uh, Detective.
Corcoran.
It's Billy, ain't it? Donovan's new clerk.
Yes, sir.
I'm on my way now.
Oh.
I'm heading there myself.
I'll walk with you.
Love to hear how the general's been treating you.
I'm running late, actually.
It's a gorgeous day out, bill.
A few extra minutes won't kill ya.
Ahem! Is there any particular reason you're standing in the middle of my office, detective? Yeah, captain had a message for ya.
Uh, ahem.
New kid wasn't here.
Figured I'd just leave it on your desk.
I appreciate your attentiveness.
Morning, general.
Your concerns are noted, father.
Yet here you persist.
Thus the beauty of our business relationship you provide me with analysis, which I then choose to ignore, or heed.
You've yet to heed any of my suggestions.
If you are dissatisfied, feel free to head off and farm greener pastures.
I've made my decision.
You're a fool, Robert.
Perhaps.
But displacing thousands of immigrants is no longer a business I hold interest in.
Our properties will not be sold to aid Donovan and his aqueduct.
The city will then simply take our properties through eminent domain, in turn, compensating us far less than our current offer! You have always lamented my lack of principles, father.
Take comfort, knowing that I finally found some.
Not your lack of principles, Robert, your lack of practicality.
I need it set up in the music room, James.
Yes, ma'am.
I'll see to it.
You're not leaving already? I've hardly seen you all morning.
Then you probably shouldn't sleep the day away, dear.
I have wonderful plans for us.
I'm to be your muse.
As compelling as that sounds, I have business to attend to.
Oh, business, business.
So much time for work, so little time for play.
Least of all, your wife.
Who knows? You may even be interested in my work crusading to aid the downtrodden, a cause for which you used to care a great deal.
Well, fortunately, you've made it quite clear in the past that my interest in your work is not welcome.
I'll be back later.
Try and stay conscious today.
Ryan! Rory, Christ almighty, knock it off! Detective.
So you think you can just come and go as you please? Don't know what you mean, cap'n.
Your attendance has been sparse this past week, so you're either shirking your duty or working a case offbook.
Neither, sir.
I know what you've been up to, Corcoran.
Those yardsticks who laid a beating on your doctor friend? I'm told that you decided to send a message to them.
Right, I just felt I should remind them of their place, who's really in charge here.
Yes, it's an important lesson to remember.
Corcoran.
Double the weekly taxes on their store, while you're at it.
I can't abide vigilantes roaming my streets.
Donovan's clerk, Billy, doesn't know anything.
You find something of interest in the office? A wall safe.
Donovan came in before I could get a good look at it, though.
Did he make you? Nah, I don't think so.
I was just telling Andrew about the Trembleys.
Mother and father weren't very keen on talkin'.
Pretty torn up.
I suppose the doctors didn't give you anything else to go by.
No, just what we knew poor girl was strangled, her body dumped.
And at a rendering plant, for Christ's sake.
I can't believe he just walks in here, struttin', like he ain't got a care in the world.
And he'll keep struttin', unless we can find physical evidence tying him to the crimes.
Donovan ordered Lansing and Teresa killed.
I heard him give the order with my own ears.
Whose words are going to be believed, a murderous, crooked cop; Or a devoted public servant, hero of the ward? You come forward, it won't be Donovan's ass they throw in the tombs.
You really want to go back there? We need something concrete to bring Donovan down.
See if Freeman'll take a look at Teresa's body.
Maybe he'll uncover some evidence we missed.
Us? What about you? I'm going to swing down to the courthouse.
I ain't gonna lose another name to Donovan's ledger.
Alderman, please.
The passion is appreciated, but we have delayed long enough.
A few more days.
Give me until Friday.
I'm sorry.
The vote will happen tonight.
The public's health is not something if and when the project is awarded to Mr.
Donovan, you can take your concerns directly to him.
This court is in recess.
I'm going to swing down to the courthouse.
I missed you in my cheering section.
I'm working other avenues outside the courtroom.
How's the trial going? Oh, it's a gas.
The judge is having me over for tea this weekend.
It's going like I expected a room full of stodgy men detailing what I did wrong in my life.
At least you have a good lawyer.
I'd rather have my business back.
Christ himself couldn't sway these people.
Don't worry.
I'll figure this out.
Sure you will.
I'm not going to lose anyone else.
One way or another, you and I are going to walk out of these doors, I swear.
Lord help the man that gets in your way, copper.
Do me a favor send Richie over, will ya? I got an errand for him.
Grab your bag, Freeman.
Time to work some magic.
Excuse me, gentlemen? We got a dead body needs lookin' at.
Sorry, but I'm in the middle of an experiment.
Then you can experiment later.
No.
What's that? I said no.
You'll have to find someone else.
Corky said he needed ya to look at a body for us.
And I often help him, when I choose to do so, but right now, I'm in the middle of something more important.
What, then, you want a couple of bucks? You leave me alone.
How difficult is that for you to understand? Jesus, no need to be a prick.
Say that again.
Easy, now.
Francis didn't mean nothing by it.
We just figured, after we went out of our way to help with that shopkeeper I didn't ask you to do that.
No.
Even so and don't pretend as if you did it out of the kindness of your heart.
When was the last time you any of you helped a black man who'd been attacked? One who wasn't friends with Kevin Corcoran.
I don't owe either of you, or Kevin, for that matter, a goddamn thing! Solve your own case, for a change.
You know, you got some nerve, hmm? Come on, Andrew.
Let's go.
Agh! So why would a wealthy fellow buy a business, only to keep the place closed? I don't know.
What do you want with me? I need you to tell me what you're really up to, with Donovan.
Look, if I say anything, I am liable to end up a dead man.
If you don't say anything, death ain't likely, but assured.
All right, all right, all right! I'm not some big to-do.
Yeah, I don't have any real money.
I'm just a face, a name that they put on paper, a front for the real property owners, who need to keep their name out of public record.
Donovan pays you for this service? Him and a few Others.
So Donovan bought the paradise? No, he arranged it for someone else.
Then who secretly owns Eva's? Some uptown millionaires.
The Morehouse family.
Mmm, the light.
You have the most exquisite skin, dear, like mottled alabaster.
Thank you, ma'am.
If possible, could I get up now? No, no no no, not quite yet.
Just a little bit longer.
Inspiration hath no clock.
Come over here for a moment, Elizabeth.
I wish to show you something.
What is it? Quite the eye-opener.
Hmm.
Oops! You've piqued my interest.
In here.
I don't see anything.
The time has come to clean you up, dear.
How dare! No! How dare you.
You got a visitor.
He say what he wants? Nah, just that it was important.
Anything from Freeman? He turned us down.
I think he's dealing with his own problems.
Join the club.
Yeah.
I take it ain't a social visit.
Serious matters, I'm afraid.
Involving Donovan? How prescient, Corky.
Major, I ain't interested in anything you and Donovan have to say.
I'm done being manipulated by rich assholes who take what don't belong to 'em.
I'm afraid you've lost me.
You ever going to tell me about your family purchasing buildings in Five Points? It's true, we have, for quite some time.
And then you swept in and snatched up Eva's when she was vulnerable.
Technically, father bought it, at Donovan's suggestion.
Then why didn't you stop them? Because I didn't know about Eva's myself, until I went through some of father's files.
Truthfully, Corky, the paradise is the least of your worries.
Donovan has grand plans to build the new aqueduct for the city.
You, your friends, your neighbors, this building, are in the way.
If the plans go through, Eva's and half of Five Points will be razed.
So Donovan turns on his own people.
Power and money are great motivators.
The construction contra, alone, is a windfall.
Add to that any deals he's cut.
Like deals with property owners, hidin' their purchases with other names.
Projects like these take a lot of land, valuable land.
I've done my best to delay the process, Corky, but, at this point, Donovan has the votes.
The board meets tonight.
That's why he's so desperate.
Sorry I couldn't do more.
I've exhausted my options.
I haven't.
You think you can stop by the city clerk, see if you can pick anything up? Of course.
This woman is a simple business owner.
We do not deny that she stabbed Mr.
Ramsey in the eye.
But, like most women in her condition, she was reacting purely from instinct, defending not only her business, but her womb, her child! Are you hurt? No, just an accident.
Matthew, you can't keep going on like this.
Like what? Like this.
You're boiling from within.
I'm tired.
You haven't slept.
No, I'm tired! Of the world, the people in it, their existence, their ignorance! It courses through my bones like an electrical charge.
Which you can no longer control.
I don't think I have the strength to tolerate, to excuse, to turn the other cheek.
Then don't! Your grievances are real, Matthew.
You were attacked.
I've been beaten before.
When you were a slave, when you couldn't fight back, but now, you have the freedom to confront your attacker and leaving it unresolved is gnawing at you.
Confront him.
Beat him or embrace him that's up to you but don't allow this pain to fester in your chest.
I never had the opportunity to face the men who killed my brothers.
Don't let this one act poison you towards the rest of life.
Call on Mr.
Flouton personally to obtain the papers.
That lazy welshman has a penchant for hiding in his office all day, avoiding actual work.
Yes, sir.
Kevin.
Donovan.
It's been a long while since you've come by for a chat.
Everything all right? Well, busy days.
Been to see Eva? Busy days as well.
Not that I'd be of much assistance, with her fate in the jury's hands.
Can I help you with anything? Teresa Trembley's still alive.
Well, not in body, but her secrets.
Poor girl, strangled by a man who was clearly on the edge of sanity.
I assume you haven't found a culprit yet, though.
No.
But I'm getting close and I will not rest until I catch the sick bastard that killed her.
Kevin Corcoran ever-tenacious, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
I'll be sure to let you know if I make any progress, sir.
See that you do, Detective.
See that you do.
Giddy up.
May I help you with something, sir? Yes, I need to see the property records listed for a Mr.
John Sutton.
Which ones were you interested in? All of them.
$10 for each one you find.
Yes, sir.
Right away.
While Robert has disappointed me in numerous ways, I must claim my own failures.
I cannot stand by while another woman my son loves addles herself to an early grave.
I'm stronger than you think.
His mother once said much the same.
Continue down this path, Elizabeth, and he will, Much like I did, simply harden his heart.
I'm sure you've felt the distance growing.
Robert seems to forget that he's the one that put me on this path.
I do not believe that any man has ever forced you to do anything you chose not to.
Do not shirk your responsibility in this situation, Elizabeth.
Surely, your father taught you better than that.
You have no idea what kind of a man my father was! I know the coal mines of lancashire are a world away from the parlors of Manhattan.
I know the cunning need to erase the tragedies of one's past and forge a new life from the ashes.
How long have you known? Long enough.
But understand me, Elizabeth I do not care why you choose to cloud yourself with these substances, be it from the past, a disillusionment with the present, or a general weakness of character I simply want it to stop.
Robert will be touched by your concern.
Robert will never know we've spoken.
You will either clean yourself up or you will leave.
Leave? A life can be arranged for you in California.
Reinvent yourself yet again.
I'm told that strongwilled, opiate-loving women are in great demand out there.
Norbert.
Thank you.
Donovan.
It would appear that we have a fly in the ointment.
Seem to be having quite a few of those, lately.
And you seem to forget that you're paid to facilitate my desires, not comment on them.
Of course, general.
C'mere.
Off wit' ye.
Excuse me.
Are the rest running late? We're scheduled to hold a vote here this evening, are we not? The meeting's been cancelled, sir.
What? Why the hell was I not informed?! Where's Alderman Stonington?! That's the reason it was cancelled.
Mr.
Stonington was picked up by police detectives an hour ago.
And you are certain it was Donovan who sent you? Yes, sir, Mr.
Stonington.
Like I said, something about a possible, uh, threat on your life.
Uh-huh.
It's probably nothing, but, uh, after what happened with Alderman Bartlett, gen Donovan figured it'd be best you stay here, under our protection.
Of course.
You got somewhere I could spit? It seems Mr.
Sutton owns quite a bit of property along the aqueduct route.
Donovan and his friends have been busy.
Are you certain you don't want me involved in the rest of the operation? Thanks, major, but, it'll be better if I handle this my way.
Agh! Guess you didn't hear Corky don't live here no more.
Lucky for you, no one else has moved in, so we'll have plenty of privacy to talk.
Ahem.
Spring water.
Never had a taste for the stuff, myself.
Perhaps getting married so quickly was a mistake.
I know trust broken can sometimes take time to repair, but, I felt embraced one moment and abandoned the next.
That was never my intention.
Will there ever be a time when both of us will simply be happy with one another? I don't know why I excuse the same behaviors in myself that I scold you for.
I I am the last person who should be casting stones.
If we're to continue, Robert, I need you, unconditionally, no matter how we choose to move forth, sober or otherwise.
Aaaaah! Just tell us what we want to hear.
Ah, tare an'ouns.
He's a tough, wee thing.
The Bartlett murders, Lansing, Teresa Trembley.
Probably had you finish off Jack Ramsey, too.
And you know this how, 'cause this lying, sack-of-shit cyclops told you so? Aaaaaaaaah! Just give us Donovan and I'll make sure you're taken care of.
You really are as stupid as he says.
The man's untouchable.
You are nothing, an inconvenience to Donovan.
You're shit on his shoe.
Yet he sent you here to clean me off, so what does that make you? Charge me with whatever you want, assholes.
It won't matter.
I'll be back on the street in an hour.
Who said anything about charging you? I was just asking a few questions.
The important thing to remember is that your own actions led to the predicament that you're in.
I'll kill you, I swear to God.
Ohh! Better men than you have tried, boyo.
Agh.
No-o! Aaaaaaah! Aaaaah! Aaaaaaaaah! Aaaaah! Well, if it ain't the most popular negro in New York City.
Unless that's not the right term.
It's hard to keep up with whatever it is you zip coons want to be called, these days.
I have no interest in you calling me at all.
Did you come here to gloat? I came to settle this business between us.
Yeah, sure, after you send your police friends around to fight for you, first.
I don't recall you showing up on my doorstep by yourself.
Well, you win, boy.
Got no interest in going up against the entire metropolitan police.
Is that all, or have you come for your pound of flesh as well? I've given that thought consideration.
Well, I'm here, ripe for the pickin'.
What's stoppin' ya? Seems like that's the only way men like you learn, through bloodshed.
Don't act like you're above me.
You may hide underneath that fancy talk and those those dandy clothes, but I seen it, that savage look in your eye.
You ain't nothing but an animal.
You're right, I am an animal.
As are you.
We all are.
Speak for yourself! And, like most animals we are filled with base desires hunger, lust, aggression, violence, dominance.
I've wrestled with the primal nature inside of me, not wanting to validate others' fears.
I ain't afraid of you, boy.
Oh, you are.
And you should be.
Because I've suffered the ignominy of men like you every day of my life! And I have accepted insult and injury, all with the hope that, one day, I would be seen as equal.
But I realized that I'm not your equal.
You're goddamn right, you're not.
I'm smarter than you and I'm stronger than you, and I'm through concerning myself with the growls of simpleminded, mangy little dogs.
Goldenseal salve.
Put it on your wound, to prevent infection.
Or don't, and let it rot.
I honestly couldn't give a shit.
Billy, I need your help locating my I know you love tellin' stories, so, let me share one, about a wise man with grand plans for his city, plans that, as things progressed, he chose to see through at any cost theft, deception, murder.
Murder, you say? Oh, yes an Alderman and his son, a competitor, an innocent girl.
The wise man justified his actions, both to himself and others, as part of the greater good.
Perhaps he had a point.
The wise man was a hypocrite.
He didn't care about his fellow citizens.
He just well, hell, he'd rather throw them out into the street, take their homes, all for the promise of a little money.
Oh, it was more than just a little money, Kevin, but I shouldn't expect you to understand.
It's not in your nature.
It's my own fault, really, choosing to overestimate, see my young self in you.
But you, Kevin Corcoran, refuse to see the world as it really is, hmm? Maybe.
Maybe not.
So, what, is this the part where you throw me in shackles? In my world, yes.
In your world, without any real evidence, reliable witnesses, this? It's all circumstantial.
I'd never be able to keep you in jail.
How fortunate for me.
Which means this is usually the point where I put a bullet in your brain and be done with it.
That would be decidedly unfortunate.
But, you're always going on about how I should use my brain, think less with my fists, so, I'm here to cut a deal.
You, compromising? I'm shocked.
More of a wager, actually.
Open it.
Five pulls of the trigger.
One bullet.
One of us lives, one of us dies.
That's not exactly what I meant by "using your head".
I'm willing to put my life on the line for Five Points.
Then you're a fool, for I am not.
Pick one.
Go on.
See, there are people in this city worth saving, good people, and I'm tired of men like you using them, discarding them, without a second thought.
You're insane.
Probably.
I've been at war, in riots.
I'm not afraid to die.
Question is are you? For what reason would I agree to such madness? Because, if you don't, I'll kill you right now.
The only way you're going to leave this room alive is by picking up one of these guns.
Do you honestly believe that you'll get away with this? Well, I have before.
Even if I don't, what more do I have left to lose? Your turn.
Oh, come on, Donovan! I'm giving you a sportin' chance, 3 out of 4.
Surely, you can use your vaunted intellect to outsmart me, a lowly copper.
Ahem! That wasn't so bad, was it? You speak of doing right for your fellow man, but it's not justice that drives you, Kevin Corcoran.
Is that so? No, justice is convicting me in court, not through some sick game.
Justice is having faith in the system, the law! You and your friends have broken the system.
So, now, we're forced to follow your own personal code, then, is that it? It's better than what we've been given.
Oh, really? Who says your code is better than mine, or anyone else's? What gives you the right? The gun in my hand.
Aha! And now, we arrive at your true motivation pain and death.
You cloak your unquenchable instinct for violence in the trappings of duty, ohh, but, Kevin Corcoran, misery befalls anyone in your orbit.
No wonder your wife sought any Avenue to escape your touch.
Ooh.
Where's that code of honor now? Two left.
Almost over.
But it's already over, isn't it? Really, hmm? You've rigged the game.
What makes you say that? Whichever gun is loaded if one of them is loaded I lose.
I pick up the one with the bullet, I shoot myself in the head.
I pick up the empty gun, and you're left with the one and, honor or no, I do not believe you will willingly take your own life.
No? Mnh-mnh, you'll shoot me, instead.
That doesn't leave you with many options, does it? Just one.
Or We call it a draw, on the condition that you confess for your crimes and plead guilty.
Perhaps you're more clever than I gave you credit for, but the day I kowtow to a righteous little shit like you will be my last.
You're more like me than you know, Kevin Corcoran.
Mo Cara.
Mo namhaid.
You never saw this bag and you have no idea who the hell maj Robert Morehouse is.
You're going to take on Donovan.
I already did.
What in good hell did you have in those files? Eustace wants him shot dead on sight.
Be coming for you.
You kill a man like Donovan, you unleash hell.
America's a tough place to think you can fight the system.
We Irish need to stick together.
Kevin.
Grab some things, what you might need for a day.
You bring me Corcoran, that commissionership is yours.