Truth Be Told (2019) s03e06 Episode Script

Just make sure you send somebody.
Fast.
It's okay.
You're safe.
- tell us anything?
- How long
- How long were you up there?
- Are you in any pain?
Do you know what happened to you?
Do you know your assailant?
Just lie back for me, honey.
Can you point to where it hurts?
- Do you remember
- any others
How do you feel?
Just relax.
Have you or your family been threatened?
Take this, honey.
Can you identify the
person who assaulted you?
but we can only get
the bastards with your help.
Can you remember anyone's face?
In here is all I got
in this world right now.
I never unpack my bag. You?
Oh. So you a neo at this. Okay.
Low-key, they be stealing
in these foster homes.
I had this halter top from
Macy's once that just vanished.
An older girl in the home used
to jack everybody for they shit.
Plus, we move around so much,
it's like why bother unpacking?
Oh, God, no.
They gave us candy
corn in our treat boxes.
Yo. I know these taste like wax,
but they remind me of my mom.
At Easter, she would fill,
like, my whole basket with it,
and we'd eat it till we threw up.
Today was crazy, right?
We're lucky.
If we was 18, we'd be in jail right now.
Although, like, this all kind
of feels like jail anyway,
being kept away from our families.
Next month is gonna be two years for me.
How long you been in the life?
What? You don't talk?
I miss my mom.
I know she's gonna, like,
flip out when she sees how
much taller I've gotten.
What about you? Did you
miss your family too?
- Does Trini have a curfew?
- Um, yeah.
It's ten o'clock on school nights
- and midnight on weekends.
- Yeah.
Has she missed curfew? Hung out
with friends you haven't met?
No, no. We We know
all of her friends.
We thought we knew her boyfriend.
Look we're good parents, all right?
We just
What about your finances? Any debt?
What does that have to do
She's trying to figure out if we
were involved in trafficking Trini.
If we used her to pay off a debt.
Oh, my God. We would never.
I can't believe you'd
think that we would do
something like that to our child.
Anything is possible of anyone.
And, unfortunately, I've seen it all.
So, what's next?
Well, no alcohol on the premises.
No indications of illegal drug use.
One registered firearm in a
lockbox located in detached garage.
Premises clear of food
waste, dust and debris.
So far, so good.
So that means she's coming home now?
I still can't say.
Your daughter was trafficked.
The state needs to be sure that
Trini's homelife neither contributed to
nor will further affect her
mental and physical health.
Now, I'll be in touch.
Following Rachel McKegney's
announcement that she is dropping out
of Oakland's mayoral race,
front-runner Andrew Finney's lead
has increased by seven points.
Right now, he looks unstoppable. Now
He isn't.
His political career will
be over once he's arrested.
From your lips.
So, there's nothing concrete
linking Finney to the mixers yet,
but almost all of the johns
were on the donor list
that we got from Alicia.
I mean, one of these guys has
to have more to do with Finney
than just campaign donations.
Mmm.
Maybe it's quid pro quo.
So we just pinpoint which
john helped Finney the most
and who has the most to lose.
Maybe we get him to flip.
A john's testimony,
coupled with the chains
from the Gilded Karat,
might be enough to open a grand jury.
We're close. I can feel it.
Unfortunately, we're no
closer to Emily than we were.
The intel that we've received,
it didn't lead to Emily
or to any evidence of her whereabouts.
How do you know she
wasn't at that mansion?
Could they have m-moved
Emily before OPD arrived?
I mean, maybe you just
got there too late.
Look, I know you wanted
us to find your daughter,
but in in a way, it is a very
good thing she was not there.
Poppy Scoville's podcast gave us
hope. A sign that Emily was alive.
Well, she's just a podcaster.
But one you work closely with.
Look. If there is anything
there, we will find it.
Believe me. We're kicking over every
rock, every pebble, every stone.
We should up the reward.
- No, I don't recommend you up the reward.
- I'm calling our accountant.
There is one rock I kicked over
that I wanna speak to you about.
- Me?
- Yeah.
We found cocaine at Victor's
cabin, hidden in deodorant bottles.
Large amounts of cocaine, Peter.
Victor says it's yours.
Of course he said it belongs to me.
He's trying to cover his own ass.
Well, talk to me about
your offshore bank accounts.
The ones that are
being managed by Victor
in exchange for felony-sized
cocaine that isn't yours.
You think I had something to
do with Emily's disappearance?
I get it.
I'm your scapegoat now that your
solid lead turned out to be bullshit.
- Admit it. You fucked up.
- Hey.
I told you, we investigate every
lead no matter how uncomfortable.
The only thing you should
feel uncomfortable about
is your job security, Detective.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
- Des, my diamond.
- Hey.
I thought our falafel run was next week.
Yeah, well, my father
told me about the raid.
So, you know, I thought the
girls could use some clothes
and, um, maybe some toiletries.
I adore you for this.
Uh, but most of the girls have
been processed out of this facility,
either to their families
or a foster home.
That's Melanie Sanchez.
I've been trying to contact her family,
but I don't think anyone's coming.
Unfortunately, she's been in
and out of our system before.
So where will she go?
An emergency placement.
Between her age and trafficking
history, it's gonna be tough.
We are so low on homes right now.
Your numbers are unreal.
I mean, l a live podcast.
I had to stop my racquetball game
right then and there just to listen.
Oh, thanks.
There is still a harrowing
journey ahead for those girls.
So, it's not over until I take down
the head of the trafficking ring.
Your investigative prowess
never ceases to amaze.
There is one thing, though.
- Mmm?
- Emily Mills.
Her parents reached out to me.
Apparently, they contacted
you about your source.
The one who claimed
Emily was at that house?
But they haven't heard back.
Mmm.
Ezra, I I can't
compromise my sources,
even for worried parents.
If you were back at The New York Times,
you'd be disclosing your
sources to your editor.
No disrespect, but The New
York Times has 132 Pulitzers.
How many does Boisterous have?
I will handle Emily's parents.
But moving forward,
Boisterous will have editorial
oversight of Reconsidered,
and that's including fact-checking.
That wasn't our deal.
Our deal is your contract
has a morals clause
that you agreed to with your signature.
Hey, sweetheart.
Come on in.
Honey, you're home.
- Oh, baby.
- You're home, baby.
She's experienced heavy
trauma, Mr. Killebrew.
- She'll need a gentle approach.
- All right.
Her exam showed signs of sexual assault.
She's also been tattooed.
Probably a result of her
trafficker branding her.
Did she say who raped her?
She identified her
assailant as Bill Ochoa.
He's in custody.
Best believe that motherfucker's
gonna be prosecuted.
What else can you tell us?
I'm sorry, that's all I know.
And I have 19 more cases
today, so I have to get going.
Just know it's gonna
take Trini some time
to adjust to being out of the life.
Whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Trini was kidnapped and raped.
She was never in the life.
The life for Trini began the
moment they started grooming her.
And here's the thing you
both need to understand.
Mentally, she's still in it.
Call me with any questions.
Thank you.
Hey, I just got a phone alert
about a press conference.
What's going on?
Aames.
You lied.
I trusted you, and you lied.
I thought you were above that.
Look, I
I thought if it meant
saving them, we needed to.
We or you?
That wasn't a victimless lie.
I had to look Joana Reynolds in the eye
and tell her that her
missing daughter wasn't there.
Do you want me to tell her that
that Emily was just a chess piece
in your larger social fight?
I hate to say it,
but I'd do it again if
it meant saving Trini.
In a heartbeat.
I'm glad Trini's home.
But now she is, we're done.
I'm putting everything
into finding Emily.
Aames. Aames.
Excuse me.
Good day.
I want to start by saying congratulations
and thank you to the officers
involved in the rescue
of 15 underage victims
from what appeared to be a sex party.
Unfortunately, one young
girl remains missing.
She was not at the raid,
nor have we recovered
evidence that she was there.
That girl is Emily Mills.
Additionally, because
of the rogue actions
of a criminal gang
known as the Capstones,
our investigation is facing challenges.
But OPD's investigators
will work tirelessly
to pursue justice for the
girls who were rescued.
Until that time,
the persons arrested in connection
with the alleged crimes at the sex party
have been released on bail.
We won't be taking any
questions right now. Thank you.
They've all lawyered up.
Without a john's testimony, the DA
will be reluctant to bring charges.
Oh. What about evidence from the house?
I heard the cops say something about
finding a hidden security camera,
but they haven't been able
to trace where the feed went.
- What about the rape kits?
- Not enough DNA.
The johns must have worn condoms.
So Finney wins.
You know,
these paths to Finney
all focus on the victimizers.
But nothing
is as powerful as a victim's voice.
But making the girls
testify retraumatizes them,
- so we can't do anyth
- No. I I-I agree.
They need time to heal.
That's why I'm hoping you
might tell your story on air.
- Me?
- Yes.
You're-You're-You're
strong. Smart.
An admired force for good in Oakland.
Coming forward might help open
up an official investigation.
No, honestly, Poppy, I hoped
it wouldn't come to this.
I'm still processing. I'm
I'm raw. I'm I'm I'm numb.
So much still doesn't
even make any sense to me.
Have you written about
what happened to you?
Putting it all down on paper
might offer you some clarity.
Think about it.
Hey. I got your message. You all right?
How in the fuck is Bill
Ochoa released, hmm?
I need to know what that sick
bastard did to my daughter.
I want to see his statement. I
want to see his interrogation.
There's nothing to see.
He denied everything.
Then give me his arrest file then.
- For what?
- The fucking guy is a predator, a monster.
And he needs to be dealt with
accordingly. Right the fuck now.
Markus, just go home. Go home.
Be with your family, please
If you don't have a
problem with these fuckers
who rape kids and just get to make bail,
then OPD really is the place for you.
I don't even know where to start.
What am I supposed to say?
"Once upon a time, there was a dumbass
who gave the best BJs in the Bay."
This only works if
you take it seriously.
I just don't think that recording
my messy life is the answer.
Okay, so why don't you
start with a success story?
Do I have one from back then?
Debate Club.
I watched you kick the living shit
out of some skinny white boy's
pro-death penalty platform.
- Spencer Loeb.
- Hmm.
His argument was unfounded. The
death penalty is not a deterrent.
Point is you slayed him and every
other smug-ass boy in the Bay.
God. That was so long ago.
You are still the same strong
girl that I met back in the day.
But we both know that,
uh, some memories,
some mistakes are better
left in the rearview.
- But Finney i
- All that I'm saying
is that if you are gonna do this,
it's gotta be about you, Eva.
Nobody else.
The agency is reaching out to your mom.
But I thought until then,
we'd make you comfortable.
All yours. I want you
to feel at home, Melanie.
This ain't my home.
- You're right, uh
- Yeah. I just
I wanna keep my stuff in my
bag, in case my mom comes.
Absolutely.
I love and miss my mom too.
She passed when I was younger than you.
And if I sit still long
enough and close my eyes,
I can smell her perfume.
Gives me comfort.
There's nothing like the love
between a mother and a daughter.
Can I get ready for bed?
- Uh, let me know if you need anything.
- Yep.
God!
God!
Trini. Baby, baby, baby.
- No, no, no, no. Hey!
- No!
Baby.
It's me, okay? It's Daddy. I'm here.
Please, let me Let me
help you. Okay? Please.
Lennon, I don't have time for this.
Make some time.
Your vice principal filed
an official complaint
with me because of your absences.
Can you blame her?
She's had to pick up the slack
every time you run away from campus.
I'm not running away. I'm
trying to help our students.
You mean you're not running away
with Poppy Scoville all this time?
Her podcast is making
the school look bad.
What do you want,
Lennon? Why are you here?
Distance yourself from Poppy.
If not, I may not be
able to protect your job.
Hey, sweetheart. It's, um, it's Dad.
Now, listen, you don't have to
let me in or anything like that.
But I just want you to
know how much I love you.
And I would do anything for you.
Anything in this world.
I just want you to be okay.
All right.
Come here.
Come here. I know. I know.
I can't do it. I'm sorry.
I have worked so hard to get where I am.
Mm-mmm. No. I gotta protect that.
If I talk to the police, lawyers,
anybody about Finney,
I could lose everything.
I already got the superintendent
threatening my job.
You don't have to explain yourself.
My students.
God, my faculty.
All the world will see is a dirty ho.
Eva, don't worry.
Look at all we've done.
If there's another way to
get Finney, we'll find it.
It's like he's always
one step ahead of us.
I come from a long line of
fighters. It's in my blood.
We're a long way from being done.
A long way.
So how's Trini?
Tell you the truth, I
got no clue. You know?
She hasn't said a word
to either one of us.
It's like she's still
trapped in that house,
and I just can't get to her.
I'm so sorry.
Look
This is, uh, Chheng Sok.
She's a social worker
who specializes in
trafficking survivors.
Maybe she can help.
- Thanks, Pop. Really.
Of course.
Can I ask you something?
Andrew Finney?
How is it that that man
ran a whole trafficking ring
and there's never even been a
whisper of a charge against him?
It's corruption.
These cats, they-they
create these foundations,
and they-they funnel money
to the police department.
And in return?
They get to do whatever they want.
Look some of the cops,
they-they tamper with evidence.
They manipulate witnesses.
It's damn near impossible
to prosecute a case
if the cops are working against you.
We need to find someone
who can get into OPD.
- Hmm.
- Someone trustworthy,
but someone they'd underestimate.
It's a gray sweater with a
flower on the right shoulder.
It's my daughter's.
I was told I could retrieve
it now that her case is closed.
Okay, here we go. Drea
Spivey. Case number 0071721.
Sign there.
Ew, you got beets on your salad?
Uh, excuse you, it's healthy.
Whatever. I hope you don't
force Melanie to eat that too.
I might.
And how is she? Since, um, you know?
Um, I can't tell yet.
It's tough, but I I think
she's just sussing me out.
And I I couldn't
sleep at all last night.
I kept sneaking in to check on her.
- Is that crazy?
- No.
I just want her to like me.
Okay. But those beets not gonna help.
- Hey, Mel. You can get anything you want.
- Anything?
Mm-hmm.
Avoid the wings. You'll thank me later.
Oh, uh
- By the way, uh, Lillian called me.
- Yeah.
- Okay.
- She said Daddy's not taking his meds.
Well, he'll take them if he needs to.
He's fine.
He does things his way.
That's why he's a leader.
Yeah and that's why his
CTE is getting worse.
Trust me. I got him.
You just worry about that new child.
- I know. Uh
- Mm-hmm.
You still got my number?
What the fuck?
- Is
- Oh, my God.
- Excuse me? Hey! Get away from her.
- I I
- She's just a kid, you bitch-ass pervert.
- Yo, yo
- Are you okay?
- In the food court?
- Really? Where's security?
- I'm so sorry, Melanie.
I took my eyes off you for
one second and this guy came
He was gonna pay me double. Okay?
You know what that means, right?
Listen to me. That dude does
not determine your worth.
That's right. You have
so much more to offer.
Just stop. Okay? You're not my mom.
The needle and floss from the
motel was signed in as evidence,
checked out two hours later,
but it was never checked back in.
OPD has a dirty cop.
Maybe more than one.
Hmm. Drea always said she
didn't trust the police.
Now I know why.
Is everything okay?
I may have to do something
I didn't want to do.
I need to talk to one of
the girls from the mixer.
Look at what he's done to her!
You have got to stop obsessing over him!
He needs to pay for what he did!
Honey.
Hey, sweetheart.
- I'm sorry for yelling like that.
- Got all your favorites for dinner.
- A little bit more in the oven.
- Yeah.
What do you think? You hungry?
Look, I don't I don't
know what you just heard.
I just don't want you to be scared.
And I want you to trust me.
We're gonna get the guy
that did this to you,
and we're gonna put him away.
- Sweetheart. Baby.
- Hey.
You really shouldn't have done that.
- She doesn't wanna hear about that man.
- Z,
the best shot we have
at moving on begins
with Bill behind bars,
and that's it, period.
You're doing it again.
You're going into action mode.
The caseworker told us that we
need to approach Trini gently.
That is how we get her to
connect with her emotions.
But how do we get her
to connect with us?
I don't know what to do.
She's not answering her phone.
Okay, calm down. What happened?
We went to bed, and then I woke up.
When I went to check on
Melanie, she was gone.
- So she snuck out?
- Cy, wh
what if she's with that guy?
The dude from the food court?
Let's not assume shit right now.
Maybe, maybe she went
to hang with some friends.
But But you heard her.
She was, like, proud of how
much he was offering her!
Yeah, I know.
It's just gonna take some time
for her to stop thinking
of herself like that.
I mean, time and therapy.
I couldn't even keep
her safe for one day.
Oh, my God! Where have you been?
Des, chill. Just give her a minute.
I wasn't with that dude
if that's what you thought.
Well, she did. I thought
you were with some friends.
I told you. Before foster care, I
lived with my mom and her boyfriend.
So I went home, back to our
house, but wasn't nobody there.
It was all boarded up.
I'm so sorry, Melanie.
Where'd she go? Where's my mom at?
Uh, I don't know.
But you don't have to
worry about that right now.
Okay? We'll figure that out.
You know, I ain't never had someone
step up for me the way you guys did.
My mom's boyfriend the one
who got me into the life.
And when I told her
she didn't even believe me.
My mom's not coming back for me, is she?
I can't answer that.
I don't got no-fucking-body.
No. No, no, no. No. You got me.
And I'm not going
anywhere. Okay? I promise.
You got me too. And
I'm a damn good auntie.
I have seen tremendous recovery results
for trafficking survivors through
inpatient residential treatment.
Wait. So, she'd have to leave us again?
How long would she have to stay?
That would depend on Trini.
But I can tell you
that the primary benefit
is removing the survivor
from active triggers.
Social media, her trafficker.
Being away from all that would
give her distance and space to heal.
Where is this recovery program?
Personally, I think the
best treatment center
for Trini is in Jackson, Wyoming.
- Is there a website we can look at?
- Yeah.
Pop, I don't want you questioning her.
I'm just trying to create
a safe space for Mel here.
I wanna talk.
I feel bad I didn't help before.
After the raid, the
police asked me questions.
And I kept saying I
didn't know. But I do know.
I was afraid that if I said anything,
they would tell their friends.
Their friends? You mean other cops?
How do you know cops were
involved in the mixers?
I would hear my man Um, my pimp,
talking on the phone with
some dude about the mixers.
He said he was a cop.
Did you get a name?
They called him Cubo.
One time, I asked him
why they called him that,
and he told me the dude was a dirty cop.
I thought that term sounded familiar.
"Conduct Unbecoming of an
Officer." That's what CUBO means.
Can you tell us anything else?
Trains.
Trains? What do you mean, honey?
Cubo lived by a BART station.
I could hear it sometimes on speaker.
That probably doesn't
help you, though. So
No, it could, Melanie. Thank you.
- You are so brave. Truly.
- She's right.
I've interviewed firefighters,
Marines and others,
and they didn't have half your courage.
I'm trying.
It's been really hard, you know?
But, um Desiree's
been helping me.
I'm just so sick of being scared.
Ah, sh
Hey. Beignets?
You're trying to bribe
me with fried dough?
Cold fried dough?
I know you hate me right now, but
I really need to tell you something.
Please.
I think OPD may be involved
with this new trafficking ring.
Unbelievable.
Evidence went missing. From Drea's case.
The needle and floss we
found at the motel, it's gone.
Well, I'm sure there
is a simple explanation
that doesn't involve
multi-level conspiracy theories.
Melanie said cops
Melanie said the cops
knew about the mixers.
At least one did. You
know what CUBO means?
Conduct Unbecoming of an Officer.
That was her pimp's nickname
for a guy he used to talk to.
He may live near a BART station?
You okay?
No, I'm not okay. I got
that sick feeling in my gut.
That same one I had at SFPD.
God, I'm sorry.
I really am. I will make this up to you.
And Emily's family. I promise.
We okay?
Well, these are a pretty decent start.
Thank you all for coming.
The, uh, Golden State Originals
and the PCH Riders are
all feeling the squeeze
from this anti-gang
initiative Finney's running on,
giving OPD reason to lock us down.
Now, his grip is only gonna
get tighter if he wins.
Well, now what can we do?
I need y'all to dip into your pockets.
We gotta post bail, get our
brothers back on the streets.
OPD holding them on
some trumped-up bullshit.
- Can we help you with something?
- I'm with Building and Safety.
- Uh, what is this?
- It's a notice of noncompliance
on your ramp and handrails.
If your building isn't
ADA certified in 45 days,
- we'll shut it down.
- Is this a joke?
You can't do that!
There's been a squad
car out front all day.
Y'all are harassing us.
You can take this bullshit fine
and get the hell out of our bar!
Bye-bye.
Greedy motherfucker.
Daddy? Daddy?
Hmm. Yeah.
Y'all see that? Finney's
coming for The Knock.
Our business. The
heartbeat of the Capstones.
And he'll come for all of us. So
let's go, dip into them pockets!
So, your father and I contacted
the treatment center
recommended by Ms. Sok.
We bought tickets for
a flight out tomorrow.
It's called Bloom House.
It's a ten-week program.
We get two visitation weekends.
And as soon as we're allowed,
we'll be on the first flight
out to see you in Wyoming.
This'll be good.
I looked online, and the
pictures beautiful.
Right on a lake.
The time will fly by, you'll see.
You'll be feeling better in no time.
Are you ashamed of me? Is that
why you're sending me away?
What? No. No!
You don't trust me now.
You look at me differently. I can tell.
- You you think that I'm
- dirty.
Hey. I don't think that at all.
But I do look at you differently.
Because you are different.
When somebody goes through what
you went through, it changes them.
It has to.
But you know what doesn't change?
What will never change
is my love for you.
Okay, you don't know what happened.
No. No, I don't.
But here's what I do know.
God gave you to me and your dad,
and I am forever grateful.
Then why all of the locks and sensors?
Oh, honey, we don't
know how to help you.
But I wanna help. Tell me how.
Don't send me away.
I want to stay home with you, please.
Okay. That's what we'll do.
We're gonna do this
together, as a family.
Okay? Okay. Come here.
Come here, honey. Yeah.
I got you, baby.
I got you.
Admit it. The peanut butter bomb
added to the pomegranate-oat
dream is on point.
You know, I really missed
these insightful conversations
when you were on leave.
It's definitely suss Peter has time
to hit the weights while
his stepdaughter's missing.
Mm-hmm.
- Hey, Peter. What the fuck, man?
- Wha What the hell?
- I want my money. I mean it.
- Yeah, you'll get your money.
- I mean it. Don't walk away from me.
- Get out of my way.
- Don't fuck with me.
- Oh.
Who the fuck was that?
No idea.
Asshole.
Did you get the make of the car?
Silver Hyundai. First letters, 8XW.
Let's, uh, run it through
the system. May get lucky.
- Can we swing by my place first?
- Yeah, sure. Where is it?
Mandela and Seventh.
- Is that near a BART station?
- Yeah.
Horns blaring and wheels
squealing all the damn time.
But I got a sweet deal on my condo,
so I ain't movin' anytime soon.
Fucking trains, huh?
After the storm. From
darkness to light. Post trauma.
All of these could describe
the period following
rescue from sex trafficking.
The girls recently rescued
from sex traffickers in
Claremont Hills are victims.
They are also survivors.
But in order to heal,
they'll need support
from family, friends,
teachers from all of us.
We need to do our part
in ensuring that these children
not only survive but thrive.
That means comforting, encouraging,
listening to and believing in them.
It's said, "The truth is like a lion.
Let it loose, and it
will defend itself."
I say, except when it can't.
As you've learned in the news,
15 young girls were rescued
from an underage sex
party here in Oakland.
Powerful men, leaders even,
are the victimizers involved.
And as of this moment, not
a single one remains in jail.
Daddy!
There may be no lion here.
Only young girls who, in addition
to support, deserve justice.
And the only way they're going to
get it is if the truth is defended.
The question remains,
if it's not all of us,
who will defend the truth in the wake
of the atrocities inflicted
on these young girls?
Aames and I are working
to uncover who at OPD
is in Finney's pocket.
We got a case if we
can get them to talk.
I'm ready to talk.
The ones who go before us make us brave.
Oprah, Michelle Obama, Kamala.
They all talk about standing on
the shoulders of their ancestors.
I guess I never expected to be
standing on the shoulders of children.
Drea and Melanie.
So, there's no way in hell I
could ask them to speak up if
if I couldn't.
What about the school? Your job?
It's worth it if I can
get him to stop hurting
any other girl the way that he hurt me.
I do have to warn you, Poppy
I'm not the perfect victim.