Blue Bloods s03e23 Episode Script

Previously, on Blue Bloods What is happening at the Bitterman Houses has gone on long enough.
In the Bitter End, Los Lordes makes the move.
Hector.
Is that you? Skinny Vinny.
Gang that runs this place-- they got a mute button they can push.
That's Santana, right there.
He's the leader of Los Lordes.
Oh, and she's his girl? So it's war that you want.
If I gotta step on your throat, so be it.
Stop! Police! - Vinny, it's a setup.
- Come on.
You're gonna be okay.
I told you this is the end.
Reagan, you heard me wrong.
We still got nothing to pick up Santana and his crew on, No warrant No, I heard you right.
But they killed Vinny.
want cards, nothing.
Come on, they killed a cop.
Or they know who did.
But we still don't have a play.
I'm still not taking "no" for an answer.
Me either.
But what are we gonna do? We're gonna do what my mother told us to do as kids on a rainy day: we're gonna go make our own fun.
It's worse than a bad idea This isn't about your comfort level, Frank.
Comfort level? You want me to get up in front of an auditorium full of people Citizens of our city.
Yes, some of whom almost certainly have information about the murder of one of my police officers and won't say a word.
So speak your piece-- to them, in their house.
We got a big divide here.
You want to win all their hearts and minds, I want to grab some of 'em by the short and curlies.
Frank, the promise you made to this city was to heal the rift Yeah between the NYPD and the Bitterman community.
Which starts when one of them gives up Officer Cruz.
They have to make the first move.
Enough.
Exactly.
Town Hall meeting, Frank-- Bitterman Housing Project.
I'll see you there; you and me.
Is that an order? It's an opportunity you don't want to pass up, Commissioner.
So it's an invitation.
Yes.
It's an invitation, Frank, to that part of you that's smart enough to hold more than one equation in your thick Irish head.
So what are you saying? You're not gonna serve me now? Get out.
Well, I have rights, you know.
For your own damn good, get out.
Why? Oh, 'cause Santana's coming down.
Huh? Well, you just texted him when I walked in.
Oh, don't play dumb; I saw you.
Reagan, you did me a favor once-- you took care of me and my sister.
I'm not gonna forget that.
Well, you just returned the favor by calling Santana down here.
You're crazy.
Yeah? Well, you want to hear something really crazy? I can kind of predict the future, Nona, and this, uh, doesn't end good for you.
Yeah.
Detective.
This is a place of business.
That right? And you're bad for this business.
Oh, what's this? An NYPD officer was murdered in cold blood in the Bitterman Houses.
I was wondering if you may know something about the shooter.
I don't know nothing.
Detective Baez, are Mr.
Santana and his associates displaying a threatening or hostile attitude, in your opinion? Definitely, Detective Reagan.
Mm-hmm.
And are you at all concerned that Mr.
Santana and his associates may be carrying concealed weapons? Very concerned.
Me, too.
Turn around and get your hands against the bar-- move! You, too.
Move! You know, your own rules say, "Stop, question and frisk.
" Yeah.
Um, how's this for a question? What's your favorite movie? Oh what do we have here? You got a carry permit for this, tough guy? I left it at home.
Really? Too bad for you.
What's with the phone? My name is Carlos Villalobos.
I'm Mr.
Santana's attorney.
Yeah? I'm recording two NYPD detectives harassing Mr.
Santana in his place of business.
Put it away.
No police had been summoned, and no crime was occurring.
I said put it away! If you do not cease and desist, I will file a complaint.
You stay put, you come with me.
Turn it off.
Why don't we make a deal, Detective? I don't make deals with you.
You stop jackin' me and I'll fix the other thing.
Doesn't work that way.
Well, it can if you're smart.
I am smart, and it still doesn't work that way.
Why don't you ask your papi before you start rejecting my, uh, generous offer? - What did you say? - Reagan we have a bird in the hand.
Let's take him in.
Commissioner Reagan, we had 19 murders in this project last year.
And do you know how many arrests were made by the NYPD? Six.
Yeah, six.
I'm not happy, and you're not happy.
But you can be sure my homicide detectives work as thoroughly and efficiently as they can under the circumstances.
W-What circumstances? What does that mean? It's like the NYPD can't be bothered 'cause of the address is more like it! No, sir.
Could I ask your name? Raul Pereira.
Mr.
Pereira, first of all, thank you for having the courage to speak up.
And I would like to ask you a question.
You're not gonna like the answer.
I'll take that chance.
Say your cat is stuck up in a tree, and you call the fire department to help you get him down.
But when they get there, you won't tell 'em what the cat looks like, or where the tree is.
Sir, I ain't talking about no damn cat! That is exactly the position you put the NYPD in when you won't cooperate with police and identify the who, the where and the when.
Ladies and gentlemen, please, please listen.
Just settle down, and we can finish.
Thank you, Commissioner.
Listen, I, as a child of the projects myself, completely No, I I completely understand your frustration, I do.
Thank God you're okay, Francis.
I'll say a prayer for Mayor Poole.
And call in when you can.
Your father literally dodged a bullet.
Great.
How about Mayor Poole? They don't know how bad.
We must know something.
We will when they know.
Erin, say a prayer.
My God.
The suspect has been identified as 16-year-old Hector Santiago, a resident of the Bitterman Houses.
I know him.
What the hell you mean, you know him? Vinny baby-sat him back in the day.
He called Vinny "Skinny Vinny"" The kid's, like, not all there.
I'd say so.
No, I don't mean 'cause he did this.
He, uh he was born that way.
Hold on.
Is he Los Lordes? A banger? I doubt it.
Or maybe he thought he was earning his colors.
Maybe, but I can tell you this.
There's no way the kid acted alone.
Could be he was promised something in exchange for taking a shot at the PC, maybe? Who said anything about him taking a shot at the PC? Nobody, but let's be honest with ourselves.
Who's the more likely target-- the black mayor from the projects himself, or the white top cop? Where are you going? I'm going back to work.
As far as I know, I'm the only detective in the city with a Los Lordes soldier in lockup.
I'll pick my rosebuds while I may.
God help us.
I don't think he can hear you.
What do you mean? Who wants a drink? Drink to what? Jamie.
Pray to what God? For what? For the fact that both you and your father are alive, for starters.
Just cut the crap.
Just stop kidding ourselves, admit that it's a losing battle? How bad? He took two bullets-- one to the shoulder, but one's lodged in the spine.
He's paralyzed from the waist down, but they're prepping him for surgery now.
Who? Dr.
Heller.
- Good.
- Frank! Jack.
He wants to see you before we go in.
Come with me.
Mayor Poole? What, are you bulletproof? No, just lucky.
They catch that kid? Yes.
I was just standing there all of a sudden Yeah.
Who is he? Just a kid from the projects is all we know right now.
Show respect earn cooperation, make repairs with that community.
I'll try.
Don't try, just do it, Frank.
I'm sorry I have to put that on you.
Wouldn't have it any other way.
I mean it, Frank.
I hear you, Carter.
We gotta go.
This way.
Good luck, boss.
All right, how about we try this again? Who gave this kid Hector the gun? And who planted the gun in the auditorium? It's not like there's a lineup card, man.
It's not like this, it's not like that-- why don't you tell me what the hell it's like then, man? I really got to go use the toilet.
You'll use the toilet when you give me something.
For the five-hundredth time, man! He has a right to use the facility.
He'll pee when I say he can! How about I paint the picture for you, huh? Yesterday, I brought you in here because I believe you know something about a cop killing.
Now, if I have you locked up over that, I'm sure half the population's probably gonna want to bake you a cake.
I told you, I don't got nothing to do with that! But today, if I can connect you and your crew to the attempted assassination of, what, the second black mayor in the history of New York City, when word gets around the prison amongst all the brothers, that your crew shot that mayor, what position you think that's gonna put you in? I really gotta go pee, man.
I think it's gonna put you in two positions: one position is curled up on the ground like a pig with a shiv stuck in your back and the other position is on your knees, serving them like the bitch that you are.
Man, this is wack, man.
He peed! I was telling you the truth, man.
I had to go! Well, why don't you tell me the truth about something else then, huh? What, man? You turn against your own crew? Huh? We all grew up there.
We all got out moms, our aunts and cousins and godparents.
And you know what? It's not being free walking around knowing what's gonna happen to them.
I don't care how far from the Bitter End you can get me.
I know that, back home, they're taking out the pliers, the butane and all of that, trying to find out where I'm at.
That's the damn truth, Detective! I'd say good morning, but what's the use? Yeah.
You get anything out of our friend? Fear and loathing.
Anything else? He peed himself, literally.
I'm telling you, Santana gets more shock and awe out of these guys than we ever could, partner.
There's no playing the weakest link here.
Yeah.
Gonna have to get Santana himself.
It's all or nothing.
Okay.
And that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the Office of the Mayor, City of New York, to the best of my abilities, so help me God.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Bring my car around.
Commissioner Reagan.
A moment? Ms.
Newhouse? No.
Um, this isn't how anybody wants to take office, obviously.
Well, until we have a clearer idea of Carter's prognosis going forward, the Public Advocate serves as the Acting Mayor.
And the Police Commissioner serves at the pleasure of that Mayor.
Yes.
And you'll join me at the press conference.
Five minutes, tops.
And when the first reporter asks you, "What's it like "taking orders from a woman who's been mayor for all of half an hour?" That I serve the people of the City of New York and I do so at the pleasure of the mayor, for as long as he or she sees fit.
And she has one request: to do whatever it takes.
To? To round 'em up and bring 'em in-- everybody with even a whiff of a role in Cruz's murder and the mayor's shooting.
We intend to.
Every minute counts, Frank.
I don't want a series of status reports and updates which cost me cred and make my PC look weak.
We need shock and awe here.
We need evidence and corroboration.
You have the full support of this office behind you.
I'm not asking for nor do I want anything other than the license to do my job as I always have.
These are extraordinary circumstances and they call for extraordinary measures.
To make the most of whatever time you have in this office.
The whole world is watching.
Whether or not you keep your job will be judged by how you handle the next few days.
I can be your top cop, Grace.
Doesn't make me your guy.
World of difference there.
There is an enormous police presence out here this morning, a show of force on the heels of last night's assassination attempt.
But as one resident put it, "It is too little, too late for the community here at the Bitterman Houses.
" You got that right.
Hey, Reagan, there's plenty of blame to go around.
No point in, you know Hey, Vinny ever talk to you about what it was like growing up here? No.
This building.
So, what do you want to do? Let's do what Vinny would do if he were still here with us.
Where are you going? Let's talk to Hector Santiago's mom.
Come on.
I'm so sorry.
Your detectives have been in and out of here all night, asking questions.
Please leave me alone.
I have no more to say.
I'd like to help your son Hector.
Why would you do that? In the memory of my late partner Vinny Cruz.
I don't think that Hector acted alone.
Makes no difference if he didn't.
At least tell me how I can talk to him.
His English is very good, I saw to that.
I'm not talking about his English.
What you really want to know how you can break him? No.
He's already broken.
He's been broken all his life! Please, please, can I ask you for some respect? I mean, she's lost her son as surely as if he'd been killed himself.
We're trying to help you.
Please, don't come back.
I have lived here all my life, and I know every trick in your book.
I will show them to the elevator.
We can find our own way.
We may not live in palaces, but that doesn't mean we don't have pride or manners.
I'll show you to the elevator.
You guys are unbelievable.
What are you talking about? Half the people in there are tied to Los Lordes, right? Relatives, godparents "We don't think he acted alone.
How can we get him to give up the bangers"" Thanks for the tip.
I haven't given it to you.
The radio calms Hector down.
It relaxes him; it lets him focus.
The all-news stations.
The radio? That's it? That's it.
You got any idea of the price of things around here? Okay.
All right, I've already wasted too much time walking you to the elevator.
Hey, Baez.
Oh, and bring the boss.
All right, these are the dumps on Jorge's cellular over the last three months.
Highlighted blocks represent a pattern of calls made every couple of weeks, always clustered in the evening over a 48-hour period.
They're always to five specific numbers that trace back to Santana Ricky and a few of the other top dogs.
And they're made on the move.
All the calls are all bouncing off of different cell towers.
Exactly.
Now, the pattern picked up again last night, but it went dead right around the time the mayor got hit.
All right, I'm sort of following, but They move guns and drugs, right? Well, what if it's all orchestrated amongst these five in a schedule that the pattern represents? The schedule got interrupted by the little ruckus with the mayor back at the ranch? It'd make sense.
There's a lot to fill in.
We start with an eavesdropping warrant to go up on their phones, we do a little surveillance, wait for them to make a pickup or a drop, and boom.
All the while hoping Santana's stupid enough to just go about business as usual? Not stupid enough, Sarge, arrogant enough.
Detectives, I'm Officer Reagan.
I'm Detective Crowley, this is Detective Jones.
You're the PC's kid-- I got that right? His son, yes.
All right, and they said you had some information for us.
Well, it's a tip.
Well, I hope it's a crowbar, because this kid's nailed shut.
The sergeant and I paid a visit to Hector's mother's apartment, which was stocked full of Los Lordes ears, apparently.
The radio calms him down, helps him focus.
The all-news stations.
The radio.
Geez, that's good to know.
What happened to him? Looks like he fell down.
Bzzzzt! Officer, just chain the monkey up in there, will you? Ray-gun.
What's that? Bzzzzt! Skinny Vinny's friend.
Ray-gun.
That's-That's right, Hector.
I'm Jamie Reagan.
They told me it was a toy.
Told you what was a toy? The heavy gun.
They said it shot caps.
It was supposed to be funny.
Aw, save it for the tape.
You know, we'll we'll take it from here.
Take it to where? Thank you for that tip.
Detectives Crowley and Jones are trying to break the kid.
What's the progress? Little to none.
He's got some serious handicap issues on top of he's another one born allergic to cops.
All his rights covered? Legal Aid attorney, kid's got his meds, psych evaluation's been done, all the bases are covered.
Cover 'em twice.
Our work in this case will be defined in one way only-- extraordinary police work.
None of this shock and awe crap.
We're going by the book as far as we can.
What's that mean, Ed? There's no chapter in the book about an attempted assassination of a mayor.
Well, then we're writing it.
I want cases against these thugs that the DA has no choice but to prosecute.
Not the kind we have to ram down his throat.
Airtight cases on a silver platter.
Copy that.
The whole department is to be leakproof both with the press and city hall.
Every syllable goes through Garrett.
Before you return any calls or e-mails, talk to me first.
This about Newhouse? This is about us doing our work without any interference, any outside agendas or any showboating.
Understood? Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
I don't get it.
None of these guys are using their cell phones.
All right, tell the other units to stand by.
Copy that.
Their phones have been dead since 5:00.
Probably swapped them out for pre-paid ones.
Yeah.
Not stupid or arrogant.
But on the move.
We got eyes on Santana, but we don't know where he's going.
Come on.
He's squaring the block.
He's made us.
Or he's being cautious.
Hold on.
Damn it.
He's on the move.
Reagan Hang on.
Reagan! Damn it! Commissioner.
Dad.
Jamie has something he would like to talk to you about.
And he needed to lawyer up? No, he just asked me to come along.
Well, I'm pretty damn busy here, so Look, I can't begin to understand what you're dealing with here or Cut to it, son.
I think the detectives interrogating Hector Santiago are tuning him up.
Or looking the other way when his guards do.
I don't pretend to know what "getting it done" means under these circumstances.
Do you think an order like that would've come from this office? I'm not saying that.
Walks like it, talks like it.
It's not my business.
I am your PC, and I am your father.
How could it not be your business? There's parts of you, I have no idea what goes on.
I thought you should hear this directly from Jamie.
All right.
Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Officer Reagan.
Yes, sir.
How did you come to observe Santiago's treatment? I brought the detectives some information that I'd gained while on patrol in the Bitterman Houses.
And Santiago was present? Yes.
Did he remember you? Respond to you? Very much so.
Looks like he's pulling into a parking lot, middle of the block.
Keep him in sight.
We're almost there.
He's right here.
Where the hell is Santana? Dropped him uptown.
So you've been driving this vehicle all night? No, he picked me up at my cousin's and then I dropped him.
Uh-huh.
Why are you parking it here? He said this is where he wanted his car for the night.
What the hell is this? Would you open the trunk, please? Open it yourself.
Long as I got your permission.
Actually get a warrant.
I can do that.
We need a warrant, partner.
is still heavy getting up toward Fort Hamilton Parkway; a crash there is now cleared Okay, Hector, let's try this again.
What was the name of the guy who told you that the gun was a fake? Come on.
Help me help you, Hector.
This is a waste of time.
I'm with you.
Let's just give it a few more minutes.
No, no, no.
I gotta get some air.
Take an umbrella.
What? Barometric pressure winds from the southeast at ten to 15 knots, chance of rain 90% with a likelihood of severe thunderstorms, a coastal flood advisory is in effect until noon tomorrow.
Traffic in 60 seconds.
Hector.
You're pretty good at remembering some stuff, am I right? What did the guy who gave you the gun say to you? Hector, here.
Under my chair.
Okay, and what did he say when he told you that he wanted you to fire the gun in the meeting? It ain't real, Hector.
It's just for fun, man.
Like Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
But, uh you don't remember his name? Hector you remember Skinny Vinny, Ray-Gun, that kind of thing.
Why is that? They don't scare me.
Hector, can you tell us what he looked like? Mm scary.
Okay, but what else? Mm black curly hair, brown eyes, Los Lordes tat here, black T, gold watch, locs Locs? What Low-cost sunglasses.
Red sneakers, rosary beads, red bandana here.
Orlando? Santana's foot soldier? Orlando.
Keep it moving.
Got the warrant.
Good.
Keep an eye on the entrance, all right? There's been a lot of interest in this vehicle.
Why don't we just flatbed it back back to the command? No, just give me a few minutes, all right? Reagan.
Come on! Look, I'm a Porsche fan, okay? Same way, say, a guy who owns a canoe's a big fan of yachts.
Dreamer of dreams.
These things are built to very specific tolerances of fit and finish, down to the millimeter.
If anything's out of whack in this vehicle, I'm gonna find it, partner.
Like this.
Come here.
This door panel's t up to spec.
And I don't think this is a factory option.
That's a street value of a dozen Porsches.
Private meeting.
Why don't you beat it? I said beat it.
Move.
You, too.
I'll see you later.
Well, we found a very large quantity of drugs in your vehicle, Santana.
Yeah, well, I don't know how they got there.
Yeah, you do.
But being as it wasn't in your possession when we found it, legally we can't charge you.
Nona, however, well It was in her possession, and we will charge her.
We picked her up, what, an hour ago? She's really upset with you.
She knows nothing about nothing.
Let her go.
I don't think you know much about anything either.
In fact this would be a good time for you to do the right thing for once in your stinkin' life.
Yeah? What's that? Don't let Nona do a bid for you.
A 20-year bid.
Yeah, right.
You really that cold? No, sweetheart Hey! She's a detective.
Oh.
You see, if I take the hit every single time one of my crew members gets busted, I'd have been locked up since I was, like, nine.
Great.
Now, if you'll excuse me, Detectives, I got a business to run.
You don't have the balls to go down there and tell her yourself, do you? You booked her, and you seem to like playing her daddy, so I'll leave that to you.
You appointed yourself Nona and Noni's protector since they were little kids.
You failed.
Now stop trying to take it out on me.
I'm gonna talk to her.
And I'm gonna tell her a little story about a bad little man.
It's a free country.
Not for long.
Not for you.
This is Detective Reagan from the 5-4 Squad.
The inmate Nona Palmeira we need to move to protective custody right away.
Nona Palmeira, she was arraigned and remanded earlier this evening-- I need her moved! What? What hospital? How is she? She took a shiv in her back, another one in her ribs.
It was a set-up.
Either that or she makes enemies real fast.
Hey.
Look, I'm sorry.
For what? I should've known he would do this.
Who? Santana.
It was four bitches, Reagan.
Nona Please stand back.
Reagan.
Here.
Thanks.
What do you got? One of the four inmates involved received an outside call at 2320 last night, from a Hispanic male Mm-hmm.
telling her to "take car"" of Nona Palmeira.
And the C.
O.
s did nothing.
The officer monitoring the call took it to mean, you know, "watch over her.
" Great.
Who's the inmate? Uh, one Rosa Escobar, in for assault.
Place of residence, unit 5-5F, the Bitterman Houses.
Of course.
Rosa Escobar received a call from a cell phone which traces back to a Carlos Villalobos, a lawyer who answers to Santana.
With the message to quote, "take care of you," unquote.
I want you to see if you can follow me, okay, Nona? You got shanked in jail on Santana's order, where you were being held for taking the fall for his narcotics possession, approximately ten days after you buried your sister, who threw herself off of a roof with your nephew rather than live the life that the Los Lordes had sentenced the both of you to.
Does that sound about right? Okay.
So what the hell are you gonna do about it, Nona? What are you offering me? I am offering you the same thing I offered you as a kid.
I'm gonna do everything in my power to see to it that you can have a fair shot at a normal life.
I know I failed the last time, and I don't want to fail again, but it's up to you.
You got to give me something that I can use to help you, or there's nothing I can do.
And I will walk away and I won't look back.
Help me, Nona.
Okay.
The DA is still waffling, but he has indicated that he is willing to allow Hector Santiago's testimony as eyewitness testimony as long as it is corroborated by Nona Palmeira's.
Well, you know I have to ask, Frank: Was there coercion? Yes.
She was attacked in prison on Los Lordes orders.
We flipped her this morning in the hospital.
And the kid? There was evidence to suggest that one of the lead detectives on the case had engaged in, or allowed to occur, some physical abuse of the suspect.
As soon as it was brought to my attention, he and his partner were removed from the case and placed on modified assignment.
So is this clean in the NYPD sense or clean in the larger sense? Both.
There's one other thing: I don't usually go in for theatrics, but in this case, I'd like to make an exception.
A show of force-- an orchestrated sweep.
To what end? To give the people what they want.
Courtesy of Mayor Carter Poole.
Thank you, Frank.
Thank you, Carter.
I wish I could be there standing with you.
So do I.
At 0600 hours this morning a joint task force consisting of the Detective Bureau, the Narcotics Division, ESU, the Warrant Squad, the Gang Division and patrol-- armed with warrants for arrests on charges including conspiracy to murder in the cases of police officer Vincent Cruz and Mayor Carter Poole, narcotics possession with intent to distribute, enterprise corruption and racketeering and a number of other serious charges-- conducted a sweep of the Bitterman Housing Projects and arrested 47 members and associates of the Los Lordes criminal organization, including their head.
These arrests were made with information given by the residents of the Bitterman Projects, at their own risk, with no promise of reward, other than full NYPD cooperation in restoring law and order to their community.
I would like to note that this operation was carried out with the full input, and by design of, Mayor Carter Poole, with the explicit intent of conducting the investigations and arrests in such a manner as to build trust between the NYPD and the Bitterman community-- a trust that has been absent, on both sides, for far too long.
Bless us, O Lord, for these, Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Hope He can hear us.
Amen.
He can always hear you.
But you have to listen very carefully for His response.
And hear our prayers for Carter Poole.
And his family.
And his recovery.
Amen.
Okay to pass? Please.
Danny and I are taking my sister's house in Quogue the second week of July.
Quogue.
The Irish Riviera.
Biggest bluefish I ever caught was off the jetty just east of there.
Are you, um, trying to rub it in? No.
I'm bringing it up because the house next door is for rent, too.
Same week.
Nice place.
Five bedrooms, comes with a boat and a slip.
Are you asking what I think you're asking? Can I just say that I have often wondered what kind of fantastic woman has dinner with her in-laws every single Sunday without complaint.
Thank you, Frank.
Look, I know I'm not the matriarch, but I am a mother and a nurse, and I think it's the perfect prescription for this family.
No cases except for cold beer, and no shifts except for who digs the next batch of clams.
You serious? Yeah.
But it's coming up, so you got to lock in some vacation for that week.
Well, I'm kind of moved.
Well, I'm the only one at this table who, when I cut myself, I don't bleed NYPD blue, but from where I'm sitting you guys need a break from it.
How would that be a break from it? We'd just be moving the family business to the beach for a week, way I see it.
Yeah, but this way you can keep tabs on each other.
And anybody who talks shop gets kicked off of the island.
So what do you say? We can take you crabbing.
- We know a great spot.
- You do? Yeah.
Danny, you okay with this? Oh, yeah.
Mm-hmm.
We don't have to pay for the other house though, do we? No, they'd chip in.
Oh, yeah.
Then of course I am.
What do you guys say? I'll bite.
Yeah? Deal then? A week at the beach.
Amen to that, too.