Law & Order: Organized Crime (2021) s05e02 Episode Script

[TENSE MUSIC]
How'd you get your guy in?
Detective Stabler's alias
was already established.
We created an opening at the company.
You drive the long haul or just local?
I drive anything, anytime, anywhere.
The Kingman brothers,
they're running a prostitution
ring at Three Kings Motel.
A girl from the truck
yard. She's missing.
This looks like an
outbreak of serial murders.
[GUNSHOT]
- What's your name?
- Everybody calls me Bunny.
You need to be careful, all right?
Not everyone's as nice as I am.
[TENSE MUSIC]
- She's gone!
- Who's gone?
Bunny. I've looked for her everywhere.
Where is she?
Come on.
We're gonna be all right.
[ENGINE ROARS]
[VITALS MONITORS BEEPING]
[DEVICE WHOOSHING]
[BEEPING INTENSIFIES]
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]
[DISTANT INDISTINCT CHATTER]
So would you like red or white?
[LIVELY CHATTER]
[PHONE RINGING]
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
Party central.
[UPBEAT MUSIC FADES]
[SHALLOW BREATHING]
No open fractures.
I need a head CT and abdominal MRI.
Let's get him down to imaging.
[SHALLOW BREATHING]
Nurse?
Nurse!
Oh. [GRUNTS]
[DOOR SLAMS]
[DISTANT INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Officer. Hey.
Hey. Hey.
[EERIE MUSIC]
Elliot. Elliot.
Liv? Liv!
- I'm here.
- Where?
- I'm here.
- Where are you?
We're using sedation and medication
to help reduce brain swelling.
He came to us unresponsive,
and we expect him
to remain in that state
for the next 24 to 48
hours while his body heals.
[SOMBER MUSIC]
He is in stable condition.
But he is in a coma, and they're
Hey.
[HUSHED CHATTER]
Good to see you. You too.
Come on, Ma. Let's go.
Come Ma, OK, let's go.
This way, come on.
[SOMBER MUSIC]
Hey, it's going to be
OK. It's going to be OK.
Come on, Mom.
I knew you'd be here.
Of course.
Oh, it's so good to see you.
It's good to see you.
- Where is everyone?
- Who?
You know, the police, his people.
I mean, when his father was injured,
the whole force turned up.
Elliot was undercover,
so I think for now,
they don't want any
publicity or exposure.
Oh.
Hey, Ma, do you know any priests?
Because, well, the hospital's suggesting
- that we have one on deck.
- What do you mean, a priest?
Why a priest?
- Well, you know, just as a
- For what?
Just in case thing.
No, we don't don't
need or want a priest.
Well, luckily, this is not
about what you want or I want.
It's what Elliot wants.
But we have to make
the decision for him.
Well, would you want a priest?
I don't know.
But they keep throwing around words like
unresponsive and TBI and
What's what's TBI?
TBI, I don't know. I forgot.
It's too much information.
It's a traumatic brain injury.
But it's a broad term
that, you know, doctors use
with any kind of head injuries.
It could be as mild as a concussion,
or you know
I'll give you a little bit of privacy.
I'll see you.
Do not make me bury you.
Vic, we said to catch him,
not kill him, you dumbass.
He's not dead, and I ain't dumb.
Vic, you hit him with a 10-ton tractor!
You better be lucky he's
not dead, you dumbass.
I'm not dumb!
All right, all right.
Easy. Easy.
This is not helping.
- What I don't understand
- That's the problem.
You don't understand anything, man.
What I don't understand is first,
he beats both your asses,
and then he chases down poor Teddy Bear,
and he beats his, all for what? Huh?
For that little brat?
What's with that guy?
[SIRENS WAILING]
What's with that guy?
He probably recognized your truck,
and he called the cops.
Mark, he called the cops.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
[TIRES SCREECHING]
Are you Mark Kingman?
Let me guess, too many
unpaid parking tickets?
- Reyes, Jet.
- Got him.
No. Hey, don't do it!
- Put the gun down.
- No!
[TENSE MUSIC]
You know, when you reached out to me,
the only reason I came
back was 'cause of Mom.
What a mess.
You're a mess.
I mean, you're still running around,
trying to make Dad proud of you?
[SCOFFS]
Why don't you leave it
alone, you son of a bitch?
What the fuck you think you're doing?
It's no way to live.
[EXHALES]
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
I've hated you for a really long time.
But I love you.
I love you.
Sorry. I don't want to intrude.
No, no, no, no. Come on in.
We're just, uh [CLEARS THROAT]
One big, happy family here.
So you're his brother, yeah?
The better-looking older brother, yeah.
[CHUCKLES]
And you two
you partners?
And great friends.
Oh.
How long?
Long.
- From the beginning.
- Huh.
You like brisket?
I'm sorry?
Do you like brisket?
- Brisket?
- Yeah.
Let me cook you a
brisket one of these days.
It's world-famous, mouthwatering,
perfect bark, all right?
- I'll bring the coleslaw.
- I make my own.
- World-famous.
- To say the least.
Hers is better.
El.
Hey, listen, don't move. Don't breathe.
I'll go get the doctor, OK?
How How long have you been awake?
You scared the shit out of me.
[SOFT MUSIC]
- Hey.
- Oh.
What happened?
You got hit by a truck.
Oh.
I scare you?
No, not even a little.
[SIGHS]
The girl
the girl I came in with, Bunny.
She's here, she's here.
She's she's upstairs
in the children's ward.
Is she OK?
Well, she's she's a lot like you.
Oh.
She's young. She'll make it.
So, El, I gotta go.
I have a debrief with your team.
And I'm gonna let 'em know
that you're going to be OK.
So you get some rest.
All right? You're in good hands.
Mr. Stabler, it's time for your meds.
Here.
[SIGHS]
[GROANS]
Try to eat something before you sleep.
What? You weren't eating it.
Hey.
What are you doing?
Why Why aren't you in bed?
It was so boring.
Ah.
- I got you something.
- Yeah?
- I didn't steal it.
- Uh-huh.
Read the back.
"I am a Catholic.
In case of accident, call a priest."
Oh.
Yeah.
[GENTLE MUSIC]
You like saving people?
If I
do things right, it's kind of my job.
Are you gonna save Sad Eyes?
I'm gonna find her.
Promise?
I promise.
I gotta go.
I got stuff to do.
And so do you.
Come on back.
[OMINOUS MUSIC]
Sad Eyes. Hey, Sad Eyes.
- You awake?
- [WHIMPERS]
This is Sloppy Joe, a friend of mine.
He wants to take you out
for a date, have some fun.
You want to do that?
[GRUNTING SOFTLY]
I'll take that as a yes.
Have at it.
[GENTLE MUSIC]
[SIGHS]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[GRUNTS]
I-90, Highways 240, 48, 15, and 22.
Yeah, we pulled all the
data we could on the victim.
Hang on.
You're telling me that all
those markers are bodies?
Yes, Captain.
Those are the ones with names.
And the rest are Jane Does.
How did we miss this?
[PHONE RINGING]
What are you doing, calling in?
I've been scanning the case files
that you sent me, the ID on Sad Eyes.
Detective, where are you?
What do you mean, Captain?
Are you lying down?
Yeah, yeah. I'm in my bed.
- OK.
- Any sign of Sad Eyes?
- Has she returned to the motel?
- Nothing yet.
And she wasn't there when
we searched the Three Kings.
- You raided the place.
- Yep.
We have two of the brothers in custody.
Oh, yeah? Who's at large?
Nobody's at large.
Vic offed himself when
we were on our way in.
They suspect that he was the one
driving the truck that hit you.
Vic show any signs of remorse?
Vic's fear of 25 to life.
- So what about Sad Eyes?
- Her name is Louisa Diaz.
She's a sex worker at
the Three Kings Motel.
I witnessed her being
trafficked by Vic King
into a long hauler.
And you're afraid
she'll end up up there,
just another statistic.
Listen, Vic wasn't alone.
His brothers knew. I
want a shot at them.
Hold your horses.
The FBI has first dibs.
And they're trying to
get all this information
for their smuggling case.
So what else are we working on?
We've been scanning
every case file, ME report,
and all the forensics
we can get our hands on
for all the victims.
And there are multiple MOs at play.
So far, I've found 20 victims,
potentially killed by 11 different men.
Serial killers.
All of them long haul truckers?
That's our working theory.
How about this guy who
took Bunny, Teddy Bear?
What do we have on
him? Is he one of the 11?
Theodore Bharinger,
two priors for lewd acts with a minor.
Theodore Bharinger.
Anyone talk to him yet?
As I'm sure you're aware,
he was pretty messed up
when they brought him in.
He went straight into surgery,
and now we're waiting for
the green light from his nurse.
Where is he now?
Last we checked, they
had him on the post-op floor,
three down from you.
Why, El? What are you thinking?
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
Hey. Good morning.
Sorry to bother you, but
I heard my good friend,
Theodore Bharinger, was out of surgery,
and I was hoping to get this to
his room before he wakes up.
He is out of surgery, but unfortunately,
he's not allowed visitors at this time.
Oh, darn.
Yeah, his kids are
gonna be so disappointed.
I said I'd give it a try, but,
you know, rules are rules.
All right, thank you anyway.
But I can have one of the nurses
- drop it off for you.
- Oh, you're a lifesaver.
That'd be fantastic.
Thank you so much. Um
One more thing, is there a
men's room around here?
The journey's a bit longer
than I thought it was going to be.
Down the hall, on the left.
OK, thank you.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]
Hey, can you bring this to O4?
Mm-hmm.
- [GRUNTS]
- Shut up. Shut up.
Relax. Relax! Relax. Relax.
I just want to talk.
I just want to talk.
You get away from me, or I will scream.
I'm getting away from you.
I lost my head back there.
I'm sorry about that.
I'm sorry about that.
But you had something
that didn't belong to you, pal.
I don't know what you're talking about.
You don't know what I'm talking about?
The girl? She was bought and paid for.
You can play dumb all
you want, but you and me,
we better get our stories straight,
or we're gonna be in trouble.
What did you say your name was?
Hank.
- Hank?
- Yeah.
You're Hank?
She wouldn't shut up about you.
I almost threw her out of my rig.
Well, there you go.
Now you know I'm telling the truth.
And, again, I apologize, but
those Kingman assholes
this ain't the first time
they've done this to me.
Sad Eyes, she's a junky lot lizard
from the Three Kings,
promised to me, but
Yeah, well, I don't do junkies.
That sounds like a Lugs thing.
Lug Nut.
I heard he's looking to profit
from a new pack of smokes.
- Huh.
- Yeah.
He didn't tell you that?
No.
[SCOFFS]
[TENSE MUSIC]
I'm getting tired.
I need to sleep.
Hey, you and me better
get our stories straight.
OK, well, it is straight.
I don't know you.
I don't know no girl.
Some guy I can't
remember assaulted me.
That's all I know.
That's all I'm saying.
I won't get into all the details here,
but I just had an interesting chat
with Teddy Bear.
Shit, the less I know, the better.
What'd the fucker say?
Seems to be some kind of kill club,
like a closed network of serial killers,
where they sometimes sell
off the women to other truckers.
I'm sure that includes preferences.
Yeah, Teddy Bear made it clear
that Sad Eyes was not his, but
he gave me a name, Lug Nut.
It's some guy's CB handle, but It
it should give you some place to start.
I'll see what I can find.
Good.
Maybe she's still in rotation.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
Officer. Officer!
- [BODY THUDS]
- [GLASS SHATTERS]
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]
Promise me that you'll save Sad Eyes.
I'm sorry.
Promise me.
Hey, hey. Are you OK?
Can you hear me? Can
you tell me what happened?
- We need some help here!
- Where's the girl?
- Who are you talking about?
- Where's the girl?
I saved the girl. Where's the girl?
I bet he's talking about the
girl he was brought in with.
She was in a coma up on 12.
They just took her off life support.
I saved the girl.
I
Elliot?
El?
You're not going to cuff me, are you?
Are you kidding me?
- What are you doing?
- Same thing you'd be doing.
Gotta find this woman. I made a promise.
I've got to find Sad Eyes.
You made a promise.
A promise to whom?
Liv, I know what I'm doing.
You know me better than anybody.
You can't expect me to lie
down on that bed and do nothing.
That would kill me.
Why? Why?
Why you got to make
everything so difficult?
You sound like Randall.
Liv, I'm going home.
And you can either help
me out and start your car
or just stand there and
watch me get naked.
You cannot leave my sight.
Do you understand?
Deal.
Was she dead when I asked you about her,
the girl, Bunny?
Of course not.
But she wasn't gonna make it, was she?
No.
She died the next day.
Why didn't you tell me?
Elliot
when would have been a
good time for me to tell you?
- Want me to say I'm sorry?
- No. No.
I want you to tell me
it's all a bad dream.
[OMINOUS MUSIC]
- Oh.
- You know each other?
Apparently not. How's it going, Hank?
Pretty good.
So you can call me Captain Benson.
- That your real name?
- It is.
So how about we start by you telling me
about your trucking operation?
Well, we got a truck yard, got a motel
and, you know,
hospitality for the truckers.
We provide high-level trucking services
and all manner of expertise
to our customers and our hard-working
independent drivers.
You help criminals smuggle.
- Hey, Hank.
- Hmm?
I don't know who they are,
and I don't know what they're trucking,
and it's none of my business.
So don't ask, don't tell.
We don't stick our nose
where it doesn't belong.
I mean, that's not a crime.
That's America.
This is capitalism at its best.
We do good business by providing
the customer what they pay for
and the truckers what they need.
Here you go.
So let me ask you this.
Are they included
in what the customers paid
for, or what the truckers need?
I don't know what you're talking about.
I rent out rooms.
I rent rooms at rates that
are surprisingly affordable.
- I am helping.
- By pimping them out.
We get them work.
We get them back on their feet again.
Or on their back again.
You just make sure not to notice
- when they wind up dead.
- Listen
Vic, God rest his soul
Steve and I had nothing to
do with what Vic was up to,
and we had nothing to
do with the few bad apples
that may have been responsible
for whatever happened
to these poor women.
Listen, this one here,
fifth-grade education.
These four, worst drug
habits you ever saw.
This one, both, no education,
meth addict, four kids.
Who's going to give them jobs?
I provide opportunity,
like I did for you.
You come to me under false pretenses,
I might add, an ex-con.
Did I turn my back on you? I did not.
I helped you.
Looks like we arrested Mother Teresa.
So where is Sad Eyes? Louisa Diaz.
I I don't know.
Name of the guy that
you last saw her with.
Lugs.
It was an extended date sort of thing.
I hired him a couple
of times a year ago.
He was unreliable. He was weird.
What does that mean?
He would only take runs on
I-90 from Albany to Chicago.
And even then, he
wasn't he would call me.
There was a breakdown, his rig.
Do you have any idea where he is now?
- Nope.
- No, I don't.
Hey, Mark, here's the breakdown.
You're an accessory
to a murder of a minor
and also the attempted
murder of a police officer.
Wait, wait. What? What? No.
Vic always had a screw loose.
I mean, I don't know what he was up to.
I would never condone
that kind of behavior.
Where is the girl, the one
that goes by Sad Eyes?
I
I don't know, with the trucker.
Lug Nut, where is he?
- I got no idea.
- So take a guess.
All right, I might know where he is.
- A swap meet?
- That's what they call it.
It's a little bit on the DL,
but for people in the know,
it's a place to connect,
blow off some steam,
buy and trade things.
- What kind of things?
- Long haulers basically
live out of their rigs,
so creature comforts
for their cab that are for sale, right?
So spare parts for their trucks,
drugs, women.
The unofficial motto is
everything a trucker
needs to keep going.
Yeah, my CI line says it
has a reputation for attracting
a particular fringe of
the trucker community,
and he's confirmed
there's one happening today
right outside Farmington,
near truck salvage yard.
OK, Reyes, Vargas,
set up a surveillance van.
Jet, try to get an
aerial map of the place.
Stabler, let's discuss a plan.
Captain, thank you
so much for your help.
Yeah, about that, I'm not done here.
I want in.
I'll be at your disposal.
I'm happy to hear that.
I could use some extra hands.
OK.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
"Dante's Inferno" meets Coney Island.
Jet, Reyes, what's your location?
30 yards behind on your left.
- Yeah.
- Wow. [WHISTLES]
I got eyes on 'em.
[COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING]
Folks sure like to blow off steam.
Want to party?
I'm looking for a friend.
I could be your friend.
I bet you could be,
but I'm looking for a specific friend.
Do you know Louisa? Goes by Sad Eyes?
No, I don't know her.
How about my buddy, Lugs?
Lug Nut?
All right, well, thanks anyway, hm?
If you change your mind, come on back.
You'll be the one I come to.
Hey, Jet, you on the north side?
I'm going to work the south.
Copy that.
Hey. I'm looking for Lugs.
You know him?
The only reason why
I'm asking is 'cause,
you know, Lugs owes me some money.
Lug Nuts. You know where he is?
All right, thanks for your time.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[CHUCKLES]
- Are you lost, honey?
- No.
My date's playing hide-and-seek with me.
Mm.
You're free to play strip poker.
Take a seat right here.
[LAUGHTER]
Hey, what's your date's name, baby?
- Name?
- Yeah.
Uh
Don't hurt yourself.
Lugs.
That's me. I'm Lugs.
Hey, bullshit. I'm Lugs.
All right, don't listen to him, baby.
I'm Lugs.
[LAUGHTER]
Hey, baby, where you going?
- We love Lugs.
- I can Lugs you.
[LAUGHTER]
I know Lug Nut.
[TENSE MUSIC]
Got eyes on Lug Nut. Jet's with him.
I can take you to him.
Come on.
Hey, hey, hey. I know you.
- You're Lenny's friend.
- What?
- You're a friend of Lenny's.
- I don't know the guy.
- Yeah, you do, Lenny from the neighborhood.
- Yeah, I gotta go.
Wait, wait, what do
you mean, you gotta go?
Oh, man. Wait, wait, wait, wait.
- You're a cop?
- What?
You're a cop. I've seen you before.
What the fuck are you talking about?
- You're a cop, aren't you?
- Let go of me.
- No, no, no, no.
- You're a cop. I know it.
- Let go of me.
- You're a cop [GRUNTS]
Lost eyes on Jet.
I repeat, I lost eyes on Jet.
Here we go.
- This is Lug Nut's truck.
- Are you sure?
Yep. This is his, all right.
Just climb on up.
I'm sure he's waiting inside for you.
[GASPS]
Guys, Jet's in trouble.
Stabler, Reyes, do you have a visual?
[GRUNTING]
Hey!
[GROANS]
Don't fucking move.
Turn over.
[COUGHING AND GASPING]
Jet. Jet.
- Are you OK?
- I'm fine.
- You sure?
- Yeah, I'm good.
Look at me. Where is she?
- Where's the girl?
- Huh?
- This his rig?
- Looks like it.
- Check it out.
- I don't know.
The girl. Where's the girl?
[TENSE MUSIC]
Oh, Jesus.
I don't know what you're yapping about.
Yeah, you do. Romeo.
Yeah, I was in the rig when
you called Romeo, Vic Kingman.
You wanted a girl, Sad Eyes.
So where is Sad Eyes?
We got another victim here.
- No sign of Sad Eyes.
- Where is she?
Where's Sad Eyes? Where is she?
Relax, man.
Sloppy Joe took a shine to her,
paid me for a date.
Where is he? Where's his truck?
No truck, just his workshop.
What does that mean, workshop?
His workshop.
I don't know what it is. I
just know that it's here.
Workshop? What is that?
I have no idea, but it
doesn't sound good.
Vargas, anything?
Sorry to say, but nothing
that screams workshop.
Are you sure you're all right?
Yes, I'm sure.
I'm sure. Where do we start?
I have no idea.
Detective?
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]
Stabler?
Draw your weapon.
[MUFFLED CRYING]
[SOBBING]
- [SCREAMS]
- Police! Don't move!
- Freeze!
- Don't move!
[SOBBING]
Louisa?
Louisa, I'm a police officer.
You're safe, OK? You're OK.
Come on. Come on.
Oh, here we go.
You're all right. You're all right.
You're all right.
[SOBBING]
It's you.
It's you.
Detective? Hey. Hey.
Hey, look at me. Look at me.
We saved her.
Yeah, yeah.
[TENSE MUSIC]
What's the matter?
Liv, what's wrong?
Liv?
Liv!
Liv, don't leave.
Elliot? Elliot.
Elliot.
Hey, Mama.
Hi.
What's the matter?
I'm
I think I was
I was taught not to cry.
I know a policeman's job
is stressful enough
without making it any worse,
you know, so first, your father,
then you,
now my grandson.
I just [SOBS]
I know you think I'm going crazy,
but it's you.
It's you that are driving me crazy.
For 70 years,
I was made to smile,
smile, you know?
Hold my breath.
You went off to work.
I just hold my breath
that I won't get the phone call,
or the visit.
Come here, Mama. Come here.
It's OK. I love you.
I love you. It's OK.
You can breathe. You can breathe.
Good. Lay back.
[SIGHS]
I know you think I'm crazy. I know.
I don't think you're crazy.
And everything's gonna be OK.
Everything's OK.
Why were you yelling in your sleep, hm?
Did you have a bad dream?
Yeah.
I've been getting them a lot lately.
About what?
Things I've lost.
Oh.
[SOFT MUSIC]
Did you talk to Jet?
I did.
She understands she's in a bad place
and said she needs some time.
It's gonna take some time.
Yeah, we both acknowledged that.
I just hope she gets the help she needs
and is able to make her way back to us.
Been through a lot, a lot to process.
And you?
Are you processing?
Yeah, I think I'm good.
All right, man. I got my eye on you.
- Thanks.
- Mm-hmm.
Go home and salute your son.
Proudly.
Uh
they found something in your pocket
at the crime scene.
The DA didn't think it
was pertinent to the case,
and I didn't know if it was a good idea
or a bad one to give it to you.
[GENTLE MUSIC]
No, it's good.
Oh.
Found this, too.
That's where'd you get that?
It was in your pocket.
If you don't want it, toss it.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]