The Equalizer (2021) s05e13 Episode Script

1
(GRUNTING)
Previously on The Equalizer
DELILAH: It's really starting
to hit Dad that I'm leaving
for school next year.
He's not the only one.
WATKINS: Detective Dante.
It's "Special Agent Dante" now.
Or did you forget sending me to the FTF?
I got a call from D.A. Grafton
informing me that you
and your band of misfits will
be squatting in my precinct.
Your team may have permission
to be here,
but this is still my precinct.
This is my case, and she is
a valuable asset.
She stays.
- (HORN HONKS)
- (TRAIN PASSING)
- (BELL JINGLES)
- Talk to in bed ♪
Still the one ♪
That turns my head ♪
We're still having fun ♪
We close in ten minutes!
'Kay. Thanks.
I looked at your face ♪
Every day ♪
Hey!
What about your change?
- But I never
- (BELL JINGLES)
♪
(INHALES DEEPLY)
(CLEARS THROAT, GROANS)
(GROANS SOFTLY)
(ENGINE REVS)
(TIRES SCREECH)
♪
(TRUCK DOORS CLOSING)
(DOOR CHIMES)
(SHUDDERS, BREATHING HEAVILY)
We're out of rooms till midnight.
Seen this girl?
She's a wanted criminal.
Armed and dangerous.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Room 215.
All clear.
Check the back. Move. Go.
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
ROBYN: Mmm, mmm, mmm.
Wow, something smells good.
- Ooh.
- Uh!
That is Dee's plate.
Well, where's mine? I just made enough
for Dee and myself.
Why am I being left out?
"Inter-smitten" fasting.
You have skipped out
on my breakfast twice last week
for your daily dose of Dante.
Uh-uh. I'm not wasting no more food.
(CHUCKLES) You got a point. I know.
So
would you like some breakfast?
- I'm meeting Dante. I
- You see?
- That's what I'm talking about!
- (LAUGHS)
I'm not gonna throw my food away
no more.
DELILAH: Mom?
It's finally here.
- (SQUEALS)
- What's here?
My letter from Hartstone U.
It finally came!
(CHUCKLES) Okay. Open,
- open, open.
- Okay, okay, okay.
All right. (CLEARS THROAT)
"Dear Delilah. Thank you
"for applying to Hartstone University.
"We have completed evaluations
of incoming candidates.
"And, unfortunately,
we are unable to offer you
a seat in our freshman class."
VI: Oh. Honey.
Come here, baby. I'm sorry.
I know you're disappointed.
But it's gonna be okay.
Oh, yeah.
This is just a first response.
All the other colleges,
you're gonna hear from them any day now.
But
Hartstone was my safety school.
See? It's not even
the best school you applied to.
Listen, don't let
one rejection get you down.
I think I'm gonna go back to bed.
Dee.
(GULLS CALLING)
Beautiful view, isn't it?
Best in the city.
You wanted to tell me something.
You know that big cartel case
the FTF's been working on?
Yeah.
My team's headed to Miami.
So you're leaving?
No.
I quit.
(EXHALES)
Are you sure this is what you want?
New York's my home.
My heart is here, with the boys and you.
Never been more sure of anything.
So what's next?
Being a detective is who I am,
but, right now,
the only opening the NYPD has
is on Staten Island.
Staten Island.
- So you'd be starting all over.
- From the bottom.
Collecting new contacts,
gaining people's trust.
Have you thought
about asking Captain Watkins
for your old job back?
It did cross my mind.
Wouldn't be easy
returning to her command.
You know, you could
always come work for me.
- (CHUCKLES)
- Full-time.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
Spending more time with you
is definitely tempting, but
I'm more help to you with my badge.
True.
Well,
I'm here if you need me.
(PHONE CHIMES)
Let me guess.
Duty calls. (SIGHS)
No worries.
I love this part.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
Cass loves the Army.
Serving her country and
making her parents proud
means everything to her.
Her biggest goal is to become
an officer one day.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
But to hear Cass talk,
she's already living the American dream.
You say she went AWOL yesterday?
Yes, ma'am. But this isn't
like her she'd never risk
losing everything
she's worked so hard for.
And she'd never randomly
take off without telling me.
Something's up.
What about the MPs?
Are they out in the field
looking for her?
They claim most AWOL soldiers
drag themselves back to base,
drunk from a crazy bar crawl, but
that isn't Cass.
You seem to have
a pretty good handle on her.
She's the big sister I never had.
Brave, too.
Not one to shy away from
taking matters into her own hands.
Especially to help someone.
Like, this one time,
this guy tried to bully me
in the mess hall.
I'm telling you, I had
to pull her off him. (CHUCKLES)
But he never did that again.
She sounds like a fighter,
not a runner.
AWOL charges are pretty serious.
She could even be court-martialed.
But the sooner she returns,
the less trouble she's in. Right?
Well, it couldn't hurt.
Cass has saved my butt more than once.
I just want to return the favor.
Something's wrong.
I can feel it.
I'm gonna do what I can to find her.
Thank you.
MEL: We checked local jail
records for the past two days.
There's no sign of her.
What about military records?
HARRY: Corporal Cass Crawford.
She was selected as her unit's
distinguished honor graduate.
She exceled in rifle marksmanship.
She aced her Survival, Evasion,
Resistance, and Escape training.
Now she is an ordnance specialist.
Impressive.
So, what do we think happened?
You think she cracked
under the pressure?
I mean, it's possible.
We both know that being
a woman in the military
has its own unique set of challenges.
Yeah. Starting with how
they pit us against each other,
making us compete
because there's only room
- for one woman in an elite unit.
- Mm-hmm.
Or my personal favorite
when you're dealing with
a male subordinate and he's
a little too slow at his salute.
Right. Or the way that we have
to work twice as hard
to get half the respect.
Harry, any luck tracking Cass's phone?
(SIGHS) No.
Uh, she either ditched the battery
or destroyed her SIM card.
You don't destroy your SIM card
on the tail end of a weekend bender.
MEL: We also checked
her social media profile.
There's no signs that
she was having any problems.
HARRY: Yeah,
they say soldiers who go AWOL
are either homesick, horny, or hungover.
Her situation just doesn't seem typical.
- Maybe she was homesick.
- Yeah, there's no way
for me to tell though
her parents don't have
a security system I can hack into.
I can visit Cass's parents.
I'll see if she's there.
ROBYN: And I'll head
over to Fort Attucks.
Turns out, my old C.O., General Knight,
is stationed there.
- Guy you used to call your mentor?
- Yeah.
More like a second dad.
Knight took me under his wing
when no one else believed in me.
Well, he must have
thought highly of you.
Yeah. He also called me "Boots."
"Barely out of training."
(CHUCKLES) Said I carried myself
like a captain when I was a cadet.
I could see that.
Maybe he can help us.
Harry, can you do a deeper dive
into Cass's background?
Maybe something will pop up.
Yeah. On it.
LANCE: Cass stopped by yesterday,
but she only stayed about ten minutes.
That's a quick visit.
I thought so, too.
Felt like something was wrong.
Seemed nervous.
She said she didn't want
to talk about it, but
but now you're here.
- Did she say where she was headed?
- No.
But she asked us for cash.
Said she overspent at the exchange.
GRACE: Which is also strange.
Cass has always been good with finances.
In fact, she usually sends us money,
just to help out.
Sounds like she was raised well.
How much did you give her?
Just a few hundred dollars.
It-it was all the cash
we had in the house.
GRACE: I don't know
what Cass has gotten into,
but she is a good person.
She's very lucky to have you as parents.
I promise I will do
everything I can to help her.
Okay.
Oh, uh, wait,
there's one thing that I forgot.
Something strange that Cass said.
Clear!
MEL: Cass's mom
said she mumbled something
on her way out.
Something about the Army not being
how she thought it would be.
So she'd become disillusioned.
And the cash speaks to not wanting
to use any cards that could be traced.
Harry said
her cell phone's been disabled.
Seems like she's running from something.
SOLDIERS: Mama, Mama, can't you see ♪
What the Army's done to me ♪
SOLDIERS: What the Army's done to me ♪
I got to say,
it's gonna feel weird,
seeing the general
and not being in uniform.
I'm almost there. I'll let you
know what Knight says.
Okay. I'll be there within the hour.
(KNOCKING)
KNIGHT: Boots!
(CHUCKLES) When I heard
your voice on the phone,
I couldn't believe my ears.
(CHUCKLES) You haven't aged a day.
Ah! Don't lie to me, Boots.
Now, didn't I teach you about integrity?
Seriously. I mean, you look the same
- as the day we met.
- (CHUCKLES)
Although, back then,
I used to be able to see more
of the walls in your office.
Look at the accolades.
I have the CIA to thank for that.
If they hadn't snagged you,
this probably would've been your office.
I wish we were meeting
under better circumstances.
That AWOL soldier.
Oh, yes. Uh
Corporal Crawford.
I checked her performance
reviews after we spoke.
She's a hard charger.
And she was doing amazing work
on the Omicron Project.
She reminds me of you.
- What's the Omicron Project?
- It's an elite team
that tests new weaponry.
If Crawford was recruited to Omicron,
she must have really impressed someone.
This is starting to sound like
it's not just another AWOL soldier
blowing off some steam.
You mind if I spend some time on base,
ask a few questions?
Our MP office is stretched thin.
So you'd actually be helping us.
I'll give our top personnel
a heads-up to welcome you
with open arms.
That would mean a lot.
- I'll start with Cass's barracks.
- Have at it.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
It's awfully good
to see you again, Boots.
You, as well, sir.
And again, thank you
for everything you did for me.
Ah.
Stop it. You were such a good cadet,
it wouldn't have mattered
who your C.O. was.
Respectfully, sir, I beg to differ.
Well, I'll give 'em an "E" for effort.
But I was able to hack
into Omicron's system,
and may have discovered
the reason that Cass went AWOL.
Two months ago, the Pentagon launched
an investigation
into Omicron's operation.
What were they looking for?
Fraudulent accounting,
possible evidence of a cover-up.
Could've been something
Cass stumbled upon.
That would explain why her
mom said she was disillusioned.
♪
Harry, I'm sending you a photo.
See if you can I.D.
the woman in the picture.
I'd like to talk to her.
Okay. Yeah, got it.
Harry, Cass scheduled a meeting
with JAG today.
You think she was getting ready
to blow the whistle on Omicron?
If Cass was planning
on exposing corruption
in a top secret program,
that could lead to criminal charges,
canceled contracts,
political repercussions.
Yeah, and the people affected
wouldn't take too kindly to that.
It sounds like
a pretty good reason to go AWOL.
If she was meeting with JAG
to blow the whistle on Omicron,
and the wrong people found out,
she could be
in serious danger right now.
(DISTANT SIREN WAILING)
(BEEPING)
Okay. Come on.
Come on, come on, come on.
Pick up. Hi.
Hi. Okay, please, please, please, please
don't-don't hang up again,
I am begging you.
I am begging you to step up.
If you don't, I am as good as
(LINE BEEPING)
- (GROANS)
- (ENGINE IDLING NEARBY)
- (PANTING)
- (TRUCK DOORS CLOSING)
MAN: She can't be far.
MAN: Check over there.
So we think Cass's appointment
was with Deakins?
Yeah, well, that's our best
guess. He's the one JAG attorney
at Attucks who's assigned to vet
all the criminal law cases.
Well, sounds like he's our guy then.
Yeah, but what's the plan?
Even if he knew Cass was planning
on blowing the whistle on Omicron,
I mean, he's not gonna
share that with us.
No, but we have nothing
to lose by trying.
Maybe he'll give us
something else we can use.
DEAKINS:
I'm a little pressed for time.
How can I help you?
A Corporal Cass Crawford
had an appointment scheduled with you.
Do you know if she was gonna talk
to you about the Omicron Project?
You know I can't tell you that.
Although it's a moot point now.
Their appointment was scheduled
for two hours ago.
No one showed up.
You said their appointment?
So she wasn't coming alone?
(SIGHS) I've already said too much.
Hey, a good soldier is missing.
I'm just trying to find her.
Look, I'm sorry she's missing,
but I won't risk being court-martialed
just because you go way back
with the general.
Did you hear that, Harry?
Yup, and I think I figured out
who was joining Cass's JAG appointment.
The woman from the photo with
Cass Corporal Sloane Felix.
She joined the Omicron team
two months ago.
- Right when Cass did.
- Exactly.
I hacked into Sloane's cloud,
and she has a JAG appointment
on her calendar,
the same exact day and time
as Cass's appointment.
And Sloane missed
her JAG appointment, as well.
I need to talk to her.
Yeah. Unfortunately,
that's not gonna be possible.
She was killed in a training accident
yesterday, run over by a truck.
It happened right before Cass took off.
So let me get this straight.
Sloane has an appointment
with JAG on the books,
but she dies before she can keep it.
Then right after that, Cass goes AWOL?
You're thinking this accident
may not have been an accident?
Seems like Cass didn't think so.
And I'm inclined to agree with her.
Okay. Let me do a deeper dive on Sloane.
It's gonna take me a minute
because the information
is still being updated from
the medical examiner's system.
Well, Mel should be here any
minute, so, just keep me posted.
(KNOCKING)
It's open.
Thanks for taking time for me.
You have exactly two minutes.
If this is a bad time, I can come
Five seconds down, Secret Agent Dante.
As you can see, I am quite busy.
Spit it out, please.
I'd like my old job back.
(LAUGHS)
As a detective?
- In my precinct?
- Yes, Captain.
Sounds like someone's fallen
off their FTF high horse.
Isn't that something?
Well, the answer is no.
Come on, Captain. Judging
by all the files on your desk,
your workload's backed up. I can help.
Look, I know we've had
our differences in the past,
but I have a stellar record
as a detective
with an excellent case closure rate.
I'd be a valuable asset,
just like I was before.
And if history is our guide,
you'd be just as unmanageable.
Whatever value you bring to
my precinct as a detective
is more than offset
by your refusal to toe the line.
As a leader, I cannot accept that.
- But Captain, I
- Last time I checked,
the word "no" was as clear
as it is concise.
Now, can you please close
the door on your way out?
- MAN: One, two, three.
- SOLDIERS: One!
- MAN: One, two, three.
- SOLDIERS: Two!
MAN: One, two, three
Richman! Step it up!
Colonel Strickland?
General Knight called you about us.
Thank you for taking time
to speak with us.
Of course. Pleasure to meet you.
This is Captain Thornton.
So, we want to ask you
a few questions about Omicron.
I heard.
Not sure how much of a help I can be.
I don't really know Corporal Crawford.
MEL: Actually,
we wanted insight into her friend.
Corporal Sloane Felix.
Ah, yeah. It's a shame, what happened.
She must have been a crack soldier
to be a member of my team.
What about you, Captain Thornton?
Did you know Corporal Felix?
I used to be her C.O.
Well, maybe you can shed
some light on the circumstances
of this accident.
Not really.
We opened up an investigation,
of course,
but it's too early
to know the precise details
- of what went wrong.
- STRICKLAND: I will say
that any senseless death
of a soldier is unacceptable.
We're gonna do our part to prevent
any accidents like this in the future.
Well, that's good to know.
ROBYN: One more question.
Were either of you aware
that two Omicron soldiers,
including Corporal Felix,
had scheduled a meeting with JAG?
What are you insinuating?
No insinuation.
Just a question.
Do you know what they were gonna report?
STRICKLAND: Ma'am, I have more than
900 soldiers under my purview.
I am not privy to all
of their personal concerns.
Any chance it was regarding
the DoD's investigation into Omicron?
Not sure where you got that
intel, but I highly doubt it.
Why's that?
Well, because we just had
an independent auditor
do a full investigation
into our operation.
No wrongdoing was found.
You don't believe me?
Just received the preliminary report,
and though I'm not at liberty
to let you see it,
I'm sure whoever leaked
news of the investigation
would be happy to report
the findings to you.
Anything else we can
help you ladies with or
can we get back to our jobs?
That's all.
For now.
We'll ask Harry to confirm what he said,
but if Cass and Sloane weren't
going to JAG about Omicron
Then what's this all about?
And why is Cass AWOL?
(CHATTER OVER TV)
VI: How you feeling?
- Fine, I guess.
- If this is fine,
I'd hate to see what miserable
looks like. Come on, now.
Why don't you and I go on a
little pick-me-up shopping trip?
- My treat.
- No, thanks, Auntie.
(GROANS SOFTLY)
Give me that.
- You're done.
- (TV TURNS OFF)
Dee, I know you're disappointed,
but I refuse to let you sit
here and fret over one college,
especially a safety school.
Yes, that is exactly it, Auntie.
I mean, if they don't want me,
then who will?
Oh, honey (SCOFFS)
(SIGHS)
Wait a minute.
You've got the GPA,
you've got the letters
of recommendation, the résumé.
Your essay was amazing.
Why don't they want you?
I don't know.
Have you considered asking them?
Hey, Harry. What's up?
HARRY: Hey, so,
I remembered that Cass took off on foot,
so figured I'd check stolen car records,
cross that with street cam footage,
and I found footage of Cass
hot-wiring a car.
I'm sending you a screen grab.
- (PHONE CHIMES)
- I got it.
Rob, something's wrong.
She cut her hair and she looks hurt.
I don't think this is about Omicron.
Harry, check the base infirmary records
for the last month.
No record of Cass.
Check hospitals off base.
Got a hit.
She visited one about five miles
from base three months ago.
MEL: The only reason to
go to an off-base hospital is
So no one would know.
(SIGHS)
The clothes in Cass's closet
were two sizes too big.
Big enough for her to hide herself in.
The behavioral changes, disillusionment
- with the Army
- And the JAG appointment
with another woman.
So, what does all this mean?
I hope I'm wrong, but
my gut is telling me Cass was raped.
Harry sent us the record
of Cass's trip to the ER.
Apparently, she left mid-visit.
Well, if she was raped,
she was probably in shock, scared.
And not sure whether to report it.
Unfortunately, if she didn't get a kit,
then we don't have
any concrete evidence.
That's the challenge
most rape survivors face,
it's their word against
their attacker's.
But there might be
someone she confided in
who can connect the dots.
(LINE RINGING)
(PHONE RINGING)
Hello?
Tustin, how you holding up?
Worried. Do you have any updates?
Uh, working on it. Listen,
I need to ask you something.
Did Cass ever tell you
she was sexually assaulted?
No, nothing.
Wait.
Do you think she was raped?
It's a possibility.
But why wouldn't she tell me?
I swear to God, if someone hurt her,
I don't care what happens to me,
I'll kill the son of a bitch.
That might be why she kept it from you.
She was afraid you'd
do something to ruin your career
- or your life.
- It's not fair.
Cass is always protecting me.
Even from myself.
Tustin, you want to help Cass?
Stay out of trouble, let us handle this.
We'll call you as soon as we find her.
(LINE BEEPS) (SIGHS)
If Cass was sexually assaulted,
then where does Sloane fit into this?
Was she a witness? Another victim?
Whatever the full story is,
if someone was willing
to silence Sloane that way,
then Cass was right to run.
(PHONE BUZZES)
Harry, what's the latest?
So regarding Sloane's "accident,"
I was able to pull the check-in roster
from the ill-fated training exercise.
Which gives us possible
witnesses to talk to.
Right. Hey, and remember that photo
that I sent you of Cass
hot-wiring that car?
Decided to go further back
in the street cam footage,
from the area and I saw
Cass making a phone call
from a burner phone,
which she then immediately
threw into a trash can.
Text me the address. I'll head over.
If we can get that phone,
see who she talked to,
maybe we'll know where she's headed.
ROBYN: Harry, that list of
people at the fatal training exercise,
does it say who was supervising it?
Yeah, uh, looks like
it was the squadron leader
Staff Sergeant Fuentes.
ROBYN: I know this is hard, but
can you describe what happened?
We were conducting
a simple CPX exercise.
It requires two teams of four.
One team in front of the truck,
- the other behind.
- If it was so simple, what went wrong?
At the last minute,
someone pulled the front team
and deployed them elsewhere.
The rear team had to split,
leaving only two in front
and two behind.
The driver lost sight of Felix,
and
Well
Who gave the order to pull
those four soldiers?
Staff Sergeant Craig.
And who was operating the truck?
Sergeant Grant.
I already shared this
with the investigators.
It'll all be in the report.
I wouldn't hold my breath
for that report to come out.
According to this,
both officers are off base today
taking personal days.
Upset about the "accident," I'm sure.
See if you can find them for me.
Any word from Mel yet?
Yeah, she recovered Cass's
discarded burner phone.
It apparently only called one number.
A Second Lieutenant Angelica Brewer.
I'm sending you her photo now.
According to her credit card records,
she's a regular day drinker
at O Canteen.
ROBYN: That's located right off base.
I'll head over there now. Thanks, Harry.
(PHONE RINGS)
Hey, Marcus. Listen
I got your text
about Watkins. I'm sorry.
Yeah. Not exactly a shock.
I put in a call to D.A. Grafton.
She can't interfere
any more than she has
with Watkins' decision.
Well, I appreciate the effort.
Thank you.
So, what you plan to do?
I'm on my way
to Staten Island right now.
Looks like I'm starting over
at a new precinct.
Well, it doesn't matter where you work.
I know you'll always rise to the top.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
(LINE RINGING)
Hey, babe. Any luck finding Cass?
I found the car that Cass hot-wired.
It's parked out front
of an old warehouse.
I'll head over now.
I'm afraid you're not gonna be alone.
I pinged the phones of those
two off-duty soldiers,
Craig and Grant.
They're headed there now.
Wait. Those are the guys
who orchestrated Sloane's accident.
If they catch up to Cass,
they'll kill her, too.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Is this seat taken?
If I lied, would you sit elsewhere?
Bartender, two more
of whatever she's having.
I'm Bethany.
Angelica.
BARTENDER: Two bourbons.
- Thanks for the drink.
- Oh, yeah. Anytime.
We women have to stick together, right?
I'll drink to that.
Even if it means sticking out our necks
for someone in trouble.
Like Cass.
I don't know who you are,
but I'm not talking.
Do you realize what's going on?
Cass is AWOL. Scared.
And you were the one person she called.
She's got to toughen up, get over it.
Get over what?
Get over what?
- What did she tell you?
- It doesn't matter.
She signed up for this. We all did.
So, it happened to you, too?
It's Cass's word against her attacker's.
She needs you to come forward
and back her up.
Yeah, but what about what I need?
I'm pushing for a promotion.
And I won't be seen as a leader
if I'm known as a victim.
And don't give me that bull
about staying anonymous
'cause all it takes is
one idiot with loose lips
and there's always at least one.
And I'm not ruining my career for this.
If you're so worried about your career,
that means whoever assaulted
you is in a powerful position.
Tell Cass to lose my number.
(PHONE RINGS)
- Hey, how'd it go?
- It depends.
Can you find out if Cass,
Sloane and Angelica served
under any of the same C.O.s?
Cross-referencing base records.
Um
Actually, yes.
(ENGINE REVS)
Cass?
Cass, are you in here?
If you're here, please come out.
I know you don't know me,
but Tustin sent me.
We're running out of time,
you're in danger.
Come on, Cass.
Thank God.
Are you okay?
We got to get out of here.
- (TIRES SCREECHING OUTSIDE)
- They're here.
Okay. Change of plan. Let's go.
♪
♪
♪
MEL: Now!
(BOTH GRUNTING)
Drop your weapons,
lie face down on the ground.
Slow.
We're just following orders, ma'am.
We only want to bring in
Corporal Crawford.
Not gonna ask you again.
(GUNSHOTS)
More could be coming.
Let's get you to safety.
(PHONE BUZZING)
Captain Watkins.
Hi, Captain. This is Dante's
friend.
I'm probably the last person
you expected to call.
So you won't be surprised
when I hang up.
I didn't call to fight.
I just have one question.
Was your precinct better
with Dante or without him?
(SIGHS)
MEL: Cass, what happened?
Why are you running for your life?
I think we have something in common.
I'm a survivor of sexual assault.
After high school,
I got a summer job at this diner.
Then, one night,
I was closing up, alone with my manager
and, uh
he pushed me into the walk-in fridge.
I don't
remember the rest, it's a blur.
But I do know that I fought back.
Hard.
And I managed to get away, barely.
And I was one of the lucky ones.
I still have nightmares about it.
He'd call me into his quarters.
"To talk strategy," he'd say.
I I felt honored.
I'd worked so hard to get his approval.
(VOICE TREMBLING): And
And then he grabbed my hair.
How do you fight the man
you've sworn to obey?
- It was not your fault.
- (SIGHS)
I was sure no one would believe me.
But after I confided in Sloane,
she said that he did
the same thing to her.
And we agreed to report him together.
And now she's gone.
And then you went AWOL.
I knew I'd be next.
But I couldn't let
Sloane's death be in vain.
So I reached out to a woman
who was rumored to be another victim.
Angelica Brewer.
She refused to help me.
Not everyone is
as brave as you are, Cass.
(SCOFFS)
He killed Sloane.
He needs to pay for what he's done.
He will.
But, Cass, who is "he"?
ROBYN: Colonel Strickland.
Cass ran because he raped her,
- and she wasn't the only one.
- What?
Corporal Sloane Felix,
the one being autopsied
a few buildings down? He raped her, too.
And a third woman that we know of.
Then he used his authority
to scare them into silence,
and when that didn't work,
he resorted to murder.
Strickland wouldn't do this.
I don't know how you came
up with this theory
It's not a theory.
We have a first-person account
and she is ready to give her statement.
You should know better than to
go around lobbing accusations,
based on the word of one troubled woman.
You think she's lying?
You're accusing a decorated
officer under my command.
I'm not going to ruin
a good soldier's reputation
based on hearsay.
Strickland's saved a lot of lives
throughout his career.
You don't know him.
I'm starting to think I don't know you.
I welcome you to my base,
and this is how you conduct yourself?
Stirring up drama, turning my soldiers
against each other?
I'm disappointed in you, Boots.
You're disappointed?
You're just as responsible
as Strickland.
This discussion is over.
I never thought I'd say this, General,
but I'm ashamed of you.
You taught me about honor,
integrity, character.
Do those words only matter
to you when it's convenient?
(DOOR OPENS)
MEL: Rob, I am so sorry.
I know how much you looked up to him.
Well, it doesn't make sense.
The man saved my life.
How could he be complicit
in destroying so many others?
If he refuses to help Cass,
all we have is her word.
And the fact that she went AWOL
and skipped her JAG appointment
Well, it's not over yet.
We need to just
(TIRES SCREECHING)
- What was that?
- Oh, no.
She must have overheard
our conversation.
She took the car keys.
Where's she going?
I don't know. If she heard us,
maybe she's going on the run again.
Or maybe the opposite.
Tustin said Cass
is known to take matters
into her own hands.
If you were Cass, what would you do?
She's going after Strickland.
Got to say, I'm impressed with
your performance, Lieutenant.
Thank you, sir. (CHUCKLES)
That kind of ambition
can get you very far.
CASS: Leave her alone.
(GASPS) Oh, my God. She's got a gun.
- Stand back.
- What the hell are you doing, Crawford?
I won't let you hurt her.
Hang on. Hang on. Take it easy.
- Cass, put the gun down.
- No.
I owe this to Sloane.
To every woman on this base.
I'm gonna make sure that he
doesn't hurt anyone ever again.
(GUN COCKS)
CASS: Those soldiers
who almost killed me?
They were following his orders.
He and his lackeys, they think that
they can do whatever they want
to whoever they want
and get away with it.
Listen. Listen to me
Step any closer and I will shoot.
Okay, but just let everyone else go.
They can go.
But if anybody tries to be a hero,
all bets are off.
Slowly come this way. Come on, let's go.
- STRICKLAND: Crawford, don't do this.
- MEL: One at a time.
- Don't do this, Craw
- Shut up.
(PANICKED CHATTER)
Cass.
If you fire that weapon,
you'll do decades in prison.
Don't let him ruin your life.
If that's what it takes
to make the military safe
- for women again
- But it won't.
Do you want to be known as
the crazy woman who snapped?
Or do you want to push for real change,
and go after all the other
Stricklands out there?
Because if so, you got
to do this the right way.
I tried. I tried the right
way, and look what happened.
Angelica's right.
Whistleblowing is pointless.
My career is destroyed.
Sloane is dead.
Killing this rapist is the only
way we're gonna get justice.
Cass, I know you feel betrayed.
I looked up to someone
who let me down, too,
but I refuse to let
his failures become my own.
Don't let him steal
your faith in people.
I'm asking you to trust
that you are not alone,
and I won't give up
until he pays
for what he's done.
Cass.
Come on.
Not like this.
Put it down.
(CRIES)
MAN: MPs!
STRICKLAND: It's about time.
Arrest Corporal Crawford.
She just tried to kill me.
What? You should be
the one under arrest.
- You raped me!
- It's your word against mine.
MEL: Cass, this isn't over,
you're gonna beat this.
He's gonna pay.
The military operates by its own rules.
You can't make that promise.
But I can.
Please free Corporal Crawford
and arrest Colonel Strickland.
Knight,
what are you doing?
What I should have done
in the first place.
I'd convinced myself
that we'd all made sacrifices
for the greater good, that safeguarding
the institution was more important
than protecting the people
who sustained it.
But someone helped me see
that I'd lost my way.
Hang on.
Do this, and you're going down, too.
So be it.
What good is a career and a rank
if I have no honor?
Come on.
Let's go. Let's go.
KNIGHT: You were right to call me out.
All those things I tried to teach you,
I've failed to follow myself.
I let you down.
I'll be fine.
You let yourself down.
Boots
McCall.
My name is McCall.
Thanks for hanging out.
What are bros for? (CHUCKLES)
I should get going.
Hey, hey. Your money's no good here.
- Not till you get a job, at least.
- (DOOR CLOSES)
Which, uh, looks like
it might be happening
sooner than later.
I'll have what he's having.
How'd you find where I was?
I got a call
from a certain friend of yours.
Guessing you weren't
too happy about that.
You've been very clear
how you feel about her.
And me.
When I first made detective,
my partner was this craggy old guy
who never played by the rules.
Still, we managed to work together.
Until we got this one case.
Single mom of three,
killed in cold blood.
I promised her kids we'd find
the killer, and we did.
Glad to hear it.
He got off on a technicality.
Thanks to my partner's penchant
for skirting the rules.
After that, I swore
that no criminal
would get off on my watch
because some cop played
fast and loose with the law.
I chose to believe in the system.
I do, too,
but sometimes, the system fails us.
I've seen criminals use the system,
get released and commit
more crimes, including murder.
Sometimes working outside the system
is the only thing that brings them down.
See, now, what if every cop
operated like that?
- We'd have chaos.
- I'm not every cop.
I know where the
black-and-white lines are.
I also know that sometimes
victory's found in the grays.
I know you'll continue to play
outside the rules, Detective,
but you cannot do that on my watch.
No vigilante business on duty.
No exceptions.
And if I catch you doing it,
I will throw all the power of my badge
behind making sure you lose yours.
Are you offering me my job back?
Your friend reminded me of something.
You're one of the best
detectives in the city.
And if you're willing to work
under the conditions that I've stated,
I'm willing to have you.
I need a minute to think about it.
My offer expires after
the last drop of this drink.
♪
Hey.
Do you have a minute?
Of course.
I always have time for you.
Come here.
Thanks.
(SIGHS): I, uh
I reached out to Hartstone's
admissions office,
to ask them why I was rejected.
What'd they tell you?
- Yeah, not a whole lot.
- (LAUGHS SOFTLY)
But
they did say that more and more,
they've been conducting
social media checks
on their incoming candidates.
You think they saw your arrest
at that protest?
Since the rest of my qualifications
easily met their requirements, then,
yes, I do think it's likely.
Oh, Dee.
I'm sorry.
Me, too.
You know what? On second thought,
I'm kind of not sorry.
You warned me about the risks
of participating in that protest,
and I chose to prioritize my principles
over my college plans.
I remember.
And I'd still make
that same choice today.
(LAUGHS SOFTLY)
That school is missing out
on an incredible young woman.
Don't you worry, sweetheart.
The right college will find you.
You'll see.
You really think so?
I know so.
Mm.
Well? What'd they say?
CASS: It's complicated, but due
to my extenuating circumstances,
I will not face any charges.
- (EXHALES)
- (LAUGHS)
That's wonderful news, Cass.
ROBYN: So, what's next?
If you want to put
the military behind you,
I can help you get a fresh start.
Thanks
but I belong in the Army.
I just want to feel safe as I serve.
Change from within. I love it.
ROBYN: Well, just know,
if you need it, you got backup.
(CLEARS THROAT) And you've got me, too.
Thank you all.
For everything.
ROBYN: Thank you
for your service.
("RIVER" BY LEON BRIDGES PLAYING)
(SOLDIER SHOUTS COMMAND)
Want to go, want to go,
want to go ♪
Sloane.
Want to know, want to know,
want to know ♪
Present arms.
Want to go, want to go, want to go ♪
Want to know, want to know,
want to know ♪
Hoo ♪
Oh ♪
Take me to your river ♪
I want to go ♪
Lord ♪
Oh, please let me know ♪
Take me to your river ♪
I want to know. ♪