Original subtitles

[pensive music]

- [JM] Corruption is all around us.

There are those with an endless desire for power,

a desire they will never be able to satisfy.

Behind the scenes, a storm is brewing,

a small special group of people referred to as shifters,

causing chaos in the streets of the city.

♪ Tempted ♪ [mellow music]

♪ I was tempted ♪

[switch clicks]

[woman grunting]

[feet thudding] [mellow music continues]

- [JM] At the same time,

your everyday narcotics are disappearing

and being replaced by something much worse,

a drug that completely changes who you are.

[gentle music]

♪ Thought I told y'all ♪

♪ That it's my world ♪

♪ They ain't try me yet ♪

♪ Get your mind blown ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪

♪ When they throw shade ♪

♪ That's when I glow ♪

♪ Hey ♪ ♪ I'm so ahead of y'all ♪

♪ It's a different time zone ♪

♪ Ooh, I gotta go ♪ [hands smacking]

[knife rasping] [fighters grunting]

[man groaning] ♪ Was on the road ♪

♪ But I swear I'm coming home ♪

♪ Now the drinks on me, I think we need a toast ♪

♪ See, I did it for me ♪

- [JM] And the worst of these shifters,

Marcus McKinnely.

- What's up, bro?

You thought about that job offer?

[brooding music]

[cash thudding]

- Yeah, I did. - The reckless younger brother

of Andre McKinnely, [gunshots blasting]

also known as Primo.

Together, they're two

of the most dangerous criminals in this city.

But this all started long before them.

[brooding music continues]

My dad spent most of his time in the basement,

a place I was never allowed to go to.

Now I know why.

[thunder rumbling]

[chess piece thuds]

[thunder rumbling]

[chess piece thuds]

[thunder rumbling]

[chess piece thuds]

- How?

[Maurice laughs]

- Remember, move in silence

and only speak when you're ready to say checkmate.

- Yeah, easy for you to say since you're cheating.

[Maurice laughs]

[hand knocking] [thunder rumbling]

[pensive music]

[drawer rasping] [pensive music continues]

- Son, gotta go away for a little while.

You gonna stay with your grandma for now.

She coming to pick you up later,

so I need you to get your things together, all right?

- What? Where are you going?

- Your dad's got to take care of a little business, okay?

Listen, son, you're gonna grow to be a strong man.

You're gonna make a difference in this world.

I know it.

[hand knocking] [pensive music continues]

- What?

Ah, what was that?

- That's gonna help you make that difference.

Now listen, I need you to go in your room,

turn off all the lights, and do not come out

no matter what you hear.

Do you understand?

- I don't, what do you-

- Do you understand? [hand knocking]

- Yeah.

- I love you so much, John.

[thunder rumbling] [pensive music continues]

Now go.

- Dad. - Now.

[brooding music]

[hand knocking]

[door squeaking] [brooding music continues]

Mr. McKinnely, what brings you by here so late?

- Where is it, Maurice?

- Uh, I don't know what you're talking about.

- [Jack] Let's cut the bullshit.

[rain pattering] [brooding music continues]

- Can't let you have it, Jack.

Found out what you were doing.

How could you do that to those people?

You lied to me.

- Those people were nobodies.

We gave their life purpose.

- We were supposed to be helping those people,

not turning them into killers.

[thunder rumbling] [brooding music continues]

I'm sorry. The answer's no.

- I'm sorry, too.

[gunshots blasting] [body thudding]

[casing clinking] [brooding music continues]

- [JM] It all started with Jack McKinnely.

[reporters chattering indistinctly]

[static hissing]

[reporters chattering indistinctly]

- [Reporter] Witnesses claim a man was unarmed

and simply ran through a solid concrete wall

of a bank located one block east of Main Street.

- Just this past year, a variety

of strange reports have increased

while more people are actually growing concerned.

[siren wailing]

The question is... An increase in power outages

are believed by many to be related to these sightings.

Although some speculating... If your power goes out-

- [Reporter] A new dangerous substance

is making its way into the city,

causing a spike in drug overdose-related deaths.

- [Reporter] Recent footage was released as proof

to support these claims, but the question is, are they real?

Or is this all just a ploy for media attention?

[grapplers grunting] [tense music]

- Turn it off. - Whoa, whoa, whoa.

What are you doing? - I got two words for you.

- What are you doing?

What are you doing? - Fake news.

- [Reporter] Mayor-elect Carlo Moretti reassures the public

in his recent speech.

- [Carlo] I can assure you that with my leadership,

we will clean up this city

and expose those instilling this false sense

of fear in the heart of our great-

- [Conductor] Personal security precautions

to avoid becoming a victim of an attack.

Avoid crowded public areas and gatherings.

Do not travel into areas affected by...

- Do you, Michael Moretti, solemnly swear

to uphold the law, firmly,

wholeheartedly? [cameras clicking]

- Yes. - Commending

recently appointed Commissioner of Police Michael Moretti,

for the drop in crime-related deaths

and Mayor Carlo Moretti for his strict policy on gun laws.

- [Officer] Open the door!

- [Reporter] After almost a decade,

reported encounters of the people now referred to

as shifters are finally coming to a halt

over the last few years.

[officers chattering indistinctly]

[camera clicking] [pensive music]

- [Reporter] Although some still question

the commissioner's involvement in the covert operation

known as Project Eidolon,

officially dissolved over two years ago.

[officer speaking indistinctly]

- Get off me, man.

I know my rights. Get me a lawyer.

- Yeah, yeah, that's what they all say.

- [Suspect] I know my rights. [siren wailing]

[dispatchers speaking indistinctly]

- And the other dude, he had some, like,

electrical shit going on.

I, I don't even know, bro, but it's a good thing

that he showed up when he did, all right?

He took them out like it was nothing, bro.

Nothing, all right?

And I'm here to tell all y'all skeptics out there

that I've seen him in person.

And if it wasn't for him,

I wouldn't even be standing here today

talking to you all. - It's not even

under investigation. - You feel me?

- There's no proof... For real.

- no evidence.

How could you possibly think this is real?

It's just another conspiracy theory, another cult.

It looks like he's in a cult with his shirt.

Like, come on.

This is just another conspiracy theory

made in his mom's basement.

I'm gonna tell you one more time. It's not real.

[pensive music continues]

[horn honking]

[zipper whizzing]

[horns honking] [pensive music continues]

- Man, I don't care, man.

[feet pattering]

[train rattling] [feet continue pattering]

[train bell clanging]

[body thudding] [Henry coughing]

Henry, Henry, Henry.

[Henry coughing]

- You're bugging, bro. [coughs]

- [Marcus] I'm not bugging. [laughs]

- I got the money, bro.

Tell him I got the money.

- Tell me something, right?

If I had the money, Henry,

for an individual, right,

do you think I would be running?

[plastic rustling]

- I got the money. - Shut up.

- [Henry] That shit you gave us, bro, it didn't work.

It killed Chris, man.

- Hmm, I just think that man's body was

just a little bit too weak.

You know what I mean? [brooding music]

But that's not the important things

we're talking about here, Henry.

Where's the money, Henry, hmm?

[gunshots blasting]

- [laughs] Yeah, bitch, yeah, what else you got to say, huh?

You still want that money, huh? [laughs]

[Marcus panting] [brooding music continues]

- Henry.

- Oh, it was, it, it was a mistake.

I'm sorry, please.

- [Marcus] Idiot. [laughs]

Your mama giving birth to you was a mistake, Henry.

[Henry sobbing]

- Please. - Stop crying, man.

Cheer up.

I'm not gonna kill you.

A matter of fact, I'm not gonna shoot you, Henry.

[Marcus laughs]

[Henry groaning] [brooding music continues]

[hand patting]

Attaboy, Henry.

[gun clattering] [pensive music]

We always get that money, Henry.

[birds squawking] [pensive music continues]

[alarm chiming]

[birds chirping]

[footsteps plodding] [birds continue chirping]

[foot thuds] [pensive music]

[lid clanking]

[water sloshing] [pensive music continues]

[JM sighs] [pensive music continues]

[zipper whizzing]

[items clattering]

[brush rasping]

[water sloshing]

[jacket rustling] [pensive music continues]

[footsteps plodding] [cicadas chirping]

[horn honking] [traffic whooshing]

[mellow music]

- Can I help you find something?

♪ Wondering if it's the same for you ♪

♪ But when you're not around ♪

♪ I lose my mind 'cause ♪

[water sloshing]

[JM sighs]

- You're not a thief.

[sighs] Just a couple things.

[mellow music]

♪ Tell me that you feel it, too ♪

♪ Tell me we're in this for two ♪

♪ Tell me that you really care for me ♪

[scanner beeping] [fridge buzzing]

- Hey, weird dude with the backpack,

if you're not gonna buy anything, could you please leave?

[door squeaking] [mellow music continues]

[doorbell beeping]

[items clattering] [mellow music continues]

♪ Took my heart for keeping ♪

♪ And it won't stop beating ♪

♪ Why won't you ♪

♪ Tell me ♪

[traffic whooshing]

[spoon clanking]

[JM sighs]

- That's some good ice cream.

[exhales] Mm.

Mm-hmm.

[dog barking] [birds chirping]

[feet shuffling]

[door clanking]

[pensive music]

[feet pattering] [pensive music continues]

[footsteps plodding]

[dog barking]

[keys jangling] [dog continues barking]

[door clattering]

[bag thuds]

[door clattering] [dog barking]

[pensive music] [feet shuffling]

[dog barking] [pensive music continues]

[door clattering]

- [TV Character] What did the US government ever do for you?

- Nothing. - That's right, nothing.

Now this.

What's that, brother?

- [TV Character] He said what right have you got

to attack the government?

- [TV Character] The right to free speech.

The right to... That's the trouble

with this country, too many big mouths.

- [JM] Was wondering when you were getting back.

- [TV Character] Get someone, get someone.

Get someone, get someone.

- Figured I'd give you a hand.

- [laughs] Feels damn good to be back.

- Yeah, it's good to see you, bro.

- Yeah, you too, how you been?

[hand patting] Ah, easy. [laughs]

- My bad. - No, you're good.

- Man, I don't think I've ever seen you so vulnerable.

- Oh, yeah? Believe it or not, Alex Russo does bleed.

- Look at you. You're human now.

- Oh, want something to drink?

- Yeah, sure.

[exhales] When'd you get back?

- Oh, sorry, that's, uh, that's classified.

- [JM] You some CIA big shot now?

[Alex laughs]

- No, I got back a few weeks ago.

How you been?

- [JM] Not too bad.

Back a few weeks, no call?

- [Alex] You're the last person I wanted to see.

Kind of hoping for a longer vacation.

[Alex exhales]

You know, I could have shot your ass,

sneaking up on you like that.

- You think you're fast enough?

- [Alex] Wanna find out?

[JM laughs]

- Yeah, good luck with that,

especially with today's gun restrictions, man.

- [Alex] That bad, huh?

- Yep, that bad.

This is a nice place you got here.

- Yeah, thanks, I like it.

Beats the hell out of where I was.

[JM laughs]

- So how did that happen?

- [sighs] Well...

[train rattling] [bell clanging]

We were tracking a shipment moving through the city,

which gave us an opportunity to gather intel

on some metabolic steroid or something.

[saw buzzing] [tense music]

[chains clanging] [tense music continues]

We got in the place. It's like a ghost town.

[curtains clattering] [tense music continues]

[floor creaking]

[curtains clattering]

[gun thudding]

[curtains clattering] [tense music continues]

[fingers tapping]

But the second Roman downloaded that intel

triggered some kind of an alarm.

[alarm blaring]

Six, we got to go.

Let's go, let's go.

- [Team Member] Come on. Let's go.

- Shit. - Let's go, let's go.

[alarm blaring] [tense music continues]

[door clattering]

Oh, you gotta be kidding me.

- Open it up, man, come on. - It's stuck, man, it's stuck.

- Open it. - It's stuck.

[door clattering] [alarm continues blaring]

On the way out, took one wrong turn.

[gunshot blasting]

Dude got me right in the shoulder.

- [JM] Dang, man.

- Yeah, so I'm definitely grateful

to be back in one piece.

- Yeah, me too.

But, uh, things haven't been that great here either.

So-called shifter controversy, as they're calling it,

just seems to be getting worse and worse.

- Still?

- Yeah.

The cops don't even wanna do anything anymore.

Too many of 'em have been dying.

So now they're just shooting to kill.

- Damn, that sucks.

- [sighs] What sucks is the fact that people still think

this is some big conspiracy.

- Well, they haven't met you yet, obviously.

You know, it still makes no sense

why they're only in the city. [pensive music]

Good thing there's not a lot of those bastards.

- I've been thinking about something,

an idea that I have.

I wanna run it by you real quick.

- Oh, boy. - Hear me out.

What if we created our own team,

something completely legit to hunt down these shifters?

- What do you mean, like bounty hunters?

Look, man, I just got home, like, not too long ago.

I'm looking to heal this arm up

and, uh, just not do anything for a while.

- Okay, yeah, I, I get it, I get it, but just hear me out.

I'm not talking about right now.

Maybe a year or so from now.

With your experience and my gift,

I think we can make a big difference.

- Look, even if I pitch this idea to the department,

I doubt just you and I are gonna make

any difference in this city, man.

- And that is why I already contacted somebody

who would be 100% in on this.

- Who?

- His name is Daniel Kaplan,

ex-military like you, a bit of a hothead,

but honestly, I trust him, and I trust him with my life.

He took down Shane Pierce.

- You talking about Zeus?

- Yeah, he's no joke.

Think about the difference he made

taking down this one guy.

If we partner up with him, then who knows?

Maybe we could even end up working side by side

with law enforcement.

- Let's say, theoretically,

the department likes your idea, right?

And I doubt, [laughs] I seriously doubt they will.

What you're talking about, it's dangerous.

Like, this is dangerous stuff, man.

You don't know anything about these guys.

- I get that, but think of it like how you were overseas,

except now the roles are flipped.

You'd be helping out in your own backyard,

right here, right now in the town we grew up in, bro.

- I don't know.

I don't know.

I'd have to think about it.

- Bro, what is there to think about?

What are you gonna do when you heal up,

go start working at some dead-end job flipping burgers?

And then what?

We were born for this, Alex.

We were meant to help people.

It's our time.

[pensive music continues]

They're after me because I have something they want.

And they won't stop until they get it.

[engines humming] [pensive music continues]

[grass rustling]

- Deputy Chief Moretti?

- [Michael] Alex, thanks for meeting me here. Take a seat.

- Sure, yeah, of course, likewise.

- [Michael] Pretend you don't know me.

- [Alex] Right.

- Sorry we couldn't meet in my office.

I wanted to keep this strictly between you and I.

- [Alex] Understood.

- I appreciate you reaching out to me.

I respect what you're looking to do for this city,

which is why I'm here to tell you I'm giving you

the green light for Project Eidolon.

- Really? Wow.

Thanks, I mean-

- No, thank you.

These shifters, or whatever the hell you wanna call them,

have been nothing but a nuisance to this city.

All funding will be through me and my department.

There's gonna be a few conditions, though.

First is, this has to be a completely covert operation.

Anything and everything you report comes directly to me.

- Got it.

- Also, no firearms are to be used, or it's my ass.

We know a lot more about these shifters

than we did a few years ago, so it shouldn't be a problem.

But God forbid, if anything goes wrong,

I'll have to deny ever knowing you or meeting you.

- [Alex] That's not a problem.

- Good.

- Thank you again. I mean,

and don't worry, the team I have is nothing big,

so it'll be real discreet.

- I don't need to know who they are. I trust your judgment.

[newspaper rustling]

Anything you need, just let me know.

We'll be in touch.

- Thank you.

[birds squawking] [pensive music continues]

[train rattling] [pensive music continues]

[footsteps plodding] [pensive music continues]

You took four days off,

and all you did was think about this crap?

I worry about you.

- Fair enough. [pensive music continues]

[train rattling]

- [Alex] Just got off the phone with our buddy, Troy.

Got us more leads.

- Awesome, maybe we should let him join the team.

He seems to be a pretty valuable asset.

- I mean, everyone needs a tech guy, don't they?

- True that. - That's true.

That's true. He's gotten us a ton of leads so far.

Check it out.

[folder clattering]

[TV character speaking indistinctly]

[brooding music]

[door clattering]

[foot thudding]

Look, bud, we're on your side, all right?

Just come quiet, and no one has to get hurt.

[shifter inhaling] [tense music]

Easy, buddy, easy.

It's all right.

[pan clanging]

[body thudding] [pensive music]

- What?

- [Dispatcher] Possible GTA suspect there now,

4730 Crystal Springs Drive in the parking lot

above the Merry-Go-Round.

Two males, no further description.

[static hissing]

- [Dispatcher] Calling all units, 1020 on Main Street.

Suspect is Caucasian male wearing

a dark leather jacket with a neck tattoo.

Be advised, suspect is armed and dangerous.

- That's our guy.

- Yeah, it sounds like it.

- Yeah, that's got to be him. Daniel, you good?

- Yeah, yeah, I'm just trying not to get electrocuted again.

That motherfucker got me good last time.

- Yeah, I hear ya.

- You know, if you want, Alex and I,

we could just handle this, and you could stay back.

- Me? No, I'm good.

Let's do this. - You sure?

- Let's do this. - All right.

[brooding music]

- Son of a bitch.

That's gotta be him, right there.

- [JM] Yeah.

- Daniel. - All right, let's go.

- Thanks, man. - Yep.

- All right, let's do this.

[traffic whooshing] [brooding music continues]

[footsteps plodding]

You know, something tells me that TV isn't yours.

- Yeah? You don't look like cops to me.

- My name's Alex, and we're not cops.

I'm just a guy looking to help out.

This isn't a path you wanna be on, man.

Trust me. - Oh, thank God, Alex.

I've been waiting my whole life for someone to come along

and offer me some help, but guess what?

You can go fuck yourself 'cause I don't need your help.

So unless you and your princess posse

wanna help me set up my new TV,

you guys should probably get the hell outta here.

- Afraid I can't do that.

[brooding music continues]

[electricity hissing]

[TV thuds] [JM grunting]

Good?

[TV clattering]

- Alex, Alex, Alex.

Tonight is a very special night

because I don't think that I've properly introduced you

to my best friend. [electricity buzzing]

This is Wendy, and Wendy here has broken

so many faces. [electricity buzzing]

So which one of you bitches wants to go first?

- Cool story, bro.

Daniel here already put away one

of your relatives a while back.

- Get the hell out of here, man, Shane Pierce?

You guys took down Zeus?

[laughs] I don't buy it, man.

Very, very funny, but I don't buy it.

- Got the scars to prove it.

- Frankly, I'm surprised you're still standing,

but don't worry, I promise you tonight

I'm gonna finish the job.

- We should flank him. - Tell him to zip it, Alex,

or I'm gonna crack his fucking jaw.

[electricity hissing] [brooding music continues]

- You know, you try to be nice.

- Alex, I was really starting to like you.

[fighters grunting] [dramatic music]

[feet shuffling]

[fighters grunting] [dramatic music continues]

[fist thudding]

[crowbar clanging]

What the hell?

- Rubber.

[fighters grunting] [dramatic music continues]

[feet pattering]

[fighters grunting] [dramatic music continues]

- Shit, Alex. - You want that?

- I don't need that. I'm just getting started.

[fists thudding] [fighters grunting]

- Come on.

[fists thudding] [fighters grunting]

- Oh, Alex, this was a lot of fun,

probably the most fun I had in a long time.

What do you say after this we get a beer-

- It's cool, man. - at the bar, huh?

- [Alex] Daniel.

- Yo, what you want, bitch?

[body thudding]

[crowbar clanging]

- I couldn't listen to that asshole talk anymore.

- You know I had that covered. - I know.

- Clean hit, man.

- [Shop Owner] Hey, thirsty?

- Nah, I, I'm good, no thanks.

- You know, you're my most loyal customer.

[engines humming]

I see you in front of my shop almost every day.

- Oh, sorry, I, I can leave if you want me to.

- No, no, no worry.

It's kinda nice having the company.

It's been so quiet around here lately.

I mean, I'm not complaining,

a lot less chaos.

My shop hasn't been robbed in a while.

[both laughing] [birds chirping]

Yeah, that Chief Moretti's doing a great job

cleaning up this city.

[pensive music]

- [sighs] Yeah.

- You seem like a nice guy.

Should be careful where you sleep around here.

Still shifters out there causing trouble.

- I wouldn't worry about that.

I got a good place.

- That's good.

Well, time to get back to work.

Oh, and, uh, just remember, everyone has their struggles,

but it's up to you to have the strength to push forward.

At least that's what I've heard.

See ya. [feet shuffling]

[pensive music]

[door clattering]

[gravel crunching] [pensive music continues]

[crickets chirping] [pensive music continues]

- I knew I'd find you here eventually.

Took the SIM card out of your phone.

It's a rookie move if you asked me.

You tired of stealing yet?

- What? Powerhouse give you the day off?

- I don't know where he's at.

- [laughs] Some leader, too busy being a big shot.

He forgot about the ones that got him there, huh?

- At least Vince is trying to do the right thing.

Look, I'm not here to talk about him.

It's you I'm worried about.

[scoffs] Look at you.

- You have no idea what I've been through.

So how dare you come down here and judge me?

- You made that choice, John.

No one gave up but you.

- [JM] I didn't want to, Danny.

- You decided to leave.

You decided to run and hide.

You left us, man.

[JM breathing heavily]

- Don't.

Do you have any idea what it's like waking up

every single day wishing it was me

[hand thudding]

instead of him?

Look at me, Danny.

You think I enjoy this?

I live every single day looking over my shoulder thinking,

"Is today the day they find me?"

You know, sometimes I just wish they would already.

- Come on, man.

You and I both know

that it wasn't your fault that shit happened.

No one knew what was going down.

Just, just come back, and we can fix this.

- No. [sighs]

It's better this way.

- [Daniel] John.

- [sighs] Have a good day, Danny.

- Dammit.

[feet shuffling] [pensive music continues]

[opera vocalist singing in foreign language]

- Who would've thought a career in politics

would be so damn tedious?

Should have ran for chief of police like Michael.

- [Andre] This city needs someone like you.

I commend both you and your cousin.

- Well, I appreciate that.

[briefcase clattering]

[latches clicking]

[brooding music]

[briefcase thuds]

To loyalty and friendship.

[opera vocalist singing in foreign language]

- All right, I'm off.

Don't forget to vote. I'm your guy.

- [Andre] You'll always have my vote, Carlo.

[footsteps plodding] [brooding music continues]

- Pretty boy.

[cork popping and thudding]

- [Andre] Shut the door.

[liquid sloshing] [door clattering]

[bottle thuds] [pensive music continues]

Feet off.

You're an hour early.

- Oh, yeah, man, I got stuff to do later.

- [Andre] I'm over here trying to conduct business,

and you wanna show up an hour early.

- Man, fancy pants ain't even seen nothing, man.

He looking good with the,

the donation money and all of that.

Like, he ain't seen nothing, man.

- [Andre] I do those things to protect us.

So what was so important that you had to come

to my office an hour early?

- Well, [exhales] well, you know it's my day off.

So I'm thinking I'm going to the strip club.

Let me, no, I ain't, I can't, I can't.

$20 bills inside the strip, oh,

you know what they gonna do, boy? [laughs]

Anyway, that's what I'm about to do.

Huh?

- [Andre] I don't, because you won't be there.

[cash rustling]

- It's my night off, bro.

- [Andre] Yeah, but see, that's the thing about nights off.

Business doesn't stop.

You took an hour out of my time.

I'm gonna take some time out of yours.

So what you're doing tonight, you're gonna go with Laza.

- Tonight, bro?

Man, I thought, I, I, I thought we was gonna wait.

Like, I got, I thought we was gonna wait.

That, that was, that was the plan.

- [Andre] No, no, I'm done waiting.

There's no time like the present.

- Uh, hold on. Who, who am I going with?

- [Andre] Laza.

- [sighs] Primo, that, it ain't even funny, bro.

That's not even, come on, man.

He do not stop talking,

like, like, like, at all,

like, like, like, like, at all.

- [Andre] That's good, that's good

because you see what you're doing here?

You do the exact same thing.

So y'all got two things in common.

You don't shut up either.

You wouldn't be nothing without me.

Remember that. [gentle music]

[engine humming]

[brush rasping]

- Hey, it's been a couple months.

Have you heard from him yet?

- Yeah, I talked to my mom last week,

and she said she really misses me,

but my dad threatens to call the cops

if I even come near the house.

- What the hell? That's crazy.

- [laughs] I know, right?

- They're just scared.

People are scared of what they don't understand.

The good thing is you won't have to be around that psycho.

- You're probably right.

I don't know. It's just stupid.

- Look, I know. Just give it some time.

They'll come around.

In the meantime, I want you to stop worrying.

Go home. Get some rest.

I don't like seeing you like this.

- So you're just gonna fire me?

- Yeah.

[Lauren laughs] No, of course not.

That'll mean my dad will make me do double the work.

- [Lauren] [laughs] It's true.

- Just take some days off.

Relax. Recenter.

- Fine.

Thank you, seriously.

- Don't sweat it.

I'll always be there for you, girl.

- [Lauren] [laughs]? Me too.

- You need a ride? - No, that's okay.

It's only a five-minute walk anyway to the apartment.

- All right, be safe, though.

Keep an eye out for those shifters.

- [laughs] Yeah, all right.

Have a good night. - Night.

[pensive music]

♪ Tell 'em I'm staying right here ♪

♪ Tell 'em I'm switching my gear ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Tell 'em I'm just getting started ♪

♪ Tell 'em this year is my year, eh ♪

♪ Tell 'em I'm staying right here ♪

♪ Tell 'em I'm switching my gear ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Tell 'em I'm just getting started ♪

♪ Tell 'em this year is my year, eh ♪

♪ I been this real since the womb ♪

- [Laza] I'm getting tired, man.

How much longer do we have to stay here for?

- [Marcus] Shouldn't be too much longer.

- Do you even know when she's supposed to show up?

- It shouldn't be too much longer.

- [Laza] Listen, man, I cannot stay here all night.

I have a female waiting for me at the house.

[Marcus laughing]

- You funny, boy.

You know as well as I know ain't nobody

at that house waiting on you.

- Screw you, man.

Man, what you know about females anyway?

Females don't wanna date a hothead like you.

You know what? I can picture the date right now.

Female ask you, "Oh, what's your hobbies?"

And you're like, "Oh, you know, I have a little drug empire,

and I like to kidnap people in my free time."

- [laughs] Yes, sir.

- [Laza] Solid relationship right there, huh?

- Oh, so you a gentleman, Mr. Mercenary.

- Hey, at least I got morals.

- Forget your morals.

[zipper whizzing]

Yes, sir. [laughs]

Badaboom, badabing.

- Bro, you gotta do that right now?

- I'm going to mind my business. You should, too.

[syringe clanking]

- Seriously?

[hand smacking]

- [Marcus] Oh, shit.

- Should have just stayed home, man.

- You should have. You should have stayed home.

You, you could have stayed home, too.

- What do you even need me here for, man?

- I really don't need you.

Andre sent you here.

But you know I got a record, my boy, huh?

And that's the reason you here.

Do you have any more questions for me?

- Who is she? - You'll see.

- Is she a shifter? - You will see.

What I need you to do is be swift and on your A game.

When you go in there,

[hands smacking]

quick, quick, quick, my boy, all right?

I got a plan that she won't even see us coming, all right?

But you, on the other hand,

use your brain and not your mouth.

[traffic whooshing]

[light clinks]

[footsteps plodding]

[brooding music]

[both grunting]

[elbow and foot thudding]

- Is that all you got?

[Laza grunting] [tense music]

[footsteps plodding] [tense music continues]

[hand smacking] [Lauren grunts]

- Damn, man, you didn't have to hit her so hard.

- Your bitch ass ain't had to get knocked out either.

- You didn't tell me she could fight.

- Man, pick the, pick this girl up, and let's go.

[feet shuffling]

Hello.

Yeah, we got her.

[phone thuds] [brooding music continues]

[engine churning]

[door clattering] [engine humming]

[pensive music]

[train whirring]

[spray can hissing]

[spray can rattling]

[spray can hissing]

[feet shuffling] [spray can rattling]

[spray can hissing]

[pensive music]

[spray can rattling] [pensive music continues]

[paper rasping]

- Huh, well, that's weird.

It says here our boy is missing.

- Let me see that. [paper rustling]

- I guess Troy does make mistakes.

- Mauricio Harper, age 29.

Says he went missing about a month ago.

- He does know we're not detectives, right?

- I say we check it out. It's got his address on here.

- It's been a month. What's the point?

- I say we check it.

Doesn't hurt to look.

- Let's do it.

- [sighs] Saddle up.

[traffic whooshing]

[door clattering]

[static hissing]

[air whooshing]

[static hissing] [footsteps plodding]

[air whooshing]

[Mariah grunting]

[elbow thudding]

- Ease up on her.

Okay.

So you said you're Mauricio's sister, right?

- [Mariah] Yes.

- So what were you doing at his house

if he wasn't even home?

- As I said before, I haven't seen him in a while.

And he hasn't been answering his phone.

So I went to his house to make sure he was okay.

When I went there, the door was unlocked.

I walked in, and he wasn't there.

- When's the last time you talked to him?

- Like a month ago.

He got a new job, and they're paying him really well.

That's last I heard from him.

- He didn't say where he got a job?

I mean, you guys are close, right?

- No.

- Come on, Alex. Don't tell me you believe this shit.

She was covering up the crime scene.

[Mariah speaking Spanish]

- I don't speak Spanish.

Didn't you realize that-

- Daniel. - sweetheart?

- Come on, man. - Yeah, yeah, yeah.

- Come on. - Keep talking.

- Come on, Daniel. [sighs]

Look, Mariah,

we are just looking to help you, okay?

- Are you?

- We're just trying to help find your brother.

So if there's anything else

that you're not telling us, please.

[pensive music]

- This new job was selling drugs.

He didn't said so,

but I know Mauricio more than anyone else.

He's a good person. He really is.

He just gets caught up with the wrong people.

That's all I know.

- Okay, all right.

Thank you, Mariah.

We're gonna get you out of here soon, okay?

Just hang tight.

- What'd you find? - Nothing.

She's totally clean.

I don't think she even knows her brother's a shifter.

- So what now?

- Nothing we could do.

If anyone finds out we took a non-shifter into custody,

we'd be done for.

- So that's it?

We're not gonna do anything?

- [Daniel] He's right. They'd crucify us.

- Nothing we could do.

[pensive music continues]

[feet shuffling] [pensive music continues]

[pensive music continues]

- Got a good one, boys. Check it out.

- Nice. - Jesus.

[paper rasping]

JM, you realize this isn't a shifter.

- Yeah, I know, but I got a tip a while back

about where he lives, and he just popped back up

on the radar right after doing time, too.

- John, why are you looking into small-time thugs again?

- [JM] Trust me, if we can take down this dude,

we'd be doing the city a huge favor.

- [Daniel] Alex, check this out.

[paper rustling] [pensive music continues]

- [sighs] Let's see here.

Oh, nice, you got surveillance pictures, too, huh?

All right, Marcus McKinnely, also known as Apex,

6'5", 240 pounds.

- He's a big boy, huh? - Yeah.

Uh, let's see, aggravated assault,

distribution and trafficking of methamphetamine,

manslaughter, damn, who the hell bailed this guy out?

- Sounds like a great catch.

- Let's leave this guy for the feds, man.

- Come on.

We finally have a chance to prove ourselves.

- Listen, our job is very simple.

We arrest shifters and let the court sort 'em out.

This guy isn't even in our district.

- Alex, this is it.

This will prove to everyone that we are the good guys.

- [Daniel] I mean, he's got a point.

- Yeah, but even if we wanted to, there are laws in place

that give normal criminals an edge over us,

one of them being that they could legally possess firearms.

- Since when are you guys afraid of guns?

- It's not me I'm worried about.

- Who, Troy, Vince?

- [Alex] Yeah.

- We'll just have 'em hang back until we finish.

It'll be a couple of hours.

Don't overthink this, man.

Daniel, you in?

Alex, come on, man.

We need this.

- All right, all right, okay, all right, let's do it.

Let's do it. Come on.

Come on, come on. - Come on.

- [Troy] What's up, guys?

- Hey, what's up? - What's up?

- Hey, what's up? - How was training?

- Really good, he's learning fast.

- It's about time little, uh, Vinny caught up.

- It's about time you stop wearing sunglasses inside.

[friends laughing]

- What do you want us to do?

- I just want you guys to stay here for a while

and hold down the fort till we get back.

- Are you kidding me? Why?

- Because I need someone to be here to take in leads.

- That's bullshit, man.

- Chill, Vince.

- I've been working my ass off with you.

You told me I was ready.

- Yeah, and you're doing great,

but I can't have you out there getting killed.

- But I am ready.

[hand thuds] [items clattering]

- Vince. [brooding music]

All right, guys, suit up. We move out at 2100.

[fists bumping] [brooding music continues]

[phone buzzing] [brooding music continues]

- [Marcus] Hello.

- [Andre] You with Laza? [water sloshing]

- [Marcus] Nah, it's just me, bro.

Just say the word, man. I can handle it, bro.

- [Andre] Make sure to keep a low profile.

We don't need any more heat on us right now.

- [Marcus] [sighs] It's about time.

Yo, tell me something.

What about your boy?

[water sloshing] [laid-back music]

Hello? ♪ Michael Jordan ♪

♪ Give me the rock, and I'm scoring ♪

♪ Hey, came from the bottom ♪

- He said keep a low profile. [laughs]

Man, that's my middle name.

♪ I need the money and power, respect ♪

♪ But I promise I'm repping the O till the death ♪

♪ Hey, hey, hey, oof ♪

♪ I told 'em, out of my way ♪

♪ I don't got nothing to say ♪

♪ Now they can't run at my pace ♪

♪ Nah ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ They know that we ain't the same ♪

♪ 402, we rep the gang ♪

♪ I told 'em this ain't a game ♪

♪ Nah, nah, nah ♪

[gentle piano music]

[door squeaking and clattering]

- Be right with ya.

[item rasping] [mellow music]

[piano resonating]

Can I, uh, help you find something?

- It's a nice store, man.

- Thanks, man. - It's a fucking nice store.

- Appreciate it. - How long you had it?

- [Shop Owner] Uh, 10 years now.

- Really? - Yeah.

- This has been here 10 years?

- 10 years, yeah. - No way.

No, no way.

You, so you know the people around here.

- Yeah. - Well, well familiar.

- [Shop Owner] Yeah, you know, good people.

- It's good, man. It's a nice store.

Tell me something, hey.

Um, so, so I, I've been in the area helping out a lot

of the, uh, the homeless people.

Um, uh, but I've, I've yet to find this one particular one.

- Uh-huh. - Um, this black guy,

he's about this, this tall.

You haven't seen him around here?

- [Shop Owner] Uh, no, I don't, I don't think so. Why?

[Marcus laughs] [mellow music continues]

- You don't think so or?

- [Shop Owner] No, man, I, I, I haven't seen him, sorry.

- Just a minute ago, you said you are very familiar

with the folks around here.

- Uh, I, I haven't seen him.

Uh, I'm sorry.

[Marcus laughs]

- You better not be lying to me.

[shop owner laughs]

It'd be misfortunate.

[shop owner laughs]

What's funny?

Thought it was funny?

- Nah, just don't know what to say.

Uh...

- Tell me something, man. Let me ask you a question.

You like these glasses?

- Yeah, sure.

- [Marcus] Hold 'em. [brooding music]

What you think?

- Not bad. - Tell me something.

Why you looking me in my eyes lying to me, man?

- [Shop Owner] I'm not.

[Marcus laughs] [brooding music continues]

- I wouldn't do that if I was you.

See, a lot of folks tried.

[glasses clanking]

But I'm still alive.

They not.

Do me a favor, man. [laughs]

Hey, no one's seen me here.

You know what I mean?

- Course not.

- [Marcus] Nobody know I was what?

- Course not. - Oh.

[item clattering]

Be unfortunate, man.

It'd be unfortunate.

[door squeaking and clattering]

[birds squawking] [water sloshing]

- [Alex] Man, I thought you quit on me.

- Oh. [laughs]

What's up, bro?

Yeah, I needed a few days to clear my head.

- Yeah, you and me both.

Gotta say, though, it's been kinda nice

without you stealing all the glory.

- I can't help it. You guys are all slow.

[Alex laughs]

- Yeah, well, I can't watch your back forever.

Who's gonna keep you out of trouble if I'm not around?

- Who's looking out for who?

Did you forget about downtown where I had

to whoop those guys who were throwing hands with you?

- Yeah, right. [pensive music]

You just wanted an excuse to beat up some douchebags.

- You're right.

- [laughs] I know I'm right.

- The team miss me yet?

- No, not really.

- Yeah, I figured.

- Something on your mind?

[JM sighs] [pensive music continues]

- You could say that.

I don't know. I'm just thinking.

Are we really making a difference out there?

- You serious?

The city's cleaner than it's ever been because of us.

- It's been three years now, man,

putting away how many shifters,

but we can't lay hands on any of the normal criminals?

No one knows who we are, man.

- John, I've told you this.

We are the only organization that does what we do.

It takes time to build trust.

- Yeah, I guess you got a point.

- All right, you know what?

I'm hearing all this self-pity,

but you seem to be forgetting something.

There have only ever been three types of shifters

to ever exist, with the exception of you.

I'm serious, bro.

You have so much potential.

I see the same potential in both you and Vince.

[JM laughs]

- Yeah, Vince.

- Oh, come on, man.

He could have easily turned out

like all those other criminals.

He chose not to be a product of his environment.

- And what about that, uh, nice temper of his?

- [Alex] Yeah, you'd have one too if you're abused

almost your whole childhood.

- Everyone's got a sob story, bro.

I don't buy it.

- I've seen what he's been through.

We've trained him to be better.

- Maybe.

But what if one day he decides he doesn't need us anymore?

Are you really willing to bet all of your chips on him?

What happens when you piss off

one of the most powerful shifters alive?

- Nah, you know that's not Vince.

Yeah, he's strong.

But with our guidance, he could be one of the best.

- Yeah, I don't know about that, man.

Still gonna keep an eye on him, though.

- Course, you will, you paranoid son of a bitch.

- I'm not paranoid, just cautious.

- [laughs] Okay, you took four days off

and all you did was think about this crap?

I worry about you.

- Fair enough.

- Don't overthink it, man.

Look, I gotta head out, all right?

[hands smacking]

No more vacation time, or I'm gonna send Daniel after you.

- Oh, snap, uh-uh.

- [Alex] Better be scared.

- I'm good.

[Alex laughs]

- Later, man. - See ya.

[birds squawking] [pensive music continues]

[engines humming]

[footsteps plodding]

[hand thudding] [dramatic music]

- Ah, nah, nah, what's up, man?

You, you remember me?

Of course, you do.

What's it been, about two years?

I'm much stronger than the last time.

You see me?

You probably wondering how I found your ass, huh?

You know we got our connections, right?

And you know another thing I heard?

I heard that you can just feel

when you don't got oxygen, hmm?

You know, my brother wants me to bring your ass back alive.

[Marcus laughs]

That's what's happening, you know?

[tense music]

[glass shattering]

Is that all you got, Eidolon?

Stupid.

Eidolon.

I'm gonna get you, boy.

[JM coughing]

[engine humming] [brooding music]

[feet shuffling] [brooding music continues]

[JM exhales]

[feet shuffling] [brooding music continues]

[Marcus groaning]

I'm gonna kill you.

Ah.

I know how I'm gonna get you, boy.

I'ma get you.

[brooding music continues]

[lighter clicking]

[Andre exhales]

- [Andre] So I'm assuming he's still in the car.

[Marcus sighs]

[liquid sloshing]

- Who's still in the car, huh?

- [Andre] You underestimated him.

[Marcus groaning]

Where's Laza?

- He, he's not picking up the phone.

He, he's not picking, I, I told you, though.

This time I told you.

- [Andre] Mercenaries, so unreliable.

- I should have just, [groans]

I should have just kept squeezing the life out of him.

[hand thuds] [ominous music]

- I told you to capture him, not kill him.

[fire crackling]

He's clinging onto what little he has left.

- What, what you expect me to do, Primo?

What do you expect me to do, huh?

- [Andre] We make him come to us now.

- What are you, bro, what are you,

I just spent the last five hours chasing him.

You see what I'm saying?

- And that was five hours of you wasting my time.

See, little bro, this is why I have contingencies.

With power comes the ability to delegate.

And we just sit back

and watch it all play out.

[train rattling] [brooding music]

[Marcus mumbling]

[Marcus groaning] [fist thudding]

- Ah. [brooding music continues]

[syringe tapping] [brooding music continues]

[brooding music continues]

[jacket rustling]

[Marcus exhales]

[syringe clanking]

[thunder rumbling]

[gunshot blasting]

[Marcus breathing heavily] [brooding music continues]

[shoes squeaking]

[body thudding] [brooding music continues]

[steel curtain clattering]

It's been a while since I felt pain like this.

Where the hell did you get that gun?

- Friend of yours, the black hoodie.

- Whoa, whoa, whoa, look, I'm not here to hurt you.

Look, I, I don't know why they're after you, man.

And honestly, I don't wanna know.

They have this girl, and I think she's still alive.

Those brothers, man, they're up to some bad shit.

I want no part of it.

I didn't have a choice.

[gun clanking] [thunder rumbling]

But you do. [brooding music continues]

[gun clanking]

[thunder clapping] [brooding music continues]

- I guess you weren't the only one tailing me,

and he told me where to find you.

- It's Laza, huh? [scoffs]

He talk too fucking much.

- You took everything from me.

You took my best friend.

- I'm not the one who killed him.

It was my brother, man.

- Oh, yeah?

Well, then how did he know we'd be there that night, huh?

Someone must have told him.

- You know as well as I know.

My brother knows a lot of individuals.

[Marcus laughs]

For all we know, could have been that police chief,

you know, your buddy buddy, huh?

Or, or I got a great one. [laughs]

[Marcus coughing]

Could have been one of those friends of yours, man.

- People like you, you're the reason they hate,

and the violence never stops.

Must run in the McKinnely family.

It was your scumbag father I was after.

Took my dad when I had nobody else to go to.

So I stayed patient, took my time,

and the moment your name popped up,

you better believe I took my chance.

- That's what this is about, man?

Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

- What are you mumbling about?

- He, he adopted me and Andre, you know, when we were young.

Your dad, he used to work for him.

He stole something very valuable, man.

But the funny thing is,

after he died, we all forgot about him

till the night that you popped up. [laughs]

- [JM] What the hell are you talking about?

- You opened up a can of worms

you was not prepared for, man.

You know, for the longest time,

this city's been run by two families, man.

You know the Morettis

and yours truly, my beautiful McKinnelys.

They hired a team of bioengineers to make this drug,

and what they did was

they sold this shit in the fucking, in the slums.

You know the hood went crazy about it. [laughs]

Some people couldn't take it, and they OD'd.

Others, it made us into shifters.

But in the end, we all just failed experiments.

- What's that supposed to mean?

- I harvest the strongest of them,

you know, to perfect the serum.

Just imagine this,

having something at your disposal that is like,

how did he explain it?

God.

The mob has that in their control, man.

They are untouchable.

Tell me something, though. [laughs]

Was it worth it?

Going against your friends

just to get the revenge your heart desires.

- You have no idea what you're talking about.

You have no right.

- Just do it already, man. [laughs]

- Where's the girl?

- Uh, Andre probably have her locked away somewhere, man,

where he keep the others,

all of his damn puppets and slaves.

You grew up in a nice family.

I wish I did.

Probably would have come out like you, you know?

But no.

Apex, Apex, everybody hate Apex.

[hands thudding] [pensive music continues]

- You're gonna grow to be a strong man.

You're gonna make a difference in this world.

I know it.

[JM exhales]

- But I think I'm gonna do things my way.

- You're a funny man, Eidolon.

Run while you still got a chance, man.

- Been doing that for way too long.

[Marcus panting]

Think I'm done running.

[thunder rumbling] [pensive music continues]

[pieces thudding] [pensive music continues]

[thunder rumbling]

[piece thuds] [pensive music continues]

♪ Everything is two-fold ♪

♪ What's joy is pain on the other hand ♪

♪ And what happens when the one that you love ♪

♪ Is the the main cause of your suffering ♪

[glass thuds]

♪ I need you like I need air to breathe ♪

♪ I need you to save me from me ♪

♪ I'm caught in your wave, I'm drifting away ♪

♪ I need you to save me ♪

♪ Please don't let me drown ♪

♪ Please don't let me drown ♪

- [JM] The horrible things that happen in this life

can either break you down and tear you apart,

or they can make you unstoppable.

The choice is yours.

♪ Give me all of your lies ♪

♪ 'Cause you're my demon in disguise ♪

♪ I've learned to love the cage you keep me in ♪

♪ But the walls keep closing in ♪

♪ And I don't wanna die ♪

♪ But your poison feels so right ♪

♪ Why do I want you when you're bad for me ♪

♪ My perfect storm, my beautiful catastrophe ♪

♪ My perfect storm, my beautiful catastrophe ♪

♪ I feel like I'm drowning ♪

♪ With all of this darkness surrounding ♪

♪ You need me like you need air to breathe ♪

♪ You want me to save you from me ♪

♪ I know that you're trapped inside this wave ♪

♪ Who's gonna save you ♪

♪ Who's gonna save you from me ♪

♪ I can't see you drown ♪

♪ I can't see you drown ♪

♪ I can't see you drown ♪

♪ I can't see you drown ♪

[cape rustling] [pensive music]

[dispatchers speaking indistinctly]

- [Caller] We lost him.

[static hissing] [pensive music continues]

You're up. [radio beeps]

[dispatchers speaking indistinctly]