Original subtitles

Axelrod. Yeah.

Happy? Hey, Cobb. What are you doing, slumming?

Never a slum when you were around, Elliot.

I didn't know, but I think you were flirting with me.

Yeah, but like you say, you know better.

Hey, you got plans for tonight?

You asking me out?

Because if you're asking me out, I gotta warn you.

I don't mess around on the first date.

Date?

Dating's for wimps.

We were just headed out on a search warrant.

I thought you might like to come along.

You know, do some real police work.

Gee, Peg.

When you ask me like that, how could I say no?

past you.

Planning on helping?

James, Dean, Chris Howell. What happened?

That's a long, sad story.

Oh, Ben.

Thank God, take over this call.

Miss Kaufman, I've been with my client.

You may find him a little taciturn.

Assume he's hardened, which is hardly the case.

What might be mistaken for a rude and unpleasant attitude is actually just the

result of depression.

Terrible depression.

He's in the depths of despair over becoming entangled in the machinery of

jurisprudence. Give me a cigarette.

You may be a little dubious, Jamie, but I can assure you that there is a lot

to be gained by putting our heads together and finding terms that are

agreeable to us all.

Mr. Sizemore, if your client isn't interested in a plea, why are you

wasting our time and his?

Shame on you, Ms. Kaufman.

You of all people should know that sometimes these fellows are frightened

by the process.

They don't know the kind of people that they're dealing with. Your client was

found calmly cooking a hamburger in the same room with the body of the man he

had tortured and then killed.

Ms. Kaufman.

I have assured Jamie D that you are a kind, kind lady.

So how about manslaughter?

I don't think so.

He was terribly upset.

He had been most vilely treated by Mr. Wellams.

But if it's no to manslaughter, then no it is.

How about second degree?

Now, that's fair.

This is a man who has suffered some of life's harder knocks.

For God's sakes, Ms. Kaufman, walk a mile in his shoes.

Take a look into this poor... Shut up.

Are you gonna give me a real lawyer, damn it?

Want the meanest, toughest, smartest lawyer in Chicago?

I don't do pro bono work unless forced to.

Oh, no, Ms. Zombrow, this fella says he can pay.

He asked me to get him the meanest, the toughest defense lawyer in Chicago.

So naturally, I thought of you.

And smartest. Did I mention smartest?

Oh, pretty was specified.

Thank you, Mr. Sizemore.

But I am not interested in your client.

I don't troll for bottom feeders.

I leave that to the public defender's office.

Well, that's quite unkind.

Mrs. Zombrow would never have taken you for being unkind.

Besides, if this individual has made his way into your company, I doubt that he

can meet my fees.

Oh, oh, oh.

That's a lot of bank accounts.

Remains to be seen if there's a lot of money in them.

Um, well, it was a pleasure meeting you, Ms. Zombrow. And you, Mr. Sizemore.

Fine.

Oh, Bruce, would you come in here a minute, please?

Yes. We're ascertaining the sovereignty of a potential client.

You got it.

Chris, get me Lou Straker.

A lot of money for a lowlife.

But is he one of your lowlifes?

Maggie. Maggie, why so judgmental?

How do we differ?

Both defend guilty people for lots of money. I don't touch the mob, Lou.

The odor lingers.

Think he's a gunslinger? I think there's a chance.

That's chump change for a dealer, and the amounts are too regular for either

fencing or robbery.

Find out for me.

Always happy to be of service.

Don't even think about it.

Hey, cop.

Clausen's liberal heart was bleeding more than usual today.

She let those mimes walk on $10,000 bail.

Picking pockets in the park, Elliot?

I don't think it rates a million dollars.

You still sore?

Yes. And in the future, kindly leave me out of your little parties.

Just trying to keep you from losing your edge.

Edge. Later.

What?

Are you a cop again?

I am a cop.

My cop.

All right, come along now.

Now listen to me. Next time y'all have got to talk. None of this talk or the

judge is going to put you in jail. She will put you in jail.

I've got clients who want my services.

I'll let Mr. Sizemore know he's back in the mound.

Took your own damn time getting here, didn't you?

Wanted to see if you'd pass a vet check.

Mean, huh?

Smart woman.

Yeah, you'll do.

Are there any surprises here?

What do you mean?

I presume you're entering a plea of not guilty.

Whatever.

You just gotta waste a little time and my friends can contact you.

You know, file all those motions.

Crap like that.

And what friends might these be?

Powerful people.

Influential people.

You'll be hearing from them.

Are you planning on discussing these little friends on the stand?

I didn't want to go that far. I'm gonna walk on this.

My friends will see to that.

I thought that was my job.

Listen, I'm skating out of this.

Good as I am.

I doubt even I can produce an acquittal.

Honey, this ain't going to trial.

Can your friends cloud more minds than just yours?

The cops have you dead to rights on this one.

You'll see.

By the way, you may have convinced me you're rowing with only one oar.

But that won't serve as an insanity defense.

I found something interesting in Jamie D's case.

Five identical killings in five different states. Where?

New Mexico, Arizona, California, Florida, and Texas.

Yeah. Oh yeah, he was there.

I think maybe we have another...

Serial killer.

The people versus Christopher, case number 7323.

No word yet out of your mysterious friends.

Plenty of time yet.

How pleads your client, Miss Umbro? Not guilty, Your Honor.

Blind justice will now entertain supplicants at her hem.

Veiled, Miss Kaufman.

Given the viciousness of the crime and the defendant's prior criminal record,

we believe him to be both a danger to the community and an unacceptable flight

risk. We request that bail be denied.

Your Honor, this recent move to deny criminal defendants bail works an

unconscionable hardship and I would argue violates the Eighth Amendment's

ban against cruel and unusual punishment. Miss Ambrose, save your

eloquence and loquaciousness for the trial.

$100,000.

I think not.

Bail denied.

People versus Howe.

Case number 7324.

What are the possibilities for a deal?

None.

It took Johnny Wellams three days to die.

This man is too dangerous.

I don't want there to be even the hope of parole.

Hey. Call down to New Mexico. Told them about Jamie D and the killings here.

I learned some interesting stuff.

Stuff.

A great all-American word.

Anyway, the victim and the lookalike killing.

was also a suspected drug dealer. And yes, I've already put in calls to the

other states to see if the pattern continues.

Yeah, they know that.

These guys are always fixating on cleaning up society or punishing women

or something.

Anyway, Jamie D was busted for some kind of drug beef before the first killing.

But a deal was arranged with the head of the drug task force down in Las Cruces,

a guy named... Donovan Black, who, just by interesting coincidence, is here

in Chicago.

Now.

Go see him. I will.

After lunch.

Now. Now? Yes, now.

How about I turn this tuna sandwich into a tuna melt?

Special Agent Donovan Black?

Who wants to know?

They teach you federal boys not to point guns at strangers.

You keep that up, you're going to be using that thing for a toothpick.

I'm Special Agent Donovan Black.

Vicki Cobb.

DA's office.

This guy doesn't look smart enough to get to law school.

Children, children.

How may we assist you, Detective?

My boss is prosecuting a guy by the name of James Dean Christopher.

Seems you boys had a little run-in with him down in New Mexico.

I tried to find out what you know about him.

Popped him for dealing? No, murder one.

Really?

Well, I'm sorry, detective, I really can't tell you much. He acted as an

informant for us.

Other than that, I know very little about the man.

You seem to remember him well enough.

Agent Black is one of the most decorated officers in the drug task force, Dickie.

Because he doesn't forget anything, and he never overlooks anything.

You have them well trained, Agent Black.

Do they also strew rose petals in front of you when you walk?

Well said, Detective Cobb, and we're nicely repaid for our earlier rudeness.

Good luck on nailing your killer, huh?

You know, Detective, despite a natural rivalry, we're all on the same side,

right?

Take care.

You know,

it's odd, but whenever I go visit the feds, I always want to

take a shower afterwards.

Hygiene aside, I've got nothing.

Mr. Black is, uh, very slick.

He's not very forthcoming.

So, if that's all, I've got some stuff I gotta do.

Stuff?

No. My writing days with Peggy Elliott are over.

Thank you very much.

She thinks that dating is for wimps. So you date Asgore?

No, it just came up in the conversation. It... Oh, never mind. It's not very...

Oh, man. Sometimes I wonder about being single.

You like being single?

No.

You? It's okay.

Sometimes I get lonely.

But I would rather be lonely alone.

and miserable with someone I didn't love.

That's Kaufman's office.

Yeah, we'll be right there.

Gold.

Apparently, there's an outstanding drug charge in New Mexico.

Yeah, but they cut a deal with him, so he worked for them. Well, apparently,

they've decided they'd rather improve their conviction rate.

This doesn't make any sense, Arthur. Why pull him away from a charge of first

-degree murder and give him 5 to 15 for a drug beef?

They're the feds. Why do they do anything?

Don't dismiss this. This man is a stone-cold killer, and I do not want him

walking around.

Well, we'll try to pull him back after the drug trial.

Oh, come on, come on.

You know that hardly ever happens.

He killed a drug dealer, not exactly one of Chicago's most sterling citizens.

Oh, so now some lives are worth more than others?

That's right, Miss Kaufman. You can take this to court, waste time, waste money,

and the result will be the same. He will go with the feds. In the meantime, you

have 16 cases sitting on your desk, and with our budget problem... This man

tortured another man to death, and you are worried about balancing the books?

We are not seeking...

Justice in Utopia here.

It's 1992 Chicago, and the exchequer is ringing up a little short.

Give him to the feds.

I expect you'll have all this resolved when I get back.

Hey.

You okay? No.

So, Christopher walks away from a murder charge.

I know it's not fair.

But apparently, our government thinks that drugs are

more serious than murder.

Were those your friends?

The drug task force?

But we're supposed to come down like this.

I'm supposed to walk.

I'm supposed to walk clean.

You may not chip my part of the deal.

You hear me now, they want to ice me.

You can't turn me over to the feds, okay?

It's not my decision to make. Well, the deaf girl and the guy, are they going to

help me?

Depends on if they believe you.

And you did.

Yes. But I have an ugly and suspicious mind.

No, not to put murder.

You're always talking about the big fish getting away while you prosecute the

minnows. Well, he can deliver you a shark.

Listen, I don't give a damn about all this lawyer double talk.

I'll tell him anything.

I'll tell him everything.

I'm scared you'd turn me over to the feds.

I'm a dead man.

Black will see to that.

Tuck. Deal.

How do we know you got anything?

I may bluff, but I've always got something in my hand.

I know what you're doing here, Maggie.

This jerk's getting ready to trash some cop in hopes of getting a better view

while he's in stir.

Gonna tell us how Black is dealing drugs behind a yacht.

Stocking it with bimbos, getting ready to retire to Jamaica.

What?

Here's a down payment.

First amalgamated bank of San Antonio, $20,000.

Consolidated bank of Alamogordo, New Mexico, $20,000. Five killings.

Five accounts.

You're getting paid to hit.

I can't make you any promises, but if you agree to testify, the court will

look upon you leniently at your trial.

I killed well.

Killed five other guys, too.

Smart guys.

Dealers.

Smart enough to escape the edge.

Break the law, leave no evidence.

Laughing at the cops. Nobody could touch them.

Except for Jamie D.

They were sniggering up their sleeves, but they stopped sniggering when they

met me.

I kill people because they tick me off, deaf lady. Druggies don't tick me off.

Yeah, you know, I like little nose candy every now and then.

I killed those boys from Mr. Special Agent Donovan Black.

I got paid mighty well for it, too.

Twenty grand a pop.

And Agent Black's not a man you'd like to be laughed at, either.

When Black can't make a case, he sends Christopher in and has him kill the

suspect. You know Arthur.

The old take-no-prisoners school of law enforcement?

You expect me to believe this?

Yes. The drug task force hires hitmen. Yes.

Black and his boys, yes.

What do we do, Arthur?

You make this go away. You give him to the feds.

I never thought we would do this. You have the unsupported word of convicted

felon against a decorated officer of the DTF. Think about it. Five identical

killings. Five different cities.

Jamie D. was there.

Black was there.

Come on, Arthur.

Circumstantial. The bank accounts.

I can think of a half a dozen other explanations.

The man is facing a murder charge.

It would be in his best interest to go with the feds. None of this is

convincing me.

What would it take?

More than you've got.

I'll find it. No.

You hand him over and you forget all about this.

Don't throw this Durrell thing in my face, Tess. These situations are totally

different. How?

Who buttoned the rules again?

You wanted a suggestion, and I gave you the only one I had.

You don't like it? Then give Jamie D to the feds and watch a half a dozen

murdering cops walk.

Kind of makes my little sin seem small by comparison, doesn't it?

Allow me to see if I fully grasp the essentials of this situation.

You have agreed to remand Mr. James Dean Christopher into the custody of the

Justice Department.

Yes, Your Honor.

But Mr. Christopher is not present in this courtroom.

No, Your Honor.

Because you have lost the person of Mr. Christopher?

The county jail has done so, Your Honor, yes.

The guy was charged with murder. What the hell is he doing wandering around

the jail?

You didn't think that a murder charge was very important. Why should they?

I'm making an immediate motion for habeas corpus. Indeed you may, Mr.

Laurent, but with the best will in the world, we cannot produce what at the

moment we do not appear to possess.

Why are you doing this, Cobb?

Well, you know how it is.

Sometimes a man's got to do what a man's got to do.

Sometimes I can get a man hurt.

Is that a threat, Agent Black?

Take it how you like, Detective Cobb.

Can you just get to the point, please?

Because if we spend much more time in here, your boys are going to start to

wonder about us. You're hiding Jamie D.

Hmm. What a great idea.

I'll have to remember that.

But I guess you can always learn something from one of the drug task

force's most decorated.

What are you?

You're nothing.

You're a small-time local cop.

You have no idea what you're dealing with here.

You're right.

But I'm going to find out.

Here's a bit more advice from a decorated officer detective.

People talk.

For a price, they always talk.

Maybe you should remember that, too.

We're on the same side, Ms. Fountain.

So why do I feel like we're not?

Oh, no, no, no. You read lips well enough.

I know. I checked.

We've been watching you.

So is there a problem here?

And if there is, can we work it out?

You're a fine woman.

Good lawyer.

You put a lot of bad people away.

Some of them probably resent it.

It'd be a shame if they got out and hurt you.

Wouldn't it? Hey!

Get away from her!

Hey!

What was that about?

A warning.

I got one, too.

Better check on Jamie.

Damn it. Got more than you bargained for, Jamie D.

Bruce, I've given you an hour.

She's your boss. You ought to be able to find her.

I know it is after midnight, and I don't care. Find her!

No,

I don't think I could identify him.

When someone's pointing a gun at you, all you tend to notice is the gun.

What do you got, Elliot?

Probably some angry client.

Someone looking to remove their bill?

Oh, you got a better explanation?

Yeah.

Yeah, I just might.

Give us a minute, will you?

Elliot.

Why are you here?

Bruce called us.

We've been looking for you for hours.

Why? You don't have a client anymore.

I don't have a file either.

That's the only thing missing.

We are three loose ends out there, Tess. No.

No, they're not going to quit.

What do you suggest that we do?

Well, Black didn't fill out a voucher for Jamie D's services.

Money had to come from somewhere.

I want to find out where.

It's all very simple, but I will go over it all again.

Black was not paying his pet killer out of petty cash.

Now, he is not printing all that money.

And when you have warehouses full of dope at your disposal... Elliot,

come on. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out where it's

coming from. So you're saying they're dealing? No.

I am saying they've got someone dealing for them, and I need that someone.

I want to believe you, Cobb, but you've got a real reputation for busting other

cops. Are you being straight with me on this? Elliot, these sons of bitches are

going to kill my sorry ass.

It doesn't get much straighter than that.

I'll see what I can do.

You're going to have to beat me. I'm not going to be easily available.

Why? Where are you going? We're moving us all to the safe house.

Thanks.

Get an extension on the Deegan hearing.

The papers for the racetrack sale are due in a couple of days. If they come

in, call me.

Here's a number where I can be reached.

Memorize it and destroy it. Burn it, eat it, flush it. Just get rid of it.

Can we take time out for a reality check?

I feel like I've stumbled into a bad spy novel.

The reality is someone tried to shoot at me last night.

I am not going to let them try it again.

So if anyone comes looking for me, you have no idea where I am, you have no

idea how to get in touch with me.

You ready?

Would someone tell me what's going on?

No.

It's better you don't know.

Not very subtle.

Yeah,

well, I've had enough of this crap, too.

R-20 Charles to 114. Be advised, citizen reports, we have a blue Chevy Celebrity.

License number 2, Union Adam, Union 5-7, southbound on 3rd. Two individuals armed

with shotguns, brandishing them at passing citizens.

Requesting assistance, please.

Not bad cop.

Yeah. Well, I have my moments mag

Don't

worry I didn't go through your file You want your chair back

I'm fine. Be comfortable.

You see, that's sort of a problem.

I'm not feeling real comfortable right now.

Oh, I'm sorry about that.

I was hoping we could come to a better understanding of each other.

We're a lot alike, you know.

How do you figure that?

Well, we both take our role as the good guy very seriously.

It's easy to get cynical, defeated by the drugs in the streets, the crime and

the violence.

You and me, we don't back down.

We keep hitting back.

Oh, I think that you may be hitting back a little harder than I am.

That's the only thing they understand, pal.

They call this a war.

I believe that.

They also suspend the Constitution in time of war, pal.

You believe in that, too?

Hypothetical situation.

Group of officers.

Patriots.

realizing their country's being destroyed, decide to strike back in the

only language their enemies understand.

I'd have a hard time telling these patriots from the bad guys.

No, no, no, no, you don't understand.

The intent here... The end justifies any means.

In our scenario, I fear for those who oppose our officers.

They might be taken for enemies.

And be given warnings.

Conceivably. And if they didn't heed them?

I'd fear the consequences.

Well, thank you very much.

I think that I am very clear on the situation now.

Well, that's good.

I'm glad we've come to an understanding.

Keep in touch.

Bet on it.

I was living with the most daring man alive.

Exhilarating. Their bond was stronger than any pain, any pain, any danger.

Nothing on this earth, or heaven, or hell can hold me. You can't stop!

Jonathan Sheck, Stacey Edwards.

Dare to believe in Houdini.

All my life I searched for true magic.

It was right here in front of me.

See a special encore Sunday at 3.30 only on TNT.

Brought to you by USSB.

Ladies first. I've been waiting longer. Couldn't you find a place with more than

one bathroom? Well, I am sorry, Zombro, if these accommodations are not to your

liking. I mean, what would you like me to do about it, huh?

Hey, don't fight.

You'll forgive me if I'm not very patient with all of this. Hey!

Do you ever use one of these?

No.

You line up the sides.

And he squeezed the trigger. Why are you telling me this?

Because it wouldn't hurt you to know how.

She has it. You hear?

Something could happen.

Tess, God did not make men and women equal.

Colonel Colt did.

It's not hard to hit something with one of these.

What's hard is pulling the trigger up here.

You pull this out.

You better use it.

I don't think I can.

In case you change your mind, this is here for you.

Elliot, I told you to call. I'm a cop, too. I know how to shake a tail.

If you are all ready to stop playing house, I found your mule.

He's with my snitch. They're waiting for us.

Great. How are you one?

I like the idea of you owing me.

In case you did attract some company, you stay here with Maggie and Tess. No,

no way.

I spent two years developing the nail. He trusts me. If I'm not there for the

meat, there won't be a meat. For once, Elliot, could you not give me any...

Look, the buzz is out on the street.

We're not the only people looking for this guy. We should have backup.

I think we can take care of ourselves.

Maggie, you are a tough, smart, elegant lady, but in terms of firepower, these

guys have you way outclassed.

You wound me.

Look, I was in fallout, so this is a pointless discussion.

Action.

Phone.

Hello?

Bruce Kaufman.

What a guy.

Is he a louder twerper?

No more than any man.

Cheers.

Mohammed?

Yo.

Elliot.

That you?

Yeah, it's me.

You got my goods?

Yeah, this one twitching and sniveling white boy.

But he's more scared of Mr. Donovan Black than he is of the law.

What's wrong?

I hope nothing.

Hello?

You were at the office.

Where else would I be? I work all the hours God provides. All right.

You're okay with this? You'll testify in exchange for immunity?

Yeah, fine.

Fine.

Hey, Cobb!

Now! Move it, Elliot!

Come on!

I'll stick him out here.

Oh, come on. I'm doing you guys a favor.

That was your warning.

End game, Ms. Zombrow.

On the charges of murder, attempted murder, and drug trafficking...

I find there is sufficient evidence to hold the defendants for jury trial.

Donovan Black, Harold Franklin, Raymond Saavedra.

You have betrayed the trust of the American people, whom you swore to

protect. It is a sad day when the citizens must fear their guardians.

In some ways, Black was right.

We were a lot alike.

How?

Assault, rape, the killing.

You start to think that the only thing that they understand is a dose of their

own.

You want to hit back harder than they hit you.

Yeah, they haven't.

But that line gets less and less clear all the time.

And I worry that one day I'll step over it and not even know. You know you're

out.

I'm not so sure.

If those guys had hurt you or Maggie...

I had to kill them, Tess.

Are you okay with all this?

From being in danger, picking up a gun?

Yes.

You have never let fear stop you from doing anything.