All language subtitles for Homicide life on the street S07E18 - Self Defense

What are you so happy about?

Roland Park, homicide.
Combination kind of revs my engine.

You like when rich people get murdered?

It's just a nice change of pace

when a guy with some dough
gets his number punched.

It appeals
to my sense of cosmic justice.

The big get even.

Why's it always gotta be a Westside
mope shooting an Eastside mope?

I got nothing against fat cats,

but they tend to forget
nobody gets out of here alive.

A rich guy gets whacked, it kinda
makes the world a little less lopsided.

Burke, Loren. 43. Divorced. Lived alone.

What did he do for money?

According to the neighbours,
a high-priced corporate exec.

- Who found the body?
- Cleaning lady.

- Any signs of robbery?
- No forced entry.

What's with the sentence fragments?
Are you bored?

- You don't get one like this every day.
- Furniture's nice, paperwork's the same.

I'm counting five holes minimum
in the blanket.

At least one round
went through the mattress.

He's flat on his back with the covers
over him when he got plugged.

Think he was asleep?

If he was,
he got a hell of a wake-up call.

Hey, take a picture of me.

I'm not comfortable with the situation.

I've got an investigator
from an independent agency,

and I have no real authority over him.

This hasn't exactly been
a walk in the park for me either.

Between the Lieutenant here
and my superiors at the Bureau...

And the father-son factor?
How's that working out?

That has nothing to do with it.
The point is Mike's in this unit.

He has all kinds of access
to case information.

We have no control what he does
with it. And, ultimately, neither does he.

- You're talking about McBride?
- I made a mistake.

He got a suspect killed in New York.

How was I to know the Bureau
would screw it up?

- You could have guessed!
- Al. These are tough times.

Are you seriously asking me
to call the Bureau,

and tell them we want
to close down the Liaison Office?

Refuse the help they are offering?

Either that or Mike has to report to us.

To you, you mean.

- Like all my other detectives.
- The Bureau will never agree to that.

The McBride case proves what I already
knew. Something has got to change.

What was it? A robbery?

There's no sign of break-in.
We don't know if anything's missing.

- But you could help us out with that.
- Yeah, sure.

Now you told the officer
that Mr Burke lived alone.

Divorced. A year and a half ago.

- Mrs Burke?
- Eleanor. Moved to Guilford.

- How was the break-up?
- Bad.

It was bitter, really bitter.

You've seen Mrs Burke since?
Has she come by to visit?

Yeah. Just the other day.

They were out in the driveway,
going at it hammer and tong.

She drove up as he was leaving for work
and started screaming,

pitching a fit
about one thing and another.

- About what? Could you tell?
- Money would be my guess.

He owed her, and if he thought
he was getting away without paying,

he didn't know who he was dealing with.

Well, words to that effect.

Homicide. Lewis.

Yeah. I know
that particular bucket of blood.

Oh, literally, huh? Okey-dokey.

- So what you got?
- Bar stabbing. One dead, one wounded.

Bar fight at this hour, huh?
It's not even nine o'clock.

In East Baltimore
they like to get going bright and early.

It wasn't an argument. It's a hold-up.

Little early in the day
for a bar hold-up.

Like I said, they got go-getters
in that neighbourhood.

So that's interesting,
a stabbing in a hold-up.

- Yeah. A little unusual, huh?
- Yeah.

- Want me to tag along?
- Nah. Got this one surrounded.

Oh, cos I'm a free agent today.

Yeah? Where's Gharty?

- He has the flu.
- The flu?

Spent all night on his knees
worshipping the porcelain goddess.

- Sure he's got the flu?
- What do you mean?

Gharty likes to tie one on
when he's in the mood.

He has the flu, OK, Munch?

Yeah. Live in a dream world.
See if I care.

So?

Nah, nah. Finish your book.
I got this. No problem.

So you really do have a problem
partnering with women.

What?

Since Sheppard's beatdown.

That's horse pucky. I ain't got
no problem partnering with women.

- Let's ride, me and you.
- All right.

Yeah. I got no problem.
After you. Ladies first.

- Oh, that's very gallant.
- Got no problem riding with a skirt.

So where does this leave us?

Well, we'll monitor the situation.
Review it again in a few months.

In the meantime,
I'll call the special agent.

See if we can reach an understanding
about who Mike reports to.

Send me a memo.

Wait. Al, a word.

Listen, McAllister's
taking his retirement.

The commissioner
has his vacancy going to you.

What?

Take the exam, you're Captain,
Commander of the Property Section.

- What's the catch?
- There's no catch, Al.

No politics, no back-room deals,
no quid pro quo?

No. This is straight up, Al.

He had everybody
empty out their pockets.

Watches, wallets, purses.
Then he just went off.

Juked Tiny there, jabbed me, grabbed
up his score and jumped in his get-gone.

- Did you see the car?
- I never made it out the door.

I heard the car. Some sorry-ass
rust bucket. Needs a new muffler.

- Guy who poked you, black or white?
- White.

Don't ask me what he looked like.
He was wearing a ski mask.

Black with a red band across the eyes.

Then how did you know he was white?

Explain it to her, will you?

Tell me about the knife.

Big old pig sticker with a taped handle.
About a foot long.

- Tape?
- Yeah.

Black tape. Electrician's tape.

We're gonna need something
on that car.

Look at 'em all.
Just signifying the day away.

What does that mean exactly?

Signifying? Yeah, it's complicated.

Oh, cos it's another black thing,
and I wouldn't understand.

- Why don't you try me?
- Another time, Ballard.

Observe.

All right, now here's the dealio.

The low-bottom dog
that tore this bar up

and robbed everybody in it,

he killed one man,
and he cut another one.

Before y'all start thinking
maybe you gotta protect

this brother from the injustice system,
let me point something out.

The mook that perpetrated this crime
is a white man.

Now I know in my heart
that somebody is gonna come forward

that maybe saw that getaway car.

My man.

What's up with that country-ass hat?

Can you hold this?

- You running down my stingy brim, huh?
- Get off me, man!

What you know about this robbery?

I wasn't even here. I didn't see nothin'.

You ain't gonna get me
to see nothin' past nothin'.

Black folks.

- It's early for it, don't you think?
- Not at all.

- You're not working again today?
- Well, I called in some vacation.

Taking another mental-health day.

What does that mean?

Means I am drinking myself
into oblivion.

For what reason?

Wedding anniversary. 30th.

Your first without Flora.

You must feel awful.

On the contrary. Never felt better.

Hey...

You wanna get married,
settle down, have a couple kids,

grow old and wrinkled together?

Stuart, we've been through this.

I'm engaged.

- I'll be the fourth...
- Fourth, yeah.

Fourth Mrs Munch, right.

Here's to oblivion.

How long did the cleaning lady
say they were divorced?

A year and a half.

Think she has keys
to the Roland Park address?

She might. But don't you think
he would have changed the locks?

- Yes?
- We're looking for Eleanor Burke.

I'm her attorney, Ezra Greenfeld.
Please come in.

I've instructed my client not to make
an oral statement to the police.

We acknowledge, however, that
she shot and killed her former husband

as an act of self-defence.

We've prepared a brief written statement
to that effect.

We are also relinquishing
the weapon voluntarily,

so you have no need
to obtain a search and seizure warrant.

Do you wish to Mirandise me
at this time or...

- My client's on the team.
- Assistant US attorney, Baltimore office.

Six years with the Criminal Division.
Two with Narcotics.

You worked on the Alonzo Barnes
investigation, didn't you, Detective?

- I was in Narcotics then, yeah.
- That was very good police work.

We were glad to get Alonzo
some federal time in that case.

- Oh, I remember you now.
- Eleanor Burke.

- Terri Stivers.
- Right, of course.

I'm Detective Falsone.

Well, Detective,
do you wish to do the honours?

Ms Burke, you have the right
to remain silent.

If you give up that right,

anything you say
can be used against you.

Er...

I'll stipulate to the rest.

Thanks.

Stivers, Falsone.

Hey, Mike. What's going on?

- Well, since Eleanor is...
- Eleanor?

Ms Burke is an assistant attorney,
Justice wants me involved.

Mike's on this case for the duration.

Thanks, but we don't need any help.

- I'm sorry about the circumstances.
- Me too. We'll get through this.

Why don't you have a seat?

I'll get Stivers and Falsone
up to speed on the background.

Absolutely. Come this way.

I know she's supposed
to be on our side, but come on!

She laid five hot ones into her ex,
and never looked back.

- It's complicated.
- Simple.

- She shot him. She confessed.
- She shot him in self-defence.

Don't you think
you're jumping to conclusions, huh?

We're gonna hear everyone out on this.

Tell me the fix isn't in.

All of the facts will be considered.
I promise you.

Yeah.

He's gonna make sure
everything comes out right.

Hey, Shep, you seen Lewis?

- Got a call. Tore out ten minutes ago.
- Did he say what it was?

Not to me, but I think he might
have left you a message on your desk.

Thank you.

Oh...

- Bad news?
- Lewis.

We are working this case,
this stick-up artist.

I go get a cup of coffee.

He gets a call that says
the stabber has struck again.

Takes off without me.
Went to the crime scene alone.

Told me to go do the paperwork.

- That is blatant.
- Yeah.

- I don't get it.
- He doesn't want to work with me.

- Well, why not?
- Because she's a woman.

- He doesn't want to work with us.
- That's not it.

Lewis may have a problem with
certain individuals, but you ain't one.

- Where you going?
- The ME's office. Where do you think?

Good God!

Eleanor Burke called police on six
occasions during four years of marriage.

When she moved out, she got an order
of protection. He violated that.

Charged once for striking her
in a restaurant,

and once more for harassing her
verbally at her home.

She wasn't in her home
when she shot him.

She was in his house. In his bedroom.

Why was she in his bedroom if she's
the one with the protective order?

- I admit that troubles me too.
- Well, think about this.

Looks like all five shots
hit Loren Burke

when he was prone on that bed,
covered by a blanket.

Now that doesn't spell self-defence.

Battered spouse syndrome.

- Which is a legitimate defence.
- Recognised by Maryland since 1991.

Don't give me that! I have been in
Narcotics. I've worked Sex Crimes.

I have seen plenty of abused women.
This is not battered spouse syndrome!

- Are you a psychologist?
- OK, OK. Look, look.

This Loren Burke, he's garbage.
He's a wife-beater and a half.

But he's in his own house,
in his own bed,

when his ex-wife,
divorced from more than a year,

shows up to empty a.38
in his midsection.

The defence allows that
the victim of prolonged abuse

may, in fact, choose
to strike back at the abuser

when the abuser is most vulnerable.

If she struck back
when he was vulnerable,

she could still, in her mind,
be engaged in an act of self-defence.

I thought you were supposed
to be prosecuting her.

She already has a lawyer.

I'm anticipating her courtroom defence.

Bull! You're trying to justify
giving Eleanor Burke a free pass.

I resent that, Detective!

The Field Office
has an open file on Loren Burke.

He harassed his ex-wife
on and off the job so often

that the US Attorney asked the Bureau
to look into charging him

with threatening a federal officer.

That's why the US Attorney's Office
wants a FBI presence.

To make sure she gets off?

To make sure she gets a fair hearing.
Her career is in jeopardy!

If she pleads to a reduced charge,
she can be disbarred.

Disbarred? I guess that's nearly as bad
as getting shot to death in your bed.

Can you get her to make a statement?

If her attorney knows we're sympathetic
to a battered spouse defence,

I think they'll be happy for the chance
to keep this from a grand jury.

All right. Conduct a thorough interview.

Begin a background check
into both the victim and the suspect.

I want to know everything
about the war between the Burkes.

From the looks of these, I'd say
the bastard got what he deserved.

Coming through here.

All right, let me guess.

White male. 5'10". Maybe 160.

Ski mask, big-ass pig sticker
with electrical tape on the handle,

robbed everybody in the joint,
poked you in the leg for fun.

- Friend of yours, huh?
- Get a look at the getaway car?

Street was empty
by the time I dragged myself out here.

Boys and girls,
we got us a live one here.

The man who did this
has now cut two and killed one.

City-wide crime spree.
He's on a rampage.

Anybody know anything?

See anything?
Know anything? Hear anything?

I didn't think so.

White folks.

If you had the protective order, why
were you at your ex-husband's house?

Six months of back alimony.

I'm dead broke, Detective.

Loren knew that. He was withholding
the checks to be punitive.

But you make your own salary
as a federal prosecutor...

It is not enough to cover my bills.

How much do you make?

The maximum
for an assistant US attorney.

- Which is?
- 95.

$95,000 a year?

During their marriage,

Ms Burke became accustomed
to a particular lifestyle.

As a result the court ordered her
a generous rehabilitative alimony.

Mr Burke, however, has consistently
defaulted on his obligation.

I presume you tried
to remedy the problem.

He just blew us off.

We'd drag him into court,

he'd nod at the judge, agree to pay,
and then nothing.

So you went to his house this morning?

Reluctantly. I was at my wits' end.

- I didn't want to default the mortgage.
- You took a handgun?

I'm terrified of Loren.

You've seen the pictures.

What happened
when you got to the house?

I... I rang the bell.

Was nothing. No answer.

So I used my key.

I called out his name
to let him know I was there.

I didn't want any surprises.

He was still in bed.

I brought up the alimony.

He laughed, told me to take off my
clothes and join him under the covers.

Maybe we could work something out.

A deal.

He was touching himself.

I told him maybe
we would talk about it later,

and I turned to leave.

And then he said to me,

"Don't even think
about leaving, bitch."

What did you do then?

I... I reached into my purse,

and I took out the gun.

And I backed up toward the door.

Then he started to get up,
and I was terrified.

I... I fired.

How many shots did you fire?

Er... I... I don't remember.

You shot him five times.
You emptied your weapon.

- Did I?
- Mmm.

- You were afraid of Loren.
- Always.

You say that Loren was lying in bed
during the conversation,

and he started to get up
when you went toward the door?

Yes.

So even the slightest move
by him in your direction

would be enough for you to want
to do anything to defend yourself?

I knew if he came across that room,
he would beat me.

I didn't want to be beaten any more.

Eleanor, did you go
to your ex-husband's house this morning

with the intent of harming him?

No. Of course not.

God, I never should have gone. I just...

I thought I... I don't know.

I just hoped that Loren
might be reasonable for once.

Unless our investigation
turns up something more damning,

your client pleads to manslaughter,

carrying a concealed deadly weapon,
and discharging that weapon.

She agrees
to court-monitored counselling,

and she receives probation
before judgement.

So no conviction,
and she keeps her career on track.

Forgive me for being blunt, Detective,

but Loren Burke's
done enough damage already.

I'm not gonna let him continue
to destroy this woman's life.

Come in.

- Eleanor Burke gave her statement.
- And?

Self-serving, to say the least.

- Most statements are.
- She knows what she's doing.

She's using the battered spouse
syndrome to hide.

It's cynical and raises doubts
about all the legitimate cases.

She's rich. She's a prosecutor.
She knows how to work the system.

If you think she's lying, prove it.

Don't let anyone
make a mockery of the law.

The shape and size of the wounds

indicate a weapon
that was pretty formidable.

I'd say one with a serrated edge.

Serrated like a bread knife?

Oh, sharper. Much sharper than that.

And the depth and severity
of the wounds

suggest they were delivered
with energy and strength of purpose.

- Thank you.
- You're welcome.

- Ballard.
- Falsone. Stivers.

- What's going on?
- Knife-wielding armed robber.

- That one yours?
- Yeah. Pistol-packing ex-wife.

It's been a very busy morning.
I'll see you tomorrow night, Detective.

Oh, I got big-time butterflies!

You'll be fine.

- You going out with Ballard?
- Bowling.

- Bowling?
- Duckpins.

- Really?
- Yeah.

- She's very talented.
- I know. I taught her the game.

My compliments.

Before she met me,
she didn't know a spare from a split.

- We asked her to join our team.
- Muni leagues?

Big match coming up with the EMS.
The Resuscitators versus the Cutters.

You're here because of Loren Burke.
Completely straightforward.

The manner of death is homicide.

Cause of death
is massive internal trauma

as a result of gunshot wounds
to the front torso.

Five, to be exact.

Is there any evidence
to suggest self-defence?

I don't understand.

Well, you see,
the victim's ex-wife claims

that she shot him in self-defence.

The victim is lying in bed, covers
are drawn up and he's shot five times.

Every hole in the blanket
will match up to an entrance wound

and the trajectory of the wounds
are sharply angled

with posterior exits
higher than entrances.

- So she's standing a few feet away...
- He never sits up in bed.

There is no indication that he tried to
escape or knew what was happening.

I doubt he even had a chance
to see who was doing him.

My guess is that he was sleeping
like a baby when she aired him out.

Hey, Gharty. Boycott finally over?

Cesar Chavez
versus the grape growers.

Students against Apartheid.
Stu Gharty On The Waterfront.

I love this place.
I've always loved this place.

This is my favourite bar.

Yeah, that's great. Glad to hear it.

- Hi, baby.
- Hi.

Is it my imagination
or is he half in the bag?

Picking up where he left off yesterday.

- How long has he been here?
- Since I opened the doors.

Detective Munch.

Have a drink.

I'm working.
Across the street, remember?

Police. Homicide.
You should come over sometime.

I'll show you where your desk is.
It'll refresh your memory.

Cash. No tab.

Not that I'm pessimistic about where
your next pay cheque is coming from.

- Who's the wheeler-dealer over there?
- Marcus Reynolds, State Delegate.

He's here to make sure
everything goes smooth with his niece.

- Burke?
- You got it.

Oh, man!

Mr Danvers.

State calls criminal information
199093853. Burke versus Maryland.

One count manslaughter and one count
of carrying and discharging

a concealed deadly weapon,
to wit a handgun.

Proceed.

Your Honour, the state recognises
a history of spousal abuse in this matter,

and will recommend
the court consider rendering

a verdict of probation
before judgement on both counts.

The defendant is a veteran prosecutor
over at the federal courthouse,

and well-respected.

There's no risk of flight, and
we're comfortable with Ms Burke

being released on lowest possible bail.

Mr Greenfeld?

Nothing to add.
Mr Danvers speaks for the defence.

That seems to be the problem here.

Your Honour?

Who in this room speaks
for the victim? One Loren Burke?

Who speaks for that man?

Your Honour, Maryland courts

have since 1991 recognised battered
spouse syndrome as legitimate defence.

Mr Danvers,
I'm familiar with that legal defence.

I'm willing to let a jury
consider it at trial,

but I'm setting bail at $250,000.

Your Honour,
a quarter of a million dollars for bail?

My client is financially strapped.

We can't schedule bail reduction
until Monday.

She'll spend a weekend
in detention.

That sometimes happens
when you shoot someone to death.

Sheriff,
take the defendant into custody.

- So he already knows?
- I told your father after our meeting.

- When is it official?
- Next month.

He take over Property
when McAllister retires.

What? He'll be leaving Homicide?

You get promoted,
you go where the vacancy takes you.

Well, thanks for the good news.

Keep your fingers crossed.

What do you mean?
I thought this was a done deal.

Everybody thought that
about the Burke case too.

Then Judge Ramsey throws them
the big curve. Sets the bail sky-high.

What does that have to do
with my father?

Nothing, except he's in charge of this,
and he and Ramsey go way back.

If my father doesn't come out
on the right side of the Burke case,

he won't make captain?

I didn't say that. I'll tell you this.
Everybody loves Eleanor Burke.

Everybody thought that her ex-husband
was a pointless piece of scum.

We just want to see justice done.

Maybe Danvers is right. Maybe we
should look at it from Burke's view.

She bought the handgun six weeks
prior to the shooting. Premeditation.

She's been beaten and threatened.
She wants protection.

She goes to his house unannounced,
even though she has the order on him.

All her records check out.

Loren Burke hadn't paid
court-ordered alimony in six months,

and she is dead broke.

Griscom has this guy prone on the bed
with the covers over him.

She has the guy sitting up
making a move toward her.

She knows criminal law
so she's embellishing,

making him
more of a threat than he was.

Everyone in town
wants this woman to get off.

What's bothering me
is just how many people in this town

are riding to her rescue.

The US Attorney's Office,
Danvers, the State's Attorney.

Not to mention Marcus Reynolds.

- She's got all kinds of drag.
- Yeah, that she does.

Reynolds is handing out favours
to see that his niece gets a walk.

What kind of favours?

Forget I said that.

Shall we fill out our cards,
and give Danvers what he wants?

Yeah, maybe so.
Make it easier for everyone.

What the hell.

We'll write it up clean tomorrow, and
you can sign off for the US Attorney.

Close enough for government work.

- Adios.
- See ya.

Yes, Civil Filings? Mike Giardello, FBI.

Yeah, I need
to request a file right away.

Yeah.

I've got a blue telescope
I'm looking at the world tonight

Through a blue telescope

I wish I may
I wish I might

Not see what I see

Sheet metal on sheets of ice

Looking through this blue telescope

Down a moonstruck road tonight

Blue breath on my windshield

I came to a frozen place

She shivered when I said goodbye

I wish I didn't have to face

Her in that rear-view mirror

Though she lives in the heart of me

Looking through this blue telescope

I guess she'll always be a star to me

I got this blue telescope

I'm looking for her tonight

Through a blue telescope

Tell me
Why must the blue angels fight

Taking one last shot at heaven

- Where is he?
- Behind the bar.

Him and his bayonet.

- Is that legal?
- Nope.

Well, that's a problem.

Not a big one, relatively.

Yeah, well, considering the alternative.

How you gonna plead this?
Self-defence?

Damn straight. He said, "Stick 'em up."
I said, "Help yourself."

He started to.
I pulled my piece out and put him down.

- End of story.
- End of story.

- Well, I hate to say this, but...
- But what?

I'm gonna need a statement from you.

- I figured.
- How's that?

Guilty get away with murder.

Play by the rules,
they hand you oysters on the half shell.

- Well, he didn't get away with murder.
- I bet he causes me no end of trouble.

I can't take that bet, partner.

- Let's go, sir.
- Yeah.

Talk to him, Al.

You want me to approach
a member of the city court bench,

and question his judgment?

You go back a long way with Ramsey.

He trusts you.
He'll listen to what you have to say.

I've been worried
since he picked up the case.

You know, he and Marcus Reynolds
have tangled before.

When Ramsey was considered
for the bench, Reynolds was against it.

Ramsey and Eleanor
have never seen eye to eye.

And you think
Ramsey's gonna get even?

I don't know how else
to explain his behaviour.

All right. I'll see what I can do.

I asked Ballard to join
an all-detective bowling team

and she turned me down.

Well, maybe bowling for
the ME's office is more prestigious.

You're kidding, right?

I feel betrayed,
like she's stepping out on me.

Come on, it's not like she's going out
with... Well, another man.

Besides, you broke up with her.

You don't understand.

See, duckpins was our thing.
The bond we shared.

Before me,
she never heard of Toots Barger.

The holy trinity of Baltimore sports.

Johnny Unitas, Cal Ripken,
Toots Barger, the Queen of Duckpins.

God, take a pill.

Hey, how's it going
with the stick-up artist?

Well, good news, bad news.
Bad news is he killed one, cut two.

What's the good news?

He got himself shot last night.
Tried to knock off another bar.

Went to the well once too often.

How come you didn't take Ballard
with you yesterday?

- What?
- You left her in the lurch.

In the lurch? She went to the john.

She was your partner. That ain't right.

No. She just came on
with that one scene with me.

After what happened with Sheppard,
we're all a little hinky on the subject.

Oh, man. Not you too.

- She put you up to this?
- No. This is on me.

Well, do me a favour.
Stay out of my face and business.

I know she's your woman, but she
wanna find me, she know where I'm at.

Nice going.

My God. These are awful.

Awful enough to make any jury
think twice about convicting her.

She'll be acquitted,
but it should go to jury.

Why?

Why take that risk with a woman who's
never violated the law in any respect?

A woman who's served the law?

She shot a man, Al.
I can't just make that go away.

But battered spouse syndrome
is recognised.

I have no problem
with battered spouse syndrome.

I do have a problem
reconciling it with the idea

that a man
who was divorced for over a year

was shot to death in his own house,
in his own bed.

Nothing to do with Delegate
Reynolds and that Burke's his niece?

You know me, Al.

Do you think I'd go out of my way
to punish Eleanor Burke

because I had a political spat
with her uncle four years ago?

Or because she and I
have had our differences in court?

No.

I'm taking heat from everyone
in the state on this.

Everyone's behind her
because they know who she is

and what she's been through.

And now you. You come into my
chamber with these photographs.

What can they possibly tell me

that are gonna change
the way I view the law?

I'm sorry I came.

Usually a judge, especially a black one,
takes heat for being too lenient.

- Remember Cut 'Em Loose Bruce?
- Of course.

Sceptical of the fairness of the very
judicial system he was sworn to uphold.

Me, I'm the darling
of the conservatives,

the political establishment poster boy,
because I believe in the law.

As long as I'm dropping the hammer
on corner boys and dealers,

I'm everybody's favourite minority judge.

But in a case like Eleanor Burke,

now I'm in the jackpot
for standing firm.

I'll see you around, Cliff.

Yeah.

- Do you plan to issue this statement?
- I do.

Have you lost your mind?

Let the case go to trial.
Let the jury decide.

The man is trying to follow the law,
and he's being crucified for it.

Do you know how important
Marcus Reynolds is?

He's vice chairman
of the Appropriations Committee.

I don't care about Delegate Reynolds
or the Appropriations Committee.

That's your fatal flaw, Al.
You have no political sense.

Respectfully, Colonel, there are days
when I think you have nothing else!

They're making you a captain. How
many years have you been waiting?

All they're asking is for you to show
a little less profile on this case.

Is that all they're asking? How is it
you know what they want of me?

Mike, I've been a lieutenant ten years,
but I've kept it clean.

I don't want it if it can't be that way.

I didn't want to ruin this for you,
but what does it really matter?

- He beat her.
- I know.

He beat her for years.

Why don't you just shut up
and take the promotion?

What do you know about this case?

What is it, Mike? What is it you know?

Oh! I raised you better than that.

How can you even think of doing this?

How? You're my father.

I love you.

Or do you need more
of an explanation than that?

- Hey.
- Hey. What did you do last night?

- Had first night of leagues.
- Ah, how did it go?

We won. We kicked EMS' ass.

You feeling any better?

Honestly, no. I feel like hell.

Well, you probably still have the flu.
You should go home.

I don't think so.

I need more structure in my life.
I need to be here.

I'm not here, I get myself in trouble.

Did you have a tough night?

That's the impression I get.
I don't remember it that well.

Well...

Drink your coffee. Take a lot of these.
And I'm around if you need me.

Yeah, thanks, Laura.

- Motive and premeditation.
- It's in the separation agreement.

Loren Burke was required
to obtain a $4 million insurance policy

so that money due as alimony would
still be paid in the event of his death.

How do we know Eleanor Burke
was even thinking about the insurance?

I spoke to the agent
who wrote that policy.

He took a call from a woman
four days before the shooting.

She knew that no insurance company

pays out in the event a beneficiary
murders an insured party,

but what she wanted to know was,
was a payout still possible,

if the death was ruled
a justifiable act of self-defence.

And this woman?

She gave a fake name, but I checked
the LUDs from his office phone.

The call came from Eleanor's extension
at the courthouse.

For someone who thought she knew
how to work the system,

she was careless.

She was arrogant.

Why did you sit on this?

They had him tied up
over my promotion.

I was trying to save Eleanor Burke,

because I thought
it was the right thing to do.

I had no idea anyone was twisting arms.

Understood.

Time for court then.

Your Honour, the state
wishes to rearraign Eleanor Burke

on charges of second-degree murder

and the use of a handgun
in the commission of a felony.

To that end, we ask
for a continuation of bail of $250,000.

So ordered.

- Delegate Reynolds.
- Captain Giardello.

- Are you mocking me, sir?
- Let's wait and see.

What did he mean by that?

He'll leave me twisting in the wind
until he sees how the public reacts.

Then he's gonna decide
whether to punish or reward me.

- You still might get promotion?
- Anything's possible.

The world might come to an end
next year with the new millennium.

But you doubt it.

At this rate, Jesus will come back
on this earth before I'm made captain.

You can believe that.

- Buy you lunch?
- Hey, I have no objections.

Thanks.