Shades of Blue (2016) s03e10 Episode Script

By Virtue Fall

1 Previously on "Shades of Blue.
" Officers responding to shots fired in at the Sunrise Café.
I shot an innocent man.
You were on foot pursuit.
He turned and aimed his gun at you.
- Loman! - [GUNSHOT.]
Ramsey's more dangerous than you realize.
Than I realize? Nava's dead.
A shipping container? We're all just armed muscle for a cartel.
That was the secret that got Parker killed.
Deliver Enrique.
This isn't a negotiation.
I need you to broker a trade with the Feds for a wanted cartel member.
I'll make a few calls.
Like it wasn't hard enough to stay afloat.
I have followed Woz and Harlee into a war.
And what do I get? I wanna know where Enrique is.
All you have to do is name your price.
There's no immunity from Jordan Ramsey.
But that doesn't mean that I have to let him win.
I have a witness who can help bring Jordan Ramsey down.
Does this witness have a name? Not until he testifies in front of the commission on police corruption.
You have a leak, Tom.
The Deputy Commissioner of Internal Affairs is Ramsey's mole.
Attention all units, Lieutenant Matt Wozniak is wanted in connection to a terrorist cell.
First one's for you.
And the next one's for me.
[GUNFIRE.]
This is not your fault.
None of this is your fault.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[KNOCKING.]
Hey.
- He's dead.
- It's over.
How's our girl? Clutch.
I gotta say she was clutch.
Didn't hesitate.
Knew exactly what to do.
I wonder where she learned that from.
He could have killed us.
I mean, he would have killed us if But he didn't.
He's on a cold tray in a moldy basement, and you've got all your tomorrows lined up.
I don't have anything lined up past lunch.
Well, first thing you gotta do is take this traumatic experience with Stahl to no-show the police commission.
I'm a fugitive, but I haven't been living under a rock.
Good.
If you believed the pretense, so will Ramsey.
No.
Bad.
They swear you in at these things.
You're gonna be under oath and that's not a good state to be in for somebody with your secrets.
I'm not the one testifying.
- Cole? - That's why it has to be public.
On the record.
He's gonna flip on his boss? His boss is trying to kill him.
Once Cole implicates Ramsey, Ramsey can't touch him.
And this manhunt for you will be called off.
So simple.
What can go wrong? [KNOCKING.]
Smart.
Whole department's looking for that son of a bitch, and he shows up here.
Wozniak knows what he's doing.
Not from what I've seen.
Are you ready? - I need you focused.
- What you need is a miracle.
It's this or Ramsey wins.
I'll take roll call.
You meet Loman at the south entrance stairwell at 1:05.
He'll walk you through.
They bought tickets to see you, and they're gonna get my scruffy mug.
Better tell them one hell of a story.
They're waiting to start.
Who is this witness, Detective, and where are they? The veil's about to be pulled.
You're full of surprises.
And this promises to be a good one, but we pride ourselves on punctuality.
The Chairman has a hard out at 2:00 and would like to start promptly.
The witness is getting here.
I thought you were the witness.
I'm here only as supporting testimony.
That wasn't our understanding.
Is the commission fully assembled? - And waiting.
- Okay, we'll be right there.
[PHONE DIALING, BEEPS.]
[PHONE TRILLING.]
- This is Detective Anthony Cole - Hey, listen.
We gotta start this thing or we gotta call it off.
He'll be here any minute.
I called in every favor that I have and I put my job on the line to make this hearing happen on your terms.
And I will deliver what I promised.
What you promised is first hand testimony of police corruption on the highest levels.
Under oath.
[GAVEL KNOCKING.]
Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth under penalty of perjury, so help you God? I do.
The witness will state her name, rank, and precinct for the record.
Harlee Grace Santos.
Detective first grade.
Brooklyn.
The six four.
[POLICE SIRENS WAILING.]
- How far out? - About 20 minutes away.
Why are we waiting here? If the NYPD has Enrique Ortiz in custody, we should pick him up.
There's reason to believe that higher level officials within the department are committed to seeing Ortiz escape prosecution.
Says the cops that are holding him? They don't wanna announce themselves.
They're willing to deliver him directly to our task force.
Grab a latte.
You don't even have to leave Manhattan.
[CELL PHONE RINGS.]
- No questions asked, is that the deal? - Part of it.
Baker.
He talks to himself.
Your boss.
To phantoms.
Cries of self pity.
And I don't mean in his sleep.
The man's mind is gone.
What are you, a shrink or a drug lord? 'Cause, you know, I always seem to get those two confused.
What's keeping you loyal, bonita? Fear? A wanted man with no home and no friends is not a man to be feared.
Once we deposit you back, his status will change.
And the friends? We're a go.
They meet your terms? Well, less than I'd like, more than I expected.
You sure this is the right play, Woz? We're almost there, Tess.
[CHUCKLES.]
- Home safe.
- Safe tomorrow.
[ENGINE STARTS.]
Obstruction.
Racketeering.
And murder.
Involving active-duty police officers? - Correct.
- Including yourself? In a manner of speaking.
Well, that begs the question and really defines this whole hearing.
Detective Santos, do you consider yourself more of a police officer or a criminal? Honestly? Depends on the day.
[MURMURING.]
[GAVEL POUNDING.]
Order, please.
Then pick a day, Detective.
Detective? I'm not here to talk about myself or my crew.
I'm here to fulfill a commitment.
A commitment to expose a wide criminal conspiracy involving this police department.
How did you let her walk in there? She's stalling.
Cole's the star witness, and he's a no-show.
Cold feet, or another set up? Or Ramsey sniffed this out and made sure he didn't make it.
You got the address to that motel? Ms.
Santos, we put together this hearing with haste based on assurances from Internal Affairs that we would be given a time-sensitive account of corruption within the department.
And you will.
Just not in the form of my testimony.
Well, in what form, then? The witness has been delayed but will be here momentarily.
Does this witness have a name? Detective, we all rearranged our schedules to be here.
Could you please give us the courtesy of your attention? I can't give you his name until he arrives.
Why? Because I believe the witness to be in grave danger.
Give us an address.
I'll send a protective detail.
Sorry I'm late, Chairman.
Understood, given such short notice.
Detective Santos, we're all interested in preserving the integrity and the reputation of the department.
And thus granted you this public forum to voice your concerns.
But, well, I'm afraid we're all in the dark here.
You really must provide some detail as to why we're assembled or offer someone who can.
The more detail I give, the harder it will be for the witness to show.
Whoever this mystery witness is, I can guarantee their safety.
It's not too late to change your mind.
That assumes you know my mind.
I can guess.
Your attitude, that body.
You always had attention.
Depended on it.
Got to be so you craved a little danger.
Drawn to the wrong men because you secretly like the drama.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
Feed off the chaos.
I am learning to let go of men who don't fit in my life.
I can vanquish all of those bad judgments.
Make you a wealthy woman.
You can chase all the chaos you want.
I'd settle for the chaos to stop chasing me.
Simple.
Just drive me where I tell you, and then look the other way.
Nothing is simple.
Everything is complicated and twisted, and everybody gets screwed in the end.
What a sad view of the world.
Brace yourself.
You're about to get a taste of chaos.
[TIRES SQUEALING.]
- [GRUNTS.]
[CRASHING.]
¿Pero qué haces loca? - Take the cuffs with you.
- What? Get out.
Go.
- Thank you, bonita.
- Don't thank me.
Thank limited choices and desperate times.
Vamos antes que lleguen refuerzos.
La próxima vez llama un taxi, Enrique.
[GRUNTS.]
[GROANS.]
[GROANS.]
[HEAVY BREATHING.]
Ah, lovely.
[TIRES SQUEAL.]
Okay.
[HEAVY BREATHING.]
42-12.
Dispatch 10-13.
Officer in need of emergency assistance.
[SIGHS.]
[POUNDING.]
Cole, are you in there? [POUNDING.]
[DOOR SQUEAKS.]
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC.]
Cole, hello? Oh.
It's okay.
Police, police.
[SPEAKING CHINESE.]
No, no, the man who had this room, - did he check out? - [SPEAKING CHINESE.]
Was anyone with him? [SPEAKING CHINESE.]
Chairman, I apologize for the confusion and the secrecy.
But I've discovered many branches of the NYPD to be compromised.
Detective Santos, we're not here to discuss police reform but because you promised to testify.
And you're here to illuminate that corruption? I'm hoping you are.
With your supporting evidence.
By my read, you, and by extension your unit, have been the subject of several Internal Affairs investigations, and also have been surrounded by a disproportionate amount of fatalities, including as recently as last night in your own living room.
I assure you that this is a story of systemic police corruption that you all want to hear immediately.
Then by all means, tell it.
But you need to hear it in the proper context from the right witness.
All right, here's what's gonna happen.
I have a meeting at 2:00.
I'm gonna adjourn the proceedings until 4:00.
At which time, you will produce this alleged witness or you'll face a subpoena compelling you to testify.
Do I make myself clear? You do.
We're adjourned till 4:00.
[GAVEL POUNDS.]
Tufo said the motel manager claimed that Cole paid for the room in cash.
Yeah, that was the plan.
Well, at least he left the motel in one piece.
Does it matter? He's not here, okay? So he's either dead or a coward.
Either way, he's no help to us.
Did he take Cristina's car? Is that really your biggest concern right now? - Detective! - If he took the car, he was planning on coming.
It's not on the lot.
Give me your keys.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Yo.
So tell me what happened again.
Oh, God.
Same question, same answer.
I blacked out on impact.
And you have no idea how Mr.
Ortiz was liberated from your vehicle when he should have been handcuffed and locked in the backseat? Well, the broken window might offer a theory.
Explains the egress, not the absolute lack of competence.
Look, we thought the cruiser would be less conspicuous.
Apparently the perps knew our route and they rammed me off the road.
By the time I woke up, the the entitled prick was already gone.
You don't have the best record with traffic collisions this week, do you, Tess? Beats the number of dead FBI agents under your watch, Gail.
Who else knew that you were transporting him to us? I lost my detective's shield for roughing up some dealer peddling poison in my precinct.
Do you really think that freeing a cartel member fits my M.
O.
? They had to have known the route somehow.
It doesn't take a genius with the subtle footprint you guys leave behind.
Oh, Tess, I really hope you're telling me the truth.
Wozniak had a lot riding on this transfer.
You think we're grilling you? What, no goodbye kiss? I almost forgot you were a detective.
You don't tell a girl where your go-bag is if you plan to stand her up.
[SIGHS.]
I made the decision that I was gonna face this thing down.
Hell or high water.
Got in the car.
Drove to the hearing when you said to be there.
And then The car drove you here instead? I guess the generous name for it would be survival instinct.
Follow your other instinct.
The instinct that made you say, "Yes.
" In my line of work, you don't leap without knowing where the ground is.
And in my line of work, you don't let your partner walk through the door without backup.
So don't go.
I already did.
Ramsey's on the commission.
I told you there's no beating him.
Until someone does.
Until someone pushes past the fear, stops doubting, and takes the leap.
Yeah? Ask Parker.
Or Bennett.
- Or your boyfriend.
- Look, Cole, I understand.
I do.
A year ago, I would have swept up my daughter and been on this ferry myself.
I would have done anything I could to survive.
So do it.
Go and get her.
I'll wait.
I held them off.
The commission's in recess.
There's another ferry in an hour.
So go back with me, okay? Just see this thing through.
Not my kind of odds.
I'm sorry.
One day you're gonna realize that what you call survival is not living at all.
Promise me you're not going back there.
Make sure you really know what you're doing before you do it.
I do.
I'll take the leap alone.
Music [CLASSICAL MUSIC.]
Hey.
Give me a sec.
What color is it? Um Nevermind.
Here it is.
Thank you.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
Did you get what you were promised? Gail Baker gave me a warning.
What was that? Not to cross you.
You didn't crack? It's hard to argue with a busted-up face and a busted up car.
Ah, that's my girl.
Just don't ask me to drive into another wall, okay? Scars add character.
Especially ones with good stories.
Yeah, if you're around to tell them.
That should help you keep your house.
Are you Woz, you don't That's how family works.
We take care of each other.
So what do you do now? Now I let it all burn down.
Harlee, you can't go in there with nothing.
Mom? Why the weird text? What's going on? Loman.
Cristina.
This is something that I always hoped to avoid But over the past year, it's become Something that I need to do.
Mom, I don't I don't understand.
I wanna be a good example for you, but lately you've been the good example.
Your goodness in your heart God, I feel like I blinked, and 16 years went by.
Mom, you know, whatever this is, you can tell me.
I can handle it.
Look at that.
Look at the strong young woman sitting in front of me.
Can you please just tell me what this is? This is me facing the music.
Coming clean.
This is me trying to be a better person.
Mom, you saved my life yesterday.
Look, whatever this is, Woz can help.
He'll get you out of whatever they caught you for.
They didn't catch me, baby.
This is my choice.
It's the only way that I can make things right.
For everyone.
This doesn't make things right.
This is very wrong.
You wanna face the music? Here it is.
Tell me.
Tell me the truth so I can forgive you.
I wish that was enough.
I do.
But there is a part of me that is so broken.
Yet I have to fix it now, or I'll never get the chance.
Baby I need to know that I am a person who's worthy of being your mom.
Any clue who this witness might be? I have some thoughts.
None that concern me.
I know you're covered.
I'm asking if I should be concerned.
That's why I'm here, Isabel.
To assuage your concerns.
[CELL PHONE RINGS.]
[BEEPS.]
Are you calling to capitulate? No, I'm giving you the opportunity to apologize to a mutual friend.
I don't think we have any of those.
I'm gonna save you the breath to come up with excuses for the Enrique debacle.
You seem to need direct instructions, so let's start with a simple one.
Call off the manhunt on Mr.
Wozniak.
He's a friend who secured the return of a beloved son.
Because he kidnapped him.
An elevated terrorist threat level doesn't help business.
I'm taking a broader view of things.
I am not interested in a broader view.
I'm interested in cooperation.
Well done, Lieutenant.
But you and I aren't finished.
I'm counting on it.
[BEEPS.]
He sounded a little tense.
Are you still content to pay for Ramsey's inefficiencies? The man wields influence.
And is about to have a much bigger profile.
I mean, that's a that's a liability.
More important, he has no honor.
He's killed his own men to protect his self interest.
How soon before he puts you on that list? What else do you need, Mr.
Wozniak? [CELL PHONE RINGING.]
[BEEPS.]
What's the verdict? Ramsey's on the jury.
Is Cole dead, or did some sense fall on him? I'm on my own on this one.
You're not still there, are you? About to resume.
Harlee, I have a smoking gun.
It cost us quite a bit, but it's gonna work.
Pull a fire alarm and just get the hell out of there.
Wait, what smoking gun? A recording of Ramsey talking to that cartel rep about a missing shipment and Cole's dead partner, Parker.
Well, send it to me.
We have to be smart about how we use this.
Woz, I need it now.
Parker was killed in the Sunrise Café.
You had a bad shoot there, remember? Woz, I've got nothing but my word.
And now that Ramsey knows that we're on to him, there won't be another chance.
We'll negotiate something with Internal Affairs.
Police commission hearings are like black holes.
They suck in everyone around them.
Which is why I can drag Ramsey down with me.
No, no, you don't have to do this.
Send the recording, Woz.
Just send the recording.
I won't implicate anyone else.
I'm not letting you implicate yourself.
Woz, I love you.
But I am going down this road.
I'm ending this now.
You've always had my back.
If you love me, you'll have it one last time.
Harlee, don't go in there.
[HAMSTER FEAT.
LZ LOVE'S "PEOPLE GET READY".]
People get ready There's a train a coming There's room for all Among them the loved the most [GAVEL POUNDS.]
Please come to order.
We are now back in session.
Detective Santos, I remind you that you are still under oath.
[PHONE DINGS.]
I'm ready to proceed.
MUSIC Have you located your missing witness? I have not.
But I'm now prepared to testify directly about corruption at the highest levels of the NYPD.
And by highest levels, you mean the anti-crime unit of the 64th headed by Lieutenant Wozniak.
No.
I mean the NYPD Intelligence Unit headed by Captain Ramsey.
Well, that's quite a provocative accusation.
But I cannot allow this hearing to be used as a forum to publicly impeach a decorated officer on this commission - without some - Proof? Will an audio recording do? A phone call? You will recognize Jordan Ramsey's voice talking to William Rydel, the New York arm of the Riohacha Cartel.
[MURMURING.]
An illegally-obtained recording of a classified operation? [BEEPS.]
You promised secure passage.
A small hiccup at the port.
It's hard to trust you can handle our operation if you can't handle your own men.
They couldn't have moved the shipment outside the dockyard.
It's still there.
I'll locate it.
And Parker? You worry about your exposure.
I have mine covered.
I guess we can conclude this commission as a waste of our time.
Chairman, the witness is misappropriating a conversation involving a classified undercover operation.
Did the operation include murdering Detective Jake Parker? Excuse me.
I must have dozed off.
Did we listen to a reference to murder? A reference to you covering your exposure in a call hours before Parker was assassinated.
Hold on, officer.
Wasn't Detective Parker killed in a mass shooting at a diner where you were the first responder? [SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC.]
That's correct.
And didn't you kill that assailant? No.
I killed a longshoreman fleeing the scene.
A longshoreman who was assisting Detective Parker and exposing Captain Ramsey's connection to the cartel.
A second one was murdered four days later.
Along with my boyfriend, A.
D.
A.
James Nava after confirming that Parker was working with Internal Affairs.
Detective, the weapon found in the Sunrise shooter's possession matches the ballistics inside the diner.
After Ramsey doctored the evidence.
Chairman, I believe we just entered conspiracy-land.
The gun was swapped.
I didn't realize you were a ballistics expert.
I know enough to tell you that it's impossible to shoot six people including a police officer when you don't have a gun.
You're own report on the incident maintains your suspect did have a gun.
A gun he discharged on you, forcing you to shoot and kill him.
Don't believe everything you read.
Are you suggesting you lied to Internal Affairs about a bad shoot? I'm not suggesting.
I'm telling you.
That longshoreman couldn't have shot anyone at the Sunrise because he didn't have a gun when I shot him.
So where did the weapon found on the suspect come from? I pulled it from my person, discharged, and planted it before my partner arrived at the scene.
I stand corrected.
This incident might very well involve a murder.
The suspect was fleeing the scene of a massacre.
You shot the man in the chest.
He had stopped running and turned to face you.
I mistook him for Robert Stahl.
The FBI agent who abducted me and tried to kill me last night.
So we're back to your psych evaluation.
I am testifying to the simple and horrific fact that you ordered the murder of an NYPD police officer.
One of your own.
And then committed multiple murders to cover up that truth.
I went along with it because you threatened to expose my own cover up.
I went along with it because there is such a thing as the Blue Wall.
I went along with it because when you're a corrupt cop long enough, lying becomes instinct.
It is a very slippery slope in service of the greater good.
But the truth The ugly truth I've endangered people's lives with my choices.
I've made excuses for breaking the law While I've worn the shield.
And not only have I betrayed The trust confided in me by this city I betrayed the trust of the people closest to me.
I betrayed myself.
I lied to everyone around me Until I didn't even know what was true.
But I'm done.
I'm done with cover ups.
And I'm done with lies.
And I'm done being afraid.
Mr.
Chairman, why would I admit to this if I wasn't telling the truth? Captain? [CHATTER.]
[SIGHS.]
[SCRAPPING.]
Hey.
Must be nice to breathe fresh air without helicopters circling.
[LAUGHS.]
Wozniak one, manhunt zip.
And Linda let you back in the house? Wozniack two.
And you got on the scoreboard, too.
Ramsey's arrest, and his assets are frozen.
I heard.
When I stopped by the precinct, there was a stack of witness statements on your desk.
Witness statements? I don't I don't have any active cases.
Character witness statements.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
Every cop in the precinct submitted one on your behalf.
Is that supposed to be some kind of joke? I think it's an apology.
It always comes back to this.
You and me.
I was thinking about your shooting.
You had to run through the scene of a mass murder.
- The bodies were still warm.
- [EXHALES.]
You had to think that you were probably chasing the killer.
But I wasn't.
But it's not gonna matter to the Grand Jury.
You were in fear for your life, and you made a decision.
More than one.
I covered it up.
PTSD.
You were still lost out there in the woods.
You weren't yourself.
It's a good plan.
I have a different one.
You usually do.
I'm gonna take a plea.
Harlee, that's not only time, they're gonna take your badge.
Well, it's not penance if it doesn't cost you something.
Penance is overrated.
This is gonna affect everybody around you.
Says a guy who insists on living with a bullet lodged in his back.
I don't like surrender.
I'm not quitting.
I'm starting over.
I just need to see who I am when I come out the other side.
Cristina's gonna need you every night.
Well, that's why I'm here.
I came to ask you something.
Take care of Cristina for me.
While I'm away.
You and the crew.
Harlee.
She's gonna need you.
And you're gonna need her, too.
I'm not gonna be around to mother either of you.
Take care of my baby.
[CRYING.]
Of course I will.
I promise.
Another girl who's gonna need your help, even if she doesn't ask for it.
This is your second chance, Woz.
You were my second chance.
You were a gift.
I wasn't always such a gift.
[CHUCKLES WRYLY.]
You were.
God, I love you.
It's always been your worst quality.
[LAUGHS.]
[CRYING.]
["HOLD ON, I'M COMIN'".]
Can't quit me, can you, man? Hey, you got a psycho loose back here.
Hey.
Hey! Remember what I said about sudden death being overrated? I was wrong.
Hold on I'm coming [GAGGING.]
Hold on I'm coming [DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
Say the word, and I won't stop till we cross the border.
Fugitives look better in a convertible.
Well, you look better with a badge than a jumpsuit.
And you without a bullet in your back.
It'll be great to have young people in the house again.
We, um We never changed anything since But this is your room now, okay? So you should make it your own.
It's perfect the way it is.
It might take you a while to win miss popularity contest in there.
Well, out here we're all cops and criminals.
In there, well, everyone's innocent, right? [CHUCKLES.]
Yeah, everyone and no one.
You sure you don't want me to walk you in? Better get used to rolling on my own.
Anybody bothers you, I'm processing Tess to come in as backup.
["OUR HOUSE".]
Don't go changing too much while I'm not looking.
Why start now? Home safe.
Safe tomorrow.
"Cristina, I know it's difficult "for you to understand why I had to do this.
"Why I needed to face my actions "and atone for my mistakes.
"The irony is that the hardest part of my decision "will be to be away from you.
"The reason I needed to change.
"I see the woman you're becoming.
And I want you to continue making your own choices.
" Our house "Picking your own path.
" Is a very, very, very fine house "I walked a tight rope between what was right "and what I thought I had to do.
Even when I knew it was wrong.
" Is a very, very, very fine house "I was in freefall.
" "What finally woke me up, "what made me choose a new direction "was seeing I was dragging others down with me.
"People I loved "and wanted to protect.
"People who deserve to be in charge of their own fate and future.
" [CHEERING.]
Yay, Tess! Welcome back! With two cats in the yard Life used to be so hard Now everything is easy 'cause of you "Because only when we're free to choose for ourselves can we take responsibility" "And hold each other accountable.
" "Only then can we build a better future.
"A home for ourselves where we can be whole "and feel safe and loved.
Be surrounded by those who love us.
" "To keep the monsters at bay.
"Both the real ones and the ones that haunt our minds.
" Our house Is a very, very, very fine house "Because the ones you can't see are the hardest to escape.
" Is a very, very, very fine house "They go everywhere with us.
They are a part of us.
" With two cats in the yard Life used to be so hard "Until we say no more.
" "Until we stop and face our fears.
Until we defeat our monsters.
" "We tell them we're in charge.
We tell them we have changed.
" 'Then and only then" "Are we finally free.
" Our house Is a very, very, very fine house Our house Is a very, very, very fine house
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