Lucky (2026) s01e06 Episode Script

My old man used to go hear
this revivalist preacher.
They set up shop… big circus tent.
Once in a while he'd take me along.
It was about
the only thing we did together.
Maybe he liked it
'cause we couldn't speak,
so he didn't have to try and talk to me.
I don't know.
And I don't remember how old I was,
but I could already
see through this dude's hustle.
I loved listening to him preach.
Billy Grace, he called himself.
Let me tell you,
that guy knew how to work a room.
I mean, 300 people in the palm
of his hand, every single time.
By the time he was done with his sermon,
he didn't have to ask for money.
The people, they wanted to give it to him.
They'd just pass the plate, everybody
would just drop their cash into it.
And I remember looking around
at all these people,
working-class people barely getting by,
giving their hard-earned money
to Billy Grace,
and I thought,
"What a bunch of suckers."
So, they're passing the plate,
and by the time it comes down my row,
it's already full of cash.
I mean,
more cash than I had ever seen in my life.
And then I see my father drop a 20 in.
You never met my old man,
but you can take it from me,
you couldn't get
a broken nickel out of that guy.
He worked in the cannery,
wore the same shirt all week.
He wasn't cheap.
He was just, you know, broke.
I'd ask him for two bucks
to get an ice cream from the truck.
He'd look at me like
I'd asked him for his fucking kidneys.
So, when I saw
how easily he dropped that 20…
I mean, all I could think was,
"My old man is just another sucker."
I mean, that's ten ice cream cones
right there on the tray.
When he passed the plate to me,
I estimated there
was already $700 in there
and I figured
no one's gonna miss 20 bucks,
so as I pass it down to the next sucker…
I palm my father's 20.
I didn't know much,
but Billy Grace was
not getting my ice cream cones.
Anyway… My old man saw me do it.
So, after the service,
he grabs me by the neck,
and he marches me down
to see Billy Grace himself.
Made me give the money back.
Billy was pretty cool about it.
I was humiliated.
When we got home…
my father gave me the belt
and grounded me for,
I don't know, a month.
And I just felt this rage
I'd never felt before.
I wasn't mad at Billy.
If anything, I admired
what a sweet game he had going.
I was just pissed at my old man,
giving away money
he couldn't afford to give,
and being a chump.
So, that night I snuck out.
I climbed through a window
in this trailer outside the tent.
I stole the whole damn collection plate.
$942.
That was my first real haul.
And the last time
I ever went anywhere with my dad.
Never told me that story before.
I guess I didn't remember it.
After two years inside,
you remember a lot of things you forgot.
How old were you?
Oh. Eight, nine. I don't know.
Remember my first haul?
You did a Glass-In-A-Box.
You had me outside the mall.
God, I was so nervous.
Yeah, I know. But your timing…
A thing of beauty.
The way you stepped in front of that mom
at exactly the right moment.
And you sold that fall.
- What did you clear on that, 150?
- Two twenty.
- Two twenty.
- Come on.
That's right.
How old were you?
I was seven.
How do you want to handle Rand?
She's smarter than I'd like her to be.
Yes. But she'll make the deal.
You trust her?
No.
But I don't have to trust her.
I know what she wants.
You taught me that.
You understand that
you have been read your rights
and have waived your right
to have an attorney present?
- Yes.
- And if you give me a warm liquid,
I'll think of you as a warm person.
That's what they taught you, right?
Crypto account checks out.
I just need the seed phrase
to convert the money.
We're not up to that yet.
Oh, really?
Okay.
All right then. Let's hear it.
Immunity from all prosecution,
and my father's sentence commuted.
That money won't buy you that.
You haven't even heard
what we're offering yet.
"We?"
Who is "we?" There is no "we" here, John.
You have nothing I want.
She and I are the same person
as far as you're concerned.
Wrong. You were bait.
And you're about to be
headed back to lockup in the next hour.
And you're gonna
be in the same car with him
if you don't come up with
something better than that.
That's a good speech.
- It's the delivery that's the problem.
- Right?
It sounds like
a speech you've given before.
Maybe even in this room.
A bluff like that I feel like
it's gotta be more organic.
I wasn't talking to you.
As you were saying?
- I can give you Priscilla.
- You can't guarantee that.
Maybe not.
But it is the best shot you've got.
We both know this has never been about me.
You made it about you
when you stole that money.
And you can't shoot at me and think
you can come in here and call the shots.
- Okay. I didn't shoot at anybody.
- What?
Say it just like that
when you get on the stand.
Okay, you guys are just
being ridiculous now.
What do we have on them, Gates?
RICO, money laundering, wire fraud,
theft of government property,
conspiracy, identity theft.
And that's just off the top of my head.
That's before we
let the state take their bite out of you
for your little
merry-go-round in La Jolla.
That's life.
That's life.
Lucky.
You're gonna spend
the rest of your life in prison.
And since you and your daughter
are the same person,
I won't send you back to Lompoc.
I'll send you to a controlled unit.
ADX Florence.
You heard of that, John?
I know you have.
Gates.
What do they call it?
- The Alcatraz of the Rockies.
- Alcatraz of the Rockies.
Twenty-three hours of total confinement.
- Go fuck yourself.
- What did you say to me?
Go fuck yourself.
Well, okay.
Okay, wait.
Tell me what you want me to do.
I want you to bring me Priscilla,
but I want you to
bring Whittaker with her.
What?
I need Whittaker
taking possession of the money himself.
Okay. But Whittaker never shows his face.
He always maintains
a level of deniability.
Well, then you understand
the problem that I have.
You just trying to get her killed?
Is that it?
You wanted a deal.
This is the deal.
Bullshit.
Priscilla gives you the whole operation.
Gates, why don't you
take John here to the kitchen?
I think he needs a snack.
No, thank you. I'm not hungry.
Sure you are.
So, how do I know you're not gonna
screw me over like you did the last time?
Well, I guess you don't.
I was doing my job.
And if I had to
break my promise to a thief,
then so be it.
Don't even think it.
Think what?
I see you checking the exits.
Force of habit, I guess.
But that's my daughter in the next room,
so I'm not going anywhere.
But if I wanted to, I'd already be gone.
Always the con artist.
That term, con artist.
If anything, I'm just a con man.
There's a difference?
"Art" implies creation.
I don't create shit.
There's nothing spiritual about it,
no inspiration.
It's just nature. Survival.
There are other ways to survive.
Not for me.
Yeah, whatever you gotta tell yourself.
They do not have doughnuts in Lompoc.
You want one? Come on.
Cops love doughnuts.
I'm not a cop.
Whatever you gotta tell yourself, man.
You wanna tell me why there's a convicted
felon eating doughnuts in my office?
You went to Justice behind my back again
and sprang John Armstrong!
I didn't go behind your back.
Oh, no? Well, what would you call it?
I call it cutting through red tape.
So the chain of command
is now red tape.
I think you just nailed your problem
right there.
And yours is being stuck on procedure
and not seeing the big picture.
Watch it, Billie.
I've got more than enough to
send you home right now.
That's Luciana Armstrong in there.
I've been chasing her for a week!
I got her.
- John Armstrong.
- Yeah.
I used him to flush her out.
And they come with
ten million stolen taxpayer dollars!
So the ends justify the means,
is that what you're selling here?
Yes, they will. Yes, they will.
When I take down Priscilla and Whittaker,
they will.
Well, bullshit!
She can't give you Whittaker, Rand.
I believe she can!
Kershaw. He was there when they busted us.
Guess he got a promotion.
Guess so.
No love lost between them, huh?
Okay, one of two things is
about to happen.
Either she's gonna come back
in here alone,
in which case we can write our own ticket,
or he comes with her, and if that happens,
I'm on my way back to prison
before this coffee gets cold.
You really see an endgame here?
I do.
It's your neck.
Okay, it's on.
- Just don't piss her off, okay?
- You're telling me that?
Just let me do the talking.
I believe I've let you--
- Dad.
- Okay. Fine.
Your boss doesn't look too happy.
Should we be talking to him?
Do we have a deal?
Yes, you do.
But I can't commit
to a commuted sentence for John.
I'll make some calls.
Okay, we'll wait.
While you wait, you need to call Priscilla
and set up that meeting.
No. She can't call Priscilla.
It has to be in person.
Priscilla doesn't talk business
on the phone.
And you have me making
an unprecedented ask.
She needs to look me
in the eye to believe me.
- And if she doesn't?
- She will.
Look, I need this to work
more than you do.
All right, I'ma get on the phone
and see if I can find a cooperating judge.
I'm gonna put you two in a hotel.
I want two guards at the door
at all times.
We won't run.
Imagine our relief.
We won't need those guards.
I will want the deal in writing.
Notarized and signed by you and Kershaw.
Is that all?
Yes.
Thank you.
Get comfortable. This is where
you're gonna be staying until it's over.
Well, la-di-da.
I know I don't need to tell you this,
but I'm gonna be right outside
the door, okay?
Appreciate it. We'll knock
if we need anything.
Yeah, you do that.
You okay?
Yeah.
It's just… you know,
the quiet, the space…
just savoring it.
You're not going back.
We don't know that yet.
I do.
Remember when you used
to tell me about the ocean?
How some people can go their entire
lives without ever seeing the water,
but we weren't gonna be like that.
We moved around a lot, but…
one day we'd just stop.
Not just because we wanted to, but
because we would have run out of land.
"One day, Lucky,
our feet will be in the sand, and we'll be
looking at the great big blue…
and we'll finally be still."
I'm ready to be still, Dad.
I'm gonna take a shower
for as long as the hot water lasts.
You were really something in there today.
The way you handled Rand.
That was just stone-cold perfect.
- I had leverage.
- You mean the money?
Yeah, you had some leverage,
but she did too.
Her office, her people.
And when she threatened to lock you up,
most people would've caved,
taken a lousier deal.
You've played your hand perfectly,
made her believe that she was in control.
I'm proud of you, kid.
So, what's the angle?
What do you mean?
We give them Whittaker and Priscilla,
and then we walk.
No, no. I mean, the-the money.
No angle.
The money is a part of it.
Until it isn't.
No.
- Lucky…
- No.
Don't even think about it.
Of course I'm gonna think about it.
It's my money.
- You can't just give it away.
- I'm not giving it away.
I'm buying our freedom.
Who wants to be free if you're broke?
I do.
I at least think we should discuss it.
No. You are not going
to ruin this for me. For us.
Not this time. No.
What's that supposed to mean?
Why would I ruin it?
Because it's what you do.
It's what you've been doing
for my entire life.
We run, we scrounge, we con,
and then, we get something good going,
you know, something that could last
or give me a little bit of stability,
and then you get greedy
and then it all comes tumbling down.
That's bullshit!
Do you have any idea what it was like
to grow up with you as a father?
Do you even have a clue
what I've been through?
What are you… What are you talking about?
You had a great childhood.
Do you know how many kids would
have killed to grow up the way you did?
- Oh, my God. You can't be serious.
- How many fathers
do you think put in
the time I put in with you,
day after day, year after year?
I'll help you out with that one. None.
You had seen and learned more
by the time you were eight years old
than most college kids.
- You always had me.
- But that was all that I had.
I was alone.
- You were happy.
- Dad…
Look, I don't know what lies you've been
telling yourself for the last few years,
but you will never convince me that you
weren't a happy kid because I was there.
- I saw you.
- And you saw what you wanted to see.
And if I tried to talk to you
about the things that I wanted,
like a home, or a bedroom, or friends,
you would change the subject,
or get so offended that I had
to drop it to make you feel better.
Okay, I should have been in school
learning algebra
and having crushes on boys.
And instead, I was running fiddle games
and pigeon drops with you.
Do you understand
that I wake up every night
certain that you're gonna come rushing in
and tell me that I have to grab my things
and get in the car
because you skipped out on rent,
or you lost a card game,
or you blew a con.
I was scared, Dad.
Terrified that this was gonna be the time
that they take you away to jail,
and I would end up on my own.
D-Do you know how many people hate me…
hate me, and they don't even know my name?
- Lucky--
- That's not even my real name!
You were so certain that the next score
would be the big one,
but the big one never came.
Yes, it did!
It's the ten million bucks
you're ready to give away.
The ten million dollars
that you skimmed from a gangster?
We are in this mess because of that.
Just like we were two years ago
with the gas scam.
And just like then,
it falls on me to save you from yourself.
What are you talking about?
You didn't save anyone. I got arrested.
How do you think that the FBI
built their case against Priscilla?
It was you?
You were in over your head.
Whittaker was gunning for you,
and you couldn't see it.
So… yes, I-I worked with Rand.
You turned me in?
No… I turned Priscilla in.
- You knew what would happen.
- She told me that it would just be her.
- And you believed her?
- Yes.
Then you are an idiot!
You…
You took everything from me.
I'm tired.
Think I might get ready
to go to sleep now.
Dad…
I know you think you can handle this,
but Priscilla has been played
by you before.
So, we're gonna have agents outside.
I told you, I need to go alone.
And I told you that I need
to make sure you're gonna return.
You have GPS in the car
and agents following you.
It's not negotiable.
I guess you two
had some catching up to do.
I'm assuming you told him.
All right, well,
let's not rehash that here, shall we?
Well, I wouldn't dream of it.
You have some papers for me to sign?
Right here.
Well,
I'd like to go back to the hotel now.
You're staying here until she comes back.
Gates is going to introduce you
to the team taking you to Malibu.
You set the meet at the Regency hotel.
You got it?
- Got it.
- You're good.
See you later.
You pulled your daughter
right back in, huh, John?
Don't do that.
Don't pretend you give a shit.
She's just a means to an end for you.
Just like she was
when you played her two years ago.
You're sending her into the lion's den,
and you are not thinking twice about it.
Do you have kids, Agent Rand?
Ambitious career woman like yourself,
always choosing
the job over family, I bet.
This job is what matters.
The job is not a job.
I mean, it's…
it's a goddamn calling, isn't it?
You guys are all the same.
Your kids,
I bet they hate you. Oof.
And I'm betting it's not
your standard-issue teenage hate,
it's the real deal.
Deep-seated hate comes from a lifetime
of being pushed aside by Mom
for her more important job.
Right?
Maybe that's something that you
and I have in common, John.
Really? What's that?
We put our work ahead of our kids.
But here's… here's the difference.
I didn't turn my kid into a commodity.
You're right.
I don't give a shit.
But if something happens to her out there…
I'ma sleep fine tonight.
You put her out there.
That's you.
That's all you.
It's never a dull moment with you, huh?
Can I see her?
How do you know she's home?
Because you're here.
She's down at the stable.
So, how'd you find it?
Cary left me some breadcrumbs.
Just took me a minute to figure it out.
You always were the clever one.
I just wasn't willing to be played.
Honey,
your father's been playing you
your entire life.
At least he didn't steal from me.
No, it was Cary who did that to you,
wasn't it?
So, we've established that we both have
a blind spot for lesser men.
He was your son.
Yeah, I loved him.
But let's be honest, he was out
of his depth with you.
Excuse me.
Maybe that's what you liked about him.
I loved him.
Love is a luxury in our little world.
If you didn't know that before, honey,
you know it now.
I don't live in your world.
Of course you do.
You thought you
were out not that long ago,
but look, here you are,
standing in front of me.
I had delusions like you maybe
when I was young.
That I could go be someone else,
someone better.
But here's the thing,
and this should be stupidly obvious,
eventually you figure out wherever you go,
there you are.
You're not trying
to escape a place, Lucky.
You're not even trying to escape the life.
You're trying to run away
from who you are.
Just because you don't like who you are
doesn't mean
that you can run away from her.
Pretty sure you know that's true.
Yeah.
Maybe you're right.
Or maybe that's what you tell yourself
when you're all alone in your big house,
justifying the shitty things you've done.
You're gonna be me sooner than you think.
Where's my money?
Somewhere safe.
Okay.
What's the play?
No play.
I don't want it.
So, give it to me. Off you go.
Well, no. It's Wayne's money.
I would like to give it to him personally.
I'll handle that part.
No.
I need to do it myself.
Yeah, he doesn't take meetings.
He'll take this one.
You little shit.
You don't dictate terms
to Wayne Whittaker--
I do today.
I need to look him in the eye,
same as I'm looking at you now,
and tell him that I am not a loose end.
That I'm paying
for my freedom and my life.
With his money?
How do you think that's gonna go over?
You need me to sell it.
Cool.
So, you come too.
He won't go for it.
Sure he will. If you sell it.
This is not a negotiation, Priscilla.
I'm either handing him the money directly,
or he's not getting it at all.
I don't trust you.
I don't care.
Okay.
I'll talk to him.
Tomorrow morning.
The Regency hotel. Do you know it?
I know it.
But we're not gonna do it there.
Why is that?
Well, for one thing,
because you suggested it.
If he comes, and that's a big if,
he'll pick the spot.
I hope you can be flexible.
I'll wait for your call.
You know, there is something
that's been bugging me.
How did you know Cary was in La Jolla?
Wayne found him.
Same way he'll find you
if you fuck with him.
Yeah, like I said, Lucky,
wherever you go, there you are.
- You watching the clock?
- I see it.
Don't act like you don't wanna
check that tracker.
I don't need to check it.
So, you really think she's
gonna go through with it?
Gates, what was your relationship like
with your father?
My father?
Yeah.
It was fine, I guess.
Well, then you wouldn't understand.
So, how did it go?
Okay.
I think.
You think?
She'll set it up.
Did she agree to the hotel?
Yeah, about that…
She was testing me.
If I insisted, she would've known
it was a setup.
- So…
- All right. So, where's it happening?
She will let me know.
We're gonna have to improvise.
I'm sorry.
Stay here.
I gotta make a call.
Thank you.
She go for it?
Yeah.
She get in your head?
She was already there.
Believe me, I know what you mean.
I'm gonna take a shower.
Hey.
Your mom passed and…
it was just me and this tiny human.
And I wasn't ready for it, you know?
I didn't know what you needed.
So, I did the only thing I knew how to do.
I taught you how to survive
in the life that you were born into.
It was only much later that I understood
I shouldn't have been teaching you
how to survive in the life,
I should have been figuring out
how to get you out of it.
Should have been figuring out
a better life for you.
I know that's what she would have done.
Anyway, I… I'm really sorry, kid.
I'm sorry I'm just now understanding
what a shitty father I've been.
I… I shouldn't have said all those things.
No, you were right.
I mean, about all of it.
- Dad…
- I've always been proud
of the ways you're like me,
but what makes me prouder than anything…
is the ways you aren't like me, you know?
You're better in every way.
And I just want you to know,
no matter how fucked up it was,
it wasn't because
I didn't love you enough.
I did. I do.
I always will.
Hello?
Yeah.
Yeah, I remember where that is.
Okay.
Yeah?
Yeah.
Gates?
Yeah?
Call your boss.
Look at this place. It's wide open.
There's only one way in and out.
We can't put agents in here.
Yeah.
Whittaker picked this spot.
He knew what he was doing.
And it's just you
and Kershaw covering her?
That's it?
Yeah. There's not another agent
for a couple of miles.
And you're good with this?
It is what it is.
Here you go.
That's it?
Yeah, that's it.
That button mic
hears everything that's said.
We'll be listening and recording.
- Can I get a level?
- What?
That's great, thank you.
This is the phone. We've got a show
wallet loaded up for the transaction.
We need you to get Whittaker
to take possession of that phone
and log in to the account,
and when he does,
then we move in. You got it?
- Got it.
- All right.
Let's go to the gas terminal,
get the lay of the land.
- I'm coming along.
- No, you're not.
None of you know these people like I do.
You are supposed to be in jail.
If they see you,
they're gonna know it's a setup.
- Rand.
- You're staying here,
and Agent Gates will be right outside
to shoot you if you get other ideas.
Okay, can you give us a minute?
Come on, Gates.
- You never met Whittaker, did you?
- No.
There's something you need to know.
Priscilla and him,
they have a complicated relationship.
I know they were a thing
a million years ago.
Yes. That's not what I mean.
Something happens to her
when she's around him.
It's like there's something about him that
reminds her just how miserable she is.
I can't say it better than that.
But she is not right in the head
when she is around him.
And as dangerous as she is,
and she is very fucking dangerous,
she is more dangerous when she's with him.
Great.
You keep your eyes
on her every second, okay?
Whittaker's a killer, yes,
but you want to read the room,
you keep your eyes on her.
Do you hear me?
Yes, I hear you.
I wish I was going out there instead.
- I don't.
- No?
No.
I'm better at this than you are.
Rand's people won't be quick enough
if this thing goes south.
You're on your own out there, Lucky.
I know.
I'll be here.
I know.
Are you ready?
Yes.
All right, let's go.
Get in. Go ahead.
She's gonna be all right.
Easy for you to say.
You always want to be an FBI agent?
- Started in Marine Corps first.
- No shit?
Two tours in Afghanistan.
I came home feeling like I hadn't
accomplished anything, you know?
But I had the skill set.
Marines paid for college, so I figured,
maybe I could do something here
that mattered.
Now, here you are, babysitting me.
The world's a complicated place.
Thank you for your service.
- Fuck off.
- No, I'm serious, man.
You did something.
You served a purpose
greater than yourself.
Whatever's in you made you do that,
I wasn't born with it.
So, did you always want to be a thief?
You know, it's funny
you say that about me,
and I know I'm not a model citizen, but…
I never thought of myself as a thief.
You stole millions of dollars.
Well, yeah.
Then you stole millions of stolen dollars.
Does it count if they're already stolen?
Yeah.
Yeah, I'm pretty sure it does.
Well, you would know, I guess.
So, if you didn't see yourself as a thief,
how did you see yourself?
I don't know.
I guess I didn't see myself at all.
I was too busy watching everyone else.
I always meant to get out.
I had a lot of plans.
Yeah?
What happened?
World's a complicated place.
It is.
I might have cheated.
Do you hear something?
No.
Chessir, this is Gates. Checking in.
Chessir, this is Gates. Please indicate.
Stay put.
Gates?
Gates!
Gates!