61st Street (2022) s01e04 Episode Script

1 Previously on "61st Street" - My lawyer told me not to talk to you.
- Sign this and everybody stands down.
They think that's your confession.
It's not, it's your defense.
I spoke to Dr.
Algren, I know.
He was wearing a wire the day he died, Jessica.
He got a name, your man in the Nation? Jesus, 2-2.
2-2 is Rufus.
I am demanding accountability from the Chicago Police Department.
- 100 grand and he can come home.
- Don't worry.
If it's money that we need, it's money we'll get.
We see you, boy.
It's always hard the first time.
Hey, man, what's up? My name, uh, Moses.
Welcome to the promised land.
'Sup, new fish? You play bones? Naw, man, I'm good.
Well, what, you can't count or something? I-I know how to play, but, you know, I'm just trying to get my shit situated, you feel me? Man, look, most of what you see on TV about what's going on in the joint, look, that's all nonsense, a'ight? It's real simple in here.
Mind yo' business, and you'll be all good.
I'm Squirrel.
Moses Johnson.
My man, Moses.
Come on, man.
Come meet some of the guys.
Hey, man.
Hey, hey, man! - That's my shit, man! - No, I don't think so.
But if you really think this yo' shit, you should take it, right? Yeah.
Thanks, new fish.
Hello, ladies.
Would it be possible to give me a headline on those? The doctor's office will contact you in a few days to discuss the results.
Okay, thank you.
Hey, man, ain't nothing in here for you to take, a'ight? They done took everything.
No, you got that all backwards.
It ain't about what I want.
I'm here with an opportunity.
- I ain't here for that.
- You should be.
Reality is, this only gonna get worse unless you clique-up.
Man, no disrespect, but I can take care of myself, alright? Can you? You 'bout to be spooned up with this dude, pissing sitting down, washing his dirty-ass drawz sooner than later, I would imagine.
You ain't housewife material, Moses.
I ain't "Nation" material either.
You know, it get real cold in here at night when you ain't got no blanket.
All you gotta do is come on in where it's warm.
I don't gang-bang.
Never have, never will.
I'll take my chances on my own.
Just remember everything in here cost, except this piece of advice Respect is like air in this bitch.
You gon' need it if you want to survive.
I'm Lotty.
Erebody in here know me.
You holla' at me when you reconsider.
You said you don't feel guilty.
And you said the law doesn't care about how I feel.
Mm, that's what I said.
Is that justice? Hmm? Is law and justice considered the same thing? The law says you have to stop when a police officer asks you to stop.
The law says you can't resist arrest by a police officer.
There's no such thing as self-defense when a cop you know is a cop wants to take you into custody.
That's what the law says.
Now let me ask you a question.
When you walked up into that drug bust and you saw the cops see you, what did you do? - I ran.
- Why? Ask Laquan McDonald.
You thought the cop chasing you was going to kill you.
Yeah.
What else? And when he caught you down the alley, what did you feel? I felt I felt terrified.
- What did you do? - I-I-I I I tried to escape.
I I tried to defend myself.
But there's no self-defense in a situation like that.
So, now, what's the answer to your question? My question? Is the law and justice the same thing? No.
No, it ain't.
Shouldn't it be? Yes, it should.
Then I have an idea to help make it so.
And it means you and me fighting this and fighting them.
Now, they're gonna come after us with everything they got, 'cause they're strong, and it's going to be hard for you and your family, so I need to be sure you want to do this.
Now, they said the cops just jumped out they car and shot him like he was nothin'.
Now, I need to know why y'all killed my boy like that.
Ma'am I need to know! I'm sorry, but I'm gonna have to ask you to leave.
No, no, no.
We won't be going anywhere until we get answers about what happened Officer Brown.
I'll assist these ladies.
Meet you there.
Please, follow me.
Mrs.
Porter, I'm Lieutenant Brannigan, and you have every right to know exactly what happened to your son and why.
Your son was dealing drugs on a street corner.
He was a known member of The Nation street gang.
He discharged a handgun during a high-risk drug sweep.
Yeah, but them boys be on the block selling dope all hours of the day and night, dozens of 'em at a time.
My son the only one gets shot by the police? Why him? His weapon was raised.
He was ordered to drop it.
He didn't do that.
He was shot to protect police officers.
The shooting was justified.
I'm sorry for your loss.
W-Wait.
So that's it? You came here looking for answers.
I'm guessing the question you most want an answer to is, "Who killed my son?" It was me.
And I'm sorry.
But I'd have to do it again.
If you think it's gon' be this easy, you're wrong.
It's not easy.
I need your help.
I have information I don't know what to do with.
Her boy was a snitch.
That's right.
He had a victim's funeral, the whole production, and I don't want to spoil that.
A mother's grief, a mother's pride.
But she keeps making a big noise about this I don't know.
You understand what I'm saying, Mrs.
Johnson? You have 10 minutes.
You cannot bring any personal objects except photos.
Violation of any of these rules will result in immediate termination of the visit and a 90-day suspension of an inmate's visitation privileges.
Where is he? Excuse me.
I'm here to see Moses Johnson.
Officer.
What is this, Speak? I thought we should talk.
What did you do? Where is he? Like I said, Norma, we should talk.
About what? Still that angry? After all this time? See, means it's still there.
I told you, I'd always be right there.
How many times you been gone? Six or seven? What is it, Speak? You just like being locked up? I'll be acquitted on this one.
Still only about you, huh? Ain't never been about me, our boys I never stopped caring for my family.
But, uh, Moses thinks he's a grown man now.
He's making his own decisions.
Wait Yeah, I held out an olive branch.
Let me guess you sent one of your soldiers to talk to our son.
Norma, the Nation is part of me.
I'm part of them.
The two just go together.
You're his father first! Before anything.
Olive branch is out there.
All he got to do is take it.
Oh, y-you want me to tell him, right? You want me to advise my son to join the life that put you in here? That the love of a parent is conditional, yeah? That if you don't join that gang, then we don't love you? Fuck you, Speak.
Yo! Yo, Moses.
Oh, shit, yo! Twin, what's good? What's up, man? Same shit, different day.
I just saw you on the news, man.
Is you Is you playin' or what? Y'all know who this is? Man, this Moses Johnson, man, the fastest athlete in the In the county.
I mean, I'd probably say the whole state.
Bet you a hundred dollars he can't beat Smoke.
Smoke? Man, a hundred dollars? Bet that up.
Hey, man, slow down, Twin.
Nobody finna race up in here.
It's too late for that, man.
It's paper on it, fam.
Alright, y'all, this how we gon' do this.
Since my man here, Smoke, run the hundred meter and my boy Moses run the four hundred, I think we should do a shuttle run up and down the court.
Up and back, wall to fence That's five times, 250 meters.
I think that should be fair.
Just have my hundred dollars on my books tomorrow when Smoke get that ass.
Hey, runners to y'all mark, man.
Let's get this show on the road.
- Come on.
Moses.
- Mm.
Come on.
Yes, sir.
Side bets, side bets.
Let's go, Smoke! Runners to your mark! Get set.
Go! Moses? You okay? - Thank you, sir.
- Yep.
Thank you.
David, you need a ride? Oh, no, I know exactly what to do.
Okay.
Finna' drum it like a band ♪ You a opp getting fans ♪ And I put that on the mans ♪ - My bands be truie ♪ - True ♪ - My bag be Louie ♪ - Louie ♪ I rock with Louie ♪ - Louie gang, King Louie ♪ - Let's get it ♪ - We be Lawless Inc ♪ - Turn up ♪ Don't give a what you think ♪ Attention, customers Due to police activity in the subway, the train is being rerouted, and Garfield is the next stop.
Damn! I repeat this train is being rerouted, and Garfield is the next stop.
Unh-unh shoes.
It's a bit of a gimmick.
It's who you are.
And what is that? Jesus Christ, Mahatma Gandhi, Francis of Assisi All three barefoot, all three strong brands.
- So I'm a brand now? - Mm-hmm.
Sounds like political cynicism.
Sounds like being 18 points down in the polls a week ago, then "Barefoot Martha" arrives in the press, and now we're only down 9 points.
Well, can the campaign afford to give "Barefoot Martha" a pedicure? No.
Absolutely not.
Entirely the wrong message.
That's not the brand.
You are who you are, and your feet are your feet.
Did Gandhi give a damn about his bunions? This is Armitage.
Please watch your step.
Girl, don't you know that he holding you back again ♪ SMH, when he talk, he be ♪ Left, walk one block, make another left, 200 steps.
189, 190 194, 195 197, 198 Hello.
I was keeping quiet, I was being cool ♪ Even if it rain, we comin' through ♪ If I tell I love you, I mean it ♪ Whitey got killed, I seen it ♪ I was right there, still can't believe it ♪ Turned me to a demon ♪ Police ask me, I ain't seen nun' ♪ Back-to-back hits like a rerun ♪ Ah.
I hope you won the race.
Yo, stop stop being nice to me, alright? Stop, 'cause, you know, you show emotions in here, a-a-and you in trouble, you done for, so just stop.
Nobody's watching, son.
Stop Nobody's watching.
You know I ran track back in the day.
High school and college.
I was State Champ, high hurdles.
But, you know, my two heroes each ran one lap Edwin Moses and Michael Johnson.
But I couldn't help but notice that you got one of each of their names.
I wasn't born no athlete, man.
No, you worked hard at it.
Lord knows I know.
Derek Redmond.
You know who that is? No.
Olympic semi-final.
Barcelona, 1992.
He pulled a hamstring coming out of the first bend.
And just like that it was over.
But he still wanted to finish his race.
So he limped down the back straight, and he was in real pain, and he wasn't gon' make it.
And then, somebody ran on the track.
They put they arms around Derek.
His father.
"You ain't gotta do this," his dad said.
"Yes, I do.
Yes, I do," Derek told him.
"Okay.
Alright.
Okay.
Together.
" So they hobbled 250 meters to the finish line.
The whole stadium got to its feet, applauding them to bring 'em home, you know? He done lost everything he done worked for.
Everything.
But together, you know Derek and his dad found a way to win.
You can still get there, Moses Johnson.
You can still get there.
Alright.
But I'm trusting you.
Alright? I'm trusting you, alright? - So let's do this.
- Okay.
- Let's do this.
- Okay.
Okay.
Okay.
How they know where to find me? You know, to make the arrest.
They followed me.
But how they know to follow you? I talked to the State's Attorney.
They're going for the maximum Life without parole.
He told me to be his lawyer.
I'm doing that.
But what I'm asking him to do, he can't do with just me.
What are you saying? He needs the support that only his mother can give.
'Cause we going big.
You hear me? We're going big.
Look, I need money for Mo.
It's really real out here.
This shit don't ever stop.
No breaks.
People got to get they medicine or they get sick.
- Think you can handle that? - For sure.
Shit like clockwork.
Thought you said you had a square gig? Man, that was some sucker shit.
It's time to get paid for real, alright? What's up? Lock it up, then, little man.
Gotta love a righteous hustler.
Amen to that.
Totally illegal, no permit, obstructing traffic.
And if we were a couple of little old ladies, we might even be intimidated.
But I see it as a victimless crime.
For the 45 seconds I got to sit at the light scratching my junk, he's provides entertainment.
It's the American way.
You a good poker player, Johnny? Um I've held a hand or two.
That's a player's answer.
I saw something a couple blocks back.
Welcome to the neighborhood.
Yo, miss me with that comedy shit, G.
This ain't a good time, for real.
I saw the race.
I also saw how The Faction took you humiliating they boy Smoke.
What the hell that supposed to mean? It means they coming for your ass.
So the Faction wants you, the guards, they plotting how they gonna throw your cop-killer ass off the roof of one of these buildings, dangling from a rope.
I ain't interested in anything you selling.
I'm just giving you facts, is all.
You come in with us, you stay alive.
Otherwise, I don't know.
I really don't.
Yeah, play it up, man.
Let's go.
Let's go.
Double 6, double 6! Come on, man! What's going on, guys? - Police get back! Back, back, back! - Against the wall! - Where you going? - Against the wall! Against the wall! Hands on the wall.
Hands on the wall.
Drop to your knees.
Drop to your knee Knees, knees, knees! Interlock your fingers behind your head.
Why you cuffin' me, man?! For your safety and mine.
These come off as easy as they go on.
What's this? Huh? I don't think you have a concealed carry permit, which makes this a felony.
On your knees.
Anybody else? Huh? Whose money is this on the ground? Who had the hot hand? Surely, someone was about to come up.
Gambling on the public way is a misdemeanor, but illegal guns are a different matter.
I'll ask again whose money is this on the ground? Get outta here, all of you.
Go.
- Let's go, let's go! - Go, go, go! What's the story with this gun? What gun, officer? The one that belong to whoever money that is on the ground? Smart man.
That was the right answer.
You're welcome.
Kick rocks before I change my mind.
Little over 400 bucks.
Not bad.
You good? Sure.
Let's get a drink.
I don't know why I'm here.
You know what I do? I wear his shirts.
Just for the smell, you know? Yeah.
But you don't really have anything like that, do you? No, not really.
Here.
There he is.
There he is.
Um, I'm gonna Uh, you've had a A lot to drink, so you probably shouldn't drive.
You can You can take that couch in Michael's den.
Okay.
Okay.
Who is she? Hanging out with, you know, a little chick.
Unh-unh, no little chick.
What? What you do Come on.
What you doing? Come on.
You really finna pull my pants up? Yes, sir.
Come on.
Alright.
Mm-hmm, yep.
Presentable.
Looks great.
You could stay home.
Come on, Mom.
My friend's waiting on me.
Yeah I'mma be alright, though, alright? I'mma stay out the way.
- Be safe.
- Always.
You know that.
Be careful.
Come on, you know me.
Pull your pants up.
Come on, Ma.
Sag is swag.
- Sag is swag.
- The shorties love it.
You gotta love it, too, okay? But I love you, alright? I'mma call you before I get home.
- Love you, too.
- Love you more.
Bye.
We own everything ♪ We own everything ♪ We own everything ♪ We own everything ♪ We own everything ♪ We own everything ♪ We own everything ♪ Damn, T.
Some fly-ass whips.
- Hey, what's up, Lil Nate? - Good.
Good.
Hey, walk over here with me.
So, I talked you up to the Boss, but, uh, you gonna have to get his blessing to roll with us.
For sure.
He here? Yeah, he right over there.
- There you go, right there.
- Damn, this his shit? Hey, hey, just relax.
First impressions are lasting.
Do this right.
Go on, now.
I'll be obliged if you step outside ♪ Because my ride is awaiting our date ♪ Of steak and a night cap ♪ We mating, awaking ♪ By smells of perfume that I inhale ♪ And then tell how well we raise hell on the dizzell ♪ How's Speak doin'? I don't know.
I ain't talk to him in a while.
Way different out here since dudes like him was in this life.
A whole new script.
We expect you to handle business regardless who yo' daddy is.
Your paper or your work come up short, you accountable.
Feel me? Yeah, I got you.
Some coppers get their panties in a bunch at the hint of impropriety.
How about you? You ever bust a dice game, pocketed the money? Nah, not my style.
If it doesn't say city of Chicago, signed by the treasurer, I don't want it.
Johnny? Jessica, uh That's him on there? Huh? Michael's voice? - Yeah.
- I want to hear it.
- Jessica, this is - They didn't let me see him.
They didn't let me say goodbye.
I want to hear it.
If If you If you knew what was on that and who was on that I don't care you would be in the middle of what he was doing.
Like you are? Yeah.
- Play me the tape.
- There are consequences.
Play it.
My My beautiful son David has autism.
His needs aren't met by regular teachers, so he has he has a social worker.
Her name is Carmen.
Before the end of next week, I am going to have to tell my son that Carmen has to stop being his daytime mom.
Why? Because our schools have lost the funding to pay her.
At the same time, they pay for more police to be in our schools.
Now, what does that say? They pay for the people who kill our children to be in school with them.
That is a declaration of intent if I ever heard one.
No, no, no, no.
Let's call it what it is It is a declaration of war.
Fold down your hands ♪ Give me a sign ♪ Put down your lies ♪ Hands! Hands! Show us your hands! supervisor and an additional unit to our location.
- Possible mental.
- Let me see your hands, man! Come on.
Don't listen when I scream ♪ Come on, let me see your hands, man.
Show us your hands! Show us your hands now! Hands in the air! Show us your hands! Don't do that! Let me see your hands! 4, 5, 6, 7 Anybody got questions for me today? Yes.
Barefoot Martha, they're calling you.
What's that? Some kinda humble-assed bible thing? Do you have a question? They shot my son.
He dead.
And ain't nobody asking why.
You're wrong.
Your son wasn't killed.
He was murdered.
We have to start using the right words for what they're doing to us.
And I want to do something about that, and the first thing is starting to use language that America is ashamed to use.
Everybody, this is Janet Porter.
Miss Porter, would you join me up here, please? Alright! What happened to you and your son is why I do what I do.
Please know that.
Thank you.
It's why I do what I do.
Victor Simmons.
Ranking member of The Faction.
Uh-huh.
See that? Damn, I know that guy.
Cop? The Faction in bed with Brannigan? One day, we gon' put a bullet through both of 'em.
Maybe the same bullet.
Memory comes when memory's old ♪ I am never the first to know ♪ Following the stream up north ♪ Where do people like us float? ♪ There is room in my lap ♪ For bruises, asses, handclaps ♪ I will never disappear ♪ For forever, I'll be here ♪ On the next episode of 61st Street Michael Rossi was wearing a wire when he died.
And you're just telling me now? Hey, you're Brannigan's new boy, Nation has an offer.
A plea deal at the 11th hour.
- What's the offer? - 20 years for murder one.
Moses' legal team bein' paid for by the proceeds of crime.
How's that look on your pro-bono husband? Who is trying to kill me?