Blue Bloods s10e07 Episode Script

Higher Standards

So how's life as an empty nester? Oh, I miss Nicky a lot.
Remember the first time Nicky went away without us? Dance camp.
You did not ask to meet to walk down memory lane, did you? Um, I, uh, I joined a charity that takes on innocence cases.
Okay.
And I'm representing a client that's been in prison for five years, uh, and, uh, Erin, he didn't do it.
He tell you that? He was put away for murder based largely on an eyewitness account, and the witness recanted, and the, uh, the detective who handled the case, um, let's just say this wasn't his first questionable conviction.
Well, doesn't sound like a slam dunk.
Trust me, this kid was railroaded.
Kid? Yeah, he was 20 when he went into the system.
Okay, so why are you coming to me? Because you're the one who put him away.
- Leave him alone, yo.
- This yours? I asked you a question.
Is this yours? No! Why don't y'all get out of here.
Y'all should leave me be.
- Hey, back it up.
- Yo, everybody, stay back! Look, all right, we're not gonna bring you in.
It's a summons instead.
- A summons? - Take this ticket, all right? That's what you get! Yo, let's just go to the car.
All right? And the officers did nothing? That's right, put their tail between their legs and got into their patrol car.
They both got less than a year on the job.
- That's no excuse.
- No, it's just a fact, boss.
We don't teach our officers not to fight back.
We're not teaching them that, boss, but it's open season on cops.
They should've arrested the guy on the spot.
I agree with you, boss, but you got the media and politicians hammering them every day with anti-cop stuff.
It has an effect.
And anyone complicit needs to be found, arrested, and charged with everything we can throw at them.
We can put out a Finest Message to the troops.
No, call a press conference.
I'll write something up.
I know what needs to be said.
Hey, you headed home? Did you hear what happened to DeNoon and Malone? Yeah, I just saw that on my phone.
They okay? No, they came back humiliated.
- Who did it? - C.
O.
put up a screen grab of the perp.
The guy wasn't arrested? No, they did nothing.
They just got in their RMP and left.
What do we got? Miriam Harton, 85 years old, was assaulted and robbed in the vestibule as she entered the building with groceries.
Perp came up from behind her, pushed her to the ground and stomped her.
- Any witnesses? - I wish.
Looks like she may have broken a hip and maybe some ribs.
We should check to see if there are any cameras No, I-I already asked.
Super's working on it.
My partner and I already started a canvass.
Mrs.
Harton.
Detective Reagan, my partner Detective Baez.
Could you tell us about the person who assaulted you? He I thought he wanted to help.
He opened the door for me, and then when I turned around, he hit me.
It was a he, ma'am? My husband will be worried about me.
Ma'am, it's really important that you give us a description of the man who attacked you.
Could you? My husband, my husband is waiting for me to come home with the groceries.
- We need to get her checked out.
- Go ahead.
Waiting for me.
Hey.
I want to talk to you.
Hey, bro, hey, hey, bro, I didn't do nothing, all right? You throw water on two police officers earlier today? Hey, come on, man, throwing water ain't no crime.
I ain't shoot nobody.
- I'm talking to you.
- Man, all right, so what? Hey, you're under arrest.
Man, you can't arrest me for throwing water on no scum! It's just water, my dude.
Yo What the hell do you think you're doing, you stupid dick?! It's just water, right? Hands behind your back.
Hey, bro, what?! Come on, man.
- Yo, let him go! - No, he got rights! What you taking him away for? I will not be taking questions.
Earlier today, two police officers were attacked by perpetrators who threw water at them while they were performing their duties.
Anyone who throws water on police officers, who throws objects at police officers, who impedes an officer's ability to do his job, in any form, is breaking the law, and that will not be tolerated.
Anyone caught doing so will be arrested and charged to the fullest extent of the law.
I want to be crystal clear about this.
I will never, never ask my officers to tolerate abuse.
They put their life on the line for every citizen in this city every day, and assaults and abuse against the uniform can and will be met by zero tolerance.
That is all.
What do you say to those people who take the position that it's only water? Today it's a bucket of water, tomorrow it's a bucket of "who knows what.
" Some might say that the relationship between police and residents of predominantly minority neighborhoods is strained and this incident is a culmination of that breakdown.
I'm sorry, that's all we have time for today.
Son of a bitch could've just robbed her.
He didn't have to beat her up.
Did you zoom in? I've been over this with a microscope.
Well, it can't be his first time, then.
No, that's exactly what I was thinking.
There have been four reported incidents of robbery and assault against senior citizens in this neighborhood in the past three months.
Same M.
O.
? Same exact M.
O.
The perp targets an old person, he enters their building, pretends to help them, then he knocks them down - and takes all their stuff.
- Any arrests? There was one arrest: Matthew Greer, 32 years old.
He's a delivery driver who was arrested for assaulting and robbing an 85-year-old man.
He broke two of his ribs and his jawbone.
Where's this scumbag now? He was arrested, but the charges were dropped, so now he's out on the streets.
Not for long.
Let me help you with that.
Thank you.
All right, hey, where's the money? - Where's the money? Where's the wallet? - I don't have money.
- You don't have money? - I have nothing.
So you got nothing? Damn it! Matthew Greer? He's not here.
Must be out on a delivery.
Reagan.
- Matthew Greer? - Detective Baez.
This is Detective Reagan.
We have some questions for you.
I'll move the truck.
No, no, it's not about the truck.
Someone, please, call 911! - It's Mr.
Weissberg.
- Stay with him.
He must've fallen.
Police.
Step aside, ma'am.
Sir, you okay? - Someone pushed me.
- Who? - I don't know.
- Was it a guy with a hat? I don't know.
Son of a bitch.
Call an ambulance, ma'am, right now.
Hurry up.
- Hey! - No.
Oh, come on.
- I don't have time for this.
I'm sorry.
- Hey! - I'm sorry.
I-I got to go.
- Get him.
Get him off there.
- Let's go.
Out of the truck.
- Hey.
Okay.
- Come here.
- I didn't - I didn't even do anything.
Come here.
- Ow.
You like beating up old people, tough guy? I didn't beat up nobody.
Really? You didn't beat up Miriam Harton? That was lying on the ground.
It was just lying right there.
Yeah, right beside her where you left her.
Hands against the car.
Darnell Johnson he was accused of murdering Muhammad Akin, another gang member.
So a public service homicide.
His fingerprints and his hat were found at the scene and a witness identified him as the shooter.
Wait a minute, this case is five years old.
Why are we looking at this? Darnell is saying he's innocent.
Erin, everyone at Rikers is saying they're innocent.
Uh, everyone at Sing Sing, everyone in every jail everywhere says they're innocent.
The witness recanted.
Yeah, but his DNA i-is still at the scene.
How'd this case come to you? Jack.
He's working with the Innocence Project.
I should've known.
Every time this guy comes around, there's trouble, every time.
I need to know that I didn't put away an innocent person for the last five years of his life.
I can't just hand that off to someone else.
And he knows that, uh, which is why he goes to you instead of the proper channels.
Are you going to help me or are you going to lecture me on Jack Boyle? Both.
Uh, this witness why'd she recant? Uh, and does Darnell, does he have an alibi? That's what we need to find out.
Hey, you know what I need to find out? Why you give Jack the benefit of the doubt every single time he comes to your door.
Where were you October 30th at 8:15 a.
m.
? - Work.
- No, you weren't.
You recognize her? No.
That's funny 'cause you had her stolen credit card in your pocket.
That's criminal possession.
I told you I found it.
What? Detectives.
St.
Irene's Hospital's on the line.
You want to take it? I'm good.
- I found that card.
- Shut your mouth.
- You knocked that old man down.
- I did not.
Yes, you did.
You were arrested for assault and robbery last month.
Yeah, and I got released.
Because you target old men and you target old women who can't positively I.
D.
you because their memories aren't so good, isn't that right? I don't target nobody.
- You don't target nobody? - No.
That means you do target somebody, dumb-dumb.
It's a double negative.
What? Kind of like I don't believe you're not the perp, stupid.
I'm done answering questions.
- The hell you are - Danny.
Sit tight, tough guy.
Yes? Charges have changed.
What are you talking about? Well, if we can nail that son of a bitch, the charge just changed to murder.
Why? Mrs.
Harton just died of her injuries.
I ain't shoot nobody! Hey! You're under arrest.
Hey, yo, you cannot arrest me for throwing water on no scum! It's just water, my dude! Yo You just saw a cell phone video that shows Sergeant Jamison Reagan, the youngest son of Police Commissioner Frank Reagan, as he throws water on an unarmed suspect, Renzo Williams, who is now claiming police brutality.
I guess I was fooling myself thinking this might not get out.
Do you want to see them now? They're already here.
Them? Sergeant Reagan and Lieutenant Gormley.
Okay.
I asked the lieutenant to sit in to represent the rank and file.
Baker, please join us.
You want backup, I want backup.
Please sit down.
not arrest me for throwing water on no scum! It's just water, my dude! Yo I know what you're gonna say, but throwing water on him was a less lethal way to subdue an unruly I read your report.
You get an "A" for creative writing.
That's what happened, Commissioner.
Well, let's talk about what really happened, Sergeant.
You went after the suspect because you were pissed off.
Lieutenant, was my arrest within department guidelines? Absolutely.
The arrest was.
Your actions were not.
Detective, would you remind us all of the charge the sergeant faces? That would be "bringing undue criticism upon the department.
" Thank you.
You have effectively changed the narrative from cops under attack to the opposite.
That video doesn't show what happened right before that.
Exactly.
And that's how this usually goes down.
Which is why cops are expected to show restraint.
There was no physical harm done.
You brought harm to this department.
By standing up for my cops? Is that what you think you were doing? Those cops walked away this morning because they were afraid of backlash, Commissioner.
So you created even more backlash? I sent a message that it's not okay to assault cops.
It's not okay to assault perps, either.
That's not exactly what happened.
I stand by my actions.
Well your actions have brought you a command discipline.
Are you serious? You're dismissed.
Do you want to know what that guy said to me beforehand? Return to your command, Sergeant.
Do you even want to know? Dismissed.
Why'd you drop the charges against Matthew Greer? Charges were reduced.
Reduced? What? The injuries that he gave to Mrs.
Harton are the reason she died.
That's murder.
You have evidence that Matthew Greer did it? 'Cause I saw the security footage.
- You can't tell it's him.
- Well, it's his M.
O.
Without a positive I.
D.
from a victim, I can only charge him with criminal possession of stolen property - What Stolen property? How about the fact that he assaulted an 85-year-old man, left him with a broken jaw? Again, do you have evidence? I was standing outside the building when Greer ran outside moments after an old man was assaulted inside.
So you saw Matthew Greer do it? Look, I have a positive I.
D.
from the victim.
Oh, no.
I read the report, Danny.
That victim has dementia.
You know damn well the defense attorney's going to tear him and the case apart on the stand.
- Okay.
What if it was Grandpa? - Oh, my God.
No, I'm serious.
What if it was Grandpa? Danny, do you think I want to tell you you need more evidence? - Well, that's all you ever tell me.
- Well, guess what? It's my job, and sometimes it sucks.
Gramps? Dropping off the meat for Sunday dinner.
Danny boy.
- Hey.
- How was work? You know.
Same old, same old.
Erin being a pain in my ass.
About what? Well I got a perp who's robbing and assaulting elderly people.
And, uh, you know, I got a victim to I.
D.
him, but she doesn't think that's enough, of course.
- Why? - Because she thinks that the victim has dementia, so she doesn't want to put him on the stand.
Maybe she's setting up roadblocks for a reason.
Gramps, I get the roadblocks, and I understand that people rob people, but this is different.
This is a bad guy.
You know? He doesn't just take money from these people, h-he stomps on them and punches them.
B-Believe me, you'd feel the same way I do if you saw it.
I do feel the same way you do.
In fact, it's my greatest fear.
Getting mugged again? No.
I'll take a beating any old day.
What I'm most afraid of is the things that I can't fight back against, like dementia.
You seem sharp as a tack to me, Gramps.
Yeah, and then one day you're not.
It's gotten to so many of my old friends.
They don't know their own family.
Well, if the day ever comes where you don't recognize me, don't know who I am, we'll be okay.
'Cause I'll always know who you are.
The witness might've changed her story, but Darnell's prints and his hat were still at the crime scene.
Right.
- Hi.
- Hi, Jack.
I got stuff to do.
- Sit down.
- Uh I didn't, uh, mean to interrupt.
You never do.
I just wanted to see if I can help in any way.
I think you've done enough.
Am I missing something here? Yeah, a stop button.
Okay, Anthony No, no, no.
No, let's have it, Anthony.
Because I'm actually wondering if there's some sort of statute of limitations on your attitude towards me? Well, maybe if you stop coming to Erin every time you had a problem.
- Yeah, b uh, we have history.
- Yeah.
Right.
And you screwed up, but somehow you still think she owes you.
Is that about right? Okay, do we need to do this right now? I'll be back later.
He's just being protective.
I didn't know you needed protection from me.
We've been going through the case.
I spoke with Chantal, who recanted her original testimony.
She said that the detective told her that Darnell was the shooter.
See? Well, I want to talk to the detective.
Oh, don't bother.
Oh, so now you gonna tell me how to run my investigation? No.
I'm suggesting you not interview the detective because he is dead.
Oh.
I'm not the enemy here.
I wish that this hadn't happened as much as you do.
Well, I'm not convinced it did happen, because I haven't uncovered enough to believe beyond reasonable doubt that Darnell is innocent.
Yeah, well, there's one person intimately involved with the case who you haven't spoken to yet.
And who's that? Darnell Johnson.
You're in exceptionally early.
As are you three.
Those perps that threw water at our officers at the 2-9, including the copycats at the 15th, have all been arrested without incident.
The D.
A.
's office charged them with disorderly conduct, criminal nuisance and harassment.
All of them took a plea.
Okay.
That's a copy of the press release from the D.
A.
's office.
It'll be sent out this afternoon.
Good news.
Thank you all.
Sit down.
Did you take a close look at the video of Jamie's arrest? Did I miss something? Well, maybe you missed that Jamie is not one of the rank and file.
He's a boss.
And he sees his guys getting assaulted and he And instead of using his head, he went out on his own to collar the guy.
I would've done the same thing as him.
No, you would not.
Not from where you sit.
Well, only because I know how you'd react.
Exactly.
And Jamie should know that better than anyone, Sid.
That arrest sent out a clear message.
He sent the wrong message.
Maybe you are, too.
Meaning? A rip for a little bit of water, in light of what that guy did? Come on, boss.
We can't do what perps do.
He was resisting arrest.
I mean, this could've escalated.
Jamie could've Tasered him.
Would that have been better? And coming up with worse scenarios doesn't excuse this one.
Okay.
Okay.
You assured the public and the department that you've got our cops' back.
Maybe you ought to make sure your son knows you got his back, too.
Mr.
Johnson, I don't know if you remember me, but I'm I know who you are.
Okay.
I've been reviewing your case, and I have a few questions for you.
- Okay.
- I spoke to Chantal.
As you know, she recanted her original testimony.
But your fingerprints and your hat were found at the scene.
- So? - So, during the trial you never took the stand.
You never explained why they were there.
They were there because I went to see Muhammed earlier that day.
But I didn't kill him.
What did you go see him about? He owed me money.
Drug money? What difference does that make now? I need to know everything that happened.
I'll tell you what you need to know.
You need to know that I've been in this hellhole for 1,667 days.
Because of you.
My son turns five in a month.
And I've only met him once.
Because of you.
Why didn't you take the stand? Why didn't you say that you had gone to see Muhammed earlier in the day? Because my court-appointed attorney told me that if I said that, no one would believe I didn't kill him.
You should've told the truth.
I told the truth.
You didn't believe me.
And I can tell, just by looking at you, that you still don't.
So you can go to hell.
Can you, uh, pass me another slice of Key lime? That's your third piece.
Well, I'm celebrating today, Gramps.
It's the first time in my life that I'm not taking flak for being the hothead of the family.
I'm not a hothead.
Says the hothead.
But don't get me wrong, I support what you did, 100%.
- Me, too.
- Cut it out.
Right, 'cause we wouldn't want to hear from cops at this table how they feel about my collar, would we? Your arrest wasn't the issue.
The manner of your arrest was.
Oh.
Anybody want to hear what I think about it? Not really.
Well, it's like your broken window theory.
You know, you see somebody doing damage to a property, you start to think, "Okay, nobody cares about it," so more people start to do damage to the property.
Same thing with cops.
- That's a bit of a stretch.
- No, he's got a point.
Every day you hear another story about a cop being harassed for just doing their job, and eventually, it becomes accepted practice - to harass cops.
- Exactly right.
Not if cops arrest violators when it happens, within the confines of the law and without malice.
I say an eye for an eye.
Makes the whole world blind.
Exactly.
We don't have the luxury of breaking rules to make a point.
Right, so just a different set of rules for us.
Is that it? Exactly right.
Cops should be held to a higher standard.
And what about D.
A.
s? Should they be held to a higher standard, too? - Yeah.
- Really? So, how come when a cop makes a mistake, they're crucified in the media, they lose their jobs and there's no room for human error, but when a D.
A.
makes a mistake, nothing happens to them? That's right.
You see stories all the time about people being locked up for years, and then it turns out that they are innocent.
Yeah, what happens to the D.
A.
in those circumstances, sis? They apologize? No, they don't even bother to apologize.
They just move on with their lives.
No one moves on from a wrongful prosecution, Danny, and all we have are the facts, not crystal balls.
Mm-hmm.
You know, Sean, the, uh, broken windows theory about cops, it also applies to old people.
Did you know that? Yeah.
See, if someone thinks a certain group of people is broken, then it makes it seem like no one cares about them, which sends the message that you can violate them without any repercussion.
You have something you want to say to me? I just said it.
Hello.
What are you doing here? This is for you.
- What's that? - Wheatgrass.
When did you get so healthy? Oh, not me.
I got a double shot of espresso.
But for you, I got the most disgusting thing I could find on the menu.
I figured you'll love it.
What are you really doing here? The DNA results came back.
Belong to a Malcolm Scott, known drug dealer and drug user.
He's in prison for two other murders.
Anything else? The gun in the two other murders he's in for matches the gun that killed Muhammad Akin.
So Darnell is innocent.
Looks that way.
Do I need a lawyer? If you need your lawyer, we'll get your lawyer down here.
Am I being charged? Not yet.
We can talk first and hear your side of things.
Yeah.
This is more of a courtesy.
- What are you talking about? - We wanted to extend you the courtesy of letting you know that the charges against you will now include murder.
I never killed anyone in my life.
You might not have meant to kill anyone, but you definitely killed someone.
You're talking out your ass.
Maybe so.
But we got security camera footage of your work truck at the location of the murder.
We know you committed these crimes while you were working because you figured that would be your alibi.
And after all, who's gonna believe the testimony of a bunch of frail old people, right? But the jury's gonna be out on you causing the death of a young mother.
Nuh-uh.
Nuh-uh.
I never targeted a young person.
We believe you didn't mean to kill her, but you busted into her apartment, you knocked her on the ground, she hit her head on the ground and unfortunately, she died, so that's murder.
I never went into anyone's apartment.
Fits your M.
O.
And now she's dead.
Yep.
I never killed nobody.
There you go again with the double negatives.
Come on stop confusing me.
Okay.
How about I make it real easy for you? The D.
A.
wants to charge you with murder.
We don't want to charge you with murder.
That's right.
I never killed nobody.
I never killed anyone.
- Right.
- I swear.
Good.
Then how about this? You give us a list of the people that you did victimize, and we'll make sure that you're only charged for the crimes that you did commit.
The robberies.
And not the murder of this young mother.
Okay.
Deal.
Great.
You were right.
He is smart.
A Reagan in a crisis of conscience always goes to one place, and I, uh I happen to know that this is your favorite one.
How are you doing? The truth? If I was Darnell, and I was separated from Nicky for the first five years of her life, I'm not sure I could ever get over it.
No, you're the strongest woman that I know.
God, I wish I was as tough as everyone thinks I am.
You know, you can ask for help sometimes.
What do you think I'm doing here? I think that you should talk to Darnell.
The last time I spoke to him, he told me to go to hell.
Never stopped you from talking to me.
Erin, I will go with you.
It's my case, it's my responsibility.
You are such a Reagan sometimes.
And you say that like it's a bad thing.
Yeah, sometimes it is.
You know, I even started to feel bad that I brought this case to you.
And then I thought, "No, this case is a gift.
" Well, can I please return it? You have been given a chance to fix something before it is too late.
And that is something to be grateful for.
So, you're welcome.
I feel like I'm just gonna go with the burger.
- Are you even listening to me? - Mm-hmm.
Please don't tell me you agree with my dad.
You're mad at your dad because you feel like he treats you different, he expects more from you and he's too righteous.
He holds all of you to a really high moral standard.
S-So? Jamie, he challenges you to be a better person.
And, if I'm being honest, I kind of love that about him.
Just pick out the photos of the people you victimized and you won't be charged with any crimes you didn't commit.
Or a murder you didn't commit.
Right.
That young woman that got killed, - what was her name? - Evelyn Campbell.
But I already gave you my word.
You're not gonna be charged with her murder.
Okay.
So, just assault and robbery? You'll only be charged with the crimes that you committed against the people you victimized.
Okay.
Him.
Mm-hmm.
Her.
Her.
And her.
Mrs.
Harton.
Are you sure about that? Yeah.
I'm sure.
I'll come find you after he signs his confession.
I look forward to it.
Numbers are on the back.
Write down their names and what you did to them and sign it.
Okay.
Evelyn Campbell? Your fourth grade teacher? You know, I never really liked Ms.
Campbell.
She used to pull on my ear a lot.
Well, that was a particularly good bluff.
You didn't promise that he wouldn't be charged with murder, you promised he would only be charged with the crimes he did commit.
Yep.
And right now, he thinks his victim Mrs.
Harton is still alive.
Once he finishes signing the confession, I'll let him know she died and we'll charge him with murder.
Simple.
Well, you're really good at your job, Detective Reagan.
Can I buy you a drink after work? No.
I can't.
I've got some broken windows to repair.
Right.
Good luck.
Hi.
Hey.
In my job, 99.
9% of the people I prosecute say they're innocent.
During your trial, and really, up until quite recently, I was convinced that you were guilty.
Everything pointed that way.
The evidence, Chantal's testimony.
So, yeah, you were right.
I did not believe you when you said you were innocent.
But I do now.
I am recommending that you be exonerated.
I plan on being in court to set the record straight.
Other than that, there's really not much I can do to make up for the lost time.
To say I'm sorry just feels so little in light of what you've been through.
I just hope that somewhere down the line, you find it in your heart to forgive me.
My lawyer told me that if I hold on to this hate and resentment, the rest of my life will be just as much a prison sentence as the last five years have been.
I forgive you.
Thank you.
We are gonna get started with what we call the fast round.
The first team to shout the correct answer gets one token.
Five tokens gets you a free round.
- Yes! - Why did you pick this place? We'll kick their butts together, okay? Um Two, uh, Finnerty's on the rocks, please.
Thank you.
So how'd your case go? Great.
We got the perp to confess.
Question one.
You go ahead.
I-I-I'll sit this one out.
Well, suit yourself.
Which U.
S.
President had a home called "The Hermitage"? Andrew Jackson.
Andrew Jackson! That's right.
Give team - Uh, Flatfoot.
- Flatfoot.
Team Flatfoot a token over there.
Not for nothing, but I thought you were gonna sit this round out.
- Beginner's luck.
- Ah, right.
Second question.
In which movie did Humphrey Bogart play Charlie - African Queen.
- That's right.
Another token for Team Flatfoot.
Maybe I'm pretty good at this after all.
You think? You're a regular ringer, Gramps.
You were worried about me, didn't want me to feel like I was losing it.
Hmm.
Is it working? Hell yeah.
All right.
You mind? It's a free country.
How long you been here? Oh, since 4:30.
Looking for bass? They're more active before the light comes up.
Get any bites? Caught a six pound striper, but he was pretty beat up.
I know the feeling.
You're using silversides.
Always prepared.
Not for everything, as this last week pointed out.
You knew how I'd react.
I didn't.
Yeah, you did.
Seconds before or after, but you were gonna do what you were gonna do, or defend what you did.
I'm always gonna do the job the way that I see fit.
Pop told me you'd be here.
In response to you asking? Same situation, I might've done the same thing.
Might've.
Would have.
You were a sergeant and they were cops in your house.
Might have.
Times were different then.
And maybe going along with the times isn't always the wisest thing.
I'm a sergeant and I-I want to set an example, climate be damned.
Same goes for me, too.
Is that why I got a two-day rip? I have to hold you to a higher standard.
And climate be damned.

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