NYC 22 (2012) s01e08 Episode Script
Schooled
Okay, so we got the shooting on Lenox, the break-in on 113.
Next, we got a complaint from homeowners at 655 West 111th Street about a group of kids who are picking apples off their apple tree and using them as projectiles.
Did she just say apple tree? I know that house.
Didn't they get a blueberry pie snatched off their window sill last week? We got a dozen 311 calls about it from the neighbors, too.
The boys have been throwing apples at pedestrians and cars, and they broke a few windows.
They have apple trees in New York City? Thought apples came from supermarkets.
Last but not least, we got an urgent request from Jamari Tatum up at our P.
A.
L.
Jamari needs volunteers to come in on your days off and mentor the neighborhood kids.
Okay? come on.
We got boys and girls coming out the wazoo and nowhere near enough enough adults.
Who's going to help out? If you got a skill or like playing a sport Didn't you play volleyball in college? Are you serious? Say, something popular with the kids, like basketball.
Perhaps you were an NBA player, what have you.
Don't keep it to yourselves.
Teach these kids a skill, show 'em how to be.
You might not end up busting them in the future.
Or, if you do, at least you'll have something to reminisce about.
Go on.
It'll be fun.
What are you signing up for? Basketball.
Why? The house with the apple tree is on your footpost.
I want you to swing by and talk to the couple that lives there.
Let me guess-- they're pushing 90 and never met a stray cat they didn't take in, and haven't left the house since Coolidge refused a second term.
Where'd you do your reporting, the Martian Post? These are rock-solid people.
but they won everybody over by renovating their house with their own hands.
Talk to them.
See what you can do to help.
Okay.
Apples.
Picking apples.
Tea's not a real drink.
I've been drinking tea since I was six years old.
Doesn't pack enough punch.
You drink what you like, I'll drink what I like.
How's that? In the 2-2, we have a 10-34 at 1815 A.
C.
Powell, apartment 6-John.
Neighbor found victim lying in the hallway.
Male, black, early 60s.
EMS is notified.
We're right around the corner.
- Yeah, I'm okay.
Show us 84.
Stay back.
Stay back.
It's all right.
Thank you.
I'm okay.
I'm okay.
Sir, I think it's best if you stay lying down.
We'll have an ambulance here in a few minutes.
What's your name? Arthur Anson.
What happened, Mr.
Anson? I came home.
I walked in.
He was in the apartment.
He hit me on the head and ran out.
Who hit you? Uh, he, uh Was it someone you know? Uh, I don't know.
Uh, no, no.
Did he take anything? Your wallet? Uh, I don't know.
He just Just give me a moment, huh? Anybody see anything? I did.
You.
I saw a guy, about my age, running down the hallway right before I got here.
What'd he look like? He was, um, regular height, thin, um, brown eyes, black hair.
Short, short black hair.
Cropped-- you know, like like Sean's.
Was he, uh, black like Sean? Whatever.
I mean, yeah.
He was wearing a red and black checkered shirt and, um, backpack.
What do you got? Complainant's a little disoriented.
You okay, sir? Yeah, I'm okay.
But it sounds like he opened the door on a burglar.
Sarge, I think we walked right past him on the way in.
See which way he went? East.
Okay, the projects are on the next block.
Khan, you stay here with the victim.
Wait for EMS.
We're going to canvass the neighborhood.
I need an ETA on the bus.
That building, they used to be working families, mostly black.
Now it's like college town over there.
Clyburn University ran out of dorm space.
They're colonizing apartments wherever they can.
I applied to Clyburn.
Didn't get in.
Most people don't.
I got into NYU, though.
But we couldn't afford it, so I wound up punting to Adelphi half a mile from my parents' house.
Kid, you were gonna be a cop from the minute you were born.
What's the difference where you went? Basically what my dad said.
That's him-- right there.
Hey, can I talk to you? No, no, no.
Don't you run.
Don't you run! Come back here! Oh, you, stop! Don't look so surprised, McLaren.
What is this, man? I didn't do anything! I live here! So why'd you run? 'Cause you were chasing me! Could you have 22, post 43 non-emergency for a show-up.
Alder Houses, Where's your backpack? My what? I saw you on Adam Clayton Powell-- you had a backpack.
Is this for real? You surprised? That you go to Clyburn? Yeah, I'm surprised.
Why? Because I'm? Because I don't hear about a lot of Clyburn undergraduates jacking senior citizens.
Hey! I'm talking to you.
You turn away from your professors like that? You're not my professor.
And I didn't do anything.
Hold up.
Hold up.
What a waste.
Sit him down.
You're going to sit on that bench, and you're going to wait.
You try to jet, know that I run five miles before breakfast.
On-scene show-up.
You have the victim look around, see if they recognize anybody.
You know, to hold up in court, it can't be suggestive.
Like the suspect standing next to a cop in cuffs-- got it.
Mr.
, uh Anson, Arthur.
Why don't you look around, see if you recognize anyone.
Sir.
That's not him.
That's not who? The man who hit me.
Officer, can I go now? Yeah, let him go.
Do a stop, question and frisk report.
But, Sarge Yeah.
Get up.
I need my I.
D.
back.
For school.
The hell was that about? Harlem.
Uh [Jay-Z's "Heart of the City" playing.]
Listen, first the Fat Boys break up Now every day I wake up Somebody got something to say Where's the love? Look scrapper, I got nephews to look after I'm not lookin' at you dudes, I'm looking past ya Ain't no love in the heart of the city I said, "Where's the love?" Ain't no love in the heart of town Holla at me Ain't no love In the heart of the city Where's the love.
You really should let us take you to the emergency room.
Ah, it's okay.
It was more of a shock than anything else.
My head's clear now.
This is you? You read it? Uh, no.
Mostly relegated to African-American literature classes these days.
When it came out in '73, though Problem with getting it right the first time, it's hard to sit down at the typewriter and try to live up to yourself.
But you still try? Ah, a writer writes.
That's what he does.
You know, a lot of the old-timers in the building don't like the college kids, but to me, they're they're an inspiration.
Looks like some books are missing.
My first First? First editions.
Richard Wright, James Baldwin, Ralph Ellison, Toni Morrison.
Oh, no.
The Jean Toomer, my Cane, all of them signed.
Are they valuable? I've been offered thousands, each.
What they say about you is true? This should be interesting.
I don't know.
Depends on what they say.
You played in the NBA.
That's true.
And you're police now? Last time I checked.
What team you play for? This one and that one.
I'm going to play for the Knicks.
Is that right? I was going to play for the Bulls, but I don't know where Chicago is.
Yeah, it's pretty cold there, too.
I live on 118th Street.
By the way, his name is Officer Toney.
And I'm Officer Perry.
Nice to meet you.
What's your name? Christopher Millsap.
What grade are you in, Christopher Millsap? Second.
Miss Bertay's class.
In the 2-2, we got a 10-20 on the corner of 118th and Lenox.
- We got to go.
You should come to my house sometime.
Window's locked, no signs of forced entry.
What's going on? He's missing some rare books.
You know what? They're just books.
I'll consider myself lucky with a lump on the head.
Mr.
Hanson, we both know that Eric Buford Please leave.
I need to lie down.
You recognized him.
We all saw it.
What does he have on you? What would make you so scared about some punk? Where you from? Long Island? Yeah.
So? Why? What does that mean to you? Mansions? Horses? You descend into my neighborhood, my home, like some occupying force.
Occupying? I'm trying to help.
Trying to help without trying to understand.
Which is not help.
It's just ignorance.
I know that if you let a mope get away with robbing you, he's going to rob someone else tomorrow.
"Mope.
" Mr.
Anson, if you give me the list of the missing books You know what, I was confused.
I moved them a few days ago.
Ah.
Sure you did.
Sorry to inconvenience you.
Just trying to make the neighborhood safer and all.
We're having a quiet dinner, and all of a sudden, we hear a bunch of kids outside.
And I look down, and I see six or eight of them-- young teens-- climbing the tree, hanging from the branches and shaking them to knock the apples to the ground.
Are the apples edible? No, not really.
But they're great for throwing, apparently.
They wing them at our neighbors, at passing cars.
When I told them to cut it out, they just laughed.
And they threw some at me.
Sounds like a bunch of punks.
Yeah, or typical teenage boys.
Do you recognize any of these guys or They're not from around here.
These kids have no respect for property or authority.
Or at least our authority.
I mean, let's face it-- these boys are not concerned - that we're going to kick their asses.
- They see two women and think they can walk all over you.
I'd be mad, too.
All right, why don't you tell us what the boys look like? And, you know, we'll keep our eyes out, and, you know, they'll probably just get bored and move on to some other exercise in idiocy.
Officer Toney, want to play some one-on-one? You again.
Sorry, little man.
I'm on duty.
His name is Christopher.
And you're not doing nothing now.
That's true.
Yeah but I got to be ready to respond as soon as they raise me up on the radio.
I see.
Come on, shoot the ball around with him a little.
Give him a thrill.
Look, if I do that, every peewee in a 12-block radius is going to be on that court.
And then their brothers, and soon enough, their dads.
So what? It would be good community relations.
It would be nuts, all right? Sorry, little man.
Next time.
You got kids? No.
Do you? You married? Why? What, you gonna fix me up? My mom's not married.
It's just you and her, huh? Yep.
You help her out sometimes? You should come home with me.
Hand me the ball.
All right, you go home and practice with some friends, okay? Okay.
What was that? Wh? He was opening up to me.
You not only shut him down; you'll be lucky if you don't get a civilian complaint.
You tell me that didn't bother you? Letting that punk smirk his way back up the hill? Up the hill? Buford goes to Clyburn when he's not terrorizing old people.
And what did he learn there? Which books are worth stealing.
Wait a minute.
He didn't have the backpack when we caught him in the projects.
The books must have been in it.
So he hid it.
Probably somewhere right around here.
We can't collar him.
Maybe we can get between him and his money.
Lots of places he could have hidden the bag.
Basements, someone's apartment.
So? Your temperament's been a little, uh, different today.
Meaning? Usually, you let things go.
That's me, right? Stay cool, do the right thing, keep my head down, my nose clean, don't complain.
Meanwhile, you got a guy going to one of the best schools in the country, robbing people in his spare time, and we give him a pass.
So what the hell is the point? You looking for something? Yo, the old man told you Grab some fence.
What?! Everyone.
Grab some fence.
I said all of you.
Come here.
Hands up.
What the hell? You crazy? This ain't right.
You know what isn't right? He isn't right.
Let's go, hands against the wall.
Spread your feet apart.
What are you doing with a knife like this? Hunting grizzlies? One under.
Kenny.
Call it in.
Come here.
Give me your hand.
Advise the training sergeant that we have one under at 1098 West 129th Street.
Every time I see him, I'm going to toss him.
Anyone who is with him, I'm going to toss them, too.
Now, go.
Go! You getting angry? Maybe you want to do something about it? Are we done? Man, I would have loved to hear your admissions interview.
I bet you were earnest as hell.
We're not close to done.
Calm down, son.
Spider Crenshaw, neighborhood loan shark.
Got a sheet as long as the specials menu at Pedro's.
He was hanging around Alders when we grabbed Buford, right? Yes.
Small world.
We think Buford stole some rare books from Anson's apartment, ditched them on 129th.
So we were over there looking around.
Buford shows up with Spider - and a couple other guys.
- But you didn't list any books on Anson's complaint report, right? Well, he wouldn't confirm that they were missing.
Buford and his boys have him terrorized.
So this led to the knife how? Buford, Spider and two others were congregating, acting furtive.
Acting furtive? "Acting furtive" is rookie-ese for "I don't know what I'm doing.
" Unless you can tell me that you saw a knife before you went digging through his pockets, this is a voided arrest.
Did you? No, we didn't.
Okay, then issue him a summons, voucher the knife and hope he isn't smart enough to find the number to internal affairs.
Or a lawyer, for that matter.
And, McLaren, when you're done, come and see me.
I'm sorry I got you into this.
I could have stopped you.
No, you couldn't have.
No.
I'll do the paperwork, but you sign the summons.
What took you so long? You just missed them.
We came as soon as we heard the call.
What happened? They were throwing this bicycle, which they probably stole, up into the tree to try to knock more apples down.
I mean, they could have broken my window.
Oh, look what they did to my flowers.
Oh, they're decapitated.
It's a shame.
You have a beautiful home.
Should have seen this place when Sarah and I first moved in.
There were nine layers of linoleum, stacked on top of each other.
We got to the bottom, we found newspapers advertising Palm Beach suits for $15.
We fixed it up, painted it this landmark green, and our neighbors followed.
You inspired the whole block.
So, uh, how old did you say these guys were? Maybe 14, 15.
Minors.
Uh, you know, the most we can do is fill out a juvenile report.
They'll be back on the street in a couple hours with a bigger point to make, you know? Yeah, we'll try to hang around the house, so if you call, we'll be here faster.
Why don't you just stay here? That way, they'll see someone's watching out.
'Cause it's not like there's other people murdering each other around here.
Excuse me? Sorry.
I know this is not life or death, but I just don't want to feel scared in my own house.
I understand.
But we're doing everything we can.
You want to tell me what you know that the detectives don't? I'm sorry? About this Buford kid.
It's pretty obvious that collaring Spider Crenshaw was about getting to him, right? How do you think a kid like him gets in to a college like that? I see.
You think it's unfair, him being who he is, you being who you are.
is a crime I couldn't have fathomed till today.
Hmm.
You know, the ones that get under your skin, those are the ones you got to walk away from.
And they just get away with it? People get away with all kinds of things.
I'd like to believe that no one gets away with everything.
I like to believe it anyway.
Why should I listen to you? He's cool.
Is that Christopher over there? No, he ain't.
He's police.
Police locked up my father.
I don't care.
He's my friend.
You don't care because you don't have a father.
Hey, what's going on here? You okay? Yeah.
What happened? Nothing.
I heard some of what they were saying.
Sounds like being friendly with the police has caused you some drama out here.
Maybe you shouldn't hang around us so much.
I don't care what those kids think.
They're bad kids anyway.
They're always going to the principal's office.
Hey, Christopher, it's getting to be dinnertime, so maybe you should start to head home, okay? Can you walk me? Yeah, sure.
Open the window! Haven, Haven, can you open the window? Look at me, sweetheart.
Open the window.
Sorry, boss.
We need to deal with this.
You need to go home.
Sweetheart, look at me, sweetheart.
No problem, ma'am.
We'll get her out.
Stolen bikes, crushed flowers, flying apples.
I mean, yesterday, we we stopped a guy from going after his landlord with a machete.
I mean, that's what you call the cops for.
We'll what about if it wasn't apples? What if it was rocks? Would you feel differently? You're comparing apples and oranges.
Lazarus, you have to see this from a woman's point of view, okay? It's not easy dealing with a bunch of teenage boys.
Plus, it's only apples now, but what's next? You're right-- could be cantaloupes.
You know, maybe even pineapples.
You don't get it.
Look, Tonya, they're kids, all right? They're teenage boys with too much energy and a penchant for getting on people's nerves, you know? I mean Ow! - What the hell? - Yeah! Bull's-eye! You kidding me? Bull's-eye! You kidding me? Looks like our apple gang.
Little degenerates! Marauding little punks! I thought they were just boys with too much Okay, here's what we're gonna do.
We're gonna start on the top floor, we're gonna work our way down.
Should I call for backup? Hey! Officer Khan, someone up front for you.
Mr.
Anson.
Officer.
What can I do for you? These are the books that are missing.
I won't press charges, but if you do find any of them, well, I I would like them back.
I understand.
All those college kids in the building-- you know he was the first one that recognized me? Guess maybe I was flattered.
But the way he talked about my work-- the young man's got a mind on him.
More than some who didn't have to fight their way into that college.
So you befriended him.
He befriended me.
Came by to listen to the old stories, talk ideas.
I'm writing again because of the conversations we had.
He made me feel like maybe I still had something to say.
He's not a bad kid; just in a bad place.
Getting in debt.
I told him to stay away from the loan sharks.
Loan sharks? You mean Spider Crenshaw? Spider, huh? I knew some Spiders around here back in my day, too.
And some of them would rather beat you to a pulp than get their money back.
No way I'm sending a young man to jail for being scared and desperate.
From what Mr.
Anson said, Eric Buford owes Spider money.
He must have been taking Spider to show him the books, trying to get him off his back.
And then we arrest Spider.
And release him.
I put a bull's-eye on Eric Buford's back.
We got to find him.
And do what? Any available 2-2 units for a 10-10, shots fired at the Alder Houses, Just a minute! Yes? Hi, ma'am.
I'm sorry to bother you.
Could you tell us who else is in the apartment with you right now? Stop! Police! Hold up! Hey! Come here! Come here! I don't know where you think you're going! You have nowhere to go! Stop right there! Oh, crap! They're on us! Hey! I will catch you! Damn it! That's okay.
We'll get 'em.
Cinderella forgot his glass slipper.
Out of the way! Out of the way! Move out of the way! We heard shots fired.
Yeah, one of the locals-- the, uh the guy that you stopped and frisked before.
Eric Buford? Eric Buford was shot? People, come on.
Back up.
Make a hole! Make a hole! All right, people, get back.
Let's go! Let's go! No, witnesses say Buford shot Spider.
Now, if these kids are smart, then they went home, decided to lay low.
If they're stupid-- which I bet my pension that they are-- then they're all hopped up from having outrun us.
Probably back at the tree or someplace like it.
So we shouldheck schoolyards, uh, playgrounds.
I don't know-- what else Shouldn't we be out looking for guys with machetes? Hey.
Hitting us was crossing the line.
And by us, you mean you.
In the at 35 Lenox Avenue, sporting goods store.
See the owner, Mr.
Yoo.
Sporting goods, as in a place that sells sneakers.
around the corner.
Now, let's go.
Man, what are you still doing here? I thought you said you were going to walk me home, meet my mom.
I did not say that.
Well, could you? Kid, what's up with this? Just go home, okay? He shouldn't even be out this late, let alone walking home by himself.
That's on him.
We said go home.
Where I come from, kids had to be home by 6:00 at the latest.
No one would even dream of sending a kid home after dark.
That's because you grew up in Tinytown, USA.
Kids are out late in this neighborhood.
This is how I grew up, too.
All I'm saying is it wouldn't be that much trouble to just walk him home.
Look, if the kids in the neighborhood saw Christopher getting walked home by cops, he's going to look like a snitch.
You saw those kids picking on him earlier today.
True.
All it takes is one psycho, one predator to cross paths with a kid like that Oh, hey.
Excuse me.
Dani Dani, isn't it? Yes.
I remember you-- Officer Toney.
Cool.
How you been? Hey, I was wondering if, uh, you could do me a favor.
Could you, uh, walk my friend home for me? I don't see why not.
Come on, honey.
Thanks.
I owe you one.
Mm-hmm.
Everybody happy? I've had stuff stolen before, but this was the stupidest thing I ever saw.
Usually, they come in a mob, snatch what they can, then run out, but this time, it was just one kid grabbing one sneaker from the display wall, then bolting.
One sneaker.
Yeah.
Can you, uh, give us an idea of what he looked like? Uh, Spanish, maybe 14, 15.
Uh, had on a gray hoodie.
I couldn't really see his face.
The sneaker look anything like this one? Yeah.
It's the same style, but the stolen one is a size ten, and the one you're holding is a size eight.
Yeah.
So, where'd you get that? Long story.
We can't divulge that at this particular juncture in time, but we do thank you for your time.
Okay.
Okay, so you stopped the shooter at 1630, you released him.
Then you collared the vic at 1735.
You released him, too, at 1805.
Uh, yeah.
There was a robbery at I read the reports.
Now, what's not in them? Sir? When you stopped these guys on 129th Street, you tossed all of them.
Yes, Detective.
Spider had a knife, and Buford was unarmed.
I don't see Eric Buford having a gun.
Why is that? I don't know.
I just I don't see it.
But your bad guy radar went off every time you bumped into him, right? All right.
Spider Crenshaw is saying that Buford came up and capped him, and the witnesses who like him agree, but witnesses who owe him money, on the other hand, say that Spider went after Buford, they fight, Spider's gun goes off in the scuffle.
What do you think? I think it's hard to buy self-defense from a guy who goes on the run.
You have any idea where I might find him? No, but we'd like to help you look.
Yeah, well I think it would be best if you two stayed as far away from this case as possible.
Okay, I just, uh, spoke with the duty captain.
He thinks the two of you should take lost time tonight.
You're sending us home? I think you've done more than your share for today.
Ahmad had nothing to do with this.
It's all on me.
Yeah, and make sure it stays there.
Hey! Hey! Hey! You ditched Dani, and now you're boosting? You know we patrol around here.
What were you thinking? All right.
I'm gonna do what you've been wanting me to do all day, but your mom is not going to be happy to meet me.
You're still here? I can't go home.
Your dad's a deputy inspector.
You made a bad move, but you're not going anywhere.
Exactly.
You know, I think that's what set me off about Buford.
He's got a ticket to anywhere, and he goes right back to the projects.
Robs people.
Such a waste.
You hate being a cop that much? I don't know what I hate.
All I know is, wish I had a choice.
Could have gotten that kid killed today.
Everything that happened, Spider getting shot it's on me.
Partly.
So what do I do with this? Live with it.
What makes you think they'll come here? 'Cause it's a middle school.
Possibly theirs.
Yo, watch this.
Through the hole, through the hole, through the hole! Man, turn that off.
You're blinding me.
Sorry.
Is this better? What were you throwing at that window? We wasn't throwing nothing.
That window just broke by itself.
Empty your pockets.
I want to see what you got in there.
Get your hands out of there.
Hands out of pockets.
All right, I'll check myself.
Hands out of your pockets.
Come on, come on, come on.
Hands! Hands! Anything that might stick me? I don't know.
Well, well, well.
Look at that.
What do you got? You ever seen a apple before? I'm gonna eat that.
Yeah? Well, take a bite.
Put your feet together.
Those apples, they're as hard as baseballs.
Oh, what happened there? You got, uh, one foot two sizes bigger than the other? Yeah.
I was born that way.
Oh.
Such a shame.
Put it on.
Why? 'Cause I got a thing about feet.
Just do it.
You know what it's called when you throw one of those through a window? Criminal mischief.
Trespassing.
That's a nice, solid fit.
Nice to meet you, Cinderella.
Oh, my God, thank you.
Christopher, where have you been? I've been going crazy.
I'm Officer Toney, ma'am.
Christopher's been hanging around us all this afternoon.
I hope he hasn't been a pain.
You heard her! She said I could have it! It's fine, but just now, I'm afraid we caught him running out of a store with a, uh Ma'am, is everything okay in there? Yeah, it's just my sisters fighting.
And that's mine! Ma'am, can you open the front door, please? Once again, thank you for bringing Christopher home.
I'll make sure he doesn't bother you anymore.
You need to open the front door.
It's all right! It's okay! It's mine! I don't care! This is my stuff! What is all this? Give me it! Let's go! The cops are here! Did you steal this? She sure did.
And don't take but 50 cent off when she sell it.
What do you want? Eric shot a man today.
I don't believe that.
There are a lot of cops out there looking for him.
Cops that think he has a gun.
He could get killed.
Now, if he contacts you, you have to convince him to turn himself in.
I'll take him in myself, make sure he doesn't get hurt.
Because you've been such an advocate for him already? Call me late to the party, but I do want to help.
Help? After you got him in trouble in the first place? If you hadn't arrested that loan shark What are you doing? You can't come in here.
Do you have a warrant? He brought the books back.
Look, just go.
Is he still here? He's not here.
Eric? Eric? What are you doing? Eric, I know you're here.
Now, put your hands up and just tell me where you are.
Okay, he's not here.
Please stay out of the way.
Eric, I know you are a good guy in a bad situation.
Do not make things worse.
Just put your hands up and come on out.
He's not here.
Don't shoot him.
Don't shoot! Stay out.
Get back.
Don't you shoot him! Stay back! I-I didn't shoot Spider.
He was going to kill me, I fought him for the gun, and it just went off.
It was an accident.
Anyone going to believe that? Yeah, maybe.
Listen, Eric.
Let me talk.
Stay out of this! Eric, I do not want to shoot you.
But if I see that gun come up again, I'm going to.
You shouldn't have come back here for the books, Eric.
He wouldn't have found you.
Shut up! I should never have taken the books, Mr.
Anson.
Spider was closing in on me for his money.
I panicked.
I'm so sorry.
I What would it have gotten me? I'm behind two semesters-- I've got nothing else to give him.
You borrowed the money for tuition? What a waste.
What? That's what you said-- "What a waste.
" Right? Remember? Hmm? You've got your eight-year-old son living in a house with all this stolen stuff? You know I can call ACS? I should call ACS, have them come and take Christopher away.
What? No, no, no, please, don't do that.
Please, I'm sorry.
I know it's wrong.
I lost my job.
I started off just lifting food for us, but then I just saw a job opportunity.
Does Christopher help you do this? No.
I would never involve him.
Please don't take Christopher away from me.
I'm a good mother.
Other than this.
What you want to do? Do we really want to send Christopher to foster care? You have no idea what that school means to me or how I killed myself trying to hang in there.
I had it all balanced until my grandma got sick.
And then I lost my night job, I blew a couple grades, they cut the scholarship.
I was maxed out on loans.
Look, I didn't see any other way.
You lost your job to take care of your grandmother.
Didn't you tell the school all that? They don't give a damn about anyone's sick grandmother.
Do you know what she did for me? When I was six years old, she pulled me out of my crappy public school and got me into a new charter school, one that was accepting kids with academic potential and grooming them to go to college.
And by grooming, I mean everything from posture to physics to classroom comportment to Latin.
If I ever got into a playground fight, I'd have been out on my ass.
But you hung in.
Yeah, 11 years.
Straight A's all the way.
And now this.
If she knew what I did You can still make her proud! How?! Huh?! Huh, Mr.
Anson? How? I still can't afford tuition.
I might even go to jail, right? I don't know.
Where are you going to go if you don't give up, Eric? On the run? You got that life in you? We're going to give you a second chance.
Thank you.
Thank you.
But we will be keeping an eye on you, making spot checks.
You're not going to find anything else here.
And I want to see all this stuff show up at St.
Finian's Food Pantry tomorrow.
You hear me? Please put the gun down, Eric.
So this is why you've been bugging me all day to walk you home and meet your mom? 'Cause you wanted me to see this? Make her stop? Okay, I'm putting the gun on the bed.
You know how this is going to go.
I'm screwed.
Hey, look, I'm running a basketball clinic at the P.
A.
L.
on 122nd on Saturday mornings.
I want to see you there.
I want to see you there this weekend and every weekend, you hear me? I thought the last thing in the world you wanted was all the neighborhood kids lining up to play ball with you.
I couldn't let Apple have all the fun.
Oh, no, I have a black thumb.
You couldn't kill this plant if you wanted to.
Just put it in the sun and water it when you remember.
I'll try.
And, you know, if you have any, uh any other problems, you know, anything at all, please, don't-don't hesitate to call us, all right? Where'd you find him? Mr.
Anson called me.
Said Buford was looking for someone to surrender himself to.
Did he give up the gun? Couldn't get rid of it fast enough.
He says Spider threatened him, he just wanted to get the gun away from him.
And you believe him? Yeah.
Whatever that's worth.
Well, in the scheme of things, not a hell of a lot, but, uh You're a rookie, you know? What do you know? I'll see if I can get the ear of the detectives.
Yeah.
What the hell do I know?
Next, we got a complaint from homeowners at 655 West 111th Street about a group of kids who are picking apples off their apple tree and using them as projectiles.
Did she just say apple tree? I know that house.
Didn't they get a blueberry pie snatched off their window sill last week? We got a dozen 311 calls about it from the neighbors, too.
The boys have been throwing apples at pedestrians and cars, and they broke a few windows.
They have apple trees in New York City? Thought apples came from supermarkets.
Last but not least, we got an urgent request from Jamari Tatum up at our P.
A.
L.
Jamari needs volunteers to come in on your days off and mentor the neighborhood kids.
Okay? come on.
We got boys and girls coming out the wazoo and nowhere near enough enough adults.
Who's going to help out? If you got a skill or like playing a sport Didn't you play volleyball in college? Are you serious? Say, something popular with the kids, like basketball.
Perhaps you were an NBA player, what have you.
Don't keep it to yourselves.
Teach these kids a skill, show 'em how to be.
You might not end up busting them in the future.
Or, if you do, at least you'll have something to reminisce about.
Go on.
It'll be fun.
What are you signing up for? Basketball.
Why? The house with the apple tree is on your footpost.
I want you to swing by and talk to the couple that lives there.
Let me guess-- they're pushing 90 and never met a stray cat they didn't take in, and haven't left the house since Coolidge refused a second term.
Where'd you do your reporting, the Martian Post? These are rock-solid people.
but they won everybody over by renovating their house with their own hands.
Talk to them.
See what you can do to help.
Okay.
Apples.
Picking apples.
Tea's not a real drink.
I've been drinking tea since I was six years old.
Doesn't pack enough punch.
You drink what you like, I'll drink what I like.
How's that? In the 2-2, we have a 10-34 at 1815 A.
C.
Powell, apartment 6-John.
Neighbor found victim lying in the hallway.
Male, black, early 60s.
EMS is notified.
We're right around the corner.
- Yeah, I'm okay.
Show us 84.
Stay back.
Stay back.
It's all right.
Thank you.
I'm okay.
I'm okay.
Sir, I think it's best if you stay lying down.
We'll have an ambulance here in a few minutes.
What's your name? Arthur Anson.
What happened, Mr.
Anson? I came home.
I walked in.
He was in the apartment.
He hit me on the head and ran out.
Who hit you? Uh, he, uh Was it someone you know? Uh, I don't know.
Uh, no, no.
Did he take anything? Your wallet? Uh, I don't know.
He just Just give me a moment, huh? Anybody see anything? I did.
You.
I saw a guy, about my age, running down the hallway right before I got here.
What'd he look like? He was, um, regular height, thin, um, brown eyes, black hair.
Short, short black hair.
Cropped-- you know, like like Sean's.
Was he, uh, black like Sean? Whatever.
I mean, yeah.
He was wearing a red and black checkered shirt and, um, backpack.
What do you got? Complainant's a little disoriented.
You okay, sir? Yeah, I'm okay.
But it sounds like he opened the door on a burglar.
Sarge, I think we walked right past him on the way in.
See which way he went? East.
Okay, the projects are on the next block.
Khan, you stay here with the victim.
Wait for EMS.
We're going to canvass the neighborhood.
I need an ETA on the bus.
That building, they used to be working families, mostly black.
Now it's like college town over there.
Clyburn University ran out of dorm space.
They're colonizing apartments wherever they can.
I applied to Clyburn.
Didn't get in.
Most people don't.
I got into NYU, though.
But we couldn't afford it, so I wound up punting to Adelphi half a mile from my parents' house.
Kid, you were gonna be a cop from the minute you were born.
What's the difference where you went? Basically what my dad said.
That's him-- right there.
Hey, can I talk to you? No, no, no.
Don't you run.
Don't you run! Come back here! Oh, you, stop! Don't look so surprised, McLaren.
What is this, man? I didn't do anything! I live here! So why'd you run? 'Cause you were chasing me! Could you have 22, post 43 non-emergency for a show-up.
Alder Houses, Where's your backpack? My what? I saw you on Adam Clayton Powell-- you had a backpack.
Is this for real? You surprised? That you go to Clyburn? Yeah, I'm surprised.
Why? Because I'm? Because I don't hear about a lot of Clyburn undergraduates jacking senior citizens.
Hey! I'm talking to you.
You turn away from your professors like that? You're not my professor.
And I didn't do anything.
Hold up.
Hold up.
What a waste.
Sit him down.
You're going to sit on that bench, and you're going to wait.
You try to jet, know that I run five miles before breakfast.
On-scene show-up.
You have the victim look around, see if they recognize anybody.
You know, to hold up in court, it can't be suggestive.
Like the suspect standing next to a cop in cuffs-- got it.
Mr.
, uh Anson, Arthur.
Why don't you look around, see if you recognize anyone.
Sir.
That's not him.
That's not who? The man who hit me.
Officer, can I go now? Yeah, let him go.
Do a stop, question and frisk report.
But, Sarge Yeah.
Get up.
I need my I.
D.
back.
For school.
The hell was that about? Harlem.
Uh [Jay-Z's "Heart of the City" playing.]
Listen, first the Fat Boys break up Now every day I wake up Somebody got something to say Where's the love? Look scrapper, I got nephews to look after I'm not lookin' at you dudes, I'm looking past ya Ain't no love in the heart of the city I said, "Where's the love?" Ain't no love in the heart of town Holla at me Ain't no love In the heart of the city Where's the love.
You really should let us take you to the emergency room.
Ah, it's okay.
It was more of a shock than anything else.
My head's clear now.
This is you? You read it? Uh, no.
Mostly relegated to African-American literature classes these days.
When it came out in '73, though Problem with getting it right the first time, it's hard to sit down at the typewriter and try to live up to yourself.
But you still try? Ah, a writer writes.
That's what he does.
You know, a lot of the old-timers in the building don't like the college kids, but to me, they're they're an inspiration.
Looks like some books are missing.
My first First? First editions.
Richard Wright, James Baldwin, Ralph Ellison, Toni Morrison.
Oh, no.
The Jean Toomer, my Cane, all of them signed.
Are they valuable? I've been offered thousands, each.
What they say about you is true? This should be interesting.
I don't know.
Depends on what they say.
You played in the NBA.
That's true.
And you're police now? Last time I checked.
What team you play for? This one and that one.
I'm going to play for the Knicks.
Is that right? I was going to play for the Bulls, but I don't know where Chicago is.
Yeah, it's pretty cold there, too.
I live on 118th Street.
By the way, his name is Officer Toney.
And I'm Officer Perry.
Nice to meet you.
What's your name? Christopher Millsap.
What grade are you in, Christopher Millsap? Second.
Miss Bertay's class.
In the 2-2, we got a 10-20 on the corner of 118th and Lenox.
- We got to go.
You should come to my house sometime.
Window's locked, no signs of forced entry.
What's going on? He's missing some rare books.
You know what? They're just books.
I'll consider myself lucky with a lump on the head.
Mr.
Hanson, we both know that Eric Buford Please leave.
I need to lie down.
You recognized him.
We all saw it.
What does he have on you? What would make you so scared about some punk? Where you from? Long Island? Yeah.
So? Why? What does that mean to you? Mansions? Horses? You descend into my neighborhood, my home, like some occupying force.
Occupying? I'm trying to help.
Trying to help without trying to understand.
Which is not help.
It's just ignorance.
I know that if you let a mope get away with robbing you, he's going to rob someone else tomorrow.
"Mope.
" Mr.
Anson, if you give me the list of the missing books You know what, I was confused.
I moved them a few days ago.
Ah.
Sure you did.
Sorry to inconvenience you.
Just trying to make the neighborhood safer and all.
We're having a quiet dinner, and all of a sudden, we hear a bunch of kids outside.
And I look down, and I see six or eight of them-- young teens-- climbing the tree, hanging from the branches and shaking them to knock the apples to the ground.
Are the apples edible? No, not really.
But they're great for throwing, apparently.
They wing them at our neighbors, at passing cars.
When I told them to cut it out, they just laughed.
And they threw some at me.
Sounds like a bunch of punks.
Yeah, or typical teenage boys.
Do you recognize any of these guys or They're not from around here.
These kids have no respect for property or authority.
Or at least our authority.
I mean, let's face it-- these boys are not concerned - that we're going to kick their asses.
- They see two women and think they can walk all over you.
I'd be mad, too.
All right, why don't you tell us what the boys look like? And, you know, we'll keep our eyes out, and, you know, they'll probably just get bored and move on to some other exercise in idiocy.
Officer Toney, want to play some one-on-one? You again.
Sorry, little man.
I'm on duty.
His name is Christopher.
And you're not doing nothing now.
That's true.
Yeah but I got to be ready to respond as soon as they raise me up on the radio.
I see.
Come on, shoot the ball around with him a little.
Give him a thrill.
Look, if I do that, every peewee in a 12-block radius is going to be on that court.
And then their brothers, and soon enough, their dads.
So what? It would be good community relations.
It would be nuts, all right? Sorry, little man.
Next time.
You got kids? No.
Do you? You married? Why? What, you gonna fix me up? My mom's not married.
It's just you and her, huh? Yep.
You help her out sometimes? You should come home with me.
Hand me the ball.
All right, you go home and practice with some friends, okay? Okay.
What was that? Wh? He was opening up to me.
You not only shut him down; you'll be lucky if you don't get a civilian complaint.
You tell me that didn't bother you? Letting that punk smirk his way back up the hill? Up the hill? Buford goes to Clyburn when he's not terrorizing old people.
And what did he learn there? Which books are worth stealing.
Wait a minute.
He didn't have the backpack when we caught him in the projects.
The books must have been in it.
So he hid it.
Probably somewhere right around here.
We can't collar him.
Maybe we can get between him and his money.
Lots of places he could have hidden the bag.
Basements, someone's apartment.
So? Your temperament's been a little, uh, different today.
Meaning? Usually, you let things go.
That's me, right? Stay cool, do the right thing, keep my head down, my nose clean, don't complain.
Meanwhile, you got a guy going to one of the best schools in the country, robbing people in his spare time, and we give him a pass.
So what the hell is the point? You looking for something? Yo, the old man told you Grab some fence.
What?! Everyone.
Grab some fence.
I said all of you.
Come here.
Hands up.
What the hell? You crazy? This ain't right.
You know what isn't right? He isn't right.
Let's go, hands against the wall.
Spread your feet apart.
What are you doing with a knife like this? Hunting grizzlies? One under.
Kenny.
Call it in.
Come here.
Give me your hand.
Advise the training sergeant that we have one under at 1098 West 129th Street.
Every time I see him, I'm going to toss him.
Anyone who is with him, I'm going to toss them, too.
Now, go.
Go! You getting angry? Maybe you want to do something about it? Are we done? Man, I would have loved to hear your admissions interview.
I bet you were earnest as hell.
We're not close to done.
Calm down, son.
Spider Crenshaw, neighborhood loan shark.
Got a sheet as long as the specials menu at Pedro's.
He was hanging around Alders when we grabbed Buford, right? Yes.
Small world.
We think Buford stole some rare books from Anson's apartment, ditched them on 129th.
So we were over there looking around.
Buford shows up with Spider - and a couple other guys.
- But you didn't list any books on Anson's complaint report, right? Well, he wouldn't confirm that they were missing.
Buford and his boys have him terrorized.
So this led to the knife how? Buford, Spider and two others were congregating, acting furtive.
Acting furtive? "Acting furtive" is rookie-ese for "I don't know what I'm doing.
" Unless you can tell me that you saw a knife before you went digging through his pockets, this is a voided arrest.
Did you? No, we didn't.
Okay, then issue him a summons, voucher the knife and hope he isn't smart enough to find the number to internal affairs.
Or a lawyer, for that matter.
And, McLaren, when you're done, come and see me.
I'm sorry I got you into this.
I could have stopped you.
No, you couldn't have.
No.
I'll do the paperwork, but you sign the summons.
What took you so long? You just missed them.
We came as soon as we heard the call.
What happened? They were throwing this bicycle, which they probably stole, up into the tree to try to knock more apples down.
I mean, they could have broken my window.
Oh, look what they did to my flowers.
Oh, they're decapitated.
It's a shame.
You have a beautiful home.
Should have seen this place when Sarah and I first moved in.
There were nine layers of linoleum, stacked on top of each other.
We got to the bottom, we found newspapers advertising Palm Beach suits for $15.
We fixed it up, painted it this landmark green, and our neighbors followed.
You inspired the whole block.
So, uh, how old did you say these guys were? Maybe 14, 15.
Minors.
Uh, you know, the most we can do is fill out a juvenile report.
They'll be back on the street in a couple hours with a bigger point to make, you know? Yeah, we'll try to hang around the house, so if you call, we'll be here faster.
Why don't you just stay here? That way, they'll see someone's watching out.
'Cause it's not like there's other people murdering each other around here.
Excuse me? Sorry.
I know this is not life or death, but I just don't want to feel scared in my own house.
I understand.
But we're doing everything we can.
You want to tell me what you know that the detectives don't? I'm sorry? About this Buford kid.
It's pretty obvious that collaring Spider Crenshaw was about getting to him, right? How do you think a kid like him gets in to a college like that? I see.
You think it's unfair, him being who he is, you being who you are.
is a crime I couldn't have fathomed till today.
Hmm.
You know, the ones that get under your skin, those are the ones you got to walk away from.
And they just get away with it? People get away with all kinds of things.
I'd like to believe that no one gets away with everything.
I like to believe it anyway.
Why should I listen to you? He's cool.
Is that Christopher over there? No, he ain't.
He's police.
Police locked up my father.
I don't care.
He's my friend.
You don't care because you don't have a father.
Hey, what's going on here? You okay? Yeah.
What happened? Nothing.
I heard some of what they were saying.
Sounds like being friendly with the police has caused you some drama out here.
Maybe you shouldn't hang around us so much.
I don't care what those kids think.
They're bad kids anyway.
They're always going to the principal's office.
Hey, Christopher, it's getting to be dinnertime, so maybe you should start to head home, okay? Can you walk me? Yeah, sure.
Open the window! Haven, Haven, can you open the window? Look at me, sweetheart.
Open the window.
Sorry, boss.
We need to deal with this.
You need to go home.
Sweetheart, look at me, sweetheart.
No problem, ma'am.
We'll get her out.
Stolen bikes, crushed flowers, flying apples.
I mean, yesterday, we we stopped a guy from going after his landlord with a machete.
I mean, that's what you call the cops for.
We'll what about if it wasn't apples? What if it was rocks? Would you feel differently? You're comparing apples and oranges.
Lazarus, you have to see this from a woman's point of view, okay? It's not easy dealing with a bunch of teenage boys.
Plus, it's only apples now, but what's next? You're right-- could be cantaloupes.
You know, maybe even pineapples.
You don't get it.
Look, Tonya, they're kids, all right? They're teenage boys with too much energy and a penchant for getting on people's nerves, you know? I mean Ow! - What the hell? - Yeah! Bull's-eye! You kidding me? Bull's-eye! You kidding me? Looks like our apple gang.
Little degenerates! Marauding little punks! I thought they were just boys with too much Okay, here's what we're gonna do.
We're gonna start on the top floor, we're gonna work our way down.
Should I call for backup? Hey! Officer Khan, someone up front for you.
Mr.
Anson.
Officer.
What can I do for you? These are the books that are missing.
I won't press charges, but if you do find any of them, well, I I would like them back.
I understand.
All those college kids in the building-- you know he was the first one that recognized me? Guess maybe I was flattered.
But the way he talked about my work-- the young man's got a mind on him.
More than some who didn't have to fight their way into that college.
So you befriended him.
He befriended me.
Came by to listen to the old stories, talk ideas.
I'm writing again because of the conversations we had.
He made me feel like maybe I still had something to say.
He's not a bad kid; just in a bad place.
Getting in debt.
I told him to stay away from the loan sharks.
Loan sharks? You mean Spider Crenshaw? Spider, huh? I knew some Spiders around here back in my day, too.
And some of them would rather beat you to a pulp than get their money back.
No way I'm sending a young man to jail for being scared and desperate.
From what Mr.
Anson said, Eric Buford owes Spider money.
He must have been taking Spider to show him the books, trying to get him off his back.
And then we arrest Spider.
And release him.
I put a bull's-eye on Eric Buford's back.
We got to find him.
And do what? Any available 2-2 units for a 10-10, shots fired at the Alder Houses, Just a minute! Yes? Hi, ma'am.
I'm sorry to bother you.
Could you tell us who else is in the apartment with you right now? Stop! Police! Hold up! Hey! Come here! Come here! I don't know where you think you're going! You have nowhere to go! Stop right there! Oh, crap! They're on us! Hey! I will catch you! Damn it! That's okay.
We'll get 'em.
Cinderella forgot his glass slipper.
Out of the way! Out of the way! Move out of the way! We heard shots fired.
Yeah, one of the locals-- the, uh the guy that you stopped and frisked before.
Eric Buford? Eric Buford was shot? People, come on.
Back up.
Make a hole! Make a hole! All right, people, get back.
Let's go! Let's go! No, witnesses say Buford shot Spider.
Now, if these kids are smart, then they went home, decided to lay low.
If they're stupid-- which I bet my pension that they are-- then they're all hopped up from having outrun us.
Probably back at the tree or someplace like it.
So we shouldheck schoolyards, uh, playgrounds.
I don't know-- what else Shouldn't we be out looking for guys with machetes? Hey.
Hitting us was crossing the line.
And by us, you mean you.
In the at 35 Lenox Avenue, sporting goods store.
See the owner, Mr.
Yoo.
Sporting goods, as in a place that sells sneakers.
around the corner.
Now, let's go.
Man, what are you still doing here? I thought you said you were going to walk me home, meet my mom.
I did not say that.
Well, could you? Kid, what's up with this? Just go home, okay? He shouldn't even be out this late, let alone walking home by himself.
That's on him.
We said go home.
Where I come from, kids had to be home by 6:00 at the latest.
No one would even dream of sending a kid home after dark.
That's because you grew up in Tinytown, USA.
Kids are out late in this neighborhood.
This is how I grew up, too.
All I'm saying is it wouldn't be that much trouble to just walk him home.
Look, if the kids in the neighborhood saw Christopher getting walked home by cops, he's going to look like a snitch.
You saw those kids picking on him earlier today.
True.
All it takes is one psycho, one predator to cross paths with a kid like that Oh, hey.
Excuse me.
Dani Dani, isn't it? Yes.
I remember you-- Officer Toney.
Cool.
How you been? Hey, I was wondering if, uh, you could do me a favor.
Could you, uh, walk my friend home for me? I don't see why not.
Come on, honey.
Thanks.
I owe you one.
Mm-hmm.
Everybody happy? I've had stuff stolen before, but this was the stupidest thing I ever saw.
Usually, they come in a mob, snatch what they can, then run out, but this time, it was just one kid grabbing one sneaker from the display wall, then bolting.
One sneaker.
Yeah.
Can you, uh, give us an idea of what he looked like? Uh, Spanish, maybe 14, 15.
Uh, had on a gray hoodie.
I couldn't really see his face.
The sneaker look anything like this one? Yeah.
It's the same style, but the stolen one is a size ten, and the one you're holding is a size eight.
Yeah.
So, where'd you get that? Long story.
We can't divulge that at this particular juncture in time, but we do thank you for your time.
Okay.
Okay, so you stopped the shooter at 1630, you released him.
Then you collared the vic at 1735.
You released him, too, at 1805.
Uh, yeah.
There was a robbery at I read the reports.
Now, what's not in them? Sir? When you stopped these guys on 129th Street, you tossed all of them.
Yes, Detective.
Spider had a knife, and Buford was unarmed.
I don't see Eric Buford having a gun.
Why is that? I don't know.
I just I don't see it.
But your bad guy radar went off every time you bumped into him, right? All right.
Spider Crenshaw is saying that Buford came up and capped him, and the witnesses who like him agree, but witnesses who owe him money, on the other hand, say that Spider went after Buford, they fight, Spider's gun goes off in the scuffle.
What do you think? I think it's hard to buy self-defense from a guy who goes on the run.
You have any idea where I might find him? No, but we'd like to help you look.
Yeah, well I think it would be best if you two stayed as far away from this case as possible.
Okay, I just, uh, spoke with the duty captain.
He thinks the two of you should take lost time tonight.
You're sending us home? I think you've done more than your share for today.
Ahmad had nothing to do with this.
It's all on me.
Yeah, and make sure it stays there.
Hey! Hey! Hey! You ditched Dani, and now you're boosting? You know we patrol around here.
What were you thinking? All right.
I'm gonna do what you've been wanting me to do all day, but your mom is not going to be happy to meet me.
You're still here? I can't go home.
Your dad's a deputy inspector.
You made a bad move, but you're not going anywhere.
Exactly.
You know, I think that's what set me off about Buford.
He's got a ticket to anywhere, and he goes right back to the projects.
Robs people.
Such a waste.
You hate being a cop that much? I don't know what I hate.
All I know is, wish I had a choice.
Could have gotten that kid killed today.
Everything that happened, Spider getting shot it's on me.
Partly.
So what do I do with this? Live with it.
What makes you think they'll come here? 'Cause it's a middle school.
Possibly theirs.
Yo, watch this.
Through the hole, through the hole, through the hole! Man, turn that off.
You're blinding me.
Sorry.
Is this better? What were you throwing at that window? We wasn't throwing nothing.
That window just broke by itself.
Empty your pockets.
I want to see what you got in there.
Get your hands out of there.
Hands out of pockets.
All right, I'll check myself.
Hands out of your pockets.
Come on, come on, come on.
Hands! Hands! Anything that might stick me? I don't know.
Well, well, well.
Look at that.
What do you got? You ever seen a apple before? I'm gonna eat that.
Yeah? Well, take a bite.
Put your feet together.
Those apples, they're as hard as baseballs.
Oh, what happened there? You got, uh, one foot two sizes bigger than the other? Yeah.
I was born that way.
Oh.
Such a shame.
Put it on.
Why? 'Cause I got a thing about feet.
Just do it.
You know what it's called when you throw one of those through a window? Criminal mischief.
Trespassing.
That's a nice, solid fit.
Nice to meet you, Cinderella.
Oh, my God, thank you.
Christopher, where have you been? I've been going crazy.
I'm Officer Toney, ma'am.
Christopher's been hanging around us all this afternoon.
I hope he hasn't been a pain.
You heard her! She said I could have it! It's fine, but just now, I'm afraid we caught him running out of a store with a, uh Ma'am, is everything okay in there? Yeah, it's just my sisters fighting.
And that's mine! Ma'am, can you open the front door, please? Once again, thank you for bringing Christopher home.
I'll make sure he doesn't bother you anymore.
You need to open the front door.
It's all right! It's okay! It's mine! I don't care! This is my stuff! What is all this? Give me it! Let's go! The cops are here! Did you steal this? She sure did.
And don't take but 50 cent off when she sell it.
What do you want? Eric shot a man today.
I don't believe that.
There are a lot of cops out there looking for him.
Cops that think he has a gun.
He could get killed.
Now, if he contacts you, you have to convince him to turn himself in.
I'll take him in myself, make sure he doesn't get hurt.
Because you've been such an advocate for him already? Call me late to the party, but I do want to help.
Help? After you got him in trouble in the first place? If you hadn't arrested that loan shark What are you doing? You can't come in here.
Do you have a warrant? He brought the books back.
Look, just go.
Is he still here? He's not here.
Eric? Eric? What are you doing? Eric, I know you're here.
Now, put your hands up and just tell me where you are.
Okay, he's not here.
Please stay out of the way.
Eric, I know you are a good guy in a bad situation.
Do not make things worse.
Just put your hands up and come on out.
He's not here.
Don't shoot him.
Don't shoot! Stay out.
Get back.
Don't you shoot him! Stay back! I-I didn't shoot Spider.
He was going to kill me, I fought him for the gun, and it just went off.
It was an accident.
Anyone going to believe that? Yeah, maybe.
Listen, Eric.
Let me talk.
Stay out of this! Eric, I do not want to shoot you.
But if I see that gun come up again, I'm going to.
You shouldn't have come back here for the books, Eric.
He wouldn't have found you.
Shut up! I should never have taken the books, Mr.
Anson.
Spider was closing in on me for his money.
I panicked.
I'm so sorry.
I What would it have gotten me? I'm behind two semesters-- I've got nothing else to give him.
You borrowed the money for tuition? What a waste.
What? That's what you said-- "What a waste.
" Right? Remember? Hmm? You've got your eight-year-old son living in a house with all this stolen stuff? You know I can call ACS? I should call ACS, have them come and take Christopher away.
What? No, no, no, please, don't do that.
Please, I'm sorry.
I know it's wrong.
I lost my job.
I started off just lifting food for us, but then I just saw a job opportunity.
Does Christopher help you do this? No.
I would never involve him.
Please don't take Christopher away from me.
I'm a good mother.
Other than this.
What you want to do? Do we really want to send Christopher to foster care? You have no idea what that school means to me or how I killed myself trying to hang in there.
I had it all balanced until my grandma got sick.
And then I lost my night job, I blew a couple grades, they cut the scholarship.
I was maxed out on loans.
Look, I didn't see any other way.
You lost your job to take care of your grandmother.
Didn't you tell the school all that? They don't give a damn about anyone's sick grandmother.
Do you know what she did for me? When I was six years old, she pulled me out of my crappy public school and got me into a new charter school, one that was accepting kids with academic potential and grooming them to go to college.
And by grooming, I mean everything from posture to physics to classroom comportment to Latin.
If I ever got into a playground fight, I'd have been out on my ass.
But you hung in.
Yeah, 11 years.
Straight A's all the way.
And now this.
If she knew what I did You can still make her proud! How?! Huh?! Huh, Mr.
Anson? How? I still can't afford tuition.
I might even go to jail, right? I don't know.
Where are you going to go if you don't give up, Eric? On the run? You got that life in you? We're going to give you a second chance.
Thank you.
Thank you.
But we will be keeping an eye on you, making spot checks.
You're not going to find anything else here.
And I want to see all this stuff show up at St.
Finian's Food Pantry tomorrow.
You hear me? Please put the gun down, Eric.
So this is why you've been bugging me all day to walk you home and meet your mom? 'Cause you wanted me to see this? Make her stop? Okay, I'm putting the gun on the bed.
You know how this is going to go.
I'm screwed.
Hey, look, I'm running a basketball clinic at the P.
A.
L.
on 122nd on Saturday mornings.
I want to see you there.
I want to see you there this weekend and every weekend, you hear me? I thought the last thing in the world you wanted was all the neighborhood kids lining up to play ball with you.
I couldn't let Apple have all the fun.
Oh, no, I have a black thumb.
You couldn't kill this plant if you wanted to.
Just put it in the sun and water it when you remember.
I'll try.
And, you know, if you have any, uh any other problems, you know, anything at all, please, don't-don't hesitate to call us, all right? Where'd you find him? Mr.
Anson called me.
Said Buford was looking for someone to surrender himself to.
Did he give up the gun? Couldn't get rid of it fast enough.
He says Spider threatened him, he just wanted to get the gun away from him.
And you believe him? Yeah.
Whatever that's worth.
Well, in the scheme of things, not a hell of a lot, but, uh You're a rookie, you know? What do you know? I'll see if I can get the ear of the detectives.
Yeah.
What the hell do I know?