01x01 - Wrong Place, Wrong Time

[bunniefuu]

LOS ANGELES, MONDAY - Okay, Shawn, so the problem with making a bit more this year is now the government wants you to pay a bit more.

- Yeah, well, I didn't make Top Salesman last quarter just to turn around and give it all back to Uncle Sam.

- Well, I know it's not ideal, but the dealership covers all of the overhead, so you really don't have any expenses.

- I sold two Isuzu Troopers last month.

Do you know how hard it is to sell that car?

- Yep.

And I am sorry, but I don't make the rules.

- Uh, where's the write-off for my car stereo system?

- Unfortunately, it's not a valid deduction.

- When people see me pull up to a red light, I'm blasting Prince out of my blower points, people look at me, and they say "Where the hell did that guy get that kick-a*s ride?" I tell them, "Van Nuys Pre-owned Car Castle." It's advertising.

- Right.

But some might say it's tax fraud.

I don’t want you to get in trouble here, so...

- Oh, Michael...

Do you mind if I call you Michael?

- Actually, full name is Michelangelo.

- Like the Ninja Turtle?

- Or the Renaissance Master.

- Okay, Mikey, look, that's a $5,000 stereo system.

We write it off, I save $2,000 in taxes.

Nobody's going to prison for 2 grand.

- Respectfully, no one ever thinks they'll wind up in prison until they wind up in prison.

- Oh, yeah?

And how are you such an expert?

- I wound up in prison.

- Here.

You can sign here.

- Oh, sh*t.

You're the Mike Ferro.

The one from the news a few years ago.

The Mike Ferro that did...

- Hey, guys.

Hi.

Why don't I just take over now?

- You got a criminal handling my finances?

- Mike, why don't you just go to the break room, get a cup of coffee, okay?

- Sure.

- Thank you.

Got this.

- Are you serious?

- No, no, no, no.

Let me look.

- I've been coming in here 15 years, and you're hooking me up with this guy?

- So, Mike, that was unbelievably dumb.

I can't have you out there.

I'm sorry.

- I need this job, Gary.

- People need to trust this company, and people do not trust ex-cons.

I'm sorry.

I am.

- Okay.

You're out of sweetener.

THE FUGITIVE - You needed to keep that job, Mike.

You know the rules.

You don't stay gainfully employed, the state will punch...

- The state will punch my ticket.

- And back inside you go.

The mayor hates your a*s.

You so much as jaywalk, he'll come at you.

- It's bad enough doing time for something you didn't do, but I'm finally out now and I'm still paying for it?

- Should have waited a few days to tell me about work.

Now I got to file a Change of Employment Status with the DOC.

Clock start running for you to find a new gig.

And not to pile on, I got a call from the Kellers.

You missed a payment.

- Kevin, money's been tight.

I'm mailing a check out tomorrow.

- Mike, if you don't pay that family, the state...

- The state will punch my ticket.

Trust me, I'm never doing anything that'll make me go back to prison again.

- It's for you.

- I don't think my parole officer's supposed to be giving me a weapon.

- When my old man was in Desert Storm, he opened the telegram telling him he's going home with this pocket knife after a six-month stop-loss.

Eight years ago, when I had six months sober, my dad gave me this knife.

Said if you can make it through six months of something, you're home free.

You don't even know, do you?

- Guess not.

- Today is six months to the day you've been out of prison, my man.

Six months into a new lease on life.

I'm passing you the torch.

- No, I...

Hey, I can't take this.

You know, I've been doing this 10 years, working with bad men.

Want to know what I learned?

Michelangelo Ferro is not one of them.

- sh*t.

You know you're at rock bottom when your parole officer's your best friend.

- Come on, man.

- You've had me in your home.

You treat me like a person instead of an ex-con.

It's not nothing.

- Good.

So when you're a rich rainmaker again, you can have me out to Malibu.

Now I'm heading downtown in the morning to surprise piss test a stockbroker.

Ride with me.

Knock on some doors of your old haunts.

See who's hiring.

- I'm toxic.

Nobody's gonna bring me on.

- You need a J-O-B, b*tch.

But for right now you need to take your mind off things.

Go home.

Relax.

Put another baby in Allison.

Tomorrow's a new day.

- Hey.

- Hey.

- I picked up the nail polish remover.

I'm gonna get that ring out of the bathtub tonight if it kills me.

How was work?

- Good.

Great.

Are you almost ready to go?

- Yeah.

Just want to finish a few things while I was here.

Car picks me up early in the morning.

- I wish you didn't have to go.

- Well, it's kind of a big deal, you know?

Them flying an assistant to Chicago.

All these execs and just little old me helping out with the presentation.

- I am so proud of you.

I just don't know how it's gonna be, just me and Pearl.

- Yeah.

She went to sleep early again.

- She used to wait up for me to get home.

- I know, but the therapist said there's gonna be an adjustment period.

- For how long?

- Mike, you were in jail for three years, all right?

- She was 6 years old.

Just give it some time, all right?

I promise.

She'll come around, okay?

Speaking of promises, someone did promise me a goodbye I'd never forget.

- Oh, you want the Carlos Bravo, the famous bullfighter.

- Sí, señor.

- You know, me and Kevin...

We are not thinking about Kevin right now.

- Or the team or baseball.

LOS ANGELES, TUESDAY - Hurry up.

Got to get to class.

- I thought we could go to the movies while Mom's gone.

- I don't like going to the movies.

- Really?

You loved it when you were little.

Big Hero 6, The Lego Movie.

- All right.

Bye.

- Hey.

Give me a hug.

Honey, I remember when you hugged me back.

- You left us.

- That's not true.

I fought.

Honey, lawyers are expensive, and I had to take a plea so I can leave you and Mama with something.

I think Pearl knows I got fired.

- Well, you can't get stuff by kids.

- You know I stopped telling her I love her.

I'm afraid she won't say it back.

- Just needs time.

Look at you.

All dressed up for your warehouse interview.

- You know what?

I'm not gonna break my hand pounding on a door that's closed to me.

My father was a laborer.

It was good enough for him, it's good enough for me.

- Well, good luck, money.

- I don't need it.

Got my lucky pocket knife.

- Things will get better, Mikey.

- I'll call you.

- Please stand clear.

The doors are closing.

The next stop is Pershing Square Station...