03x22 - Is It a Crime?

[bunniefuu]

I know a lot of
people who don't care.

My friend's mom?
She doesn't care.

She lets him run around and...

She lets him do
whatever he wants

without even saying "no."

I think that's how
a lot of the thieves

and... and murderers...
Begin, you know.

They've never been told no

so they think they can
do whatever they want.

And that's not right, you know?

I guess I'm not bad or I
don't misbehave because...

I don't want people
talking behind my back

"oh, that girl is
bad," you know?

I want to be
respected for who I am.

[Instrumental music]

♪ Ooh uh-uh

♪ yeah yeah

♪ I got a story that
must be heard ♪

♪ about a little girl who
wished she was a bird ♪

♪ she was unhappy
livin' in her ghetto cage ♪

♪ but it gave her hope when
her sweet grandma would say ♪

♪ yeah yeah yeah
baby you will rise ♪

♪ rise ♪ limit is the skies

♪ is the skies ♪
don't you let nobody

♪ fill your head
up with their lies ♪

♪ baby you will rise ♪ rise

♪ never compromise ♪ compromise

♪ milk and honey's waiting
for you on the other side ♪

♪ other side

♪ yeah

[music continues]

♪ She had a burning
desire to go far ♪

♪ visualizing herself
reaching every star ♪

♪ one day she'll
leave this place ♪

♪ but never forget
her people's face ♪

♪ and when she found her dream
she'd come back and proclaim ♪

♪ baby you will rise

♪ limit is the skies ♪ sky

♪ don't you let nobody
fill your head up ♪

♪ with their lies ♪ lies

♪ baby you will rise ♪ rise

♪ never compromise ♪ compromise

♪ milk and honey's waiting
for you on the other side ♪

♪ waiting waiting

♪ baby you will rise ♪ rise

♪ never compromise ♪ compromise

♪ milk and honey's
waiting for you ♪

♪ on the other side
♪ waiting waiting

♪ on the other side

♪ oh-oh-oh

[vocalizing]

[Theme music]

[Mellow music]

[Siren wailing]

Bad internal bleeding,
a lot of broken bones.

Falling five stories kind
of rearranges everything.

- Her name is Vivian Scott.
- Anyone notify the family?

Couldn't get
ahold of the father.

Any idea how she got here?

Pushed, fell or jumped.

Figuring that now's your job.

Sometimes they like
to ride these elevators.

- Crazy.
- Extreme sports.

I'll keep you posted.

Policeman 1: We need to
move over, folks. Come on.

- That's a real cute kid, man.
- It's a damn waste.

- It's a shame.
- Hey, yo, she dead?

- Who are you?
- Ricky.

- Ricky, did you know her?
- I found her, man. She dead?

Ricky, how do you think she
got on top of that elevator?

- I don't know.
- She ride them for fun?

- She ain't do nothing for fun.
- What's that about?

Why'd you say that?

She always acting
too good for everyone.

She even tried to get
the cops on elvin Barnes.

- Elvin Barnes. Who's that?
- Yo, man.

Talk to her father.
He's right over there.

Is this my baby?
What is going on?

I just want to know
what's going on.

Excuse me, hold on. Hold on.

- Are you Mr. Scott?
- Yes.

- Vivian is your daughter?
- Yes!

Listen, there was an
accident. No, no. Wait..

Oh! Ohh!

No!

- Come on. No, no.
- Oh, no...

- Come with me, sir.
- Oh! [Sobbing]

Williams: Let's get
her out of here, guys.

Scott: No!

[Mellow music]

She used to play with
her ball by the elevator.

I wouldn't let her go outside.

Too many people getting shot.

Damn place.

What about, uh... Vivian's mom?

Died when Vivian was two.

Brain tumor took
her just like that.

I raised her myself...
Well as I could.

With the jobs I get I
can't put away enough

to get out of here.

You think someone
could have k*lled her?

Well, Mr. Scott, that's what

we're trying to find out.

- What do you think?
- I don't know. [Exhales]

She spoke her mind.

I taught her that
criminals were pollution

in the neighborhood,
destroying their own people.

She'd tell them to their faces.

But if it's retaliation

[stammers] Why wouldn't
they come after me?

Did you and elvin
Barnes have problems?

Off and on, you
think he's involved?

Well, we hear that
that's one of the people

she might have had
some words with.

[Scoffs] Wouldn't
be the first time.

[Sighs] She didn't buy
into this hopelessness.

She... she wanted
to change this world.

Now she's gone.

Yeah, yeah, lieu.

Oh, yeah. We see them.

They need us?

Well, listen, we're going
to go check out Barnes.

- And we'll catch you back.
- What's up?

Yo, my man, there's another
dead body down there.

- Are you serious?
- Tch. Word.

Paisan, what's happening, baby?

- What's happening yo?
- Hey, what's going on?

Guy named Tony
sands got shot out back.

I heard. This block
is getting real popular.

Is that where
the little girl died?

Eddie: Yeah.
- You guys find anything?

Oh, not yet. But
we're looking into it.

We're going to
check that out now.

So, uh, Romeo, what's the story?

- About what?
- Come on, you know, man.

The shiny little rock,
the ball and chain...

Alright, Theresa
loaned me the money.

- Really?
- Yeah. You know...

It's kind of good 'cause we
got to talk some things out.

So did you buy it?

Well, I'm working out
the deal, you know...

No, no, did you buy it?

- My man, you see me at my...
- So you're stalling.

Well, I'm working on that
deal now. See, i'm, uh...

[Mellow music]

Life is short, man.

Yes, it is.

Vivian: The other day the
preacher talked about dying.

I know when I die, I'm
going to go to heaven

but... I want to
know what happens.

You know, if I stay
old or I stay young or...

If my parents will see
everything that happened to me

all through my life, you
know. It's like a movie.

I want to know...
Where do I live?

Do I live in like
this beautiful hotel?

And places like that, you know.

And wondrous food
and... Big feasts,

especially Christmas. [Chuckles]

But the one thing I'm
going to miss most about life

is my daddy.

McNamara: So, wong, now
what you got on this Tony sands?

Shot in the heart, he
didn't even get a chance

to finish lunch.

So when do you
think he bought it?

A few hours ago.

I can pinpoint it in the lab.

- Stop by later.
- Thanks.

Anybody here see anything?

I seen it was going to happen.

- What's your name, kid?
- Ricky.

- You knew that guy?
- Of course.

He talked to everybody. He
was preaching about change.

Was he involved with
drugs, that kind of stuff?

Used to be. He said he
saw the light in prison.

Why'd you say it was
going to happen to him?

Maybe he messed
with the wrong people.

Like who?

Don't even try to
pull me into that, man.

I don't want to look like him.

- Cute kid.
- Yeah, real cute.

[Instrumental music]

[Indistinct chatter]

Williams: Yo, Barnes.

- What's up, baby?
- What's up, dawg?

Williams: We need to
have a word with you, man.

- Yeah, man, just take a minute.
- You got a word with me?

Yo, man, I got a meeting,
partner. And I'm way late. I'm...

Your meeting's gonna have
to wait, man. Come on, baby.

- Don't make me chase you now.
- It's like that, right?

[Dramatic music]

[Panting]

[Grunting]

- Don't make me chase you.
- Come on, man.

Why y'all sweating me, man?
You ain't got nothing on me.

Yo, my man, lemme ask you,

you still afraid
of little girls, huh?

I don't know what
you're talking about, man.

I'm talking about Vivian Scott.

That lil' loudmouthed girl that
fell down the elevator shaft?

I ain't got nothing
to do with that, man.

Yeah, well, some
say she was pushed.

Man, you chased
me for two blocks

asking me something
stupid like that?

Listen to me. We know
that she snitched on you.

- Okay?
- I'm a man, alright?

I don't go around k*lling
ten-year-old girls, alright?

Oh, you a man, huh,
you man enough that

you get them hooked on
drugs? Is that what it is, huh?

I don't get nobody
hooked on nothing, partner.

Where were you when she fell?

- Where were you?
- I was on the street, man.

And you got witnesses
for that, right?

- Yeah, I got mad witnesses.
- Right?

- Yeah.
- Unh!

Yo, shorty.

Now why aren't you in school?

Man, it's none of your business.

You need to learn some
respect, young man.

Yeah, right.

Williams: Listen, if you
can think of anything else

please give us a call.

- I'll try and make a list.
- Alright.

- Thanks for everything.
- It's the least we can do.

This poor guy, man.

It's got to be the
worst thing in the world,

losing your kid.

Seems like she was
really special, too.

Yeah, man, straight a
student, guy works hard,

you know, involved
in the community,

he still gets screwed.

Look at this. What
is this doing here?

Kids play in this hallway.

That's what i'm
talking about, man.

[Screaming]

Ed, ed! Help!

Scott: I'm coming!

- Reach out! Grab my
hand! Williams: Argh!

Come on. Hold on, hold on.

I got him. I got him.

Oh!

- You alright? Scott:
What happened?

He pushes the button, the doors
open and then there's no car.

Is this thing always like this?

- Sands was right.
- Sands?

Tony sands, he had
been after the super

about fixing things up around
here. They just ignored him!

- Yo, my man, you're real lucky.
- But Vivian wasn't.

[Sighs] Listen, we'll
be in touch, okay?

- I'm taking the stairs.
- Right behind you.

[Elevator door closes]

[Yells]

There's a boy in my
school that I think is cute

but my dad would
k*ll me 'cause he says

I can't date until I'm 16.

He says I can't do a
lot of things till I'm 16.

He says I can't wear
makeup till I'm 16

and I can't date till I'm 16,
and I can't drive till I'm 16...

But he's still okay.

The door must have opened
when she was playing up there.

Maybe her ball hit it.

The door opens, she
steps in didn't even notice

there wasn't a car.

Oh, poor girl.

What about permits
and inspections?

Everything's up-to-date.

The guy we talked to
said there was some,

uh, electrical shortages

but it could have been anything.

Why would Tony sands
go after the landlord

if all the permits say
everything is fine?

I don't know, torres, it still
sounds like an accident to me.

- And that's it?
Cooper: Yeah, that's it.

Or the housing
authority gets involved

or the father
starts a civil action.

He don't got dollar one
to say hello to a lawyer.

So he tries legal aid or he
gets someone on contingency.

Look, the bottom line is
that it's not our department.

Lieutenant, a little girl died.

Yes, Williams, and
we don't do accidents.

We do major crimes.

Why don't you tell
that to her father?

Look, detective, you
want to argue with me.

I don't have time.
Get back to work.

Yo. She's right, you know.
We're out of our jurisdiction.

I don't want to hear that,
man. I'm sick of this crap.

Why do people
have to live like that?

It's not like you've seen
this for the first time.

You've lived it, I
lived it, so what?

That's not gonna
make it different, ed.

I'm not saying it is. Nothing's
gonna change, that's all.

Yo, chief, you gonna
loosen up on my arm.

Williams: Y'all got him
on that Tony sands thing?

No, partner, they
ain't got me on nothing.

You keep that mouth shut.

Now you know if
this was park Avenue,

it wouldn't be like that.

Yeah. But we ain't
living park Avenue.

- But so what?
- You black. I'm latino.

What's the deal?

Come on. Don't give
me that crap, Barnes.

Your a*s is in every slimebucket
operation on that block.

Then lock me up, baby.
What's stopping you?

Oh, don't worry.
We'll get there.

You know what? You need
to leave this alone. Know why?

'Cause don't nobody
care about this.

Well, I do, and
Tony sands did, too.

Word is he was working to put
your operation out of business.

What operation you
talking about, partner?

Do we look stupid to you?

You rent corners to dealers.

Got kids muling your drugs.

Tony sands was trying to
clean things up, so you shot him.

McNamara: Or had somebody do it.

'Cause you probably weren't
man enough to do it yourself.

Yeah, well, uh...

I'll show you man enough.

Send Luke Skywalker
out the room here

and I'll show you
"man enough," baby.

Look, elvin, how many
people you got on your payroll?

You know what, partner?

If I had a payroll, you should
be giving me a medal for keeping

the unemployment rate down.

I mean, what you should
do is you should make me

one of those
thousand points of light.

They don't give
those for sl*very.

You need to get out
of my face, alright.

I'm doing what I gotta do
to survive. You know what?

Y'all need to charge
my a*s with something

or y'all need to cut me loose.

What's it going to be?

[Sighs] Get out of here.

[Clicking tongue]

[Chuckling]

That's it then.
You're out of it.

Oh, not really, I mean,

officially, this isn't in
our precinct's jurisdiction

but if there's anything
that we can do personally...

She got straight a's
her last report card

and all she gets are eight lines

on page 35 of
some sleazy tabloid.

Is that all the justice
there is for my little girl?

We're really sorry but there's,
there's nothing that we...

I see her fall five stories...

And I feel her hit
the top of that car.

And that's a lonely
and cruel way to die.

You can't tell me
that's not a crime.

Well, you know, uh...

You might have,
uh... Maybe a civil suit

or maybe even grounds for, uh...

Criminal negligence, but, uh...

But it's not a serious enough
crime for your precinct.

[Instrumental music]

Thank you, detectives.
I'll take it from here.

Oh, please don't do anything
to hurt yourself, Mr. Scott.

There are channels.

Maybe you should find out
who owns the building, you know

and find out who's in charge
of complaints and maintenance.

Maintenance? Did you
just say maintenance?

Do you honestly think anyone
is in charge of maintenance?

Excuse me.

- Detective?
- Can I help you?

Are you on that
Tony sands thing?

Yeah. Why?

How come Barnes walked?

- And you are...
- I'm Mel dunston.

I saw Barnes that afternoon, he
and Tony sands were going at it.

- What was it about? Drugs?
- No.

That's not what they
were arguing about.

Barnes told sands to lay
off that super of that building

where that little
girl was k*lled at.

But later, I saw Barnes.

He looked like he was trying
to, trying to hide something.

How do you know he was
trying to hide something?

He's sneaky that way,
and he looked real riled up.

Well, do you know
where the hiding place is?

Well, somewhere
under that building.

- I'm not sure where.
- Well, wait a minute.

What happened? Did Barnes burn
you in a drug deal or something?

No. He k*lled my brother...

Five years ago.

I've been biding my time.

[Instrumental music]

Excuse me. You
Mr. Brent, the manager?

- You got a complaint?
- Not quite.

I'm here about the
little girl that fell down

the elevator shaft.

Yeah. That was too bad.

You got any complaints
about the elevator not working?

Nothing lately.

Now what do you do
when you get complaints?

Call maintenance, get it
fixed. Permits are all in order.

Well, this place seems
way out of order. It's a mess.

- Is that so?
- Yeah. You know?

Can't you smell? You
don't see the stuff?

Yeah. I could smell,
and I could see the stuff.

And I see people
peeing in the hallways

peeing down the elevator shaft,
tossing their trash wherever,

using their toilet bowls
like they were wastebaskets

while their kids write
dumb stuff on the walls.

They make their own problems.

- Who owns this place?
- Who knows?

I just work for the
management company.

[Grunts]

Don't work too hard, alright?

[Instrumental music]

[Indistinct chatter]

May I help you?

- You can't go in there, sir.
- Don't worry. I won't hurt...

- Hey!
- I don't have a weapon!

- What's going on here?
- You're rosanna scotto, right?

- The news lady?
- That's right.

I'm Donnie Scott.

My daughter died in that
elevator shaft on 129th street.

Man 1: Look, call the police.
- No. No. Don't do that.

Oh, that's okay. Try
detective Williams.

Fourth precinct.

You want to tell me
about something?

- You mean you're gonna listen?
- It's what I do. Come on.

[Indistinct chatter]

The building is run
by a management firm

owned by Randall Kates.

So who is that? Some rich guy?

Not big time, but I'm
sure he's comfortable.

He's got several buildings,
most of them in the slums.

He lives on long island, though.

Anything there about accidents?

Mm, yeah. Some code violations.

Uh, unrepaired windows,
some faulty electricity

and plumbing and a
bunch of heating stuff.

The guy turns the heat
off for a couple of hours

during the day
just to save money.

He likes to cut corners anyway
he can, no matter who it hurts.

Williams: What can we do?
- A story.

It's gonna take me some
time though, I gotta talk

to my lawyers, but
we got something here

and I hope we can make
some kind of difference.

[Instrumental music]

Um, that... that one's nice.

- H... how much is that?
- That's $4500.

Yeah, well, I don't
think I can go that high.

How about, um...

- How about that one?
- It's the same.

Uh, what price range
are you comfortable with?

Oh, I was thinking more like,
you know, $2000, you know?

- Maybe that's not enough.
- Oh, no. No.

You can get something
real nice for that.

- Yeah?
- Yeah, yeah. Let me show you.

Um, a... are you engaged?

Not yet, but I'm
hoping pretty soon.

Well, uh, why don't you pick
out something that you would like?

Oh, that's easy. There's
about five or six of them.

- Uh, this one is very pretty.
- Yeah.

And... this one's
a little different.

- Uh, how... how much?
- They're all under 2000.

My boyfriend and I
are on a budget, too.

- Oh.
- Uh...

This one is
traditional and elegant.

Yeah. Um...

You know, i... I
should probably...

I should probably think
about this because, uh...

You're not getting
cold feet, are you?

No. No, no.

It's just that it's a big
decision and... you know.

Listen, um... thank...
thank you for your time.

Thank you.

[Instrumental music]

Mr. Kates.

Detective Williams,
fourth precinct.

Sort of out of your
neighborhood, aren't you?

It's related business.

I understand you
manage the property

where Vivian Scott fell
down the elevator shaft.

Real shame. How'd
you hear about it?

It was under investigation
for possible homicide.

But no more.

Well, it turns out there
was gross negligence

in maintaining the
place or bogus permits

well, who knows?

You trying to tell me
something here, Williams?

- Should I be?
- Do you own any real estate?

What difference does that make?

Well, maintenance is expensive
especially when you're trying

to collect rents from
people with no money.

You fixing an elevator's
not gonna break you.

If that elevator was broke,
those damn kids did it.

They pry open the
doors, play on the cars...

Hell, you work up there,
you know what I'm saying.

Is this an official
investigation?

Not now, it isn't. No.

Then I'll refrain from
comment until it is.

[Instrumental music]

Look, they all
looked really nice.

It's just that, I just couldn't
make up my mind, you know.

You know what it
sounds like to me?

Like you are having
second thoughts.

It's like being at
an art gallery, right?

Everything becomes a
blur. Your mind gets...

An art gallery, ed?

When was the last time
you were at an art gallery?

Why am I even speaking
to you? You know...

Didn't I take you off
the Vivian Scott case?

- Yes.
- Yeah.

Then why are you
harassing the owner

of the building and the manager?

Lieutenant, I didn't
harass anyone.

Yeah, well, that's
not what I heard.

Yeah, I get it. Low priority.

Or is it no priority?

- What does that mean?
Williams: Oh, you know.

Williams: No one cares
when a little black kid dies.

Cooper: This is not racial.
- Then what is it, lieutenant?

- Because she's
poor? Cooper: Maybe.

But we've been given orders not

to get involved and
we're gonna follow them.

Lieutenant, doesn't it
bother you just a little bit

that you didn't get one
call regarding this girl?

Now I go talk to a landlord

and the whole city wants to
turn the national guard on me.

Cooper: Yeah. It
bothers me a lot, Williams

but we can't prove that
it wasn't an accident.

So we leave it alone, right?

- Mmmh.
- I'm telling you, man...

Yo, guys, we got some new
information on Tony sands.

What is it?

Well, we're pretty
sure Barnes k*lled him.

That's it?

Well, we think
Kates was involved.

Dunston said Kates
came by the neighborhood

once or twice a month
to check his real estate.

- He always spoke to Barnes.
Williams: Wait a minute.

So you're saying that
if Tony sands found out

about forging the permits,
then that's a problem for Kates.

So Barnes takes
care of Kates' problem

and then he's free to deal
all the drugs that he wants.

Uh-huh. Anyway, we
gotta go talk to lieu.

Cooper just finished
bawling us out

about being on the
Vivian Scott case.

So can we keep this between us
till we get some more evidence?

Yeah. Yeah, well,
we'll stay on dunston.

Yeah, and if there are
forged permits, I guess

there must be a
money trail, right?

- Okay, we're on it. Nina: Okay.

Used to be an electrical
engineer for the city.

- Right, Mr. Waites?
- If you say so.

Until a woman got
electrocuted up on 134th.

Because you signed off on
something that wasn't fixed.

You guys got a
point to any of this?

You were getting
paid off, right?

Yeah, I got so rich, I
do this to amuse myself.

- Nobody ever proved that.
- Yeah.

But you were fired
anyway. So check this out.

We need to find the guy
who managed that building,

a guy named Randall Kates.

And we want your
help in getting him.

Are you going to
give me some help?

What are we talking?

I want to go back with the
city even as a damn janitor.

I'm sick. I need the medical.

We'll see what we can do
but you got to give us a name.

[Intense music]

[Indistinct chatter]

Dunston: I guess you
could bust him now, right?

Yeah. And he'd be on
the street in four hours.

But if we get him
for k*lling Tony sands

he won't be out for a while.

He did him. I'm sure of that.

McNamara: Where's the building?

Dunston: Up around the corner.
McNamara: Can you get in there?

Well, word is that
it's Barnes' place.

But you know sometimes
people don't get the word.

You alright with poking around?

I mean we could get a warrant

but we wouldn't
know where to start.

Yeah, i... I could do that.

But, um... I need
another bottle.

[Indistinct chatter]

Hey, isn't that the
kid who knew sands?

Dunston: Yeah, little Ricky.

Tony was trying to
help him to straighten up.

And now he's working
for the guy who k*lled him?

Now Tony's dead.
Barnes is in charge.

Little Ricky don't have
no folks. No place to stay.

McNamara: Go
where the work is, huh?

Dunston: That's the word.

The little girl
fell to her death

when the doors
opened accidentally.

The building is managed
by Randall Kates

who would not
comment on our story.

Our research shows
Mr. Kates owns or manages


with safety violations

and many complaints
from tenants.

Mr. Scott, you still believe
that your daughter's death

was a homicide and you risked

criminal charges
by forcing your way

into our TV station
to tell your story.

- That's true.
- What were you thinking?

Vivian died because
someone made a choice

not to fix that elevator,

not to inspect it properly
and not to maintain it.

So was it your belief
that management

counts on tenants
not to complain?

Oh, they count on
complaints not being heard.

I don't understand.

If you complain, people listen
because you can rock the boat.

Where I live, no one can.

- But you've chosen to try.
- I owe it to Vivian.

She was m*rder*d... as
sure as someone picked her up

and threw her down that shaft.

And if I don't speak up

then I'm lower than the
man that let this happen.

From Harlem, rosanna scotto,
fox news. Back to you, John.

[Instrumental music]

Yo, yo.

What your wino
a*s doin' up in here?

Who's that?

You know damn well who it is.

[Chuckling] That's you, Barnes.

Yo, man. What you
doing up in my crib, man?

I don't like nobody here.

I just got screwed
up with this stuff, man.

You better get your
screwed-up self out of here.

Go on, man. Get out of here.

You stink. You look sickly.

I ought to put you
out of your misery.

No, don't hurt me,
Barnes! I'm gone!

- I'm gone, man! I'm gone!
- Stay gone.

[Intense music]

No, no, where's my stuff?

Is this what you're looking for?

- What?
- Hey-hey.

- Easy.
- What's that?

I think forensics and
ballistics can figure that out.

Anyway we can talk
about this at the precinct.

Hey, come on, man.
The party's over.

- Where you going?
- Don't move!

[g*nf*re]

Go! Go! Go!

[Intense music]

[Groans]

Don't move.

Elvin Barnes,
you're under arrest.

- Nice job.
- Think so? Yeah.

McNamara: Listen to me, Barnes.

It'll be better for
you if you tell us now.

I'm not talking to y'all
without my lawyer.

Look, maybe we can work
something out here, you know,

shave some years
off your sentence.

I'm not doing it, man.

Nina: The ballistics report
is due back in a few hours.

Once we got you cold,
Barnes, there's no deal.

I mean maybe you don't
care about Tony sands

but you tried to sh**t
me and my partner.

McNamara: You want
to give somebody up?

Maybe we could,
uh, forget about that.

Who am I supposed
to be giving up?

McNamara: Whoever's
above you in the food chain.

- And who might that
be? Nina: Randall Kates.

Look, while you're
sitting in here he'll just

let somebody else
work your block.

You want to do time for
m*rder in attica for him?

Come on, Barnes.

Help us help you.

Alright.

I'll tell you about Kates.

[Scoffs] You know, I
thought we were clear

about you two
staying out of this.

Now am I missing something here?

Look, Kates was
paying people off.

Inspectors, repairmen,
anyone who can shortcut repairs.

When that didn't work he'd
get Barnes to strong-arm them.

Yeah, but, guys,
that doesn't prove

that Kates had Barnes
do in Tony sands.

We might not have to, I spoke to
a lawyer down at the TV station.

He says we might have
grounds for a m*rder charge,

at least negligent homicide.

Lieutenant, I almost fell
down that elevator shaft.

- What?
- Look...

If we can prove that Kates
knew things were broken

and he didn't fix
them then a good da

can convince a jury of
depraved indifference.

All we need is corroboration
of Barnes' testimony.

Alright, gentlemen,
what's your plan?

Williams: We need you, man.
- What's up, Barnes?

- How's that arm?
- I got it.

- What's up?
- You up, man.

So you think he's
blue collar enough?

He's definitely got the
white boy part down.

Listen, we need you to
go undercover, you know,

blue collar, white boy, corrupt.

Oh, yeah? How corrupt?

[Instrumental music]

I'm sorry, Mr. Brent, but
your gaskets are all shot.

And the furnace itself, well...

It's got cracks in here.

Well, we'll fix the gaskets.

Eh, that ain't going to do it.

Then I got to replace
the whole damn furnace.

It happens. You should see
these dumps in the bowery.

They can't even use
the furnace half the time.

Brent: You work that
area most of the time?

Yeah. I'm just filling in for
sid here while he's away.

[Grunts] Sid's k*lling me.

You know, um, patton?

Manages a couple of
buildings down there?

Oh, yeah, sure.

Hell of a nice guy.

Trust has been established.

So, uh, patton takes
care of you, right?

I mean, you guys do business?

[Chuckling] You
wouldn't be trying

to entrap me now, would you?

[Chuckling] I don't
even know you.

- And I don't know you.
- Mm...

How about 500?

Uh...

Come on, I'll fix the gaskets.

Well... I don't know.

There's a lot of
pressure these days.

Alright. So six. Live a little.

Huh?

Cool.

[Intense music]

Mr. Brent? You know
what this is, right?

- You know, you're under arrest.
- Hey, hey, hey. I... I...

No, no, no. Take it easy.

We may have a way
of working this out.

But I don't want to
hear from your mouth.

Good to see you again, Brent.

Yo... you do that corruption
thing kinda good there.

[Instrumental music]

Mr. Kates.

- What do you want, Williams?
- A couple of things.

I saw your man
Scott on TV. Lame.

- Very lame.
- Yeah, well, he's no actor.

He's a grieving father whose
daughter was m*rder*d.

It was an accident.
Accidents happen.

Well, we'll let the
jury decide that.

Right now I'm here to arrest
you for the m*rder of Vivian Scott.

- That's ridiculous.
- Oh, yeah?

Well, your boy Brent
is downtown right now

singing like a little b*tch.

Randall Kates,
you're under arrest

for the m*rder of Tony
sands and Vivian Scott.

- You can't do this.
- Don't tell me what I can do.

You have the right
to remain silent...

[Instrumental music]

Williams: What the hell do you
mean Dennis rodman's sexy?

I'm just, I'm just
saying he's got style.

What the hell you got
in that coffee, man?

Style? I don't want
that kind of style.

Hello. Williams. Who is this?

Hey, listen, I'm at work,
stop playing. Who is this?

Yeah, well, put him on.

Some clown's calling
saying Stevie wonder

is on the phone.

Maybe Elvis will call me next.

Yeah, Stevie, what's up, baby?

What, you saw a crime
you want to report?

[Laughing]

Oh, no, no, no.
Listen, i'm... I'm sorry.

No, no, i... I... You
didn't sound like you.

I... I didn't know why
you'd be calling me.

[Instrumental music]

[Indistinct chatter]

They're gonna be very
happy and I'm gonna love

seeing you jamming.

For real.

So you do what you got to do.

Alright, that's it, though.

Okay, alright.

- So, Stevie, man.
- What's happening?

- What's happening?
- Everything good?

- What's happening?
- What's up, baby?

- I'm okay.
- Is everything set up?

Everything is, sorry,
everything is pretty okay.

I just wish I could sing, man,
I really wanna sing tonight,

but my throat is just jacked.

I gotta tell you. I'm
a big fan of yours.

Secret life of plants,
that was the b*mb, kid.

I mean, I was dying
listening to that music.

And I really like the compliment
but please don't die on me.

I really would do
anything for Mr. Scott.

He must be going
through terrible pain.

That's such a tragic loss,

the way he lost his daughter.

All because some greedy landlord

didn't want to fix an elevator.

- Don't worry, we gonna get him.
- Got to get him, man.

Because you know what,
the real main bottom line

is people being aware.

I feel that most
people have got hearts

they wanna do the right thing.

They just got to
be educated a little.

The thing is people are aware.

Yeah, till you ask them
to delve into their wallets.

You know what they'll do that
once they know we're all hurting

you know, try to make
this stuff stop happening.

- I hope so. Stevie:
I think it will change.

I got to tell you, if
my pops was here

he would just flip out, man.

Hey, your pops is here.

He really is, and I
want you to know

that I will come back,
we'll do some stuff together.

- Alright.
- Jamming...

Let y'all sing a
little background.

- Oh, for real.
- Is that a commitment?

[Indistinct chatter]

We'll check out Ziggy,
and it's going to be strong.

Alright.

[Instrumental music]

♪ Trouble trouble

♪ bless my eyes this morning

♪ jah sun is on the
rise once again ♪

♪ the way earthly
things are goin' ♪

♪ a uh

♪ anything can happen

♪ you see

♪ so much trouble in the world

♪ so much trouble in the world ♪

♪ so much trouble in the world

♪ so much trouble in the world ♪

♪ you see

♪ we've got to face the day

♪ ooh-wee come what may

♪ yeah

♪ we the street people talkin'

♪ we the people strugglin'

♪ you see

♪ so much trouble in the world ♪

♪ so much trouble in the world

♪ so much trouble in the world ♪

♪ so much trouble in the world

♪ so much of it
so much violence ♪

♪ now I say lovin'
better you keep silent ♪

♪ so much of it
so much violence ♪

♪ now I say lovin'
better you keep silent ♪

♪ got to face the day no
matter the consequence ♪

♪ the world ain't getting
better ain't no improvement ♪

♪ everywhere you go
that's another problem ♪

♪ you work everyday and
still you can't find a cent ♪

♪ landlord calls you
don't pay no rent ♪

♪ no mother no father
you're a lone parent ♪

♪ everyone all around
such a bad temperament ♪

♪ the chains around your
feet and still you can't ♪

♪ free yourself laws
cause crime and violence ♪

♪ so much trouble in the world ♪

♪ So much trouble in the world

♪ so much trouble
in the world... ♪♪

You know, at the end of the
day we got Kates, we got Barnes.

We're raising some
money for a good cause.

Yeah, so why don't I
feel good about that?

'Cause we're still gonna have
bad landlords, drug dealers,

a permanent part
of the landscape.

- Yeah.
- So how's little Ricky, man?

He's doing alright, man.
I got him into a shelter.

They're gonna look at
getting him into a foster home

or maybe a, you know,
group home or something.

Mm-hmm. Do you
think he'll make it?

Well, you know, you
got to have faith, right?

So what are you, uh, looking
for there? Your heart hurt?

Oh, it's nothing.

- Nothing? Eddie: Nothing.

Okay. Mm-hmm.

Alright, but you
can't say nothing.

Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

- Is that what I think it is?
- It is what it is.

- Ah, really?
- No, no, no!

I got to guard this
like it's a brinks truck.

- Trust me. It cost that much.
- Oh, congratulations, man.

Yo, bartender, let me get
about six drinks for my man here.

Well, you can't
congratulate me yet

because I haven't,

you know, I haven't
said nothing to her.

Alright.

♪ So much violence

♪ now I say lovin' better

♪ you keep silent

♪ so much of it
so much violence ♪

♪ now I say lovin'
better you keep silent... ♪

Alright.

My man wants to get me...

- Here.
- Cheers.

I'll take one of these
over to Mr. Scott.

♪ You work everyday and
still you can't find a cent ♪

♪ landlord calls you
don't pay no rent ♪

Mr. Scott.

♪ You're a lone parent
everyone all around ♪

♪ have such a bad temperament
the chains around your feet ♪

♪ and still you
can't free yourself ♪

♪ laws cause
crime and violence ♪

♪ so much trouble in the world

[music continues]

♪ So much trouble in the world

♪ so much trouble...

You know, people say

my neighborhood is
a bad neighborhood.

But they don't see
what's really inside.

I mean, they don't spend
their whole lives there.

There really are
some nice people.

Yeah, there might be
some thieves, drug sellers

but there really
are nice people.

Like the man at
the grocery store?

Sometimes he gives
me free popsicles

even though it's freezing cold.

And the pizza man?

He gives me some pepperonis,
so I can make my own.

They really are nice.

♪ So much trouble in the world

♪ so much trouble in the world

♪ so much trouble in the world ♪

♪ so much trouble in the world

♪ now all we've got
to do is give a little ♪

♪ give a little ♪ take a little

♪ take a little ♪ give a little

♪ give a little ♪ one more time

♪ yeah ♪ give a little

♪ yeah ♪ take a little

♪ yeah ♪ give a little

♪ give a little ♪ yeah

♪ they're sitting on
their time b*mb ♪

♪ now I know the time has come

♪ what goes on up
is coming on down ♪

♪ goes around and comes around

♪ yeah

♪ so much trouble in the world ♪

♪ so much trouble in the world

[music continues]

♪ So much trouble
in the world ♪♪

[Wolf howling]