02x08 - For the People

[bunniefuu]

You two are in the streets
protesting all day every day.

I'm concerned about you
and your son.

What happened?
This cop roughed me up,

and then they cuffed me
and they brought me here.

I found a case.

Andy Josiah.

He shot him in the back.

In front of his son.

What you think about
representin' me?

Take these muthas
to task.

Salkin: Family's been advised to
discontinue medical assistance.

He fought like hell.

That's what we need to do.

My husband, Andy, was shot
in front of our son.

I am asking
Attorney General Burke

to do the right thing.

I got a solution.

You appoint
a special prosecutor.

Aaron Wallace.

You're out of your mind.

You give him free rein,

and it goes up in flames,
it falls on him.

And if against all odds,
he succeeds,

a nice halo effect
for you and your legacy.

Today is a new day.

A day when the sh**ting
and k*lling

of unarmed people of color

will no longer
be swept under the rug.

Andy Josiah's family deserves

a full, transparent
investigation into his death,

which is why I have
appointed Aaron Wallace

as special prosecutor
in this case.

While I recognize it is
an unprecedented decision,

I believe these are
unprecedented times

and Mr. Wallace is the right
man to take this on.

My man.

You asked for this.

♪♪

Thank you,
Attorney General Burke.

This is crazy.

Ronnie: Yeah, Facebook and Insta
are blowing up, too.

I know the eyes of the city
are on us.

I know people are hurting.

All I ask for is your patience
and your trust.

In return, I promise you this ‐‐

we will do whatever it takes

in order to do what's right

for this case and this family.

[ Reporters clamoring ]

♪♪

[ Computer chirping ]
Okay, the site just

tripled its previous
traffic peak.

Careful what you promise,
Jazz.

Whatever you say, you're
speaking for him now, and...

he just put himself
in the hot seat.

You really think
you can do this?

I don't know.

But I'm gonna die trying.

Please don't go that far,
Aaron.

It's what Andy deserves.

Nothing less.

You know I don't want
to get my hopes up.

I'm not saying you should.

'Cause they're gonna come at us
with everything they got.

What I am saying,
there's nothing I won't do.

‐Hey.
‐Hey.

How are you?
Come in.

Thanks.

Hope I'm not interrupting
anything.

No. The kids are at Anya's
this week,

so it's just me
and my quarantine.

Can I get you anything?

No.
No, no, I'm good.

I saw
the press conference.

You did well.

Thanks.

That's why I'm here.

[ Sighs ]

I want you to
join me and Henry.

But I'm not a prosecutor.

It's okay. He was.

Yeah, for three years
when he was in his 20s.

And he still knows all
the tricks inside and out,

and so do you ‐‐
just from the other side.

[ Sighs ]
You brought me that case

because something was
burning inside of you.

But you could have anybody
you want for this.

I need people
I can trust.

And that's you and Henry.

Roswell: So I got the file from
the Staten Island D. A.

Charlotte's got
copies for you.

It's pretty thin.
Big surprise here ‐‐

can't say they did
much due diligence.

Anyway,
here's the gist.

According to
the police report,

they pulled Andy over because
he was driving with his cell.

Wait a minute. He told me
it was for an ill*gal U‐turn.

Then they changed their story
after the fact.

Well, without Andy,
it's hearsay.

The report was filled out
by Phillip Matranga,

junior cop,
six years on the job.

Officer Edgar Lindsley,
the sh**ter,

never signed the report
or filled out his own.

They're dragging their feet

to give him time
to adjust his story.

Matranga's report,
which was sparse,

says that Andy was belligerent
and uncooperative.

They got him out of the car.

They said he was
arguing and resisting.

It doesn't even
say anything about

the part where
they shot him.

It's only about
Andy's so‐called crimes.

There was no internal
investigation

about the sh**ting.

No witnesses,
no crime scene photos,

no cop interviews.

No one's even allowed
to interview them

in the first 48 hours
after a sh**ting.

Because
it's so traumatic.

But really it's just
so they have time

to get their stories
straight.

How long's Lindsley been
on the force?



This can't be the first time
he's had an incident.

Well, there's no prior

disciplinary reports
in the file.

We can subpoena for them.

Yeah,
but even if we can show

the sh**ter has
a checkered history,

we've got nothing without
witnesses or video.

I'm assuming
there were no body cams?

No. And no witnesses
with cellphones either.

Our only chance of video
is surveillance

from the cams
in the neighborhood.

Well, let's take a ride
out to the bodega.

Okay,
you and me do that.

You issue a subpoena for
the disciplinary reports?

Charlotte's already
writing it up,

and I got a time set up to see
the judge in a couple hours.

Let's meet back here
after that.

Compare notes.

Rock and roll.

[ Car door closes ]

[ Car alarm chirps ]

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

Look.

[ Door chimes ]
Safiya: Hello.

Welcome.

I'm Safiya Masry.

Oh, Masry?
You're Syrian?

Oh [chuckles] Egyptian,
actually.

I was born in Tehran.
Salaam‐Alaikum.

Wa‐Alaikum‐Salaam.

We're here about what happened
to Andy Josiah.

And I didn't see anything.
I already told the police that.

But you must have
heard the shots.

Of course.
I came outside,

but the police told me
to stay in here for my safety.

Get a pack of the usual.

So, you're going after
those cops, huh?

Guess you watch the news.

Yeah.

I'm kind of hoping
to be on the jury.

[ Chuckles ]

[ Door chimes ]

The people here ‐‐
they admire the police.

Yeah.

Look, I know you didn't see
anything that night,

but were there
any customers here

who might have
seen something?

No,
it was a very slow night.

Because of the virus,
most nights are like that now.

And what about
video surveillance?

I see you have a camera
on the side of the building.

Oh, that ‐‐ that camera
has been broken for weeks.

[ Sighs ]

I'll take two halva
for the road.

It's on the house.

Well, thank you.

[ Door chimes ]

Convenient.

Cameras broke.

If the cops got to him,
that means he already erased it.

[ Cellphone ringing ]

Henry.

Judge just shot down
our subpoena

for cops'
disciplinary records.

What?!

Called it
a fishing expedition.

Then he gave me
a pretty hefty lecture

about due process and
the dignity of law enforcement.

Everyone was right.

We don't stand a chance
if we try the case here.

We certainly have a hand
tied behind our backs.

And it doesn't get
any better.

Put me on speaker
and take a look at your texts.

There's a link.
What is it?

"Living a party life
with thug friends."

Guy in the picture, the one
he's got his arm around,

he was convicted of
home invasion burglary.

You know what this is.

Of course I do.
But it's not a good look, Aaron.

You better go
see Elaine.

And cross‐examine her?

Make sure we got
an answer for this.

♪♪

Damn it!

What's going on?

They're calling Andy
a thug.

Like we don't know
what that's code for.

[ Laptop slams ]

Ronnie.
What?

What's wrong with you?

What do you mean?
Nothing.

I just think maybe
you're taking this ‐‐

Do you see
what they're doing to him?

You think
that's all right?

I didn't say it was all right.
I don't think it's all right.

Then don't tell me
to calm down!

♪♪

[ Door closes ]

I don't know what's going on
with him.

Just give him a couple minutes.
He'll cool down.

He's getting worse.

But he won't admit
anything's wrong.

‐Come on in.
‐Aaron!

Hey, big man.
[ Grunts ]
[ Door closes ]

How we doin'?
‐I'm good.

Marcel,
this is Safiya Masry.

She's working on the case
with me.

Hi.

Marcel still comin' to sleep
in your bed at night?

I told him he can just
sleep with me,

but he always wants
to try his own room.

Hmm.

I remember Jazz came to visit me
at Bellmore.

She got a shoulder injury
from gymnastics,

and every time I asked her
how it was,

she'd act like
it was fine.



She didn't want
to put it on me.

It breaks my heart seeing him
all twisted up.

But you coming by...
[ Chuckles ]

I told him you're the one who's
gonna fight for his father,

make sure people don't forget
who he really was.

Elaine, we got to show you
something.

It's about Andy.

That picture's gotta be


And the guy
he's posing with?

I don't think
we've seen him

since before I was pregnant
with Marcel.

They're trying
to poison the jury.

Make your husband
seem like a threat

so they can argue
the sh**ting was justified.

Well, Andy never had
any problems with the law.

Neither did
any of his friends.

We understand.

When it comes to trial,

we'll be able to call
plenty of character witnesses.

[ Sighs ]

Talking about a trial ‐‐
people are saying

that there's a whole range
of charges you can bring.

We're not supposed to
talk specifics.

But generally speaking,

in a case like this,

prosecution
can present charges

ranging from
m*rder in the second degree

to criminally negligent
homicide,

with manslaughter
in the middle.

Well, they shot him
in the back.

So how is that
not m*rder?

Given how hard these cases are
against cops,

even getting lower charges
past a Grand Jury

can be very difficult.

Especially in a place
like Staten Island.

Which is so sympathetic
to law enforcement.

So you want to low‐ball
right off the bat?

It's still early.

We don't even know
what evidence we have.

But we do think the cops lied
about why they stopped Andy.

Elaine.

It would really help
if we could talk to Marcel.

♪♪

Marcel.

If you're gonna treat her
like the client,

then we need to manage
expectations, Aaron,

from the beginning.

♪♪

I was in the back seat.

We were looking for Tank
because I lost him

and he was my favorite.

And Tank is your toy?

Then the lights went on.

The loud ones with
the different colors.

Then we stopped.

That's when your dad
pulled over? With the car?

But the loud lights
kept going.

Then the man came.

They started pushing my dad.

It's alright, we don't have to
talk about that part right now.

I just want to know if you can
remember before that.

Do you remember
if they told your dad

why they asked him
to stop the car?

♪♪

What did the man say
after your dad stopped the car?

They said he did something wrong
with his driving,

the way he turned
in the street.

A U‐turn?

Yeah.

Nothing about him
talking on his cellphone?

No, I had the phone.

Oh, you did?

He was letting me
watch elephants on it.

Elephants?

I dropped it on the floor when
everything started happening.

When I was trying to
get out of my car seat, I...

That's okay, big man.

We don't have to talk
no more.

You did great.

Thank you so much.

I don't want you to
ask him to testify.

The cops lied about
why they stopped Andy.

This may be the only way
to prove it.

They shot him
for no reason.

Why they stopped him
shouldn't matter.

If they lied, it goes to
their credibility.

I understand
what you're saying,

but I'm not gonna put Marcel
through that.

You're right.

We'll find another way.

[ Doorbell rings ]

Would you have put Justin
or Zoe through that?

When they were 7?

I'd hate it.

But when they grew up,
I wouldn't want them asking

why I didn't
let them help.
[ Door opens ]

Elaine: Hey, Sherwin.

That's the guy
from the bodega.

Sherwin:
I'm sorry to bother you,

but I found this.

And when I realized it must've
belonged to Marcel...

I'm so sorry.

That's very kind of you,
Sherwin.

He does love this.

If there's anything else
I can do for you

or Marcel...

Thank you.

You have always been
very kind,

and you know how much
Andy liked you.

Well, I‐I should go.

I‐I will pray
for your family.

Thank you.

He is a very nice man.

I'm sure all this publicity
has been bad for his business.

Will you tell Mr. Wallace
I'll be right back?

Uh, Sherwin?

Sherwin?

Ah.

I didn't ‐‐ I didn't realize
that you knew this family.

Oh, yes, they ‐‐ they have been
customers for years.

Well, you didn't mention that
when we came to your store.

Didn't I?

You know, if the cops told you
to get rid of that video,

we need to know.

No, I‐I told them
the same thing as you,

that the camera
was broken.

Then I'm asking you
if you told them the truth.

Because I'm having
a hard time believing

that someone who's worked
as hard as you

to build that business

lets their security system
sit like that, broken for weeks.

I‐I‐I told you
that business was bad ‐‐

Sherwin, there is no justice
in this world without sacrifice.

So don't tell that woman
you're gonna pray for her family

when you won't even do
what's in your control

to help her
find some peace.

You ‐‐
You don't understand.

No,
Andy Josiah is dead.

Marcel is
without a father.

If you have evidence about
what happened and you hide it,

you're complicit.

And if we find out,

you can be charged with
obstruction of justice.

I have my own family.

I could lose everything.

I understand
that you were scared

and that you didn't
want to get involved,

and I know
how hard it can be,

but now you don't
have a choice.

Show us the video.

And I promise
we can protect you.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

Should I rewind it?

I'll watch that part
later.

[ Sighs ]

Matranga said in his report

that Andy was belligerent
and resisting,

but [Scoffs] Matranga
was in the squad car.

[ Sighs ]

♪♪

Pointing the g*n
at Marcel.

Grand Jury won't like that,
even in Staten Island.

Sherwin's willing to testify
and authenticate this?

I told him the video is
inadmissible without him,

so yeah, he'll do it.

I got some goodies.

And we got video
from the bodega.

But we can show you after.
What's in the folder?

Is everyone okay?

Tell me you got something
on the sh**ter.


in the last 8 years.

All the reports
completely unredacted.

Names of witnesses,
contact info,

the whole nine yards.
Where'd you get these?

I got an old friend at the
Civilian Complaint Review Board.

And all these would've been
submitted to the NYPD?

At least the six
that were substantiated.

What the department
did with them,

we still don't know.

They buried 'em.

Otherwise that scumbag
wouldn't be on the streets.

Ladies and gentlemen,
I give you

the price
of unchecked power.

[ Sirens wailing ]
Man: [ In distance ]
Get on the ground!

You alright?

What?

Yeah, I'm fine.

I ‐‐ Jazz sent me down here
to put this away.

Ronnie.

Sometimes it's easier
to talk to someone
less close to you.

Did Jazz say something?

We're all concerned.

I just keep seeing them
on top of me.

One of them,

he's screaming so loud,
I can smell his breath,

and he's just...

kneeling on my chest.

♪♪

It's gonna take
some time.

But the more
you talk about it,

the more you let yourself
have these feelings.

It's how
you're gonna heal.

Well, I want to be
more like Aaron.

He just keeps fighting.

He's got plenty
he's dealing with,

but he had to learn
how to talk about it, too.

Trust me.

[ Sobbing ]

Come here.

Come here.

[ Sniffles ]

[ Sobbing continues ]

♪♪

Okay, I'll be home later.

Night, Marie.

[ Sighs ]

For what it's worth,

Marie thinks
we should go for m*rder.

Everyone
she talks to agrees.

Roswell:
I don't know, Aaron.

Look, you guys both know I want
to go for all the marbles,

but there might be
another play.

Tell me.

We start conservative,

go for the lower charge
in Staten Island.

That way, we don't risk

having the Grand Jury
reject the charges.

Builds our credibility.

Maybe in Staten Island.

Not in my community.

It'll be
a little ugly at first,

but then we ask for
a change of venue.

We win that,
we get the case moved,

once we're in another borough,
we impanel a new Grand Jury,

get a new indictment
at the higher charges.

If we lose
on change of venue,

we're stuck in Staten Island
with the lower charges.

It's a risk.

Full disclosure, though
it's technically possible,

I don't think it's ever
actually been done.

Safiya: Plus, it's extremely
difficult to get a venue change,

especially
for the prosecution.

Just pitching a way
to split the difference here.

What if I work things out
with the judge beforehand?

Wait, you can't offer
quid pro quos to judges.

You can't even be perceived
to be floating that.

It's Staten Island,
right?

Old Boys Club.

Judge Edgemore,
he's a home‐team guy.

But you got to be real careful
how you play it.

Hold on a minute.

Are you seriously talking about
making a backroom deal

and then violating
the terms of that deal

as soon as you get it
out of there?

Basically, yeah.

These are judges!

You can't play both sides
against each other like that.

[ Scoffs ]

♪♪

Mr. Wallace.

My secretary told me that
you had some questions for me.

Yes, Your Honor.
Mm‐hmm.

You know this is the first time
I've ever prosecuted a case.

There's some disagreement
on my team

as to what charges
to present.
Is that right?

Now, I know you can't advise me
specifically,

but I thought maybe you could
give me some general advice

on grand juries.


get broken in.

You know what
their main problem is?

Preparation?

Enthusiasm.
[ Chuckles ]

All that power,

all the righteousness of
fighting for the victims ‐‐

goes to their heads.

Pretty soon,
they're overstepping themselves

or using trumped‐up charges
to leverage the defense.

Yeah, I've been on
the other side of that.

Well, hopefully you'll remember
that lesson now.

If a trial jury acquits,

it's almost always
because the prosecutor

went for too much
at the beginning

during the indictment phase.

Hmm.

Anything I should know

specifically about
Staten Island?

I've never even driven over
the bridge until last week.


It might as well be 1,500.

These cases do tear at
the fabric of our community.

So you suggest
moderation?

In this case, something like
criminally negligent homicide?

Theoretically,

I'd imagine my colleagues might
look very favorably on that.

Only thing with that is
how it'll look for me

if my community finds out
that's all I asked for.

[ Chuckles ] No question that
we're all of us here in a vise.

But you did
sign up for this.

Mm.

Now, you said
that these cases

can tear at the fabric
of your community.

Now, what if that didn't
have to be here?

What if there was a way
to spare everyone the pain?

Are you talking about
a change of venue?

That would be seen
as a win for me.

But since the officers would be
facing lower charges...

I can see how
that might make sense.

♪♪

You ready for this?

Elaine's gonna think
we sold her out.

And I can't say anything.

I just keep thinking
it could've been Ronnie.

I really hope
you can pull this off, Aaron.

[ Sighs ]

♪♪

Court Officer:
Dockets ending 489 and 490,

People of
the State of New York

versus Officers Edgar Lindsley
and Phillip Matranga.

Aaron Wallace,
Henry Roswell,

and Safiya Masry,
for the people.

Dean Johnston and Mike Paxton
for the defense, Your Honor.

Always a pleasure,
Mr. Johnston.

Your Honor, the people
would like to serve

and file an indictment
charging each officer

with a violation of penal law
section 125.10,

Criminally Negligent
Homicide.

[ Spectators murmuring ]

[ Gavel banging ]

Alright.
Officers Lindsley and Matranga,

I have before me an indictment

charging you with a single count

of the nonviolent,
class‐E felony

of criminally negligent
homicide.

How do you plead?

Not guilty, Your Honor.

Not guilty, Your Honor.

Now, as for the question
of bail ‐‐

Your Honor ‐‐
Oh, don't even bother,
Mr. Wallace.

These charges carry a maximum
penalty of four years.

They also enable
each of these officers

to be eligible for probation,

so you see there's not a chance
that I'm gonna

have these officers
sit in jail pending trial.

I'm ordering that
they be released

on their own recognizance.

So...

[ Gavel bangs ]
Alright, clear the courtroom.

Restore some order here,
please.

Step out!

Let's go, people.
Quiet down.

Elaine, I know
how this looks, but ‐‐

Shame on you!

♪♪

[ Door closes ]

Hey, Ronnie.
How you doing?

Fine.
Just put AJ to sleep.

Where's Jazz
and Marie?

Grocery store.

You alright?

Kind of surprised you let
those cops off the hook.

[ Sighs ]
You don't really know ‐‐

Jazz had to shut down
the website.

Everyone's calling you
a sellout,

saying
you threw the case.

[ Sighs ]

That what you think?

[ Sighs ]

Unless you can explain
something different.

All I can say is that
this isn't over.

I get how you're feeling ‐‐

about everything,
honestly.

And I don't blame you.

But on this,

you're just gonna
have to trust me.

Scotty:
And how are things at home?

Fine. It's good
to have Marie back.

Tough stint she did.


living at a motel.

Yeah, she's stronger
than I ever knew.

She had to be
with you away all that time.

You been following
my case?

I think it's safe to say
everybody is.

And what you think
so far?

I think you're letting them off
too easy.

But then again, you're gonna
have a tough time

getting even those
smaller charges to stick.

Yeah.

Must be hard
being Black and blue.

Especially these days.

Is there something
you need from me?

Yeah,


Especially when
my partners are working

all through the night
in my office.

I'll talk to Davidson,

see if I can get you
till midnight.

Appreciate that.

I feel bad I came down so hard
on Aaron.

Oh, you don't have to
apologize.

We know what
you're going through.

We just want to help.

My parents want me to talk
to a therapist, but ‐‐

But what?

You're gonna think
this is crazy, but...

who I really want to talk to
is that cop.

Look him in the eye and ask him
why he did what he did.

Then why don't we?

♪♪

[ Door closes ]

[ Radio chatter ]

Desk Sarge said
you wanted to see me?

Do you recognize me?

No, sorry.
You got a case number?

You arrested me
at a protest,

put your knee
on my chest.

Sorry, kid.

Can't talk to you
about a pending case.

Why did you
do that to me?

I didn't do
anything wrong.

I was the one
calling you over

because I saw a guy
with a brick,

and then you just...

you just assumed.

I don't know
what you want me to say.

How about
you made a mistake?

Hey.

His name is
Ronnie Baxter.

He has two loving parents,

a newborn son,
and a woman he loves.

He's also an Honors student
with a 3.8 GPA,

started college
in September.

That is who you beat up.
That is who you arrested!

Just so you understand.

Come on, Ronnie,
let's go.

♪♪

Charlotte: I went back 30 years,
and as far as I can tell,

Henry was right.

No one has ever tried impaneling
a new Grand Jury

in a new borough in order
to supersede an indictment

after a Change of Venue
was granted.

Basically, the statute is silent
and case law is nonexistent.

So no precedent.

But no prohibition.

Well, how are we gonna explain
why we submitted

the lower charges
in Staten Island?

We held the tape
to present as new evidence.

But we had the tape
before.

You can't tell the judge
otherwise.

I'll imply it.
That's really
where we are?

Either way, we have
all these misconduct complaints

against Lindsley.

That'll sway
the Grand Jury,

but the judge will see them
as prejudicial.

The video alone
is not enough.

Not for m*rder two
or manslaughter.

We gotta dirty up
the sh**ter.

Aaron, if the Judge thinks
you're playing fast and loose,

she'll throw out
the whole indictment.

I'm not leaving any arrows
in the quiver.

You got something to say,
say it, Counselor.

Safiya: [ Sighs ]

Your connection to this family
is clouding your judgment.

Because I'm more motivated
than ‐‐

We're all motivated.

[ Sighs ]

But Marcel runs to you
when you come through the door.

And you're making promises to
his mother you just can't keep.

Like not forcing him
to testify?

That is something
we could actually do,

we should do, legally.

But instead, to protect him,
we're making backroom deals

and hiding evidence,

misleading judges?

We're going farther and farther
down a slippery slope,

and I don't even want
to think about

what's at the bottom
of it.

♪♪

♪♪

We're gonna need you
to buck up Sherwin.

♪♪

You're sure
there's no other way?

If there was, believe me,

I would never put you
through this.

Now that we've got it
moved to Queens,

we have a chance to get
the more serious charges.

But you're the only one who can
legally authenticate the video.

And without that,
we've got nothing.

You're gonna be okay.

But if I am not ‐‐
if word gets out ‐‐

Nobody knows you're here,
Sherwin ‐‐

not the press,
not the defense attorneys.

Even the presiding judge
in the case

has no idea
that any of us are here.

That's the way
grand juries work.

You have my word.

[ Door opens ]

You ready?

[ Sighs ] Yeah.

[ Doorbell rings ]

What are you doing here?

I know it's unusual,

and my lawyer would probably
k*ll me if he knew,

but I...wanted to come
and just say to you personally

that I'm sorry
for your loss.

I'm truly, deeply sorry.

How dare you?

Now that you're barely facing
any charges?

What is this,
some kind of stunt?

No, I ‐‐ I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to make it worse
or cause you any distress.

I just ‐‐
I ‐‐ I wanted to...

To what?!

Make yourself feel better?

[ Door slams ]

[ Indistinct conversations ]

Where's Safiya?

She didn't think
she needed to be here

just to submit
the new indictments.

Yeah, and she's pissed.

No, she's happy
with the results.

She's uncomfortable
with the process.

But you knew that.

[ Door closes ]

Holy ‐‐

What?

Veronica Marshall.

Am I supposed to know
who she is?

She used to be
the trial chief

of the Brooklyn
public defender's office.

Did a stint
with the ACLU.

Now she's out on her own.

She's one of the best,
pal.

From the ACLU
to defending cops?

The union's
got a lot of cash.

And why now?

I'd say it's 'cause
of the change of venue,

but they've had plenty of time
to react to that.

Judging by the feverish
whispering

and the intense eyeballing,

I'd say they just got wind
of our new indictments.

But they were sealed.

Somebody leaked them.

Court Officer: All rise.

Court is now in session,

Judge Patricia Howell
presiding.

Adding to the calendar
Indictment S‐96454,

transferred to this court

from the Supreme Court
of Richmond County.

Judge Howell: Good afternoon,
everyone, and welcome.

Ms. Marshall, I didn't know
you'd be appearing.

On behalf of Mr. Lindsley,
Your Honor,

from here on in.
Very well.

I am in receipt of the papers
from Staten Island

and have familiarized myself

with the case
and the proceedings.

Uh‐uh. Sit down,
Mr. Wallace.

See,
we have a hot case here.

A case where the parties may be
tempted to play to the gallery

or the press or the public.

But so long as I am presiding
over this matter,

which means forever,

that will not happen.

Do I make myself clear?

Yes, Your Honor.
Yes, Your Honor.

Good. Mr. Wallace,
you may begin.

Before we proceed,
the people would like to serve

and file
a superseding indictment,

charging officers
Lindsley and Matranga

with m*rder
in the Second Degree

and Manslaughter
in the First Degree.

[ Spectators murmuring ]

‐Objection!
‐Excuse me?

In light
of newly discovered evidence,

the people convened
a new Grand Jury.

In Queens.

Your Honor, surely you cannot
countenance the prosecution

leveraging a venue change

to get a Grand Jury
to their liking.

It's a total over‐reach.

Mr. Wallace, Ms. Marshall,

I will see you both
in my chambers.

Now, please.

So you only found this video
after the Change of Venue?

It took us some time to procure
authentication, Your Honor.

I'd say that's suspect
and convenient.

And these
civilian complaints?

You didn't think
they might be prejudicial?

Using prior bad acts
to poison a jury

is not only reprehensible,

but grounds for you to dismiss
the entire indictment.

There were two instances
of Officer Lindsley

claiming cellphone usage
as an excuse

to pull over and harass
people of color.

We believe that constituted
a pattern.

But again, you opted not to
present those in Staten Island.

We weren't confident about
the credibility of the witnesses

in these complaints
until more recently.

Things have been moving
very fast, Your Honor.

I've only been on this case
for 10 minutes,

but you're
the special prosecutor

and you're the one pushing
the calendar, Mr. Wallace.

I apologize.

Obviously, I'm new to this.

If I've made
a mis‐step...

And now you actually want to
hold these men without bail?

I think that would send
a proper message to the people

that they ‐‐
Am I hearing you suggest
we should use bail

to send a public message

when you yourself were held
without bail for over a year

before a shred of evidence
was ever presented against you

in a courtroom?

I wasn't accused
of k*lling anybody.

"Accused" is the operative word,
Your Honor.

As far as I know,
presumption of innocence

is still the law
of the land,

and it applies
to police officers, too.

So unless Mr. Wallace
really thinks

these men
who have families

are a flight risk,

he's saying
he wants to use bail

not only as a way
to send a message

but as a form
of punishment.

Not exactly what I expect
from a man with his résumé.

Agreed.
The officers will remain out

on their own recognizance.
Your Honor ‐‐

And as for these
new indictments,

there's no way I'm gonna let
a m*rder charge stand

given your attempts to bias
that Grand Jury

with those
officer complaints.

Thank you, Your Honor.

And the manslaughter?

Don't get greedy,
Ms. Marshall.

Especially during your first
few minutes on the case.

Understood, Your Honor.

Fine.

Now, if you would give

Mr. Wallace and me a moment,
please?

Uh, call it a brief respite
for career counseling.

No specifics of the case
will be discussed without you.

Thank you, Your Honor.

[ Door opens ]

[ Sighs ]
[ Door closes ]

I know a bit
about Glen Maskins.

Who he is, what he became.

And I don't believe
for one minute

that where he ended up
had anything to do

with what he hoped to accomplish
when he started.

That happened over years.

One rationalization,
one justification,

one cut corner at a time.

Right now,
you have all the power he did.

I'd urge you to
consider that carefully.

Nothing else that even
remotely smells like a stunt.

Understood?

If I were you, I'd walk
out of here feeling lucky.

And warned.

Thank you, Your Honor.

In a shocking turn,
the two police officers

previously charged only with
criminally negligent homicide

in the sh**ting of Andy Josiah

now stand accused
of a far more serious offense

of manslaughter
in the first degree.

Attorney Veronica Marshall...
That double‐crossing
son of a b*tch.

...accused officer
Edgar Lindsley,

released
the following statement.

"Officers Lindsley and Matranga
are good men

and good cops
who are being sacrificed

on the altar
of liberal extremism.

The special prosecutor's office

is trying to
turn a tragedy into a crime

to score political points."

On the streets,
reaction to the news

has been decidedly mixed.

Personally, I think
Aaron Wallace

only grew a backbone because
of the community pressure.

We gotta fight to get
anything done,

even when the do‐ers
look like us.

We know.

That's all that matters.

Pour you one?

It's against
my probation.

[ Bottle thuds ]
I heard the union
changed lawyers.

Yeah.

I don't know
what to make of her.

She was a Princeton undergrad,
then Law Review at Harvard.

Anya went up against her
for years.

Said she's brilliant.

And very principled.

Seems like maybe we have
a few things to talk about.

You said you trusted me.

You're my voice
of reason.

Especially when Henry's
yelling at me

to keep driving
over the cliff.

I'm flattered,
but what good is my voice

if you don't listen to it?

I do.

More than I've shown you.

Henry said the judge
handed you your hat.

Yeah. Just a bit.

And somebody's leaked
the indictments.

Even before they came up
with the judge?

You should warn Sherwin.
Just in case.

I'll go see him
at the bodega.

After my drink.

I hope I didn't drive you
to that.

It was everything.

But mostly the video.

I watched it.

♪♪

Tomorrow morning?

With bells on.

♪♪

Elaine?

I heard
about the new charges.

Thank you.

Look, I understand
why you had your doubts.

I will never stop thinking
about you and Andy and Marcel

and what this means
for you.

Do you mind
if I ask you a question?

Yeah. Of course.

Is it like some people
are saying?

That you only did it because you
were taking the heat?

Or did you have this planned
all along?

I can't answer
that question.

By law.

Then I owe you
an apology.

You should never
apologize to me for anything.

Ever.

I wanted you
to have this.

It's some
of our home videos.

So you can always remember
who Andy was.

Thank you.

Oh, and one other thing
I thought you should know.

That cop Matranga
came by my house

to apologize.

Okay, uh...

You remember
his exact words?

He said he was sorry
for our loss.

Anything about what he and
his partner did specifically?

No,
just that he was sorry.

And you think he was sincere?
Like he felt bad?

I think he meant it.

Why does it matter?

It means
he's hiding something.

Something big.

[ Radio chatter,
siren chirping ]

I'm a lawyer.

Sherwin, what happened?

Sherwin: I don't know.
They won't tell me anything!

What are you
charging this man with?!

Man: Back up.
You said you were going
to protect me!

[ Vehicle door closes ]

♪♪

[ Siren wailing ]

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪