You feel it too, don’t you? We’re the freest we’ve ever been, despite our situation. I’ll never understand why you turned yourself in, by the way-.. and I bet you regret it, but it’s too late now.
I can’t say that I’m proud of how long it took me to decide what to do with my own freedom, but at least I can say that I don’t have any second thoughts.
Obviously, I can’t go into detail about what happened; let’s just say that I tried my best to right our wrongs and leave it at that. No doubt you’ll see or hear about it in the news anyway.
It’s always been a game, hasn’t it? I guess I just got tired of playing.
You were tired too. I knew it, Arturo knew it, your mother knew it; I think everyone did. Maybe I shouldn’t be, but I’m glad you killed her, and I’m sorry for what she did to Leah. I know how much you loved her.
I’m sorry for being cruel to her too, but the fact that she didn’t care almost made it fun; besides, she was never on our side. If anything, we should have been on hers. I’m sure you miss her most of all…
I don’t think I’ll ever know how it feels to love someone quite so much, but that’s okay; I think I ought to be alone.
I won’t be sticking around, nor will I be handing myself in-.. I think you’ll agree by now that it’s pointless. I don’t know when, or if I’ll ever see you again; though I doubt we’ll miss each other much.
I know it’ll be a while yet, but if you ever want to, I think you’ll know where to find me.
Eugene: Mhph, wha-.. I’m awake!
Raina: Did you pull another all-nighter?
Eugene: Perhaps. What’s up?
Raina: We had a very interesting call earlier.
Eugene: Oh?
Raina: Yup, we have his address.
Eugene: Who called in?
Raina: [shrugs] Anonymous.
Eugene: Is it like all the other addresses..?
Raina: I think this one’s legit.
Eugene: Hm, we’ll look into it.
Raina: They also mentioned some sort of “holding house” downtown; two women reported inside, one’s only eighteen.
Eugene: If this is a hoax-…
Raina: I don’t see how it could be, it’s not like our investigation is public knowledge.
Eugene: True, true.
Raina: What do you wanna do?
Eugene: Book him.
Raina: We don’t have enough eviden-…
Eugene: Bah! Frame him for all I care, just keep the bastard in custody until we can get him questioned. We’ll find all the evidence we need later.
Raina: Seriously?
Eugene: Yup!
Raina: Surely, we’ll need a warrant? An anonymous tip is hardly-…
Eugene: [sighs] I suppose I’d rather not ruffle any feathers whilst I’m here.
Raina: I think it’s a little late for that, sir.
Eugene: Hah! Never mind-.. go n’ find Roger, we’ll get to work.
Raina: On it!
Courtney: You don’t think he sleeps too much?
Oscar: Nah.
Courtney: I thought he’d cry more.
Oscar: He’s happy; and sleepy.
Courtney: He’s so sweet, I wanna squeal every time I look at him.
Oscar: [laughs] Do it, I doubt he’d wake up.
[DOORBELL]
Courtney: Who’s that? It’s early…
Oscar: Dunno.. clearly not family, they’d just walk in.
…
[DISTANT CHATTER]
?: Would you say they lived a rather lavish lifestyle?
Oscar: With that much money, who wouldn’t?
?: I understand you recently spent some time in a rehab facility?
Oscar: That’s a bit personal, ain’t it?
?: Should I assume the drugs came from them?
Oscar: I doubt it’s your job to assume things.
?: I know he paid for your treatment, it must have been expensive; why would he do that? Guilt?
Courtney: It was for alcoholism; you can buy liquor anywhere.
?: Ah, hello-.. that’s very true.
Courtney: Why are you asking these questions?
?: I’m just trying to paint a picture; one last thing, do you know where I might find a Miya Foster? Or Marco Rios?
Oscar: No idea.
?: Right, well.. I’ll see myself out, and thank you for your time.
Oscar: No worries.
?: Congratulations, by the way. Shame about the hair though-.. aha! I’m kidding, I’m kidding.. my wife’s a redhead!
Oscar: ..Bye.
[DOOR CLOSES]
Courtney: Asshole.
Oscar: [sighs] Better get used to that, buddy.
Courtney: Really? No one ever gives you grief for being ginger.
Oscar: Because they quickly realise, I don’t give a shit; people get bored easily.
Courtney: Hm… Either way, I don’t like whatever that was.
Oscar: I said about as much as I’m gonna.
Courtney: Hopefully that’s it.
Oscar: Geez, I should check my phone more oft-.. oh shit, Ivan finally woke up! I need to go n’ see him.
Courtney: Awh, take Robin with you!
Oscar: You gonna be okay on your own? You should come-…
Courtney: I’m still crampy.. and I need to be on my own at some point, don’t I? I could always see what Tilda’s up to.
Oscar: Yeah, do that.
Courtney: Imagine how happy Bruno must be; poor guy, he’s lost enough.
Ivan: What’s wrong with a good ol’ fashioned burger or somethin’.
Bruno: They’re not exactly healthy.
Ivan: I know I sound like a brat, but I’m fuckin’ starvin’.
Bruno: Eat your food, brat.
Ivan: [snorts] You eat it.
Bruno: I’m not the one recovering from major surgery.
Ivan: I’d rather recover at-…
Bruno: At?
Ivan: I was gonna say home, but it ain’t like we’ve really got one.
[KNOCKING]
Ivan: [quietly] The fuck?
?: Good aftern-.. ah, I didn’t expect to find you here Mr Clarke.
Bruno: Surprise.
?: I’d like to speak with Mr Harper alone, if that’s okay?
Ivan: Uh-…
Bruno: Sure.
Ivan: Who the hell-…
Bruno: [whispers] Keep it short; you don’t know shit, you were just a bouncer-.. say you’ll be fine.
Ivan: I’ll be fine.
Bruno: Alright, I’ll be outside.
Ivan: ‘Kay.
?: You’re a hard man to find, Mr Harper.. no fixed abode?
Ivan: Nope.
?: No? Your name is still on the tenancy of a very upscale apartment owned by Mr Flanagan.
Ivan: It shouldn’t be.
?: You weren’t aware?
Ivan: No? Maybe he just wanted t’make it look like it wasn’t empty.
?: Why might that be?
Ivan: [shrugs]
?: How’d you wind up here?
Ivan: I shot myself; chest holster-.. what’s your name?
Eugene: You know, you’re the first person to ask me that. It’s Eugene.
Ivan: The first outta who?
Eugene: Where did you meet Mr Clarke?
Ivan: [sighs wearily] I dunno, it’s hard t’pinpoint the exact time n’ place.
Eugene: Through work, I assume?
[MUFFLED CONVERSATION]
…
[DOOR CLOSES]
Eugene: You didn’t go far…
Bruno: He’s not well enough to be mithered.
Eugene: You’re very protective, aren’t you? I don’t bite.
Bruno: He’s important to me.
Eugene: Of course, I’m sure you’ve been through a lot; I’ll leave you be.
Bruno: I didn’t mean to be so brash, back at the garage.. it was still touch n’ go, I was worried.
Eugene: Understandable. Take care, Mr Clarke-.. maybe get some sleep, it looks like you could use it.
Bruno: Mmh.
Norma: I think he’s protecting his brother.
Eugene: Mmh.. there’s much more to uncover here, I’m sure of it.
Norma: I find it hard to believe no one knew what was going on.
Eugene: They’re just protecting their jobs. Did you speak to Woodall-.. Ames?
Norma: He said he wasn’t involved; Ames retired.
Eugene: Earlier than I would’ve imagined…
Norma: Uh-huh.
Eugene: We oughta pay her a visit.
Norma: We oughta trace the supply back to those farms first, shut it all down before word gets out.
Eugene: The drugs are only half of it.
Norma: Let’s go with what we’ve got for now; should we take all this back to the office?
Eugene: [snorts] But it’s lovely here.
Norma: It’s depressing.
Eugene: Mmh, I don’t trust any of these buffoons either.
Norma: Good point.
Eugene: [sighs]
Norma: Cheer up, we’re finally getting somewhere.
Eugene: Commissioner Gomez n’ co. aren’t gonna be happy, think of the press!
Norma: Fuck ‘em.
Eugene: Gladly.
Norma: What’re you thinking..?
Eugene: These three know more than they’re letting on.
Norma: Wanna put eyes on ‘em?
Eugene: It’d be wise.
Norma: Agreed.
Eugene: Have I told you how much I missed working with you?
Norma: It might’ve come up, feel free to tell me again though.
Eugene: Tch, don’t push it.
Norma: C’mon, we’ve got a lot of work to do.
Eugene: No rest for the wicked, huh?
?: Mr Clarke! Can you spare a moment?
Bruno: No.
?: I believe you were employed by the Flanagan’s?
Bruno: I said no.
?: [sighs] The distinct lack of official documentation is making it hard to paint a picture of their financial history.
Bruno: That ain’t my problem.
?: But you were employed by them.
Bruno: I was a bouncer.
?: Where? Lucie’s?
Bruno: Various places.
?: They ran multiple establishments requiring security?
Bruno: Sure.
?: Like?
Bruno: Listen, I don’t know what they got up to n’ I don’t care; pester someone else-.. or better yet, do your own fucking job.
?: Well.. thanks for your time.
…
Mack: He’s been hanging round like a bad smell all day, I tried-…
Bruno: Uh-huh.
Mack: How’s Ivan?
Bruno: They’re gonna move him n’ take him off the ventilator, see how he does.
Mack: That’s good, right?
Bruno: [shrugs]
Mack: Bruno-…
Bruno: Don’t start.
Mack: Why don’t you stay for a while, get some rest?
Bruno: I’m fine.
Mack: [sighs] Kian called.
Bruno: I saw the news…
Mack: I’m sorry, son; he said it was his mother’s doing…
Bruno: …
Mack: You can’t keep on like this, you’re gonna make yourself ill.
Bruno: I need to be there.
Mack: I know you do, but-…
Bruno: I’ll let you know how it goes.
Norma: Why would he promote a lowly pusher such as yourself-.. your words.
Ivan: [shrugs] I was good at it?
Eugene: Were you pleased at the time?
Ivan: It felt good t’be praised, I s’pose; it’s all smoke n’ mirrors though, ain’t it? I guess he was bankin’ on me being a nutcase.
Eugene: Are you?
Ivan: Uh, not in the way he wanted.
Norma: So, Kate.. you said she started it all?
Ivan: I mean, I told Oscar we were fucked-.. n’ him stumblin’ into that just proved the point. He couldn’t sit on it.
Norma: You weren’t privy to that information beforehand?
Ivan: Nah, we were too new for ‘em t’trust us with that.
Eugene: What about Mr Clarke?
Ivan: Oi, I said I ain’t here t’talk about him.
Eugene: What was Mr Flanagan’s reaction once Oscar found out?
Ivan: He threatened him. The whole thing fucked him up t’be honest, I didn’t get the full story until way later.
Norma: Fucked him up enough to end up overdosing?
Ivan: How d’you know that?
Eugene: We’re good at guessing, but medical records are also a thing-.. speaking of, did you actually shoot yourself?
Ivan: No…
Norma: What happened?
Ivan: Artie shot me, by accident.
Norma: How by accident?
Ivan: He was aimin’ for Bruno.
Norma: Because?
Ivan: Don’t ask me how that dudes mind worked.
Eugene: Mr Finch and yourself weren’t the only ones who betrayed him, what’s the difference?
Ivan: [shrugs] Beats me.
Norma: How long had Mr Clarke worked with Mr Flanagan?
Ivan: For him, not with-.. n’ I said what I said.
Norma: Alright, alright.
Eugene: He’s outside, right?
Ivan: He won’t talk t’you.
Eugene: We’ll see.
Joslyn: You’re wasting your time.
…
Eugene: Mr Clarke, we’d really-…
[Bruno rolls the window up in Eugene’s face, folding his arms and refusing to acknowledge him]
Eugene: You’re not in any trouble, we’re just after your side of the story.
Eugene: I understand that you’re dubious, but I think you could tell us a great deal more than Mr Harper, or Mr Finch.
…
Eugene: I’m not sure why you’re so against helping us put a stop to the trafficking of innocent people.
[Bruno frowns, rolling the window down a smidge]
Bruno: Don’t paint me as the villain to further your own agenda, Mr Abrams.
Eugene: Aha, you’ve done your research! Come on, can’t I tempt you to humour my nosiness?
Eugene: [sighs] A name, a place-.. anything.
Bruno: Wyatt Shaw, Del Sol Valley.
Eugene: Ah.. hardly more than we have, but I commend the reluctant cooperation nonetheless.
Norma: You’re bored?
Levi: They don’t do anything.
Eugene: They must do something.
Levi: Yeah.. boring stuff.
Norma: Be specific.
Levi: Eating out, getting coffee, food shopping, dog walking, visiting family, fishing, fucking picnics.. you get the idea.
Eugene: Quaint.
Levi: Boring.
Norma: What about work?
Levi: I dunno if he’s employed or not, but Harper seems to help out as a mechanic at Mack’s Garage.
Norma: Mr Clarke?
Levi: He doesn’t have a job.
Eugene: Well, it can’t be easy to find work when you’re an ex-con.
Levi: [shrugs] I think he volunteers at a counselling centre for addiction.
Norma: Oh?
Levi: Yeah.. I presume he’s a sponsor or something.
Eugene: He’s definitely not dealing?
Levi: Nah, I made sure.
Norma: What about Mr Finch?
Levi: As far as I can tell, he works from home as a freelance programmer.
Eugene: Are you sure he’s just a coder?
Levi: Uh-huh.. I heard him trying to explain it to Harper, they keep talking about building a robot.
Norma: What kind of robot?
Levi: [sighs] One for his son to play with.
Norma: Hm.
Levi: I’m telling you, these guys ain’t crooks; they don’t get high, don’t drink, deal, fight, or do anything remotely interesting.
Eugene: Write it up.
Levi: Does this mean I get a new assignment?
Eugene: I’ll find you something more exciting once there’s a report on my desk; and write it yourself this time.
Levi: I still get a bonus, right?
Norma: Wha-.. I didn’t say anything about that.
Eugene: Personally, I think I deserve a bonus.
Norma: No one’s getting any bonuses!
Eugene: Pfft, fine.. anyway, report time! But hey, at least it won’t take long.
Levi: Very true.
Norma: Thanks, Levi.. we’ll find you something juicy soon, I promise.
[DOOR CLOSING]
Eugene: Remember what I found? I think we should-…
Norma: Yes! Let’s take a field trip.
