* Call me the juice when I'm at a strip club *
* I put down a hundred or a dub *
* I'm a mac to a playa, I'm a stud *
* Cuz when I leave the club, I'ma ... *
* Ride with the man and be giving up the ... *
* Little skinny, ride with ya, I don't even know your name *
* There's a whole lotta room in the front of the Range *
* Like Barack Obama said, it's time for a change *
* Pull over on the roll, on the back seat *
* Pop that body, now ya got me *
* You'll find a chick kinda classy *
* Said her name was ten, now I'm grabbin' *
* Now she got a grip on the whip *
* With her big round booty, with the silicone ... *
* She bouncin' on my lap And she tryin'a own the six *
* I whispered in her ear, yo, it's hard for a pimp *
Yeah, happy birthday.
Come on, give it up for "B"!
Yeah.
Happy birthday, "B," give it up!
Yeah!
- Happy birthday, "B." - All right.
All right, all right, listen up.
I know tonight's about me, but I got something to say
to these two artists on stage here.
Okay, true and heartfelt.
(laughing): These two guys...
Hunter and 2BY4.
Without ya'll, we wouldn't be here.
(cheering)
They're the cornerstones of Center Mass Records,
brought us a whole lot of business
and attention, and, man...
I just love ya'll.
I love you.
All right, give it up, give it up
for Hunter and 2...
Yo, people, what ya'll clapping for, huh?
This mediocrity? (crowd booing)
You giving it up for a sellout and a wannabe?
Cut the mic!
- You's a chump! - I'm tired of this fool.
Get this bitch off the stage!
All right, all right, all right, all right, yo!
(all clamoring)
All right, hey, it's enough, it's enough!
It's not the place.
It's not the place, get him out-- back up!
(grunting)
Yo, that's 'cause I'm real witty, yeah!
I got skills!
I ain't no wangster, ain't no punk bitch, either!
Get him out, get him out.
We came to have a good time, right?
All right, it's my damn birthday.
Let's get this thing started.
Come on. Hey, hit the music!
(hip-hop music begins) Yeah.
* That lolli, lolli, lolli
* Please, Lord, have some mercy *
* This girl is throwing Judy, I think she... *
Hey, so what do you think?
I mean, I can probably just take the 110 to the 105,
and there shouldn't be too much traffic, right?
Yeah, yeah, the Dodgers are in Houston.
The rush hour will be long over.
Okay.
If you want, we can run
an aggregated speed density function,
do a mesoscopic traffic simulation...
Charlie, give the abacus a rest.
The 110 to the 105 will be
just fine, Amita.
Do you want me to come with you?
Uh, I mean, my parents are going to be exhausted.
They're getting off such a long flight.
I think we should just hold off till tomorrow.
You're worried they're not gonna like me?
No.
I think we should just wait till tomorrow night.
Um, what are you gonna wear tomorrow?
She is worried they're not gonna like me.
Charlie, you're gonna make her late.
All right, I'll wait up for you.
Oh, um, no, no, I don't know.
I mean, I think it's kind of weird
me staying here while my parents are here.
Well, they'll be at a hotel.
I mean, how would they ever know?
Yeah, I know, I didn't say it was rational.
You know, I just... it feels weird.
My dad knows you spend the night.
That's never been weird.
Well, it's weird now, thank you very much.
I'll call you later.
Okay.
- Bye. - Drive safe.
- Okay, thanks. - Bye, Alan.
Good-bye, Amita. (door shuts)
(hip-hop music playing)
Hey, Hunter, what about it, man?
You coming up to B's house, keep this thing going?
No, man, I'm gonna head on home, man.
- Ya'll take it easy, man. - Thank you, brother.
Hey, man, everything cool, you good?
Yeah, I'm good-- what ain't good, right?
I guess, man.
Ya'll take it easy, man.
Yo, chill.
(engine starts)
(rapid gunshots, glass shattering, people screaming)
(sustained horn honking)
(crowd exclaiming)
(horn honking)
Agent Warner, what brings you out?
Hey, I'm the one who called you, Granger.
What do you say, Liz?
Hey. So the victim's a multiplatinum rap star
on Center Mass Records.
FBI drug squads have had an eye on the label
for about six months-- can't say it's related,
but LAPD's agreed to let us
roll on this one, see where it goes.
DON: Any idea if it was random, targeted, what?
LIZ: Well, one of the valets
noticed the shooter's car idling in the lot
over there, so it sounds like it was waiting for him.
They didn't get a plate number, though.
No other witnesses?
Probably, but none talking to us.
That's my husband in there! That's my husband!
Ma'am, you don't need to see this.
Easy, ma'am, just relax, just step back, okay?
LIZ: Mrs. Hunter, listen to me, do you know
who might have done this to your husband?
Rival crew, gang?
My husband wasn't like that, okay?
He wasn't a gang member, didn't pretend to be.
DON: Okay, all right, what was he? Wait, how about...?
Why don't you help us out, then?
What good is that gonna do me helping you out?
It's not gonna bring Hunter back.
Well, don't you want to see his killer caught?
That's your job.
Mine is to make arrangements to bury my husband.
What have you got there?
This guy's a musician.
Having two iPods, is that weird?
(beeps)
(electronic whirring)
I don't care what your taste is.
That is not music.
Yeah, this encryption code
is somewhat elementary.
Okay, there.
Looks like some kind of similarity
or a string metric, I'm pretty sure.
Does that mean like an algorithm?
Yeah, uh, it looks for commonalities
in complex systems.
It's used in a lot of things.
Plagiarism detection programs,
for one.
You know, a book is a complex system.
It's made up of individual words and letters,
but comparing those words and letters
would be meaningless.
To detect plagiarism, you need to look at the larger strings:
sentences, paragraphs, entire pages.
A string metric allows us to compare two systems
and expose the plagiarist.
Okay, so what would a rap star be doing
with one of these equations?
Well, the narc guy said
they had an eye on Center Mass.
So, what, maybe drugs?
Could be... I don't know yet.
I did a full run on the victim, Robert Hunter,
and like his wife says, um, he's clean.
I mean, even his music, it's no more violent
or provocative than anything else that's out there.
Well, look, something got him killed.
(hip-hop music playing)
LIZ: Here's my card-- if you hear anything,
I'd appreciate a call.
All right, how'd you do?
I think if these were Travis Tritt fans,
I might have better luck.
Huh. Not your peeps, huh?
Hey, for what it's worth,
by the way, I just wanted to tell you,
I'm glad you're working this one.
I mean, I get you transferring out,
the whole thing with Don and all that,
but I've always liked working with you.
Oh, thanks, Granger.
Now, I wish I could say the same thing about you.
Who's this guy?
Name's 2BY4.
He's another artist on Center Mass Records.
Hunter, you were loved
and will be missed, homie.
And this won't go unanswered.
Excuse me.
Might as well
pack that badge and go home.
We handle our own family business.
Yeah, what business is that?
Cycle's in motion.
Hunter got killed 'cause of what went down at the party.
Now there's gonna be retaliation for that.
That's the cycle, baby,
Circle of Life, know what I'm sayin'?
What's up, baby?
So what went down at the party?
Guess it's just
one of those things where you had to be there.
MAN: Mr. Blanchard, those Feds are here.
Over here.
I have a very busy schedule.
Hope you don't mind if I do this while we talk.
For Hunter's funeral?
Yeah, I gotta show him all the respect.
We'll be mourning his loss for a long time.
Financial loss, too, I would imagine.
He's one of your top money makers, right?
See, that's the bitter irony.
Hunter's new album pops in three weeks.
And when it does,
it'll be our biggest release ever
because he got shot.
And tell me how I'm supposed
to feel good about that.
LIZ: Maybe you do something for him in return.
Help us catch his killer.
I'm sorry, I wasn't out there
- when he got shot. - Come on.
Someone of your stature?
I gotta figure nothing goes down without you hearing about it.
Oh, I might hear, but I don't point fingers.
Ah.
Look, you already lost one artist to the grave.
2BY4 goes for revenge,
you're gonna lose another.
Yo, Howe, take a break.
You might want to check out a dude named Derek.
All right, who's he?
A hothead with limited talent.
Always pestering me to sign him to the label.
He showed up that night.
Look, I'm not saying anything happened,
but an event like that,
a lot of people with cell phones.
People shooting video.
Maybe one of these videos winds up on a Web site.
BLANCHARD (on video): 2BY4! Whoo!
All right, so that's him right there.
His full name's Derek Raines.
He's no Boy Scout, but nothing big.
Mainly juvie stuff.
Vandalism, minor assault.
DAVID: Anybody ever heard about this guy?
Apparently, he's been rapping for years
and puts his own stuff out independently.
But not even in the same league as Hunter and 2BY4.
Seems a little pissed about it, don't you think?
(shouting and fighting on video)
Oh... you know, why don't you
grab Liz and go check him out, huh?
Okay.
Hey, Colb'.
You, uh, talk to Megan, by any chance?
You know she asked ASAC for a week off?
No, she didn't say anything to me.
I can give her a call if you want.
Yeah, why don't you do that?
DEREK (on video): That's 'cause I'm real witty!
Yeah, I got skills!
I ain't no wangster, ain't no punk bitch, either!
(knocking on door)
Hey, Larry.
How was the departmental breakfast?
It was less than stellar.
I was running late.
And the only available seat was next to Professor Hindslaus.
The slurper.
You know, all he had was the fruit plate,
and he was deafening.
(chuckles) Have you had time
to distill any of my data from the Hadron collider?
Ooh, no, I haven't.
Sorry, it's just that
Don's got me doing this,
and I've been so preoccupied
over my dinner with Amita's parents.
- So... - Oh, that's right.
They're in town.
I spent the whole night
plotting a dinner strategy.
A little game theory.
A little Sun Tzu.
The Art of War?
What are you so
worried about?
I'm not Indian,
for one.
Listen,
her parents were both schooled here.
They raised her here.
I'm sure they're very intelligent,
cosmopolitan people.
They tried to arrange a marriage for her.
Yeah,
that had slipped my mind.
What ever happened to him?
He married some
French chick he met in Belgium.
It doesn't mean they don't have someone else in mind.
I'm sure all they want is what is best for Amita.
They will spend some time with you,
and they will soon be singing your praises.
That's why he had the algorithm.
So, this program
is meant to analyze music.
No kidding.
And its mechanism is inspired.
It's brilliant, actually.
It can process any song
and predict its expected level of success.
You're saying it can tell
whether a song's going to be a hit or not?
- Yeah. Yeah. - What?
Within a certain, uh, level
of statistical probability, yeah.
No, no, come on, look.
Music is subjective.
It's visceral.
There's no way an equation can tell you
if a song's good or not.
Well, we all like to think
that we have our own unique tastes, but we don't.
There are certain
rhythms, certain key changes,
chord patterns that we all, as humans, respond to.
Just like there are-are smells that we all find
pleasant or not.
This program samples thousands and thousands of hit songs,
analyzes what they all have in common,
and then from there creates a fairly accurate
statistical guess as to what will be a hit
- and what won't. - I agree
with him; where's the art?
It's not art.
This is about business.
Okay, so you're saying that Hunter was carrying
this thing around, trying
to engineer his songs to be hits?
Maybe, but from what I can tell,
he hadn't analyzed his own tracks yet.
I mean, the data folders were set up,
for his album and for 2BY4's as well.
But, but the analysis was never run.
All right, so how about you run it?
Well, the albums haven't been released yet.
- So... - Get a subpoena.
Okay.
(knocking on door)
FBI, Mr. Raines.
Mind stepping outside so we can chat?
I got a choice?
You got a choice
where we chat.
Ah, you've done this before.
You grow up around here, cops just looking for a chance,
know what I'm saying?
What's this? You carrying?
Right away you just assume I got a gun.
No, it's my recorder.
I use it
for my rhymes.
Step inside.
(hip-hop music playing)
Gotta say, you're not someone I expected
to find here.
Nina Hunter. The victim's wife.
So what?
Love triangle's the oldest motive in the book.
Hold on, man, you got that all wrong.
Mrs. Hunter, why don't you and I
go talk in the other room here, okay?
Come on.
Figures the FBI sent a brother
to come talk to me.
What, you, like, the resident rap expert?
I go the more Curtis Mayfield,
James Brown, early Stevie direction.
You know, guys you're always stealing from.
All right, you said you wanted to chat. Chat.
I saw a video
of what went down at the party last night.
You have an alibi
for where you were after you got tossed out?
Derek and Hunter were inseparable.
All three of us were.
I used to hang out while they worked
on rhymes together and laid down tracks.
But you were always with Hunter.
There's nothing going on between Derek and me,
if that's what you mean.
Why are you so angry, Derek?
Your magic career didn't blow up like Hunter's?
Nah, man, that's not even my style.
I taught Hunter everything he knows.
Yeah.
Yeah, we used to be real tight before he sold out.
I'm here because I wanted to be around somebody
who knew Hunter the way I did.
Were Derek and Hunter still in contact?
No.
Hunter tried reaching out, but Derek
wouldn't return his calls.
Too much pride.
Why was Hunter reaching out? I mean, why now?
DAVID: Let me ask you something.
I mean, you got so much spite for these guys.
Right? Why'd you crash their party?
Yo, I ain't crash nothin'.
I was invited.
Yeah, Blanchard's been sweatin' me
for years, trying to get me to sign to Center Mass Records.
He knows I'm the superior product.
Is that so?
So, but you chose all of this
here instead.
What do you know about a complex math program he was carrying?
An analytical program?
Nothing at all.
I chose to make my music my way, so I control everything.
(rapid gunfire)
(glass shattering)
(gunfire ceases)
(car tires squealing)
- You okay? - Yeah!
Damn it!
You see the shooter?
No, not enough.
Derek!
This is Agent David Sinclair.
Yeah.
I need an ambulance to, uh, 632...
DAVID: Get this. 2BY4's real name is Theodore Durenberger.
Bad-conduct discharge from the army.
Assault charge from Vegas PD.
He as good as promised
he was going to go after Derek.
Yeah, but you guys can't ID him.
And Raines, how's he?
He's gonna pull through.
All right, so what, Derek pulls a drive-by on Hunter,
and-and 2BY4 returns the favor?
DAVID: I don't know about that.
Derek grows up in a really rough neighborhood, right?
He defies the odds all these years,
stays out of any real trouble.
Then he pulls off a drive-by execution
in front of a crowded club.
I mean, that's a hell of a first step.
I'd still like to know
what Hunter was working on before he was killed.
We get anywhere with that iPod yet?
Speak of the devil.
- What do you got? - Got the subpoena.
So, Charlie can run the analysis on the music,
but the catch is, the recordings can't leave Center Mass Records.
(hip-hop music playing)
All right, guys, I'll let them know you're here.
So much for popular culture.
WOMAN: Yo, yo, check this out.
The comic book store's down the street.
(laughter)
I haven't heard of any of these artists.
And it's not like I've been living in a cave.
No, just a space station and a monastery.
And, oh, yeah, the steam tunnels.
All right, point taken.
This is Professor Eppes and Fleinhardt.
They're the ones who'll actually be doing the analysis.
- Hey. - Pleasure.
- Hey.
Sorry you had to come all the way down here.
It's just, uh, I'm kind of nervous.
These albums are set to drop in a couple weeks, and...
I don't want to let them out of my sight.
It's no problem.
- We totally understand. - Good.
Well, Kilo here should be able to help you with everything
you need. Thank you.
All right, see you later, guys.
Follow me.
(Charlie clears throat)
So, I, uh... All right.
Well, I guess we'll just, uh...
Is it okay if we set up here?
I know you, you know.
You know me?
No.
You--
Eppes.
I bought your book. The one on making
- friends. - Oh, my goodness.
Uh, did it help you out at all?
I'm a fairly charismatic guy to begin with,
you know what I mean?
Now, this here is Reese.
And that cat there, that's Repete.
They're gonna run the joints for us.
We're gonna start with one of Hunter's cuts. Is that cool?
Yeah, sure. Yeah.
let's, uh, kick it off
with one of Hunter's joints.
Man, first hibbie's so tight,
heads'll be losing they minds
while we stack chips
- like Lays, you heard? - Yeah.
(laughing) Oh.
My man. All right, drop the joint.
(hip-hop music blaring)
* Let me see you pop that body
* Lotsa lolli, jolly lolli...
Feel the vibe?
*
(hip-hop playing)
Sugar, you want to get with the playa, just say so.
You ain't gotta be chasing me
around like this.
Thanks, yeah,
I'll make a note of it.
You go for a drive earlier today?
Maybe by Derek Raines's house?
Yeah, I heard someone 'bout put his punk ass down.
But you had nothing to do with it, right?
Nothing you could prove.
Yeah, well, what if it hit Nina?
You think you'd be showing
Hunter some great respect by capping his wife?
If Nina was at Derek's, bitch gets what she deserves.
Sleeping with the enemy.
Not with us, against us,
- know what I'm saying? - MAN: We're ready.
Love to talk some mo, but life is calling.
I got to roll.
MAN: All right, let's go, let's go.
I don't forget being shot at, okay?
Next time I come to see you, you are done.
MAN: All right, quiet on the set.
(hip-hop music playing)
* You're a club girl, huh
* Corruptin' the world, yeah
* You're a club girl, corruptin' the world *
* You're a club girl, I love you, girl *
* You're a club girl, corruptin' the world... *
I'm sorry.
Just for clarification here, please.
You know, earlier we said
that being "corrupt" was a good thing.
But now here, suddenly it carries this,
uh, negative connotation.
It's not about what
you say, it's about how you say it, right, Kilo?
Look at the Professor droppin' knowledge.
Hey, maybe you ought to come through
the lab one day, lay down some
friendship math rhymes.
- Oh. - Trust me, I don't
think either of us wants to hear
that happen.
(blipping)
Hey, you what? I think I have it.
I-I think we got what we need.
Okay, well, thank you for the education.
- No doubt, my man. - Okay.
Uh...
Word!
The hit prediction algorithm from Hunter's iPod correlates,
within a fairly narrow range,
with how commercially successful a song will be
over 80% of the time.
The problem is,
2BY4's songs invariably fall into that other 20%, so...
Yeah, you lost me, Charlie.
CHARLIE: Okay.
Uh... Candy bar, nice.
And... What is that?
Flavored tofu chips.
This is perfect. So I tested both rappers' music.
Hunter's scored high marks.
His raps are like candy bars.
At least, according to the algorithm,
they're exactly what you'd expect people to want.
They're big sellers.
However, 2BY4's songs scored significantly lower.
So, according to the algorithm, 2BY4's stuff
is like musical tofu.
Aah, you stole my punch line.
Ho-Ho-Hold on. So why do they sell?
Well, maybe some people like tofu.
Not enough to make him rich,
not enough to make him a star.
(cell phone rings)
Oh, no... Oh, my dinner. Uh, bye.
Dad... Yeah, no, I'm on my way.
I know. I just looked at my watch.
Okay, so maybe 2BY4 found out, right?
And he was scared that Hunter would out him.
You know, tell the world his music was crap?
So you're thinking you can make a case
against him for doing Hunter?
I don't know. I just was never sold on Derek as the killer.
And keeping Hunter quiet
would definitely be a strong motivator.
Right.
With Hunter gone, 2BY4 becomes the number one act at the label,
and tofu or not, the son of a bitch was
soaking up the spotlight today.
Okay, run with it, see what we get.
Hey, Colb, so, you talk to Megan?
I left messages for her on her home machine and her cell,
but I haven't heard anything back.
There was a minimal probability that we'd be late.
I-I don't know how I let this happen.
Charlie, there's nothing you can do about it right now,
so just breathe and relax.
Last thing you want to do is show up late and sweaty.
- Come on. - Yeah.
Hi. Good evening.
Hey, listen. I'm, uh, really very sorry.
I started what I thought was going to be
a very simple, um, plumbing repair.
And before I knew it, I was up to my knees.
My sincere apologies.
Oh, it's quite all right.
Our clocks are still getting used
to the time change ourselves.
Mom, this is Charlie's father, Alan.
And, uh, these are my parents, Tapti and Sanjay.
It's nice to meet you both.
Nice to meet you, too.
And, uh, this, obviously, is Charlie.
Hi. It's a real pleasure to meet both of you.
I've been looking forward to meeting you for quite some time.
And us, you, believe me.
Okay, well, why don't we all sit down.
Charlie.
All righty.
I'm sorry... What? (chuckles nervously)
He's even cuter in person.
(chuckles)
We worry about Amita,
especially now that our work has us
spending so much time back in Delhi.
It's a great comfort
knowing there are people here that really care about her.
Very much.
ALAN: Oh, yeah, we all do.
Having raised two boys, let me tell you,
it's a real treat to have Amita around.
It's very impressive, Charlie, all that you've accomplished.
Oh, thank you, thank you.
You know, Amita's been a big part of a lot of it.
Well, you're going to make
some lucky girl very happy someday.
(chuckling)
MAN: Amita!
Oh, my God, Kapil?!
How are you? (chuckling)
(chuckles)
- Hi! - Oh, my God, look at you.
AMITA: What a surprise!
It's so good to see you!
KAPIL: It's been a long time.
Yes! Charlie, Alan, this is Kapil.
Um... we've known each other pretty much forever.
We grew up together.
How you doing? I'm Alan...
TAPTI: I hope it's okay.
We're going to be in town such a short period of time,
and when we found out
Kapil was going to be here on business, too,
we couldn't not see him.
We invited him
to join us for dessert.
Yeah, no, of course. I'm gonna go grab a chair.
It's so good to see you. Do you live here?
I'm thinking about relocating.
I got an offer from UCLA Medical,
and I think I'm going to take it.
I'm moving over here. I got to get out to the West Coast.
- Really? - Yeah, I just love it out here.
It's such a nice surprise, you guys.
I don't care what the doctor said!
And I don't care what orders the FBI left!
I want to see him! Let me through!
Mrs. Hunter... They won't let me see Derek!
Okay, talk to them. Tell them who I am.
Okay, first thing you need to do is calm down.
Thanks for the call. I got it now.
Why don't you tell me what's going on? What happened?
I didn't come here to talk to you.
I came here to talk to Derek.
Come on.
(heart monitor beeping rhythmically)
Understand now?
He's in no shape to talk to anyone.
Mrs. Hunter, what's going on?
You found something out, didn't you?
I don't know.
Is that your husband's computer?
Is there something on there I should know about?
Mrs. Hunter, please. You have to trust me.
Why would I trust you? I don't even know you.
Look, if you know something about Hunter's death,
or you know what he was working on,
you have to tell me.
I don't have to tell you anything.
You owe it to your husband.
Don't you tell me what I owe my husband.
You don't know anything about us.
(keyless entry remote chirps) (sighs)
(car alarms blaring)
Hey, how you doing? You all right?
I was thinking we should duck you into the ER,
have somebody check you out.
I'm fine... fine.
(indistinct radio broadcast)
I played it wrong, Colby.
I said the wrong things.
I talked to the bomb squad.
Um, it wasn't a sophisticated device.
It was tied to the ignition.
She turned the key, and, uh, boom.
COLBY: Still, that's a little above
2BY4's pay grade, no?
He had some military training.
I mean, it could have included demolitions.
MAN: Sir, we got something here.
You okay?
Yeah.
It's the laptop Nina was carrying.
I got the feeling she knew something.
She figured out what Hunter was working on.
This thing is pretty trashed. (phone rings)
We'll have to see what the lab can salvage from it.
Sinclair.
I'll be right up.
Be back.
In there?
What are you doing?
What does it look like, man? How far do you think
you're gonna get before you're right back in here?
Far enough to do right by Hunter and Nina.
Don't... Don't do this.
Okay, man, don't fall into this now.
Ain't no fall, man.
I was pushed.
It was a disaster.
It was an unmitigated disaster.
I mean, no other way to explain it.
Oh, come on. It couldn't have been that bad.
You should've seen this guy.
I mean, he was handsome.
He was, like, tall with the perfect hair,
the perfect teeth.
Hmm... He was like a Hindu Adonis.
Really? Oh, dear.
And did I mention he's a doctor?
Because Amita's mother certainly did.
Alan, you're just in time.
Give us some objectivity.
I think Charlie may be overreacting.
Did he mention the word "disaster?"
Numerous times.
- It was a disaster. - Thank you.
Oh, hey. Excellent. Charlie...
Can you do me a favor? Take a look at this.
We think it's a spreadsheet for Center Mass.
What are all those holes in the data?
It's from a messed-up hard drive.
It's the best the lab could do.
But I figure, maybe, you can fill it in.
We may not need to fill it in to know what we're looking at here.
You're thinking of a Groebner basis?
It's regularly used used in long-distance
astrophotography-- those amazing images we get from the Hubble.
Sure.
It's a way to infer the missing information
without having all the data.
You know, like, uh, remember when were kids,
and we used to sit in the cheap seats at Dodger Stadium,
under the Jumbotron?
It wasn't because the seats were cheap.
It was the best place to catch a home run ball.
Oh, yeah.
- We had gloves on. - Oh, yeah.
The point is, we couldn't see
the screen because we were sitting under it.
We were too close. Right?
So think of your missing information
as burned-out panels on the Jumbotron.
At that range, at a data level, it's impossible to know
what the panels should be.
Using the Groebner basis is like sitting way back,
and seeing the screen from the box seats.
Despite the missing information,
we can see the overall picture.
We can see what the system is,
and once we understand the system,
we're far better equipped to fill in the holes.
Yeah, yeah. Okay.
How about you take it with you?
Yeah.
Hey, what's going on with Megan?
I assume she arranged for time off.
That's what I'm talking about.
Is it something I need to be worried about?
No. She... She's fine.
She's back in New York.
Listen, more I dare not say.
Well, I will clear.
* The boy got a lot of cheddar and it only gets better *
* Paid full grand for the sweater *
* Stacks in my hand, gave money to my man... *
* Little money in the stack, market that, don't hurt... *
Theodore Durenberger.
This is the FBI! We have a warrant!
You have one minute to show yourself
before we enter by force.
Liz, got anything around back?
LIZ (over radio): All clear.
You think I'm scared of you?! Like I'm some bitch?!
You got a warrant?!
Let me see your warrant!
(quietly): I want protection.
You want what?
I want help. Take me in.
Derek's out, man.
He's gunning for me.
Please? You can't let him get me.
Yo, be cool!
These jakes can't hold me.
I'll be out in an hour!
Word up!
Hey, Charlie.
- Hey. - Hi.
I think that went really well last night, don't you?
Yeah.
I think my parents really liked you.
Oh, they're sweet, and the food was good.
- Yeah, it was, wasn't it? - Mm-hmm.
Did you get to try Kapil's pomegranate tart?
Actually, I, uh...
I couldn't get a spoon in edgewise.
Amita, I have to run.
I have to go drop off some results for Don...
Charlie, is something wrong?
Um, let's think.
A guy shows up in the middle of our dinner.
Pretty much sweeps you off your feet.
Uh, wha-- You can't seriously be jealous of Kapil.
Of course not. He's only handsome and successful,
and he makes you... giddy.
Charlie, he's gay.
Oh.
Well, how the hell was I supposed to know that?
You're right.
I guess you couldn't.
Which means the whole thing
must have seemed really bad. I'm so sorry.
So...
do your parents know that Kapil's gay?
I don't know.
Probably not.
Oh, my God.
They were trying to set me up with him.
2BY4: This is whack.
You don't need to treat me like a criminal.
I came in voluntarily, remember?
Yeah, well, because you're scared.
The thing I don't
understand is, I thought you were
supposed to be this tough guy, right?
- This hard-ass. - Oh, man...
Look, I was playing a part, all right?
Going through
the motions to sell
- some records. - Two murders? An attempted
third at Derek's house? That's "going through
the motions"?
What murders? All we did was spray down
Derek's house a little.
Had to meet my fans' expectations.
DON: What about
- Hunter and Nina? - Everyone knows Derek
did Hunter.
Nina?
- I got nothing there. - All right, you know what?
Cut him loose. Derek can have him.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, wait!
What about Blanchard?
He and Hunter were fighting over money.
Hunter said he was being ripped off.
Blanchard has an alibi.
Does Kilo?
Blanchard's shadow,
big, massive cat-- does whatever Blanchard says.
Yeah, but you got the bomb training.
Kilo handles all
the pyrotechnics for the music videos.
Dude loves to blow stuff up.
Don't listen to me.
Neither did Derek.
Wait a minute.
You told Derek that Kilo killed Nina?
Hell yeah, I did. Dude called me,
said he's coming to kill me.
You think I'm gonna keep that a secret?
Don't move.
Looks like our boy 2BY4 handed Kilo over to Derek.
So you coordinate with LAPD.
I got Kilo's and you guys the record label, all right?
All right. Let's go.
DAVID: Now, if Blanchard stole Hunter's money,
then he only has two options, right?
- Either he pays him back... - Or he has him killed.
- Yeah. - Right.
- Hey, I figured it out. - Hey, come on.
- Tell us in the elevator. - Okay.
Um, so remember how we were stumped by 2BY4's record sales?
That according to the algorithm, his music
- shouldn't be selling. - Yeah, the musical tofu?
Right, those spreadsheets you gave me belonged to Center Mass,
but they weren't meant
- for anyone to see. - What do you mean?
It's an accounting log.
It's a list of payola.
Blanchard's been
paying off radio stations to play 2BY4's rap.
You flood the airways enough, people will buy anything.
That explains why 2BY4's music's so popular.
DON: Where did Blanchard get the money he used?
He skimmed it off the artists' percentages.
Right, so then he was
stealing from Hunter, right?
Wait, wait, hold on-- where are you going?
- Well, I have more to tell you. - That's all right.
You can just call me, okay?
Hey, man, I took the FBI training course.
All right, I'm more than
qualified to ride with you.
- You got to put this on. - Awesome.
(hip-hop music playing)
* Let's roll, let's roll
* Let's rock, let's rock
* Keep the move...
(groaning)
Don't, Kilo. You're done.
Oh, man, he took-- he took Blanchard.
- Derek? - Ooh, I got him.
- I got him good. - Yeah, just like
you got Hunter and Nina?
(cell phone ringing)
(phone beeps on)
DON: Eppes.
Don, Derek hit the record label.
He's got Blanchard.
Looks like they took off in Blanchard's car.
And Kilo?
We got him and the gun that I'm guessing
is going to tie him to Hunter's murder.
Wait, what?! Kilo killed Hunter?
- Why? - I just
can't believe that Kilo would do that.
What about Derek? Any idea where he's headed?
- No, not a clue. - Well, listen.
If we can get him on his
cell phone and keep him on long enough,
- we can track him, right? - All right.
It's just a suggestion.
Okay, we're all set up.
I've got Derek's cell number.
DON: All right, dial it up, patch us through.
David, you've got the most juice with the guy,
so try keeping him on the line, all right?
All right, I'll do what I can.
(speed dialing) We're dialing.
All right, I'm going on mute.
(line ringing)
(phone ringing)
- Who's this? - Derek, it's Agent Sinclair.
I don't want to talk to you, Sinclair.
All right, then how about you just listen, okay?
It's not too late to turn this thing around.
Kilo's going to be fine.
You haven't killed anybody yet.
That's about to change.
Blanchard, he had Hunter and Nina killed.
This has got to be.
LIZ: All right, guys, we got him.
They're headed east on Washington near LaBrea.
All these years, you've kept it about the music.
You stayed clean.
And for what, huh?
What was the payoff?
I got to stop kidding myself.
DAVID: No, no-- don't throw it away like this.
Derek, don't do it.
You should listen to him, Derek.
Shut your mouth!
LIZ: They're turning onto Crenshaw.
Going south.
- All right, got it. - DAVID: Don't throw it away.
DEREK: I'm done hearing you, Sinclair. I'm hanging up.
Wait! (beeps)
Hey, Derek, don't hang up. Not yet.
Who's this?
CHARLIE: You don't know me, but I have
information for you, all right?
I know why your music isn't selling like it should.
What you talking about, man?
It's Blanchard. Just like he's been paying
radio stations to play 2BY4's music,
he's been paying them not to play yours.
You been suppressing me, man?
That's what I was going to tell you. Hunter found
the proof and now I have it.
You've been holding me back?!
Why? 'Cause I wouldn't sign to your little corny-ass label?
Yo, Derek, we can make this all good. All right?
I can fix this thing.
LIZ: Don, they're now east
on Adams.
(tires screeching)
Look, I'm done talking to y'all.
- I'm tired. - Derek.
- I'm hanging up. - Derek!
LIZ: Don, signal's gone. We lost him.
Last we had,
they were east on Adams.
Sorry, man, I tried to keep him on long enough.
I think I know where they're headed.
Yo, Derek,
you look real bad, man. Let me get you to the hospital.
Shut your mouth.
Go where I told you.
Yo, D, man, just imagine.
All right? We join forces...
Man...
you can have it all, D.
It's too late.
Nah, it's too late for all of that.
It's over for Hunter and Nina.
Now, it's over for you.
Stop the car.
(brakes screeching)
Just stay in the car! Just stay in the car!
Okay.
Derek! Do you hear me?!
Derek!
You think you can jump out of this car
before I bust a cap in your head?
I can't make them out.
Just keep dialing. (speed dialing)
This is stupid, Derek.
What a waste.
What you did to Hunter was a waste!
Man, it was business.
He was going to bring the whole
damn label down. (phone ringing)
(ringing continues) What about Nina, huh?
That hurt me, too.
All right, but...
the ball was in motion.
(ringing) I couldn't stop it.
He's got something in his hand!
No, it's okay! Don't shoot!
It's just a recorder!
I got it.
I got it all.
Get out of the car! Get out!
(chuckles): What'd you think I was gonna do?
It's okay. (groans)
You did good.
COLBY: Hey, you been at the hospital?
Yeah. Guy's either tough or lucky,
or maybe he's a little bit of both, but, uh...
he's gonna pull on through.
No way of getting around
what he did, though.
He's definitely going away.
Not forever, though.
Yeah.
I'll catch up with you later.
- Hey. - Hey.
So I just got off the phone with your girlfriend
- in the U.S. Attorney's Office. - Oh, did you?
She's putting together a deal for 2BY4.
- What's he got? - Says he has
info on Blanchard's drug business.
Time will tell.
All right.
What's the matter? You worried about Megan?
I don't know.
I mean, she'll be back tomorrow, we'll see.
Probably just needed a little break.
Everybody does once in a while.
Hey, guys, so David's bailing on me.
Anyone up for grabbing a beer?
Oh, I would,
but I'm hooking up with Robin.
Leaves just the two of us,
huh, Granger?
Well, go for it. He's not going
- to mess with you. - Yeah, I'm just heading out
to this little dive honky-tonk in the valley.
You know, me and my peeps.
Ah! All right, curiosity's killing me.
All right, I'm in.
All right.
Okay. Here we go.
What is this?
- You baked us cookies? - Yes.
- I did. - Aw.
Because I feel...
ALAN: Amita, you don't have to pay
penance for what happened at dinner last night.
It wasn't your fault. (knocking)
Oh, now, Dad, don't let her off the hook so easy.
My abject suffering is worth a lot more than cookies.
I don't know, Charlie.
These cookies are awfully good.
Thank you, Alan.
- Charlie. - Hey. Uh, yeah, come on in.
Hi. What are you guys doing here?
Amita, we wanted to talk to you
before we flew out again.
Charlie, I think we should give them some privacy.
- No, no, that's okay. Stay. - No problem at all.
Actually, I wanted to apologize
to everyone for how awkward
- things were last night. - But, Mom, the problem
isn't that things were awkward.
The problem is that you tried to set me up with Kapil.
Kapil comes from a wonderful family,
and we've known his parents a long time.
CHARLIE: I'm sorry, but you're lobbying
for Kapil right here in my house.
No, not at all.
What Tapti was going to say is that
we arranged for Kapil to be there,
and, yes, it was our intention.
But this was before we met Charlie.
And that's your defense?
That's a pretty good defense,
when you think about it.
Until last night,
we didn't realize how well you'd done for yourself.
Thank you.
Why don't we all just come in and sit down?
We would, Alan, but we can't.
- Our flight's early. - Yeah.
Okay, well, I'll walk you guys out, then.
- Yes. - Hey, listen, it was
really nice to finally
meet both of you.
All right.
- Have a safe flight. - Thank you.
Yeah, once again, even briefly.
- Good night. - Good-bye.
- So what do you think? - Hmm?
- I'm in? - Oh, yeah, you're in.
Yeah, but you must realize, of course,
that now you have to marry her.
I think I'll have one of those cookies now.