This is coming from someone
who has nothing but respect for law enforcement
as you know, I"m from a family
that has dedicated itself to law and order,
but I must say even I have to ask the question
in regards to C.A.B. Group"s latest tragic misstep.
Has the time come for C.A.B. to go?
I think, based on their recent performance
that the answer is a resounding...
Did you spring Arun?
What is knocking too much to ask?
Hello. Good fucking morning.
How are you? Arun"s gone. Did you do it?
Why would I do that?
He"s gone.
So you said.
Mark Shewkesbury been sprung, too.
Who the fuck is Mark Shewkesbury?
The suit I busted from the brothel,
who also tried to bribe me, so I"m taking his release
a little fucking personally this morning.
Well, don"t get fucking personal with me.
I"ve got my own problems at the moment.
They"re both gone.
I fucking heard you the first time, Liesl.
All their charges were dropped.
They"re not even in the system anymore.
Since when does OCID concern itself with C.A.B. busts?
It doesn"t. Until it does.
You had no right releasing Arun.
You had no right picking him up.
How did you even know about it?
Let"s just say I heard a bird squawking in the hall.
He"s a material witness in an ongoing investigation.
Is that what you"re calling it these days?
Arun has a rap sheet for controlled substances.
He should be barred from even driving that cab.
Yeah, and if TLC wasn"t more or less shuttered
maybe there would have been oversight.
Well, you denying that Arun"s
getting preferential treatment from OCID?
Oh, let"s just skip to the end.
You want to file a complaint against me
saying I interfered with an ongoing C.A.B. investigation?
I just fucking might.
Good on you.
When it comes up for review I"ll let everyone know
about Liesl and Turse"s little torture chamber
in the back seat of their cab.
How they lit up poor, brown Arun
for an indefinite period of time, a la the riots,
you remember the last time someone from C.A.B.
threw some juice into a person of color.
It"s really becoming a thing for you people, ain"t it?
You wouldn"t do that.
Call my bluff. I"m begging ya.
Why the hell do you need Mark Shewkesbury?
Who"s that?
From the brothel bust.
Never heard of him.
Oh, bullshit.
Okay, you got me.
Listen, just swing by my office
later, I"ll confess to everything.
Even the dumb shit you"ve been pulling.
You"re telling me you didn"t release him?
Where are you taking me?
You can"t just...
Hey guys, you gotta take me to a precinct.
You know that.
McKeutchen.
Who? Yeah, no. I know who you are.
Yeah, I read your column this morning.
Well, I think you have a talent for comprehending complexity.
I"m saying you're fair. Yeah, that"s right.
Well, I"m not really at liberty to, um...
How would something like that exactly work?
There is something you don"t see every day.
He means the bond program.
No food court left unfinished.
Madam Speaker.
No, I don"t blame you. You had as much to lose as I did.
I don"t know yet.
No, I haven"t made up my mind.
I have a few ideas.
I will let you know when I decide.
I will have your full support when I do, yes?
I feel I"ve been very generous, I would hate to think...
Well, I am happy to know your commitment.
I"ll be in touch.
Everything okay?
Everything"s manageable.
Barely missed that last night.
It was time. Besides, I"m not the one on the defensive now.
You have three cabdrivers murdered and,
instead of conducting an open investigation,
you immediately assume the drivers
have been complicit in criminal activity?
Yes.
I think what he means...
Your partner was quite clear.
Maybe, one of them was skimming.
Taxi drivers cannot "skim."
How can you be sure?
The meter records the place and time of each fare.
It"s connected to the engine of the taxi cab
and cannot be disabled.
If your goal is to blame the cab drivers for their own deaths,
I suggest you look elsewhere.
Thank you for coming in.
Thank you for seeing me.
So, how do we proceed?
You want help. I want access.
Let"s start there.
But you believe in what C.A.B."s doing?
I wouldn"t be here otherwise.
But you could be looking for some bad press,
where it"s not so easy to find.
Bad things don"t hide in the shadows, anymore.
It"s all out on the open.
What you"re doing, why you"re doing it,
that"s what I'm after.
That"s what's fallen through the cracks.
I can trust you.
If I wanted to write a hatchet piece,
I wouldn"t need access from you to do it.
So that"s a "yes"?
Why don"t we get past the first date
before we start matching curtains and sharing feelings.
You"d admit drivers are under pressure when it comes to money.
Buying a medallion.
Securing funds to buy a car, having it prepared for taxi use.
Then there is gas, insurance,
maintenance, emissions checks, garaging and city road tax.
There are costs.
And failure to pay any of those costs
would render their taxicab legally inoperable, of course.
But having financial obligations in this world
does not predispose someone to criminality.
How would a cab driver get that kind of money,
especially with the new loan regulations after the crash?
The Javaid Tariq Corporation.
It is a experimental paradigm.
And, to answer your next question, yes,
I do know off-hand that Mr. Khan
had a relationship with the Javaid.
Where is the Javaid Tariq Corporation?
I can give you their address.
That won"t be necessary.
What the fuck?
Large Americano with two extra shots.
Hi, can I help you?
Large Americano. Two extra shots.
This is Leisl this is Turse. They"re C.A.B.
Ronney Radiant.
She writes for The Wall Street Journal.
Don"t read.
Nice to meet you.
How about a spotlight on these guys?
No.
You said I got access.
Why you want to be cops?
Makes me throb and pulse.
Shoot bad guys in the face.
Okay. Got it. We"ll stick with Santiago then.
I"ll be in touch.
I"ll look forward to it.
Renny!
It"s Brian.
Yes.
From college.
Of course. Brian, how are you? Hey!!
Good, you know, Jeannie and I got the hell out of dodge
after the crash, but I"m still coming in to make the cheddar.
Same grind, different ringtone.
Americano. Extra shots.
Kinda sums it all up, don"t you think?
What"s that?
Only in America would we call
a watered down espresso an "Americano."
Hence the extra shots.
Always were prepared.
That"s me.
Your card"s been declined.
Oh, that must be a mistake.
Could you try it again?
I guess.
That looks painful.
Oh, yeah. Squash.
Same old Renny. You animal.
You"re well?
First rate. Jeannie and I are solid.
We"ve taken a bit of a walk on the mild side
but with everything else going on,
boring is a specialty item.
Right.
Besides I can"t rock the boat now,
Jeannie"s pregnant again.
Oh, congratulations.
Thanks, man. You know, exciting times for sure.
Definitely changes the channel though.
Gonna have to finish out the basement for the kids,
no more man cave for Brian.
Kids will need a place to wander.
Can"t take them to the park, anymore.
Right.
Yeah, nobody wants to see that.
So between work and home,
the days really do get on with it.
Where do you find the time to be young?
Hey, this is being young, man.
Gotta lock down the house
while I still have a full-time job.
Get a mortgage.
Fix a place up while I still have paychecks coming in.
Who knows what"s going to happen next, right?
You gotta be old to be young. Am I right, brah?
This is being young, man.
Reminds me of what you used to say in college.
This is being young, man.
Am I right, brah?
You used to say in college.
Come on, Brian.
This is how it happens.
What"s that?
Isn"t that what you used to say in college all the time?
This is how it happens.
Yes, I, uh...
Truer words were never spoken. Am I right, brah?
You absolutely are.
Denied.
Uh, that really can"t be right.
I got this.
No, Brian. Don"t...
Hey, not another word.
Barry, the usual.
You got it, Brian.
My man.
Been having trouble with the magnetic strip.
Sure, sure, world we live in.
Yeah.
Good seeing you, Brian.
Hey, yeah. Good to see you, too, Renny.
Thanks for the coffee.
That"s a coffee you owe me.
Done.
I should really go.
Hey, go kill it, killer.
Oh, and uh, you really should keep in touch, okay.
Absolutely, Brian. Thanks again.
Great seeing you.
You, too.
You want to tell me what happened back there?
How you already know about this place we"re gonna visit?
And which Indian language were you speaking with Divya?
You"ve spoken with Raj"s wife, too, right?
It was Indian, which one?
Hindi.
Hindi?
They teach you Hindi at ESU?
The way you speak Spanish,
that"s part of your ESU training, as well?
Living in this country teaches me how yo speak Spanish.
She"s sharp. Divya.
I don"t know. There's, there"s something about her.
She"s a hijra.
A what?
Hijra. Intersexual.
In India, they"re called "The Third Sex".
Wait. She"s not a woman?
That"s...
Normal.
Normal?
Long history of intersexuals in South Asia.
Hijra.
This thing is slow as fucking, fuck.
Restarts like a motherfucker, too.
Call tech support.
There is no tech support anymore.
This is bullshit.
Welcome to admin.
That brothel bust was perfect.
Got fucked like a "John."
Fucking released them all.
Is that entirely true?
True enough.
No. I mean, did they really release everyone?
Everyone that mattered.
Even the bouncer?
Which one?
The one running security at the front door?
The one you knucklefucked.
Now, that"s a question.
Fucking thing, come on!
Wait, here we go.
Edict Tu...
Tush...
Edict two shits.
He hasn"t posted bail yet.
So he"s here.
We got him.
Hello.
Ma?
Renny?
Mom!
Renny, I fell.
You okay?
It happened so fast. I was just trying to make some tea.
Are you hurt?
I was trying to make some tea.
It"s okay, Ma.
Oh, I"m sorry, Renny.
No, stop. Don"t apologize.
I don"t want to be a bother.
You"re not.
Your father would be so disappointed in me.
Don"t say that.
It"s true.
It"s not. Are you okay.
So I think so.
Oh, do you still want some tea? Can I make you some tea?
Oh my God, Renny. Your face.
What happened?
It"s nothing. I fell.
You fell, too?
Yeah, I did, but I"m fine.
Here why don"t I make you some tea.
I"ll boil some water.
How"s your tea?
It"s just right. Thank you.
Ma?
Yes, Renny.
I was wondering.
Oh, what is it?
No, nothing, nothing.
Oh, Renny. I just remembered.
Ma. No. You don"t have to do this.
You take this and you put it away.
And don"t argue with me.
No, Ma. Really. I"m good.
Take it and put it in the bank.
Thanks, Mom.
Don"t thank me.
Your father would have wanted me to give you this.
Oh my goodness, Renny, what happened to your face?
Think you"re a big man taking a cheap shot like that?
Think that makes you strong?
You"re a small man.
That is all you will ever be.
How did C.A.B. get this far?
Not their keeper.
You were tasked to watch this.
This. Not them.
Why am I talking to you at all?
I"m keeping my end of the bargain.
And yet I am still not getting what I want.
I can"t help that.
Wrong.
What is it that"s so important about the speaks?
You mean what was so important?
Why don"t you want me doing my job?
I don"t recall questions being a part of our arrangement.
I don"t recall having this much heat on me.
You"re fine.
Is that right?
You were saying?
Shit.
Need your signature, Bhai.
Detectives Santiago and More, Citywide Anticrime Bureau.
Yes?
We"re investigating the murders of three cabdrivers.
Our intelligence suggests that at least one of those victims
may have tried to gain employment with your corporation
at some point within the last year.
How may I help?
We"d like to review your employee application records.
I can have them scanned and sent to you
first thing tomorrow morning.
You, uh, you"re an ex-driver?
Current driver.
My compliments.
Thank you, Detective.
My foreman, Manesh and I spent many nights
planning the layout of this service area.
There hasn"t been a diesel medallion issued since 1984.
How"d you get one?
We are allowed the choice of taxicabs
by giving the TLC what it asked for, Detective.
Self-sufficiency.
Taxi drivers are independent contractors,
by law, they can"t unionize.
How"d you get them health insurance?
You seem to know a bit about my business. May I ask how?
No.
C"mon Eddie.
Edek.
That"s what I said.
I already told you all you know.
You know how I know that"s not true?
It is true.
I know it"s not true.
Because every single person from that bust
has been bailed out.
Except you.
No one"s come for you.
What did you do to become so unpopular?
I am a working man.
I work for my money.
If you"re such a great worker
how come your employer hasn"t come to your aid?
Cause you"re too hot, fuckhead.
I think that... No!
You don"t.
He"s right.
I"ll tell you what I think though.
I"d listen.
I think you"re not in such a hurry to get out.
Bet you won"t get Employee of the month sticker.
No fist pump.
Salary raise.
I bet right now all you want to do
is get on the next plane outta here.
Bet you"ve had enough of the American Dream,
now that you"ve finally got around to read the fine print.
Am I right, Ed?
Edek.
I bet your boss is waiting for you to be released.
Wouldn"t it be nice, if you gave us something more important
for him to think about then, you.
Times up, Edward.
Edek.
Fuck you.
Fuck you more.
We help you or hurt you. Decide.
If I help you, you promise you will do what you say?
You will give me a deal, not like the other guy?
What other guy?
The other Detective.
What other Detective?
The one who talked to me before.
He"s got a funny voice.
Why don"t you start by telling us what you told him.
You don"t know?
Humor us.
Yeah, and then you can tell us what you didn"t tell him.
You do that, and I"ll get you a better deal.
Where"s the money coming from?
I don"t suppose you know what a hawaladar is, Detective?
I don"t.
Think of it as the Islamic world"s
oldest off-balance-sheet transaction.
A hawaladar"s job is to transfer money
from one party in one location to a second party in another.
The transaction may, and often does,
transcend international borders.
Our hawaladar"s eldest son is an executive
at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority,
what you would call here a sovereign wealth fund.
Sovereign wealth fund.
We"ll need copies of your financial statements,
receipts of purchased equipment,
copies of inspection certificatesFuck, he"s stepping all over this.
By the TLC, DEP, DOB, We should just shoot this prick.
And any other city agency you went through to obtain
permission to set up your operation.
I have nothing to hide.
Why"d you go with the Minilites?
Couldn"t get Sunraysias?
Not for the Liberies,
and they"d never fit over the brakes we got.
Tell your painter he did a great job.
I will.
Do you get a lot of drivers from other garages
applying to work here?
Of course. Drivers moonlight at different garages all the time.
And every driver in town wants to work with us.
Did you keep records of all those applicants?
I appreciate Renny making this introduction.
Renny"s no longer with Round-Off.
I"m sad.
I"m listening.
The Staff Girls of Le Yef are my brand, which is hot.
Your brands, Round-Off magazine,
FTQO Sports network,
and Krakitch Ratings, they"re not.
I"m not sure we see things the same way.
I see a tested, trending product
that"s ready for mainstream consumption.
What do you see?
Liability.
A failing eye like that is pervasive.
My business is doing fine.
Your business is fucked.
You own 80% of a network
that"s down to it's lowest subscriber rate
since the crash, thanks to the cord-cutters,
another 80% of a ratings agency that most people blame
for the crash, which is currently the object
of three Federal probes, and a magazine
that"s less than 20% editorial content which is down 60%
ad revenue, last year alone.
You"re too closely associated with Le Yef and now,
by extension, dead kids, white kids I might add.
I"ve never seen the press this excited.
Congratulations, I was convinced that print was dead.
It sounds like you"re the one"s that are fucked.
Out of the ashes, I rise.
Redemption was last season.
Oh, what"s this season?
Timing.
That"s rich coming from you.
On your watch, this company has gone from zero debt,
to drowning in it.
You have financed every corporate acquisition
you"ve made with debt,
and now those properties aren"t generating enough revenue
to service the interest on that debt,
let alone the principal.
You need money, fast.
You want to talk timing?
I"m bringing you the Staff Girls of Le Yef.
You cross-promote them across all your media brands,
you reach out to your advertisers.
We"ll go from brand launch to merchandising in six months.
Okay.
And I control all the rights,
and we split all net revenues down the middle.
Hey! From now on, I"m your silent partner.
Done deal.
I didn"t...
Marcus.
I"m not going...
Look in my eyes.
Stand.
Shake my hand.
Tell me when we get started.
I"ll have my assistant set something up
for later in the week.
No. You call me.
Okay.
Get to work.
What is so goddamned important you fucking...
You"re not near More, are you?
No. Why?
Cause he"s been doing his own shadow investigation.
Fuck are you talking about?
He"s been sweating the bouncer from our brothel bust.
So did we sweated him too. And we were persuasive.
He was cooperative.
We got everything he gave More
and I think we got a few things More didn"t get.
We"re on our way back now.
Does McKeutchen, know?
Fuck no.
Hey asshole, I know about Edek.
Edek.
Enough with this cloak-and-dagger bullshit.
I think it"s time we clear the air once and for all.
Fuck are you doing.
Two o"clock, fifty meters, blue four door.
The plate"s coming back as a flower delivery vehicle,
which means it"s either stolen
or whoever sent it
doesn"t want us to find out who they are.
We"re cops. You think they're really going to fuck with us?
Let"s find out.
"Hey, I got the fuckin" keys.
Me too. Copied them.
You fucking did what?
Get in.
Coño.
Just texted coordinates to the NYPD Aviation Unit.
I need air support. Now.
Fuck you talking about?
McKeutchen said you came up through traffic.
So?
Show me.
This doesn"t make any fucking sense.
Call Traffic Ops dispatcher,
tell him to get uniforms to block downtown.
Second Avenue traffic at 60th on the Manhattan side
of the Queensboro Bridge.
Tell him to get some ALPR cars along 60th street corridor
between Second and Fifth Avenue.
This is Detective Santiago, C.A.B. Group One...
Holy shit!!!
Hey!!
Let"s slow down. Slow down.
Why don"t we just let them catch us?
Identifying your target is just as important as taking them out.
ALPR cars are back up in case they get by us,
but I have a faster way to figure out who"s in that car.
Letting them catch us sounds fast to me.
This fucking doesn"t make any sense, man.
Central!
Central?
Need a surge patrol from the Police academy
at East 20th straight up Third Avenue.
Now!
Fuck that!
Get me McKeutchen.
Fuck you, get me McKeutchen, now!
Yo! Why you taking the upper roadway?
For the view?