[ Bell dings ] It's like we talked about already.
You know what I mean, little man?
You gotta share Mommy's time now.
What's up, Sherwin? Hi, Andy.
[ Bell dings ] Hi, Tank.
[ Both chuckle ] How's the baby?
Oh, man, she's beautiful.
Ah. [ Chuckles ]
All she does is cry.
Yeah, well, that's what babies do. They cry.
You're a big brother, so it's your job to protect her.
Marcel.
Son, look [clears throat] I need you to help me out, okay?
Go easy on Mommy.
Okay, I'll be good, Daddy.
My man.
[ Both imitate explosion ]
[ Chuckles ]
[ Cellphone ringing ]
Hey, baby.
Please tell me they have it.
Boom. Say my name, woman.
[ Chuckles ]
You weren't too hard on him, were you?
No, no, he's fine. I'll see you in a few?
I love you.
Love you back. [ Chuckles ]
Don't tell Mommy I let you have that.
Aaron: His name is Andy Josiah.
Husband to Elaine, father to Marcel and Lailah.
Can I watch elephants?
Yeah, you already know the code. Andy's just like you and me.
♪♪
[ Laughs ] You are too funny, man. I'm telling you.
Now, Mommy's gonna be there.
She got the popcorn and the movie ready, so ‐‐
I left Tank!
Nah, it's okay.
I'll just turn around.
He wants more for his kids.
Do you think he's still there?
Ain't nobody messin' with Tank.
Tank's the man.
No one would have ever known about Andy.
He would've just kept on living his life...
[ Siren wails ]
...and I would've never found him,
but I did.
♪♪
Hey, Ronnie, that Covid‐pod idea you had was genius.
We did it at the office.
I think I'll keep him.
[ Chuckles ]
You know, I wish Marie could be here.
Yeah. How are things going at the hospital?
Infection rate's still up.
She's been working eight weeks straight.
You been able to open back up yet?
Sporting‐goods store isn't essential business, so...no.
Yeah, but it's been good having more time with you, though.
[ Chuckling ] Yes, yes.
Well, getting to see my grandson
is not the only reason for this brunch.
We want to have AJ baptized.
The church will allow a small gathering.
Um...
we're not really religious.
Like, at all. [ Chuckles ]
Well, we're not zealots,
but we do believe in our Lord and Savior.
And our pastor baptized Ronnie.
Look, he's great. You'd like him, Mr. Wallace.
I'm sure.
We need to talk to Marie about this.
Of course.
It's important for the family to be a unit on this.
We're not even religious.
I know. That's what we said.
AJ's their grandson, too.
Oh, so you're on their side.
Hey, you picked the boy.
[ Laughs ]
He's getting so big.
He's treating me like an all‐you‐can‐eat buffet.
Oh, speaking of, feeding time.
[ AJ crying ]
No sad face.
Hey, my mom's a superhero.
I have to share her with the world.
Love you.
[ Softly ] Love you.
[ Crying continues ]
16 hours a day, 8 weeks straight?
You gotta be exhausted.
Yeah, I don't even know how I'm standing right now.
I don't like this.
What?
Having a window between us again.
♪♪
How's Ms. Noreen?
We took her off the ventilator.
Well, that's good. Yeah. [ Chuckles ]
She's something else.
Married three times,
and I think she has her eye on the patient two doors down.
You keep doing what you're doing for your patients.
And when you're done...
I'm here.
♪♪
So, the house will be split between you and your sister?
Yes, 50/50 is how he wanted it.
Alright, the file that we just e‐mailed you has three things ‐‐
has a will, a medical power of attorney,
and an end of life directive. Okay.
You're gonna need to go over all those with your dad.
The will's gonna need witnesses.
The other two are gonna need to be notarized.
I don't even know if they'll let me see him.
You can do most of it on FaceTime, just like this.
And then bring the papers to the hospital.
And payment?
I don't have much, but...
Everything's being covered by a grant
from the Spencer Richardson Family Foundation.
Oh, bless you both.
These are tough times for everyone.
Just gotta hang in there.
Having all this is a big relief.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Talk soon.
[ Key taps ]
Hard as this is, I keep telling myself
we're doing a lot of good.
We are.
[ Sighs ]
Ready for the next one?
You bet.
[ Door closes ]
Aaron: Hey, Jazz.
Jazz?
Hey, what's wrong?
He won't get off his neck.
[ Sighs ]
♪♪
Alright, come on.
♪♪
[ Crying ] Just kept begging.
He just ‐‐ He just wanted to be let up.
Why wouldn't they let him up?
I know.
He was crying for his mother.
[ Sighs ]
He just kept crying.
I don't...
Yeah, I know.
I know.
[ Crying ]
♪♪
Alright.
I need your pressure to come up, Ms. Noreen.
[ Coughing ]
Oh, this Covid is getting on my nerves.
Ugh, me and you both.
Listen, please,
if you need anything, press the button.
I don't need you falling again.
You look tired.
Still not sleeping?
I'll sleep when you're out of the woods.
Oh, honey, I have lived through malaria, smallpox.
I lived through it all.
[ Both chuckle ] [ Protestors shouting on television ]
Oh, turn that off.
People walking around all horrified, like this is new.
His knee was the noose, honey.
Just got a new way to kill us now.
You sound like Aaron.
How y'all doing?
We were doing the work before all this.
You know, I‐I‐I'm a little cautious.
You know, it's been a long road.
But I love him, and I know he loves me.
Y'all gonna make it.
Thank you.
[ AJ cooing ]
[ Cellphone vibrating ]
[ Cellphone clicks ]
Hello?
Just calling to check in on you.
This isn't the time to miss your curfew.
Yeah, trust me, I know.
My daughter and her boyfriend are out there.
They can't sit still.
Lexi's at a protest downtown.
You know what I hate more than anything?
Feeling helpless.
Me and you finally got something in common.
Now's the time to be a troublemaker.
Just don't know what to do, though.
[ Door opens ]
Hey, let's both think on it.
My daughter's coming.
Take care of yourself, Aaron.
Yeah, you too, Spencer.
You guys are back kinda late.
[ Ronnie sighs ] I'm sorry, Aaron.
We didn't mean for you to be watching AJ this long.
Thanks, Dad.
I'm gonna take a shower.
Y'all been going out all day every day, and you have a child.
I know. I tried talking to her.
She won't listen.
[ Sighs ] Jazz?
Listen, I'm concerned about you.
Me? Why?
Well, AJ's an infant.
There's things about this virus still unknown.
You out there. Some people not wearing masks.
Dad, we're being as safe as we can.
And what about your schoolwork and your son?
I'm doing this for my son.
I mean, a man has been lynched.
I'm out here so this doesn't happen to him.
You aren't angry after everything that happened to you?
Yeah, of course, I'm angry.
Not angry enough.
♪♪
Yes, the will is notarized.
Sending it over now, Mr. Baker.
Yeah, you, too.
You've been quiet all day.
Feels like a time for me to be quiet.
Thing to do now is to get these protesters bailed out. [ Bell dings ]
Who is it?
Safiya: It's Safiya.
I've got a mask. Took a test.
I'll keep my distance. [ Bell dings, buzzer ]
I'm sorry for the intrusion.
I'm sorry I didn't reply to your text.
Oh, no, I understand.
Uh, God, nice place.
Oh, thanks, Henry.
Listen, I ‐‐ I found a case.
Staten Island cop pulls over this man.
Reason unknown.
The next thing you know...
Andy Josiah.
He shot him in the back.
In front of his son.
Is he dead?
No, he's in the hospital.
Paralyzed.
What'd you have in mind?
A civil suit. You could ‐‐
No, we're not ambulance chasers.
[ Sighs ]
We could do it pro bono.
He has two kids.
His wife's a stay‐at‐home mom.
They'll need the money, Aaron.
There'll be plenty of lawyers happy to take this case
if that's what the family wants.
I'm not walking in there, peddling my wares,
telling them to put a price on their pain.
Sure. I understand. [ Sighs ]
I'm at home, wringing my hands
and, yeah, I know it's got to be worse for you,
especially since you had to drop
the ‐‐ the Collars for Dollars.
Anyway, it's good to see you.
[ Sighs ] [ Door opens, closes ]
♪♪
[ Sighs ]
♪♪
Hey, can you help me, sweetheart?
Tryna look up somebody.
♪♪
[ Sighs ] Tried his Facebook, but ‐‐
You need an account.
Oh. What's the name?
Andy Josiah.
[ Keyboard clacking ]
"Prayers For Andy"?
He's got a baby.
She was born six weeks ago.
[ Sighs ]
Here's a GoFundMe link.
What's that?
A donation page for the family.
Police shot him?
Yeah.
Put some money in there from us, huh?
[ Keyboard clacking ]
♪♪
[ Indistinct P. A. announcement ]
Help you, sir?
I'm looking for Andy Josiah.
He's in custody.
I'm a lawyer.
Can you please ask if he'll see me?
♪♪
That ain't Aaron Wallace walkin' up in here!
[ Laughs ] I'm ‐‐ Yeah, I'm ‐‐ I'm sorry to intrude.
Elaine: Are you kidding? Come in.
Um, I'm ‐‐ I'm sorry about this, man.
I've been testing negative.
I would talk to you with the mask off, if that's alright.
Sure, of course.
Uh, w‐we followed your story.
Right, babe?
I know about your story, too, Mr. Josiah.
Andy.
That's my wife, Elaine. Hey.
Andy, I'm here to see if there's anything I could do.
Uh, well, we already have a lawyer.
Yeah, Elaine's cousin recommended him.
I'm assuming you haven't been arraigned?
Mm. They said, with Covid, the courts are on pause.
Yeah, even virtually, it's slow.
[ Sighs ] What are they charging you with?
Resisting, which is B. S., man.
They pulled me over for Driving While Black.
[ Sighs ]
Anyway, we did the dance.
They asked for my license, registration. Yeah.
The younger one leaves to run my plates and all that,
but the older one, he stays.
Dude's just lookin' to put a foot in my ass.
Hm.
He asked if I got any drugs or weapons in the car.
I said no,
but he still pulled me out.
I'm asking him what's the deal, you know?
Am I under arrest?
[ Crying ]
You okay, babe?
So Marcel's tryna to get out of his car seat.
Anyway, he gets caught up.
I reached in the driver's side window to help him.
I hear this bang...
...and everything went black.
I didn't know I was shot until I woke up in the hospital.
[ Sighs ]
And how's Marcel doing?
I wish he was here to meet you.
But we ain't lettin' him see me all chained up like this.
My boy's been through enough.
He thinks Andy is a superhero.
I'm a delivery driver. [ Chuckles, sniffles ]
No, you are a superhero.
Delivering things people need.
Thank you.
Honestly, I feel lucky.
Coulda had some fool on my neck for eight minutes.
Listen, I know you have an attorney,
but maybe there's something I can do about
getting those cuffs off.
Just call me with your lawyer's information.
I'll take it from there.
We sure appreciate you.
My daughter,
she was about the same age as your son
when I went to prison.
She never saw me any different.
In your son's eyes...
you're still his hero.
Cuffs or no cuffs.
Thank you, Mr. Wallace.
Thank you.
[ Sniffles ]
♪♪
[ Exhales shakily ]
♪♪
[ Indistinct P. A. announcement ]
♪♪
Look, I'm not unsympathetic,
but the reality is they can't arraign him because of Covid.
They're not gonna release him because of the cops.
So we bring in an emergency order.
No court to even hear it.
They're still taking petitions for ‐‐
Hey, no disrespect,
but I already got some respiratory stuff.
[ Sighs ]
I'm not gonna try to chase down a judge
over a hospital arraignment
they couldn't do if they wanted to.
He's handcuffed to a hospital bed.
For security.
We know why they do it.
Just ‐‐
It's NYPD policy that ‐‐
You ever been handcuffed?
N‐No, but ‐‐
'Cause if you had...
I promise you, you would never shrug it off like ‐‐
like it was some harmless policy.
Aaron. 'Cause it's not.
It's not harmless.
Mr. Salkin, we respect your expertise and experience.
And ‐‐ And, of course, given your ‐‐
your medical condition,
we'd never want you to do something
that puts your health at risk,
but we could do the work, file it,
even appear on your behalf to ‐‐ to argue the petition.
I'm just saying we should take a day off,
spend some time with AJ.
The protests are working. People are feeling the pressure.
We have to keep going.
Jazz, you barely hold him anymore.
Stop tryna to guilt‐trip me, Ronnie.
My parents haven't talked about anything else since it happened.
Last night, I even heard them crying together.
I know you're hurting, Jazz. I'm hurting, too.
But when bad things happen, we need to lean on each other.
God, we are not your parents,
and I'm never gonna be your mother,
spending all day baking a fancy quiche or whatever.
Can you stop attacking for one second?
And I'm not baptizing AJ.
That's not fair. He's my son, too.
And my parents only want the best for us.
You know, you're always talking about
how your dad never opens up.
You're doing the same thing.
Now's the time for action.
So if you're gonna go,
we need to drop him off with your mom.
[ AJ cooing ]
You're quiet today.
Mm.
Just have a lot on my mind.
Yes, ma'am.
Do you think, by hanging around here,
you can keep me or anyone else from dying?
My ‐‐ My family's fine.
I'm not talking about your family.
I'm talking about you.
When the last time you ate a good meal?
Or looked in the mirror?
You got a face like an angel,
but, honey,
a little blush would do you some good right now.
[ Chuckles ]
I watch you wear yourself down.
There's nothing left.
I'm not an activist or a lawyer.
I'm a nurse.
And being right here in this hospital,
this ‐‐ this is what I can do.
[ Sighs ] Roswell: So, I called the clerk.
Staten Island's only got one judge hearing
emergency petitions two afternoons a week.
But if we move fast, we can get in later today.
She said we can send the paperwork electronically.
That the D. A. talking to the judge?
Welcome to Staten Island. Home of the old boys' club.
Look who got his license back.
Gee, Morris, I didn't know you had
a special interest in this one.
[ Chuckles ] Slow day.
Okay, someone want to tell me what this is all about?
Yes, Your Honor.
Mr. Andy Josiah has lain unarraigned
in a hospital bed for 13 days.
He remains chained to that bed,
detained in clear violation
of criminal‐procedure law 140.20.
140.20 talks about unreasonable delay, counselor.
And Roundtree vs. New York makes clear
that delay is 24 hours
and clearly states that "arrestees held in custody
for more than 24 hours without arraignment
are entitled to release ‐‐"
Unless there's an acceptable explanation for the delay.
And what might that explanation be, Mr. Crawford?
Well, apparently, Mr. Wallace is the only person in America
who hasn't heard about this global flu pandemic.
That doesn't justify leaving a man handcuffed to a bed
for weeks without a chance to be released.
[ Scoffs ] With virtual hearings slowing things down
and NYPD stretched to the breaking point,
there are delays, Your Honor.
Some delay is understandable, but 13 days?
They're leaving him there,
torturing him, violating his dignity,
and they're doing it intentionally because some cop ‐‐
I'd be awful careful about imputing motives,
Mr. Wallace. They've done three other arraignments on arrests
with injured defendants that came after Mr. Josiah's.
All of whom were released from the hospital,
whereas your client is still in the hospital.
Then leave a guard if you want to,
but take the cuffs off him.
The man can't even walk.
But he can still use his hands,
which we believe constitutes a security threat.
Your Honor, there's no reason to deviate from the protocols
we've used in every case for the last 50 years.
Alright, alright, I've heard enough.
I'll take it under advisement,
and I'll get you a ruling this afternoon, gentlemen.
Thank you.
I want those cuffs off him. Any idea when he'll rule?
It was an emergency petition. He's gonna rule fast.
[ Cellphone vibrating ] Look, at least he didn't deny us from the bench.
Yeah. Hold on. [ Cellphone clicks ]
Hey, Jazz.
[ Crying ] Dad, I'm sorry.
Ronnie is...
Hey, sweetheart, hold on. What happened?
Ronnie is in ‐‐
I'll talk to him. I'll talk to him.
Aaron, it's Larry.
Yeah, police arrested Ronnie.
We're at the 29th precinct.
Wait for me. I'll be right there.
Okay.
He's coming, Jazz. He's coming.
Ronnie?
You okay?
I think so. How's Jazz?
Your mother just came to get her.
Now, come on. What happened?
I‐I‐It was a peaceful protest,
and this guy, he came outta nowhere with a brick.
He was gonna smash a window,
and...I told him we're not about rioting.
He smashed it anyway,
so I waved down a couple cops for help...
and they just thought I did it.
[ Sighs ]
I‐I tried to tell them it wasn't me,
but...one of them grabbed Jazz.
So I‐I jumped in front of her,
and I told our friends to ‐‐ to get her outta there,
and that's when they roughed me up and then they cuffed me
and they brought me here.
You know how this coulda turned out, right?
Look, I've never been in trouble with the law before.
What are they gonna do to me?
Hey, listen to me. Ronnie, look at me.
I promise you're gonna be fine, alright?
[ Crying ]
I didn't do anything, Mr. Wallace.
I know, son.
I know.
Ronnie, listen,
I told them I was your lawyer
so they would let me in to see you,
but when you get in front of the judge,
it won't be me representing you.
What do you mean? Why?
Safiya Masry. The warden?
She's also a very good lawyer.
She'll take care of you.
I'll be there, and so will your father.
Why ‐‐ Why can't it be you?
'Cause some those judges don't like me,
and it can't be Henry 'cause he's affiliated with me.
Okay? Trust me.
Docket ending 6553
People of the State of New York vs. Ronald Baxter
charged with two counts of Resisting Arrest,
Obstruction of Governmental Administration,
and Riot in the Second Degree.
Yeah, don't worry, Larry. Ms. Masry got this.
Safiya Masry on behalf of Mr. Baxter.
We'll wave the readings, not the rights.
Simple riot case, Your Honor.
On a plea to the charge, the people recommend
10 days community service.
Not a chance, Your Honor.
Mr. Baxter is completely innocent.
He tried to stop the violence
from happening and called for help.
And instead of law enforcement taking a moment
to listen to Mr. Baxter,
they indiscriminately threw him on the ground
and arrested him.
But not before getting some licks in.
Mr. Baxter would not comply with the officer.
Because he did nothing wrong.
Sounds like there's no disposition.
Are the people asking for bail?
He's in "A" student with no criminal record.
He has family here in court.
Yes, fine, Ms. Masry.
Defendant is released on his own recognizance.
We'll set this for motions three weeks from today.
Court Officer: Step out. Next case, please.
[ Sighs ]
Thanks for doing this.
I'm sorry I had to do it at all.
He seems like a good kid.
He is.
♪♪
Listen, Henry and I,
we have no idea what it's like to walk in your shoes,
but we're here.
We're standing right next to you.
Just remember that.
[ Sighs ] Now go be with your family.
♪♪
[ AJ cooing ]
Ronnie's been released.
[ Crying ] Oh, honey.
I know. I was just scared.
[ Sniffles ] Don't think I hadn't noticed you...
shutting everyone out,
including AJ.
Can I say something horrible?
Yeah.
I love AJ.
I never thought I could love someone so much,
but what was I thinking?
Bringing a Black child into this world?
I feel like I sent my son to his grave.
I can't make you any promises
because we can't control what they do.
Raising him won't be easy,
especially when he gets older.
He'll leave the house, and ‐‐ and...
you won't be able to breathe
until he walks in the front door again.
But look at what you and Ronnie created.
A beautiful son.
And when AJ becomes a man,
he will leave you in awe,
because AJ has an army protecting him.
An army.
♪♪
I'm going home. [ Chuckles ]
My family needs me.
When you leaving?
Tonight.
I, uh, took a test. I'm negative.
I wish I could give you a hug.
Oh, save all that for your beautiful grandson.
[ Chuckles ]
Marie, the world is what it is.
Focus on what you can control, and let go what you can't.
Yes.
Now, go home.
You gonna make me miss "Jeopardy!"
[ Both chuckle ]
♪♪
Jump. Yeah, I'm ‐‐ I'm jumping.
Jump. [ Chuckling ] I'm trying.
[ Sighs ] I wiped out.
Okay, Marcel, let's give Dad and Mr. Wallace some time.
Nice to meet you, Mr. Marcel.
Hey, bud, you forgetting something?
[ Door opens ] Ah, mwah.
[ Both imitate explosion ]
[ Both laugh ]
[ Door closes ]
[ Sighs ] Hey, how you doing, man?
Mm.
I don't know how you held on for nine years.
The very same reason you're gonna hold on ‐‐
your family.
Mm.
[ Sighs ] Listen, I struck out on the cuffs.
Thanks for tryin', Mr. Wallace.
We lost this round, but we ain't done yet.
Only man I ever met stronger than you was my father.
[ Chuckles ]
Glad he's not here to see me like this.
What happened wasn't about you.
You don't gotta feel no shame or guilt.
Alright?
Yeah, but certain things I looked forward to, you know?
Picking up my son,
swinging him around,
even taking the trash out.
Seems stupid, huh?
I get it.
But it made me feel like a man for my wife.
[ Voice breaking ] I ain't never gonna get to make love to her again.
Man, you see how fine she is?
[ Both chuckle ]
You still got a lot to live for, Andy.
You know the question I ask every day?
What's that?
What the hell's their problem?
I mean, they got everything.
Yet they still on some genocide mess.
We exist.
My grandson's father got arrested today.
Aw, man. Sorry.
Is he okay?
[ Sighs ] He's a bit shaken, but ‐‐
He's got you.
He'll pull through.
Look, you done way more than this other lawyer.
What you think about representin' me?
Take these muthas to task.
Alright. But talk to your wife.
If you're sure, I'll bring the paperwork tomorrow.
[ Groans ]
Andy, you alright?
[ Groans ]
I get this pain in my neck sometimes.
You want me to call a doctor?
Nah, nah.
I'm cool, man.
You got any pictures of your grandson?
Oh, yeah.
Can't believe you're back.
I was in so deep, I, uh, honestly didn't know
how much Jazz needed me.
Well, you're home now. That's all that matters.
But you're gonna need some time.
PTSD is no joke.
Trust me.
Any tips?
Lean on your family.
Talk it through.
Don't think you can tackle this alone.
[ Cellphone vibrating ]
[ Cellphone clicks ]
Hello?
Salkin: It's Craig Salkin, Andy Josiah's lawyer.
Hey. Everything alright?
I'm afraid not.
Andy's on life support.
On life suppor‐‐ Hold on.
What happened?
Blood clot went to his brain.
He lost a lot of oxygen. Too much.
I was just talking to him.
Family's been advised to discontinue medical assistance.
No. Thought you'd want to know.
[ Sighs ]
Thanks.
♪♪
[ Monitor beeping ]
♪♪
[ Indistinct P. A. announcement ]
♪♪
[ Sighs ]
[ Voice breaking ] I'm sorry, Andy.
I'm so sorry.
I am so sorry.
♪♪
Elaine: Mr. Wallace.
Thank you for getting those off.
At least he can have his dignity.
[ Voice breaking ] I guess ‐‐
I guess I should go call his mother so she can say goodbye.
And...
...I don't know if I can say goodbye to him.
I don't know if I can do this.
[ Crying ]
He held on for almost an hour...
and fought like hell.
[ Sighs ]
That's what we need to do.
Okay. How?
Get me in front of the Attorney General.
I'd, uh, shake hands, but, you know.
We appreciate you seeing us at all.
Henry made it sound important.
It is. It's about Andy Josiah.
Yeah, police shooting. Staten Island.
I know the case.
And you know Morris Crawford.
I know you hate him, Henry,
but he represents his constituents.
Which is exactly why we're here.
On doctors' advice,
Mr. Josiah's family just let him pass.
Mm. I'm sorry to hear it.
So now you got a potential homicide investigation
on your hand and a D. A. who's gonna want to whitewash it.
He may not even impanel a Grand Jury.
So you want me do what exactly?
Executive order 147.
Gives me the right, not the responsibility,
to investigate police shootings.
Invoke E. O. 147, Alan.
Take it away from Crawford.
This family, they're...
they're never gonna get justice.
Not if he's running the investigation and prosecution.
Mr. Wallace, are you saying
you already know what justice is in the case?
We're just asking for a full, fair, transparent investigation,
and if it shows negligence, recklessness, or intentionality,
someone needs the guts to prosecute.
You let Crawford sweep this under the rug,
there'll be political hell to pay,
and you'll be the one paying.
I'll look into it.
Aaron: He's not gonna do anything about it, is he?
He's in a political vise.
Even if he pushes the prosecutors
to take it to a Grand Jury,
there's no incentive to present the information objectively.
It's total copland over there.
You got that look.
Yeah, I got an idea.
Be hard as hell to pull off, but I think it's the only way.
I'm in.
My husband is not even buried, Mr. Wallace.
What you're asking me to do...
I know.
And I hate to ask.
Focus should be on your family.
But we need to back the A. G. into a corner,
and he won't act unless there's public pressure.
If it wasn't for you,
Marcel and Andy wouldn't have even had
that time together before he, uh...
[ Sighs ]
All I have to do is make a statement?
Yeah.
[ Sighs ]
Kids are good.
I checked in on 'em.
So sorry to hear about that young man.
You know, he didn't have a shred of bitterness.
He was a better man than me.
I heard you're lobbying for him.
That's a helluva boulder to push uphill.
Feels hard as hell right now.
How's Ronnie?
There are certain "firsts" all of us remember.
First love...
first kiss...
first heartbreak.
First racist experience.
Yeah.
I was in kindergarten.
My new best friend told me
his ‐‐ his parents couldn't play with any N's.
He didn't even know what that word meant.
I was 8.
In the scouts.
There were three of us Black kids,
and when it came time to set up camp,
the scout leader
[scoffs, sighs]
he segregated us.
Put us on the outskirts of the white kids' tent.
I mean, I moved my family to the suburbs.
I'm involved in the community.
I...
I go to church.
I did everything right.
But they still put their hands on my son.
You know, Jazz ‐‐ she's been going out there
with a ‐‐ with a ferocity I didn't know she had.
It's not like her to be this reckless,
especially now she has AJ, you know?
I keep thinking it's because of me.
What do you mean?
Well, would she be going out there like that, day and night,
if she hadn't watched her father go to prison?
Had to go and visit him in that place every week?
Her father was stolen from her.
She's got every right to be angry about it.
I'm gonna get 'em.
For Ronnie...
for Andy...
for all of us.
I'm gonna get 'em.
♪♪
My husband, Andy, was shot in front of our son.
He's 7.
I don't know a single person ‐‐ Black, white, green ‐‐
who would resist a police officer
in front of their child.
My Andy is not here to advocate for himself,
so I am asking Attorney General Burke
to do the right thing.
Turn it off. [ Remote clicks ]
The Times called, asking what our position is.
And we said?
The matter is under investigation.
We make no comment until the final determination
has been made.
Wallace is relentless, I give him that.
We're at 900, Dad. Already?
I can't wait to see the look on Burke's face tomorrow
when there's 1,000 protesters outside his house.
Want you to be careful.
And wear a mask.
So y'all are, like, double‐teaming me?
[ Chuckles ] I don't mind it.
[ Chuckles ]
How are you and Ronnie doing?
I know it's not my fault, what happened, but...
I just want him to feel happy again.
I want him to feel safe.
Mm, that'll take some time, sweetheart.
I know I haven't been myself lately,
and I took it out on you and Ronnie.
I'm sorry, Dad.
Water under the bridge, baby girl.
Thank you, though, for fighting for Andy.
I'm proud of you.
So...why am I hear, Mr. Richardson?
I want to make your life easier.
[ Scoffs ] Somehow I doubt that.
You're in a pickle. I got a solution.
You talking about Josiah?
Word is, there's a massive protest outside your house.
Not feeling the heat?
Crawford's the one who should be in the hot seat.
Not me. He represents a bunch of cop‐loving
white folks on an island,
and he's gonna deliver the justice his people want.
You, on the other hand, represent all of us.
And we want something else.
And asking me to put myself in the middle of this catastrophe?
That's your solution? No.
We both know nothing good comes of this.
You indict these cops,
you lose Staten Island and half of upstate.
You do nothing, you lose three‐quarters of the city.
Yeah, which is why ‐‐
You appoint a special prosecutor.
Aaron Wallace.
[ Scoffs ] You're out of your mind.
He's the perfect choice.
He's got massive credibility from the Black community.
You give him free rein,
and it goes up in flames, it falls on him.
And if against all odds, he succeeds in Staten Island,
a nice halo effect for you
having ensured a full, fair, and transparent process.
He's got no chance.
Maybe not.
But I'd rather see him try than see Crawford tap‐dance.
At least the message is that it matters.
Does he have any idea what he's stepping into?
In theory, yes.
In practice, I expect he'll be in for some hard lessons.
Let him take a shot, Alan.
There's nothing but upside in it for you.
And your legacy.
[ Sighs ]
Pastor Williams: Father God in Heaven,
we're gathered here today to anoint AJ Baxter.
Today, he becomes one of your shepherds.
A loyal servant.
For everything there is a season,
and a time for every matter under heaven.
We ask that you guide young AJ,
keep him from harm.
Shield him, Lord.
A time to be born and a time to die.
The days have been dark,
but no matter what challenges may arise,
whatever danger may lurk,
you will protect AJ, this Black boy.
A time to weep and a time to laugh.
We pray that you guide AJ's footsteps, Lord,
give him hope and a vision for the future.
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
And when it's time for him to join you, Lord,
may he enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
We ask this in the name of the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
♪♪