2.01---The Badlands---Available!

[cellogal]

September 27, 2003

Neighborhood, presumably the Badlands, where we hear “Still Fly” by Big Tymers. A young black man in a shirt and tie jogs through the streets, stops outside an apartment, and hollers to someone named Joe that he’s going to make him late. Joe calls back to the other guy, Derek, and then comes down the fire escape to street level and mocks Derek’s uniform. Derek replies that Della says that any man with a job has to respect himself and wear a tie. Joe scoffs at this, then enumerates his plan for respecting himself by getting an Escalade. Derek asks how he’s going to afford an Escalade when he has to beg Della for a free meal every night. A pertinent question, I think. Joe says he and Derek should take over the neighborhood, and once they’re running things, Della will be pouring Cristale in that place. They then stop when they see someone they know lurking in the alley, looking strung-out. Joe tells Junkie Guy he thought he was going to get clean; Junkie Guy protests that “it’s no thing.” The guys then see a group of thugs prowling the streets, and Joe instructs Derek to walk like he owns the block. They do, but the thugs don’t seem to be fooled.

Inside a restaurant, a middle-aged black man calls to a woman of similar age, Laverne from Scrubs!! Actually, the woman is the aforementioned Della, and tells her she’s got trouble. Della observes the confrontation brewing between Joe, Derek, and the thugs, and instructs the man, Tom, to call the police if she’s not back in 60 seconds. She then storms out, and after she leaves, Tom comments that he’s glad he’s not on the receiving end of that. I’m inclined to agree. As the guys watch Della go toe-to-toe with the thugs, Tom says she’s a force of nature, except with most forces of nature, folks usually get a warning so they can take shelter. Heh. Sounds like my grandmother. Della disperses the crowd in a matter of seconds and escorts Joe and Derek inside. A young woman asks if Derek’s in trouble, and Tom says that Della’s breaking it up. I’ll say. Once they’re all inside, Derek asks Della if Joe can have a chicken basket, and Della replies that Joe can have a job if he wants. Joe’s not interested in the job, but thinks some extra fries would be good. The younger woman asks Derek what happened, and Derek says it wasn’t anything he couldn’t handle. Della interrupts his delusional self-confidence, asking him if those dishes are going to up and bus themselves. “No ma’am,” Derek replies, and heads off to work.

Some time later, the restaurant lies deserted, food still on the counters, and a trail of blood leading from the dining room to the back bathroom, where…oh, snap. Derek, Della, and Tom all lie dead.

In the evidence room, our very own Nick Vera stacks their evidence boxes on the shelf.

Present Day

Courthouse hallway. Lilly jogs up to Jeffries, who’s strolling through the hall, and asks him if Doyle gave him a hard time. Jeffries remarks that you’d better buckle your chinstrap when she gets you on the stand. Lilly giggles, then asks if he’s walking back to PPD. Jeffries informs her that Vera’s testifying on the chicken-and-ribs job from a year ago. Lilly recalls the triple homicide that started out being her job, and Jeffries replies that Fugitives just picked up the shooter, who’s apparently been hiding out at his grandma’s place for a year. Lilly remembers that Jeffries knew Della and Tom, and he did, for forty years, and their daughter, Nora, is his goddaughter. Wow.

They head into the courthouse then, where Vera’s on the stand, being questioned by none other than our boy Kite. Awkward! Lilly looks on uncomfortably as Vera explains what he found during a search of Squeak Minter’s home the day after the shootings. The girl from earlier sits in the courtroom watching, and Lilly correctly guesses that this is Nora. Meanwhile, Kite’s done questioning Vera, and as he turns around to sit down, he sees Lilly. Uh-oh! Awkward again! They look at each other uncertainly for a minute before Kite sits down and the defense attorney stands up, commenting that Vera seems awfully certain that her client committed these murders. Vera is, citing the key, the gun, and the exact amount of cash taken from the register, all found in Squeak’s possession. The attorney asks Vera if it would surprise him to learn that Squeak was robbing a convenience in West Philly at the time of the murders; it would. She then holds up a security tape from that convenience store, which she says clearly shows that Squeak was six miles away from the scene when the murders took place, and asks Vera if that would change his opinion. I’d say it would. Vera doesn’t answer.

Next thing we know, they’re all storming out of the courtroom, and Vera’s laying into Kite, telling him he could have objected a few times in there. Kite retorts that Vera screwed the pooch, asking how he missed this. Vera hisses that West Detectives missed this, and Kite shoots back that it was a bum case. Lil decides to jump into the fray, reminding her ex-loverboy that his office approved the charges. Jeffries demands to know how they didn’t even know about the tape, and Lilly adds that Squeak’s lawyer didn’t even know until today. Vera angrily theorizes that Squeak thought he’d walk on the murder, and when it wasn’t in the cards, he stole the tape from the convenience store robbery. Kite sarcastically congratulates the three detectives, then walks off, saying they botched this one big. “We can’t lose this one,” Jeffries says fervently, then heads off to comfort Nora.

Credits.

Evidence warehouse. “Vera got his ass kicked in court?” Scotty asks somewhat gleefully as they take the boxes down. Lilly, less gleefully, says that the case died right before their eyes, then explains to Stillman that Squeak pled guilty to the convenience store robbery, and that he really didn’t do the triple. Stillman instructs them to start again, to see who did. Meanwhile, Scotty observes that Lilly’s name is on the interview, and she explains that it was her last job on the line, and Vera took it over when she started working cold cases. “Takes it over and fumbles it,” Scotty concludes. Stillman gives us the nuts and bolts on the case: Della and Tom Lincoln, owners of a restaurant for 25 years, and 17-year-old Derek Jackson, employee at the restaurant for two years, no record. Lilly adds that all three were shot and Della’s throat was cut, leading Scotty to suspect that she was the target, and Lilly to conclude that it was personal. Stillman informs us that Della was a block captain, and probably wasn’t too popular with the neighborhood dirtbags. Lilly says that Vera got some prints from the trash and the dinner plates, but no hits. Stillman instructs her to rerun everything, expressing hope that the doer might be in the system a year later. Scotty’s rarin’ to go, but Lilly curbs his enthusiasm just a bit by telling him that Jeffries knew the victims.

Squad room. Vera insists that the investigation was solid. “Yeah,” Jeffries agrees sarcastically. Vera protests that the robbery is West Detectives’ responsibility, and Jeffries replies with a “talk to the hand.” Heh. Lilly comments that they settled on Squeak pretty quickly, and Vera tells her that Squeak worked there, had the key, and was practically gift-wrapped. Stillman diffuses the situation by saying that they all thought it was Squeak, and they were all wrong, then Scotty asks Jeffries about Della and Tom. Jeffries explains that Della’s was a kind of sanctuary; if you kept your nose clean, you were welcome, if you didn’t, you were gone. Lilly comments that it’s hard keeping a business open in the Badlands, and Jeffries replies that Della’s was hopping every night, but since the murders, the whole neighborhood has taken a slide. Stillman asks about Nora, and Jeffries says she’s an MBA student at Temple. Stillman suggests that Lilly and Jeffries start with her, and Vera tentatively asks what he’s going to do. Stillman asks if Derek had any family, and Vera supplies that he had an addict brother. Scotty suggests that he and Vera track him down, and Stillman agrees. Vera, still seething, remarks that the guy didn’t even know his own name when Vera notified him. “Let’s see if he does now,” Scotty replies.

National Guard base. The addict brother, Junkie Guy from the beginning, is now clean, in uniform, and bearing a striking resemblance to Tiger Woods. Tiger recalls that Squeak Minter’s on trial for the murders, but Vera replies that the case was thrown out this morning, and Scotty asks if anyone else might have had a beef with Derek. Tiger replies that everyone loved Derek. Vera asks how Derek managed to stay so good when Tiger was on the needle, and Tiger credits Della and Tom. “Weren’t you his guardian?” Scotty asks Tiger, and Tiger says he was, but they were the ones who looked out for Derek. Vera asks how Tiger got clean, and Tiger replies that Derek’s death shook him up, and a friend in recovery told him about the Guard, and how they’ll teach a trade, then expresses hope that he can get a union job. Scotty asks Tiger if he saw Derek the night he died; Tiger hesitates, then admits to seeing him, but that he was distracted.

Badlands, where we hear Big Tymers’ “Still Fly” again, and Tiger’s completing a drug deal when he sees Joe and Derek. Their exchange from the beginning is repeated, and then Derek sees the thugs. “Yo, check out the playa!” one of the thugs says, pointing to Derek, and Joe tells him to back off. Head Thug doesn’t and continues to mock Derek, who protests that he’s got no problem with Head Thug. Head Thug has a problem with Derek; actually, fifty problems. Derek insists he’s not giving Head Thug any money, and Head Thug retorts that Derek has to either pay the tax or come roll with his crew.

They’re interrupted by Della, who storms up and tells Head Thug she wants him out of there. Head Thug replies that it’s not her business, and Della retorts icily that his messing with himself is his business, but messing with this block is hers. Head Thug takes issue with Della’s claim to the block, but Della replies that it is indeed hers, and, “unless you want your friends to see you get smacked by an old woman, you best move.” Man, is she awesome. The other thugs snicker, and Head Thug puts on his best Threatening Face and tells Della she doesn’t want to mess with him. Della’s not threatened in the least and tells him he’s got until ten to make his ass disappear. When he doesn’t move, she starts counting. She only makes it to three before Head Thug tells her they’ll see her later, then summons his crew and leaves. Meanwhile, Tiger goes back to shooting up in the alley.

Scotty theorizes that Tiger, whose real name is Tre, thinks Head Thug (real name: Simms) might have come back for Della that night. Tre says that Della stared down thugs, which wins you both friends and enemies. Vera asks where Simms is, and Tre uncomfortably says that he stays away from that life. Vera snaps at Tre that it would have been nice if he’d shared this tidbit last year, and Tre says that he was sick and scared, and now he’s trying to do some good now. Scotty offers him a bit of encouragement. “Hey; kicked drugs, did a stint in the Guard…resume like that, you could end up President.” Hee.

Della’s. The neighborhood really has seemed to go downhill, and Jeffries comments that it’s amazing how taking out one small place can make the whole area feel hopeless. “Stop the heart, the body dies,” he remarks. Lilly asks Jeffries why he didn’t want in on the job last year, and he replies that Stillman thought he was too close. They’re interrupted by Nora, who comes up and gives Jeffries a hug. He tells her he’s sorry about this morning, then introduces her to Lilly, the first detective on the job. She thanks Nora for meeting them here, and Nora proceeds to unlock the door, explaining that no one’s stepped a foot in there since the police left. Jeffries and Lilly exchange a worried glance. “No one?” Jeffries asks. Nora says she just locked the door and walked away. Lil suggests that Nora and Jeffries talk outside, and she’ll go in.

Once inside, Lilly has her own flashback of the very first episode. We see the uniformed officer ask her how she’s doing, and as she retraces her steps, we see Della’s just as it was. She approaches the bathroom and opens it, and we flash back to the first episode, where Lilly sees the bodies and proclaims it a bad case of death. Her flashback is interrupted by Jeffries calling to her, and she shuts the door and goes back out to talk to him. She asks Nora if she had dinner here that night, and she did. Lil asks if Nora remembers any conversations or arguments her parents had with anyone, and Nora remembers some back and forth with Della and one of the waitresses, but she couldn’t really tell what it was about.

Della’s kitchen, where, accompanied by Shuggie Otis’s “Strawberry Letter 23,” Della is insisting that she knows what she saw, and that this kind of problem doesn’t go away by itself. The waitress insists that there is no problem, then tries to walk away, but Della won’t let up. The waitress warns Della not to get into this, as it’ll get Della hurt. Della says she doesn’t scare, then orders the waitress to come into the light and look her in the eye. The waitress won’t, and walks away. Nora urges Della to leave the girl alone, but Della insists she needs help. Nora appeals to Tom, but he’s not even going to touch that. He cites that his daughter majors in business and his wife majors in other people’s business, but he’s just a restaurant owner. Hee. Nora calls after Della, warning her that if she keeps sticking her nose in other people’s business, she’s going to get it cut off.

Nora tearfully laments that that’s the last thing she ever said to her mother. Lilly softly asks her where they can find the waitress, and Nora explains that Della collected strays; the waitress’s name was Tyra, and her number’s probably in the back. Lilly tells Nora that she might want to wait and call the cleaning service; Nora insists that she’ll clean up. “I’d hire someone,” Lilly insists quietly, and Jeffries explains to Nora that once the bodies are removed, the department’s work is done, so no one’s cleaned up in there. Nora absorbs this information, then heads to the back and opens the bathroom door to see that the blood is still everywhere. She dissolves into tears, and Jeffries tells Lilly that he’s going to stay a few minutes. Nora kneels down, Jeffries rolls up his sleeves, and the two work together to clean up the blood. If this scene does not make you cry, you have no soul.

Squad room. Lilly explains that Della was nosing in Tyra’s business. “So?” Vera asks. “So, Tyra didn’t take too kindly to it,” Jeffries retorts, with just a touch of irritation. Vera shakes his head and says he interviewed Tyra, and she’s not the shooter. Lilly argues that it’s still worth a second conversation, but Vera’s convinced that it’s Simms: he’s a thug, worked on the corner, was flashing a gun, and had a conversation with Della and Derek both the night of the murder. Lilly patiently explains that Della’s slit throat indicates that it was more personal than that, but Vera argues that Della dissed Simms in front of his crew, which is personal to “these wugwomps.” That’s a great insult. I’ve got to find a way to use it.

Scotty comes up then with J. T. Simms’ juvenile record, which includes a White Castle robbery with the same MO as the chicken-and-ribs job. Vera’s somewhat vindicated by this, and Stillman asks how they missed Simms last year. “Well, you know how chatty people are rattin’ out the neighborhood badass,” Vera replies. Jeffries says they’ll follow up on Tyra, but Vera insists that Simms is a better bet. Still playing referee, Stillman instructs them to run them both down, and tells Scotty and Vera to check out Derek’s friend Joe while they’re at it.

Tyra’s apartment, where Lilly asks her about the argument with Della. Tyra denies it, but Jeffries adds that Nora thinks it was over some problem Tyra was having. Tyra says it was probably about her schedule, then introduces the detectives to Jamal, a well-muscled guy in a wife-beater, which I am beginning to suspect is not just a clever wardrobe decision. Tyra explains that the cops are there about Della and Tom, and Jamal thinks Squeak did that. Lil says he didn’t, then observes that Jamal doesn’t seem surprised. Jamal asks Tyra if she told them about Frank; Tyra says she didn’t. Jeffries asks who Frank is, and Tyra explains that Frank did odd jobs at Della’s. Jamal adds that Frank did other things, too, then orders Tyra to tell them what she saw.

Della’s kitchen. Tyra enters with a tray, then sees Frank and Della kissing. She silently turns around and leaves.

Lilly asks, in disbelief, if Della was messing with Frank. Tyra says that’s just what she saw, and Jeffries asks if she ever told anyone. Tyra says softly that people shouldn’t get messed up in other people’s relationships, and she and Jamal exchange a glance.

Badlands. Scotty and Vera are talking to the people on the streets, showing them pictures of Jamal, but everyone denies knowing Simms. Scotty reminds one man that Simms used to hang out on the corner, right in front of the man’s stoop, but the man insists he’s never seen Simms and then hurries off. Scotty sarcastically thanks him, then goes to rejoin Vera, asking if he got anything. He got told to go pound sand, and Scotty asks bitterly who else they can find to lie to them. Vera changes the subject, asking Scotty if he’s still seeing Elisa. Scotty says he’s not, and Vera asks what happened. Scotty says it was nothing, just time to move on. Vera accepts this, then asks Scotty if he’s back in the hunt. Scotty guesses he is, and Vera mentions a couple nurses from St. Joe’s, then asks Scotty if he wants to check that out. “Your wife comin’?” Scotty asks pointedly. Excellent burn. Vera glares at him, but is saved from having to respond by Scotty noticing a boy on a bike nodding in their direction, and says that someone’s trying to get their attention. Scotty approaches the boy and hands him some money, and the boy asks Scotty if he’s looking for Stick Simms.

Della’s. Nora explains that she’s planning to sell the restaurant, hoping someone’s looking for a tax write-off. Lil asks if she ever thought about opening it again, but Nora won’t in this neighborhood, explaining that whoever killed her parents probably lives within two blocks, and she can’t smile and serve them every day, then reminds Lilly and Jeffries that they wanted to ask her about Frank. Lilly explains that Tyra said he might have been close with her parents. Nora says he might have been close with her mom, perhaps, since Della had a weakness for men who needed to be saved. She’s interrupted by a young man who pokes his head in the door and asks if she’s hiring. She kindly replies that she’s not. Lilly asks Nora Frank’s last name, and she thinks it’s Morgan. Jeffries recalls Buster Morgan, the boxer, and Nora confirms that this is indeed Frank. Jeffries asks where Frank lives, and Nora says he never had a permanent situation, then asks why they’re asking. Lilly brushes off the question, saying that his name came up.

Badlands. Lil explains to Jeffries that the guys in the shelter said to try the tent city around the corner, and Jeffries says that it’s behind Big Ed’s Gym. Lilly surmises that Jeffries knows the area pretty well, and Jeffries says he grew up two blocks over, and used to go to Big Ed’s to watch guys spar. Lilly asks if he ever got in the ring, and Jeffries tells her he got hit enough in his own house. Wow. He then calls for Frank, and Frank emerges from one of the tents. Jeffries re-introduces himself, but Frank doesn’t remember him. Jeffries says they’re here about Della Lincoln, and Lilly adds that they’re investigating her murder. Frank spacily recalls that Della’s gone, and Jeffries tells Frank they’ve got a witness who saw him and Della kissing. Frank insists it was a mistake.

Della’s kitchen. Frank’s sweeping up, accompanied by Groove Armada’s “Hands of Time,” when Della walks in with a bottle of pills, asking Frank if he lost something. Frank asks her where she got that, and Della tells him that Tom found them in the trash, then kindly chides Frank that he can’t forget his meds, he’s got to take them every day. Frank whines that they make him tired, but Della argues that they make him right, then says they’re going to get him back on his feet. He smiles and kisses her, but Della pushes him away, gently but firmly telling him no. Tom walks in and demands to know what’s going on, and Frank gathers his things and nervously says he just won’t come back. He tries to duck out, but Tom stops him. He reminds Frank that Della cares about him, but that there’s different kinds of caring; Frank can’t confuse the two, and he can’t go kissing on other men’s wives. Frank tearfully insists that he won’t, and Tom softly tells him to give him the stuff, which he does. He then tells Frank that the dinner crowd will be coming in soon, and Frank smiles and nods.

Frank is still grateful that Tom didn’t kick him out, even though he had every right to. Lilly asks what the meds were for, and Frank says he gets extreme. Jeffries asks Frank if he got extreme that night and hurt Della and Tom, but Frank says that they were the only thing holding him together. Lilly asks him about the fight between Della and Tyra, and Frank explains that Della caught Tyra putting on makeup; her boyfriend hit her, and Tyra was trying to cover up the bruise, but that couldn’t fool Della.

[cellogal]

Pool hall. Simms, who’s now in a wheelchair, takes his shot right as Scotty calls his name, which causes his buddies and me to all chortle. “What’d I do?” Simms asks grouchily. “You tell us,” Scotty replies, then informs him that they’re there about the murders at Della’s last year. Simms claims to not remember anything about it, but Vera doesn’t quite believe this, saying that if his boys saw him almost get b*tched-slapped by an old woman, he’d remember. Simms orders Scotty to get “Biggie” out of his face, and Scotty wheels him to the corner and theorizes that Della made him look small, and he went back later to settle the score. Vera mentions the gun he flashed at Derek and Joe, and Simms, who seems to have caught the eye of someone at the bar, says he’s not talking anymore. Scotty asks Simms if he’s scared of Joe, and Simms replies by asking Scotty who he thinks runs the game now. Vera asks how Joe took over the block, and when Simms doesn’t reply, Scotty reminds him that they’ve got him at the scene that night, he’s got a beef with two of the victims, and priors with the same MO. Vera also orders him not to play the cripple card, since triple murderers get no love. Simms realizes he has no choice, then admits to having seen Joe outside the restaurant the next day.

Exterior, Della’s, where we hear Soul Hooligan’s “Soul Searching.” Cops comb the scene while shocked neighbors look on, and we see Lilly head out and tell a CSU that there are three bodies in the restaurant. They begin to wheel in stretchers, and Lilly explains to Joe that she’s not the detective on the job anymore, and tells him to ask for Detective Vera. She then asks Joe if he’s friends with one of the victims, and he says he is. Lilly says she sorry, then takes off as Simms approaches. “Check out Homicide Barbie,” he says. Heh. He then asks if Derek’s in there, and Joe confirms it. Simms doesn’t waste any time on sympathy, instructing Joe to roll with him and be his soldier, so Joe won’t have to worry about something like that happening to him. Joe doesn’t answer, and Simms tries again, beginning with “Yo, dog,” but Joe angrily cuts him off, saying he’s not his dog. “Then what are you?” Simms demands. “Someone you’ve gotta step around,” Joe replies, then instructs Simms to take a look and see what he can do. Simms thinks for a minute, then asks Joe if he’s saying he took his own boy out. Joe just smiles, then pats Simms on the shoulder and thinks maybe Simms can come be his soldier.

Simms tells Vera and Scotty that it was “Biblical” and “ice-cold.” Vera asks if he just rolled over and let Joe take his turf, but Simms says Joe backed up his words and came down on Simms’ crew. Scotty asks Simms where they can find Joe, and Simms argues that if he tells them that, he gets killed. “Not if he goes away for this,” Vera replies, explaining that a triple murder gets you a date with a needle real quick.

Squad room. Stillman asks Jeffries if they’re off Frank as a suspect, and Jeffries explains that Frank’s goofed in the head, but doesn’t have murder in him. Lilly’s pulled a file and discovered Tyra’s secret: Jamal was beating her up, and Della was wise to it. See? Not just a clever wardrobe decision. Stillman explains that Scotty called in and said they’re picking up Joe Moore, who bragged to Simms about being the shooter. Lilly can’t quite believe it, saying he was in shock at the scene, but Jeffries theorizes that he was just playing dumb. Meanwhile, Stillman’s discovered something hinky in the lab report: the first time they ran the prints, they excluded matches for the victims, but a blanket search this time turned up Derek’s prints all over Della and Tom’s shoes. Lilly realizes that Derek must have dragged the bodies. “Oh, God,” Jeffries laments. “Tell me Derek wasn’t in on this.” Stillman theorizes that, since Derek and Joe were pals, it could have been an inside job gone bad.

Interview room. Joe’s awakened from a nap by a powerful kick on the table from Vera, who sarcastically asks if they woke him. Nonplussed, Joe asks if he can get a Coke or something, but Vera’s more interested in visiting for a minute. Scotty recaps Joe’s busy year: possession, assault, assault with intent, then asks if taking down Della’s gave Joe a taste. Vera asks how it worked that night; did Derek leave the back door open for him, or what? Joe asks them why they’re talking about Derek, and Scotty guesses that perhaps he and Derek robbed the place so Joe could pay for that sweet Escalade. Joe orders them to show some respect, since Derek is dead. Vera leans down and points out that Derek wasn’t dead when he dragged Della and Tom’s bodies into the bathroom, then tells them that they have the prints. Scotty theorizes that Derek lost it after Joe shot Della and Tom; Joe couldn’t trust Derek to shut up, so he had to pop Derek, too. Joe denies this, saying he and Derek were tight. Scotty argues that they were taking different paths; Derek was straight and had no taste for the life. “Not like you,” Vera adds, thinking Joe must have been tired of getting hassled on the block. “That night was your comin’ out,” Scotty finishes. Joe asks if they want to know where he was when Derek got shot. Um, yeah; I think maybe they do. Joe says he was taking a boot to the head from his mom’s boyfriend, which required nine stitches, and instructs them to ask at the Temple ER. Vera asks Joe why he bragged to everyone about being the one who did the murders, and Joe asks if Vera thinks anyone on the block has looked at him since then. Stillman comes into the observation room then and informs Lilly and Jeffries, who’ve been watching the goings-on, that Tyra’s there. Lilly leaves.

Administrative office. Tyra asks about the bench warrant they told her she had, and Lilly confirms it, but says it’s not really about the bench warrant, it’s about Jamal. Tyra nervously lights a cigarette, then asks what about him. Lilly says she knows he hits her; Tyra denies it. Lilly smiles kindly, then takes a seat across from Tyra and says that Della knew, too, and heard that she could be pretty forceful if she wanted something. Tyra confirms this with a smile, and Lilly bets that Della wanted Tyra to leave Jamal. When Tyra doesn’t answer, Lilly appeals to her, saying that they’re talking about Della. “Don’t you owe her the truth?” she asks. Tyra nods, then softly tells Lilly that Della said she could come stay with her. Lilly surmises that this must have angered Jamal, and Tyra says Jamal didn’t know, and that if he was angry with anyone, it was Derek.

Fire escape. As Ashanti’s “Foolish” plays in the background, Tyra’s taking a smoke break when Derek comes up to her, chiding her that those things will kill her. Tyra tells him to go back in, or Della will be looking for him, but he doesn’t. Instead, he asks her if she’s okay. When she doesn’t answer, he tenderly lifts her chin and examines her bruise. She softly orders him to stop that, and Derek reminds Tyra that she deserves someone who’ll treat her right. “Too bad you ain’t five years older,” she replies. Derek retorts that he’s old enough to know a good thing when he sees it, then insists that his mama didn’t raise no fool. This gets him a laugh, and he tells Tyra that it’s about time she smiled. Tyra insists that he doesn’t want this, since he’s going places, and he argues that he’s got room for two. Wow. Tyra argues that he’s a kid, but he’s undeterred, telling her to give him a few years. He then takes the cigarette from Tyra’s hand, saying he’s going to make sure she’s around that long. Suddenly, Jamal approaches, Tyra sees him, and tells Derek that they need to go in.

Tyra tearfully says that Derek was a sweet boy. Lilly asks if Jamal killed those people, and Tyra doesn’t know, but she says he never came home that night. Lilly then picks up a card and explains to Tyra that it’s a place where she can be safe, then writes her own number on the back and hands it to Tyra. After a moment, Tyra takes the card, and Lilly softly instructs her not to go home, then asks her where she can find Jamal.

Lobby, PPD. Scotty says that Joe’s alibi checked out, and they had to cut him loose; Lilly tells him that she likes Jamal better anyway. Scotty asks Lilly if Vera screwed the job up after he took it from her, and Lilly says she doesn’t know, citing Vera’s trouble at home this time last year. They’re interrupted by the approach of Kite, who awkwardly greets them. Uncomfortably, Scotty looks from Kite to Lilly and splits, telling them he’ll get the car. Lilly tells Kite he kinda snapped out in court the other day, and Kite smilingly replies that he kinda got made a fool of. See, now that’s not so bad. The first encounter is always the worst. Lilly then informs him that they’ve got new direction on the job, so it might come back to him. “Really?” Kite says with false enthusiasm. “Will Vera testify again?” Lilly smiles and cuts him off, and he cuts the crap and asks her what the new angle is. Lilly tells him it looks like a jealous boyfriend, who had it out for the kid who worked there. “Always love, isn’t it?” Kite asks. “Or money,” Lilly retorts as she steps around him. Heh. Kite calls after her that they’re going to have to work together. Ummm, I don’t see Lilly as the one who’s being the immature jerk in this scenario, there, buddy boy. She stops and agrees that they will, and Kite then asks her how she is. She says she’s great…or, good, at least. He softly asks her if she regrets it; she doesn’t, and neither does he. So why all the evil misery? Kite then asks her if she’s been to First Thursdays lately; she says she hasn’t, then walks off while waving goodbye.

Loading dock. Jamal protests that he barely knew Derek, and Scotty retorts that all Jamal had to know was that he was touching the merchandise. Lilly theorizes on the potential embarrassment of Tyra leaving Jamal for a seventeen-year-old, but Jamal’s confident that Tyra wasn’t going to leave. Lilly argues that Derek painted her a pretty nice picture; Jamal heard it himself. “Trust me,” he replies smugly. “Tyra wouldn’t leave.” Scotty surmises that this is because Jamal would break her face if she did. Jamal doesn’t deny this, but insists that he didn’t do those murders. Lilly observes that Jamal has no alibi, but he does have motive and opportunity, and Scotty orders him to start talking about what happened in the alley that night. Jamal says it was just a little life lesson: Don’t Touch the Merchandise.

Alley behind Della’s, where we hear Master Source’s “Mine For The Takin’.” Tyra suggests that she and Derek go in; Derek wants her to just tell him he’s not crazy, but she’s not paying attention to him. Jamal confronts them and shoves Derek; Tyra yells at him to leave Derek alone. Jamal demands to know if Derek’s trying to get with his girl, and Derek asks what he’s going to do; hit him like he hits Tyra? This earns him another shove, and the two start scuffling. Jamal quickly has Derek on the ground and starts kicking him, asking if he really wants to get with Tyra. Tyra protests that Derek’s just a kid, and they’re interrupted by shattering glass, the source of which is Tre throwing bottles and asking Jamal if he’s messing with his brother. Della and Tom burst out the back door and demand to know what’s going on, and Della sees the situation and orders Jamal not to come back. He brushes this off and walks away.

Jamal tells Lilly and Scotty that he left, since his business was done. As Lilly’s phone rings and she walks away to answer it, Scotty asks Jamal where he went, insisting that he needs an alibi. “Girl,” is Jamal’s verbose response. “Girl that ain’t Tyra?” Scotty replies, but Lilly interrupts him. He orders Jamal not to go anywhere, and Lilly informs Scotty of another shooting in the Badlands: J. T. Simms got gunned down in his wheelchair. Oh, snap.

Interview room. Jeffries comments to Joe on the cheapness of life, and Vera sarcastically remarks that taking down a guy in a wheelchair is pretty brave. Joe insists it wasn’t him, and Vera asks him who else he figures would want to shoot down Stick Simms. “Someone talks to the cops, they’re gonna get smoked,” Joe retorts. Jeffries asks Joe what happened; he and Derek steered clear of the streets, were on the path, then plays his trump card. “What would Derek think if he saw you sitting in here?” Joe retorts that Derek’s dead, Della and Tom are dead. “The rest of us do what it takes to survive.” “Nothin’ more important than street creds, right?” Vera asks sarcastically, and Joe angrily orders Vera not to talk to him like he knows him. Jeffries suggests that Vera go get Joe a soft drink, and after glaring at them for a minute, Vera does.

Jeffries quietly tells Joe that he knew Della and Tom. “Good for you,” Joe replies, and Jeffries orders him not to disrespect them; they deserve better. Joe, mercifully, has no replying snark, and Jeffries then tells Joe that the two of them are alike. Joe scoffs at this. “You see me workin’ for the man?” he asks. Jeffries explains that he grew up in the Badlands, with crap parents who didn’t care anything about him except to send him out to buy their cigarettes. “So?” Joe demands. Jeffries patiently continues, saying he had a football coach who got him off the corners, showed him discipline, and told him he could be something instead of just another street hanger. “And I had a best friend like Derek,” he concludes. “We made plans to get a better life.” He then says that if he’d lost either of them, he doesn’t know which way he would have turned, then says he knows Joe woke up one morning and everyone he put hope in was gone. “I got by,” Joe insists, and Jeffries tells him to look around, that this is the end of the line. Joe is silent for a minute, then says he doesn’t know who killed Derek. Jeffries urges him to help him figure out who did, then reminds Joe that he and Derek always walked home together, then asks why they didn’t that night. Joe replies that Derek wasn’t going home.

Alley behind Della’s. We pick up where the previous flashback left off, with Della charging out and ordering Jamal not to come back. He leaves, and Tyra bends over Derek’s fallen form, but Della orders her inside and then tells Tom to give her a hand with Derek. They help him up, and Tom says Derek will be fine, then says he’d take some blows for Tyra, too. Della sees Tre sitting in the alley and goes over to him. Tre slurs boastfully that he stopped Jamal from beating on Derek, and Della scolds him for not getting cleaned up. “You promised,” Derek adds from behind Della. Della tells Tre that it breaks her heart to see him like this, but if he can’t look after Derek, maybe it’s best if she does. Tre orders Derek to tell Della how he looks out for him, but any reply Derek might have had is cut off by Della telling Tre to get himself cleaned up and then come back. She then tells Joe to go on home, since Derek will stay there a while. They exchange fist-bumps and say they’ll see each other tomorrow, and then Della escorts Derek inside. Joe leaves, and Tre’s still standing there.

Joe says he woke up the next day, and everything was different. Jeffries nods and agrees softly, then heads out into the squad room.

Vera asks Jeffries if Joe admitted to shooting Simms, and Jeffries says not yet. Vera proclaims this a community service murder, thinking it’s good that they’ll both be off the streets. The ever-patient Jeffries seems to have finally had enough. “Yeah,” he says. “It’s just the Badlands, who cares?” Vera shrugs and says that it’s just two thugs, so no, he doesn’t care. “Ever think there’d be one less murder if you’ve have worked this job right a year ago?” Jeffries demands of Vera. Vera insists that he worked a good case, and Jeffries tells him that if he wants to be sloppy in his personal life, his marriage, go ahead. Vera orders Jeffries not to talk about his marriage, but Jeffries isn’t done yet. “But don’t be a bum on this job,” he says icily. Wow. Stillman finally calls him off, suggesting that they take a walk, and Scotty and Lilly look at each other uncomfortably as Jeffries leaves with Stillman. Scotty then reminds Lilly that Tre told them he saw Derek earlier that night, but he didn’t mention the bottle incident later on. Yeah, that seems important.

National Guard shooting range. Tre’s doing some target practice when Scotty and Lilly approach him, and he asks them what’s up. Scotty reminds him that he said that the last time he saw Derek was earlier that night. Tre uncomfortably agrees, and then Lilly says he came back later all strung out. Tre looks at them blankly for a minute, then seems to remember and claims that he forgot. Scotty says that an ugly fight like that is tough to forget, and Lilly suggests that they run DNA from the scene through the military databank. Scotty attempts to take the rifle from Tre; he won’t hand it over, and Scotty softly orders him to let it go. Tre finally does, and then says he wouldn’t have let someone go to jail for it; he would have told the truth. I don’t think Scotty and Lilly are buying that story. Lilly quietly orders Tre to tell them.

Della’s. Derek’s cleaning up when Tre knocks on the door. Derek opens it and asks him why he came back. Tre says he needs ten bucks. Derek angrily tells Tre that he can’t keep coming there wasted, and Tre says he’s back for the food, since he’s hungry. Derek relents, saying he can have some chicken, but orders Tre to be quiet, since Tom and Della are in the back. Tre starts chowing down on one of the baskets of food on the counter, then reaches in and takes some money from the register. Derek catches him and demands to know what he’s doing; Tre insists he’s good for it, but Derek orders him to put it back. Tom, having heard the argument, comes in and asks what’s going on; Tre immediately pulls out a gun and points it at Tom. Tom calmly tells Tre not to be crazy, Derek demands to know what he’s doing, and Tre orders him to step off. Tom tells Tre to give him the gun; Tre responds by shooting Tom. Tre and Derek both panic, and then Della comes in carrying a large knife. Tre orders her to get back, then shoots her, too, and hysterically tells Derek to get them. Derek tearfully says they’ve got to call an ambulance, but Tre orders for him to put them in the back room. They argue, but Tre’s pleas for Derek to help him eventually win out. As they drag the bodies to the back, Tre says that he and Derek will start over; they’ll take the cash and start a new life, but Derek’s not listening. He sobs that Della and Tom are his family; Tre takes issue with this, arguing that he’s blood, and that they’ve got a plan to go away. Derek protests that Della’s still alive, but Tre screams that she’s not his family. He picks up the knife and slits Della’s throat, insisting that he’s Derek’s family, then asks if Derek’s got it now. Derek starts to hyperventilate and says that he’s calling for help. Tre tells Derek not to make him hurt him, too. Derek doesn’t doesn’t believe Tre will shoot him, since they’re brothers, and he loves Tre. Derek says he’ll get Tre some help, but Tre shoots him anyway.

As Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You” starts up, Scotty and Lilly arrest Tre and escort him out of the rifle range.

In the interview room, Scotty hands Joe some paper for him to write out his confession as Stillman looks on.

Tyra studies the card Lilly gave her, then hastily hides it as Jamal comes up behind her and kisses her cheek.

A beaming Nora walks up to Tom and hands him a clean white shirt and black tie. He studies it for a minute, then smiles his thanks.

Apparently, Scotty has declined Vera’s invitation to hang out with the two nurses, because Vera seems to be having a grand old time entertaining them by himself.

Nora has reopened Della’s to much fanfare, and she greets Jeffries with an enthusiastic hug when he walks in. Lilly looks around and sees Derek behind the counter. He disappears, and Lilly sees that another young man of similar age has taken his place.

We then focus on a photo on the wall of a younger Tom and Della and Nora as a toddler in Jeffries’ arms. The photo comes to life as Jeffries bounces Nora in his arms.

Back in the present, Jeffries turns around and sees Tom and Della leaning against the counter smiling proudly. Jeffries smiles back.