The Equalizer

Give me some love, dealer. Thank you.

Hit me.

- Good. - Let's go.

Yeah.

Big money, here we go.

I told you.

Copy. On my way.

Code name:

This is Baby Bird checking in.

I heard talk about a demonstration of some kind

at a big event coming up.

I gotta go.

Frankie, what is so important you have to

bust up in here while I'm using the bathroom?

What are you looking for?

I check the call log,

am I gonna find this was just dialed?

I don't know. That's not mine.

Get off me! No.

No...

He asked you out? It's about time.

He invited me for drinks.

Sometimes drinks are just drinks. Oh, girl, please.

You know what's in that man's head.

We all do. Maybe.

But I'm trying to figure out what's in my own.

Dante's got a lot going on.

So do I.

That is just life, baby.

And that is no reason to run away from this.

I'm not running away.

I just think...

...neither one of us wants something casual.

And if we rush into this before we're ready...

- Morning. - Hey. Morning.

How's everything at your dad's?

How's he holding up?

I don't know. Kelly moved all her stuff out,

so the place just feels sort of empty.

I just can't believe they broke up.

I never even saw them fight.

Relationships are hard, sweetheart,

but your dad's gonna be okay.

So will you. How about some juice?

Sure, Auntie.

Oh, um, by the way, I'm gonna be home a little late.

I signed up for another Peer Ear shift after school.

Peer Ear. That's the student counseling program.

Mm-hmm. And you know what?

I am really enjoying it.

So, last week, I helped a guy talk through a recent breakup.

And today I'm meeting up with a new girl

who's having a hard time making friends.

Look at you, making the world a better place.

I would expect nothing less from my baby girl.

No. Okay, it is nothing compared to what you do, Mom.

No, don't diminish this.

No matter how big or small people's problems are,

you're making a difference in their lives.

That's what counts.

Thanks, Mom.

I gotta take this. I'm proud of you, Dee.

Hey, Marcus, what's up?

Thanks for meeting me, Robyn.

Sorry to bother you so early.

No bother. Everything okay?

Uh... Actually, no.

My old partner's gone missing on an op.

Vice Detective Rose Garcia.

Saved my ass on more than one occasion.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Well, how long since her last contact?

Three days.

Went in as a waitress at this private casino

run by a guy named Charles Benson.

Part of the Blanco syndicate.

So Vice thinks there's more going on than just gambling.

That's what Garcia was trying to find out.

Thought she was getting close, but then she disappeared.

Well, why can't Vice just raid the place?

I mean, surely a missing undercover is probable cause.

Well, seems the Feds have been sitting on Benson for a while.

Part of a larger case they're building

against the Blancos, so no one can make a move

without their say-so.

And an ongoing investigation is more important

than a Vice cop's life.

I can't leave her there, Robyn.

We can't. And we won't.

Hello, Harry.

How can I help you? Yes.

M.E.L., hack into the grid and show me all live footage

from every street cam on Broadway

between 70th and 79th.

Task completed.

Oh, it speaks now. Yes, yes.

Pretty impressive, huh? It's something.

Did you get my text about Benson?

Yes. Uh, and I was just about to put M.E.L. on it.

M.E.L., uh, show me everything you've got

about criminal Charles Benson.

Use all available databases.

Checking.

Ah, you got this thing back up and running.

Task completed.

Looks like Benson went from two-bit con artist

to Blanco lieutenant in a little over six years.

If we're gonna find out what happened

to Dante's old partner, I think we need to get

someone inside Benson's casino.

Except if Benson made Detective Garcia

as an undercover, he's gonna be wary

of anyone just turning up out of nowhere.

So whomever it is should ideally be

someone he already knows.

M.E.L., generate a complete list of all known associates

of Charles Benson, past and present.

Searching.

Task completed.

What's that news article there?

This was Benson's old crew when he was pulling cons.

Looks like their last job didn't go well.

Their mark came home early, surprised them,

at which point Benson pulled a gun

and started shooting. Only the other guy shot back.

"One associate, Sylvia Ross, was killed.

"Charles Benson fled the scene,

"is wanted for questioning, and a third member of the crew

was apprehended."

Where is he?

The guy who got caught?

J.J. Cranson, doing eight and a half at Riverview.

You expect me to get this guy out of prison?

Hear me out. J.J. Cranson

has been serving time ever since a con

he and Benson pulled went sideways.

Benson got off scot-free.

Which means J.J. didn't dime on him.

So you think that makes him...

Someone Benson might be happy to see.

All right, maybe, but this guy is a con artist, a liar,

degenerate gambler, not to mention

a serious flight risk. I know it's unusual,

but you came to me because the usual playbook

isn't gonna cut it.

Let me try this.

What if he doesn't want to help?

Oh, I can be very persuasive.

Hell no, I ain't going nowhere near Charles Benson.

I value my life. No, thank you.

What if I got you a reduced sentence?

I just did eight years.

I got six months left, and I'm a free man.

Plus, I got a beautiful woman waiting on me, too.

We're gonna move to a small town in Vermont,

live a nice, quiet life. I'm out.

I'll go serve out the rest of my time

in a safe cell.

What about your old partner Sylvia?

What about her? Seems to me the whole reason

you got caught that night is because

you stayed behind to help her.

A lot of good that did.

She died anyway.

But at least you cared enough to try.

Which Benson didn't.

What's it even matter, okay?

It's the past. We-we can't bring her back.

We can't bring Sylvia back.

But you can keep it from happening again...

by helping us with Benson.

Listen, lady, let me get this straight with you.

J.J. Cranson, I don't do no snitching.

But this is not about snitching.

This is about saving a life.

This missing detective is my friend's old partner.

His Sylvia.

I see what you're trying to do.

You're trying to manipulate my emotions,

and I don't appreciate it.

And it's not gonna work. Sorry.

If you're okay letting Benson skate

for what he did to Sylvia, that's your call.

But if you're willing to let it happen

to another woman because of him,

then that's on you.

Now, that is a good burger right there.

I'm ready to turn over a new leaf.

No more gambling, no more conning.

Just a nice, quiet life.

It's a good thing. I'm not sure

how much action you'll find in Vermont with, uh...

What's your lady's name?

Bertha. Bertha Mitchell.

And how'd you guys meet?

We haven't met yet, but I met her through

a prison pen pal deal.

So it was love at first read, huh?

No. But we spoke on the phone,

swapped some pictures.