Memphis Beat

Want to come over in the yard

and play while I'm planting them,

like when you were young?

We made lemonade.

You got it wrong.

There was lemonade, but I planted and you played.

Well, can you blame me?

You had such nice little friends.

That little George mathias down the street.

And...

Walter.

And Jimmy.

I liked that Jimmy.

Yeah. He was a-a fun guy.

His mama called me.

He got arrested a couple nights ago.

Yeah. I heard. It's a shame.

Well, I know you care more than that about .

You two had your little band together.

Banjo... Jameson, mama.

And it wasn't just a little band. All right, see? You do care.

The boys down at the 9th picked him up.

I'm sure they had good reason.

Well, maybe you can check on it.

You know, make sure that he's not in trouble

for something he didn't do.

Look, we're just not really friends anymore.

You know, all that happened a long time ago.

I know.

I just ... I'd rather not get involved.

Look, you two may not be friends,

but his mama is my friend.

And she has asked me for help.

And now I'm asking you.

Can I help you, Miss Estelle?

Davey, where's my daughter?

Uh, she's, uh, working on official business.

Well, I'm here on official business, too.

Now get out of my way, or I'll move you.

And don't you think I won't.

Hey, mama.

What brings you ...

I just went down to the DMV

to renew my license, and ...

You know what? Why don't I come by later?

We can have coffee ...

Child, do not interrupt me.

You had my driver's license revoked!

If you want to drive, you got to pass the test.

It's the same rule for everybody.

I've been passing that test since Charlie Parker was alive,

and nobody's ever sat down and watched me take it

like they did today!

Maybe they thought you needed watching.

I know you had something to do with this.

And I'm here to tell you

I've been driving damn near my whole life,

and I've got no intention of stopping now!

Out of my way, beanpole!

Ow.

Did you talk to somebody from the DMV?

It had to be done.

Not that I don't enjoy soaking up this serenity,

but I'd love to know where we're going.

Well, a family friend got into a bit of trouble.

My mama asked me to look into it.

What'd this friend do?

You know that armed robbery at the harbor

- a couple nights ago? - Yeah.

Well, that's what they're saying he did.

Detective Moran, thanks for coming down.

Not a problem.

Now, you were cryptic on the phone.

You boys have some new information on my case?

No, this is more of a personal thing.

Wanted to see if you'd be willing

to answer some questions about Jimmy Wagner.

You're out of your jurisdiction a bit on this one, aren't you?

Well, believe me, I don't want to be up in your dishes,

but my mom asked me to look into it.

He's an old family friend.

Well, it's...

It's pretty straightforward.

About 10:00 P.M. Saturday,

two armed men in masks boarded the boat.

Thieves took diamond rings, watches, wallets, purses,

and all the cash the newly married couple had been given.

All told, about $100,000 worth of loot.

Probably not the wedding day the bride had in mind.

Mm. After they swept the place,

the two guys and a third man,

waiting in the water with the jet skis,

took off across the lake.

How'd you come up with Wagner?

We looked for possible landing sites along the shoreline.

Jimmy's boat shop is just down the way.

That's right.

Owning a boat shop's not enough

to make him a suspect in an armed robbery.

No, but we found fresh tracks coming out of the water

and three damp wet suits in his boat house.

He lawyer up?

Immediately.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Mm.

This friend of yours deaf?

Not that I know of.

Kind of hard not to hear three guys on jet skis

coming up to your yard in the middle of the night.

I know.

Armed robbery doesn't fit the guy I knew.

When was the last time you saw him?

About 15 years ago.

Plenty of time to turn into somebody else.

Hey, Jimmy.

Your mama called me.

She shouldn't have done that.

They treating you all right?

Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine.

You asked for a lawyer,

so I can't really ask you any questions.

Then why are you he?

To see if I can help.

Don't need your help. I didn't do it.

These are some pretty serious charges.

I wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.

I'll tell mama you...

You did what you could.

Well?

He said thanks but no.

You offer to help a guy in jail for armed robbery,

and he turns it down?

Sometimes things don't make sense.

You've been acting like a wounded baby bird

since we started looking into this thing.

What's up?

Well, the two of us ... We had a band.

The band broke up.

Oh, so this was about a girl.

If I say yes, will you leave me alone?

Ah, the trials and tribulations

of young and vulnerable hearts.

It was a long time ago, Whitehead.

I had a girlfriend. She hooked up with Jimmy.

End of band. End of story.

My mom asked me to look into it.

I did and now I'm done.

Was this girl a blonde? Blue eyes?

Yeah, why?

Dwight?

Margo.

I'll let you two talk alone.

Did you come to help Jimmy?

Yeah, but he didn't want to talk to me.

Well, you guys haven't seen each other in years.

Whatever he said, he didn't mean it.

I think he did, margo.

I can't get involved. Dwight, please.

I was with him at 10:00 P.M. when the robberies happened.

Did you tell the police that?

Yes, but I'm his wife. They don't believe me.

They said he can go to jail for 10 years.

You can't let that happen.

I'll see what I can do.

Thank you.

I can't believe I got suckered into helping with this.

Are you kidding me? Of course you did.

You're that guy.

What do you mean, "that guy"?

You help every stray that crosses your path

whether they deserve it or not.

This coming from the man who stops his car

for every mangy dog in Memphis.

At least mine start out as dogs.

Hey, Sutton, you want to do a little bit of research

on that marina heist?

The one with the jet skis?

That'd be the one.

I need to get my hands on the case file.

I'm not supposed to be doing this, am I?

That's a way of putting it.

Excellent.

Hey.

You got 20 bucks I could borrow?

All I got's a $10 and a couple ones.

See? That guy. Ha ha ha.

Bill! Hey.

Uh, can I have a minute?

Are you okay?

Of course I'm not okay.

I don't have a damn driver's license.

But it's obviously best that you don't.

This was not my fault.

Mama, you rear-ended somebody.

Which I blame on you.

How does that make any sense?

You ruined my confidence by getting my license revoked.

You are a driving menace.

How would you know? You never go anywhere with me.