Against the Wall

== sync, corrected by elderman ==

Wait, you didn't tell them?

The Bears were playing, okay?

It never seemed to be a good time.

There was a game last night?

It's called Monday Night Football, Mackie.

It's been around for, like, 40 years.

I'm going to tell them!

When? It's already been a week.

I know. I will. Sunday dinner.

That's another five days.

- It will be fine. - No, it won't.

Waiting is only gonna make this worse.

Trust me, nothing could possibly make this any worse.

Very nice.

There was a rock, okay, Mackie?

Sir, you really don't have to help me.

- Abby? - Danny!

Oh, my gosh.

What's it been, like, three years?

I see you're still tripping over things that don't exist.

- Oh, there was a rock. - No, there wasn't.

- Hi, I'm Mackie. - Danny Mitchell.

Danny used to work in the D.A.'s office.

You look good.

You still on patrol?

No, actually, today is the first day

of my new job-- I made detective.

Congratulations. Which department?

Internal Affairs.

Wow! Bet your family loved that.

Oh, no, she hasn't told them yet.

Oh...Okay.

Good luck with that.

I should get going.

- It's really great seeing you. - You too.

Maybe we could grab lunch, catch up.

Yeah, sure. Sounds great.

Here, call me with a time. Call me if you need a lawyer.

Thanks.

All right.

He is so cute.

What is the story with you guys?

We're just friends.

The guy was totally into you.

No, he wasn't.

- Do you mind if I call him? - No.

- Can I help you? - Uh, Lieutenant Papadol.

Corner office.

You got your B.A. in Criminal Law,

Master's in Criminology.

Top of your class at the academy,

excellent review by your Captain.

And you aced the Detective exam?

- How'd I get so lucky? - Sir?

Why Internal Affairs? And don't blow smoke up my ass.

You were the only department with an opening.

I'm flattered.

Lina Flores,

wanna meet your new partner, Abby Kowalski?

Show her the ropes.

Don't look so worried, I still have three more months.

Sorry--

My husband is a very big man.

Little Carlos takes after his papa.

You're having a boy.

- That's great. - Not really, I wanted a girl.

Ladies, less chat, more work, eh?

Got you two off-duty officers, possible involvement

in an altercation with several bar patrons.

Hazy way for a good cop to lose everything.

For sure.

Is Lieutenant Papadol from Toronto?

Yeah. Transferred here a few years back

when he married a local. Word of advice--

don't mention the Stanley Cup.

Oh, park it there.

You looking for their horns and pitchforks?

No.

Yes. Sorry.

We're checking out Roy Taggot and George Lee.

You know 'em? No.

Good.

Heads, you take Taggot,

tails, Lee.

Officer Taggot, Detective Kowalski.

So...What happened last night?

- Read my report. - I did.

You spelled "verbal" wrong.

Complaint stated that you slammed a bar stool

over Mr. Penn's head.

The guy was a jackass.

The guy was a jackass?

Seriously? That-- what does that mean?

Are you saying that's why you hit him,

or are you just commenting on his personality?

I'm trying to help you.

This isn't your first complaint.

You already have a prior for fighting.

Do you really want this on your record?

Look, Taggot, I get it.

I do. You and your partner were having a beer,

trying to unwind, and this jackass...

Uh, Joe Penn comes over and starts mouthing off.

Maybe it was about the Cubs,

maybe it was about Chicago's new mayor, I don't know.

But this Joe Penn crossed a line somehow,

and you felt you needed to step in and deal with it.

Or not.

If I'm anywhere close, just grunt.

Read my report.

Lee says he and Taggot had been there about an hour,

had a couple of beers, were about to leave

when this Joe Penn got into a fight

with another patron.

He and Taggot stepped in to break it up.

How'd you do?

Yeah, that's pretty much what Taggot said.

Hey, Sis.

I'll just be a minute.

Donny, Steve.

Hey. What are you doing here?

Shouldn't you be out busting bad guys?

The shift doesn't start till 11:00.

Yeah, but this isn't your station.

Why are you acting weirder than usual?

- I'm not. - Yes, you are.

- Yeah, you really are. - Way beyond your normal weird.

Well, I'm just surprised

to see you guys here, that's all.

So why are you here?

To wish Sean Dunn good luck.

We talked about this last night.

It's his last day. He's moving to Tampa.

Is any of this ringing a bell for you?

Right. Yes. Right.

Well, you-- you should go do that.

I don't want to keep you.

- Abby. - Yes?

What are you doing here?

And why aren't you in uniform?

Look, I really didn't want to talk about this here.

I was gonna tell you all last night,

but then I thought I should probably

tell you at Sunday dinner.

- Abby, you're rambling. - No, I'm not.

Isn't that that bitch from I.A.?

Her name is Lina Flores, and she's not a bitch.

She's my partner.

Well, she might be a bitch.

I don't really know yet. I just started.

- What are you talking about? - Partner?

I made detective

and took an opening in Internal Affairs.

- You what? - Does dad know about this?

No! And please don't say anything.

This is so typical of you.

What is that supposed to mean?

Figure it out.

He--

Abby.

Those your brothers?

Both cops. And you went to I.A.?

- Mm-hmm. - Are you crazy?

Apparently.

I'll take the lead on this.

You jump in if you have a question.

Joe Penn? Yeah.

We need to talk to you about the complaint you filed.

I already told you guys everything last night.

We're with Internal Affairs.

We conduct our own investigation.

I'm kinda busy.

You wanna retract your statement?

Then tell us what happened.

I'm drinking a beer, talking to my buds.

Out of nowhere, this dickmo flies--

- Which dickmo would that be? - The big ugly one.

Taggot? He starts going off on Val.

- Who's Val? - The bartender.

Taggot was drunk. How do you know?

- You could tell. - But how?

Were you sitting next to him?

Did you buy his drinks, count how many he had?

Was he slurring his words, stumbling--

Why would you assume officer Taggot was drunk?

'Cause Val was trying to cut him off.

He goes nuts.

Shoves her up against the wall.

Me and my buds step in to try and help...

Next thing I know,

I'm in E.R. getting stitches.

We're gonna need the names of all your buds.

- Hey, Richie. - Batten down the hatches.

Brother big-mouth strikes again.

Damn it. Did Steve call you?

Uh-huh.

I told him not to tell anyone.

Does dad know?

Well, I haven't heard any yelling, so I'd say no.