The Lincoln Lawyer
Based on: The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly
Season 4 – Episode 1
Episode title: 7211956
Original release date: February 5, 2026 (Netflix)
Plot: Following the discovery of Sam Scales’ body in his trunk, Mickey is arrested and held without bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, facing murder charges. Despite the risks, he insists on representing himself and refuses to waive his right to a speedy trial. While incarcerated, Mickey pays an inmate named Bamba for protection. Cisco investigates people with a grudge against Mickey, but finds no leads on who could have framed him. Lorna struggles to keep the firm’s remaining clients from fleeing due to the scandal, and manages to get a new client for a divorce case. When Hayley visits, she is overwhelmed by seeing him in prison, leading Mickey to ask Maggie not to bring her again. During a hearing, the original rookie prosecutor is replaced by experienced “Death Row” Dana Berg, but they manage to compel discovery of the footage of his arrest. Izzy, trying to become a licensed paralegal, strikes up a relationship with a classmate, Grace. Lorna, using advice from Maggie, gets the footage of the arrest, and she and Cisco discover that the officer received a text message and started his car to follow Mickey before noticing his car was missing its license plate.
* * *
Transcript
Note for Students & Writers: This transcript is archived here for educational purposes, critical analysis, and screenwriting study. All rights belong to the original creators.
[pensive music playing]
[Mickey] There were 750 murder cases filed in Los Angeles last year.
750 times the prosecutors filed charges under Penal Code Section 187, the biggest, most important charge they can file.
No matter how different the facts were in each of those cases, at the end of the day, every one of them was the same.
Because at the end of the day, every murder case is like a tree.
A tall, shady tree.
And it’s the prosecutor’s job to feed and water that tree.
They will use every tool they have to guard and protect that tree.
[indistinct chatter]
[Mickey] Direct evidence, circumstantial evidence, forensic science, motive, means, and opportunity.
The state will spare no expense to give that tree everything it needs to grow big and strong.
Because the bigger and stronger that tree grows, the easier it will be to get a conviction.
And that’s what it’s all about.
That’s the number one rule of any murder case.
[indistinct chatter]
[Mickey] No matter what, somebody… has to pay.
So if you’re accused of murder, what you need is an axe.
Chop that tree down and burn it to ashes.
And… you’re the man with the axe?
[Mickey] Huh? Oh, no.
No, Edgar, I don’t have an axe for you.
From what I can see, you’re pretty much screwed.
[scoffs]
Man, what the hell do you know, Haller? Hmm?
If you’re so smart, how come you’re in here with me?
[buzzer sounds] [indistinct chatter]
Well, it’s a mistake. One that I intend to rectify quickly.
Yeah, you and every other pendejo in this place.
Edgar, they’ve got the license plate of the car and got you on camera at Union Station dumping the car in the parking lot.
No. I was just the pinche driver, okay? I didn’t shoot nobody.
It doesn’t matter. You’re the one they caught.
You got, what? Two priors.
Three strikes, and you know what happens. Man, fuck you!
[Mickey sighs]
The way I see it, Edgar, you’ve got one shot.
You know why they got you here in high power instead of the gang section, right?
Any day now, they’re gonna put you in a room and ask you the big question.
If you weren’t the shooter, then who was?
There’s nothing in there that can help you, Edgar.
The only way you can help yourself now is…
[quietly] …is to give up some names.
Bullshit! [slams table]
Are you kidding? You think I’m gonna do that shit?
Just calm down. You asked me to look at your file.
You don’t like my advice, then go talk to your own lawyer about it.
I can’t talk to him about shit.
Don’t you get that?
[tense music playing]
[quietly] Edgar, if you’re saying that your lawyer works for the gang, I can recommend a public defender.
[Edgar mutters in Spanish]
[Edgar grunts]
[inmates chatter] [bell rings]
Chow time, assholes! Deuce it up!
Let’s go!
[Mickey grunts]
[exhales]
[indistinct chatter]
[music fades]
[sighs]
[upbeat rock music playing]
♪ Well, I’m goin’ out west Where I belong ♪
♪ Where the days are short And the nights are long… ♪
You okay?
[sighs softly]
You should tell your dad about your micro plastics report.
Mom, I wanna cheer him up, not bore him to death.
This is a man who likes to discuss hearsay exceptions for fun.
Your teacher said you have a future in environmental law. Trust me.
This will cheer him up.
How much longer is he gonna be in there?
It’s been six weeks. You said he was getting a speedy trial.
No, I said that he didn’t waive his right to a speedy trial.
All that means is they can’t delay it.
It took two weeks to bring charges.
After that, they have 60 court days before they have to bring him to trial.
There’s nothing speedy about this process, honey.
Hayley, if I know one thing about your dad, it’s that he wouldn’t want you to worry about him.
He knows the system like the back of his hand. He’s got this.
[music continues]
♪ Well, I’m going out west Down on the coast ♪
♪ Where the California girls Are really the most… ♪
[Lorna] Penal Code 487.
That is the section that covers grand theft.
Now you’re usually only looking at a year in jail.
Unless you have multiple priors, which, oh, unfortunately, you do.
Oh, uh… I’ve given all that up.
Uh-huh.
No. No, this was a gift.
I’ve gone straight, Lorna. Honest.
Well, there’s still the matter of the seven outstanding charges, all of which we are fully prepared to fight.
Except that Mickey’s, you know, in jail… [scoffs]
…which is where I’d like to avoid going.
Well, that and the trunk of his car.
[chuckles awkwardly]
Yeah. Yeah, that is an unfortunate speed bump.
But I can assure you, you are in very good hands.
I’m the firm’s most senior associate.
You mean you’re the firm’s only associate.
Either way, I’ll be taking over Mickey’s clients.
So while he deals with his little murder thingy, why don’t you sign here?
Look, I think I have to consider my options.
I appreciate your hustle and all, but I just can’t afford to get mixed up with, you know, criminals.
You understand, right?
You give Mickey my love.
♪ Well, the air is crisp in old ‘Frisco ♪
♪ California cool wherever we go ♪
♪ Whoa, and I walk, and they walk ♪
♪ And I twist, and they twist ♪
♪ And I shimmy, and they shimmy ♪
♪ And I fly, and they’ll fly ♪
♪ Well, we’re out there having fun ♪
♪ In the warm California sun ♪
♪ Well, we’re out there having fun ♪
♪ In the warm California sun ♪
[music ends]
[brakes squeak]
[distant siren wailing]
Raul Estrada.
Depends who’s asking.
Dennis Wojciechowski.
I’m an investigator for your former lawyer, Mickey Haller.
Haller. Huh.
Haven’t heard that name in a while. Nine years, to be exact.
That’s how long ago you were sent up on a manslaughter charge, and you blamed Mickey for not getting you a better deal.
At least that’s what you wrote in those angry letters you sent from Pelican Bay.
A lot of free time on your hands when you’re inside.
Gotta do something to keep yourself occupied.
Come to think of it, I remember hearing Haller’s name recently. He arrested for murder or something?
Yeah, or something.
So I’m just visiting his former clients who might have had a beef with him.
This place was listed as your work address.
So let me get this straight.
You think I killed some total stranger and tried to set up Haller for it?
Well, I’m just trying to rule out possibilities, Raul.
Tell me where you were the night of Thursday, September 16th, and maybe I can rule out this one.
Well, if it was Thursday, then I’m sure I was conducting a class.
At the liquor store?
The liquor store belongs to my cousin.
He’s kind enough to let me use the space next door.
We have Bible study every Thursday night.
Like I said, when you’re inside, gotta find a way to keep yourself occupied.
[pensive music playing]
Tell Mickey we’ll be praying for him.
Oh, hey.
God bless.
[opening theme music playing]
[woman] Another development in the case of well-known LA defense attorney
Michael Haller, who’s currently awaiting trial for his suspected involvement in the murder of a former client.
It’s been a month since the grand jury returned charges, and the DA’s decision to seek a secret indictment instead of filing a complaint has effectively tied the defense’s hands as they attempt to prepare for trial.
But there were signs of movement today as a judge was finally assigned to the case.
Judge Lionel Stone, a former prosecutor…
[phone ringing]
…who’s known for his tough sentencing…
Haller and Associates.
[on TV] …court will be in session today for the first…
Sorry, we have no comment on the charges at this time. Thank you.
Stay tuned for updates. I’m Kacey Montoya, KTLA 5 News.
You find any security footage?
Not yet. It’s pretty desolate where Mickey got pulled over.
No cameras or anything around there.
Ooh, is that cold brew?
I got my paralegal class in a couple hours.
Yeah. There’s more in the fridge. Blue Bottle? Stumptown?
More like Costco’s finest.
Until Julian’s settlement comes in, we have to save for Mickey’s defense.
I thought Julian’s settlement was done.
The negotiation is done.
It could take up to a year to draw up the paperwork and cut the check.
[scoffs] Lawyers.
[mysterious music playing]
Hey, any luck?
Depends on your definition of luck.
What…
[Cisco] So far, every disgruntled client currently not in prison has an alibi for the night of the murder.
[Lorna] And all of our current clients keep dumping us.
It’s a catch-22.
Nobody wants us when Mickey’s on trial for murder, but without the income, how are we gonna get him out?
What about the Sam Scales angle?
It would take decades to run down everyone who hated Sam.
I’m looking for overlaps.
Somebody who wanted Sam dead and had a reason to pin it on Mickey.
Sure you didn’t get anything from the DA that would help narrow it down?
Are you kidding? It would take an order from the governor’s office to get them to hand over discovery.
[Izzy sighs] Yeah.
I think I’m gonna need one of those cold brews after all.
[Cisco sighs]
[indistinct chatter echoes]
[Mickey] Bamba.
What’s up, Counselor?
You sure got Quesada all worked up in the day room back there.
Yeah, where the hell were you? I thought you were supposed to protect me in here.
[Bamba] Don’t worry. I got you.
I was watching the whole time.
From where? From up here?
Hey, you’re not paying me enough to follow you everywhere.
If there was a problem, I’d handle it.
[Mickey] That’s what I get for trying to help.
Next time somebody asks if there’s a lawyer in the house, gonna keep my mouth shut.
It might be smarter.
You always tie your files up like you wiring a car?
This way, I know if somebody’s been snooping where they shouldn’t be.
You think I trust the deputies in here?
I trust Edgar Quesada more.
I’ve got my hearing today. Gotta make sure I’ve got everything.
Well, hey, look. If you wanna practice your speech on me again, that’s gonna cost you extra.
No need, Bamba. Thank you.
Hey, well, look. Remember what I told you.
When you get on that bus, make sure you sit towards the front.
That way, if shit goes down, the guards are right on top of it.
Okay, but what if they put me in the back?
[Bamba sighs]
[Mickey] Right.
Hey, good luck!
Don’t forget to give the man the finger for me.
[pensive music playing]
[indistinct chatter]
[men] Fuck you!
[animated chatter]
[man 1] Fuck you!
[man 2] You suck!
[music continues]
[guard] 7211956.
7211956.
Um, here.
[scanner beeps]
Let’s go.
[scanner bleeps] [buzzer sounds]
[keypad bleeps] [buzzer sounds]
Hey. There he is.
Started to think you wouldn’t make it before the hearing.
Sheriff’s department runs on their own schedule.
We brought the motions and your suit.
I was thinking red tie ’cause it projects power and confidence.
[Mickey] No, red’s too confrontational. Let’s, uh…
Let’s go with blue. Right? Blue just projects calm.
Even need the suit? We don’t even have a jury.
But we’ll pick one soon, and I don’t want them seeing photos of me in jail scrubs.
Also don’t want them to see you looking like a hobo riding the rails.
No offense. It completely works on you.
Yeah, good point.
[Lorna] And before anything else, I want you to eat these carnitas tacos we brought.
The last thing you want is to spill salsa on a clean shirt.
Thank you.
Mm.
You have no idea how bad the food is inside.
I’m starting to get a pretty good picture, actually.
So how’s everybody feeling? Good?
Well, uh, under the circumstances, we are…
[Mickey] Listen, just like Legal always says, act like a winner, and you will be a winner.
We’re gonna win this thing. No doubt in my mind.
Let’s talk about the motion to suppress.
You found some precedent, probable cause?
Sure. Plenty, but getting a judge to throw out the discovery of a body in a murder case is a pretty tall order. Which reminds me…
Oh, right, the, uh, judge you’re assigned. Stone.
In addition to being a former prosecutor, apparently, he’s got a reputation for being prickly.
Which means we all need to be on our best behavior.
Let’s not give him any excuses.
I don’t know him, but sometimes, former prosecutors are good.
They don’t wanna look biased, so they try to rule in favor of the defense as much as possible.
Plus, this deputy DA we got, Richard…
He’s green. He won’t know how to fight back. Oh…
I’m taking Officer Collins. I don’t buy his story for a second.
Mickey, you questioning the officer that pulled you over might come across a little vindictive. I should do it.
You take the discovery motion. It should be straightforward.
They haven’t given us anything yet. Oh, and as for the bail argument…
That’s not a priority today. What?
I don’t know how much time we’ll get. We need to focus on important things.
If there’s time, we can argue bail.
If not, we’ll just save it for another day.
Uh, Mick, don’t you want out of jail?
Of course I do, but not at any price.
They set bail at five million.
That’s 500 grand to a bail bondsman we don’t have, and we’re never gonna get back.
Which is why we’re arguing to reduce it.
Even if we get it down, that’s Hayley’s college fund we’re talking about.
Not to mention law school.
Mick, you know we’ll defer our salaries.
No, I’m not asking anyone to do that.
Look, we’re almost halfway into my speedy trial timeline.
I’ve got two more months until they have to put up or shut up.
I can do two more months if I have to.
Okay, Mickey, I’m gonna ask you this one last time.
Do you want me to call Andrea Freemann? Maybe she can help.
No, I… I’m not dragging Andy into this.
She’s got enough problems in the DA’s office.
We got this, all right? Trust me. Now come on. Let’s go win this thing.
[knocking on door]
[buzzer sounds] [lock clicks]
[music fades]
The homework and reading is posted online.
Shepardize the cases, and tell me if there’s still good law or not.
Have a good rest of the day, everybody.
[indistinct chatter]
[Izzy sighs]
You okay?
What?
Oh…
Yeah, I was just hoping for an update from work.
[woman] Hmm. Very conscientious.
The majority of us are actively trying to avoid updates from work.
Izzy, right? That’s me.
Izzy with the masterful command of the California Penal Code.
I don’t know about that. I just hear about it all day long at the office.
And you’re… Don’t tell me. It starts with a G?
Grace.
Right. Grace.
Sorry, I’m still learning everyone’s names.
I obviously do not have a masterful command of the contact list.
Well, if you wanna clear your head a little bit, a few of us are gonna head to Tabletop in Echo Park after work.
Is that the place with all the old arcade games?
Yes, and the killer hot wings.
Damn. Hot wings and Pac-Man. It’s a tough combination to beat.
Thank you. That’s what I’m saying. You should come. It’ll be fun.
Uh…
I don’t know. I…
I’d like to. Just a lot going on at my office right now.
Yeah. So, okay. I have a confession to make. Um…
My boss kind of knows your boss a little.
Yeah, it’s the whole defense attorney circle stuff, but he says really nice things about him.
I’m sorry that you guys have to deal with this.
Thanks. Actually, this class has been good for me to get my mind off it a little bit.
Yeah, that’s exactly why you should come out tonight.
My phone number is in that contact list that you didn’t read.
[Izzy chuckles]
Or you can just show up. You can just come by.
I think we’re gonna get there at, like, 6:00?
Uh…
Yeah. Okay. I’ll try.
Yeah?
Can I take that as a definite maybe?
You can take that as a definite maybe.
All right. Great.
Okay. Well, I will maybe see you later, then, Izzy.
[gentle music playing]
[music fades]
All rise.
Case number BA59972.
People versus Michael Haller.
The Honorable Lionel Stone presiding.
Have you noticed who’s not here?
[phone vibrating] Officer Collins. Still playing games.
[Stone] Counsel may be seated.
Before we begin, are there any issues… What? I’m in court.
I’m so sorry, Mr. Richards. Is this court keeping you?
No, Your Honor.
[phone clatters]
[Richards] Uh… It’s just…
Sorry. Hey, I’m in…
What?
Are you kidding… Hey, wait a minute.
I’ve been preparing this for…
Your Honor, uh, if I could request two minutes.
My sincere apologies to the court.
Outside, please.
[quirky music playing]
[Richards] I don’t believe this. Just when you think you’ve seen it all.
[Richards] I dropped three cases for this. One was a gang murder. This is completely…
Dana Berg for the People, Your Honor.
My apologies on behalf of our office, but there has been a personnel change, and I will be taking over this case moving forward.
Who the hell is that?
“Death Row” Dana.
They call her Death Row Dana?
[Stone] So noted, Ms. Berg. Yep.
As is the irregular manner of your appearance.
Can we please get on with this? I do have other hearings today.
[music fades]
Absolutely, Your Honor.
Lorna Crane for the defense, along with pro se counsel Michael Haller.
We’re here on a number of motions.
Firstly, a motion to suppress any evidence obtained during the illegal traffic stop of my client.
The defense contends that Mr. Haller was set up and framed for this murder, and it began with a warrant less search of his car.
Set up?
By whom?
I’m sorry?
You just said Mr. Haller was set up and framed. By whom, Ms. Crane?
Um…
Your Honor, I believe that’s irrelevant for the purpose of this hearing.
Irrelevant? Is that so?
No. I’m sorry… Your Honor, if I may?
And thank you again to the court for allowing me to appear pro se alongside my cocounsel, Ms. Crane.
Go ahead, Mr. Haller.
Now, in terms of relevance, we agree that once we go to trial, the identity of the party who framed me will be very relevant.
But at this time, respectfully, we feel it would be manifestly unjust to have to reveal every detail of our case to the prosecution.
We’re merely challenging the validity of a traffic stop. Nothing more.
Fine. Let’s just move on, then.
[Mickey] Thank you. Now, as Ms. Crane said, we filed a motion challenging the traffic stop and the search of my trunk by Officer Collins.
A hearing is required on this motion, and yet Officer Collins is nowhere to be seen.
My investigator has been trying to contact him for six weeks, also with no success.
It seems by hiding Officer Collins until it’s too late, the prosecution is doing everything they can to prevent a fair trial.
Your Honor, as the court and the defendant both know, I’m new to this case, but I fail to see how anyone from our side has been hiding anything, let alone trying to prevent a fair trial.
On the contrary, we look forward to one.
What… Your Honor, may I be heard again?
Will you two make up your minds already?
Go ahead, Ms. Crane.
The prosecution clearly doesn’t want us to talk to Officer Collins before trial.
This goes back to the decision to seek a grand jury indictment, where he could testify in secret instead of holding a preliminary hearing where we’d be able to question him.
Which is a perfectly valid option for the prosecution to choose.
And one that prevented Mr. Haller from confronting his accuser, not to mention the missing video footage.
There’s video footage?
Yes, Your Honor. Officer Collins was wearing a body camera that night, and there’s also a dashboard camera in his cruiser.
We’ve been given none of that footage yet.
I’m confused, Your Honor.
Is this a motion to suppress evidence or a request for evidence?
It’s both. Both.
Which is why we filed motions on both.
The prosecution has the burden of justifying the search.
So far, they haven’t justified anything.
All they’ve done is violate rules of discovery.
Ms. Berg, where are we with this video footage?
Your Honor, my apologies.
I’m told there were technical difficulties with the transferring…
Technical difficulties?
My freedom is on the line here, and the best they can do is technical difficulties?
If the defendant would stop interrupting, Your Honor, I can explain.
Hold your powder, Mr. Haller. Go ahead, Ms. Berg.
[Dana] Thank you.
As I was saying, I’m new to the case, so any tardiness with the discovery is news to me.
That said, I can have Officer Collins here at the court’s convenience.
And as far as the video footage, yes.
Our office had some technical difficulties.
Emphasis on had.
We have rectified the situation and are delivering the footage to the defendant immediately, along with the rest of the discovery they requested.
I assume that arrangement would be satisfactory, Mr. Haller?
It’s fine, Your Honor, but point of order, please.
[sighs] What is it now?
Your Honor, Ms. Berg has now referred to me three times as the defendant.
Now, it is true. I am the accused in this case.
But when I am arguing before the court, I am counsel for the defense.
I would ask the court to direct Ms. Berg to refer to me as such.
Come on. That’s just semantics. You are the defendant.
You are also the defense counsel. Same difference in this case.
Members of the jury might see the difference.
No response necessary, Ms. Berg. Request is denied.
I’d advise you not to press your luck, Mr. Haller.
Now, I’m gonna continue this hearing until tomorrow morning, at which time, I’ll expect to see Officer Collins in this courtroom ready to go.
Any matters we didn’t get to today can be taken up then.
But first, I wanna have a word with both sides about discovery.
Let me be clear.
In this courtroom, discovery is a two-way street.
What comes in must go out. No review, no arguments.
What the people get, the defense gets, and vice versa, without delay.
The penalty for violation is the disallowance of the evidence.
Ms. Berg, that means if Officer Collins fails to appear tomorrow, I will be granting the motion to suppress. Is that clear?
Yes, Your Honor.
Good.
In that case, I will see counsel and the defendant at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow.
Court is adjourned.
[Mickey sighs heavily]
[Cisco sighs]
Well, at least we got discovery. [phone vibrating]
As soon as I have it, I’ll bring it to county.
As fast as you can.
Maggie and Hayley are coming to see me during visiting hours. I can’t miss that.
I am going to get going.
Where?
I have to meet with another client.
I’m busy. So I will see you tomorrow, and we can talk discovery when we get back to the office.
[quirky music playing]
[music continues]
Maggie. Hey.
Hi. [music fades]
Wow! This place is beautiful.
Yeah, when you work down here for as long as I did, you find a few secret spots. I got you a latte.
Oh my God. Thank you.
Mm.
I have never needed coffee as much as I need it right now.
They should hook me up to an IV drip and cut out the middleman.
You’ve been dealing with a lot.
I know I usually text you for Mickey updates, but Hayley wanted to see a friend from USC, so I had some time.
Thanks for taking a minute. Of course.
Believe it or not, talking to you is the one thing that’s kept me sane.
I don’t mean, like, believe it or not. I just mean…
No, Lorna. It’s fine.
Honestly, me too.
Mickey said that you’re gonna bring Hayley to see him.
That’s great. That’ll mean a lot to him.
That’s why I wanted to see you, actually.
I… I need to know what I’m gonna be dealing with.
How’s he doing today?
Today? He is psychotically optimistic, and I kind of wanna choke him.
Oh, I know that guy.
I know the other guy who thinks everything is doomed, so right now, this is the guy we want.
He’s in jail, Maggie.
It’s affecting the firm, and it’s affecting our reputation.
I am burning the candle at every end, trying to keep the lights on.
But honestly, the case doesn’t seem like it’s going that well.
They just assigned this new prosecutor, Dana Berg.
“Iceberg”?
Seriously? She has two nicknames?
[Maggie] She has a lot more than that.
[somber music playing]
I’m not gonna lie. She is really tough.
And if they put her on the case, it means they’re serious about it.
But Mickey, he’s beaten her before.
Great, so add payback to her list of motivations.
Have you had any issue with discovery?
Oh my God, it’s like pulling teeth from an angry walrus.
But the judge did read her the riot act today, so maybe it’s gonna be okay?
If she gives you more trouble, just tell her she’s not gonna want another Rodriguez situation.
She’ll know what it means.
Okay.
Thank you.
Why do I feel this is the type of thing you wouldn’t have told Mickey?
Mickey’s never been on trial before.
That’s a good point.
Lorna, he’s beaten her before.
He can do it again.
You both can.
I hope you’re right.
[music continues]
[Mickey, in Spanish] She’s just another prosecutor. I can handle her.
[Elena] They can’t keep playing games. You’re missing out on your life.
You are missing out on your daughter and the possibility of finding a future wife!
Mama, don’t be so dramatic.
[Elena] The one who should be more dramatic in your situation is you.
Tell me what they’re feeding you. Yes. I’m eating well, Mama.
Ramen from the commissary store.
Your sodium will go through the roof.
You remember Señora Ramirez, who lived next door?
Had a stroke from high blood pressure. I’m not going to…
[in English] No, enough.
It has to have some bounce to it.
It’s not a helmet.
[in Spanish] Are you getting your hair done?
I’m just shooting a commercial.
Now listen. You have to get out of there.
What am I going to do if you don’t come to my wedding?
Who will give away the bride?
You’re getting married?
Again?
To who?
Well, Rick, naturally.
Rick, your new agent?
I know it’s kind of a conflict of interest, but…
But he came to visit me in Calgary.
We fell in love during an ice fishing excursion.
It was very romantic, and very… cold.
Okay, well, I’m happy if you’re happy, Mama.
I have to go talk to Cisco.
I’ll call you tomorrow. Yes, but please be safe.
And remember, you need to walk me down the aisle.
I love you, son.
I love you too.
[in English] Okay. Bye.
[music fades] [siren bleeps]
[dashboard alarm beeping]
[man sighs] [indistinct radio chatter]
Wait. Stop there.
Is this all they sent?
What do you mean?
This video only starts when Collins gets out of the car to come talk to me.
They sent the dashboard camera footage, but it starts and ends in the exact same place.
Ah, this is bullshit.
Dana Berg knows it.
I wanna know what prompted Collins to pull me over in the first place.
I wanna see what he was doing before he decided to follow me.
You want Lorna to file another motion? If she has to.
We need a full hour of body cam footage prior to the start time they gave us.
Dashboard camera too.
Mick, Lorna’s really swamped trying to keep all the balls in the air.
I know. I’m hoping Izzy can get up to speed on legal filings, take some things off Lorna’s plate.
Now come on. Keep playing.
[Collins] See your license, registration, insurance?
[Mickey] Certainly can, Officer… Collins, but can I ask why you pulled me over?
I mean, I wasn’t speeding, and all the lights were green.
[Collins] License, registration, insurance.
Skip to where he shows me the missing license plate?
[keyboard clicking]
[Collins] See why I pulled you over?
You have no license plate, sir.
[Mickey] Ah, damn it.
So… Look, uh, I parked downtown, and somebody must have stolen it.
See, that’s the thing. I don’t think anybody stole it.
Why would they?
I think somebody put Sam in my trunk and then took the plate, hoping it would give some cop an excuse to pull me over.
Well, I would say the plan worked, then.
[Mickey] You know you can’t open that trunk.
You don’t know if that’s blood or if it’s coming from the car.
Whatever it is, maybe I drove through it.
Hey! You can’t do that!
[tense music playing]
[Collins] Come on.
[keyboard clicks]
You okay, Mick?
[sighs]
Sam was a con artist and a crook, but he didn’t deserve this.
Who the hell would do this to him, and why try to put it on me?
[Mickey breathes deeply]
All right, well, what else did we get in discovery?
Uh, police reports, preliminary forensics.
The ME is estimating Sam was killed the night before your arrest.
We’re still missing the tox reports though.
Oh, that could take months. You know how backed up the state labs are.
I may have a way to speed it up.
There’s also a witness statement from one of your neighbors, a Margaret Shogren, who says she heard two men arguing at your place that night.
Ah, I don’t think that’ll hold up.
She’s almost 90. I didn’t think she could hear at all.
We, uh…
[Cisco inhales deeply]
…also have the ballistics report, Mick, and it’s not good news.
Bullet that went through Sam’s stomach was found embedded in your garage floor.
Are you saying that whoever did this shot Sam in my garage?
How? I… I have security cameras everywhere.
Yeah, we installed cameras after the rattlesnake incident, sure, but the front two were on the fritz.
Someone cut the connection.
They cut…
[hesitates] I was home that night. Why didn’t I hear the shots?
They probably used a silencer.
[Mickey sighs]
So what’s the prosecution’s theory?
That I kidnapped Sam, shot him in my garage, and then left his body in my trunk for 24 hours until I left for Palm Springs?
[scoffs] That’s insane.
Well, I don’t disagree with you, Mick.
My guess is they’ll say you were taking the body out to the desert to dump it, and you cut the feed on your own cameras to avoid being caught on tape.
And now they have the bullet to sprinkle on top.
[buzzer] [lock clicks]
You have visitors.
That’s Maggie and Hayley. I gotta go.
Cisco, we have to get the rest of that footage.
[Cisco] I’m on it. And, Mick, don’t sweat it.
We’ll figure it out.
[music fades]
[Lorna] Mrs. Chugani.
I know that losing your lead attorney so close to trial on…
[quirky music playing]
…embezzlement charges is a tough pill to swallow, but I can assure you we are going to work day and night on your defense.
And the good news is narcotics cases are my specialty, Mr. Rhedus.
Mickey trained me for years. I learned from the best.
And I am ready to take on the toughest cases, even money laundering.
Especially money laundering.
I will be consulting with Mickey every step along the way.
So what do you say, Mr. Bieber?
Listen, kid, I hired the Lincoln Lawyer, not Legally Blonde.
Let me know when your law degree hits puberty.
[music ends]
[indistinct chatter]
[buzzer sounds] [lock clicks]
[Maggie] Oh, here he is.
Hey! I’m so happy to see you, honey.
Me too.
[Mickey] How are those college courses?
I’m sure there’s new restaurants around USC I need to know about.
Tell me everything. Come on.
Classes are fine. I don’t really care. But are you okay?
Honey, I… I’m totally fine.
I don’t want you to worry about me, okay?
How can you say that? You’re in jail. I’ll be out of here before you know it.
They’ve got nothing. Their case is weak.
How weak?
Well, I just saw the discovery, and there’s plenty I can do with it.
Tomorrow, I finally get to question that cop.
He’s hiding something. I know he is.
Hey, you know what a case like this is like, right?
It’s like a tree.
I know, Dad.
A tall tree, and the state does everything they can to feed and water it.
Right. So what am I?
What am I, Hayley?
You’re the man with the axe.
Right. I’m the man with the axe.
I’m gonna cut that tree down to the ground.
[buzzer sounds] [lock clicks]
[guard] Roll call.
7752962.
[inmate 1] Here.
What’s going on? They’re making sure no one’s escaped.
Just like school attendance.
6155321.
[inmate 2] Yeah.
[scanner beeps]
[guard] 7122485.
[inmate 3] Here.
What are the numbers? It’s just their booking numbers.
The way they keep track of everybody.
It’s nothing, honey. It’s just, um…
[guard] 7211956.
721…
Here.
[pensive music playing]
[scanner beeps]
[guard] 7043559.
[inmate 4] Here.
[scanner beeps]
Why don’t you tell him about the class you’re taking on the history of Mexico?
I have to go to the bathroom. Love you, Dad.
[buzzer sounds] [lock clicks]
[Mickey sighs deeply]
I don’t want you to bring Hayley here anymore.
Mickey.
If she wants to come to court, that’s fine.
I don’t want her to see me like this.
[Mickey sighs]
I had clients ask me that before.
I never understood.
Now I do.
Okay.
[music fades]
[knocking at door]
[door opens]
If you have a delivery, leave it at the reception desk.
Oh, um…
I’m actually looking for a lawyer.
Am I in the right place?
[Lorna] Yeah, I’m sorry. Mickey’s not here right now.
Oh, um, I’m actually looking for.
Lorna Crane.
Oh.
I’m Lorna Crane. How can I help you?
[woman] My friend, Jessica Schwartz, recommended you.
She said you helped her with her divorce and that, uh, you got her ex-husband’s Lambo repossessed.
I did do that.
Yeah, well, I have my own shitty ex situation.
That’s… horrible. I’m so sorry.
I tried calling, but I couldn’t get through, and I was meeting a friend downtown, so I thought I’d just stop by.
But are you even taking new clients?
Um, as you can see… [sighs] …we are so busy right now.
But I am happy to provide you with a free consultation and see where we can fit you in. Why don’t you step into my office?
[woman] Thank you. You’re welcome.
[upbeat music playing]
[dinging]
[pinball machine clicking, clanking]
[bell dings] [Grace grunts]
Hey, Grace. Damn it!
Hey, you came.
Yeah, where’s everybody else?
Oh, they, uh… They took off to a karaoke bar… I think.
And you stayed?
Yeah. I mean, I couldn’t leave you high and dry if you actually decided to show up.
Do you wanna get a drink? Should we get a drink?
I… actually don’t drink, and full disclosure, I gotta be at work really early.
That’s cool. That’s fine. Um… That’s fine.
How about one mocktail and a game of Centipede?
Okay.
I should warn you. I do currently hold the high score in that game.
But I will take it easy on you. Oh, yeah. Uh-huh. Centipede.
Hmm? Centipede. Mm-hmm.
I mean, we could go Pac-Man if that’s more your jam.
No, no. Centipede’s good.
All I need is one game. Okay.
Maybe two.
Okay, now we’re talking. [Izzy chuckles]
Over here.
[music continues]
[indistinct chatter]
[music fades]
[Lorna] So send me all of those emails, and I can take care of all the paperwork.
We are going to get that lying sack of shit.
[chuckles] I am so glad I made the decision to come by here today.
Thank you, Lorna. Oh, you’re welcome.
Okay, we’ll talk later. Okay, bye-bye.
[door opens] [Lorna gasps excitedly]
I did it!
[singsong] I got a new client! Bam!
See, you can single-handedly keep this place up and running.
Mm, I really can’t, Cisco.
I snagged one client, but I lost five. We need Mickey back.
Maybe this can help.
Did the DA send it over?
Yes, in between getting fired by clients, I called Dana Berg’s office.
And you didn’t have to file a motion?
Look at that.
Well, she grumbled until I mentioned this trial that Maggie told me about.
Turns out, Dana had a whole case thrown out due to discovery shenanigans.
And Maggie told you this?
It’s kind of an ex-wives thing that you wouldn’t really understand.
[suspenseful music playing]
[Cisco] So this is the dashboard camera footage, and this is the body camera footage synced together.
Right now, Collins is sitting in his squad car.
[phone vibrates on video]
[remote clicks] Did you hear that?
Sounds like he got a text message?
Right, and then he moved like he was picking up a phone.
Now, here comes Mickey.
[suspenseful music continues]
So how does any of this help us?
He saw the missing plates, he pulled out, and he pulled Mickey over.
Seems cut-and-dried.
Were you looking at the body camera footage or just the dashboard camera?
You can’t see anything on the body camera footage until Collins gets out of the car.
You can see one thing.
[suspenseful music continues]
[Cisco] Look.
He put the car in drive.
Before he ever saw that Mickey’s rear plate was missing.
Holy shit. He didn’t just randomly pull Mickey over. He was waiting for him.
And he got a text message right beforehand, which means somebody might’ve tipped him off that Mickey was about to come out. The question is, who?
And why?
[buzzer sounds] [lock clicks]
[distant, indistinct chatter]
[guard] 8724535.
[inmate 1] Here.
[scanner beeps]
[guard] 7445269.
[inmate 2] Here.
[scanner beeps]
[pensive music playing]
[guard] 6834485.
[inmate 3] Here.
[scanner beeps]
[guard] 6162904.
[inmate 4] Yo.
[scanner beeps]
7113869.
[inmate 5] Here.
[scanner beeps]
[guard] 7211956.
Here.
[scanner beeps]
[guard] 7841651.
[inmate 6] Here.
[scanner beeps]
[guard] 6280254.
[inmate 7] Here.
[Mickey sighs]
[guard] 7301455.
[inmate 8] Here.
[chatter grows louder]
[guard] 6432558.
[chatter becomes muffled]
I’m the man with the axe.
I’m the man with the axe.
I’m the man with the axe.
I’m the man with the axe.
I’m the man with the axe.
I’m the man with the axe.
[quiet, tense music playing]
[music fades]
