Sugar – S02E04 – Off 15 – Transcript

Sugar
Season 2 – Episode 4
Episode title: Off 15
Original release date: July 10, 2026

Plot: Sugar makes a powerful enemy and has a falling out with Charlotte. The race to find Ji is on.

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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.

[ethereal music playing]

[John] There are rules.

Ways of behavior to help us harmonize with our surroundings.

They differ from planet to planet to align with local customs.

But there is one rule… the first rule… that never changes.

[John breathing heavily]

[speaks alien language]

[in English] Thou shalt not kill.

[sirens wailing in distance]

[suspenseful music playing]

[music ends]

[guard] Go ahead. You’re good.

[Ray Vega] Mm-hmm.

[guard] Yeah, have a good one.

[elevator bell dings]

[door closing]

[Vega] Hold it.

[door opens]

[elevator bell dings]

[Hannah] Uh, something’s up with the printer.

[Stacy] It may just need to warm up.

[breathes heavily]

[pills rattling]

[door closes]

[security radio chatter]

[footsteps approaching]

[suspenseful music playing]

[radio chatter continues]

[breathes heavily]

[sighs]

[Chuy moaning]

[muffled groaning]

Fuck. [pants]

[groaning continues]

[groaning]

[Ji] You want your phone? Uh…

[toilet flushes]

[Chuy groans]

[grunts]

[Vega, in Spanish] Jesus said, Peace I leave with you;

my peace I give to you.

I do not give to you as the world gives.

[Chuy groaning]

[Vega] Do not let your hearts be troubled,

don’t be afraid.

[groaning]

Don’t be afraid.

[heart rate monitor beeping]

[Chuy groaning]

[Chuy choking]

Don’t be afraid.

[heart rate monitor beeps, flatlines]

[breathing shakily]

[pills rattle]

[heart rate monitor beeps rapidly]

[alarm blaring]

Run.

[theme song playing]

[John] That’s when I realized that I’d made a mistake.

You know? It was a trap. They brought me there to kill me.

Then all hell broke loose, and there was shouting and shooting.

I didn’t even know who was coming up the stairs.

Bust in the door. Thank God it was you guys.

[officer] You’re lucky you didn’t get caught in the cross fire.

Yeah.

No. My guys are always careful.

Although, I gotta say, this one time

we were giving a ride-along to this VIP.

[laughs]

We do that sometimes with actors that are rehearsing for some cop role or whatever.

You know… [inhales sharply] What was that guy’s name?

[officer] Jude Law.

[Vega] That’s it. Jude Law.

We accidentally rolled up on this crazy Code 30 over in Inglewood.

Shots fired, officer down, the whole nine.

Bullets flying. Bing, bing, bing. Against the cruiser.

We had driven Jude Law right in the middle of this shit. [laughs]

I mean, everything was okay, but I was sure there was gonna be complaints, asses handed.

But my guy was cool under fire. Everything turned out.

I like Jude Law.

[Vega] Yeah, he’s good.

Anything else, Pete? Or can we call it a night?

All good. Thanks so much for coming in.

We’ll let you know if we have any fur…

But I’m gonna need a minute, Pete.

Okay.

Thanks.

[door buzzer sounds]

[door closes]

So how’d you ID me?

Your voice.

My voice? From that one phone call?

CCTV footage from the hospital.

I saw you move, walk.

You checked your watch, inside wrist. Old habit from your army days?

Marines.

Right. Semper fi. Always faithful.

Ji Moon saw you murder Chuy Jaquez at the hospital.

So now you gotta kill Ji because you gotta cover your tracks.

I mean, it’s bad luck, all around.

But I get it.

Chuy had to go because of Fire Sale.

That’s what all this is about. Yes?

[Vega] That what is all about?

What you’ve been up to. You know, your business with the Ez4s, the drugs…

It’s your secret.

It’s what’s got you so desperate.

[laughs]

I got this call about an hour ago.

“Leave him alone.”

They were talking about you.

Who says that?

Mmm, who knows?

You have a guardian angel. Congratulations.

You know, no congrats for your kid though.

They could give two shits about him.

I do.

Yeah, well, you don’t know where he is.

Neither do you.

I know where he’s gonna be, sooner or later.

Meaning?

Meaning he’s a junkie. [sighs]

You know, a guy like that… It’s just a matter of time.

You know, I-I don’t know anything about you, Lieutenant Vega.

Who you are or what you want. But I’m gonna keep doing my job.

And if that means I end up getting in your way, then that’s what it means.

Other than that, I… don’t see what else there is to talk about.

Yeah, I agree.

[door buzzer sounds]

[John] You take an oath, you put on a badge.

You start out one thing, but somewhere along the way, you become something else.

Sometimes I worry that’s me already.

[automated voice] You have no new messages.

[whirring]

[sighs]

[gasps]

[intriguing music playing]

[door opens, closes]

[upbeat jazz playing]

[patron] Yes, yes, yes.

[patron 2] No.

[John] Hey.

[chuckles] Oh, hello.

This is Iain and Peter, my colleagues or coworkers or…

[Peter, Iain laugh]

I don’t know what they are. [laughs]

This is John, my friend.

[Peter] Pleasure.

What’s everyone drinking?

I’m having a Pinot Grigio, and these posers are drinking martinis.

[Peter] Hmm.

Can we order you something?

No, thanks.

Can I ask you… were you in my room?

What?

You went into my room.

Okay, uh…

Give us a sec.

You’re being… What’s happened?

I think you know what happened, Charlotte, like the web.

No, I don’t.

What is this?

You know, I’m not sure what I expected.

Apparently not this, but it’s-it’s, uh, it’s good. It’s smart.

You check in, you let me see you. You flirt. Not too much, just a little.

Bit by bit you get closer…

Okay. I’m sorry, I don’t know what’s wrong with you,

but you can’t talk to me…

I got cameras in my room.

Cameras?

For my safety, my curiosity, for this.

I saw you break in.

I saw you go through my drawers.

Oh, my God.

I was let in by the housekeeper.

I wanted to leave you a note.

A note?

A flirty little note.

[sighs] Go check, asshole.

[intriguing music playing]

[door closes]

[sighs]

[deputy] Not much to go on, this guy John Sugar.

No friends, no family. He lives alone in a nice hotel.

He’s a lightweight. Cosplaying gumshoe for rich clients.

[sighs] Maybe. But if he gets in our way on this, certain people won’t like it.

What do you think, Boss?

[Vega] I think we have nothing to worry about.

[doorbell rings]

Hannah McDaniels?

Yeah.

I’d like to talk to you for a moment about Ji Moon, if that’s okay?

He never came to see you at the hospital?

[Hannah] No.

[Vega] Luann Baker says he did sometimes.

Luann Baker?

Your coworker.

Well, former coworker.

She was fired for a narcotics robbery that happened there.

She said somebody stole her security card and got access to the drug closet.

She says she was set up, actually.

Oh, my gosh.

You know, it’s lucky for you, Hannah. I’m gang police, not narcotics.

I don’t really care about some drug rip at a hospital.

Okay. What do you care about?

Well, that’s a good question.

We believe, my associates and I, that Ji might have been witness to a gang-related homicide.

Oh, right. I heard about this.

Did he tell you what he saw?

No… [stammers] …he just said…

I heard that some bad people were looking for him.

That’s true.

Which is why we wanna find him so that we can protect him.

So, if you tell me where he is, you’d actually be doing Ji a huge favor.

Ji’s not a bad guy.

He’s wild, but he’s not bad.

You think he’ll be okay?

I guess that all depends on who finds him first.

[Vega] Let’s wait for her call.

All right. [sighs]

[phone ringing]

Hey.

[John] Hey, Val, where are you now?

I’m following what’s-her-name. Hannah. Why?

[John] No reason. Just checking.

You sure?

I just feel like… I don’t know.

I feel like we’re missing something.

[Danny] It’s just a lunch. Nothing’s happened yet.

Me verse Nestor Rodrigues? They’re… They’re just stringing me along.

Maybe, but you’re a good fighter, Danny.

I mean, I’m no expert, but you-you-you got good footwork, you’re…

Good jab. You’re tough.

You know? Just believe in yourself.

[sighs] What the fuck is with this thing, man?

May I?

[sighs]

I’m gonna find him, all right? [clears throat]

The, uh…

The guy from the club with Ji…

Yeah.

I do know him.

From where?

What, work?

Danny. Jesus.

His name’s Tyler Ko.

He-He lives with his dad over on Mariposa.

That was two days ago. Why didn’t you say something?

[stammers] I don’t know.

Why’d you lie to me? I mean, I could’ve gotten him already.

He could be here with you right now.

Okay, maybe.

Why did you lie to me, Danny?

What fucking difference does it make?

You-You…

“What difference does it make?”

Danny, listen to me. There is a man. There’s a very dangerous man, and he’s looking for Ji, and if he finds your brother first, he will kill him.

He’s killing himself anyway!

Fucking let him. Save me a lot of fucking trouble.

[John] Like I said, siblings are complicated.

[knocks on door]

Hi, I’m looking for Tyler Ko.

Sure.

So can I speak to Tyler?

Uh, they should be back soon.

Ah, he’s-he’s with Ji.

Yes.

There he is! What’s up, baby?

Hey, look who I brought with me.

Nestor Rodrigues.

How are you? Nice to meet you.

Sup. I’m aight.

[chuckles] So… [sighs] …just you? No, uh, no reps? No Teddy?

Yeah, just me.

Wait-Wait here, if you’d like.

Thank you.

What you are absolutely guaranteed is this number right here.

[speaks Portuguese, chuckles]

Yo, what’s good?

Nothing, man. Sign your papers.

[in Portuguese] Joao, don’t be a dick.

[Vega] No congrats for your kid though.

They could give two shits about him.

[John] I do.

[Danny] Just tell me what you told him.

All right, come on, guys.

I was telling him I heard your brother was a good coach, for a junkie.

[Len] Whoa, whoa. Whoa, hey, hey!

[Danny] Get the fuck…

You don’t know where he is.

[John] Neither do you.

[Vega] I know where he’s gonna be, sooner or later.

“I know where he’s gonna be.”

Meaning?

He got so smart, he got his neck in a sling.

We were supposed to meet up after, but he never showed.

[Dan Brady] Now, how nuts can a guy get?

Didn’t know anything at all. He’s just fishing around.

Putting the pressure on everybody hoping something would turn up.

[tense music playing]

She called. Saddle up.

Let’s get it.

All right, let’s get it.

Oh. We’re pulling into a shopping mall.

[John] Which mall? Where?

[phone ringing]

Hello?

[John] How’s it going?

You staying close?

Yeah, I’m staying on her freaking ass.

Val, can you see any sheriff’s deputies?

[Val] Sheriffs?

Cops. You know, men who could be cops?

Hannah’s meeting Ji to do their drug deal, and Vega knows about it.

[Val] No. No, not that I can see.

Wait, wait. Wait.

You all right?

Shit!

Fuck, I lost her.

Okay, I’m almost there.

[Vega] Where are you, Hannah?

I’m here. Where are you?

[Vega] We’re here too. You won’t see us, but we’re here.

Okay, uh…

[Vega] You’re doing great so far.

Just do the deal like you planned.

Give the money, take the drugs, and let him go.

We’ll take it from there.

[line disconnects]

[breathes heavily]

Fuck it.

[Vega] Okay, guys, stay alert.

[deputy] Heading in.

[Tyler] I’m on your six.

[Ji] Got the money?

Right, yeah. Uh…

[tires screech]

[Ji] Sorry about all the precautions.

Got some crazy ass people after me.

Uh, it’s-it’s okay. I know it’s not your fault.

Hey.

I like your hair.

Fucking sick, right?

Yeah. [chuckles]

[Val] Did you see him?

[panting] No.

Fucking yes! [chuckles]

[Hannah] What happened?

You guys never showed.

[Vega] No, no. We were there.

You’re done, Hannah.

Thanks. You did great.

[tense music playing]

Sorry, work thing.

I thought the SWAT was gonna pull up with fucking guns and shit.

Nah, it’s too public.

You know, it’s too much to explain.

Photograph.

Wait, wait, wait.

What?

Photograph. I gotta go.

[Val] What just happened?

I know where Ji is going.

Keep your phone in your hand.

[sighs]

[phone buzzing]

Ji told you when his deal was done he was going to the desert, right?

[panting] To let things blow over?

The photograph on the refrigerator, you and him, where was it taken?

That’s Teddy’s ranch out in Mojave.

Ji and I would go out there sometimes and train.

All right, got it. Just, uh, send me the coordinates.

All right?

Okay.

[knocks on door]

[door opens]

[toilet flushes]

[Tyler speaks Korean]

What the fu…

Okay.

Okay. We’re good.

I’m not the one you have to worry about, Tyler.

But trust me, he’s coming.

Help me get Ji into the car.

Come on.

[groans] Okay.

[groaning] What the fuck?

[grunts]

[John] Wait.

Put him down. Put him down.

[Tyler grunts]

[Ji groans]

[Tyler breathes heavily]

[whispers] Is that him?

[breathes heavily]

Hide.

Shit. Ji, come on. Wake up.

Come on.

There’s no time.

Lay down in the desert. Wait till I call out for you.

If I don’t call out for you in fifteen minutes, you get up quietly and you run.

Go.

Go.

Okay.

[suspenseful music playing]

Come on.

[groans]

[dramatic music playing]

[engines shut off]

[car doors open, close]

Kid?

This motherfucker’s dead?

Hmm. Looks like an OD.

Shit. That was easy.

[deputy chuckles] Yeah.

What?

You said he was with someone?

Yeah. I don’t know. Must have dropped him off to party solo.

Well, we don’t have to deal with a body now.

[Vega] Check the house.

[deputy 2] Clear.

[deputy 1] Clear.

[intense music playing]

[John] Three minutes.

After an overdose, you got three minutes for help to arrive…

[John] I’m sorry.

…get revived, come back from the dead.

[deputy 1] What are you thinking, Boss?

Okay.

Take the cash. Grab the phone. Get that tracker. Let’s go.

[door closes]

[engine starts]

[vehicles departing]

[breathing heavily]

Hey. Come on. Come on.

[panting]

Come on. Come on!

[dramatic music playing]

[gasping]

[John panting]

You’re okay. You’re okay.

You’re okay. You’re okay.

[“Do I Have Power” playing]