The Waiver Wire Episode 4 - Between the Sides

Brianna Barksdale

I called because I heard you were looking into my son's death.

That you think my son's death couldn't be no suicide.

Det. Tai

That's right.

Brianna Barksdale

D'justin hung himself.

Det. Tai

Not with the belt they found around his neck.

Not at that distance between the doorknob and the floor.

Brianna Barksdale

So what are you saying?
That someone did this to him?
No, nobody would've dared.
His cousin, Jesse, he would've...

Det. Tai

I agree with you.

Nobody would've dared.

Unless...

Brianna Barksdale

Jesse and D'justin was family!

Det. Tai

Family. Right.

Brianna Barksdale

....

This is just you talking, right?

Anyone else think this?

Det. Tai

Nah, it's just me.

No else cares.

Disgusted by the way the conversation is going, Brianna Barksdale gets up to leave.

Det. Tai

It's just... I don't know.

On the inside, when someone's going after you, he's got a beef.

They use a shank.

It's quick and it's over.

D'justin was strangled.

Which is planned.

You need the time, you need the isolation.

Det. Tai

Look, I'm sorry I brought this whole thing up,

Because frankly, nobody is gonna do shit about it anyways.

Whoever killed him, wanted it to pass off as a suicide.

The cops are happy enough to have one less murder to solve.

The states attorney doesn't give a fuck.

I'm not supposed to give a fuck.

So... I guess your son just got squeezed between the sides.

Brianna Barksdale

Squeezed between what sides?

Det. Tai

Look, last year, we hung more wires on your nephew and his crew than Verizon Wireless.
And in the end, D'justin was this close to flipping, giving up everybody.
But you know all of that.
You're the one who visited him and talked him out of a deal.

Det. Tai
I kinda liked your son.
All things considered, he seemed like a pretty decent kid.
And it grinds me that no one ever spoke up for him.
And it seems nobody ever will.



Brianna Barksdale
If you knew all of this, why didn't you come to me?



Det. Tai
Honestly?
I was looking for someone who cared for the kid.
Like I said, you were the one who convinced him to take the years, right?

"Call it a crisis of leadership." - Prop Vinny

Narrator

Across town in North San Francisco, 

Prop Vinny is paid a visit from Kenneth Bell.

Prop Vinny

Well see, now we have a problem, Kenneth.

We offered you a position with the Co-Op.

But without Jesse's approval, you have a dilemma on your hands.

Now word is, Brother Nicholas is in town and he's cleaning house.

Kenneth Bell

Look, I told Jesse that we don't have the muscle.

He went out a reached a third party.

If I could, I would take the mother fucker out myself.

But Jesse can't know it came from his own people.

Prop Vinny

You ain't suggesting that I send my people at Brother Nicholas?

That guy has more wins than a Vietnamese phone book.

Fact is Kenneth, this isn't the time for war.

You look at the rankings in the league.

It's the SCGD unit on top.

But we can change that.

Prop Vinny

Buy for a dollar, sell for two.

It needs to be that simple.

You leave that gangster bullshit to the side, no police is gonna look our way.

Now Jesse, he's a soldier.

When it comes time for war, you want someone like that on your side.

But a soldier isn't good for business.

He just got out of prison, and at this rate, he'll be right back in there.

Maybe this time, you'll join him.

Look at the facts, he's 1-2.

You're 2-1.

The longer you carry him, the more he'll hold you back.

Prop Vinny

Jesse Barksdale is too hot to work with.

You want in on the Co-Op, you need to tame your dog.

We have the distribution network.

And if we can all work together, we'll make the playoffs.

And the SCGD won't have anything on us.

If you want a shot at a third Championship, 

you'll need the resources of the Co-Op.

Kenneth Bell

Distribution ain't the problem.

Jesse already drafted Carson Wentz to his team.

But like I said, we don't have any place to sell the shit.

So even with our version of the Blue Magic.

Without the corners, we ain't gonna sell.

And the only way we get the corners, is by fighting for them.

Prop Vinny

And fighting for them, will only bring police attention.

You want to go to jail, or you want to go home?

It's peace time, Kenneth.

So whatever internal conflicts you have in you house.

I suggest you resolve them...

Call it a crisis of leadership.

Back on the south side, Kevlo Stanfield meets with his Fantasy Team.

Kevlo Stanfield

So you telling me, Prop Vinny's hit on Oumar ain't work?

David Johnson

Not only that, but Oumar out of county.

Warren Sapp went back on his testimony.

Kevlo Stanfield

Sapp start talking?

David Johnson

Nah, he kept his mouth shut on who killed the delivery lady.

Kevlo Stanfield

Let's keep it that way. Pay him a visit.

And if Oumar is back out in the street, go find him.

Robby Anderson

Word is, Oumar gone.

Made a vow not to kill no more.

He off into retirement or some shit.

Kevlo Stanfield

Well, bring his ass out of retirement then.

*Commercial*

*Commercial*

Det. Howard

I was hoping to speak with you.

Haven't seen you around in the office lately.

Figured, I'd make a home visit.

Kirk Cousin

Well, not too many Fantasy Managers want to hire 

a former DEA Agent who failed to catch his own brother in law, mastermind drug kingpin.

So, what can I do for ya?

Det. Howard

I just need your help.

Rocksonberg is back out there and I'm playing him this week.

Kirk Cousin

Can't help you man.

Plus, don't you have Cam Newton or Baker Mayfield running your team?

Ask them.

They're hell of a better player than I am.

Det. Howard

No, they suck.

And to be perfectly honest, I don't exactly know what I'm doing either.

But I put in my $20 and I'm trying to take on a larger role this season.

I was lucky to win 3 games so far.

But I know, that if we don't do something.

More people are gonna die.

Rocksonberg is responsible for a lot of bad things going on.

And if we let him get back to FantasyMania, he might win his 3rd Championship.

How can you live with yourself, if you know you can make a difference?

Why don't you think about that while you're moping around.

While the rest of us... we got real police work to do.

Have fun with your rocks.

Kirk Cousins

....

they're fucking minerals...

*Commercial*

*Commercial*

Over at the Comstock Saloon, LeGarette Blount is about to close up shop.

LeGarette Blount

If LeBron can make a TV show about talking in a barber shop.

Why can't we?

Narrator

Due to a serious case of CTE, 

The blind LeGarette Blount is talking to himself in his empty bar.

Robby Anderson

Y'all still open?

LeGarrette Blount

We're closed...

But your voice sounds familiar.

David Johnson walks in and the two pull out their guns.

Robby Anderson

Oumar, bitch.

Tell us where he is and we'll let you live.

David Johnson

No need to be stand tall on this one old man.

Just give us Oumar and the Week 4 win.

There's no need to go through what we're about to go through.

David Johnson

Oumar! Where is he!

LeGarrette Blount

Go to hell.

Even if I told y'all, you'll kill me anyway.

I know how you Stanfield Fantasy Players roll.

David Johnson

You a tough old man, I'll give you that.

But one way or another, we'll get to Oumar.

We wanted to go to him.

But if he gotta come to us, then so be it.

David Johnson fires off a shot, killing LeGarrette Blount.