Cleaner Page #7

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That's a chance I have to take.

Tom, please don't be so naive.

We all have secrets.

I'm tired of keeping secrets.

I have to see someone. It may take a

while, so I need you to stay at Anita's.

- I don't need a babysitter.

- I called. She's expecting you.

- Dad.

- Look. No arguments, please?

Hey, hey, hey. No hug?

Love you.

Yes, Detective Vargas, please.

- Where's Lorenzo?

- He'll be here.

Look, relax, Tom.

We got three units covering the road

in. Two more down on the tracks.

No way he's getting out of here.

I know it doesn't feel like it right now,

but you're doing the right thing.

He may be your buddy,

but he's made some mistakes.

- Best to let the law handle it from here.

- Save that sh*t for the TV cameras.

We both know why you're here.

You're saving Robert Vaughn's ass.

Fair enough.

You got that ledger?

We'll get Lorenzo.

This goes away.

You go on with your life.

- You'll get it when he's in custody.

- Fair enough, okay.

Rose, I thought I told you

to go to Anita's.

Oh, it's okay. I'm not alone.

Uncle Eddie's here.

- Put him on.

- Okay. Uncle Eddie?

Hey, Tom. Running a little late.

We need to talk.

Come alone.

Yeah, great. See you soon.

Tom, where you going?

- Hey, here he is.

- Hey, Dad.

- Rosie insisted on making dinner.

- Rose, I want you to go next door.

Now.

I got one ready for you.

- Dad.

- That's okay, Rosie. Take it easy.

Everything's all right. He just had

a hard week at work.

We're gonna sit, have dinner,

talk things over so everybody knows...

...what's going on here.

- Next door, Rose. Now.

All you had to do was show up,

do your job and go home.

- I had it all figured out.

- You set me up.

I had you protected.

I was protecting both of you.

- I couldn't let her come and see that.

- You call this protection?

I needed you to back off.

You know, I'm sorry.

- I should have known better.

- Come on, let's go.

What are you doing to me? Wait.

Listen, we could still do this.

Get Vargas on the phone. We can

hammer out some kind of angle.

- I don't work like that anymore.

- You take some oath as a janitor?

Stop it.

Okay. I see how it is now.

Anything goes when it's good for you.

But when I need help?

Where was that conscience of yours...

...when Daniel Hill was bleeding

to death in the prison yard, huh?

That keep you up too?

No, you were f***ing

sleeping like a baby.

Check your loyalties, buddy.

- You owe me.

- Put the gun away, Eddie.

Norcut was a f***ing murderer.

Period.

- Who'd he kill, Eddie? Nobody.

- No, not nobody. He made her do it.

- He made her kill her own baby.

- She lied to you.

You think I can't have

what you have?

She was gonna have our child,

but he bought her off.

Just like he buys everybody off.

He tried to buy me off.

- Put the piece away.

- Remember that night I went there?

He tried to write a check

so I would leave.

A check.

She was gonna have a baby with me.

Tommy, with me.

- She was gonna have our child.

- Stop waving your gun in my house.

She was gonna have our child.

I had no choice.

Man is allowed to do anything...

...if he's protecting his family.

You know I'm right, Tom.

Still family here?

We still family?

It's over, Eddie.

Oh, God.

Who's gonna clean you up, Tom?

Thanks. I'll burn this book

and we'll all sleep better.

Go on, Tom. We'll clean this up.

Most people don't know this.

But when someone dies

in your house and leaves a mess...

...it's up to the family to clean it up.

Most people don't have the stomach

for that kind of thing.

That's where my dad comes in.

My dad says

that stains have memories.

They remember their shape,

their color, their smell.

And the really deep ones

return again and again.

With these stains, it's easier

to start over than to try cleaning them.

Sometimes you have a choice.

Sometimes you don't.

All you can do is hope.

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