"Badge Heavy
Contributed by Lisa M.
While patrolling A-12 is waved down by a civilian. He's
a store owner that's just been robbed at gunpoint. Tells Reed and Malloy
that the perp just left, but doesn't know in which direction - describes
him as white male, wearing a raincoat and stocking mask. Reed calls it in
while Malloy goes to 'check it out'.
Malloy walks across the street, seeing a man, not wearing a raincoat or
a mask, trying to start his car. Malloy questions the man, obviously suspicious,
and sorta tricks him into giving himself away. It is the robber and Malloy
makes the arrest.
Cut to: A-12 pulling out of the station, Reed and Malloy apparently in
mid-conversation:
Reed: (very curious)
"Well, go on, how did ya make 'im?"
Malloy: (enjoying Reed's curiosity and very matter of fact)
"That's it; He just looked a little 'hinky'."
Reed:
"Pete! He was sittin' across the street in a parked car!"
Malloy: (totally matter of fact as if this explains everything)
"Yeah, well...it was a tan coupe."
Reed: (exasperated, mock understanding)
"Oh."
Malloy:
"Well, I had a tan coupe once, it was a real lemon...guy that sold it to
me filled the crank case with 40-wt oil mixed with flour; I got it home it
fell apart in my driveway. I was 17 years old. Ever since then I wanted
to bust a guy in a tan coupe." (explained as if that makes it totally logical)
Reed: (mock concern)
"Ya know somethin' Pete, ...you're really gettin' squirrelly."
Comments: I love this exchange which just happens to
fall within a GREAT episode with very serious subject matter (police brutality
and the courage/integrity of Reed for his willingness to cross the 'code
of silence' to report it).
The actors' delivery was skillfully deadpan and as far as character relationship
development it is great because:
a. Reed, though by now a fine officer in his own right, is still in awe
sometimes of his mentor's abilities; and
b. Malloy's lacking any reluctance to encourage that awe - to the point
that he may commit the sin of omission by conveniently leaving out of his
explanation certain awe-mitigating circumstances (...the perp's other clues
that made Malloy's suspicion sharp police observation but not 'mystical'...he
was sweating, nervous, talked too much, etc.!)
Post-Script: Since I'm here and Witness Statements
is also asking for comments on fanfic. The patrol banter is always one of
the best parts of A-12 and which many/most/all of your fanfic writers have
picked up on very well...especially CEFox' in "Officer Dear, Officer Dead"
(where they start talking about the Parrot-vs-the Minah Bird...ROFL). Even
in the serious, angtsy stories (just as in the serious "Badge Heavy") there
can be these light moments - which is actually more realistic because even
in the worst situations, humans tend to try to see humor in life.
