Most people think that wars start with a bang.
They don't.
They start with the smallest things.
People who've been kicked around,
tired of putting up with it, pretty soon they get angry,
like dry kindling stacking up, just waiting for a spark.
And once it starts,
it burns so bright that all they can see is fire.
After a while, they go blind...
killing because it's the only thing
they remember how to do.
And it all starts with just one spark.
Whatcha doing for recess?
I don't know. Probably play some baseball.
You're the worst baseball player I ever seen.
At least I don't throw like a girl.
I saw a girl throw 100 Miles an hour on TV yesterday.
Bullshit!
She struck a major leaguer out in three pitches.
Whose bus is that?
I think it's Jefferson's bus.
Hey.
Watch this.
Are you okay? Somebody please help us!
It's gonna be okay. Okay.
Kids, calm down. Everybody take it easy.
It's okay. Christ.
It's okay. It's gonna be okay.
Stay in your seats.
It's gonna be okay.
♪ It's the car show
♪ it's the car show
♪ who want to test me?
♪ Hit me slow, ride the show, drop top ♪
♪ big rims and car full of hos ♪
♪ my f-150 is sick, it comes with me ♪
♪ lower the bed in the back, air bags, don't tempt me ♪
♪ don't tempt me, mother
♪ I'm in venice, my car should be in venice ♪
♪ 'cause it pack more punch than popeye eatin' spinach ♪
♪ and did I mention got a chromed-out engine? ♪
♪ think this interior will change a judge's decision ♪
♪ and my Cadillac deville got a customized grille ♪
Mmm. Ohh.
Let me just give you a little piece.
Oh, no, no. Not me.
Come on. No.
Why not? Stop.
It's good.
'Cause I already look like I'm gonna give birth to a calf.
Oh! It's okay, sweetheart.
You can get as big as you want. Mm-hmm.
That's the beauty of motherhood.
After you have the baby,
you can eat anything you want for at least a year.
Anything? Anything!
And nobody can say anything to you... No.
'cause you just had a baby.
Yeah, that's right.
I like that. It's like a free pass.
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
That's right. Embrace your womanly fullness.
Yes, exactly.
Just cook well, look good.
I'm gonna cook you when we get home.
Ohh!
Girl, eat this cake. Enjoy it.
Oh, okay.
One bite.
Morning, Joe.
Where's mom?
She's at work.
How'd you sleep?
Okay.
Come here.
Go get me some coffee.
Ahh.
Perfect.
Joe!
Hey.
You're missing a hell of a crazy time in the kitchen.
Girls are talking about strollers.
Wouldn't want to miss that, huh?
You want a beer, man?
Yeah, sure.
Hey.
Hi.
Picked up some nice loot tonight, huh?
I did.
But, uh, I'm still waiting for my last present.
Whatever do you mean?
You know what I mean.
Refresh my memory.
Come on.
Okay. Where the hell is my poem?
Oh, that.
Yeah, that.
Read it to me.
Not happening.
Oh, come on!
No, no, no. You're not the boss of me.
Gosh... a husband who won't read a poem to his own wife.
You wrote this?
Yeah.
It's beautiful.
Just like you.
Mm.
Come on.
Are you sure you should be doing this?
I'm sure.
Oh, my God.
I'm dizzy.
I know. Me too.
Ohh.
You all right?
It's just... you know.
I know.
It's gonna be fine.
Interest rates are starting to climb,
and I keep thinking I totally missed the boat.
People are making a killing out there right now.
Yeah, tell me about it.
I mean, everything's getting so expensive.
Sarah and I have are looking at a few places on the southside.
It seems like it's the only spot left that's even affordable.
All right. I want you to inhale.
Now let it all out.
Come on, man! Let me fucking go!
Fight your way out, you little bitch.
Quit fucking around, Beto. Fuck!
Show me what you got, and I'll let you go.
Fucking...
Shit fucking hurts.
Fucking pussy.
It's not funny.
Fucking dicks.
Hey, ray.
Let's go take a breather, huh? Grab a bite at Mike's.
Sorry, Jake.
I want to get through these files before tonight.
That the same kid you pulled up on the Jacobson case?
Yeah.
You got to give that a rest, man.
Guy's invisible.
Couple of stints in juvie. Totally clean after that.
He's careful.
But you can't stay careful forever.
Not when you're that young.
Don't work too hard. You're making us look bad.
Take it easy, Jake.
How you feeling today, baby?
It itches.
Hey, don't scratch it.
Hey, I want to ask you something real important.
And you can't tell mom, okay?
Okay.
Who threw that bottle at your bus?
I-I wasn't looking out the window
'cause I was playing with my friend Patty.
Did any of your little friends see anything?
Joey... Joey Perez... he said that he saw them.
He say what they look like?
There was three boys.
Yeah.
Hey, this is real important, mami.
Did he see anything else?
He said that they made a sign.
It looked like this.
It was like this?
Mm-hmm.
Good girl.
Look in my pocket.
Hey, you don't tell mom, okay?
Go play with your friends.
It's the kings.
This is it.
Looks pretty nice, don't you think?
Yeah, it's not too bad.
But what?
The neighborhood?
Yeah.
Come on, babe. It's a beautiful house.
Okay, so our neighbors aren't members of a country club,
but you and I could make it feel like home.
Okay. Let's go take a look.
Okay! Do you have the keys?
Well, she said it's open.
Okay. I'll be right there.
Okay.
Sarah, get in the house... right now!
Oh, my...
Aaaaah!
Ugh!
Come on.
Just please stay with me.
It's okay. I'm gonna get us some help.
You just...
Just hang in there.
Come on!
There's been a shooting.
I need an ambulance right away!
1124 5th street. Hurry!
Come on, baby. Just stay with me.
It's gonna be all right. Just hang in there.
Come on. Come on! You can do it.
It's gonna be all right.
Mr. Montoya, I'm really sorry.
No.
Mr. Montoya, I'm Detective Gonzalez.
I'm very sorry about your wife.
I'm sorry, but I-I need to ask you some questions.
Did you happen to get a look at the shooters?
Yeah, I saw their faces.
Clear as day.
Could you identify them?
Could you identify the shooters? Were they white, black?
There were three of them.
One was white, two hispanic.
Could you pick them out if I showed you some pictures?
I don't know.
Take it easy.
You remember anything, give me a call.
Anytime.
That's a nice bag.
Fuck you.
Fuck me?
Fuck you.
Come here.
Ah, good boy.
Strong. You see?
That's right.
Get out of here.
Go play outside.
So how much from last night?
Not bad.
The old bitch tried to fight back.
Yeah? What did do?
I beat her ass.
She's gonna think of me
every time she looks in the mirror, Holmes.
Connie, dos cervezas.
That's fucked up, what happened the other day.
Lady you wasted.
Bitch was at the wrong place at the wrong time.
That's it?
Shit happens.
Neighborhood like that, happens all the time.
What was I supposed to do?
Motherfucker had a gun pointed at me.
Man, life's hard.
You either learn to survive
or you don't.
It's that simple.
You injured your back and your shoulder lifting a box.
Approximately how much did it weigh?
40 or 50 pounds.
If you were to rate the pain from 1 to 10,
what number would you give it?
I don't know... 10.
10?
Yeah.
And right now, it's a...?
It's a 10.
Maybe I'm not making myself clear.
10 is the most pain you can feel before you pass out.
It's like holding your hand over an open flame.
That's a 10.
Hmm.
9.5.
About 45 degrees. It's pretty tight.
Okay, go ahead and take your shirt off, please.
You're cured.
Excuse me?
You just rotated your shoulder more than 100 degrees
taking your shirt off.
It's a fucking miracle.
I don't like treating liars, Mr. Suthers.
What's the problem, Joe?
These assholes come in here...
there's not a goddamn thing wrong with them.
And?
And it's a state-funded break from work
and a lawsuit for easy money.
Your job isn't to judge them...
it's to treat them.
What is this, a fucking day spa?
I think I made a mistake in bringing you back this soon.
I think you should go take some more time
and get your thoughts together before you come back to work.
I got to be honest, Martin.
I don't know when that's gonna be.
Joe?
Joe, come on. Open up.
I know you're in there, man.
Come on. Let's go get a beer. It's been forever.
He comes in... he comes in the house,
and then what did he say?
The prick starts talking shit to my girl
while I'm standing right there.
And what did you do?
I fucking broke a 40 on his cabeza.
Fuckin' "a."
That's pretty tough.
What did you say?
I said sneaking up behind a guy
and clocking him over the back of the head...
that's pretty tough.
Who the fuck are you?
I'm nobody.
You trying to make me look fucking stupid?
You're doing a pretty good job of it yourself.
Stomp this lame, bro.
Get up. Stay down.
Get up!
Now you want to get up, huh?
Fuck this lame, bro.
Talk shit again.
That's some good shit, man.
Yeah, man. Save some for me.
Man.
I'm getting hungry already, man.
Know why? You got the munchkins.
No, man.
Munchies, you dumb shit.
Munchkins were those little orange guys.
Oh.
Yeah, huh?
I want one of them.
What?
What's the matter?
I need some romance.
Yeah, yeah.
You want romance?
Anything for you, baby.
Look, there's five bitches outside
that are ready to party, so...
It's your choice.
Good girl.
Hey, Carol. How you doing?
Good.
Yeah, hey, um, I want to ask you for a big favor.
No.
This is a really big favor.
Shit's no good.
They cut it with something scary.
You say that like I'm supposed to give a fuck.
Get it sold, and we won't have to worry about it anymore.
You try selling that shit to some 15-year-old kid.
Talking about junkies, fool, not people.
Get it sold by the end of the week.
You got it?
Don't be getting stupid on me, joker.
That's how you end up dead.
Hello?
Lawrence Robinson?
Yeah. Do I know you?
My name is Joe.
I'm here to talk about your son.
I've got nothing to say.
It hurts, doesn't it?
I think you should leave now.
What if I told you there was a way to make things right?
Get out of my yard before I call the fucking cops.
Just think about it.
Baby?
Mm-hmm?
If you had a chance to meet the man who shot will...
What would you do?
I'd fucking kill him.
Jesus Christ! Please!
Javier, that's not what I want to hear right now.
Please, Beto.
What I want to hear
is, "the money you're looking for is in the drawer over there.
Go get it."
Another week, I can have it.
That's not what I want to hear, either,
so I think you should just stop talking now.
I want you to point.
And where you point,
I want there to be a roll of cash
that says "for Beto."
You got it?
You see...
Why didn't you just say that in the first place?
They have no respect for the law.
They have no respect for property.
They have no respect for innocent lives
or broken families.
These are men that respect only one thing.
This.
Now, if we want this to stop,
we have to talk to them in terms they understand.
And what happens when they come back with more guns
and a whole army of street thugs?
They won't.
Am I missing something here?
We have two things,
and those are gonna make all the difference.
Number one, we're smarter than they are.
And, number two, they don't know who we are.
The first thing we need is a place to work.
Someplace isolated.
I think I might know of a place.
What kind of place?
It's an empty warehouse just outside of El monte.
Look into it.
We only have one rule.
We don't shoot people in the back.
Do you really think you can do anything?
It's been this way for so long.
I don't know.
But I'm tired of not trying.
I can't promise anything
except that we're not gonna stop.
Where?
Thursday, 6:30.
I'll show you around.
I'll be there.
Excuse me.
You look familiar.
From the hospital.
Joe, right?
Yeah, that's me.
Shame we had to meet like that.
Yeah.
How've you been?
It's been rough.
It's hard.
A lot of people don't handle it well.
I can see why.
I've been doing this more than 20 years.
I've seen a lot of people get hurt.
Must be difficult.
You're a good guy, Joe.
You have a daughter to live for.
Don't forget that.
Man, I can't fucking believe it.
I mean, you owned that shit!
You owned it!
Dude, it's all in the body language, man.
Excuse me, guys. Got a minute?
What the fuck is this?
You want us to drop obstruction on you, too?
This is fucking bullshit, dawg.
Man, these guys ain't got nothing.
Hey, shut the fuck up. Get over here.
Put your hands up against the wall.
Get against the wall.
Hands up.
That's fucking bullshit, dawg.
Nothing, huh?
Man, fuck you!
No, fuck you!
What the fuck kind of cops are you, anyway?
Who says we're cops?
Gentlemen.
Welcome to judgment day.
Up until this point,
you've lived your lives taking anything you want...
Killing anyone that stands in your way,
whether they deserved it or not.
But today you get to see what it's like to live like a man.
Easy for you to say
when you're not handcuffed to a fucking chair.
Uncuff him.
On these tables are two pistols.
They each have three rounds in them.
Yours is over there.
What the fuck does that mean?
Let's go, tough guy.
When the projector stops, the game begins.
No one here will interfere.
If you win, all three of you walk out of here alive.
Aaaah!
Sit down.
Which one?
What do you mean, which one?
Decide.
Why don't you go fuck yourself?
No!
Now you work for me.
We've taken the liberty of placing your fingerprints on various items.
They'll be kept nice and safe for you
by a friend of mine in the department.
Now, if you want to make sure they don't end up at a major crime scene,
my suggestion would be
you take your responsibility to this crew seriously.
Our take is 25% of anything you get from Beto.
We'll arrange a time and place for payments.
Fuck are you doing?
Giving you your stripes.
Thank you.
Hi.
Hey.
Is this seat taken?
Go ahead.
You're in here a lot.
Let me guess. Lawyer?
Stockbroker?
Must be the suit.
No, actually, I'm in the medical field.
Just taking some time off.
You?
I work with kids.
That must be nice.
Sometimes.
So, what made you take a break from medicine?
I just needed to think about a few things.
Things?
Yeah. Things.
The mysterious type.
No, not really.
I'm Jessica, by the way.
Joe.
Pleasure to meet you, Joe.
Likewise.
Shit.
I'm sorry. I got to run.
I'm sure I'll see you around, though.
I'll keep an eye out.
You should do that.
How many does that make now?
Five.
And how long has jaime been gone?
About two weeks.
Fuck!
I already told you everything I know.
Last time I saw him
was when we left the bucket Friday before last.
Who else is missing?
Three guys from Tito's crew and one from Johnny's.
Joker...
I want you to go see their families,
anyone who might know something.
You got it.
This shit ends now.
You know they're never out here before 5:00.
Just keeping an eye out.
Is it wrong to enjoy this, Lawrence?
What do you mean?
What we're doing with Joe.
I mean, somebody needs to do it.
Yeah.
Every time I see one of those fucking bandidos eat it,
I just feel like the world's a little bit better of a place.
And I like that feeling.
And I kind of feel like maybe I shouldn't.
You know, I never really thought about it too much.
I just know it's better than sitting back,
watching this world go to shit.
Moving up in the world, Oscar?
Excuse me?
Detective Gonzalez.
I think you remember me.
Got a few questions for you, if you don't mind.
Not interested.
Word on the street
is Beto's boys are vanishing into thin air.
I don't know who you're talking about.
Someone's moving on your crew. Who?
What the fuck do you care?
Whoever it is, they're smart,
and that's dangerous.
If there's a war, people are gonna get hurt.
I got nothing to say, detective.
In case you change your mind.
Hey.
How's it going? It's good.
So how's the man of mystery?
He's good.
I'll tell him you said hi.
Thanks.
So, what brings you here?
You mean besides bothering people who are trying to work?
Yeah, besides that.
Well, I came to read a book.
People still read books?
Yeah, some of us.
What are you reading?
"Beyond good & evil."
Not exactly a light read.
I haven't read it since college.
It's kind of interesting to go back
and take another look at it.
"When power becomes gracious and descends into the visible,
such descent I call beauty."
They teach you that in med school?
Just a favorite quote.
So when you're not being bothered
by strange women at coffee houses,
what do you like to do?
Well, actually, I've been doing a lot of reading myself.
About what?
Justice system.
Like criminal law?
Sort of.
I'm interested in what happens
when people decide to take the law into their own hands
and how it changes things.
Complicated subject.
Yeah.
Hey, what are you doing tonight?
Um, the plan was to go home.
But you'd much rather come get dinner with me
in Noho, wouldn't you?
Yeah, I don't know.
I really have a lot of work I need to get done tonight.
Oh, come on. Take a break.
We'll go get a good steak, talk about some dead philosophers.
I promise I'll let you get back to work after that.
I didn't know there were any women left in L.A.
Who still ate steak.
Just watch me.
All right. You've convinced me.
Good. How does 7:00 sound?
I'm gonna get us something to drink.
Make yourself at home.
It's a beautiful place.
Thanks.
I hope you like Merlot.
Gentlemen, there are two tables in front of you.
On each table is a revolver.
Each of these revolvers has three rounds in it.
I think you can figure out the rest.
These two.
When the projector stops...
Make your move.
Next?
Morning.
Hey.
So, what are you up to in here?
I like to call it breakfast.
Yours are over there.
They get cold if you just stare at 'em.
You can sit down to eat.
I'll be in in a second.
All right.
Jessica? Yeah?
What exactly do you do with kids?
I mean, it looks like you're pretty good at it.
Oh, the stuff on the walls?
Yeah, they give that to anybody.
I work with high-risk kids.
So how are they?
They're really good.
So...
Inner-city kids?
Yeah, mostly kids with histories of violence
or gang activities.
That sounds rough.
I mean, seeing kids go through that
and carrying guns by the time they're 13.
Sometimes younger than that.
It can be hard, but most of them are really sweet.
Yeah. I mean, it's just brutal.
And they grow up without a chance.
I mean, all because dad wanted to be a gangbanger.
It's a totally different world than the one we live in.
I mean, staying alive
is something they have to think about every day.
They're the ones with the guns.
It's the innocent people around them
that have to live scared because some cholo with a 9
decides he wants to be king for a day.
It's not that simple, Joe.
I mean, most of these people don't even have a choice.
There's always a choice.
You choose to pick up a gun and shoot it in places
where innocent people can get hurt.
Yeah, but some of these kids...
they think that's the only way
their families will ever be safe.
I mean, do you have any idea what that feels like?
So they go out and shoot up houses so their families will feel safe?
No, they join gangs because...
because they feel powerful with a gun.
They don't have to worry about the rules.
They just take whatever they want.
That's not fair of you to say.
How many people have you had to bury
because some punk with a gun,
he wanted to show everyone what a man he was?
How can you possibly defend those animals?
Because I understand.
And they're not a lot different than you or me.
Well, I don't know about you,
but I never shot a little kid in the back.
Hey, ray.
Hey.
What the fuck happened today? There's press outside.
Old couple found the body of a dead Mexican
washed up on the beach this morning.
Someone important?
Positively I.D.'d as Jaime Rodriguez.
One of Beto's boys.
Bullet hole through his right eye.
Fuck.
Yeah.
You want one? Sure.
When'd you get that watch, man?
Couple weeks ago.
It's really nice.
Where'd you get it?
My girlfriend bought it for me.
Is that real gold?
No.
For real, where'd your girl get that?
I didn't ask.
Man...
I'd love to know where I could get a watch like that.
I can ask her for you.
Thanks, man.
What the fuck do you want?
You've got the wrong guy.
Somehow...
I don't think we do.
Robert ramos.
I hope you remember me.
'Cause I sure as hell remember you.
Sorry. Not ringing a bell.
Well, maybe you remember my son, William, better.
William Robinson?
The 10-year-old kid you shot in the head?
You remember him?
There's two revolvers on these tables.
When the projector stops...
Draw.
If you win, you walk out of here.
Aah! Aah!
Bring him down.
What's up, Beto?
How's it going?
I'm good. Did you want something?
How long we known each other, Raul?
Shit. Since I was 13.
10 years.
In those 10 years,
how many other crews have run orange park?
None.
It's always been the bandits.
Word's out there's another crew making moves.
You know anything about that?
No.
And, Raul, I know you wouldn't bullshit me.
'Cause if you did, it'd break my heart.
Roll up your sleeve.
Roll up your sleeve, Raul.
Come on, Beto. This is stupid.
Do it.
Come on, Beto. This is my barrio, Holmes.
You're my brother.
Come on, Holmes.
You're my brother, Holmes!
Come on!
Take him to the desert.
Make sure you dig deep.
Hey, Mr. Montoya.
How is she?
She's getting a lot stronger every day.
She's gonna be ready to come home with you real soon.
Hey, thanks, don.
No problem.
Get some rest, man.
Right.
Hey. Hi.
Thanks for coming.
Hey, listen.
I said some things the other day that I really regret, and I...
it's... it's okay.
I just hope I didn't fuck things up between us.
I'm a lot more patient than you give me credit for, Joe.
I'm glad.
There's someone I'd really like for you to meet,
if you've got some time.
Yeah. I'd like that.
Morning, Daniel.
I'd like you to meet a friend of mine.
This is Joe.
He's gonna be sitting in on our meeting today.
Is that okay with you?
Would you like something to drink?
All right. Well, let's get started, then.
How old are you?
13.
And tell me about your family.
What do you want to know?
Tell me about your father.
I never met him.
Why is that?
He's in prison.
Been there since I was 5.
And what about your mom?
We don't see her much.
Why?
All she does is work.
She's always tired.
Why are you here today?
'Cause I have to be.
And why is that?
I got caught.
Caught doing what?
They found a gun in my locker.
Why would you bring a gun to school?
It's really important that you're honest with me, Daniel.
My friend Pablo got hurt real bad a couple weeks ago.
How did he get hurt?
Some kids beat him up outside of school.
Why?
I don't know... just did.
And so you decided to start bringing a gun to school?
Yeah.
What were you going to do with that gun?
Nothing.
Daniel, what were you going to do with that gun?
I was gonna hurt 'em.
Why would you want to do that?
Show them that they can't get away with it.
Don't you ever take a break?
Not when things get like this.
Oh, you mean that cholo that washed up on the beach?
Bigger than just that.
Nobody's saying much.
But something big's going down.
Beto's boys are just disappearing.
How many?
Four that we know of.
One of them was that kid they found on the beach.
What do you think?
Too early to say for sure.
Come on, ray.
I know you too well for that shit.
I think there's another crew moving on Beto...
not the usual kind.
These guys are smart.
And organized.
Got anything?
Nothing solid.
A hunch?
A guy named Joe.
Joe Montoya.
Take it easy, ray.
I've got a name for you.
Joe Montoya.
Yeah, it's solid.
It's time to go to war, boys.
Hello?
I'll be right there.
Mr. Montoya, this is your daughter.
She's beautiful.
What's her name?
Amy.
That's a good name.
What's up with the hustle, joker?
I got him.
Montoya?
Yeah.
Where?
Warehouse in El monte.
He'll be there tonight.
Tip's solid?
Rock-solid.
All right, Felix...
Call your homies on the east side.
Have them meet us there.
Joker...
Get every vato with a gun over here in an hour.
You got it.
Someone give me a light.
No one comes back till every one of those putos
has a bullet in his brain.
Send them to hell.
Hola, bitches.
Where the fuck are they?
You call them?
Nothing.
Vamos.
Welcome to my world, Beto.
Hope your boy can shoot.
I know mine can.
It's over, Beto.
If you think I'm gonna start begging, it's not gonna happen.
No.
I just want you to remember...
Every single person you killed.
I want you to remember their face.
Cuff him.
If you're looking for a place to take him,
I have a suggestion.
Take it easy, son.
And where would that be?
Back of my car.
I picked him up for attempted carjacking on my way home.
No questions. No traces.
He never hurts anyone else... Ever again.
Your word?
He leaves here, he goes away for a long, long time.
Get out.
Walk.
Just do it.
One man can't end a war.
All he can do is stop the one that's going on in his heart.
People are always gonna be killing each other.
That's... The way of the world.
The question a man's got to ask himself is...
Is he gonna be one of the ones holding a gun...
Or one of the ones walking away?