The Smoking Gun

Season	Episode
7	7

Air date

August 22, 2023

Directed by

Katrelle N. Kindred

Written by

Dave Andron & Michael Dinner

Episode guide

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"The Smoking Gun" is the seventh episode of Justified: City Primeval, a limited series followup to the series Justified. It was written by Dave Andron & Michael Dinner and directed by Katrelle N. Kindred. It first aired on August 22, 2023.

Plot[]

Summary[]

Raylan and Mansell show down.

Recap[]

In a flashback, it is 1988 in Detroit, Michigan. Sweety plays a jam session with his friends. In an alley outside afterwards, he shoots the breeze with them. One of them asks him what's up with the "little princess" he has with him. "Carolyn?" he asks and the other asks if she's his daughter. He tells him that Carolyn's moms went out and that he just babysits sometimes. He says that he told her father he'd look out for her, explaining that he worked on an assembly line at a GM plant. The plant closed and he died, having had a rough life. Carolyn appears and he tells her he told her to wait in the dressing room. He drives her a couple of his friends to somewhere else, asking if they want to see something. One of them asks him to take her home so that they can go hit a club, but he says they'll let Carolyn decide. "You wanna see what I've been working on?" he asks her. He takes them inside a dark, dusty room, asking what they think. He tells them it's his bar, or that it will be, that he put a down payment on it. He tells them he'll have a bar along the wall, a pool table, booths and a big-ass jukebox. He tells them he'll play only the music he wants to play and serve only those who he wants to serve, that he's getting too old for the life he's living now. "I think it's gonna be fucking cool," Carolyn tells him. He chuckles at her language, saying that it will be cool.

In the present day, Carolyn watches as Sweety's body is loaded into a coroner's van. Detective Wendell Robinson asks her if there's anyone they should call. She is silent and Raylan Givens arrives on the scene. He tells her that he's sorry. She closes her eyes and shakes her head. "He was a chump," she tells him, staring at Trennell looking at her through the window opposite. Inside, Trennell tells Carolyn and Raylan that he has a brother in White Rock, New Mexico and that being there is sounding pretty good right now, given that there aren't a lot of people there. "Before you go getting your luggage..." comments Raylan. Carolyn nods to him and he gets up and opens a drawer, presenting Raylan with a cloth bundle, which he lays on the table. He opens it up, revealing a gun, the one that was used to kill Judge Alvin Guy, Rose Doyle and those in the Wrecking Crew. A brief flashback shows him having removed it from its hiding place. He asks Raylan if he's sure he can use it and he tells him he is.

At Del Weems's place, Sandy Stanton finds Clement smoking a cigarette. She comments that he's back late. "What is that? Did you burn something?" she asks, but he ignores the question, asking her to tell him what she sees. She says it's not tropical water and a white sand beach and he asks if anything's missing. "No," she says, and he asks her where the painting he stole from Burt Dickey is. She admits that she sold it, saying that they need to leave Detroit. He tells her they'll leave when he says so. She asks if he's really mad because of the painting, that nobody wanted it. He tells her he did and she says she has sneakers worth more than it. "You threw away a Stanley Garlick," he growls, pointing at her and as he walks off, she asks just who cares about Stanley Garlick. At the Detroit Police Department, Raylan approaches Detective Maureen Downey, who says that she heard about Sweety's. He asks her if she has a minute and takes her to a stairwell, showing her the gun. She asks if it what she thinks it is and he tells her he needs her to find this out, quietly and quickly if possible. She tells him that if ballistics knows that they think it's the gun that killed Judge Guy it'll go to the top of the list and to give her 24 hours. While Clement steals another car, Sandy receives a visit from Raylan.

Raylan asks Sandy if they're alone and she asks if he means if Clement is there. She tells him that she's not, but that Del Weems called and will be coming back that weekend. He tells her that he saw Skender Lulgjuraj and that he's going to be crippled for the rest of his life. He asks her how she feels about it and she replies that she's not going to talk to him since she doesn't have to. He tells her he has the gun, but she replies that she won't testify against Clement, that even if he was paralyzed or Raylan swore he was going to put him away forever, she wouldn't do it, that he walked before. Raylan tells her he won't this time, but she tells him he doesn't know this, that she'd only ever testify if Clement were dead with a stake in his heart and even then she'd be nervous. He asks her why she stays with him and she says he's fun. He tells her he only wants her to listen, not testify. He says she's not seeing the point, that when he gave her the gun, he never meant for it to get to him. He asks her how she thinks he'll feel when he finds out he has the gun he used to kill Judge Guy, Rose Doyle and now Sweety as well. Sandy seems shocked to learn of Sweety's death. "I feel like I'm in big trouble," she tells him.

Carolyn returns home to find Clement waiting inside, having milk and cookies. He asks her if he ever told her the story about Oklahoma. He spins the story he told Skender about how his mother died being carried off by a tornado, except in this version, she isn't. He says that the sky turned dark and his mother was indisposed because it's what people do, that they let you down. He waited for the man from Glenn Pool to leave, that he wasn't the first from Glenn Pool to be in her bed, but he was the last. Once the man's car disappeared, he grabbed his .22 and shot his mother. He says that the very last thing he wanted his mother to see before she closed her eyes tight and he pulled the trigger was her son's face. He then drove her a county over and buried her where no one could ever find her. He says that maybe this isn't true, that maybe a tornado carried her away. Carolyn stares at him, telling him he took the only father she's ever known, cursing his mother and him. She starts to tell him she's not his lawyer anymore, but he grabs her and presses her against the wall, pulling out a gun. Half-choking her, he tells her he came by because he thought she might understand. He tells her he can come back any time he wants. He leaves.

Sandy visits the hospital where Skender is recovering. "Hi baby," she says and, hearing his unenthusiastic response, tells him not to sound so sad. He says it's how he made her. She tells him the nurses said he would go home soon and he tells her she should not be there. She tells him she screwed up, but she wants to make it right. She admits she set him up, but says that she never thought he'd get hurt in this way. He tells her there's nothing she can say, that she's broken his heart and also his leg. She says she knows, that she messed up, that her whole life has been about bad choices. She tells him that she nevertheless meant what she said to him, that he is sweet and cool. She asks if they can start over and get away together. He grins and she moves in close. He tells her that she is a dead woman, coldly, without emotion. Meanwhile, Raylan takes a call from Carolyn, asking her what's wrong. Back at the penthouse, Sandy starts packing bags. Clement calls her name and she curses. She hides her bag, but he nevertheless asks what's going on as he comes in. She claims it's nothing, then asks him if he loves her. He asks what this is supposed to mean, that of course he does. She says she's serious, asking why he never plays her any of his songs. "All these songs, all this time, and yet you haven't ever played me any of them," she points out. She asks how this is supposed to make her feel and he asks if really wants to hear the way he sings. "Yes!" she tells him, asking what she's even talking about. He tells her he's going to get a copy and play it for her. They kiss and start making out, him telling her that every word, song and note will be hers.

At Carolyn's home, she tells Raylan that Clement put his hands on her. She tells him that when she was about ten years old, a boy named Dwayne attempted to choke her at school. The school called her, Ms. Thomas, claiming it was only accident. When Sweety found out, he was terribly mad. He took her to the gym and taught her boxing, how to hold her own. "You take care of poor Dwayne?" asks Raylan. She asks him in return how he's going to put Clement's prints on the murder weapon. The next morning, Carolyn wakes up to find Raylan gone. He arrives at the Detroit Police Department to find a huge crowd of media outside. Inside, he asks Wendell what's happening and he tells him that Maureen has brought in Darrold Woods. A news report details that Darrold Woods is a person of interest who is in custody for the murders of Judge Guy and Rose Doyle. Carolyn watches, stunned, as the reporter continues that he is a homeless Afghan vet who was questioned and released on the night of the murders. The reporter continues that he has been detained as new information has come to light on the murders. The reporter says that Woods has been arrested a handful of times in the past few years on drug-related charges. Carolyn picks up her phone. Clement wakes up to find Sandy gone. Just then, Del Weems arrives back at the penthouse. "That's my kimono," he comments, seeing Clement wearing it.

At the Detroit Police Department, Raylan and Wendell watch as Maureen and Norbert Bryl subject Darrold Woods to a harsh interrogation. They get him to admit to having touched Rose with a lit cigarette. Maureen, however, tries to claim that he killed Judge Guy, then took Rose to the golf course, raped her, then killed her. He denies it, but she pulls out the gun, claiming they founds it in his things. He says that the wants a lawyer. After they exit the room, Raylan follows after. He comments that he feels like he should have brought a bouquet of roses for a performance like that. He notes that he did give her the gun, which Maureen hands to Norbert, asking him to run it back down to evidence. "Are you in the book too, or are you just an asshole?" asks Raylan. Norbert walks off and Raylan pleads with Maureen to tell him he's wrong, that he's not seeing this. She steps forward, saying that they appreciate what he's done, but he can go back to Florida and see his little girl. "Take care," she tells him, walking away as well.

At the airport, Sandy gets a call reading as being from "Del High Roller." She takes the call, but it is not from Del, but from Clement. He asks where she is and she claims to just be out picking up some food for them. "With all your worldly possessions and my goddamned money?" he asks. He tells her he'll make it simple: that she comes back and gives him what's his and they won't have another Skender situation. He says that otherwise he will take it out on Del, then come looking for her. She hangs up and Clement comments that to Del, who is tied up to a chair, that it didn't go too well for him. At the airport, an announcement comes on that Sandy's flight to the Bahamas is boarding. At the Detroit PD parking lot, Raylan returns to his car. He sits there stewing for a while, when there is a knock at the window. He rolls it down to reveal Norbert Bryl. Norbert tells him that a quarter of those locked up waiting for sentencing in Wayne County didn't do what they're being tried and convicted for, but did get away with other stuff. He says that he's okay with that and deep down, they all know why they're there as well. He says it may make him an asshole, but that he never sent anyone up the river just to get a win. He hands Raylan a paper bag. Raylan's phone rings. Back at the penthouse, Clement harasses Del, telling him to explain what Twitter is, when he gets a call. "Just when we starting to lose hope," he comments and Sandy says that she got scared. She says that with the Albanians and the painting, it didn't seem like he was listening to a word she said. He tells her he's sorry, that he can't help himself, but he's ready to listen now. She asks if he promises and he says he does. He asks where he is and she tells him she's at the airport, but she'll come back. He tells her that she doesn't have to come all the way back, that there's a Radisson near the airport with a nice little bar. He says they'll talk it out, then get on a plane to paradise. As the conversation continues, Raylan is shown standing next to Sandy. Clement tells Sandy that it will be good to get out and that he'll see her soon. Raylan tells Sandy he has it from there. "You are gonna get him... right?" she asks, telling Raylan that she wants to do things differently, that she wants to go back to school and live honest. He tells her he'll need her phone and she asks to delete some pictures first. Back at the penthouse, Clement tells Del that he appreciates his hospitality. He says that when he finds Sandy, he'll make her pay enough for both of them. He raises a pillow to his head and shoots him through it. Raylan calls Carolyn, telling her that he and Clement are going to meet at the Radisson hotel bar. She suggests he hold up and come take her for a drink, but he says he'll see her when it's done and ends the call. "Okay," comments Carolyn, turning to the Albanian gang leader, Toma Kostia.

Raylan arrives at the bar to find Clement waiting. He comments that Sandy is one day going to get him in trouble. He says that she's cute, but he keeps telling her to stop smoking weed and drink like a normal person. "Some people, you can't tell 'em anything" comments Raylan. Clement says it's the truth and Raylan continues "But so long as they don't tell on you." Raylan sets down the paper bag and Clement asks if it's his lunch. He says he's glad he came by, that he's had some business come up and he has to leave town. He says it's not on account of Raylan or the Albanians, that there's no reason for him to sit around there anymore. "Guess I'll see you later then" comments Raylan and Clement says he wants him to think he knows more than he does. Raylan replies that as long as he's confident that Sandy only told him where he was going to be, he has nothing to worry about. "That ain't your lunch, is it?" asks Clement and Raylan admits it isn't. "You want it? Here," comments Raylan, passing it to him and Clement says he's trying to be tricky, getting him to put his prints on someone else's murder gun. He asks if it's loaded and Raylan tells him he can check if he wants, that it's just short two rounds they fired in ballistics. He says that it's what Clement wanted. Clement says he doesn't think he's serious, for them to go at it right then and there. He asks if Raylan doesn't want to go outside or up on the roof and Raylan tells him they can go outside if he wants. Clement says if he's trying to spook him into signing something, he's going the long way around to do it. Raylan tells him he doesn't want this, that if it came up in court, Clement would claim it was under duress or coercion. "This is fair, isn't it?" he asks, saying that Clement said he wanted a shooting match. "Let's go," he tells him. "Any time you want."

The two stare back and forth at each other for a bit. Before anything can happen, however, Toma Kostia arrives at the table, along with several other Albanians. He says that they can both hand over their guns. They do, Raylan telling them that they might want to be careful about getting their prints on the one on the table. They rise and follow them. In the car, Clement asks where they're headed. He suggests that they go see Skender in the hospital. "Tough crowd," he comments. He asks if he ever told them the story of his mother and Besnik says something in Albanian. "Come again?" asks Clement and Toma tells him that it's an old Albanian saying, that "Silence is a golden moment." Raylan tells Toma that the gun in the bag is a murder weapon, that it's enough to put Clement away for two lifetimes. "This is murder weapon?" asks Toma, unwrapping the bag and feeling the gun. Raylan asks if he'll let him do his job. He lights a cigarette, asking Besnik if he remembers how it was when they left Albania. He describer a litany of violence, how it became normal, killing to save lives. He says they came to America and it was a good life, but now there they are, that sometimes the old ways are the only ways. He motions at Besnik to stop the car. He gets out on a bridge, flicks away his cigarette and drops the gun into the river. He gets back in the car and stares at Raylan. He tells Besnik to drive.