Episode Report Card Deborah: A | 1 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT Nor Yet Canst Thou Kill Me, Yo
By Deborah | Season 1 | Episode 7 | Aired on 11.06.2003
Will's in his office, pouring himself a drink of something. I hope it's water. He glances through the window and sees two people come in. His assistant comes to the door and says that the mayor's here. Will says, "I noticed the seas parting." The mayor, played by H!ITG! Richard Gilliland, enters and shakes Will's hand, introducing Brad Crewson, "the PR wrangler for the department." I can't figure out where I know Gilliland from, and I keep asking Frink, "Where have we seen that guy?" He doesn't know. It drives me crazy all through the show. As for Brad, I don't think he's a H!ITG!, but with his extremely frumpy haircut and his particular physiognomy, I can't help but think he'd be well-cast as a hobbit. He doesn't have the slick look of your usual PR type.
Will says he's met Brad, who states, in a kind of patronizing way, "Well, we all know why we're here." The mayor says, "I want to come out of this strong, Will. I do not want to take a defensive posture, and most of all, I want it handled." Will says IAD is interviewing "the boys," and they've been suspended for the time being: "And I'm making a statement to the press today." Brad whips out a statement prepared for Will, who says, "Let me guess: we're distancing ourselves from our boys?" The mayor, whose name is apparently Albert Dunbar, says they can't argue the case with that videotape evidence out there: "It sounds like we're supporting police brutality." Will says they don't know anything yet, and when they do, they'll assign blame. Mayor Dunbar says, "They beat the crap out of an unarmed man!" Will says they didn't know that, and they still don't know if he was on drugs. They don't know anything yet. The PR guy says, "Ray Hartzel is in the hospital with a concussion and three broken ribs. He nearly lost an eye." Will counters, "Raymond Hartzel, who was driving without a license, gave chase on a public street, resisted arrest, and threatened a police officer." Crewson: "Allegedly." Will: "So our story is alleged and his is gospel?" He hands Crewson the statement, saying he has his own. The mayor asks Will to be reasonable. Will says he's managed without a script for a long time. Dunbar: "Not this job, you haven't." Will replies, "Any pre-packaged nonsense is gonna sound that way!" Dunbar: "You can sing your statement for all I care, but if this comes back on me, Will...let's just say, I hope you're not too comfortable in that chair." Hey, who do you think you're talking to? Will Girardi doesn't take marching orders emanating from political motivations. He says, "These are my men. This situation happened on my turf. I will make the statement, and I will take the heat." There was a little bit of Fat Tony in the sound of that last sentence. Dunbar says, "Fine," and leaves. As everyone files out, Dunbar asks Will, "By the way, have you filed charges against the victim?" Will asks, "The perpetrator? Charges are still pending." Nodding in Toni's direction, he says that she's handling it. Dunbar says to keep him apprised.