Recap and Review: Aquarius Episode 10

Sam Hodiak loosens his tie as he leaves the restaurant. Lights and colors bending all around him. Hodiak is clearly tripping and it makes me dizzy just watching him. Manson is behind him feeding him things to think about. In his trip, Hodiak has flashes of World War II. He's just about to get hit by Manson's car when Detective Joe Moran finds him. He waves off Manson and the girls and tries to take care of Hodiak. Moran tosses him in the back of his car, wondering how much Hodiak has had to drink in the hour he's been off duty. Hodiak isn't exactly helpful in his inebriated state so Moran says he's going to call Shafe.

Shafe and Mikey walk into the Manson house. Mikey is clearly enjoying himself and yells for Guapo, the drug dealer they've been sent to see. Bad idea. Roy Kovic introduces Shafe as the guy who tipped him off to Jimmy Too. Guapo shakes the men down and notices Shafe's military tattoo. Guapo wonders if after serving his country, Shafe now serves the city as a cop. He laughs it off and says "yeah, you got me. And I'm going to go bust this punk right here." He recognizes Rick Zondervan from the crowd and shoves him around demanding money. Just out of hearing range of Guapo, Shafe warns Rick to play along or he's going to jail. Guapo doesn't look entirely convinced as Shafe walks away.

Joe Moran checks his car to find Hodiak no longer there.

Back at the Manson house, Emma is leading Rick Donovan around when Manson spots her. She tells Charlie Rick brought her back. She introduces him but Rick doesn't seem too keen on hanging around. Charlie introduces Rick to some of the other girls who seem very happy to see him, though it looks like Rick is ready to run the other way.

Shafe is explaining his meeting with Guapo to his boss, who isn't happy with Shafe's lack of results. While they're talking a protest is going on outside. The protesters believe the cops aren't doing their job because someone is preying on Chicano women and the cops haven't caught him.

Emma is telling Manson that Rick could be useful to them because his dad is a well known car dealer in the city. He thanks her for Rick, for coming back to him and makes Emma promise to not leave him again.

A still tripping Hodiak has arrived at Grace Karn's house. In his trip, the pattern on the door is spinning. He yells for Grace to swim to him. The door opens and a large and lavish party in underway. Grace runs out and asks Hodiak what's wrong. He says he's feeling no pain and rips his shirt open. Flustered, Grace tells Hodiak he has to go because Governor Reagan is there. Shafe has arrived and grabs Hodiak and leads him away. He asks Hodiak what's going on, and suddenly the detective feels pain again.

Manson and Emma have retired to his bedroom. Sadie pokes her head in, waving Rick's credit card, and says she's off to fill up the bus. Emma starts to talk about her father, and says he never loved her. She wants to know if Manson knows her father's secret. Manson tells her there is no past, no future, only what we feel right now. He tells her to search inside herself to figure out what that secret is. Emma says her father can't love and he can't be loved. Manson hugs her tightly and says she's very wise, and that he's helped her realize that since they can love, they all are a real family.

A now sober Hodiak is putting himself back together at Shafe's place. He doesn't have any idea who spiked his drink, and really doesn't want to hear about it when Shafe mentions he rescued him from the Karn's. Shafe also explains they've got bigger problems. Rick is now at the Manson house and could blow Shafe's cover. Hodiak thinks for a second, then tells Shafe to make Rick his deputy.

At his own apartment Hodiak is playing guitar when a knock at the door disturbs him. It's Joe Moran, who wants Hodiak's help. He shows him an article about the Echo Park bus robberies of Chicano women. Moran also reveals he's Cuban, not Irish as many assume. The author of the article plans to expose Moran as the only Latino detective on the force, whether Moran cooperates or not. Salazar, the author, claims it will be a positive story but Moran believes it will destroy his life. Hodiak agrees, and pours the detective a drink.

Manson is playing a guitar when Shafe and Mikey the Snitch return to the house. While Mikey talks with Manson, Shafe wakes up Rick. Outside he swears Rick in as a deputy detective.

Hodiak is in a meeting with Salazar, which doesn't go well. Despite Hodiak's attempts to protect Moran, Salazar doesn't bite. He says he has no sympathy for Moran, and that either way, in a week everyone will know "Joe is Jose."

Beer in a garage with Guapo. Sounds fun right? The dealer is setting up a run and wants Kovic and Shafe to make the deal. The men try to ask questions bu Guapo isn't interested. He says he'll send one of his own men along as well.

Protests continue outside the Hollywood Police Station. Inside, Hodiak tells Moran about his failed conversation with Salazar. He should tell the truth. Hodiak gets a phone call from another precinct about Louise Mitchell. It turns out to be a dead end but Officer Charmain Tully overhears and offers to help. Hodiak thanks her but says he needs to take care of it himself. After he leaves, Charmain takes things into her own hands. Another call comes in, the bus attacker has struck again, and this time he murdered the woman over five dollars. As the department springs into action, Salazar calls for Moran. He tells Moran that after the news of the murder, he can't wait any longer and will run the article tomorrow.

Sadie crawls into bed with a sleeping Emma and wakes her with a kiss. Sadie is encouraging Emma to free herself, to cut off all connection with her family. She uses a story from her own childhood about mistreatment at the hands of her mother to encourage Emma to make her own path. Emma looks distressed at the thought. From the door, Manson smirks, as though another part of his twisted plan is falling into place.

Moran knocks again on Hodiak's door. Article in hand he says his wife threw him out. Hodiak tries to comfort him but Moran isn't having it. All he has in the world is his wife and two sons. Hodiak invites him in and tells him he can sleep on the couch.

Shafe is getting some pointers about how the transfer of drugs should go, and how the police will provide backup, but he doesn't seem very convinced the bust will go down safely. Shafe calls the guy's planning sloppy and the lieutenant agrees with him. They come up with a signal to stop the drug transfer if needed, though suit guy warns Shafe not to let his nerves get him.

Cutler and Whelan are making racists jokes about Moran, even singing "La Cucaracha" when Moran walks in. He's drunk, shirt unbuttoned, and carrying a revolver. In his stupor, he asks Cutler and Whelan if they were the ones who told Salazar. Moran looks out the window at the protesters then turns to look at the officers. He talks about how much he loved being a cop and says "You know why I lied? Because if you knew I was Latino, you'd never let me be one of you." Moran turns his attention back to the protesters and says that his own people "won't let me be one of you." Hodiak tries to sneak up on him but Moran is too fast. He points the gun at his own head, forcing Hodiak to step back.

A clearly rattled Shafe is with Kovic and Guapo's man to pick up the delivery. A man arrives and says he'll be right back, that he's just going to "pack the radios." Two other officers lay in wait and plan to bust the men as soon as they come out with a package. Shafe tries to light a cigarette, the signal to call off the bust. But his lighter isn't working, so the cops across the street aren't sure if he's calling it off. Finally, Shafe borrows a lighter from Kovic and lights up. Eventually, his group leaves with the delivery while the officers across the street call him a coward.

Moran is yelling with the protesters, gun still to his head. Cutler orders everyone out of the room but Hodiak stays behind. They talk about a bust where Hodiak saved Moran. Moran laments that if he'd died that day he'd be remembered as a hero. He pushes the gun harder against his temple. Hodiak chides him not to do that, that to be certain he should put the gun under his chin instead. Hodiak tells Moran his own father lost everything in the stock market crash and jumped out his office window. He finds himself often asking himself: if his dad gave up why shouldn't he? And that that's the kind of thoughts Moran's boys will have if he kills himself. Moran still isn't buying it. Hodiak also tells Moran his father is a Jew. His mother is Irish, so Hodiak says that makes him a "half breed, a mongrel". He tells him that heritage doesn't matter, that they're both American. Hodiak finally convinces Moran to hand over the gun, that they'll walk about together. Hodiak and Moran talk a slow walk past the other officers, out through the protesters. Moran looks lost and Hodiak fixes a long look at Salazar, who is outside speaking with the protesters.

Shafe and Kovic return to Guapo's garage with the package. Guapo insists Shafe open it. Shafe does, only to find a travel chess board and pieces packed in the box. Guapo nods and says now he can trust him. Shafe and Guapo shake on it. Good thing Shafe called off the bust right?

Hodiak is sitting at his desk, head in hands. Cutler admonishes him to go home but he's not interested. Whelan approaches and asks about Moran. We learn Moran has four weeks of mandatory observation ahead of him. Whelan also has surveillance photos of anti-war protesters. Hodiak takes a closer look at a photo and recognizes someone. He tells Whelan to arrest the man.

Grace Karn is fast asleep when Emma sneaks into her bedroom. Sadie, Katie and Manson follow her. The group steals a lot of jewelry while Emma looks on. The other leave but Emma is frozen in the doorway, watching her mother sleep. Manson admonishes her and she leaves, reluctantly.

The protester Hodiak wanted arrested is in an interrogation room. Hodiak sits down across from the older man and says "I thought it was high time we had a little talk, Dad." Hodiak's dad asks for the cuffs to be removed but Hodiak just nods. And there we end.