Lethal Weapon – Family Ties

By starrymag | May 8, 2018

By: Jessica Wolff

 

 

Martin Riggs (Clayne Crawford) visits the Murtaugh house to find Nathan Riggs (Rex Linn) sharing his childhood memories with Roger Murtaugh (Damon Wayans) and Trish Murtaugh (Keesha Sharp). He asks Nathan what he’s doing there, and Nathan replies that the Murtaughs are his family since Riggs considers them family. Nathan asks Riggs to join them as they watch video of Nathan abusing Riggs. Riggs is unable to turn off the TV and Nathan tells him that he won’t be able to save Murtaugh and Trish as the microwave explodes.

 

Maureen Cahill (Jordana Brewster) asks Riggs what he thinks the nightmare means. Riggs speculates that his getting Nathan transferred closer to him means that he will destroy his world. He admits that it was a mistake, but Cahill points out that Nathan had just been stabbed. Riggs asks why he cares, and Cahill reminds him that he’s family.

 

A crowd gathers as Murtaugh dances in Avery’s office, and Sonya Bailey (Michelle Mitchenor) comments on his choice of music. Murtaugh replies that the captain sets the tone, clarifying that he knows he’s only interim captain since Avery stepped down. However, he tells her that being captain has perks and shows her a captains-only product catalogue. Sonya suggests that this is a bad idea, and Murtaugh questions if she is undermining him. She tells him that the commissioner is requesting him upstairs, and Murtaugh is excited.

 

Upstairs, Commissioner Debra (Rebecca Wisocky) informs Murtaugh that Lisa Conlon (Rachelle Goulding) was kidnapped and plays recorded footage of the kidnapping. Riggs enters, and Murtaugh tells him he’s not allowed up there. Debra tells him she invited him, as the tattoo on the kidnappers arm is the symbol of Nathan’s gang. She wants Riggs to use his family connection, promising to release Nathan when they solve the case.

 

Murtaugh tells Mark Conlon (Hector Hugo) that they’re doing everything they can to find his wife. Leo Getz (Thomas Lennon) enters the station, congratulating Murtaugh on his promotion. Murtaugh tells Leo he’s in the middle of helping Mark, and Leo comments on the big case he got on his first day. Murtaugh assures Mark that he’s experienced, and asks Leo why he’s there. Leo tells him he’s there to congratulate him, and that he is working on a class-action lawsuit against him and Riggs. Murtaugh rejects Leo’s request to write him a check and tells him to get out.

 

Riggs talks to Nathan about the case, and asks if he’s in or out. Nathan warns him that people will know he talked and someone will get to him. Riggs promises his release if he helps them, and Nathan tells him to talk to a truck stop bartender named Travis (Charlie Talbert). Murtaugh tells Debra that Riggs and Sonya are following the lead, and Debra tells Murtaugh that she wants minute-by-minute updates, demanding it when Murtaugh tries to talk his way out of it.

 

Murtaugh calls Sonya and asks about Riggs’ damage level, and she replies they’re at defcon-5. He is horrified, but Sonya explains that defcon-1 is the worst on the scale. In the bar, Riggs yells at Travis for serving minors alcohol and smashes several bottles. He forces Travis to go outside with him, and pays for the smashed bottles before asking about Lisa’s kidnapping. Travis refuses to answer, and Riggs tells him that Nathan is his father.

 

Travis tells him about a pipeline, and Riggs asks for a name. He tells Riggs to turn around and he sees the van used in the kidnapping. Riggs tries to ask the driver at the gas station, Garrett (Peter Coventry Smith) about the truck. Two men step out of the bar and ask Garrett, who answers to the name Riggs, why he’s talking to a cop. Sonya shoots at them as they pull out their guns and the dropped gasoline catches on fire, causing the van to explode.

 

Murtaugh apologizes to Riggs for not going with him to see Nathan. Sonya informs them that all of the evidence in the van blew up except a thermos with DNA that confirms that Garrett is Nathan’s child. Riggs shows Garrett’s picture to Nathan, who confirms that Garrett is his son. Nathan tells Riggs that Garrett to be looked after, and insists that he learned from his mistakes with Riggs. He tells Riggs that Garrett is living with a friend and insists that he’s not involved in the kidnapping. Nathan gives Riggs a name and makes him promise to look after Garrett.

 

At a motel, Sean (Chad Rook) shows Llewyn Scott (Adam Sinclair) that Lisa is bound and gagged in the shower. Sean criticizes Scott for having Garrett get rid of the van and Scott hits him. Scott tells Sean that he needs Lisa to record a message for Mark. Leo interviews Monty (George Sharperson) for his lawsuit, and Murtaugh orders him to shut it down. He tells Murtaugh the evidence against him and Riggs, and Monty argues with Murtaugh about it. Leo mentions that he’s talked to Mark, and that he’s visited several pawnshops. He tells Murtaugh that Mark’s been carrying a duffel bag, and Murtaugh assesses he’s making a ransom drop.

 

Murtaugh sits with his back to Mark on a bench, and asks about the kidnappers contacting him. Mark tells him they sent him a video and requested six hundred thousand dollars in cash. Riggs joins them, and Mark gets a call from a phone taped under the seat. The kidnappers instruct Mark to get on the bus, and he steps on board. A man comes up and grabs the duffel bag before walking away and Riggs follows him. Murtaugh steps to the front of the bus and ignores the bus driver’s (Earnestine Phillips) request for him to sit down.

 

Riggs sees the man hand off the duffel bag to a man in a car and identifies him as Garrett when he sees his face. He chases after Garrett, and Murtaugh asks the driver to follow the car. She argues with him, and he identifies himself as police captain. The driver doesn’t care and threatens to call the police. Riggs continues to chase Garrett, and Murtaugh drives the bus to follow them while the driver protests.

 

Murtaugh hits several cars in the pursuit and the car gets away as the bus crashes. The driver checks on her passengers and then calls Leo’s number on the back of the bus complaining about Murtaugh. Garrett stops in the middle of the street, and explains that he was forced to help the kidnappers. Riggs tries to talk him down, but a taxi hits Garrett as he tries to run away.

 

Debra, Commissioner Ted (Ben Cain) and Commissioner Greg (Vic Chao) yell at Murtaugh for how the case was handled. Murtaugh defends himself, but the commissioners point out the damage he and Riggs caused. He promises to do better next time, but Debra tells him the case will be handed over to the FBI.

 

Riggs tells Nathan that Garrett was working with the kidnappers, but Nathan doesn’t believe it. He asks what happened to Garrett, and Riggs tells him. Nathan blames Riggs for not holding up his end of the bargain and letting Garrett get run over, but Riggs tells him that he can’t blame him for this. He asks Riggs how it feels to get back at him, but Riggs apologizes for Garrett before walking away. Riggs checks on Garrett in the hospital, and Murtaugh brings him coffee. Murtaugh assures him that it’s not his fault, and tells him that they’re off the case. He suggests they continue their investigation anyway, but Riggs isn’t enthused.

 

The next morning, Riggs questions why Murtaugh is doing his investigation at his old desk and Murtaugh admits he feels more comfortable out there. Riggs declares he’ll take Murtaugh’s office, but finds that it’s covered in more case information. Sonya interrupts them to tell them that the duffel bag contains significantly less money than Mark told them was requested. Sonya asks why they’re still investigating, and Riggs tells her that the captain said they could continue the investigation.

 

Leo approaches Sean about the bus crash, showing him a picture of him on the bus and telling him about the lawsuit he’s preparing. Sean grabs him, and tells him he’s not interested. Leo notices a Conlon Pharmaceuticals bag in Sean’s car as he gives him his card. Mark threatens to report Murtaugh, but Murtaugh questions him about the ransom amount. Mark admits that he also gave them information on one of his truck and his truck routes, telling them that one of his drugs can be used to make meth. Mark refuses to give up the truck, but Murtaugh tells him that the kidnappers will most likely kill Lisa now that they have what they need.

 

Riggs watches as Scott gets into Mark’s truck, and Leo calls Murtaugh to tell him that he’s following Sean and explains his suspicions. Murtaugh recognizes the name as a potential suspect, and tells Leo to keep following. As Scott drives the truck, Riggs lays on the top. Debra confronts Murtaugh for taking advantage of the Captain privileges and bringing Mark in. Murtaugh tells her they know why Lisa was kidnapped, and shuts down her arguments by telling her that they need to act quickly to get Lisa back alive.

 

Murtaugh calls Leo as he and Sonya drive, and Leo tells them he followed Sean to a motel. Leo describes Sean’s actions, and Murtaugh tells him that they’re almost there and to not leave his car. Riggs sits up and climbs down to the driver, as Leo ignores Murtaugh and follows Sean. As he observes them, a kidnapper points a gun at Leo and forces him to come with him. Sean throws Leo into the shower with Lisa, and Sean informs Scott of Leo’s intrusion. As Scott orders Sean to kill Leo and Lisa, Riggs punches him through the window.

 

As Scott and Riggs fight, Sean asks him what he said. Scott reaches for his gun, but Riggs redirects the bullets to the inside of the car. Riggs jumps off the truck as it drives into road blockage and stops. Leo tries to talk Sean into joining the lawsuit as Murtaugh and Sonya arrive at the motel. The kidnappers shoot at them, but Sonya takes them all out easily. They rescue Lisa and Leo, and Leo grabs a gun before telling Lisa that she was an amazing hostage.

 

Scott limps out of the car and Riggs points his gun at him. Scott considers reaching for his gun and asks what they do now. Riggs tells him to wait to be arrested, and Scott warns him that Nathan is a dead man. He asks Riggs to let him go, and tells him that he’s heard the stories of Nathan’s abuse. Riggs wishes him luck and walks away. Scott grabs the gun, but Riggs shoots him before he can fire it.

 

Debra complains to Murtaugh about the decision to appoint him permanent Captain, and Murtaugh confirms what she said. She tells him that Avery is leaving to run for office, and tells him that he’s been nominated despite her protests because of his results in rescuing Lisa. Debra congratulates him, and Riggs tells Cahill that Nathan is being released. He is confident that Nathan won’t stick around, but she reminds him that he’s family.

 

Murtaugh tells Trish about his potential promotion, and she is excited for him. He tells her he hasn’t fully committed, but suggests that he’s ready for the career change and likes being called Captain. Riggs visits Nathan as he visits Garrett, and Nathan asks him he wants to come in. Nathan tells him Garrett will be fine, and tells Riggs he appreciates what he’s done for him. He comments that his release couldn’t have gone better if he planned it, and smirks when Riggs asks if he planned it.