Lethal Weapon – Jesse’s Girl

By starrymag | April 30, 2018

By: Jessica Wolff

 

 

In 1996, young Molly (Sophia Woodward) asks young Riggs (Chase Mangum) if he wants to leave town as they skip rocks. She tells him about her dreams, but he says he doesn’t know. Molly insists, and Riggs tells her that he wants a family, a truck, and a kid to take to Little League. She questions if that’s all, but he replies that the dream seems as elusive as hers to him.

 

In the present, Molly Hendricks (Kristen Gutoskie) tells Martin Riggs (Clayne Crawford) that Ben (Duncan Joiner) isn’t excited for his first Little League game. Ben tells them that he looks silly, and Riggs helps him adjust his uniform. He takes Ben’s new glove and makes it look worn. Molly thanks Riggs for being there, as Ben hasn’t had a father figure in a while.

 

At a bowling alley, Riana Murtaugh (Chandler Kinney) watches Jesse Clarke (Daniel DiVenere) bowl and Phoebe Clarke (Priscilla Quintana) accuses her of watching her brother. She tries to deny it, but Phoebe tells her that Jesse likes her back once she admits to it. Riana lets Phoebe try on her jacket, and Phoebe tells her that she has to go upon seeing Tyler Thatcher (James Morosini). Riana realizes that Phoebe left with her jacket, but they drive away as she steps outside the bowling alley.

 

Phoebe and Tyler break into a house, as Tyler assures her that the owner, Randy, is out of town. The raid Randy’s liquor cabinet and make out before Phoebe goes through the house’s valuables. Tyler tells to come to the backyard and they admire the pool as Phoebe shows him the medication she found. As they are about to go into the pool, they hear Randy come home. Tyler tells Phoebe to run as he pulls out a gun.

 

Riana attempts to sneak into the house but, Roger Murtaugh (Damon Wayans) and Trish Murtaugh (Keesha Sharp) stop her. Murtaugh tells her that she’s home ten minutes past her curfew, and Trish tells her she should have called. Riana explains that she was hanging out with Phoebe, and Trish asks when they can meet her. Murtaugh asks where his jacket is, and Riana replies that Phoebe has it.

 

Riana asks them to ground her already, and Murtaugh grounds her as she storms upstairs. Trish tells Murtaugh that they should save harsher punishments for more serious offenses. She warns him that Riana will start hiding things from them if they tighten their grip, but Murtaugh argues that harsher punishments on smaller infractions will prevent bigger infractions before complaining about Phoebe stealing his jacket.

 

As they walk to the crime scene, Riggs expresses excitement over Ben joining Little League and tells Murtaugh that Riana isn’t a delinquent for losing his jacket. Bernard Scorsese (Johnathan Fernandez) gives them the details of the case, and Riggs assesses that it was a breaking and entering gone wrong. Zach Bowman (Andrew Creer) gives them the Randy’s ledger, but Riggs and Murtaugh tell him to give it to Sonya. Bowman offers to do it, and insists that he’s capable when Riggs and Murtaugh question his abilities. Murtaugh continues to complain about Riana, but Riggs tells him he’s overreacting. At the look around, Murtaugh is horrified to see his jacket by the pool.

 

Murtaugh demands to know how the jacket ended up at a crime scene, and Riana replies that she has no idea since Phoebe took it. Murtaugh thinks she’s lying, but Riana insists it’s the truth. Trish urges her to tell the truth, and Riana admits that she was hanging out with Phoebe at the bowling alley instead of the library. She explains that Phoebe left with Tyler, and that she came home to avoid missing curfew. Murtaugh asks where Phoebe is, and Riana tells her that they were planning to meet at the bowling alley. He tells her that she’s going with a police escort, and Trish tells her she’s grounded when she comes home.

 

Riana asks Murtaugh to not embarrass her as they arrive at the bowling alley, and Murtaugh tells her that she’s in no position for demands. Riggs suggests that he handle the situation, and Riana suggests that Murtaugh can be backup. Murtaugh tells her that Riggs embarrasses him every day, and starts arguing with Riggs. Riggs gets a call from Molly, and tells them that he needs to take it. Riana asks Murtaugh to not tell people that he’s her dad, and Murtaugh calls out to Phoebe. She turns around, and Murtaugh tells the other kids to leave before introducing himself as Riana’s dad. Phoebe is not happy, and asks if he’s there because of the jacket. Murtaugh tells her that Randy was murdered, and Phoebe tells him that he was alive when she left.

 

Molly tells Riggs that Ben hated Little League and that Coach Latimer (Wilmer Calderon) didn’t play him. Riggs spots Tyler selling Randy’s medication, and calls out to him. When told that Randy was murdered, Tyler starts running. As Phoebe insists that Tyler isn’t a murderer, Riggs chases Tyler through the bowling alley.

 

Cornering him in a back room, Tyler pulls out his gun when Riggs insists he just wants to talk. Riggs throws a bowling pin at his face, and Tyler attempts to escape through the lane. However, he gets stuck and asks for Riggs’ help. Tyler promises to cooperate and Riggs shoots the machine to stop it. Riggs pulls him through and arrests him with everyone watching.

 

In the interrogation room, Tyler insists that they were just using the house to hang out. Murtaugh doesn’t believe him, and Tyler insists that he didn’t kill Randy. However, Murtaugh tell him that all the evidence points to him and Tyler insists that Randy was alive when he left. Scorsese comes in and tells Murtaugh that Tyler’s gun is not the murder weapon.

 

Murtaugh finds Martha Clarke (Bertila Damas) waiting by his desk, and she asks where Phoebe is. He tells her that Phoebe will be released, and Martha criticizes him for treating her daughter like a criminal when Riana is worse. She comments that children of overbearing parents are the ones who act out, and Murtaugh is offended that she thinks he’s overbearing. Murtaugh tries to ask Phoebe, but Martha warns him to keep Riana away as they leave.

 

Bowman shows Murtaugh evidence that Randy’s shop was a front for another business. Riggs gives Latimer a parking ticket, and tells him that it will go away if he plays Ben in the next game. Latimer tells him that Ben asked not to play, and suggests that he doesn’t understand the game. He advises Riggs to teach his son to play, and then suggests that Ben should try a different activity.

 

Murtaugh yells at Riggs for arresting Latimer, and tells him that it’s important to be patient as a parent. Riggs calls him out on his hypocrisy, but Murtaugh insists that Riana knows she was wrong. Riggs goes into a shop and talks to Stan (Joe Marinelli) about the murder. Nico (Jesus Ruiz) and Yuri (Chris Palermo) step out and Riggs assesses that they are robbing the store before they shoot at him. Riggs shoots Yuri, and searches for Nico. He finds a movie screen, but Nico punches him through the screen into a movie theater. Riana sits with Jesse, and asks what he’s doing there.

 

In the interrogation room, Murtaugh interrogates Jesse about his relationship with Riana. Jesse insists that it was just a first date, and Murtaugh confronts him about taking Riana out when she is grounded. He brings up all of the things Martha accused Riana of doing, and Jesse tells him that those are things Phoebe does. Murtaugh is pleased that Riana is the innocent one, and tells Jesse he can go. Stan identifies Nico as the killer, and explains that Nico thought Randy stole diamonds from him.

 

In the past, Nathan Riggs (Rex Linn) confronts Riggs about his Little League performance and forces Riggs to admit that him standing by the fence distracted him. Nathan starts smashing objects with the baseball bat, and a piece of glass strikes Riggs in the face. He stops and pulls the glass out of his forehead. In the present, Riggs tries to teach Ben how to catch the ball. Ben catches it after a couple of tries, but Molly pulls up and confronts him about arresting Latimer. Ben gets hit in the face as Riggs throws it, and Molly carries Ben into the house.

 

Trish tells Murtaugh that she revoked Riana’s phone privileges, but Murtaugh questions if they’re being too harsh. Trish reminds her that Riana’s friend is involved in a murder investigation, and Murtaugh tells her what Jesse said. Trish reminds him that Riana went on a date with him while grounded. Murtaugh argues that Jesse is a good kid, but Trish reminds him that Riana lied to them twice. He insists that he wants to talk to Riana, but they find that she is gone when they go to her room.

 

Riana and Phoebe drive on the town, and Phoebe shows her the diamonds she stole from Randy. As Tyler steps outside for a cigarette, Nico puts a gun to his head and asks him to take a ride with him. Murtaugh orders Bowman to put out a BOLO for Riana, and Bowman gets a call about the location of the vehicle. Riana tells Phoebe to turn the diamonds in, but Phoebe tells her not to call Murtaugh. The car doesn’t start, and Riana realizes that her parents reported the car stolen. Phoebe gets out of the car and makes Riana promise again not to tell Murtaugh. Bowman reports that they found the car, but Riana was gone.

 

Riggs brings ice cream for Ben, and tells Molly he didn’t intend to hurt him. Molly tells him that he went overboard, and to give it time. In the past, Molly tends to Riggs’ cut and urges Riggs to come stay at her house. Riggs refuses, and tells Molly it was an accident. The next morning, Riana visits Riggs and tells him she needs help. She tells Riggs that she can’t talk to Murtaugh about it, and Riggs plays one of several messages that Murtaugh left him during his search for her.

 

Riana apologizes, and Murtaugh embraces her. He tells her he was worried, and she tells him about the diamonds. Tyler calls Phoebe as Nico holds a gun to his head, telling her that he’s coming to get the diamonds. Phoebe answers the door and Riggs and Murtaugh come inside before locking the door. Murtaugh asks where the diamonds are and warns her that armed men are on their way to take them. Riggs and Murtaugh point their guns at Jesse as he enters, and Murtaugh asks him if there’s another way out of the apartment.

 

Riggs follows Phoebe as she grabs the diamonds and climbs out the window. He talks to her as she hangs onto the windowsill and Murtaugh hides Jesse in a closet. Phoebe insists she can’t go to jail, but Riggs tries to talk her into coming back inside. Murtaugh aims his gun at the door, and Nico shoots it open. Riggs orders Phoebe not to move, and then tries to pull Phoebe back inside as she freaks out. Phoebe asks to take her time as Murtaugh and Nico shoot at each other.

 

Riggs reaches out for Phoebe and holds onto her as she dangles over the window. Nico attacks Murtaugh from behind and puts him in a chokehold. Riggs holds onto Phoebe and shoots Nico with his other hand. He pulls Phoebe into the apartment and she hands him the diamonds. Later, Riggs asks to join Ben, and checks his cut. He tells Ben about Nathan, and that it’s his decision if he wants to play baseball. Ben decides to try again, and Riggs is thrilled.

 

Trish tells Riana that though they are happy she’s okay, she still lied to them. Riana tells her that she’s ready to face the consequences, but Murtaugh tells her they’re proud of her for making the right decisions in the end. Riana asks if she can go out, Trish tells her she’s still grounded. However, Jesse arrives and Murtaugh tells her that he invited him so they could finish their date. Riggs brings Ben home from his game, and Ben tells Molly that he caught a pop fly. In both the past and present, Molly invites Riggs inside.