Lethal Weapon – The Odd Couple

By starrymag | March 12, 2018

By: Jessica Wolff

 

 

Sam (Dan Warner) gets into an argument with Gary Filmore (Jesse Bush) and tells him to leave his office. Once he’s gone, Beverly (Kate Blumberg) asks if she can come out from under the desk. As they are about to have sex, a tractor runs into the building, impaling Sam. Trish Murtaugh (Keesha Sharp) makes breakfast for Brooks Avery (Kevin Rahm), who asks why he’s there. He surmises that she wants Intel on Roger Murtaugh (Damon Wayans) or to show off how good she’s doing. Avery tells her that Murtaugh is miserable staying with Martin Riggs (Clayne Crawford), and compliments her dress. She tells him that she’s excited to close a big deal today, and he congratulates her.

 

At the trailer, Murtaugh makes breakfast as Riggs groans at the noise of the inflatable bed. Murtaugh tries to talk to him, but Riggs gets up and stabs the bed with a knife. Riggs compares the living situation to being in prison, and Murtaugh tells him that he’s trying to make the trailer more hospitable so that Riggs can bring a woman over. Riggs angrily replies that he doesn’t want a woman in his space, and Murtaugh argues that he’s still not over Molly Hendricks (Kristen Gutoskie) as he still has her stuff. Riggs insists that he hasn’t had the chance to return the stuff yet, but Murtaugh continues to persist. Riggs replies that he doesn’t want advice from someone who was kicked out by his wife, despite Murtaugh’s insistence that he is the wronged party in the dispute.

 

Riggs and Murtaugh arrive at the crime scene, and continue to bicker. Bernard Scorsese (Johnathan Fernandez) comments on their argument and offers Murtaugh his guest room, but Murtaugh refuses. Sonya Bailey (Michelle Mitchenor) gives them details on Sam, commenting that he’s been living in the trailer since his wife kicked him out. Murtaugh comments that it must have been temporary, and Riggs finds an earring on the floor. Beverly answers questions about the argument she witnessed Sam having. She explains that she didn’t get the other guy’s name, but she heard him asking about a bribe. Beverly starts crying as she thinks about Sam’s death, commenting how hard it is to find love after a divorce. Avery comments that it’s a cautionary tale, clarifying that he’s talking about Murtaugh and not Trish.

 

Riggs calls Maureen Cahill (Jordana Brewster) from her office, asking where she is. She tells him to get out of his office and schedule an appointment, but Riggs insists it’s an emergency. He explains that Murtaugh is making him feel bad about Molly, and she is surprised that he hasn’t talked to her since he ended things. He explains that he doesn’t know how to tell her the truth, and she advises him that lying is good for nobody. He rationalizes that Molly is fine with them floating in and out of each other’s lives, but Cahill comments that she can tell he knows it’s a lie from his body language. She walks in, and orders him to leave.

 

Riggs asks Sonya to let Murtaugh stay with her, but she refuses. She shows him the information on the man Sam argued with, and Riggs and Murtaugh arrive at the scene to find a setup for a big event. Riggs spots Filmore and calls out to him, who is confused at how they know each other. Murtaugh accuses him of Sam’s murder, and Filmore runs away. They chase him and Murtaugh tackles him. Trish demands to know what they’re doing there, accusing them of ruining her big deal. Riggs urges Murtaugh to apologize to Trish, but Murtaugh insists he did nothing wrong. As they continue to bicker, Guillermo Azoulay (Carlo Rota) asks what’s going on. Trish tells him that Riggs and Murtaugh are doing a security check, and he expresses his excitement over getting to press the button to implode the building to break ground for a new Butler’s grocery store. Filmore struggles and Riggs and Murtaugh pin him on top of the button, imploding the building.

 

As Sonya interrogates Filmore, Trish yells at Murtaugh on the other side. Sonya knocks on the glass and Murtaugh tells her that she’s disrupting his work. Trish raises her voice, and Avery disrupts the argument explaining that the incident was an accident. Trish yells that Henry Butler (Michael McGrady) pulled out of the deal, and she and Murtaugh continue to argue. Avery tells Trish that Butler is at the station, and Riggs and Butler joke around.

 

Trish asks Butler if Riggs is driving him insane, and Butler tells them that he’s being hospitable. Butler asks for his blueprints back, and Trish begs him not to pull out of the deal. Murtaugh is confident that they have the murderer in custody, but Avery informs them that Filmore’s alibi checks out. Butler tells them that he’s been getting threatening phone calls and suggests a suspect. Riggs tells him that the best Texas barbecue is in LA, and offers to serve it if he gives Trish another chance. Butler agrees, and Riggs explains to Trish and Murtaugh that he plans to ask Molly. Riggs visits Molly’s barbecue truck, and she asks what she can get him. He compliments her business and shows her a box of her stuff. Riggs asks to talk, but Molly takes the order of the next customer. He says that they don’t need to talk because they’re floaters, and Molly tells him to float out of her life. Riggs tells her that Butler wants to try his barbecue and argues that it would be a good business opportunity for her. She agrees, but emphasizes that she’s not doing it for him.

 

Riggs and Murtaugh investigate the potential subjects, and Murtaugh is worried about the evening being perfect warning that he might live with Riggs forever if it isn’t. Inside the garage, Joaquin Ortega (Ramon Fernandez) and Miguel Ortega (Roberto Sanchez) are torturing a man when they see Riggs and Murtaugh approach. Upon entering the garage, Riggs and Murtaugh ask the brothers about Sam’s murder. They tell him that Sam sold them out to Butler, but insist they didn’t kill him. On their way out, Riggs and Murtaugh hear the man struggling and open the trunk to find him inside. The brothers fight Riggs and Murtaugh, but Riggs and Murtaugh restrain them.

 

Later that evening, Trish tells Riggs and Murtaugh to come in. Riggs announces that he’s going to check on Molly, but Trish informs him that she has strict instructions not to let him talk to her. She reminds them that she needs this to go well in order to convince Butler to stay and makes them promise that there’ll be zero shenanigans. Riggs approaches Molly outside, who reiterates that she doesn’t want him out there. He continues to try and talk to her, but she yells at him for hurting her and over seasons the ribs in her frustration. She laments that they’re ruined, and calls Riggs a landmine before ordering him to watch over the chicken as she prepares new ribs.

 

Inside, Guillermo is unaware that Butler pulled out of the deal. Riggs gets a call from Sonya, who tells him that the Ortegas didn’t kill Sam but that the spot of the new grocery store is a prime spot for a drug operation. He texts Murtaugh, asking him to distract Butler while he gets his blueprints. Murtaugh reminds him that they agreed to no shenanigans and tries to help Trish. Butler sees Riggs take his blueprints, and asks Trish what he’s doing. Murtaugh goes to investigate and yells at him. Riggs looks over the blueprints, and finds evidence to support his theory. The chicken starts burning, but Riggs is too distracted to notice. Trish yells at them, and Murtaugh asks her how well she knows Butler.  During the argument, Molly asks what’s burning and throws them out of the truck.

 

The next morning, Avery finds Murtaugh sleeping on the station couch. Murtaugh gets frustrated for being banished due to Riggs’ belief that Butler is a drug dealer. He asks Avery if he can stay with him, but he quickly calls Sonya over and has her present her theory. Avery says that they can prove the theory and save Murtaugh’s marriage, and Sonya comments that she can win the pool if they do it before midnight. Murtaugh asks what they’re talking about, and Avery tells him that he already lost.

 

Cahill talks to Riggs about Molly, and he talks about how he ruined everything. She tells him that trying counts for something, but sees that he’s not convinced. He admits that he might have ruined something good, and she replies that everyone deserves a second chance. Sonya tells Avery and Murtaugh that she found evidence that Butler unloaded five thousand pounds during a squash delivery. Though Sonya admits that they can’t prove that the extra weight was drugs, but she suggests that they can get a search warrant on possible fraud.

 

As Trish drives to meet Butler, she gets a call from Murtaugh. She tells him that now is not a good time, and he orders her not to get on Butler’s plane. He presents the potential squash information, but she continues to not believe him. She hangs up on him, but she overhears Butler yelling at someone for how he murdered Sam. Trish calls Murtaugh and tells him he was right, to which Murtaugh replies that he told her so. Butler approaches Trish and tells her that the plane is ready for takeoff. Trish lies that she has business, but Butler insists. She tries to talk her way out of joining him, convincing him to call off the deal.

 

Riggs and Murtaugh arrive at the airport to find the plane is about to takeoff. After confirming that the plane is Butler’s, they chase after it and climb aboard as it begins its ascent. Murtaugh tells Riggs not to use his gun, and they argue. A man checks on them, and Riggs knocks him out. They enter the cabin and Murtaugh sees no sign of Trish. He uses the plane’s phone to call her and finds out that she never got on the plane since she talked her way out of it. A man interrupts Murtaugh and he and Riggs fight the men. A gun goes off in the struggle, shattering the window of the plane. Murtaugh throws a body at the hole, and Butler points a gun at them. He orders them to put their weapons down, but Riggs is able to subdue Butler as he shoots at him.

 

The plane begins its descent and Riggs and Murtaugh find that the bullet hit the pilot. Riggs attempts to fly the plane, but is unable to. They find only one parachute and Murtaugh argues that he should take it, as he has family. Riggs is offended, and admits that he wants things to work with Molly. Murtaugh and Riggs hand each other the parachute, but it ends up falling out of the plane. Riggs throws Murtaugh out of the plane before jumping out. He catches up to the parachute and puts it on before making his way towards Murtaugh. Once Murtaugh grabs him, Riggs deploys the parachute.

 

Sonya informs Avery that the Texas police are cracking down on Butler’s operation. Scorsese shows them the stuff he bought for Murtaugh’s stay. Avery tells him that he hopes he kept the receipt, and Riggs goes home to Trish. He tells her he left his bag there, but she is touched that he jumped out a plane for her. She welcomes him home and they apologize to each other before she invites him upstairs to the bedroom.

 

Riggs visits Molly and asks for five minutes. He admits he owes her an explanation, and she reminds him that he broke her heart. Riggs asks if they’re good, and Molly tells him they can be friends again. He replies that he doesn’t want to be just friends and tells her the reason he left. She asked why he didn’t say something, and insists that he was looking out for her and Ben. Molly asks what’s changed, and comments that his dad has cast a dark shadow over him forever. She tells him that he needs to figure out the situation with his dad.