S1, E10 | "The Rat"

​Season 1 Finale

“What did you do!?” Stucky shouts, a ball of anger surrounding him as he storms into Danny’s hanger, watching him polish a monkey wrench. “My father has been running around the house all night talking about ‘Matt’s alive this’ and ‘Matt’s alive that’” Stucky replies, the rolled eyes of Danny not viewed favorably in his own eyes, “what the hell did you do?”

Tossing the wet rag back onto his bench, Danny throws his hands out, keeping his answer brief. “I fucked up” Danny replies, walking past the addict and returning to his plane, tossing his wrench into the toolbox beside him. “I hesitated to kill the bitch and she must have put the puzzle together from there” Danny explains, reserving his seat beside the plane’s fuselage before beginning to undress, “as far as I know, you’re still in the clear, though.”

Eyes wandering off to some corner of the hanger, Stucky asks where the duo takes it from this point, a question that a now-shirtless Danny becomes invested in. “Have you deluded yourself into thinking that we’re on the same team here?” Danny inquires, looking back to a silent Stucky, his dark, bloodshot eyes returning the look, “we’re on completely different hemispheres, there’s just something in the middle worth working together on.”

“Exactly, so we’re on the same team for now!” Stucky replies, prompting Danny to slam his hand into the front of his plane, convincing himself that Stucky has begun to look too far into their conversations. “We’re props to use for our own best interest!” Danny shouts, the veins in his neck revealing themselves to the addict, the running rivers from his wrist to his bicep protruding from his skin, “when what’s asked is done, that’s it… We’re nothing to each other.”

“Listen, I get the history of our factions, but we can be great allies for each other” Stucky explains, trying to use the negotiator tips his father had taught him over the years to broker a deal, something Danny isn’t interested in. “You’re nothing but a power-hungry, drug-addicted criminal to me, and I should be nothing more than a murderous, high-ranking criminal to you” Danny explains, stepping within inches of Stucky’s face, “we’re not friends, and we’re never going to be.”

Returning to his redressing station, Danny throws a shirt over his nude torso whilst Stucky’s mind travels elsewhere, a sobriety-like numbness coming over him inexplicably. Without a word, Stucky walks away, removing himself from the hanger and leaving the space to Danny once again. Knowing of the addict’s departure, Danny looks back at the entrance, watching it be slammed shut from the outside, an expression of conviction worn upon his dirt-covered face.

= Kings of Cambridge is created by Zachary Serra, all rights to the series belong to Zachary Serra and his entity of Pacer1 from the start of Season 1 onwards =

“Anyone follow you here?” Matt asks, dark shades over his eyes and a full-black suit worn over his body, Danny approaching his recolored vehicle. “I changed the route, I adjusted my pace and I’ve seen downtown six times… No one should be following me” Danny replies, entering the vehicle as Matt dies out his joint, grinding it beneath his heel before climbing into the driver’s seat.

“Updates?” Danny asks, Matt’s eyes still hidden behind the glasses, his head directed towards the road, thus giving Danny the feeling of disconnect between the two. “New phone, new provider, new everything… Same name, at least” Matt replies, dominant hand over the steering wheel whilst the other resides on his own thigh, “how about you?”

“Stucky came to visit me two nights ago” Danny replies, his reply peaking Matt’s interest, an inquiry into the reasoning only bringing about more confusion. “He wanted to know where we, as a team, were taking the next step now that my cover’s been blown” Danny replies, prompting Matt to ask about the man’s answer. “I told him to, in my own way, fuck off” Danny replies, earning a fit of laughter from the stoned driver.

“Welp, that’s just wonderful for us” Matt replies, an eye roll coming off Danny immediately thereafter. “Says the guy that got ghosted by the woman he saved the job of by uprooting our entire drug trade” Danny cuts back, watching Matt’s glasses be softly pulled down the bridge of his nose. “Touchee” Matt quips, pushing his glasses back up as his eyes fall back upon the road, their drive taking them out of Cambridge.

“Care to tell me where we’re going?” Danny asks, looking at the man, who one would never be able to tell was as high as a kite. “Patience, my long-time friend” Matt replies, winking through his glasses towards Danny with a smile, “it’s my long-overdue birthday gift to you… From about seven years ago.” An amused nod offered back, Danny rests back in his chair and sinks into the plushy seat, head rested against the soft headrest as the long road ahead grows shorter with each passing mile.

Tires kicking up sand, Matt brings his car to a complete stop just outside an unmarked building in the middle of nowhere, a near twenty-mile stretch of empty, vacant roads leading to this oasis in the forest. Tapping Danny on the shoulder, Matt awakens his friend from his slumber as he opens the vehicle door, emerging from his car with one set of keys in his hand.

“I figured what our plans are bound to call for would need an upgrade from that club of yours” Matt explains, approaching the front door. “Did you buy me Charlie’s chocolate factory, Matt?” Danny asks, a sarcastic grin coming over his face as the key turns in the lock, granting the pair entry into the shade-bountiful building. With the flick of a few lightswitches, Matt illuminates each room and corridor one-by-one, eventually bringing the tour around to the prized portion.

Designed like a war room, circular walls of whiteboards, blackboards and glassboards, the middle of the building is set up perfectly to prepare for their grandest of plans. “We may have the E.H.P.G nipping on our heels and an ever-present Gilcrest problem on our hands, but our plans are still to be moved forward” Matt explains, leaving Danny’s side to stand in the middle of the floorspace, “our heist shall be planned from within these comforts.”

“You bought me a heist-planning room?” Danny replies, cautiously marching down the concrete steps to the floor, “are we in Grand Theft Auto or is this still real life?” With a chuckle, Matt throws his arm around his friend’s shoulder, leading him to the collection of writing boards, painting out a picture of what the space will look like when all is relocated.

“The beautiful thing about being surrounded on every end by miles of trees is that no one just accidentally stumbles upon a drug den in the middle of nowhere” Matt replies, “unless we draw attention ourselves, no one’s going to find this baby with anything less than a constantly updating satellite picture.”

Silent, Danny just takes in the look of the room, something deep within him earning a sense of accomplishment. “We still need this be kept quiet about, though” Matt explains, breaking Danny away from the moment, his eyes wandering back to the man that’s made this possible, “we still have a rodent problem on our hands.” Head hung, Danny nods to himself, looking back with an empathetic expression, trying to gode Matt into accepting the offer he’s about to lay on the table.

“I can meet with them again” Danny begins, already seeing the disapproval come over Matt’s posture, his sunglasses being removed from his tilted head as Danny continues to speak. “I may not have been able to get something out of them when putting on a persona, but I may if I approach them from a genuine angle” Danny explains, calling for Matt’s name to ensure eye contact, “if I can get to your father, I’m pretty sure I can pull something from his brain.”

“Danny, you’ve already damn near gotten killed doing that” Matt replies, shaking his head in outright refusal, both hands on his hips, “I’m not going to let you do that.” Defeated, Danny lets out an exhale as his chin aims high, Matt not giving up on his efforts to persuade Danny to drop the idea. “Look at everything, I know something inside you feels justified after all these years” Matt explains, speaking from the same level as his friend, “don’t risk that now that it’s finally here.”

“It’s here because I’ve taken gambles that have paid off throughout all of this” Danny replies, connecting the pay off with the work to achieve it. “How much longer will it be before all these years of gambling catch up with you… How much longer until it catches up with all of us?” Matt asks, reminding Danny of the amount of failed bets that come with every one instance of a successful one.

“You’re not playing with house money anymore, now you’re putting your life on these gambles” Matt continues, approaching his friend and resting a hand upon his shoulder, “stop pulling cards from the deck and hold what you’ve got.” Silent, Danny looks at Matt with a defeated face, the corner of his lip being pressed between his teeth as a subtle nod is given from Danny, an unwanted acceptance offered.

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“Kings of Cambridge Therapeutic Center, this is Angela” the receptionist greets, a chime from the front door ringing through the lobby as she continues to speak. Approaching the front desk, Michael stands with a coat in his arms just beyond a large pane of sliding glass, watching the woman leave her seat to greet him. “I have an appointment with Darlene Jane at 1:30” Michael greets, pointed towards a mostly-empty crowd of seats off to the side of the room.

Scanning the chairs, Michael takes a seat across from a lady in the corner of the waiting area, her eyes directed towards her phone, an unhappy expression over her face as she looks into the screen. “Those are lovely shoes” Michael says, a poor attempt at breaking the ice, watching the confused young girl’s face look up at him with her eyebrows raised.

“They’re twenty dollar shoes from some department store, but thanks” the client replies, looking back towards her screen, trying her best to brush off the man’s poor conversation starter. “Do you have a name?” Michael asks, his polite nature being read through easily by the younger woman, who looks back at him with a genuine confusion. “Brook” the girl replies, again glancing back down at her phone, trying to get such gestures across as her way of telling the man not to speak to her.

Kicking one leg over another, Michael goes silent for a few seconds before starting the conversation again, this time with details the girl actually takes interest in. “I’ve heard that my son was a therapist here for a short time” Michael quips, Brook’s eyes finally leaving her screen, wandering off into the distant corners of the room as Michael continues to speak, “did you happen to know anyone here named Matthew?”

Lips less tightly pressed against each other, Brook looks back towards the man, her head slowly turning towards him, answer leaving her lips. “My therapist’s name is Perry, sorry” Brook replies, the older man beside her nodding as he looks away, any further possible lines of dialogue halted the moment Darlene emerges from the back of the building. “Michael?” Darlene calls out, earning the man’s attention.

“It was nice to meet you, Brook” Michael says, tapping her knee before passing Darlene, entering the back. Looking back at Brook in a moment, not purposefully but rather out of instinct, Darlene watches the girl extend her pressed-together fingers and run them across her neck, warning Darlene that the man is not to be trusted. Squinting, Darlene looks back towards the man before glancing back at Brook, taking her warning seriously.

In a moment of consideration, Darlene looks around the room before reaching into her mouth, a chewed piece of gum being pressed between her fingers. Showing Brook, Darlene presses the gum into the doorknob’s lock and lets the door slide shut, failing to lock as Darlene enters the back. Looking around the room, Brook checks her surroundings before waiting a few seconds, dashing for the door and following closely behind the pair.

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Parking his car, Matt approaches his front door until a voice calls out for his attention, leaving the man to stop walking, slowly turning towards the least-lit corner of his porch. “My father’s on a hunting spree looking for you” Stucky calls back, emerging from the darkness with his hands up, Matt immediately asking him what he wants. “I’m not here to start a fight or-” Stucky begins, stopped in his tracks by Matt’s response, reiterating his question.

“What do you want, Stucky?” Matt asks again, Stucky’s hands falling to his side, limp by his waist. “I’ve heard about your rat problem and I want you to get to the bottom of it” Stucky replies, his motivations questioned in the same breath. “If the information you’re sharing gets back to my dad, it puts a massive stunt in my plans” Stucky explains, clarifying his end of the bargain, “but more importantly, when I take over the Gilcrest trade, I want no bad blood with the Table.”

“I think you’re about one line of children too late for that one, kid” Matt replies, dropping his coat onto the ground before approaching Stucky, briefcase still in hand, voice lowered. “I’ve heard through the grapevine that you’re planning on sticking it out here, so we won’t be sharing the same territory for long” Stucky explains, leaning forward to lower his voice to a mere whisper, “I genuinely think there could be room for the two of us to help each other when that day comes.”

Almost laughing at the suggestion, Matt tells Stucky that he doesn’t have the first clue about anything relating to his Table. “You can run off like a scared dog, but you don’t to turn around once we rule the roost asking for handouts” Matt explains, one finger pointed towards the ground, his words being bound by the support of the ground he stands on, “you know exactly who the rat is, and we’ll find out without anything you have to say.”

Turning around, Matt begins to walk away until his feet stop moving again, Stucky’s words calling out for him to rethink what he knows. “You’re wrong about how I figured out you were the head of the table” Stucky calls back, watching Matt’s head turn over his shoulder, “I wasn’t given that information by anyone other than you.” Squinting, Matt looks towards Stucky as if he were wearing the same jumpsuit he escaped the local prison in.

“What the hell are you talking about, I’d never said a word to you in my life before you approached me!” Matt yells back, refusing to care about what his neighbors can overhear. “Your death certificate was signed by an doctor that went to jail on corruption charges” Stucky explains, the first flaw found being nothing in comparison to the second, “and I’ve known you were Michael’s son the entire time, Matt… I’m an addict and a psycho, not an idiot.”

Nostrils flaring, Matt walks up to Stucky, who lifts his shirt to reveal a gun, his intentions for visiting Matt not being those of murderous tendencies. “I’m telling you the truth, Matt… Those things were the same reason Michael’s refused to believe you were dead since the moment I met him, probably before that too” Stucky explains, his head shaking as he hands Matt the difficult pill to swallow, “you’ve got a rat in your chain, and he’s working with our old man, and our old man only.”

Rolling his eyes, Matt walks away from Stucky, beginning to walk circles in his own yard as the younger addict proceeds to lower his shirt, no longer feeling the need to be defensive. “If it helps, dad hasn’t known you were alive for sure until last night” Stucky explains, continuing to ease Matt’s worries, “he also doesn’t know about the Purple Gang, or about the hit on him… So if that narrows down the suspect list, I’m glad to be of use.”

Turning away, Stucky returns to his vehicle, having said what he needed to say. “How sure about all of that are you?” Matt calls back, extending the first olive branch he has to offer. “I know everything dad knows and then some” Stucky calls back, flashing the man a smile, “go get the rat before he starts to nest.” With that, Stucky climbs into his car and takes off into the night, leaving Matt behind to watch his car drive off, contemplation necessary.

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“I have an appointment coming up within the next fifteen minutes, so let’s try to make this fast” Darlene explains, taking a seat on the edge of her desk, Michael’s coat being tossed onto the sofa. “Sure thing, I wanted to inquire as to the information you have on a former employee at this clinic… Matthew Gilcrest?” Michael begins, watching Darlene’s facial muscles shift, a response she knows makes her suspicious to anyone with high-awareness out of the gate.

“We did have a Matthew working here for a short time, unfortunately, we did not have a Matthew that worked here under that name” Darlene replies, the nonchalant shuffle of Michael’s hands in his pockets greeting her. “Then what was the name of your Matthew?” Michael replies, the sight of clenched teeth meeting him once thereafter. “I cannot give that information out, I’m sorry for the inconvenience” Darlene replies, the unpleasant look on Michael’s face leaving her uneasy.

Puckered lips, Michael knows this building to have once employed his son, the loose thread he has to keep his eye upon one that he’s not willing to let slip away easily. “We both know my son was formerly employed under your institution, Ms. Jane… Quite frankly, with his qualifications, he’s actually overqualified to work in your center” Michael explains, slowly closing the distance between himself and the woman, “I’m afraid I can’t accept a non-answer to that question.”

“I’m afraid you don’t have much of a choice in how the law works” Darlene replies, immediately challenging the man, refusing to break the laws she is bound by. Not allowing himself to be bested, Michael continues to push boundaries, exceeding his welcome despite Darlene’s attempt at remaining polite and understanding. “I’m sure the two of us can work something out” Michael replies, uncuffing his sleeves as he continues to approach the woman.

“I’m not sure you understand… I’m not changing my answer, Mr. Gilcrest” Darlene reiterates, her words falling short of reaching their mark, Michael’s persuasion continuing. “Scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours… What is it that you want?” Michael asks, refusing to take ‘no’ for an answer, the door behind him slowly creaking open. “I want you to back away from her” Brook calls out from behind, Michael quickly turning around to find the girl wielding a bottle of mace.

“Brook, was it? Ms. Jane and I were just-” Michael begins, Brook’s ears refusing to let a single word in, her demands being spoken once again. “Back away from her now or you’ll be removed from this building partially blind” Brook says again, the man’s lips puckered as he begins to realize the numbers advantage has drastically swung in the advantage opposite him.

“Still not budging?” Michael asks, backing away from Darlene, who demands he leave before she calls security. Teeth clenched and lip arched, Michael storms out of the office and returns the way he came, his coat left behind on the office’s sofa. “Thanks for the heads up” Darlene calls out to Brook, the young girl looking back to her, a silent nod being returned as a way of accepting the appreciation.

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Laying upon the couch in the backroom of the club, Wade tries to catch sleep until the hidden door opens up, revealing the head of the table himself. “Boss!” Wade shouts, parting his eyes for a moment before energetically bolting out of bed. “It’s fine, Wade… You don’t need to stand for me everytime I enter a room” Matt explains, taking a seat at the end of the sofa, “do you mind if I ask you something?”

Pulling himself up to a seat, Wade waits for Matt to find the right words to use, feeling bad about having to answer honestly when the question is finally asked. “What can you tell me about the night we failed to hit the wife over at the docks?” Matt inquires, Wade’s expression suggesting he doesn’t want to answer the question. “It was really sloppy… Like really sloppy” Wade replies, Matt nodding as this information is newly afforded to him.

“Guys were fucking up counts, tripping over bodies, everything you can imagine an army fucking up in a narrow, boat-sized corridor happened” Wade concludes, “making it out alive was impressive enough.” With a deep breath, Matt crosses his arms and sinks into the couch, looking off at the back of the room, not wanting to say much more than he has to yet.

“What happened when you all found the body?” Matt proceeds, Wade’s loss of direct memory telling Matt it was as chaotic as one would assume. “There was gunfire until there wasn’t, then one of our guys shouts that something’s wrong” Wade explains, recalling the discovery of yet another crewmate adorned in the fur coat, a sight that was intended to be seen, “I was in the back already, so I ran out with what I knew and called fro Tyrell and Danny.”

Pulling off his sunglasses, Matt tosses the shades to the table he rests his feet upon, eyes focusing on the man beside him. “Whose call was it to go on the attack?” Matt inquires, wanting to make sure his bases are covered. “Tyrell” Wade replies, confirming Danny’s story for many nights prior, prompting Matt to begin nodding to himself, not a word shared until Wade speaks up once more.

“Why does it matter, if I may ask?” Wade wonders aloud, Matt’s head turning towards him, lips parting to speak until they’re suddenly interrupted. Just beyond their door, a massive blast sends shockwaves across the ground, shaking the building in an instant, an explosion seemingly going off right next to them. Leaping from the couch, Matt races to the door, Wade quickly following behind him, their feet carrying them to the front of the building where they’re met with massive flames.

In shock, Matt lifts his arms to his head, hands cradling the sides of his face as he looks on in refusal. “They’re still in there” Matt suddenly says to himself, shocked eyes suddenly taking on dread, feet beginning to carry him closer to the inferno. “They’re not in there!” Wade shouts, pulling Matt’s arm back, nothing but confusion and panic coming over the head of the table.

“What do you mean?” Matt asks, Wade quick to inform him that the army was following Danny to another meeting with the Gilcrests. “Danny’s meeting with the Gilcrests again?” Matt repeats, Wade confirming the words he had just spoken. “I told him not to!” Matt shouts, yet again, information Wade was already aware of. “He came back saying you refused to give him approval!” Wade shouts, again being asked for further details.

“Tyrell told him to veto your overruling!” Wade replies, watching Matt’s eyes widen, a realization coming over him that grips his every fear. “Tyrell’s the rat” Matt whispers to himself, muttering it louder again, this time loud enough for Wade to hear it. “Where did Danny and Tyrell set up the meeting!?” Matt shouts, the address of his old family home being reverberated back to him from Wade’s lips only further adding fuel to the fire burning within his very core.

Hurrying to his car, Matt places his fingers onto the handle and opens his door just as Wade climbs into the passenger’s seat. “Come on, what are you waiting for!?” Wade shouts, the need for urgency far outweighing to wish to treat his boss with respect. Wrapped around his door’s handle, a purple bandana that had not been there prior is left to Matt’s eyes to find, a keepsake from those responsible for the explosion offering Matt a clear indicator as to who is to be held accountable.

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Blade hidden in his sleeve, Danny approaches the front door of the Gilcrest residence with his army behind him, not a moment of time being wasted, the time to finish what they started being now. Slamming his fist against the front door, Danny awaits an answer, Tyrell stood loyally beside him, eyes in the corner of his head, keeping an ever-present view of the Table’s acting general.

Front door being pulled open, a young woman looks on at the sight of a standing army at the front door as a bad sign, Danny leaping into action the moment hesitation comes across her face. Blade protruding from his sleeve, Danny shatters the glass door in an instant, plunging the blade into the woman’s throat in the same breath. Letting himself in, Danny leads the group into the Gilcrest residency, a small fleet of his guards following Danny and Tyrell towards the kitchen.

Walking through the corridor, Danny’s militia finds Michael stood on his lonesome, a gun in one hand whilst the other hides in his pocket. “Fire” Danny calls out, waiting for gunfire that never arrives, an order that goes unanswered being a bad sign. Soon, a struggle breaks out behind Danny, the man turning around to find half his militia being disarmed and held at gunpoint, a sight that Danny takes great concern over.

“What the hell are you doing!?” Danny shouts, reaching for one of the militia’s guns before Tyrell takes his concealed blade into his own possession, one arm wrapped around Danny’s throat. “What the fuck, Ty!” Danny shouts, a chuckle coming from the turncoat as he pulls him away, backing him into Michael’s side of the kitchen. Danny’s men unarmed and Danny himself now held captive, Michael turns his attention towards the struggling set of high-ranking Table members.

“It’s been a little while since we last talked, Tyrell… I’m glad to see your allegiances haven’t switched since then” Michael says, mocking Danny when he adds, “at least, haven’t switched again.” Spitting in Michael’s direction, Danny tells the man with a gun aimed at his head to pull the trigger and get this night over with, a demand that Michael takes little interest in.

“You haven’t told me what I want to hear yet, Daniel!” Michael replies, a sadistic smile coming over his face, watching the effort put into Danny’s struggle and laughing at it. “Where is my son?” Michael asks, leaning forward with the barrel pointed towards Danny’s face, Tyrell’s hand covering Danny’s mouth to catch any second attempt at spitting on his true boss.

“Right here” a voice calls out from the head of the kitchen, Michael turning around the moment it’s heard, a parting of the sea between loyal and traitorous guards making way for Matt, who stands in the corridor, unarmed with hands by his side. “My… My boy!” Michael mutters beneath his breath, Matt’s sight one he hoped to, but never expected to ever see again, the moment forcing his evil mask to crumble beneath the weight of long-sought after empathy.

“Hey…” Matt replies, his voice soft as well, though loud enough to be heard from across the room, a wad of spit swallowed as the moment begins to weigh upon Matt as well, the heavy weight returning to his chest once again, “...dad.”

== Kings of Cambridge ==