What If They're Stuck
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| “What If They're Stuck” | |
|---|---|
| Day Break episode | |
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| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 5 |
| Written by | David Graziano |
| Directed by | Dwight Little |
| Production no. | 105 |
| Original airdate | December 6, 2006 |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "What If He Can Change The Day" | "What If They Find Him" |
| List of Day Break Episodes | |
"What If They're Stuck" is the fifth episode of Day Break which aired on December 6, 2006.
[edit] Summary
Hopper is in a hostage situation after trying to get crucial information that could help exonerate him and end his never-ending day.
[edit] Synopsis
Visiting the police station, Hopper attempts to discover further information about the picture and hourglass he uncovered in the previous episodes. He discovers that Chad had recently looked into the same case, and checked out the "murder book" for it a few days prior, which further increases Hopper's suspicions that Chad "knows more than he is telling". Although he attempts to have the fingerprint on the hourglass analyzed, he in unsuccessful due to a massive backlog of existing evidence. When Hopper approaches Chad about the case, he is quickly interrupted by Detectives Spivak and Choi, who arrest him for the murder of Garza.
Sitting in the jail, Hopper has a conversation with the old man whom he sees each day he is in jail. The man mysteriously proclaims that he and Hopper are alike, and asks for Hopper's arm. Instead of revealing anything of interest, though, the old man suddenly bites the proffered arm while yelling, "We all taste the same." The scene then cuts to Hopper as he sleeps in the jail cell. In this go-around, Hopper prepares for the ambush in the jail and catches the men off-guard. He fights as long as he can, but in the end the men get the better of him and he is taken to the quarry. This time, however, things are different. Rita is not dead; instead, she is bound and gagged, lying next to Hopper. The Shadow Man asks Hopper to confess to the murder of Garza. He does, but the man says it's not that simple.
The man asks Hopper if he believes in déjà vu, and begins talking about "another Detective Hopper", which surprises Hopper, who initially thinks the man remembers a previous iteration of the day. But when the man continues, he reveals that he is talking about the current Hopper's father. Rita is taken away between some parked trucks, and Hopper is given the needle once again. A gunshot is heard as Hopper fades away. The scene cuts to Rita's face, the "next" day.
Rita and Hopper are sitting down having breakfast, yet Hopper is distracted, thinking of the previous night. A large man, whom Hopper had apparently contacted earlier that morning, walks in and drops a package on Hopper's table. Once again visiting the police station, Hopper reveals the contents of the new package to the evidence analyst: two Dodgers tickets. Being a rabid Dodgers fan, the analyst agrees to process the fingerprints as soon as possible.
Walking around the police station, the old man who bit Hopper sees him and says, "I see you." Hopper goes on to search Chad's office in an attempt to find the murder book, but is unable to locate it. The situation turns hostile once Hopper runs into Chad. After Chad denies any knowledge about the book, Hopper pulls out a gun and points it at Chad. A man in the hallway sees the gun and alerts those outside, while Hopper closes the blinds and locks the door to the office.
Outside the office, Officer Battle and several other officers discuss the hostage situation and how to defuse it. One of them talks to Hopper on the phone, and Hopper demands to see both his girlfriend and sister, alive and well.
In the office, Chad and Hopper have a discussion about the old case in question. Chad says he doesn't know what Hopper is talking about, claiming that Internal Affairs routinely pulls old cases all of the time, and that he doesn't remember every piece of paperwork he signs for. While this has been going on, a SWAT team has setup outside and uses their equipment to setup "eyes and ears", drilling a tiny camera through a wall and placing a listening device on a window.
Hopper then relates to Chad the "I've-been-reliving-this-day-over-and-over-again story", which the officers listen in on, leading them to question his sanity and whether he is in fact intending to commit a murder-suicide. Hopper's sister is found and brought to the station, where she is put on the phone by the SWAT team leader. Although SWAT insists that they've kept up their end of the bargain, Hopper angrily destroys the camera and refuses to end the situation until Rita is also located.
The conversation between Hopper and Chad continues while the cops continue to try and find Rita. The two of them discuss how Hopper could be experiencing the same day again and why this is happening to him specifically. While they discuss this, a man (ostensibly a member of the SWAT team) crawls through an overhead duct towards a vent in the ceiling. Chad spots the man aiming a gun through the vent, and pushes Hopper out of the line of fire when the gunman shoots.
Hearing the gun fire, the SWAT team fears the worst and quickly storms the room, using flashbangs. However, Hopper maintains control of the situation and tells them all to leave by holding Chad hostage at gunpoint. After backing off, the situation then goes back to simple talk between Chad and Hopper, with Chad explaining to Hopper that he just saved his life. During the conversation, it is revealed that Chad has a relationship with Hopper above and beyond simply being Rita's ex-husband, with the two commuting together every day for a period of time. Chad makes light of the current situation, and jokes that if Hopper has to do something to "show he's serious" (to the Shadow Man), what could be more serious than taking someone hostage in a police station?
Chad's comment causes Hopper to realize that he can actually do something to indicate his seriousness. Hopper calls Baxter and attempts to contact the men who are behind all of this. He stresses to Baxter that Baxter needs to tell the men "just how serious he is." Shortly afterwards, the lights in the room go out and Hopper knows that his time in the room with Chad is just about up. He takes Chad and leaves the room, taping the gun to his hand and Chad's head, warning the SWAT team if he gets shot, Chad will be, too.
Hopper then slowly moves through the tactical team, who let him pass while keeping their sights on him. The two men head toward "Cold Case", which is where Chad indicated a file from that long ago was likely to be. Chad talks about his honeymoon with Rita, while Hopper silently listens as they continue their walk.
As they make it out into the main lobby, Rita is suddenly revealed, standing in the hallway. Hopper sees the dot from a laser targeting scope on Rita's neck, and points it out to Chad as well, who realizes Hopper may have been right about a conspiracy. Hopper is then asked by the SWAT team leader if he understands just how serious they are. Hopper responds yes, he understands, and loudly confesses to Garza's murder. He releases Chad, telling him the gun was never loaded and asking him to look after Rita.
Hopper surrenders and is knocked to the ground before being handcuffed. Chad notes that in case Hopper was somehow telling the truth, the case file is on the front seat of his car. The next day, Hopper goes and retrieves the file, which is exactly where Chad said it would be.
