Slow Hand

**Slow Hand** is the third episode of the the first season of Snowfall. It is the third episode overall.

Outline

Franklin enlists help to retrieve his stolen property. In the midst of a weapons deal, Teddy receives an unexpected visitor. Gustavo, Lucia and Pedro seek a fall guy.

## Summary

### Franklin

After being mugged and beaten outside Claudia's nightclub, Franklin regains conscious and spews out blood from his mouth. He re-enters the club after a successful deal still reeling from the attack and covered in his own blood. He then discovers Claudia and she in return notices him injured and covered in blood. He fairly accuses her of orchestrating the mugging after recognizing his attackers talking with her in the prior episode. Franklin demands the names of his attackers. She agrees to give them up and identifies them as Lenny and Ray-Ray, hustlers connected to the HTB Western Tribe.

### Teddy

Teddy is with Alejandro near a warehouse to meet an arms dealer and acquire weapons for the contras. Teddy sees the weapons in their crates. Teddy asked if the weapons were decommissioned. The dealer stated he lifted them from the armory since they were set for destruction, he also suggested sending a smaller shipment and claiming an error. The dealer opens up one of the crates and pulls out an LAW anti-tank launcher. After seeing that the weapon was labeled as property of the United States government, Teddy was a no-go on the deal and rejected the weapons. The dealer was immediately offended by Teddy's decision. Alejandro pulls Teddy aside and explains his people needs those weapons for the fight against the Communists. Teddy then points out the crates and the serial numbers that can be traced back to the American Government. Alejandro then suggested repacking the weapons and his people can scratch out the numbers. Teddy makes another suggestion, they grind out the numbers and ship the weapons themselves. Alejandro complains that it would take too long but it was something they both could agree on.

### Gustavo

Gustavo is at the crack house with Lucia and Pedro discussing who they should kill and set up for the home invasion in order to keep Ramiro off their backs. There were five names they could think, but etched out those who have families. Down to the names 'Enrique' and 'Tomás', El Oso chooses Tomás as the target since Enrique would be a much harder choice. Pedro grabs the pen and paper and writes down the address to give to Gustavo. He also pointed out that he has killed. Gustavo stated he didn't have a choice. Lucia then reminds Gustavo that he doesn't have a choice at that moment and leaves the room.

### Franklin

Franklin is in the Projects where he arrives at the Simmons apartment. He passes up many of Leon's siblings and cousins and is humbly greeted by Leon's mother Marla while Leon is ironing clothes. She of course chastised Leon and suggested he be more like Franklin. Outside the apartment, Franklin requests Leon's help in finding the guys who jumped and asked if he knew someone that could help them out. Leon states he does, but won't work for free.

### Teddy

Teddy and Alejandro are at the warehouse grinding off the serial numbers from the weapons. Alejandro injures himself while grinding the serial numbers and complains it is taking too long. Teddy then tells Alejandro to stay the course. He then hears the phone ringing, and rushes to answer it. An emergency comes and he leaves the warehouse with Alejandro hard at work with the weapons.

### Franklin

Franklin and Leon arrive at an HTB Western Tribe shack where some members are playing an arcade game and they recognize Leon off the back. Franklin offers work but they all turn him down except a man named Karvel who wants to know who they are going after. When Franklin tells Karvel it's Lenny and Ray-Ray, he agrees and joins Franklin and Leon and prepare to ride with him.

### Teddy

Teddy arrives at his apartment and is greeted by his wife Julia while his son Paul is playing with his toys after they flew from home. He noticed his son has grown since he's been off working. Apparently they're mainly talking about Paul and work. He did ask if Ballard spoke to her, she only stated that he said says quite a lot. That's pretty much the answer he got.

### Franklin

Karvel drives Franklin and Leon up to Lenny's place and Franklin spots his motorcycle. He suggested Lenny has the cash since 'Ray-Ray's a bitch'. They approach the house and Karvel pulls out his pistol. After Franklin knocks out Lenny's door, Karvel draws his gun on Franklin, shoves Leon away, and calls for Lenny. When Lenny opens his door, Karvel then pushes the door open and knocks Lenny to the ground. Karvel then orders Franklin and Leon to find an extension chord and tie up Lenny. Lenny then recognizes Franklin from the night before and brags about robbing him.

### Gustavo

Gustavo is in his pickup outside Tomás's place and glances at the photo of a woman connected to a rosary wrapped around his rearview mirror. He sees Tomás feeding his parrot and returning back inside. El Oso exits the pickup with a pistol concealed in the back of his pants. He approached the home and discovers he's not alone. Apparently Tomás is with his boyfriend getting ready to enjoy the meal. Gustavo realizes he can't carry out the job.

### Franklin

While Lenny is tied to a load bearing post and Karvel is watching him and enjoying a box of Apple Smacks, Franklin and Leon began ransacking his home while Lenny continues to berate them. Franklin, fed up now, demands to know where his money is at. Lenny refuses to answer and continues to berate them despite being a hostage. Sick of his mouth going off, Karvel jams a sock in Lenny's mouth and duct tapes his lips. Karvel asks Franklin what they were looking for and Franklin tells a half truth, a couple grand. Karvel grabs a baseball bat and prepares to swing at Lenny, but Franklin stops him and suggested to let him talk to Lenny. Leon disagrees with Franklin, but Franklin explains that dead men don't talk. Karvel instead begins trashing Lenny's home with the baseball bat. Franklin removes the gag, and instead Lenny threatens him. Leon punches Lenny while Karvel is causing chaos in his house. Franklin asks Lenny once more where his money is at, but gets blood spat at him instead.

### Teddy

Teddy is at a theme park with Julia and Paul riding a train ride while speaking about cocaine and his work as well as the war against the cartels and the Communists. Julia is not liking what Teddy is doing to fund a CIA sanctioned war. She is afraid of what this job could do to Teddy and the fact that it could blow back on the CIA. Teddy assures her it won't happen. Julia reminds him of a failed op in Tehran, and Teddy continues to assure Julia that his country demands it. Julia is still unsettling with the op, but ends the conversation. The ride ends and Teddy hands Paul over to Julia to call Alejandro from a phone booth. Alejandro explains it would take days to grind all of the serial numbers himself. Teddy tells Alejandro he'll need more time while looking at Julia playing with Paul. Alejandro agrees and hangs up.

### Franklin

As Franklin and Leon continue searching Lenny's home, Karvel becomes impatient. Leon find Franklin's backpack, but no money inside. There's a knock at the door, it's Ray-Ray. Franklin and Leon gag Lenny with Karvel placing the barrel of his pistol at his head. Karvel then checks the window and sees Ray-Ray leaving. Karvel has enough; he takes the bat from Leon and begins pummeling Lenny's torso. He draw a switchblade, cuts the phone chord that held Lenny's throat to the post, and demands where 'HIS' money is at. Franklin catches on to that quickly. Lenny once again refuses to answer. Karvel then grabs Lenny by his tied up feet and Drags him to his bedroom. Franklin realized things were gonna get twisted.

### Gustavo

Pedro and Lucia are displeased with the fact the Gustavo refused to kill Tomás after learning he was living with another man. Pedro then suggested turning Gustavo over to his father. Gustavo throws his pistol at Pedro and dares him to kill him. Gustavo then decides Enrique should be the target. Pedro fears that decision, knowing Enrique to be a killer. Gustavo then lays down a condition that both Pedro and Lucia must be there to witness the kill.

### Franklin

Franklin listens to the commotion in Lenny's room as Karvel continues to force an answer out of Lenny. Franklin then tell Leon he's killing him. Leon approaches the door, and aside from the commotion, he hears a bed creaking. Leon then tell Franklin Karvel ain't killing Lenny, he's giving it to him.

### Teddy

Julia put Paul down for a nap while Teddy can't get a hold of someone on the phone. When Teddy suggested stopping at a Mexican restaurant, Julia abruptly tells him he should go, let them stay the night there, and return in the morning when they leave. Teddy is puzzled by the answer. Julia then explains that Teddy can't even bother to tell her the truth. She then informs Teddy she can't support the work he is getting involved in, but states that is this was something he really wanted to do, he should go through it. Teddy, feeling uncomfortable, suggested taking this talk back home in Washington D.C. Julia, tearing up, is less than satisfied at the moment. Teddy then enters the bedroom where Paul is awake and drinking from his bottle. He picks up his son and places him on the bed, then sees a scribble and asks if he could keep it.

### Franklin

Franklin and Leon anxiously wait as Karvel exits Lenny's bedroom buttoning his jeans up. Franklin then discovers Lenny lying halfway on the bed with his pants all the way down to his legs, indicating Karvel raped him. Franklin was horrified by what he seen. Karvel then exits another bedroom with Franklin's money in his hands, knowing now Franklin lied about it being just a couple grand. As Karvel approaches the front door, Franklin tells him that it's his money. Karvel, scoffs, grabs the box of cereal and leaves, double crossing Franklin.

### Teddy

Teddy returns to the warehouse to find Alejandro message reading 'Dear Teddy Fuck You' on the door. He enters the warehouse to find Alejandro gone along with the weapons. Teddy kicks a chair over in frustration.

### Gustavo

Gustavo and Lucia are staking out Enrique's place while Pedro is snoozing in the car. Lucia then asks Gustavo to accompany her out of the vehicle while Pedro is fast asleep. They hang out under the bridge while waiting for the target and Lucia asks Gustavo why he chose wrestling. Gustavo spoke about the luchadores he watched being his heroes and wanted to do something that would make him feel good. They see Enrique pulling up to his house and to the car, awakening Pedro in the process. Lucia then explains that she'll go to the house since Enrique will welcome her in and she'll leave the door unlocked for them. She then exits the car.

### Franklin

Franklin is at Jerome's house, who is pouring a glass of whiskey. Jerome asks what happened. Franklin tells his uncle it's nothing that can't be handled. Louise enters and sees the bruises upon Franklins face. She asked if that was Claudia's doing. He said no. Franklin then requests a gun from his aunt and uncle. Jerome just stares down Louie who prepares to head to another room. Jerome halts her and tells Franklin that if he gives him a gun, he better be ready to use it, also to never hesitate or let Cissy know about it. Franklin returns home, sees no one lurking around, enters his bedroom, throws his backpack on the bed and pulls out a gun concealed in his jeans. He then heads over to the broken sound system and conceals the gun inside. He then changes shirts and sees Cissy in her room watching television. When asked about the bruises, he lied about some shelves falling on him at work. The episode ends as he sits with her while they are watching television in her room.

## Cast

Main* Damson Idris as Franklin Saint
* Carter Hudson as Teddy McDonald
* Emily Rios as Lucia Villanueva
* Sergio Peris-Mencheta as Gustavo "El Oso" Zapata
* Michael Hyattas Cissy Saint
* Amin Joseph as Jerome Saint
* Angela Lewis as Louanne Saint
* Juan Javier Cardenas as Alejandro Usteves
* Isaiah John as Leon Simmons
* Filipe Valle Costa as Pedro Nava

Recurring* Judith Scott as Claudia Crane
* Sheaun McKinney as Karvel
* Craig Tate as Lenny
* Markice Moore as Ray-Ray
* Peta Sergeant as Julia
* Nick Thurston as Gun Dealer
* Sonya Leslie as Marla Simmons
* Moe Irvin as Santos
* Trinitee Stokes as Lorraine Simmons
* Jacob Justin Barnes as Will Simmons
* Lamar Usher as J.J.
* Daniel Lee Robertson III as Dennel
* Water L as Omar
* Anthony L. Fernandez as Tomás
* Rubén Guevara as Tomás's Boyfriend

## Music

* *I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)* by **Hall & Oates**
* *Pull Up* by **Universal Togetherness**