Aquarius Episode 1.09 It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)

Unbeknownst to Hodiak, Charlie has slipped a hallucinogenic mickey into his margarita, and the acid trip is on. Charlie and Sadie are on hand to whisper some odd ideas into Hodiak's skull, and when fellow Detective Moran pulls him out of the path of an oncoming car, it's Sadie who's behind the wheel. Meanwhile, Shafe takes a slightly wasted Vickery to the spiral staircase house to meet up with Roy, Guapo and his man Juan. Upon first sight, Guapo has no eartly idea why he should he trust Shafe. But then he catches sight of Shafe's 173rd Airborne tattoo and the connection sparks, since they've both seen action in Vietnam. Unfortunately, Shafe is just declaring that he's not a cop when Emma rounds a corner with her ex-boyfriend Rick, who knows full well Shafe is a cop. Pretending Rick owes him money, Shafe hustles him around a corner trying to save his cover. Luckily, Charlie steps in, delighted Emma has returned to the fold. Having had enough drama, Rick wants to leave, but Charlie convinces him to stay with the promise of some orgiastic free love. Once Rick is distracted, Emma explains that his father is wealthy and can be persuaded to share. But Charlie's more concerned with exacting a commitment from her. "I'm won't leave you ever again, Charlie," Emma promises.

Shafe returns to the precinct to report back to Priore, who wants more and better results. And after Shafe delivers, he can paint himself brown in hopes of assuaging a group of Latinos outside, loudly protesting that the cops are doing nothing to protect cleaning women, who have been targeted by a local thief. Meanwhile, Hodiak stumbles up to the Karn mansion, rips open his shirt and screams for Grace, because he's feelin' no pain and ready for love. With Governor Reagan on the other side of the door, Grace is grateful when Shafe runs up to cart Hodiak back to his apartment. Back at the spiral staircase house, Emma approaches a now satiated Manson with a request of her own: what is her father's secret? Deflecting the truth, Charlie compliments Emma and explains that she has sought her own level like water, and found her true place in the bosom of the Manson family.

The next morning, Hodiak gets dressed while Shafe describes the gritty details of his acid trip; Moran really saved Hodiak's ass. Shafe's more concerned about his sighting of Emma at the spiral staircase house. Hodiak seems not too care so much, but he does advise Shafe to deputize Rick in hopes of diminishing the risk of exposure. Later that afternoon, Moran stops by Hodiak's place. One good turn deserves another, and Moran has come to cash in his chit. A journalist named Ruben Salazar is pressuring the department to hire more Chicanos, and it turns out that Joe Moran's real name is Jose Moran - he's Cuban, not Irish, and no one, including his Irish wife Maggie, their two red-headed sons and Maggie's racist father know it. Now, somehow, Salazar knows, and is threatening exposure within the week, with or without Moran's cooperation. Salazar thinks it will look good for everyone to have a positive story about a Latino detective in the media - the only trouble is, this story will destroy Moran's life. Hodiak meets with Salazar to beg for time so that Moran can tell his family the truth. But Salazar has no sympathy for Moran, whom he calls "self-hating." His plan is going forward within the week, one way or another.

Shafe returns to the spiral staircase house to introduce Vickery to Charlie, and pick up Rick, who's still in the same bed he laid down in last night. Pulling Rick outside, Shafe hands him an old badge, and puts him through a fake deputization ceremony. Later, Roy and Shafe meet with Guapo and Juan at his "office" at Quality Metal Works machine shop to discuss a test of Shafe's loyalty. Tomorrow, Roy, Shafe and Juan will pick up a delivery at noon. Back at the precinct, Charmain overhears Hodiak on the phone, and offers to help him find Louise Mitchell and her son Gregory. Hodiak insists this is a job for him alone, but Charmain ignores him. Just then, Cutler reports there has been another robbery of a Latino cleaning woman, but this time, the woman is dead. Priore is dispatching his men when Salazar calls to discuss the murder with Moran. Salazar can't wait any longer, so he's going to publish the story on Moran the next day.

That night, Sadie snuggles up to Emma in bed. Charlie's right; Emma is the prettiest and the smartest of them all. Sadie offers Emma the story of her own past, warning Emma that she too has to become her own mother. She has to prove that her own mother is no better than a stranger who could live or die, so what. It's time for Emma to be born. Across town, Moran pounds on Hodiak's door. He told his wife Maggie the truth about his lineage and she tossed him out. Now he has nowhere to go.

The next morning, Shafe reviews the Guapo deal with Priore and cynical narco detective, Gilbert, who will provide backup. Neither man is happy to be working with the other. Gilbert tells Shafe that if the deal goes south, he should light a cigarette as a signal to abort their planned raid and arrest. In the squad room, Cutler and Whalen sling racist slurs, poking fun at Moran, whose story is out. That's when Moran weaves in, waving his service revolver and a bottle of scotch. He knew Cutler would be the first asshole to stop being his friend. So who ratted him out to Salazar? Cutler pulls everyone out of the room, leaving Hodiak to talk Moran down. After debating the most efficacious way to shoot oneself in the head, Hodiak makes up a story about his father botching his own suicide - but Moran knows it's a lie. What's true is that Hodiak's father is Jewish; Hodiak doesn't talk about it because he doesn't want people to treat him differently. Ultimately, Hodiak is an American first, just like Moran - who hands his gun to Hodiak. Together, the two men walk through a clatch of his fellow officers, then out the door and into the street, past Salazar and his fellow demonstrators, heads held high.

Meanwhile, Shafe's deal is going down. But something in Juan's eye tells him that all is not right, so he tries to light his cigarette - but the lighter doesn't work! Finally, Roy hands over his lighter, just as Juan's contact hands over a package. "He blew it," Gilbert mutters, heading out. "Coward!" Back at Quality Metal Works, Guapo presides over the opening of the package, which contains... a chess set. It's all been a test. Now Guapo knows he can trust Shafe, whose instincts to save the deal were correct after all.

That night, Whalen reports to Hodiak. The FBI did ask the LAPD to follow Robbie Arthur, antiwar demonstrator and possible route to Walt. Pointing to an aged hipster in one of the surveillance photos, Hodiak orders Whalen to make an arrest. It turns out the old guy is Saul, Hodiak's father. Meanwhile, Charlie, Emma and the girls infiltrate Grace's bedroom to steal her jewelry and evaporate into the darkness. This time, when Emma leaves, she leaves home forever.