Spin City - In The Heat Of The Day (2/2)

While jogging in the park to support the Mayor's fitness initiative, Carter is apprehended by the police, who mistake him for a mugger. To Carter's chagrin, Michael wants to downplay the incident for political reasons, while Carter wants to publicize his own outrage. Meanwhile, Paul becomes paranoid that he himself is a racist; and James struggles to pull off a successful date with the new supply girl, Katie.

This is from Season 2, Episode 5, titled "In the Heat of the Day". Starring Michael J Fox and others. Guest stars include Raul Esparza, Manuel E. Santiago, Dennis Palladino, Tim Devlin and Zandy Hartig

Look out

Officer down

Katie, hi, it's me. James

Listen, I was thinking, maybe you and I could... I don't know, tonight, maybe catch a flick

7 it is. Perfect me too

Sounds like you got yourself a real grownup### date

No. I was just practising.

Carter, are you okay?

I'm fine. Thank you. I just need a little space

Why are you wearing a suit?

What? Does### it bother you that I 'm dressed this way

Do I frighten you? Do I intimidate you?

Little bit

I'm sorry, James. Sorry everybody. I just learned an important lesson.

It doesn't matter if I wear an expensive suit

Doesn't matter if I have a fancy degree, great job

I swear when that cop looked at me, all he saw was Black.

That cop is a so fool

When I look at you, I see a friend, and I see a co-worker. But most important, I see a big fruit

Thanks a lot for doing this, that's the first time I've smiled## all day

Then I take it you weren't strip-searched?*

Okay, just smile and say hi

No way. That'll seem like you're trying really hard

Don't say anything. That's just plain rude

Maybe a wave, small nod of the head*

Who does that? he'll just think you're an idiot

Oh God, he's almost here. He's almost here. You gotta think of something

Hello, black man

You wanted see me?

Yeah, come on. I understand, you were### invited to appear on Good Morning Tomorrow

Please tell me that's to share of your famous peach cobbler recipe.

You don't know my secret.

You add a little nutmeg, a teaspoon of vanilla, and a pinch of racial indignation*.

Can I just substitute
cinnamon for that?

Carter, we are a family here. Let's just deal with this problem the way any American family handles a crisis

Oh, how is that###?

Sweep it under the rug, get drunk and don't talk about it

In my family , we air### out all the differences

On national TV?

If it's a slow news day

Look, Carter, I'm not an idiot, okay. I understand what happened to you today. And I feel lousy about

it, but I'm the deputy mayor. I gotta think about the potential consquences

Mike, you can't always go right into### damage control. Sometimes, you actually have to fix things.

Fix racism?

Alright, Carter, you grab some lunch, you come back in 20 minutes, I'll## have that all wrap up

Why don't I bring back a sandwich from good morning America

I hear they put out a real nice spread

Carter, you can't do this. We've got an election 6 months away. All of our campaign commericals focus

on our record on crime

I've seen them. The mayor and the campaign mascot, Toby the terrier.

Don't break the law, kids, woof

People love a cab driving dog

They do

Pauly

Claudia, thank you for coming.

I hope I didn't pull you away### from anything

I've pretty much been keeping to myself since we broke up. Haven't been dating anyone

Do you realize it's been six weeks since we've### seen each other

Six weeks?

Doens't it feel like so much longer?

Yeah, yeah. I would've said 61/2, 7.

So, Pauly, you said that was something you couldn't wait

There was something that has been weighing on me pretty heavily. I was wondering

if I could ask you a question

The answer is "Yes"

Oh, you haven''t even heard the question yet

Oh, Paul Thomas lassiter, you are so romantic, but you're right. I do need to hear you say those words

Do you think I'm a racist?

Yes... No... What

Am I a bigot?

Isn't there something else you wanted to ask me.

I'm telling you, Claudia, this is### all that's have been on my mind.

And I took a cab for this

Well, I promise, if you answer me, I'll pay for half

Well, Paul, you're not a racist

Oh, thank god, what an angel she is

I wish I had her back

You know, Mike, I too have the sting of prejudice.###

Sir, you're a rich white guy

Not that I'm cricitising you. hope to be one### myself someday

I was an enormous child, Mike, a real porker##

You know what the other children called me?

Porker

So I told you the story

I'm heading home guys. And you might want turn on your televison

It's a outrage. you got a blackman cannot take a simple run through the park without being suspective of a crime###

But that's the way it is. I know there are people out there who would rather I swept ### this under the rug

That's my line

The true is, what happened to me happens to someone everyday. And it's shameful

Deputy mayor Michael Flaherty had these comments earlier today

Obviously this is### an embarrasing situation for anyone involved. But please listen to me

but let's not make mountains out of molehills. Ok**

You guys believe this weather we're having?**

I can't believe that's me

Oh, I know all about that, Mike. You are here talking, but you are also there talking

Very trippy### stuff.

I mean, I can't believe what I said

I know Mike

I'm sorry

Me too Mike

You wanna kiss this woman. You put your hands on her thigh, real soft touch

Stop

Sorry, I thought that was my leg

You squeeze her thigh, squeeze it hard

What are you doing?

I have no idea

I mean, I like you so much. I really wanted this to go well.

Really?

Yeah

Women like strength. Women like tenderness

Strength... Tenderness

Whatever he''s having###

and some water.

Mike, I want you to know I expect two months severance### pay and a letter of recommendation

I'm not firing you, Carter

And I could I can get you that letter of recommendation, but I don't know what you're gonna use it for.

Unless you want an invitation to my mother for Thanks giving**

In which case, I gotta warn you. The conversations is stilted**

and if you have even one forkful of her stuffing,**

You're not gonna have a bowel movement until well after **Christmas

I just came here to apologize

I wanna tell you a little joke, Mike

Anything to lighten the mood

What do you call a brilliant heart surgeon who happens to be black

Nigger

Not exactly the tension breaker I was looking for.

Ever you tell one of those jokes, Mike

Come on, Carter, how the hell can you ask me that

Ever the laugh at one. Maybe you didn't laugh.

Maybe you were on### a construction site somewhere in the back room and you just never said a word

If we're gonna make a list of everything I've done in my life that I'm not proud

we'd better start running a tab.*

Actually you already did

You bought me a few drinks, and a couple rounds for everybody in the bar

Cut me some slack. I thought I was fired

All right, the Flaherty tab is now officially closed.

And if you enjoyed your drink, remember it's a vote for Winston

Gotta turn it off sometime Mike

I'm working on it. Right now, you 're gonna believe me. I'm just the guy who needs to know that if he a

and the friend of his is okay

You have no idea what was taking from me this morning.

How am I supposed to feel safe. Who do I trust?

You start with your friends

Are you my friend, Mike?

I wasn't this morning

But I think I am

It's been a big day. I'm gonna need a little time

All right. I understand.

So are we good now

Never better Mike. I'll see you tomorrow