Courtroom. It's Levy's turn to question Omar, and he starts by asking why Omar came forward in the case. Omar, languidly playing with his tie, says he told the police what he knows. Levy asks what the cops offered in exchange: "Were you arrestd? Were you going to be charged with a crime, and by testifying, did the police agree to drop those charges?" Omar says, "It ain't even about that." Levy asks how many times Omar's been arrested as an adult, and Omar dismissively says that he's lost count: "Enough, though, not to take it personal." Levy has Omar's rap sheet, and reads off such charges as possession of a concealed weapon, robbery with a deadly weapon, a parole violation, and attempted murder. "That wasn't no attempt murder," spits Omar. Levy ingenuously asks what it was, and Omar explains, "I shot the boy Mike-Mike in his hind parts, that all." The jury giggles again, wishing this guy had his own late-night talk show instead of that sorry Tavis Smiley -- even more so when Omar adds, "Fixed it so he couldn't sit right." Man, even Phelan's charmed now. Levy, struggling to regain control, asks why Omar shot this Mike-Mike, and Omar euphemises that they "had a disagreement": "Mike-Mike thought he should keep that cocaine he was slinging, and the money he was making from slinging it. I thought otherwise." Levy shrugs: "So you rob drug dealers? This is what you do." Omar easily agrees. Levy elaborates that Omar walks the streets with a gun, taking whatever he wants, and using violence when his demands aren't met: "This is who you are." Holding the tie out again, Omar nods, wide-eyed. Pointedly standing in front of the jury, Levy asks why they should believe him. "That's up to y'all, really," says Omar dismissively. Levy: "You say you aren't here testifying against the defendant because of any deal you made with police...that you're here because you want to tell the truth about what happened to Mr. Gant in that housing-project parking lot...when in fact you are exactly the kind of person who would, if you felt you needed to, shoot a man down on a housing-project parking lot and then lie to the police about it, would you not?" Turns out not, as Omar heatedly replies, "Look, I ain't never put my gun on no citizen." Levy presses, "You are amoral, are you not? You are feeding off the violence and the despair of the drug trade. You're stealing from those who themselves are stealing the lifeblood from our city. You are a parasite who leeches off--" "Just like you, man," drawls Omar. Oh, SNAP! Felon snap! Levy turns around in shock at Omar's interjection. Omar explains, "I got the shotgun, you got the briefcase." He spreads his hands: "It's all in the game, though, right?" The jury gets in a minor tizzy over all this truth Omar's just laid on them. Even Phelan shrugs at Levy, like, "Prove him wrong, dude."













Comments