Good to Go

Blass's editor-in-chief pressures him to deliver more feature stories after a drought of decent articles. He decides to pursue a new lead by contacting Detective Harrigan, hoping for a compelling investigation to cover. The move sets Blass on a path toward a high-stakes story.

A nurse is raped and murdered while returning home after working the night shift at Washington Metropolitan Hospital. The case shocks the city and quickly becomes a focal point for media attention. The investigation will eventually become entangled with sensational blame and manipulation.

Unbeknownst to Blass, Harrigan fabricates the police report and places the primary blame on go-go music and its concert-goers. The false narrative helps seed blame on the music scene rather than the killer. This manipulation reveals how police statements can distort a case.

Blass takes the fabricated narrative and publishes a feature titled 'Nurse Murdered at Go-Go: Music and Drugs Blamed for Violence.' The article frames the murder in terms of a music-fueled crime wave. It amplifies fear and invites public backlash against the go-go community.

Max, who runs three top go-go bands, seeks national attention and a recording deal. He arranges a sit-down at the Watergate complex with producer Gil Colton, hoping to sign his artists. Colton is impressed by the live energy but worries about the damaging press and declines to sign.

Colton departs for Los Angeles after deciding not to sign the go-go artists. He cites the bad press and potential controversies as reasons to pass on the project. The local scene loses a potential national breakthrough as a result.

Little Beats is an up-and-coming conga player, while his older brother Chemist struggles with PCP addiction. Chemist robs and steals to fund his habit and aligns with street crews like Mr. Ain't. Their actions contribute to a climate of violence that ensnares the nurse murder case.

The city’s turmoil leads to Chemist being falsely accused and charged with the nurse’s murder and rape. The case appears to hinge on the gang’s violence and the surrounding drug culture. This wrongful accusation foreshadows the broader police misconduct to be uncovered.

Det. Harrigan apprehends Little Beats, hoping to squeeze information about Chemist's whereabouts. The arrest illustrates the detective’s aggressive use of suspects to build a case. Blass begins to suspect the integrity of Harrigan’s procedures.

Blass realizes Harrigan has been fabricating police reports and decides to disassociate himself from the detective. He chooses to sever ties and push for accuracy in reporting. This marks a turning point in his investigation into the nurse murder.

Blass contacts Little Beats, Chemist, and their mother, offering help to clear Chemist of the charges. He begins coordinating a defense and gathering information that could reveal police misconduct. The family becomes a focal point for restoring the record and pursuing justice.

Blass continues his investigative push to exonerate Chemist and expose Harrigan’s misconduct. The timeline shows a journalist shifting from sensationalism to accountability, aiming to untangle the corruption surrounding the nurse murder case. The outcome remains unresolved, but momentum shifts toward truth.