Matlock (2024) s01e01 Episode Script
Pilot
1
MAN: All right, Timothy.
It is go time, brother. Okay?
Now, I need to be upstairs in five
make that three minutes
WOMAN: I'm sorry, it's this darn chip.
I don't know whether to-to swipe it
- or tap it or wave it.
- Which means I need to know the ceiling, okay?
The absolute ceiling that
your guys are willing to pay.
WOMAN: Sorry. You know what?
I'll just get cash.
Um, hers is on me.
I'll take a tall drip,
and you can keep the change. 23, great.
Which means I'm gonna close at 19,
so you remind your bosses
how much I saved them
when they try to fight my bill.
Well, isn't that a nice
way to start the day?
And they say the world is going to poop.
[SIGHS]
Ooh.
Oh, dear.
I got you.
Oh. Well, this is the
day of kind gestures.
I can't thank you enough.
May I offer you one?
- Oh. My grandma loves these.
- [LAUGHS]
It's biological.
We hit a certain age
and we start buying 'em.
Believe you me, I tried to resist,
and then I turned 65,
and next thing I know,
I'm standing smack-dab
in the middle of a Costco
with a four-pound bag.
[BOTH LAUGH]
Uh, 21st floor, please.
I guess that's the thing.
Lots of times in life,
we become exactly who
- people expect us to be.
- [ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
Bye-bye.
Bye.
Kristine, can you buzz
me in? Hands are full.
[BUZZER SOUNDS]
ELIJAH: Hello and happy Monday.
Before we dive in,
my deep condolences
to all you Mets fans.
All right, that's yes.
Yeah, I heard a bunch
of you went to the game.
Team building. It's good for morale.
Shows that even though
I'm an equity partner now,
I am still one of you,
a regular partner at heart,
if not in salary.
[LAUGHTER] Here we go.
Olympia, I heard you
got a $2 million offer
to settle the Harris civil action.
- Yes, and I rejected it.
- That trial is slated to start tomorrow,
and you cannot go to
trial under any circumstance.
And I will be closing,
but $2 million is not enough, Elijah.
Raymond Harris lost
26 years of his life.
I need $4 million, minimum.
20 if I can just find the smoking gun
to prove that there
was police corruption.
JULIAN: You've been
looking for six months.
Well, I haven't been
allocated the proper resources,
- Julian.
- You have two associates
working around the clock.
Two very junior associates who
equal one mediocre associate.
Is that your way of building morale?
Look, I might have a new lead.
A sketch of the prostitute
ELIJAH: It's over, Olympia,
close the case.
Julian,
talk to me about Peabody.
We back-channeled last night,
and I got them up to $19 million.
MATTY: Actually, you can get
quite a bit more out of Peabody.
- Uh, who are you?
- [CHUCKLES]
Sorry, I got a little ahead
of myself in my excitement.
I'm Matty, informally.
Formally Madeline Matlock.
Yes, Matlock like the old TV show,
which was all I heard
between 1984 and 1992.
"You're a lawyer like Matlock.
You're a lawyer like Matlock."
And every time I'd correct 'em,
"No, he's just pretending.
You know, I'm a real lawyer."
But, you know, you can
only protest so much
before you sound like you got
a big old pole up your heinie,
so I just let 'em have it
and I just said, "Yeah, well, yeah,
I'm a lawyer just like Matlock."
A lawyer working for
You, hopefully.
You have an associate position open,
and it's been really
hard to get an interview.
And I almost think
it's 'cause of my age,
but that'd be violating
discriminatory protections.
The point is, I just had to figure out
a way to break through the noise.
I think you definitely
earned yourself an interview.
Well, thank you for that,
but I don't want an interview.
I want a job.
And as a reminder,
I do know the number that
Peabody is willing to pay,
and it is significantly
higher than $19 million.
Course, I wouldn't overplay
my hand with Peabody either.
I always say negotiations are an art
and a trap.
Let's avoid traps, then.
How do you know the number?
Well, you see, there's this funny thing
that happens when women age.
We become damn near invisible.
Oh, not that I'm complaining.
I had my moment in the sun.
Plus it's useful because
nobody sees us coming.
That's how I got through your security.
Several times.
And it's also how I knew that
Peabody's counsel grabs coffee
and updates his client
between 8:15 and 8:25.
What's the number?
Am I hired?
SENIOR: No one is hired
without a two-week trial.
What's their ceiling?
$23 million.
Which means I just made you $4 million.
Do I still need a two-week trial?
- Yes.
- All right, fine. I'll start today.
Tell me, Ms. Matlock,
why do you want to work at my firm?
There's a time in life
when you make decisions
based on what you think is right,
and there's a time when you
make decisions based on money.
I did what was right
all my life, and now
I need to make it rain,
so point me to a case
and put me to work.
She did ask for extra resources.
We seem to have gotten
off on the wrong foot.
Wow, that is quite the pace.
Um, I just truly want to be useful.
- Anything you need.
- Competence.
I need basic competence.
When was the last
time you practiced law?
Um, well, that was in 1991.
And I understand 30 years
can seem challenging,
but I assure you, I
have remained pretty
nearly up to date.
"Pretty nearly" or "almost sorta"?
Just let me prove that I can be useful.
Tell me how to do that.
Get me all of Thanksgiving.
I'm sorry, I'm not following.
I charge $1,200 an
hour, so clear that up
with somebody whose time you can afford.
- You two, anything?
- Nothing, no, not yet.
Remember what we talked about?
That should have been one word.
Now, the call's coming in any minute.
Meet me in the conference room
and bring the new lawyer with you.
Madeline Matlock.
Like the TV show.
What TV show?
Exactly. You can call me Matty.
First day on the job,
thrilled to be part of the team.
Oh, no. This is gonna be a nightmare.
- Be nice.
- Nice?
Don't tell me to be nice.
I need to be trained by
senior partners, not senior citizens.
- Oh, God.
- No offense, Perry Mason.
- Ha,
- BILLY: You know, if you say "no offense,"
- Matlock.
- it doesn't make it any less rude.
We just got demoted to a third, Billy.
[GROANS]
BILLY: In Sarah's defense, um,
she's a raging bitch. [CHUCKLES]
Why is she so pissy?
No social life.
And plus she's wildly ambitious,
and we've been working on
this case for six months now,
and Olympia still calls
us "youtwo." One word.
So, yeah, you're not
exactly joining the A-team.
Another old TV show you never heard of?
[CHUCKLES] Well, my abuela
and I watched telenovelas.
- You know any of those?
- No.
That's fair. [CHUCKLES]
Hey, before I forget,
Olympia mentioned I should
get her Thanksgiving.
You any idea what she's talking about?
Uh, probably a custody thing.
Word is, their divorce
is almost finalized.
FYI, top snack destination here.
You've got salty, you've got sweet,
you've got access to the back
patio in case you need to cry.
Well, for the record, I'm salty.
I'm hoping I won't cry.
You said "their divorce."
Who's Olympia divorcing?
Julian.
Oh, the guy she was arguing with.
Well, file that under
"Things I'm never gonna
get involved with, no way,
nohow, no, sirree, Bob."
I'm gonna win her over
the old-fashioned way.
Catch me up on the case.
Yep. Raymond Harris
spent 26 years in jail
as a convicted serial murderer/rapist
but was recently exonerated
through DNA evidence.
Now, the police department
was definitely dirty back then,
tons of misconduct, but
in order to get the
payout that he deserves,
we we need to find the smoking gun.
Why is everybody so sure there is one?
Well, because we got a tip
from a guy who got a tip
from his dead uncle
who was a retired cop.
- Oh, Lord.
- Yeah.
Anyway, apparently a prostitute escaped
a really similar attack while
Raymond was still in custody.
Stocking around the
neck, the whole nine.
Word is, she went down to
the station to file a report,
only there's no record of it,
which means if it exists, it was buried.
Well, I'm guessing you can't find
the prostitute from 26 years ago.
[SIGHS] Don't know her name,
much less if she's alive.
Well, there's a lot of
invisible people in the world.
In the partners' meeting,
Olympia said something about a sketch?
Well, that's complicated.
Uh, I'm sorry.
How-how did you get into
the partners' meeting?
Oh, that's a long story.
I'll tell you about it next
time we share something salty.
Is there anything else
I need to know to get
on Olympia's good side?
Never give your opinion to a client.
Leave that to her.
Hello, Raymond, Jordan.
Got one more lawyer
as we bring this home.
Please state your name
and whether you've ever had
any affiliation with
the police department
or with my father's case,
either directly or tangentially.
Jordan likes to record everything.
I don't like to record everything,
I have to record everything.
To keep people accountable.
My father was locked up for
26 years because people lied,
so, if it happens in this room,
- I have a record.
- I understand.
Apologies.
Madeline Matlock.
I have no affiliation with the
police department and never have.
JORDAN: What is it?
What's wrong?
The final settlement offer came in,
and it's $241,280,
and at this point I have to
ask if you want to settle.
- What?
- We didn't settle for $2 million.
What the hell makes you think
we'd settle for $200,000?
Sorry.
- No, no.
- Sorry.
You don't have to apologize.
Okay, I don't understand. What happened?
I don't know.
But the trial starts tomorrow,
and something changed.
They don't feel like we
can make our case anymore,
and I'm worried.
Without the smoking gun,
given your father's
prior criminal history
and the fact that he
confessed to the crime
RAYMOND: Under duress.
- I took it back.
- OLYMPIA: I know.
But that initial confession
means that the city
is not obligated to pay you anything.
I'm sorry, Raymond, we've just
we've run out of time.
OLYMPIA [ON RECORDING]: So you have
a very big decision to make, Raymond.
Remember this? This is
from our first meeting.
I listen to it a lot.
OLYMPIA: You've met
with a lot of lawyers,
and I'd like to say
there's no wrong decision,
but you know what?
There is a wrong decision.
But that also means
there's a right decision.
And I am that right decision
because I believe in you, Raymond.
And I care that this corrupt
police department stole your future.
Trust me. Trust me.
What do you think?
Um
Go on.
If you have an opinion, give it.
Their offer's insulting. Go to trial.
JORDAN: I agree.
You said you'd come
through, so come through.
You think Olympia's blaming
me for going to trial?
- Probably not.
- A hundred percent yes.
I mean, I would.
You're saying Ms. Matlock
convinced them and one-upped you?
She didn't one-up me. Now I'm a
step closer to firing her for cause.
And frankly, I didn't want
to convince Raymond to settle.
Unacceptable. The firm needs you back
on cases that actually make money.
And I billed more than
any other junior partner
for three straight years.
Yeah, hard to remember
when you've been hunting
goose eggs for six months.
Because I'm trying to establish
a whole new revenue
stream with no support.
I fought off three separate attempts
to have the venue changed by myself,
which means the whole jury
pool knows that there has been
extensive police corruption.
And the whole jury pool
knows that because I've
kept the story in the paper.
Which is why the city was settling.
"Was" being the operative word.
Exactly. And without
a private investigator
or, at the very least,
a jury consultant,
I have no idea what changed.
Well, the firm isn't gonna
pump money into a pro bono case.
Well, ideally,
this isn't pro bono. It's a test case.
Olympia got burned out
after defending Big Pharma.
Oh, Big Pharma, big money.
That's where I want to be.
So what do you mean this is a test case?
Well, if Raymond gets a number
higher than the national average,
then the firm takes a cut.
So Olympia's argument to
him is that she can get
a much higher number.
And the argument to the
firm is that social justice
can mean real money.
So you can do good and do well.
That's the noble version, anyway.
What's the non-noble version?
She's figuring out yet another
way to monetize misfortune
- because she's a freaking genius.
- Mm-hmm.
You're coming up for senior partnership.
I don't have to remind
you what's at stake.
Then why are you?
Because I'm still your father-in-law.
The divorce is almost finalized.
You think I give a rat's ass?
Father-in-law is a lifetime position.
I know what's at stake.
I just want this to work.
I know you do.
But if it doesn't,
you're back on corporate litigation.
Got it?
OLYMPIA: So the biggest
question we have to tackle is:
should Raymond be called to the stand?
What we need is a jury consultant
so that we can audition
Raymond's testimony,
see how the mock jury
will respond to him.
But unfortunately we can't afford that.
So you need the off-brand model, huh?
Or better yet, a freebie.
Which is what I'm always looking for
since my circumstances changed.
For instance, I stopped buying ketchup
and I started bringing
ketchup packets home
every time I went out.
And this firm definitely
has a lot of people
who like ketchup.
- What?
- Senior knows we're moving forward
and he's the one in charge,
so give me space.
I came to offer my
services as second chair
so these last six months haven't been
a colossal waste of time,
but if you want space
No, no, no, I don't.
I'm sorry. Thank you.
Actually, can you look around
the building and find me
two Black men in their 40s,
a 50-something Latino man,
a 20-something Asian woman,
and two white ladies in their 50s?
Go to the secretaries,
the maintenance
department, food services
They already work here.
So they're our free ketchup packets.
We'll match the demographics
of the jury and preview
Raymond's testimony
with people who are
already here on the clock.
And you three You know,
you can actually separate us
Shh!
Go to Sherleen's and
get her sketch. Hmm?
- Who's Sherleen?
- An old ho.
That's what she calls herself.
I said "aging prostitute"
once and she corrected me,
- "I'm an old ho."
- Copy that.
SARAH: I'm just saying,
MacGyver does a whole ketchup monologue
and she doesn't get shushed.
It's-it's Matlock, ha!
Because the ketchup
monologue was useful.
Get over yourself.
FYI, Sherleen's kind of a nutjob.
But she's worked the streets a long time
and she says that she remembers
the prostitute we're looking for.
Just not her name. Or anything useful.
- And, Sarah
- Shh.
So petty.
Who's she?
Hey, I'm Matty. It's nice to meet you.
Wow. I love your place.
Thanks, I did the art.
That over there is a useful map.
You know where your clitoris is?
Lots of women your age don't.
I certainly do. Though
my husband didn't.
And I never said anything. Imagine that.
38 years and I never said,
"Could you just move
a little to the left
and go twice as fast?"
Course, he never told me he was sleeping
with other people and had
a massive gambling problem,
which left me in debt,
so I guess we're even.
I like her.
[CHUCKLES]: I like you, too.
Thanks for helping us.
I'll go find the sketch.
Take your time.
Wow, there's so much to look at here.
Clearly a life well-lived.
Not me. I picked the wrong man.
SHERLEEN: Okay, here's my sketch.
Actually, it's a painting.
[GASPS] Wow.
Lot of orange up top.
- That's her hair color?
- Exactly.
It's very chaotic, isn't it?
Drugs make people chaotic.
MATTY: They certainly do.
And you all ran the names of
all the prostitutes arrested
within the year by Sherleen?
Of course. In the whole tristate area.
MATTY: Nice. And, uh, you looked
for people with narcotics charges?
Since our, uh, our prostitute here had
a "chaotic" drug
problem, per this sketch?
We did not.
Well, that's probably too big a pool.
Sherleen,
was there a drug dealer
the other hos favored?
♪
Hello there.
How'd the mock jury go?
Useful.
But, unfortunately, we
got a pretty mixed reaction
to Raymond's testimony, so I
cannot put him on the stand.
His daughter's gonna have to
get those sympathy votes for us,
which she is not excited about.
Well, you're gonna like this.
We might have a lead on
our missing prostitute.
Sherleen remembered
a guy named Big Vinnie
who used to supply all the girls,
so we did a little digging,
and his real name is Vincent De Luca.
In prison at Evandale. We're
gonna go up in the morning.
[CHUCKLES] Okay.
Some good news finally.
Uh, the thing is,
I'm the one who figured that out. Mm.
And I'm hoping you're finding me useful
because I've thought about it
and I really don't think
it's a good idea for me
to get involved in your
custody dispute with Julian.
Over Thanksgiving.
Okay, no problem.
Great.
I only asked because you wanted to know
how to get on my good side.
- MATTY: Hey there, Julian.
- Hey.
I'm just checking in on Peabody.
Closed at $23 million,
- just like you said.
- [BOTH CHUCKLE]
I've got the kids tonight,
otherwise we'd be having a Scotch.
Oh, well, no Scotch for me
- Mm.
- unless I'm getting laid.
- Mm.
- I guess I guess that's not on the table.
Where did you come from,
Madeline Matlock? [LAUGHS]
Naples, Florida, originally,
then a little detour through Georgia
before my ex-husband
dragged me up north.
Not that I'm bitter and broke.
- [CHUCKLES]
- You specialize in pharmaceuticals, right?
- Mm-hmm.
- That's where I need to be.
How old are your kids?
Uh, twins. They're eight.
- Aw. That's a great age.
- Yeah.
12 is tougher. I'm
raising my grandson
but don't ask me for any advice
he loathes me. [CHUCKLES]
Have you got any plans
for Thanksgiving weekend?
Because Olympia mentioned
she'd love to take the
twins on a little getaway.
After you all have dinner
together, of course.
And vacations do benefit everyone.
Did Olympia send you?
To ask for my weekend?
And so then Julian
explained that he'd be
more than happy to let
you have his weekend
if you leave the marital apartment
within the month and cede the
deed to him in pleno.
So? Do we have a deal?
You're being ridiculous.
You don't have plans.
Oh, as a matter of fact, I do.
And I'm the one being ridiculous?
I'm sorry. [CHUCKLES]
Uh, will you excuse us?
Oh, you bet.
Ridiculous is sending
Matlock to do your dirty work.
I thought she'd have more luck.
You seemed to like her in the meeting.
You're pissed because I
undercut you in the meeting.
Yeah, because it was personal.
That's not true. I
don't think you're acting
in the firm's best interests.
Well, you could have
emailed me rather than going
- after me in public.
- [KNOCK AT DOOR] Yeah
Sorry to interrupt,
but we have a problem.
Check the Post.
[SIGHS]
OLYMPIA: "On the eve of the
Harris trial, a study reveals
police corruption in the late '90s
not as widespread as
initially reported"?
- What?
- SARAH: And it's not just the Post.
All the other outlets are picking it up.
[SIGHS] Okay, um
You could go, we'll talk later.
I'm not going anywhere.
Let's strategize.
For the good of the firm?
Policemen's union must have
known this article was coming out,
- and that's why they dropped the number.
- Yeah.
They orchestrated this, clearly.
And held on to the article
for the night before the trial
so they could inflict the
most prejudice on the jury.
My entire case is based
on police corruption.
Damn it! Let's hope
your dealer remembers
a drug-addicted prostitute
from 26 years ago.
- You have a plan? To get him to talk to you?
- We sure do.
- Do we have a plan?
- Not yet.
We've got all night to
come up with something.
Now remember, Hoboken, Brenda,
First Baptist Church, Florida.
Excellent research, Sarah.
Really top-notch.
- BIG VINNIE: Uh, I don't know these people.
- MATTY: Vincent De Luca,
I'm gonna tell your
mother you said that.
You know my mom?
It's me. Matty.
[COUGHS] I met your mom when I moved
up north to Hoboken.
Ran day care.
First Baptist? With your Aunt Brenda?
[COUGHING]
I'm sorry.
My emphysema flares up
when I, when I get upset.
It's not your fault.
I guess I just look
different since I got sick.
Lost a lot of weight.
I just never thought you
wouldn't recognize me.
No, it just took a second.
I-I recognize you.
- I was just kidding around.
- MATTY: Thank God.
'Cause I suddenly
panicked that I'd look nuts
in front of these lawyers.
They came to the neighborhood
looking for your mom,
and I told them,
"Cindy moved to Florida.
And how can I help?" And here we are.
I think they got some
big trial starting today.
First, I'll make a motion in limine
to try to get the location moved
In light of the highly
prejudicial article
- that came out last night.
- Two months ago, you argued
the jury could handle the publicity.
OLYMPIA: It won't work, but we
need it on record for appeal.
- Motion denied.
- OLYMPIA: After the jury is seated,
we'll move into opening arguments.
That's my first chance
to tell your story.
And it's a horror story.
Raymond Harris spent 26 years
in a six-by-nine cell,
knowing he was innocent
but also knowing that no one cared.
But you can show him that you care.
And that's when I'll try to get in
an explanation for the reason
you're not taking the stand.
You can show him that
you care about his trauma.
The fact that he still can't sleep.
He has a crippling
fear of public speaking.
- Objection.
- During my opening statement?
Approach the bench.
She's clearly trying
to imply that her client
isn't testifying because
he's been traumatized,
when we know for a
fact that it's because
she doesn't want his priors brought up.
OLYMPIA: Again, I'll lose,
but we'll get it in the jury's heads.
OLYMPIA: Apologies, Your Honor.
I will be more careful.
Look, there's just no way
that I'm gonna remember a
lady-of-the-night
junkie from 26 years ago.
MATTY: Oh, I know how
tricky memory can be.
And I do all those exercises
that the AARP suggests,
but I find what triggers
my memory are specifics.
You got any, Mr. Martinez?
Yeah, of course.
Here's what we can tell
you to help you recall 1996.
It was an election year.
Clinton's second term.
Bob Dole was his opponent.
Dolly the sheep was the
first mammal to be cloned.
- That was a big deal.
- Macarena.
Everyone was doing the Macarena.
I wasn't doing the
Macarena. Other people were,
and I remember thinking it's
a good thing I don't carry,
'cause I would've
blown their brains out.
That's great research.
But, Vinnie, I want you
to cast your mind back
to the time when the
Macarena was making you angry.
Okay, look, I do remember
this one redhead junkie
who just up and disappeared one day.
And that could be her.
- Not Carla.
- BILLY: Got it,
- but do you remember her name?
- No, that's what I used to called her:
"Not Carla." See, I used to
love the TV show Cheers.
Do you remember that show?
I do, but I'm guessing these kids don't.
Yeah, probably not.
Anyway, I'd say "Cheers, Carla,"
and she'd get all pissed off
and say that's not her name.
Whatever, it was close.
Eventually, I just called her Not Carla.
But it's like Carla, right?
Carly? Caroline? Carolina?
Carlina, Carlotta, Carlin
Carlin. Yes.
Okay, driver's license 1993 to 1998,
first name Carlin,
spelled I-N, E-N, O-N, Y-N,
ages 18 to 32.
Might as well cast a wide net.
Yeah, well, that's very wide.
I mean, that might take too long
- [PHONE CHIMES]
- Okay. 214 hits.
Things are faster now, Matty.
Billy, let's piece together their lives.
Eliminate anyone who
was out of state in 1996.
We are looking for redheads, people.
Wow.
Detective Ferguson,
how many times did
Raymond Harris tell you
and your fellow officers
that he was innocent?
I have no idea.
Approximately. More than 100?
Objection. Asked and answered.
Your Honor, I'm trying to
establish a course of conduct.
I'll allow it.
OLYMPIA: Thank you. Is
it your best estimate
that he said he was not
guilty more than 100 times?
- Probably.
- Okay.
So, more than 100 times Mr.
Harris says he's not guilty,
and after you question him for 11 hours,
he says he's guilty.
How long after Raymond confessed
did he retract that confession?
About ten minutes later.
Eight. What did he do in between?
I can't remember.
He went to the bathroom.
Detective Ferguson, after Raymond
retracted his confession,
did you investigate further?
- No.
- Was there anything to link Mr. Harris
to the crime scene other than the fact
that he was seen in the
area by one eyewitness
- who was admittedly intoxicated?
- Yeah.
He matched the description we put out.
Right. I have that description.
Admitting this in evidence
as plaintiff exhibit 4B.
Can you read it aloud, please?
Black male, no facial hair.
Five-foot-ten to six-foot.
Well
I can see why you thought
it was Raymond Harris.
No more questions, Your Honor.
Thank you again for your service.
Let's start at that last
point, Detective Ferguson.
Why didn't you investigate further
after Mr. Harris
retracted his confession?
Because people take back
confessions all the time.
The reason we didn't
keep looking is simple:
the most believable
explanation for what happened
is usually what happened.
So, in your opinion this wasn't a case
of widespread police corruption?
Come on. You see the papers today?
There was no widespread corruption.
[WHISPERS]: They found the prostitute.
CARLIN: Look, I haven't thought
about that night for a long time.
I knew I was going to be murdered,
and I knew no one would care.
And so I just fought.
And because of God or whatever
higher power you believe in,
I got away.
And I shouldn't have.
And so I changed my life.
I got sober.
Which was the hardest thing I ever did.
But I did it.
And I went to college and
I have a life that I never imagined.
But, uh, my family
doesn't know about my past.
Not my husband, not my kids.
Well, you could testify in closed court.
We just need to establish
that you reported
the attack while Raymond was in jail
to prove there was a cover-up.
No, it will get out.
I have teenagers.
I'm sorry, I-I, I can't.
We can subpoena you.
No. No, you don't understand,
that will destroy my family.
Please.
Please, you don't know
what I've been through.
We can't actually subpoena you.
- [EXHALES]
- To get you added to the witness list this late,
we'd have to submit an affidavit
with your cooperation.
Well, I won't give it.
MATTY: I'm sorry.
I couldn't lie to her.
Well, you also didn't have to give her
the road map on how to
get out of testifying.
You're right. And i-it's been a while,
- so maybe
- Maybe what?
Maybe you shouldn't
have come back to work?
I agree.
Which is why I didn't want
you hired from the moment
you brought up discriminatory
practices and ageism,
which is an offensive
manipulation of a law
that was established primarily
to keep workers from getting
pushed out prematurely,
whereas you getting blocked
was likely because it has been 30 years
since you've practiced law.
Which, best-case scenario,
you just proved to be
a recipe for disaster.
Worst-case scenario?
You gave that woman a way out
because you felt sorry for her.
Because you saw her
living in suburbia
and she reminded you of yourself.
But you know what? Those
people who remind you
of yourself have
generations of advantage
over the people who remind me of myself.
Do you know who I identify with?
Raymond and his family.
Who you just screwed over.
[VOICE BREAKING]: Hey,
Alfie, it's Grammy.
Oh, I'm so sorry I won't
be home for dinner again.
Oh
I sound weird?
[CHUCKLES]: No, I'm fine.
Just busy.
I'm getting called in,
so I'll talk to you later.
BILLY: Something salty?
I'm not one for pep talks,
but I am here to support
whatever Billy is about to say to you.
There's no need to say it.
I was wrong, I let my
emotions get in the way.
Something I'd never
do when I was younger.
Back then I kept things separate.
I just can't
I can't let any more people down.
Not at this moment in my life, I just
Mm-mm.
Can't do it.
Okay. Um
Time to get over yourself.
This is completely normal.
You know, we're on the
crying patio, remember?
But come on.
I mean, we've accomplished more with you
than we have all year.
I mean, that's not entirely true.
What? Hyperbole helps no one.
But you've obviously been useful.
So
stop feeling bad for
yourself and pull up whatever
granny panties you wear and fix it.
[LAUGHS SOFTLY]
Okay?
OLYMPIA: Jordan, after your father
was wrongfully imprisoned,
how did your life change?
Well, we lost our housing.
I had to switch schools.
And everybody knew that my father
was convicted of rape and murder,
so you know who wanted
to hang around me?
Hmm? People who thought that was cool.
And how did that affect you?
I mean, how didn't it affect me?
Can you be more specific?
This is your chance, Jordan.
Well, I'm 37 years old now and
I've never had a relationship.
- Why?
- Because if I thought my father was capable
of this terrible thing, then
how could I trust anyone?
But he wasn't capable of it.
- It's okay.
- No.
It's not okay.
Because the worst part is,
the worst part is that me and my dad,
we used to be close, and I
I don't know how to get that back.
I can't get that back.
No further questions, Your Honor.
[KNOCK AT DOOR]
MATTY: Just five minutes.
Please.
I helped you yesterday.
[SIGHS]
Look, I understand what's at stake.
And I understand why you said no.
More than you know.
I had a daughter.
And she died after a
long battle with drugs.
And I carry the weight
of that loss every day.
And usually I can handle it, right?
But
once in a while, and
it's always unexpected
it becomes the
only thing in the room.
And yesterday that's what happened.
When you were talking about
how hard you worked to get clean
and how far you'd come
I thought about what
I'd do for my daughter.
And the answer is anything.
Everything.
But this is about Raymond
Harris and his family.
And they've been destroyed.
[SOBBING]: But I don't
want to blow up my life.
Plus there's no guarantee
they'll even believe me.
I mean, people don't
care about prostitutes.
Even back then I knew
it would go nowhere.
That's why I didn't
What?
Carlin, I promise you on
my daughter's memory
I will not betray you.
But I need to know what you know.
The owner of this Greek restaurant
saw me fight the guy off.
And he walked me to the police station.
Hi, there.
I'm wondering if Papa Cristo
still owns this establishment?
First, I want to say I appreciate
how hard it must have been
having a father in jail.
Though you had experienced
his incarceration before,
am I right? Earlier in life?
Objection! Can we approach?
That was clearly prejudicial.
As prejudicial as suggesting your client
- isn't testifying because he's afraid of public speaking?
- Worse.
He just made sure that the jury sees
my client as a criminal
instead of a victim.
Enough!
Objection sustained, and
the next time this happens,
you're both looking at a mistrial.
And so I went to Papa
Cristo's restaurant,
and believe it or not, he's still there,
still sharp as a tack,
and he's older than me.
[SIGHS] This is ridiculous.
You cannot introduce a new
witness this late in the case.
Not to mention, without the prostitute,
it's hearsay from 26 years ago.
OLYMPIA: Which qualifies
as an excited utterance.
Papa Cristo told her he was on the phone
when he witnessed the attack.
So what? He screamed
to a friend? Come on.
How can anyone testify with clarity
to a conversation that
happened 26 years ago?
MATTY: Ah. I got it. But
just so I know for the future,
if the friend taped the
call, that'd be okay?
I mean, you wouldn't argue against
admitting the tape this late?
Did a friend tape the call?
No. But hypothetically.
Hypothetically, if a
friend taped the call,
we'd admit it.
Gotcha. Well, here's the thing
Papa Cristo didn't call a friend.
He called 911.
So we requested the audio recording,
which wasn't at the police station,
but luckily it was backed up
on the state's server, so
we'll go ahead and
admit that into evidence?
With your blessing.
PAPA CRISTO [ON RECORDING]:
Yeah, hey, I just saw
some girl escape this guy's car.
Hang on, honey, I'm on with 911!
She's got like a stocking or
something around her neck and
Oh, she says she's okay,
but I'm gonna walk her
down to the station, though.
OLYMPIA: Detective
Ferguson, using your metrics,
what is the most believable scenario
for why this call was not
logged in your precinct?
Someone got rid of the record.
OLYMPIA: Meaning they
buried the evidence
in order to convict my client?
Yeah.
[GASPS]
♪
JUDGE: Has the jury reached a verdict?
FOREMAN: Yes, we have, Your Honor.
Does the State of New York
owe a duty to Raymond Harris?
The answer is yes.
Please state the total amount of money
that you would compensate
the plaintiff Raymond Harris.
$20 million.
[GALLERY GASPS]
RAYMOND: What you said up there
we're gonna build back our relationship.
I love you.
I'm sorry for losing sight
of the client's best interest.
Won't happen again.
And I hope you'll support my
bid for permanent employment.
Did you get me Thanksgiving weekend?
No.
But then again, I'm guessing
you didn't want the weekend.
Because if you did,
you wouldn't have baited your
ex-husband into going away.
Same way you baited me
into giving my opinion
on the case early on.
Which makes me wonder why
you want him out of the city.
But maybe I'm overthinking.
Maybe it's not that
you're dating someone new,
someone he'd be unhappy about.
That's just where my paranoid mind went.
Hmm.
Your references checked
out and you were useful,
so you've been assigned an office.
And I look forward to
working with you again.
[MATLOCK INTRO THEME PLAYING]
Please turn that off.
- [ALL LAUGHING]
- No way.
I'm gonna watch a few
episodes, Angela Lansbury.
After we drink, right?
You coming, Matty?
Oh, if only I was 40 years younger
and didn't have a
surly grandson at home.
I'll see you two tomorrow.
I got to catch my bus.
All right, good night.
♪
- DRIVER: Just the one stop?
- Just the one.
Good evening, Marcus.
Good evening, Mrs. Kingston.
MATTY: Well, you see
there's this funny thing
that happens when women age.
We become damn near invisible.
Nobody sees us coming.
There's a time in life
when you make decisions
based on what you think is right.
- But now I'm bitter and broke.
- [JULIAN LAUGHS]
There she is. Our conquering hero.
[LAUGHS]
Well, you'd been a lot
less cheery if you knew
how I talked about you at work.
Gambling, cheating
- not to mention dead.
- Well,
Madeline Matlock can
desecrate my false memory
as long as Madeline Kingston loves me.
- I do.
- Aw.
And if I have to eat one more of these,
I'm gonna kill somebody.
[LAUGHS]
- But they really sell harmless old lady.
- ALFIE: Grammy!
Oh! Alfie.
Oh, sweetheart, oh
I'm raising my grandson.
Don't ask me for any
advice. He loathes me.
See? You were upset
for nothing last night.
You won.
Well, Olympia won.
I haven't practiced law in ten years.
At least I didn't ruin it.
It's just like on Matlock.
They almost lose, but then they win.
- Was I right?
- You were right.
ALFIE: Perfect name?
Fits with Matty, reminds us of Mom.
I can see her clear as day,
glued to the television,
telling everybody she was learning
to be a lawyer, just like her mother.
I assume you got the job?
Because there's been traffic
to the LinkedIn I made,
plus I rerouted an HR
reference check to Pops.
Now, I was fair if extremely partial.
Yes, I'm officially a new
employee of Jacobson Moore.
So, when do you get
to work on drug cases?
You specialize in
pharmaceuticals, right?
That's where I need to be.
Well, I have to build
up a little trust first.
Listen, I'm gonna make a few notes,
so why don't you go get washed
up for dinner, okay, Alfie?
[DOOR CLOSES]
You look tired, darling.
Are you sure you can do this?
I have to, Edwin.
One of those three hid documents
that could have taken
opioids off the market
ten years earlier.
Think of how many lives
that could have saved.
Including our daughter's.
I thought about what
I'd do for my daughter.
And the answer is anything.
Everything.
So I'm gonna figure
out who knew what, when.
And then?
I'm gonna put them in jail.
MAN: All right, Timothy.
It is go time, brother. Okay?
Now, I need to be upstairs in five
make that three minutes
WOMAN: I'm sorry, it's this darn chip.
I don't know whether to-to swipe it
- or tap it or wave it.
- Which means I need to know the ceiling, okay?
The absolute ceiling that
your guys are willing to pay.
WOMAN: Sorry. You know what?
I'll just get cash.
Um, hers is on me.
I'll take a tall drip,
and you can keep the change. 23, great.
Which means I'm gonna close at 19,
so you remind your bosses
how much I saved them
when they try to fight my bill.
Well, isn't that a nice
way to start the day?
And they say the world is going to poop.
[SIGHS]
Ooh.
Oh, dear.
I got you.
Oh. Well, this is the
day of kind gestures.
I can't thank you enough.
May I offer you one?
- Oh. My grandma loves these.
- [LAUGHS]
It's biological.
We hit a certain age
and we start buying 'em.
Believe you me, I tried to resist,
and then I turned 65,
and next thing I know,
I'm standing smack-dab
in the middle of a Costco
with a four-pound bag.
[BOTH LAUGH]
Uh, 21st floor, please.
I guess that's the thing.
Lots of times in life,
we become exactly who
- people expect us to be.
- [ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
Bye-bye.
Bye.
Kristine, can you buzz
me in? Hands are full.
[BUZZER SOUNDS]
ELIJAH: Hello and happy Monday.
Before we dive in,
my deep condolences
to all you Mets fans.
All right, that's yes.
Yeah, I heard a bunch
of you went to the game.
Team building. It's good for morale.
Shows that even though
I'm an equity partner now,
I am still one of you,
a regular partner at heart,
if not in salary.
[LAUGHTER] Here we go.
Olympia, I heard you
got a $2 million offer
to settle the Harris civil action.
- Yes, and I rejected it.
- That trial is slated to start tomorrow,
and you cannot go to
trial under any circumstance.
And I will be closing,
but $2 million is not enough, Elijah.
Raymond Harris lost
26 years of his life.
I need $4 million, minimum.
20 if I can just find the smoking gun
to prove that there
was police corruption.
JULIAN: You've been
looking for six months.
Well, I haven't been
allocated the proper resources,
- Julian.
- You have two associates
working around the clock.
Two very junior associates who
equal one mediocre associate.
Is that your way of building morale?
Look, I might have a new lead.
A sketch of the prostitute
ELIJAH: It's over, Olympia,
close the case.
Julian,
talk to me about Peabody.
We back-channeled last night,
and I got them up to $19 million.
MATTY: Actually, you can get
quite a bit more out of Peabody.
- Uh, who are you?
- [CHUCKLES]
Sorry, I got a little ahead
of myself in my excitement.
I'm Matty, informally.
Formally Madeline Matlock.
Yes, Matlock like the old TV show,
which was all I heard
between 1984 and 1992.
"You're a lawyer like Matlock.
You're a lawyer like Matlock."
And every time I'd correct 'em,
"No, he's just pretending.
You know, I'm a real lawyer."
But, you know, you can
only protest so much
before you sound like you got
a big old pole up your heinie,
so I just let 'em have it
and I just said, "Yeah, well, yeah,
I'm a lawyer just like Matlock."
A lawyer working for
You, hopefully.
You have an associate position open,
and it's been really
hard to get an interview.
And I almost think
it's 'cause of my age,
but that'd be violating
discriminatory protections.
The point is, I just had to figure out
a way to break through the noise.
I think you definitely
earned yourself an interview.
Well, thank you for that,
but I don't want an interview.
I want a job.
And as a reminder,
I do know the number that
Peabody is willing to pay,
and it is significantly
higher than $19 million.
Course, I wouldn't overplay
my hand with Peabody either.
I always say negotiations are an art
and a trap.
Let's avoid traps, then.
How do you know the number?
Well, you see, there's this funny thing
that happens when women age.
We become damn near invisible.
Oh, not that I'm complaining.
I had my moment in the sun.
Plus it's useful because
nobody sees us coming.
That's how I got through your security.
Several times.
And it's also how I knew that
Peabody's counsel grabs coffee
and updates his client
between 8:15 and 8:25.
What's the number?
Am I hired?
SENIOR: No one is hired
without a two-week trial.
What's their ceiling?
$23 million.
Which means I just made you $4 million.
Do I still need a two-week trial?
- Yes.
- All right, fine. I'll start today.
Tell me, Ms. Matlock,
why do you want to work at my firm?
There's a time in life
when you make decisions
based on what you think is right,
and there's a time when you
make decisions based on money.
I did what was right
all my life, and now
I need to make it rain,
so point me to a case
and put me to work.
She did ask for extra resources.
We seem to have gotten
off on the wrong foot.
Wow, that is quite the pace.
Um, I just truly want to be useful.
- Anything you need.
- Competence.
I need basic competence.
When was the last
time you practiced law?
Um, well, that was in 1991.
And I understand 30 years
can seem challenging,
but I assure you, I
have remained pretty
nearly up to date.
"Pretty nearly" or "almost sorta"?
Just let me prove that I can be useful.
Tell me how to do that.
Get me all of Thanksgiving.
I'm sorry, I'm not following.
I charge $1,200 an
hour, so clear that up
with somebody whose time you can afford.
- You two, anything?
- Nothing, no, not yet.
Remember what we talked about?
That should have been one word.
Now, the call's coming in any minute.
Meet me in the conference room
and bring the new lawyer with you.
Madeline Matlock.
Like the TV show.
What TV show?
Exactly. You can call me Matty.
First day on the job,
thrilled to be part of the team.
Oh, no. This is gonna be a nightmare.
- Be nice.
- Nice?
Don't tell me to be nice.
I need to be trained by
senior partners, not senior citizens.
- Oh, God.
- No offense, Perry Mason.
- Ha,
- BILLY: You know, if you say "no offense,"
- Matlock.
- it doesn't make it any less rude.
We just got demoted to a third, Billy.
[GROANS]
BILLY: In Sarah's defense, um,
she's a raging bitch. [CHUCKLES]
Why is she so pissy?
No social life.
And plus she's wildly ambitious,
and we've been working on
this case for six months now,
and Olympia still calls
us "youtwo." One word.
So, yeah, you're not
exactly joining the A-team.
Another old TV show you never heard of?
[CHUCKLES] Well, my abuela
and I watched telenovelas.
- You know any of those?
- No.
That's fair. [CHUCKLES]
Hey, before I forget,
Olympia mentioned I should
get her Thanksgiving.
You any idea what she's talking about?
Uh, probably a custody thing.
Word is, their divorce
is almost finalized.
FYI, top snack destination here.
You've got salty, you've got sweet,
you've got access to the back
patio in case you need to cry.
Well, for the record, I'm salty.
I'm hoping I won't cry.
You said "their divorce."
Who's Olympia divorcing?
Julian.
Oh, the guy she was arguing with.
Well, file that under
"Things I'm never gonna
get involved with, no way,
nohow, no, sirree, Bob."
I'm gonna win her over
the old-fashioned way.
Catch me up on the case.
Yep. Raymond Harris
spent 26 years in jail
as a convicted serial murderer/rapist
but was recently exonerated
through DNA evidence.
Now, the police department
was definitely dirty back then,
tons of misconduct, but
in order to get the
payout that he deserves,
we we need to find the smoking gun.
Why is everybody so sure there is one?
Well, because we got a tip
from a guy who got a tip
from his dead uncle
who was a retired cop.
- Oh, Lord.
- Yeah.
Anyway, apparently a prostitute escaped
a really similar attack while
Raymond was still in custody.
Stocking around the
neck, the whole nine.
Word is, she went down to
the station to file a report,
only there's no record of it,
which means if it exists, it was buried.
Well, I'm guessing you can't find
the prostitute from 26 years ago.
[SIGHS] Don't know her name,
much less if she's alive.
Well, there's a lot of
invisible people in the world.
In the partners' meeting,
Olympia said something about a sketch?
Well, that's complicated.
Uh, I'm sorry.
How-how did you get into
the partners' meeting?
Oh, that's a long story.
I'll tell you about it next
time we share something salty.
Is there anything else
I need to know to get
on Olympia's good side?
Never give your opinion to a client.
Leave that to her.
Hello, Raymond, Jordan.
Got one more lawyer
as we bring this home.
Please state your name
and whether you've ever had
any affiliation with
the police department
or with my father's case,
either directly or tangentially.
Jordan likes to record everything.
I don't like to record everything,
I have to record everything.
To keep people accountable.
My father was locked up for
26 years because people lied,
so, if it happens in this room,
- I have a record.
- I understand.
Apologies.
Madeline Matlock.
I have no affiliation with the
police department and never have.
JORDAN: What is it?
What's wrong?
The final settlement offer came in,
and it's $241,280,
and at this point I have to
ask if you want to settle.
- What?
- We didn't settle for $2 million.
What the hell makes you think
we'd settle for $200,000?
Sorry.
- No, no.
- Sorry.
You don't have to apologize.
Okay, I don't understand. What happened?
I don't know.
But the trial starts tomorrow,
and something changed.
They don't feel like we
can make our case anymore,
and I'm worried.
Without the smoking gun,
given your father's
prior criminal history
and the fact that he
confessed to the crime
RAYMOND: Under duress.
- I took it back.
- OLYMPIA: I know.
But that initial confession
means that the city
is not obligated to pay you anything.
I'm sorry, Raymond, we've just
we've run out of time.
OLYMPIA [ON RECORDING]: So you have
a very big decision to make, Raymond.
Remember this? This is
from our first meeting.
I listen to it a lot.
OLYMPIA: You've met
with a lot of lawyers,
and I'd like to say
there's no wrong decision,
but you know what?
There is a wrong decision.
But that also means
there's a right decision.
And I am that right decision
because I believe in you, Raymond.
And I care that this corrupt
police department stole your future.
Trust me. Trust me.
What do you think?
Um
Go on.
If you have an opinion, give it.
Their offer's insulting. Go to trial.
JORDAN: I agree.
You said you'd come
through, so come through.
You think Olympia's blaming
me for going to trial?
- Probably not.
- A hundred percent yes.
I mean, I would.
You're saying Ms. Matlock
convinced them and one-upped you?
She didn't one-up me. Now I'm a
step closer to firing her for cause.
And frankly, I didn't want
to convince Raymond to settle.
Unacceptable. The firm needs you back
on cases that actually make money.
And I billed more than
any other junior partner
for three straight years.
Yeah, hard to remember
when you've been hunting
goose eggs for six months.
Because I'm trying to establish
a whole new revenue
stream with no support.
I fought off three separate attempts
to have the venue changed by myself,
which means the whole jury
pool knows that there has been
extensive police corruption.
And the whole jury pool
knows that because I've
kept the story in the paper.
Which is why the city was settling.
"Was" being the operative word.
Exactly. And without
a private investigator
or, at the very least,
a jury consultant,
I have no idea what changed.
Well, the firm isn't gonna
pump money into a pro bono case.
Well, ideally,
this isn't pro bono. It's a test case.
Olympia got burned out
after defending Big Pharma.
Oh, Big Pharma, big money.
That's where I want to be.
So what do you mean this is a test case?
Well, if Raymond gets a number
higher than the national average,
then the firm takes a cut.
So Olympia's argument to
him is that she can get
a much higher number.
And the argument to the
firm is that social justice
can mean real money.
So you can do good and do well.
That's the noble version, anyway.
What's the non-noble version?
She's figuring out yet another
way to monetize misfortune
- because she's a freaking genius.
- Mm-hmm.
You're coming up for senior partnership.
I don't have to remind
you what's at stake.
Then why are you?
Because I'm still your father-in-law.
The divorce is almost finalized.
You think I give a rat's ass?
Father-in-law is a lifetime position.
I know what's at stake.
I just want this to work.
I know you do.
But if it doesn't,
you're back on corporate litigation.
Got it?
OLYMPIA: So the biggest
question we have to tackle is:
should Raymond be called to the stand?
What we need is a jury consultant
so that we can audition
Raymond's testimony,
see how the mock jury
will respond to him.
But unfortunately we can't afford that.
So you need the off-brand model, huh?
Or better yet, a freebie.
Which is what I'm always looking for
since my circumstances changed.
For instance, I stopped buying ketchup
and I started bringing
ketchup packets home
every time I went out.
And this firm definitely
has a lot of people
who like ketchup.
- What?
- Senior knows we're moving forward
and he's the one in charge,
so give me space.
I came to offer my
services as second chair
so these last six months haven't been
a colossal waste of time,
but if you want space
No, no, no, I don't.
I'm sorry. Thank you.
Actually, can you look around
the building and find me
two Black men in their 40s,
a 50-something Latino man,
a 20-something Asian woman,
and two white ladies in their 50s?
Go to the secretaries,
the maintenance
department, food services
They already work here.
So they're our free ketchup packets.
We'll match the demographics
of the jury and preview
Raymond's testimony
with people who are
already here on the clock.
And you three You know,
you can actually separate us
Shh!
Go to Sherleen's and
get her sketch. Hmm?
- Who's Sherleen?
- An old ho.
That's what she calls herself.
I said "aging prostitute"
once and she corrected me,
- "I'm an old ho."
- Copy that.
SARAH: I'm just saying,
MacGyver does a whole ketchup monologue
and she doesn't get shushed.
It's-it's Matlock, ha!
Because the ketchup
monologue was useful.
Get over yourself.
FYI, Sherleen's kind of a nutjob.
But she's worked the streets a long time
and she says that she remembers
the prostitute we're looking for.
Just not her name. Or anything useful.
- And, Sarah
- Shh.
So petty.
Who's she?
Hey, I'm Matty. It's nice to meet you.
Wow. I love your place.
Thanks, I did the art.
That over there is a useful map.
You know where your clitoris is?
Lots of women your age don't.
I certainly do. Though
my husband didn't.
And I never said anything. Imagine that.
38 years and I never said,
"Could you just move
a little to the left
and go twice as fast?"
Course, he never told me he was sleeping
with other people and had
a massive gambling problem,
which left me in debt,
so I guess we're even.
I like her.
[CHUCKLES]: I like you, too.
Thanks for helping us.
I'll go find the sketch.
Take your time.
Wow, there's so much to look at here.
Clearly a life well-lived.
Not me. I picked the wrong man.
SHERLEEN: Okay, here's my sketch.
Actually, it's a painting.
[GASPS] Wow.
Lot of orange up top.
- That's her hair color?
- Exactly.
It's very chaotic, isn't it?
Drugs make people chaotic.
MATTY: They certainly do.
And you all ran the names of
all the prostitutes arrested
within the year by Sherleen?
Of course. In the whole tristate area.
MATTY: Nice. And, uh, you looked
for people with narcotics charges?
Since our, uh, our prostitute here had
a "chaotic" drug
problem, per this sketch?
We did not.
Well, that's probably too big a pool.
Sherleen,
was there a drug dealer
the other hos favored?
♪
Hello there.
How'd the mock jury go?
Useful.
But, unfortunately, we
got a pretty mixed reaction
to Raymond's testimony, so I
cannot put him on the stand.
His daughter's gonna have to
get those sympathy votes for us,
which she is not excited about.
Well, you're gonna like this.
We might have a lead on
our missing prostitute.
Sherleen remembered
a guy named Big Vinnie
who used to supply all the girls,
so we did a little digging,
and his real name is Vincent De Luca.
In prison at Evandale. We're
gonna go up in the morning.
[CHUCKLES] Okay.
Some good news finally.
Uh, the thing is,
I'm the one who figured that out. Mm.
And I'm hoping you're finding me useful
because I've thought about it
and I really don't think
it's a good idea for me
to get involved in your
custody dispute with Julian.
Over Thanksgiving.
Okay, no problem.
Great.
I only asked because you wanted to know
how to get on my good side.
- MATTY: Hey there, Julian.
- Hey.
I'm just checking in on Peabody.
Closed at $23 million,
- just like you said.
- [BOTH CHUCKLE]
I've got the kids tonight,
otherwise we'd be having a Scotch.
Oh, well, no Scotch for me
- Mm.
- unless I'm getting laid.
- Mm.
- I guess I guess that's not on the table.
Where did you come from,
Madeline Matlock? [LAUGHS]
Naples, Florida, originally,
then a little detour through Georgia
before my ex-husband
dragged me up north.
Not that I'm bitter and broke.
- [CHUCKLES]
- You specialize in pharmaceuticals, right?
- Mm-hmm.
- That's where I need to be.
How old are your kids?
Uh, twins. They're eight.
- Aw. That's a great age.
- Yeah.
12 is tougher. I'm
raising my grandson
but don't ask me for any advice
he loathes me. [CHUCKLES]
Have you got any plans
for Thanksgiving weekend?
Because Olympia mentioned
she'd love to take the
twins on a little getaway.
After you all have dinner
together, of course.
And vacations do benefit everyone.
Did Olympia send you?
To ask for my weekend?
And so then Julian
explained that he'd be
more than happy to let
you have his weekend
if you leave the marital apartment
within the month and cede the
deed to him in pleno.
So? Do we have a deal?
You're being ridiculous.
You don't have plans.
Oh, as a matter of fact, I do.
And I'm the one being ridiculous?
I'm sorry. [CHUCKLES]
Uh, will you excuse us?
Oh, you bet.
Ridiculous is sending
Matlock to do your dirty work.
I thought she'd have more luck.
You seemed to like her in the meeting.
You're pissed because I
undercut you in the meeting.
Yeah, because it was personal.
That's not true. I
don't think you're acting
in the firm's best interests.
Well, you could have
emailed me rather than going
- after me in public.
- [KNOCK AT DOOR] Yeah
Sorry to interrupt,
but we have a problem.
Check the Post.
[SIGHS]
OLYMPIA: "On the eve of the
Harris trial, a study reveals
police corruption in the late '90s
not as widespread as
initially reported"?
- What?
- SARAH: And it's not just the Post.
All the other outlets are picking it up.
[SIGHS] Okay, um
You could go, we'll talk later.
I'm not going anywhere.
Let's strategize.
For the good of the firm?
Policemen's union must have
known this article was coming out,
- and that's why they dropped the number.
- Yeah.
They orchestrated this, clearly.
And held on to the article
for the night before the trial
so they could inflict the
most prejudice on the jury.
My entire case is based
on police corruption.
Damn it! Let's hope
your dealer remembers
a drug-addicted prostitute
from 26 years ago.
- You have a plan? To get him to talk to you?
- We sure do.
- Do we have a plan?
- Not yet.
We've got all night to
come up with something.
Now remember, Hoboken, Brenda,
First Baptist Church, Florida.
Excellent research, Sarah.
Really top-notch.
- BIG VINNIE: Uh, I don't know these people.
- MATTY: Vincent De Luca,
I'm gonna tell your
mother you said that.
You know my mom?
It's me. Matty.
[COUGHS] I met your mom when I moved
up north to Hoboken.
Ran day care.
First Baptist? With your Aunt Brenda?
[COUGHING]
I'm sorry.
My emphysema flares up
when I, when I get upset.
It's not your fault.
I guess I just look
different since I got sick.
Lost a lot of weight.
I just never thought you
wouldn't recognize me.
No, it just took a second.
I-I recognize you.
- I was just kidding around.
- MATTY: Thank God.
'Cause I suddenly
panicked that I'd look nuts
in front of these lawyers.
They came to the neighborhood
looking for your mom,
and I told them,
"Cindy moved to Florida.
And how can I help?" And here we are.
I think they got some
big trial starting today.
First, I'll make a motion in limine
to try to get the location moved
In light of the highly
prejudicial article
- that came out last night.
- Two months ago, you argued
the jury could handle the publicity.
OLYMPIA: It won't work, but we
need it on record for appeal.
- Motion denied.
- OLYMPIA: After the jury is seated,
we'll move into opening arguments.
That's my first chance
to tell your story.
And it's a horror story.
Raymond Harris spent 26 years
in a six-by-nine cell,
knowing he was innocent
but also knowing that no one cared.
But you can show him that you care.
And that's when I'll try to get in
an explanation for the reason
you're not taking the stand.
You can show him that
you care about his trauma.
The fact that he still can't sleep.
He has a crippling
fear of public speaking.
- Objection.
- During my opening statement?
Approach the bench.
She's clearly trying
to imply that her client
isn't testifying because
he's been traumatized,
when we know for a
fact that it's because
she doesn't want his priors brought up.
OLYMPIA: Again, I'll lose,
but we'll get it in the jury's heads.
OLYMPIA: Apologies, Your Honor.
I will be more careful.
Look, there's just no way
that I'm gonna remember a
lady-of-the-night
junkie from 26 years ago.
MATTY: Oh, I know how
tricky memory can be.
And I do all those exercises
that the AARP suggests,
but I find what triggers
my memory are specifics.
You got any, Mr. Martinez?
Yeah, of course.
Here's what we can tell
you to help you recall 1996.
It was an election year.
Clinton's second term.
Bob Dole was his opponent.
Dolly the sheep was the
first mammal to be cloned.
- That was a big deal.
- Macarena.
Everyone was doing the Macarena.
I wasn't doing the
Macarena. Other people were,
and I remember thinking it's
a good thing I don't carry,
'cause I would've
blown their brains out.
That's great research.
But, Vinnie, I want you
to cast your mind back
to the time when the
Macarena was making you angry.
Okay, look, I do remember
this one redhead junkie
who just up and disappeared one day.
And that could be her.
- Not Carla.
- BILLY: Got it,
- but do you remember her name?
- No, that's what I used to called her:
"Not Carla." See, I used to
love the TV show Cheers.
Do you remember that show?
I do, but I'm guessing these kids don't.
Yeah, probably not.
Anyway, I'd say "Cheers, Carla,"
and she'd get all pissed off
and say that's not her name.
Whatever, it was close.
Eventually, I just called her Not Carla.
But it's like Carla, right?
Carly? Caroline? Carolina?
Carlina, Carlotta, Carlin
Carlin. Yes.
Okay, driver's license 1993 to 1998,
first name Carlin,
spelled I-N, E-N, O-N, Y-N,
ages 18 to 32.
Might as well cast a wide net.
Yeah, well, that's very wide.
I mean, that might take too long
- [PHONE CHIMES]
- Okay. 214 hits.
Things are faster now, Matty.
Billy, let's piece together their lives.
Eliminate anyone who
was out of state in 1996.
We are looking for redheads, people.
Wow.
Detective Ferguson,
how many times did
Raymond Harris tell you
and your fellow officers
that he was innocent?
I have no idea.
Approximately. More than 100?
Objection. Asked and answered.
Your Honor, I'm trying to
establish a course of conduct.
I'll allow it.
OLYMPIA: Thank you. Is
it your best estimate
that he said he was not
guilty more than 100 times?
- Probably.
- Okay.
So, more than 100 times Mr.
Harris says he's not guilty,
and after you question him for 11 hours,
he says he's guilty.
How long after Raymond confessed
did he retract that confession?
About ten minutes later.
Eight. What did he do in between?
I can't remember.
He went to the bathroom.
Detective Ferguson, after Raymond
retracted his confession,
did you investigate further?
- No.
- Was there anything to link Mr. Harris
to the crime scene other than the fact
that he was seen in the
area by one eyewitness
- who was admittedly intoxicated?
- Yeah.
He matched the description we put out.
Right. I have that description.
Admitting this in evidence
as plaintiff exhibit 4B.
Can you read it aloud, please?
Black male, no facial hair.
Five-foot-ten to six-foot.
Well
I can see why you thought
it was Raymond Harris.
No more questions, Your Honor.
Thank you again for your service.
Let's start at that last
point, Detective Ferguson.
Why didn't you investigate further
after Mr. Harris
retracted his confession?
Because people take back
confessions all the time.
The reason we didn't
keep looking is simple:
the most believable
explanation for what happened
is usually what happened.
So, in your opinion this wasn't a case
of widespread police corruption?
Come on. You see the papers today?
There was no widespread corruption.
[WHISPERS]: They found the prostitute.
CARLIN: Look, I haven't thought
about that night for a long time.
I knew I was going to be murdered,
and I knew no one would care.
And so I just fought.
And because of God or whatever
higher power you believe in,
I got away.
And I shouldn't have.
And so I changed my life.
I got sober.
Which was the hardest thing I ever did.
But I did it.
And I went to college and
I have a life that I never imagined.
But, uh, my family
doesn't know about my past.
Not my husband, not my kids.
Well, you could testify in closed court.
We just need to establish
that you reported
the attack while Raymond was in jail
to prove there was a cover-up.
No, it will get out.
I have teenagers.
I'm sorry, I-I, I can't.
We can subpoena you.
No. No, you don't understand,
that will destroy my family.
Please.
Please, you don't know
what I've been through.
We can't actually subpoena you.
- [EXHALES]
- To get you added to the witness list this late,
we'd have to submit an affidavit
with your cooperation.
Well, I won't give it.
MATTY: I'm sorry.
I couldn't lie to her.
Well, you also didn't have to give her
the road map on how to
get out of testifying.
You're right. And i-it's been a while,
- so maybe
- Maybe what?
Maybe you shouldn't
have come back to work?
I agree.
Which is why I didn't want
you hired from the moment
you brought up discriminatory
practices and ageism,
which is an offensive
manipulation of a law
that was established primarily
to keep workers from getting
pushed out prematurely,
whereas you getting blocked
was likely because it has been 30 years
since you've practiced law.
Which, best-case scenario,
you just proved to be
a recipe for disaster.
Worst-case scenario?
You gave that woman a way out
because you felt sorry for her.
Because you saw her
living in suburbia
and she reminded you of yourself.
But you know what? Those
people who remind you
of yourself have
generations of advantage
over the people who remind me of myself.
Do you know who I identify with?
Raymond and his family.
Who you just screwed over.
[VOICE BREAKING]: Hey,
Alfie, it's Grammy.
Oh, I'm so sorry I won't
be home for dinner again.
Oh
I sound weird?
[CHUCKLES]: No, I'm fine.
Just busy.
I'm getting called in,
so I'll talk to you later.
BILLY: Something salty?
I'm not one for pep talks,
but I am here to support
whatever Billy is about to say to you.
There's no need to say it.
I was wrong, I let my
emotions get in the way.
Something I'd never
do when I was younger.
Back then I kept things separate.
I just can't
I can't let any more people down.
Not at this moment in my life, I just
Mm-mm.
Can't do it.
Okay. Um
Time to get over yourself.
This is completely normal.
You know, we're on the
crying patio, remember?
But come on.
I mean, we've accomplished more with you
than we have all year.
I mean, that's not entirely true.
What? Hyperbole helps no one.
But you've obviously been useful.
So
stop feeling bad for
yourself and pull up whatever
granny panties you wear and fix it.
[LAUGHS SOFTLY]
Okay?
OLYMPIA: Jordan, after your father
was wrongfully imprisoned,
how did your life change?
Well, we lost our housing.
I had to switch schools.
And everybody knew that my father
was convicted of rape and murder,
so you know who wanted
to hang around me?
Hmm? People who thought that was cool.
And how did that affect you?
I mean, how didn't it affect me?
Can you be more specific?
This is your chance, Jordan.
Well, I'm 37 years old now and
I've never had a relationship.
- Why?
- Because if I thought my father was capable
of this terrible thing, then
how could I trust anyone?
But he wasn't capable of it.
- It's okay.
- No.
It's not okay.
Because the worst part is,
the worst part is that me and my dad,
we used to be close, and I
I don't know how to get that back.
I can't get that back.
No further questions, Your Honor.
[KNOCK AT DOOR]
MATTY: Just five minutes.
Please.
I helped you yesterday.
[SIGHS]
Look, I understand what's at stake.
And I understand why you said no.
More than you know.
I had a daughter.
And she died after a
long battle with drugs.
And I carry the weight
of that loss every day.
And usually I can handle it, right?
But
once in a while, and
it's always unexpected
it becomes the
only thing in the room.
And yesterday that's what happened.
When you were talking about
how hard you worked to get clean
and how far you'd come
I thought about what
I'd do for my daughter.
And the answer is anything.
Everything.
But this is about Raymond
Harris and his family.
And they've been destroyed.
[SOBBING]: But I don't
want to blow up my life.
Plus there's no guarantee
they'll even believe me.
I mean, people don't
care about prostitutes.
Even back then I knew
it would go nowhere.
That's why I didn't
What?
Carlin, I promise you on
my daughter's memory
I will not betray you.
But I need to know what you know.
The owner of this Greek restaurant
saw me fight the guy off.
And he walked me to the police station.
Hi, there.
I'm wondering if Papa Cristo
still owns this establishment?
First, I want to say I appreciate
how hard it must have been
having a father in jail.
Though you had experienced
his incarceration before,
am I right? Earlier in life?
Objection! Can we approach?
That was clearly prejudicial.
As prejudicial as suggesting your client
- isn't testifying because he's afraid of public speaking?
- Worse.
He just made sure that the jury sees
my client as a criminal
instead of a victim.
Enough!
Objection sustained, and
the next time this happens,
you're both looking at a mistrial.
And so I went to Papa
Cristo's restaurant,
and believe it or not, he's still there,
still sharp as a tack,
and he's older than me.
[SIGHS] This is ridiculous.
You cannot introduce a new
witness this late in the case.
Not to mention, without the prostitute,
it's hearsay from 26 years ago.
OLYMPIA: Which qualifies
as an excited utterance.
Papa Cristo told her he was on the phone
when he witnessed the attack.
So what? He screamed
to a friend? Come on.
How can anyone testify with clarity
to a conversation that
happened 26 years ago?
MATTY: Ah. I got it. But
just so I know for the future,
if the friend taped the
call, that'd be okay?
I mean, you wouldn't argue against
admitting the tape this late?
Did a friend tape the call?
No. But hypothetically.
Hypothetically, if a
friend taped the call,
we'd admit it.
Gotcha. Well, here's the thing
Papa Cristo didn't call a friend.
He called 911.
So we requested the audio recording,
which wasn't at the police station,
but luckily it was backed up
on the state's server, so
we'll go ahead and
admit that into evidence?
With your blessing.
PAPA CRISTO [ON RECORDING]:
Yeah, hey, I just saw
some girl escape this guy's car.
Hang on, honey, I'm on with 911!
She's got like a stocking or
something around her neck and
Oh, she says she's okay,
but I'm gonna walk her
down to the station, though.
OLYMPIA: Detective
Ferguson, using your metrics,
what is the most believable scenario
for why this call was not
logged in your precinct?
Someone got rid of the record.
OLYMPIA: Meaning they
buried the evidence
in order to convict my client?
Yeah.
[GASPS]
♪
JUDGE: Has the jury reached a verdict?
FOREMAN: Yes, we have, Your Honor.
Does the State of New York
owe a duty to Raymond Harris?
The answer is yes.
Please state the total amount of money
that you would compensate
the plaintiff Raymond Harris.
$20 million.
[GALLERY GASPS]
RAYMOND: What you said up there
we're gonna build back our relationship.
I love you.
I'm sorry for losing sight
of the client's best interest.
Won't happen again.
And I hope you'll support my
bid for permanent employment.
Did you get me Thanksgiving weekend?
No.
But then again, I'm guessing
you didn't want the weekend.
Because if you did,
you wouldn't have baited your
ex-husband into going away.
Same way you baited me
into giving my opinion
on the case early on.
Which makes me wonder why
you want him out of the city.
But maybe I'm overthinking.
Maybe it's not that
you're dating someone new,
someone he'd be unhappy about.
That's just where my paranoid mind went.
Hmm.
Your references checked
out and you were useful,
so you've been assigned an office.
And I look forward to
working with you again.
[MATLOCK INTRO THEME PLAYING]
Please turn that off.
- [ALL LAUGHING]
- No way.
I'm gonna watch a few
episodes, Angela Lansbury.
After we drink, right?
You coming, Matty?
Oh, if only I was 40 years younger
and didn't have a
surly grandson at home.
I'll see you two tomorrow.
I got to catch my bus.
All right, good night.
♪
- DRIVER: Just the one stop?
- Just the one.
Good evening, Marcus.
Good evening, Mrs. Kingston.
MATTY: Well, you see
there's this funny thing
that happens when women age.
We become damn near invisible.
Nobody sees us coming.
There's a time in life
when you make decisions
based on what you think is right.
- But now I'm bitter and broke.
- [JULIAN LAUGHS]
There she is. Our conquering hero.
[LAUGHS]
Well, you'd been a lot
less cheery if you knew
how I talked about you at work.
Gambling, cheating
- not to mention dead.
- Well,
Madeline Matlock can
desecrate my false memory
as long as Madeline Kingston loves me.
- I do.
- Aw.
And if I have to eat one more of these,
I'm gonna kill somebody.
[LAUGHS]
- But they really sell harmless old lady.
- ALFIE: Grammy!
Oh! Alfie.
Oh, sweetheart, oh
I'm raising my grandson.
Don't ask me for any
advice. He loathes me.
See? You were upset
for nothing last night.
You won.
Well, Olympia won.
I haven't practiced law in ten years.
At least I didn't ruin it.
It's just like on Matlock.
They almost lose, but then they win.
- Was I right?
- You were right.
ALFIE: Perfect name?
Fits with Matty, reminds us of Mom.
I can see her clear as day,
glued to the television,
telling everybody she was learning
to be a lawyer, just like her mother.
I assume you got the job?
Because there's been traffic
to the LinkedIn I made,
plus I rerouted an HR
reference check to Pops.
Now, I was fair if extremely partial.
Yes, I'm officially a new
employee of Jacobson Moore.
So, when do you get
to work on drug cases?
You specialize in
pharmaceuticals, right?
That's where I need to be.
Well, I have to build
up a little trust first.
Listen, I'm gonna make a few notes,
so why don't you go get washed
up for dinner, okay, Alfie?
[DOOR CLOSES]
You look tired, darling.
Are you sure you can do this?
I have to, Edwin.
One of those three hid documents
that could have taken
opioids off the market
ten years earlier.
Think of how many lives
that could have saved.
Including our daughter's.
I thought about what
I'd do for my daughter.
And the answer is anything.
Everything.
So I'm gonna figure
out who knew what, when.
And then?
I'm gonna put them in jail.