Suits LA (2025) s01e01 Episode Script
Seven Days A Week And Twice On Sundays
1
[KNOCK AT DOOR]
Teddy, hey, look, I know you heard
I changed my mind about testifying,
but just let me explain.
Billy, my father left
when I was very young.
And I never respected him.
And even though you've murdered people,
I always respected the fact
that you were willing
to risk your life for your daughter.
What is this?
It's the original arrest report on Tina.
You swore you wouldn't do that.
And you swore that you would
testify against Pellegrini,
who is the most brutal mob boss
that this city has ever seen!
Teddy, she's just a kid.
Do you know where they'll send her?
They will tear her to pieces in there.
But she doesn't have to go anywhere
if you just do what you said you would.
I testify, I'm a dead man.
That's what I'm talking about.
The willingness
to risk your life for her.
Gotta go get a bite to eat.
If I don't have word
that you're going to testify
by the time I'm done,
I will arrest your daughter.
Teddy!
I thought we were friends.
We are friends, Billy.
Which is why
I'm risking my life for you.
Now get back inside before
- someone
- [EXPLOSION]
[GASPS]
- Hey, what
- You were having a nightmare.
It's two nights in a row.
What's the matter?
I can't stop thinking about
that last year in New York.
It's like I don't know when
I'm dreaming and when I'm not.
Well, you're not dreaming now.
Wouldn't care if I was.
- Stop.
- [LAUGHS]
As long as you're up,
you want me to make you some breakfast?
That'd be nice.
Maybe something reminded
you of the old days.
Maybe that's why you're
having bad dreams.
Pancakes. Go on.
[BRADLEY DENNISTON, KONCEPT'S
"BRING THOSE GOOD TIMES BACK"]
♪
You got me feeling
like I'm back home ♪
Love me like we're still young ♪
Lady luck, don't lead me on ♪
Can we bring those good times back? ♪
[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
♪
Morning.
Whatever it is, I don't have time.
Lester Thompson's just been
arrested for murder.
Cancel my morning and
get me that arrest report.
You have the partners meeting
in ten minutes.
You think I don't know that?
I got every partner from M&A to divorce
wanting to know what's going on
with the merger,
and Ted hasn't responded yet.
Then what do you want me to do?
Tell the partners I'll know if we're
a go or not by tonight.
And get me that crisis manager
from last year.
Once the press finds out,
this is going to be
OJ Simpson all over again.
Already done. Anything else?
Yeah. Call Lester's wife, Valerie.
Tell her to meet me at the bank.
Can we bring those good times back? ♪
Yeah, yeah ♪
So you're the mighty Ted Black.
And you're Warner Brothers'
newest action star.
But they can't seem
to find their checkbook.
We're just going to dive right in?
Dylan, I took on
the worst mobs in New York.
I beat all of them,
and I did it without batting an eye.
If I can do that to them,
imagine what I can do for you.
But I need someone with confidence,
and you just seem
a little sheepish to me.
Dylan, you play a badass in the movies.
I'm a badass in real life.
And I intend to prove it
to you right now.
Are we going to fight?
We're going to dance.
What's that?
The new deal I got you
from Warner Brothers.
Got me? You don't represent me.
They're under the impression that I do.
So why don't you take
a look at the number?
How did you do this?
- That's what I do.
- What'd I miss?
Dylan coming to the conclusion
that she's our newest client.
- Oh.
- Not yet.
What happens tomorrow after your merger?
You ever going to have
time for me again?
- You told her?
- Of course I did.
We're open with our clients.
You taught me that.
If we're so open, did you tell her
that I haven't agreed to the merger yet?
BOTH: Yes.
But he also told me that you
have the attention of a flea
and to get your word that you
won't palm me off on anyone.
One condition. You sign right now.
- Ted. [CHUCKLES] She can't do that.
- [DYLAN SCOFFS SOFTLY]
She has meetings
with five other law firms.
I don't care what she has.
This happens now or it doesn't happen.
This isn't how we treat our clients.
Dylan, I can walk away
from any deal at any time,
which is where the power
in this world comes from.
So I'm going to go to my office.
When I get there, if this is signed,
I will kill for you
for the rest of your life.
If it isn't,
I'll never think about you again.
Wait here.
Ted?
You were late.
By 30 seconds. So what?
So it doesn't work if you're not there
when she asks me about the merger.
Okay, I see that in retrospect.
That was a really nice touch,
stopping me
from putting the contract down.
You don't think that was too much?
I think that she saw you fight for her.
And getting you instead of me
is the best decision she'll ever make.
- You got that right.
- Exactly.
Wait a minute.
What did you just say?
What? I just said what you just said.
- What did you say?
- You know exactly what I said.
I do.
[SOFT UPBEAT ROCK MUSIC]
Did you cut the air in the room?
Second your hand hit the door.
- You're a machine.
- Damn right. How'd it go?
Well, I'll cut my left ball off
if she isn't signing right now.
You are a class act, you know that?
Did you close Huffman last night?
Of course I did. It's what I do.
- Speaking of which
- No.
Ted, I want the bump.
Erica, we have been over this.
Rick gets the bump.
Rick shines my shoes.
Okay, he's as good a lawyer as you,
and he's a better manager.
I'm better in a room, and you know it.
And the day that matters,
I will make you head of a department.
If I were a man, would you
be saying the same thing?
How can I possibly know that?
I don't know, maybe
30 seconds of self-reflection?
I don't really see that happening.
I hate to interrupt, but
Dylan Pryor just signed.
And there you have it.
My left ball lives to fight another day.
Ted.
This isn't over, Ted.
♪
Hey, John.
We didn't have anything on the books.
You want me to grab Ted?
No.
Rosalyn said he's not to be disturbed.
Besides, I want to talk to you alone.
Okay.
What can I do for you?
You guys represent Hypnotic, right?
[SIGHS] If this is going
where I think it is,
that part is 15 years younger
than you are.
That's why I want you and not Ted.
I need you to get me an audition.
That's not going to happen.
And may I ask why not?
First of all, we're lawyers.
We're not agents.
You're telling me you pick up the phone,
I don't get an audition?
You know as well as I do that Ted thinks
once you start begging for work,
you're not going to get a job again.
Hey, buddy, I am not
begging for anything.
I just want a chance to show
I can still get the job done.
[SIGHS SOFTLY]
You got to take it up with Ted.
I can't go behind his back.
Rick, please.
I know he's looking out for me.
And I'm 84.
And I would rather go down swinging
than waiting for the damn phone to ring.
[SIGHS] I'll talk to him.
I want to know why it was you
who came down here and not Ted.
Because I handle criminal defense,
whereas Ted handles
your producing deals.
Yeah, I know what Ted does.
He's been my lawyer
for 12 years, all right?
Lester, let me explain something to you.
They're saying a lot
of very specific things
happened last night.
What, that I killed
my partner in my own backyard?
- Why would I do that?
- I know.
You were celebrating your big opening.
You started doing ecstasy
and shooting into the hills.
Like we've done 50 times before.
And all of a sudden, he shoots himself.
That's what you're saying, right?
I am not saying it.
That is exactly what happened.
There's residue on your hands.
Because we were shooting.
No one's gonna buy that.
Somebody must have seen it.
You live in the middle of nowhere.
Then conjure me a goddamn witness!
Lester, I know that you're scared,
but go with self-defense.
The odds of acquittal are 80%.
I didn't get where I am settling for 80,
so find me a witness.
Because I didn't do this.
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
Grinding away as usual, Rick?
I don't just sign people, Erica.
I actually do work for them.
I thought the work was signing them.
Not that it's work for me.
Well, I guess we'll see
where we both are in ten years.
I'm more concerned with where we're both
going to be this time next week.
You, me.
You being on top of me?
That's a fantasy that's
never going to happen.
We'll see about that, Ricky.
♪
Hey, there's something else.
I didn't want to say anything
before in front of Erica.
Your father's in hospice.
He has three days to live.
I know. They've called me six times.
They want you to fly back
and spend some time
Tell them to call me when he's dead.
Ted.
[SOFT SOMBER MUSIC]
I know what he did.
But if you don't forgive him
Rosalyn, I don't want to hear it.
And I've got a very big day,
so no interruptions.
[SOLEMN MUSIC]
♪
What you doing here?
My son gets blown up,
you think I'm not going to come running?
I know you're here to weasel
your way back into my life.
Right now, I need to make sure
that my witness is still alive.
I'm here to offer you a job.
Let's assume for a second
that I would ever forgive you
for abandoning us.
I'm not you.
Teddy, you could have died today.
I don't want to lose my son.
Until I graduated law school,
you wouldn't have noticed.
I'd say you went to law school
to make me notice!
And I did.
Look, I know you've been
putting in your time here,
but I will make you
a partner on day one.
You can skip right
to the front of the line.
Get this through your head.
I wouldn't have kids and
then decide to trade up.
I don't sell my soul
defending criminals.
And I don't want to skip
to the front of the goddamn line.
♪
You're right.
Shouldn't have left you to your mother.
Made you weak.
Ted?
Ted?
You got a minute?
It's kind of important.
Um [CLEARS THROAT]
If this is about the promotion,
I told you not before we merge.
And I told you that I've
given my life to this firm
And you want to be the fastest ever
to be head of entertainment. I know.
You say that like it's
a weight around your neck
instead of me earning it.
This isn't about timing.
You're scared of Erica.
Should I be?
I told you that she's better
in the room than you are.
But I also told you
that's not what being
the head of entertainment is about.
Now, do you trust me or not?
I do, but things you said would happen
haven't happened yet.
Not everybody gets
the toy that they want
for their birthday.
This isn't a toy. I earned it.
Rick, you do not get
to skip to the front
of the goddamn line!
[CLEARS THROAT]
John Amos was in here before.
I told him if you wouldn't
get him an audition, I would.
♪
Stuart wants to see you about
About the merger.
I know. It's Decision Day.
I take it you also know
that John Amos is waiting
on a call from you?
Tell him that I'm up to my eyeballs.
He's been with us since the beginning.
He'll understand.
Anything else?
Yes.
Take it easy on Rick.
♪
Stuart!
I haven't seen you all week.
Well, it's a big decision.
I know you don't like to be rushed.
Didn't stop me from waiting
till the last minute, though, did it?
I had a mild stroke about an hour ago,
but I don't really use
my left hand anymore, so
- [LAUGHS]
- What are you going to do?
I'm all in on the merger.
- Sure?
- Yes.
And I want you to know why.
Come on, Ted, you don't have to.
We went at it pretty hard
at the beginning of the negotiation
and I said some crappy things
about criminal defense.
This is how I want to make it up to you.
Hey, you apologized,
something you rarely do.
So when you do do it,
it means everything.
- Stuart, you said doo-doo.
- Did I?
What I meant to say is,
we're about to be
the largest firm in the city.
You got that right.
You ready to sign this bad boy?
You know what I just realized today is?
Of course.
It's 15 years to the day
since I came out here
and moved in with you.
And 12 years since we started
this whole thing together.
Well, enjoy the quiet, my friend,
because in two weeks,
Samantha's entire firm is moving in.
Hey, what do you say we go out
and celebrate this thing tonight?
Waldorf at 8:00?
Done.
Put the reservation under your name?
- Yeah.
- Pididiot?
Stu Pididiot?
[QUIRKY MUSIC]
[LAUGHS]
♪
Hey, Rick.
[COUGHS]
Do you see what I'm doing?
Is it something I could help you with?
Because that's actually why I'm here
Leah, fantasy football.
It's the one thing I do for myself.
I spend exactly 15 minutes a week on it.
- Aww.
- Now is that time.
And you should know this
because there's a huge sign
on the door that says it.
The sign says, "Knock, I'm Available".
Henderson is such a douche.
Should I come back or
Never going to make the playoffs anyway.
- Sorry.
- What's up?
I'd like to work for you.
And before you ask,
it's not because you're
getting the promotion.
I just think that your
leadership style
Yeah, I'm going to have
to stop you right there.
- Okay.
- You work with Erica.
I work for Erica.
But she has no interest in teaching,
and she takes me for granted
- and
- I get it.
Erica is, uh,
personality-challenged, shall we say.
- Mm. [SIGHS]
- Right?
But I'm not stealing you.
If you have a problem with her,
the place to go is to her.
- She won't listen.
- Maybe she won't.
But making people listen
when they don't want to,
that's part of being a lawyer.
And if you can't have
a difficult conversation
with your own team,
how are you going to have one
with an adversary?
So no?
- No.
- [LAUGHS NERVOUSLY]
[SOFT UPBEAT MUSIC]
- Do me a favor?
- Mm?
Can you take that sign down
and give it to Henderson, please?
- Yeah.
- Thank you.
♪
- Are you kidding me right now?
- Lester.
I am not putting my life
in that man's hands.
You are taking my case.
I don't want to hear
another word about it.
You think because he wants
you to plead self-defense,
he thinks you did it?
I don't think anything, Ted. I know it.
Just like I know if I admit
pulling that trigger,
they're never going to buy
it was self-defense.
Lester, I am wired
to put people in prison.
I hate the idea of getting them out.
Please, Ted, come on, man.
I am begging you.
Stuart lives for this.
He is the man for the job.
I cannot go with someone
who doesn't believe me.
Listen to me.
Stuart Lane is the best defense
attorney in the country.
Now, do you trust me or not?
All right, Ted.
I trust you.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]
Could you tell where my head was at ♪
When you found me? ♪
[LAUGHTER]
What do you mean I came up with it?
It was your idea.
You're the one who sent
the pictures to the paper.
I didn't say that I wasn't involved.
[LAUGHTER]
Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no.
It's Clooney. He's getting up to leave.
- Get in front of me.
- I don't believe it.
You never apologized to him, did you?
We'll discuss it later. Is he gone?
Wait a second.
He just dropped a billion dollars.
It's taking a minute to pick up.
- Is he gone?
- Wait a second.
He's starting another nonprofit.
[LAUGHTER]
Stuart, this was really fun.
Thank you.
I needed it.
I gotta swing back by the office.
No, come on, Ted.
We haven't done this in forever.
Let's go to Jones. One
drink at the old hangout.
That depends. How much money you got?
Tens of dollars. Come on.
Yeah. Yeah.
Yes.
Yes!
Check.
[BAKAR'S "HELL N BACK"]
[GRUNT-SIGHS] Clooney's back.
♪
It's good to see you, Eddie.
Come on. I'll help.
Are you drunk?
[CHUCKLES] Very.
I hadn't had fun with Stuart
in a really long time.
Were you celebrating?
I wanted to go out and take my mind
off that last year in New York,
but I can't stop thinking about it.
I miss Samantha the way she was.
And Kevin.
Why did we leave New York?
I'm sorry I didn't call, Eddie.
I should have called.
[PA BEEPING]
[WHISPERING] There he is right now.
Ted, what happened? Are you all right?
- I'm fine. It's nothing.
- Doesn't look like nothing.
Samantha, I was near an explosion,
but it looks a lot worse than it is.
I'm fine.
And I'm still coming
to your client's thing tonight.
I don't care about that right now.
You don't?
I think you do.
Let me talk to Kevin
and I'll see you tonight.
- Okay.
- Okay?
[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
Listen, we got to talk
about how to handle it
if Billy doesn't make it.
Handle what?
I stuck my neck out for this case.
If Billy doesn't make it,
I might as well break up with Samantha
and become a DA in Scranton.
What?
Nothing, it's
I'm from Scranton.
Well, I'm sorry, I don't mean
to crap on where you're from.
Well, thanks.
'Cause, you know,
I do have hometown pride.
Yeah, you shouldn't.
Scranton's a suckhole.
You're a suckhole.
- [CHUCKLES]
- Mr. Black?
I'm afraid the shock
was too much for him.
Billy didn't make it.
- All right, look, Teddy
- Shut up.
- I need to think.
- About what?
He's dead. Look, the
case is already gone.
How many people know he's dead?
Uh, three of us, two nurses in the room.
But what does that have to do with
I need you to get in there
and act like he's still fighting.
What?
- I can't do that.
- Listen to me.
I just spent a year of my life
trying to put away the man who murdered
the patient you just lost.
If you don't get back in there,
there's going to be 100 more
just like him.
[SERIOUS MUSIC]
You have one day.
All right.
What the hell did you just do?
I just need you to keep the agents here.
Teddy, this is a career-ending move
if it doesn't land you in prison.
I'm not going to have
Billy die for nothing.
Then you better think
of a hall of fame move.
Because in 24 hours
I am not losing this case.
♪
[ALARM RINGING]
♪
[ALARM RINGING]
[SIGHS]
- Ted?
- What's going on?
You better get in here.
The entire 25th floor is gone.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
It was Stuart, wasn't it?
You couldn't have seen it coming.
Who did we lose?
Every senior member of every department
except sports and entertainment.
- Look, Ted
- Give me a minute to think.
What is there to think about?
We need to file an injunction.
If we do that, the entire
town will know we're weak.
We will be dead in a year.
And if we can't stop the bleeding,
we'll be dead in a month.
I'm not losing my firm.
♪
Okay, who left whose clients
we absolutely cannot afford to lose?
Easy. Litvak, Johnson
And Riley. Okay, I want signed contracts
from every client by the end of the day.
And you call Erica,
tell her to get in here
and start helping.
Where are you going?
To get Litvak, Johnson, and Riley back
before the entire town
knows they're gone.
Amanda, what are you doing here?
I thought you left with Stuart?
Stuart left?
Bon voyage, Stuart.
I'm sorry. Do you work here?
Because I don't know who you are.
Amanda Stevens.
I've been handling pro bono
for the past two years.
Rick will catch you up.
Today, you're helping us close clients.
Sorry, can't do it. Have a thing.
You'll do it, or I will
fire you on the spot.
Easy, tiger.
Here's the thing.
I run an office here so that
I can have a nice address
and you can pretend you
actually serve your community.
I don't actually work for you,
so you can't fire me.
[SIGHS] I will give you $100,000.
- I don't need your money.
- Everyone needs money.
They do,
but my family owns half of the
apartments on the West Side,
so I happen to be worth an
ungodly amount of money.
[WHISPERING] Between us.
- [ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
- You don't dress like it.
[SCOFFS] I think we're done here.
What?
I love you.
Son of a bitch.
You set me up to get me
out of the office.
And now you know
what it felt like last year
- when you hung me out to dry.
- Hung you
I have been bringing you along
for the ride for ten years.
You said you were a lion
and I was a flea
in front of everyone.
It was a negotiating tactic
to get more
This firm would be nothing without me!
We started with two pillars,
entertainment law and criminal defense.
And everything else came from there.
But you think it all comes from you
because you don't respect what I do.
Well, we'll see who's more important.
'Cause you signed an agreement
giving me the right
to take everyone with me.
I'm going to tie you up
in court for years.
Yeah, if you were going to sue,
you'd be here with papers right now.
What is it you really want?
Litvak, Johnson, and Riley.
- Hell no.
- Stuart.
You know what I think of
Litvak, Johnson, and Riley?
If they ever left and
started their own firm,
it'd be called Lazy, Fat, and Stupid.
If I could fire them today, I would.
But I need their clients.
Those were your words six months ago.
Well, now I need their clients.
So go ahead, sue.
[WHISPERING] But I know the real reason
you left New York.
And if you sue, the whole
thing comes out.
Now get out of my face.
I got work to do.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
You know what I think of
Litvak, Johnson, and Riley?
If they ever left and
started their own firm,
it'd be called Lazy, Fat, and Stupid.
If I could fire them today, I would.
But I need their clients.
Ted, I don't know what to say.
You don't need to say anything.
Get Johnson and Riley
to get the clients on board
and sign papers with us
by the end of the day.
Okay.
♪
Leah, get me Angela Perkins
in two minutes.
Tell her it's important.
Look who put his big boy pants on.
I have a proposition for you.
I need someone on the inside
to feed me information for six months.
Then I name you head of entertainment.
Well, who says I won't be
head of entertainment over here?
That voice inside you that knows
Ted will never promote you over Rick.
♪
But what you can't do
right now is panic.
Ted has been loyal to you for ten years.
You can't just oh, God damn it.
What can I do for you, Erica?
I came to say you should
back out of the fight
for head of entertainment.
Gives us the best shot
at working together
after I get it.
- Get the hell out of my office.
- No.
We're going to talk about this
and we're going to talk about it now,
Because there was an earthquake
that happened here this morning,
and Ted doesn't need
long-term thinkers anymore.
He needs first responders.
Oh, you want to have it out?
- You bet your ass I do.
- All right, strap in.
So you think you're in a fight
between your skills and mine,
but the fight is between
what's in your heart and mine.
And you don't stand a chance.
I have as much passion in my pinky
as you do in your entire body.
Yeah. For yourself.
I want to let you in on a little secret.
Most people know this when they're ten.
Ha!
You pick a side before
you know who's going to win.
Until you figure that out,
you're nothing.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]
You will never be him, Rick.
You don't have what it takes.
And this whole damn office knows it.
[TENSE MUSIC]
He'll never trust you.
And you know it.
♪
Where have you been all morning?
- Locking down my clients.
- Good.
Now I need you to lock down
everyone else's.
- Come again?
- I don't care if you step on toes.
I need you to lock down
as many clients as you can,
whether they're yours or not.
- Even Rick's?
- Even Rick's.
Hmm.
What's on your mind, Erica?
You know what's on my mind.
How many times do I have
to tell you this?
I promised the job to Rick.
You mean the man whose clients
you just asked me to shore up?
I mean the guy that got
in here at 6:00 a.m.,
like he does every morning,
and because of that,
we still have a firm.
Meanwhile, your primary concern
seems to be leveraging me
into a promotion.
Don't give me that, because you would do
the same thing, and you know it.
So what's it going to be? Yes or no?
No.
And one of these days, I promise,
you will learn that closing
clients isn't everything.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
I don't care what happened.
I just wasted two hours
waiting for your ADA,
so I will be calling for sanctions.
You did have a thing.
Did you think I was just being cute?
Well, I think that you
enjoyed saying no to me.
What can I say?
Watching a man like you realize
that you have nothing I need
does come with a certain
deep satisfaction.
May I ask you something?
What sort of cases do
you primarily handle?
Mostly criminal defense.
Well, how do you do it?
How do you live with yourself,
knowing that whoever it is
is guilty of whatever it is
they're accused of doing?
Because everyone deserves
someone to fight for them.
Even some kid who broke into a house
because he doesn't know any other way.
I've heard what's going on
between you and Stuart,
and I know what you're
thinking of doing.
Once you do it, there's no going back.
Any other unsolicited pieces of advice?
Sure.
[QUIRKY MUSIC]
I dress this way
so no one sees me coming.
[WHISPERING] Outside of work, however,
it's another story.
Do I need to tell HR
about this conversation?
You would.
Except you keep forgetting
I don't work for you.
♪
She doesn't work for me.
I don't know how you did it,
but Litvak, Johnson, and Riley
are back in the fold
and grateful as hell.
Rick, about yesterday
I shouldn't have spoken to you that way.
I was out of line.
We good?
- We're good.
- Good.
Because I've made a decision.
You're making Erica and me
co-heads of entertainment.
How'd you know?
Because if I were you,
I'd do the same thing.
[SCOFFS] Well, in that case,
what else would you do if you were me?
I would get familiar
with Litvak's clients.
Because as soon as we lock them down,
you're letting him go.
On his lazy, stupid ass.
[CHUCKLING]
[THOUGHTFUL MUSIC]
I haven't told Erica
about the promotion yet.
I was waiting to let you
wrap your head around it.
♪
Hey, you think about John Amos?
How could I not? He called
me three times today.
Let's call him tomorrow morning.
Together.
♪
[KEYBOARD CLICKING]
- I want to do more.
- Excuse me?
You have me set up the
meetings and do the work.
But the clients, they look
at me like I'm a secretary
and not a lawyer, which I am.
Leah.
Today is not the day.
Erica, I'm tired of
making you look good.
So either put me up
for senior associate,
or I'll find someone here who will.
Close the door.
Why?
Because I am willing
to go to bat for you,
but I need you to understand
why I can't do it
for another six months.
[MOODY SOFT ROCK MUSIC]
[THE BLACK KEYS "THESE DAYS"]
My hand to God ♪
Aren't you making the most
of your situation?
Can't leave the city.
No one will work with me.
But, you know,
at least I have this, right?
I need you to drop Stuart and hire me.
You kidding me?
I begged you to take my case.
And you said you hated the idea
of keeping people out of prison.
Okay.
And you said Stuart Lane lives for this!
He's the better man for the job!
You said he was the best
criminal defense attorney
in the country!
Did you believe me?
Because if you didn't, then
you think I'm better than him.
And if you did, then I can
convince anyone of anything,
because there is nothing in this world
Stuart Lane is better at than me.
Lester, he doesn't believe you.
I do.
You said it yourself.
If you admit that you shot Simon,
they will never buy self-defense.
Look, man, I want to go with you.
I do. It's just
You're afraid. I get it.
Okay? And I'm not going to sugarcoat it.
It's the fourth quarter,
and you need a touchdown.
You can go with Kirk Cousins
or Patrick Mahomes.
Who's it going to be?
[PENSIVE MUSIC]
Ah.
Are you ever going to call
John Amos back?
I told Rick that we would call him
tomorrow morning together.
May I go to my office?
Yes, but Leah Power is in there.
- Who's Leah Power?
- She works for Erica.
And from the look on her face,
you're going to want
to find out why she's in there.
Leah.
You know who I am?
Of course I do.
But I've had a very long day, so
I have information that,
in the current environment,
- I think you'll
- What do you want for it?
I want to be a senior associate.
Well, then, it better be good.
Erica's secretly working for Stuart.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
Get out of my office!
This is my office.
- Now sit down.
- I beg your pardon?
You think if I was going to leave,
I'd trust anyone with that
information, let alone Leah?
You set her up? No, I don't believe you.
Why would you do that?
To find out if I could trust her.
And if you trust me.
Or you're playing both
of us until you find out
which way the wind is blowing, Erica!
Listen, I've been busting my ass for you
when you don't even see it!
And I haven't gone to Stuart,
but I should.
And in case it hasn't
sunk in for you yet,
if he asked me to betray you,
then he also asked Rick.
♪
What makes us grow cold? ♪
Ted, I know this isn't
going to be easy for you.
♪
It's not because of Erica's promotion.
When I said you were
going to fire Greg Litvak,
you got a look of glee.
♪
The man left to provide for his family,
not to screw you.
But the straw that broke the back?
Lester.
You're taking on something you despise
just to save your firm.
♪
I used to think I wanted to be you.
I don't anymore.
And I have to leave
before I forget that.
This is what I was afraid of.
Uh, listen, John.
I know that you spoke to Rick
about the audition.
I can still make that happen.
You think I'm here about that?
I'm here because I knew
something like this
would happen after you
After what? Rosalyn
told you, didn't she?
Of course she did.
She knows you're off your game
because your father's dying.
I'm not off anything.
Ted, what's done is done.
You need to see your father
and forgive him.
What I need to do is get my game face on
and destroy these mother
Do I need to spell it out for you?
You created the dynamic you
had with your father at work.
You did it with Stuart.
You did it with Rick.
Stuart isn't my son. He's my age.
You think the dynamic
has anything to do with age?
Have you ever taken
even one acting class?
You think you know me
because you took a few acting classes?
I took 84 years of life, sonny boy.
And you don't make it right
He does not get to be forgiven!
You're not doing it for him.
You're doing it for yourself.
♪
You showed me things
that nobody should know ♪
I was wondering how
long it would take you
to show up here.
Samantha, my father's dying.
♪
Wait, let me get this straight.
You told Leah you were
leaving to test Ted?
I know you value honesty, but
Oh, sweet Jesus!
You really are smarter than all of them.
I might be smarter than them,
but I am not wiser than you.
Oh, you want to know which
horse I think you should back.
Of course I do. That's why I'm here.
You're not here for that.
You are here for me to remind you
that you are a Rollins.
You have worked harder to get
where you are than anyone else.
And you don't owe either one
of these two a damn thing.
Tell me one thing.
Was it your idea to cut
me out of the new firm,
or was it Stuart's?
His.
He's been gunning for you
since you called him a flea
in the negotiations.
I mean, what did you think
he was going to do
once you signed that agreement?
I thought that Stuart would
understand in my heart,
we're brothers.
And you don't betray your brother.
You can't just treat people
how you do and think
they'll see deep down,
you're this noble creature.
You do.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
Not enough to jeopardize my firm.
♪
I'm going to come after you
with everything I've got.
♪
Then come and get it.
This is about New York.
No, Ted, it's about you.
Because what your father did,
it broke you.
And given that you're here
instead of on a plane,
you still don't seem
like you want to fix it.
[MELANCHOLY MUSIC]
Okay, I'm here.
It's late. What is it?
I want to know why you stuck with me
instead of going with Stuart.
You want to know if you can trust me.
Well, the main reason
about a month into my time here,
I overheard a conversation
between you and Stuart.
He wanted to only give me
diverse clients.
But you said, "Well, if I knew
she could only close people of color,
I never would have hired her.
Throw her in the deep end.
She sinks or swims".
But then you said
Lay 100 to 1, this one swims.
And I'd do it seven days a week.
Twice on Sunday.
You have a lot of flaws, Ted.
But you see me for who I am.
Good.
Because starting Monday,
you're the new head of entertainment.
You think it was going to be that easy?
- I was hoping.
- You were dreaming.
Okay, well, then let's get to it.
Because I have a plane to catch.
Okay. I don't just want a title.
- I want to be partner.
- That's a lot to ask.
You're about to have your hands full
with a murder case,
which means you need me
to take all of your clients.
So I don't think that's
much to ask at all.
Partner it is.
I have another question.
If you could still have
Rick here instead of me,
would you?
I would.
Then I guess I'll have
to change your mind.
You said the story was
the main reason you stayed.
What was the other one?
Someone once said that sometimes
you have to pick a side before
you know who's going to win.
And if I'm picking between
you and Stuart Lane,
I'm picking you, Ted.
Seven days a week and twice on Sunday.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
You gotta admit, everything is better
when you're drinking Yoo-hoo.
Hey, what's going on?
Tony said Dad left because of me.
Eddie, look at me.
Dad leaving has nothing to do with you.
Some people have
something wrong with them.
You're not one of them.
He is.
♪
I love you.
I love you too, Eddie.
♪
Leah, let me take advantage of you.
Leah, I'm not going
to give you any credit.
Well, not anymore, Erica,
because you're not here anymore.
And Erica.
What are you doing here?
I lied, Leah.
I'm not leaving Ted.
And now I know I can't trust you.
Am I getting fired?
Well, it depends on if you
want to hit the reset button.
But you said you couldn't trust me.
I've been thinking about trust.
Sometimes you have to give it to get it.
♪
Kevin.
Teddy.
I need your help with a case.
Whatever you want to charge, I'll pay.
Teddy, I can't say I didn't
love working with you,
because I did.
But your daddy issues,
they blew up my career.
Your career wasn't the
only one that blew up.
- What's the case?
- Murder trial.
Producer killed his partner.
Did he do it?
He says he didn't. I believe him.
And everyone deserves somebody
who will fight for them.
[LAUGHS] A load of bull,
and you know it.
I said I believed him.
I didn't say he was a saint.
Do you think that I would be
here if he was Mary Poppins?
Well, that Poppins chick
wasn't so innocent, either.
- Spoonful of sugar, my ass.
- [CHUCKLES]
Listen, Teddy, I got to do
a lot of crappy things
to pay the rent around here,
but this isn't one of them.
Then forget the money.
You're going to do it
because you owe me.
I called you as soon as I knew.
Don't you put that on me.
I'm not putting it on you.
It's on you.
This is our chance to make it right.
I want 200 grand.
No can do.
It's got to be 4.
Not a penny less.
Even cockier now that
you have money, aren't you?
At least I'm not from Scranton.
Why you got to be that way?
[BOTH LAUGH]
♪
Hey, Dad.
How you doing?
A stupid question, I know.
I know we don't have
a lot of time, but
It was the Yankees game.
I was 13, Eddie was 17.
And I knew that you didn't
want him there.
But you hid that from him.
It was your best day as a father.
And it was the greatest day of his life.
You even took a picture of us
and had it framed.
So thank you for that.
Then after you got convicted,
you told me that on
your last night of freedom,
all you wanted to do
was spend it with me.
[SOMBER MUSIC]
♪
But when that day came,
you let them kill Eddie.
My sweet, beautiful brother
who never hurt a soul in his life.
And you said you did it to protect me.
But you didn't even show up
at his funeral.
He was your son.
All my life, "I'm going
to make it up to you, Ted.
I'm going to make it up to you.
I'm going to make it up to you".
♪
You'll make it up to me now.
♪
[WHISPERING] You're going to die alone.
♪
Mr. Lane.
We're scheduled to arraign
your client on Monday,
so please explain to me
why I made room to do it now.
Don't look at me, Your Honor.
I didn't ask for this hearing.
- [DOOR OPENS]
- Well, then who the hell did?
That would be me, Your Honor.
I also have a motion
to substitute counsel.
You know he can't stand
doing this, right?
I know he believes me and you don't.
Mr. Lane?
If he wants it, he can
have it, Your Honor.
All right, then, Mr. Thompson.
You've been charged with murder
in the first degree.
How do you plead?
My client pleads not guilty, Your Honor,
because he didn't do it.
You're both going to regret this.
[WHISPERING] Lester won't.
Because I have never lost a case,
and I'm sure as hell
not going to start now.
You want to spill my secrets?
You remember I have some of yours too.
I was diagnosed with
a fear of getting too close ♪
Had to tell the ones I love
I was on the ropes ♪
I'm not the only one whose
life's been pulled apart ♪
Spending one year and
three months in the dark ♪
So here we are, all dressed to kill ♪
Where should we go? ♪
Have the midnight conversations ♪
You and I postponed ♪
[SHINEDOWN'S "DAYLIGHT"]
You saved my life ♪
Not once, but twice ♪
You threw it away.
I saved it.
I know Rick is your friend.
You saved my life ♪
Make it all all right ♪
You going to work today?
♪
Not today, Eddie.
♪
Today, I'd just like to
spend the day with you.
♪
Have faith that you're not alone ♪
Have faith that
you're not on your own ♪
It's amazing what
the hard times can reveal ♪
Like who shows up, who walks away ♪
And who's for real ♪
It's amazing what
the hard times can reveal ♪
Like who shows up, who walks away ♪
And who's for real ♪
Who shows up, who walks away ♪
And who's for real ♪
♪
You make sure
I always see the daylight ♪
Have faith that you're not alone ♪
Have faith that
you're not on your own ♪
Have faith that you're not alone ♪
Have faith that
you're not on your own ♪
♪
Aaron. Aaron!
[KNOCK AT DOOR]
Teddy, hey, look, I know you heard
I changed my mind about testifying,
but just let me explain.
Billy, my father left
when I was very young.
And I never respected him.
And even though you've murdered people,
I always respected the fact
that you were willing
to risk your life for your daughter.
What is this?
It's the original arrest report on Tina.
You swore you wouldn't do that.
And you swore that you would
testify against Pellegrini,
who is the most brutal mob boss
that this city has ever seen!
Teddy, she's just a kid.
Do you know where they'll send her?
They will tear her to pieces in there.
But she doesn't have to go anywhere
if you just do what you said you would.
I testify, I'm a dead man.
That's what I'm talking about.
The willingness
to risk your life for her.
Gotta go get a bite to eat.
If I don't have word
that you're going to testify
by the time I'm done,
I will arrest your daughter.
Teddy!
I thought we were friends.
We are friends, Billy.
Which is why
I'm risking my life for you.
Now get back inside before
- someone
- [EXPLOSION]
[GASPS]
- Hey, what
- You were having a nightmare.
It's two nights in a row.
What's the matter?
I can't stop thinking about
that last year in New York.
It's like I don't know when
I'm dreaming and when I'm not.
Well, you're not dreaming now.
Wouldn't care if I was.
- Stop.
- [LAUGHS]
As long as you're up,
you want me to make you some breakfast?
That'd be nice.
Maybe something reminded
you of the old days.
Maybe that's why you're
having bad dreams.
Pancakes. Go on.
[BRADLEY DENNISTON, KONCEPT'S
"BRING THOSE GOOD TIMES BACK"]
♪
You got me feeling
like I'm back home ♪
Love me like we're still young ♪
Lady luck, don't lead me on ♪
Can we bring those good times back? ♪
[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
♪
Morning.
Whatever it is, I don't have time.
Lester Thompson's just been
arrested for murder.
Cancel my morning and
get me that arrest report.
You have the partners meeting
in ten minutes.
You think I don't know that?
I got every partner from M&A to divorce
wanting to know what's going on
with the merger,
and Ted hasn't responded yet.
Then what do you want me to do?
Tell the partners I'll know if we're
a go or not by tonight.
And get me that crisis manager
from last year.
Once the press finds out,
this is going to be
OJ Simpson all over again.
Already done. Anything else?
Yeah. Call Lester's wife, Valerie.
Tell her to meet me at the bank.
Can we bring those good times back? ♪
Yeah, yeah ♪
So you're the mighty Ted Black.
And you're Warner Brothers'
newest action star.
But they can't seem
to find their checkbook.
We're just going to dive right in?
Dylan, I took on
the worst mobs in New York.
I beat all of them,
and I did it without batting an eye.
If I can do that to them,
imagine what I can do for you.
But I need someone with confidence,
and you just seem
a little sheepish to me.
Dylan, you play a badass in the movies.
I'm a badass in real life.
And I intend to prove it
to you right now.
Are we going to fight?
We're going to dance.
What's that?
The new deal I got you
from Warner Brothers.
Got me? You don't represent me.
They're under the impression that I do.
So why don't you take
a look at the number?
How did you do this?
- That's what I do.
- What'd I miss?
Dylan coming to the conclusion
that she's our newest client.
- Oh.
- Not yet.
What happens tomorrow after your merger?
You ever going to have
time for me again?
- You told her?
- Of course I did.
We're open with our clients.
You taught me that.
If we're so open, did you tell her
that I haven't agreed to the merger yet?
BOTH: Yes.
But he also told me that you
have the attention of a flea
and to get your word that you
won't palm me off on anyone.
One condition. You sign right now.
- Ted. [CHUCKLES] She can't do that.
- [DYLAN SCOFFS SOFTLY]
She has meetings
with five other law firms.
I don't care what she has.
This happens now or it doesn't happen.
This isn't how we treat our clients.
Dylan, I can walk away
from any deal at any time,
which is where the power
in this world comes from.
So I'm going to go to my office.
When I get there, if this is signed,
I will kill for you
for the rest of your life.
If it isn't,
I'll never think about you again.
Wait here.
Ted?
You were late.
By 30 seconds. So what?
So it doesn't work if you're not there
when she asks me about the merger.
Okay, I see that in retrospect.
That was a really nice touch,
stopping me
from putting the contract down.
You don't think that was too much?
I think that she saw you fight for her.
And getting you instead of me
is the best decision she'll ever make.
- You got that right.
- Exactly.
Wait a minute.
What did you just say?
What? I just said what you just said.
- What did you say?
- You know exactly what I said.
I do.
[SOFT UPBEAT ROCK MUSIC]
Did you cut the air in the room?
Second your hand hit the door.
- You're a machine.
- Damn right. How'd it go?
Well, I'll cut my left ball off
if she isn't signing right now.
You are a class act, you know that?
Did you close Huffman last night?
Of course I did. It's what I do.
- Speaking of which
- No.
Ted, I want the bump.
Erica, we have been over this.
Rick gets the bump.
Rick shines my shoes.
Okay, he's as good a lawyer as you,
and he's a better manager.
I'm better in a room, and you know it.
And the day that matters,
I will make you head of a department.
If I were a man, would you
be saying the same thing?
How can I possibly know that?
I don't know, maybe
30 seconds of self-reflection?
I don't really see that happening.
I hate to interrupt, but
Dylan Pryor just signed.
And there you have it.
My left ball lives to fight another day.
Ted.
This isn't over, Ted.
♪
Hey, John.
We didn't have anything on the books.
You want me to grab Ted?
No.
Rosalyn said he's not to be disturbed.
Besides, I want to talk to you alone.
Okay.
What can I do for you?
You guys represent Hypnotic, right?
[SIGHS] If this is going
where I think it is,
that part is 15 years younger
than you are.
That's why I want you and not Ted.
I need you to get me an audition.
That's not going to happen.
And may I ask why not?
First of all, we're lawyers.
We're not agents.
You're telling me you pick up the phone,
I don't get an audition?
You know as well as I do that Ted thinks
once you start begging for work,
you're not going to get a job again.
Hey, buddy, I am not
begging for anything.
I just want a chance to show
I can still get the job done.
[SIGHS SOFTLY]
You got to take it up with Ted.
I can't go behind his back.
Rick, please.
I know he's looking out for me.
And I'm 84.
And I would rather go down swinging
than waiting for the damn phone to ring.
[SIGHS] I'll talk to him.
I want to know why it was you
who came down here and not Ted.
Because I handle criminal defense,
whereas Ted handles
your producing deals.
Yeah, I know what Ted does.
He's been my lawyer
for 12 years, all right?
Lester, let me explain something to you.
They're saying a lot
of very specific things
happened last night.
What, that I killed
my partner in my own backyard?
- Why would I do that?
- I know.
You were celebrating your big opening.
You started doing ecstasy
and shooting into the hills.
Like we've done 50 times before.
And all of a sudden, he shoots himself.
That's what you're saying, right?
I am not saying it.
That is exactly what happened.
There's residue on your hands.
Because we were shooting.
No one's gonna buy that.
Somebody must have seen it.
You live in the middle of nowhere.
Then conjure me a goddamn witness!
Lester, I know that you're scared,
but go with self-defense.
The odds of acquittal are 80%.
I didn't get where I am settling for 80,
so find me a witness.
Because I didn't do this.
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
Grinding away as usual, Rick?
I don't just sign people, Erica.
I actually do work for them.
I thought the work was signing them.
Not that it's work for me.
Well, I guess we'll see
where we both are in ten years.
I'm more concerned with where we're both
going to be this time next week.
You, me.
You being on top of me?
That's a fantasy that's
never going to happen.
We'll see about that, Ricky.
♪
Hey, there's something else.
I didn't want to say anything
before in front of Erica.
Your father's in hospice.
He has three days to live.
I know. They've called me six times.
They want you to fly back
and spend some time
Tell them to call me when he's dead.
Ted.
[SOFT SOMBER MUSIC]
I know what he did.
But if you don't forgive him
Rosalyn, I don't want to hear it.
And I've got a very big day,
so no interruptions.
[SOLEMN MUSIC]
♪
What you doing here?
My son gets blown up,
you think I'm not going to come running?
I know you're here to weasel
your way back into my life.
Right now, I need to make sure
that my witness is still alive.
I'm here to offer you a job.
Let's assume for a second
that I would ever forgive you
for abandoning us.
I'm not you.
Teddy, you could have died today.
I don't want to lose my son.
Until I graduated law school,
you wouldn't have noticed.
I'd say you went to law school
to make me notice!
And I did.
Look, I know you've been
putting in your time here,
but I will make you
a partner on day one.
You can skip right
to the front of the line.
Get this through your head.
I wouldn't have kids and
then decide to trade up.
I don't sell my soul
defending criminals.
And I don't want to skip
to the front of the goddamn line.
♪
You're right.
Shouldn't have left you to your mother.
Made you weak.
Ted?
Ted?
You got a minute?
It's kind of important.
Um [CLEARS THROAT]
If this is about the promotion,
I told you not before we merge.
And I told you that I've
given my life to this firm
And you want to be the fastest ever
to be head of entertainment. I know.
You say that like it's
a weight around your neck
instead of me earning it.
This isn't about timing.
You're scared of Erica.
Should I be?
I told you that she's better
in the room than you are.
But I also told you
that's not what being
the head of entertainment is about.
Now, do you trust me or not?
I do, but things you said would happen
haven't happened yet.
Not everybody gets
the toy that they want
for their birthday.
This isn't a toy. I earned it.
Rick, you do not get
to skip to the front
of the goddamn line!
[CLEARS THROAT]
John Amos was in here before.
I told him if you wouldn't
get him an audition, I would.
♪
Stuart wants to see you about
About the merger.
I know. It's Decision Day.
I take it you also know
that John Amos is waiting
on a call from you?
Tell him that I'm up to my eyeballs.
He's been with us since the beginning.
He'll understand.
Anything else?
Yes.
Take it easy on Rick.
♪
Stuart!
I haven't seen you all week.
Well, it's a big decision.
I know you don't like to be rushed.
Didn't stop me from waiting
till the last minute, though, did it?
I had a mild stroke about an hour ago,
but I don't really use
my left hand anymore, so
- [LAUGHS]
- What are you going to do?
I'm all in on the merger.
- Sure?
- Yes.
And I want you to know why.
Come on, Ted, you don't have to.
We went at it pretty hard
at the beginning of the negotiation
and I said some crappy things
about criminal defense.
This is how I want to make it up to you.
Hey, you apologized,
something you rarely do.
So when you do do it,
it means everything.
- Stuart, you said doo-doo.
- Did I?
What I meant to say is,
we're about to be
the largest firm in the city.
You got that right.
You ready to sign this bad boy?
You know what I just realized today is?
Of course.
It's 15 years to the day
since I came out here
and moved in with you.
And 12 years since we started
this whole thing together.
Well, enjoy the quiet, my friend,
because in two weeks,
Samantha's entire firm is moving in.
Hey, what do you say we go out
and celebrate this thing tonight?
Waldorf at 8:00?
Done.
Put the reservation under your name?
- Yeah.
- Pididiot?
Stu Pididiot?
[QUIRKY MUSIC]
[LAUGHS]
♪
Hey, Rick.
[COUGHS]
Do you see what I'm doing?
Is it something I could help you with?
Because that's actually why I'm here
Leah, fantasy football.
It's the one thing I do for myself.
I spend exactly 15 minutes a week on it.
- Aww.
- Now is that time.
And you should know this
because there's a huge sign
on the door that says it.
The sign says, "Knock, I'm Available".
Henderson is such a douche.
Should I come back or
Never going to make the playoffs anyway.
- Sorry.
- What's up?
I'd like to work for you.
And before you ask,
it's not because you're
getting the promotion.
I just think that your
leadership style
Yeah, I'm going to have
to stop you right there.
- Okay.
- You work with Erica.
I work for Erica.
But she has no interest in teaching,
and she takes me for granted
- and
- I get it.
Erica is, uh,
personality-challenged, shall we say.
- Mm. [SIGHS]
- Right?
But I'm not stealing you.
If you have a problem with her,
the place to go is to her.
- She won't listen.
- Maybe she won't.
But making people listen
when they don't want to,
that's part of being a lawyer.
And if you can't have
a difficult conversation
with your own team,
how are you going to have one
with an adversary?
So no?
- No.
- [LAUGHS NERVOUSLY]
[SOFT UPBEAT MUSIC]
- Do me a favor?
- Mm?
Can you take that sign down
and give it to Henderson, please?
- Yeah.
- Thank you.
♪
- Are you kidding me right now?
- Lester.
I am not putting my life
in that man's hands.
You are taking my case.
I don't want to hear
another word about it.
You think because he wants
you to plead self-defense,
he thinks you did it?
I don't think anything, Ted. I know it.
Just like I know if I admit
pulling that trigger,
they're never going to buy
it was self-defense.
Lester, I am wired
to put people in prison.
I hate the idea of getting them out.
Please, Ted, come on, man.
I am begging you.
Stuart lives for this.
He is the man for the job.
I cannot go with someone
who doesn't believe me.
Listen to me.
Stuart Lane is the best defense
attorney in the country.
Now, do you trust me or not?
All right, Ted.
I trust you.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]
Could you tell where my head was at ♪
When you found me? ♪
[LAUGHTER]
What do you mean I came up with it?
It was your idea.
You're the one who sent
the pictures to the paper.
I didn't say that I wasn't involved.
[LAUGHTER]
Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no.
It's Clooney. He's getting up to leave.
- Get in front of me.
- I don't believe it.
You never apologized to him, did you?
We'll discuss it later. Is he gone?
Wait a second.
He just dropped a billion dollars.
It's taking a minute to pick up.
- Is he gone?
- Wait a second.
He's starting another nonprofit.
[LAUGHTER]
Stuart, this was really fun.
Thank you.
I needed it.
I gotta swing back by the office.
No, come on, Ted.
We haven't done this in forever.
Let's go to Jones. One
drink at the old hangout.
That depends. How much money you got?
Tens of dollars. Come on.
Yeah. Yeah.
Yes.
Yes!
Check.
[BAKAR'S "HELL N BACK"]
[GRUNT-SIGHS] Clooney's back.
♪
It's good to see you, Eddie.
Come on. I'll help.
Are you drunk?
[CHUCKLES] Very.
I hadn't had fun with Stuart
in a really long time.
Were you celebrating?
I wanted to go out and take my mind
off that last year in New York,
but I can't stop thinking about it.
I miss Samantha the way she was.
And Kevin.
Why did we leave New York?
I'm sorry I didn't call, Eddie.
I should have called.
[PA BEEPING]
[WHISPERING] There he is right now.
Ted, what happened? Are you all right?
- I'm fine. It's nothing.
- Doesn't look like nothing.
Samantha, I was near an explosion,
but it looks a lot worse than it is.
I'm fine.
And I'm still coming
to your client's thing tonight.
I don't care about that right now.
You don't?
I think you do.
Let me talk to Kevin
and I'll see you tonight.
- Okay.
- Okay?
[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
Listen, we got to talk
about how to handle it
if Billy doesn't make it.
Handle what?
I stuck my neck out for this case.
If Billy doesn't make it,
I might as well break up with Samantha
and become a DA in Scranton.
What?
Nothing, it's
I'm from Scranton.
Well, I'm sorry, I don't mean
to crap on where you're from.
Well, thanks.
'Cause, you know,
I do have hometown pride.
Yeah, you shouldn't.
Scranton's a suckhole.
You're a suckhole.
- [CHUCKLES]
- Mr. Black?
I'm afraid the shock
was too much for him.
Billy didn't make it.
- All right, look, Teddy
- Shut up.
- I need to think.
- About what?
He's dead. Look, the
case is already gone.
How many people know he's dead?
Uh, three of us, two nurses in the room.
But what does that have to do with
I need you to get in there
and act like he's still fighting.
What?
- I can't do that.
- Listen to me.
I just spent a year of my life
trying to put away the man who murdered
the patient you just lost.
If you don't get back in there,
there's going to be 100 more
just like him.
[SERIOUS MUSIC]
You have one day.
All right.
What the hell did you just do?
I just need you to keep the agents here.
Teddy, this is a career-ending move
if it doesn't land you in prison.
I'm not going to have
Billy die for nothing.
Then you better think
of a hall of fame move.
Because in 24 hours
I am not losing this case.
♪
[ALARM RINGING]
♪
[ALARM RINGING]
[SIGHS]
- Ted?
- What's going on?
You better get in here.
The entire 25th floor is gone.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
It was Stuart, wasn't it?
You couldn't have seen it coming.
Who did we lose?
Every senior member of every department
except sports and entertainment.
- Look, Ted
- Give me a minute to think.
What is there to think about?
We need to file an injunction.
If we do that, the entire
town will know we're weak.
We will be dead in a year.
And if we can't stop the bleeding,
we'll be dead in a month.
I'm not losing my firm.
♪
Okay, who left whose clients
we absolutely cannot afford to lose?
Easy. Litvak, Johnson
And Riley. Okay, I want signed contracts
from every client by the end of the day.
And you call Erica,
tell her to get in here
and start helping.
Where are you going?
To get Litvak, Johnson, and Riley back
before the entire town
knows they're gone.
Amanda, what are you doing here?
I thought you left with Stuart?
Stuart left?
Bon voyage, Stuart.
I'm sorry. Do you work here?
Because I don't know who you are.
Amanda Stevens.
I've been handling pro bono
for the past two years.
Rick will catch you up.
Today, you're helping us close clients.
Sorry, can't do it. Have a thing.
You'll do it, or I will
fire you on the spot.
Easy, tiger.
Here's the thing.
I run an office here so that
I can have a nice address
and you can pretend you
actually serve your community.
I don't actually work for you,
so you can't fire me.
[SIGHS] I will give you $100,000.
- I don't need your money.
- Everyone needs money.
They do,
but my family owns half of the
apartments on the West Side,
so I happen to be worth an
ungodly amount of money.
[WHISPERING] Between us.
- [ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
- You don't dress like it.
[SCOFFS] I think we're done here.
What?
I love you.
Son of a bitch.
You set me up to get me
out of the office.
And now you know
what it felt like last year
- when you hung me out to dry.
- Hung you
I have been bringing you along
for the ride for ten years.
You said you were a lion
and I was a flea
in front of everyone.
It was a negotiating tactic
to get more
This firm would be nothing without me!
We started with two pillars,
entertainment law and criminal defense.
And everything else came from there.
But you think it all comes from you
because you don't respect what I do.
Well, we'll see who's more important.
'Cause you signed an agreement
giving me the right
to take everyone with me.
I'm going to tie you up
in court for years.
Yeah, if you were going to sue,
you'd be here with papers right now.
What is it you really want?
Litvak, Johnson, and Riley.
- Hell no.
- Stuart.
You know what I think of
Litvak, Johnson, and Riley?
If they ever left and
started their own firm,
it'd be called Lazy, Fat, and Stupid.
If I could fire them today, I would.
But I need their clients.
Those were your words six months ago.
Well, now I need their clients.
So go ahead, sue.
[WHISPERING] But I know the real reason
you left New York.
And if you sue, the whole
thing comes out.
Now get out of my face.
I got work to do.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
You know what I think of
Litvak, Johnson, and Riley?
If they ever left and
started their own firm,
it'd be called Lazy, Fat, and Stupid.
If I could fire them today, I would.
But I need their clients.
Ted, I don't know what to say.
You don't need to say anything.
Get Johnson and Riley
to get the clients on board
and sign papers with us
by the end of the day.
Okay.
♪
Leah, get me Angela Perkins
in two minutes.
Tell her it's important.
Look who put his big boy pants on.
I have a proposition for you.
I need someone on the inside
to feed me information for six months.
Then I name you head of entertainment.
Well, who says I won't be
head of entertainment over here?
That voice inside you that knows
Ted will never promote you over Rick.
♪
But what you can't do
right now is panic.
Ted has been loyal to you for ten years.
You can't just oh, God damn it.
What can I do for you, Erica?
I came to say you should
back out of the fight
for head of entertainment.
Gives us the best shot
at working together
after I get it.
- Get the hell out of my office.
- No.
We're going to talk about this
and we're going to talk about it now,
Because there was an earthquake
that happened here this morning,
and Ted doesn't need
long-term thinkers anymore.
He needs first responders.
Oh, you want to have it out?
- You bet your ass I do.
- All right, strap in.
So you think you're in a fight
between your skills and mine,
but the fight is between
what's in your heart and mine.
And you don't stand a chance.
I have as much passion in my pinky
as you do in your entire body.
Yeah. For yourself.
I want to let you in on a little secret.
Most people know this when they're ten.
Ha!
You pick a side before
you know who's going to win.
Until you figure that out,
you're nothing.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]
You will never be him, Rick.
You don't have what it takes.
And this whole damn office knows it.
[TENSE MUSIC]
He'll never trust you.
And you know it.
♪
Where have you been all morning?
- Locking down my clients.
- Good.
Now I need you to lock down
everyone else's.
- Come again?
- I don't care if you step on toes.
I need you to lock down
as many clients as you can,
whether they're yours or not.
- Even Rick's?
- Even Rick's.
Hmm.
What's on your mind, Erica?
You know what's on my mind.
How many times do I have
to tell you this?
I promised the job to Rick.
You mean the man whose clients
you just asked me to shore up?
I mean the guy that got
in here at 6:00 a.m.,
like he does every morning,
and because of that,
we still have a firm.
Meanwhile, your primary concern
seems to be leveraging me
into a promotion.
Don't give me that, because you would do
the same thing, and you know it.
So what's it going to be? Yes or no?
No.
And one of these days, I promise,
you will learn that closing
clients isn't everything.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
I don't care what happened.
I just wasted two hours
waiting for your ADA,
so I will be calling for sanctions.
You did have a thing.
Did you think I was just being cute?
Well, I think that you
enjoyed saying no to me.
What can I say?
Watching a man like you realize
that you have nothing I need
does come with a certain
deep satisfaction.
May I ask you something?
What sort of cases do
you primarily handle?
Mostly criminal defense.
Well, how do you do it?
How do you live with yourself,
knowing that whoever it is
is guilty of whatever it is
they're accused of doing?
Because everyone deserves
someone to fight for them.
Even some kid who broke into a house
because he doesn't know any other way.
I've heard what's going on
between you and Stuart,
and I know what you're
thinking of doing.
Once you do it, there's no going back.
Any other unsolicited pieces of advice?
Sure.
[QUIRKY MUSIC]
I dress this way
so no one sees me coming.
[WHISPERING] Outside of work, however,
it's another story.
Do I need to tell HR
about this conversation?
You would.
Except you keep forgetting
I don't work for you.
♪
She doesn't work for me.
I don't know how you did it,
but Litvak, Johnson, and Riley
are back in the fold
and grateful as hell.
Rick, about yesterday
I shouldn't have spoken to you that way.
I was out of line.
We good?
- We're good.
- Good.
Because I've made a decision.
You're making Erica and me
co-heads of entertainment.
How'd you know?
Because if I were you,
I'd do the same thing.
[SCOFFS] Well, in that case,
what else would you do if you were me?
I would get familiar
with Litvak's clients.
Because as soon as we lock them down,
you're letting him go.
On his lazy, stupid ass.
[CHUCKLING]
[THOUGHTFUL MUSIC]
I haven't told Erica
about the promotion yet.
I was waiting to let you
wrap your head around it.
♪
Hey, you think about John Amos?
How could I not? He called
me three times today.
Let's call him tomorrow morning.
Together.
♪
[KEYBOARD CLICKING]
- I want to do more.
- Excuse me?
You have me set up the
meetings and do the work.
But the clients, they look
at me like I'm a secretary
and not a lawyer, which I am.
Leah.
Today is not the day.
Erica, I'm tired of
making you look good.
So either put me up
for senior associate,
or I'll find someone here who will.
Close the door.
Why?
Because I am willing
to go to bat for you,
but I need you to understand
why I can't do it
for another six months.
[MOODY SOFT ROCK MUSIC]
[THE BLACK KEYS "THESE DAYS"]
My hand to God ♪
Aren't you making the most
of your situation?
Can't leave the city.
No one will work with me.
But, you know,
at least I have this, right?
I need you to drop Stuart and hire me.
You kidding me?
I begged you to take my case.
And you said you hated the idea
of keeping people out of prison.
Okay.
And you said Stuart Lane lives for this!
He's the better man for the job!
You said he was the best
criminal defense attorney
in the country!
Did you believe me?
Because if you didn't, then
you think I'm better than him.
And if you did, then I can
convince anyone of anything,
because there is nothing in this world
Stuart Lane is better at than me.
Lester, he doesn't believe you.
I do.
You said it yourself.
If you admit that you shot Simon,
they will never buy self-defense.
Look, man, I want to go with you.
I do. It's just
You're afraid. I get it.
Okay? And I'm not going to sugarcoat it.
It's the fourth quarter,
and you need a touchdown.
You can go with Kirk Cousins
or Patrick Mahomes.
Who's it going to be?
[PENSIVE MUSIC]
Ah.
Are you ever going to call
John Amos back?
I told Rick that we would call him
tomorrow morning together.
May I go to my office?
Yes, but Leah Power is in there.
- Who's Leah Power?
- She works for Erica.
And from the look on her face,
you're going to want
to find out why she's in there.
Leah.
You know who I am?
Of course I do.
But I've had a very long day, so
I have information that,
in the current environment,
- I think you'll
- What do you want for it?
I want to be a senior associate.
Well, then, it better be good.
Erica's secretly working for Stuart.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
Get out of my office!
This is my office.
- Now sit down.
- I beg your pardon?
You think if I was going to leave,
I'd trust anyone with that
information, let alone Leah?
You set her up? No, I don't believe you.
Why would you do that?
To find out if I could trust her.
And if you trust me.
Or you're playing both
of us until you find out
which way the wind is blowing, Erica!
Listen, I've been busting my ass for you
when you don't even see it!
And I haven't gone to Stuart,
but I should.
And in case it hasn't
sunk in for you yet,
if he asked me to betray you,
then he also asked Rick.
♪
What makes us grow cold? ♪
Ted, I know this isn't
going to be easy for you.
♪
It's not because of Erica's promotion.
When I said you were
going to fire Greg Litvak,
you got a look of glee.
♪
The man left to provide for his family,
not to screw you.
But the straw that broke the back?
Lester.
You're taking on something you despise
just to save your firm.
♪
I used to think I wanted to be you.
I don't anymore.
And I have to leave
before I forget that.
This is what I was afraid of.
Uh, listen, John.
I know that you spoke to Rick
about the audition.
I can still make that happen.
You think I'm here about that?
I'm here because I knew
something like this
would happen after you
After what? Rosalyn
told you, didn't she?
Of course she did.
She knows you're off your game
because your father's dying.
I'm not off anything.
Ted, what's done is done.
You need to see your father
and forgive him.
What I need to do is get my game face on
and destroy these mother
Do I need to spell it out for you?
You created the dynamic you
had with your father at work.
You did it with Stuart.
You did it with Rick.
Stuart isn't my son. He's my age.
You think the dynamic
has anything to do with age?
Have you ever taken
even one acting class?
You think you know me
because you took a few acting classes?
I took 84 years of life, sonny boy.
And you don't make it right
He does not get to be forgiven!
You're not doing it for him.
You're doing it for yourself.
♪
You showed me things
that nobody should know ♪
I was wondering how
long it would take you
to show up here.
Samantha, my father's dying.
♪
Wait, let me get this straight.
You told Leah you were
leaving to test Ted?
I know you value honesty, but
Oh, sweet Jesus!
You really are smarter than all of them.
I might be smarter than them,
but I am not wiser than you.
Oh, you want to know which
horse I think you should back.
Of course I do. That's why I'm here.
You're not here for that.
You are here for me to remind you
that you are a Rollins.
You have worked harder to get
where you are than anyone else.
And you don't owe either one
of these two a damn thing.
Tell me one thing.
Was it your idea to cut
me out of the new firm,
or was it Stuart's?
His.
He's been gunning for you
since you called him a flea
in the negotiations.
I mean, what did you think
he was going to do
once you signed that agreement?
I thought that Stuart would
understand in my heart,
we're brothers.
And you don't betray your brother.
You can't just treat people
how you do and think
they'll see deep down,
you're this noble creature.
You do.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
Not enough to jeopardize my firm.
♪
I'm going to come after you
with everything I've got.
♪
Then come and get it.
This is about New York.
No, Ted, it's about you.
Because what your father did,
it broke you.
And given that you're here
instead of on a plane,
you still don't seem
like you want to fix it.
[MELANCHOLY MUSIC]
Okay, I'm here.
It's late. What is it?
I want to know why you stuck with me
instead of going with Stuart.
You want to know if you can trust me.
Well, the main reason
about a month into my time here,
I overheard a conversation
between you and Stuart.
He wanted to only give me
diverse clients.
But you said, "Well, if I knew
she could only close people of color,
I never would have hired her.
Throw her in the deep end.
She sinks or swims".
But then you said
Lay 100 to 1, this one swims.
And I'd do it seven days a week.
Twice on Sunday.
You have a lot of flaws, Ted.
But you see me for who I am.
Good.
Because starting Monday,
you're the new head of entertainment.
You think it was going to be that easy?
- I was hoping.
- You were dreaming.
Okay, well, then let's get to it.
Because I have a plane to catch.
Okay. I don't just want a title.
- I want to be partner.
- That's a lot to ask.
You're about to have your hands full
with a murder case,
which means you need me
to take all of your clients.
So I don't think that's
much to ask at all.
Partner it is.
I have another question.
If you could still have
Rick here instead of me,
would you?
I would.
Then I guess I'll have
to change your mind.
You said the story was
the main reason you stayed.
What was the other one?
Someone once said that sometimes
you have to pick a side before
you know who's going to win.
And if I'm picking between
you and Stuart Lane,
I'm picking you, Ted.
Seven days a week and twice on Sunday.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
You gotta admit, everything is better
when you're drinking Yoo-hoo.
Hey, what's going on?
Tony said Dad left because of me.
Eddie, look at me.
Dad leaving has nothing to do with you.
Some people have
something wrong with them.
You're not one of them.
He is.
♪
I love you.
I love you too, Eddie.
♪
Leah, let me take advantage of you.
Leah, I'm not going
to give you any credit.
Well, not anymore, Erica,
because you're not here anymore.
And Erica.
What are you doing here?
I lied, Leah.
I'm not leaving Ted.
And now I know I can't trust you.
Am I getting fired?
Well, it depends on if you
want to hit the reset button.
But you said you couldn't trust me.
I've been thinking about trust.
Sometimes you have to give it to get it.
♪
Kevin.
Teddy.
I need your help with a case.
Whatever you want to charge, I'll pay.
Teddy, I can't say I didn't
love working with you,
because I did.
But your daddy issues,
they blew up my career.
Your career wasn't the
only one that blew up.
- What's the case?
- Murder trial.
Producer killed his partner.
Did he do it?
He says he didn't. I believe him.
And everyone deserves somebody
who will fight for them.
[LAUGHS] A load of bull,
and you know it.
I said I believed him.
I didn't say he was a saint.
Do you think that I would be
here if he was Mary Poppins?
Well, that Poppins chick
wasn't so innocent, either.
- Spoonful of sugar, my ass.
- [CHUCKLES]
Listen, Teddy, I got to do
a lot of crappy things
to pay the rent around here,
but this isn't one of them.
Then forget the money.
You're going to do it
because you owe me.
I called you as soon as I knew.
Don't you put that on me.
I'm not putting it on you.
It's on you.
This is our chance to make it right.
I want 200 grand.
No can do.
It's got to be 4.
Not a penny less.
Even cockier now that
you have money, aren't you?
At least I'm not from Scranton.
Why you got to be that way?
[BOTH LAUGH]
♪
Hey, Dad.
How you doing?
A stupid question, I know.
I know we don't have
a lot of time, but
It was the Yankees game.
I was 13, Eddie was 17.
And I knew that you didn't
want him there.
But you hid that from him.
It was your best day as a father.
And it was the greatest day of his life.
You even took a picture of us
and had it framed.
So thank you for that.
Then after you got convicted,
you told me that on
your last night of freedom,
all you wanted to do
was spend it with me.
[SOMBER MUSIC]
♪
But when that day came,
you let them kill Eddie.
My sweet, beautiful brother
who never hurt a soul in his life.
And you said you did it to protect me.
But you didn't even show up
at his funeral.
He was your son.
All my life, "I'm going
to make it up to you, Ted.
I'm going to make it up to you.
I'm going to make it up to you".
♪
You'll make it up to me now.
♪
[WHISPERING] You're going to die alone.
♪
Mr. Lane.
We're scheduled to arraign
your client on Monday,
so please explain to me
why I made room to do it now.
Don't look at me, Your Honor.
I didn't ask for this hearing.
- [DOOR OPENS]
- Well, then who the hell did?
That would be me, Your Honor.
I also have a motion
to substitute counsel.
You know he can't stand
doing this, right?
I know he believes me and you don't.
Mr. Lane?
If he wants it, he can
have it, Your Honor.
All right, then, Mr. Thompson.
You've been charged with murder
in the first degree.
How do you plead?
My client pleads not guilty, Your Honor,
because he didn't do it.
You're both going to regret this.
[WHISPERING] Lester won't.
Because I have never lost a case,
and I'm sure as hell
not going to start now.
You want to spill my secrets?
You remember I have some of yours too.
I was diagnosed with
a fear of getting too close ♪
Had to tell the ones I love
I was on the ropes ♪
I'm not the only one whose
life's been pulled apart ♪
Spending one year and
three months in the dark ♪
So here we are, all dressed to kill ♪
Where should we go? ♪
Have the midnight conversations ♪
You and I postponed ♪
[SHINEDOWN'S "DAYLIGHT"]
You saved my life ♪
Not once, but twice ♪
You threw it away.
I saved it.
I know Rick is your friend.
You saved my life ♪
Make it all all right ♪
You going to work today?
♪
Not today, Eddie.
♪
Today, I'd just like to
spend the day with you.
♪
Have faith that you're not alone ♪
Have faith that
you're not on your own ♪
It's amazing what
the hard times can reveal ♪
Like who shows up, who walks away ♪
And who's for real ♪
It's amazing what
the hard times can reveal ♪
Like who shows up, who walks away ♪
And who's for real ♪
Who shows up, who walks away ♪
And who's for real ♪
♪
You make sure
I always see the daylight ♪
Have faith that you're not alone ♪
Have faith that
you're not on your own ♪
Have faith that you're not alone ♪
Have faith that
you're not on your own ♪
♪
Aaron. Aaron!