Matlock (2024) s01e05 Episode Script
Claws
1
- Previously on Matlock
- I'm Madeline Matlock.
I'm a lawyer, like the old TV show.
Why do you want to work at my firm?
I woke up at 75 years old
without a husband or money
and a 12-year-old kid to raise.
I need this job more than
you can possibly imagine.
Meet me in the conference room,
and bring the new lawyer with you.
MATTY: Well, you see, there's
this funny thing that happens
when women age. People assume
I'm a harmless old lady, and that's how
I'm going to trick them.
Good evening, Mrs. Kingston.
There she is!
Well, you'd have been a lot less cheery
if you knew how I
talked about you at work.
Gambling, cheating,
- not to mention dead.
- ALFIE: Grammy!
- MATTY: Alfie!
- ALFIE: Was I right?
Perfect name? Reminds us of Mom?
MATTY: I had a daughter, and she died
after a long battle with drugs.
MATTY: The law firm,
Jacobson Moore, 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.
So I'm gonna figure
out who knew what when,
and then,
I'm gonna put them in jail.
Now that I've gotten my
hands on Olympia's laptop,
you can access her emails.
MATTY (ON PHONE): Remember, use
their expectations against them.
They think old and bumbling,
so that's what you play into.
- If you do that, they'll
- EDWIN: Shh!
Oh, oh. Not you. I-I'm on the phone.
(CHUCKLES) Quiet.
I have to focus.
Okay. Whatever you do, do not
give them Olympia's laptop.
- Don't let it out of your sight.
- I won't.
MATTY: All you have to do is ask them
how to get the original email
so we can actually see the attachment.
Good grief, Madeline, I know.
Oh, somebody's coming.
- Hello there!
- Well, hello there to you!
How-how can I help you?
Uh, actually, you would
be helping my grandson.
He gave me his computer.
Well, I honestly really
don't know what he needs.
- Mm-hmm.
- But
let's just see, okay?
"Tell them
my friend sent me an email that was
forwarded from someone else,
but I can't open the attachment.
- Could they help?"
- Gotcha.
Your grandson just
needs to ask his friend
- to resend the original email.
- Right.
Unfortunately
he died.
My grandson's friend.
A few days ago.
- It was sudden.
- Oh, my God.
Oh, but it was an older
friend, not a young friend.
Uh, which is still sad.
Never ate his vegetables.
My grandson used to say,
"Eat a carrot," but he wouldn't.
The funeral is tomorrow, and
- MATTY: Stop talking!
- And that's it!
The only way to see the
original attachment is
to access the account it was sent from.
Maybe there's a family
member you could contact?
After the funeral.
Your grandson's old friend died?
EDWIN: I froze!
- It's hard being undercover.
- MATTY: Ha!
- You're telling me.
- EDWIN: The point is,
we don't know if this
attachment actually is anything.
It has to be.
I know it, Edwin. That
attachment has to be
the missing documents,
or at least lead to them.
Well, then what's plan B?
Seduce Senior and steal his computer?
(SCOFFS) That's plan C.
Plan B has something to do
with Jacobson Moore's
internal server, cloud thingy.
Mrs. Belvin told me they monitor emails,
so they must keep them somewhere.
I just have to figure out where.
- Without Alfie.
- MATTY: Yes.
Without Alfie. That's
what makes this so hard.
Oh, if only your firm had a Genius Bar.
(SIGHS)
Dang it! Of all the days to
have my computer crap out.
Screen keeps freezing.
- You got the number for IT?
- Email, it's quicker,
and you better hurry because
Olympia is on a tear this morning.
She did not like losing last week.
Did you get confirmation?
- From IT?
- No. From our star witness, Katya Novik.
We're waiting on her confirmation
for her prep session
at 9:30. Hello? Billy?
Again. I need you to take
it down a notch, or three.
I know, I just I just can't
wait to meet Katya in person.
Two minutes into her
deposition, and you know
why Olympia built the
whole case around her.
Just wait until you hear
how she talks about being
assaulted by the prison guards.
It is so
- Sad.
- amazing.
Amazingly sad. You know what I mean.
Katya's inspiring!
She came forward first to report
the abuse, and then she
rallied the other inmates
and didn't give up,
even when she was retaliated against,
even when she was put
in solitary confinement.
Are you in love with her or something?
I'm in love with her deposition.
Okay, you need to get
out there and date.
- Oh, here we go again.
- It's true.
That's quite enough!
I don't mean to pull
out my Grandma voice,
but we fell apart on our last case,
so no more arguing.
- We're a team.
- SARAH: You're right.
And we need to come
through for the queen.
Katya? See, that's weird.
No, not Katya! Olympia!
- Also weird.
- OLYMPIA: Hi, there!
Yeah, well, I was wondering
if, uh, Katya Novik is
Yeah, I did call earlier
- before, but
- (BEEPING)
- Uh, hello?
- Don't think you needed a megadose of caffeine.
- You need to
- If you tell me to relax
We were married for 11 years.
Do you think I'm an idiot?
- You need to delegate.
- Mm.
I know you hate lose
shh uh, not
- winning.
- Mm-hmm.
You have a good team. I'm
reminding you to use them.
Thank you. I will.
Now can I have my coffee back, please?
Mm, pending your reaction
to my next piece of news.
Uh, I got trapped talking to
Victor the Viking this morning.
- Ew.
- Yeah.
Is he still trying to catch the criminal
- who isn't breaking down the recycling boxes?
- (CLICKS TONGUE)
Well, yeah, that, um, and he
wants to buy our brownstone.
He said he'd pay 20% over market value
in cash if we move out in a month.
20%? Wait. Why so much and why so fast?
Said he wants to combine
his place with ours,
he needs to buy quickly for
tax reasons and, come on
you're not breaking down
those boxes to taunt him.
It is not me.
- (PHONE BUZZES)
- All right.
Oh. I need to go.
Uh, I do have a pending case.
See how calm I am, so give
me my coffee back, please.
- All right, got it.
- Thank you.
Hi. Katya.
Yeah, oh, uh, lunch.
Let's talk about selling the brownstone?
- Oh. Yeah.
- Yeah. No.
I totally understand
that you have to work.
I'm sorry for all of the calls.
What's going on? Apparently,
Katya left a message
- for one of you saying she couldn't make it?
- What?
Not me. It doesn't
matter. Where's Matty?
In the library, reviewing depositions.
Okay, she's coming with me.
Prep the materials for the jury.
Blow up the images of the bruises, okay?
They need to see what Katya endured.
- Okay, we're being sidelined.
- BILLY: Stop.
Okay, no scarcity mindset.
- Instead
- Before you tell me
that I should expand my
life and start dating,
I already made a profile.
Here. Look.
I was gonna say, "Focus on work,"
but I'm not stopping this momentum.
(LAUGHS) Let's go.
It's interesting. (STAMMERS)
- Educational.
- Mm-hmm.
It reads a little like
a LinkedIn profile.
It is. I copy-pasted.
They should know I'm efficient.
That's literally the
thing I'm most proud of.
Okay, I'm gonna help you
after we blow up these
pictures. Come on.
MATTY: Wowie.
- Those are incredible.
- OLYMPIA: I'm open to settlement talks,
but I don't want to
be looking at a number
in the same family as your last number.
- I don't even want them related by marriage.
- Uh, could you take it outside?
I'm willing to give
Katya another chance,
but I don't want lawyers
in here causing drama.
- High stakes, believe you me.
- Oh.
While we wait for Katya, can I ask you
at least 27 questions about your nails?
- I just love 'em!
- (LAUGHS)
- Oh, are they hand-painted?
- Oh, yeah.
Nadia over there she does 'em.
- Oh, they're beautiful.
- Mm-hmm.
The colors, the detail.
Okay, my next question is practical.
Can you type? Text?
- Button a shirt?
- I can do everything, honey.
- The key is to use the pads of your fingers.
- Mm-hmm.
Can you make a fist?
I'm more partial to slapping.
- (MATTY LAUGHS)
- KATYA: Hey.
Katya, hi.
Hi. Sorry to keep everyone waiting.
I was cleaning the
treatment room, and then
- Where's Olympia?
- Oh, she's just outside wrapping up a call.
I'm her associate, Matty.
- It's so nice to meet you.
- Oh. Okay. Hi.
More the merrier,
right? Are you, um ?
Sorry for all the scheduling issues.
It's been hectic, so
hectic. This is my new job.
And Olympia.
- Hi.
- Katya.
Great to see you.
I'm so sorry again that my
associates didn't tell me you called.
Is there a private room where
we can go over your testimony?
Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah, I got permission
for us to use the back
room, so, come this way.
- It is so good to see you.
- You, too.
It's finally happening. (LAUGHS)
Hey.
We can't center the case around Katya.
- What? Why not?
- That girl is high as a kite.
We put her on the
stand, it's a disaster.
What are you talking about?
Katya's been sober for over a year.
- Are you sure?
- I wouldn't say it if I wasn't.
You said we're allies, right?
So trust me.
It's been really busy,
but, uh, yeah, we got
to go over my testimony. I-I
want Warden Larson to pay.
You know, all of them to pay.
Me, too.
Katya, are you using again?
What? No, of course not.
- Why would you say that?
- MATTY: Honey, you look like
you're about to leap out of your skin,
- and you keep grinding your teeth.
- No.
You can't just come
into my place of work
and accuse me of being on
drugs. You don't even know me.
That's why I brought a test with me,
so you can prove that you're clean.
I had a really bad day.
I've been sober for 18 months.
I have chips, and, um, I
was getting really nervous
about the trial, and-and
I had this meeting
with my parole officer, and I was late,
and he came down really hard on me,
and then I get to work and had
the worst customer of all time.
She wanted a-a design on
every nail, but freehand,
and she had all these
changes, and it took me hours,
and then, you know, after all
of that, she didn't even tip me,
and she called me she
called me lazy and useless.
And then I was upset, right?
So when a dealer came by
and offered me something, I
said "yes."
You need to get to a meeting
and ask for some help.
I will.
This was a one-time mistake,
I will be sober for the trial,
I promise you.
We need a new lead plaintiff.
What? No. We don't have time
to rebuild our entire case.
She's already lied. Billy and
Sarah didn't drop a message.
She ghosted us.
Addiction causes chaos. Day
of, she might not even show up.
I'm telling you, Katya
needs to focus on recovery.
We can't risk putting her on the stand.
How do you know so
much about all of this?
My mother was an alcoholic.
So, trust me.
I'm not steering you wrong.
(SIGHS)
Put me on speaker, start writing.
We need to pivot to another plaintiff,
center someone else's story,
and I need you two to start researching.
No! We need to keep
Katya on the witness list
so the defense doesn't know
that things blew up with her.
Otherwise, they'll call her.
Just focus on finding the
top three replacements.
Why do you do that?
Refer to them as a unit,
not get to know them,
their skills
Do me a favor.
You review their choices,
and approve the new plaintiff.
Approve as in
As in you're in charge of your
good friends, Billy and Sarah.
(GIGGLES)
Turns out delegating is fun.
- See?
- Okay.
I am ready to take in a
little bit more information,
but first, can we sell
now and move in six months?
Victor wants a 20-day escrow.
Maybe he'd be more
lenient if you stopped
torturing him and just
broke down those boxes
Stop with that.
And it's just not
practical to move right now.
There's so much that
we have to figure out.
- I know.
- And we had a plan.
That we were gonna nest for a year,
that way, we were the ones moving
and the twins can stay
put, which we agreed
- was best for them.
- I know.
And also, honestly, I just,
I don't know if I can
take this on right now,
- all of the logistics
- I know.
Eat your hot dog.
Mmm. Mm-hmm.
SARAH: We have three plaintiffs
for Olympia to choose from.
We have Lauren Jarrett,
Gabrielle Alvarez and Tiffany Lee.
No one's as strong as Katya.
There's gang affiliations
and repeat offenses
we'll have to contend
with, but all three have
horrific stories about
being abused by these guards.
Let's go with Tiffany.
- Mm?
- Go with as in ?
Uh
Ah, heck, there's just
no easy way to say this.
Olympia wants me to choose.
I mean, we're still a team,
but it's a rush job, I'm 157 years old,
so I just have a little more experience.
Now, I'll text Olympia the choice
and then, we'll just move right on.
♪
- It's fine, Matty, we get it.
- Uh, no, we do not.
Yes, we do.
Come on, I literally just put
that you're a "go with
the flow" type of person
in your dating profile.
Sup. Kira from IT here
for Madeline Matlock?
Hiya, Kira, thanks for squeezing me in.
Yeah, you got it.
So, uh, what dating apps you on?
Uh, no shade, I'm on all of them.
Oh. (CHUCKLES) Well,
I'm not on them, yet.
I'm just starting, so Hi.
I'm Kira, I mean, I'm-I'm Sarah.
You're Kira. I'm Sarah.
Hi.
OLYMPIA: Thanks again for
the last-minute pass, Nicola.
You are a lifesaver.
I want Warden Larson's "Reign of Terror"
- in the rearview mirror, too.
- (LAUGHS)
And, no, I won't call
it that on the stand,
but I will testify to the
volume of complaints against him.
Well, I'm impressed with the
changes since you took over,
and I will make sure
the jury knows that, too.
But, damn, "Reign of
Terror" would be so good,
- reporters would run with it.
- That's why I'm not saying it.
- It was good to see you again, Olympia.
- You, too.
And C.O. Russel is here
if you need anything.
And sometimes, as we
get closer to trials,
we change course.
And that's what's
happening now, Tiffany.
I actually would like
to call you to the stand
so the jury can hear your story.
And I promise I will tell it with care.
But it is a bigger role, so
I'd like us to prep for
So it's true? Katya relapsed?
Well, yes, unfortunately.
But if you step in and testify
No way. Honestly,
I don't even want to be associated
with the case anymore.
Can I ask why?
And she didn't say why, huh?
So, we'll go with Lauren Jarrett.
- No from Tiffany? Weird.
- SARAH: Yeah.
Um, any ideas about Matty's computer?
Uh, no. You know, I thought
it was bad RAM, but the RAM seems fine.
Ugh, I hate bad rams.
(LAUGHS)
(CHUCKLES)
Uh, quick question,
off the subject of rams,
can IT access everybody's emails?
And before you answer,
here comes part two:
if I lost an email, could
y'all get it back for me?
'Cause I swear that
coupon for 25% at Costco
vanished in front of my eyes.
(LAUGHS) Uh, well,
there is a server room,
so, technically, if I wanted,
I could use my laptop to
access every email in the firm.
But that's a no on coupons
'cause, you know, policies.
Oh, no, no, no. I'm
a big fan of policies,
so I-I withdraw the request.
- (LAUGHS)
- Boy, oh, boy, a firm with all those
emails floating around
in a giant server room,
it sounds like-like something out
of a science fiction movie. (LAUGHS)
Eyeball scans to get in?
Uh, no, just fingerprints.
- Oh.
- But it's still pretty sci-fi.
(GIGGLES)
Sorry. Um, Olympia texted
something very funny.
From prison?
So my testimony would be at
the center of the whole case?
All the press, everything?
It does come with a
little more scrutiny, yes,
Lauren, but I promise I will
make sure you're prepared.
I can't. I'm sorry.
Is there any way I can change your mind?
No. I'm getting out soon. I
have my family to think about.
Their future.
And if we win this case,
you'll be able to provide for
your family and their future.
And I know it is so scary
being that public-facing,
but I also know that you're brave.
Because I read your file, Gabrielle,
and I know what you went through.
What you survived.
And I'm asking you to
draw on that courage now,
for the other women, for your family,
for yourself.
So? What did Gabrielle say?
No.
Everyone said no. Which
means, we're starting
a class action trial tomorrow
and not a single plaintiff will testify.
We can't go forward.
The odds of us winning
decrease by 70% when there's no face
for a jury to identify
with, which you know.
- MATTY: I don't know what happened.
- Me neither.
- But they all seemed scared.
- Of retaliation?
But that was always a risk.
And all the guards named
on the suit are gone.
MATTY: Right. There's too
much sunlight now anyway.
- Exactly, exactly.
- See? They're merging.
They were all willing to come forward,
and now they're not. So what changed?
Katya relapsed.
That's the only thing that changed.
And you said Tiffany
knew about it, right?
- And Gabrielle was scared for her family?
- Mm-hmm.
MATTY: Maybe the women
think somebody got to Katya.
Somebody who wanted her to relapse
so she couldn't testify.
Like gave her the drugs on purpose?
- That's a real stretch.
- Totally agree.
Then again, it makes sense.
In a certain light, yes.
MATTY: I mean, it's one thing
to feel threatened in prison,
but if you or your family aren't safe
- once you get out
- Ooh, that would shut me right up.
What if the dealer
was one of the guards?
There are security
cameras in the nail salon.
We could try for a subpoena.
It's a long shot, but
BOTH: Better than no shot. (LAUGHING)
High fives all around.
MATTY: I just have to keep
the focus on teamwork.
EDWIN: Agreed.
Our teamwork.
- Focus on me.
- Yes.
Sorry, sorry. Okay. Go on.
Okay, so on April 5th,
Olympia sent out an email
confirming the delivery
of the documents to Jacobson Moore.
Senior signed for them
and took possession that afternoon.
Blue. Blue pins for evidence.
Do you want to do it?
No, no, you're doing great.
Okay.
The files were scanned
into the firm on April 6th.
342 pages.
All of which somehow
mysteriously disappeared.
Boy, you go on one mission
and suddenly you're Matlock.
Oh, you stop.
- (CHUCKLES)
- So, the very next day, April 7th,
Olympia gets the email with
the forwarded attachment.
So Julian asks Senior
how they should take care of Wellbrexa.
And all Senior says is, "It's handled."
With the damn attachment.
- EDWIN: Right.
- MATTY: Kira has access
to every email in the firm,
so all I need to do is get her computer.
So, you're gonna steal
a computer from the woman
whose job is protecting computers?
Well, it's easier than
cutting off her finger.
(LAUGHS)
We're not doing that stuff, right?
ALFIE: Grammy.
Quick, close it. I don't
want him to know we're stuck.
Can I please have more screen time?
(SIGHS)
I just need ten more minutes. Please?
Okay, ten more minutes,
then that's all.
ALFIE: Why is the board closed?
Clock is ticking.
I'm going, I'm going.
(PHONE CHIMES)
Ugh, damn it.
The judge denied the subpoena
for the security cameras.
So what's plan B? Sleep with the judge?
Ugh, I'm too tired.
I'm going for plan C.
Shh. I'm calling Olympia.
(LINE RINGS)
OLYMPIA (OVER PHONE): Hi.
Hey there. I'm sorry about the subpoena,
but I have another idea.
Is it okay if I come in three
and a half hours late tomorrow?
SONIA: Okay.
So what do you think?
I think your work belongs in a museum.
Katya's good at this, too, huh?
Oh, yeah, she is
super artistic when she's
you know, sober, which I assume
she no longer is, honestly,
because she's gone AWOL.
I wanted to believe her.
I have known her since she was a kid.
It sucks.
It does suck. Actually
Did you see the guy
who sold her the drugs?
No.
And I know this sounds crazy, but
what if he was one of the guards?
To keep her from testifying?
Whoa. You really think so?
Maybe your security cameras caught it?
Sonia, please. Right now,
my boss is giving her opening statement,
and she can't even
mention a plaintiff's name
because they're all too
scared to come forward.
Maybe this is the reason why.
Wait, so,
if your boss can't mention any names,
who is she talking about?
Hammurabi,
a Babylonian king who ruled in 1770 BC,
set forth a series of 282
laws Hammurabi's Code.
And this code was considered by many
to be the birth of crime and punishment.
If you broke a rule,
you could expect to lose
an eye, a hand, a tongue,
or maybe all three.
But not even this ruthless tyrant
allowed his guards to abuse
prisoners in confinement.
Because that's not punishment.
That's criminal.
And Warden Larson knew about it,
and he let it happen.
You will see medical records.
You will see formal complaints
that were filed and went unanswered.
You will even meet the
new warden of the prison,
- who will testify about the efforts
she made - (PHONES BUZZING)
to reform the corrupt system
that allowed these
women to be victimized
time and time again.
All these women are asking
for is accountability.
Thank you.
Hey, Matty, what you got?
MATTY: Sonia's a hero.
We're looking at the footage,
but it's taking forever
- to download or upload, or
- Can you show it to me?
Yeah.
Tell me this gets easier.
- I feel like my hands are on stilts.
- (CHUCKLES)
Give it a week. Here.
Okay. Here's the security footage.
MATTY: You see that? He knew
exactly where the cameras were
and he wanted to avoid 'em.
OLYMPIA: Well, he's a drug dealer.
MATTY: Three different cameras,
and he avoided all of 'em.
He clearly scoped out the place.
Plus, he targeted Katya.
Can she help identify him?
Katya didn't come into work today.
We think she went on a bender.
- Yup, and I know where she goes.
- Great.
Find her, Matty. She's the only one
who can identify the dealer,
and he is our only lead.
Take the whole team with you.
In the meantime, I have to
restart settlement talks.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Oh. Wait here.
Matty's gonna call you and
tell you where to meet her.
You can take a company car.
(LINE RINGING)
Are you close?
Okay.
(SIGHS)
- Thank you for coming.
- I brought the stuff.
I was just (SIGHS)
I just was
panicking a little, just thinking about
coming back to all this.
I understand.
Of course you do.
It's been a long time, huh?
Some days it has.
Are you okay?
Yeah. Just have to go in,
get the information and leave.
Hold my boundary.
(SIGHS)
I've done this before.
Yeah.
Okay.
(SIGHS)
(SNIFFLES, SIGHS)
(DOOR CREAKS)
- (GROANS SOFTLY)
- Hi, there.
I brought you guys
some tacos and Narcan.
You can never have too much Narcan.
I'm looking for a woman named Katya.
I think I saw her back there.
Okay.
Katya, honey.
My name is Matty.
I'm a lawyer.
I met you yesterday in the nail salon.
- I'm sorry. I just
- No, no, it's okay, honey.
You're not in trouble, and
you don't have to explain.
I just need to ask you a few questions
about the day you relapsed.
I've said "no" every other time.
It was the bad day, and the customer,
and the dealer came by and
Why didn't I say "no"?
Because you have a disease.
It's a patient beast.
And whenever you let down
your guard, it pounces.
(CRYING)
Help me.
Please help me.
(SOBBING)
I need more movement, Josh.
Neither one of us wants to
go through the whole trial.
I'm at the edge of what my
client is comfortable paying.
Like I tell my kids, growth comes
when you push past your comfort zone.
And trust, you do not want the
jury to hear from Katya Novik.
You remember her deposition, right?
Actually, uh, let's take a shortcut.
- Olympia!
- Katya!
Olympia, I'm sorry I ruined
everything. I'll get sober.
Sober?
Past tense. She got sober.
- Exactly, and I'll do it again.
- Katya.
Let's go, okay? Let's go.
You know, I think I'll
take my chances at trial.
OLYMPIA: What were you thinking,
bringing Katya back here?
You were just supposed to ask
her to look at some pictures.
She needed my help.
- What was I supposed to do?
- Stay on task.
- Show her the pictures.
- She was crying.
The only thing we had was
the threat of her testimony!
What if it was one of your twins?!
Katya is not a piece of testimony!
She's someone's kid!
And she deserves to be treated
with dignity and respect!
Katya didn't recognize any guards.
- Great. So I screwed myself for nothing.
- Weird.
It's almost like you're
expecting us to care.
What is that supposed to mean?
Why didn't you call us?
- What?
- This whole time,
I've been defending you,
telling Sarah you weren't edging us out.
- I'm not edging
- Olympia told us to wait.
She told us you'd call us, you didn't.
- I just
- Went alone. Yeah, got that.
After all that talk about being a team.
EDWIN: So Katya is going to testify?
It's going to be a nightmare.
They'll position her as a liar,
say she just wants money for drugs.
Oh, I'm sorry, sweetheart.
I went too far with Olympia.
I got mad at her. I couldn't help it.
Madeline Matlock and Madeline
Kingston have that in common.
(BOTH LAUGH)
That's silly of me to think I could
keep a boundary on a day like this.
- (SIGHS)
- So are you okay?
(CRYING): 'Cause it was
really hard to be out there.
Edwin. Darling, come here.
Sorry.
(EDWIN SNIFFLES)
I know.
(GROANING, LAUGHING)
COURT: Mom, let go!
- OLYMPIA: Oh.
- (CHUCKLES)
Aah!
- Thanks for grabbing 'em from basketball.
- Mm-hmm.
Oh, look, about the brownstone
Uh, uh, Julian, stop.
Okay, maybe it's this case,
but you have to understand,
there is so much that
can go wrong with kids.
- They need stability.
- And they'll have it.
Because we love them, and they know it.
I found a few options for new places.
All of them are within
a two-block radius
of the kids' school, and I
interviewed a moving service
that will help us pack, so,
if it's about logistics,
that's taken care of.
And personally, I don't think moving
a few months early will
traumatize the kids,
but we'll stay put if you think it will.
Okay?
(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
Please say you'll keep
these nails forever and ever.
I want to say "yes,"
but I nearly stabbed my
eyeball taking out my contacts.
You know, your mom got her
nails done like this once.
For prom.
Couldn't wait to show me.
She ran in all excited.
I told her they looked like claws.
I should've just said they were pretty.
Why couldn't Mom just stop doing drugs?
Oh, Alfie.
She did stop many, many times.
It's important for us to recognize that.
But she would always start again.
And I sometimes feel like
if she loved me enough
She loved you more than
anything in this world.
Unfortunately, people like
your mother and my mother
they were born on their back foot.
They had the gene,
and once they activated it,
they had to fight against
it every single day.
Because sobriety is
the one thing in life
you have to get absolutely perfect.
Moderation doesn't work,
just total abstinence.
Which means you can make
the right choice 99 times,
and then you can have one bad day.
A woman is mean, she doesn't tip you.
All of a sudden, you're triggered,
and then a dealer walks in.
Ow!
Too hard.
I'm sorry.
I just realized something.
Remember what Katya told
us, about her bad day,
the terrible customer, the
person who made her vulnerable?
Maybe she's involved.
A female guard.
Katya worked on her nails for hours.
I'll bet she could ID her.
Great. You get the "W" again.
But see, if it pans out,
I thought you could tell Olympia,
say you figured it out.
That is seriously condescending.
BILLY: Yeah, Matty, we
don't want your pity.
We want an explanation.
What the hell happened?
You deserve the truth.
The truth is
right as I was about to call you,
I got a call from my grandson's school.
I guess he's been skipping class
a lot, and they're thinking
about suspending him.
I'm a single grandparent, all on me.
And they call me right as
I was about to call you.
And I forgot.
Honestly.
I'm sorry.
I had no idea you were
going through all that.
Oh, no, I'm the one who's sorry.
What's going on?
We think that nasty customer
could have something to do
with the framing of Katya.
You can only see her back in the video,
but we can always ask
Katya if she remembers
- what she looked like.
- Great work.
But we don't need to ask Katya.
I know exactly who that is.
Your Honor, I'd like to
admit Warden Nicola Caruso
as an expert witness.
She has been a warden
at three institutions,
and has a stellar track record.
Mr. Willis, any objections?
None from me, sir.
I agree Warden Caruso is
an expert in her field.
Thank you.
Nic Ms. Caruso.
Oh, Mrs.
Mrs. Caruso, I'm sorry.
You were hired to make significant
changes at the institution.
Did you have success?
I did. I changed the
culture of the prison,
and I'm proud of that.
But you kept some of the personnel
from the prior warden, correct?
No one connected to the case.
To be clear, were you in charge
when Katya Novik alleges
her abuse took place?
No, I was not at the prison
yet, so we never crossed paths.
Never crossed paths meaning
you've never met her?
- That's right.
- Well,
Katya has been doing very
well since her release,
or so she had been.
She even has a job now,
working at a nail salon.
Until she had a very bad day.
Objection. Where's the question?
Apologies. Have you
had a manicure recently?
(CHUCKLES) I
I think it's pretty clear I haven't.
Objection. Relevance.
Getting to it. Your
Honor, I'd like to submit
into evidence Exhibit 225B.
Mrs. Caruso, do you
recognize that woman?
Here, let me help you.
You have an identical birthmark
to the one in this footage.
We saw it earlier when
you held up your hand.
But you said you didn't know Katya,
didn't get your nails done?
I plead the Fifth.
You knew Katya had a
history of drug abuse.
- Objection, Your Honor.
- And you purposely triggered her
so that she could be more inclined
to buy from the dealer you
arranged to visit, didn't you?
- I plead the Fifth.
- That's okay.
You could plead the Fifth.
But I want your opinion
as an expert witness.
Why would someone working to
rehabilitate the prison system
want to discredit a witness who
was harmed by the old system?
- Objection, Your Honor!
- On what grounds?
You agreed to have her
admitted as an expert.
Mrs. Caruso, you need to answer.
I imagine
that someone may have thought
that the settlement
money could do more good
if it went back into the system,
where it could pay for programs
to rehabilitate prisoners,
fund more educational programs,
instead of paying out one drug
addict who chose to say "yes."
A drug addict who chose to
say "yes" is not disposable.
She is still a person who
deserves dignity and respect.
What if it were your child?
(GALLERY MURMURING)
♪
MATTY: So, what do you think
that new settlement number'll be?
Well, based off the research
I've done, which is extensive,
- I
- Oh, who cares? There's Kira!
- Hi, Kira!
- (WHISPERS): Stop. What are you doing?
She told me she has lunch here at 1:00.
If you want to have a
work-life balance, darling,
you have to have a life
to balance work with.
- Hey, girl!
- No.
What up?
Well, lunch is what up.
(LAUGHS) Oh, I thought
you were on a break.
- You brought your computer.
- Well, Louie never leaves my side.
- He's the only guy I'll ever sleep with.
- (MATTY LAUGHS)
Well, it's great to see
you. Oh. You know what?
I just remembered. I got
to take my dairy pill,
or else Sarah's gonna be
smelling my lunch later.
- Oh, we can't have that.
- SARAH: What an appetizing thought
to share before we eat lunch.
(GASPS) Oh, Lord!
- Ugh. Oh, you can't take me anywhere!
- (LAUGHS)
Is the idea to trauma bond us?
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
- (PHONE ALARM RINGING)
- Oh. Darling, can you
you get that for me?
(ALARM STOPS)
- Oh, thank you.
- Mm-hmm.
(EXHALES) You know what,
I have a sandwich upstairs.
I think I'm just gonna go eat that.
I'm sorry, Sarah.
Looks like you'll be eating alone.
Fine by me.
I'll eat with you.
So? Did it work?
(CHUCKLES): Well, I
left 'em together, so
- rest is up to her.
- Mm!
I'm an optimist.
I stopped working on her dating profile,
and, uh
I started yours.
What? No.
- Yes.
- I can't.
Why not? You're raising
a grandkid on your own.
Think about how nice it
would be to have a partner.
To go to. To lean on.
I don't think I'd survive
this place without Claudia.
So let's just
make this, see how you feel.
I won't post it yet. Now, come on.
Check this guy out.
Whoa.
Those thighs are as big
- as a couple of tractor wheels.
- (CHUCKLES)
I filled out basic info, but
I'm gonna need some answers
for the questionnaire.
Gray hair or salt-and-pepper?
Well, if you're not gonna post it,
I-I wouldn't mind a silver fox.
Mm, silver fox it is.
What's one thing you'd want
your potential partner to know?
Why haven't you proposed to Claudia
after dating her for eight years?
Seems weird to put that in a profile.
Um
I grew up with all women.
I never had anyone to
show me how to be a
I don't know, a husband, I guess.
Well, did you grow up with lawyers?
- No, but that's different.
- No, it's not.
- (SIGHS)
- You forged your own path.
You're a real catch, Billy.
I ought to know, 'cause back in my day,
I got around.
(LAUGHS)
The real question is,
is she the gal?
Yeah, she's the gal.
- Aw.
- (CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
You just encouraged me with Claudia.
Sometimes
- you need a little push.
- (WHOOSHES)
- Oh
- Mm-hmm.
(PHONE BUZZES)
The prison settled.
Olympia wants us to meet with her.
Oh.
How was your lunch?
Good. But if you ever
trick me like that again,
I will take you down, Golden Girl.
- One brittle bone at a time.
- (CHUCKLES)
- Ooh!
- Mm-hmm. (LAUGHS)
So?
The prison is paying
our women two million.
Each.
- Yes!
- Oh, my! (LAUGHING)
Great work, all of you.
Billy and Sarah,
you really stepped up.
Agreed.
But we're not done yet.
EDWIN: Katya said yes?
She said yes.
She's going into rehab.
Olympia secured a bed for her.
I don't know if it'll stick.
Well, that's all you can do.
On that front.
On this front
I got it.
You got it?
It's easier than cutting off her finger.
- We're not doing that stuff, right?
- ALFIE: Grammy!
Quick, close it. I don't
want him to know we're stuck.
We're not cutting off fingers.
But, come on, you've seen
Mission: Impossible.
We can get a fingerprint.
(ALARM RINGING)
I'm sorry, darling.
Can you grab that? Oh!
Oh. Thank you.
♪
Okay.
Madeline Kingston,
you are amazing.
I know.
So, listen, I've been thinking.
We're gonna need to
bring Alfie in again.
- Just for a little.
- What?
Unless you know what
to do in a server room.
You were adamant we
shouldn't involve him.
I know.
(CLICKS TONGUE) Standing
in front of that building
We're so close.
But you were right.
We can't let it take over his life.
- Mm-mm.
- So what does that mean?
Moderation?
Okay.
Moderation.
- Mm-hmm.
- KATHRYN/COURT: Toots all night,
poots all day, so come
on down to the fart café!
(CHUCKLES): Okay. That's it.
Clean your dessert.
(CHUCKLING)
(SIGHS)
Regret staying for dinner?
- (CHUCKLES)
- Never.
Then again, uh, I get to leave
before they come down
from that sugar rush, so
Mm. Speaking of leaving,
thanks for all that legwork you did.
It helped me wrap my mind
around the possibility of moving.
And absorb the fact that, damn,
my cardboard scheme drove that man mad.
(BOTH LAUGH)
So where are you at?
KATHRYN/COURT: Toots
all night, poots all day,
- so come on down to the fart café.
- (CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
I'm at
I'm scared.
I-I really think the kids will be fine.
I know they will.
It's me.
I'm scared to lose this.
(CHATTERING)
We won't lose this.
We made this.
KATHRYN/COURT: Toots
all night, poots all day,
so come on down to the fart café.
♪
You have to catch me
up on everything, okay?
I will. After dinner.
(PHONE CHIMES)
Oh, no.
It's a message from that infernal
dating site Billy set me up on.
Grammy, does this mean you have a date?
Putting the phone away.
Oh, no way.
I want to hear Casanova's opening line.
Suss out my competition.
(CHUCKLES)
Okay.
"Madeline Kingston, is that you?
I can't believe it."
EDWIN: Someone recognized you.
- Previously on Matlock
- I'm Madeline Matlock.
I'm a lawyer, like the old TV show.
Why do you want to work at my firm?
I woke up at 75 years old
without a husband or money
and a 12-year-old kid to raise.
I need this job more than
you can possibly imagine.
Meet me in the conference room,
and bring the new lawyer with you.
MATTY: Well, you see, there's
this funny thing that happens
when women age. People assume
I'm a harmless old lady, and that's how
I'm going to trick them.
Good evening, Mrs. Kingston.
There she is!
Well, you'd have been a lot less cheery
if you knew how I
talked about you at work.
Gambling, cheating,
- not to mention dead.
- ALFIE: Grammy!
- MATTY: Alfie!
- ALFIE: Was I right?
Perfect name? Reminds us of Mom?
MATTY: I had a daughter, and she died
after a long battle with drugs.
MATTY: The law firm,
Jacobson Moore, 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.
So I'm gonna figure
out who knew what when,
and then,
I'm gonna put them in jail.
Now that I've gotten my
hands on Olympia's laptop,
you can access her emails.
MATTY (ON PHONE): Remember, use
their expectations against them.
They think old and bumbling,
so that's what you play into.
- If you do that, they'll
- EDWIN: Shh!
Oh, oh. Not you. I-I'm on the phone.
(CHUCKLES) Quiet.
I have to focus.
Okay. Whatever you do, do not
give them Olympia's laptop.
- Don't let it out of your sight.
- I won't.
MATTY: All you have to do is ask them
how to get the original email
so we can actually see the attachment.
Good grief, Madeline, I know.
Oh, somebody's coming.
- Hello there!
- Well, hello there to you!
How-how can I help you?
Uh, actually, you would
be helping my grandson.
He gave me his computer.
Well, I honestly really
don't know what he needs.
- Mm-hmm.
- But
let's just see, okay?
"Tell them
my friend sent me an email that was
forwarded from someone else,
but I can't open the attachment.
- Could they help?"
- Gotcha.
Your grandson just
needs to ask his friend
- to resend the original email.
- Right.
Unfortunately
he died.
My grandson's friend.
A few days ago.
- It was sudden.
- Oh, my God.
Oh, but it was an older
friend, not a young friend.
Uh, which is still sad.
Never ate his vegetables.
My grandson used to say,
"Eat a carrot," but he wouldn't.
The funeral is tomorrow, and
- MATTY: Stop talking!
- And that's it!
The only way to see the
original attachment is
to access the account it was sent from.
Maybe there's a family
member you could contact?
After the funeral.
Your grandson's old friend died?
EDWIN: I froze!
- It's hard being undercover.
- MATTY: Ha!
- You're telling me.
- EDWIN: The point is,
we don't know if this
attachment actually is anything.
It has to be.
I know it, Edwin. That
attachment has to be
the missing documents,
or at least lead to them.
Well, then what's plan B?
Seduce Senior and steal his computer?
(SCOFFS) That's plan C.
Plan B has something to do
with Jacobson Moore's
internal server, cloud thingy.
Mrs. Belvin told me they monitor emails,
so they must keep them somewhere.
I just have to figure out where.
- Without Alfie.
- MATTY: Yes.
Without Alfie. That's
what makes this so hard.
Oh, if only your firm had a Genius Bar.
(SIGHS)
Dang it! Of all the days to
have my computer crap out.
Screen keeps freezing.
- You got the number for IT?
- Email, it's quicker,
and you better hurry because
Olympia is on a tear this morning.
She did not like losing last week.
Did you get confirmation?
- From IT?
- No. From our star witness, Katya Novik.
We're waiting on her confirmation
for her prep session
at 9:30. Hello? Billy?
Again. I need you to take
it down a notch, or three.
I know, I just I just can't
wait to meet Katya in person.
Two minutes into her
deposition, and you know
why Olympia built the
whole case around her.
Just wait until you hear
how she talks about being
assaulted by the prison guards.
It is so
- Sad.
- amazing.
Amazingly sad. You know what I mean.
Katya's inspiring!
She came forward first to report
the abuse, and then she
rallied the other inmates
and didn't give up,
even when she was retaliated against,
even when she was put
in solitary confinement.
Are you in love with her or something?
I'm in love with her deposition.
Okay, you need to get
out there and date.
- Oh, here we go again.
- It's true.
That's quite enough!
I don't mean to pull
out my Grandma voice,
but we fell apart on our last case,
so no more arguing.
- We're a team.
- SARAH: You're right.
And we need to come
through for the queen.
Katya? See, that's weird.
No, not Katya! Olympia!
- Also weird.
- OLYMPIA: Hi, there!
Yeah, well, I was wondering
if, uh, Katya Novik is
Yeah, I did call earlier
- before, but
- (BEEPING)
- Uh, hello?
- Don't think you needed a megadose of caffeine.
- You need to
- If you tell me to relax
We were married for 11 years.
Do you think I'm an idiot?
- You need to delegate.
- Mm.
I know you hate lose
shh uh, not
- winning.
- Mm-hmm.
You have a good team. I'm
reminding you to use them.
Thank you. I will.
Now can I have my coffee back, please?
Mm, pending your reaction
to my next piece of news.
Uh, I got trapped talking to
Victor the Viking this morning.
- Ew.
- Yeah.
Is he still trying to catch the criminal
- who isn't breaking down the recycling boxes?
- (CLICKS TONGUE)
Well, yeah, that, um, and he
wants to buy our brownstone.
He said he'd pay 20% over market value
in cash if we move out in a month.
20%? Wait. Why so much and why so fast?
Said he wants to combine
his place with ours,
he needs to buy quickly for
tax reasons and, come on
you're not breaking down
those boxes to taunt him.
It is not me.
- (PHONE BUZZES)
- All right.
Oh. I need to go.
Uh, I do have a pending case.
See how calm I am, so give
me my coffee back, please.
- All right, got it.
- Thank you.
Hi. Katya.
Yeah, oh, uh, lunch.
Let's talk about selling the brownstone?
- Oh. Yeah.
- Yeah. No.
I totally understand
that you have to work.
I'm sorry for all of the calls.
What's going on? Apparently,
Katya left a message
- for one of you saying she couldn't make it?
- What?
Not me. It doesn't
matter. Where's Matty?
In the library, reviewing depositions.
Okay, she's coming with me.
Prep the materials for the jury.
Blow up the images of the bruises, okay?
They need to see what Katya endured.
- Okay, we're being sidelined.
- BILLY: Stop.
Okay, no scarcity mindset.
- Instead
- Before you tell me
that I should expand my
life and start dating,
I already made a profile.
Here. Look.
I was gonna say, "Focus on work,"
but I'm not stopping this momentum.
(LAUGHS) Let's go.
It's interesting. (STAMMERS)
- Educational.
- Mm-hmm.
It reads a little like
a LinkedIn profile.
It is. I copy-pasted.
They should know I'm efficient.
That's literally the
thing I'm most proud of.
Okay, I'm gonna help you
after we blow up these
pictures. Come on.
MATTY: Wowie.
- Those are incredible.
- OLYMPIA: I'm open to settlement talks,
but I don't want to
be looking at a number
in the same family as your last number.
- I don't even want them related by marriage.
- Uh, could you take it outside?
I'm willing to give
Katya another chance,
but I don't want lawyers
in here causing drama.
- High stakes, believe you me.
- Oh.
While we wait for Katya, can I ask you
at least 27 questions about your nails?
- I just love 'em!
- (LAUGHS)
- Oh, are they hand-painted?
- Oh, yeah.
Nadia over there she does 'em.
- Oh, they're beautiful.
- Mm-hmm.
The colors, the detail.
Okay, my next question is practical.
Can you type? Text?
- Button a shirt?
- I can do everything, honey.
- The key is to use the pads of your fingers.
- Mm-hmm.
Can you make a fist?
I'm more partial to slapping.
- (MATTY LAUGHS)
- KATYA: Hey.
Katya, hi.
Hi. Sorry to keep everyone waiting.
I was cleaning the
treatment room, and then
- Where's Olympia?
- Oh, she's just outside wrapping up a call.
I'm her associate, Matty.
- It's so nice to meet you.
- Oh. Okay. Hi.
More the merrier,
right? Are you, um ?
Sorry for all the scheduling issues.
It's been hectic, so
hectic. This is my new job.
And Olympia.
- Hi.
- Katya.
Great to see you.
I'm so sorry again that my
associates didn't tell me you called.
Is there a private room where
we can go over your testimony?
Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah, I got permission
for us to use the back
room, so, come this way.
- It is so good to see you.
- You, too.
It's finally happening. (LAUGHS)
Hey.
We can't center the case around Katya.
- What? Why not?
- That girl is high as a kite.
We put her on the
stand, it's a disaster.
What are you talking about?
Katya's been sober for over a year.
- Are you sure?
- I wouldn't say it if I wasn't.
You said we're allies, right?
So trust me.
It's been really busy,
but, uh, yeah, we got
to go over my testimony. I-I
want Warden Larson to pay.
You know, all of them to pay.
Me, too.
Katya, are you using again?
What? No, of course not.
- Why would you say that?
- MATTY: Honey, you look like
you're about to leap out of your skin,
- and you keep grinding your teeth.
- No.
You can't just come
into my place of work
and accuse me of being on
drugs. You don't even know me.
That's why I brought a test with me,
so you can prove that you're clean.
I had a really bad day.
I've been sober for 18 months.
I have chips, and, um, I
was getting really nervous
about the trial, and-and
I had this meeting
with my parole officer, and I was late,
and he came down really hard on me,
and then I get to work and had
the worst customer of all time.
She wanted a-a design on
every nail, but freehand,
and she had all these
changes, and it took me hours,
and then, you know, after all
of that, she didn't even tip me,
and she called me she
called me lazy and useless.
And then I was upset, right?
So when a dealer came by
and offered me something, I
said "yes."
You need to get to a meeting
and ask for some help.
I will.
This was a one-time mistake,
I will be sober for the trial,
I promise you.
We need a new lead plaintiff.
What? No. We don't have time
to rebuild our entire case.
She's already lied. Billy and
Sarah didn't drop a message.
She ghosted us.
Addiction causes chaos. Day
of, she might not even show up.
I'm telling you, Katya
needs to focus on recovery.
We can't risk putting her on the stand.
How do you know so
much about all of this?
My mother was an alcoholic.
So, trust me.
I'm not steering you wrong.
(SIGHS)
Put me on speaker, start writing.
We need to pivot to another plaintiff,
center someone else's story,
and I need you two to start researching.
No! We need to keep
Katya on the witness list
so the defense doesn't know
that things blew up with her.
Otherwise, they'll call her.
Just focus on finding the
top three replacements.
Why do you do that?
Refer to them as a unit,
not get to know them,
their skills
Do me a favor.
You review their choices,
and approve the new plaintiff.
Approve as in
As in you're in charge of your
good friends, Billy and Sarah.
(GIGGLES)
Turns out delegating is fun.
- See?
- Okay.
I am ready to take in a
little bit more information,
but first, can we sell
now and move in six months?
Victor wants a 20-day escrow.
Maybe he'd be more
lenient if you stopped
torturing him and just
broke down those boxes
Stop with that.
And it's just not
practical to move right now.
There's so much that
we have to figure out.
- I know.
- And we had a plan.
That we were gonna nest for a year,
that way, we were the ones moving
and the twins can stay
put, which we agreed
- was best for them.
- I know.
And also, honestly, I just,
I don't know if I can
take this on right now,
- all of the logistics
- I know.
Eat your hot dog.
Mmm. Mm-hmm.
SARAH: We have three plaintiffs
for Olympia to choose from.
We have Lauren Jarrett,
Gabrielle Alvarez and Tiffany Lee.
No one's as strong as Katya.
There's gang affiliations
and repeat offenses
we'll have to contend
with, but all three have
horrific stories about
being abused by these guards.
Let's go with Tiffany.
- Mm?
- Go with as in ?
Uh
Ah, heck, there's just
no easy way to say this.
Olympia wants me to choose.
I mean, we're still a team,
but it's a rush job, I'm 157 years old,
so I just have a little more experience.
Now, I'll text Olympia the choice
and then, we'll just move right on.
♪
- It's fine, Matty, we get it.
- Uh, no, we do not.
Yes, we do.
Come on, I literally just put
that you're a "go with
the flow" type of person
in your dating profile.
Sup. Kira from IT here
for Madeline Matlock?
Hiya, Kira, thanks for squeezing me in.
Yeah, you got it.
So, uh, what dating apps you on?
Uh, no shade, I'm on all of them.
Oh. (CHUCKLES) Well,
I'm not on them, yet.
I'm just starting, so Hi.
I'm Kira, I mean, I'm-I'm Sarah.
You're Kira. I'm Sarah.
Hi.
OLYMPIA: Thanks again for
the last-minute pass, Nicola.
You are a lifesaver.
I want Warden Larson's "Reign of Terror"
- in the rearview mirror, too.
- (LAUGHS)
And, no, I won't call
it that on the stand,
but I will testify to the
volume of complaints against him.
Well, I'm impressed with the
changes since you took over,
and I will make sure
the jury knows that, too.
But, damn, "Reign of
Terror" would be so good,
- reporters would run with it.
- That's why I'm not saying it.
- It was good to see you again, Olympia.
- You, too.
And C.O. Russel is here
if you need anything.
And sometimes, as we
get closer to trials,
we change course.
And that's what's
happening now, Tiffany.
I actually would like
to call you to the stand
so the jury can hear your story.
And I promise I will tell it with care.
But it is a bigger role, so
I'd like us to prep for
So it's true? Katya relapsed?
Well, yes, unfortunately.
But if you step in and testify
No way. Honestly,
I don't even want to be associated
with the case anymore.
Can I ask why?
And she didn't say why, huh?
So, we'll go with Lauren Jarrett.
- No from Tiffany? Weird.
- SARAH: Yeah.
Um, any ideas about Matty's computer?
Uh, no. You know, I thought
it was bad RAM, but the RAM seems fine.
Ugh, I hate bad rams.
(LAUGHS)
(CHUCKLES)
Uh, quick question,
off the subject of rams,
can IT access everybody's emails?
And before you answer,
here comes part two:
if I lost an email, could
y'all get it back for me?
'Cause I swear that
coupon for 25% at Costco
vanished in front of my eyes.
(LAUGHS) Uh, well,
there is a server room,
so, technically, if I wanted,
I could use my laptop to
access every email in the firm.
But that's a no on coupons
'cause, you know, policies.
Oh, no, no, no. I'm
a big fan of policies,
so I-I withdraw the request.
- (LAUGHS)
- Boy, oh, boy, a firm with all those
emails floating around
in a giant server room,
it sounds like-like something out
of a science fiction movie. (LAUGHS)
Eyeball scans to get in?
Uh, no, just fingerprints.
- Oh.
- But it's still pretty sci-fi.
(GIGGLES)
Sorry. Um, Olympia texted
something very funny.
From prison?
So my testimony would be at
the center of the whole case?
All the press, everything?
It does come with a
little more scrutiny, yes,
Lauren, but I promise I will
make sure you're prepared.
I can't. I'm sorry.
Is there any way I can change your mind?
No. I'm getting out soon. I
have my family to think about.
Their future.
And if we win this case,
you'll be able to provide for
your family and their future.
And I know it is so scary
being that public-facing,
but I also know that you're brave.
Because I read your file, Gabrielle,
and I know what you went through.
What you survived.
And I'm asking you to
draw on that courage now,
for the other women, for your family,
for yourself.
So? What did Gabrielle say?
No.
Everyone said no. Which
means, we're starting
a class action trial tomorrow
and not a single plaintiff will testify.
We can't go forward.
The odds of us winning
decrease by 70% when there's no face
for a jury to identify
with, which you know.
- MATTY: I don't know what happened.
- Me neither.
- But they all seemed scared.
- Of retaliation?
But that was always a risk.
And all the guards named
on the suit are gone.
MATTY: Right. There's too
much sunlight now anyway.
- Exactly, exactly.
- See? They're merging.
They were all willing to come forward,
and now they're not. So what changed?
Katya relapsed.
That's the only thing that changed.
And you said Tiffany
knew about it, right?
- And Gabrielle was scared for her family?
- Mm-hmm.
MATTY: Maybe the women
think somebody got to Katya.
Somebody who wanted her to relapse
so she couldn't testify.
Like gave her the drugs on purpose?
- That's a real stretch.
- Totally agree.
Then again, it makes sense.
In a certain light, yes.
MATTY: I mean, it's one thing
to feel threatened in prison,
but if you or your family aren't safe
- once you get out
- Ooh, that would shut me right up.
What if the dealer
was one of the guards?
There are security
cameras in the nail salon.
We could try for a subpoena.
It's a long shot, but
BOTH: Better than no shot. (LAUGHING)
High fives all around.
MATTY: I just have to keep
the focus on teamwork.
EDWIN: Agreed.
Our teamwork.
- Focus on me.
- Yes.
Sorry, sorry. Okay. Go on.
Okay, so on April 5th,
Olympia sent out an email
confirming the delivery
of the documents to Jacobson Moore.
Senior signed for them
and took possession that afternoon.
Blue. Blue pins for evidence.
Do you want to do it?
No, no, you're doing great.
Okay.
The files were scanned
into the firm on April 6th.
342 pages.
All of which somehow
mysteriously disappeared.
Boy, you go on one mission
and suddenly you're Matlock.
Oh, you stop.
- (CHUCKLES)
- So, the very next day, April 7th,
Olympia gets the email with
the forwarded attachment.
So Julian asks Senior
how they should take care of Wellbrexa.
And all Senior says is, "It's handled."
With the damn attachment.
- EDWIN: Right.
- MATTY: Kira has access
to every email in the firm,
so all I need to do is get her computer.
So, you're gonna steal
a computer from the woman
whose job is protecting computers?
Well, it's easier than
cutting off her finger.
(LAUGHS)
We're not doing that stuff, right?
ALFIE: Grammy.
Quick, close it. I don't
want him to know we're stuck.
Can I please have more screen time?
(SIGHS)
I just need ten more minutes. Please?
Okay, ten more minutes,
then that's all.
ALFIE: Why is the board closed?
Clock is ticking.
I'm going, I'm going.
(PHONE CHIMES)
Ugh, damn it.
The judge denied the subpoena
for the security cameras.
So what's plan B? Sleep with the judge?
Ugh, I'm too tired.
I'm going for plan C.
Shh. I'm calling Olympia.
(LINE RINGS)
OLYMPIA (OVER PHONE): Hi.
Hey there. I'm sorry about the subpoena,
but I have another idea.
Is it okay if I come in three
and a half hours late tomorrow?
SONIA: Okay.
So what do you think?
I think your work belongs in a museum.
Katya's good at this, too, huh?
Oh, yeah, she is
super artistic when she's
you know, sober, which I assume
she no longer is, honestly,
because she's gone AWOL.
I wanted to believe her.
I have known her since she was a kid.
It sucks.
It does suck. Actually
Did you see the guy
who sold her the drugs?
No.
And I know this sounds crazy, but
what if he was one of the guards?
To keep her from testifying?
Whoa. You really think so?
Maybe your security cameras caught it?
Sonia, please. Right now,
my boss is giving her opening statement,
and she can't even
mention a plaintiff's name
because they're all too
scared to come forward.
Maybe this is the reason why.
Wait, so,
if your boss can't mention any names,
who is she talking about?
Hammurabi,
a Babylonian king who ruled in 1770 BC,
set forth a series of 282
laws Hammurabi's Code.
And this code was considered by many
to be the birth of crime and punishment.
If you broke a rule,
you could expect to lose
an eye, a hand, a tongue,
or maybe all three.
But not even this ruthless tyrant
allowed his guards to abuse
prisoners in confinement.
Because that's not punishment.
That's criminal.
And Warden Larson knew about it,
and he let it happen.
You will see medical records.
You will see formal complaints
that were filed and went unanswered.
You will even meet the
new warden of the prison,
- who will testify about the efforts
she made - (PHONES BUZZING)
to reform the corrupt system
that allowed these
women to be victimized
time and time again.
All these women are asking
for is accountability.
Thank you.
Hey, Matty, what you got?
MATTY: Sonia's a hero.
We're looking at the footage,
but it's taking forever
- to download or upload, or
- Can you show it to me?
Yeah.
Tell me this gets easier.
- I feel like my hands are on stilts.
- (CHUCKLES)
Give it a week. Here.
Okay. Here's the security footage.
MATTY: You see that? He knew
exactly where the cameras were
and he wanted to avoid 'em.
OLYMPIA: Well, he's a drug dealer.
MATTY: Three different cameras,
and he avoided all of 'em.
He clearly scoped out the place.
Plus, he targeted Katya.
Can she help identify him?
Katya didn't come into work today.
We think she went on a bender.
- Yup, and I know where she goes.
- Great.
Find her, Matty. She's the only one
who can identify the dealer,
and he is our only lead.
Take the whole team with you.
In the meantime, I have to
restart settlement talks.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Oh. Wait here.
Matty's gonna call you and
tell you where to meet her.
You can take a company car.
(LINE RINGING)
Are you close?
Okay.
(SIGHS)
- Thank you for coming.
- I brought the stuff.
I was just (SIGHS)
I just was
panicking a little, just thinking about
coming back to all this.
I understand.
Of course you do.
It's been a long time, huh?
Some days it has.
Are you okay?
Yeah. Just have to go in,
get the information and leave.
Hold my boundary.
(SIGHS)
I've done this before.
Yeah.
Okay.
(SIGHS)
(SNIFFLES, SIGHS)
(DOOR CREAKS)
- (GROANS SOFTLY)
- Hi, there.
I brought you guys
some tacos and Narcan.
You can never have too much Narcan.
I'm looking for a woman named Katya.
I think I saw her back there.
Okay.
Katya, honey.
My name is Matty.
I'm a lawyer.
I met you yesterday in the nail salon.
- I'm sorry. I just
- No, no, it's okay, honey.
You're not in trouble, and
you don't have to explain.
I just need to ask you a few questions
about the day you relapsed.
I've said "no" every other time.
It was the bad day, and the customer,
and the dealer came by and
Why didn't I say "no"?
Because you have a disease.
It's a patient beast.
And whenever you let down
your guard, it pounces.
(CRYING)
Help me.
Please help me.
(SOBBING)
I need more movement, Josh.
Neither one of us wants to
go through the whole trial.
I'm at the edge of what my
client is comfortable paying.
Like I tell my kids, growth comes
when you push past your comfort zone.
And trust, you do not want the
jury to hear from Katya Novik.
You remember her deposition, right?
Actually, uh, let's take a shortcut.
- Olympia!
- Katya!
Olympia, I'm sorry I ruined
everything. I'll get sober.
Sober?
Past tense. She got sober.
- Exactly, and I'll do it again.
- Katya.
Let's go, okay? Let's go.
You know, I think I'll
take my chances at trial.
OLYMPIA: What were you thinking,
bringing Katya back here?
You were just supposed to ask
her to look at some pictures.
She needed my help.
- What was I supposed to do?
- Stay on task.
- Show her the pictures.
- She was crying.
The only thing we had was
the threat of her testimony!
What if it was one of your twins?!
Katya is not a piece of testimony!
She's someone's kid!
And she deserves to be treated
with dignity and respect!
Katya didn't recognize any guards.
- Great. So I screwed myself for nothing.
- Weird.
It's almost like you're
expecting us to care.
What is that supposed to mean?
Why didn't you call us?
- What?
- This whole time,
I've been defending you,
telling Sarah you weren't edging us out.
- I'm not edging
- Olympia told us to wait.
She told us you'd call us, you didn't.
- I just
- Went alone. Yeah, got that.
After all that talk about being a team.
EDWIN: So Katya is going to testify?
It's going to be a nightmare.
They'll position her as a liar,
say she just wants money for drugs.
Oh, I'm sorry, sweetheart.
I went too far with Olympia.
I got mad at her. I couldn't help it.
Madeline Matlock and Madeline
Kingston have that in common.
(BOTH LAUGH)
That's silly of me to think I could
keep a boundary on a day like this.
- (SIGHS)
- So are you okay?
(CRYING): 'Cause it was
really hard to be out there.
Edwin. Darling, come here.
Sorry.
(EDWIN SNIFFLES)
I know.
(GROANING, LAUGHING)
COURT: Mom, let go!
- OLYMPIA: Oh.
- (CHUCKLES)
Aah!
- Thanks for grabbing 'em from basketball.
- Mm-hmm.
Oh, look, about the brownstone
Uh, uh, Julian, stop.
Okay, maybe it's this case,
but you have to understand,
there is so much that
can go wrong with kids.
- They need stability.
- And they'll have it.
Because we love them, and they know it.
I found a few options for new places.
All of them are within
a two-block radius
of the kids' school, and I
interviewed a moving service
that will help us pack, so,
if it's about logistics,
that's taken care of.
And personally, I don't think moving
a few months early will
traumatize the kids,
but we'll stay put if you think it will.
Okay?
(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
Please say you'll keep
these nails forever and ever.
I want to say "yes,"
but I nearly stabbed my
eyeball taking out my contacts.
You know, your mom got her
nails done like this once.
For prom.
Couldn't wait to show me.
She ran in all excited.
I told her they looked like claws.
I should've just said they were pretty.
Why couldn't Mom just stop doing drugs?
Oh, Alfie.
She did stop many, many times.
It's important for us to recognize that.
But she would always start again.
And I sometimes feel like
if she loved me enough
She loved you more than
anything in this world.
Unfortunately, people like
your mother and my mother
they were born on their back foot.
They had the gene,
and once they activated it,
they had to fight against
it every single day.
Because sobriety is
the one thing in life
you have to get absolutely perfect.
Moderation doesn't work,
just total abstinence.
Which means you can make
the right choice 99 times,
and then you can have one bad day.
A woman is mean, she doesn't tip you.
All of a sudden, you're triggered,
and then a dealer walks in.
Ow!
Too hard.
I'm sorry.
I just realized something.
Remember what Katya told
us, about her bad day,
the terrible customer, the
person who made her vulnerable?
Maybe she's involved.
A female guard.
Katya worked on her nails for hours.
I'll bet she could ID her.
Great. You get the "W" again.
But see, if it pans out,
I thought you could tell Olympia,
say you figured it out.
That is seriously condescending.
BILLY: Yeah, Matty, we
don't want your pity.
We want an explanation.
What the hell happened?
You deserve the truth.
The truth is
right as I was about to call you,
I got a call from my grandson's school.
I guess he's been skipping class
a lot, and they're thinking
about suspending him.
I'm a single grandparent, all on me.
And they call me right as
I was about to call you.
And I forgot.
Honestly.
I'm sorry.
I had no idea you were
going through all that.
Oh, no, I'm the one who's sorry.
What's going on?
We think that nasty customer
could have something to do
with the framing of Katya.
You can only see her back in the video,
but we can always ask
Katya if she remembers
- what she looked like.
- Great work.
But we don't need to ask Katya.
I know exactly who that is.
Your Honor, I'd like to
admit Warden Nicola Caruso
as an expert witness.
She has been a warden
at three institutions,
and has a stellar track record.
Mr. Willis, any objections?
None from me, sir.
I agree Warden Caruso is
an expert in her field.
Thank you.
Nic Ms. Caruso.
Oh, Mrs.
Mrs. Caruso, I'm sorry.
You were hired to make significant
changes at the institution.
Did you have success?
I did. I changed the
culture of the prison,
and I'm proud of that.
But you kept some of the personnel
from the prior warden, correct?
No one connected to the case.
To be clear, were you in charge
when Katya Novik alleges
her abuse took place?
No, I was not at the prison
yet, so we never crossed paths.
Never crossed paths meaning
you've never met her?
- That's right.
- Well,
Katya has been doing very
well since her release,
or so she had been.
She even has a job now,
working at a nail salon.
Until she had a very bad day.
Objection. Where's the question?
Apologies. Have you
had a manicure recently?
(CHUCKLES) I
I think it's pretty clear I haven't.
Objection. Relevance.
Getting to it. Your
Honor, I'd like to submit
into evidence Exhibit 225B.
Mrs. Caruso, do you
recognize that woman?
Here, let me help you.
You have an identical birthmark
to the one in this footage.
We saw it earlier when
you held up your hand.
But you said you didn't know Katya,
didn't get your nails done?
I plead the Fifth.
You knew Katya had a
history of drug abuse.
- Objection, Your Honor.
- And you purposely triggered her
so that she could be more inclined
to buy from the dealer you
arranged to visit, didn't you?
- I plead the Fifth.
- That's okay.
You could plead the Fifth.
But I want your opinion
as an expert witness.
Why would someone working to
rehabilitate the prison system
want to discredit a witness who
was harmed by the old system?
- Objection, Your Honor!
- On what grounds?
You agreed to have her
admitted as an expert.
Mrs. Caruso, you need to answer.
I imagine
that someone may have thought
that the settlement
money could do more good
if it went back into the system,
where it could pay for programs
to rehabilitate prisoners,
fund more educational programs,
instead of paying out one drug
addict who chose to say "yes."
A drug addict who chose to
say "yes" is not disposable.
She is still a person who
deserves dignity and respect.
What if it were your child?
(GALLERY MURMURING)
♪
MATTY: So, what do you think
that new settlement number'll be?
Well, based off the research
I've done, which is extensive,
- I
- Oh, who cares? There's Kira!
- Hi, Kira!
- (WHISPERS): Stop. What are you doing?
She told me she has lunch here at 1:00.
If you want to have a
work-life balance, darling,
you have to have a life
to balance work with.
- Hey, girl!
- No.
What up?
Well, lunch is what up.
(LAUGHS) Oh, I thought
you were on a break.
- You brought your computer.
- Well, Louie never leaves my side.
- He's the only guy I'll ever sleep with.
- (MATTY LAUGHS)
Well, it's great to see
you. Oh. You know what?
I just remembered. I got
to take my dairy pill,
or else Sarah's gonna be
smelling my lunch later.
- Oh, we can't have that.
- SARAH: What an appetizing thought
to share before we eat lunch.
(GASPS) Oh, Lord!
- Ugh. Oh, you can't take me anywhere!
- (LAUGHS)
Is the idea to trauma bond us?
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
- (PHONE ALARM RINGING)
- Oh. Darling, can you
you get that for me?
(ALARM STOPS)
- Oh, thank you.
- Mm-hmm.
(EXHALES) You know what,
I have a sandwich upstairs.
I think I'm just gonna go eat that.
I'm sorry, Sarah.
Looks like you'll be eating alone.
Fine by me.
I'll eat with you.
So? Did it work?
(CHUCKLES): Well, I
left 'em together, so
- rest is up to her.
- Mm!
I'm an optimist.
I stopped working on her dating profile,
and, uh
I started yours.
What? No.
- Yes.
- I can't.
Why not? You're raising
a grandkid on your own.
Think about how nice it
would be to have a partner.
To go to. To lean on.
I don't think I'd survive
this place without Claudia.
So let's just
make this, see how you feel.
I won't post it yet. Now, come on.
Check this guy out.
Whoa.
Those thighs are as big
- as a couple of tractor wheels.
- (CHUCKLES)
I filled out basic info, but
I'm gonna need some answers
for the questionnaire.
Gray hair or salt-and-pepper?
Well, if you're not gonna post it,
I-I wouldn't mind a silver fox.
Mm, silver fox it is.
What's one thing you'd want
your potential partner to know?
Why haven't you proposed to Claudia
after dating her for eight years?
Seems weird to put that in a profile.
Um
I grew up with all women.
I never had anyone to
show me how to be a
I don't know, a husband, I guess.
Well, did you grow up with lawyers?
- No, but that's different.
- No, it's not.
- (SIGHS)
- You forged your own path.
You're a real catch, Billy.
I ought to know, 'cause back in my day,
I got around.
(LAUGHS)
The real question is,
is she the gal?
Yeah, she's the gal.
- Aw.
- (CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
You just encouraged me with Claudia.
Sometimes
- you need a little push.
- (WHOOSHES)
- Oh
- Mm-hmm.
(PHONE BUZZES)
The prison settled.
Olympia wants us to meet with her.
Oh.
How was your lunch?
Good. But if you ever
trick me like that again,
I will take you down, Golden Girl.
- One brittle bone at a time.
- (CHUCKLES)
- Ooh!
- Mm-hmm. (LAUGHS)
So?
The prison is paying
our women two million.
Each.
- Yes!
- Oh, my! (LAUGHING)
Great work, all of you.
Billy and Sarah,
you really stepped up.
Agreed.
But we're not done yet.
EDWIN: Katya said yes?
She said yes.
She's going into rehab.
Olympia secured a bed for her.
I don't know if it'll stick.
Well, that's all you can do.
On that front.
On this front
I got it.
You got it?
It's easier than cutting off her finger.
- We're not doing that stuff, right?
- ALFIE: Grammy!
Quick, close it. I don't
want him to know we're stuck.
We're not cutting off fingers.
But, come on, you've seen
Mission: Impossible.
We can get a fingerprint.
(ALARM RINGING)
I'm sorry, darling.
Can you grab that? Oh!
Oh. Thank you.
♪
Okay.
Madeline Kingston,
you are amazing.
I know.
So, listen, I've been thinking.
We're gonna need to
bring Alfie in again.
- Just for a little.
- What?
Unless you know what
to do in a server room.
You were adamant we
shouldn't involve him.
I know.
(CLICKS TONGUE) Standing
in front of that building
We're so close.
But you were right.
We can't let it take over his life.
- Mm-mm.
- So what does that mean?
Moderation?
Okay.
Moderation.
- Mm-hmm.
- KATHRYN/COURT: Toots all night,
poots all day, so come
on down to the fart café!
(CHUCKLES): Okay. That's it.
Clean your dessert.
(CHUCKLING)
(SIGHS)
Regret staying for dinner?
- (CHUCKLES)
- Never.
Then again, uh, I get to leave
before they come down
from that sugar rush, so
Mm. Speaking of leaving,
thanks for all that legwork you did.
It helped me wrap my mind
around the possibility of moving.
And absorb the fact that, damn,
my cardboard scheme drove that man mad.
(BOTH LAUGH)
So where are you at?
KATHRYN/COURT: Toots
all night, poots all day,
- so come on down to the fart café.
- (CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
I'm at
I'm scared.
I-I really think the kids will be fine.
I know they will.
It's me.
I'm scared to lose this.
(CHATTERING)
We won't lose this.
We made this.
KATHRYN/COURT: Toots
all night, poots all day,
so come on down to the fart café.
♪
You have to catch me
up on everything, okay?
I will. After dinner.
(PHONE CHIMES)
Oh, no.
It's a message from that infernal
dating site Billy set me up on.
Grammy, does this mean you have a date?
Putting the phone away.
Oh, no way.
I want to hear Casanova's opening line.
Suss out my competition.
(CHUCKLES)
Okay.
"Madeline Kingston, is that you?
I can't believe it."
EDWIN: Someone recognized you.