Suits LA (2025) s01e07 Episode Script

1
Previously on Suits LA.
What can I do for you?
I want you, and not Ted.
I need you to get me an audition.
That will make you a partner on day one.
You can skip right
to the front of the line.
I don't sell my soul
defending criminals.
And I don't want to skip to
the front of the damn line.
Pellegrini paid a
lawyer to offer you a job.
If it comes out that your
father took money from the mob,
everyone'll think
you're as dirty as he is.
John Amos was in here before.
I told him if you wouldn't
get him an audition, I would.
Ted, I used to think I wanted to be you.
I don't anymore, and I have to leave
before I forget that.
You created the dynamic
you had with your father.
At work, you did it with Stuart,
you did it with Rick.
You need to see your
father and forgive him.
He does not get to be forgiven!
I always wanted to write movies.
- Well, then why
- Because when you're
a first-generation Korean American,
you become a lawyer, not a writer.
- Give up the case.
- I can't do that.
I love you, Ted, but I'm gonna
accept an offer from one of the firms
- in Los Angeles.
- I have a videotape of Lester's confession.
Once the jury watch it,
this trial's going to be over.
Not bad for your first
time as defense attorney.
Couldn't have done it without you.
[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
Good morning.
It certainly is.
I love the smell of victory.
Apparently not the smell of humility.
Oh, please, humility is just pretending
you didn't win when everyone
knows that you dominated.
- Or it's arrogance in
- Boring.
All I'm saying is, I don't feel the need
to crow after every little win.
Says the woman who strutted
in here dressed like that.
This old thing? This is just
my "We put Elizabeth Smith"
"into the ground" outfit.
Well, look who's not humble now.
Please. Humility is for losers.
Words to live by which I do.
Thank you, Rosalyn.
Listen, we have a staff
meeting this morning.
I'd like you to be there.
Do you mind telling me why?
I will tell you in the meeting.
Right now, there's something
I need to take care of.
You just thinking about how
you're gonna miss all of us?
More like wondering
what the big mystery is
- that Rosalyn wanted me to meet you here.
- No mystery.
I just know that you're
leaving on Thursday,
and I wanted to make
sure that you got paid.
In full.
Check day. [CHUCKLING]
- Don't you think this is missing a zero?
- Are you kidding?
That's double what I said
I'd pay you as a bonus.
- Bonus that's missing a zero.
- Uh-huh.
I mean, come on, Ted.
I did break Lester for you.
You mean you found out the truth
- I'm with you.
- Withheld it from me
- Where is this going?
- And then allowed me
to put on a defense that
could have gotten me disbarred.
- I'll give you that one.
- And you want an extra zero?
I said no such thing.
[CHUCKLES] Thanks, Ted.
You're welcome.
Listen, Kevin, I know it goes
without saying, but there is
there's always an office
here with your name on it.
You know, that's funny.
Been out here all this time,
and you never gave me an office.
It's a metaphor.
You're a metaphor.
You don't know what
a metaphor is, do you?
And I never will.
[CHUCKLES]
Gonna miss you, buddy.
I'll miss you too.
[CLEARS THROAT] Ted, it's time.
Everyone's in the conference room.
Can you not see that we're
in the middle of a man hug?
I waited as long as I could.
I had to sit through
that stupid metaphor bit.
I thought we would be here till Tuesday.
I'm not gonna miss you, Rosalyn.
You already do.
[LIGHT MUSIC]
It occurs to me that
this is our very first
partners meeting of
the newly merged entity,
and Samantha and I have
yet to discuss who, in fact,
shall steer this blessed
ship on her maiden voyage.
You're the one who
called the meeting, Stuart.
I hate these things.
It always starts with a bad joke
before the inevitable ten
minutes reading the agenda.
On to item number four
I have a meeting today with David Bowie.
What? Icon David Bowie?
I love that guy!
Didn't he die, like, ten years ago?
He's talking about a
different David Bowie.
There's two David Bowies?
I didn't know there was one!
- Jesus Christ.
- Yep, passed away in 2016.
The question is, how?
That is not the question.
Yeah, just give me a sec.
I'll have your answer.
Is this how these things usually go?
Watch this.
Copeland, clean out
your desk. You're fired.
And Melissa's cheating on you.
Liver cancer.
A silent killer.
If I may continue.
- [PHONE BUZZING]
- I think that I
Sorry, Stuart. I have to go.
OK, you know what?
I get that I'm the only one who
takes these meetings seriously,
but I don't think it's
too much to ask to
sorry, Rick.
You do what you have to do.
[SOMBER MUSIC]
You're an idiot.
I called this meeting
because all of you know
what we've gone through.
What you might not be
aware of is that this morning,
we made
the front page, baby!
Yes. Thank you.
I appreciate that.
But this applause
should be for all of you.
You could have left.
You did not.
So this is for all of us.
[APPLAUSE]
And I couldn't have done it without you.
Thank you.
Now, you may have also noticed
there is a non-member of
the firm here, Amanda Stevens.
And that is because without her,
this headline may very
well have read "guilty."
- Therefore
- Ted, sorry to interrupt.
I need to talk to you.
Rosalyn, we are in
the middle of a meeting.
I know, but this can't wait.
What happened?
I just found out John Amos died.
[SOMBER MUSIC]
I'm sorry, everyone.
This meeting's gonna
have to be put on hold.
See the money, want
to stay for your meal ♪
Get another piece
of pie for your wife ♪
Everybody want to know how it feel ♪
Everybody want to see what it's like ♪
I'll even eat a bean
pie, I don't mind ♪
Me and Missy is so
busy, busy making money ♪
All right ♪
All step back, I'm 'bout to dance ♪
The greenback boogie ♪
What do we have here?
Betty Bear Claw.
Sally Sprinkles looking fit and tasty.
Ooh, Jelly-Filled Judy.
Looks like we have a winner. [CHUCKLES]
A man who names his doughnuts.
I'm comfortable in my choices.
- I'm not mad at it.
- [BOTH CHUCKLE]
Seriously, Kevin, I
have a favor to ask you
- before you head back to New York.
- Yeah, yeah. What do you got?
Tomorrow is my mom's birthday.
We have a tradition of going
to dinner the night before,
just the two of us.
And I wanted to do something special.
- She an attractive woman?
- What does that have to do with it?
Please, continue.
So she has a friend
from elementary school
in Altadena. Her name's Caroline Baker.
They've lost touch over the years,
but she still talks about her.
And I was wondering if
- You want me to find her.
- Yes.
Here's everything I know about her.
I'll do what I do.
- Thank you.
- [CHUCKLES]
OK.
I'll give you some privacy.
We gonna need it.
Did you miss me?
Yes, you did.
[CHUCKLES]
[CHUCKLES]
Like, this is what I'm saying.
How do they do this so perfectly?
Whenever I try it, it turns out like
BOTH: A shapeless blob. [LAUGHTER]
You know, I love when we do that.
That's actually why I
wanted to meet you here.
Oh, my God. Is this what I think it is?
Don't get me wrong,
my current lawyer is fine.
But I want someone who really gets me,
and let's face it, that's you.
- I will face it.
- I know.
- It is me.
- I know.
[SQUEALS]
I would love to be your new lawyer.
Great! Then let's get started.
I have a new script.
I'd love to see what you can do with it.
[EXHALES HEAVILY]
May the Force be with me.
Did you hear the news?
I did.
Do you know where we're going?
I do.
One thing.
What's that?
Take a car.
Already done.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
OK, what is so urgent
that you pulled me away
from preparing for the
biggest trial of my career?
I called you because I need to know
if I'm facing criminal charges.
What? Why?
Got a target letter from
your office last night
saying I was the subject
of an investigation.
If you got this,
you already know that
you're facing charges.
So tell me what you want from me.
Because I am not risking my career
to get you out of whatever this is.
Your career is why I'm goddamn in this.
You
you did something.
Pellegrini has proof.
And that is what he used
to get you to offer me a job.
He didn't pay you. He extorted you.
And when you didn't come
through, he hung you out to dry
to make me look dirty.
Tell me I'm wrong.
You talking to me as my
son or as a US attorney?
If you're asking me that, we
have nothing more to discuss.
- Teddy.
- Don't "Teddy" me!
You got yourself into this.
You can get yourself out.
Ted.
Rick. It's good to see you.
You too.
Just wish it wasn't for this.
Well, I'm glad you could make it.
No one else understands
what losing John means.
You might not remember
this, but he's actually
the first client you let me share.
You won't know this, but
I didn't want to share him.
He was my first client.
But he saw something in you,
and somewhere along the way, he
convinced me that
you would take far
better care of him than me.
I know.
John told me.
Never cared for the man.
Terrible judge of character.
Look at that.
He's gone,
and he's still putting us back together.
He always had a way.
America's father.
[CHUCKLES]
- To John.
- To John.
[GLASSES CLINK]
America's father.
- I miss this.
- Me too.
Can we
What do you say we have a few more?
Depends on if you can pace yourself.
Me? Please.
We both know I can
drink you under the table.
[SLURPS]
[CHUCKLES]
[GULPS] Ah. [COUGHS]
- Let's go.
- [CHUCKLES]
- David Bowie.
- And you are?
Stuart Lane.
I know you're a busy
man, so let's get right to it.
You were hired by the
studio to stop a whistleblower
- from coming forward.
- I wasn't hired by anyone to do anything.
And yet somehow Anne Jones' car blew up.
I don't like your tone.
You're not hiring me for my tone.
You're hiring me to get you off.
I haven't hired you at all.
Speaking of which, why isn't
Samantha Railsback here?
Why would she be? She's entertainment.
This is a criminal matter.
I've been accused of a crime.
If I want people in this
industry to keep hiring me
You need a veneer of respectability.
Again with the tone.
I didn't come here for
your criminal expertise.
I came here because I
want Samantha Railsback
at a press conference
saying that she believes in me.
People respect her,
so they'll respect me.
What they'll respect is
me winning your case
and you walking away free.
Any monkey can win this case.
Get me Samantha Railsback,
or I'll find myself another chimp.
[SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE]
Oh, look, your car's here. Yay.
- You all right there, slugger?
- Mm-hmm.
Looking a little unsteady on your feet.
- I'm steady.
- Yeah?
Steady as a rock!
[GROANS]
Star.
We just we just saying words now?
Come on, up you come.
Yeah. You're good.
I'm great.
- Do you get it?
- What?
Do you know how many stars there are
on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?
I do not know, but I bet that you do.
I don't know.
But I do know not one of
these stars is for John Amos.
But you and I?
We're gonna change that, forever.
That is an excellent idea.
This is why you should have
six old-fashioneds more often.
[SNIFFLES] You have a great chin.
[CHUCKLING]
- Look at your hair.
- Don't touch my hair.
Your nose.
- Shotgun!
- [CHUCKLES]
Oh.
For Ted Black?
That's not me.
I was looking for you.
Well, you found me, just like
I found your mother's friend
alive and well and living in Phoenix.
I don't know how to thank you.
You already have.
You know, doing this got me thinking.
Except for once, Ted and
I didn't talk to each other
for the past 15 years.
And somewhere in there, my wife died.
I didn't know it at the time, but
eh, I wish I had had him to talk to.
You know?
Now I realize how special it's been
for me to be here these last weeks.
- Who is this handsome man?
- Oh.
Oh, wait a minute, wait a minute.
"Very handsome."
[LAUGHS] Ooh, I'm not gonna fight you.
[LAUGHTER]
- Ma.
- Oh, Erica,
I'm married, not dead.
Ooh, I like her already.
So does my father.
Kevin, this is my
mom, Mrs. Anita Rollins.
Mommy, this is Kevin. Now say goodbye.
- It's nice to meet you, Anita.
- Nice to meet you.
And you must be a hell
of a mother to have raised
- such a wonderful daughter.
- Thank you.
[CHUCKLES]
[WHISPERS] I'll call you.
- Ma!
- [LAUGHTER]
- At the workplace?
- It's my birthday.
Come on.
Get in the go. Get in the car.
[BUTTON CLICKS, CONSOLE BEEPS]
Why is my chair touching me?
I thought you might like a massage.
Oh, Ted, you got to get in on this, man.
This is amazing.
I'm sure it is.
You need to say, this
is amazing, 'cause
No, I I don't want to.
Say that it's amazing.
- Say it. Say it.
- It's amazing. It's amazing.
[LIGHT MUSIC]
What's amazing?
You are, slugger.
- Mm.
- You are.
Mm.
You know, I never told you this, but
ever since I left, I realized
and Erica, you know?
[LAUGHTER]
Well, all I'm saying is,
would it hurt you to show
- just a little bit of cleavage?
- No!
This check is not gonna pay for itself.
[CHUCKLING] Oh, my goodness.
You are on one tonight.
In fact, the way you
were flirting with Kevin
ought to ban you from my office.
Well, you do what you have to do, OK?
But I was flirting for a reason.
What do you mean?
I heard him talking about his wife.
The man covers it up,
but he is still mourning.
I just wanted to wake him up a little.
You got all that from
meeting him in two minutes?
I got all that in two seconds.
The sound of his voice
when he was talking about her
reminds me of my father.
He never recovered after
your grandmother passed.
Are you saying Kevin needs
to get himself back out there?
I'm saying he needs something.
Hmm.
Well, speaking of needing something,
I tracked down Caroline Baker.
Erica.
Kevin was right.
I am an amazing mother.
[LAUGHS]
You are.
Happy birthday, Mommy.
Thank you, baby.
[SOFT MUSIC]
Rosalyn, do you have a minute?
I signed my first client today.
She's an accomplished
writer, and she gave me
- her newest script to read.
- And?
And I think I can write a better one.
And that got me thinking
about the road not taken,
and I was wondering if you think
Erica and Ted would be
open to me taking a sabbatical.
I don't see why they wouldn't be.
- Really?
- Of course.
It's no different than
when Ted put himself up
for "Training Day" instead
of Denzel Washington.
- Ted did that?
- No, because Ted is a lawyer, not an actor.
And he would never sell his client out.
Well, it's not like that.
Let me tell you what it's like.
Not three weeks ago,
you're polishing your résumé,
and now, on the day
you sign your first client,
you're thinking of changing careers?
Well, I just wanted to see if
Leah, I understand the
concept of roads not taken.
But if you're gonna
have a career as a writer,
it's not taking a sabbatical.
It's dedicating your life to it.
So here's what I'm gonna do.
I'm gonna grant you
a 48-hour sabbatical.
Pick a lane.
Leah?
- Hey.
- What are you doing here?
It's, like, 3:00 in the morning.
- It's 8:30.
- Whatever. [SIGHS]
- Why are you here?
- Um
well, we were approached
by a writer for representation.
Unfortunately, we have a conflict.
But we all think he
has a lot of potential,
and I thought you might
want the inside track.
OK, well, I'd need to read a sample.
Oh, I actually have four
of his scripts right here.
Ezra Bridger.
Name sounds familiar.
Have you read all these?
Yeah, many times.
- Thanks, Leah.
- Of course.
- Please leave.
- Yeah, I will
I was never yeah.
I need to talk to you for a minute.
I met with David Bowie today.
You sign him?
Not exactly.
Turns out, my services
aren't all he's looking for.
Why don't you get to it, Stuart?
Because not in the habit
of representing criminals.
He's not just any
criminal, and you know it.
He operates in your world.
He fixes problems for
studios using violence,
intimidation, and who knows what else.
Dress him up any way you want.
We aren't in the same world.
Look, all the man
wants is for you to say
a few words on his behalf
at a press conference.
He wants to use my
reputation to whitewash his.
And I'm not doing it.
I don't believe it.
This is Ted Black all over again.
What did you just say to me?
I came here because I thought
things would be different.
And here you are, holding your nose
at my side of the
business, just like Ted.
I'm not holding my nose at it.
I just don't want to be in it.
Your name's on the goddamn letterhead!
You're in it whether you
want to admit it or not.
I have a client who doesn't need
anything more from you
than to utter three sentences
and walk away.
If you can't do that, I'm no better off
than when I was working with Ted.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
- Oh.
- Fancy meeting you here.
Me? I never knew you
to be a breakfast girl.
Truth be told, I'm in no hurry
to get to the office this morning.
Your boy Stuart is a piece of work.
I'm meeting someone.
I have a few minutes. Let me have it.
We got into it over David Bowie.
- OK.
- Stuart wants me
to publicly vouch for him,
and I don't want to get
within 50 feet of that scumbag.
Well, let me guess
Stuart's taking that personally.
He said I reminded him of you.
Did he?
Mm-hmm.
Look, I'm not saying
that I had nothing to do
with what happened
between me and Stuart.
I have been hard on criminal defense.
But you know the saying,
"When you're a hammer,
the whole world looks like a nail"?
Well, with Stuart,
when you have a chip on your shoulder,
it feels like the whole
world doesn't respect you.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
[PHONE RINGS]
Oh, hello.
Are you hungover?
What? Why would you say that?
Maybe because of the drunken
message you sent me last night?
Right. The message. Yeah.
You have no recollection
of anything that I'm saying, do you?
You can't prove that.
In fact, I remember
calling you at exactly
6:57 PM.
Then all you have to do is
remember what you asked me,
and maybe I'll say yes.
How can I remember what I asked?
I don't even remember calling you.
If that's the case, if it comes to you,
I will definitely say yes.
- Now I have to go.
- Wait, whoa, whoa!
Can you give me a hint?
Nope.
[SIGHS] Damn it.
- You ready?
- Yeah. Let's do it.
[EXHALES SHARPLY]
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
Steve.
Thought you two weren't
working together anymore.
- We are today.
- I see.
- Mind if we sit down?
- Please sit. Sit.
What can I do you for?
I'm sure heard the news about John Amos?
I did. My condolences.
And since you sit on the board
of the Hollywood Walk of Fame
You want to give John a star.
We were hoping you could
help us cut through the red tape.
Consider it cut.
Two years, star goes in.
Guarantee a prime location.
- Thank you.
- Two years?
- Ted, this is a win.
- No, listen, I get the frustration,
but Leo, Denzel, Beyoncé,
not one of them has a star.
You know, I know
Denzel doesn't have a star.
He's my client. And if Denzel were here,
he'd be the first one to tell you
that he wouldn't be where he is today
without John Amos paving the way.
OK, well, be that as it may,
you're asking me to fast-track this,
and two years is the best I can do.
The man's a legend. He's an icon.
Have you even seen
"Good Times" or "Roots"?
I admit, that's a little before my time.
Well, God forbid you know
something about the business
- that you work in.
- OK, Ted.
John Amos was the
Sidney Poitier of television.
He broke new ground for Black America,
and he was a father
figure for all of America.
He should have had a star decades ago,
nd if you can't recognize that,
you're in the wrong goddamn business!
Say one more word, and
he won't get a star at all.
Then I'm gonna be on my
way, because I have to look
at your face for one more second,
I'm gonna do a lot more
to you than say words.
You got to be kidding me.
That son of a bitch puts
our case in jeopardy.
You cover for him, and now
he wants you to get him out
from under a federal investigation
you didn't even know was going on?
I'm gonna nominate
him for Father of the Year.
[CHUCKLES] Glad you
can see the humor in this.
Well, I'm either gonna
laugh or kill myself.
The second that they arrest him,
my career at the Justice
Department is over.
- Doesn't have to be.
- How's that?
You go in there and you tell Jackson
no one is more qualified than you
to prosecute your father,
and you put him away your damn self.
Are you out of your mind?
He'll never go for it.
Make him go for it.
The man is still my father.
Then go in there and
tell Jackson you quit,
because, Teddy, if
you don't convince them
to let you do this,
they sure as hell gonna fire you.
When they told me you
wanted to meet me here,
I wondered why.
Kevin, I'm not gonna
beat around the bush.
Any fool can see how
much you mean to Ted.
Truth be told, I've gotten
a little used to you myself.
If I were to stay, you'd
be running into me
a lot more often.
I can live with that.
Might run into your
mother some more too.
OK, I'm scraping this
name off the door right now.
Erica, I I don't know what to say.
Say yes.
Tell you what,
it's a big deal to up
and change your life.
So why don't you
just sit here for a while
and imagine what it could be.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
Ted. What can I do for you?
I want to know why you
sent a target letter to my father
and you didn't give me a heads-up.
It's not personal. It's optics.
The optics are that you can't trust me
and that my career is about to be over.
What do you want me to say?
I want you to let me be the
one to prosecute my father.
I do that, they laugh
me out of the room.
Do you think it's any
coincidence that all of this
is happening right
when I'm about to start
prosecuting Pellegrini?
He's trying to get me off
the case, and I can prove it.
How the hell you gonna do that?
By getting my father
to testify that Pellegrini
extorted him to get me off the case.
That's obstruction right there.
When were you gonna
tell me that little nugget?
- I'm telling you now.
- Let me guess
Daddy doesn't go to prison.
This has nothing to do with
getting him a sweetheart deal.
This has to do with
putting Pellegrini away
- Ted, it would
- Because I have put everything
on the line to get this bastard.
And I'm supposed to
be telling you to ask
Goddamn it! I lost Samantha.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
OK.
You get your father to put
the nail in Pellegrini's coffin,
and I'll see what I can do
about letting you take both cases.
If not?
You go after Pellegrini
with what you have.
And when it's over,
you hand in your resignation.
What can I help you with, Rick?
Well, I came to let you know that I
talked Steve off the ledge.
We're getting the star in two years.
But if he hears from
you again, it's over.
- I thought I taught you better than that.
- Excuse me?
I thought I taught you
to fight for your clients.
Well, you don't do that
by insulting the man who
controls what you want.
You sure as hell don't
do it by accepting terms.
You do it by dictating them.
We did dictate them.
We said we wanted a star.
- He said yes.
- He didn't say yes!
He said it would take time.
Do you know what
happens with time, Rick?
People forget.
Well, I am not gonna
let them forget John.
My mistake, Ted.
I thought I could do one
last thing to help John,
but it turns out, you're
the one that needs help.
You're right, this is all my fault!
So why don't you do what you do?
Run away like you did
before, except this time,
don't bother writing a note,
because I am done wasting
my time with your excuses.
I don't need to write anything.
I'll tell you right to your face.
Ted, go to hell.
Rick. Good, you're here.
I hate to follow up so quickly,
but there's interest
in that writer, and
Whoever wants him can have him.
You didn't respond to the material?
Barely got through ten pages.
Which script did you read?
- Because his range is
- Leah, I know what's going on.
You do?
Usually your taste is spot-on,
but in this case, you're too close
to be objective because
you're doing this as
a favor to a friend?
I am.
But I know for a fact that there are
professional writers that
value his feedback very highly.
Then let him give feedback.
But giving great
notes, it's not the same
as being a great writer.
I won't waste any more of your time.
All right, Leah, hold on.
Look.
If it helps, I looked up Ezra Bridger.
The only hit I got
is the lead character
in "Star Wars Rebels."
So if your friend is
hiding behind a pen name,
deep down, he knows he
doesn't have what it takes.
- Hey.
- Hey.
I appreciate you putting Erica up
to that whole office thing, but
Kevin, I didn't put
Erica up to anything.
You didn't ask her to
try to get me to stay?
Of course not.
'Cause you know I can't.
And I know why.
Your father.
Speaking of fathers,
before you go,
there's something that
you and I need to do.
[KNOCK AT DOOR]
You have a minute?
I ran into Ted today.
Got me thinking.
I'm pretty sure you feel the
same way about David Bowie
- that I do.
- He's a heinous human being.
You're able to put that in
a box and represent him.
And I have great respect for that.
But I don't want to get
within a hundred feet of him,
and I need you to respect that.
It still feels like you want
the dirty laundry taken care of
but you want to pretend
you have nothing to do with it.
You're right, but I'm
good with that flaw in me.
The fact that you take it so personally
that you're the one doing
the laundry, that's on you.
Having said all that,
I will attend your
next meeting with him,
let him know what's what,
side by side.
That's OK.
I'll do it myself.
- But I thought you
- I don't need you to be by my side.
I just needed to know you would.
You got all that from a run-in with Ted?
Most of it was me.
But he did admit that he played a role
in what happened between you two.
He sort of already said
the same thing to me.
I guess it's good to know he meant it.
He does respect you, Stuart,
whether you like it or not.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
[LINE RINGING]
Are you calling to yell at
me about something new?
I'm calling to say I'm sorry.
Me blowing up had
nothing to do with you.
I'd been avoiding John for weeks
because the last time that
we spoke, we had a fight.
I didn't take his advice,
and I didn't want to face him.
What was the advice?
He told me to forgive
my father before he died.
And you didn't?
I did not.
John Amos and James
Evans were the same in that
they were exactly who
I wanted my dad to be
honest, strong, tough
Would do anything for their kids.
So when that moron didn't
even know "Good Times"
Ted, I understand.
- We good?
- Not yet.
The night of the fight
was the night you left.
John told me that I was re-creating
the dynamic with my
father with you and Stuart.
If I did that, I didn't mean to.
I'm sorry.
Look, Ted, I don't know
what happened between you
and your father, but I'm guessing
you never had a conversation like this.
So I'd say you're already
ahead of the game.
You know what you're saying?
What's that?
That idiot Amos was wrong.
- Too soon?
- What's he gonna do, fire us?
Ha.
No, he's not.
Good night, Rick.
Good night, Ted.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
Please, Tina, have a seat.
You'll see on the table
an engagement letter
outlining the scope in
terms of our services.
Conference room, engagement letter
this seems so formal.
Obviously, you and I
have become friends.
And when we're at the movies
or we're talking film over coffee,
that's one thing.
But here is where I kill for you.
And it's also where
I tell you the truth.
About what?
This.
I can't do what you do.
But I can tell when
something is undeniable,
and this isn't there yet.
My other lawyer said they
could sell this in a minute.
They can, because you're
coming off a Dylan Pryor movie
and you're hot,
but I'm not talking about selling it.
I'm talking about getting it made.
Now, I may not be a writer,
but I know I can help
you put this over the top.
This may not be what
you want in a lawyer,
but it's the kind of
lawyer I'm going to be.
Hey. Glad you're here.
My mom got in touch with
Caroline Baker last night,
and they're gonna get
together next month.
That's nice.
- But?
- Erica,
as much as I appreciate your offer,
I can't stay.
And I want you to know why.
- Kevin, you don't have to
- No, no, listen.
I
I always wanted to work with my father.
You know, the plan
was to retire from the FBI
and join his little detective agency.
Turns out, I didn't
make it to retirement.
I got kicked out.
And my dad was there for me.
So that agency is
all I have left of him.
And I just
I just can't let it go.
You really are a sweet man.
[SOFT MUSIC]
Kevin
you getting kicked out of the FBI,
did that have anything to do with Ted?
I mean, you said the two of
you didn't speak all those years.
That's a story for another time.
Is that your resignation letter?
No.
It's a signed engagement
letter for my new client, Tina Liu.
So you picked a lane.
I made a lane.
- Finally.
- What?
When you applied
here, it was between you
and another candidate.
On paper, it should have been her.
But I went out on a limb for you.
Why would you do that?
You didn't even know me.
Because I saw a little bit of me in you.
[PHONE RINGING]
I have to take this.
[SOFT MUSIC]
Ted Black's office.
Let me see if he's in.
Ted,
Stuart's on the phone for you.
Do you want me to tell
him you're gone for the day?
No, I'll take it.
Thank you.
Stuart, how can I help you?
I wanted to express my
condolences over John Amos.
I know how much he meant to you.
You know, I appreciate
that more than you know.
Night, Ted.
Night, slugger.
Don't call me slugger.
You got it, slugger.
- [LINE CLICKS]
- [CHUCKLES]
Hey, got a minute?
Sure. What's up?
You don't remember, do you?
To be honest, the past two
days have been a bit of a blur.
Maybe this will jog your memory.
You wanted me in the staff meeting,
but then didn't tell me why?
Doesn't ring a bell.
Not even a little bit?
I wanted to formally nominate you
as our new head of criminal defense.
I did not see that coming.
I think that you are
an outstanding lawyer,
and I would like to work
more closely with you.
And I just think that we
could do great things together.
No doubt we could. But
I understand that the pro bono thing
is still very important to you.
But I think that we could
come to an arrangement
that you would be good with.
I need to think about it.
That's all I can ask.
Just to be clear, you
were gonna ask me this
in front of everyone?
- Yep. Yeah.
- Uh-huh.
I thought that you would
like a grand gesture.
[LIGHT MUSIC]
Hey, Ted. You ready?
I got it all set up upstairs.
[SMOOTH MUSIC]
Yeah. I'll be right up.
Like I said, I'll think about it.
- Think about it.
- Yeah.
Well, look who it is.
I remember why I called you.
You do?
I do.
You still care to join me?
Your place or mine?
Why don't you come to mine?
I'm on my way.
So are we just offering Kevin jobs now?
I thought you'd like to have
your partner here with you.
- Oh, I already do.
- [ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
[CHUCKLES]
We'll see you tomorrow, partner.
Do I look like I was born yesterday?
You called me over here because
you said you had a way out.
This is a way out.
You testify against Pellegrini,
you get witness
protection instead of prison.
Let's ask Billy Esposito
how that worked out for him.
Oh, wait. We can't, because he's dead.
Dad, I'm just I'm trying to
Oh, now, now you call me Dad
when you want something from me.
Yeah, I want to put this monster away.
I want to try to save my
career that you put a bullet in
when you let him extort you.
But most of all, I would like for once
to have my father do the right thing.
You want me to say it?
I'm scared.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
You know, when I was growing up,
there was always a present
for every promise that you broke.
And I would have traded all of them
to have what every
one of my friends had
and I didn't.
To know that if push came to shove,
you would trade your life for mine.
This isn't about me
risking my life for yours.
This is just me risking my life.
What, you think they're
not gonna try to kill me too?
I'm asking you to stand next to me,
side by side, father and son.
Teddy
I'm sorry.
I'd rather go to prison than die.
Teddy.
- Teddy.
- Hmm?
Press Play.
Yeah. Sorry.
[UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING OVER TV]
Good times ♪
Anytime you meet a payment ♪
Good times ♪
Anytime you meet a friend ♪
Good times ♪
Anytime you're out from under ♪
Not getting hassled ♪
Not getting hustled ♪
Keeping your head above water ♪
Making a way when you can ♪
Temporary layoffs ♪
Good times ♪
Easy credit rip-offs ♪
Good times ♪
Ain't we lucky we got 'em ♪
Good times ♪
You want me too? Huh?
What you want? You want to hit me?
Come on, hit me, man. Hit me.
Go on, hit me!
I don't want to hit you, son.
I don't want nothing.
Florida, what you doing here?
I thought I told you to stay home, baby.
James, I was so worried
about what you might do,
I had to come.
- You let him go, huh?
- Yeah.
Plenty of guns but no places
to put the kids that use them.
Well, there ain't nothing
we could do, James.
Yeah, there was
something I could have done.
I could have broke him in half, but
Florida, what kind of father am I
to feel sorry for the
man that shot my son?
The right kind, James.
The right kind.
[APPLAUSE]