Fairly Legal s02e01 Episode Script
Satisfaction
Fairly Legal 2x01- Satisfaction Original air date March 16, 2012 - Plymouth and tonic.
- Yes, sir.
Check, please.
You always come in the door leaving? Um, it is not my scene.
But here you are, so you were either born on that barstool, or you came in here disguised as a woman who wants attention.
And you're wearing a $3,000 suit with a pocket square.
I believe my motives are clear.
Sorry.
It has been a while since anyone has offered - to buy me a drink.
- Really? - Did the world go blind? - Hmm.
I'm married.
Was married.
Now I'm not.
Anyway, the ex is on his way to sign the whatever.
But it looks like he has blown me off.
Well, it's just as well.
He would've changed his mind.
Oh, ho ho.
Nice try.
Maybe it'll feel normal someday.
- Do you believe in fate? - Wow, was that a line? It's a question.
Takes the edge off picking up strangers in bars.
I'm 29.
I'm nearly divorced, recently orphaned.
More recently out of a job.
My life is kind of at this unexpected turning point, so, yeah I do believe in fate.
And I believe she's a fickle, fickle bitch.
You seem broken.
I like that.
- And you're a fixer.
- No.
- Yeah.
- No.
I tend to make things much worse, and then I disappear.
Well at least you're decent enough to be honest about it.
You don't see that much.
- Oh, you must be a lawyer.
- Schoolteacher.
Right, you're a schoolteacher, and I'm a decent guy.
- So - Yeah.
Cheers to honesty.
Hey, cheers, yeah.
And good night.
Is truth the way to your heart? Withdrawn counselor.
I misspoke.
We have not yet established that you have a heart.
The way to my heart would be to do everything and to say nothing.
No negotiation, no foreplay, no strategy.
Just be who you are and take me.
Too late.
Excuse me, excuse me.
Excuse me.
Are you the mediator? Um yeah, that's me.
Reed & Reed came very highly recommended.
My grandfather and I just wanted to get here a little early, so someone could answer our questions.
You wanted to get here.
I'm doing this for her.
Sam um, you were saying that while you were employed at Manwaring, they knowingly exposed you to harmful chemicals vinyl chloride Right.
which then led you to getting sick.
And now you're asking for $3 million? Ridiculous.
That company made you sick, and they knew about it.
- They should pay.
- "They," "they," "they.
" They were my friends.
Guys on the line, guys in the suits.
We raised our kids together.
George Algers came to my wedding.
We had lunch together on the line once a week for 35 years.
Algers? His old boss runs the company now.
I don't think they've even spoken in, what, ten years? I got the short end of the cancer stick, all right? Doesn't mean you go to court.
He's from a different generation.
You didn't sue people.
And I can appreciate his values, I really can.
- It's what makes him so great.
- Hmm.
But I also wanna help him get what's fair.
The lawyers.
They got one thing they always put first.
- That's themselves.
- Yes.
Ask her about the character who talked her into all this.
If he's not a scumbag, I'm a damn leprechaun.
Hey, Emma, I'm just going to warn you right now, this is not gonna go how you want it to go.
Why? Because he and I agree about lawyers.
Huh.
I thought you were a lawyer.
If it's confusing to you, imagine how I feel.
Hi, sorry to interrupt.
Lauren McKinnon Reed, managing partner.
You have a sec, Kate? What are you doing? I came in early, saw that you had a negotiation, one of the parties had already arrived, so I just started answering their questions.
Since when have you gone by Lauren McKinnon Reed? - I fired you, Kate.
- Yeah, that was funny.
I've had keys to the building since I was 13.
Kate, honey, while you've been sitting on your boat for the last month, being impulsive and whimsical, I have been holding this firm together.
You drove your father crazy, but I don't know.
He tolerated it because I guess on some level he liked that his little girl never grew up.
I guess he liked having something sweet in his life.
Oh, my God, Kate.
I am not your evil stepmother.
God, I never was.
Get over it.
Now tell me what do you want? I have this fantasy that if I reached in and pulled out your hairpins, your head would just explode.
Okay.
My brother gave me proxy over his share, so that's makes you and me even partners.
Buy me out, fair cash value I'll go.
Yes? I can't buy you out right now.
- Why? - Because there's no cash.
I can barely pay salaries.
What? How did that happen? Well, four of our biggest clients have gone under.
are for bankruptcy proceedings.
Kate, I am doing everything I can to downsize and drum up new business, but it's not been enough.
Which is why the last thing I need right now is more chaos.
So please, please leave me alone, and let me do my job.
Cue awkward entrance.
Leo! Aww.
Your 9:00 A.
M.
is early, and also Kate Reed is here.
Thanks for the heads up.
You you're her her her assistant? We've discussed this many times.
You knew that I was staying on here.
As a floater.
You said you were floating around the office, helping all kinds of different people.
She's not people! You know what? This is where I floated to.
Randomly, without choosing.
You know what? Believe me, don't believe me.
That is the truth, and the truth is all that matters.
You taught me that.
Slam every door you want.
Can't hide the truth.
- Bob.
- Lauren.
Ah, it has been too long.
Thank you for handling this on such short notice.
Oh, it's my pleasure.
The plaintiffs are already here, I believe.
They're just waiting for their attorney.
He's a piece of work.
His clients opted out of the class action against us.
He knows we have closing arguments in a few days.
Oh.
So he's betting manwaring will be found guilty in the class action and that will force you into a big settlement with him? He's not that smart.
He's just betting we don't need the distraction right now.
Well, he's right about that.
If this goes to trial and we lose, everyone who opted out of the class action will come against us.
Needs to be handled quickly and quietly, which is why I thought of Reed & Reed.
Well, thank you.
I'm sure that we can help.
Now, Bob, um, ahem.
There is another little piece of business that I wanted to discuss with you.
I know all about it.
You need a bailout, and you're hoping I can get Peabody Bright to partner up.
I'm looking at a few scenarios.
Get rid of this nuisance for me, and we'll talk.
Teddy started a blue chip firm here.
It'd be a shame to let it slide into the fog.
Kate Reed! Bob.
Oh, Mahoney.
Can you knock this negotiation out for me today? - Oh, I have it covered.
- No, let Kate do it.
Nobody's better at the win-win.
It'll be an easy one.
- Does he know? - Know what? - About - Uh - how busy - That - Lauren is? - Uh, no, I'm not that busy.
But my schedule is completely open.
But, hey, you are the boss, Lauren McKinnon Reed.
Uh, yes.
Of course.
Just you know, don't mess it up.
Oh, great! - Let's get this done.
- Yes, of course.
- Hmm, Ms.
Reed.
- Yes? This is our attorney, Ben Grogan.
Do you two know each other? You fickle bitch.
He's not talking to me.
The timing of this whole claim is no accident.
Of course it's not an accident, pally.
Your client's about to be found guilty in a $53 million class action suit based on the exact same set of facts as our case.
Yes, the same suit Mr.
Childs opted out of because he didn't see the merit.
Until I advised him and his exceptional granddaughter that if they chose to reconsider, they would be entitled to compensation in a separated claim.
Unless my client is found not guilty in which case you have no case at all because as you say it's all based on the same facts.
Exactly! Are you gonna say anything ever, or are we paying you to just sit there and look distracted? I just like to tire you out, run the stink off.
Sam, what do you want from all of this? Manwaring gave me my pension and paid me a good wage for 41 years.
They done give you tumors, Sam.
Tooo-mers! That's a waste of a good word.
- Toomers could be a candy! - Who are you? In spite of my client's nobility, Manwaring were negligent, and the class action suit will prove me right.
Okay, all right.
In case any of this is confusing to you, let me explain it.
The facts in your case don't matter.
Your $3 million claim is nothing but a side bet on the bigger $53 million claim.
The facts always matter.
Oh, Bobby, come on.
Let's just call it what it is.
Any offer you make has nothing to do with a fair compensation for a loss.
It's how much you're willing to pay to get this side bet taken off the table.
I disagree.
And I don't believe we've made any offer yet.
You will, because you can't be sure of the outcome of your big case.
So just say the number.
- $150,000.
- Oh! Bobby, please.
Can we just skip the dance? What is the real number? $350,000.
And he signs a nondisclosure and forfeits all rights to future claims.
Does that mean they're saying that they knew we were exposed to vinyl chloride? No, they're not admitting to anything.
Think of it as a goodwill gesture from a company that appreciates dedicated service.
Do not think of it like that at all.
Sam, Sam.
They're paying you to go away.
How is this mediating? If anyone here deserves a straight shot, it's Sam.
It's a good offer, grandpa.
Why would they pay me if they didn't do anything wrong? The point is they're paying you.
Minute ago, you wanted $3 million.
Now, all of sudden, - Hmm.
- Scumbag.
Oh, I'll be any kind of bag you want, Sam, but preferably the kind you use to carry around the $350,000 you didn't have a moment ago.
Okay, Sam, it's way less than they'd have to pay you if they were lying, and way more than they'd have to pay you if they're not lying.
- What does that mean? - Welcome to the middle.
So again, what do you want? If they didn't do anything wrong, forget the money.
Numquam pecuniae obliviscere.
Never forget the money.
Very old saying.
They did do something wrong.
Please just sleep on it.
You are a more principled man than me, Mr.
Childs.
I admire you.
Shall we consider this closed, Kate? I'm sorry, I have to go.
Ms.
Reed, you are the only one in this room that has no reason to lie to my face.
Gotta love this room.
How do I know if they lied to me? Do I gotta go to court? Sam, I hate court, and I really hate trials.
If you want the truth, you're never gonna find it in this room.
Then I guess I want a trial.
This is a mistake, Sam.
Always leaving, Katie.
I'd have to say that's my new favorite trait.
- Justin.
- Hi.
Hi.
What happened? Well, I got jumped when I was walking to meet you.
I was, like, two blocks away.
- Jumped? - Yeah.
And this is when you tell me, the next day? Well, I was gonna call you and tell you while it was happening, but it was a little hard to dial the phone and protect my face at the same time.
Who did this? I don't know, a couple of guys.
One of them got away.
It's no big deal.
It's like a broken rib.
Well it serves you right for standing me up.
What'd you do, did you give them your, um - your left hook? - Yeah.
- Or your right crossover? - Ow.
No, no, don't make me laugh.
It's way too painful.
- Okay, all right, sorry.
- Aw.
They give you any drugs? No, they gave me a morphine button.
But they're releasing me today.
- I don't like to be fuzzy.
- No.
- You're not a fuzzy guy.
- No.
You're very, um Black and white and in focus - and - Yeah.
Oh, okay.
- Why didn't we work out? - Oh, Kate, honey, not now.
No, please, I can't talk about our divorce until I talk about our marriage.
We gotta move on.
I don't wanna rehash this anymore.
What are you doing? Hey.
Ow.
No, no, no, no.
Oh, no, no, no.
Wha hey! Come on! - Aw.
- Seriously? Yeah.
Ahh, God.
Oh, it's nice.
Right? Here we go.
It's nice to be fuzzy.
Fuzzy.
Nice.
Justin, was it all my fault? Did I come in the door leaving? Oh, Kate, this is so unfair.
Maybe it was a thousand little things that we both did.
You know, the doctrine of small harms says that a thousand paper cuts is far more damaging than one big wound.
You're, like, the only guy I know who talks about the law even when he's high.
You know, sometimes I did feel like you held a part of yourself back from me.
From everyone maybe.
I never had all of you.
What does that mean? - Fuzzy has spoken.
- No! No, no, no.
No, fuzzy.
Fuzzy, please.
Justin, you're not really sleeping, are you? I'm just closing my eyes so as to hear you better.
I think I still love you a little bit.
Oh, don't you judge me.
Kate.
You wanted me to keep my job.
Yes, and is it better to give people what they want or what they need, Leonardo? Kate, if you are working here again, I would very much like to be your assistant.
Get out! Leo! Why can't I move on? I'm like an alley cat.
Or an asteroid.
Why do I keep coming back to this place? You know, I thought it was lawyers that I didn't like, but now I'm starting to think maybe it's just people.
- You love people.
- But I hate conflict.
- You love conflict.
- You're terrible at this.
It's your favorite movie.
You're constantly searching for home, but you can't get what you want without going down the yellow brick road.
This is your journey.
But those were all lies 'cause Dorothy had the shoes the whole time! You! You are Kali, the goddess of dissolution and destruction.
What are you doing here? It smells like propane in here.
Can I have some coffee? What! You can't have anything! I had a settlement on the table.
And now, thanks to you, that angry old crow wants to go to trial.
You've gotta get Mahoney's offer back on the table.
Look, Sam wants to go to trial, and that's your thing anyway, isn't it? "Uh, excuse me, Mr.
Judge" trial is not my thing, winning is.
- This case is a dog.
- Overruled! Yeah, but if the class action wins Looky! $350,000 was all the money that company was ever gonna pay out to Sam Childs.
And you made taking seem like solving a frickin' Rubik's Cube to him.
I wanted him to understand what they were offering.
Sam doesn't want the money if he can't have the truth.
He's never gonna get the truth.
And now, thanks to you, he's never gonna get the money.
The guy's got medical bills up to his eye-teeth, and you convinced him to trade his cash cow for magic beans.
- Nice job.
- I was trying to help! I know.
Your mouth's like a gun.
You should watch where you point that thing.
- Is money all you care about? - Yes! It's all I ever care about.
I know how to maximize a situation.
It's what I do.
You need to get the offer back on the table, Katie.
Kate! You're the mediator.
It's not done until you certify it's done.
If we leave right now, we can still catch Mahoney at the courthouse.
Thank you for the propane high.
I will drive.
Fine.
But I'm not driving with you.
- I'm taking a cab.
- A cab? Are you kidding? We'll barely make it across the bridge as it is.
I don't have a car.
I can't believe I liked you in that bar.
I'm gonna get a tattoo across the inside of my eyelids that says, "do not trust first impressions.
" You know what, I've got an even better idea.
Why don't you put it on your forehead for the rest of us? It figures you live on a boat.
It figures you think this is the time for us to chat.
First rule of humanity: People are usually what they appear to be.
- I'm very good at this, Karen.
- Kate.
You live on a boat 'cause you're afraid of commitment.
And you wear $500 shoes, but you won't spend ten bucks to fix a leaky seal on a propane stove, which says "old money," like the bent-over biddies up on Nob Hill yell at their Jamaican nurses for stealing soap and lightbulbs.
All right, first of all, easy.
I don't have time to fix a stove.
And second of all you smell new.
Your car smells new.
Your clothes smell new.
Everything about you feels like somebody just dumped enchanted cheap aftershave lotion on the "what to wear" section of Details magazine, and then all of a sudden poof you appeared.
- I like nice things.
- All right, that's it.
- Look at me, look at me.
- I'm driving.
Look at me! I will talk to Mahoney, and I will get the settlement back on the table.
Then you can go to Sam and convince him to just forget about the truth.
Because you are probably really, really good at that.
And then you can go back to be a living example of everything I can't stand.
And, yes, I live on a boat because it's my father's.
And he's dead.
So You're afraid of commitment, and you're stuck in the past.
Unbelievable.
What are you doing? Wait.
Why are you making that face? in the city, and there are no associates.
But it sounds cooler.
Oh, my Well, come on, look.
It's me.
Hi, Superman.
Ooh, watch this, watch this, watch There he did he kick? Damn! - Damn! - Nice.
There he is in person, gentlemen.
Keeping our streets safe one dumbass at a time.
Police were kind enough to share some security camera footage with us.
Look at that.
Ooh! Way to turn things around, huh? Wait, this is my favorite part.
Boom! Down goes Frazier.
- Hey! - Ooh! You never mentioned you were a superhero.
I wasn't exactly thinking things through at the time.
Maybe you should go with your gut more often.
This is too good.
This is perfect timing.
Yeah, reelection.
- Hey, hey, hey.
- You got it in the bag, Aaron.
Hey, the police have a lead on the guy that ran away.
Press conference at 1:00.
I want you there.
We're gonna make a meal out of this.
Whoa, you can't release that video, Aaron.
I did what I had to do, but I'm not proud of it.
I'll be lucky not to get sued.
It's up to you.
I'll see you at 1:00.
How much coffee do you drink? I don't know, how much coffee is there? That's George Algers, CEO of Manwaring.
Guy's gotta be worth at least 30 mil.
Believe me, there is an amount of money that would make Sam happy enough for both of you to forget about whatever navel-gazing moral issue he might have.
Like whether or not he was lied to by the people who will be responsible for his death? - There is a number.
- I can't believe this! Three weeks I spent on this God damn like it's my fault.
What's up? The judge is excusing a juror exposure.
Tell me you're not a little curious.
Excuse me.
Excuse me, sir I just wasted three weeks for nothing.
You were on the, uh, the Manwaring class action jury, right? I I've been following it.
Heh, I know someone involved.
I We both do.
What's the mood in there? Oh, you're lawyers.
No, no, no.
Not really.
I can't talk about the case.
Judge Washburn was very specific in his orders.
- What? - Okay, excuse me, look.
I don't want you to get in trouble with the judge.
All right? We can do this so that you don't break any rules.
- Mm.
- How? The reason that you were excused was it because you were exposed to something that affected your ability to make a fair judgment? The judge said I couldn't discuss it because it was based on evidence that hadn't been presented - to the court.
- A-ha! - So this thing - Don't interrupt me.
But I know where you're going with this.
- Don't interrupt me! - This is good.
So the judge said you could not discuss the case.
But whatever you saw or heard wasn't part of the case wasn't part of the case at all.
So then you can tell us.
The guy was excused because he went into the downstairs men's room on a break instead of the jury-only men's room.
And he overheard one of the plaintiff's attorneys talking about a witness who wasn't gonna testify.
So then he was upset.
They're upset because this witness, an executive assistant with the initials D.
L - L.
D.
R.
- L.
B.
! - S.
- It's L.
B.
L.
B.
What, are you kidding me? You can't remember two letters? L.
B.
! L.
B.
! L.
B.
! Dyslexic half-Jew in catholic school.
Forged the Superman you see today.
This witness saw a memo citing an in-house test stating the vinyl chloride levels in the factory where Sam worked were dangerous two years before they notified anybody about the problem.
And the memo was addressed to a vice president of manufacturing, Mr.
George Algers, who then went on to become the present-day CEO.
If we check the court filing, we should be able to get a name off the witness lists.
- Mm.
- Wow! Um So I guess you didn't stick around to see Mahoney.
Well, it didn't make any sense to negotiate until after we found out more about the memo.
And you didn't get my message about Lauren? What message about Lauren? Well she's behind you.
That's not the message, but she's behind you.
And that just seems like the most important thing to say right now.
- So the mediation is back on? - Uh, not yet.
But we may have found a witness who can screw Mahoney to the wall.
You're working together to screw Bob Mahoney to a wall? Can I see you for a second, Kate? What does she do around here? When Teddy was alive, he used to call her R2-D2.
Because she is who you call when the garbage chute is about to close.
She's brilliant.
And she used to be a serious porn star.
That last part's untrue, but you believed it, right? It's like a vibe.
We need a new way to work together, Kate, because we can't do this anymore.
Really? 'Cause I love our runt.
We have a lunch reservation with Bob, and you are going to apologize for turning an otherwise straightforward and I might add generous settlement offer into another trial for Manwaring.
What if they're guilty? Okay, Kate, I can't stop you from coming back here, but I can ask you not to make things worse.
If we do not get a partner, we are going under.
Well, it seems to me we hit the skids just about the time my dad died and you took over.
All right.
You don't want to hear this, but I have been running Reed & Reed for a few years now.
Yes.
Your dad knew he was losing his edge.
- He ran the meetings - Okay.
He topped the masthead, but he trusted me with almost everything else.
And those were the good years before the bubble burst.
All right, whatever.
He would've told me.
Oh, God, no way! You are the last person he would have told.
He knew how stubborn you could get when you dug in on something.
God, that's exactly what he did when I told him we had to diversify the client base.
If only we reeds did everything you wanted us to do all the time, then everything would work out perfectly.
I'd settle for once in a while with you.
Kate, listen Mahoney is our only chance.
I need your help.
You see George Algers? I have lunch and play golf with him twice a week.
He trusts me, not only with his corporate accounts but with his personal as well.
And when I tell him I'll take care of something, I do.
Well, that's the only way to do business.
If we were to acquire Reed & Reed Uh, heh "acquire"? We can call it whatever you want, but let's not pretend it's not a shotgun wedding.
And after this negotiation, if you're going to work with me, I can't have any more surprises.
Look, the negotiation went the way it did because nobody had bothered to ask Mr.
Childs what he wanted.
I'll tell you, Kate, the words "I'm sorry" carry a lot of meaning with me.
Right.
Bob, I truly believe that the sum of our two firms will be greater than the whole.
Teddy was a good friend, but let's be honest.
When he died, so did most of Reed & Reed's value.
Everyone appreciates the effort you've made to fill his shoes, but I have to say, the only above-average asset left is the building.
You know what, Bob? I think we still have one more asset.
Um Surprises.
Sorry.
You know what? I don't think our partnership is gonna work out, Bob.
Because, mark my words, I will find a way to bring this firm back.
And then we are going to roll over you like a hurricane.
Are you using a key to unlock your door? I know, I'm old-school.
The batteries on my remote went dead, and I decided I like this better.
Right.
I'm George.
Yeah, I know who you are.
Kate.
We, um we actually have a connection.
My mother used to work for you at the Manwaring Rubber Plant.
That was always her big joke, "I work at this giant rubber plant.
" I'm familiar with the joke.
What was her name? Oh, you wouldn't know her, she worked on the line.
But she was lunch buddies with an executive's assistant.
Um, oh, God, what was the name? The initials L.
B I, uh Lorraine Brody? Lorraine Brody, that's it! Lorraine Brody.
She was my assistant.
Lovely lady.
She was your assistant? Oh, wow, okay.
- Yeah, I was a big fan of hers.
- Oh.
Anyway, it was nice to meet you.
- You too.
- Yeah.
Say hello to your mother.
She died.
Cancer.
Take care.
Of course I remember the memo.
How could you forget something like that? - Oh, thank you.
- Mm-hmm.
So then, why won't you testify? It's not that I don't want to.
It's that what I remember won't matter once they're through with me.
But it will.
Mrs.
Brody, you are the only person alive who can stand up and say that George Algers knew about the vinyl chloride.
I don't know if he knew or not.
I simply saw a memo, and I put it on his desk.
And well, you wouldn't understand.
Tell me.
I was a young woman then.
I was just married, and but I was still trying to work things out, you know? And I didn't always make the right choices, and there was a an infidelity.
And the Manwaring lawyer said he's going to bring all that up and use it against me.
Right.
But that was something that happened 40 years ago, and I believe that the jury still needs to hear the truth.
There's another reason.
I was the one who destroyed the memo and all the carbon copies.
I shredded them.
But I'm not going to jail for it.
But if George Algers told you to destroy the memo George didn't tell me anything.
He didn't have to.
That justice is served quickly and fairly for every person in this city, is always my first priority.
We've already pressed charges against one of the men who attacked ADA Justin Patrick.
And chief Brody has already told me that we have a lead on the second suspect, so my office gets the job done.
And this will certainly be no exception.
That's all I got.
ADA Patrick, can you comment on the video? Uh, what video? You haven't seen the video? No, no, I I think that my ADA might have missed it while he was recovering from beating the crap out of his attackers.
All right, let's go here, champ.
Mm-hmm.
Sir! Sir! Can we just ask you - Kate Reed's office.
- Hey.
Do you know anyone who has an old electric typewriter from the '70s? Do you mean, do I know a man in his mid-40s that made way too much money at an Internet start-up and paid to have his high school bedroom recreated down to the very last detail, including a TV that plays Love Boat reruns? So that's a yes? - Hi.
- Ah.
The mystery lady returns.
Back for another walk down Memory Lane? Bob told me who you are.
Oh, cool, all right.
I guess, uh, I guess we can just skip the hellos then.
Hey, guess what? I brought you something.
It's a carbon from a memo that you received 35 years ago.
I guess they forgot to destroy the carbon.
That was a long time ago.
I didn't know carbons kept that well.
Yeah.
Yeah, let's see here.
Uh, "George, IHT.
" I'm guessing that's "In-House Testing.
" "Has determined that the VC levels" vinyl well, come on.
You know.
"The VC levels are above acceptable levels" "at multiple points along the production line.
" How shall we proceed?" I have never seen that memo before or anything like it.
It doesn't exist.
You know, that's funny because I thought the same thing.
But do you know where it does exist? Lorraine Brody's memory.
She remembers every word.
But I guess you already knew that since you kept her out of court.
So what is this? "The $1 million bluff"? You're wasting your time.
Oh, George, the bluff doesn't have to be that good 'cause Sam doesn't want any money.
People hear a story like this, and they always ask, "how do you live with yourself?" You're gonna get off, the company's gonna get off, and you know what? Maybe you really don't remember a memo.
But I bet you remember a feeling.
And it's the same feeling you've had for the last 35 years.
I barely knew the man.
That's not how he remembers it.
He remembers having lunch with his boss once a week.
You were a a pretty big deal to him.
I'm gonna leave you two men to talk.
He wants to know what really happened, and that might cost you a lot of money somewhere else, but not here.
No testimony, no briefs, no courtroom, no lawyers.
Just two men and the trees.
Did your mother really die? Yeah.
But not because of you.
Sweet Jesus, tell me he's wearing a wire.
- Nope! - Anyone read lips? "Did you knowingly expose me to cancer-causing chemicals" "and then lie about it?" "Yeah, sorry about that.
" You learn to block it out.
Oh, Kate, please.
It's not funny, it's tragic.
It goes Juliet's suicide, Barry Bonds, and then this.
If Algers didn't know about the memo, then Sam can die with his world view intact.
And if he did, then he can just get the one thing that means the most to him right now.
You're not going to say, "$3 million," are you? Sam's not dead yet, Katie.
What he needs is money to stay alive.
Closing arguments in the class action are tomorrow, and we're gonna get nothing.
You know what? I'm unsatisfied! And that is my least favorite feeling of all time.
Ooh.
Mediation, Kate Reed-style.
Okay, now I'm a little satisfied.
Sam? Thank you, Ms.
Reed.
I want to go home now.
Sam doesn't seem that satisfied.
Aaron.
I got a call they delayed the lineup.
They got a confession.
The suspect's name is Horatio Corra.
Can I see the file? They got him for a bar fight the night he came after you.
Guess he was nursing his ego after you got lucky with him.
Oh, so now I got lucky with him.
Hey.
Hey, how does he spell his name? - Uh, name, Corra.
- Yeah, see, that isn't the guy.
- That's not him.
- Sure, it's the guy.
He was as close to me as you are, that's not him.
If it turns out to be the wrong guy, we'll sort it out, okay? But for now, he's just the name of a suspect who says he's the guy.
He changes his tune, you say he's not the guy, - he goes free.
- Yeah, sure he does.
After you milk this for all it's worth.
I'm just saying, that's not him, man.
All right, that's the name you're gonna give the press, you got it? I don't care if you want to ride this hero bit for all it's worth, but you work for me, you do what I say, you carry my flag.
And try to smile this time.
All right, fellas.
All right, I'm gonna need you.
I'd like to announce that there is a second suspect in custody from the incident behind Columbus Avenue.
Did you catch him yourself? The suspect's name, um the suspect's name is unimportant.
He's one of hundreds nearly 600 by my count that's how many criminals I've put behind bars since I started this job, many of whom would have an excellent reason to come after me.
But this is a job that I love, and this is a job that I am not gonna stop doing.
I'm announcing my candidacy for the Office of District Attorney of the city of San Francisco.
Now I'm gonna smile.
Yes.
- Go ahead, sorry.
- This is a decision Hola,George.
I did some more digging.
Did you know that Lorraine Brody is sick too? I guess she opted out, like Sam.
Hey, how's your jaw, by the way? - I'm late.
- Oh, right, closing arguments.
Okay, this is only going to take a second.
Look, I was thinking about how Mahoney knew about the infidelity as a young woman, and how she destroyed those documents for you without even being asked.
There were no documents destroyed.
Well, then how would Mahoney know about the affair? See, I'm guessing, out of all the people that got sick, Lorraine was the only one who loved you because you were the affair.
Well, guess what? It took her 40 years and a little push, but she's over it.
And she's sitting in that cab right over there, see? So you can take the stand and tell the truth, or she'll do it for you.
Algers is gonna testify that he saw the memo, and the company will be liable for everything.
How did you do it? Look, Lorraine was never gonna take the stand, but she sure didn't mind getting into a cab.
Looks like you and Sam are going to be making lots of money.
You know, for someone who loves the middle, you spend an awful lot of time at the extremes.
Who ever said I like the middle? I like helping people get what they need.
You got lucky, you know.
This is the last time Reed & Reed ever try to do the right thing for free.
I get the occasional good deed, but you're diluting the brand.
Why do you care about the Reed & Reed brand? I like nice things.
You have obviously had some substantial success at such a young age, Mr.
Grogan.
I'm your age.
But this is an established firm with roots, history.
Well, you have my attention.
But this number doesn't take into account the name recognition of Reed & Reed.
Aha.
And there's some substantial delayed income receivables that don't show up on the balance sheet.
This one's less.
That's right.
You can't go down.
Okay, okay.
No is good, I think we have a deal.
Put it there, partner.
Hey, come in.
I brought glasses 'cause yours are gross.
- Are we celebrating? - Mm-hmm.
You tell me, candidate Patrick.
I heard about the press conference.
Well, I must say, - I am as surprised as you are.
- Mm.
But it was the right thing to do.
Someone's got to stand up to this guy.
Mm.
- So - Mm-hmm.
To improving the system.
To working around the system.
Course.
Do you remember anything from the hospital? You know, strangely, it's a big blur.
Ah, I knew it.
Look, I'm not saying that we don't sign the divorce papers.
What if we just gave it a little bit more time? Look, I've been thinking about what you said about holding back.
I don't trust the things that come easy to me.
I never have.
Probably because it doesn't happen very often.
But when it does, it's almost like I don't deserve them.
And you came easy.
And that scares me.
And I can't bear the thought of not deserving you.
So I'm sorry it took us splitting up for me to have the courage to say this.
To moving forward.
Clean slate.
- Clean slate.
- Yes.
Okay.
If we're going to move forward Yes.
then there's something I need to tell you.
Okay.
Uh hmm, Kate I slept with another woman while we were married.
It was when things were at their worst, it was one night, it didn't Kate! Hey! Kate! Kate! I think you need to learn to drive.
Never.
I downloaded Driving Miss Daisy last night.
Been a while.
And you know what? It's like toothpaste out of a tube, I cannot put back what I saw.
Hey.
I'm sorry about Justin.
You know how they say, "it's all the little things that do you in"? I just think they haven't lived long enough.
Oh Leo.
I know I'm stuck.
And I should be on my journey, but you know what they say "some journeys are best left delayed.
" No, that's wrong.
Nobody's ever said that.
I said that.
Oh! Oh, my God, my boat! Are you just gonna sit there? I told you to fix that stove
- Yes, sir.
Check, please.
You always come in the door leaving? Um, it is not my scene.
But here you are, so you were either born on that barstool, or you came in here disguised as a woman who wants attention.
And you're wearing a $3,000 suit with a pocket square.
I believe my motives are clear.
Sorry.
It has been a while since anyone has offered - to buy me a drink.
- Really? - Did the world go blind? - Hmm.
I'm married.
Was married.
Now I'm not.
Anyway, the ex is on his way to sign the whatever.
But it looks like he has blown me off.
Well, it's just as well.
He would've changed his mind.
Oh, ho ho.
Nice try.
Maybe it'll feel normal someday.
- Do you believe in fate? - Wow, was that a line? It's a question.
Takes the edge off picking up strangers in bars.
I'm 29.
I'm nearly divorced, recently orphaned.
More recently out of a job.
My life is kind of at this unexpected turning point, so, yeah I do believe in fate.
And I believe she's a fickle, fickle bitch.
You seem broken.
I like that.
- And you're a fixer.
- No.
- Yeah.
- No.
I tend to make things much worse, and then I disappear.
Well at least you're decent enough to be honest about it.
You don't see that much.
- Oh, you must be a lawyer.
- Schoolteacher.
Right, you're a schoolteacher, and I'm a decent guy.
- So - Yeah.
Cheers to honesty.
Hey, cheers, yeah.
And good night.
Is truth the way to your heart? Withdrawn counselor.
I misspoke.
We have not yet established that you have a heart.
The way to my heart would be to do everything and to say nothing.
No negotiation, no foreplay, no strategy.
Just be who you are and take me.
Too late.
Excuse me, excuse me.
Excuse me.
Are you the mediator? Um yeah, that's me.
Reed & Reed came very highly recommended.
My grandfather and I just wanted to get here a little early, so someone could answer our questions.
You wanted to get here.
I'm doing this for her.
Sam um, you were saying that while you were employed at Manwaring, they knowingly exposed you to harmful chemicals vinyl chloride Right.
which then led you to getting sick.
And now you're asking for $3 million? Ridiculous.
That company made you sick, and they knew about it.
- They should pay.
- "They," "they," "they.
" They were my friends.
Guys on the line, guys in the suits.
We raised our kids together.
George Algers came to my wedding.
We had lunch together on the line once a week for 35 years.
Algers? His old boss runs the company now.
I don't think they've even spoken in, what, ten years? I got the short end of the cancer stick, all right? Doesn't mean you go to court.
He's from a different generation.
You didn't sue people.
And I can appreciate his values, I really can.
- It's what makes him so great.
- Hmm.
But I also wanna help him get what's fair.
The lawyers.
They got one thing they always put first.
- That's themselves.
- Yes.
Ask her about the character who talked her into all this.
If he's not a scumbag, I'm a damn leprechaun.
Hey, Emma, I'm just going to warn you right now, this is not gonna go how you want it to go.
Why? Because he and I agree about lawyers.
Huh.
I thought you were a lawyer.
If it's confusing to you, imagine how I feel.
Hi, sorry to interrupt.
Lauren McKinnon Reed, managing partner.
You have a sec, Kate? What are you doing? I came in early, saw that you had a negotiation, one of the parties had already arrived, so I just started answering their questions.
Since when have you gone by Lauren McKinnon Reed? - I fired you, Kate.
- Yeah, that was funny.
I've had keys to the building since I was 13.
Kate, honey, while you've been sitting on your boat for the last month, being impulsive and whimsical, I have been holding this firm together.
You drove your father crazy, but I don't know.
He tolerated it because I guess on some level he liked that his little girl never grew up.
I guess he liked having something sweet in his life.
Oh, my God, Kate.
I am not your evil stepmother.
God, I never was.
Get over it.
Now tell me what do you want? I have this fantasy that if I reached in and pulled out your hairpins, your head would just explode.
Okay.
My brother gave me proxy over his share, so that's makes you and me even partners.
Buy me out, fair cash value I'll go.
Yes? I can't buy you out right now.
- Why? - Because there's no cash.
I can barely pay salaries.
What? How did that happen? Well, four of our biggest clients have gone under.
are for bankruptcy proceedings.
Kate, I am doing everything I can to downsize and drum up new business, but it's not been enough.
Which is why the last thing I need right now is more chaos.
So please, please leave me alone, and let me do my job.
Cue awkward entrance.
Leo! Aww.
Your 9:00 A.
M.
is early, and also Kate Reed is here.
Thanks for the heads up.
You you're her her her assistant? We've discussed this many times.
You knew that I was staying on here.
As a floater.
You said you were floating around the office, helping all kinds of different people.
She's not people! You know what? This is where I floated to.
Randomly, without choosing.
You know what? Believe me, don't believe me.
That is the truth, and the truth is all that matters.
You taught me that.
Slam every door you want.
Can't hide the truth.
- Bob.
- Lauren.
Ah, it has been too long.
Thank you for handling this on such short notice.
Oh, it's my pleasure.
The plaintiffs are already here, I believe.
They're just waiting for their attorney.
He's a piece of work.
His clients opted out of the class action against us.
He knows we have closing arguments in a few days.
Oh.
So he's betting manwaring will be found guilty in the class action and that will force you into a big settlement with him? He's not that smart.
He's just betting we don't need the distraction right now.
Well, he's right about that.
If this goes to trial and we lose, everyone who opted out of the class action will come against us.
Needs to be handled quickly and quietly, which is why I thought of Reed & Reed.
Well, thank you.
I'm sure that we can help.
Now, Bob, um, ahem.
There is another little piece of business that I wanted to discuss with you.
I know all about it.
You need a bailout, and you're hoping I can get Peabody Bright to partner up.
I'm looking at a few scenarios.
Get rid of this nuisance for me, and we'll talk.
Teddy started a blue chip firm here.
It'd be a shame to let it slide into the fog.
Kate Reed! Bob.
Oh, Mahoney.
Can you knock this negotiation out for me today? - Oh, I have it covered.
- No, let Kate do it.
Nobody's better at the win-win.
It'll be an easy one.
- Does he know? - Know what? - About - Uh - how busy - That - Lauren is? - Uh, no, I'm not that busy.
But my schedule is completely open.
But, hey, you are the boss, Lauren McKinnon Reed.
Uh, yes.
Of course.
Just you know, don't mess it up.
Oh, great! - Let's get this done.
- Yes, of course.
- Hmm, Ms.
Reed.
- Yes? This is our attorney, Ben Grogan.
Do you two know each other? You fickle bitch.
He's not talking to me.
The timing of this whole claim is no accident.
Of course it's not an accident, pally.
Your client's about to be found guilty in a $53 million class action suit based on the exact same set of facts as our case.
Yes, the same suit Mr.
Childs opted out of because he didn't see the merit.
Until I advised him and his exceptional granddaughter that if they chose to reconsider, they would be entitled to compensation in a separated claim.
Unless my client is found not guilty in which case you have no case at all because as you say it's all based on the same facts.
Exactly! Are you gonna say anything ever, or are we paying you to just sit there and look distracted? I just like to tire you out, run the stink off.
Sam, what do you want from all of this? Manwaring gave me my pension and paid me a good wage for 41 years.
They done give you tumors, Sam.
Tooo-mers! That's a waste of a good word.
- Toomers could be a candy! - Who are you? In spite of my client's nobility, Manwaring were negligent, and the class action suit will prove me right.
Okay, all right.
In case any of this is confusing to you, let me explain it.
The facts in your case don't matter.
Your $3 million claim is nothing but a side bet on the bigger $53 million claim.
The facts always matter.
Oh, Bobby, come on.
Let's just call it what it is.
Any offer you make has nothing to do with a fair compensation for a loss.
It's how much you're willing to pay to get this side bet taken off the table.
I disagree.
And I don't believe we've made any offer yet.
You will, because you can't be sure of the outcome of your big case.
So just say the number.
- $150,000.
- Oh! Bobby, please.
Can we just skip the dance? What is the real number? $350,000.
And he signs a nondisclosure and forfeits all rights to future claims.
Does that mean they're saying that they knew we were exposed to vinyl chloride? No, they're not admitting to anything.
Think of it as a goodwill gesture from a company that appreciates dedicated service.
Do not think of it like that at all.
Sam, Sam.
They're paying you to go away.
How is this mediating? If anyone here deserves a straight shot, it's Sam.
It's a good offer, grandpa.
Why would they pay me if they didn't do anything wrong? The point is they're paying you.
Minute ago, you wanted $3 million.
Now, all of sudden, - Hmm.
- Scumbag.
Oh, I'll be any kind of bag you want, Sam, but preferably the kind you use to carry around the $350,000 you didn't have a moment ago.
Okay, Sam, it's way less than they'd have to pay you if they were lying, and way more than they'd have to pay you if they're not lying.
- What does that mean? - Welcome to the middle.
So again, what do you want? If they didn't do anything wrong, forget the money.
Numquam pecuniae obliviscere.
Never forget the money.
Very old saying.
They did do something wrong.
Please just sleep on it.
You are a more principled man than me, Mr.
Childs.
I admire you.
Shall we consider this closed, Kate? I'm sorry, I have to go.
Ms.
Reed, you are the only one in this room that has no reason to lie to my face.
Gotta love this room.
How do I know if they lied to me? Do I gotta go to court? Sam, I hate court, and I really hate trials.
If you want the truth, you're never gonna find it in this room.
Then I guess I want a trial.
This is a mistake, Sam.
Always leaving, Katie.
I'd have to say that's my new favorite trait.
- Justin.
- Hi.
Hi.
What happened? Well, I got jumped when I was walking to meet you.
I was, like, two blocks away.
- Jumped? - Yeah.
And this is when you tell me, the next day? Well, I was gonna call you and tell you while it was happening, but it was a little hard to dial the phone and protect my face at the same time.
Who did this? I don't know, a couple of guys.
One of them got away.
It's no big deal.
It's like a broken rib.
Well it serves you right for standing me up.
What'd you do, did you give them your, um - your left hook? - Yeah.
- Or your right crossover? - Ow.
No, no, don't make me laugh.
It's way too painful.
- Okay, all right, sorry.
- Aw.
They give you any drugs? No, they gave me a morphine button.
But they're releasing me today.
- I don't like to be fuzzy.
- No.
- You're not a fuzzy guy.
- No.
You're very, um Black and white and in focus - and - Yeah.
Oh, okay.
- Why didn't we work out? - Oh, Kate, honey, not now.
No, please, I can't talk about our divorce until I talk about our marriage.
We gotta move on.
I don't wanna rehash this anymore.
What are you doing? Hey.
Ow.
No, no, no, no.
Oh, no, no, no.
Wha hey! Come on! - Aw.
- Seriously? Yeah.
Ahh, God.
Oh, it's nice.
Right? Here we go.
It's nice to be fuzzy.
Fuzzy.
Nice.
Justin, was it all my fault? Did I come in the door leaving? Oh, Kate, this is so unfair.
Maybe it was a thousand little things that we both did.
You know, the doctrine of small harms says that a thousand paper cuts is far more damaging than one big wound.
You're, like, the only guy I know who talks about the law even when he's high.
You know, sometimes I did feel like you held a part of yourself back from me.
From everyone maybe.
I never had all of you.
What does that mean? - Fuzzy has spoken.
- No! No, no, no.
No, fuzzy.
Fuzzy, please.
Justin, you're not really sleeping, are you? I'm just closing my eyes so as to hear you better.
I think I still love you a little bit.
Oh, don't you judge me.
Kate.
You wanted me to keep my job.
Yes, and is it better to give people what they want or what they need, Leonardo? Kate, if you are working here again, I would very much like to be your assistant.
Get out! Leo! Why can't I move on? I'm like an alley cat.
Or an asteroid.
Why do I keep coming back to this place? You know, I thought it was lawyers that I didn't like, but now I'm starting to think maybe it's just people.
- You love people.
- But I hate conflict.
- You love conflict.
- You're terrible at this.
It's your favorite movie.
You're constantly searching for home, but you can't get what you want without going down the yellow brick road.
This is your journey.
But those were all lies 'cause Dorothy had the shoes the whole time! You! You are Kali, the goddess of dissolution and destruction.
What are you doing here? It smells like propane in here.
Can I have some coffee? What! You can't have anything! I had a settlement on the table.
And now, thanks to you, that angry old crow wants to go to trial.
You've gotta get Mahoney's offer back on the table.
Look, Sam wants to go to trial, and that's your thing anyway, isn't it? "Uh, excuse me, Mr.
Judge" trial is not my thing, winning is.
- This case is a dog.
- Overruled! Yeah, but if the class action wins Looky! $350,000 was all the money that company was ever gonna pay out to Sam Childs.
And you made taking seem like solving a frickin' Rubik's Cube to him.
I wanted him to understand what they were offering.
Sam doesn't want the money if he can't have the truth.
He's never gonna get the truth.
And now, thanks to you, he's never gonna get the money.
The guy's got medical bills up to his eye-teeth, and you convinced him to trade his cash cow for magic beans.
- Nice job.
- I was trying to help! I know.
Your mouth's like a gun.
You should watch where you point that thing.
- Is money all you care about? - Yes! It's all I ever care about.
I know how to maximize a situation.
It's what I do.
You need to get the offer back on the table, Katie.
Kate! You're the mediator.
It's not done until you certify it's done.
If we leave right now, we can still catch Mahoney at the courthouse.
Thank you for the propane high.
I will drive.
Fine.
But I'm not driving with you.
- I'm taking a cab.
- A cab? Are you kidding? We'll barely make it across the bridge as it is.
I don't have a car.
I can't believe I liked you in that bar.
I'm gonna get a tattoo across the inside of my eyelids that says, "do not trust first impressions.
" You know what, I've got an even better idea.
Why don't you put it on your forehead for the rest of us? It figures you live on a boat.
It figures you think this is the time for us to chat.
First rule of humanity: People are usually what they appear to be.
- I'm very good at this, Karen.
- Kate.
You live on a boat 'cause you're afraid of commitment.
And you wear $500 shoes, but you won't spend ten bucks to fix a leaky seal on a propane stove, which says "old money," like the bent-over biddies up on Nob Hill yell at their Jamaican nurses for stealing soap and lightbulbs.
All right, first of all, easy.
I don't have time to fix a stove.
And second of all you smell new.
Your car smells new.
Your clothes smell new.
Everything about you feels like somebody just dumped enchanted cheap aftershave lotion on the "what to wear" section of Details magazine, and then all of a sudden poof you appeared.
- I like nice things.
- All right, that's it.
- Look at me, look at me.
- I'm driving.
Look at me! I will talk to Mahoney, and I will get the settlement back on the table.
Then you can go to Sam and convince him to just forget about the truth.
Because you are probably really, really good at that.
And then you can go back to be a living example of everything I can't stand.
And, yes, I live on a boat because it's my father's.
And he's dead.
So You're afraid of commitment, and you're stuck in the past.
Unbelievable.
What are you doing? Wait.
Why are you making that face? in the city, and there are no associates.
But it sounds cooler.
Oh, my Well, come on, look.
It's me.
Hi, Superman.
Ooh, watch this, watch this, watch There he did he kick? Damn! - Damn! - Nice.
There he is in person, gentlemen.
Keeping our streets safe one dumbass at a time.
Police were kind enough to share some security camera footage with us.
Look at that.
Ooh! Way to turn things around, huh? Wait, this is my favorite part.
Boom! Down goes Frazier.
- Hey! - Ooh! You never mentioned you were a superhero.
I wasn't exactly thinking things through at the time.
Maybe you should go with your gut more often.
This is too good.
This is perfect timing.
Yeah, reelection.
- Hey, hey, hey.
- You got it in the bag, Aaron.
Hey, the police have a lead on the guy that ran away.
Press conference at 1:00.
I want you there.
We're gonna make a meal out of this.
Whoa, you can't release that video, Aaron.
I did what I had to do, but I'm not proud of it.
I'll be lucky not to get sued.
It's up to you.
I'll see you at 1:00.
How much coffee do you drink? I don't know, how much coffee is there? That's George Algers, CEO of Manwaring.
Guy's gotta be worth at least 30 mil.
Believe me, there is an amount of money that would make Sam happy enough for both of you to forget about whatever navel-gazing moral issue he might have.
Like whether or not he was lied to by the people who will be responsible for his death? - There is a number.
- I can't believe this! Three weeks I spent on this God damn like it's my fault.
What's up? The judge is excusing a juror exposure.
Tell me you're not a little curious.
Excuse me.
Excuse me, sir I just wasted three weeks for nothing.
You were on the, uh, the Manwaring class action jury, right? I I've been following it.
Heh, I know someone involved.
I We both do.
What's the mood in there? Oh, you're lawyers.
No, no, no.
Not really.
I can't talk about the case.
Judge Washburn was very specific in his orders.
- What? - Okay, excuse me, look.
I don't want you to get in trouble with the judge.
All right? We can do this so that you don't break any rules.
- Mm.
- How? The reason that you were excused was it because you were exposed to something that affected your ability to make a fair judgment? The judge said I couldn't discuss it because it was based on evidence that hadn't been presented - to the court.
- A-ha! - So this thing - Don't interrupt me.
But I know where you're going with this.
- Don't interrupt me! - This is good.
So the judge said you could not discuss the case.
But whatever you saw or heard wasn't part of the case wasn't part of the case at all.
So then you can tell us.
The guy was excused because he went into the downstairs men's room on a break instead of the jury-only men's room.
And he overheard one of the plaintiff's attorneys talking about a witness who wasn't gonna testify.
So then he was upset.
They're upset because this witness, an executive assistant with the initials D.
L - L.
D.
R.
- L.
B.
! - S.
- It's L.
B.
L.
B.
What, are you kidding me? You can't remember two letters? L.
B.
! L.
B.
! L.
B.
! Dyslexic half-Jew in catholic school.
Forged the Superman you see today.
This witness saw a memo citing an in-house test stating the vinyl chloride levels in the factory where Sam worked were dangerous two years before they notified anybody about the problem.
And the memo was addressed to a vice president of manufacturing, Mr.
George Algers, who then went on to become the present-day CEO.
If we check the court filing, we should be able to get a name off the witness lists.
- Mm.
- Wow! Um So I guess you didn't stick around to see Mahoney.
Well, it didn't make any sense to negotiate until after we found out more about the memo.
And you didn't get my message about Lauren? What message about Lauren? Well she's behind you.
That's not the message, but she's behind you.
And that just seems like the most important thing to say right now.
- So the mediation is back on? - Uh, not yet.
But we may have found a witness who can screw Mahoney to the wall.
You're working together to screw Bob Mahoney to a wall? Can I see you for a second, Kate? What does she do around here? When Teddy was alive, he used to call her R2-D2.
Because she is who you call when the garbage chute is about to close.
She's brilliant.
And she used to be a serious porn star.
That last part's untrue, but you believed it, right? It's like a vibe.
We need a new way to work together, Kate, because we can't do this anymore.
Really? 'Cause I love our runt.
We have a lunch reservation with Bob, and you are going to apologize for turning an otherwise straightforward and I might add generous settlement offer into another trial for Manwaring.
What if they're guilty? Okay, Kate, I can't stop you from coming back here, but I can ask you not to make things worse.
If we do not get a partner, we are going under.
Well, it seems to me we hit the skids just about the time my dad died and you took over.
All right.
You don't want to hear this, but I have been running Reed & Reed for a few years now.
Yes.
Your dad knew he was losing his edge.
- He ran the meetings - Okay.
He topped the masthead, but he trusted me with almost everything else.
And those were the good years before the bubble burst.
All right, whatever.
He would've told me.
Oh, God, no way! You are the last person he would have told.
He knew how stubborn you could get when you dug in on something.
God, that's exactly what he did when I told him we had to diversify the client base.
If only we reeds did everything you wanted us to do all the time, then everything would work out perfectly.
I'd settle for once in a while with you.
Kate, listen Mahoney is our only chance.
I need your help.
You see George Algers? I have lunch and play golf with him twice a week.
He trusts me, not only with his corporate accounts but with his personal as well.
And when I tell him I'll take care of something, I do.
Well, that's the only way to do business.
If we were to acquire Reed & Reed Uh, heh "acquire"? We can call it whatever you want, but let's not pretend it's not a shotgun wedding.
And after this negotiation, if you're going to work with me, I can't have any more surprises.
Look, the negotiation went the way it did because nobody had bothered to ask Mr.
Childs what he wanted.
I'll tell you, Kate, the words "I'm sorry" carry a lot of meaning with me.
Right.
Bob, I truly believe that the sum of our two firms will be greater than the whole.
Teddy was a good friend, but let's be honest.
When he died, so did most of Reed & Reed's value.
Everyone appreciates the effort you've made to fill his shoes, but I have to say, the only above-average asset left is the building.
You know what, Bob? I think we still have one more asset.
Um Surprises.
Sorry.
You know what? I don't think our partnership is gonna work out, Bob.
Because, mark my words, I will find a way to bring this firm back.
And then we are going to roll over you like a hurricane.
Are you using a key to unlock your door? I know, I'm old-school.
The batteries on my remote went dead, and I decided I like this better.
Right.
I'm George.
Yeah, I know who you are.
Kate.
We, um we actually have a connection.
My mother used to work for you at the Manwaring Rubber Plant.
That was always her big joke, "I work at this giant rubber plant.
" I'm familiar with the joke.
What was her name? Oh, you wouldn't know her, she worked on the line.
But she was lunch buddies with an executive's assistant.
Um, oh, God, what was the name? The initials L.
B I, uh Lorraine Brody? Lorraine Brody, that's it! Lorraine Brody.
She was my assistant.
Lovely lady.
She was your assistant? Oh, wow, okay.
- Yeah, I was a big fan of hers.
- Oh.
Anyway, it was nice to meet you.
- You too.
- Yeah.
Say hello to your mother.
She died.
Cancer.
Take care.
Of course I remember the memo.
How could you forget something like that? - Oh, thank you.
- Mm-hmm.
So then, why won't you testify? It's not that I don't want to.
It's that what I remember won't matter once they're through with me.
But it will.
Mrs.
Brody, you are the only person alive who can stand up and say that George Algers knew about the vinyl chloride.
I don't know if he knew or not.
I simply saw a memo, and I put it on his desk.
And well, you wouldn't understand.
Tell me.
I was a young woman then.
I was just married, and but I was still trying to work things out, you know? And I didn't always make the right choices, and there was a an infidelity.
And the Manwaring lawyer said he's going to bring all that up and use it against me.
Right.
But that was something that happened 40 years ago, and I believe that the jury still needs to hear the truth.
There's another reason.
I was the one who destroyed the memo and all the carbon copies.
I shredded them.
But I'm not going to jail for it.
But if George Algers told you to destroy the memo George didn't tell me anything.
He didn't have to.
That justice is served quickly and fairly for every person in this city, is always my first priority.
We've already pressed charges against one of the men who attacked ADA Justin Patrick.
And chief Brody has already told me that we have a lead on the second suspect, so my office gets the job done.
And this will certainly be no exception.
That's all I got.
ADA Patrick, can you comment on the video? Uh, what video? You haven't seen the video? No, no, I I think that my ADA might have missed it while he was recovering from beating the crap out of his attackers.
All right, let's go here, champ.
Mm-hmm.
Sir! Sir! Can we just ask you - Kate Reed's office.
- Hey.
Do you know anyone who has an old electric typewriter from the '70s? Do you mean, do I know a man in his mid-40s that made way too much money at an Internet start-up and paid to have his high school bedroom recreated down to the very last detail, including a TV that plays Love Boat reruns? So that's a yes? - Hi.
- Ah.
The mystery lady returns.
Back for another walk down Memory Lane? Bob told me who you are.
Oh, cool, all right.
I guess, uh, I guess we can just skip the hellos then.
Hey, guess what? I brought you something.
It's a carbon from a memo that you received 35 years ago.
I guess they forgot to destroy the carbon.
That was a long time ago.
I didn't know carbons kept that well.
Yeah.
Yeah, let's see here.
Uh, "George, IHT.
" I'm guessing that's "In-House Testing.
" "Has determined that the VC levels" vinyl well, come on.
You know.
"The VC levels are above acceptable levels" "at multiple points along the production line.
" How shall we proceed?" I have never seen that memo before or anything like it.
It doesn't exist.
You know, that's funny because I thought the same thing.
But do you know where it does exist? Lorraine Brody's memory.
She remembers every word.
But I guess you already knew that since you kept her out of court.
So what is this? "The $1 million bluff"? You're wasting your time.
Oh, George, the bluff doesn't have to be that good 'cause Sam doesn't want any money.
People hear a story like this, and they always ask, "how do you live with yourself?" You're gonna get off, the company's gonna get off, and you know what? Maybe you really don't remember a memo.
But I bet you remember a feeling.
And it's the same feeling you've had for the last 35 years.
I barely knew the man.
That's not how he remembers it.
He remembers having lunch with his boss once a week.
You were a a pretty big deal to him.
I'm gonna leave you two men to talk.
He wants to know what really happened, and that might cost you a lot of money somewhere else, but not here.
No testimony, no briefs, no courtroom, no lawyers.
Just two men and the trees.
Did your mother really die? Yeah.
But not because of you.
Sweet Jesus, tell me he's wearing a wire.
- Nope! - Anyone read lips? "Did you knowingly expose me to cancer-causing chemicals" "and then lie about it?" "Yeah, sorry about that.
" You learn to block it out.
Oh, Kate, please.
It's not funny, it's tragic.
It goes Juliet's suicide, Barry Bonds, and then this.
If Algers didn't know about the memo, then Sam can die with his world view intact.
And if he did, then he can just get the one thing that means the most to him right now.
You're not going to say, "$3 million," are you? Sam's not dead yet, Katie.
What he needs is money to stay alive.
Closing arguments in the class action are tomorrow, and we're gonna get nothing.
You know what? I'm unsatisfied! And that is my least favorite feeling of all time.
Ooh.
Mediation, Kate Reed-style.
Okay, now I'm a little satisfied.
Sam? Thank you, Ms.
Reed.
I want to go home now.
Sam doesn't seem that satisfied.
Aaron.
I got a call they delayed the lineup.
They got a confession.
The suspect's name is Horatio Corra.
Can I see the file? They got him for a bar fight the night he came after you.
Guess he was nursing his ego after you got lucky with him.
Oh, so now I got lucky with him.
Hey.
Hey, how does he spell his name? - Uh, name, Corra.
- Yeah, see, that isn't the guy.
- That's not him.
- Sure, it's the guy.
He was as close to me as you are, that's not him.
If it turns out to be the wrong guy, we'll sort it out, okay? But for now, he's just the name of a suspect who says he's the guy.
He changes his tune, you say he's not the guy, - he goes free.
- Yeah, sure he does.
After you milk this for all it's worth.
I'm just saying, that's not him, man.
All right, that's the name you're gonna give the press, you got it? I don't care if you want to ride this hero bit for all it's worth, but you work for me, you do what I say, you carry my flag.
And try to smile this time.
All right, fellas.
All right, I'm gonna need you.
I'd like to announce that there is a second suspect in custody from the incident behind Columbus Avenue.
Did you catch him yourself? The suspect's name, um the suspect's name is unimportant.
He's one of hundreds nearly 600 by my count that's how many criminals I've put behind bars since I started this job, many of whom would have an excellent reason to come after me.
But this is a job that I love, and this is a job that I am not gonna stop doing.
I'm announcing my candidacy for the Office of District Attorney of the city of San Francisco.
Now I'm gonna smile.
Yes.
- Go ahead, sorry.
- This is a decision Hola,George.
I did some more digging.
Did you know that Lorraine Brody is sick too? I guess she opted out, like Sam.
Hey, how's your jaw, by the way? - I'm late.
- Oh, right, closing arguments.
Okay, this is only going to take a second.
Look, I was thinking about how Mahoney knew about the infidelity as a young woman, and how she destroyed those documents for you without even being asked.
There were no documents destroyed.
Well, then how would Mahoney know about the affair? See, I'm guessing, out of all the people that got sick, Lorraine was the only one who loved you because you were the affair.
Well, guess what? It took her 40 years and a little push, but she's over it.
And she's sitting in that cab right over there, see? So you can take the stand and tell the truth, or she'll do it for you.
Algers is gonna testify that he saw the memo, and the company will be liable for everything.
How did you do it? Look, Lorraine was never gonna take the stand, but she sure didn't mind getting into a cab.
Looks like you and Sam are going to be making lots of money.
You know, for someone who loves the middle, you spend an awful lot of time at the extremes.
Who ever said I like the middle? I like helping people get what they need.
You got lucky, you know.
This is the last time Reed & Reed ever try to do the right thing for free.
I get the occasional good deed, but you're diluting the brand.
Why do you care about the Reed & Reed brand? I like nice things.
You have obviously had some substantial success at such a young age, Mr.
Grogan.
I'm your age.
But this is an established firm with roots, history.
Well, you have my attention.
But this number doesn't take into account the name recognition of Reed & Reed.
Aha.
And there's some substantial delayed income receivables that don't show up on the balance sheet.
This one's less.
That's right.
You can't go down.
Okay, okay.
No is good, I think we have a deal.
Put it there, partner.
Hey, come in.
I brought glasses 'cause yours are gross.
- Are we celebrating? - Mm-hmm.
You tell me, candidate Patrick.
I heard about the press conference.
Well, I must say, - I am as surprised as you are.
- Mm.
But it was the right thing to do.
Someone's got to stand up to this guy.
Mm.
- So - Mm-hmm.
To improving the system.
To working around the system.
Course.
Do you remember anything from the hospital? You know, strangely, it's a big blur.
Ah, I knew it.
Look, I'm not saying that we don't sign the divorce papers.
What if we just gave it a little bit more time? Look, I've been thinking about what you said about holding back.
I don't trust the things that come easy to me.
I never have.
Probably because it doesn't happen very often.
But when it does, it's almost like I don't deserve them.
And you came easy.
And that scares me.
And I can't bear the thought of not deserving you.
So I'm sorry it took us splitting up for me to have the courage to say this.
To moving forward.
Clean slate.
- Clean slate.
- Yes.
Okay.
If we're going to move forward Yes.
then there's something I need to tell you.
Okay.
Uh hmm, Kate I slept with another woman while we were married.
It was when things were at their worst, it was one night, it didn't Kate! Hey! Kate! Kate! I think you need to learn to drive.
Never.
I downloaded Driving Miss Daisy last night.
Been a while.
And you know what? It's like toothpaste out of a tube, I cannot put back what I saw.
Hey.
I'm sorry about Justin.
You know how they say, "it's all the little things that do you in"? I just think they haven't lived long enough.
Oh Leo.
I know I'm stuck.
And I should be on my journey, but you know what they say "some journeys are best left delayed.
" No, that's wrong.
Nobody's ever said that.
I said that.
Oh! Oh, my God, my boat! Are you just gonna sit there? I told you to fix that stove