Billions (2016) s03e09 Episode Script

Previously on Billions There are few days such as this.
It's a true day of reckoning.
Your Honor.
It pains me to say this: We're dismissing the indictment.
Clear the board.
All new positions will be run through me.
Frag the quant experiment, too.
We're doing a massive cap raise.
And quickly.
Twenty bill within six months.
- Something special.
It's for you.
- This is un-fucking-believable.
You did a lot of good work under tough conditions.
Like my quant project, for instance.
I'd really like to keep them on until Broom them, like I told you.
I want my own book.
A billion dollars.
To manage, unencumbered.
There was no way to charge the kid with murder.
Body of a prison guard would indicate otherwise.
This guard went beast.
Orbital ridge fracture, teeth, internal bleeding.
José Lugo is the kind of person we are here to protect.
José Lugo.
Killed a federal prison guard when his back was turned.
Are you picking my cases for me, General? Giving you continued guidance on the types of matters we are interested in seeing brought to justice under the current regime.
Glad you could make it down and spend this time.
As am I, General Do we really need to do this? Motherfucker's been picking off my calves.
Coyote's just doing what evolution programmed him to do, sir.
As am I, Chuck.
See him out there? I do.
Come on.
I'll admit to surprise that you can shoot that well.
My father taught me: once you have the animal in your sights, breathe easy and let fly.
That training should serve us both well.
José Lugo trial's starts in the coming week.
Now see to it he gets the same treatment as this predator did.
Once I lived in a palace.
Right in Khamovniki district.
I admire any man who earns a castle.
But it is harder to keep one.
I should have met you then, when your words might have helped.
Instead of fortifying myself, I swam in my pool Olympic sized.
Every day.
I'm not such a good swimmer no more.
Tell him why.
I used to ship barrels of oil for Grigor Andolov.
No one shipped faster or skimmed less.
Then Grigor got out of jail.
He done some reading in jail, he said.
And now what he wanted was as old as Marx himself, seize means of production and shipping.
He might've misunderstood that part.
He understood everything.
Believe me.
He offered to buy me out for nothing.
You said no.
If I'd said no, I'd be dead.
I said yes.
But too slowly.
Also I ran too slowly.
Cost you the wing.
He took my business.
And now, instead of Olympic pool Ah, selling hot dogs is a classic New York trade.
I have coffee cart.
On a shit corner.
I dream to afford a hot dog cart one day.
Your dream just came true.
Dream bigger next time.
Grigor Andolov presents rare problems.
He's a sovereign nation.
Insulated and protected in a way that makes him impossible to counter.
Also, ruthless.
Yeah.
I got that from the part about the guy getting his arm ripped off.
And now you know the risks.
And it's your choice.
As in all things.
But just so you hear it directly: if you take his money, I may not be able to cover you.
- You could have come in.
- No, thanks.
This is already too close for my comfort.
How'd it go? - I'm conflicted.
- Good.
You know I need to relaunch.
You're looking for an icebreaker first money in.
Gets the party started.
Entices other investors, all that.
But.
Grigor Andolov is as liquid as they come.
Doesn't answer to anyone.
Does what he fucking pleases That's the part that has me Hiding in the car? Waiting.
Waiting in the car, Big Kahuna.
What did Hall say? Oh.
That he's got this, no problem.
- Oh, boy - Yeah.
Let's pass for now.
Set me up with your guy at Spartan-Ives.
Sometimes, when I look at you, Kate, I feel like I hired my own twin.
Maybe if you shaved the goatee I'd see the resemblance more clearly.
Or maybe I'll grow one.
You hate that you have to go and make this prosecution against José Lugo.
And yet here you sit, preparing, for what, the last forty-eight hours without even going home? I showered.
Changed.
Sure.
Here, in the bathroom.
And yet, I imagine you're hoping the defense is putting in as many hours Honestly, Chuck, I hope that they're putting in more and better man hours than I am.
I'm going to wage a vigorous argument.
I will use all at my disposal to win.
This is the first time in my career where I will be walking into a courtroom hoping I lose.
Because whatever I say in there will not be true: Lugo killed that guard in self-defense.
Got that out of your system? Good.
Now go win.
But use the death penalty as leverage.
Deliver a soaring, sobering opening and then extract a plea.
- Thirty to life? - No.
Twenty years.
Thank you What about the General? I'll think of something to convince him we're still under heel.
I'll find her a good home.
Keys, title I think that's everything.
So, why didn't you like the car? I loved it.
At some point, smart guns have to come into use.
Because they'll eliminate gun grabs against police.
It'll be a ten-bagger down the road.
Can you still say "idiot"? Or do they dock your pay for being insensitive? Can you still say "troglodyte"? Or do they fire you for telling the goddamned truth? Why don't you take Axe a play that won't come through for five years? I'll take you to the milliner to get you fitted for your dunce cap.
"Hat maker" for those of you who don't get Word Of The Day email alerts.
I knew it before the email hit.
I literally just saw you look down, smile, and then speak.
Why you watching me that close? I watch everything that close.
That's why I don't miss shit.
And why Axe brought me in here.
Once the market opens for the day, all my attention will go there and then you can rest a little easy.
Where's my fucking lucky dollar? Unless you want to wheel through the rest of your lives like Teddy Fucking Pendergrass, you will tell me where it is.
Where what is? New Girl! This your idea of making a name for yourself? My name is Bonnie What the fuck does that have to do with my lucky dollar.
I've never seen it.
I thought you saw everything.
I can't even lay eyes on his station from down here.
Oh, you've seen it.
Everyone's seen it.
And everyone knows I won a huge liar's poker game with it against Carl Icahn.
It's brought me luck ever since.
- Give me your purse.
- No.
Hey, you take one more step towards me, and I will fuck you up.
- Give me your purse.
- No, I don't want to - Give me your purse.
- I don't want to! Is that a Lisa Ann Fleshlight? - I don't know - Ew! Yes, they're gag gifts, I'm going to a bachelor party tonight.
Whoever took my dollar, give it the fuck back because I will find you! All right, Liam Neeson.
Gentlemen, what goods or services can I and Spartan-Ives provide? For years, as our prime, you've touted your connections and offered capital introductions.
And we've accepted and said thanks, but really We didn't need you to generate those leads.
And so now is your moment to shine like a pasty on the nipple of Lili St.
Cyr in the bright lights of the Florentine Gardens.
You want us to provide cap intro.
Got it.
Absolutely.
What range were you thinking? Twenty billion.
And the timing? How soon do you want the money? Oh.
The year 2112.
We'll do the raise as a celebration of Rush's 2nd best album.
That's why we got you in here today.
You mean Moving Pictures is number one.
But I think it goes Hemispheres then A Farewell To Kings then 2112 then Pictures.
Well, you would.
But the point is: I want the fucking money now.
Look, you want an unprecedented raise in record time.
And first money post-indictment precludes institutional investors So how are you going to help me get the first ten stacks? You do a full rehab tour.
Next idea.
Sell a piece of the fund.
That's for people who believe they've already top ticked and are looking to cash in.
I haven't.
Look, you got to give me a little bit of time.
I mean, I'll generate ideas.
I promise.
How's this? Generate some money.
Then you can pay someone for an idea.
We need momentum.
Lift.
We need the icebreaker now.
We need Grigor Andolov.
Fuck.
Guy is a Siberian brown bear.
He'd as soon rip our faces off as give us his money.
Don't go full Grizzly Man.
Treadwell was reckless.
Forgot he was dealing with a wild animal.
Thought they were friends.
I won't When I was trading only my own money because the government had me handcuffed, that was one thing it was a necessity.
Still doing it now, when the cuffs are off It's admitting irrelevance.
And I will not do that.
Fucking ever.
Nice hit.
I'm deciding whether or not to buy this team.
They let me play.
They're good boys.
My skills are not like theirs but I make up for it with aggression.
In my experience, that quality makes all the difference.
In school, in bars, in the market, in prison I was in.
Now I'm out.
I don't think about it.
Unless it's brought up.
Ah.
If you say so.
I don't think about my fight with my government either.
If you say so.
Look at us, couple of tough guys.
World beaters.
Yet, investors will have questions.
How will you explain your troubles? Victim of class warfare.
I win too much, game must be rigged.
I have heard it said that every life is like a body of water with the equal amount of salt added.
The key to enduring it, is to expand your body, to make your body so vast inside that you don't even notice the salt.
I say, who the fuck has time for that? I just decided to like the salt.
However you get there, right? Survival, in this world, is all.
Well, I know that better than anyone else on Wall Street Look.
Why don't you cancel all your other meetings around town with these candy-asses Maybe I like to hear their strategies, to see what I could steal.
Maybe I'm not convinced you've got your edge back.
Or maybe I am, and I just want to see you work a little bit harder for it.
No one works harder than me.
Good.
Our lieutenants should meet.
Pick through the grains of rice strategies, numbers.
How we make ourselves richer.
Stronger.
Thick with power, like Vasily Alekseyev himself.
Yes? Yes.
Heard you sold the Maserati.
I really hope you're not having me followed again.
No.
I heard from the car guy.
Without the drive to Westport, it didn't make sense.
You can't ferry the kids in it.
You can't open it up on Henry Street.
I hope you're not insulted.
No.
I don't give a fuck what you do with your things.
But it was a great car.
I thought you deserved a great car is all.
Mr.
Andolov doesn't test waters, he parts them.
That's what I wanted to hear.
Because I propose to use this money to launch an entirely new strategy: Axe Cap's first foray into impact investing.
Socially conscious ownership.
You mean you would be leaving so-called vice investments out of the portfolio.
No alcohol, no tobacco That's the version you read about at Harvard.
But the current wave, which we would better, isn't zero negative impact.
It's positive impact.
ESG.
Environmental, social, and government investments.
You pitched enviro to a fucking oil oligarch? You told me to take the meeting.
I pitched the strategy I thought best.
You tanked the meeting.
You pitched an idea you knew they would find repulsive.
You don't want Grigor Andolov's money on board.
Yes.
You're right.
I think international criminals are unstable bedrock for a cap raise.
You don't think taking his money was at least worth a discussion? There was a discussion.
I see.
The facts will show that with premeditation he melted, sharpened, and stashed a homemade knife, what prisoners call a 'shiv', and in a cowardly If you had been forced to prosecute, could you have? Honestly, I don't know that I have it in me.
What happened? Sign this.
We need to withdraw the charges against José Lugo.
"A death nolle"? Oh, motherfucker.
- What was it - Died on his way to court.
Guards are saying he tried to make a run for it, they tried to subdue him, and he died from the injuries in the van.
His hands were chained, and yet they felt compelled to subdue him 'til they severed his spinal cord.
When that report comes back, don't read it.
Don't look at the pictures.
I'll take that weight.
No.
I want to read it.
I want to know if anybody is prepared to do the right thing.
Yeah.
Sometimes death in custodies can be complicated.
Sometimes a man is just fucking executed.
Charges are dropped, and Lugo received the death penalty.
Guess everybody got what they wanted.
You feel like an unwitting accomplice.
- Don't you? - No.
Not quite.
'Cause we're going to get those fucking guards.
This shit's not supposed to happen.
Not anywhere.
But especially not here.
Not in my jurisdiction.
Isn't it all Jock's jurisdiction now? His bloodlust was satisfied now it's time for mine.
What do you do when Axe is wrong? He's never wrong.
- But what about when - Never wrong.
But what about when he is? Let's take this conversation off-campus.
So, is that some piss running down your leg? I know you didn't like the strategy we pitched your guy.
Pitching potato-powered cars and all that fucking with my lieutenant.
With me.
Not so.
Then you're scared.
You don't want to do business with me.
I wouldn't have invited you here if that were the case.
You don't want to insult me personally.
So you invite me over for the 'save meeting' in the hopes that I will end the conversation myself.
So.
Now.
Answer: Is that some piss running down your leg? Fear isn't in this.
In me.
- I think you see that.
- Why do you say that? Because you invite me over to the house where your children sleep? And this makes you tall and tough and proud? I'm a fucking businessman.
And a real sweetheart.
I'm Casper the Friendly Ghost.
Yeah.
So am I.
And if you mention my kids like that again you'll find out just how fucking friendly.
That was fun! And exciting.
You know, I heard a story about an oligarch maybe you know him, maybe you can tell me if it's true.
He liked to hunt.
But his idea of hunting was to hunker down in a heated cabin.
He had people do the real work.
They tracked the game, corralled it, gored it, and led it to a well lit area.
And our guy, from the safety of his toasty perch, slid open the glass, took aim with his sniper rifle, and delivered the kill shot.
Now, I know men who would say that's not sporting, and others who would say 'however you get there, right?' I would say it wasn't me.
Wasn't real Russian either.
Why go through the charade? If you want to kill the meat, kill the meat.
If you only want to eat the meat, get someone else to do the killing.
Makes sense to me.
But I do my own.
And I'm not afraid of the wet work either.
In fact, I'll be your personal craft butcher.
I respect this.
So, now that you know I want your money, are you coming on board or not? I didn't survive my cell, and get here, to catch a hunter's bullet meant for you.
Well, I guess we know now whose pants are soaking.
No one's shooting at me anymore.
And as for the government, I am hooked up on high.
How high? Oh.
You want a show of trust? I can do that.
I can compel trust.
I want a show of influence.
So I'll do that thing, too.
What do you see? A needlessly large, uncomfortably garish Greek Revival.
Nope.
A monument to how never wrong Axe is.
This is my house.
I'm still paying for it.
But I do not live in it.
Before I married the mistress of the manor, Axe told me not to go through with it.
Who actually does that? Who has the foresight, the confidence, the sheer loyalty to say: she sucks.
And you thought he was wrong.
I liked the way she danced.
Not in some club, with a DJ.
But all the time.
Like, in a store, or in a restaurant, waiting for a table.
Suddenly, she'd be bopping along.
I'd sneak out my phone and film her, then I'd send it to my friends, so they could see just how special she was.
When she'd turn around and catch me, she had a flash of rage.
Turned me on in a way that is hard to describe.
Sometimes, I'd take her right in the bathroom.
Couldn't even wait.
What I didn't know, but Axe did, is that the dancing ends.
And the flash of rage turns into long, endless nights of it.
I see.
You think Axe is wrong because you don't understand his moves.
And you don't understand them because they're emotional.
And he's emotional because he's fighting for his life.
That's what this raise is.
The fact that you can't fully understand that doesn't mean he's wrong.
It just means you haven't gone beyond your own limits.
Ketel One and soda.
His next one's on me.
We're not gonna do that.
But I understand why you need one.
Heard what happened with Lugo.
Rough.
Please don't do that holy Connerty thing.
I wouldn't.
Not right now anyway.
Wasn't my idea to charge him.
The fact that I was prosecuting him when he died Hurts.
Hence, the Novocaine.
I get it.
Believe me.
So have one with me.
Excuse me.
Uh Her drink's on me.
Where are you going? Early meeting.
Job interview.
Not corporate or you'd be blotto by now.
And I would say that I'm surprised you haven't already landed another government job, but then again, I saw the beating you took.
I know you did.
Looked like you enjoyed it.
What person with security clearance is still returning your calls? Got it.
Whatever you're looking for, absolution, an asskicking or an apology, I'm not going to give it to you.
Enjoy your drink, Kate.
Bobby baby.
Todd, I need a favor.
You know me: Glad as always to oblige my friends and neighbors.
Yeah.
There's a third party involved.
Not gonna say his name.
You still there? I'm just calculating the appropriate tax Ah, I got it.
There's actually something I need to get, but I don't quite know how.
Person, place or thing? Well, it's a present.
But not for me It's for my son, Stevie.
You know I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important.
So, this kid is a good friend's kid? You know, to be honest, he's not that good a friend.
And he's probably not even a good kid.
But his father wants to support the Kevin Durant Charitable Foundation.
To the tune of 50K So, if it's worth 50K, it's gotta be worth a 100, right? We do some really, really good things, Axe.
All right.
Done.
His name's Stevie.
Stevie, this is KD.
Happy Bar Mitzvah, my man Enjoy.
Bryan Connerty, meet the head of the New York office.
Assistant Director Frances Lynch.
- Hi.
- In case you didn't know, Agent McCue vouching for you is the only reason I'm considering you for the Special Counsel job.
So don't fuck it up, sorry, Director.
I'm used to it from you, McCue.
Don't fuck it up.
Your application didn't have a rec from the US Attorney, despite your rep for being a hell of a lawyer.
Must be a story there.
You ever see the movie Pi? Is that the story of why Chuck Rhoades gave you a public flogging? Figured you knew about that No, it's about a mathematician.
A numbers theorist really.
3.
14 pi.
- Right.
- Mm-hmm.
This guy programs his computer all special, and it spits out a crazy long number that might be the key to everything.
The stock market, religion, his fucking life.
In trying to understand it, he passes out, and when he wakes up it's become a part of him.
He can see all the patterns, all the answers.
Only, he has these crippling headaches.
The burden of divine revelation.
The knowledge is killing him.
So you know what he does? Puts a power drill right into his cerebral cortex? You've seen the movie.
I have.
And at the end of it, he's sitting on a park bench, serene, happy to be freed from knowing too damned much.
Is that you now? In a way.
You can interpret that movie straight up.
But there's a bunch of little things in there that suggest something else is going on.
He never found the perfect number that explains it all.
He just wanted it so bad that he drove himself crazy.
So you want me to know that you know you were wrong.
And that you can almost admit it.
And you can break down a dense, twisty movie.
I don't advertise those as prereqs for the job, but I do value them.
- Terri prepped you well.
- She did.
Okay, I'll try you out.
But don't think that the FBI is gonna be your peaceful park bench.
I am having a hard time seeing what you are seeing.
Perhaps there are real forms behind the shadows on the cave wall But you can't take that on blind faith.
It's not that I haven't seen you turn common metals into gold.
But until I understand the process You can't take it on blind faith.
I am bad with ignoring data and with blind faith.
I get it.
If it helps, Dylan said it first and best: "he not busy being born" - "Is busy dying.
" - Yeah.
So I'm choosing the former.
Are you sure that's what this is? I'm not ignoring the downside.
But I can't let it override my need.
Axe Capital's need.
I've just learned that if I can see the downside, I can avoid it.
My eyes are wide open, both the ones I got in my head and the ones I'm paying you for.
Yes.
So prepare to present to Grigor's guy a strategy that is not an environmentally friendly "fuck you.
" And keep those eyes open.
Big pearls.
If I didn't know any better, I'd think it was Beluga.
How can it be Beluga when Beluga is illegal in this country? Of course.
Next time, I'll fly in some pangolin.
I've arranged for my own exotic delicacy tonight, as well.
You do recognize the Secretary of the Treasury? We've toasted.
So what? I've raised glasses with movie stars, presidents, nuclear physicists.
Doesn't mean we're all on our way to the same orgy.
Sometimes, sure.
But how can I know? Agreed.
A toast does not mean that Sorry if you're disappointed that I wasn't satisfied with your parlor trick.
Do I look disappointed? Come on.
I understand you two were previously acquainted.
From the party on your boat, in St.
Barth's.
Well, the boat that follows the first boat.
You should know better than to go on a Russian's boat.
Grigor showed me where the cameras were, and then he turned them off.
But at present, even though we have enjoyed that time together, I've been unable to reach you still.
Exactly at the moment where you might have been able to provide me with some extremely useful information.
I could lie to you and tell you I didn't get the message, but the truth is: it's by design.
I can't "interact" now.
I have to fly above reproach, like one of those American Gladiator people on the SkyTrack.
Your so-called gladiators would be slaughtered by a third grade choir back home.
That's probably true.
But I still can't connect with you.
Yet here you are.
Axe called.
Oh.
So he still has your number.
I would like your number now, Mr.
Secretary.
Don't put him in a position to have to refuse you or to give in to you.
He can't talk to you.
It would compromise him.
It's not a great time to be backchanneling with the Russians right now.
You'd own him.
He'd lose the gig.
You'd have nothing.
So you go through me.
Or don't go at all.
So, this is the moment you lead with your chest finally? And in front of another man.
Then fuck you.
No, fuck you.
Like Todd said: he is my brother.
Were you my brother, I would protect you in the same way.
If that doesn't work, I don't want your fucking money.
Draw up the papers.
I will come in tomorrow to sign.
You ever done Math Meet Up? - Is that what this is? - Yeah.
It's a chance for like minded users of open-source programming language R and data analysis tools like Python, Julia, C++, and Stan, to get together and exchange ideas.
It sounds stimulating.
It is.
Look, I was really glad you called.
Since that interview I've looked inward and questioned everything about who I am.
And what I saw in there was not pretty.
Listen.
The reason I'm here is that despite your demeanor, your skills are superior.
And I'd be willing to give you another chance at that project if you promise not to backslide.
Well, I promise to try.
But as far as successfully not being a dick, I can't absolutely guarantee it, like I can my coding.
There you go, doing it again.
Damnit.
Sorry.
Report to this address.
Very fucking funny.
- Ben.
- What? C'mon.
Bill? Cut the shit with this.
Just give it back.
I'm kind of flattered you think I might have thieves' blood, - but - No, no.
You didn't do it as a prank.
It's deeper.
I know how your people are.
Superstitious.
You just wanted a hit of that sweet, sweet luck.
That's no, we're not all the same It's not Ben Kim.
I remember your story.
Icahn called bullshit on your six fours.
And you backed 'em up.
- Right.
- To my people, four is bad luck.
It means death.
So you ARE all the same! Bill, say it again, we are going to have a problem.
Nicely fucking done, Ben Kim! It was him.
- How did you know? - Yeah.
How did you know? He's having another singularly unimpressive quarter.
About to finish dead last.
Again.
You didn't actually think you'd get some luck to rub off on you by swiping that dollar You thought you'd knock Bill off his game.
Take some of the heat off yourself.
Isn't that right, son? I'm sorry.
I was desperate.
I love this place so much.
What could I do? How big is your tiny carve out? Twenty million.
Nope.
It's ten now.
The other ten just went to Dollar Bill.
You better get your head out of your ass and your returns out of the shitter or you will be gone come next quarter.
Yes.
Of course.
Thank you.
And I don't wanna look at this guy for awhile.
Yes.
Rudy, in this game of skin the snake, you've just become the whip.
Move to the end of the desk.
Change spots with Bonnie.
Well, Chuck, sent your advance team to soften me up? That is what I seem to have done.
She's lovely.
Reminds me of a girl I grew up with.
We used to play as kids.
In fact, we bagged a javelina together once.
Such innocent times.
Yes, indeed.
What's the topic of conversation? Retribution.
Oh.
I hope not for the javelinas.
Nah.
Ms.
Sacker here was sounding out my feelings on the Code of Hammurabi, the Old Testament Lex talionis.
Wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
Yeah.
All that wonderful stuff.
I take it that is the brand of justice you support, General.
Well, you saw what happened to that coyote.
It better be the brand of justice y'all support if you want to keep bearing my standard.
We do, and it is.
And that is why those guards must be punished.
Thought that might be where this was leading.
They murdered that young man.
And you said it yourself: blood must be answered for with blood.
It's traditional.
It's biblical.
And it's just.
I like the way y'all are thinking, I do, but you might want to brush up on your ancient Babylonian.
Old Hammurabi, he had different penalties for killing a property owner, freeman, slave.
You know why? 'Cause all lives are not equal.
There are those that do more for society: answer the call to serve, build things with their minds and their hands.
And as for Lugo that dead boy was a drug pusher.
He wasn't doing anything for society but shredding it.
Which is why you were prosecuting him.
As far as I can tell, the only one that deserves death is this whole episode is already facing his maker, or burning in the other place.
I don't know how swiftly justice moves in that realm, but up here in our jurisdiction, with regards to the guards on that transfer van, you will take your time, you will investigate thoroughly.
And I am sure that when you're done, you're gonna find that those guards are telling the truth: That they were attacked by a resisting felon, a man you yourself charged with murder.
And in my book, that is a clear-cut case of self-defense.
And today, as in the traditions we have been speaking of, we don't do diddly about that, we just turn the parchment page and ease on down the road.
Now, if you'll excuse me.
My bourbon rental has expired.
Ms.
Sacker, you're a delight.
Did it work? What? Sean Ayles told me you gave him a check for 250K for the Foundation.
Right on the heels of selling your Maserati.
So did it work? Did it make you feel better? Or less guilty anyway? Not Maserati better I felt guilty once.
About 16, 17 years back I thought: I should be understated, keep a low profile for my investors' sake.
And what's so bad about First Class air travel? So, I'm sitting on the runway one night, waiting endlessly to take off.
And an hour later, a blizzard closes the airport down.
I blend right in with everybody else as we De-planed, tried to book motel rooms for the night.
Bought my first Gulfstream the next day.
Last time I let guilt win.
Hey Hello.
And welcome to the new quant headquarters.
The work will continue here.
The kitchen is stocked and it's time to get to work creating an algo that can crush the market.
If you're in, that is - I'm in.
- Me too.
Sure, why not? I mean: Hell yeah, I'm in! Good.
- Remind me again why - He kept emailing.
He wants to show you that you didn't hurt him.
That he's survived.
- Thrived even.
- Yeah, so instead of endlessly rescheduling just Big Lon - Hi.
- Chuck, Wendy.
You remember my wife Sandra - Good to see you.
- Nice to see you, too.
Sandra, how are you? Sandra plays like a dream, honey.
Grand event coming up: concert at Rose Hall.
That's a big deal! I try not to think about like that.
Just me and my piano.
If there was one thing in life I would do over, it would be not quitting piano lessons when I was nine.
- He doesn't mean that.
- I wish I did.
Well, be glad he doesn't.
Because then you would have to listen to it all day long.
- Hey - No.
It's beautiful.
It's beautiful.
But sometimes you just want to watch an old NYPD Blue episode without a Tchaikovsky soundtrack.
Are you holding up okay, Chuck? That story in the news is awful.
That boy dying in custody.
A tragedy.
We're investigating thoroughly.
The guards' statements were very strong.
But it's too early to say anything.
Really, we're still gathering physical evidence.
But in the end, justice will be done.
Something in your throat, old pal? Don't make me say it.
I don't want to say it.
Well, it's jumped from your throat to your eyes.
Fine, since it's bypassed your guts, I'll say it for you.
You think that I let the attorney general stick his hand up my ass and run me like a sock puppet.
I'm just glad I got out of there before I had to get caught up in any of that.
You know, let's let's just leave it there.
Not a fucking chance.
Oh, it's amazing how fast it happens when you go from being a starting player to the sidelines.
I'll tell you something.
If I were still on the same damn team, those guards would be in custody today.
Sure.
And you imagine, what, that I don't care? Or that I'm not strong enough? Or that I'm bought and paid for? I imagine you've made some calculations that allow you to live with it.
No matter who's left swinging in the wind - This does not have to become any - No, no, it does.
Self righteousness is an indulgence I cannot afford.
Calculation is not something to be scoffed at.
It's a tool.
A tactic.
And I use it proudly and often.
But here.
Today.
About this.
There was none.
No.
There was only a dead man who should've been left alive.
And I'll tell you something, Lonnie, if you were still in the office, nothing would've been different.
Not one thing.
Oh, I'm really glad to see you here tonight, in that Brioni suit, which is the mark of the lawyer who is successful at everything that doesn't really matter.
No.
You are, no doubt, exactly where you are supposed to be now.
There's no shame in not being able to hack it at the highest levels of the real game, but the revisionist history, that's for your wife at home not for the man who fucking knows better.
I'm done with you.
Break a leg at Rose Hall.
I guess I should have rescheduled.
You displaced your anger and a hell of a lot of it for someone else onto Lonnie.
I'm aware.
And I think we both know who the intended target was.
Jock fucking Jeffcoat.
Yeah.
Not that what you said didn't need saying, to that pious prick.
Really? If you didn't say it, I would've.
A little nicer maybe.
Maybe a lot.
You know, you can still tell Jock to go fuck himself.
If I don't bring charges against Lugo's killers, they go free.
If I do bring charges, I'm fired and they go free.
It's not enough to resist or not resist Jock anymore.
You have to assassinate this motherfucker.
Yeah.
I know.
That's why I'm sitting here in the dark like an assassin.
No conference room, no lawyers? I could get used to this.
I had lawyer read, I don't have lawyer enforce.
One rule before we go forward: you can't lose my money.
No.
Of course not.
My every move is geared to make and not lose money Mnh.
No.
You can't lose my money If you do, we have problem.
Understood? And so our adventure begins.
True, very true Happy occasion like this reminds me of funny story.
Many years ago, I was walking along the Moskva Christmas market.
You ever seen Moskva Christmas market? Always a sense of good cheer, even during the lean years.
I think it was the wine.
They serve warm wine with the spices in it.
Cinnamon and I was waiting on the line everyone was always waiting on the line.
And finally I got my cup, I turn, and there was this little boy.
Runny nose.
He he's looking at me so desirous of my cup of this warm, warm wine that I give him a sip.
He stares at me with such a gratitude.
And then I notice his mother.
Plump breasts she must have known someone.
So I give him my cup of wine.
And I take his mother away from the square.
Behind the soldiers.
And after, I leave her for the soldiers.
And I walked back, and this little boy is staring at me with his greedy drunken eyes.
Do you know what happened to him? No.
I always ask.
No one ever knows.