Damages s04e08 Episode Script

Previously on Damages Dean Gulickson from The Times called again.
Thanks for agreeing to talk to me about the case.
I can give you all of it if you do something for me.
There's a High Star employee over there.
Christopher Sanchez.
And he's missing.
Or he's been killed.
I want you to find him.
My options with you are very limited, Chris.
You betray me! You talk to lawyers.
Go ahead and laugh.
Because it's the last thing you will ever do.
His name is Gerald Boorman.
And the French government gave you his file? We may be able to pressure him into turning against Howard Erickson.
You helped Erickson cover up the deaths of three High Star employees.
- We don't want you.
- Well, who do you want? Howard Erickson.
My agency gave me time off.
You came to see me? Jerry? You talk to Sanchez? He forced my hand.
He's got to go.
# Little lamb # Smile # When I am through with you # There won't be anything left # When I am through with you # There won't be anything left # When I am through with you # There's only one way in and out of there.
There's two guards.
Yeah, we'll take them out, no problem.
Probably more guys with guns inside.
Yeah, there's a room between the entrance and the holding cell.
How reliable is your intel? Solid.
Who's your source? Local contact.
Friend of mine.
There's no cover for the courtyard.
My guys are going to be open to sniper fire.
You don't sound very confident.
Well, I don't like surprises.
Hell, I was under the impression you did these snatch and grabs in your sleep.
We can't lose this guy.
He's high value.
Don't worry.
We'll get your guy out of there.
You didn't eat again.
Have it your way.
Bartkowski.
Anything to report? No, sir.
Awaiting your orders.
Listen, I need this thing with Sanchez wrapped up quickly.
Make sure you keep Carter out of this.
Those two go back a long ways.
I don't want Carter to know anything about it.
Copy that.
Over.
If I'm going to find your friend Sanchez, I have to get dirty.
I'm not opposed to it, but if I'm going to risk getting my ass shot up or blown up or whatever, I need to know there's actually a story worth writing about.
- Like I told you before, the CIA - No, no, no.
Specifics.
You can't print any of this, not yet.
Of course not.
The High Star contractors who were killed Rayburn, Franks, Lowry, yeah, go ahead.
They didn't get ambushed transporting kitchen supplies.
They were conducting offensive operations for the CIA, and High Star knew about it.
What kind of offensive operations? Capturing terror suspects for interrogation and rendition.
And you know this for a fact? I've had two witnesses tell me the same story.
One was framed as a terrorist and deported back to Afghanistan, and the other is Chris Sanchez.
Exactly.
He was on the mission when the men were killed.
I told you you can't print this.
No, I'm just making notes.
For my trip to Afghanistan.
Hello? I told you I would come back and get you out of here.
Shit.
Erickson's lawyer filed a motion to dismiss the case.
Judge wants a hearing today.
Can you push it back? I called the court.
- The judge won't move it.
- We need more time.
I don't have the greatest argument to keep the case going at this point.
I've lost my only two witnesses.
Well.
You'll have to think of something.
All I have is the document that Herndon gave us.
Would you mind coming and listening in on the hearing today? Sure.
I could be there.
Ms Parsons has had more than enough time and she has not produced a speck of new evidence.
Your Honour, we obtained this document, which confirms the existence of a joint CIA-High Star operation called Dust Devil.
We provided you with a copy.
Yeah, I have it here.
We believe Dust Devil was the name of the illegal operation at the heart of our claim.
There's nothing illegal about the Central Intelligence Agency doing business with a private contractor.
And what was the nature of this business? As part of our larger contract with the U.
S.
government, High Star provided security for CIA personnel in Afghanistan.
Nothing more.
It's a trivial issue.
We didn't think so, Your Honour, and through discovery, we requested that High Star hand over all documents relating to Dust Devil.
- Which we did.
Yes, but we couldn't read them.
And why is that? Because they'd all been redacted.
By whom? The Department of Defence felt that the information in those documents was vital to national security.
Your Honour, they can't have it both ways.
Dust Devil can't be both trivial and vital at the same time.
It was either an innocuous security programme, or it was crucial to national interests.
So which is it, Mr Shaw? We'd like to know.
Either you're confused, or you've just been caught in a lie.
I didn't assert national security.
The Defence Department did.
In which case, Your Honour, your courtroom has been co-opted by the Pentagon.
I was thinking the same thing.
Surely you can't blame High Star for the DOD's classification protocols.
I'm not interested in blame, Mr Shaw.
I'm interested in the truth.
And I would love to see this case go forward.
I am begging you, Ms Parsons.
Can you give me a rationale for denying this man's motion? I would like the opportunity to depose Howard Erickson so I can question him about the Dust Devil programme.
I think that's fair.
I'd like to file a protective order to stop the deposition.
I'll tell you what.
If you give the plaintiffs the unredacted documents, I'll forego my ruling.
That's impossible.
Then your client will be deposed.
No, that was just dumb luck.
Well, stay away from the Knicks.
You can't trust 'em.
All right, now.
Yeah, you, too.
You cannot be here.
I told you I could find you.
I tracked you down.
Why? Because my government leaked your file to Patty Hewes.
I know that.
I'd already been tagged.
I need you to leave.
Who do you have locked upstairs? - Let's go.
- I saw him.
- You what? - It was a boy.
Why do you have a boy locked upstairs? Jerry! Get out.
Get the fuck out! The judge is ordering you to sit for the depo.
There's no way out of it.
- You keep telling me they don't have a case.
- They don't.
Then why the fuck is this still dragging out? This judge is anti-war.
He's anti-America.
He keeps giving their side the benefit of the doubt.
- How many days are they talking? - Two.
- Goddamn.
- It's the best I could do! They're going to rake me over the coals about Dust Devil and Sanchez.
They're going to try to get you talking.
Look, I don't need to know where Sanchez is.
He signed up.
He's your employee.
Afghanistan is mountainous region, full of wide, open spaces.
But if you're asked where he is, I want you to have a quick answer.
Of course.
I'd like to set aside some prep time this weekend.
Saturday's wide open.
Sunday is roped off.
You taking the boys out hiking? No.
It would have been Mary-Alice's birthday.
I'm sorry, Howard.
That can't be easy.
The last few birthdays have been rough.
Especially on the boys.
Well, I want you to know you'll all be in my prayers.
Thanks, Jack, I appreciate it.
You look well, my friend.
How's the family? As well as can be expected.
What can I do for you? I'm looking for someone.
- What clan? - No, an American.
His name is Chris Sanchez.
He's a High Star contractor.
I think he's being held here against his will.
- You familiar with the company? - Of course.
They're bad news.
So you think you have any contacts inside the High Star compound? Let me see what I can find.
I'll pay for any information.
Erickson.
The reporter is here, sir.
Gulickson? He is? Affirmative.
I saw him myself.
Cocksucker.
I knew he'd turn up.
Nobody talks to this prick, you got that? I don't care if he asks for a stick of Juicy Fruit.
Anybody engaging with him gets fired.
Understood, sir.
I did have one question.
Should I postpone your plan for Sanchez? No.
No, I don't want anything to get in the way of this.
Copy that, sir.
Shaw's going to object and try to assert privilege at every opportunity.
I'll just ignore him.
Yeah, good.
He's only trying to pull focus away from Erickson.
Are you going to have a list of questions? I like to have an outline.
You know, I wouldn't.
You don't want to be reading notes.
You should just keep your eye on Erickson.
On his body language.
I just wish I had more to throw at him.
You don't have as much ammunition as you'd like, but it still doesn't mean you can't score points.
You know, Shaw's going to have coached him to give one-word answers.
So, you push him.
You ask him the same questions ten times, ten different ways.
Erickson has an ego.
He'll get tired of hearing your voice.
He'll want to hear his own.
Then eventually, he'll say something he shouldn't.
Like what? You never know.
That's the fun of it.
Just remember we're in the middle of a game.
We don't have to win it now.
We just want to keep playing.
- That's it? All they got is that document? - It seems so.
- Then you'll be fine.
- I'm not worried about the deposition.
It's just the timing of all this, it really pisses me off.
I wanted this week to be about the boys.
Mary-Alice's birthday is coming up.
I'm sorry, Howard.
She died a day before her birthday.
I didn't realise that.
Never made 47.
It'll be six years.
What really bothers me is All I can think about is her in the hospital bed.
The other stuff, the good times It's getting harder and harder to remember.
My grandma used to say, "You always remember the sad more than the happy".
So, she'd say "Jerry, make sure you're happy".
I brought my friend.
He can tell you more about High Star.
I told him you would be very grateful for any information.
Tell him about the Afghanis who were taken.
What Afghanis? High Star men would go into villages, take away peoples.
What people? Civilians? Could be anyone.
Sometimes Taliban, sometimes farmers.
One time, High Star men make mistake.
A few peoples, killed.
And when was this? Just after planting finish for year, it was October.
What about Chris Sanchez? I sell cigarettes at High Star compound.
I hear name, Sanchez.
But never see him.
And? This all I know.
This guy sells cigarettes to High Star employees.
Just what makes you think he can be trusted? I wouldn't bring him to you if I didn't trust him.
I need it to look just like that.
You understand? Absolutely.
How long will it take for you to prepare? A few days.
And who should claim credit? Local group.
Taliban, al-Qaeda, it doesn't matter.
I cannot do this alone.
I will need to find more men.
Just get it done.
The target's name is Chris Sanchez.
I know I've been harsh with you.
But it's only because you have very important khabar.
Information.
You like this, right? You know, the local men who took over your region, they're lying to you, you know.
They want you to believe your mother was bad.
But that's not true.
She wanted peace.
That's why she helped my government.
She was She was my friend.
You can tell me what the men did.
Please.
I want to know the truth about what happened to your mother.
Dost I am your friend.
You are the devil.
Mr Erickson, over the past decade, your company has received more contracts than any other security firm in the world.
Are you aware of this? I've been lucky to work with good men.
Is one of those men, Christopher Sanchez? Yes, ma'am.
I'm curious, Mr Erickson, at the end of last year, Congress was all set to not renew your contracts, but that didn't happen, did it? No.
The vote ended up going my way.
Any guess as to what may have changed their minds at the last minute? Politicians.
Who can figure them out? Are you aware Mr Sanchez was going to be a witness for the plaintiffs in this case? I had heard that.
He wound up signing a contract with my company to redeploy.
Yes, and the day after he redeployed, Congress decided to renew your contracts.
Does that seem like a coincidence to you? Now that you mention it, I guess it does.
Your company has experienced a remarkable rise, Mr Erickson.
- What's your secret? - Objection.
You're not here to get business tips from my client.
In a short period of time, you've gone from being a career Marine to the CEO of one of the most wildly profitable companies in the Fortune 500.
- What's the secret to your success? - Objection.
I'll put it differently.
Why have your profits risen by 200% in the last five years? Elbow grease.
And sweat.
That's the only reason? Success breeds success, my daddy used to say.
Well, your daddy was in refrigeration.
In your profession, war breeds success, isn't that right? Just because there's a war doesn't automatically mean I make a profit.
My company has to perform.
Yes, but if there's no war, you can't perform, so you can't make a profit.
Objection.
That's not a question.
As a businessman, I'd think you'd want the war to go on forever.
- No.
- Because if there's no war you're out of a job.
- No, wait Doesn't seem like a very good business model.
Objection.
Where's the question? Do you want the war to go on forever, Mr Erickson? With all due respect, young lady, you're being a little bit naive.
With all due respect, this is my deposition and you're required to answer.
As a businessman, do you want the war to go on forever? The war will go on forever, Ms Parsons.
People want the war to end, and I sympathise.
Because for the men fighting, war is literally hell.
But what folks like you don't understand is the decision ain't up to us.
As long as there's people out there trying to kill us, we'll be out there killing them.
So your business model is My business model is flawless.
There'll always be war.
My services will always be needed.
I'd like it on the record that Mr Erickson was smiling when he said that.
I hope you're not expecting an apology.
I'm the one who should apologise.
I'm sorry for what I did.
We had an understanding.
I crossed the line.
I never should have gone to that place.
You potentially exposed me.
You compromised me.
When I asked you about who was upstairs, it was because I was worried about you.
Don't be.
Keeping someone locked up like that is I'm afraid your judgement is slipping.
We're talking about a child.
You can either let me help you, or Or what? You don't get it.
I can't trust you now.
I will never be able to trust you.
So that's it? We won't ever see each other again? Yeah.
That's it.
Come in.
I appreciate you coming to see me.
You said on the phone that you could help me with a case? I believe my government has already helped you.
Yes, they were very cooperative.
I'm glad.
The French are usually accused of being difficult.
Come sit.
This has nothing to do with my government.
They don't know I'm here.
Okay.
I have information that if I give you, you did not get from me, yes? I understand.
I cannot be involved for obvious reasons.
I won't ask you to be.
There is a CIA agent who is unstable.
Who has lost his way.
Who is doing things I cannot accept.
He's involved in the case? Yes.
I must go.
You're late, Ms Parsons.
My client's been waiting.
I'm sorry.
Just getting a few things in order.
Well, you're not getting any more time, so you better start asking your questions.
Actually, I won't be asking the questions.
Good morning.
Ms Hewes will be leading the deposition today.
Mr Erickson, could you read for the record the highlighted portion of this document, please? Hang on, Howard.
All right.
"Howard T.
Erickson" "Operation Dust Devil" This is an internal memo from the Central Intelligence Agency.
Was High Star involved in Operation Dust Devil with the CIA? Yes.
How many High Star employees were involved in Operation Dust Devil? Objection.
A reply from Mr Erickson would violate the nondisclosure agreements governing his contracts.
Was Christopher Sanchez involved in Operation Dust Devil? The same objection stands.
Did Thomas Lowry, Jay Rayburn and Robert Franks lose their lives while on a mission for Operation Dust Devil? Objection.
You can do this all day.
We're not going to answer.
I just want to make sure that your client's non-answers are on the record.
In the broadest sense, Mr Erickson, what was the objective of Operation Dust Devil? You can answer, but only in the most general terms.
We were hired to provide security, routine security, for intelligence officers.
Well, in fact, High Star is only authorised to provide security, correct? That's right.
You're not allowed to conduct any offensive missions of any kind, is that right? Yes, ma'am.
So if your company was involved in, say, the abduction and interrogation of Afghanis, I mean, that would be illegal, would it not? Yes, it most certainly would.
Mr Erickson, are you familiar with an intelligence officer named Gerald Boorman? Objection.
We've been over this.
He can't answer that.
Did Mr Boorman oversee Operation Dust Devil for the CIA? Objection.
Did Mr Boorman supply human targets for extraction by members of Mr Sanchez's High Star Dust Devil unit? Objection.
Mr Erickson, can you identify the person in this photograph? No, I cannot.
You don't know who this child is? No.
Never seen him before.
Well, that's surprising, because on the day that your men were killed, Mr Boorman instructed your men to seize this boy as part of Operation Dust Devil.
You didn't know that, Mr Erickson? I repeat.
I've never seen this person before in my life.
Erickson was stunned when you showed him that picture.
There's no way he knew who Chris' unit pulled out.
Boorman used Erickson.
Well, like you said, Boorman turned against Erickson, so now, hopefully, they'll turn against each other.
We pulled out a kid? - What are you talking about? - You used my men to abduct a boy? Answer me.
That last mission, was the asset a child? - Who told you that? - Patty Hewes.
In the middle of a deposition.
She had a picture.
Yes, Howard, the target was a boy.
Why the fuck didn't you tell me? You never asked who the targets were.
What the hell do you care, anyway? You got your contracts.
This kid had information.
His age doesn't change that.
Where's the kid now? He's secure.
The Agency is handling it.
If I didn't know about this, how the hell did Patty Hewes find out? Well, Chris Sanchez is the only other person who saw him besides me.
He must have slipped it to Parsons before he redeployed.
Sanchez won't be a problem much longer.
Jesus, announce yourself next time.
You want a hole in your fucking head? You said we could not be seen together.
I was being cautious.
What's your decision? I will do the job as you wish, but I require two men to assist me and they also must be paid.
You know these men? You can trust them? Of course.
I am as concerned with discretion as you.
Okay, then.
Sanchez.
Sanchez Lowry, look at me.
Look at me! Rayburn!! Lowry! Lowry! What the fuck happened to my men? Who the fuck is this? It's not safe for you here anymore.
And where should I go? America? You know I can't leave my homeland.
My life is here.
- Salaam alaikum.
- Jesus.
Alaikum as-salaam.
What are you doing here? We didn't have to look for your Sanchez.
He came to look for us.
What do you mean? Bilal was asked to join a group of men planning to kill a High Star employee.
- Do you know who the employee was? - No.
- Who tried to recruit you? - Intermediary.
I do not know who it is that wants man dead.
But they had no trouble finding someone else to commit the act.
- Why's that? - The money they offer much money.
Didn't think you was gonna come.
I'm not really sure why I'm here.
Except that you wanted to see me.
That's how it works.
You want to see me and I come.
Little different this time.
Oh, yeah, sorry about that.
But I had to assume when you asked me here you were going to kill me.
You told Patty Hewes about the boy.
I'm sorry I betrayed you.
But he was just a boy.
I can't accept that.
You did me a favour.
How's that? I've had to cover this whole thing up.
And, uh I can't do it anymore.
It'll all come out anyway.
It's just a matter of time.
What are you covering up? Who is the boy? The boy has information.
His mother She was an asset of mine.
And she put it all on the line for me.
For this fucking country.
And it killed her.
Now all that the mother knew is with the boy.
I think I'm losing my mind.
I just I I want it to end.
I want out.
It's okay.
You can still make it right, you know.
Let the boy go.
Okay.
It should be a yellow lemon cake.
With yellow frosting.
- Okay.
- Why lemon? That was Mom's favourite.
And decorate it with some daisies.
Made from the icing.
Sure thing.
This'll only take a minute, boys.
Hey, grab some Italian cookies, if you want, for the way home.
And a few cheese Danish.
What's the good word? Everything's under control, sir.
Okay, what's the timeframe here? Next 24 to 36.
This has to be precision.
No mistakes, no traces.
Nothing the press can grab onto.
Next time you hear from me, it'll be done.
Outstanding.
I'm worried about your friend.
What does your source say? That someone here is offering significant money to have a High Star contractor killed.
Is it Chris? Source didn't say.
Well, if it is, it means he's still alive.
Well, for now.
I want to go over there.
I'll alert the authorities myself.
No.
No, it's a bad idea.
It would just put you and your friend in more danger.
Okay.
I've got some connections at the embassy.
Maybe I can get them involved.
But I will do whatever I can.
Okay.
Thanks.
Hello? Hey, there.
It's Gerald Boorman.
Remember me? Well, of course, Mr Boorman.
So, Erickson's finally going to kill me.
I was wondering, you still interested in what I know about Howard Erickson? That depends on what you know.
I can serve him up to you, Ms Hewes.
On a platter.
Well, it sounds like you and I should get together.
Get the fuck off me! Fuck you, get off me! Get off me! Get the fuck off me! I assume you've heard by now.
You're playing with a man's life.
Do not fuck with me, Patty.
I swear to God you'll regret this.
- Goodbye, Ellen.
- Patty!