Suits s07e15 Episode Script
Tiny Violin
1 I can't afford Zane's buy-in.
I pay you out of my own pocket and the partner's find out, it will cost me millions.
Jessica, I need this.
I'm actually loaning you this money, and you're gonna loan it to him, and if nobody ever repays anybody, nobody's gonna give a shit.
- Thank you.
Harvey, it's time to take my name off the wall.
And what if I say I accept it? Then you've got two things to figure out.
How much are you gonna spend to buy me out, and how're you gonna spin this thing? The second we cut her a check, we don't have a leg to stand on in court.
It's a one-way ticket to bankruptcy.
Well, I'm not letting that son of a bitch back into the house Jessica took from him.
Wait a second.
Stanley Gordon doesn't need money.
He just wants the world to know that Jessica's name's dog shit.
If we put out a public statement that throws Jessica under the bus-- - No way.
- We do this, Jessica gets paid, we are free and clear.
I was just wondering if there's a reason why I just got a new lease on my desk that's 10% less than our last one.
I just wanted to thank you for keeping me.
Before you go.
Do you want me to pour us a drink? What do you say we shake things up and make it two? [knocking.]
Nathan, what are you doing here? - Can I come in? - Yeah, of course.
- Thanks.
- Can I get you a coffee or something? - No, I'm, I'm good.
- What's going on? Well, I don't know how to say this, so I'm just going to say it.
I got into a case.
It started getting to me, and the next thing I knew, it turned into a class action.
Nathan, you don't have the resources to take on a class action.
That didn't stop you from taking on those miners last year.
- No, it didn't.
But I ended up needing to go to Pearson Specter for help.
Why do you think I'm here now? You want me to ask my firm to help you? I want your firm to make an investment in the clinic.
Nathan, that's never going to happen.
Well, I need some kind of help.
Because there are a bunch of children who are never going to live normal lives, and if I don't think of something, I'm going to have to choose between them, and keeping the clinic in business.
Wait, wait, wait, what do you mean they're never going to have normal lives? There's a school in upstate New York.
About ten years ago, Discharge Power started making batteries a thousand yards away.
Those kids started getting lead poisoning.
And they say it's not from the plant, but it is.
All right, I have an idea.
But it's not giving you money, and it's not giving you our associates.
[tense music.]
I know we drank a few last night, but I'm pretty sure you're in the wrong office.
I was going to replace the bottle we finished, but I can find it another home.
What's that they say about great minds? [laughs.]
Seriously, Donna, it was nice just to hang out, and enjoy each other's company.
It sure was.
So, things between us are-- Back to normal? If they are for you, they are for me.
Good.
[knocking.]
I hope you two didn't break out the scotch on my behalf.
I don't imbibe this early unless I'm on vacation.
I know you're getting old, Stanley, but you're on permanent vacation.
Well, I hate to break it to you, but I'm stepping back into the ring.
That doesn't look like a Christmas present.
It's a lawsuit on behalf of your former partners for damages incurred by the criminal actions of this firm.
What the hell are you talking about? Every single partner who left this firm after Mike Ross went to jail is damaged goods.
- Bullshit.
- It's not bullshit.
And in case it hasn't occurred to you, once you put that statement out about Jessica's disbarment, you made my case for me.
Son of a--we issued that statement to appease you.
Hey, it wasn't my idea to throw your mommy under the bus.
It was your partner's.
All I did was take advantage of an opportunity.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a trial to prepare for.
Harvey, we have a problem.
Well, whatever it is, it's going to have to wait.
Because I just got a visit from Stanley Gordon.
- Me too, he's suing us.
- And what exactly are you planning to do about it? Because this whole thing is your fault.
My fault? How is it my fault? You were the one who came up with that idea to release that statement condemning Jessica in the first place.
Harvey, I am not the enemy Stanley Gordon is.
And I don't care how he twisted it.
It was a good idea.
Well, we need another good idea.
Because he's suing for the exact amount of their original buy-ins.
Wait a second.
This is about their buy-ins.
Of course it's about their buy-ins.
What difference does that make? - If we can prove that this is just a back door way of getting that money back, we can get this thing dismissed before it ever gets off the ground.
All right.
You get to work on drafting a motion, I'm going to try and get us some proof.
Harvey, you think we should let Jessica know? No, Louis, I don't.
Because I'm not about to tell Jessica that we issued a statement condemning her for nothing.
[dramatic music.]
Suits 7x15 Tiny Violin See the money, wanna stay for your meal Get another piece of pie for your wife Everybody wanna know how it feel Everybody wanna see what it's like I'll even eat a bean pie, I don't mind Me and Missy is so busy, busy making money All right All step back, I'm 'bout to dance The greenback boogie - Donna, have you seen Harvey? - He's out, Mike.
And he's going to be out for a while.
- What happened? - We got hit with a lawsuit from Stanley Gordon.
The partners are coming after their money, and they hired him to do it.
- Shit.
If we lose that-- - I know.
But it's Harvey and Louis, so we don't need to go there yet.
Is there something I can help you with? Donna, the clinic's in trouble.
Nathan came to me this morning about asking Harvey for money, and-- - Mike, there's no way.
I know, and that's what I told Nathan.
- Then what do you need? - I need to pour everything I have into one of his cases until we win.
And I know Harvey and I had our share of problems this year, and I don't want to add to them.
Well, if you're asking for my blessing, you have it.
Thanks, Donna.
- Mike? - Yeah? What's the case? Kids with lead poisoning.
Go get 'em.
[tense music.]
I was wondering when you'd find me.
What the hell is your name doing on that suit? - Harvey-- - Because we both know Jessica made you whole.
Which means you got no business stabbing us in the back.
I'm not stabbing anyone, Harvey.
Not only are you shoving the knife in, you're getting paid twice in the process.
Think it through, Harvey.
You know Jessica gave me the buy-in.
None of them do.
I refuse to sign on to this thing, every one of them figures out what happened, and it opens the floodgates to them coming after their money legitimately, instead of through the back door.
So you're saying I should thank you? I guess I am.
Not that you ever would.
I'll thank you when you get those clowns to back the hell off this claim.
- I can't do that.
- Sure you can.
You've always been the ringleader.
You give them some line about this opening them up to countersuits for breach of contract.
They'll drop this before the sun comes up.
They're not idiots.
I try a stunt like that, I might as well have refused to sign on in the first place.
Jack, listen to me.
This could put us under.
Look, I'm no fan of Stanley Gordon, so if there's a way that I can help that doesn't screw me, I will.
But you did this, when you issued that statement about Jessica.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm not looking to be seen talking to you.
[dramatic music.]
Hey, Mike.
What are you doing here? I just came to tell the king of class action here that I'm in.
You got me for as long as you need me.
Mike, that's great.
Thank you.
Wait a second, you're telling me you brought this jerkoff onto our case? - Excuse me.
Mr.
Jerkoff, please.
- Oh, yeah? How about Johnnie Dickface? - How about Jonathan Dickface? Okay, are you two finished? Because we actually have a case to prepare for.
And they just filed a motion to dismiss based on insufficient class certification.
What? I filled out that paperwork myself, and you filed it yesterday.
- No, you filed it.
Because you said you were going to take care of it yourself.
And then you said you were going down to the court.
Shit.
I got caught up.
- God damn it, Nathan.
This ruins three months worth of work.
- You think I don't know that? - I don't care whether you know it or not, it was your idea to-- All right, all right, that's enough.
Guys, pointing fingers isn't going to get us anywhere.
Mike's right.
The question is, what are we going to do? We're going to do what you do when the law isn't on your side.
We're going to tell the truth, and hope to hell the judge sees it our way.
[dramatic music.]
Your Honor, the law is clear on this.
They missed the deadline, and you are obligated to dismiss this case.
- He's right, Your Honor.
I missed the deadline, but there are 150 children with elevated levels of lead in their blood that shouldn't have to suffer because I made a mistake.
Well, that is a wonderful story, but the truth is, he doesn't care about these children because this is a cash grab, plain and simple.
- Cash grab? Our fees are capped at $50,000.
$50,000 keeps your clinic running for a hell of a long time, and I still haven't heard one piece of evidence that we even knew about these lead levels.
- Your Honor, if I may, I have some evidence I'd like to share with the court.
- And you are? - Mike Ross, Specter Litt, Your Honor, and I think it might interest the court to know a little of Mr.
Collins' history with cases like this.
- What are you talking about? Your last case against a clinic.
You created 16 situations just like this, and then, on the 17th, it got thrown out, because they finally missed a deadline.
That is a mischaracterization of the facts, Your Honor.
Whereas only 10% of Nathan Krueger's cases even involve monetary damages, because this man spends most of his time trying to keep poor people in their homes and protecting their civil rights.
Well, then give him the Congressional medal of honor and dismiss this case because he still missed the deadline.
And it's within my power to extend it, Mr.
Collins.
So if your company did nothing wrong, you have nothing to worry about.
Because this case is moving to trial.
Your Honor, this action is nothing more than a backdoor attempt to get our former partners their buy-ins back.
- Where's your proof? I'll tell you where.
You helped us rewrite our bylaws to stop this claim.
Now, you're using the statement you made us issue to revive that very same claim.
Every one of these former partners suffered damage to their career due to their association with a firm that hired a fraud, and you know it.
- Wow, Stanley.
Isn't it convenient that all you have to back that up is the word of the very same partners that'll say anything they have to to get their money back? I'm glad you brought that up, Louis.
Because I happen to have the statement of a former partner who's not a part of this lawsuit at all.
What the hell are you talking about? Your Honor, this is a court transcript of a case tried by Dana Scott, former partner of their firm.
I'd like to draw your attention to the section where Ms.
Scott talks about having her credibility questioned as a direct result of working at Pearson Specter.
Your Honor, there must be some other explanation for-- Then get her ass in here to give it.
- Watch your mouth! - That's enough.
He's right.
If you can't get Ms.
Scott to refute this testimony by tomorrow, then this trial is moving forward.
[dramatic music.]
Mr.
Ross! If you've got anything to say to us, you're going to have to say it to Nathan, too.
I get it, you're the guy from the big firm who comes in to finish what they couldn't.
But as soon as you get bored and walk away, I'm going to litigate circles around them.
Go ahead and give it a shot.
Here's the thing, Mr.
Collins.
I don't get bored, and I'm not going anywhere.
You couldn't even make it to court on time.
You're serving your annual pro Bono sentence.
You can't wait for this to be over.
You don't know shit about me.
These guys were there when I needed them, which means I'm going to stick with them forever.
Then what do you say we settle this thing right now? Not interested.
Come on, there's got to be a number.
I'm sure there is, and when you find it, you can bring it to us tomorrow.
But in the meantime, we've got a class action to prepare for.
Fine.
I'll meet you at your office tomorrow at 10.
Make it 9, and at the clinic.
Oh, and Mr.
Collins, you better be on time, and it better be good.
[tense music.]
Mike, what are you doing playing chicken with this guy? He's ready to settle.
- You know what I'm doing.
The less interested he thinks we are in settling, the higher the number goes.
- Then why didn't you at least let him meet you at your office? Use the big guns to intimidate him.
Because he knows we'll never throw our resources at this.
Well, in case you haven't been paying attention, we don't have the resources, either.
I know that, Oliver.
He doesn't.
Now, come on, here's what I need you to do.
Hey, you have a minute? Not really, because I know why you're here.
No, you don't.
You're here because Louis sent you to get me to make Scottie retract that statement.
Okay, maybe you do know why I'm here.
But Louis didn't send me, Harvey.
I volunteered.
- Donna.
Nothing I say is going to make her take it back.
You don't know that.
And if anybody can make her do it, it's you.
Why, because I have history with her? Of course because you have history with her.
Well, maybe I don't want it to be that every time I have to go to Scottie, it's to use our history to get her to do something that she's not going to want to do.
Harvey, Scottie's not the only person who every time you go to her, you need something.
She's just the only one who makes you feel bad about it.
Why the hell do you think I don't want to go over there? To tell you the truth, I don't really care why.
Because this isn't just about you.
This is about keeping this place alive.
- You think I don't know that? - I think you do know that.
And I think you also know if you don't do this, we're going to trial, and we may not win.
And by the way, if you didn't have a history with Scottie, she never would have put us in this position in the first place.
[tense music.]
Can't say I know many lawyers who bike to work.
Old habit.
Helps me clear my head before I start a new trial.
Whatever it does, I'd say it's working.
You were in the courtroom.
Six rows back, three seats in.
- I was.
Andy Forsyth.
- Mike Ross.
- I know.
In fact, you're the reason I took a red-eye from Seattle.
- Why'd you do that? - Because I'm about to take on the largest health insurer on the west coast, and I'm building a firm of my own.
And from that Times article, you sound like the kind of guy I want as a partner.
Well, if you really read that article, you'd know I already have a job.
Not really looking to leave.
- Yeah, not yet.
But it's inevitable.
- How is it inevitable? Because eventually, you're going to be in a position where it's your job to defend the indefensible.
Look, I'm flattered, but I'm in the middle of a case right now, and the clinic that I'm partnered up with does not have the resources.
I'm sorry, but I'm not just going to abandon them.
You won't have to.
You just put the fear of God in the other side.
They're going to want to settle this thing by tomorrow.
- And if they don't? - Let me lay this out for you.
I'm looking to start a firm that takes on the big guys without relying on funding from anyone.
This is the case that's going to make that happen.
And when it's over, I want someone to run the place.
And that person is you.
And before you say anything, Rachel Zane can run it right by your side.
[tense music.]
But I need a yes, soon.
Or I need to move on.
I'm staying at the Carlyle.
You have 48 hours.
Hell of a view.
Hard to believe working for me almost kept you from getting it.
Hello to you too, Harvey.
If you're here in person, Stanley Gordon must really have you by the balls.
- You know about the suit.
- He called looking to get me to throw you under the bus three weeks ago.
I told him I didn't have anything to say.
That's funny, because he's using you to make his case anyway.
- What are you talking about? I'm talking about a closing statement you made in court six months ago.
Well, shit.
Scottie, why would you say that? The other side was attacking my credibility, and I had to appeal to the jury.
And I'm not going to apologize for it.
Apologize for it? It's not even true.
Yes it is.
How the hell were you damaged? You're a name partner here.
- That doesn't mean that I haven't suffered from my association with you.
Oh, bullshit.
I know you.
I know you'll say anything you have to to win, and that's what you did.
- So what if I did? You know what.
No, I don't.
Because if you are asking me to get up on a stand and tell a jury that when I try a case, I am full of shit, then must you be out of your mind.
Scottie, I am in trouble here.
I need you to help me.
It is my firm now.
If it goes down after I took it over-- I understand that, Harvey.
But I didn't get you into this mess, you did.
And I'm not going to put my career on the line to get you out of it.
- Scottie-- I'm sorry, Harvey.
But I've said yes to you too many times.
[tense music.]
You know what? I'm sorry I asked.
[exhales.]
Hey.
Hey.
Want to go out and grab a bite to eat? Oh, I can't.
I got to prepare for this settlement meeting in the morning.
For the class action? Wait, that's great.
Nothing about this case is great.
[sighs.]
Look at these kids, Rachel.
It's just one after another.
Aw, she's just a baby.
She's three.
They already know she's got cognitive damage from the lead.
- This is heartbreaking.
- It's so unfair.
The worst part is, even if we win, money's not going to cure her.
Or any of these other kids.
Well, you're helping them the best way that you can.
Am I? Hey.
What's going on? I got a job offer today.
Okay.
What does that have to do with any of this? The guy who offered it to me is opening up a practice dedicated to doing this kind of work.
It's like a clinic, but with big firm money.
Hmm.
And he wants us to run it.
Us? He asked for us to do it? Yeah.
[tense music.]
Well, what if I told you I'd consider it? That's No, that's not the point.
It's in Seattle.
He wants an answer in two days.
We can't do it.
It just got to me, that's all.
Then go in there tomorrow and use whatever this did to you to get those families the most that you possibly can.
Because, Mike, we're going to have children someday.
And I don't want them to live in a world where things like this happen.
Make yourself at home.
What'd she say? She said she's not going to testify for us.
So you mean they get to enter that statement she made in court, and there's nothing we can do to counter it? - Yeah.
That's what I mean.
- Well then, we're fucked.
Because that right there is proof that they were damaged by our firm.
- Louis-- She was a partner just as much as they were, and there's nothing that we can say that's going to change that.
- No, she wasn't.
- What are you talking about? Louis, Scottie wasn't a partner as much as they were.
She's not part of the class, and she left way before any of them.
And even if we stipulate that she was hurt by us, that doesn't prove they were.
- I get it.
We need to show if these guys aren't succeeding, it's not our fault.
It's theirs.
Exactly.
And I know just the man to help us do it.
I hope you don't mind.
Sylvia told me I could come in.
I assume you're here to ask me about your old partners suing you.
You know the whole story? I know they're looking for their share of the pie, and I know you're not here to get me to try to stop them, because I can't.
- I know that, Robert.
But-- - I don't think you do.
I don't think you understand what's happened to my reputation here.
- What are you talking about? I bailed you out with Bratton Gould, and then again on that prison case.
I help you out with this, well, I might as well just move in.
Because no one here will ever trust me again.
All I need is access to their performance reviews.
Are you out of your mind? Those are confidential.
And we both know I can have them subpoenaed if I have to.
Well then, do that.
I can't afford to look complicit with you, no matter how much you play that tiny violin.
This isn't a tiny violin, Robert.
This lawsuit could burn my firm to the ground.
[tense music.]
All right.
There is one way.
But it needs to happen tonight, while I'm having dinner with Rand and Kaldor.
What is it? Mr.
Collins.
We appreciate the punctuality.
What are all these people doing here? This is supposed to be a settlement meeting.
Well, we thought before we heard your offer, we'd show you what you up against.
And you don't think Discharge Power can afford an army of its own? - No, I'm sure they can.
But unlike yours, every one of my people is prepared to shed blood for this case.
Then maybe this will keep them from shedding anything at all.
What the hell are you doing? This is less than $60,000 per family.
Which is a hell of a lot of money for lead poisoning we knew nothing about.
Bullshit, your people knew what was going on here.
And you have no proof of that.
This is a list of children pulled from the school within the first six months of the plant opening.
You want to take a guess what they have in common? Their parents are all executives at Discharge Power.
So don't try to tell us that no one knew.
Where did you get that? Is that how you're going to counter in front of a jury? $100,000 a family, that's the best you're going to do.
- No, it isn't.
- Mike-- No, these are children.
We have the resources, and this isn't going to go down like this, so why don't you go back to your masters and tell them that unless they want to be exposed to the world, they're going to need to add some more zeroes.
- We're never going to do that.
- You can, and you will.
Now get out of my face.
My office, now.
God damn it.
What the hell did you do? What do you mean, what did I do? It was a good cop, bad cop.
That was the plan.
No, the plan was to close in the room.
Not blow the whole thing up for some number they're never going to go for.
- Nathan, they'll come back.
What the hell is wrong with you? What's wrong with me? Those kids are going to be fucked up for the rest of their lives, and you seem to care more about closing in the room than getting them the best deal.
Did you not hear me when I first came to you? I needed money, because if this goes to trial, we are out of business.
- Nathan, it's not going to go to trial.
And the only thing that's going to stop this guy from tripling that offer is if you don't have the balls to wait it out.
Nathan, look, I know you got into this because you care about these people, and you're a good man for doing it.
But you need to trust me.
I know what I'm doing.
All I'm asking is that you just wait one day.
Okay, Mike.
One day.
Harvey, if this is about the Bartlett case, I have already made plans to work late.
I'm here to tell you to leave early to get to your parent's house for your mom's chicken piccata.
It's Wednesday.
My mom makes lasagna.
I don't care if she's making cow-shit soufflé.
I need you to get to that dinner, and look through your father's files.
With all due respect, I'm not in the habit of going through my father's things without him knowing.
Then you don't have to worry, because he does know.
Harvey, what's going on? Stanley Gordon's suing us on behalf of our ex-partners claiming that their time at Pearson Specter hurt their careers.
- I get it.
And some of those partners work for my dad, and he wants to help us prove that it's not true, but he doesn't want to be seen doing it.
Which is why he's going to leave their performance reviews out.
And you're going to tell me exactly what they say.
Well then, I'd better get going.
Because you might not care, but my mom's lasagna? It's the best you've ever had.
Hey, what's going on? Oliver told me to come in, but he didn't give me a reason.
Where is everyone? - I sent them home.
What? Why? We lost our funding.
What the hell are you talking about? Discharge Power called our five biggest angel investors, and got them to pull their funding.
So we're shut down.
- They can't do that.
They just did it.
Oh, my God.
I don't believe this.
Well, you should believe it, because it's game over.
The clinic, the case, everything.
Nathan, you can't just roll over.
As long as your lights are on, I'm sure you've got people who are willing to work on this-- Our charter doesn't allow it, okay? And you can't work here, either, so just go.
Go back to PSL, or SL, or whatever the hell you call the place that teaches you to turn down multi-million dollar offers.
- You think this is my fault? It's not, Nathan, it's theirs, and that monster of a lawyer that they've got-- I don't care whose fault it is.
If that offer is still on the table, I am taking it.
Because it's the only way that we're going to be able to get our funding back.
- Nathan, you go back to Collins now, you're going to be lucky to get ten cents on the dollar.
Then I'll get ten cents on the dollar.
Would you wait a minute and listen to me? Because I am trying to help-- - I am done listening to you! Go! And stay the hell out of this case.
[dramatic music.]
[tense music.]
Mike, hey, this is great.
I didn't think I'd see you-- What the fuck did you do? What the hell are you talking about? I didn't do anything.
- Bullshit.
You cut the clinic's funding off because I told you they didn't have the resources.
I have no idea what you're talking about.
You're going to deny that up until nine months ago, you worked for the firm that represented the parent company of that battery plant? - I worked there, and I hated it.
It's why I left.
And if that were the truth, you would have said something the first time we met, but you didn't.
No, you told me they were going to offer me a job.
You gave me a reason to take it, and then when I didn't jump on it, you put people that I care about out of work.
I didn't do shit to that clinic.
You're being paranoid.
- I'm being paranoid, really? And what's more likely? That I'm being paranoid, or that you appeared out of nowhere to offer me some magical opportunity the day before we lose our funding? You are making a big mistake.
I need you to stay the hell away from me, the clinic, and this case.
Harvey, what are you doing here? I'm here to give you your performance review.
- I don't work for you.
- No, but you're going to answer to me when I put you on the stand.
Read it.
When I read it, I don't see a man that was held back because his old firm had a bad reputation.
I see a man that reached his limitation.
Everyone knew it, except for him, and now, he's looking for someone to blame.
- I didn't bring this suit.
- I don't care, because as far as they're concerned, you're the leader of the band.
Which means you're the first one up.
You must want something.
Because you didn't come all the way down here just to tell me you're going to humiliate me.
I'm here to give you a chance.
Get Gordon and the rest of them to back off, and this never sees the light of day.
If not, you're going on the stand tomorrow, because I'm telling you, there's no way I am letting them use you or Scottie or anybody else to take my firm from me.
[tense music.]
Please tell me you didn't go back to see Collins.
You know, I tried.
He wouldn't give me the time of day.
Good.
[scoffs.]
Good? My only chance to keep this place alive is to dump this thing, beg our donors to come back, and accept that these kids get nothing.
- No, it isn't.
- What are you talking about? I got a job offer yesterday.
This guy said he's starting a firm dedicated to doing the kinds of cases we do now.
Well, if you came to me for advice, I'd say take it.
It's not about Nathan, he's the one that got the donors to pull out.
- What? - He used to work for Porter Lofton, and this whole thing was a ploy.
So you're here to tell me you got played? No, I'm here to tell you that even though that job was bullshit, the idea is a good one.
You want to start a firm like that? I want you to start a firm like that.
Instead of begging donors to keep you alive, just let your non-profit status go.
- Why would I do that? - Because then, you'd have no cap on your fees.
You could make enough from this one case to get these families what they deserve, and keep yourself running for years.
Mike, this clinic has meant everything to me.
I spent 11 years running it.
I'm not about to let it die based on a gamble.
- It's not a gamble if you win.
I will help you.
Oliver will help you.
And then, when it's over, nobody will ever be able to force you to abandon a client by cutting off your wallet ever again.
Even if I could say yes, you're forgetting the reason I came to you in the first place.
[sighs.]
You need money.
We don't have anywhere near enough to even see this to trial.
How much do you need? - To float the whole firm? - Yes.
Half a million dollars.
I'll get you the money.
Scottie, if you're here because you've been subpoenaed, I've got something in the works.
I haven't been subpoenaed, Harvey.
That's not why I'm here.
- Then why are you here? To say that I'm sorry.
I don't want to see you lose your firm, Harvey.
I care about you.
I always have, I always will.
And I just wanted to say that.
And? And what? You didn't come all the way down here just to tell me that.
You don't make it easy, do you? The last time that we saw each other, you told me that you were seeing someone about yourself.
And you asked if when you were done, could you call me.
- I remember.
- Well, are you done? Did you fix yourself? [laughs.]
Let's just say I'm a work in progress.
What does that mean? - You want the truth? - Yes.
A year after I stopped with my therapist, I started seeing her.
- A year? - A year and three weeks.
[chuckles.]
Three weeks longer than the waiting period.
I am a lawyer, after all.
I'm guessing it didn't work out.
It didn't.
It was complicated.
Did Donna have anything to do with that complication? Why do you ask? That's all I needed to know.
Sorry to interrupt, but Harvey, Stanley Gordon's in the conference room.
He wants to see us both.
Hi, Scottie.
- Louis.
Good luck, Harvey.
You know, I never liked this conference room.
Too much glass.
- What do you want, Stanley? We've got a trial to prepare for.
Nice job getting Soloff to drop out.
We did it with him, we can do it with all of them.
Maybe you can, maybe you can't.
One thing's for sure.
You don't have to.
- Why not? - Give them their jobs back.
That's all they wanted in the first place.
- What? - Give these guys their jobs back, this whole thing goes away.
- Bullshit.
- It's not bullshit.
It's what they want.
- And what about what you want? This whole thing was a setup for you to get back behind the wheel of Jessica's car.
It's not Jessica's goddamn car.
it's mine.
But that's not what this is about.
- I don't believe you.
- I don't care whether you believe me or not, because that's the deal that's on the table.
So you can take your chances in court, or you can put this in the rearview mirror right the hell now.
- Never going to happen.
If it'll sweeten the deal any, I'll put it in writing.
Anyone tries to make me a partner in the new firm, the deal's off, and we walk away with nothing.
Didn't expect that, did you? I'm not like Jessica.
I actually care about the people I left behind.
So take the deal, or don't.
But with or without Jack Soloff, we're going to trial.
[dramatic music.]
[knocks softly.]
You look tired.
Look, Donna, I don't want to ask what I'm about to ask, but-- [exhales.]
I've got nowhere else to go.
That doesn't sound good.
I need you to back my request for the firm to loan the clinic money against its fee on my case.
How much? - 500,000.
- What? Mike, that is never going to fly with Harvey.
I know that, which is why I need you to make it fly.
And I already helped you by saying okay to this case when Harvey wasn't here.
I'm not going to double down on that by saying we should give the clinic money at the worst possible time.
Well, when exactly is a good time? Never, because we're a corporate law firm.
We give them money, we might as well tell our clients that they're our second priority.
I'm not talking about an investment, Donna.
I'm talking about a loan.
- And if you can't see that to the rest of the world, there's no difference, then - Then what? - Then nothing.
Does this have something to do with me not being ready? - What? - Harvey said I wasn't ready to be senior partner, but he doesn't come to a conclusion like that without running it by you first.
Okay.
Then yes, Mike.
You not being able to accept something like this is exactly what I meant about you not being ready.
I understand.
And I know if Gordon wins, then we might not even survive.
But Donna, what is the point of trying to survive if we can't do something like this? [tense music.]
I'm telling you, I've gone through his financials, the partner's financials, the by-laws.
I haven't found a goddamn thing.
Then we keep looking until we do.
Harvey, has it occurred to you it's possible that this isn't the worst outcome in the world? Yeah, and I could also get shot in the face.
But that's not what we're talking about right now.
I'm saying, let Gordon think he pressured us into taking those partners back, because the truth is, we're a more powerful firm if they're here.
And you and I both know if Stanley Gordon wants them back, he wants it for a reason, and it sure as hell isn't to help us out.
- I have some information, but I don't know if it has anything to do with this or not.
What is it? Last week, when we almost lost our lease, I did some checking in case we had to move, and-- Hold on, I'm sorry.
We almost lost our lease? That's not the point, Louis.
I took care of it.
The point is there were three floors in Robert Zane's building listed as vacant, but when I looked into renting them, they were no longer available, because as it turns out, Rand Kaldor Zane is expanding.
- That can't be.
- Harvey's right.
For those partners to come back here, Zane would need to waive their non-competes.
Why would he do that at the same time he's expanding? I don't know, but three floors is exactly how much space we use.
Holy shit.
Gordon really doesn't want to take over.
He just wants to orchestrate a deal where his guys come back, they vote to merge with Zane, and we cease to exist.
That's not possible.
Our by-laws prevent that.
No, Harvey, they don't.
And I've been focusing on the wrong thing.
He doesn't need to be managing partner for them to outvote us on this.
Harvey, if that's true, Zane would have to be in on it.
Then I'm going to go and find out.
- Good work, Donna.
- Thanks, Louis.
Listen, while we're here, I have something I need to talk to you about.
[dramatic music.]
You must have known I'd find out sooner or later.
What the hell are you talking about? I'm talking about your plan to swallow us up, and you not being man enough to do it in the open.
You better start making sense, or I'm going to drive you to Bellevue myself.
You're telling me you had nothing to do with this? I don't goddamn know what this is.
Okay, I'll lay it out for you.
The second we released that statement about Jessica, Stanley Gordon contacted you with a side deal.
He whipped up a lawsuit to get his clients back into our house so they can vote in favor of selling out to you.
If I wanted to swallow you up, I wouldn't just be man enough to tell you to your face.
I would be jumping out of this chair to do it.
Then why did you lock down a five year lease on the three floors below you? That's your signature, isn't it? [tense music.]
God damn it.
Did you know about this and keep it from me? No, they kept it from me.
- Who's they? - Eric Kaldor and Ellen Rand.
I just found out that my two partners, who I've worked with for 26 years, are willing to stab me in the back.
Look, I am sorry I had to be the one to break it to you, Robert.
But you better get your house in order.
Because now, I have to protect mine.
[dramatic music.]
Bullshit.
- What? - Bullshit.
I want to talk about the job offer, and what it means if we take it.
Well, I don't know what to say, Rachel, because it turns out that offer was bullshit.
What? What are you talking about? There was no job.
He was just trying to get me to drop the case.
- Oh, Mike, I'm so sorry.
- It's even worse.
I told him that the clinic had limited resources, and he used that information to strong-arm the donors, and get them to pull the plug.
Well, he didn't contact me.
Louis, now is not a good time.
Well, that's where you're wrong, my friend.
Because it's always a good time to get a half a million dollar donation.
I thought the firm couldn't do this.
Well, the firm can't.
It's an anonymous gift, from me to the Eastside Legal Clinic.
I don't ever need it back, and no one ever needs to know.
Was this your idea, or Donna's? Team effort.
- I don't know what to say.
- Say thank you.
- Thank you.
- No, Mike, thank you.
Because you've been doing the right thing ever since you got here.
The world could use a lot more people like you.
I couldn't agree more.
[soft music.]
What? [both laugh.]
Can't say that the place looks nicer since I've been gone.
- You don't like it? - It's fine.
If you don't care about color or texture.
Fair enough.
Now tell me why you're really here, because it sure as hell isn't to tell me what a shitty job I did decorating your office.
Harvey, I know what's going on with Stanley Gordon.
But I need a favor.
- What kind of favor? - You remember that thing I said wouldn't follow me to Chicago? Well, it did.
- Aw, shit.
They're coming after your license? They already took it.
I'm here because I need you to fly out there tomorrow and file a TRO or 500 people aren't going to have a place to live.
You want me to file a TRO for a housing project? I am in the middle of a fight for this firm's life.
I don't care what you're in the middle of.
You owe me, because along with about 100 other things, you threw me under the bus.
- And as I recall, you said you were okay with it.
And now, I need a goddamn favor.
Okay, you want my help? You tell me what the hell is going on.
Okay, Harvey.
Here it is.
I went out there to make a difference and all I was doing was scratching the surface, one pro Bono at a time.
So I decided to go toe-to-toe with the mayor's office on a police brutality case.
I got a $4 million settlement.
And two weeks after you put out that statement, they came after my license.
So you're saying this is payback? I'm saying they're trying to run me out of town.
What exactly do you want me to do about it? I want you to stand next to me on the last case I'll ever have, because I'm not going out like this.
Jessica, if all you need is a lawyer, you can have your pick of the top guys out there.
Harvey, you're not hearing me.
I am going to war with the people that took my license.
I don't need the top guy.
I need the best partner I've ever had.
And I need him to have my back.
["Conquer" by RIVVRS.]
But I Will conquer Is this an intervention? Because if it is, you might want to put those drinks away.
Jessica told us what's going on, Harvey, Whatever it is she needs you for, we came here to tell you that we'll take care of things back here.
- You sure about that? Because I'm not.
- The one thing I'm sure of is that none of us would be here without Jessica.
And we're willing to do whatever it takes to help her.
- Whatever it takes? - Yes.
Then I want your word right now.
If you have to choose between the clinic and the firm, you drop the clinic.
You don't think, how can I get out of this, how can I pawn this off, or anything else.
You drop it inside of two seconds, and you help Louis with whatever he needs.
- Done.
- They're right, Harvey.
Jessica sacrificed everything for us.
We'll have your back.
Just get on the plane.
Well, then Hope to God you guys are right.
It ain't easy but it's almost over Every day I get a little closer
I pay you out of my own pocket and the partner's find out, it will cost me millions.
Jessica, I need this.
I'm actually loaning you this money, and you're gonna loan it to him, and if nobody ever repays anybody, nobody's gonna give a shit.
- Thank you.
Harvey, it's time to take my name off the wall.
And what if I say I accept it? Then you've got two things to figure out.
How much are you gonna spend to buy me out, and how're you gonna spin this thing? The second we cut her a check, we don't have a leg to stand on in court.
It's a one-way ticket to bankruptcy.
Well, I'm not letting that son of a bitch back into the house Jessica took from him.
Wait a second.
Stanley Gordon doesn't need money.
He just wants the world to know that Jessica's name's dog shit.
If we put out a public statement that throws Jessica under the bus-- - No way.
- We do this, Jessica gets paid, we are free and clear.
I was just wondering if there's a reason why I just got a new lease on my desk that's 10% less than our last one.
I just wanted to thank you for keeping me.
Before you go.
Do you want me to pour us a drink? What do you say we shake things up and make it two? [knocking.]
Nathan, what are you doing here? - Can I come in? - Yeah, of course.
- Thanks.
- Can I get you a coffee or something? - No, I'm, I'm good.
- What's going on? Well, I don't know how to say this, so I'm just going to say it.
I got into a case.
It started getting to me, and the next thing I knew, it turned into a class action.
Nathan, you don't have the resources to take on a class action.
That didn't stop you from taking on those miners last year.
- No, it didn't.
But I ended up needing to go to Pearson Specter for help.
Why do you think I'm here now? You want me to ask my firm to help you? I want your firm to make an investment in the clinic.
Nathan, that's never going to happen.
Well, I need some kind of help.
Because there are a bunch of children who are never going to live normal lives, and if I don't think of something, I'm going to have to choose between them, and keeping the clinic in business.
Wait, wait, wait, what do you mean they're never going to have normal lives? There's a school in upstate New York.
About ten years ago, Discharge Power started making batteries a thousand yards away.
Those kids started getting lead poisoning.
And they say it's not from the plant, but it is.
All right, I have an idea.
But it's not giving you money, and it's not giving you our associates.
[tense music.]
I know we drank a few last night, but I'm pretty sure you're in the wrong office.
I was going to replace the bottle we finished, but I can find it another home.
What's that they say about great minds? [laughs.]
Seriously, Donna, it was nice just to hang out, and enjoy each other's company.
It sure was.
So, things between us are-- Back to normal? If they are for you, they are for me.
Good.
[knocking.]
I hope you two didn't break out the scotch on my behalf.
I don't imbibe this early unless I'm on vacation.
I know you're getting old, Stanley, but you're on permanent vacation.
Well, I hate to break it to you, but I'm stepping back into the ring.
That doesn't look like a Christmas present.
It's a lawsuit on behalf of your former partners for damages incurred by the criminal actions of this firm.
What the hell are you talking about? Every single partner who left this firm after Mike Ross went to jail is damaged goods.
- Bullshit.
- It's not bullshit.
And in case it hasn't occurred to you, once you put that statement out about Jessica's disbarment, you made my case for me.
Son of a--we issued that statement to appease you.
Hey, it wasn't my idea to throw your mommy under the bus.
It was your partner's.
All I did was take advantage of an opportunity.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a trial to prepare for.
Harvey, we have a problem.
Well, whatever it is, it's going to have to wait.
Because I just got a visit from Stanley Gordon.
- Me too, he's suing us.
- And what exactly are you planning to do about it? Because this whole thing is your fault.
My fault? How is it my fault? You were the one who came up with that idea to release that statement condemning Jessica in the first place.
Harvey, I am not the enemy Stanley Gordon is.
And I don't care how he twisted it.
It was a good idea.
Well, we need another good idea.
Because he's suing for the exact amount of their original buy-ins.
Wait a second.
This is about their buy-ins.
Of course it's about their buy-ins.
What difference does that make? - If we can prove that this is just a back door way of getting that money back, we can get this thing dismissed before it ever gets off the ground.
All right.
You get to work on drafting a motion, I'm going to try and get us some proof.
Harvey, you think we should let Jessica know? No, Louis, I don't.
Because I'm not about to tell Jessica that we issued a statement condemning her for nothing.
[dramatic music.]
Suits 7x15 Tiny Violin See the money, wanna stay for your meal Get another piece of pie for your wife Everybody wanna know how it feel Everybody wanna see what it's like I'll even eat a bean pie, I don't mind Me and Missy is so busy, busy making money All right All step back, I'm 'bout to dance The greenback boogie - Donna, have you seen Harvey? - He's out, Mike.
And he's going to be out for a while.
- What happened? - We got hit with a lawsuit from Stanley Gordon.
The partners are coming after their money, and they hired him to do it.
- Shit.
If we lose that-- - I know.
But it's Harvey and Louis, so we don't need to go there yet.
Is there something I can help you with? Donna, the clinic's in trouble.
Nathan came to me this morning about asking Harvey for money, and-- - Mike, there's no way.
I know, and that's what I told Nathan.
- Then what do you need? - I need to pour everything I have into one of his cases until we win.
And I know Harvey and I had our share of problems this year, and I don't want to add to them.
Well, if you're asking for my blessing, you have it.
Thanks, Donna.
- Mike? - Yeah? What's the case? Kids with lead poisoning.
Go get 'em.
[tense music.]
I was wondering when you'd find me.
What the hell is your name doing on that suit? - Harvey-- - Because we both know Jessica made you whole.
Which means you got no business stabbing us in the back.
I'm not stabbing anyone, Harvey.
Not only are you shoving the knife in, you're getting paid twice in the process.
Think it through, Harvey.
You know Jessica gave me the buy-in.
None of them do.
I refuse to sign on to this thing, every one of them figures out what happened, and it opens the floodgates to them coming after their money legitimately, instead of through the back door.
So you're saying I should thank you? I guess I am.
Not that you ever would.
I'll thank you when you get those clowns to back the hell off this claim.
- I can't do that.
- Sure you can.
You've always been the ringleader.
You give them some line about this opening them up to countersuits for breach of contract.
They'll drop this before the sun comes up.
They're not idiots.
I try a stunt like that, I might as well have refused to sign on in the first place.
Jack, listen to me.
This could put us under.
Look, I'm no fan of Stanley Gordon, so if there's a way that I can help that doesn't screw me, I will.
But you did this, when you issued that statement about Jessica.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm not looking to be seen talking to you.
[dramatic music.]
Hey, Mike.
What are you doing here? I just came to tell the king of class action here that I'm in.
You got me for as long as you need me.
Mike, that's great.
Thank you.
Wait a second, you're telling me you brought this jerkoff onto our case? - Excuse me.
Mr.
Jerkoff, please.
- Oh, yeah? How about Johnnie Dickface? - How about Jonathan Dickface? Okay, are you two finished? Because we actually have a case to prepare for.
And they just filed a motion to dismiss based on insufficient class certification.
What? I filled out that paperwork myself, and you filed it yesterday.
- No, you filed it.
Because you said you were going to take care of it yourself.
And then you said you were going down to the court.
Shit.
I got caught up.
- God damn it, Nathan.
This ruins three months worth of work.
- You think I don't know that? - I don't care whether you know it or not, it was your idea to-- All right, all right, that's enough.
Guys, pointing fingers isn't going to get us anywhere.
Mike's right.
The question is, what are we going to do? We're going to do what you do when the law isn't on your side.
We're going to tell the truth, and hope to hell the judge sees it our way.
[dramatic music.]
Your Honor, the law is clear on this.
They missed the deadline, and you are obligated to dismiss this case.
- He's right, Your Honor.
I missed the deadline, but there are 150 children with elevated levels of lead in their blood that shouldn't have to suffer because I made a mistake.
Well, that is a wonderful story, but the truth is, he doesn't care about these children because this is a cash grab, plain and simple.
- Cash grab? Our fees are capped at $50,000.
$50,000 keeps your clinic running for a hell of a long time, and I still haven't heard one piece of evidence that we even knew about these lead levels.
- Your Honor, if I may, I have some evidence I'd like to share with the court.
- And you are? - Mike Ross, Specter Litt, Your Honor, and I think it might interest the court to know a little of Mr.
Collins' history with cases like this.
- What are you talking about? Your last case against a clinic.
You created 16 situations just like this, and then, on the 17th, it got thrown out, because they finally missed a deadline.
That is a mischaracterization of the facts, Your Honor.
Whereas only 10% of Nathan Krueger's cases even involve monetary damages, because this man spends most of his time trying to keep poor people in their homes and protecting their civil rights.
Well, then give him the Congressional medal of honor and dismiss this case because he still missed the deadline.
And it's within my power to extend it, Mr.
Collins.
So if your company did nothing wrong, you have nothing to worry about.
Because this case is moving to trial.
Your Honor, this action is nothing more than a backdoor attempt to get our former partners their buy-ins back.
- Where's your proof? I'll tell you where.
You helped us rewrite our bylaws to stop this claim.
Now, you're using the statement you made us issue to revive that very same claim.
Every one of these former partners suffered damage to their career due to their association with a firm that hired a fraud, and you know it.
- Wow, Stanley.
Isn't it convenient that all you have to back that up is the word of the very same partners that'll say anything they have to to get their money back? I'm glad you brought that up, Louis.
Because I happen to have the statement of a former partner who's not a part of this lawsuit at all.
What the hell are you talking about? Your Honor, this is a court transcript of a case tried by Dana Scott, former partner of their firm.
I'd like to draw your attention to the section where Ms.
Scott talks about having her credibility questioned as a direct result of working at Pearson Specter.
Your Honor, there must be some other explanation for-- Then get her ass in here to give it.
- Watch your mouth! - That's enough.
He's right.
If you can't get Ms.
Scott to refute this testimony by tomorrow, then this trial is moving forward.
[dramatic music.]
Mr.
Ross! If you've got anything to say to us, you're going to have to say it to Nathan, too.
I get it, you're the guy from the big firm who comes in to finish what they couldn't.
But as soon as you get bored and walk away, I'm going to litigate circles around them.
Go ahead and give it a shot.
Here's the thing, Mr.
Collins.
I don't get bored, and I'm not going anywhere.
You couldn't even make it to court on time.
You're serving your annual pro Bono sentence.
You can't wait for this to be over.
You don't know shit about me.
These guys were there when I needed them, which means I'm going to stick with them forever.
Then what do you say we settle this thing right now? Not interested.
Come on, there's got to be a number.
I'm sure there is, and when you find it, you can bring it to us tomorrow.
But in the meantime, we've got a class action to prepare for.
Fine.
I'll meet you at your office tomorrow at 10.
Make it 9, and at the clinic.
Oh, and Mr.
Collins, you better be on time, and it better be good.
[tense music.]
Mike, what are you doing playing chicken with this guy? He's ready to settle.
- You know what I'm doing.
The less interested he thinks we are in settling, the higher the number goes.
- Then why didn't you at least let him meet you at your office? Use the big guns to intimidate him.
Because he knows we'll never throw our resources at this.
Well, in case you haven't been paying attention, we don't have the resources, either.
I know that, Oliver.
He doesn't.
Now, come on, here's what I need you to do.
Hey, you have a minute? Not really, because I know why you're here.
No, you don't.
You're here because Louis sent you to get me to make Scottie retract that statement.
Okay, maybe you do know why I'm here.
But Louis didn't send me, Harvey.
I volunteered.
- Donna.
Nothing I say is going to make her take it back.
You don't know that.
And if anybody can make her do it, it's you.
Why, because I have history with her? Of course because you have history with her.
Well, maybe I don't want it to be that every time I have to go to Scottie, it's to use our history to get her to do something that she's not going to want to do.
Harvey, Scottie's not the only person who every time you go to her, you need something.
She's just the only one who makes you feel bad about it.
Why the hell do you think I don't want to go over there? To tell you the truth, I don't really care why.
Because this isn't just about you.
This is about keeping this place alive.
- You think I don't know that? - I think you do know that.
And I think you also know if you don't do this, we're going to trial, and we may not win.
And by the way, if you didn't have a history with Scottie, she never would have put us in this position in the first place.
[tense music.]
Can't say I know many lawyers who bike to work.
Old habit.
Helps me clear my head before I start a new trial.
Whatever it does, I'd say it's working.
You were in the courtroom.
Six rows back, three seats in.
- I was.
Andy Forsyth.
- Mike Ross.
- I know.
In fact, you're the reason I took a red-eye from Seattle.
- Why'd you do that? - Because I'm about to take on the largest health insurer on the west coast, and I'm building a firm of my own.
And from that Times article, you sound like the kind of guy I want as a partner.
Well, if you really read that article, you'd know I already have a job.
Not really looking to leave.
- Yeah, not yet.
But it's inevitable.
- How is it inevitable? Because eventually, you're going to be in a position where it's your job to defend the indefensible.
Look, I'm flattered, but I'm in the middle of a case right now, and the clinic that I'm partnered up with does not have the resources.
I'm sorry, but I'm not just going to abandon them.
You won't have to.
You just put the fear of God in the other side.
They're going to want to settle this thing by tomorrow.
- And if they don't? - Let me lay this out for you.
I'm looking to start a firm that takes on the big guys without relying on funding from anyone.
This is the case that's going to make that happen.
And when it's over, I want someone to run the place.
And that person is you.
And before you say anything, Rachel Zane can run it right by your side.
[tense music.]
But I need a yes, soon.
Or I need to move on.
I'm staying at the Carlyle.
You have 48 hours.
Hell of a view.
Hard to believe working for me almost kept you from getting it.
Hello to you too, Harvey.
If you're here in person, Stanley Gordon must really have you by the balls.
- You know about the suit.
- He called looking to get me to throw you under the bus three weeks ago.
I told him I didn't have anything to say.
That's funny, because he's using you to make his case anyway.
- What are you talking about? I'm talking about a closing statement you made in court six months ago.
Well, shit.
Scottie, why would you say that? The other side was attacking my credibility, and I had to appeal to the jury.
And I'm not going to apologize for it.
Apologize for it? It's not even true.
Yes it is.
How the hell were you damaged? You're a name partner here.
- That doesn't mean that I haven't suffered from my association with you.
Oh, bullshit.
I know you.
I know you'll say anything you have to to win, and that's what you did.
- So what if I did? You know what.
No, I don't.
Because if you are asking me to get up on a stand and tell a jury that when I try a case, I am full of shit, then must you be out of your mind.
Scottie, I am in trouble here.
I need you to help me.
It is my firm now.
If it goes down after I took it over-- I understand that, Harvey.
But I didn't get you into this mess, you did.
And I'm not going to put my career on the line to get you out of it.
- Scottie-- I'm sorry, Harvey.
But I've said yes to you too many times.
[tense music.]
You know what? I'm sorry I asked.
[exhales.]
Hey.
Hey.
Want to go out and grab a bite to eat? Oh, I can't.
I got to prepare for this settlement meeting in the morning.
For the class action? Wait, that's great.
Nothing about this case is great.
[sighs.]
Look at these kids, Rachel.
It's just one after another.
Aw, she's just a baby.
She's three.
They already know she's got cognitive damage from the lead.
- This is heartbreaking.
- It's so unfair.
The worst part is, even if we win, money's not going to cure her.
Or any of these other kids.
Well, you're helping them the best way that you can.
Am I? Hey.
What's going on? I got a job offer today.
Okay.
What does that have to do with any of this? The guy who offered it to me is opening up a practice dedicated to doing this kind of work.
It's like a clinic, but with big firm money.
Hmm.
And he wants us to run it.
Us? He asked for us to do it? Yeah.
[tense music.]
Well, what if I told you I'd consider it? That's No, that's not the point.
It's in Seattle.
He wants an answer in two days.
We can't do it.
It just got to me, that's all.
Then go in there tomorrow and use whatever this did to you to get those families the most that you possibly can.
Because, Mike, we're going to have children someday.
And I don't want them to live in a world where things like this happen.
Make yourself at home.
What'd she say? She said she's not going to testify for us.
So you mean they get to enter that statement she made in court, and there's nothing we can do to counter it? - Yeah.
That's what I mean.
- Well then, we're fucked.
Because that right there is proof that they were damaged by our firm.
- Louis-- She was a partner just as much as they were, and there's nothing that we can say that's going to change that.
- No, she wasn't.
- What are you talking about? Louis, Scottie wasn't a partner as much as they were.
She's not part of the class, and she left way before any of them.
And even if we stipulate that she was hurt by us, that doesn't prove they were.
- I get it.
We need to show if these guys aren't succeeding, it's not our fault.
It's theirs.
Exactly.
And I know just the man to help us do it.
I hope you don't mind.
Sylvia told me I could come in.
I assume you're here to ask me about your old partners suing you.
You know the whole story? I know they're looking for their share of the pie, and I know you're not here to get me to try to stop them, because I can't.
- I know that, Robert.
But-- - I don't think you do.
I don't think you understand what's happened to my reputation here.
- What are you talking about? I bailed you out with Bratton Gould, and then again on that prison case.
I help you out with this, well, I might as well just move in.
Because no one here will ever trust me again.
All I need is access to their performance reviews.
Are you out of your mind? Those are confidential.
And we both know I can have them subpoenaed if I have to.
Well then, do that.
I can't afford to look complicit with you, no matter how much you play that tiny violin.
This isn't a tiny violin, Robert.
This lawsuit could burn my firm to the ground.
[tense music.]
All right.
There is one way.
But it needs to happen tonight, while I'm having dinner with Rand and Kaldor.
What is it? Mr.
Collins.
We appreciate the punctuality.
What are all these people doing here? This is supposed to be a settlement meeting.
Well, we thought before we heard your offer, we'd show you what you up against.
And you don't think Discharge Power can afford an army of its own? - No, I'm sure they can.
But unlike yours, every one of my people is prepared to shed blood for this case.
Then maybe this will keep them from shedding anything at all.
What the hell are you doing? This is less than $60,000 per family.
Which is a hell of a lot of money for lead poisoning we knew nothing about.
Bullshit, your people knew what was going on here.
And you have no proof of that.
This is a list of children pulled from the school within the first six months of the plant opening.
You want to take a guess what they have in common? Their parents are all executives at Discharge Power.
So don't try to tell us that no one knew.
Where did you get that? Is that how you're going to counter in front of a jury? $100,000 a family, that's the best you're going to do.
- No, it isn't.
- Mike-- No, these are children.
We have the resources, and this isn't going to go down like this, so why don't you go back to your masters and tell them that unless they want to be exposed to the world, they're going to need to add some more zeroes.
- We're never going to do that.
- You can, and you will.
Now get out of my face.
My office, now.
God damn it.
What the hell did you do? What do you mean, what did I do? It was a good cop, bad cop.
That was the plan.
No, the plan was to close in the room.
Not blow the whole thing up for some number they're never going to go for.
- Nathan, they'll come back.
What the hell is wrong with you? What's wrong with me? Those kids are going to be fucked up for the rest of their lives, and you seem to care more about closing in the room than getting them the best deal.
Did you not hear me when I first came to you? I needed money, because if this goes to trial, we are out of business.
- Nathan, it's not going to go to trial.
And the only thing that's going to stop this guy from tripling that offer is if you don't have the balls to wait it out.
Nathan, look, I know you got into this because you care about these people, and you're a good man for doing it.
But you need to trust me.
I know what I'm doing.
All I'm asking is that you just wait one day.
Okay, Mike.
One day.
Harvey, if this is about the Bartlett case, I have already made plans to work late.
I'm here to tell you to leave early to get to your parent's house for your mom's chicken piccata.
It's Wednesday.
My mom makes lasagna.
I don't care if she's making cow-shit soufflé.
I need you to get to that dinner, and look through your father's files.
With all due respect, I'm not in the habit of going through my father's things without him knowing.
Then you don't have to worry, because he does know.
Harvey, what's going on? Stanley Gordon's suing us on behalf of our ex-partners claiming that their time at Pearson Specter hurt their careers.
- I get it.
And some of those partners work for my dad, and he wants to help us prove that it's not true, but he doesn't want to be seen doing it.
Which is why he's going to leave their performance reviews out.
And you're going to tell me exactly what they say.
Well then, I'd better get going.
Because you might not care, but my mom's lasagna? It's the best you've ever had.
Hey, what's going on? Oliver told me to come in, but he didn't give me a reason.
Where is everyone? - I sent them home.
What? Why? We lost our funding.
What the hell are you talking about? Discharge Power called our five biggest angel investors, and got them to pull their funding.
So we're shut down.
- They can't do that.
They just did it.
Oh, my God.
I don't believe this.
Well, you should believe it, because it's game over.
The clinic, the case, everything.
Nathan, you can't just roll over.
As long as your lights are on, I'm sure you've got people who are willing to work on this-- Our charter doesn't allow it, okay? And you can't work here, either, so just go.
Go back to PSL, or SL, or whatever the hell you call the place that teaches you to turn down multi-million dollar offers.
- You think this is my fault? It's not, Nathan, it's theirs, and that monster of a lawyer that they've got-- I don't care whose fault it is.
If that offer is still on the table, I am taking it.
Because it's the only way that we're going to be able to get our funding back.
- Nathan, you go back to Collins now, you're going to be lucky to get ten cents on the dollar.
Then I'll get ten cents on the dollar.
Would you wait a minute and listen to me? Because I am trying to help-- - I am done listening to you! Go! And stay the hell out of this case.
[dramatic music.]
[tense music.]
Mike, hey, this is great.
I didn't think I'd see you-- What the fuck did you do? What the hell are you talking about? I didn't do anything.
- Bullshit.
You cut the clinic's funding off because I told you they didn't have the resources.
I have no idea what you're talking about.
You're going to deny that up until nine months ago, you worked for the firm that represented the parent company of that battery plant? - I worked there, and I hated it.
It's why I left.
And if that were the truth, you would have said something the first time we met, but you didn't.
No, you told me they were going to offer me a job.
You gave me a reason to take it, and then when I didn't jump on it, you put people that I care about out of work.
I didn't do shit to that clinic.
You're being paranoid.
- I'm being paranoid, really? And what's more likely? That I'm being paranoid, or that you appeared out of nowhere to offer me some magical opportunity the day before we lose our funding? You are making a big mistake.
I need you to stay the hell away from me, the clinic, and this case.
Harvey, what are you doing here? I'm here to give you your performance review.
- I don't work for you.
- No, but you're going to answer to me when I put you on the stand.
Read it.
When I read it, I don't see a man that was held back because his old firm had a bad reputation.
I see a man that reached his limitation.
Everyone knew it, except for him, and now, he's looking for someone to blame.
- I didn't bring this suit.
- I don't care, because as far as they're concerned, you're the leader of the band.
Which means you're the first one up.
You must want something.
Because you didn't come all the way down here just to tell me you're going to humiliate me.
I'm here to give you a chance.
Get Gordon and the rest of them to back off, and this never sees the light of day.
If not, you're going on the stand tomorrow, because I'm telling you, there's no way I am letting them use you or Scottie or anybody else to take my firm from me.
[tense music.]
Please tell me you didn't go back to see Collins.
You know, I tried.
He wouldn't give me the time of day.
Good.
[scoffs.]
Good? My only chance to keep this place alive is to dump this thing, beg our donors to come back, and accept that these kids get nothing.
- No, it isn't.
- What are you talking about? I got a job offer yesterday.
This guy said he's starting a firm dedicated to doing the kinds of cases we do now.
Well, if you came to me for advice, I'd say take it.
It's not about Nathan, he's the one that got the donors to pull out.
- What? - He used to work for Porter Lofton, and this whole thing was a ploy.
So you're here to tell me you got played? No, I'm here to tell you that even though that job was bullshit, the idea is a good one.
You want to start a firm like that? I want you to start a firm like that.
Instead of begging donors to keep you alive, just let your non-profit status go.
- Why would I do that? - Because then, you'd have no cap on your fees.
You could make enough from this one case to get these families what they deserve, and keep yourself running for years.
Mike, this clinic has meant everything to me.
I spent 11 years running it.
I'm not about to let it die based on a gamble.
- It's not a gamble if you win.
I will help you.
Oliver will help you.
And then, when it's over, nobody will ever be able to force you to abandon a client by cutting off your wallet ever again.
Even if I could say yes, you're forgetting the reason I came to you in the first place.
[sighs.]
You need money.
We don't have anywhere near enough to even see this to trial.
How much do you need? - To float the whole firm? - Yes.
Half a million dollars.
I'll get you the money.
Scottie, if you're here because you've been subpoenaed, I've got something in the works.
I haven't been subpoenaed, Harvey.
That's not why I'm here.
- Then why are you here? To say that I'm sorry.
I don't want to see you lose your firm, Harvey.
I care about you.
I always have, I always will.
And I just wanted to say that.
And? And what? You didn't come all the way down here just to tell me that.
You don't make it easy, do you? The last time that we saw each other, you told me that you were seeing someone about yourself.
And you asked if when you were done, could you call me.
- I remember.
- Well, are you done? Did you fix yourself? [laughs.]
Let's just say I'm a work in progress.
What does that mean? - You want the truth? - Yes.
A year after I stopped with my therapist, I started seeing her.
- A year? - A year and three weeks.
[chuckles.]
Three weeks longer than the waiting period.
I am a lawyer, after all.
I'm guessing it didn't work out.
It didn't.
It was complicated.
Did Donna have anything to do with that complication? Why do you ask? That's all I needed to know.
Sorry to interrupt, but Harvey, Stanley Gordon's in the conference room.
He wants to see us both.
Hi, Scottie.
- Louis.
Good luck, Harvey.
You know, I never liked this conference room.
Too much glass.
- What do you want, Stanley? We've got a trial to prepare for.
Nice job getting Soloff to drop out.
We did it with him, we can do it with all of them.
Maybe you can, maybe you can't.
One thing's for sure.
You don't have to.
- Why not? - Give them their jobs back.
That's all they wanted in the first place.
- What? - Give these guys their jobs back, this whole thing goes away.
- Bullshit.
- It's not bullshit.
It's what they want.
- And what about what you want? This whole thing was a setup for you to get back behind the wheel of Jessica's car.
It's not Jessica's goddamn car.
it's mine.
But that's not what this is about.
- I don't believe you.
- I don't care whether you believe me or not, because that's the deal that's on the table.
So you can take your chances in court, or you can put this in the rearview mirror right the hell now.
- Never going to happen.
If it'll sweeten the deal any, I'll put it in writing.
Anyone tries to make me a partner in the new firm, the deal's off, and we walk away with nothing.
Didn't expect that, did you? I'm not like Jessica.
I actually care about the people I left behind.
So take the deal, or don't.
But with or without Jack Soloff, we're going to trial.
[dramatic music.]
[knocks softly.]
You look tired.
Look, Donna, I don't want to ask what I'm about to ask, but-- [exhales.]
I've got nowhere else to go.
That doesn't sound good.
I need you to back my request for the firm to loan the clinic money against its fee on my case.
How much? - 500,000.
- What? Mike, that is never going to fly with Harvey.
I know that, which is why I need you to make it fly.
And I already helped you by saying okay to this case when Harvey wasn't here.
I'm not going to double down on that by saying we should give the clinic money at the worst possible time.
Well, when exactly is a good time? Never, because we're a corporate law firm.
We give them money, we might as well tell our clients that they're our second priority.
I'm not talking about an investment, Donna.
I'm talking about a loan.
- And if you can't see that to the rest of the world, there's no difference, then - Then what? - Then nothing.
Does this have something to do with me not being ready? - What? - Harvey said I wasn't ready to be senior partner, but he doesn't come to a conclusion like that without running it by you first.
Okay.
Then yes, Mike.
You not being able to accept something like this is exactly what I meant about you not being ready.
I understand.
And I know if Gordon wins, then we might not even survive.
But Donna, what is the point of trying to survive if we can't do something like this? [tense music.]
I'm telling you, I've gone through his financials, the partner's financials, the by-laws.
I haven't found a goddamn thing.
Then we keep looking until we do.
Harvey, has it occurred to you it's possible that this isn't the worst outcome in the world? Yeah, and I could also get shot in the face.
But that's not what we're talking about right now.
I'm saying, let Gordon think he pressured us into taking those partners back, because the truth is, we're a more powerful firm if they're here.
And you and I both know if Stanley Gordon wants them back, he wants it for a reason, and it sure as hell isn't to help us out.
- I have some information, but I don't know if it has anything to do with this or not.
What is it? Last week, when we almost lost our lease, I did some checking in case we had to move, and-- Hold on, I'm sorry.
We almost lost our lease? That's not the point, Louis.
I took care of it.
The point is there were three floors in Robert Zane's building listed as vacant, but when I looked into renting them, they were no longer available, because as it turns out, Rand Kaldor Zane is expanding.
- That can't be.
- Harvey's right.
For those partners to come back here, Zane would need to waive their non-competes.
Why would he do that at the same time he's expanding? I don't know, but three floors is exactly how much space we use.
Holy shit.
Gordon really doesn't want to take over.
He just wants to orchestrate a deal where his guys come back, they vote to merge with Zane, and we cease to exist.
That's not possible.
Our by-laws prevent that.
No, Harvey, they don't.
And I've been focusing on the wrong thing.
He doesn't need to be managing partner for them to outvote us on this.
Harvey, if that's true, Zane would have to be in on it.
Then I'm going to go and find out.
- Good work, Donna.
- Thanks, Louis.
Listen, while we're here, I have something I need to talk to you about.
[dramatic music.]
You must have known I'd find out sooner or later.
What the hell are you talking about? I'm talking about your plan to swallow us up, and you not being man enough to do it in the open.
You better start making sense, or I'm going to drive you to Bellevue myself.
You're telling me you had nothing to do with this? I don't goddamn know what this is.
Okay, I'll lay it out for you.
The second we released that statement about Jessica, Stanley Gordon contacted you with a side deal.
He whipped up a lawsuit to get his clients back into our house so they can vote in favor of selling out to you.
If I wanted to swallow you up, I wouldn't just be man enough to tell you to your face.
I would be jumping out of this chair to do it.
Then why did you lock down a five year lease on the three floors below you? That's your signature, isn't it? [tense music.]
God damn it.
Did you know about this and keep it from me? No, they kept it from me.
- Who's they? - Eric Kaldor and Ellen Rand.
I just found out that my two partners, who I've worked with for 26 years, are willing to stab me in the back.
Look, I am sorry I had to be the one to break it to you, Robert.
But you better get your house in order.
Because now, I have to protect mine.
[dramatic music.]
Bullshit.
- What? - Bullshit.
I want to talk about the job offer, and what it means if we take it.
Well, I don't know what to say, Rachel, because it turns out that offer was bullshit.
What? What are you talking about? There was no job.
He was just trying to get me to drop the case.
- Oh, Mike, I'm so sorry.
- It's even worse.
I told him that the clinic had limited resources, and he used that information to strong-arm the donors, and get them to pull the plug.
Well, he didn't contact me.
Louis, now is not a good time.
Well, that's where you're wrong, my friend.
Because it's always a good time to get a half a million dollar donation.
I thought the firm couldn't do this.
Well, the firm can't.
It's an anonymous gift, from me to the Eastside Legal Clinic.
I don't ever need it back, and no one ever needs to know.
Was this your idea, or Donna's? Team effort.
- I don't know what to say.
- Say thank you.
- Thank you.
- No, Mike, thank you.
Because you've been doing the right thing ever since you got here.
The world could use a lot more people like you.
I couldn't agree more.
[soft music.]
What? [both laugh.]
Can't say that the place looks nicer since I've been gone.
- You don't like it? - It's fine.
If you don't care about color or texture.
Fair enough.
Now tell me why you're really here, because it sure as hell isn't to tell me what a shitty job I did decorating your office.
Harvey, I know what's going on with Stanley Gordon.
But I need a favor.
- What kind of favor? - You remember that thing I said wouldn't follow me to Chicago? Well, it did.
- Aw, shit.
They're coming after your license? They already took it.
I'm here because I need you to fly out there tomorrow and file a TRO or 500 people aren't going to have a place to live.
You want me to file a TRO for a housing project? I am in the middle of a fight for this firm's life.
I don't care what you're in the middle of.
You owe me, because along with about 100 other things, you threw me under the bus.
- And as I recall, you said you were okay with it.
And now, I need a goddamn favor.
Okay, you want my help? You tell me what the hell is going on.
Okay, Harvey.
Here it is.
I went out there to make a difference and all I was doing was scratching the surface, one pro Bono at a time.
So I decided to go toe-to-toe with the mayor's office on a police brutality case.
I got a $4 million settlement.
And two weeks after you put out that statement, they came after my license.
So you're saying this is payback? I'm saying they're trying to run me out of town.
What exactly do you want me to do about it? I want you to stand next to me on the last case I'll ever have, because I'm not going out like this.
Jessica, if all you need is a lawyer, you can have your pick of the top guys out there.
Harvey, you're not hearing me.
I am going to war with the people that took my license.
I don't need the top guy.
I need the best partner I've ever had.
And I need him to have my back.
["Conquer" by RIVVRS.]
But I Will conquer Is this an intervention? Because if it is, you might want to put those drinks away.
Jessica told us what's going on, Harvey, Whatever it is she needs you for, we came here to tell you that we'll take care of things back here.
- You sure about that? Because I'm not.
- The one thing I'm sure of is that none of us would be here without Jessica.
And we're willing to do whatever it takes to help her.
- Whatever it takes? - Yes.
Then I want your word right now.
If you have to choose between the clinic and the firm, you drop the clinic.
You don't think, how can I get out of this, how can I pawn this off, or anything else.
You drop it inside of two seconds, and you help Louis with whatever he needs.
- Done.
- They're right, Harvey.
Jessica sacrificed everything for us.
We'll have your back.
Just get on the plane.
Well, then Hope to God you guys are right.
It ain't easy but it's almost over Every day I get a little closer