Suits s08e09 Episode Script
Motion to Delay
1 Previously, on "Suits" There was a guard who was getting suspicious of what was going on in there.
They wanted me to put him down.
I told him I wouldn't do it until whoever was running - the show came to me directly.
- Who exactly was that? Roger Shapiro.
CEO of Reform Corp.
And then what happened? I killed him.
So you two were in on this together.
I have no idea what you're talking about.
You're never gonna pull this shit again on prisoners.
That's a signed confession from Roger Shapiro, saying he entered into a conspiracy, and that conspiracy was arranged by you.
I'm not going to stand here and write my resignation letter in front of you two.
What's going on with you and Brian? Donna, he's married.
I would never do it.
I know, but I also know that the heart doesn't always listen to what the brain says it would never do.
- Denise Gallo? - Who are you? Someone who knew your father.
He wanted you to have this.
- Did you know? - Know what? That Gavin Andrews was gonna ask me to launder money for him? I knew he was gonna ask you to do something.
- Help me get out of this.
- What did you do with my money? I found you a legitimate business opportunity.
- You're fired.
- I don't think so.
Because if I can do this to you, imagine what I can do for you.
[PHONE LINE RINGING.]
Hello? GAVIN: There you are.
What time do you get to the office? I'm at my desk 10 minutes before I need to every morning which means you tracked me down.
The question is, why? - We've got a situation.
- What did you do now? I didn't do anything.
One of my transport flights was carrying art.
The hold depressurized, and one of the pieces got damaged.
- What kind of art? - The expensive kind.
It had to be insured.
What's the problem? The problem is the insurance inspector just left here, and the son of a bitch has got the balls to say they'd sue me for damages.
All right, I'll get into it.
Who's the insurance company? Dexhart Insurance Group.
- Shit.
- What's the matter? Is that gonna be a problem? Tell me, have the papers been filed yet? Why do you think I'm calling you this early? [.]
Louis, this is silly.
Where are you taking me? Relax, we're there.
Then can I take off this blindfold? No.
Not until you guess exactly where we are right now.
We're in my new office.
What the fuc How could you know that? You told me I'd make senior partner next quarter, and it's next quarter.
- Can I take this blindfold off? - Holy Shit.
You just suck the fun out of everything, don't you? In that case, I have dreamt about making senior partner since I was 9 years old.
You not only fought for me to get this, I wouldn't even be at this firm without you.
And on top of all that, Louis, this office is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.
All right.
I was wrong.
You don't suck the fun out of anything.
Thank you, Louis.
Thank you for fighting for me.
ALEX: Samantha, we need to talk.
- Let me guess.
Gavin called you.
- He did.
Then you know we have a conflict.
One of us has to drop their client.
Do you have Gavin's private line, or do you need me to give it to you? I don't need anything, you're gonna call and tell them you can't handle this matter.
You wouldn't have Gavin if it weren't for me.
Doesn't matter how I got him.
I'm not dropping him.
The guy isn't worth the trouble.
View this as an opportunity to cut him loose and be done.
Did your client say they wanted to sue mine, - or did you suggest it? - What difference does it make? I thought we were past this.
If this is how you're making your play for partner, - it's not gonna work.
- The only play I'm making is to protect my client from yours, because Gavin sabotaged that plane.
I know that because I know everything else he's done.
You just admitted using privileged information against a former client.
I could have you tossed for that.
Like using your client's family against them? That's not breaking privilege.
Neither is catching him with his hand in the cookie jar.
Cut the bullshit and step out of the ring.
Because this isn't happening, no matter how much you want it.
I don't want it.
My client does.
And I've never stepped out of a ring.
Either call Gavin, or someone can do it for you, because this case is moving forward.
[.]
Nice home you've made for yourself here, Robert.
Nicer than the home you should have, Tommy, - since you belong in prison.
- Funny you say that, because that's why I'm here.
- What are you talking about? - The fact that you're sitting pretty in this firm - after you forced me out of mine.
- You're lucky that's all I did.
You're responsible for the deaths of multiple inmates.
- According to you.
- According to Frank Gallo.
That's right, you got him on tape saying what monsters we all are.
And then you used it to blackmail me into early retirement.
But that gave me plenty of time to think.
Why the hell would Frank Gallo cooperate with you if it meant admitting to murder? - What are you getting at, Tommy? - You and this firm offered Frank Gallo money for his daughter in exchange for fabricated testimony that you used to leverage me.
And now I'm here to make you pay.
You're coming at us to get revenge for something you did? I'm coming at you for what's owed to me, which is compensation for the firm that I lost.
How about you compensate the families of the people that you had killed? Because the only thing that you are owed are a pair of prison stripes.
And if you do this, I promise you'll get them.
If I wanted empty threats, I would have brought this right to Harvey.
But I didn't, because I wanted to be here to see the look on your face when you realized I'm going to take you all down, just like you did to me.
Suits 8x09 Motion to Delay 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 LOUIS: Let me get this straight.
Tommy Bratton is accusing us of conspiracy, and suing us for $20 million.
Blackmailing us for $20 million.
Call it what you want.
I'm not giving him one nickel.
What are we gonna do? I hate to say it: - we did conspire with you.
- I'll tell you what we're gonna do.
We're gonna go through every piece of communication on that case and make sure nothing links me to this firm.
Robert, I went to your house.
Mike went to your house.
We never exchanged one e-mail, phone call.
We're good.
And I don't feel like risking my future on your memory.
Wait, maybe we don't have to risk anything on anything.
DONNA: What are you talking about? Someone close to Bratton who might be able to stop this thing dead in its tracks.
Eli Gould.
LOUIS: Exactly.
He was Bratton's partner.
What's more, Alex got him on tape admitting that he committed a disbarrable offense.
You've been dangling a sword over his head since.
Guess what.
I got the sword right here.
That settles it.
We have our game plan.
Hold on, if this thing goes to trial, couldn't Bratton end up in prison? - What are you getting at? - Why would he risk that - just to get revenge? - People do crazy things when they think they've lost everything.
Now, let's get to it.
We've all got something to do.
Samantha, whatever it is, now is not the time.
Too bad.
We have a problem, and his name is Gavin Andrews.
Oh, what now with that man? Long story short, Dexhart Insurance needs to sue Starboard Airlines.
How exactly is that supposed to happen when we represent them both? - Why do you think I'm here? - Better not be to get me to tell Alex to drop his client.
You know Gavin is not worth the headache.
He needs to go.
Here's a better idea.
Since you and Alex each just lost a client, - these two clients stay.
- What? You think I wouldn't find out about that Rand Kaldor shit? - Robert, I was going to-- - Listen to me.
This firm is under attack.
We can't do this right now.
- What do you mean? - That's none of your concern.
What is your concern is fixing this situation.
And how do we do that when neither client - is gonna back down? - I'll tell you how.
You and Alex stop acting like children, and get your clients to settle.
What do you propose we do when that doesn't work? Instead of taking up more time that I don't have, I propose you make it work.
[.]
Good morning, Katrina.
Can I help you with something? If this conversation goes as planned, you're going to be helping me with a lot.
I don't understand.
I just made senior partner.
So it's official? It's official.
And as my first act, Brian Simon Altman, will you be my associate? Katrina, I'm honored.
But before I answer, are you sure the two of us working so closely together is a good idea? - What? - I mean, we've become good friends.
So it might get complicated if I officially work for you.
I appreciate that, Brian.
But I'm okay with it if you are.
In that case, I would love to be your associate.
Then I suggest we start with some ground rules.
First, every day, you get here before everyone else.
- Done.
- Next, power ties only.
Not any of the ties I have seen you wear.
Been meaning to replace my collection anyway.
Finally, I don't want a yes man.
So I don't care what the topic is.
If you disagree with me, I want you to push back, whether it'll piss me off or not.
Are we clear? If I say yes, that would mean I'm being a yes man.
So I don't know what to do.
I'll tell you what you're gonna do.
You're gonna help me win the case that's going to put us on the map.
[.]
Hey.
Do you have a second? Only if you have an hour to go through that box over there.
Actually, I think I may have a better way to spend my time.
Okay.
What's going on in that brain of yours? I didn't want to say it in the room, but I don't think Eli Gould is the only person we should be going to.
We need to pay a visit to Gallo's daughter.
You think she knows something that can help.
I don't know what she knows.
But we better find out.
There's a chance Bratton has her in his pocket.
Who knows what lies he told to get her.
You're right.
- I'll go right now.
- No, no, no.
That's what I'm trying to tell you.
It can't be you.
I know you're part of the firm's leadership, but-- Harvey, if Bratton has convinced her of some bullshit, it'll be next to impossible to change her mind.
And the man who put her father away in the first place isn't the one to do that.
You're right.
Do what you can.
[.]
Oh, finally.
I've been looking for you.
Why? Got another lawsuit to drop? Actually, I have a settlement to reach.
Are they putting something in this coffee? It sounds like you're backing off.
Alex, Robert doesn't want either one of us losing any more business right now.
You asked him to make me drop Gavin.
He said no.
The important thing is, keeping both clients wasn't a request.
It was an order.
Which means we need to figure a way to stay out of court.
- We do.
- Well I'm not selling out my client just to please Robert, so, what exactly are you suggesting? I'm suggesting that we do what two people that like to go to war sometimes have to do.
Find a way to make peace.
[.]
Eli.
I hope you don't mind.
Your wife let me in.
Louis Litt.
You've got some balls, coming to my house.
I knew you might not like it, which is why I brought you a gift.
Is that what I think it is? If you think it's the only copy of the recording Alex made of you, then yeah, it is.
- I'm offering it to you.
- Why would you do that? I thought we could work out an arrangement.
You get Tommy Bratton to back off his lawsuit, you get back the one thing that can cost you your license.
What makes you think I'd help you just to get that back? Eli, I don't think you fully understand the situation.
We may have forced him out, but his name is still on your wall.
You take this to court, you're risking the name Bratton Gould forever being associated with corruption and murder.
When he convinces a jury that you fabricated material just to blackmail him, the world's gonna think you're liars.
That little tape of yours will be worthless.
And the name Bratton Gould will be just fine.
Eli, you need to think this through.
The man is guilty.
The man was my partner.
You cost him millions.
Blackmailed me twice with that thing already.
And now, you're gonna pay.
- Eli, please.
- Get the hell out of my house.
[.]
This is a bunch of bullshit.
I take it that means you're up to speed? I'm not just up to speed, I know more about women's clothing than I ever thought possible.
Then you know Hi-Rise Fashion has been ripping off - our client's designs.
- I do.
The thing I don't know is how we're gonna stop them, because copyright laws are notoriously vague.
Which is why when we win, it's going to make a statement.
Then since I'm not supposed to be a yes man, I have to ask.
You sure you don't want our first case to be a guaranteed win? Okay, the truth is, I'm not just doing this to make a statement.
I'm also doing it because the designer's my friend.
Which means this case is personal.
And I told myself that when I had enough clout to pick my cases, I would pick hers.
In that case, why don't you tell me what our first move is? Easy.
Tomorrow morning, we slap them with this.
[.]
Denise Gallo? Yeah? My name's Donna Paulsen.
I'd like to ask you a few questions.
- About what? - I was wondering if Thomas Bratton came to you, asking about the money you received from your father.
He came to me, to ask about the money I got from you.
What'd you tell him? I don't know what my father did to get that money.
A man came to my home with a check, and I wasn't about to turn it down.
Didn't that man also tell you that your father was a good person? So, what if he did? These people say we paid him off to lie for us.
And it isn't true.
What do you want me to do about it? I want you to take the stand and testify.
Your father died trying to redeem himself.
They're trying to take that away from you, and you can't let them do it.
Let's say I believe you, and Frank actually had changed.
Thomas Bratton told me the reason he got killed is 'cause of you.
Are you gonna tell me that's not true? No.
I'm not.
Because they might lie to you, but I won't.
Frank never would have tried to redeem himself if we hadn't contacted him.
So yeah, he might still be alive.
But the reason he's dead isn't because of us.
It's because they killed him.
Well, it doesn't matter, 'cause I never knew the man he became.
I only knew the man he was, and that man would have lied, cheated, done whatever else it took to get what he wanted.
Which, most of the time, was money.
If you ask me about that under oath, that's all I'll be able to say.
[.]
HARVEY: All right, Louis, we're all here.
- What's going on? - It didn't work with Gould.
And I hate to pile on more bad news, but if Bratton puts Denise Gallo on the stand, she's gonna say that Frank Gallo never did a thing that wasn't for money.
Which makes it look like we paid him off to lie.
If we did that, we'd conspire with each other.
Which means we're right back at square one.
ELI: I wouldn't say that.
- HARVEY: What are you doing here? - I'm here with an offer.
Give me that tape back, I'll get him to settle.
Five million, and you two admit what you did.
No deal.
It saves you money.
It also puts us in a position of losing our licenses.
Which is what he's been holding over my head for two years.
I don't give a shit.
No deal.
[SCOFFS.]
Look, I thought about what you said last night.
But if I'm gonna convince Tommy, I gotta give him something.
Sign a civil admission, and we'll seal it.
Sealed or not, we sign something like that, it finds its way to the bar.
Listen to me.
I want this to go away as much as you, but I'm telling you, this is the best you're gonna get.
[.]
I hate to say this, but I think maybe we should take his deal.
We can't trust Eli Gould.
And we sure as hell can't trust Tommy Bratton.
They may be lying about Gallo, but you and Robert did - what they're saying.
- So what? We may have no other choice than to trust them.
I'm not trusting shit, because I know what's going on here.
And it goes back to Donna's original question.
You mean, why would a man like Tommy Bratton risk prison? And the answer is, he wouldn't.
This whole thing is a good cop, bad cop bluff, and I'm gonna put a stop to it.
How? The way you put a stop to any bully.
You take his bluff and you shove it down his throat.
Those are lovely.
Whose are they? I'm sorry? She means, who designed them? Since we know your people didn't.
KATRINA: Just like they didn't design this or this or this.
I don't know who you are, but these items were part of our last spring line, and we designed them ourselves.
What you mean is you copied my client's designs, then beat her to market and undercut her price.
I see what this is, because I've seen it before.
And no associate at some middling law firm is going to shake me down.
I'm not an associate, I'm a senior partner.
And this isn't a shakedown.
It's a chance at a settlement before we clean you out in court.
Then file your suit, because it's a thin line between theft and inspiration.
Particularly in a creative industry where people have similar ideas all the time.
My lawyers have assured me of that.
Have they also told you about Johnson v.
Olympia Records? Because a songwriter was awarded 15 million for plagiarized work in exactly the same situation.
And since precedents can cross industries, in particular the creative ones We thought $15 million for our client's designs would be fair.
We'll give you 24 hours to consult your lawyers.
After that, we'll see you in court.
[.]
As your lawyers, it is our job to go to war for you.
Most of the time, that means going to court.
The thing is, court is ugly, expensive, and most of all, it's risky.
So last night, Samantha and I came up with a way to avoid all that.
The painting in question had a market value of 120 million.
Our proposal is that Starboard Airlines pay 45 percent, with no admission of fault.
Let me get this straight.
You want me to pony up $50 million - when we didn't do anything? - Gavin, it's a compromise.
There's gotta be pain on both sides.
That's a lot of pain on mine, and not enough on theirs.
You've got exposure for the full 120.
You're getting a deal.
- I don't care what you say.
- Then I'll say it.
If anybody's coming out ahead, it's you.
- I don't like it.
- SAMANTHA: Nina, listen.
I did listen, two days ago.
You said this shady son of a bitch destroyed that painting intentionally, - and you'd prove it.
- I don't believe it.
Shady son of a bitch.
That how you talk about former clients? - Gavin-- - Yeah, that's what she said.
Nina, this deal puts money on the table now.
You don't take it, I will appeal this till 2020 and not break a sweat.
GAVIN: Assuming we don't get it tossed, which we will, knowing what I do about how you and your company do business.
About how I do business? You gonna let him push us around like that? Alex, this thing is a loser for you.
Get your client under control.
Don't tell me how to handle him when you started this.
And don't talk about this case being a loser.
- You're lucky we're even in here.
- Bullshit.
You're lucky we're in here.
We go to court, - and I will clean your clock.
- Bring it on.
- If only we could.
- Far as I'm concerned, you can.
I've had enough.
You want my money, come and take it, 'cause I'm not signing any deals with anyone.
[.]
Harvey, can I talk to you for a second? - What about? - The fact that I've had it - with Samantha's bullshit.
- Slow down.
What's going on? She deliberately encouraged Dexhart Insurance to sue my client.
And I'm tired of tip-toeing around the situation.
- Meaning? - I wanna go toe-to-toe with her.
You want us to go to trial representing both clients? I was in a room with all sides today.
They wanna fight as much as I do.
- They'll waive conflict.
- And that would work, except we can't afford having two partners fighting a death match in front of the world when we need to look unified.
What do you mean, "we need to look unified"? What's going on? I don't wanna get into it, but we're handling it.
Here's the thing.
We're not unified.
Even if we were, those two clients aren't gonna settle.
So like it or not, my next move is going to court to get her kicked off this case.
Samantha, if you're here about your case against Starboard Airlines-- - You know about that? - I'm a name partner.
It's my business to know when one of our attorneys files suit against another.
While we're on the subject of filing, Alex Williams filed this.
This is a motion to force you to recuse yourself.
He's trying to get me kicked off my case, which means you're gonna kick him off instead.
- Wait, what? - You heard me.
Alex is gonna drop Gavin Andrews.
And you're gonna make him.
You want that done, go to Robert.
Robert's not here, and I need it now.
- I can't do it for you.
- You can and will.
- You owe me.
- Oh, no.
You don't get to call in that chit for this.
I get to call it in for whatever I want, because you came to me and made me drop Delta, and then I went against Robert when you wanted back on the case he took from you.
So we are dropping Gavin Andrews whether you like it or not.
[.]
[TOMMY LAUGHS.]
You come here for the steam? Because I hate to break it to you, you gotta take the suit off.
That's a good one, Tommy.
But I'm here to tell you I don't care if you get Eli Gould or Mother Theresa or Gandhi to be your good cop.
We're not taking your deal.
What are you talking about? I didn't offer a deal.
Yes, you did, because you don't have the balls - to risk going to prison.
- That's funny.
What are you gonna say when I put you on the stand and ask you point-blank, "Did you conspire with Harvey Specter?" You talk a big game, but it's not going down like that.
I'm gonna say you conspired to keep people in prison for the purpose of lining your own pockets.
And when you end up in prison yourself, every inmate in there is gonna know that's exactly what you did.
- Now who's talking a big game, Robert? - I am.
Because we're gonna show this video of Frank Gallo calling you out.
Hell, we might even put it up on YouTube.
You're making a big mistake, Robert.
I'm calling your bluff.
So drop this thing.
Or go ahead and pick a trial date.
But Tommy, just to be clear, when they close that cell door, you're not gonna last the night.
[.]
LOUIS: Harvey, we need to talk.
If it's about Robert and Bratton, I haven't heard back.
LOUIS: It's not.
It's about Alex and Samantha.
- What did he do now? - Not him.
It's her.
She wants me to make him drop Gavin Andrews.
Then, what the hell are you doing in here? - Just tell her no.
- Here's the thing, Harvey.
I gave her a chit.
I owe her.
She knows it.
Now I don't know what to do.
- Alex was right.
- What do you mean? I mean, I've had about enough of Samantha's bullshit.
So I should sacrifice my honor and not let her cash in her chit? No, Louis, I'm saying the complete opposite.
[.]
[SIGHS.]
Katrina, we've been going over this all day.
We've got them.
- They're gonna take the deal.
- Maybe they will.
But I am going to keep dotting my I's and crossing my T's - because I need to be sure.
- What you need is for someone not to be your yes man.
And that starts right now.
- Brian-- - You just became senior partner.
I bet you haven't even taken time to celebrate yet.
- I'll celebrate after we win.
- No, you won't.
There'll be another case, then another and another.
And if you don't stop and appreciate the big moments when they come, you'll regret it.
What are you saying? I'm saying, I'm pulling rank.
We're going out to celebrate, and we're going out right now.
[.]
What the fuck do you think you're doing? - LOUIS: Whoa, calm down.
- You told my client we're dropping him, and you want me to calm down? You're lucky I'm not putting you on the floor.
Listen.
I had to.
It was the only way.
The only way to what, screw me over? Alex, I owed Samantha.
The only way for me to get out of it was to do this.
- So you put her over me.
- No, I didn't.
If she wasn't asking for this, she'd ask me to back her for name partner when the time comes instead of me and Harvey backing you for name partner, right now.
You tell me I'm name partner? I didn't get the memo.
Harvey's going to Zane as we speak.
Well, Louis, the second you put my name on the door, I will call Gavin and drop him like a hot potato.
Until then, he's my client, and don't you ever contact him without my knowledge again.
[.]
To ZSL's newest senior partner.
Brian, you've already toasted me four times.
I figured you're new to this whole celebrating thing.
I wanted to show you how it's done.
[LAUGHS.]
Well, in that case to ZSL's best associate.
Because, Brian, that precedent was a stroke of genius.
Thank you.
By the way, how did you come up with it? The music industry is the perfect parallel, yet no one's thought of it before.
It's actually a little embarrassing.
What do you mean, embarrassing? I thought about the music industry because I considered becoming a songwriter myself.
- You're kidding.
- No.
In fact, Julie and I talked about it a long time before finally deciding on law school.
Let me guess.
She wanted you to take the safer route, and you wanted to explore your artistic side.
Actually, the other way around.
When I told her I was gonna be a lawyer, she said I should have more faith in myself as an artist.
You're lucky to have someone who thinks so highly of you.
I am.
But the thing is, once I moved into law, I found I loved it as much as I ever loved writing.
What? Nothing, it's just Julie doesn't understand that, and sometimes, I wish she would.
Anyway, it's nice to be able to talk about law with someone that's actually interested.
If that's what you're looking for, consider me happy to discuss the nuances of the law anytime, - because I love it as much as you do.
- [LAUGHS.]
Thank you for tonight, Brian.
This was exactly what I needed.
Thanks for asking me to be your associate, Katrina.
I'm really happy you did.
Oh, Harvey, good.
You can help me go through the last of these files.
I'm not going through anything.
Not until we've talked about Alex.
If this is about what I think it is, we already talked about it.
No, we agreed to kick the can down the road.
Well, this is the end of the road, because Louis and I are backing Alex for name partner right now.
Harvey, now is not the time to be discussing this.
Yes, it is, because Samantha and Alex are about to go to war.
If you're talking about Dexhart Insurance, - I told her to settle.
- Well, she didn't.
She went to Louis, called in a chit to make him drop Gavin Andrews.
I didn't let you become managing partner just so your lieutenant-- You didn't let me do anything.
And if Samantha did that, I'll deal with her.
How? Because as far as I can tell, you've never dealt with her.
Okay, you listen to me.
No, you listen to me.
You let her do whatever she wants since she got here.
Alex has been fighting for this firm since he got here.
- I made him a promise-- - Before you two go further, we've got a bigger problem.
Tommy Bratton wasn't bluffing.
He just sent over a trial date.
- It's for a week from today.
- Shit.
Exactly.
So you two need to stop fighting each other, because now we've got to fight him.
No, we don't.
Because I know why Bratton's doing this.
- What are talking about? - You thought Bratton wouldn't risk going to prison for this.
Well, he will, and I know why.
[.]
I don't know about you, but getting here at 7 a.
m.
isn't as easy with a hangover.
I don't care, Brian, because Hi-Rise Fashion just dropped a bomb.
Wait, what? How? - We've got them.
- In court, yes.
But they just cut a huge deal with our manufacturer.
And suddenly, our manufacturer is telling us they no longer have the capacity to handle our product.
You mean, they made it a condition of their order, - which is illegal.
- Yes, it is.
If they did it to us, they did it to others.
I'm gonna tell them I'm going to the DOJ - if they don't back off.
- Without proof, a threat like that could be construed as inducing malicious prosecution.
- You can't.
- Well, I have to do something.
Because instead of spending my time last night thinking about how to prevent this, I took my eye off the ball.
Katrina, don't be so hard on yourself.
You couldn't have seen this coming.
I might have seen it coming if I'd stayed here like I wanted to instead of letting you convince me to go party.
Hold on a second.
You're saying this is my fault? Because I didn't convince you, I invited you.
You said you wanted an associate who would push back.
Push back on case work.
Not tell me not to do my job.
Then let me push back right now, because you bluff these guys, you're opening yourself up to exposure.
So what? Harvey Specter bluffs all the time.
Harvey Specter has a 15-plus-year track record of kicking people's asses.
You don't have faith in me to pull this off.
I didn't say that.
I'm saying it's not a risk worth taking, and I'm not gonna let you do it.
Well, Brian, there's a time to push back and a time to get in line.
I'm going there at 3 p.
m.
today, and you are either with me or you're not.
Then I'm not, because this is a mistake, and you know it.
[.]
[KNOCKS.]
Harvey, you have a minute? I'm about to file a few motions.
- But, yeah, I have a minute.
- I was under the impression you don't normally file your own motions.
Well, it's kind of important.
What's on your mind? Trouble in senior partner town? How'd you know? That's the first thing that happens after you make it to senior partner town.
Well, then, long story short, it's my first case, my back's against the wall, and my only way out is to bluff.
- But? - I'm opening myself up to significant exposure, and I'm not sure I can pull it off.
- Then think of another way.
- How come? Because if you're not sure you can pull it off, you won't.
And Katrina, life is long.
You don't want to start senior partnership with exposure.
Now, I got to go.
Thank you, Harvey.
HARVEY: I see they're letting you use your old office.
First Robert, now you.
Well, he had his turn at bat.
We thought it was time for me to have mine.
Go ahead, take your best shot.
Like I told Robert, I'm not bluffing.
That's the thing, Tommy.
We know you're not.
We figured out why.
You don't know what you're talking about.
Yes, I do.
Turns out three months ago, you were diagnosed with cancer and given a year to live.
Well, if you know that, then you also know I'm never going to settle.
What I know is what our trial strategy's gonna be.
Motion to delay, motion to delay, motion to delay.
The wheels of justice turn slowly, Tommy.
Which means even if you win, you won't be here to see it.
You really are a son of a bitch, aren't you? No.
You did this.
You brought this on yourself.
It's time to let it go.
Spend what time you have left with your family.
Just let me go back to my firm for nine months more, and I will drop this.
I can't let you do that because I've seen what you do.
I'm not gonna let you get back in the game and do something like this to someone else.
Then you know what? Delay all you want.
Because they say when you're fighting something like I am, you have to have something to live for.
Well, you just gave me two years to live on hate alone.
Now, get the hell out of here, and I'll see you in court.
[.]
That looks like a job for your associate.
If you're just here to talk me out of my bluff, - you don't have to worry.
I'm not gonna do it.
- Good.
Because you don't have to.
I don't believe it.
You got proof they colluded with our manufacturer.
I did.
Brian, how did you get this? Simple.
I called up the factory, pretending to be in Hi-Rise's contracts department and started complaining about how all we had were verbal assurances they'd uphold our agreement.
Eventually, they agreed to sign a memo.
- They agreed to incriminate themselves? - Not exactly.
I told them copyright laws are notoriously vague, so their memo could be too.
But even a vague memo is enough for us to get them investigated.
Or threaten to.
But now you can do it with proof.
Did it occur to you that misrepresenting yourself like this could have opened you up to huge exposure? It did.
But I decided it was worth the risk.
Because my job may be to push back, but it's also to have your back.
And from now on, I will.
Two more years on hate alone.
He said that? He not only said it, the son of a bitch meant it.
He's gonna fight us until his last breath.
What? A man gets told he only has so much time left on this earth, you would think that would put things in perspective.
You would.
But I guess he'd have to be human.
And as it turns out, he was more like the Terminator.
Just won't go down.
[AS ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER.]
Come with me if you want to live.
[AS ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER.]
I'll be back.
Hasta la vista, baby.
If it bleeds, we can kill it.
[IN NORMAL VOICE.]
First, that's Predator.
Second, you sound Jamaican.
Not German.
[IN JAMAICAN ACCENT.]
Oh, man.
Get off my back, man.
You know what? He's Austrian.
[IN NORMAL VOICE.]
Yeah.
[SIGHS.]
What are we gonna do? We're gonna do what we have to.
We're gonna delay this as long as possible, and then fight it on its merits.
LOUIS: We don't have to fight anything anymore.
Tommy Bratton's dead.
What? LOUIS: Eli Gould just called.
He said Tommy had a heart attack.
They think it was brought on by the stress of fighting his illness.
HARVEY: And fighting us.
Anyway, for what it's worth, Gould's dropping the whole thing.
HARVEY: I gotta say, I always thought we'd win.
But not like this.
Robert, you okay? I don't know.
We may have been at war, but I knew the man for 30 years.
I could use a minute to process this.
You take all the time you need.
[.]
How'd it go? [IMITATES BALL BEING HI AND CROWD CHEERING.]
I didn't know you like baseball.
I didn't know you like music.
You heading home for the night? - Yeah.
Actually-- - Don't go yet.
Brian, you came through for me in every way on this case.
And like you said the other night, if we don't stop to celebrate the little things, then what's any of this for? If I didn't know any better, I'd say this is your way of thanking me for looking out for you.
It is.
And I happen to have made us reservations at an amazing place with live music in honor of your love of music.
Katrina, I can't tonight.
I really need to get home with Julie and the baby.
Oh.
The baby.
Of course.
I'm sorry, I didn't think about it.
If you don't have one, why would you think about it? - Right.
- [LAUGHS.]
But let me just say that I would love to get a rain check.
Rain check it is.
In the meantime, I gotta go.
I'm sure you have someone else who would love to take my place.
Oh, of course.
Have a good night, Brian.
Good night, Katrina.
[.]
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
DONNA: Am I interrupting? Not really.
Good.
I happened to have walked in on a conversation last night that made me wanna have a conversation with you.
I'm listening.
This thing between you and Alex is coming to a head.
Harvey and Louis want Alex to be the next name partner and Robert doesn't.
Skip the preamble, Donna.
What's on your mind? I don't suppose it would do any good to ask you to let this go and let Alex go up there first.
- I don't believe it.
- Believe what? Harvey doesn't have the balls to come in here and ask me himself.
He sent you.
He didn't send anybody.
I'm here on my own.
Then you may have internalized the patriarchal system here, but I have not.
I haven't internalized anything.
I'm not here at the behest of any man.
I'm here on my own, woman to woman, asking you to take the long view and wait.
I'm sure you think that's true.
But did it occur to you to ask Alex to step down before you came to me? Because that's what I mean by patriarchy.
For the record, I did think to ask Alex.
And I chose to ask you.
And I did that because it comes down to who the promise was made to first.
Not the gender of the person it was made to.
What's to stop them from changing their minds before it's my turn? They're not gonna put a second name up there for at least another year.
What if they put it in writing? You're a lawyer.
You make it airtight.
You really make a person get to the bottom of what's inside of them, don't you? - What do you mean? - When you put it that way, it's not about them changing their minds, or it taking too long, or even Robert getting hit by a bus.
The truth is, I'm not backing down because I think I'm better than Alex Williams.
And I'm not gonna say that I'm not.
Then I respect your decision.
Good night, Samantha.
Hey.
I heard you won your first case.
The fact that I heard about it means you're making a name for yourself.
So Thank you, Louis.
Wait a second.
Is something wrong? Goddamn it, did they spell Bennett with one T again? No.
Nothing's wrong.
It's just been a long day, and I'm tired.
Katrina, ahem, I know you.
You don't get tired after winning a case.
Something is going on.
It's just, I know I should be happy right now.
I finally made it to the top of the mountain.
I get it.
It only made you realize how much further you still want to go.
Yes, that's it.
That's exactly it.
No, it's not it.
I have seen that look before, and it was on my face.
Katrina when it comes to that part of life you can't force it.
It's unpredictable.
[.]
- I hate unpredictable.
- I know.
I do too.
But you once told me that someday, I would find someone.
And I did.
And you will too.
Life is gonna put that special someone right in front of you, and when it happens, I know you'll be ready.
Hey, I just realized, I never took you out to celebrate your promotion.
What do you say we go out and get dinner? Another time, Louis.
I have some work to catch up on.
I don't wanna, love Leave you talking To yourself Close your eyes And you'll feel Like somebody else HARVEY: Drinking alone? I guess what they say is true.
None of us know how much time we really have.
HARVEY: No, we don't.
Listen, Robert, I've been doing some thinking about the Samantha and Alex situation.
- Harvey, not tonight.
- Just hear me out, please.
I think we should let them fight.
Harvey, we do that, we're admitting our house is divided.
And we make it that much easier for another Tommy Bratton to try and pick us apart.
I know.
But our house is divided.
I made a promise.
You made a promise.
And if we keep doing nothing It's worse than letting them settle it themselves.
One case, head-to-head.
Winner gets name partner.
- You think they'll go for it? - I think they've been wanting to go at it ever since you two got here.
Then I say we let them fight.
[.]
You want to tell them, or should I? Why don't we both tell them? But let's do it tomorrow.
Because after today, all I wanna do is finish this drink, go home, and see Laura.
Good night, Robert.
Good night, Harvey.
They wanted me to put him down.
I told him I wouldn't do it until whoever was running - the show came to me directly.
- Who exactly was that? Roger Shapiro.
CEO of Reform Corp.
And then what happened? I killed him.
So you two were in on this together.
I have no idea what you're talking about.
You're never gonna pull this shit again on prisoners.
That's a signed confession from Roger Shapiro, saying he entered into a conspiracy, and that conspiracy was arranged by you.
I'm not going to stand here and write my resignation letter in front of you two.
What's going on with you and Brian? Donna, he's married.
I would never do it.
I know, but I also know that the heart doesn't always listen to what the brain says it would never do.
- Denise Gallo? - Who are you? Someone who knew your father.
He wanted you to have this.
- Did you know? - Know what? That Gavin Andrews was gonna ask me to launder money for him? I knew he was gonna ask you to do something.
- Help me get out of this.
- What did you do with my money? I found you a legitimate business opportunity.
- You're fired.
- I don't think so.
Because if I can do this to you, imagine what I can do for you.
[PHONE LINE RINGING.]
Hello? GAVIN: There you are.
What time do you get to the office? I'm at my desk 10 minutes before I need to every morning which means you tracked me down.
The question is, why? - We've got a situation.
- What did you do now? I didn't do anything.
One of my transport flights was carrying art.
The hold depressurized, and one of the pieces got damaged.
- What kind of art? - The expensive kind.
It had to be insured.
What's the problem? The problem is the insurance inspector just left here, and the son of a bitch has got the balls to say they'd sue me for damages.
All right, I'll get into it.
Who's the insurance company? Dexhart Insurance Group.
- Shit.
- What's the matter? Is that gonna be a problem? Tell me, have the papers been filed yet? Why do you think I'm calling you this early? [.]
Louis, this is silly.
Where are you taking me? Relax, we're there.
Then can I take off this blindfold? No.
Not until you guess exactly where we are right now.
We're in my new office.
What the fuc How could you know that? You told me I'd make senior partner next quarter, and it's next quarter.
- Can I take this blindfold off? - Holy Shit.
You just suck the fun out of everything, don't you? In that case, I have dreamt about making senior partner since I was 9 years old.
You not only fought for me to get this, I wouldn't even be at this firm without you.
And on top of all that, Louis, this office is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.
All right.
I was wrong.
You don't suck the fun out of anything.
Thank you, Louis.
Thank you for fighting for me.
ALEX: Samantha, we need to talk.
- Let me guess.
Gavin called you.
- He did.
Then you know we have a conflict.
One of us has to drop their client.
Do you have Gavin's private line, or do you need me to give it to you? I don't need anything, you're gonna call and tell them you can't handle this matter.
You wouldn't have Gavin if it weren't for me.
Doesn't matter how I got him.
I'm not dropping him.
The guy isn't worth the trouble.
View this as an opportunity to cut him loose and be done.
Did your client say they wanted to sue mine, - or did you suggest it? - What difference does it make? I thought we were past this.
If this is how you're making your play for partner, - it's not gonna work.
- The only play I'm making is to protect my client from yours, because Gavin sabotaged that plane.
I know that because I know everything else he's done.
You just admitted using privileged information against a former client.
I could have you tossed for that.
Like using your client's family against them? That's not breaking privilege.
Neither is catching him with his hand in the cookie jar.
Cut the bullshit and step out of the ring.
Because this isn't happening, no matter how much you want it.
I don't want it.
My client does.
And I've never stepped out of a ring.
Either call Gavin, or someone can do it for you, because this case is moving forward.
[.]
Nice home you've made for yourself here, Robert.
Nicer than the home you should have, Tommy, - since you belong in prison.
- Funny you say that, because that's why I'm here.
- What are you talking about? - The fact that you're sitting pretty in this firm - after you forced me out of mine.
- You're lucky that's all I did.
You're responsible for the deaths of multiple inmates.
- According to you.
- According to Frank Gallo.
That's right, you got him on tape saying what monsters we all are.
And then you used it to blackmail me into early retirement.
But that gave me plenty of time to think.
Why the hell would Frank Gallo cooperate with you if it meant admitting to murder? - What are you getting at, Tommy? - You and this firm offered Frank Gallo money for his daughter in exchange for fabricated testimony that you used to leverage me.
And now I'm here to make you pay.
You're coming at us to get revenge for something you did? I'm coming at you for what's owed to me, which is compensation for the firm that I lost.
How about you compensate the families of the people that you had killed? Because the only thing that you are owed are a pair of prison stripes.
And if you do this, I promise you'll get them.
If I wanted empty threats, I would have brought this right to Harvey.
But I didn't, because I wanted to be here to see the look on your face when you realized I'm going to take you all down, just like you did to me.
Suits 8x09 Motion to Delay 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 LOUIS: Let me get this straight.
Tommy Bratton is accusing us of conspiracy, and suing us for $20 million.
Blackmailing us for $20 million.
Call it what you want.
I'm not giving him one nickel.
What are we gonna do? I hate to say it: - we did conspire with you.
- I'll tell you what we're gonna do.
We're gonna go through every piece of communication on that case and make sure nothing links me to this firm.
Robert, I went to your house.
Mike went to your house.
We never exchanged one e-mail, phone call.
We're good.
And I don't feel like risking my future on your memory.
Wait, maybe we don't have to risk anything on anything.
DONNA: What are you talking about? Someone close to Bratton who might be able to stop this thing dead in its tracks.
Eli Gould.
LOUIS: Exactly.
He was Bratton's partner.
What's more, Alex got him on tape admitting that he committed a disbarrable offense.
You've been dangling a sword over his head since.
Guess what.
I got the sword right here.
That settles it.
We have our game plan.
Hold on, if this thing goes to trial, couldn't Bratton end up in prison? - What are you getting at? - Why would he risk that - just to get revenge? - People do crazy things when they think they've lost everything.
Now, let's get to it.
We've all got something to do.
Samantha, whatever it is, now is not the time.
Too bad.
We have a problem, and his name is Gavin Andrews.
Oh, what now with that man? Long story short, Dexhart Insurance needs to sue Starboard Airlines.
How exactly is that supposed to happen when we represent them both? - Why do you think I'm here? - Better not be to get me to tell Alex to drop his client.
You know Gavin is not worth the headache.
He needs to go.
Here's a better idea.
Since you and Alex each just lost a client, - these two clients stay.
- What? You think I wouldn't find out about that Rand Kaldor shit? - Robert, I was going to-- - Listen to me.
This firm is under attack.
We can't do this right now.
- What do you mean? - That's none of your concern.
What is your concern is fixing this situation.
And how do we do that when neither client - is gonna back down? - I'll tell you how.
You and Alex stop acting like children, and get your clients to settle.
What do you propose we do when that doesn't work? Instead of taking up more time that I don't have, I propose you make it work.
[.]
Good morning, Katrina.
Can I help you with something? If this conversation goes as planned, you're going to be helping me with a lot.
I don't understand.
I just made senior partner.
So it's official? It's official.
And as my first act, Brian Simon Altman, will you be my associate? Katrina, I'm honored.
But before I answer, are you sure the two of us working so closely together is a good idea? - What? - I mean, we've become good friends.
So it might get complicated if I officially work for you.
I appreciate that, Brian.
But I'm okay with it if you are.
In that case, I would love to be your associate.
Then I suggest we start with some ground rules.
First, every day, you get here before everyone else.
- Done.
- Next, power ties only.
Not any of the ties I have seen you wear.
Been meaning to replace my collection anyway.
Finally, I don't want a yes man.
So I don't care what the topic is.
If you disagree with me, I want you to push back, whether it'll piss me off or not.
Are we clear? If I say yes, that would mean I'm being a yes man.
So I don't know what to do.
I'll tell you what you're gonna do.
You're gonna help me win the case that's going to put us on the map.
[.]
Hey.
Do you have a second? Only if you have an hour to go through that box over there.
Actually, I think I may have a better way to spend my time.
Okay.
What's going on in that brain of yours? I didn't want to say it in the room, but I don't think Eli Gould is the only person we should be going to.
We need to pay a visit to Gallo's daughter.
You think she knows something that can help.
I don't know what she knows.
But we better find out.
There's a chance Bratton has her in his pocket.
Who knows what lies he told to get her.
You're right.
- I'll go right now.
- No, no, no.
That's what I'm trying to tell you.
It can't be you.
I know you're part of the firm's leadership, but-- Harvey, if Bratton has convinced her of some bullshit, it'll be next to impossible to change her mind.
And the man who put her father away in the first place isn't the one to do that.
You're right.
Do what you can.
[.]
Oh, finally.
I've been looking for you.
Why? Got another lawsuit to drop? Actually, I have a settlement to reach.
Are they putting something in this coffee? It sounds like you're backing off.
Alex, Robert doesn't want either one of us losing any more business right now.
You asked him to make me drop Gavin.
He said no.
The important thing is, keeping both clients wasn't a request.
It was an order.
Which means we need to figure a way to stay out of court.
- We do.
- Well I'm not selling out my client just to please Robert, so, what exactly are you suggesting? I'm suggesting that we do what two people that like to go to war sometimes have to do.
Find a way to make peace.
[.]
Eli.
I hope you don't mind.
Your wife let me in.
Louis Litt.
You've got some balls, coming to my house.
I knew you might not like it, which is why I brought you a gift.
Is that what I think it is? If you think it's the only copy of the recording Alex made of you, then yeah, it is.
- I'm offering it to you.
- Why would you do that? I thought we could work out an arrangement.
You get Tommy Bratton to back off his lawsuit, you get back the one thing that can cost you your license.
What makes you think I'd help you just to get that back? Eli, I don't think you fully understand the situation.
We may have forced him out, but his name is still on your wall.
You take this to court, you're risking the name Bratton Gould forever being associated with corruption and murder.
When he convinces a jury that you fabricated material just to blackmail him, the world's gonna think you're liars.
That little tape of yours will be worthless.
And the name Bratton Gould will be just fine.
Eli, you need to think this through.
The man is guilty.
The man was my partner.
You cost him millions.
Blackmailed me twice with that thing already.
And now, you're gonna pay.
- Eli, please.
- Get the hell out of my house.
[.]
This is a bunch of bullshit.
I take it that means you're up to speed? I'm not just up to speed, I know more about women's clothing than I ever thought possible.
Then you know Hi-Rise Fashion has been ripping off - our client's designs.
- I do.
The thing I don't know is how we're gonna stop them, because copyright laws are notoriously vague.
Which is why when we win, it's going to make a statement.
Then since I'm not supposed to be a yes man, I have to ask.
You sure you don't want our first case to be a guaranteed win? Okay, the truth is, I'm not just doing this to make a statement.
I'm also doing it because the designer's my friend.
Which means this case is personal.
And I told myself that when I had enough clout to pick my cases, I would pick hers.
In that case, why don't you tell me what our first move is? Easy.
Tomorrow morning, we slap them with this.
[.]
Denise Gallo? Yeah? My name's Donna Paulsen.
I'd like to ask you a few questions.
- About what? - I was wondering if Thomas Bratton came to you, asking about the money you received from your father.
He came to me, to ask about the money I got from you.
What'd you tell him? I don't know what my father did to get that money.
A man came to my home with a check, and I wasn't about to turn it down.
Didn't that man also tell you that your father was a good person? So, what if he did? These people say we paid him off to lie for us.
And it isn't true.
What do you want me to do about it? I want you to take the stand and testify.
Your father died trying to redeem himself.
They're trying to take that away from you, and you can't let them do it.
Let's say I believe you, and Frank actually had changed.
Thomas Bratton told me the reason he got killed is 'cause of you.
Are you gonna tell me that's not true? No.
I'm not.
Because they might lie to you, but I won't.
Frank never would have tried to redeem himself if we hadn't contacted him.
So yeah, he might still be alive.
But the reason he's dead isn't because of us.
It's because they killed him.
Well, it doesn't matter, 'cause I never knew the man he became.
I only knew the man he was, and that man would have lied, cheated, done whatever else it took to get what he wanted.
Which, most of the time, was money.
If you ask me about that under oath, that's all I'll be able to say.
[.]
HARVEY: All right, Louis, we're all here.
- What's going on? - It didn't work with Gould.
And I hate to pile on more bad news, but if Bratton puts Denise Gallo on the stand, she's gonna say that Frank Gallo never did a thing that wasn't for money.
Which makes it look like we paid him off to lie.
If we did that, we'd conspire with each other.
Which means we're right back at square one.
ELI: I wouldn't say that.
- HARVEY: What are you doing here? - I'm here with an offer.
Give me that tape back, I'll get him to settle.
Five million, and you two admit what you did.
No deal.
It saves you money.
It also puts us in a position of losing our licenses.
Which is what he's been holding over my head for two years.
I don't give a shit.
No deal.
[SCOFFS.]
Look, I thought about what you said last night.
But if I'm gonna convince Tommy, I gotta give him something.
Sign a civil admission, and we'll seal it.
Sealed or not, we sign something like that, it finds its way to the bar.
Listen to me.
I want this to go away as much as you, but I'm telling you, this is the best you're gonna get.
[.]
I hate to say this, but I think maybe we should take his deal.
We can't trust Eli Gould.
And we sure as hell can't trust Tommy Bratton.
They may be lying about Gallo, but you and Robert did - what they're saying.
- So what? We may have no other choice than to trust them.
I'm not trusting shit, because I know what's going on here.
And it goes back to Donna's original question.
You mean, why would a man like Tommy Bratton risk prison? And the answer is, he wouldn't.
This whole thing is a good cop, bad cop bluff, and I'm gonna put a stop to it.
How? The way you put a stop to any bully.
You take his bluff and you shove it down his throat.
Those are lovely.
Whose are they? I'm sorry? She means, who designed them? Since we know your people didn't.
KATRINA: Just like they didn't design this or this or this.
I don't know who you are, but these items were part of our last spring line, and we designed them ourselves.
What you mean is you copied my client's designs, then beat her to market and undercut her price.
I see what this is, because I've seen it before.
And no associate at some middling law firm is going to shake me down.
I'm not an associate, I'm a senior partner.
And this isn't a shakedown.
It's a chance at a settlement before we clean you out in court.
Then file your suit, because it's a thin line between theft and inspiration.
Particularly in a creative industry where people have similar ideas all the time.
My lawyers have assured me of that.
Have they also told you about Johnson v.
Olympia Records? Because a songwriter was awarded 15 million for plagiarized work in exactly the same situation.
And since precedents can cross industries, in particular the creative ones We thought $15 million for our client's designs would be fair.
We'll give you 24 hours to consult your lawyers.
After that, we'll see you in court.
[.]
As your lawyers, it is our job to go to war for you.
Most of the time, that means going to court.
The thing is, court is ugly, expensive, and most of all, it's risky.
So last night, Samantha and I came up with a way to avoid all that.
The painting in question had a market value of 120 million.
Our proposal is that Starboard Airlines pay 45 percent, with no admission of fault.
Let me get this straight.
You want me to pony up $50 million - when we didn't do anything? - Gavin, it's a compromise.
There's gotta be pain on both sides.
That's a lot of pain on mine, and not enough on theirs.
You've got exposure for the full 120.
You're getting a deal.
- I don't care what you say.
- Then I'll say it.
If anybody's coming out ahead, it's you.
- I don't like it.
- SAMANTHA: Nina, listen.
I did listen, two days ago.
You said this shady son of a bitch destroyed that painting intentionally, - and you'd prove it.
- I don't believe it.
Shady son of a bitch.
That how you talk about former clients? - Gavin-- - Yeah, that's what she said.
Nina, this deal puts money on the table now.
You don't take it, I will appeal this till 2020 and not break a sweat.
GAVIN: Assuming we don't get it tossed, which we will, knowing what I do about how you and your company do business.
About how I do business? You gonna let him push us around like that? Alex, this thing is a loser for you.
Get your client under control.
Don't tell me how to handle him when you started this.
And don't talk about this case being a loser.
- You're lucky we're even in here.
- Bullshit.
You're lucky we're in here.
We go to court, - and I will clean your clock.
- Bring it on.
- If only we could.
- Far as I'm concerned, you can.
I've had enough.
You want my money, come and take it, 'cause I'm not signing any deals with anyone.
[.]
Harvey, can I talk to you for a second? - What about? - The fact that I've had it - with Samantha's bullshit.
- Slow down.
What's going on? She deliberately encouraged Dexhart Insurance to sue my client.
And I'm tired of tip-toeing around the situation.
- Meaning? - I wanna go toe-to-toe with her.
You want us to go to trial representing both clients? I was in a room with all sides today.
They wanna fight as much as I do.
- They'll waive conflict.
- And that would work, except we can't afford having two partners fighting a death match in front of the world when we need to look unified.
What do you mean, "we need to look unified"? What's going on? I don't wanna get into it, but we're handling it.
Here's the thing.
We're not unified.
Even if we were, those two clients aren't gonna settle.
So like it or not, my next move is going to court to get her kicked off this case.
Samantha, if you're here about your case against Starboard Airlines-- - You know about that? - I'm a name partner.
It's my business to know when one of our attorneys files suit against another.
While we're on the subject of filing, Alex Williams filed this.
This is a motion to force you to recuse yourself.
He's trying to get me kicked off my case, which means you're gonna kick him off instead.
- Wait, what? - You heard me.
Alex is gonna drop Gavin Andrews.
And you're gonna make him.
You want that done, go to Robert.
Robert's not here, and I need it now.
- I can't do it for you.
- You can and will.
- You owe me.
- Oh, no.
You don't get to call in that chit for this.
I get to call it in for whatever I want, because you came to me and made me drop Delta, and then I went against Robert when you wanted back on the case he took from you.
So we are dropping Gavin Andrews whether you like it or not.
[.]
[TOMMY LAUGHS.]
You come here for the steam? Because I hate to break it to you, you gotta take the suit off.
That's a good one, Tommy.
But I'm here to tell you I don't care if you get Eli Gould or Mother Theresa or Gandhi to be your good cop.
We're not taking your deal.
What are you talking about? I didn't offer a deal.
Yes, you did, because you don't have the balls - to risk going to prison.
- That's funny.
What are you gonna say when I put you on the stand and ask you point-blank, "Did you conspire with Harvey Specter?" You talk a big game, but it's not going down like that.
I'm gonna say you conspired to keep people in prison for the purpose of lining your own pockets.
And when you end up in prison yourself, every inmate in there is gonna know that's exactly what you did.
- Now who's talking a big game, Robert? - I am.
Because we're gonna show this video of Frank Gallo calling you out.
Hell, we might even put it up on YouTube.
You're making a big mistake, Robert.
I'm calling your bluff.
So drop this thing.
Or go ahead and pick a trial date.
But Tommy, just to be clear, when they close that cell door, you're not gonna last the night.
[.]
LOUIS: Harvey, we need to talk.
If it's about Robert and Bratton, I haven't heard back.
LOUIS: It's not.
It's about Alex and Samantha.
- What did he do now? - Not him.
It's her.
She wants me to make him drop Gavin Andrews.
Then, what the hell are you doing in here? - Just tell her no.
- Here's the thing, Harvey.
I gave her a chit.
I owe her.
She knows it.
Now I don't know what to do.
- Alex was right.
- What do you mean? I mean, I've had about enough of Samantha's bullshit.
So I should sacrifice my honor and not let her cash in her chit? No, Louis, I'm saying the complete opposite.
[.]
[SIGHS.]
Katrina, we've been going over this all day.
We've got them.
- They're gonna take the deal.
- Maybe they will.
But I am going to keep dotting my I's and crossing my T's - because I need to be sure.
- What you need is for someone not to be your yes man.
And that starts right now.
- Brian-- - You just became senior partner.
I bet you haven't even taken time to celebrate yet.
- I'll celebrate after we win.
- No, you won't.
There'll be another case, then another and another.
And if you don't stop and appreciate the big moments when they come, you'll regret it.
What are you saying? I'm saying, I'm pulling rank.
We're going out to celebrate, and we're going out right now.
[.]
What the fuck do you think you're doing? - LOUIS: Whoa, calm down.
- You told my client we're dropping him, and you want me to calm down? You're lucky I'm not putting you on the floor.
Listen.
I had to.
It was the only way.
The only way to what, screw me over? Alex, I owed Samantha.
The only way for me to get out of it was to do this.
- So you put her over me.
- No, I didn't.
If she wasn't asking for this, she'd ask me to back her for name partner when the time comes instead of me and Harvey backing you for name partner, right now.
You tell me I'm name partner? I didn't get the memo.
Harvey's going to Zane as we speak.
Well, Louis, the second you put my name on the door, I will call Gavin and drop him like a hot potato.
Until then, he's my client, and don't you ever contact him without my knowledge again.
[.]
To ZSL's newest senior partner.
Brian, you've already toasted me four times.
I figured you're new to this whole celebrating thing.
I wanted to show you how it's done.
[LAUGHS.]
Well, in that case to ZSL's best associate.
Because, Brian, that precedent was a stroke of genius.
Thank you.
By the way, how did you come up with it? The music industry is the perfect parallel, yet no one's thought of it before.
It's actually a little embarrassing.
What do you mean, embarrassing? I thought about the music industry because I considered becoming a songwriter myself.
- You're kidding.
- No.
In fact, Julie and I talked about it a long time before finally deciding on law school.
Let me guess.
She wanted you to take the safer route, and you wanted to explore your artistic side.
Actually, the other way around.
When I told her I was gonna be a lawyer, she said I should have more faith in myself as an artist.
You're lucky to have someone who thinks so highly of you.
I am.
But the thing is, once I moved into law, I found I loved it as much as I ever loved writing.
What? Nothing, it's just Julie doesn't understand that, and sometimes, I wish she would.
Anyway, it's nice to be able to talk about law with someone that's actually interested.
If that's what you're looking for, consider me happy to discuss the nuances of the law anytime, - because I love it as much as you do.
- [LAUGHS.]
Thank you for tonight, Brian.
This was exactly what I needed.
Thanks for asking me to be your associate, Katrina.
I'm really happy you did.
Oh, Harvey, good.
You can help me go through the last of these files.
I'm not going through anything.
Not until we've talked about Alex.
If this is about what I think it is, we already talked about it.
No, we agreed to kick the can down the road.
Well, this is the end of the road, because Louis and I are backing Alex for name partner right now.
Harvey, now is not the time to be discussing this.
Yes, it is, because Samantha and Alex are about to go to war.
If you're talking about Dexhart Insurance, - I told her to settle.
- Well, she didn't.
She went to Louis, called in a chit to make him drop Gavin Andrews.
I didn't let you become managing partner just so your lieutenant-- You didn't let me do anything.
And if Samantha did that, I'll deal with her.
How? Because as far as I can tell, you've never dealt with her.
Okay, you listen to me.
No, you listen to me.
You let her do whatever she wants since she got here.
Alex has been fighting for this firm since he got here.
- I made him a promise-- - Before you two go further, we've got a bigger problem.
Tommy Bratton wasn't bluffing.
He just sent over a trial date.
- It's for a week from today.
- Shit.
Exactly.
So you two need to stop fighting each other, because now we've got to fight him.
No, we don't.
Because I know why Bratton's doing this.
- What are talking about? - You thought Bratton wouldn't risk going to prison for this.
Well, he will, and I know why.
[.]
I don't know about you, but getting here at 7 a.
m.
isn't as easy with a hangover.
I don't care, Brian, because Hi-Rise Fashion just dropped a bomb.
Wait, what? How? - We've got them.
- In court, yes.
But they just cut a huge deal with our manufacturer.
And suddenly, our manufacturer is telling us they no longer have the capacity to handle our product.
You mean, they made it a condition of their order, - which is illegal.
- Yes, it is.
If they did it to us, they did it to others.
I'm gonna tell them I'm going to the DOJ - if they don't back off.
- Without proof, a threat like that could be construed as inducing malicious prosecution.
- You can't.
- Well, I have to do something.
Because instead of spending my time last night thinking about how to prevent this, I took my eye off the ball.
Katrina, don't be so hard on yourself.
You couldn't have seen this coming.
I might have seen it coming if I'd stayed here like I wanted to instead of letting you convince me to go party.
Hold on a second.
You're saying this is my fault? Because I didn't convince you, I invited you.
You said you wanted an associate who would push back.
Push back on case work.
Not tell me not to do my job.
Then let me push back right now, because you bluff these guys, you're opening yourself up to exposure.
So what? Harvey Specter bluffs all the time.
Harvey Specter has a 15-plus-year track record of kicking people's asses.
You don't have faith in me to pull this off.
I didn't say that.
I'm saying it's not a risk worth taking, and I'm not gonna let you do it.
Well, Brian, there's a time to push back and a time to get in line.
I'm going there at 3 p.
m.
today, and you are either with me or you're not.
Then I'm not, because this is a mistake, and you know it.
[.]
[KNOCKS.]
Harvey, you have a minute? I'm about to file a few motions.
- But, yeah, I have a minute.
- I was under the impression you don't normally file your own motions.
Well, it's kind of important.
What's on your mind? Trouble in senior partner town? How'd you know? That's the first thing that happens after you make it to senior partner town.
Well, then, long story short, it's my first case, my back's against the wall, and my only way out is to bluff.
- But? - I'm opening myself up to significant exposure, and I'm not sure I can pull it off.
- Then think of another way.
- How come? Because if you're not sure you can pull it off, you won't.
And Katrina, life is long.
You don't want to start senior partnership with exposure.
Now, I got to go.
Thank you, Harvey.
HARVEY: I see they're letting you use your old office.
First Robert, now you.
Well, he had his turn at bat.
We thought it was time for me to have mine.
Go ahead, take your best shot.
Like I told Robert, I'm not bluffing.
That's the thing, Tommy.
We know you're not.
We figured out why.
You don't know what you're talking about.
Yes, I do.
Turns out three months ago, you were diagnosed with cancer and given a year to live.
Well, if you know that, then you also know I'm never going to settle.
What I know is what our trial strategy's gonna be.
Motion to delay, motion to delay, motion to delay.
The wheels of justice turn slowly, Tommy.
Which means even if you win, you won't be here to see it.
You really are a son of a bitch, aren't you? No.
You did this.
You brought this on yourself.
It's time to let it go.
Spend what time you have left with your family.
Just let me go back to my firm for nine months more, and I will drop this.
I can't let you do that because I've seen what you do.
I'm not gonna let you get back in the game and do something like this to someone else.
Then you know what? Delay all you want.
Because they say when you're fighting something like I am, you have to have something to live for.
Well, you just gave me two years to live on hate alone.
Now, get the hell out of here, and I'll see you in court.
[.]
That looks like a job for your associate.
If you're just here to talk me out of my bluff, - you don't have to worry.
I'm not gonna do it.
- Good.
Because you don't have to.
I don't believe it.
You got proof they colluded with our manufacturer.
I did.
Brian, how did you get this? Simple.
I called up the factory, pretending to be in Hi-Rise's contracts department and started complaining about how all we had were verbal assurances they'd uphold our agreement.
Eventually, they agreed to sign a memo.
- They agreed to incriminate themselves? - Not exactly.
I told them copyright laws are notoriously vague, so their memo could be too.
But even a vague memo is enough for us to get them investigated.
Or threaten to.
But now you can do it with proof.
Did it occur to you that misrepresenting yourself like this could have opened you up to huge exposure? It did.
But I decided it was worth the risk.
Because my job may be to push back, but it's also to have your back.
And from now on, I will.
Two more years on hate alone.
He said that? He not only said it, the son of a bitch meant it.
He's gonna fight us until his last breath.
What? A man gets told he only has so much time left on this earth, you would think that would put things in perspective.
You would.
But I guess he'd have to be human.
And as it turns out, he was more like the Terminator.
Just won't go down.
[AS ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER.]
Come with me if you want to live.
[AS ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER.]
I'll be back.
Hasta la vista, baby.
If it bleeds, we can kill it.
[IN NORMAL VOICE.]
First, that's Predator.
Second, you sound Jamaican.
Not German.
[IN JAMAICAN ACCENT.]
Oh, man.
Get off my back, man.
You know what? He's Austrian.
[IN NORMAL VOICE.]
Yeah.
[SIGHS.]
What are we gonna do? We're gonna do what we have to.
We're gonna delay this as long as possible, and then fight it on its merits.
LOUIS: We don't have to fight anything anymore.
Tommy Bratton's dead.
What? LOUIS: Eli Gould just called.
He said Tommy had a heart attack.
They think it was brought on by the stress of fighting his illness.
HARVEY: And fighting us.
Anyway, for what it's worth, Gould's dropping the whole thing.
HARVEY: I gotta say, I always thought we'd win.
But not like this.
Robert, you okay? I don't know.
We may have been at war, but I knew the man for 30 years.
I could use a minute to process this.
You take all the time you need.
[.]
How'd it go? [IMITATES BALL BEING HI AND CROWD CHEERING.]
I didn't know you like baseball.
I didn't know you like music.
You heading home for the night? - Yeah.
Actually-- - Don't go yet.
Brian, you came through for me in every way on this case.
And like you said the other night, if we don't stop to celebrate the little things, then what's any of this for? If I didn't know any better, I'd say this is your way of thanking me for looking out for you.
It is.
And I happen to have made us reservations at an amazing place with live music in honor of your love of music.
Katrina, I can't tonight.
I really need to get home with Julie and the baby.
Oh.
The baby.
Of course.
I'm sorry, I didn't think about it.
If you don't have one, why would you think about it? - Right.
- [LAUGHS.]
But let me just say that I would love to get a rain check.
Rain check it is.
In the meantime, I gotta go.
I'm sure you have someone else who would love to take my place.
Oh, of course.
Have a good night, Brian.
Good night, Katrina.
[.]
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
DONNA: Am I interrupting? Not really.
Good.
I happened to have walked in on a conversation last night that made me wanna have a conversation with you.
I'm listening.
This thing between you and Alex is coming to a head.
Harvey and Louis want Alex to be the next name partner and Robert doesn't.
Skip the preamble, Donna.
What's on your mind? I don't suppose it would do any good to ask you to let this go and let Alex go up there first.
- I don't believe it.
- Believe what? Harvey doesn't have the balls to come in here and ask me himself.
He sent you.
He didn't send anybody.
I'm here on my own.
Then you may have internalized the patriarchal system here, but I have not.
I haven't internalized anything.
I'm not here at the behest of any man.
I'm here on my own, woman to woman, asking you to take the long view and wait.
I'm sure you think that's true.
But did it occur to you to ask Alex to step down before you came to me? Because that's what I mean by patriarchy.
For the record, I did think to ask Alex.
And I chose to ask you.
And I did that because it comes down to who the promise was made to first.
Not the gender of the person it was made to.
What's to stop them from changing their minds before it's my turn? They're not gonna put a second name up there for at least another year.
What if they put it in writing? You're a lawyer.
You make it airtight.
You really make a person get to the bottom of what's inside of them, don't you? - What do you mean? - When you put it that way, it's not about them changing their minds, or it taking too long, or even Robert getting hit by a bus.
The truth is, I'm not backing down because I think I'm better than Alex Williams.
And I'm not gonna say that I'm not.
Then I respect your decision.
Good night, Samantha.
Hey.
I heard you won your first case.
The fact that I heard about it means you're making a name for yourself.
So Thank you, Louis.
Wait a second.
Is something wrong? Goddamn it, did they spell Bennett with one T again? No.
Nothing's wrong.
It's just been a long day, and I'm tired.
Katrina, ahem, I know you.
You don't get tired after winning a case.
Something is going on.
It's just, I know I should be happy right now.
I finally made it to the top of the mountain.
I get it.
It only made you realize how much further you still want to go.
Yes, that's it.
That's exactly it.
No, it's not it.
I have seen that look before, and it was on my face.
Katrina when it comes to that part of life you can't force it.
It's unpredictable.
[.]
- I hate unpredictable.
- I know.
I do too.
But you once told me that someday, I would find someone.
And I did.
And you will too.
Life is gonna put that special someone right in front of you, and when it happens, I know you'll be ready.
Hey, I just realized, I never took you out to celebrate your promotion.
What do you say we go out and get dinner? Another time, Louis.
I have some work to catch up on.
I don't wanna, love Leave you talking To yourself Close your eyes And you'll feel Like somebody else HARVEY: Drinking alone? I guess what they say is true.
None of us know how much time we really have.
HARVEY: No, we don't.
Listen, Robert, I've been doing some thinking about the Samantha and Alex situation.
- Harvey, not tonight.
- Just hear me out, please.
I think we should let them fight.
Harvey, we do that, we're admitting our house is divided.
And we make it that much easier for another Tommy Bratton to try and pick us apart.
I know.
But our house is divided.
I made a promise.
You made a promise.
And if we keep doing nothing It's worse than letting them settle it themselves.
One case, head-to-head.
Winner gets name partner.
- You think they'll go for it? - I think they've been wanting to go at it ever since you two got here.
Then I say we let them fight.
[.]
You want to tell them, or should I? Why don't we both tell them? But let's do it tomorrow.
Because after today, all I wanna do is finish this drink, go home, and see Laura.
Good night, Robert.
Good night, Harvey.