Suits s09e02 Episode Script
Special Master
1 Previously on "Suits" I got approached today by the New York Bar.
The guy pretty much told me if we don't take Zane's name down, they'll do it for us.
If you can't tell me who you are to him, maybe you can tell me who he is to you.
I just know that he's somebody that I can't seem to figure out how to cut out of me.
I know exactly what you two are doing.
Louis, before you jump-- You were up all night trying to figure out how you were gonna handle the Zane situation.
You're my lawyer.
You knew something, and you kept it from me.
We've been over this.
The reason I-- What we haven't been over is that I was forced to lie yesterday.
The longer we leave his name up there, the more damage we inflict on ourselves.
No, I'm not doing it.
The Bar tried to get me to take over as managing partner.
You're here to tell me you're taking over? I'm here to tell you that if they can do that, what else can they do? We need to put an end to this.
What are you talking about? I'm talking about taking Robert's name down.
What's going on here? If we don't do this, this firm has no future.
If you do this, you'll be lucky if I don't go to the Bar and tell them what really happened.
This is a court order granting me full control of your law firm.
You can refuse, in which case the Bar will suspend every partner in this firm for six months.
You up for another round? You're probably the only one here who could give me a real fight, but I doubt a workout is why you texted.
You always did call me on my shit.
So what's going on, Lucas? To put it bluntly, I got fired.
What? Last I heard the job was going great.
It was, but we just missed out on a DOD contract.
Which means they're letting guys go.
But only one from my department.
And the guy they're keeping is the CEO's son-in-law.
It's nepotism, no two ways about it.
It's more than that.
It's a lawsuit.
I thought so too.
So you know any hotshot lawyers that might be interested in my case? I might.
Why don't we get breakfast? You can fill me in.
Okay, but if you're buying, it better show up on my bill, because I didn't come looking for charity.
It's not charity.
It's called pro Bono.
- Samantha-- - Lucas, we served together.
I'm not taking no for an answer.
Harvey, Donna.
What a pleasant surprise.
Can I interest you in some Weetabix? Wow.
What are you wearing? What do you mean, what am I wearing? It's my mankini.
- Your what now? - It's a Speedo.
I wear it instead of underwear.
It's incredibly supportive.
Here, let me show you.
- Donna? - Louis, as much as we would love for you to show us how supportive your underwear is, Harvey and I are here to share some news about why we were together the other morning.
Yeah, I know why you were together.
You were worried about the firm.
Except the firm isn't the reason why Harvey came over the other night, and it's definitely not why he stayed over.
Wait, Harvey, you have a problem with your plumbing? 'Cause if you need to use my shower-- That's not what she's saying, Louis, and I'm never gonna use your shower.
It's got a steam feature! Come on upstairs.
I'll show you.
Louis! - Harvey and I are together.
- Yeah, I know you're together.
You're standing right in front of me.
See? This is what I'm talking about.
I mean, like, how did even make it through law school? No, no, no, no, no.
Harvey and I are in a relationship.
- Oh, my God.
- [chuckles.]
Yeah.
And we didn't want to tell you before because it wasn't the right time but we're telling you now because we're happy and we don't want to hide that anymore.
Especially not from our partner and our friend.
I really appreciate that, Harvey, and I am so happy for you both.
But? A proper celebration's gonna have to wait because I have some news too.
What is it, Louis? We have a problem.
[suspenseful music.]
How long is she gonna be here? I don't know.
Apparently, it's left to the Bar's discretion.
Bullshit! There's no way I'm letting the Bar move someone into my house and tell me how to run it.
- What? - You know what.
This never would've happened if you just-- Don't even say it.
You don't even know what I was going to say.
I can take a guess.
You were gonna say this all happened because of what Robert did.
It happened because of your collective choices.
This is a private meeting, Faye.
Well, it's also the perfect opportunity for me to introduce myself to the firm's leadership such as it is.
- Such as it is? - Ms.
Paulsen, when a firm's out of control, that starts at the top.
And if you think you can waltz right in here and start throwing around accusations-- Then how about we throw around some facts? You've had two managing partners disbarred in as many years, a junior partner go to prison, and if you think anybody believes that you weren't a party to that fraud, think again.
But as of today I'm wiping the slate clean of everything you've ever done.
You have no proof we've ever done anything.
I have experience.
And when there's this much smoke, there's always fire.
So if you want me gone, there's only one way to make that happen: convince me you people can be trusted to fly right.
And if we don't? You mean if you continue to cross lines? Then you'll be fired.
You don't have the authority to do that.
Yes, I do.
As I have the authority to approve new cases, allocate resources, and just about anything else I see fit.
And the first order of business is doing what you all should have: taking Robert Zane's name off that wall.
No.
That is not happening.
If you think you have a say in the matter, you haven't grasped the situation.
If you so much as reach for that name, you haven't grasped that I will find something on you.
And that mentality perfectly underlines why I am here.
And leaving that name up sends the wrong message.
It sends the message that we don't throw our friends to the wolves.
You want to throw your friend a retirement party or help him launch a charter boat company to show your support, be my guest.
But that name comes down today.
I don't believe this.
You're just gonna let her do this? Samantha, it's not our decision.
Well, whether I stay here or not is.
So you can go to hell.
 Fortunately, I'm used to reactions like that.
So as I said to Louis when he signed off on this, I suggest you start getting used to doing things my way, because this isn't the Wild West.
And your days of operating however the hell you want are over.
 Suits 9x02 Special Master 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 Don't bother, Harvey.
I'm outta here.
This place is not for me.
Samantha, you can't quit.
We need you.
Well, she doesn't need me, and she's the one calling the shots.
And if you think just because you gave me a client I'm going to stay here-- Samantha, like it or not, the world thinks Robert is dirty.
People also think that the apple doesn't fall far from tree.
So if you leave, it's not gonna look like a protest.
It'll look like what they all think is true.
I just don't have it in me to roll over to her, Harvey.
I'm not asking you to roll over.
I'm asking you to wait this thing out.
Because the second she leaves, we're gonna put his name right back on that wall.
And what about the fact she gets approval over all new cases? Because I met with an old friend this morning.
He can't afford us, and there is no way I'm not helping him.
Then as far as I'm concerned, you met with him last night, which means it's not a new case.
She has a problem with that, she can take it up with me.
- Louis, we need to talk.
- What is it? You didn't mention that you signed off on this whole thing.
What difference does it make? I didn't have a choice.
Yes, you did.
You could've used her to convince Harvey to take that name down.
Which, thanks to you, is happening anyway.
Thanks to me? I don't see anybody else in this room.
You weren't there last night, Alex.
If I had refused, they would've suspended everybody's license for six months right then and there.
So do you want to keep fighting with each other, or do you want to start fighting her? There is no fighting her.
Gretchen, please, this doesn't involve you.
Well, maybe it should.
Since I'm the only one who knows Faye Richardson.
- You know her? - Worked in her firm years ago.
Back before she became the Bar's special asshole.
Word was when she was managing partner, she found out her husband crossed some kind of line.
She stripped his name off the wall and fired him.
Damn.
A woman who could do that to her own husband isn't going to care what we do to her.
But she'll care what the Bar does.
You got something? I might.
And just how long is this woman going to be here? Well, according to her, as long as she deems it necessary.
What is it, Katrina? This is exactly why I went to Alex to take Robert's name down.
Something like this was bound to happen.
Well, I can understand how you feel that way, but at the time, standing by Robert felt like the right thing to do.
- Am I interrupting? - I was actually heading out.
- Katrina Bennett.
- Faye Richardson.
Pleasure to meet you.
Ms.
Richardson.
Is there something you need? Please, call me Faye.
I may be here as a special master, but it doesn't mean we can't be on a first name basis.
Well, is there something that I can do for you, Faye? I understand as COO you handle administrative coordination? That's right.
Are you looking to get a secretary, or-- I'm looking to schedule an exit interview with Thomas Kessler.
And why would you want to meet with Mr.
Kessler? Because this firm's troubles started when it put Mr.
Kessler's interests above another client's.
I don't understand why someone they did that for would suddenly leave.
And you think his reasons might indicate an underlying problem? Do you think there's an underlying problem? I get the feeling you're really asking whether I'd tell you if I thought there was.
And what if I were? Faye, if you know anything about me, you'd know that I have a reputation for solving problems, not hiding them.
Which is why I already sent Mr.
Kessler our exit survey, so when I get his responses, I will forward them to you.
Oh, please do.
In the meantime, I'd appreciate you setting up that interview.
- I just explained-- - I know.
I just find face-to-face meetings much more informative, don't you? I certainly do.
- I'll set that up.
- Wonderful.
Anytime tomorrow should be fine.
[tense music.]
 - Harvey, we need to talk.
- We sure do.
And I'm sorry, Donna.
I know you're gonna disagree with me, but-- - That woman needs to go.
- Now.
- What? What do you mean, what? - That's what I was gonna say.
- So? So you're not gonna try and talk me out of it.
That's so unlike you.
Hmm.
That is unlike me.
Maybe you're not going to try and talk me out of it because you're less uptight since we, uh Since wewhat? Nothing.
Since we nothing.
That's right.
Because if anybody was uptight, it was you.
But I'm the one acting consistently.
Okay, maybe I was uptight.
Or maybe I've had it with Faye's bullshit.
I prefer my own take here.
Well, I prefer that Faye not find out that it wasn't Robert who broke privilege; it was us.
Wait, what are you talking about? She just asked me to schedule an exit interview with Thomas.
Donna, we can't let that happen.
- Thomas won't lie for us again.
- I know! So the question is, how do we stop it? [sighs.]
Well, if we can't ask Thomas to lie again, there's only one way out.
Make it so he doesn't have to talk to her at all.
Sorry to keep you waiting, Ms.
Wheeler.
- Now, what's this about? - Let's see.
How about nepotism and wrongful termination? You're here about Lucas Hodges.
That was fast.
Well, he's the only person we've let go recently and we were perfectly justified in our decision.
Why don't we let a judge decide that? You might want to get your facts straight first.
The facts are you needed to cut someone loose and you chose to keep your son-in-law over a more qualified employee who happens to be a two-tour veteran.
- I know what he is.
- Then you should know if you don't reinstate him, I'm gonna wrap Lucas up in a flag, put him in front of a jury, and then we'll see exactly how many government contracts you get.
Then we'll wrap you in time cards and the medical bills we footed for an employee that Lucas injured.
- What? - Lucas was far from perfect, Ms.
Wheeler.
He missed work at crunch time.
He didn't always even call in.
Says the man trying to get out of a lawsuit.
You don't have a lawsuit because we had cause.
And if you don't believe me, ask my secretary for his records.
They'll show that he was erratic; he was impossible to work with.
For God's sakes, one day someone startled him, he practically attacked the man.
And if that's true, why didn't you bring this up when you let him go? Because I like Lucas, so we said it was because of that contract to give him a soft landing.
But the truth is, we were gonna fire him no matter what.
So I'm sorry that he lied to you, but the suit has no merit.
You can show yourself out.
[tense music.]
Louis, if you're here about changing our default font back to Helvetica, I already told you-- I'm not here about that, Benjamin.
I'm here because of Faye Richardson.
I just set up her firewall this morning.
- What about her? - She's an intruder.
And she just fired a shot across our beloved bow.
- Give me an order, Captain.
- It's Admiral.
And I want you to find a loophole in the Bar's bylaws that I can use to force them to remove her.
But the Bar's bylaws are, like, 1,000 pages long.
[thud.]
3,000.
And somewhere in there is a technicality that'll get rid of that woman, and you're going to build a program to find it.
Louis, I don't know if I can do that.
Benjamin our home is under attack, and I can't defend it alone.
I need you to do this, and I need you to do it quietly.
Now, can I count on you or not, sailor? - Aye-aye, Captain.
- It's Admiral.
- Admiral, whatever.
- That's right.
 I can't believe they're using those days I missed against me.
They're using them because they constitute cause.
The question is, why didn't you tell me? It was a couple days here and there.
Lucas, I never saw you be late to one exercise, one training session-- - So what? So you know what.
The absences, the aggression-- all worse during high-stress periods.
- Samantha.
- You have PTSD, don't you? No, I do not.
Check my medical records.
There's nothing in them.
Because you never saw a doctor? - Of course I saw a doctor.
- And why was that? Because I had trouble sleeping.
Because of nightmares, flashbacks? I don't wanna talk about this.
Well, we're gonna talk about it because I can't defend you if you're not being honest with me.
Honest about what? About how there are nights I'm afraid to close my eyes and days I never get out of bed? Listen to me.
You have nothing to be ashamed of.
There are literally thousands of people going through the exact same thing and once we get you diagnosed, we can-- I'm not getting diagnosed.
- Lucas, it'll protect you.
- Samantha, I told them I didn't want to be diagnosed back then.
I'm not getting reclassified now.
That's the end of it.
Wait a minute, you told them? You told your psychiatrist? I didn't go to a psychiatrist.
I went to an MD.
I begged him not to put it in my record.
He put it down as anxiety and gave me pills.
And they kept me going through my tour.
And once you got out? I thought it would get better.
- But it didn't.
- No.
- It got worse.
- Well if your employer won't pay, maybe someone else will.
Harvey.
Thomas, do you mind if I come in? I really don't think we have much to talk about.
Well, unfortunately, we do.
Because as a result of that hearing, the Bar installed someone to watch every move we make.
And now she wants to ask you why you're leaving.
And you know I'm not gonna lie again.
Which is why I'm here to ask you not to leave.
You've gotta be joking.
Just hear me out, please.
You've been with us a long time.
And in that time we've tripled your business, we've taken you public-- And completely betrayed my trust.
No.
I betrayed my own client for you.
I lost my friend and my partner for you.
And if I'd done the technically right thing, you'd have lost your expansion.
Now, I'm not saying we didn't make mistakes, and I know I need to earn back your trust.
I'm just asking you to give us a chance to do that.
[sighs.]
Let me ask you this.
Who is Donna to you? She's the most important person in my life, Thomas.
And she knows it.
When? The night I was cleared.
Okay.
Okay.
I'll stay with your firm on one condition.
From now on you're my lawyer, not Alex.
Thomas, I'm not sure that's the best idea.
Well, it's the only one that's gonna work for me because I don't trust him anymore.
And you were just honest with me about the most difficult question I'll ever ask.
And you didn't flinch.
Okaybut now that you know the truth-- I can get past all that.
Are you sure? Yeah, I'm sure.
 [elevator door rings.]
Samantha, there you are.
Whatever it is, the answer is no.
Well, that's too bad, because I just heard you assigned an associate to subpoena military records for a new case.
- So what if I did? - SoI want you to drop it.
- Excuse me? - As I mentioned this morning, I have approval over all new matters, and this one has red flags all over it.
Well, I don't see any red flags, and I'm not hanging my friend out to dry.
The fact that he's a friend is the red flag, because if you start to lose, you may not fight the right way.
That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.
But it doesn't matter, because this case isn't new.
I took it last night.
You don't think I know a cover story when I hear one? I don't care what you think you know.
I told Harvey about the case when I took it, which means, according to your own rules, you don't get a say as to whether I drop this or not.
Well, I do get a say in the use of firm resources, in particular on the cases that pay us nothing.
So if you pursue this, you do this without your expense account, our associates, and anything else.
And if I find out otherwise, I'll drop the client myself.
[tense music.]
 Let me get this straight.
You want my help to go after the military? Yes, but first I need access to your expense account.
Why? Because if I'm gonna get them to settle, I need to hire PIs, expert witnesses-- No, I mean why do you need my account? Because Faye banned me from using firm resources.
So you don't just want my help, you want me to defy a direct order? If we do it right, she'll never know.
Samantha, it's the military.
There's no way they'll ever give in before Faye finds out.
Fine, I will use my own money for expenses, but I can't do it all on my own.
I'm working without an associate myself right now.
Katrina, it's not easy for me to ask for this.
And it's not easy for me to say no.
Don't you get it? I cannot let him down.
Lucas and I didn't just train together.
We served together.
And after my four years, he asked me to stay, but I didn't.
I got out.
He did two more tours.
And in his head, he is still there while I wear $2,000 dresses and negotiate million dollar deals.
All right.
I'll help you.
On two conditions: we do it on the up-and-up, and we pick a fight we can win.
I know things are rough, Harvey, but shots for breakfast with my Scotch? One of them is for you.
And they're not because of bad news, but because of good.
Then lay it on me.
Because it is past time I heard something good.
I got Kessler to stay.
He's gonna come in today and sign a new engagement letter.
No shit.
That is good.
I'll call him right now, set up a meeting.
That's the thing, Alex.
He wants me to represent him.
- You? - Yes.
And before you say it, I was surprised as anyone.
Harvey, surprised is what you feel when you come home and your friends are there for your birthday, not when you find out your partner's taking your client.
Look, I know it's not ideal, but what do you want me to say? This is his condition for staying.
I don't want you to say anything, but I also don't want you to come in here and try to tell me this is a celebration.
You're right.
It's not a celebration.
But Faye wanted to ask him why he left, and we can't have that.
 Ms.
Bennett I'm not one for small talk, so I'll jump right in.
I saw you added yourself as attorney of record on Ms.
Wheeler's case.
- I did.
And did she inform you that I specifically forbade her from using firm resources? Yes, she did.
Which is why I worked on my own time, and I won't be attending a deposition scheduled for today.
I respect that.
It shows a willingness to work within the rules.
But I'd like to explain why I didn't want her to take that case.
Because she's emotionally invested.
And you're worried she'll be tempted to do something that she shouldn't.
And if you understand that, I'm sure you'll understand if you really want to help Ms.
Wheeler, you'll help her avoid doing just that.
 How did Alex take it? He didn't love it, but he'll live with it.
SoThomas is coming here today? Because Faye's gonna be asking about that interview, and we need him to have signed that engagement letter.
Donna, he gave me his word.
Great, then that means that he'll be here.
What's going on? Are you sure this is the best idea? You representing him? I mean, what happens the first time he doesn't like something that you've done, or you think that he's being short-sighted? How long before one of you brings up what happened? Donnahe's a grown man.
It was his idea.
If he thinks he can make it work, I'm gonna trust him.
How is it that you always make it feel like everything's gonna be okay? Because I'm Superman.
No, you're supposed to say, "I was just thinking the same thing about you.
" But Superman wouldn't say something like that.
He'd just expect Lana Lang to get it.
Well, in case you haven't noticed, I'm not Lana Lang.
I'm Lois Lane.
You have the best of both because Lana was a redhead.
Is that mushy enough for you? 'Cause I've got to go save Metropolis.
[funky music.]
Save Metropolis.
You don't even know your own phone number.
Okay, people! Listen up.
As you may know a new attorney has joined us, Faye Richardson.
And I would like you all to give her a very, very warm welcome, but don't bother her.
Just give her a wide berth.
Any questions? Yes.
You want us to make her feel welcome by avoiding her? Excellent question, Susan.
The answer is yes.
Yes, I do.
Um, why? Another good question, Susan.
Because as your leader, I know what's best-- and make no mistake, I am your leader.
- Um, okay, but-- - No one likes a talker, Susan.
Any other questions? No? - Great.
- I have a question.
Why is she here? Is she heading up a new division or something? Sort of.
She's actually an ethics expert.
In light of recent events, I thought it would be wise to bring someone in to buttress the firm's reputation.
Actually, truth is, she was reluctant to come-- Oh, don't let me interrupt, Louis.
You were saying I was reluctant to come here.
- Maybe not reluctant-- - But it was your idea.
Isn't that what you said? And you would never lie to your associates, would you? Framing things in context isn't lying, Faye.
Then let me ask a question that needs no context.
The Bar's leadership had doubts about your ability to follow the law, and that's why I'm here.
Isn't that the case? Yes.
Thank you for helping me get off on the right foot with the associates, Louis.
I appreciate it.
[dramatic music.]
 - Alex, not now.
- Yes, now, because Bromwell just told me they're being sued again.
- Shit, we just got them off.
- I know that.
And to make matters worse, we drew Judge Dorsey.
Goddamn it! What? Louis, do you have a minute? Because I've hit a snag with our newserver problem.
Cut the code.
Alex is on our side.
In that case, I need a digital copy of the Bar's bylaws, but they're password protected.
- Scan the ones I gave you.
- I tried that, but-- Are you shitting me? You can't even scan a simple document without screwing up? It wasn't my fault.
Well, it isn't my fault that we're in this situation, but here I am, busting my ass, getting humiliated.
And the one person that I ask to help me can't even tie his own goddamn shoes.
So I don't care what it takes, get that copy and get it today.
- But-- - Benjamin give us a few minutes.
- [sighs.]
Okay, Louis.
What's going on? - You know what's going on.
- Yeah, I do.
Because I bit my own secretary's head off three seconds after getting off the phone with Bromwell.
- Not to mention-- - Not to mention what? Nothing.
It's not important.
What is important is you and I are going out, and we're going out right now.
Alex, I don't need to-- Yes, you do, and so do I.
Because if we don't blow off some steam, one of us is gonna kill someone.
Well, then, what do you suggest? Because there's no opera today.
I have not gotten my mud membership card back yet.
And unless there's a cat fair that I don't know about, we have got nothing.
I have just the thing.
Mr.
Daly, how many of your employees are veterans? I'm proud to say anywhere from 30% to 40% at any given time.
So it's safe to say you're familiar with the struggles many veterans face.
I'm afraid you'll have to be more specific.
Post traumatic stress disorder.
Is that specific enough? Yes, I'm familiar, but what's your point? My point is, do you think Lucas Hodges suffers from PTSD? My client's not a psychiatrist.
He's the one who said he's familiar with it.
That doesn't necessarily mean-- You had his office furniture rearranged so his back wouldn't face the door, Tom.
And the only reason you would do something like that is if you suspected the truth.
- Suspicion is not knowing.
- Answer the question.
Did you or did you not suspect PTSD? Are you sure you want me to answer that question? Because if you do, I'm going to say, "Yes, I did.
" And then I'm gonna demand proof that he is a member of a protected class, which means an official diagnosis on his permanent record.
Is that really what your client wants, Ms.
Wheeler? We didn't think so.
Which is why we're prepared to offer a sealed settlement of $25,000.
That isn't even a third of what he was gonna make this year.
That's the best you're gonna get.
Take the deal, and let everyone walk away, or he can turn the camera back on and answer your question.
[tense music.]
Our offer stands for 24 hours.
 All right, so what, I just roll this thing down there and knock over the sticks? Pins.
How have you never bowled before? Fourth grade, Joshua Hirshheiser had a bowling birthday party.
Before we even started, I got my fingers stuck in the ball.
They called me sausage fingers till eighth grade.
So what do I do? I just throw-- how do I throw it? Just walk to the line, release it.
[bowling pins clatter.]
That's okay.
Happens to everyone.
Justtry to keep your arm straight.
Oh.
Shit! Maybe we should try some bumpers.
No! This is so stupid.
If it weren't for the shoes, nobody would play this ridiculous game at all.
Okay, let's try granny style.
Oh.
Okay, yeah.
No problem.
Goddamn it! This is worse than when I lost the junior wrestling championship! - You wrestled? - I don't know if you know this about me, Alex, but I have a lot of rage.
Wait a second.
Rage.
That's it.
Louis, I want you to imagine Faye's face on all those pins.
Imagine she's taking your firm and laughing at you.
Of course I'm taking your firm, Louis.
Because you're weak and ineffectual, and you don't deserve it.
Because you're nothing.
You're a sausage-fingered failure! [bellows.]
[upbeat rock music.]
  [clears throat.]
Excuse me, miss, I'm here to sign an engagement letter.
Perhaps you could help me? Thomas! Right on time.
What can I say? I'm nothing if not punctual.
Well, Louis always did say that it was one of your many stellar qualities.
Oh, really? And what were some of my others? Loyalty.
Integrity.
Height.
[chuckles.]
Height? What can I say? Louis prizes what he doesn't have and the fact that you've got that full head of hair? That makes you practically a god.
Well, as much as I could talk about my stellar qualities all day, um If we do that, then this engagement letter won't sign itself.
No, it won't.
Well, all you have to do is sign it, and I will make sure that Harvey gets it right away.
Oh, it's okay, Donna.
I can drop it off.
He and I have some business to discuss, anyway.
It was good to see you, Thomas.
It was good to see you too.
I can't believe you bowled a perfect game! I can't believe they didn't have rosé.
So I see you went with piña colada instead.
Never disappoints.
Thanks for bringing me here, Alex.
I haven't felt this relaxed in days.
It's like ever since you got here, I've been on the outside of my own firm.
Believe it or not, Louis, I know exactly how you feel.
When I first got to the firm, I thought Harvey and I were going to be like Stockton and Malone.
But, for whatever reason, that didn't happen.
Then I thought I was getting my name on the wall, and I found myself in a death match with Samantha instead.
- I was no picnic either.
- Mm-hmm.
No, you were not.
But the thing is, all that happened, and I'm still standing.
And, Louis, when this is done, you'll be standing too.
We'll be standing.
So about this wrestling thing.
Not many people know.
When I told Harvey, he got me a onesie for my birthday.
- [chuckles.]
- You ever wear it? That's not the point.
Well since we're talking about things people don't know I tap.
No way.
Holy shit! How? When? [sighs.]
My mom made me take lessons when I was a kid.
I don't believe it.
You have cats, you dance.
You might be the manliest man I've ever met.
Well, what do you say we keep my manliness between us? Oh, please, say no more.
I've had to downplay my masculinity in front of Harvey for years.
I'm sure you have, Louis.
I'm sure you have.
- Well? - Well, what? - How did it go? - Shitty.
They offered us $25,000 and then said if we want more, we'll have to go on record with an official diagnosis.
Okay, if they're offering that, we can probably get them up another 25.
$50,000 isn't enough.
I want 500.
Samantha, that's never going to happen.
- We have no leverage.
- So we'll get some.
You're going to blackmail him? I'm gonna do right by my client.
And if you think extorting a settlement is doing right by your client, then Faye was right; you shouldn't have taken this case.
[scoffs.]
I don't believe this.
- She got to you.
- No, Samantha, I got to me.
And what you're talking about is exactly the type of thing that got us handcuffed to her in the first place.
And if you think I asked for your help so you could be little Sally Girl Scout-- I think you're letting your guilt blind you to what Lucas really needs, which is treatment for his condition.
You don't think I know that? I tried, but I can't make him get help any more than I could Samantha, I understand what you're feeling.
But this isn't the way to help your friend.
[soft music.]
[sighs.]
Donna, there you are.
I was looking all over for you.
Listen, I wanted to tell you how sorry I am about the other morning.
Am I missing something? What do you have to be sorry about? Well, you and Harvey came to me with wonderful news, and I got so caught up with the firm situation, that I really didn't get a chance to say how happy I am for you.
Oh, that's really thoughtful of you, Louis, but I completely understood.
All the same.
You're my friend.
Monumental thing happened for you, and I want to hear all about it.
- You mean girl talk? - You know it.
Which means I want to hear how it happened.
I will tell you.
- When it happened.
- All the details.
What was it like? Okay, I'm shutting this down right now.
No, Donna, I don't mean like that.
I just want to do a side-by-side comparison of Harvey's style to mine.
- What is wrong with you? - Okay, fine.
I'm sorry.
What I mean to say is I'm thrilled for you.
- I'm even happier for Harvey.
- Oh, really? And why is that? Because you're the best thing that's ever happened to him.
And he finally knows it.
That's the sweetest thing you've ever said to me.
Does this mean you'll reconsider describing Harvey's technique to me? All right, then we'll do it later.
You are not gonna believe what Louis just tried to-- Thomas backed out, Donna.
What? He said he thought he could handle it, but he couldn't.
Harvey, I--I told Faye that he was signing with us.
- This means that he's gonna-- - I know what it means.
She's gonna want to go back to interviewing him.
No.
She won't.
'Cause I'm gonna tell her the truth.
Donna, what can I do for you? You can listen.
And hopefully understand.
Understand what? Why Thomas Kessler left.
I was under the impression it didn't matter when you told me he was coming back.
He's not.
And the reason he's not is the same reason he left.
Thomas wasn't just a client.
He and I were in a relationship.
- Were? - Yes.
We ended it a few days ago, and you can ask him about it yourself, but you would just be making him reopen a wound that he is trying to close.
Why didn't you tell me this before? Have you ever been in a relationship that you thought would last but didn't, and when it ended there was collateral damage that you never could've anticipated, but still felt responsible for? [soft music.]
 That's why.
You can cancel the interview, Donna.
And thank you for telling me the truth.
 What's that? It's a settlement offer for $25,000.
I don't want a settlement.
I want my job back! Lucas, listen to me.
It took me a long time to admit that sometimes I need help.
And right now you need professional help.
You're not gonna get out of this hole without-- - Damn it, I told you! - I know what you told me.
But you're my friend.
You're still living back there, and I am not gonna leave you behind.
What do you know about this? You weren't even there! And I will feel guilty about that for the rest of my life.
But what I'm not gonna do is let you leave here without signing this job offer.
What? I thought you couldn't-- I can't.
I created a corporation.
That is a contract between you and SW Industries.
To the world, you have a job.
One year, the pay is $100,000.
I can't take your money.
It's not charity.
If you don't get the help you need, that contract is null and void.
Lucas, I have only ever told one other person this I was beaten as a kid.
And it took admitting that I needed professional help to get over it.
You've been to war.
 [sniffs.]
I told myself I could handle it.
You can.
You just can't do it alone.
[solemn music.]
 Mmm, that looks delicious.
Mind if I have some? - You want some prunie? - I would.
In fact, why don't you pour another glass and we could take it down to Benjamin? He's been working so hard.
- Benjamin? - Mm-hmm.
Yeah, I was having a little trouble with my email, so I went to get him, and wouldn't you know it, I found him hip deep in the Bar's bylaws.
Well, you know, Benjamin is an avid reader.
Especially when he's given an assignment by the managing partner.
I don't believe it.
He told you.
That's what you're concerned about? You people! I come here and give you a chance to clean up your act, and inside of two days, not only am I openly defied left and right, but I find out the managing partner wants me gone so badly, he ordered someone to hack the New York Bar! Bullshit, I didn't order Benjamin to do that! Are you saying he's lying to me now? I'm saying I told him that I didn't give a shit what it took.
I wanted the bylaws.
I didn't mean for him to-- To hack them? Well, that's what he took it to mean.
Because you gave him an order.
Said you didn't care how he accomplished it.
And you know what? As far as I'm concerned, you're lucky I'm not letting you go right now.
You can't talk to me like that.
That's the problem with this place.
You're a bunch of wild dogs running around, defecating all over the legal standards you swore to uphold.
You can bet your ass I'm gonna put a leash on every one of you.
[tense music.]
 - Well? - It's done.
We're off the hook.
- Then she bought it.
- It was the truth, Harvey.
There was nothing to buy.
Hey, what do you say we break out the can opener? Whoa, that is a pretrial thing, not a we-just-got-out- of-trouble thing.
Who says it can't be both? The can opener says it can't be both.
You can't argue with the can opener.
- Hey, I'm not the bad guy here.
- You might not be the bad guy, but that doesn't mean that-- - I hate to interrupt, but you need to get yourselves over to IT, and you need to do it right now.
 What the fuck did you do? Louis, you don't understand.
She knew before I even told her.
Bullshit.
She knew because you told her.
You betrayed me.
You betrayed this firm-- I tried to hide it, I swear.
Save your pathetic excuses, and get the hell out of my firm.
You are fired.
- Louis, stop! - Stay out of this.
She's not staying out of it, and neither am I.
What the hell is going on here? I asked this traitor to help us get rid of Faye.
Instead of doing it, he ratted me out.
Louis, what was I supposed to do? She found out about the hack.
What hack? He asked me to find a loophole in the Bar's bylaws that he could use to get Faye out.
Louis, you had no right to ask him that.
Bullshit, I had every right! I'm the managing partner.
Just like I have the right to fire him.
No, you don't.
There's three of us here.
I'm calling it to a vote.
I'm against.
You can't do that.
He's support staff.
It's not subject to a vote.
The hell it isn't! Right, Harvey? Right.
Louis-- Okay, this is horseshit.
You're just agreeing with Donna because you don't want her to be mad at you now that you're in a relationship.
Louis, that's ridiculous.
Harvey would never side with me just because of that.
Yeah, I knew it.
Which means it's my call.
Benjamin's gone.
No, he's not.
Because this shows an utter lack of judgment.
And I'm not letting it stand.
No, you're just going to come in here and publicly humiliate me for the third time in as many days.
Well, forgive me if I don't feel like sticking around for your party.
Bowling? [chuckles.]
He's already telling people? No, I went by his office earlier to see how he's doing with the whole Faye thing, and Gretchen told me where you two were.
Well, if you want to know how it went, the man's actually a natural.
- I'm not surprised.
- You aren't? No, once he puts his mind to things, Louis is an incredibly quick study.
- You really do know him.
- I do which is why I know he's going to need his friends now more than ever.
You were there for him today, and I appreciate that.
Well, I'll be there for him tomorrow too.
We all will.
What are you doing here? I heard what you said about humiliating you, so I'm coming to you in private to say what I have to say.
What is it? Well, for starters, Benjamin is staying because he doesn't deserve to be punished for doing something you made him do.
I told you, I didn't make him do anything-- And Wells Fargo didn't make its employees open those fake accounts.
But pressure from the top is hard to withstand.
Well, then why don't you have that engraved on a paperweight? Because you may be special master, but I'm managing partner.
- That gives me certain rights-- - Not anymore.
What? Because I went after your bylaws, you think you can go after mine? Good luck.
They're airtight.
I meant you're not managing partner anymore.
Effective immediately.
You're stripped of your title and all the duties that go with it.
You can either accept this or resign.
Â
The guy pretty much told me if we don't take Zane's name down, they'll do it for us.
If you can't tell me who you are to him, maybe you can tell me who he is to you.
I just know that he's somebody that I can't seem to figure out how to cut out of me.
I know exactly what you two are doing.
Louis, before you jump-- You were up all night trying to figure out how you were gonna handle the Zane situation.
You're my lawyer.
You knew something, and you kept it from me.
We've been over this.
The reason I-- What we haven't been over is that I was forced to lie yesterday.
The longer we leave his name up there, the more damage we inflict on ourselves.
No, I'm not doing it.
The Bar tried to get me to take over as managing partner.
You're here to tell me you're taking over? I'm here to tell you that if they can do that, what else can they do? We need to put an end to this.
What are you talking about? I'm talking about taking Robert's name down.
What's going on here? If we don't do this, this firm has no future.
If you do this, you'll be lucky if I don't go to the Bar and tell them what really happened.
This is a court order granting me full control of your law firm.
You can refuse, in which case the Bar will suspend every partner in this firm for six months.
You up for another round? You're probably the only one here who could give me a real fight, but I doubt a workout is why you texted.
You always did call me on my shit.
So what's going on, Lucas? To put it bluntly, I got fired.
What? Last I heard the job was going great.
It was, but we just missed out on a DOD contract.
Which means they're letting guys go.
But only one from my department.
And the guy they're keeping is the CEO's son-in-law.
It's nepotism, no two ways about it.
It's more than that.
It's a lawsuit.
I thought so too.
So you know any hotshot lawyers that might be interested in my case? I might.
Why don't we get breakfast? You can fill me in.
Okay, but if you're buying, it better show up on my bill, because I didn't come looking for charity.
It's not charity.
It's called pro Bono.
- Samantha-- - Lucas, we served together.
I'm not taking no for an answer.
Harvey, Donna.
What a pleasant surprise.
Can I interest you in some Weetabix? Wow.
What are you wearing? What do you mean, what am I wearing? It's my mankini.
- Your what now? - It's a Speedo.
I wear it instead of underwear.
It's incredibly supportive.
Here, let me show you.
- Donna? - Louis, as much as we would love for you to show us how supportive your underwear is, Harvey and I are here to share some news about why we were together the other morning.
Yeah, I know why you were together.
You were worried about the firm.
Except the firm isn't the reason why Harvey came over the other night, and it's definitely not why he stayed over.
Wait, Harvey, you have a problem with your plumbing? 'Cause if you need to use my shower-- That's not what she's saying, Louis, and I'm never gonna use your shower.
It's got a steam feature! Come on upstairs.
I'll show you.
Louis! - Harvey and I are together.
- Yeah, I know you're together.
You're standing right in front of me.
See? This is what I'm talking about.
I mean, like, how did even make it through law school? No, no, no, no, no.
Harvey and I are in a relationship.
- Oh, my God.
- [chuckles.]
Yeah.
And we didn't want to tell you before because it wasn't the right time but we're telling you now because we're happy and we don't want to hide that anymore.
Especially not from our partner and our friend.
I really appreciate that, Harvey, and I am so happy for you both.
But? A proper celebration's gonna have to wait because I have some news too.
What is it, Louis? We have a problem.
[suspenseful music.]
How long is she gonna be here? I don't know.
Apparently, it's left to the Bar's discretion.
Bullshit! There's no way I'm letting the Bar move someone into my house and tell me how to run it.
- What? - You know what.
This never would've happened if you just-- Don't even say it.
You don't even know what I was going to say.
I can take a guess.
You were gonna say this all happened because of what Robert did.
It happened because of your collective choices.
This is a private meeting, Faye.
Well, it's also the perfect opportunity for me to introduce myself to the firm's leadership such as it is.
- Such as it is? - Ms.
Paulsen, when a firm's out of control, that starts at the top.
And if you think you can waltz right in here and start throwing around accusations-- Then how about we throw around some facts? You've had two managing partners disbarred in as many years, a junior partner go to prison, and if you think anybody believes that you weren't a party to that fraud, think again.
But as of today I'm wiping the slate clean of everything you've ever done.
You have no proof we've ever done anything.
I have experience.
And when there's this much smoke, there's always fire.
So if you want me gone, there's only one way to make that happen: convince me you people can be trusted to fly right.
And if we don't? You mean if you continue to cross lines? Then you'll be fired.
You don't have the authority to do that.
Yes, I do.
As I have the authority to approve new cases, allocate resources, and just about anything else I see fit.
And the first order of business is doing what you all should have: taking Robert Zane's name off that wall.
No.
That is not happening.
If you think you have a say in the matter, you haven't grasped the situation.
If you so much as reach for that name, you haven't grasped that I will find something on you.
And that mentality perfectly underlines why I am here.
And leaving that name up sends the wrong message.
It sends the message that we don't throw our friends to the wolves.
You want to throw your friend a retirement party or help him launch a charter boat company to show your support, be my guest.
But that name comes down today.
I don't believe this.
You're just gonna let her do this? Samantha, it's not our decision.
Well, whether I stay here or not is.
So you can go to hell.
 Fortunately, I'm used to reactions like that.
So as I said to Louis when he signed off on this, I suggest you start getting used to doing things my way, because this isn't the Wild West.
And your days of operating however the hell you want are over.
 Suits 9x02 Special Master 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 Don't bother, Harvey.
I'm outta here.
This place is not for me.
Samantha, you can't quit.
We need you.
Well, she doesn't need me, and she's the one calling the shots.
And if you think just because you gave me a client I'm going to stay here-- Samantha, like it or not, the world thinks Robert is dirty.
People also think that the apple doesn't fall far from tree.
So if you leave, it's not gonna look like a protest.
It'll look like what they all think is true.
I just don't have it in me to roll over to her, Harvey.
I'm not asking you to roll over.
I'm asking you to wait this thing out.
Because the second she leaves, we're gonna put his name right back on that wall.
And what about the fact she gets approval over all new cases? Because I met with an old friend this morning.
He can't afford us, and there is no way I'm not helping him.
Then as far as I'm concerned, you met with him last night, which means it's not a new case.
She has a problem with that, she can take it up with me.
- Louis, we need to talk.
- What is it? You didn't mention that you signed off on this whole thing.
What difference does it make? I didn't have a choice.
Yes, you did.
You could've used her to convince Harvey to take that name down.
Which, thanks to you, is happening anyway.
Thanks to me? I don't see anybody else in this room.
You weren't there last night, Alex.
If I had refused, they would've suspended everybody's license for six months right then and there.
So do you want to keep fighting with each other, or do you want to start fighting her? There is no fighting her.
Gretchen, please, this doesn't involve you.
Well, maybe it should.
Since I'm the only one who knows Faye Richardson.
- You know her? - Worked in her firm years ago.
Back before she became the Bar's special asshole.
Word was when she was managing partner, she found out her husband crossed some kind of line.
She stripped his name off the wall and fired him.
Damn.
A woman who could do that to her own husband isn't going to care what we do to her.
But she'll care what the Bar does.
You got something? I might.
And just how long is this woman going to be here? Well, according to her, as long as she deems it necessary.
What is it, Katrina? This is exactly why I went to Alex to take Robert's name down.
Something like this was bound to happen.
Well, I can understand how you feel that way, but at the time, standing by Robert felt like the right thing to do.
- Am I interrupting? - I was actually heading out.
- Katrina Bennett.
- Faye Richardson.
Pleasure to meet you.
Ms.
Richardson.
Is there something you need? Please, call me Faye.
I may be here as a special master, but it doesn't mean we can't be on a first name basis.
Well, is there something that I can do for you, Faye? I understand as COO you handle administrative coordination? That's right.
Are you looking to get a secretary, or-- I'm looking to schedule an exit interview with Thomas Kessler.
And why would you want to meet with Mr.
Kessler? Because this firm's troubles started when it put Mr.
Kessler's interests above another client's.
I don't understand why someone they did that for would suddenly leave.
And you think his reasons might indicate an underlying problem? Do you think there's an underlying problem? I get the feeling you're really asking whether I'd tell you if I thought there was.
And what if I were? Faye, if you know anything about me, you'd know that I have a reputation for solving problems, not hiding them.
Which is why I already sent Mr.
Kessler our exit survey, so when I get his responses, I will forward them to you.
Oh, please do.
In the meantime, I'd appreciate you setting up that interview.
- I just explained-- - I know.
I just find face-to-face meetings much more informative, don't you? I certainly do.
- I'll set that up.
- Wonderful.
Anytime tomorrow should be fine.
[tense music.]
 - Harvey, we need to talk.
- We sure do.
And I'm sorry, Donna.
I know you're gonna disagree with me, but-- - That woman needs to go.
- Now.
- What? What do you mean, what? - That's what I was gonna say.
- So? So you're not gonna try and talk me out of it.
That's so unlike you.
Hmm.
That is unlike me.
Maybe you're not going to try and talk me out of it because you're less uptight since we, uh Since wewhat? Nothing.
Since we nothing.
That's right.
Because if anybody was uptight, it was you.
But I'm the one acting consistently.
Okay, maybe I was uptight.
Or maybe I've had it with Faye's bullshit.
I prefer my own take here.
Well, I prefer that Faye not find out that it wasn't Robert who broke privilege; it was us.
Wait, what are you talking about? She just asked me to schedule an exit interview with Thomas.
Donna, we can't let that happen.
- Thomas won't lie for us again.
- I know! So the question is, how do we stop it? [sighs.]
Well, if we can't ask Thomas to lie again, there's only one way out.
Make it so he doesn't have to talk to her at all.
Sorry to keep you waiting, Ms.
Wheeler.
- Now, what's this about? - Let's see.
How about nepotism and wrongful termination? You're here about Lucas Hodges.
That was fast.
Well, he's the only person we've let go recently and we were perfectly justified in our decision.
Why don't we let a judge decide that? You might want to get your facts straight first.
The facts are you needed to cut someone loose and you chose to keep your son-in-law over a more qualified employee who happens to be a two-tour veteran.
- I know what he is.
- Then you should know if you don't reinstate him, I'm gonna wrap Lucas up in a flag, put him in front of a jury, and then we'll see exactly how many government contracts you get.
Then we'll wrap you in time cards and the medical bills we footed for an employee that Lucas injured.
- What? - Lucas was far from perfect, Ms.
Wheeler.
He missed work at crunch time.
He didn't always even call in.
Says the man trying to get out of a lawsuit.
You don't have a lawsuit because we had cause.
And if you don't believe me, ask my secretary for his records.
They'll show that he was erratic; he was impossible to work with.
For God's sakes, one day someone startled him, he practically attacked the man.
And if that's true, why didn't you bring this up when you let him go? Because I like Lucas, so we said it was because of that contract to give him a soft landing.
But the truth is, we were gonna fire him no matter what.
So I'm sorry that he lied to you, but the suit has no merit.
You can show yourself out.
[tense music.]
Louis, if you're here about changing our default font back to Helvetica, I already told you-- I'm not here about that, Benjamin.
I'm here because of Faye Richardson.
I just set up her firewall this morning.
- What about her? - She's an intruder.
And she just fired a shot across our beloved bow.
- Give me an order, Captain.
- It's Admiral.
And I want you to find a loophole in the Bar's bylaws that I can use to force them to remove her.
But the Bar's bylaws are, like, 1,000 pages long.
[thud.]
3,000.
And somewhere in there is a technicality that'll get rid of that woman, and you're going to build a program to find it.
Louis, I don't know if I can do that.
Benjamin our home is under attack, and I can't defend it alone.
I need you to do this, and I need you to do it quietly.
Now, can I count on you or not, sailor? - Aye-aye, Captain.
- It's Admiral.
- Admiral, whatever.
- That's right.
 I can't believe they're using those days I missed against me.
They're using them because they constitute cause.
The question is, why didn't you tell me? It was a couple days here and there.
Lucas, I never saw you be late to one exercise, one training session-- - So what? So you know what.
The absences, the aggression-- all worse during high-stress periods.
- Samantha.
- You have PTSD, don't you? No, I do not.
Check my medical records.
There's nothing in them.
Because you never saw a doctor? - Of course I saw a doctor.
- And why was that? Because I had trouble sleeping.
Because of nightmares, flashbacks? I don't wanna talk about this.
Well, we're gonna talk about it because I can't defend you if you're not being honest with me.
Honest about what? About how there are nights I'm afraid to close my eyes and days I never get out of bed? Listen to me.
You have nothing to be ashamed of.
There are literally thousands of people going through the exact same thing and once we get you diagnosed, we can-- I'm not getting diagnosed.
- Lucas, it'll protect you.
- Samantha, I told them I didn't want to be diagnosed back then.
I'm not getting reclassified now.
That's the end of it.
Wait a minute, you told them? You told your psychiatrist? I didn't go to a psychiatrist.
I went to an MD.
I begged him not to put it in my record.
He put it down as anxiety and gave me pills.
And they kept me going through my tour.
And once you got out? I thought it would get better.
- But it didn't.
- No.
- It got worse.
- Well if your employer won't pay, maybe someone else will.
Harvey.
Thomas, do you mind if I come in? I really don't think we have much to talk about.
Well, unfortunately, we do.
Because as a result of that hearing, the Bar installed someone to watch every move we make.
And now she wants to ask you why you're leaving.
And you know I'm not gonna lie again.
Which is why I'm here to ask you not to leave.
You've gotta be joking.
Just hear me out, please.
You've been with us a long time.
And in that time we've tripled your business, we've taken you public-- And completely betrayed my trust.
No.
I betrayed my own client for you.
I lost my friend and my partner for you.
And if I'd done the technically right thing, you'd have lost your expansion.
Now, I'm not saying we didn't make mistakes, and I know I need to earn back your trust.
I'm just asking you to give us a chance to do that.
[sighs.]
Let me ask you this.
Who is Donna to you? She's the most important person in my life, Thomas.
And she knows it.
When? The night I was cleared.
Okay.
Okay.
I'll stay with your firm on one condition.
From now on you're my lawyer, not Alex.
Thomas, I'm not sure that's the best idea.
Well, it's the only one that's gonna work for me because I don't trust him anymore.
And you were just honest with me about the most difficult question I'll ever ask.
And you didn't flinch.
Okaybut now that you know the truth-- I can get past all that.
Are you sure? Yeah, I'm sure.
 [elevator door rings.]
Samantha, there you are.
Whatever it is, the answer is no.
Well, that's too bad, because I just heard you assigned an associate to subpoena military records for a new case.
- So what if I did? - SoI want you to drop it.
- Excuse me? - As I mentioned this morning, I have approval over all new matters, and this one has red flags all over it.
Well, I don't see any red flags, and I'm not hanging my friend out to dry.
The fact that he's a friend is the red flag, because if you start to lose, you may not fight the right way.
That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.
But it doesn't matter, because this case isn't new.
I took it last night.
You don't think I know a cover story when I hear one? I don't care what you think you know.
I told Harvey about the case when I took it, which means, according to your own rules, you don't get a say as to whether I drop this or not.
Well, I do get a say in the use of firm resources, in particular on the cases that pay us nothing.
So if you pursue this, you do this without your expense account, our associates, and anything else.
And if I find out otherwise, I'll drop the client myself.
[tense music.]
 Let me get this straight.
You want my help to go after the military? Yes, but first I need access to your expense account.
Why? Because if I'm gonna get them to settle, I need to hire PIs, expert witnesses-- No, I mean why do you need my account? Because Faye banned me from using firm resources.
So you don't just want my help, you want me to defy a direct order? If we do it right, she'll never know.
Samantha, it's the military.
There's no way they'll ever give in before Faye finds out.
Fine, I will use my own money for expenses, but I can't do it all on my own.
I'm working without an associate myself right now.
Katrina, it's not easy for me to ask for this.
And it's not easy for me to say no.
Don't you get it? I cannot let him down.
Lucas and I didn't just train together.
We served together.
And after my four years, he asked me to stay, but I didn't.
I got out.
He did two more tours.
And in his head, he is still there while I wear $2,000 dresses and negotiate million dollar deals.
All right.
I'll help you.
On two conditions: we do it on the up-and-up, and we pick a fight we can win.
I know things are rough, Harvey, but shots for breakfast with my Scotch? One of them is for you.
And they're not because of bad news, but because of good.
Then lay it on me.
Because it is past time I heard something good.
I got Kessler to stay.
He's gonna come in today and sign a new engagement letter.
No shit.
That is good.
I'll call him right now, set up a meeting.
That's the thing, Alex.
He wants me to represent him.
- You? - Yes.
And before you say it, I was surprised as anyone.
Harvey, surprised is what you feel when you come home and your friends are there for your birthday, not when you find out your partner's taking your client.
Look, I know it's not ideal, but what do you want me to say? This is his condition for staying.
I don't want you to say anything, but I also don't want you to come in here and try to tell me this is a celebration.
You're right.
It's not a celebration.
But Faye wanted to ask him why he left, and we can't have that.
 Ms.
Bennett I'm not one for small talk, so I'll jump right in.
I saw you added yourself as attorney of record on Ms.
Wheeler's case.
- I did.
And did she inform you that I specifically forbade her from using firm resources? Yes, she did.
Which is why I worked on my own time, and I won't be attending a deposition scheduled for today.
I respect that.
It shows a willingness to work within the rules.
But I'd like to explain why I didn't want her to take that case.
Because she's emotionally invested.
And you're worried she'll be tempted to do something that she shouldn't.
And if you understand that, I'm sure you'll understand if you really want to help Ms.
Wheeler, you'll help her avoid doing just that.
 How did Alex take it? He didn't love it, but he'll live with it.
SoThomas is coming here today? Because Faye's gonna be asking about that interview, and we need him to have signed that engagement letter.
Donna, he gave me his word.
Great, then that means that he'll be here.
What's going on? Are you sure this is the best idea? You representing him? I mean, what happens the first time he doesn't like something that you've done, or you think that he's being short-sighted? How long before one of you brings up what happened? Donnahe's a grown man.
It was his idea.
If he thinks he can make it work, I'm gonna trust him.
How is it that you always make it feel like everything's gonna be okay? Because I'm Superman.
No, you're supposed to say, "I was just thinking the same thing about you.
" But Superman wouldn't say something like that.
He'd just expect Lana Lang to get it.
Well, in case you haven't noticed, I'm not Lana Lang.
I'm Lois Lane.
You have the best of both because Lana was a redhead.
Is that mushy enough for you? 'Cause I've got to go save Metropolis.
[funky music.]
Save Metropolis.
You don't even know your own phone number.
Okay, people! Listen up.
As you may know a new attorney has joined us, Faye Richardson.
And I would like you all to give her a very, very warm welcome, but don't bother her.
Just give her a wide berth.
Any questions? Yes.
You want us to make her feel welcome by avoiding her? Excellent question, Susan.
The answer is yes.
Yes, I do.
Um, why? Another good question, Susan.
Because as your leader, I know what's best-- and make no mistake, I am your leader.
- Um, okay, but-- - No one likes a talker, Susan.
Any other questions? No? - Great.
- I have a question.
Why is she here? Is she heading up a new division or something? Sort of.
She's actually an ethics expert.
In light of recent events, I thought it would be wise to bring someone in to buttress the firm's reputation.
Actually, truth is, she was reluctant to come-- Oh, don't let me interrupt, Louis.
You were saying I was reluctant to come here.
- Maybe not reluctant-- - But it was your idea.
Isn't that what you said? And you would never lie to your associates, would you? Framing things in context isn't lying, Faye.
Then let me ask a question that needs no context.
The Bar's leadership had doubts about your ability to follow the law, and that's why I'm here.
Isn't that the case? Yes.
Thank you for helping me get off on the right foot with the associates, Louis.
I appreciate it.
[dramatic music.]
 - Alex, not now.
- Yes, now, because Bromwell just told me they're being sued again.
- Shit, we just got them off.
- I know that.
And to make matters worse, we drew Judge Dorsey.
Goddamn it! What? Louis, do you have a minute? Because I've hit a snag with our newserver problem.
Cut the code.
Alex is on our side.
In that case, I need a digital copy of the Bar's bylaws, but they're password protected.
- Scan the ones I gave you.
- I tried that, but-- Are you shitting me? You can't even scan a simple document without screwing up? It wasn't my fault.
Well, it isn't my fault that we're in this situation, but here I am, busting my ass, getting humiliated.
And the one person that I ask to help me can't even tie his own goddamn shoes.
So I don't care what it takes, get that copy and get it today.
- But-- - Benjamin give us a few minutes.
- [sighs.]
Okay, Louis.
What's going on? - You know what's going on.
- Yeah, I do.
Because I bit my own secretary's head off three seconds after getting off the phone with Bromwell.
- Not to mention-- - Not to mention what? Nothing.
It's not important.
What is important is you and I are going out, and we're going out right now.
Alex, I don't need to-- Yes, you do, and so do I.
Because if we don't blow off some steam, one of us is gonna kill someone.
Well, then, what do you suggest? Because there's no opera today.
I have not gotten my mud membership card back yet.
And unless there's a cat fair that I don't know about, we have got nothing.
I have just the thing.
Mr.
Daly, how many of your employees are veterans? I'm proud to say anywhere from 30% to 40% at any given time.
So it's safe to say you're familiar with the struggles many veterans face.
I'm afraid you'll have to be more specific.
Post traumatic stress disorder.
Is that specific enough? Yes, I'm familiar, but what's your point? My point is, do you think Lucas Hodges suffers from PTSD? My client's not a psychiatrist.
He's the one who said he's familiar with it.
That doesn't necessarily mean-- You had his office furniture rearranged so his back wouldn't face the door, Tom.
And the only reason you would do something like that is if you suspected the truth.
- Suspicion is not knowing.
- Answer the question.
Did you or did you not suspect PTSD? Are you sure you want me to answer that question? Because if you do, I'm going to say, "Yes, I did.
" And then I'm gonna demand proof that he is a member of a protected class, which means an official diagnosis on his permanent record.
Is that really what your client wants, Ms.
Wheeler? We didn't think so.
Which is why we're prepared to offer a sealed settlement of $25,000.
That isn't even a third of what he was gonna make this year.
That's the best you're gonna get.
Take the deal, and let everyone walk away, or he can turn the camera back on and answer your question.
[tense music.]
Our offer stands for 24 hours.
 All right, so what, I just roll this thing down there and knock over the sticks? Pins.
How have you never bowled before? Fourth grade, Joshua Hirshheiser had a bowling birthday party.
Before we even started, I got my fingers stuck in the ball.
They called me sausage fingers till eighth grade.
So what do I do? I just throw-- how do I throw it? Just walk to the line, release it.
[bowling pins clatter.]
That's okay.
Happens to everyone.
Justtry to keep your arm straight.
Oh.
Shit! Maybe we should try some bumpers.
No! This is so stupid.
If it weren't for the shoes, nobody would play this ridiculous game at all.
Okay, let's try granny style.
Oh.
Okay, yeah.
No problem.
Goddamn it! This is worse than when I lost the junior wrestling championship! - You wrestled? - I don't know if you know this about me, Alex, but I have a lot of rage.
Wait a second.
Rage.
That's it.
Louis, I want you to imagine Faye's face on all those pins.
Imagine she's taking your firm and laughing at you.
Of course I'm taking your firm, Louis.
Because you're weak and ineffectual, and you don't deserve it.
Because you're nothing.
You're a sausage-fingered failure! [bellows.]
[upbeat rock music.]
  [clears throat.]
Excuse me, miss, I'm here to sign an engagement letter.
Perhaps you could help me? Thomas! Right on time.
What can I say? I'm nothing if not punctual.
Well, Louis always did say that it was one of your many stellar qualities.
Oh, really? And what were some of my others? Loyalty.
Integrity.
Height.
[chuckles.]
Height? What can I say? Louis prizes what he doesn't have and the fact that you've got that full head of hair? That makes you practically a god.
Well, as much as I could talk about my stellar qualities all day, um If we do that, then this engagement letter won't sign itself.
No, it won't.
Well, all you have to do is sign it, and I will make sure that Harvey gets it right away.
Oh, it's okay, Donna.
I can drop it off.
He and I have some business to discuss, anyway.
It was good to see you, Thomas.
It was good to see you too.
I can't believe you bowled a perfect game! I can't believe they didn't have rosé.
So I see you went with piña colada instead.
Never disappoints.
Thanks for bringing me here, Alex.
I haven't felt this relaxed in days.
It's like ever since you got here, I've been on the outside of my own firm.
Believe it or not, Louis, I know exactly how you feel.
When I first got to the firm, I thought Harvey and I were going to be like Stockton and Malone.
But, for whatever reason, that didn't happen.
Then I thought I was getting my name on the wall, and I found myself in a death match with Samantha instead.
- I was no picnic either.
- Mm-hmm.
No, you were not.
But the thing is, all that happened, and I'm still standing.
And, Louis, when this is done, you'll be standing too.
We'll be standing.
So about this wrestling thing.
Not many people know.
When I told Harvey, he got me a onesie for my birthday.
- [chuckles.]
- You ever wear it? That's not the point.
Well since we're talking about things people don't know I tap.
No way.
Holy shit! How? When? [sighs.]
My mom made me take lessons when I was a kid.
I don't believe it.
You have cats, you dance.
You might be the manliest man I've ever met.
Well, what do you say we keep my manliness between us? Oh, please, say no more.
I've had to downplay my masculinity in front of Harvey for years.
I'm sure you have, Louis.
I'm sure you have.
- Well? - Well, what? - How did it go? - Shitty.
They offered us $25,000 and then said if we want more, we'll have to go on record with an official diagnosis.
Okay, if they're offering that, we can probably get them up another 25.
$50,000 isn't enough.
I want 500.
Samantha, that's never going to happen.
- We have no leverage.
- So we'll get some.
You're going to blackmail him? I'm gonna do right by my client.
And if you think extorting a settlement is doing right by your client, then Faye was right; you shouldn't have taken this case.
[scoffs.]
I don't believe this.
- She got to you.
- No, Samantha, I got to me.
And what you're talking about is exactly the type of thing that got us handcuffed to her in the first place.
And if you think I asked for your help so you could be little Sally Girl Scout-- I think you're letting your guilt blind you to what Lucas really needs, which is treatment for his condition.
You don't think I know that? I tried, but I can't make him get help any more than I could Samantha, I understand what you're feeling.
But this isn't the way to help your friend.
[soft music.]
[sighs.]
Donna, there you are.
I was looking all over for you.
Listen, I wanted to tell you how sorry I am about the other morning.
Am I missing something? What do you have to be sorry about? Well, you and Harvey came to me with wonderful news, and I got so caught up with the firm situation, that I really didn't get a chance to say how happy I am for you.
Oh, that's really thoughtful of you, Louis, but I completely understood.
All the same.
You're my friend.
Monumental thing happened for you, and I want to hear all about it.
- You mean girl talk? - You know it.
Which means I want to hear how it happened.
I will tell you.
- When it happened.
- All the details.
What was it like? Okay, I'm shutting this down right now.
No, Donna, I don't mean like that.
I just want to do a side-by-side comparison of Harvey's style to mine.
- What is wrong with you? - Okay, fine.
I'm sorry.
What I mean to say is I'm thrilled for you.
- I'm even happier for Harvey.
- Oh, really? And why is that? Because you're the best thing that's ever happened to him.
And he finally knows it.
That's the sweetest thing you've ever said to me.
Does this mean you'll reconsider describing Harvey's technique to me? All right, then we'll do it later.
You are not gonna believe what Louis just tried to-- Thomas backed out, Donna.
What? He said he thought he could handle it, but he couldn't.
Harvey, I--I told Faye that he was signing with us.
- This means that he's gonna-- - I know what it means.
She's gonna want to go back to interviewing him.
No.
She won't.
'Cause I'm gonna tell her the truth.
Donna, what can I do for you? You can listen.
And hopefully understand.
Understand what? Why Thomas Kessler left.
I was under the impression it didn't matter when you told me he was coming back.
He's not.
And the reason he's not is the same reason he left.
Thomas wasn't just a client.
He and I were in a relationship.
- Were? - Yes.
We ended it a few days ago, and you can ask him about it yourself, but you would just be making him reopen a wound that he is trying to close.
Why didn't you tell me this before? Have you ever been in a relationship that you thought would last but didn't, and when it ended there was collateral damage that you never could've anticipated, but still felt responsible for? [soft music.]
 That's why.
You can cancel the interview, Donna.
And thank you for telling me the truth.
 What's that? It's a settlement offer for $25,000.
I don't want a settlement.
I want my job back! Lucas, listen to me.
It took me a long time to admit that sometimes I need help.
And right now you need professional help.
You're not gonna get out of this hole without-- - Damn it, I told you! - I know what you told me.
But you're my friend.
You're still living back there, and I am not gonna leave you behind.
What do you know about this? You weren't even there! And I will feel guilty about that for the rest of my life.
But what I'm not gonna do is let you leave here without signing this job offer.
What? I thought you couldn't-- I can't.
I created a corporation.
That is a contract between you and SW Industries.
To the world, you have a job.
One year, the pay is $100,000.
I can't take your money.
It's not charity.
If you don't get the help you need, that contract is null and void.
Lucas, I have only ever told one other person this I was beaten as a kid.
And it took admitting that I needed professional help to get over it.
You've been to war.
 [sniffs.]
I told myself I could handle it.
You can.
You just can't do it alone.
[solemn music.]
 Mmm, that looks delicious.
Mind if I have some? - You want some prunie? - I would.
In fact, why don't you pour another glass and we could take it down to Benjamin? He's been working so hard.
- Benjamin? - Mm-hmm.
Yeah, I was having a little trouble with my email, so I went to get him, and wouldn't you know it, I found him hip deep in the Bar's bylaws.
Well, you know, Benjamin is an avid reader.
Especially when he's given an assignment by the managing partner.
I don't believe it.
He told you.
That's what you're concerned about? You people! I come here and give you a chance to clean up your act, and inside of two days, not only am I openly defied left and right, but I find out the managing partner wants me gone so badly, he ordered someone to hack the New York Bar! Bullshit, I didn't order Benjamin to do that! Are you saying he's lying to me now? I'm saying I told him that I didn't give a shit what it took.
I wanted the bylaws.
I didn't mean for him to-- To hack them? Well, that's what he took it to mean.
Because you gave him an order.
Said you didn't care how he accomplished it.
And you know what? As far as I'm concerned, you're lucky I'm not letting you go right now.
You can't talk to me like that.
That's the problem with this place.
You're a bunch of wild dogs running around, defecating all over the legal standards you swore to uphold.
You can bet your ass I'm gonna put a leash on every one of you.
[tense music.]
 - Well? - It's done.
We're off the hook.
- Then she bought it.
- It was the truth, Harvey.
There was nothing to buy.
Hey, what do you say we break out the can opener? Whoa, that is a pretrial thing, not a we-just-got-out- of-trouble thing.
Who says it can't be both? The can opener says it can't be both.
You can't argue with the can opener.
- Hey, I'm not the bad guy here.
- You might not be the bad guy, but that doesn't mean that-- - I hate to interrupt, but you need to get yourselves over to IT, and you need to do it right now.
 What the fuck did you do? Louis, you don't understand.
She knew before I even told her.
Bullshit.
She knew because you told her.
You betrayed me.
You betrayed this firm-- I tried to hide it, I swear.
Save your pathetic excuses, and get the hell out of my firm.
You are fired.
- Louis, stop! - Stay out of this.
She's not staying out of it, and neither am I.
What the hell is going on here? I asked this traitor to help us get rid of Faye.
Instead of doing it, he ratted me out.
Louis, what was I supposed to do? She found out about the hack.
What hack? He asked me to find a loophole in the Bar's bylaws that he could use to get Faye out.
Louis, you had no right to ask him that.
Bullshit, I had every right! I'm the managing partner.
Just like I have the right to fire him.
No, you don't.
There's three of us here.
I'm calling it to a vote.
I'm against.
You can't do that.
He's support staff.
It's not subject to a vote.
The hell it isn't! Right, Harvey? Right.
Louis-- Okay, this is horseshit.
You're just agreeing with Donna because you don't want her to be mad at you now that you're in a relationship.
Louis, that's ridiculous.
Harvey would never side with me just because of that.
Yeah, I knew it.
Which means it's my call.
Benjamin's gone.
No, he's not.
Because this shows an utter lack of judgment.
And I'm not letting it stand.
No, you're just going to come in here and publicly humiliate me for the third time in as many days.
Well, forgive me if I don't feel like sticking around for your party.
Bowling? [chuckles.]
He's already telling people? No, I went by his office earlier to see how he's doing with the whole Faye thing, and Gretchen told me where you two were.
Well, if you want to know how it went, the man's actually a natural.
- I'm not surprised.
- You aren't? No, once he puts his mind to things, Louis is an incredibly quick study.
- You really do know him.
- I do which is why I know he's going to need his friends now more than ever.
You were there for him today, and I appreciate that.
Well, I'll be there for him tomorrow too.
We all will.
What are you doing here? I heard what you said about humiliating you, so I'm coming to you in private to say what I have to say.
What is it? Well, for starters, Benjamin is staying because he doesn't deserve to be punished for doing something you made him do.
I told you, I didn't make him do anything-- And Wells Fargo didn't make its employees open those fake accounts.
But pressure from the top is hard to withstand.
Well, then why don't you have that engraved on a paperweight? Because you may be special master, but I'm managing partner.
- That gives me certain rights-- - Not anymore.
What? Because I went after your bylaws, you think you can go after mine? Good luck.
They're airtight.
I meant you're not managing partner anymore.
Effective immediately.
You're stripped of your title and all the duties that go with it.
You can either accept this or resign.
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