Billions (2016–…): Season 3, Episode 6 - The Third Ortolan - full transcript

Previously on Billions...

They're in this. I can't
look away from it anymore.

The Ice Juice short, how
do I get a piece of that?

- I can make it happen.
- As much as I can get.

Will your father hold
up under questioning?

He's not taking my
counsel at the moment.

Do you want access?

Yes, I believe I do.

Just trace amounts on my signal.

We have you pissing in the soup.

And people's lives were
placed in jeopardy.



I was told they weren't
in any danger...

The man who instructed you.
Describe him.

Fifties. Bald. Glasses...

After 18 hours, the
toxin would evaporate.

Do you want us to check his lab?

And his home.

I told you: I disposed
of the slide.

How?

You have to trust me.

If you don't want to
get on the stand,

then there needs to
be physical evidence.

An item that could
speak for you.

Finally got my read.

He's made a deal with the
government, and I'm fucked.



♪ Dramatic music ♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪ Keep me ♪

♪ Sinking down ♪

We wear them for two reasons.

To keep the aromas
from escaping,

and to hide this shameful
and depraved act

from god.

Well, if there were a
god, I think he'd know.

♪ Keep my feet ♪

♪ On the ground ♪

♪♪♪

Fifty thousand.

The other 50 and the
visas for your family

you will get on completion.

- Thank you.
- If all goes well,

we'll have them out of Congo
and in the States by summer.

And your Axelrod will
be where I once was.

Mm.

You have the item?

In here.

Now, the slide has an 18 hour
half-life at room temperature,

so make sure you plant it
in Axe's medicine cabinet

or someplace away from sunlight.

Infiltration of
Axelrod's penthouse

involves the highest
degree of difficulty.

However, he will be at Art
Basel in three weeks...

The luxe life rolls
on unabated...

Mechanical work is
scheduled while he's away.

I will, uh, execute then.

♪ Suspenseful music ♪

♪ Dramatic music ♪

Look, I don't want you
to get in trouble.

I won't.

Do you even know who I...

Why don't you get on
the little earpiece

and talk to the people in there?

I am Head of Compliance.

Authorized personnel only.

They'll authorize me.

You're not on the list.

But those two are?

Jury consultants.

You give a guy a little
bit of authority.

Mason, Taylor.

Nope.

They're clearly jealous of
my standing in the company.

Pricks.

♪ Suspenseful music ♪

Status on the slide?

The slide is not in
evidence at Eastern.

Officially.

Somehow that doesn't
give me comfort.

Even if we could compromise
an assistant at Eastern

or remotely access
the FBI case file...

They'd hide it
under a code name.

Our motion to dismiss is a
much more direct solution.

If Eastern has the slide,
the motion forces them

to reveal the evidence to
prove they have a case.

And if they don't?

Bryan Connerty has very little

on which to mount
his prosecution.

If you come in, you got to
retain Bach's services.

Attorney-client privilege.

I don't need ya that bad.

♪ Suspenseful music ♪

♪♪♪

Ooh.

Thank you.

Nice weeds.

So, this guy or...

girl or... whatever

couldn't spring for roses?

I'd have gotten you a k.d.
lang album

and tickets to UFC,
cover all the bases.

They're delphiniums.

The petals are clustered

according to the
Fibonacci Sequence.

Also called the Golden Ratio.

It's a series of numbers
in which each number is

the sum of the two
preceding numbers.

It's frequently echoed
in art and in nature.

That's a good gift too, then.

So, who's the lucky... person?

Hmm.

From "Oscar."

Recent trip to Silicon Valley.

Langstraat?

A big billie.

Nice.

That long distance
shit works for you?

If we were in the same place,
but each drawn to work

with 90 percent of our
time, it would be awkward,

or make it seem like our
feelings didn't matter.

This is better.

♪ Slow music ♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

Yo, quants.

You have back-test
results for me?

This is based on the
exact specs you gave me.

Not exactly, no. The specs I
gave you were not a wish list.

They included a
threshold for returns,

which this simulation
fails to meet.

Can you give us
next steps, then?

Vary position size
when the system

underperforms the market,
re-test and report back.

You know, every time
I eat pig's ears,

I'm reminded of how alert
and alive they once were.

Makes me feel a little bad.

Favorite thing on the menu.

Of course, you can have
them slice it for you

if it offends your
sensibilities.

No. I feel a little bad
about a lot of things I do.

Doesn't stop me.

That's the way.

Mmm!

Zinfandel goes nicely, too.

Mm.

We need to begin
time-lining your run.

Scheduling events. Introducing
you to some people.

Uh, we couldn't, not while
I'm still in office.

Not as an official
candidate, of course.

But we'll have some dinners.

Casual.

But not at all casual.

For the money folk, it's
a lot like watching

morning workouts at
Churchill Downs.

They get a feel for you.

They, uh, assess your stride.

Then they decide how much
they're gonna wager.

Mm. While I work
up a good sweat.

I look forward to it.

I need to know
you're squared away.

I'm as locked down as a
Firstie at West Point, sir.

The Axelrod situation will
resolve itself very soon,

and favorably.

Then I will be unencumbered.

How's your marriage?

Well, a man who makes
proclamations on that

tempts fate.

But solid.

Good.

Well, if you do have a good one,

the campaign'll push
it to the brink.

- Mm.
- If you don't...

If there are any weaknesses...

It'll blow out like
a bad sidewall.

No concern there.

I'll need to sit with her.

Grand. Do it.

Good. Well, very good, really.

Nice eye contact.

You've always been
a man of purpose.

Which is exactly what we need.

But we'll also turn you
into a man of the people.

I look forward to meeting Wendy.

♪ Dramatic music ♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

This is it, right,

the dismissal hearing?

Boss, I got a good
feeling about this.

Glad you're so confident.

Already put the Pink
Champipple on ice.

Any day now, you're gonna
be back to trading,

and everything'll be
like it's supposed to.

Hold the bubbly,
Billy Buck Buck.

- No premature cele...
- Today's about recon.

I'll look in their faces;

See if they have
something to hide.

Great suit.

Bespoke? Are those
surgeon's cuffs?

Not a good time, leech.

Am I gonna have to Mills Lane

every interaction
between you two?

- 'Course not, come on.
- You're on your way to court.

Remember this: I've worked
with Bryan Connerty,

studied him.

I can mirror the way
the guy thinks.

You ever want to bounce
anything off of me...

We know where to find ya.
Thanks.

Anyway, I'm right.

I feel it in my 'nads.

Are they ever wrong?

Spring break senior year.

Señor Frog's.

Other than that...
Hundred percent.

Go get 'em, Axe!

♪ Dramatic music ♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

Ready?

I guess.

I have the case, I just
don't have the evidence.

Wrong answer.

You know the mantra
over at the DEA?

If you ain't got video,
you ain't got shit.

Well, we ain't got video, Oliver.
We got theories.

If I were DeGiulio I'd
dismiss this case.

Well, I do that too;

Try and make each person's
argument in the courtroom

ahead of time so I can
make the counter argument.

But we don't have
to this time...

They need to deal with
the high bar to dismiss,

the customary deference
to Prosecution.

Not to mention that dismissal

would be poor optics
for DeGiulio.

- He wants to sit this case.
- Mm.

You know Axelrod is guilty.

Carry yourself with
confidence in the courtroom,

and DeGiulio will know it, too.

Confidence?

Not even Evel Knievel
could jump the gap

between what I know
and what I can prove.

Then I suggest you do what Mr.
Knievel always did.

Rev her high. Pray for mercy.

Try to put her down on the ramp.

And hope you are
one of the elect.

Mr. Bach, it's your motion.

- Move me.
- I will.

Like Brian's Song.

Because like Mr. Piccolo's
sad, short life,

Prosecution's case
starts off hopeful

but ends in an untimely demise.

Your Honor, to date,
the government

hasn't alleged
sufficient evidence

that Mr. Axelrod is
guilty of any charges.

Yet my client has been
unfairly stripped

of his ability to trade...

While his firm, his employees,

and his family have all
been destabilized.

We ask that you bring
this baseless campaign

to its conclusion.

Your Honor, this entire
motion is premature.

The jury gets to decide
issues on material fact.

Whether or not they
believe the evidence.

Mr. Bach is saying
there's no evidence

for them to decide about.

We are pursuing several threads.

So maybe it's not this
motion that's premature.

Maybe it's your
whole prosecution.

Testimony that we initially
promised to have,

that we meant to
have, should have

is not... available.

We have reason to believe
that several of our witnesses

have been tampered with.

Your Honor...

Mr. Bach, there's no jury to
hear your pained objections.

Mr. Connerty, do you
have any evidence

to back up that claim... for why
you don't have any evidence?

Not at this time.

Then... what do you
have at this time?

We are pursuing information
about an operative

we believe is a direct link

between Mr. Axelrod
and the contaminant

that sabotaged the
juice company.

You have him in custody?

We are pursuing the
thread to him.

So, in other words, all
you have is evidence

against someone who isn't me.

Mr. Axelrod, do I look
like I need your help?

Mr. Connerty, what do you know
about the operative so far?

Does he have a name?

That's... part of what
we're trying to ascertain.

We do have witnesses
that can ID him.

If you find him.

Yes.

You a music fan, Mr. Connerty?

Sure. Much as the next guy.

Yo-Yo Ma, Clancy
Brothers and such.

I'm thinking of the
great George Clinton.

Who most famously said,

"Free your mind and
your ass will follow."

But only slightly less
known and far more apt

in the case at bar is,
"You can't fake the funk."

As much as I want to
dance to your tune,

if the groove isn't fat enough,
I'm just gonna stand in place.

And right now, my
feet aren't tapping.

That said, I don't
think you're lying.

I'm splitting the baby.

I'm granting Mr.
Connerty one more week.

At that time, the
prosecution will produce

evidence compelling enough
to sustain the case.

Or I will grant Mr.
Axelrod his dismissal.

♪ Suspenseful music ♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

Hello?

Our project has
been fast-tracked.

It needs to be accomplished
within the week.

Well, the risks in execution
are significantly greater.

I'm going to need
to double my price.

♪ Suspenseful music ♪

So be it.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

You rattled?

Do I look rattled?

If you weren't a little rattled,

you'd have come
right to my office

when you saw the top
floor annexed like that.

But you played it cool.

You're right.

I wouldn't use the
word "rattled," but...

The situation upstairs
indicates increasing odds

of a worst-case scenario.

And you're sitting here
trying to figure out what?

It's on me to be ready

to address any
subsequent instability.

You're wondering if Axe
Capital can survive.

Axe himself going to jail.

Yes.

Not as we know it.

It'll be about mutation.

The capital will still
need to be managed.

The people here are capable
and the right ones to do it.

But can it thrive, grow,

and continue to really
live if Axe goes to jail?

That'll come down to one thing.

You know what that is.

You.

But that's not news to you.

Because part of you
wants that challenge,

part of you is terrified of it,

and part of you hates yourself

for hoping he does go away,
so you get a chance to see.

Yes.

Even now I measure
myself against him,

as though he were gone.

And the thought of
coming up short...

Measurable successes
are seductive.

Especially when we're young.

But when it comes to dealing
with other human beings,

we have to steer from instinct.

I don't trust instinct.

That's because
you're defining it

in some woo woo spiritual way.

Don't.

Instead, think of your gut
as the deepest part of you,

the part that can do
internal calculations

on the highest plane.

Axe, at his best, does this.

You want to be on his
level, in the purest way,

the most profound,
then you must, too.

Identify it.

Separate it from your
fears, your hopes,

the other voices in your head.

Because if you don't cultivate
instinct, and listen to it...

You're fucking doomed.

♪ Dramatic music ♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

You know what?

Now I am rattled.

♪♪♪

Bobby, they don't
have the slide.

Connerty's slow playing us.
He'll roll it out at trial.

Nope. If he were,
this was the moment

he would have produced it.

So now, we run out the
clock and game over.

It's pretty to think so.

When did you become a dyspeptic?

When I started facing jail time.

When did you become a
fucking Pollyannic?

You're convinced this
evidence is out there, fine.

Then tell me what
you want me to do,

because you're leaving
me no options.

You're not interested
in taking a plea,

you won't leave the country...

What's the physical
security like

at the FBI evidence lock.

- Come on.
- State of the art.

We'll look into it.

Get back to me when
you know more.

♪ Dramatic music ♪

♪♪♪

We're almost home.

Don't let your paranoia make
you take unnecessary risks.

Not unnecessary if they
keep me out of jail.

Come with me.

I'm sorry, man. The deal is off.

Mr. Aduba... Roland...

I won't accept that; I can't.

Axelrod's residence is
wrapped in barbed wire.

There's simply no way

to penetrate it in
a matter of days.

The whole fifty. A full refund.

You know, I usually
don't do such a thing.

And your family?

Without me, they may never
set foot on these shores.

If I'm in jail again, then
I'll be useless to them.

I can shield you from that.

I cannot perform miracles.

Neither can you.

♪ Dramatic music ♪

♪♪♪

Perhaps there's an
employee at Axe Capital

you can persuade
to put it there.

Such as your wife.

Good luck, mukuyu.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

I didn't know you were a runner.

Just about at my
lactate threshold.

Really clears the mind,

optimizes my performance
at the office.

Yes. Head of Compliance, is it?

That must be quite a job, keeping
those hooligans in line.

I'm tough with them, and
they respect me for it.

And I got to say, it's nice

working for a winner
for a change.

Really.

Wasn't that long ago we were
working alongside each other

to nail Bobby Axelrod,
and now he's a winner?

You never did nail him.

Ah. Guess you got me there.

So, what can I do
for you, Chuck?

It's a simple assignment,
easily accomplished.

Use your access to help
close out this case

against your momentary boss,

then rejoin the righteous.

You want me to be a cuckoo bird,

sneaking my eggs into
another mother's nest.

Yes, when the egg cracks
open: Destruction.

Beautiful and total.

You would be well-rewarded.

Rewarded. How?

Well, when Axe Capital is
inevitably found guilty

of securities violations, you
have my assurance... my word...

That you, as Head of Compliance,
would be protected.

Look, see, the problem is:

I'm not some cuckoo bird, Chuck.

I'm a golden eagle.

So why would I do
anything for you?

It's unfortunate I
have to say it.

You know what I have on you.

You mean accusations of a
decades-old impropriety...

Date rape.

We're not in Hollywood, Chuck.

Nothing's gonna happen.

Say it loud enough, they might
even make me president.

♪ Mid-tempo music ♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

Probably not your
best move right now.

I need you to hear what
you wouldn't let me say

- in the courtroom.
- I heard what you said.

But you hear me: Men like Axelrod
do what they need to do.

You counter not in here, in the courtroom.
With evidence.

- In a week.

Goodbye, Mr. Connerty.

No!

Why the hell would you
risk coming to my chambers

just to turn heel and walk out?

What weak cheese is that?

You said "goodbye."

I'm a judge. I give
orders all day.

You're a litigator.

You find a way to disobey them
without getting nailed for it.

Then I'm not leaving until
you give me an answer.

That sensation you're feeling,
it's known as the Dip.

Seth Godin coined it.

Feels like the moment
before defeat.

It's actually the
moment before success.

Feels more like Death Valley.

You care so fucking much.
I love that.

I love that. You're
meant for this shit.

Dig in, man.

The world has lost countless
artists and artisans

and engineers and even
politicians who quit

because they cared too
much to come up short

and yet also too
much to keep going.

You push through
that Dip right now,

maybe you put Axelrod
where he needs to be.

Why are you out of breath?

Bike ride. I have a recumbent.

Great for the hills out here.

Of course. More aerodynamic.

Where are you?

Meditation room.

Oh. I'll go to mine, too!

Why you hiding out in there?

I'm not hiding. My office
has been commandeered.

I'm working through
issues with my algorithm

and it's the only
place that's quiet.

You ran another back.

My programmers didn't
correct for slippage.

They're software, not finance.

I have a vision for it that
I haven't yet been able

to realize in my design.

A phrase uttered
by the architect

of every great invention.

I can keep tweaking it and
improve it incrementally,

or...

Or start over.

Crap. Yes.

I'd have to gut it.

Feel like I just kicked
over your Lego city.

What you said is true.
Just frustrating.

Breaking trail is
a lonely calling.

Hang in.

♪ Dramatic music ♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

Fuck.

Uh-oh.

Send in Orrin Bach.

They're gonna like this.
You're doing a great job.

- I promise.
- Sorry.

I know I'm not allowed in
the clubhouse, but Axe?

The baton is in my hand.

Sign this standard
retainer letter.

You know what my favorite
Olympic event is?

It's the four by
100 meter relay.

Because it's about teamwork.

It's about the pass.

Right now, I've got the baton.

But I'm passing it to you, Axe.

You're the anchor.

You're gonna bring it home.

You are gonna win.

What am I gonna win?

Your case.

Because of the baton?

Yes.

Which in this case is
not an actual baton,

but is Dr. Wendy Rhoades.

I've been doing a little
sleuthing about the IPO;

You know, winners and losers.

And I discover that
one particular fund

made a killing that day
shorting the stock.

So I look to see
whose account it is,

and I notice there's
an irregularity.

So I keep digging,

and lo and behold...
It's Wendy's.

The name on the account had been
flipped with someone else's.

Now this is the first time she
has ever even made a trade,

herself, in her whole
history at Axe Cap.

So I get a buddy of mine who
works for the NSA to find out

where she was when she called in

- the order for the short.
- Wait.

You had the NSA look into Wendy?

Completely off-book.

But guess where it pinged?

Southern District of New York.

Chuck's office.

We got some real
Whitewater shit here.

Needless to say: With this
in Bryan Connerty's hands,

the spotlight moves off of you

and shines all over Mr.
and Mrs. Rhoades.

Chaos grenade.

If this were the four
by 100 meter relay,

you would be disqualified for
sniffing glue on the team bus.

This is the worst fucking idea

anyone's brought
me in over a year.

Um...

Eh, you know, I am
gonna try and forget

we just had this little moment.

Also, the two thousand that I
spent retaining Bach for you.

He's not wrong.

Exposing Wendy's short
could be good for us;

I've said it before.

Yeah, and I've said:
She is off limits.

You still here?

Problem is: I already
told Connerty.

I went full Le Carré.

♪ Suspenseful music ♪

♪♪♪

♪ Dramatic music ♪

♪♪♪

The only reason
you're not flying

is because these
windows don't open.

And we can't fire you right now
because it wouldn't look good.

But get the fuck
out of our sight.

And stay there.

♪ Dramatic music ♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

I have to tell her.

Fuck.

Godspeed.

♪ Slow distorted music ♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

Come in.

Are you okay?

♪ Dramatic music ♪

♪♪♪

Bobby. Out with it.

The Feds have your
Ice Juice short.

♪♪♪

It was Spyros. To Connerty.

He thought he was helping me.
I just found out.

Are you sure it wasn't you?

Not how it happened. I promise.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

So, Spyros.

He gave him everything:

Size of the position,
your trading history.

Even when and where you
called in the order.

I could...

Chuck has said if these events
get interpreted in this way...

Painting me as a
co-conspirator...

I could end up...

Yes. Jail.

But I will not let that happen.

I'll get you whatever you need.

The best lawyers; I'll
pay for everything.

You have the best lawyers.
Look where you're at.

I thought I had
this locked down.

Well, you didn't.

♪♪♪

I know you did what you did
with the same intention:

To protect those you love.

And I, too, failed.

♪♪♪

What words do you need me to
say to make you feel safe?

Are there any?

Really?

No. Not really.

Right.

I need to go.

♪♪♪

How do you communicate
with people?

In these kinds of situations?

Oh. Here. Take my burner.

Don't you need it?

No. I got plenty.

Call me anytime.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

It's me.

I need to see you.

Remember back when I asked
you for those SEC files?

The transactions
of all the people

who bought and sold stock
in the Ice Juice IPO?

You know how you never
got them for me?

I got 'em anyway.

Tell me again how we
have to leave Chuck

out of this investigation.

♪ Suspenseful music ♪

♪♪♪

Forgive me, Lord.

You're right.

It's time.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪ Ominous music ♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

It wasn't Axe; Axe
is fighting for me.

Ari Spyros told him.

He thought he was
protecting Axe.

Yeah. And he knew
he was fucking me.

How are we gonna make this okay?

♪♪♪

Chuck! I need you to
tell me something.

There is one avenue that
may still be open to us.

Connerty?

I need to make him
want to get Axelrod

more than he wants to get me.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

What if I took a plea?

I understand you have
an attachment to Wendy,

but this isn't just a question
of you sacrificing yourself.

In every battle there
are casualties.

You're talking about
surrendering your kingdom

to save a single loyal soldier.

She saved me.

And she's not just
a loyal soldier,

she's the company's
fucking spirit animal.

My people come unglued, she
puts them back together,

and better than
they were before.

Your own personal Oscar Goldman.

If you will.

You owe her, too.

That spread of yours
out in Sagaponack?

You wouldn't have
that without me,

and I wouldn't have
Axe Cap without her.

You'd have to make a statement

that precludes any notion
that you were baited.

Otherwise Connerty could still
pursue them for conspiracy.

You'd be absolving Chuck
Rhoades of any blame.

You'll get seven years. Minimum.

And you'll do over 80 percent
of it because it's Federal.

Lara will be a pariah.

Your sons will be scarred;

It'll haunt them
all their lives.

Maybe more than it will yours.

♪ Suspenseful music ♪

♪♪♪

I'll let you know what I decide.

- Jesus Christ.
- When you're hungry in an hour,

go get yourself
some real sashimi.

Oh, god. Is that pineapple?

You got something to say to me,
do it through proper channels.

Don't hijack my lunch.

Or open your mouth and make
things even worse for yourself.

There's nothing you
can offer me anymore

to keep yourself out of this.

There's a chance your wife can.

If she says exactly what I need
her to, in court, under oath.

You won't even do
me the courtesy

of listening for a minute

- to what I have...
- Oh, I'll do you a courtesy:

I'm gonna come by
your house tonight,

and the three of us will talk.

On the record.

So whatever you want to
say, save it for there.

And get Wendy ready, too.

If you'd rather do it in an
interview room at Eastern,

that's okay by me... But
you better bring a lawyer.

And I bet it isn't
gonna be Ira Schirmer.

Redecorating?

Bedroom, yeah.

You here to help me
pick out the duvet?

No, I'm here to give
you a heads-up.

I think I'm gonna take a plea.

You swore you'd never do that.

Well, things have changed.

Like what?

Doesn't matter.

So what does this mean?
You're going to jail?

We're gonna need to work
out a visitation plan.

Figure out what's
best for the boys.

We'd probably move.

Maybe California.

You'd move?

You just said we need to figure
out what's best for the boys,

and that's what would be best.

What, them never seeing me?

They barely see you now.

And that hurts them, but at
least they still worship you.

I'd be protecting that.

You'd be ripping my
heart out of my chest.

I'll do it without hesitating.

And no family court judge will
stop me with you in prison.

What do you think it'd
be like for the kids,

going to see their
dad on the inside?

Do you really want them seeing
you cut down like that?

No.

I don't want any of this.

But California?

Yeah, it's better not
to be surrounded

by people who know who you are.

Not to mention where
you are, and why.

Be too hard on them.

♪ Slow music ♪

♪♪♪

Bobby, you and I...

we ended up here, for now,

but I know I didn't make a
mistake about you when we met.

About who you were.

Who you are.

And that guy would
never give in,

because that guy would never
believe, even for one second,

that he couldn't find a
way to convince not one,

but all twelve jurors
to see things his way.

Especially if it meant
losing not only his freedom,

but his family.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

When we spoke this morning,
you were in California.

Too much?

I've been dealing with this
with my performance coach.

I can be... unreserved,

a quality others have
found off-putting.

I don't. Not in the least.

Twizzlers, Bit O'
Honeys, Juicy Fruit.

Standard coding provisions.

You came to help me
with the algorithm?

To keep you company. You
don't need my help.

I'm grateful, but
I have to wonder

if this is really the
best use of your time.

Or your jet.

This morning you got me thinking

about my first job
in Silicon Valley.

The whole time I worked
there, we never knew

if the company was gonna be
alive at the end of the day.

So?

We kept our heads
down and grinded.

My work was exciting.

But there were nights...
I'd be in my cube,

the only one around.

I remember feeling like
it would've been nice

to have someone around to
play Dragon Quest with.

♪ Slow music ♪

We'll go to my place.
I'll get my coat.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

I know you and Dake had
some kind of deal.

Kind of had it figured
from day one.

I mean, how does that guy get
appointed U.S. Attorney?

But things got
really interesting

the day your best friend
was supposed to testify

against Axelrod... and instead
came in and rolled on you.

Whatever Ira may have said...

Sure, I know.

He's a disgruntled investor.

Hmm? That's what your dad said.

He's looking at a perjury charge

when I puncture that
bullshit affidavit...

But that's later.

Ira said you baited Axelrod,

which, I admit, seemed
a little farfetched.

And then I learned about
the role Wendy played.

And Ira's statement began
to seem pretty credible.

I know it all sounds...
very bad.

And I might conclude the
same thing if I was you,

but you have to believe
me, I didn't have a role.

There was no conspiracy.

A jury's gonna have a really
hard time buying that.

It's a little premature to
be talking about juries.

There doesn't have
to be a jury at all.

You can turn yourself
in right now.

This can go one of two ways.

You decide to fight this,

and I charge the two of you
equally as co-conspirators.

Or, you both take a plea

and cooperate against Axe.

Chuck'll do time but you won't.

Whatever the medical board
decides to do with you

is their business... But
at least Kevin and Eva

will have someone
at home with them.

♪ Dramatic music ♪

What is this really
about for you?

I think you used to
have a moral compass.

And it served you...

Got you where you
are, made you great.

Then it got warped, or broken.

But mine wasn't.

And you saw that
and it killed you.

So you found a way to use it

and my loyalty to
your advantage.

Oh, by making sure you lead
the Axelrod investigation?

By getting rid of me.

Shipping me to Eastern
so I wouldn't be around

to see you pulling
Dake's strings.

I have done nothing
but guide you.

Mentor you, prepare
you to take my place

at that office.

I gave you yet another
career-making case,

and you fucked it up

by focusing on me and
some phantom crime

you think my wife
and I committed.

Next time we talk, there
should be lawyers present.

♪ Dramatic music ♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

You know who this is?

He works for Axelrod.

♪♪♪

That's okay.

I'll wait until you're in the
witness box, under oath.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

I feel bad... for the kids.

♪ Suspenseful music ♪

♪♪♪

We're gonna need lawyers.

Separate ones.

Keep even one of
us out of prison.

♪ Suspenseful music ♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

If I ever do have a last supper,

it's gonna be hard to top this.

Which is why I wanted you to
have the ortolan tonight,

commander, as a reminder
of how alive you yet are.

Wylie, how do I eat it?

Whole, sir.

In France, ortolan were
only ever to be eaten

by royalty or in
the monasteries.

And hunters would bring
them as absolute tribute

for being allowed
to work the land.

The birds are trapped
where grapes grow

so their insides have the
flavor of the terroir,

the taste, of the land,

all the way down to the
guts and the bones.

Which is why we
don't carve them.

It's against the law to eat them

in France now, isn't it?

Illegal the world over.

Because there are those
who don't recognize

what truly matters.

Because they're so delicious?

Because, in a crueler
time, they were blinded.

Their eyes would be gouged out

so they would think
it was nighttime,

which makes them ravenous.

So they would gorge themselves

until they were three
times their natural size.

That we don't do anymore.

But it's still
death by Armagnac,

they're drowned in it.

Very much how I'd like to go.

♪ Slow music ♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

Mmm.

Mmm.

Mmm.

Mmm.

Mmm.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

I don't know about you,

but I just had a
religious experience.

At the climax I felt the crack
of its little rib cage,

then the hot juices rushing
out down my gullet.

Sublime.

Yes.

It was.

Got any more?

I'm still a little peckish.

You know what they
say about ortolan...

One is bliss, two is gluttony.

How about three?

Let's find out.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

How you doing?

A bit like one of those
little birds we just ate

right before they
turn out the lights.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

You know what this
reminds me of?

The night we cracked
ten billion.

You and me, night fishing
off City Island.

What a beautiful fucking night.

Stars out, stripers hitting.

One tub full of fish, the
other tub full of bourbon.

Most newly minted
deca-billionaires

would have checked out
with a few Spiegler girls

and enough mushrooms for a
three day binge in Chamonix.

How often do you get
to come home at dawn

with six striped
bass in your trunk?

♪♪♪

Jesus, what the fuck happened.

You fought the law.

The law won.

I'm going out to
face them alone.

You slip out the back.

I'll be fine.

Yeah, you will.

So will you.

I'm gonna miss you.

Thanks for the friendship.

[David Ramirez's "I'm
Not Going Anywhere"]

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪ I'm not going anywhere ♪

♪♪♪

♪ No, I'm not going anywhere ♪

♪♪♪

♪ You can bury me
in the ground ♪

♪ Or spread my ash ♪

♪ I don't care ♪

♪ I'm not going anywhere ♪

♪♪♪

Oh, did I wake you?

No.

Where'd you get that?

Oh, I came down looking for the
rest of Eva's birthday cake.

You told me to toss it.

So I walked to the corner
deli and I got this.

And how long are you gonna
sit there staring at it?

I can't quite bring myself.

I want it, but I don't.

I should have called
Foley's office

and canceled for tomorrow.

Last thing I need is
to be forced to smile

for an hour over
breakfast pastry.

Better that you didn't cancel.

We're gonna need him on our
side, whatever may come.

I thought he was on your side.

Yeah, well, meeting
you will cement it.

There isn't a person alive

who wouldn't fall
under your spell.

Thank you, but I don't even know

what that means anymore.

I'm so scared.

I will turn myself in tomorrow.

To spare you a lengthy sentence.

For the kids' sake
as much as for you.

That is a magnificent gesture.

[David Ramirez's "I'm
Not Going Anywhere"]

And not one I'm
willing to live with.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪ You can bury me
in the ground ♪

♪ Or spread my ash ♪

♪ I don't care ♪

♪ I'm not going anywhere ♪

Had it ever come to pass,

I think we would have been
damn good at being governor.

♪♪♪

♪ I just went up to meet
with Ernie and Jack ♪

♪♪♪

♪ Gonna have a couple,
three beers ♪

♪ Have a couple, three laughs ♪

♪ And when you shake hands ♪

♪ With grace ♪

♪♪♪

♪ And pass through
the pearly gates ♪

♪♪♪

Dad.

What the hell could
you possibly want?

♪♪♪

♪ You can bury me
in the ground ♪

♪ Or spread my ashes ♪

♪ I don't care ♪

I'm sorry.

♪ I'm not going ♪

♪ Anywhere ♪

Okay.

Okay.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

I'm not sure I'd
know how to operate

with the finesse and delicacy
that you do, Mrs. Rhoades,

serving two masters,

or should I say, having the two

actually serve you.

You came up in Albany politics,

I can't imagine there's
an alignment of forces

you haven't seen before.

Well, I just think
it's fascinating.

Audacious.

That's not always how it feels.

'Course not.

No, when you're in
it, it's, uh...

well, it's like being at
the bottom of a waterfall.

You can't decide whether
to dive in and swim

or cover your head and try
to get one decent breath

before you expire.

Much like a campaign,

or being the First
Lady of the state.

It's a shame most folks will
never get to see your act, Jack.

Ah, you and I have a lot
in common that way.

You know, I always found
the most satisfaction...

And the most success...
On the sidelines.

Reading the field,
calling the plays.

Eventually, it, uh...

Well, it was no longer that I
simply had the ears of titans.

I learned to like
moving them around too.

♪ Suspenseful music ♪

What do you do when there's
no play to be made?

When no matter what you choose,
it'll end in disaster?

Classic double-bind.

There's a zen koan where
the teacher holds a stick.

He says to his student, "If you
tell me this stick is real",

I will beat you with it.

If you tell me it is not real,

I will beat you with it.

"If you say nothing, I
will beat you with it."

And so, the student reaches out,

grabs the stick, and breaks it.

If a situation is untenable, Mrs.
Rhoades,

you break that fucking stick.

♪ Suspenseful music ♪

There is no reason on this earth

that you should go to jail
while Axelrod doesn't.

If you have taught me anything,
you have taught me that.

I swear, Axelrod is
going down with me.

Do you know how
you're gonna do that?

I had procured a piece
of evidence, a slide,

and I had planned to use
an unsavory character

to plant it in Axelrod's home;

Was prepared to pay
dearly for the operative.

However I now seem to
have run out of options.

Don't tell the kids anything
until the verdict is announced.

And never let them
see your shame.

Bearing, son, is all.

More bad news?

Perhaps the contrary.

I have to go.

Uh...

I've been given a last chance.

That slide may yet
find purchase.

♪ Suspenseful music ♪

Where are you?

I need to see you.

Name the place.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

Sacker.

Have Allerd get a
judge standing by

to execute a search warrant by 7 a.m.
tomorrow, at the latest.

Has to be Allerd, can't be you.

More details to come.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

You know where we are, right?

♪♪♪

And you know this
is the only way.

Does he know?

Not yet.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

Oh, I should've known something
like this was coming.

Ballsy.

Can we come in?

Huh.

You know, last time I saw
you, you were behind bars.

Tell me, does living in
a space this palatial

actually erase the memory

of that badly lit
cell in Brooklyn?

Or maybe you just felt the need
to swing your dick one last time

in anticipation of
a place far worse.

You managed to get your
foot caught in the rope

tossing me overboard,
there, Chuck.

Now, I may pop to the surface,
but you are going under.

Congratulations. Enough.

I didn't bring us all together

so I could mediate
your puerile bullshit.

This is how we ended up
here in the first place.

Because the two of you, at
your absolute fucking worst,

went after each other like
a couple of pit bulls.

And now we're all three
of us royally fucked,

in a way that's so incestuous

that if one of us goes
to prison, we all do.

Conversely, if we
want to get ourselves

out of this clusterfuck...

It's one for all
and all for one?

Sit.

Oh, she has you well-trained.

Chuck, calm down.

And I don't remember giving
you permission to speak.

Sit down.

She is effective.

Now, we are all
going to sit here

and calmly discuss how
to undo this thing.

And we're not leaving
until we solve it. Yes?

♪ Suspenseful music ♪

I'll discuss it.

Why I'm here.

Good.

As much as you two
fucking hate each other,

your only objective
right now is survival.

And if you are going
to save yourselves...

And me...

You both need to
surrender your weapons.

♪♪♪

Empty the caches, all of it.

It all goes on the table.

Understood?

♪♪♪

How do I know I can trust him?

How do I know I can trust him?

Trust me.

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

Uh, is it all right if
I go to the bathroom?

Yeah, sure.

It's... down there. Take a left.

♪ Suspenseful music ♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪ Keep me ♪

♪ From sinking down ♪

♪ Keep me... ♪

Full transparency.

I give you my word.

You want transparency?

How fucking clear is this?

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪ Give me bread ♪

♪ When I'm hungry ♪

♪ Give me bourbon ♪

♪ When I'm dry ♪

♪ Bread ♪