Billions (2016–…): Season 6, Episode 7 - Napoleon's Hat - full transcript
The city's down. It's a
perfect opportunity to rebuild.
All of this is some
big romantic gesture?
I think we should both
proceed with caution.
I came here to hire you.
There's a war going on,
between the very wealth
you are trying to accrue
and the rest of us. The
stakes are absolute.
New Yorkers will be
riding in style in time
for the 2028 games.
And you'll be the hero
to take them there.
No. The governor
of New York will be.
Isn't this getting too
expensive to be worth it?
Not until the torch
is lit in Manhattan.
After we eat,
it's off to Palazzo
with our soft targets.
The place is loaded with talent.
Thank you for taking
the time to see--
There's no money
without the cars.
No but you did
promise it to the MTA.
We'll make an
undirected donation
of two billion dollars to
the MTA tomorrow morning.
Without a source
close to Prince,
you'll just be guessing
blind at his attacks.
You can get me
the names of the contenders
for Prince's list.
MPC,
meet the final piece of the Prince List.
Indiana A&M.
Are you leaving?
Why?
You down for another round?
Oh, you so want to.
But you haven't allowed
yourself a free morning
since junior high,
and now you're stuck.
Stay. For breakfast.
Okay. It won't just
be the two of us--
I--I could use your help.
And your charm.
Colin Drache is coming
over for a meeting.
He's gonna get us
primed for the final vote
at the end of the week.
He's gonna want his palms greased,
that guy.
I have a workaround.
You think he keeps
himself in Brunello Cucinelli
taking "workarounds"
instead of fat envelopes?
That's why you need to be there.
I can't let him get me
like Napoleon's hat,
two corners.
With you there,
he can't ask for a payoff.
I love New York. Who doesn't?
It's a fine city.
It's a fine slogan.
But even the most fervent
amoureux de New York
would have to concede,
your public transportation
is an insult
to both the public
and transportation.
No. If you go by what exists right now,
sure.
But by the time the
games are here--
Let me guess. Your trains will
be as speedy as Monfils himself
and won't smell like
liquefied humanity.
I'm meeting with the MTA later
to sell them on
a brighter future.
I've got a lead engineer
and private
funding all lined up.
It's as good as done.
There's a deadline.
You'll get an agreement
within the next three days?
Yep. Just in time for
every Commission member
to write those
grand three letters,
"NYC," on their ballots.
I've seen the
subway plans myself.
Excellent. There remains
one matter to be discussed.
A delicate one...
which we could
address if we were...
a bit more like un
chapeau de Napoleon.
Perhaps I could return or...
Oh. Oh, no,
there's no need for a return visit.
This outlines an initiative
I'm funding with Indiana A&M
seeking a greater level
of international diversity.
It allows certain
members of the ICS
to select which kids
in their community--
deserving kids--
get the scholarships.
Now,
the school will have final approval,
but it'll make some of
your commissioners heroes.
And do a lot of good
around the world.
I've got a C.I. stuck
into the Prince List.
Stuart Legere,
President of Indiana A&M.
I got a call from
him on my way in.
Prince is offering scholarships
like a Pez dispenser.
Scholarships are
a bad thing now?
We've gotta talk scholarships.
- All above board.
- You want to think so.
- What are you worried about?
He's giving them to members
of the Olympic Commission
- to use as leverage--
- That's mom's apple pie
compared to what usually
happens in the grapple for the games.
Chuck's gonna go after them.
- Oh, come on--
- I'm telling you.
Let me coordinate
with Indiana A&M,
help them language their
announcement so it's clear
they were seeking
these students.
And with the recipients,
make sure they declare
the scholarships on their taxes.
There's merely
been an introduction,
a connection made.
That's a level of care
beyond legal due diligence.
Which is what we need,
because Chuck is
going to go after them.
My guess is,
somewhere inside this
is a direct bribe of sorts,
a quid pro quo.
I sometimes think I'm a good guesser,
too.
Like when Howard Stern
used to have the Rosie head
filled with jelly beans. But
no matter how sure I was,
- I never got it right.
- That they became friends
is one of the great
shocks of my lifetime.
It's wonderful.
But these scholarships are not.
My nose never lies.
It's like that toucan in
the Froot Loops ads.
And I smell something.
You hired me to
anticipate Chuck's moves.
If he finds out about this,
he's gonna try to make
it look real look bad.
The Olympic announcement
is in three days.
He will see this deadline
as putting pressure on you
to shore up the bid.
And Chuck Rhoades thinks
that any wealthy plunger
in a tight spot
pays his way out.
That guy.
A Cypress Hill
song comes to mind.
I can't picture you
listening to that.
Lot of years in
basketball locker rooms.
Raps along,
but never says the curse words.
So we need to only talk
about every part of that,
or never speak of it again.
I choose "B." So...
The harbor is mined here.
We do it right,
we sail through to dry land.
We do it wrong, bang.
Good. Thank you, Kate.
You pay her to lock it down.
You pay me to make it work.
These scholarships will be
99.4% pure when she's done.
But even that Ivory Snow
might not be enough
to bring this home.
Salt Lake City lost
the '98 Winter Games
because they were
giving out saltwater taffy
while Nagano was
comping resort vacations.
We're playing with a
boa constrictor here.
We don't get away
without being squeezed.
The games are part
of my long-term plans
for myself and this city.
But I have an angle.
The Olympics are under pressure
to move past the
sordid reputation.
I'm the guy offering to
usher them into a new age,
a fully respectable one.
My gut is that
they're not looking for
free sushi dinners and
massages this go-round.
Maybe they just want
to camouflage it better.
Nah, I saw Colin's face
when I handed him that folder.
It was exactly what
he was looking for.
No one puts on a read better than you,
Mike.
But do you want to
be the first person
who really tried to get the
games to New York City
with no grease?
Or the person who got the
games to New York City?
Hi.
That event tonight
at Kevin's school...
- I forgot all about it.
- Tonight?
I missed it entirely.
My mistake.
What,
are they accepting donations of valuables
now that they've cleaned
out our bank account?
Just as painful.
Carnival fundraiser.
They have us down as
volunteers to work the booths.
That implies we were willing.
Neither of us has attended
a Parent Association
meeting this year.
I'm guessing they
wouldn't accept
a paralegal in our stead?
Not if we want to
remain in good standing.
Kevin's gonna be
applying to colleges soon.
And if you can't
get him into Yale,
we're gonna need
them to jam him into--
Don't say Cornell.
I was hoping you could
take one for the team.
I would. I will.
Next time. Work is--
I'm asking for a favor, Chuck.
Which I would
love to do for you.
Hell, at next year's carnival,
I'll do the dunk tank,
and I'll let you
take the first shot.
I just don't think I can
make it happen right now.
Hmm.
Ten
times the efficiency.
Zero accidents. Zero delays.
Easier said than built.
Only slightly so for Ms. Reddy.
She's put the full force
of her engineering genius
and her network
building experience
into complete signal overhaul.
I've already designed
the routing systems
and run simulated tests.
This will save lives
and lots of money
in the long term.
Mayor Johnson.
I didn't know you'd
be joining us today.
Would've waited if I had.
Since you couldn't
buy us a new subway,
I wanna hear how Mike
Prince plans to save
the subway we've got.
Two words:
Olympic Express.
An express train service to
and from Olympic venues.
It'll incentivize more
tourists to use mass transit,
and, with the higher fares,
it will be a major
revenue generator for the MTA.
I love to walk down Fifth
Avenue and window shop.
It's fun to imagine wearing
all those pretty things.
But as soon as you
step inside the store
and flip over that price tag,
the illusion is broken.
I'm stepping inside the
store this budget cycle,
coordinating closely
with all city agencies.
I'm sorry, Mike,
we just can't afford luxury items.
Well, that's the best part.
Won't cost the
city a thing. Nada.
I have commitments
from prominent financiers,
including Sruthi,
to provide all the funding.
- Every cent.
- Yeah, sure.
We might as well
build a private train
just for Mr. Michael
Prince while we're at it.
There's nothing but
upside for the MTA on this.
Nothing in this city comes free.
Sorry, Mike, we don't need you.
We don't want to be
indebted to private investors.
We're floating
public transpo bonds
to raise the funds
the MTA needs.
You want to see the
Olympics come to New York.
I know you do.
I can't be seen
doing your bidding.
Not this term.
Especially after all that
drama with Rhoades.
I was standing up there
being shouted at, too.
By voters.
Cute idea,
though. Olympic Express.
Maybe for 2036.
Well, that's that.
Not over. Stand by.
Your company will be
wiring signals by next week,
one way or another.
I'm just looking for a little
courtesy here, Nadine,
between our offices
on interstate fraud.
No,
New York did not "steal" anything.
And for the record,
I was trying to help.
I was the one behind
the Boss and Bon Jovi
playing that show.
Don't lose faith,
New Jersey's still in the hunt.
Stand by.
New Jersey AG.
Her governor's pissed 'cause
New York snaked the Olympic bid.
But it hasn't even
been announced.
I'm aware. But there
have been whispers.
I had the whole thing tilted
their way and not Prince's.
Something happened that
night that overshadowed the show
and put New York
back in the lead.
That's where we
need to be looking.
- Karl!
- Reporting.
Work with Dave to get
me the chopper manifests
from the night the advance
team flew to the Stone Pony.
I need to know everyone
on board to and fro.
I remember the days you
didn't have to take roll call
in a whirlybird.
Now that I think about it,
things have changed
for the better.
Haircuts haven't.
Beer neither.
But, yeah, some things.
I'll go get started.
And maybe you should get
back on those scholarships.
I'm here to catch
flagrant law-breakers.
I'm good with that.
But I can't go in on
hunting an upstanding guy
sticking the tips of his
Purple Labels over the line.
There is another kind,
besides the flagrant
and the line-toer,
and that is one who believes
there is no line for him.
Because his stature,
because his wealth,
gives him the divine right.
And you think
that's Mike Prince?
- It is.
- If you're going after him
because his ego is too big,
everyone who lives north
of 14th Street is guilty of that.
Maybe the whole damn island.
Look, it seems like
you want to prosecute the idea
of this kind of wealth itself.
But the courts don't offer
a cause of action for that.
They oughta.
You say that
because you are from it.
Only those with wealth
have the privilege
of resenting it.
But, for the rest of us,
it's that dream that
makes things go.
Innovation. Industry.
The life-changing fortune
that comes along with it.
You're telling me you
didn't raise your kids
to aspire to more?
I've certainly raised
mine that way.
Part of why I took the
shortest maternity leave
on record at the
defender's office.
That American myth
is just as sweet as
an ice-cold Coke,
and it's been guzzled down
by folks on the lower rungs
who don't want to tax the rich
because they think they'll be
that rich themselves someday.
And tell me you don't hope
your kids spend more time
with theirs than you did.
I want them to have it all.
Only guys
like Prince get that.
People like him,
who accumulate such
outsized power and lucre,
threaten the very thing that
makes America truly great,
democracy.
An equal voice for all.
That is a crime
in and of itself.
I'm aware of exactly where
the American Dream falls short,
believe me.
But we're not about to flip
an entire system of
wealth and privilege
by netting one Mike Prince.
Just promise me. If
we get to the end of this
and there's no crime,
we move on to
some real criminals.
I'll do you one better.
I'll let you pick
the next target.
I'll look for a lever to move
the Transport Workers Union
to get them to pressure
the MTA Board.
No, no more of that.
The Board isn't the issue,
Mayor Johnson is.
They were with us
till she walked in.
But she's all cashed up
for subway improvements
from a new bond issuance.
Then what do we offer her?
She couldn't handle the
political heat from Rhoades
and his Godzilla routine.
She said as much.
Then you need to
make it hotter for her
to stand against the
Olympics rather than for them.
Yep.
I'll take the Skyway, you know?
High above the little one-way,
sure.
Yeah. Good.
I'll set up a Zoom
with those fine folks.
I've looked at them all,
Chuck. All legit.
And, honestly,
some pretty deserving kids
are gonna get to go to college.
College will be better for it,
too.
Proud we are of all of them.
My old firm had a
digger on payroll.
I asked him to look into
Prince and the Olympics.
He found no evidence
of illegal activity
- in connection with the bid.
- Yet.
He hasn't found it--
You wanna
make a man dance?
Hit him with a subpoena.
You should've seen the
guy at Sky Star Aviation
scramble to get
me these manifests
once I showed him the stamp.
Michael Prince, not on board.
Scooter Dunbar was listed,
but also didn't fly.
The rest was
Commish advance team,
except for Wagner
and one Colin Drache.
Michael Wagner.
The Captain Trips for this
merry band of pranksters.
I made a great spirit
guide in my salad days.
Loose,
breathable clothing is key.
Wagner was the only
Prince employee on board.
Your bloodhound doesn't
know how men like Prince think.
I do.
He's insulated himself.
Prince only would've sent
someone like Michael Wagner
in his stead for one reason.
Wagner carries the black bag.
The man wears decorative rings,
for Christ sake.
We really can't jump
to legal conclusions
- based on accessories.
- Oh, yeah, we can.
Karl,
find out who this Colin Drache is.
We're off to a meeting
across the river.
You shouldn't have
shit-canned Lauren.
- Come again?
- That came out wrong.
That's not what I meant.
We need an IR person.
We need something.
Every time there's
a ratings change,
our switchboard lights up with
calls from panicky investors.
Not our actual switchboard,
which we don't have,
- but like our metaphoric one.
- I get you.
Using the ratings to punch
holes in our investment theories.
Like sick people using WebMD
to second-guess their doctor.
More like people using
Moody's to bust my ball--
Surely you can handle that.
I can handle drunk
Gerard Butler wannabes
nudging up against me at Minnows
with their Fiddlehead IPAs.
Doesn't mean I want to
waste my time on them.
Rankin's releasing a slew
of upgrades and downgrades
later this week.
Sure to bring a fresh onslaught.
Maybe there's a way to
preempt these kinds of calls.
Establish our own
ratings criteria.
Cool idea, but...
I don't even have nights
and weekends as it is.
Yeah. That would involve
hundreds of hours of analysis.
We could crowdsource it.
Hey.
Tight-lipped
bunch in that place.
I got the bartender talking.
How?
I recognized the tattoo artist
who did a piece on his neck.
Learned that trick last
time I was a prosecutor.
So what did we get?
He heard some of
the foreigners saying
their next stop
was "The Palazzo."
Palazzo.
High-end cathouse.
Or it was. They shut
down during COVID.
I thought they never reopened.
You missed the email blast?
Well, let's go. Where is it?
You're asking me?
Hey, I'm not judging,
but you're the
Overton Window guy,
so I figured--
No, no, I'm outta that game.
So we have to find Palazzo.
Yep.
It's our Fleur de Lis.
I think I know how to
solve the MTA issue.
A move has been made.
Is it going to work?
Let's go see Prince.
Maybe we wait a beat on that,
until after I make my play.
Ms. Mayor,
call for comment from the Post.
Seems Mike Prince
is in talks to sell
that new subway
tech to Minneapolis.
Minneapolis doesn't
even have a goddamn--
Headlines are gonna
murder you for passing on it.
"It's A Twin Pity,
NYC Loses Out
Thanks to Her Honor."
And so forth.
Get Mike Prince
on the phone for me.
No glory in helming
a third-generation
family business,
I'll tell you that. None.
Sure, my name's on the door,
but if I make money,
it's expected.
Everyone in the clan has their
hand out waiting to be filled,
so I can only fuck
it up from there,
which makes me ornery.
Someone with very little
to lose when it comes
to tangling with
a new competitor.
I like the direct threat thing.
You don't see it so much anymore
except from guys like you.
It's bracing. I'd love
you to go further.
To put it bluntly,
you'll wake me up.
You have.
You don't make enemies
of the well-entrenched.
Even if you win,
the cost is too great.
Plus, you'll embarrass yourself.
We're an institution.
We have expertise, track record,
client relationships.
You issue one inaccurate rating,
some errant data point,
and you lose all credibility.
As an investor, too.
So let me buy your crowd
sourcing algorithm from you,
salvage whatever I can.
That was a quick
zip around the corner
from Extortion
Ave to Payoff Lane.
You'll walk away with
your reputation intact,
a little change in your pocket.
You see your track
record as an advantage?
You haven't upgraded
your system since
Nelly came out with
Country Grammar in 2000.
Not even after you
rated subprimes triple-A
during the housing
bubble. None of you did.
The beauty of my algo is
that it's extracurricular for me
and very low-cost to operate.
Say you're right,
and there's a glitch.
No, several.
We can weather them
until we prove ourselves
and outperform you.
Besides,
I have another offer already.
And like you said,
it might make sense to sell,
given the hats I already wear.
"Offer"?
Shit.
- Standard & Poor's?
- I can't say.
Look, my main reason
for starting this is accuracy.
Whoever actually runs the thing.
I'll match, no,
better their offer.
Sure, I'll let you.
Because, much like your family,
I'm interested in
seeing you do better.
Thank you, Taylor,
this is the right--
But I need to make sure
that certain city issuances
of certain city
authorities are examined
and rated accurately,
low as that might be.
That's more
old school than--
You're old school as
a barbershop quartet.
Your hairstyle alone
could make this happen.
Otherwise,
I put you out of business,
and you can explain that
to folks at the next reunion.
What do you say, guys? Hmm?
You came.
I said I'd try. As did you.
Now I guess they've
assigned us to work together.
I guess they did.
Well, uh,
much as I appreciate the backup,
I think I've got the bobbing
for apples under control.
Fresh water and apples
for each contestant.
Sanitized bucket.
Feel free to take off.
And suffer the
disapproving glares
of the coven of PTA
moms as I leave?
Fat chance.
I'm sticking it out.
I think one of them
hexed me on the way in
when she found
out I didn't RSVP.
- No takers yet?
- Not a one.
It's a dreadful game, really.
Your face submerged,
inhaling water.
I'd never equate the two,
but it's not unlike
waterboarding,
I'll tell you that
from experience.
Oh,
it's a story for another time.
Rhoades.
Taking a break from
your billionaire bashing
to turn this place commie, too?
Save it for the ballot box, sir.
I want to get into it now.
No,
you walking inferiority complex.
Why don't you do us all a favor
and go find yourself
a therapist instead of
picking fights with greater men?
Unless you want him to
drag you for paying your nanny
and housekeeper off the books--
Shut the fuck up, Karen.
Ohh, pal,
that is a line you do not want to cross,
unless you want to end up
like Andy "The Hawk" Price,
knocked out standing
by Sugar Ray.
Thanks for getting my back.
- We struck a nerve.
- Yeah.
I think it was the
combo of a smug smile
and boat shoes.
There's a lotta those around here,
unfortunately.
The year Sperrys
or a Vineyard Vines
blazer shows up on
Kevin's Christmas list
is the year we transfer
him to public school.
Mm-hmm. Should we
have that convo again?
We always said we'd revisit
it if there were good reason.
We'll think on it...
but probably, yes.
- Mike.
- Hi.
Uh... come in.
I don't want to jinx it,
but I have reason to believe
things are looking good
for the games right now.
The mayor called me for a meet.
In person.
Only one reason for that call.
Kickass,
Michael Prince. Nicely done.
I had Skyline flown
in from Cincinnati,
a celebratory
four-way and five-way.
You're still the only
Midwesterner I know
- who can handle it.
- You know I can,
but I have dinner plans
that I can't get out of.
Oh,
no sweat. I-I should have checked.
You're still coming to the
announcement event though, yeah?
Of course. That's the
whole reason I'm here.
Good.
Win or lose,
I want you by my side.
What's up?
It's been nice,
being here and seeing
more of each other.
And there's a small part of me
that wanted New York to lose,
for the games to go to
Prague or Mexico City.
So you could challenge
yourself on another nation's soil,
no home field advantage?
No.
To see if you'd
put in the effort.
I need to be training at
altitude in the mountains.
Would you pull yourself
away from your company,
fly to me on a Friday night?
Make calls and dial into
meetings from my base camp?
Now that it's so convenient,
we'll never really know.
Well that's the point
of having your own jet, right?
The freedom to
commit to what you love.
I'd bring the hotspot,
the sat phone, whatever it took.
But we're lucky we don't have
to deal with that added strain.
We get the best of
both worlds this way.
Okay. Good.
I'm gonna finish getting
ready. I'll see you at the thing.
Fortune favored me tonight
at the silent auction table.
I'm surprised you
bid on something.
Only under great duress.
A dinner at home for two
by Chef Daniel Boulud.
Nicely done.
I'm sure it'll be exquisite.
Well, uh, actually,
I don't have a special
someone to share it with
at this juncture.
And I can't face asking
Ira or my dad to join me.
Why don't you take it?
Yeah, make a special night
of it for you and a friend.
I--I don't really have
anyone to ask either,
at the moment.
Huh.
Why don't we enjoy it together,
at the house?
It's a fine idea.
Check my calendar.
I am
damned if I work too closely
with billionaires and damned
if I don't work closely enough.
It's a tough spot.
The headlines haven't been kind.
And now you're also
saddled with every
subway delay and malfunction.
If I can be blamed for
the subway's failures,
I plan on taking credit for its success,
too.
Which is why you're here.
It is.
I'm here to tell you that
we don't need any money from
you or your "steering committee."
And even if you shower
Minneapolis with your gifts,
we have a subway upgrade
plan of our own in place.
That's not what you
said on the phone
when you begged
for this meeting.
Because I hadn't
explained my situation
to the governor yet.
But it seems he
recently fell into
two billion in unexpected cash.
A kind donation from a generous,
civic-minded individual.
And Sweeney's diverting
it to the MTA's budget.
With that and the new bond
issuance we're planning,
the hole's all filled in.
We're going to announce
our upgrade plan tomorrow.
I'm looking forward
to the headlines.
I can take plenty
more than my train tech
to the Twin Cities.
I could take my business,
my holdings,
my taxes.
Your job isn't
to fix the trains.
It's to keep the whales like
me swimming in your waters,
raising the tides for everyone.
Oh, I've seen Blackfish.
But now I know from personal experience,
too.
Trying to work with you
only makes you hostile.
You're free to swim
where you please.
Two billion.
Sweeney's using my
own money to block me.
The Prague and Mexico
City bids have sent contingents
to Athens ahead
of tomorrow's vote.
They've set meetings.
That means one thing:
They've found the vulnerable
among the advance team,
and they're going to be very
persuasive in person. Very.
The Olympics aren't
going to be my curtain call.
I plan on having a lifetime of
grand projects, as you know.
My reputation and my
career are inseparable.
So we're back at square one.
With one day left.
Never feels like it,
but that's the best place to be.
We're bringing the ball up,
they're in a full-court defense.
Lotta pressure.
But you keep control
and break the press.
Nobody's back,
and it's an easy bucket.
We just gotta break the press.
You're a man with an
eerily extensive knowledge
of New York's darker corners.
Do you know where "Palazzo" is?
Not sure.
I did go to a pretty
incredible place once
in Okinawa called
"Whisper Alley"
when I was detailed to a
Department of Defense trip
with some generals, though.
There was a hell
of a banana show,
and they served sake
with a habu viper in the bottle.
You know what?
Never mind.
Chef Boulud says he will
handle any dietary restrictions.
The only restriction will
be my belt after I eat all this.
Though I have heard
the bouillabaisse is--
Oh, yeah, no, it sure is.
I had it a few years back.
We did. Together. At, uh, Café--
Boulud. Right.
Yes. With that...
weird couple we
met at The Blantyre.
Oh, my God.
Yes.
Oh, man,
the folks you meet on vacation.
Should stay in your memory,
before they take
down five martinis,
and never at your table.
Pick whatever looks good to you,
Chuck.
I'm sure it'll be great.
Okay, good.
I have been looking through
all of our Olympic dealings
with my Chuck goggles on,
and I found something.
The night you two
entertained the advance team
for the Commission.
The manifests for the
helicopter company Jersey
used that night have
been subpoenaed.
Nothing can be linked to M-TAP.
Doesn't have to be.
Chuck gets one lead,
announces an investigation,
Commission gets rattled
and goes with another city.
Do you all have
everything locked down?
That would be a question for...
Moi.
None of the professionals
involved in that evening's
activities are a liability.
Discretion is their craft.
Good. Make sure of it.
Best for us all if I
don't touch that one.
This Palazzo business.
Asking around with
the criminals in custody,
none of them can afford it.
All I've got is an old address.
It was becoming too well known,
so they picked up and
moved it elsewhere.
Well,
these places shuffle locations
like handsy priests
change dioceses.
We could use some help on this.
There's someone I can ask.
Thanks.
We're sorry,
you have reached a number
that has been disconnected
or is no longer in service.
The number
you dialed has been changed,
disconnected,
or is no longer in service.
Madison, it's me.
I can't get through
to the Palazzo.
Have you heard anything?
Has there been any trouble?
Ask around, would ya?
Okay. Let me know.
I'm here on business.
Thank you for agreeing
to see me again.
I know that you had
hoped to never have to.
That was a long time ago.
And you were a
good customer before.
My favorite kind.
Not for the right reasons.
Oh, I needed it, yeah.
At the moment, though--
I see that.
You're different now, changed.
For the time being, at least.
Palazzo. I need
its current location.
I didn't know any
other way to find it.
That place doesn't
offer what you're into.
Unless your arousal template
has completely changed--
I just need the address.
Like I said--
Strictly business.
I see.
Oh, and one more thing
you will absolutely need.
The password.
There's panic at the MTA.
Rankin Ratings Agency has just
put New York's subway system
- on Credit Watch Negative...
- Scooter!
...that's a warning to
investors that their rating
will be dropping soon.
There's already been a
discussion of shutting down
a subway line to cut costs...
I'm telling you this now
before you see it yourself.
Mase Carb is buying MTA bonds.
People are spooked by
the Credit Watch Negative
and they're selling them
like they're Beanie Babies.
But that's not all.
You'll see,
when you look at our sheet,
that we went to cash for this
ahead of the announcement.
So you were prepared?
You knew this was coming,
and you said nothing to me.
I encouraged Rankin to
take a closer look at the MTA.
And when they did,
they agreed with me that AAA was too high.
Mase Carb will make a profit,
and the MTA is
now in a tight spot,
which I believe is exactly
where you need them to be.
We saw it as a win-win.
Your pronouns haven't changed,
have they?
You're using "we" to mean...
Yes, I knew.
So you both did
this behind my back?
- For you, you mean.
- I made the choice
to ignite the fuse on a move
that would solve your problem.
The mayor is on the phone.
She wants to meet ASAP.
Ask her to hold a minute.
The governor will be calling also,
probably.
This could easily be
seen as manipulation.
If word leaks about this,
it could tank our bid--
everything we've
been working for.
What's the rating gonna be,
triple-B?
- Double-B.
- Jesus.
My best move is to get ahead
of this by calling foul now.
You were right. I
have the governor
on the line now, too.
Leonard Supple. MTA Board,
is also on the phone.
They all want the same meeting.
If you really want,
I can unwind all of this
before the new
rating is announced.
I can change it back and take
my ratings algo off the market.
No. Tell them all I'm
ready to meet tonight.
Lady Bertilak.
Members only tonight.
- Hup!
Let's move, people!
Man up! Lets go!
Go, go, go.
Ready?
- Hands on the wall!
- Police!
Hands on the wall!
Warrant?
I've never seen a bridge club
with so many patrons under 25.
I'd like to see 'em
try and play a hand.
It's clear.
We got nothing.
It's all good.
They're gone.
They didn't find anything.
Damn right!
Next time I pay every employee
their full night's wages,
something unspeakable
is going to transpire,
and I will be right
in the middle of it.
We both should've
seen this coming.
We've shown the stealth
of a Santa Con bar crawl.
They were expecting us.
Now once, in college,
I participated
in what was called a "Hash run."
The idea is only the
organizer of the run
knows the true route.
He or she marks it out
with small piles of
flour on the ground,
but only intermittently.
You have to uncover
the route as you go,
wrong turns and all.
Sounds like an effective
model for tricking yourself
into running longer. But
not for an investigation.
I disagree.
There,
the reward was supposedly in the doing.
There was nothing
waiting at the end other than
a fleeting sense of
accomplishment and shin splints.
We may have gone down
an unfruitful path tonight,
but there is more to uncover.
But that's exactly it, Chuck.
We have no idea if that's true.
That presto
change-o tells us it is.
If Prince wants to
win the Olympics,
he'll have to offer plenty
more than one night
at a sex club.
The final vote is in
less than 24 hours.
When men like Prince
are under pressure,
they take shortcuts.
Yeah, so you've said.
But all we've got to
show for that theory
is an armed raid
on a bridge club.
You know that
was no bridge club.
Sure, but that's not how
it's gonna look on the books.
Double-B.
Tough break.
Fuckin' Rankin.
We canceled the debt offering.
Set off a chain reaction
across every maturity.
I assume you have
a cash shortfall now,
hence the meeting?
Yeah, we'll, uh,
we'll do your plan.
The Olympic Express,
the signal overhaul, all of it.
And you're okay
accepting private funds?
We have to. It's the
only way we can keep
the lines running at this point.
Oh, I'm a moon jelly.
I drift with the tides,
and they've turned.
I'm back on Team Olympics.
No. I'm just happy I can help.
Sruthi?
Let's get started right now.
Mark?
We don't have a second to lose.
Damn.
Colin Drache.
The unknown on the
chopper that night?
- I looked into him.
- Hmm.
If we're trying
to catch a fixer,
my money's on this bub.
He's not a Commission member?
He used to be Commish,
but he left under a cloud
of suspicion after Sochi.
Word is he ended up with a villa
on the Black
Sea for his efforts.
He's "consulted" on
all the games since.
Have any charges been brought?
- Anything been proven?
- Guy's a Vaselined watermelon.
Where there's smoke,
there's always burning piles of money.
We're taking this to Sweeney.
I'm going to pass on
another uninvited bust-in.
That hasn't worked
out for me this week.
Fine. Call your private eye.
See what he can
find on Colin Drache.
Whoa, whoa, whoa! Drop that fork
before you take a
mouthful of bung!
What the hell, Chuck?
This is salad niçoise.
Uh-huh, so they say,
but you never know.
If prepared the right way,
pig rectum can
pass for calamari.
- Often does.
- Yep.
Bung on your tongue.
And now you've
ruined my appetite.
Mike Prince has prepared
a golden brown Olympic bid,
and he's served it
to you with a smile
and a little ramekin
of marinara.
But,
as with all things that man does,
it's not as genuine
as it appears.
This shit again?
Look, Chuck,
I tried playing for your side.
I really did.
The man came back
with a baseball bat
and took it to my budget
like Sonny LoSpecchio
in Bronx Tale.
And as with the offense
that inspired that work,
the truth of Prince's
misdeeds will come out.
He's using a fixer to
move the Commission.
Get ahead on this.
Stop backing the
Olympics and save yourself
from going down with him.
You got a case?
Because every bid has a consultant,
Chuck.
And most of these guys
aren't winning any civic awards.
So surely you
can prove all this.
Oh, I'm building one.
Hell of a case.
I want the Olympics now, Chuck.
In fact, I need them.
The games are gonna
do good things for the city,
like fix the subways.
And for me,
it's gonna launch me onto
the national political stage.
But think of the downside,
the adverse
consequences for the city.
So it'll enrich Mike Prince
and his "steering committee"
of other billies a bit more.
But none of this would've
happened without their cash.
So the pros outweigh the cons.
Colin's here.
This'll be a quick meeting.
Let's go clinch these games.
Well,
congratulations are in order.
You've put in one hell of a bid.
The Commission is impressed.
Well, we couldn't have done
it without your guidance, Colin.
The stadium, the venues,
the scholarships.
The Olympic Express
was a great idea.
They really like the
sound of that one.
As did the MTA.
You've now given them every
reason to choose New York...
except for one.
As I say, all are impressed,
but there are certain parties...
that, um,
may still need to be...
inspired.
Would you gentlemen excuse us?
I know what a two-person
meeting means.
And I know what
happens to someone
when they go down this road.
You're gonna wake up
tomorrow a different person
in ways you don't
see for a long time.
Even if it gets you the games,
don't do it.
You know why Scooter went
straight back to his office?
Because he knows what I know.
I'll be fine.
Do you think Rankin will
use our ratings program
to actually issue
better ratings?
Or will they sit on it now
that it's no longer a threat
and go back to
business as usual?
Honestly, I don't know.
Are you here to clear
your conscience?
Tell me I did the wrong
thing by selling to them?
Honestly, no.
I'm sure you had a reason.
I did.
Thank you for this.
Call me with anything
else you turn up. Yeah.
We've got to scoop up
Colin Drache and sweat him.
I just got the Intel
back from my guy.
We may finally have something.
There's a web of wire
transfers attached to Drache.
Can they be traced
back to Prince?
Or to any rogue ICS members?
We can't tell where
the wires came from,
or their final destination.
But Drache recently
received five million dollars
to an offshore account.
If that money came
from Mike Prince...
Can we be sure?
It's just as likely
those wires came from
the Mexico City or Prague bids.
Colin's had contact with
all of them at different points.
Your P.I. can't
untangle the knot?
Not without the voluntary
cooperation of the banks.
Well,
then there's only one way to know for sure.
If the confetti falls
on New York tonight,
we'll know that Prince's payment
to Colin Drache got it done.
And we grab Drache right there.
Snatch him up before the
announcement is made.
We sure Prague isn't
gonna take this from us?
The Vegas books had it at
a 20.7% implied probability.
London at 20 even.
So am I gonna have
a bunch of angry
construction workers busting
my onions tomorrow morning?
Nah.
I woke up joyful today.
My body tells me we'll win this.
Thank you to the
candidate cities
for your incredible
bid presentations.
All were worthy.
But one bid stood
above all the others.
And the International
Commission of Sport
has the honor of announcing
that the Olympic Games in 2028
are awarded to...
New York City!
- Yes!
You actually did the thing.
We did.
Hey, everybody,
let's get out and celebrate with the city!
This is exciting.
I feel like I won the gold.
I'm filled with
patriotic fervor.
It feels heady,
just like a whip-it.
Hey, good job.
- Well done, Mike.
- Thanks for your help.
You did a lot to make
this happen today.
Thank you for the recognition.
But I thought you
didn't like my move.
I didn't mind what you
did. I mind how you did it.
I'm not the drunk
dad in the family.
You don't need to
make secret plans
about how to manage
me at Christmas,
where to hide the booze.
I can know these things.
2028!
There he is.
New York, we did it!
2028's gonna be an
incredible time in this city!
Excuse me.
Drache is gone.
Vaselined watermelon
motherfucker!
Oh, of course he's gone, Dave.
He never existed.
But look who's still up there.
Mike Prince and friends.
Prince didn't pull this
off all by his lonesome.
He and his cabal of rich cronies
steamrolled the
city and the state
and elements of the
goddamned Commission of Sport
to get this done.
So we separate Prince
from his power base.
Mmm-hmm. Let him fall like
the smoke from the fireworks
drifting down on this fine city.
Well, another win for the good guys,
right?
I think it's a
win for all of us.
The city. The country.
The whole thing.
Smile, Chuck.
You're on the
winning team this time.
Nah. I'm staying on my side.
And losers for now
will be later to win.
Right?
No surprise there.
Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Above you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched
To the bone...
We're
gonna drink this down.
Oh, that sounds good,
but I can't stay.
Why?
You can come with,
but I have to go back
to the St. Regis to pack.
Pack?
- We just won.
- Hell, yeah, we won!
But before the games,
I need spend time in the mountains,
climbing with prospective
team members.
You're competing here.
Don't you need to
practice on location?
The best training atmosphere for me now,
is out west.
You know that.
Yeah, but I thought we were gonna try,
here, us?
Like we talked about.
Yeah,
we also talked about you being willing
to fly to Prague, remember?
Much shorter flights to Denver.
So the work falls on me again.
Is that how you feel?
No. It's not.
I just need to know that you're in it,
too.
My level of commitment,
to everything I do,
has not been in doubt
since summer camp
when I was 8.
The rock wall.
Yeah. Four-sided.
They made us put
on lipstick to climb it.
There were photos
of heartthrobs,
like Johnny Depp
and Michael J. Fox.
And we had to put a
big lipstick kiss on one
when we made it to the top.
I had a different
version of that action
in the locker room
at basketball camp.
The Olympics mean
something very different
to me than they do to you.
There's a gold
medal waiting now,
not some lipstick-smeared
photo of River Phoenix.
This is everything
I ever worked for.
And I need you
to put in the time
to do the work,
and climb for the kiss.
Yes.
Yes, you're right.
And I will.
Well, then,
you can open that bottle of champagne.
I can pack in the morning.
I reached Wendy.
She sends her apologies.
She doesn't think
Chuck's gonna show either.
Oh, really?
Well, dinner is ready.
Would you, uh, get the children
and maybe come and join me?
- Yeah, I'll-I'll check.
- Okay, thank you.
The line it is drawn
The curse
It is cast
And the slow one now
Will later be...
They're not hungry.
Well, take a seat.
Have dinner with me.
This is a Long
Island Fluke Crudo,
with gooseberry and sea beans.
So good. Holy sh--, Chef,
that's... wow.
Thank you. Bon appétit.
Will later
Be last
For the times
They are a-changin'
A...
A-changin'
perfect opportunity to rebuild.
All of this is some
big romantic gesture?
I think we should both
proceed with caution.
I came here to hire you.
There's a war going on,
between the very wealth
you are trying to accrue
and the rest of us. The
stakes are absolute.
New Yorkers will be
riding in style in time
for the 2028 games.
And you'll be the hero
to take them there.
No. The governor
of New York will be.
Isn't this getting too
expensive to be worth it?
Not until the torch
is lit in Manhattan.
After we eat,
it's off to Palazzo
with our soft targets.
The place is loaded with talent.
Thank you for taking
the time to see--
There's no money
without the cars.
No but you did
promise it to the MTA.
We'll make an
undirected donation
of two billion dollars to
the MTA tomorrow morning.
Without a source
close to Prince,
you'll just be guessing
blind at his attacks.
You can get me
the names of the contenders
for Prince's list.
MPC,
meet the final piece of the Prince List.
Indiana A&M.
Are you leaving?
Why?
You down for another round?
Oh, you so want to.
But you haven't allowed
yourself a free morning
since junior high,
and now you're stuck.
Stay. For breakfast.
Okay. It won't just
be the two of us--
I--I could use your help.
And your charm.
Colin Drache is coming
over for a meeting.
He's gonna get us
primed for the final vote
at the end of the week.
He's gonna want his palms greased,
that guy.
I have a workaround.
You think he keeps
himself in Brunello Cucinelli
taking "workarounds"
instead of fat envelopes?
That's why you need to be there.
I can't let him get me
like Napoleon's hat,
two corners.
With you there,
he can't ask for a payoff.
I love New York. Who doesn't?
It's a fine city.
It's a fine slogan.
But even the most fervent
amoureux de New York
would have to concede,
your public transportation
is an insult
to both the public
and transportation.
No. If you go by what exists right now,
sure.
But by the time the
games are here--
Let me guess. Your trains will
be as speedy as Monfils himself
and won't smell like
liquefied humanity.
I'm meeting with the MTA later
to sell them on
a brighter future.
I've got a lead engineer
and private
funding all lined up.
It's as good as done.
There's a deadline.
You'll get an agreement
within the next three days?
Yep. Just in time for
every Commission member
to write those
grand three letters,
"NYC," on their ballots.
I've seen the
subway plans myself.
Excellent. There remains
one matter to be discussed.
A delicate one...
which we could
address if we were...
a bit more like un
chapeau de Napoleon.
Perhaps I could return or...
Oh. Oh, no,
there's no need for a return visit.
This outlines an initiative
I'm funding with Indiana A&M
seeking a greater level
of international diversity.
It allows certain
members of the ICS
to select which kids
in their community--
deserving kids--
get the scholarships.
Now,
the school will have final approval,
but it'll make some of
your commissioners heroes.
And do a lot of good
around the world.
I've got a C.I. stuck
into the Prince List.
Stuart Legere,
President of Indiana A&M.
I got a call from
him on my way in.
Prince is offering scholarships
like a Pez dispenser.
Scholarships are
a bad thing now?
We've gotta talk scholarships.
- All above board.
- You want to think so.
- What are you worried about?
He's giving them to members
of the Olympic Commission
- to use as leverage--
- That's mom's apple pie
compared to what usually
happens in the grapple for the games.
Chuck's gonna go after them.
- Oh, come on--
- I'm telling you.
Let me coordinate
with Indiana A&M,
help them language their
announcement so it's clear
they were seeking
these students.
And with the recipients,
make sure they declare
the scholarships on their taxes.
There's merely
been an introduction,
a connection made.
That's a level of care
beyond legal due diligence.
Which is what we need,
because Chuck is
going to go after them.
My guess is,
somewhere inside this
is a direct bribe of sorts,
a quid pro quo.
I sometimes think I'm a good guesser,
too.
Like when Howard Stern
used to have the Rosie head
filled with jelly beans. But
no matter how sure I was,
- I never got it right.
- That they became friends
is one of the great
shocks of my lifetime.
It's wonderful.
But these scholarships are not.
My nose never lies.
It's like that toucan in
the Froot Loops ads.
And I smell something.
You hired me to
anticipate Chuck's moves.
If he finds out about this,
he's gonna try to make
it look real look bad.
The Olympic announcement
is in three days.
He will see this deadline
as putting pressure on you
to shore up the bid.
And Chuck Rhoades thinks
that any wealthy plunger
in a tight spot
pays his way out.
That guy.
A Cypress Hill
song comes to mind.
I can't picture you
listening to that.
Lot of years in
basketball locker rooms.
Raps along,
but never says the curse words.
So we need to only talk
about every part of that,
or never speak of it again.
I choose "B." So...
The harbor is mined here.
We do it right,
we sail through to dry land.
We do it wrong, bang.
Good. Thank you, Kate.
You pay her to lock it down.
You pay me to make it work.
These scholarships will be
99.4% pure when she's done.
But even that Ivory Snow
might not be enough
to bring this home.
Salt Lake City lost
the '98 Winter Games
because they were
giving out saltwater taffy
while Nagano was
comping resort vacations.
We're playing with a
boa constrictor here.
We don't get away
without being squeezed.
The games are part
of my long-term plans
for myself and this city.
But I have an angle.
The Olympics are under pressure
to move past the
sordid reputation.
I'm the guy offering to
usher them into a new age,
a fully respectable one.
My gut is that
they're not looking for
free sushi dinners and
massages this go-round.
Maybe they just want
to camouflage it better.
Nah, I saw Colin's face
when I handed him that folder.
It was exactly what
he was looking for.
No one puts on a read better than you,
Mike.
But do you want to
be the first person
who really tried to get the
games to New York City
with no grease?
Or the person who got the
games to New York City?
Hi.
That event tonight
at Kevin's school...
- I forgot all about it.
- Tonight?
I missed it entirely.
My mistake.
What,
are they accepting donations of valuables
now that they've cleaned
out our bank account?
Just as painful.
Carnival fundraiser.
They have us down as
volunteers to work the booths.
That implies we were willing.
Neither of us has attended
a Parent Association
meeting this year.
I'm guessing they
wouldn't accept
a paralegal in our stead?
Not if we want to
remain in good standing.
Kevin's gonna be
applying to colleges soon.
And if you can't
get him into Yale,
we're gonna need
them to jam him into--
Don't say Cornell.
I was hoping you could
take one for the team.
I would. I will.
Next time. Work is--
I'm asking for a favor, Chuck.
Which I would
love to do for you.
Hell, at next year's carnival,
I'll do the dunk tank,
and I'll let you
take the first shot.
I just don't think I can
make it happen right now.
Hmm.
Ten
times the efficiency.
Zero accidents. Zero delays.
Easier said than built.
Only slightly so for Ms. Reddy.
She's put the full force
of her engineering genius
and her network
building experience
into complete signal overhaul.
I've already designed
the routing systems
and run simulated tests.
This will save lives
and lots of money
in the long term.
Mayor Johnson.
I didn't know you'd
be joining us today.
Would've waited if I had.
Since you couldn't
buy us a new subway,
I wanna hear how Mike
Prince plans to save
the subway we've got.
Two words:
Olympic Express.
An express train service to
and from Olympic venues.
It'll incentivize more
tourists to use mass transit,
and, with the higher fares,
it will be a major
revenue generator for the MTA.
I love to walk down Fifth
Avenue and window shop.
It's fun to imagine wearing
all those pretty things.
But as soon as you
step inside the store
and flip over that price tag,
the illusion is broken.
I'm stepping inside the
store this budget cycle,
coordinating closely
with all city agencies.
I'm sorry, Mike,
we just can't afford luxury items.
Well, that's the best part.
Won't cost the
city a thing. Nada.
I have commitments
from prominent financiers,
including Sruthi,
to provide all the funding.
- Every cent.
- Yeah, sure.
We might as well
build a private train
just for Mr. Michael
Prince while we're at it.
There's nothing but
upside for the MTA on this.
Nothing in this city comes free.
Sorry, Mike, we don't need you.
We don't want to be
indebted to private investors.
We're floating
public transpo bonds
to raise the funds
the MTA needs.
You want to see the
Olympics come to New York.
I know you do.
I can't be seen
doing your bidding.
Not this term.
Especially after all that
drama with Rhoades.
I was standing up there
being shouted at, too.
By voters.
Cute idea,
though. Olympic Express.
Maybe for 2036.
Well, that's that.
Not over. Stand by.
Your company will be
wiring signals by next week,
one way or another.
I'm just looking for a little
courtesy here, Nadine,
between our offices
on interstate fraud.
No,
New York did not "steal" anything.
And for the record,
I was trying to help.
I was the one behind
the Boss and Bon Jovi
playing that show.
Don't lose faith,
New Jersey's still in the hunt.
Stand by.
New Jersey AG.
Her governor's pissed 'cause
New York snaked the Olympic bid.
But it hasn't even
been announced.
I'm aware. But there
have been whispers.
I had the whole thing tilted
their way and not Prince's.
Something happened that
night that overshadowed the show
and put New York
back in the lead.
That's where we
need to be looking.
- Karl!
- Reporting.
Work with Dave to get
me the chopper manifests
from the night the advance
team flew to the Stone Pony.
I need to know everyone
on board to and fro.
I remember the days you
didn't have to take roll call
in a whirlybird.
Now that I think about it,
things have changed
for the better.
Haircuts haven't.
Beer neither.
But, yeah, some things.
I'll go get started.
And maybe you should get
back on those scholarships.
I'm here to catch
flagrant law-breakers.
I'm good with that.
But I can't go in on
hunting an upstanding guy
sticking the tips of his
Purple Labels over the line.
There is another kind,
besides the flagrant
and the line-toer,
and that is one who believes
there is no line for him.
Because his stature,
because his wealth,
gives him the divine right.
And you think
that's Mike Prince?
- It is.
- If you're going after him
because his ego is too big,
everyone who lives north
of 14th Street is guilty of that.
Maybe the whole damn island.
Look, it seems like
you want to prosecute the idea
of this kind of wealth itself.
But the courts don't offer
a cause of action for that.
They oughta.
You say that
because you are from it.
Only those with wealth
have the privilege
of resenting it.
But, for the rest of us,
it's that dream that
makes things go.
Innovation. Industry.
The life-changing fortune
that comes along with it.
You're telling me you
didn't raise your kids
to aspire to more?
I've certainly raised
mine that way.
Part of why I took the
shortest maternity leave
on record at the
defender's office.
That American myth
is just as sweet as
an ice-cold Coke,
and it's been guzzled down
by folks on the lower rungs
who don't want to tax the rich
because they think they'll be
that rich themselves someday.
And tell me you don't hope
your kids spend more time
with theirs than you did.
I want them to have it all.
Only guys
like Prince get that.
People like him,
who accumulate such
outsized power and lucre,
threaten the very thing that
makes America truly great,
democracy.
An equal voice for all.
That is a crime
in and of itself.
I'm aware of exactly where
the American Dream falls short,
believe me.
But we're not about to flip
an entire system of
wealth and privilege
by netting one Mike Prince.
Just promise me. If
we get to the end of this
and there's no crime,
we move on to
some real criminals.
I'll do you one better.
I'll let you pick
the next target.
I'll look for a lever to move
the Transport Workers Union
to get them to pressure
the MTA Board.
No, no more of that.
The Board isn't the issue,
Mayor Johnson is.
They were with us
till she walked in.
But she's all cashed up
for subway improvements
from a new bond issuance.
Then what do we offer her?
She couldn't handle the
political heat from Rhoades
and his Godzilla routine.
She said as much.
Then you need to
make it hotter for her
to stand against the
Olympics rather than for them.
Yep.
I'll take the Skyway, you know?
High above the little one-way,
sure.
Yeah. Good.
I'll set up a Zoom
with those fine folks.
I've looked at them all,
Chuck. All legit.
And, honestly,
some pretty deserving kids
are gonna get to go to college.
College will be better for it,
too.
Proud we are of all of them.
My old firm had a
digger on payroll.
I asked him to look into
Prince and the Olympics.
He found no evidence
of illegal activity
- in connection with the bid.
- Yet.
He hasn't found it--
You wanna
make a man dance?
Hit him with a subpoena.
You should've seen the
guy at Sky Star Aviation
scramble to get
me these manifests
once I showed him the stamp.
Michael Prince, not on board.
Scooter Dunbar was listed,
but also didn't fly.
The rest was
Commish advance team,
except for Wagner
and one Colin Drache.
Michael Wagner.
The Captain Trips for this
merry band of pranksters.
I made a great spirit
guide in my salad days.
Loose,
breathable clothing is key.
Wagner was the only
Prince employee on board.
Your bloodhound doesn't
know how men like Prince think.
I do.
He's insulated himself.
Prince only would've sent
someone like Michael Wagner
in his stead for one reason.
Wagner carries the black bag.
The man wears decorative rings,
for Christ sake.
We really can't jump
to legal conclusions
- based on accessories.
- Oh, yeah, we can.
Karl,
find out who this Colin Drache is.
We're off to a meeting
across the river.
You shouldn't have
shit-canned Lauren.
- Come again?
- That came out wrong.
That's not what I meant.
We need an IR person.
We need something.
Every time there's
a ratings change,
our switchboard lights up with
calls from panicky investors.
Not our actual switchboard,
which we don't have,
- but like our metaphoric one.
- I get you.
Using the ratings to punch
holes in our investment theories.
Like sick people using WebMD
to second-guess their doctor.
More like people using
Moody's to bust my ball--
Surely you can handle that.
I can handle drunk
Gerard Butler wannabes
nudging up against me at Minnows
with their Fiddlehead IPAs.
Doesn't mean I want to
waste my time on them.
Rankin's releasing a slew
of upgrades and downgrades
later this week.
Sure to bring a fresh onslaught.
Maybe there's a way to
preempt these kinds of calls.
Establish our own
ratings criteria.
Cool idea, but...
I don't even have nights
and weekends as it is.
Yeah. That would involve
hundreds of hours of analysis.
We could crowdsource it.
Hey.
Tight-lipped
bunch in that place.
I got the bartender talking.
How?
I recognized the tattoo artist
who did a piece on his neck.
Learned that trick last
time I was a prosecutor.
So what did we get?
He heard some of
the foreigners saying
their next stop
was "The Palazzo."
Palazzo.
High-end cathouse.
Or it was. They shut
down during COVID.
I thought they never reopened.
You missed the email blast?
Well, let's go. Where is it?
You're asking me?
Hey, I'm not judging,
but you're the
Overton Window guy,
so I figured--
No, no, I'm outta that game.
So we have to find Palazzo.
Yep.
It's our Fleur de Lis.
I think I know how to
solve the MTA issue.
A move has been made.
Is it going to work?
Let's go see Prince.
Maybe we wait a beat on that,
until after I make my play.
Ms. Mayor,
call for comment from the Post.
Seems Mike Prince
is in talks to sell
that new subway
tech to Minneapolis.
Minneapolis doesn't
even have a goddamn--
Headlines are gonna
murder you for passing on it.
"It's A Twin Pity,
NYC Loses Out
Thanks to Her Honor."
And so forth.
Get Mike Prince
on the phone for me.
No glory in helming
a third-generation
family business,
I'll tell you that. None.
Sure, my name's on the door,
but if I make money,
it's expected.
Everyone in the clan has their
hand out waiting to be filled,
so I can only fuck
it up from there,
which makes me ornery.
Someone with very little
to lose when it comes
to tangling with
a new competitor.
I like the direct threat thing.
You don't see it so much anymore
except from guys like you.
It's bracing. I'd love
you to go further.
To put it bluntly,
you'll wake me up.
You have.
You don't make enemies
of the well-entrenched.
Even if you win,
the cost is too great.
Plus, you'll embarrass yourself.
We're an institution.
We have expertise, track record,
client relationships.
You issue one inaccurate rating,
some errant data point,
and you lose all credibility.
As an investor, too.
So let me buy your crowd
sourcing algorithm from you,
salvage whatever I can.
That was a quick
zip around the corner
from Extortion
Ave to Payoff Lane.
You'll walk away with
your reputation intact,
a little change in your pocket.
You see your track
record as an advantage?
You haven't upgraded
your system since
Nelly came out with
Country Grammar in 2000.
Not even after you
rated subprimes triple-A
during the housing
bubble. None of you did.
The beauty of my algo is
that it's extracurricular for me
and very low-cost to operate.
Say you're right,
and there's a glitch.
No, several.
We can weather them
until we prove ourselves
and outperform you.
Besides,
I have another offer already.
And like you said,
it might make sense to sell,
given the hats I already wear.
"Offer"?
Shit.
- Standard & Poor's?
- I can't say.
Look, my main reason
for starting this is accuracy.
Whoever actually runs the thing.
I'll match, no,
better their offer.
Sure, I'll let you.
Because, much like your family,
I'm interested in
seeing you do better.
Thank you, Taylor,
this is the right--
But I need to make sure
that certain city issuances
of certain city
authorities are examined
and rated accurately,
low as that might be.
That's more
old school than--
You're old school as
a barbershop quartet.
Your hairstyle alone
could make this happen.
Otherwise,
I put you out of business,
and you can explain that
to folks at the next reunion.
What do you say, guys? Hmm?
You came.
I said I'd try. As did you.
Now I guess they've
assigned us to work together.
I guess they did.
Well, uh,
much as I appreciate the backup,
I think I've got the bobbing
for apples under control.
Fresh water and apples
for each contestant.
Sanitized bucket.
Feel free to take off.
And suffer the
disapproving glares
of the coven of PTA
moms as I leave?
Fat chance.
I'm sticking it out.
I think one of them
hexed me on the way in
when she found
out I didn't RSVP.
- No takers yet?
- Not a one.
It's a dreadful game, really.
Your face submerged,
inhaling water.
I'd never equate the two,
but it's not unlike
waterboarding,
I'll tell you that
from experience.
Oh,
it's a story for another time.
Rhoades.
Taking a break from
your billionaire bashing
to turn this place commie, too?
Save it for the ballot box, sir.
I want to get into it now.
No,
you walking inferiority complex.
Why don't you do us all a favor
and go find yourself
a therapist instead of
picking fights with greater men?
Unless you want him to
drag you for paying your nanny
and housekeeper off the books--
Shut the fuck up, Karen.
Ohh, pal,
that is a line you do not want to cross,
unless you want to end up
like Andy "The Hawk" Price,
knocked out standing
by Sugar Ray.
Thanks for getting my back.
- We struck a nerve.
- Yeah.
I think it was the
combo of a smug smile
and boat shoes.
There's a lotta those around here,
unfortunately.
The year Sperrys
or a Vineyard Vines
blazer shows up on
Kevin's Christmas list
is the year we transfer
him to public school.
Mm-hmm. Should we
have that convo again?
We always said we'd revisit
it if there were good reason.
We'll think on it...
but probably, yes.
- Mike.
- Hi.
Uh... come in.
I don't want to jinx it,
but I have reason to believe
things are looking good
for the games right now.
The mayor called me for a meet.
In person.
Only one reason for that call.
Kickass,
Michael Prince. Nicely done.
I had Skyline flown
in from Cincinnati,
a celebratory
four-way and five-way.
You're still the only
Midwesterner I know
- who can handle it.
- You know I can,
but I have dinner plans
that I can't get out of.
Oh,
no sweat. I-I should have checked.
You're still coming to the
announcement event though, yeah?
Of course. That's the
whole reason I'm here.
Good.
Win or lose,
I want you by my side.
What's up?
It's been nice,
being here and seeing
more of each other.
And there's a small part of me
that wanted New York to lose,
for the games to go to
Prague or Mexico City.
So you could challenge
yourself on another nation's soil,
no home field advantage?
No.
To see if you'd
put in the effort.
I need to be training at
altitude in the mountains.
Would you pull yourself
away from your company,
fly to me on a Friday night?
Make calls and dial into
meetings from my base camp?
Now that it's so convenient,
we'll never really know.
Well that's the point
of having your own jet, right?
The freedom to
commit to what you love.
I'd bring the hotspot,
the sat phone, whatever it took.
But we're lucky we don't have
to deal with that added strain.
We get the best of
both worlds this way.
Okay. Good.
I'm gonna finish getting
ready. I'll see you at the thing.
Fortune favored me tonight
at the silent auction table.
I'm surprised you
bid on something.
Only under great duress.
A dinner at home for two
by Chef Daniel Boulud.
Nicely done.
I'm sure it'll be exquisite.
Well, uh, actually,
I don't have a special
someone to share it with
at this juncture.
And I can't face asking
Ira or my dad to join me.
Why don't you take it?
Yeah, make a special night
of it for you and a friend.
I--I don't really have
anyone to ask either,
at the moment.
Huh.
Why don't we enjoy it together,
at the house?
It's a fine idea.
Check my calendar.
I am
damned if I work too closely
with billionaires and damned
if I don't work closely enough.
It's a tough spot.
The headlines haven't been kind.
And now you're also
saddled with every
subway delay and malfunction.
If I can be blamed for
the subway's failures,
I plan on taking credit for its success,
too.
Which is why you're here.
It is.
I'm here to tell you that
we don't need any money from
you or your "steering committee."
And even if you shower
Minneapolis with your gifts,
we have a subway upgrade
plan of our own in place.
That's not what you
said on the phone
when you begged
for this meeting.
Because I hadn't
explained my situation
to the governor yet.
But it seems he
recently fell into
two billion in unexpected cash.
A kind donation from a generous,
civic-minded individual.
And Sweeney's diverting
it to the MTA's budget.
With that and the new bond
issuance we're planning,
the hole's all filled in.
We're going to announce
our upgrade plan tomorrow.
I'm looking forward
to the headlines.
I can take plenty
more than my train tech
to the Twin Cities.
I could take my business,
my holdings,
my taxes.
Your job isn't
to fix the trains.
It's to keep the whales like
me swimming in your waters,
raising the tides for everyone.
Oh, I've seen Blackfish.
But now I know from personal experience,
too.
Trying to work with you
only makes you hostile.
You're free to swim
where you please.
Two billion.
Sweeney's using my
own money to block me.
The Prague and Mexico
City bids have sent contingents
to Athens ahead
of tomorrow's vote.
They've set meetings.
That means one thing:
They've found the vulnerable
among the advance team,
and they're going to be very
persuasive in person. Very.
The Olympics aren't
going to be my curtain call.
I plan on having a lifetime of
grand projects, as you know.
My reputation and my
career are inseparable.
So we're back at square one.
With one day left.
Never feels like it,
but that's the best place to be.
We're bringing the ball up,
they're in a full-court defense.
Lotta pressure.
But you keep control
and break the press.
Nobody's back,
and it's an easy bucket.
We just gotta break the press.
You're a man with an
eerily extensive knowledge
of New York's darker corners.
Do you know where "Palazzo" is?
Not sure.
I did go to a pretty
incredible place once
in Okinawa called
"Whisper Alley"
when I was detailed to a
Department of Defense trip
with some generals, though.
There was a hell
of a banana show,
and they served sake
with a habu viper in the bottle.
You know what?
Never mind.
Chef Boulud says he will
handle any dietary restrictions.
The only restriction will
be my belt after I eat all this.
Though I have heard
the bouillabaisse is--
Oh, yeah, no, it sure is.
I had it a few years back.
We did. Together. At, uh, Café--
Boulud. Right.
Yes. With that...
weird couple we
met at The Blantyre.
Oh, my God.
Yes.
Oh, man,
the folks you meet on vacation.
Should stay in your memory,
before they take
down five martinis,
and never at your table.
Pick whatever looks good to you,
Chuck.
I'm sure it'll be great.
Okay, good.
I have been looking through
all of our Olympic dealings
with my Chuck goggles on,
and I found something.
The night you two
entertained the advance team
for the Commission.
The manifests for the
helicopter company Jersey
used that night have
been subpoenaed.
Nothing can be linked to M-TAP.
Doesn't have to be.
Chuck gets one lead,
announces an investigation,
Commission gets rattled
and goes with another city.
Do you all have
everything locked down?
That would be a question for...
Moi.
None of the professionals
involved in that evening's
activities are a liability.
Discretion is their craft.
Good. Make sure of it.
Best for us all if I
don't touch that one.
This Palazzo business.
Asking around with
the criminals in custody,
none of them can afford it.
All I've got is an old address.
It was becoming too well known,
so they picked up and
moved it elsewhere.
Well,
these places shuffle locations
like handsy priests
change dioceses.
We could use some help on this.
There's someone I can ask.
Thanks.
We're sorry,
you have reached a number
that has been disconnected
or is no longer in service.
The number
you dialed has been changed,
disconnected,
or is no longer in service.
Madison, it's me.
I can't get through
to the Palazzo.
Have you heard anything?
Has there been any trouble?
Ask around, would ya?
Okay. Let me know.
I'm here on business.
Thank you for agreeing
to see me again.
I know that you had
hoped to never have to.
That was a long time ago.
And you were a
good customer before.
My favorite kind.
Not for the right reasons.
Oh, I needed it, yeah.
At the moment, though--
I see that.
You're different now, changed.
For the time being, at least.
Palazzo. I need
its current location.
I didn't know any
other way to find it.
That place doesn't
offer what you're into.
Unless your arousal template
has completely changed--
I just need the address.
Like I said--
Strictly business.
I see.
Oh, and one more thing
you will absolutely need.
The password.
There's panic at the MTA.
Rankin Ratings Agency has just
put New York's subway system
- on Credit Watch Negative...
- Scooter!
...that's a warning to
investors that their rating
will be dropping soon.
There's already been a
discussion of shutting down
a subway line to cut costs...
I'm telling you this now
before you see it yourself.
Mase Carb is buying MTA bonds.
People are spooked by
the Credit Watch Negative
and they're selling them
like they're Beanie Babies.
But that's not all.
You'll see,
when you look at our sheet,
that we went to cash for this
ahead of the announcement.
So you were prepared?
You knew this was coming,
and you said nothing to me.
I encouraged Rankin to
take a closer look at the MTA.
And when they did,
they agreed with me that AAA was too high.
Mase Carb will make a profit,
and the MTA is
now in a tight spot,
which I believe is exactly
where you need them to be.
We saw it as a win-win.
Your pronouns haven't changed,
have they?
You're using "we" to mean...
Yes, I knew.
So you both did
this behind my back?
- For you, you mean.
- I made the choice
to ignite the fuse on a move
that would solve your problem.
The mayor is on the phone.
She wants to meet ASAP.
Ask her to hold a minute.
The governor will be calling also,
probably.
This could easily be
seen as manipulation.
If word leaks about this,
it could tank our bid--
everything we've
been working for.
What's the rating gonna be,
triple-B?
- Double-B.
- Jesus.
My best move is to get ahead
of this by calling foul now.
You were right. I
have the governor
on the line now, too.
Leonard Supple. MTA Board,
is also on the phone.
They all want the same meeting.
If you really want,
I can unwind all of this
before the new
rating is announced.
I can change it back and take
my ratings algo off the market.
No. Tell them all I'm
ready to meet tonight.
Lady Bertilak.
Members only tonight.
- Hup!
Let's move, people!
Man up! Lets go!
Go, go, go.
Ready?
- Hands on the wall!
- Police!
Hands on the wall!
Warrant?
I've never seen a bridge club
with so many patrons under 25.
I'd like to see 'em
try and play a hand.
It's clear.
We got nothing.
It's all good.
They're gone.
They didn't find anything.
Damn right!
Next time I pay every employee
their full night's wages,
something unspeakable
is going to transpire,
and I will be right
in the middle of it.
We both should've
seen this coming.
We've shown the stealth
of a Santa Con bar crawl.
They were expecting us.
Now once, in college,
I participated
in what was called a "Hash run."
The idea is only the
organizer of the run
knows the true route.
He or she marks it out
with small piles of
flour on the ground,
but only intermittently.
You have to uncover
the route as you go,
wrong turns and all.
Sounds like an effective
model for tricking yourself
into running longer. But
not for an investigation.
I disagree.
There,
the reward was supposedly in the doing.
There was nothing
waiting at the end other than
a fleeting sense of
accomplishment and shin splints.
We may have gone down
an unfruitful path tonight,
but there is more to uncover.
But that's exactly it, Chuck.
We have no idea if that's true.
That presto
change-o tells us it is.
If Prince wants to
win the Olympics,
he'll have to offer plenty
more than one night
at a sex club.
The final vote is in
less than 24 hours.
When men like Prince
are under pressure,
they take shortcuts.
Yeah, so you've said.
But all we've got to
show for that theory
is an armed raid
on a bridge club.
You know that
was no bridge club.
Sure, but that's not how
it's gonna look on the books.
Double-B.
Tough break.
Fuckin' Rankin.
We canceled the debt offering.
Set off a chain reaction
across every maturity.
I assume you have
a cash shortfall now,
hence the meeting?
Yeah, we'll, uh,
we'll do your plan.
The Olympic Express,
the signal overhaul, all of it.
And you're okay
accepting private funds?
We have to. It's the
only way we can keep
the lines running at this point.
Oh, I'm a moon jelly.
I drift with the tides,
and they've turned.
I'm back on Team Olympics.
No. I'm just happy I can help.
Sruthi?
Let's get started right now.
Mark?
We don't have a second to lose.
Damn.
Colin Drache.
The unknown on the
chopper that night?
- I looked into him.
- Hmm.
If we're trying
to catch a fixer,
my money's on this bub.
He's not a Commission member?
He used to be Commish,
but he left under a cloud
of suspicion after Sochi.
Word is he ended up with a villa
on the Black
Sea for his efforts.
He's "consulted" on
all the games since.
Have any charges been brought?
- Anything been proven?
- Guy's a Vaselined watermelon.
Where there's smoke,
there's always burning piles of money.
We're taking this to Sweeney.
I'm going to pass on
another uninvited bust-in.
That hasn't worked
out for me this week.
Fine. Call your private eye.
See what he can
find on Colin Drache.
Whoa, whoa, whoa! Drop that fork
before you take a
mouthful of bung!
What the hell, Chuck?
This is salad niçoise.
Uh-huh, so they say,
but you never know.
If prepared the right way,
pig rectum can
pass for calamari.
- Often does.
- Yep.
Bung on your tongue.
And now you've
ruined my appetite.
Mike Prince has prepared
a golden brown Olympic bid,
and he's served it
to you with a smile
and a little ramekin
of marinara.
But,
as with all things that man does,
it's not as genuine
as it appears.
This shit again?
Look, Chuck,
I tried playing for your side.
I really did.
The man came back
with a baseball bat
and took it to my budget
like Sonny LoSpecchio
in Bronx Tale.
And as with the offense
that inspired that work,
the truth of Prince's
misdeeds will come out.
He's using a fixer to
move the Commission.
Get ahead on this.
Stop backing the
Olympics and save yourself
from going down with him.
You got a case?
Because every bid has a consultant,
Chuck.
And most of these guys
aren't winning any civic awards.
So surely you
can prove all this.
Oh, I'm building one.
Hell of a case.
I want the Olympics now, Chuck.
In fact, I need them.
The games are gonna
do good things for the city,
like fix the subways.
And for me,
it's gonna launch me onto
the national political stage.
But think of the downside,
the adverse
consequences for the city.
So it'll enrich Mike Prince
and his "steering committee"
of other billies a bit more.
But none of this would've
happened without their cash.
So the pros outweigh the cons.
Colin's here.
This'll be a quick meeting.
Let's go clinch these games.
Well,
congratulations are in order.
You've put in one hell of a bid.
The Commission is impressed.
Well, we couldn't have done
it without your guidance, Colin.
The stadium, the venues,
the scholarships.
The Olympic Express
was a great idea.
They really like the
sound of that one.
As did the MTA.
You've now given them every
reason to choose New York...
except for one.
As I say, all are impressed,
but there are certain parties...
that, um,
may still need to be...
inspired.
Would you gentlemen excuse us?
I know what a two-person
meeting means.
And I know what
happens to someone
when they go down this road.
You're gonna wake up
tomorrow a different person
in ways you don't
see for a long time.
Even if it gets you the games,
don't do it.
You know why Scooter went
straight back to his office?
Because he knows what I know.
I'll be fine.
Do you think Rankin will
use our ratings program
to actually issue
better ratings?
Or will they sit on it now
that it's no longer a threat
and go back to
business as usual?
Honestly, I don't know.
Are you here to clear
your conscience?
Tell me I did the wrong
thing by selling to them?
Honestly, no.
I'm sure you had a reason.
I did.
Thank you for this.
Call me with anything
else you turn up. Yeah.
We've got to scoop up
Colin Drache and sweat him.
I just got the Intel
back from my guy.
We may finally have something.
There's a web of wire
transfers attached to Drache.
Can they be traced
back to Prince?
Or to any rogue ICS members?
We can't tell where
the wires came from,
or their final destination.
But Drache recently
received five million dollars
to an offshore account.
If that money came
from Mike Prince...
Can we be sure?
It's just as likely
those wires came from
the Mexico City or Prague bids.
Colin's had contact with
all of them at different points.
Your P.I. can't
untangle the knot?
Not without the voluntary
cooperation of the banks.
Well,
then there's only one way to know for sure.
If the confetti falls
on New York tonight,
we'll know that Prince's payment
to Colin Drache got it done.
And we grab Drache right there.
Snatch him up before the
announcement is made.
We sure Prague isn't
gonna take this from us?
The Vegas books had it at
a 20.7% implied probability.
London at 20 even.
So am I gonna have
a bunch of angry
construction workers busting
my onions tomorrow morning?
Nah.
I woke up joyful today.
My body tells me we'll win this.
Thank you to the
candidate cities
for your incredible
bid presentations.
All were worthy.
But one bid stood
above all the others.
And the International
Commission of Sport
has the honor of announcing
that the Olympic Games in 2028
are awarded to...
New York City!
- Yes!
You actually did the thing.
We did.
Hey, everybody,
let's get out and celebrate with the city!
This is exciting.
I feel like I won the gold.
I'm filled with
patriotic fervor.
It feels heady,
just like a whip-it.
Hey, good job.
- Well done, Mike.
- Thanks for your help.
You did a lot to make
this happen today.
Thank you for the recognition.
But I thought you
didn't like my move.
I didn't mind what you
did. I mind how you did it.
I'm not the drunk
dad in the family.
You don't need to
make secret plans
about how to manage
me at Christmas,
where to hide the booze.
I can know these things.
2028!
There he is.
New York, we did it!
2028's gonna be an
incredible time in this city!
Excuse me.
Drache is gone.
Vaselined watermelon
motherfucker!
Oh, of course he's gone, Dave.
He never existed.
But look who's still up there.
Mike Prince and friends.
Prince didn't pull this
off all by his lonesome.
He and his cabal of rich cronies
steamrolled the
city and the state
and elements of the
goddamned Commission of Sport
to get this done.
So we separate Prince
from his power base.
Mmm-hmm. Let him fall like
the smoke from the fireworks
drifting down on this fine city.
Well, another win for the good guys,
right?
I think it's a
win for all of us.
The city. The country.
The whole thing.
Smile, Chuck.
You're on the
winning team this time.
Nah. I'm staying on my side.
And losers for now
will be later to win.
Right?
No surprise there.
Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Above you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched
To the bone...
We're
gonna drink this down.
Oh, that sounds good,
but I can't stay.
Why?
You can come with,
but I have to go back
to the St. Regis to pack.
Pack?
- We just won.
- Hell, yeah, we won!
But before the games,
I need spend time in the mountains,
climbing with prospective
team members.
You're competing here.
Don't you need to
practice on location?
The best training atmosphere for me now,
is out west.
You know that.
Yeah, but I thought we were gonna try,
here, us?
Like we talked about.
Yeah,
we also talked about you being willing
to fly to Prague, remember?
Much shorter flights to Denver.
So the work falls on me again.
Is that how you feel?
No. It's not.
I just need to know that you're in it,
too.
My level of commitment,
to everything I do,
has not been in doubt
since summer camp
when I was 8.
The rock wall.
Yeah. Four-sided.
They made us put
on lipstick to climb it.
There were photos
of heartthrobs,
like Johnny Depp
and Michael J. Fox.
And we had to put a
big lipstick kiss on one
when we made it to the top.
I had a different
version of that action
in the locker room
at basketball camp.
The Olympics mean
something very different
to me than they do to you.
There's a gold
medal waiting now,
not some lipstick-smeared
photo of River Phoenix.
This is everything
I ever worked for.
And I need you
to put in the time
to do the work,
and climb for the kiss.
Yes.
Yes, you're right.
And I will.
Well, then,
you can open that bottle of champagne.
I can pack in the morning.
I reached Wendy.
She sends her apologies.
She doesn't think
Chuck's gonna show either.
Oh, really?
Well, dinner is ready.
Would you, uh, get the children
and maybe come and join me?
- Yeah, I'll-I'll check.
- Okay, thank you.
The line it is drawn
The curse
It is cast
And the slow one now
Will later be...
They're not hungry.
Well, take a seat.
Have dinner with me.
This is a Long
Island Fluke Crudo,
with gooseberry and sea beans.
So good. Holy sh--, Chef,
that's... wow.
Thank you. Bon appétit.
Will later
Be last
For the times
They are a-changin'
A...
A-changin'