Damages (2007–2012): Season 2, Episode 6 - A Pretty Girl in a Leotard - full transcript

NARRATOR: Previously
onDamages.

ELLEN: When Daniel Purcell
flipped on the stand,

he humiliated you in open court.

This is all about Ultima
National Resources.

If you don't stop them, I will.

Do you want my help?

Yes.

Whatever happened that night in
your house with your wife is over.

This is a partnership now.

My legal advice is to
eliminate exposure.

Okay.



Did you tell anyone about us?

No.

Let me use the firm's resources to
prove that Frobisher had David killed.

[SOBBING]

MAN: This is
Detective Rick Messer.

He asked if he could
take a look around.

I'm very sorry for your loss.

It's my fault. No.

I know you're not the
enemy in all of this.

[POP MUSIC PLAYING]

Hey. Hey.

You're early. I know.

Come in. Want a drink?

No, no. I'm good.



The movie doesn't start for
another hour. Where's Mark?

He's gonna meet
us at the theater.

I thought you and
I could talk first.

Sure. What's up?

What's this?

It's the security deposit from
your and David's apartment.

But the lease isn't
up for another month.

Yeah, I know,

but they said they could
rent it a month early.

They said they were
gonna call you.

No. No one called.

[EXHALES]

I'm so sorry. I
thought you knew.

My parents have packed
everything up, so...

It's all ready to be moved.

I thought that I'd go
back there one last time.

Ellen, don't put
yourself through that.

The movers can put
everything into storage.

It feels like that apartment is
all that I've got left of him.

Ellen, don't go back there.

♪ Little lamb

♪ Smile

♪ When I am through with you

♪ There won't be anything left

♪ When I am through with you

♪ There won't be anything left

♪ When I am through with you ♪

We're back with
litigator Patty Hewes,

who somehow made it past
security with an ax.

And she's looking to grind it.

I've never seen you like this.

Even Arthur Frobisher never
inspired this kind of attack.

Arthur Frobisher has
nothing on Walter Kendrick.

Kendrick and his company,
Ultima National Resources,

have systematically
ravaged the environment.

But has the company
done anything illegal?

Walter Kendrick is
a corporate thug

who's gone out of his way to
shield himself from litigation.

Kendrick believes that he
can get away with anything.

The tragedy is, so far he has.

I mean, have you ever heard
of a toxin called Aracite?

No. Never.

That's because Walter
Kendrick doesn't want you to.

He's using it in his facility in West
Virginia, and it's poisoning people.

Can you prove that?

UNR did its own study and
determined Aracite to be safe,

which is, you know,
no big surprise.

But a high-level consultant

from an independent research
firm reported otherwise.

And now his wife is dead.

Ms. Hewes, are you implying

that Walter Kendrick is
responsible for a murder?

Implying?

I hope that's not what
this sounds like, Greta.

I'm stating it outright.

Patty Hewes said a
few things on TV.

[SCOFFS] I heard.

You have to take
it seriously, Walt.

It's outrageous. She
accused you of murder.

She's a madwoman.

Maybe, but people listen to her.

She's a virtual celebrity now.

Riding high on Frobisher.
We cannot afford to...

Arthur Frobisher is a
narcissistic dipshit

who stumbled his
way into billions.

He dumped his own stock with
the whole world watching.

Forget Frobisher. This
is about Patty Hewes.

We humiliated her in court.

She wants to destroy you now.

We have to shut her up.

WAITER: Your Scotch,
ma'am. Thanks.

Send a cease-and-desist order.

It's not enough. The
stock price fell today.

I'll set up a meeting with the
major shareholders. Reassure them.

Yeah. Regardless, we can't let

Patty's accusations
just hang out there.

I want to sue her.

For what?

Obviously for defamation.

We can't get involved
in a lawsuit.

That's just gonna keep
her bullshit story alive.

What are our options?

Ignore it until she goes away.

Patty's not gonna go away.

She accused you of murder.

[CELL PHONE RINGING]

Is everything taken care of?

Not yet.

Jesus Christ.

What do you want me to do?

Okay.

I think we should sue.

But you're the boss,
Walt. It's your decision.

Are you positive UNR is behind
Christine Purcell's murder?

Of course not. How could I be?

Then why are you on
national television

hurling accusations at them?

To make it personal.

Oh, by the way, I
want you to work up

a complete background
on Claire Maddox.

I need to know who
we're dealing with here.

CLAIRE: What do you think
Patty Hewes is up to?

She's on the war path.
She's beating the tom-toms.

She's furious because of what
I did to her in that courtroom.

And she's gonna do
everything she can

to take it out on your company.

Why didn't you ever tell me
about your history with her?

It had nothing to do with us.

What else haven't you
told me about, Danny?

If I haven't shared
things with you,

it's for your own protection.

I'm not your daughter.
I don't need protection.

Why don't you come out to
the country this weekend?

I don't think I can.

Then when can I see you again?

I don't think you will
see me again, Danny.

I see.

It's gotten a little
complicated, don't you think?

Your company, my company,
Patty Hewes, your wife.

It was a mistake getting
involved with you.

Then why did you
come here tonight?

To tell you in person.

That was the last time.

Take care.

[CELL PHONE RINGING]

Katie?

KATIE: I'm at the
police station.

What is it? I was robbed.

Could you pick me up
at the 9th Precinct?

I'll be right there.

I came out of the subway
and I walked about a block.

Which direction?

East, I think. And
then I took a left.

North. Right.

And then he came up behind
me and grabbed my bag.

All right, wait here.

I just need to get some
forms for you to fill out.

[EXHALES]

[INAUDIBLE]

Hey, are you following me?

I don't know what
you're talking about.

Stay away from me!

KATIE: It was the same guy.

Are you sure?

Look at this. This is the
man who was following me.

This was back when
Frobisher wanted you

to sign the confidentiality?

Yes. He's a cop.

I think he saw me, Ellen.
I don't know what to do.

Okay, all right, just
sit down, all right?

Calm down. We'll
figure this out.

If this guy traces
back to Frobisher

in any way, we will find him.

Okay? I promise.

Yeah, fine, Pam.

I will sign the
paperwork tonight.

Hey, hey, you want
to knock that off?

All right, I am
hanging up. Sorry.

There's a cop I need
you to look into.

Why?

He may have something to
do with my fiance's murder.

Well, then we can't help you.

Our investigation is limited
to Patty Hewes and her firm.

Do it as a favor.
I need your help.

We can't.

You're FBI. You can
do whatever you want.

Ellen...

I'm telling you this
guy may be a killer.

And I'm telling you
our hands are tied.

He's right. We are not
authorized to do that.

This is bullshit.

I need your help.

Last year, before Katie's
deposition, she was being followed.

I remember.

This is the guy.

He's a policeman. He must've
been working for Frobisher.

No wonder they haven't gotten
anywhere with David's murder.

This is my first real lead.

You told me I could use the
firm to go after Frobisher.

My resources are your resources.

Thank you.

Katie Connor saw you?

Yes.

You're sure? Yeah. I'm sure.

What if she talks?

She can't prove anything.

But her friend Ellen Parsons

has been meeting with the Feds.

Since when?

I'm not sure.

Well, Katie Connor made
me. So what do we do?

You? You do nothing.

Keep your mouth shut and
I'll handle the rest.

Eight-passenger seating.
6.0 liter V8 engine

with hybrid dual-mode
transmission.

Better city fuel economy than
the Mini Cooper S convertible.

Seriously? Impressive.

Does it have a
navigation system?

Oh, absolutely.

It's DVD-based with
turn-by-turn directions.

I'll take it.

Do you want to
take a test drive?

I said I'll take it.

Great. Let me find my manager.
We can talk financing.

We don't need any of that.

I'll pay cash. Sticker price.

Car practically sells itself.

[BOTH LAUGHING]

[CAR ALARM BEEPS]

What do you mean the UNR
merger doesn't make sense?

It's bad business. Kendrick
overpaid to acquire that company.

Why would the UNR
board let him do that?

Because Kendrick makes money.

Every gamble he's ever
taken has paid off.

Well, if he overpaid, he must have
a way to make that money back.

Yeah. We have to find
out what that is.

You aren't concerned about
the Feds looking into you?

We'll just watch our step
and keep our eyes open.

You know what I'm
in the mood for?

What's that?

A fight.

The merger's gone through.

You ready on your end?

Yeah. Let's get going.

I prefer paintings I understand.

Foxes, hounds, bugles,
that kind of thing.

All this abstraction
looks the same to me.

Mmm.

Well, in this case,
Dave, you're right.

This piece of shit
is a waste of canvas.

I'm gonna try and claw
my way to the ladies'.

And don't sneak out for a smoke.
Okay? Think of your heart.

I know, I know. I'll
meet you at the seats.

Walt Kendrick. Hey.
Arthur Frobisher.

I know.

Yeah, we met once...
Oh, shit, where?

Davos.

Yeah, Switzerland,
right. Yeah.

The Economic Forum.

Musharraf wouldn't shut
up. You remember that?

[LAUGHING]

[EXHALES]

Man, ballet. I can
never get into it,

even the dancers,
which is kind of odd.

You know, you'd think,
what could go wrong

with a pretty girl in a leotard?

But that body type
does nothing for me.

I like them a little meatier.

How come you're here?
Your girlfriend drag you?

Other way around.

No shit. You like ballet?

I like Balanchine.

Only reason I come to this crap
hole of a city is for the culture.

Yeah, that's right. I thought
West Virginia was your roost.

I've been spending
more time up here.

Since the merger?
Yeah, of course.

Congratulations, by the way.

Sailed right through
the Trade Commission.

I've been watching your stock.

Too bad about
today's little dip.

Volatility is part of the game.

Oh, of course, you'll
bounce right back.

But Patty Hewes won't
let us forget about you.

Slinging shit like that
all over the airwaves.

What the hell did
you do to her anyway?

Never even met her.

Wow.

Well...

Take this from me.
Don't engage with her.

You step into the
ring with that woman,

she'll cut your balls off and
jam them down your throat.

My advice?

When she straps one on, bend over,
bite down hard, and just take it.

[CHUCKLES]

Anyway, it's good to see you.

Claire, it's me.
Sue the bitch.

Here's what I got
on Claire Maddox.

Duke Law School,
Supreme Court clerkship,

blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Spends three years at a
white-collar firm in DC

and then is
hand-picked by Kendrick

to join the UNR
legal department.

She spent the last
18 years there.

Doing what?

Kicking ass, mainly.

Starts in Litigation
working antitrust,

but quickly gets bumped up
to Associate General Counsel.

Kendrick championed Maddox.
He took her under his wing.

She's the only female
attorney in his company.

Then he added
"Vice-President" to her title,

but that's not all.
There's rumors.

About?

A relationship between
Kendrick and Maddox

that is less than professional.

Interesting.

But not substantiated.

Anything else?

Yeah.

I'm sorry, I fail
to see the strategy

in calling Walter Kendrick a
murderer on national television.

I'm trying to drive
down their stock price.

[DOOR OPENS]

FEMALE ASSISTANT: Ms.
Hewes, it's urgent.

Patty Hewes? Yes?

You've been served.

What is it?

[CHUCKLES]

It's a defamation suit.

UNR is suing me
for $200 million.

[SIGHS]

ELLEN: You're leaving?

Yeah. I just got called in.

I'm gonna see you later.

I love you.

I love you, too.

You're gonna look
sexy when you're bald.

[LAUGHING]

[ELLEN SCREAMS]

Sorry, I didn't mean
to frighten you.

I don't know if you remember me.

I live in 5E. I'm president
of the co-op board.

Yeah. Yeah, I
know who you are.

I'm very sorry for your loss.

I never really
got to know David,

but he seemed like a great guy.

Anyway, this was
delivered a while back.

I didn't have a
phone number for you

and you didn't leave
a forwarding address,

so I've been hanging onto it.

Thank you.

[DOOR OPENS]

[DOOR CLOSES]

The statements Ms.
Hewes made were true

and therefore she has
an absolute defense.

Ms. Hewes claimed my
client murdered a woman,

a woman whose actual
killer was incarcerated.

There's absolutely no way she
can prove her allegations.

All right, slow down.

This is true?

Your client believes Mr. Kendrick
murdered this Christine Purcell?

Not with his own hands.

But, yeah, Ms. Hewes believes

that Mr. Kendrick
commissioned this murder.

And what do the police
think of that theory?

The man who was arrested for Christine
Purcell's murder, Kevin Walker,

was killed in prison.

Assistant DA Deevers is
looking into his death.

And has found nothing.

So now you're accusing the
plaintiff of two murders?

The claim my client made,
the subject of this suit,

is the murder of
Christine Purcell.

CLAIRE: Mr. Kendrick
has never been accused

or even questioned by the police

about either of these deaths.

We'd be happy to
present our own evidence

that Mr. Kendrick
was involved.

Your own evidence?

This is an obvious stunt to present
their own so-called evidence

as a way of further
defaming my client.

Ms. Hewes, do you have
a response to that?

I defer to my attorney.

All right, listen. I
was tasked by the judge

to encourage a settlement here.

So let's get to it.
What's it gonna take?

Well, Ms. Maddox
should consider this:

if she pursues this action,

our only defense is to prove
these murder accusations.

Does she really want
that aired in open court?

And I think Mr. Shayes
should consider this:

if he can't prove my
client was responsible,

a jury is going to ram a $200
million bill up his client's ass.

Well, it seems to me you both
have incentive to come to terms.

[KNOCKS ON DOOR]

Are you busy?

I'm just doing some
red-lining for Tom. Why?

I'm starving.

David used to do most
of the cooking for us.

Phil's out of town. Just in case
you think I'm neglecting him.

He goes away so much.
It must be hard.

So is UNR serious about
this defamation suit,

or are they just trying
to intimidate you?

Walter Kendrick is serious
about everything he does.

We want his stock price
to keep falling, right?

Yeah, but the judge has ordered
the case into mediation.

He wants us to settle.

Do you have any idea what
else Kendrick is up to?

No, not yet.

WALTER: Use the
keys I gave you.

You told Patty
that I saw the guy?

I know how you feel about her,

but she has
resources we can use.

So what have you found out?

Nothing yet. But I'm
gonna hear something soon.

El, are you okay?
What's going on?

I went back to the apartment.

What? Why?

I needed to see it again.

When I was there I got a
package. It was from David.

What are you talking
about, Ellen?

He ordered it before he died.

It was delivered
to the building.

What was it?

It was my wedding present.

Oh, my God.

What did he give you?

I don't know.

I can't bring myself to open it.

I think I know what Patty
Hewes is angling for.

Tell me.

We both know why she
went on television.

To drive our stock price down.

Yes, but I've been thinking.

Her real goal may
be to file a lawsuit

on behalf of our shareholders.

She'll claim that
the stock took a hit

because of the merger
and poor management.

Well, I've already
reassured our shareholders.

And everyone's in line.

Patty can't sue us
without a plaintiff.

I think we should settle the
defamation suit before she finds one.

Why let her off the hook?

She knows she can't
beat me in court.

Right. So she'll be
motivated to make a deal.

No. She picked this fight.
I'm not letting this slide.

Walt, our stock won't recover

until Patty retracts
her statements.

I think we let her
off easy financially,

provided she admits that she had
no basis for her accusations.

That way we neutralize her
statements and avoid a long trial.

Walt, everyone's
got dirty laundry.

Do you really want Patty
Hewes going through yours?

Don't give her any more
time to find a plaintiff.

What are you doing for dinner?

[SCOFFS] That's your answer?

I don't want to talk
about this anymore.

I'm getting together with friends
tonight. You want to come along?

You need to decide. Are
you going to settle or not?

You'll have my
answer by dessert.

[ALL LAUGHING]

Ah! There's my lawyer.

Excuse me? What's your poison?

Vodka martini,
dirty, extra olive.

I put you over
there next to Mitch.

Mitch McCullen, Claire Maddox.

Hello.

Lovely to meet you, Claire.

Nice to meet you, too.

Demographically, the
entire nation is changing.

We'll all be in the minority
by 2040. But it's not just us.

The entire balance
of power in the world

is swinging hard towards Asia.

How does that make you feel?

Me, personally?

There is no one more endangered

than the American
Caucasian male.

[LAUGHS]

Excuse me. I've
gotta make a call.

WAITER: Your Manhattan.

I ordered an old-fashioned.

Are you sure?

He ordered an old-fashioned.

Forgive me, sir.
I'll be right back.

Doesn't seem too difficult.

You'd think he'd
get one drink right.

I'm gonna stretch my legs.

Would you like some company?

Oh. I'll just be
a few minutes.

So, what do you think?

I would've worn a shorter skirt

if I'd known I was
getting pimped out.

Oh, come on, Claire.

Mitch lost his wife three
years ago in a car accident.

He's not just looking
for a roll in the sack.

Of course, it doesn't hurt
he's got his own island.

I don't need help with
my personal life, Walt.

Give the guy a chance.

Okay, I will

if you give me an answer
about the settlement.

Our stock is still dropping.
Have you made up your mind?

I'm telling you, Walt, Patty's
gonna file a shareholder's suit.

Okay. Settle.

[SIGHING] It's a part
of Internal Affairs

called the Citizens
Review Board.

I filed a complaint.

A complaint? You can't
trust the police with this.

What was I supposed to do?

I told you I would handle it.

And nothing happened.

His name is Eliot Tolken.

He's been disciplined a half-a-dozen
times for excessive force.

Each time he keeps
getting reinstated.

Someone in the department is
clearly protecting this guy.

And can you get him arrested?

There's nothing
to arrest him for.

So Patty can't help
me then, can she?

We want to trace this
guy back to Frobisher,

then Patty's the one to do it.

What is it with you and
that woman? Katie...

David's murdered, and you go
right back to working with her.

You don't understand.
All I know is,

if you had never met Patty my
brother would still be alive.

You don't have to
blame me, okay?

I spend enough time
blaming myself.

Do you? Really?

Yes. And I am trying
to make things right.

How?

I can't explain it all.

This is such bullshit.

And you accuse me of not
dealing with reality?

I know what I'm
doing, Katie. Okay?

This is over your
head. Unbelievable.

I'm sorry, but there are
bigger things going on here.

Things that you
wouldn't understand.

Right, because you're a
lawyer and I'm an idiot.

Look, Katie, you got a
pretty shitty track record

of your life decisions,

so please just let
me handle this.

Go to hell.

Can you zip me?

Should I put on some
music? What do you like?

I like silence.

You smoke?

I used to.

Now I only smoke one at
the end of every day.

Only one? Only one.

No thanks. I smoke it alone.

That guy did order a
Manhattan, by the way.

[CAR ALARM BEEPS]

[ENGINE STARTING]

Ten million to Mr. Kendrick's
preferred charity.

Three.

Eight.

TOM: Four. CLAIRE: Seven.

TOM: Five.

Five is fine.

I think we have an agreement.

Always nice when
cooler heads prevail.

What is the charity?

The NRA.

[WALTER LAUGHING]

She's kidding. It's
Environment First.

A local West Virginia
organization.

It's perfect.

So, if you'll sign the
memorandum of agreement

we can send it right
on up to the judge.

PATTY: Five million to
charity. I feel good.

TOM: I'm surprised, it
could've been a lot worse.

They could've
destroyed us in court.

The only reason they settled

was to stop their stock
price from hemorrhaging

before we could
find a plaintiff.

Too late.

Claire Maddox. Yes.

You've been served.

What is that?

A lawsuit.

Patty Hewes has just sued us on
behalf of a major UNR shareholder.

Who?

Thank you for your discretion.

I didn't want all of my associates
to know we're working together yet.

You're welcome.

I think your little
tete-a-tete with Kendrick

gave him the extra
push we needed.

Listen, I will be
your plaintiff,

but we're not friends.
I don't like you.

Well, I'm just glad we
could help each other out.

I'm in this for me.

Understood.

ANSWERING MACHINE: Hey, this is
Katie. I'm not here. Leave a message.

[ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPS]

Katie. It's me.
Please call me back.

I'm so sorry. We need to talk.

[PHONE RINGING]

Patty?

I found a UNR shareholder

who's willing to
sue the company.

That's good news.

Claire Maddox will try to
get it thrown out of court,

but if we can get to
the discovery phase

we can find out what
Kendrick is hiding.

I look forward to it.

How are things going with Katie?

Good. Yeah, fine.

The policeman she saw. Hopefully
he'll lead back to Frobisher.

Shit. She filed a complaint?

It's not an issue. I have
friends in Internal Affairs.

If the CCRB kicks it upstairs

we'll find a way to
make it disappear.

All right.

But that doesn't mean
the problem goes away.

That's what I'm saying.

We need to do what we
should've done a long time ago.

Right.

MESSER: You really
should lock your door.

[GROANS]

Where is the
goddamned videotape?

I don't know.

What about David Connor?

Do I have to worry
about him? No.

There's nothing that
can get back to you.

[SHOWER RUNNING]

ELLEN: ♪ Just for a thrill

♪ You changed the
sunshine to rain

♪ Just for a thrill ♪

ELLEN: Wes? Is that you?

[CONTINUES HUMMING]

Wes?

♪ When I am through with you

♪ There won't be anything left

♪ When I am through with you

♪ There won't be anything left

♪ When I am through with you ♪