Damages (2007–2012): Season 5, Episode 9 - I Like Your Chair - full transcript

Previously on

I got some stuff
about how the military

is handling soldiers with PTSD.

I can get you interviews. I
can get you whatever you need.

If you do, then McClarenTruth
would love to help you.

I lied about Torben.
He is a very important

financial backer for
this organization.

Why would someone who
provided Princefield

with insider tips
also want to fund us?

I would never have
made this arrangement

if I had known you were
involved in that crime.



Soon it will be over.

You'll get everything
that was promised to you.

Tell Mr. Herreshoff
I'm not pleased.

You're saying your former
boss tried to kill you.

I believe she sent
someone to do it.

I think this is the blood
from the guy who attacked me.

We got a DNA match. His
name's Patrick Scully.

It seems he left town
several years ago.

So there's no way to locate him?

Who is this?

No, I don't know him.
I never saw him before.

If you think of anything
else, please give me a call.

I left Ellen Parsons'
card on the table.

Thank you for this.



The trial is scheduled
to start in a week...

and you haven't
deposed my clients.

I'm aware of that.

You've had plenty of time, so
if you ask for an extension,

I'll fight you on it.

I don't need an extension.

I'm looking forward to
the trial beginning.

I'll depose your
clients this week.

How many days?

One.

To depose three people?

One day should be sufficient.

One it is.

I see you're making quite
a splash in the news.

I understand some very big
clients may be coming your way.

Yes.

Be careful, Ellen.

A taste of success
can be tricky.

Why is that?

It makes failure that
much more... painful.

Thanks for the advice.

We're looking forward to
sharing our strategy with you.

Derivatives, long spread
commodities... it's all old news.

We don't want to compete on a
field littered with corpses.

The whole idea of Fund 23 is
to carve out virgin territory.

Find the 14-year-old girl who
will become the next supermodel.

Molto buono.

Well, I like what I've heard.

Thank you for the
private showing.

Beautiful works. Just
really beautiful.

It was my pleasure, really.

So we'll pick up your team
tomorrow morning at your hotel

and we'll go over
the details, okay?

Excellent. Ciao.

Ciao, arrivederci.Grazie.

That went well.
Cocksucker's on the hook.

If you and Bruce can't reel
him in tomorrow, you're fired.

So, uh, late lunch?

Someone told me about this
ristoranteon the Via Soldati.

Thanks, I'm going to
head back to the hotel.

I'm still fighting jet lag.
What are you doing later?

Bennett, I told you.

Come on. We're in Rome.

One last time. Let's
go out in style.

I got to go. I'll
see you tomorrow.

Well, that wasn't how I
thought this was going to go.

This your standard procedure?

You don't do this with everyone
who offers you information.

No, of course not.

What do you think?

It was nice.

I mean Fund 23.

If you see our internal
financials, there's a pattern

that can only be explained
by insider trading.

Well, if I'm gonna help you,
I'll need more evidence.

I can get you all
the documentation.

Channing, you up? Jesus.

No, it's okay. It's, uh...
It's one of my people.

What's going on? Ready
for your interview?

Guess you forgot, huh?

No, no, no, uh, I'll be ready.

Just ten minutes.

If we could expose Princefield,
that'd be a major coup for us.

However, there is one problem.

What?

You fucked her, Channing.

What in the name of
Christ were you thinking?

It won't be an issue. How
can you be such a child?

Do you have any
idea how many ways

this could blow up in our
face? You don't have to worry.

For eight years, I've had to
worry about everything you do.

Being your nanny has cost
me my wife, my daughter.

You're overreacting.

You don't get it, do you?

Naomi Walling is a source

at one of the biggest
investment banks in America.

If you had any idea what it
takes to be a real journalist,

you would understand how you
may just have compromised

this entire fucking
organization.

All right! What do
you want from me?

I want you to stop behaving
like a fucking half-wit.

You okay?

Yeah, fine.

Fine.

You want to be alone?

No.

Come on. Join me.

Give me one of those.

This leak was a good one.

Yeah, it was fun, huh?

The way it used to be.

This business with
Helmut Torben...

I don't know how it happened.

I vetted him, ran the same
background checks as always.

He appeared totally legit.

I'm sorry.

It's all right.

I know you have my best
interests at heart.

Nice grouping, especially
for a concealed-carry piece.

Chris teach you how to shoot?

No. Another guy
I used to know.

He taught you well.

So... what can I do for you?

Who is he? His name's
Patrick Scully.

He did some time for
burglary a few years back

and then he left the city.

And now you want me
to track him down.

Yeah.

That's his last known address.

What does this have to do
with the McClaren case?

It's not about the case.

It's personal.

Look, I like this job,

but I need to know what it
is I'm getting paid to do.

A few years ago, Scully
tried to kill me.

Shit.

And the police
investigation went nowhere.

I was just able to get
this information recently.

Look...

I can't get involved in some
vigilante revenge thing.

This guy is dangerous.

I need to know where he
is and what he's doing.

The importance of
Mr. McClaren's latest leak

cannot be overstated.

The U.S. military has routinely
subjected its own soldiers

to psychological abuse.

There have been demonstrations

outside the Pentagon
for three days straight.

Does Channing McClaren take
responsibility for this?

My client only
takes responsibility

for telling the truth.

These demonstrations
simply reflect

the American public's outrage
at learning the facts.

Mr. McClaren is being sued

by Patty Hewes for
wrongful death.

How do you think this latest
leak will affect the lawsuit?

I can't comment on the specifics

of the McClaren case,
but I will say this.

McClarenTruth is
going to continue

to hold corrupt institutions
responsible for their actions.

My client is not going
to be intimidated

by Patty Hewes'
scurrilous accusations.

Legally Brunette's on a tear.

I hear some major clients
are clamoring for her.

Good.

Good? What's good?

What is this, the
"harder they fall" gag?

Is that the Torben file?

Yeah.

There's an article in there
that makes interesting reading.

Anything I can work
with for the deposition?

See for yourself.

What's it been like at the
V.A. since the leak was posted?

It's strange to hear everyone
wondering who did it,

but... all the vets are glad
the information went public.

That must make you feel good.

Yeah, it does.

Seems like it was
okay for you, too.

I keep reading your quotes
in all the articles.

I feel guilty I've been
getting so much attention.

You're the one
who took the risk.

Wait a minute.
Where you going?

I've got to get some work
done on the deposition.

No, you don't.

Shit.

Sorry.

One sec.

Hey, Mom.

Okay, just calm down.

Tell me what's going on.

He keeps calling.

Every night.

Lecturing me,

telling me how stupid
I am for leaving.

Telling me I've
shamed the family.

Shamed the family?

He says I've humiliated him,

and he's embarrassed to be
seen at work, at church.

Here you go. Thank you, Chris.

Sure.

I'm gonna take a
walk, okay? Okay.

All right. Bye.

What happened tonight?

He came to the new
apartment, furious,

pounding on the door,

screaming for me to come home.

I was terrified.

Thought he was gonna
smash the door in.

What did you do?

I pretended I wasn't home.

But he...

sat outside my
door for two hours.

I watched him
through the peephole.

Finally... he left,
and I called you.

I'm so sorry.

I can't go back to
that apartment alone.

No, of course not. You're
staying here tonight.

No, I can't keep
bothering you. I...

It'll be easier for everyone
if I just go back to him.

Mom, you cannot give
in to him, okay?

That's the whole problem.
He doesn't respect you,

and he never will if you
don't stand up to him.

How am I supposed to do that?

So... Heh.

This is Parsons &
Associates, huh?

You even got a sign out front.

Good for you, kid.Thanks.

Why don't you sit, Dad?

Sit?

Uh-oh.

Sounds like I'm
gonna get a lecture.

I just want to talk.

Yeah, sure. Let's talk.

You have to leave Mom alone.

I'm sorry. What?

She needs time away from
you. I know it's hard, but...

No, it's disrespectful
is what it is.

Walking out the way she did.

Dad, I know this is hard
for you to understand...

Hey, don't talk down to me.

I'm going to say
what I need to say.

You've never respected Mom.

I've seen you call her
"stupid," "moron," "idiot."

'Cause she acts like
a moron sometimes.

She's tired of all the judgment,
the constant criticism.

No matter how hard she tries,
she can't do anything right.

Did you talk her into this?

No, Dad. She came to me.

What does she think she's
gonna do without me?

Support herself at a drugstore?

What's wrong with that?
Oh, give me a break.

She doesn't want
to be on her own.

She's throwing a
tantrum. That's all.

She wants attention,
just like your sister.

You honestly think that Mom
is just looking for attention?

Oh, you don't know.

Your mother is very
difficult to live with.

Dad...

I love you, I do, but you've
got to be fucking kidding me.

Don't you talk to me that way.

You're a nightmare to live with.

All she ever tried to do was
please you, make you happy,

even when you were
treating her like shit.

You watch what you say to me.

And it wasn't just
her, it was all of us.

We were all scared we were
gonna get yelled at, humiliated.

What, you think because
you've got your own office,

and your name's in the papers,
you can tell me what to do?

No, that's got
nothing to do with it!

Listen to me, big shot. Tell
your mother to come home

and to stop acting
like a fucking idiot.

Both Hewes and Parsons
are aware I gave monies

to the McClaren organization.

It is a goat fuck.

That's one way to put it, yes.

How the fuck did all
this information get out?

You said that Rutger Simon

was going to
contain the problem.

Obviously, he failed.

Failed? Or did he
intentionally let this happen?

Why would he? He's got
as much to lose as we do.

I'll be damned if I let
that impotent limey prick

take me down.

Regardless. Parsons cannot
afford to expose me.

It would jeopardize her case,
so taking action against her

would only increase the risk.

And Patty Hewes?

Hewes is focused on McClaren.

For now.

I don't know how long
we can rely on that.

MAN prime minister
says his country

is setting up a $10
billion credit line for...

infrastructure, new technologies

and green energy...

MAN the Hungarian
chemicals manufacturer

in a $1.6 billion deal.

In Serbia, the biggest
Chinese investment

is a $225 million bridge over
the Danube River in Belgrade.

Other projects in the region

include construction
of car and TV...

Hey.

Hey.

You got to the office early.

Yeah, I wanted to get a jump
start on the deposition.

Are you okay?

Yeah, fine.

Just feeling a little off.

It's been going on
for a few weeks.

Being outside helps.

Maybe you should go
and see a doctor,

get yourself checked out.

Look what I found.

That's a pigeon's nest.

Funny, you almost
never see those.

When did you first become
aware of Naomi Walling?

She contacted me
while I was in Rome.

She said she had knowledge
of insider trading

at Princefield Bank.

And did you express interest
in this information?

Absolutely.

But we informed her that
if she wanted to help

expose Fund 23, she would
need more documentation.

So she procured
additional evidence.

Then she asked for a
meeting in New York.

And did you meet?

No, I never met Ms. Walling.

My job was to help
coordinate the technical team

while we waited for the
Princefield information.

But we weren't sure the
information would arrive.

She was having second thoughts
about following through.

So I met with her.

Where did this
meeting take place?

The Montclair Hotel.

I was entirely unaware of it.

I didn't know they
met until weeks later.

I felt I had no choice.

Naomi wanted reassurance
face-to-face.

And in this meeting, you
sexually assaulted Ms. Walling?

We had no sexual
contact whatsoever.

The accusation is ludicrous.
That never happened.

She said she would go through
with the leak, and I left.

Thank you.

I have no more questions.

That's all?

That's all.

So we're done here?

I can go?

Uh, no.

No, Mr. Simon, not quite yet.

There's one more topic I'd
like to discuss with you.

Do you know this man?

Yes. His name's Helmut Torben.
He is one of our primary donors.

How did you meet Mr. Torben?

About a year ago, he
reached out to me.

He strongly believed in
what Channing was doing

and wanted to fund us.

I imagine when you take on a
new donor, you research them?

Extensively. Due
diligence can take months.

So I'm sure you
discovered that Mr. Torben

had a financial relationship
with Bennett Herreshoff,

the CEO of Princefield Bank.

No, I did not.

Mr. Simon, would you
look over this, please?

It's an article that appeared
in The Wall Street Journal

dated September 7, 1987.

Can you tell me what it says?

Apparently, 25 years ago,
Helmut Torben secured...

financiers for a hedge fund
run by Bennett Herreshoff.

May I see that?

Mr. Simon, you posted a leak

about insider
trading at Fund 23,

and your main donor
had financial dealings

with the CEO of the bank
that managed that fund.

Do you recognize that

as an enormous
conflict of interest?

Well, I suppose
one could say that.

But as I've said, I
had no knowledge of it.

Well, I find that
very hard to believe.

It's your responsibility to
oversee finances, correct?

Yes.

So either this was an egregious
oversight on your part

or something more
sinister was involved.

Objection. Please refrain
from lecturing the witness.

Ask a question.

When you brought on
Mr. Torben as a donor,

were you simply negligent

or were you intentionally
serving his agenda?

What agenda would that be?

If Mr. Torben wanted to
discredit Naomi Walling,

wouldn't the leak of
her personal information

accomplish just that?

We would have no reason to
participate in such a thing.

So your negligence
wasn't devious.

Certainly not. Just
wildly incompetent.

I didn't say that. You
haven't said anything.

Because you can't explain
yourself, can you?

I promise you, Mr. Simon,
I will pursue this matter

through the trial and beyond.

If you are aware Mr. Torben
played any role in this leak,

you better tell me now.

I'm aware of nothing.

No more questions.

What can I do for
you, Ms. Parsons?

Let's start with insider
trading at Fund 23.

You supplied the stock tips.

That is a bare falsehood.

I'm not interested in
your denials, Mr. Torben.

And Patty Hewes won't be either.
She deposed Mr. Simon today.

It didn't go well.

So perhaps you can explain
why you would fund a Web site

that could expose your
own illegal activity.

I told you...

I provided no tips.Bullshit.

Did Rutger Simon know
about the insider trading?

I can't protect you
unless I know the truth.

My dear, you know
all you need to know.

You're a criminal, Mr. Torben.

And, unfortunately, we have
similar interests right now.

But that could very well change.

Why would that change?

Because Patty Hewes may try and
enlist you against McClaren.

And she can be very persuasive.

I have long experience
resisting the charms of women.

Good.

Because if you do find a
way to fuck up my case...

I'll go to my friends
at the D.A.'s office

and you'll go to prison.

What we doing out here?
It's fucking freezing.

I read the transcript
of your deposition.

Did you know Torben had a
relationship with Herreshoff?

No, of course not.

I don't know if I believe you.

Why? Because Patty Hewes slings
accusations in a deposition?

No. Because she asked you
questions you couldn't answer.

So what do you think, Channing?

Hmm? That I conspired with
Torben and Herreshoff?

For what? Why would I do that?

I don't know. But
if nothing else,

you failed the organization
when you brought Torben in.

After everything I've done.

You had nothing when you met me.

You were a clueless kid
with a genius for computers.

And how do you thank me?

By behaving like
a reckless prick,

using the celebrity
that I created for you

to throw a hump at every piece
of scut that looks your way.

You sound a little
jealous, Rutger.

Fuck off.

McClarenTruth has always
been more mine than yours.

You know that as well as I do.

You're fired.

Fired? You having a laugh?

How are you gonna run the
organization without me?

Just you and your
little Aussie fuckbuddy?

We'll manage. How? What
will you do for funds?

We have funds. How
you gonna access them?

I can't write a check
without your signature,

same as you can't write
a check without mine.

Why do you think I
arranged it that way?

Whatever it is that
you think you created,

without my name, my
face, you're nothing.

So fuck you.

I'm Channing McClaren.

Where I go, the Web
site goes with me.

Come in.

Found Patrick Scully.

Where? Right here in the city.

He came back? How do you know?

You were right. That
old lady lied to you.

Stefania McKee does know him.

Scully's been there twice.
Brought her groceries.

Where's he staying?

Tailed him to a
place in Marine Park.

What now?

I need you to follow him.

Track his movements.
Around the clock.

Money's not an issue.
Whatever you need.

Okay.

Just don't let him
out of your sight.

He won't come anywhere near you.

I care about Channing.

I do.

But I care about the
organization more.

I can't protect him any longer.

What exactly are you
protecting him from?

I'm not sure where to begin.

Why don't you begin with Rome?

Rome. Right.

As you know, that's where
Channing first met Naomi.

She'd contacted him directly,

and he met her
without my knowledge.

I should have stopped
all of this then.

If you had any idea what it
takes to be a real journalist,

you would understand how you
may just have compromised

this entire fucking
organization.

All right! What do
you want from me?

I want you to stop behaving
like a fucking half-wit.

It won't happen again.

It better not.

But I'm not
abandoning this leak.

It's too big. Too important.

Yeah, all right, fine.

But from here on out, Walling
interacts only with me.

So, you agreed to go
forward with the leak.

Unfortunately, yes.

And back in New York,

what really happened
at the Montclair Hotel?

I wasn't there, so I
can't say for sure.

But I saw Channing
right afterwards.

Where were you?

I fucked up. Why? What happened?

Uh, Naomi Walling
contacted me again, uh...

She wanted to meet.

And did you?

Yes.

Jesus, Channing... She's angry.

I'm afraid she's gonna go to
the police, say I assaulted her.

Why the hell would she say that?

She came onto me. Things
got out of control.

Channing... If she
calls the police,

if you get arrested... It
was a misunderstanding.

That won't matter. You were
alone with her in a hotel room.

All she has to do is accuse you.

Your enemies can then
use that to destroy you.

I need the codes you gave
her to upload the leak.

What for? Just
give me the codes.

And did you give him the codes?

Stupidly, yes.

We received the leak.

We scoured it, vetted it.
It was all legitimate.

But later that night, I
saw Channing at his laptop.

So, Channing posted
Naomi's emails.

Yes.

How did he get them?

He's a master. He simply
hacked into her system.

Why did he do it?

To discredit Naomi Walling.

If she was going
to go to the police

and accuse him of
sexual assault,

he wanted to paint her
as a Wall Street slut.

Mr. Simon, why are you
telling me all this?

I'll testify for you
against Channing,

but I want something in return.

What's that?

I believe deeply in our cause.

If I give you Channing, I want
the organization to continue.

And I want to run
it. Responsibly.

But I'm going to need funding.

I think we can come
to an arrangement.

Open the door.

Where is she? She's not here.

Bullshit. You're
wasting your time.

I know you're protecting
her. Yes, I am.

She's in a hotel. Which one?

I'm not telling you.
Which fucking hotel?

Gary, stop, please.

Jesus, Mom, go
back to your room.

So now you're lying for
her? Don't blame Ellen.

Believe me. You're
the one I blame.

Okay, Dad, just leave her alone.

You file for divorce, and
you don't even tell me?

I have to find out
through the fucking mail?

Okay, Dad, you can leave.

Shut up! You listen to me.
There's not gonna be a divorce.

Just go. We'll talk later.
You're gonna come home now.

She's staying here.

Stop acting like a fucking
child and come home.

Dad, I'm warning you...
You mind your own business!

You come with me now,

or I'm gonna drag your
fat ass out of here.

Okay, okay, just stop yelling.

Dad. Shut up!

Get the fuck out!

Ellen!

Get out!

What the hell are you doing?

You think you're gonna
kill your father?

Kill you? No.

But New York State Law
recognizes the justifiable use

of proportional force
in self-defense.

So I could certainly shoot you
if you don't get out of here.

The arm. Leg.

Where do you want it, Dad?

I promise you I won't miss.

This isn't over.

I'm not abandoning this leak.
It's too big, too important.

Yeah, all right, fine.

But from here on out, Walling
interacts only with me.

Mr. Simon.

Thank you for meeting with me.

Your phone call
piqued my interest.

Can't imagine what McClarenTruth
would want with me.

We've been approached by
a source who has evidence

of insider trading
at Princefield,

specifically, your
Fund 23 division.

What do you want
with me, Mr. Simon?

I have a proposal for you.

Channing McClaren already
knows about the leak,

so I can't stop it, but
I'm offering you the chance

to get ahead of the tsunami.

I can delay the leak long enough
for you to build a firewall,

distance yourself
from the trading.

And in exchange, you want...?

I want to get rid of
Channing McClaren.

Once he's gone,

I want funding to keep
the organization afloat.

How do you intend
to get rid of him?

By including the identity
of the source in the leak.

Channing's entire persona
is built upon the promise

of absolute anonymity
for the whistle-blower.

If he violates that,
he'll be ruined.

May I ask the source's name?

Naomi Walling.

Thanks for the heads-up.

You okay? I'm fine.

What do you want from me?

I know who you
are, Mr. Scully.

And apparently,
you know who I am.

Never seen you
before in my life.

Strange.

Seeing as you tried to kill me

when I was staying in
Patty Hewes' apartment.

Why did you do it?

Look...

I ended up with a
knife in my chest.

I'd say we're even.

We're not even.

You want to hurt me, go ahead.

Put one in the back
of my fucking head.

Just do it already.

That wouldn't make
us even, either.

Well, then what do you want?

I want to know who hired you.

You see this?

I had it on me that day.

You see that corner
that's missing?

I had the blood on that tested.

And guess what?

It's your DNA.

I know you started a
new life, Mr. Scully,

and you have a wife, a kid...

but if you don't tell
me what I want to know,

then it's all over.

You'll never see them again.

I have two homicide detectives
just waiting for my call.

So let me ask you again.

Who hired you?

Patty Hewes.

Ms. Hewes will be
with you in moment.

Thank you.

I like your chair.

Thought I'd give it a try.

I need a new one for my office.

No, no, no, don't get up. Sit.

See how it feels.

I wasn't aware that we had
any outstanding business.

We don't.

I didn't think I'd see you
before the trial started, and...

I wanted to wish you luck.

Well...

Good luck to you.

It's what we wanted, isn't it?

A fair fight.

Head to head in a courtroom.

Absolutely.

You know, I'm actually
glad you came by,

because there's something I
wanted to talk to you about.

What's that?

Our conversation in
the airport in Maine.

What about it?

Well, as I told you then...

I didn't have anything
to do with your attack.

But...

But?

But I can understand
why you thought I did.

And I want to apologize
if I was insensitive.

I was just... surprised...

that you still thought
I'd been involved.

I should be apologizing to you.

I feel stupid.

'Course you had
nothing to do with it.

And I'm sorry.

Ah, I just had a premonition.

Of what?

This is the last time you'll
ever set foot in this office.

Maybe.

You never know.