Partner Track (2022–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - Material Adverse Change - full transcript
[upbeat music playing]
[distant siren blares]
[upbeat music continues]
[woman 1] Newton's first law of motion.
An object at rest, stays at rest.
And an object in motion, stays in motion.
Basically, bodies keep on doing
what they're doing.
It's simple.
If you want to accelerate,
you need more force.
I love laws. In physics and in life.
So I became a lawyer.
[upbeat music continues]
And why Mergers and Acquisitions?
Because I've always wanted to be the best.
The toughest,
smartest corporate lawyers do M&A.
And a girl like me really needs
to stay tough in a city like this.
See? Exhibit A.
[scoffs]
I know if I work harder than anyone else,
apply more force, I'll make partner.
They say being on the partner track
- is how you find out who you really are.
- [mobile rings]
[upbeat music continues]
Sorry. I'm coming up now. Sorry, I'm...
- [woman 2] You're doing it again.
- What? Oh right.
Guys never apologize. Sorry.
You know what else guys never do?
Apologize for apologizing.
It's Waffle Wednesday.
You know I love waffles,
but forget me. Save yourself.
Don't think I won't.
I've sold my soul
for a lot less than artisanal baked goods.
I need a new case, stat.
What? I just wrapped the Weiland deal.
I need to staff ASAP.
[ticket machine chimes]
You have seriously worked nonstop
for six years.
It's in the bag.
M&A's only promoting two,
maybe three junior partners this year.
Right. You, Dan, and Todd.
Maybe. We're neck and neck.
- [elevator chimes]
- Oh.
Look. I just need
one more heavyweight to lock it in.
You won't lose junior partner
'cause you're not staffed for one day.
I've been for two weeks.
Objection. Motive.
- You want to coast.
- Mm-hmm.
[sighs]
- Girl, you need to relax.
- Look, I can't.
I have to land a major deal
before they decide who's making partner.
[woman 2] I'm in Litigation,
but if you want intel on deal flow,
your Mean Girls should have the hot goss.
She turns around,
she was a total bakkushan.
- [man 1] Oh.
- Oh God. What is a bakkushan?
A wide margin on the face-body quotient.
As used in a sentence,
"The bar was so dark,
Dan didn't notice his date
was a bakkushan until it was too late."
It means she looked
like you from the back.
But Dan from the front.
- To my disappointment, she wasn't you.
- Clearly. She was on a date with you.
- [men chuckle]
- Are you coming?
- There's Marty Adler.
- And half the management committee.
It's hard to carry this firm
on my shoulders, guys. [Chuckles]
Looks like Marty's rain dance paid off.
Marty's not a rainmaker, he's a kingmaker.
Whoever gets on his deal
wins the golden ticket.
They're still promoting everyone
who's tracking, right?
What do you have
to worry about, Mr. Gretchen Landrus?
[chuckles sarcastically]
- Then there's London Boy.
- Yeah, we got a new transfer.
Into M&A? Now?
And I'm stuck on that Pharma Co. Deal.
Whichever of you gets to work with Marty
will be guaranteed to make partner.
That would be me.
You know I love all you bakkushans, but...
this one's mine.
[elevator chimes]
- [sighs]
- Go. Land that deal.
Waffles, anyone?
I have your mother on the line.
I'll call her back later,
and I need all the intel
on Marty Adler's new deal.
[upbeat music playing over headphones]
[woman 3] Your new paralegal.
The hell is this?
HR finally realized that giving Ingrid
all the paralegals of color may be racist.
So, this week, she got...
Get your feet off the goddamn desk.
She graduated number two
in her class at Harvard Law,
while your ass
was probably flunking Colgate.
Show some freakin' respect.
[upbeat music continues over headphones]
[knocks on door]
What, no waffles?
Something way better.
So, who was that Brit you met
all those years ago at Rose cliff?
Rose cliff. Jane and Tony's wedding?
Yeah, you were Maid of Honor
at that disaster, but you said you met...
Bogie.
[gentle music plays]
Yeah.
[gentle moans]
And you guys...
[moans]
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
And you said it was an instant connection.
Fireworks. Upstairs bedroom.
He asked me if I meant
what I said in my toast.
About soul mates.
"Belief in true love
is the same as believing in God"
because you believe in... [inhales]
"...destiny."
That's when he said you had chocolate
on your lips and kissed you.
And then he said,
"Not chocolate, marzipan..."
- "Pineapple."
- "Pineapple." It was nice.
"Nice"?
Girl, you said "love at first sight."
You were using soul mate-level language.
He was leaving for London the next day.
- So we agreed "no names, no questions."
- Uh-huh.
[whimsical music playing]
Where did you get that?
The waffle station.
Mm-hmm.
Are you okay?
What is he doing here?
The love of your life from how long ago?
Okay. He's not the love of my life.
- Six years ago.
- Oh my God, Ingrid.
This is exactly what you need.
We're gonna be 30, and you've dated
a grand total of three guys.
Three. My 13-year-old niece has more
experience than you, which is not cool.
[chuckles]
Seriously, Ingrid... [scoffs]
...life is not just about making partner.
You gotta get out there and live a little.
I will. After I make junior partner.
Speaking of,
I've got a department meeting.
Good luck with you-know-who.
And I don't mean Marty Adler.
[scoffs]
I want this deal. I'm your guy.
[man 2] Tyler,
we all want you on this case,
but we need a reason to take Gavin off.
Okay. Hey, look.
Not only have I pitched six new clients,
I started reading Vogue, Teen Vogue,
and Women's Wear Daily when I was 11.
I know Alexander McQueen
didn't know couture until Givenchy,
and unlike Gavin Dunmore, I actually know
the difference between polyester and wool.
[man 2] Fine. It's yours.
You won't be sorry.
Luxe for Raymond Vanderlin.
Yes! Remember when
you're running Luxury Goods,
I want a huge discount
on all client products.
Girl, you won't need it
because you'll be running this place.
By the way, can you believe there is not
one but two Asian American first-years?
Wait. What?
Don't they annihilate each other
in a flash of energy and release a photon?
Come say hi to the kids
at the reception tonight.
Uh-uh!
Not if I get on Marty Adler's new deal.
- [telephone ringing]
- [exhales]
I'm so sorry. [Scoffs]
[gentle music plays]
Hey.
Hi. [Chuckles]
Ingrid.
Ingrid Yun?
Jeff Murphy. It's a pleasure to meet you.
We've met. Jane and Tony's wedding?
Oh, that's right. Of course. Yeah.
- You don't remember.
- No, I do. Of course, I do.
No. You had on that dress, right?
Very pretty dress.
Oh, that pink thing?
That's the one. Yeah.
It was blue.
[inhales, scoffs] Ooh.
Well, I had a lot to drink that night.
Apparently.
I didn't do anything embarrassing, did I?
No. You were an absolute gentleman.
[whimsical music plays]
Was I?
Is that letter
or spirit of the law, Counselor?
Clearly you're not compos mentis,
so I'll let you off with a warning.
- This time.
- How magnanimous of you.
[whimsical music continues]
[sighs]
You're the transfer from London.
Guilty as charged.
I take it you're in M&A too.
What year are you in?
- Sixth.
- So you're the competition.
- Don't flatter yourself.
- You think you're that good?
Better.
Yun, should we be jealous?
Jeff Murphy.
Just transferred from across the pond.
- Dan Fall on.
- Todd Ames. You're from London?
- Um, well, thereabouts.
- I used to summer in Kent.
Oh yeah.
I spent a lot of time in Knole Park.
I'm Hunter, like the green.
[Murphy] Nice to meet you, Hunter.
[man 3] Mr. Adler.
Ma... Marty. Marty Adler.
- [Dan] Oh God.
- I'm Caleb Sanders.
I'm a first-year here at Parsons.
I am really excited to be here. [Chuckles]
May I ask a question?
Don't fucking ask permission
to ask a question.
Just ask the fucking question.
- [chuckles] Of course.
- [man 4] Come on, man
So in intellectual property law,
we studied the Lexion-Huntsman case,
and how you handled
the patent issues was brilliant. And I...
Stop. Stop talking.
Sanders, right?
No one's buying
your wide-eyed ingénue act.
- It's manipulative and a cliché.
- [chuckles]
And stop laughing. It's making me mad.
Laughter is a coward's expression of fear.
Bye.
You know, I've asked them
to move this paragraph three times.
They really should
go over Marty Adler in orientation.
- [whistling]
- [vocalizing]
- Sorry.
- Read your audience, pal.
- [Hunter] Beautiful.
- You in for bingo?
- Sure. I'll go with "kick the tires."
- I'm going with "circle the wagons."
- "Knock it out of the park" for me.
- 20 bucks buy-in.
Whoever's Phrase that Pays
gets spoken first, wins. Feeling lucky?
Sure. Let's go with "slippery slope."
I thought you were the competition.
Fair enough.
How about "align incentives."
No. "Boil the ocean."
Ah, I don't know. "Most impactful."
- You did that last time.
- And it's not really a phrase.
All right, people.
Take your seats, please.
Let's go, you wanna work today or what?
Let's start with the Alcor deal.
Last week,
we went in, we kicked the tires,
this week,
we're gonna take this baby out for a spin.
Which reminds me.
I want you to take care
of the shell corporation
that we talked about this morning.
I need to take a deposition
for my effing uncle. Okay?
On to new business.
Sun Corp, big-time energy conglomerate
in Houston, is acquiring Min Enterprises.
A clean-tech play for 2.9 billion.
[Dan] Whoo! That's real money.
[Marty] This deal
could make or break our year.
So nobody breathes a word of this.
- Are you available, Fall on?
- Willing and able.
[Marty] Excellent.
I can draft up a quick and dirty NDA,
get that signed ASAP.
Great, Yun. So, Fall on, I want you
to sit in on the kickoff this afternoon.
Ted Lassiter, Sun Corp CEO,
is coming at three o'clock.
- Love to.
- [Marty] Great.
I worked on an oil
and gas client last year,
Chevron divested its holdings
in Mexico's Royale Oil.
So I know all about family-owned energy
and all those tricky regulatory issues.
Great. Yes, Yun,
you sit in on the kickoff as well.
Make sure we're ready
to go at three o'clock.
Absolutely. Yes. My pleasure.
And remember,
this deal is highly confidential.
If anything leaks, the deal is done.
If this gets out, I will fucking
tear up your license myself.
We have billable hours.
Let's work. Come on.
[Dan] He's talking about you.
He looked at me?
This will be fun.
Why don't you run that NDA by me
before the meeting?
Sure, Dan. Should I tell you
when I take a shit too?
Oh, vulgar.
Come on, Yun. Don't be like that.
One of us has to run point,
and Marty called on me first, so...
I look forward to reviewing that NDA.
- Did he just call you a paralegal?
- [sighs]
Sometimes I just wanna punch Dan Fall on
in his smug, entitled face.
Welcome to the jungle, London.
Oh, don't worry.
- I can see who the real competition is.
- [Ingrid sighs]
[chuckles softly]
[gentle music playing]
[Ingrid] Justin, they're coming soon.
Get off your phone.
You're early.
If you're early, you're on time.
If you're on time, you're late.
Punctuality is a virtue.
Ted Lassiter.
Hey. Um, Justin Coleman.
[Lassiter] Justin, nice to see you.
When you get a sec,
can we get some Pellegrino brought up?
Of course. Justin, please call
dining services and let them know.
Yeah.
Well, shoot. [Chuckles]
Ingrid Yun.
I'm the senior associate on the deal.
It's great to meet you, Ted.
Ted Lassiter. No hard feelings, I hope.
You just don't look a day over 18 to me.
You folks are lucky that way, right?
- [scoffs]
- This is my general counsel.
That's Mark Traynor.
- Ted. [Chuckles]
- [Lassiter] Marty!
- Good to see you.
- Good to see you.
How are you, Mark?
This is Dan Fall on, senior associate.
- Hi.
- [Lassiter] Hi, Dan.
You've met Ingrid Yun.
Brought my best and my brightest for you.
Shall we?
[Dan] Ted, when I was on MacKenzie,
I ran so many Liquid Natural Gas models,
I was dreaming accretion
and dilution analysis in my sleep.
[Lassiter chuckles]
It always helps to have someone
who knows how we run the numbers.
So, what's happening with their top execs?
Most of 'em are parachuting out,
but we are mainly interested
in keeping Jack Barstow on.
- Franklin Min's right-hand man.
- That's right
Barstow spent three years slaving away
to get their
offshore drilling ops running.
And now he learns
old man Min's lookin' to sell?
I bet he's pissed.
Barstow was seen meeting
with Ken Fox of Chevron on Monday.
If you want Barstow,
we definitely need a key-man provision.
What'd I tell you, Ted?
The best and the brightest.
[exhales]
[Lassiter chuckles, thuds table]
- It's a problem.
- There's no problems here today.
I know you're new,
but paralegals are supposed to sit
by the wall, not at the table.
Okay. Whatever.
Ted, your junior year game
against the Bulldogs is legendary.
Five goals,
four assists, six caused turnovers.
- You play?
- I was a midfielder.
- Gerri Hayes was our head coach.
- No kidding.
Gerri was our assistant coach
back in the day.
Gerry's my man.
He actually retired a few years ago.
But I see him every year at the game.
- [Lassiter] Well, say hi to him for me.
- Will do.
All right. Go Crimson.
[chuckles]
"Go Crimson."
[Ingrid] Do you think Marty
will be at the first-year drinks?
Don't change the subject.
Jeff Murphy doesn't remember you?
If he does, he's not letting on.
Are we talking
about Mr. Pineapple Marzipan?
Be careful with that one, Ing.
Wait. What? Just this morning you were all
about true love and soul mates.
Before I learned
he was pretending not to remember.
I don't care if he's the devil.
When's the last time
our girl's been hot and bothered?
When she found out she could take
Trusts and Estates and IP as a 2L.
Or when they extended
the library hours to 24/7?
Or when the Law Review
went monthly instead of quarterly?
Or when the Law Rev...
Okay, okay, okay! I get it.
But he doesn't remember,
so even if I wanted to,
it's clear he doesn't feel the same.
Ugh, I need a drink.
[gentle piano music playing]
[Ingrid] Hi, Javi.
Thank you.
Ingrid. Such an old-fashioned name.
[Ingrid clears throat]
My parents saw Casablanca
on their first date.
So you're a workaholic and a romantic.
The film's about doing the right thing.
We're in M&A.
Not a lot of room for that sort of thing.
Thank you.
So you're a cynic.
Idealism doesn't pay the rent.
So you're in it for the money.
What else?
[gentle piano music continues]
What?
Like you need it.
Oh Come on, Murphy.
You summer in Kent just like...
just like him.
[Dan] I know.
What's this world coming to?
I'm nothing like him, Ingrid.
I've always been
on the outside looking in.
Just like you.
[chuckles]
Tell me, why are you in law?
[clears throat]
- Laws are what we value.
- Mm-hmm.
Murder is bad.
Stealing is bad.
Forgetting people you met
at a wedding is bad.
Is that illegal in the States?
It should be.
[gentle piano music continues]
[mobile vibrates]
Francine. Jesus,
it's more old-fashioned than Ingrid.
And reading other people's texts
is definitely illegal.
[gentle piano music continues]
[Dan] London.
[sighs]
See you around, Miss Bergman.
[scoffs]
- [man 5] Can I get an Old-Fashioned?
- [Javi] Yep.
You look way too nice
to be friends with Dan.
[scoffs] The wise learn the most
from their enemies.
Are you a philosopher or a lawyer?
Yes.
[chuckles]
You... you remind me of a professor I had.
He was into philosophy and law.
Thomas Nagel.
Wait. The Thomas Nagel?
- You know him?
- [Ingrid chuckles]
He was my thesis advisor on new theories
of the mind, starting with his essay...
- "What Is It Like to Be a Bat?"
- Yes!
[both chuckle]
I was obsessed with the mind-body problem.
Nick Laren.
Ingrid Yun.
So, uh, what? What is it like
to be Ingrid Yun?
Hmm. That's the problem.
No matter how close you and I ever get,
you can never truly know
what it's like to be me.
- Or I you.
- Right.
The red I see will never
be the same red you see, so why bother?
Right. I've no way of knowing
if my brain isn't in a vat somewhere
and all this isn't just some simulation.
I had a serious case
of solipsism in college.
That was before I realized
we're all here by sheer happenstance,
an accident of string theory,
a hiccup on a probability function.
But I tell myself, in the face
of the heat death of the universe
that we must supply our own light
and our own wine.
- I'll drink to that.
- [both chuckle]
[gentle piano music continues]
[mobile vibrates]
Sorry. Back to the salt mines.
Hey. So I know
that free will is just an illusion,
but what are you doing Friday?
Hopefully not babysitting my paralegal.
I'm going to a thing at the Plaza.
Would you like to join me?
Oh, um...
[woman 4 chuckles]
[indistinct whispers]
Yes. I'd love to. [Chuckles]
Great.
See you Friday.
- Great.
- If the simulation doesn't crash before.
- Right.
- [both chuckle]
["Again" by CATT playing]
♪ Again I couldn't keep the words
That I have promised to myself ♪
♪ Again my mind is not like books
I put in order in a shelf ♪
♪ Again I started every little step
The wrong way 'round ♪
♪ Right now, I wouldn't listen
To my disharmonic sound... ♪
[woman] Ingrid,
have you heard from Marlena?
[in Korean] I called three times,
but she didn't pick up.
[in English] I just want
to be sure she's okay.
Hey. It's Lina. Leave a message.
- Namaste, bitches.
- [voicemail beeps]
Hey. It's me. Mom's worried about you.
Just let her know you're okay.
♪ Why, why would I be talking
To the person ♪
♪ Staring back at me in the mirror ♪
[podcast host] So next,
what is a MAC clause?
A MAC clause
is a Material Adverse Change clause.
It's a change in circumstance that affects
a bargain after the deal is signed,
but before it's been closed.
Something like an embargo,
or a new tax law, or a regulatory change...
[Ingrid] I want all the phase-one
and phase-two reports.
The full set, not abridged.
The IP agreements
and the lease and will docs too.
Why aren't you writing this down?
- [knocks on door]
- [door opens]
Sorry to interrupt.
Your mother's on the line. Sounds urgent.
I've put her through on your cell.
[in Korean] Mom, we texted yesterday.
Have you actually talked to her?
No, but...
[in English] No one has talked to her
in three days, Ingrid.
Okay. I'll check on her.
[sighs]
I want those docs by one o'clock.
Yes, ma'am.
[sirens wailing in the distance]
Hey, it's me. Again.
Look, I'm outside your building.
If you don't call me back in 5 minutes...
Where are you? Text me you're alive,
or I'll have to tell Mom.
If you're on time, you're late.
Marty Adler dropped by.
- When?
- [woman 3] An hour ago.
I told him you'd be right back,
but I think he went looking for Dan.
[Dan] He shoots! He shoots!
Go fetch.
[Todd] I wanna be a baller, man.
[Dan] He shoots! He shoots!
Aw, Yun, that was a perfect three-pointer.
- Did Marty stop by?
- Yeah. You just missed him.
What did he want?
Just checking in,
running through any potential red flags.
I thought that was the two o'clock.
Yeah. We just did it over lunch.
- So what were the red flags?
- You know, land lease stuff...
Blah, blah, blah.
He was interested in what
could come outta left field.
Did he mean "intangibles"
like "goodwill" assets?
The Mins have a very valuable brand
and great relationships
with their suppliers.
Ball.
Relax. I got it covered.
You know that Plaza thing
you're going to with Nick tomorrow night?
I asked Rachel to go with me,
and she flat-out said no.
Is it because I'm not Jewish?
It's because you're an arrogant ass, Dan.
Yeah. Women love that.
She likes the artsy type.
I don't know, maybe we're attracted
to what we wanna be, but we aren't.
Speaking of which, you have
an awesome dress for tomorrow, right?
I was gonna go out and buy one,
but it's tight. We have Sun Corp tomorrow.
Like I said, Yun, relax.
I got it covered.
I'm coming for you! Hey!
MVP, back in the game!
All right, all right, all right.
Check it up, check it up.
Sorry, Marty. Didn't mean to interrupt.
I just wanted to drop off
the executed NDA. Sorry I missed...
Lassiter is moving tomorrow up
to 9:00 a.m. Is that gonna be a problem?
No. No problem.
Be around later if I need you?
- Yes. I'll be here all night.
- Good.
Anytime, Marty.
[Marty] Roberta?
[phone line ringing]
[Nick] Ingrid. Uh, hi. [Chuckles]
I'm sorry. I can't make it tomorrow.
Aw, you got a better offer?
Damn. That Tom Nagel
does know how to cut a rug.
Just come out for an hour.
I'll have you back at the office
before you can say "epistemology."
I'd love to, but I'm sorry.
I really am.
Look, um... [clears throat]
...we... we at the philosophy department
have very specific taste.
You'd be surprised how hard it is
to find someone so conversant
in mind-body theory, so...
we won't be filling the position
with any other candidates.
If you change your mind, swing by.
Thanks.
["All the Troubled Hearts"
by Hiatus feat. Daudi Matsiko playing]
♪ Trouble is a force
You think you understand ♪
♪ Everything that rises falls ♪
♪ But nothing on the sea
Is nothing on the sand ♪
♪ Everywhere the darkness calls ♪
♪ I'm gonna make it up to you somehow ♪
[podcast host] In the context
of lending transactions,
a clause which acts
as a catch-all provision
and aims
to allow the lender to call a default
if there's an adverse change in
the borrower's position or circumstance...
["All the Troubled Hearts" fades out]
Ted, Mark brought me up to speed
about your budgetary concerns.
I had two senior associates on the matter
to make sure
we were steering the ship correctly.
But going forward, we will keep just one.
- [Lassiter] Much appreciated.
- [Marty] So...
For starters, I think we should add in
language about intangible goodwill assets.
Min's brand is very valuable and they have
good relationships with key suppliers.
[Marty] Good idea. Thank you, Dan.
I don't see a MAC clause.
A Material Adverse Change clause.
It's a change in circumstance
that affects a bargain
after a deal's signed,
but before it's closed.
Something like an embargo,
or a new tax law, or regulatory change.
It's always good
to have a well-defined MAC clause.
Mm-hmm. And speaking of regulatory,
my buddy, Winston, is actually at
the Department of Energy, in fossil fuels.
Winston and I were in the Spee together.
He's a very good friend,
and it never hurts
to have a friendly face at the DOE.
Well, that could be very valuable indeed.
Of course,
that would all have to be official.
Of course.
Okay. I think it makes sense
to have Dan stay on and run point.
Thank you, Yun. So we have a few...
Thank you, Yun.
[Marty] I wanna get into the stock price.
I wanna get into the shell corporations,
I wanna get into the oil business.
You stole my idea.
"Intangibles"? "Goodwill assets"?
You cheated.
Not really.
Just different rules.
[door opens]
Hey. Sorry, just got your text.
I'm off the Sun Corp deal.
Dan won.
Fair play or lacrosse?
He's got some Finals Club buddy
who works at the Department of Energy.
Sun Corp was my ticket to making partner.
I'm sorry, Ing.
- Maybe next year.
- We both know it's up-or-out here.
If I don't make partner,
everyone will know I couldn't cut it.
I can't just lateral over to another firm.
I'll be like Tara Grottaglia and go
in-house at a urinary-device company.
I'll be... I'll be nobody.
Ugh! I mean, who do I have to be
to win here? Dan Fall on?
I play the game
as well as he does. Better.
Turns out they play by different rules.
I get it, Ing.
You know I do.
Oh God.
I've wanted this more than anything.
Ever since I first saw New York.
What am I supposed to do?
I don't know.
But look on the bright side.
You're free to have fun tonight
with us at the Plaza.
[sighs]
I canceled. [Sobs]
- And I don't have a dress.
- [sighs]
Guess who I'm calling?
["Give It to Me" by Animal Island playing]
[groans]
♪ You jump, I say higher ♪
♪ You wanna know who set the fire... ♪
I do live for this. I'm moving for this.
- Okay.
- Let's do this one.
- Well, I don't like that.
- But we must do...
That! Yes, yes.
[Tyler] We must do a pink.
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
- I love this.
- Me too.
- Drama. Audrey Hepburn vibe.
- [Rachel] Oh my God.
[chuckles]
[Rachel] Ooh!
Oh my God. You can.
♪ So tell me what you want ♪
Okay. Bye.
♪ Right here, right now... ♪
- I love a shoulder moment.
- I live for this.
I love it.
Oh, our little girl's growing up.
Way to break a dry spell
with not one, but two smoke shows.
Well, I'm Team Nick. I'd love to get
his sweet Loro Piana all up in a bunch.
Okay.
Wait. So no one's Team Marzipan?
- Eh...
- I mean...
♪ Gonna give it to me
Give it to me now ♪
[Rachel] Um...
[chuckles]
♪ You can call it blind ambition ♪
♪ Work hard
Yeah, I play for the weekends ♪
- You're going home alone.
- [Ingrid] Oh my God.
- [Tyler] Stunning.
- Looking like that, I'd say option C.
Team "All of the Above."
- I love it.
- Absolutely.
- That's beautiful.
- It's so perfect.
That's how you get a man.
["Your Lover" by Peter Dallas playing]
Is this your business casual?
[chuckles]
I'm happy you decided to come.
Yeah. I am too.
[woman 6] Look, there's Nick.
[woman 7] Great party, Nick.
- [man 6] Lovely party, Nick.
- Is this your party?
I'm a... I'm a host.
[woman] Ingrid.
[Ingrid] Oh.
Nick, this is Francine Lindenhoff.
She writes for the Financial Times.
- Oh hey.
- Still no comment?
- About what?
- Excuse me...
Ingrid, please excuse me.
I'm running a piece Monday.
Sun Corp's bidding for Min.
Maybe.
Ted Lassiter was seen entering
Park Avenue Plaza twice this week.
Maybe he likes artisanal espresso
in the lobby.
What makes you think I'd be on the deal?
You were point
on Parsons' last energy case.
Francine, everyone knows Sun Corp's
been sniffing around Min for years.
It's not news.
You'll need a little more than that
for a headline.
Come on, Ingrid.
We can help each other out.
I'm a good friend to have.
[Tyler] There you are.
Good luck.
Hey. At least you had time
to get that dress.
I did you a favor with Sun Corp.
Saved you from 100-hour work weeks.
Is that what you really want?
Look.
We're gonna be 30 this year.
You're definitely not a bakkushan.
Use it before you lose it.
[indistinct chatter]
Tyler, does your boyfriend, Anthony,
get invited to everything?
- Life of a politician.
- And his fabulous plus-ones.
- Smile and say, "five million followers."
- Oh! Oh, hey! [Chuckles]
["Still Young" by Odyssette
feat. Rén with the Mane playing]
[indistinct chatter]
[Ingrid] "Faust and Mephistopheles"?
So what would you sell your soul for?
Maybe a kiss?
[both chuckle]
You know, "Lucifer"
actually means "bringer of light."
Because meeting the devil illuminates
the darkness within ourselves.
- I love that we're both nerds.
- [both chuckle]
[gentle music playing]
[Murphy chuckles]
[sighs]
Murphy. I see
you already know your way around town.
Oh, I'd never miss a chance
to see you in a pretty dress.
Blue or pink.
[Nick clears throat]
[chuckles] Nick Laren, Jeff Murphy.
We work together.
- Pleasure. This is Christina.
- [Nick] Oh.
Are you having a good time?
For the price of entry,
I would have at least hoped
that the bubbly was vintage, but no go.
[Nick] Oh I'm sure we can manage that.
Thanks, but, honestly,
I think we might bounce.
This soirée's
a little too self-satisfied even for me.
Nick is actually one of the hosts.
Oh really? So I can complain
to you directly about your taste in music.
Well, if you like,
join the host committee next year,
then you can ensure the entertainment
and food are up to your standards.
For a nominal donation, of course.
Hmm.
Oh, I hope the chocolate's
not too self-satisfied for you.
Mmm.
Marzipan.
So, Ingrid.
You having a good time?
Actually, I'm having a great time.
Come on. I wanna dance.
Have fun.
["Lucky Me" by The Knocks
feat. Great Good Fine Ok playing]
♪ Lucky me ♪
♪ Lucky me ♪
[chuckles]
[both chuckling]
♪ I bet on you, lucky me ♪
♪ There's no rhyme or reason ♪
♪ You tell me that I'm dream in ♪
♪ But this is what believin' looks like ♪
♪ This is what believin' looks like ♪
♪ There's no rhyme or reason ♪
♪ You tell me that I'm dreamin' ♪
♪ But this is what believin looks like ♪
♪ But now I think I'm leavin' tonight ♪
I'm so thirsty. I'll be right back.
- [man 7] Upsy-daisy.
- [Ingrid] Sorry. Here. Let me help you.
Thanks.
Winston Keil. Buddy of Nick Laren's.
Oh, how do you know Nick?
Went to school together.
Then worked for his dad
before I went to the Department of Energy.
Winston. Department of...
Do you know Dan Fall on?
Dan's my man.
He's on fire with this Sun Corp deal.
- You know about it.
- All 2.9 billion of it.
But you didn't hear it from me.
Hear what?
It was nice meeting you,
but I got a thirsty lady waiting.
Thanks for your help.
My pleasure.
[Ingrid whispers] Francine.
Nick, I'm so sorry, but I have to go.
Well, I promise my hip-hop's better.
No. It's just I... I have to work.
I'll walk you out.
It's okay. You're a host, so host.
["Who's Your Love" by Orang Utan playing]
Well, that was worth the price.
♪ Who's your love? ♪
♪ Who's your love? ♪
["Who's Your Love" fades out]
[dramatic music playing]
♪ Ooh ♪
He knew the purchase price.
If that gets out
before the term sheet's signed...
[Rachel] He was drunk. It won't come out.
But if it leaks, there won't be a deal.
At least not for Parsons.
If you do this, won't Dan get in trouble?
I'm protecting the deal
and protecting the client. The firm.
Okay. Well, do what you have to do, then.
[dramatic music continues]
[elevator chimes]
[sighs]
You got this.
[exhales]
Excuse me for a second.
Uh you're a bit overdressed.
Yun, what's going on?
I was at the Plaza, and ran into a friend
who works at the Financial Times.
They said they're running a piece
on Sun Corp Monday.
What?
Justin?
Yeah. His dad, Leonard Coleman,
is a good friend. Wait, wait.
Who is their source?
I think someone at the DOE.
Dan's guy.
W... Well, everyone knows that Lassiter's
been looking for an LNG play.
He knows the purchase price.
Fuck! Fuck!
If I may, I have an idea.
Great. Come inside.
Okay. So, I'm basically thinking that...
[keys jingle]
[sighs]
Looks like you had
an even crazier night than me.
Lina, what... what are you doing here?
I dropped out.
What? Why?
Juilliard's a bastion of outdated posers
who've internalized the patriarchy.
Lina, you can't just waltz in here.
If you're gonna start lecturing,
I'd really rather sleep in the park.
Honestly, I'm too tired
to deal with your drama right now.
You can stay,
but I'm gonna tell Mom you're here.
Fine.
- I need to be back at the office.
- Sure.
[inhales]
This deal could get me junior partner.
I'll be back Monday.
Go! Go make junior president or whatever.
[sentimental music playing]
[sighs]
["Eye of the Storm"
by Millie Turner plays]
Have to get this term sheet signed
before the article comes out.
So, for the next 60 hours,
you're mine. Let's get to work.
♪ So hold me, hold me in the middle ♪
♪ Where fear... ♪
Can you give me that other file? There.
♪ Caught in... ♪
...with this deal. $2.9 billion.
♪ Embrace me ♪
♪ Fold in, so we forget ♪
♪ The things we want to forget ♪
♪ Caught in the eye of the storm... ♪
Look at this.
♪ When you wake up, don't think twice... ♪
[grunts]
Can you get on the...
♪ Before it starts slipping away ♪
♪ Dreams don't lie, no, dreams don't lie ♪
No, dreams don't lie ♪
♪ You gotta run, run, run, run
Don't stop ♪
♪ You gotta run, run, run, run
Don't stop ♪
♪ You gotta run ♪
["Eye of the Storm" fades out]
No message from them?
I'm sure they'll be here any minute.
[Ingrid sighs]
[clears throat] I understand
somebody asked for an autograph.
[all chuckle]
Thank you so much for helping expedite
the process this weekend.
[Min] You remember my sons Carter,
Min's general counsel, and Z.
Carter.
- What's up, man?
- Good to see you. Z.
Shit.
I haven't worked this hard since...
[scoffs] ...law school.
But yeah,
let's expedite the shit out of this.
- I wish my son were that spirited.
- That's one word for it.
We hope the rest of the process
will be less expedited, more prudent.
[Z] Yes. We look forward
to discussing your plans for integration,
especially regarding GreenTech.
Seeing as you've run roughshod
over every previous attempt...
My sons and I look forward
to our partnership.
[Marty] Excellent.
Shall we?
As you know,
we've coordinated with the Financial Times
for an exclusive
to help shape the message.
I guess we're engaged.
After these cats finish the paperwork,
you can kiss the bride.
[exhales]
Shall we meet halfway, Mr. Min?
Yes.
[mobile chimes]
[Marty] We're gonna make this work.
- [Min] Excellent.
- [Marty] It'll be wonderful.
- [Lassiter] Frank.
- Ted.
- [chuckles]
- [clapping]
- Thank you, Marty.
- Congratulations.
Yun, what the hell?
If you're on time, you're late.
Well, what'd I tell you?
Best and the brightest.
- Mm-hmm.
- Yun'll run point and close the deal.
- That work for you?
- [Lassiter] Sure. Why the hell not?
[Marty] Good. We'll get into due diligence
and bring this baby home.
[camera shutter clicks]
What happened?
I played by your rules.
- [Marty] Anyone for a drink?
- [Min] Best idea I've heard all day.
[sighs]
I hear congratulations are in order.
You single-handedly saved the Min deal.
Are those from
the most eligible bachelor in New York?
It was just a date. [Clears throat]
Francine.
Such an old-fashioned name.
[scoffs]
Well, congratulations.
Thanks.
I do remember, by the way.
Rose cliff.
Marzipan. Pineapple.
I remember all of it.
["Red Lips" by Cassandra Jenkins playing]
♪ Red lips on my mind ♪
♪ Red lips burning bright ♪
♪ I see you every time ♪
♪ I close my eyes ♪
♪ At night ♪
♪ Green eyes, you leave me blind ♪
♪ When you shine your light in mine ♪
♪ I see you in the darkness ♪
♪ Around me ♪
♪ Ooh ♪
["Red Lips" fades out]
[distant siren blares]
[upbeat music continues]
[woman 1] Newton's first law of motion.
An object at rest, stays at rest.
And an object in motion, stays in motion.
Basically, bodies keep on doing
what they're doing.
It's simple.
If you want to accelerate,
you need more force.
I love laws. In physics and in life.
So I became a lawyer.
[upbeat music continues]
And why Mergers and Acquisitions?
Because I've always wanted to be the best.
The toughest,
smartest corporate lawyers do M&A.
And a girl like me really needs
to stay tough in a city like this.
See? Exhibit A.
[scoffs]
I know if I work harder than anyone else,
apply more force, I'll make partner.
They say being on the partner track
- is how you find out who you really are.
- [mobile rings]
[upbeat music continues]
Sorry. I'm coming up now. Sorry, I'm...
- [woman 2] You're doing it again.
- What? Oh right.
Guys never apologize. Sorry.
You know what else guys never do?
Apologize for apologizing.
It's Waffle Wednesday.
You know I love waffles,
but forget me. Save yourself.
Don't think I won't.
I've sold my soul
for a lot less than artisanal baked goods.
I need a new case, stat.
What? I just wrapped the Weiland deal.
I need to staff ASAP.
[ticket machine chimes]
You have seriously worked nonstop
for six years.
It's in the bag.
M&A's only promoting two,
maybe three junior partners this year.
Right. You, Dan, and Todd.
Maybe. We're neck and neck.
- [elevator chimes]
- Oh.
Look. I just need
one more heavyweight to lock it in.
You won't lose junior partner
'cause you're not staffed for one day.
I've been for two weeks.
Objection. Motive.
- You want to coast.
- Mm-hmm.
[sighs]
- Girl, you need to relax.
- Look, I can't.
I have to land a major deal
before they decide who's making partner.
[woman 2] I'm in Litigation,
but if you want intel on deal flow,
your Mean Girls should have the hot goss.
She turns around,
she was a total bakkushan.
- [man 1] Oh.
- Oh God. What is a bakkushan?
A wide margin on the face-body quotient.
As used in a sentence,
"The bar was so dark,
Dan didn't notice his date
was a bakkushan until it was too late."
It means she looked
like you from the back.
But Dan from the front.
- To my disappointment, she wasn't you.
- Clearly. She was on a date with you.
- [men chuckle]
- Are you coming?
- There's Marty Adler.
- And half the management committee.
It's hard to carry this firm
on my shoulders, guys. [Chuckles]
Looks like Marty's rain dance paid off.
Marty's not a rainmaker, he's a kingmaker.
Whoever gets on his deal
wins the golden ticket.
They're still promoting everyone
who's tracking, right?
What do you have
to worry about, Mr. Gretchen Landrus?
[chuckles sarcastically]
- Then there's London Boy.
- Yeah, we got a new transfer.
Into M&A? Now?
And I'm stuck on that Pharma Co. Deal.
Whichever of you gets to work with Marty
will be guaranteed to make partner.
That would be me.
You know I love all you bakkushans, but...
this one's mine.
[elevator chimes]
- [sighs]
- Go. Land that deal.
Waffles, anyone?
I have your mother on the line.
I'll call her back later,
and I need all the intel
on Marty Adler's new deal.
[upbeat music playing over headphones]
[woman 3] Your new paralegal.
The hell is this?
HR finally realized that giving Ingrid
all the paralegals of color may be racist.
So, this week, she got...
Get your feet off the goddamn desk.
She graduated number two
in her class at Harvard Law,
while your ass
was probably flunking Colgate.
Show some freakin' respect.
[upbeat music continues over headphones]
[knocks on door]
What, no waffles?
Something way better.
So, who was that Brit you met
all those years ago at Rose cliff?
Rose cliff. Jane and Tony's wedding?
Yeah, you were Maid of Honor
at that disaster, but you said you met...
Bogie.
[gentle music plays]
Yeah.
[gentle moans]
And you guys...
[moans]
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
And you said it was an instant connection.
Fireworks. Upstairs bedroom.
He asked me if I meant
what I said in my toast.
About soul mates.
"Belief in true love
is the same as believing in God"
because you believe in... [inhales]
"...destiny."
That's when he said you had chocolate
on your lips and kissed you.
And then he said,
"Not chocolate, marzipan..."
- "Pineapple."
- "Pineapple." It was nice.
"Nice"?
Girl, you said "love at first sight."
You were using soul mate-level language.
He was leaving for London the next day.
- So we agreed "no names, no questions."
- Uh-huh.
[whimsical music playing]
Where did you get that?
The waffle station.
Mm-hmm.
Are you okay?
What is he doing here?
The love of your life from how long ago?
Okay. He's not the love of my life.
- Six years ago.
- Oh my God, Ingrid.
This is exactly what you need.
We're gonna be 30, and you've dated
a grand total of three guys.
Three. My 13-year-old niece has more
experience than you, which is not cool.
[chuckles]
Seriously, Ingrid... [scoffs]
...life is not just about making partner.
You gotta get out there and live a little.
I will. After I make junior partner.
Speaking of,
I've got a department meeting.
Good luck with you-know-who.
And I don't mean Marty Adler.
[scoffs]
I want this deal. I'm your guy.
[man 2] Tyler,
we all want you on this case,
but we need a reason to take Gavin off.
Okay. Hey, look.
Not only have I pitched six new clients,
I started reading Vogue, Teen Vogue,
and Women's Wear Daily when I was 11.
I know Alexander McQueen
didn't know couture until Givenchy,
and unlike Gavin Dunmore, I actually know
the difference between polyester and wool.
[man 2] Fine. It's yours.
You won't be sorry.
Luxe for Raymond Vanderlin.
Yes! Remember when
you're running Luxury Goods,
I want a huge discount
on all client products.
Girl, you won't need it
because you'll be running this place.
By the way, can you believe there is not
one but two Asian American first-years?
Wait. What?
Don't they annihilate each other
in a flash of energy and release a photon?
Come say hi to the kids
at the reception tonight.
Uh-uh!
Not if I get on Marty Adler's new deal.
- [telephone ringing]
- [exhales]
I'm so sorry. [Scoffs]
[gentle music plays]
Hey.
Hi. [Chuckles]
Ingrid.
Ingrid Yun?
Jeff Murphy. It's a pleasure to meet you.
We've met. Jane and Tony's wedding?
Oh, that's right. Of course. Yeah.
- You don't remember.
- No, I do. Of course, I do.
No. You had on that dress, right?
Very pretty dress.
Oh, that pink thing?
That's the one. Yeah.
It was blue.
[inhales, scoffs] Ooh.
Well, I had a lot to drink that night.
Apparently.
I didn't do anything embarrassing, did I?
No. You were an absolute gentleman.
[whimsical music plays]
Was I?
Is that letter
or spirit of the law, Counselor?
Clearly you're not compos mentis,
so I'll let you off with a warning.
- This time.
- How magnanimous of you.
[whimsical music continues]
[sighs]
You're the transfer from London.
Guilty as charged.
I take it you're in M&A too.
What year are you in?
- Sixth.
- So you're the competition.
- Don't flatter yourself.
- You think you're that good?
Better.
Yun, should we be jealous?
Jeff Murphy.
Just transferred from across the pond.
- Dan Fall on.
- Todd Ames. You're from London?
- Um, well, thereabouts.
- I used to summer in Kent.
Oh yeah.
I spent a lot of time in Knole Park.
I'm Hunter, like the green.
[Murphy] Nice to meet you, Hunter.
[man 3] Mr. Adler.
Ma... Marty. Marty Adler.
- [Dan] Oh God.
- I'm Caleb Sanders.
I'm a first-year here at Parsons.
I am really excited to be here. [Chuckles]
May I ask a question?
Don't fucking ask permission
to ask a question.
Just ask the fucking question.
- [chuckles] Of course.
- [man 4] Come on, man
So in intellectual property law,
we studied the Lexion-Huntsman case,
and how you handled
the patent issues was brilliant. And I...
Stop. Stop talking.
Sanders, right?
No one's buying
your wide-eyed ingénue act.
- It's manipulative and a cliché.
- [chuckles]
And stop laughing. It's making me mad.
Laughter is a coward's expression of fear.
Bye.
You know, I've asked them
to move this paragraph three times.
They really should
go over Marty Adler in orientation.
- [whistling]
- [vocalizing]
- Sorry.
- Read your audience, pal.
- [Hunter] Beautiful.
- You in for bingo?
- Sure. I'll go with "kick the tires."
- I'm going with "circle the wagons."
- "Knock it out of the park" for me.
- 20 bucks buy-in.
Whoever's Phrase that Pays
gets spoken first, wins. Feeling lucky?
Sure. Let's go with "slippery slope."
I thought you were the competition.
Fair enough.
How about "align incentives."
No. "Boil the ocean."
Ah, I don't know. "Most impactful."
- You did that last time.
- And it's not really a phrase.
All right, people.
Take your seats, please.
Let's go, you wanna work today or what?
Let's start with the Alcor deal.
Last week,
we went in, we kicked the tires,
this week,
we're gonna take this baby out for a spin.
Which reminds me.
I want you to take care
of the shell corporation
that we talked about this morning.
I need to take a deposition
for my effing uncle. Okay?
On to new business.
Sun Corp, big-time energy conglomerate
in Houston, is acquiring Min Enterprises.
A clean-tech play for 2.9 billion.
[Dan] Whoo! That's real money.
[Marty] This deal
could make or break our year.
So nobody breathes a word of this.
- Are you available, Fall on?
- Willing and able.
[Marty] Excellent.
I can draft up a quick and dirty NDA,
get that signed ASAP.
Great, Yun. So, Fall on, I want you
to sit in on the kickoff this afternoon.
Ted Lassiter, Sun Corp CEO,
is coming at three o'clock.
- Love to.
- [Marty] Great.
I worked on an oil
and gas client last year,
Chevron divested its holdings
in Mexico's Royale Oil.
So I know all about family-owned energy
and all those tricky regulatory issues.
Great. Yes, Yun,
you sit in on the kickoff as well.
Make sure we're ready
to go at three o'clock.
Absolutely. Yes. My pleasure.
And remember,
this deal is highly confidential.
If anything leaks, the deal is done.
If this gets out, I will fucking
tear up your license myself.
We have billable hours.
Let's work. Come on.
[Dan] He's talking about you.
He looked at me?
This will be fun.
Why don't you run that NDA by me
before the meeting?
Sure, Dan. Should I tell you
when I take a shit too?
Oh, vulgar.
Come on, Yun. Don't be like that.
One of us has to run point,
and Marty called on me first, so...
I look forward to reviewing that NDA.
- Did he just call you a paralegal?
- [sighs]
Sometimes I just wanna punch Dan Fall on
in his smug, entitled face.
Welcome to the jungle, London.
Oh, don't worry.
- I can see who the real competition is.
- [Ingrid sighs]
[chuckles softly]
[gentle music playing]
[Ingrid] Justin, they're coming soon.
Get off your phone.
You're early.
If you're early, you're on time.
If you're on time, you're late.
Punctuality is a virtue.
Ted Lassiter.
Hey. Um, Justin Coleman.
[Lassiter] Justin, nice to see you.
When you get a sec,
can we get some Pellegrino brought up?
Of course. Justin, please call
dining services and let them know.
Yeah.
Well, shoot. [Chuckles]
Ingrid Yun.
I'm the senior associate on the deal.
It's great to meet you, Ted.
Ted Lassiter. No hard feelings, I hope.
You just don't look a day over 18 to me.
You folks are lucky that way, right?
- [scoffs]
- This is my general counsel.
That's Mark Traynor.
- Ted. [Chuckles]
- [Lassiter] Marty!
- Good to see you.
- Good to see you.
How are you, Mark?
This is Dan Fall on, senior associate.
- Hi.
- [Lassiter] Hi, Dan.
You've met Ingrid Yun.
Brought my best and my brightest for you.
Shall we?
[Dan] Ted, when I was on MacKenzie,
I ran so many Liquid Natural Gas models,
I was dreaming accretion
and dilution analysis in my sleep.
[Lassiter chuckles]
It always helps to have someone
who knows how we run the numbers.
So, what's happening with their top execs?
Most of 'em are parachuting out,
but we are mainly interested
in keeping Jack Barstow on.
- Franklin Min's right-hand man.
- That's right
Barstow spent three years slaving away
to get their
offshore drilling ops running.
And now he learns
old man Min's lookin' to sell?
I bet he's pissed.
Barstow was seen meeting
with Ken Fox of Chevron on Monday.
If you want Barstow,
we definitely need a key-man provision.
What'd I tell you, Ted?
The best and the brightest.
[exhales]
[Lassiter chuckles, thuds table]
- It's a problem.
- There's no problems here today.
I know you're new,
but paralegals are supposed to sit
by the wall, not at the table.
Okay. Whatever.
Ted, your junior year game
against the Bulldogs is legendary.
Five goals,
four assists, six caused turnovers.
- You play?
- I was a midfielder.
- Gerri Hayes was our head coach.
- No kidding.
Gerri was our assistant coach
back in the day.
Gerry's my man.
He actually retired a few years ago.
But I see him every year at the game.
- [Lassiter] Well, say hi to him for me.
- Will do.
All right. Go Crimson.
[chuckles]
"Go Crimson."
[Ingrid] Do you think Marty
will be at the first-year drinks?
Don't change the subject.
Jeff Murphy doesn't remember you?
If he does, he's not letting on.
Are we talking
about Mr. Pineapple Marzipan?
Be careful with that one, Ing.
Wait. What? Just this morning you were all
about true love and soul mates.
Before I learned
he was pretending not to remember.
I don't care if he's the devil.
When's the last time
our girl's been hot and bothered?
When she found out she could take
Trusts and Estates and IP as a 2L.
Or when they extended
the library hours to 24/7?
Or when the Law Review
went monthly instead of quarterly?
Or when the Law Rev...
Okay, okay, okay! I get it.
But he doesn't remember,
so even if I wanted to,
it's clear he doesn't feel the same.
Ugh, I need a drink.
[gentle piano music playing]
[Ingrid] Hi, Javi.
Thank you.
Ingrid. Such an old-fashioned name.
[Ingrid clears throat]
My parents saw Casablanca
on their first date.
So you're a workaholic and a romantic.
The film's about doing the right thing.
We're in M&A.
Not a lot of room for that sort of thing.
Thank you.
So you're a cynic.
Idealism doesn't pay the rent.
So you're in it for the money.
What else?
[gentle piano music continues]
What?
Like you need it.
Oh Come on, Murphy.
You summer in Kent just like...
just like him.
[Dan] I know.
What's this world coming to?
I'm nothing like him, Ingrid.
I've always been
on the outside looking in.
Just like you.
[chuckles]
Tell me, why are you in law?
[clears throat]
- Laws are what we value.
- Mm-hmm.
Murder is bad.
Stealing is bad.
Forgetting people you met
at a wedding is bad.
Is that illegal in the States?
It should be.
[gentle piano music continues]
[mobile vibrates]
Francine. Jesus,
it's more old-fashioned than Ingrid.
And reading other people's texts
is definitely illegal.
[gentle piano music continues]
[Dan] London.
[sighs]
See you around, Miss Bergman.
[scoffs]
- [man 5] Can I get an Old-Fashioned?
- [Javi] Yep.
You look way too nice
to be friends with Dan.
[scoffs] The wise learn the most
from their enemies.
Are you a philosopher or a lawyer?
Yes.
[chuckles]
You... you remind me of a professor I had.
He was into philosophy and law.
Thomas Nagel.
Wait. The Thomas Nagel?
- You know him?
- [Ingrid chuckles]
He was my thesis advisor on new theories
of the mind, starting with his essay...
- "What Is It Like to Be a Bat?"
- Yes!
[both chuckle]
I was obsessed with the mind-body problem.
Nick Laren.
Ingrid Yun.
So, uh, what? What is it like
to be Ingrid Yun?
Hmm. That's the problem.
No matter how close you and I ever get,
you can never truly know
what it's like to be me.
- Or I you.
- Right.
The red I see will never
be the same red you see, so why bother?
Right. I've no way of knowing
if my brain isn't in a vat somewhere
and all this isn't just some simulation.
I had a serious case
of solipsism in college.
That was before I realized
we're all here by sheer happenstance,
an accident of string theory,
a hiccup on a probability function.
But I tell myself, in the face
of the heat death of the universe
that we must supply our own light
and our own wine.
- I'll drink to that.
- [both chuckle]
[gentle piano music continues]
[mobile vibrates]
Sorry. Back to the salt mines.
Hey. So I know
that free will is just an illusion,
but what are you doing Friday?
Hopefully not babysitting my paralegal.
I'm going to a thing at the Plaza.
Would you like to join me?
Oh, um...
[woman 4 chuckles]
[indistinct whispers]
Yes. I'd love to. [Chuckles]
Great.
See you Friday.
- Great.
- If the simulation doesn't crash before.
- Right.
- [both chuckle]
["Again" by CATT playing]
♪ Again I couldn't keep the words
That I have promised to myself ♪
♪ Again my mind is not like books
I put in order in a shelf ♪
♪ Again I started every little step
The wrong way 'round ♪
♪ Right now, I wouldn't listen
To my disharmonic sound... ♪
[woman] Ingrid,
have you heard from Marlena?
[in Korean] I called three times,
but she didn't pick up.
[in English] I just want
to be sure she's okay.
Hey. It's Lina. Leave a message.
- Namaste, bitches.
- [voicemail beeps]
Hey. It's me. Mom's worried about you.
Just let her know you're okay.
♪ Why, why would I be talking
To the person ♪
♪ Staring back at me in the mirror ♪
[podcast host] So next,
what is a MAC clause?
A MAC clause
is a Material Adverse Change clause.
It's a change in circumstance that affects
a bargain after the deal is signed,
but before it's been closed.
Something like an embargo,
or a new tax law, or a regulatory change...
[Ingrid] I want all the phase-one
and phase-two reports.
The full set, not abridged.
The IP agreements
and the lease and will docs too.
Why aren't you writing this down?
- [knocks on door]
- [door opens]
Sorry to interrupt.
Your mother's on the line. Sounds urgent.
I've put her through on your cell.
[in Korean] Mom, we texted yesterday.
Have you actually talked to her?
No, but...
[in English] No one has talked to her
in three days, Ingrid.
Okay. I'll check on her.
[sighs]
I want those docs by one o'clock.
Yes, ma'am.
[sirens wailing in the distance]
Hey, it's me. Again.
Look, I'm outside your building.
If you don't call me back in 5 minutes...
Where are you? Text me you're alive,
or I'll have to tell Mom.
If you're on time, you're late.
Marty Adler dropped by.
- When?
- [woman 3] An hour ago.
I told him you'd be right back,
but I think he went looking for Dan.
[Dan] He shoots! He shoots!
Go fetch.
[Todd] I wanna be a baller, man.
[Dan] He shoots! He shoots!
Aw, Yun, that was a perfect three-pointer.
- Did Marty stop by?
- Yeah. You just missed him.
What did he want?
Just checking in,
running through any potential red flags.
I thought that was the two o'clock.
Yeah. We just did it over lunch.
- So what were the red flags?
- You know, land lease stuff...
Blah, blah, blah.
He was interested in what
could come outta left field.
Did he mean "intangibles"
like "goodwill" assets?
The Mins have a very valuable brand
and great relationships
with their suppliers.
Ball.
Relax. I got it covered.
You know that Plaza thing
you're going to with Nick tomorrow night?
I asked Rachel to go with me,
and she flat-out said no.
Is it because I'm not Jewish?
It's because you're an arrogant ass, Dan.
Yeah. Women love that.
She likes the artsy type.
I don't know, maybe we're attracted
to what we wanna be, but we aren't.
Speaking of which, you have
an awesome dress for tomorrow, right?
I was gonna go out and buy one,
but it's tight. We have Sun Corp tomorrow.
Like I said, Yun, relax.
I got it covered.
I'm coming for you! Hey!
MVP, back in the game!
All right, all right, all right.
Check it up, check it up.
Sorry, Marty. Didn't mean to interrupt.
I just wanted to drop off
the executed NDA. Sorry I missed...
Lassiter is moving tomorrow up
to 9:00 a.m. Is that gonna be a problem?
No. No problem.
Be around later if I need you?
- Yes. I'll be here all night.
- Good.
Anytime, Marty.
[Marty] Roberta?
[phone line ringing]
[Nick] Ingrid. Uh, hi. [Chuckles]
I'm sorry. I can't make it tomorrow.
Aw, you got a better offer?
Damn. That Tom Nagel
does know how to cut a rug.
Just come out for an hour.
I'll have you back at the office
before you can say "epistemology."
I'd love to, but I'm sorry.
I really am.
Look, um... [clears throat]
...we... we at the philosophy department
have very specific taste.
You'd be surprised how hard it is
to find someone so conversant
in mind-body theory, so...
we won't be filling the position
with any other candidates.
If you change your mind, swing by.
Thanks.
["All the Troubled Hearts"
by Hiatus feat. Daudi Matsiko playing]
♪ Trouble is a force
You think you understand ♪
♪ Everything that rises falls ♪
♪ But nothing on the sea
Is nothing on the sand ♪
♪ Everywhere the darkness calls ♪
♪ I'm gonna make it up to you somehow ♪
[podcast host] In the context
of lending transactions,
a clause which acts
as a catch-all provision
and aims
to allow the lender to call a default
if there's an adverse change in
the borrower's position or circumstance...
["All the Troubled Hearts" fades out]
Ted, Mark brought me up to speed
about your budgetary concerns.
I had two senior associates on the matter
to make sure
we were steering the ship correctly.
But going forward, we will keep just one.
- [Lassiter] Much appreciated.
- [Marty] So...
For starters, I think we should add in
language about intangible goodwill assets.
Min's brand is very valuable and they have
good relationships with key suppliers.
[Marty] Good idea. Thank you, Dan.
I don't see a MAC clause.
A Material Adverse Change clause.
It's a change in circumstance
that affects a bargain
after a deal's signed,
but before it's closed.
Something like an embargo,
or a new tax law, or regulatory change.
It's always good
to have a well-defined MAC clause.
Mm-hmm. And speaking of regulatory,
my buddy, Winston, is actually at
the Department of Energy, in fossil fuels.
Winston and I were in the Spee together.
He's a very good friend,
and it never hurts
to have a friendly face at the DOE.
Well, that could be very valuable indeed.
Of course,
that would all have to be official.
Of course.
Okay. I think it makes sense
to have Dan stay on and run point.
Thank you, Yun. So we have a few...
Thank you, Yun.
[Marty] I wanna get into the stock price.
I wanna get into the shell corporations,
I wanna get into the oil business.
You stole my idea.
"Intangibles"? "Goodwill assets"?
You cheated.
Not really.
Just different rules.
[door opens]
Hey. Sorry, just got your text.
I'm off the Sun Corp deal.
Dan won.
Fair play or lacrosse?
He's got some Finals Club buddy
who works at the Department of Energy.
Sun Corp was my ticket to making partner.
I'm sorry, Ing.
- Maybe next year.
- We both know it's up-or-out here.
If I don't make partner,
everyone will know I couldn't cut it.
I can't just lateral over to another firm.
I'll be like Tara Grottaglia and go
in-house at a urinary-device company.
I'll be... I'll be nobody.
Ugh! I mean, who do I have to be
to win here? Dan Fall on?
I play the game
as well as he does. Better.
Turns out they play by different rules.
I get it, Ing.
You know I do.
Oh God.
I've wanted this more than anything.
Ever since I first saw New York.
What am I supposed to do?
I don't know.
But look on the bright side.
You're free to have fun tonight
with us at the Plaza.
[sighs]
I canceled. [Sobs]
- And I don't have a dress.
- [sighs]
Guess who I'm calling?
["Give It to Me" by Animal Island playing]
[groans]
♪ You jump, I say higher ♪
♪ You wanna know who set the fire... ♪
I do live for this. I'm moving for this.
- Okay.
- Let's do this one.
- Well, I don't like that.
- But we must do...
That! Yes, yes.
[Tyler] We must do a pink.
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
- I love this.
- Me too.
- Drama. Audrey Hepburn vibe.
- [Rachel] Oh my God.
[chuckles]
[Rachel] Ooh!
Oh my God. You can.
♪ So tell me what you want ♪
Okay. Bye.
♪ Right here, right now... ♪
- I love a shoulder moment.
- I live for this.
I love it.
Oh, our little girl's growing up.
Way to break a dry spell
with not one, but two smoke shows.
Well, I'm Team Nick. I'd love to get
his sweet Loro Piana all up in a bunch.
Okay.
Wait. So no one's Team Marzipan?
- Eh...
- I mean...
♪ Gonna give it to me
Give it to me now ♪
[Rachel] Um...
[chuckles]
♪ You can call it blind ambition ♪
♪ Work hard
Yeah, I play for the weekends ♪
- You're going home alone.
- [Ingrid] Oh my God.
- [Tyler] Stunning.
- Looking like that, I'd say option C.
Team "All of the Above."
- I love it.
- Absolutely.
- That's beautiful.
- It's so perfect.
That's how you get a man.
["Your Lover" by Peter Dallas playing]
Is this your business casual?
[chuckles]
I'm happy you decided to come.
Yeah. I am too.
[woman 6] Look, there's Nick.
[woman 7] Great party, Nick.
- [man 6] Lovely party, Nick.
- Is this your party?
I'm a... I'm a host.
[woman] Ingrid.
[Ingrid] Oh.
Nick, this is Francine Lindenhoff.
She writes for the Financial Times.
- Oh hey.
- Still no comment?
- About what?
- Excuse me...
Ingrid, please excuse me.
I'm running a piece Monday.
Sun Corp's bidding for Min.
Maybe.
Ted Lassiter was seen entering
Park Avenue Plaza twice this week.
Maybe he likes artisanal espresso
in the lobby.
What makes you think I'd be on the deal?
You were point
on Parsons' last energy case.
Francine, everyone knows Sun Corp's
been sniffing around Min for years.
It's not news.
You'll need a little more than that
for a headline.
Come on, Ingrid.
We can help each other out.
I'm a good friend to have.
[Tyler] There you are.
Good luck.
Hey. At least you had time
to get that dress.
I did you a favor with Sun Corp.
Saved you from 100-hour work weeks.
Is that what you really want?
Look.
We're gonna be 30 this year.
You're definitely not a bakkushan.
Use it before you lose it.
[indistinct chatter]
Tyler, does your boyfriend, Anthony,
get invited to everything?
- Life of a politician.
- And his fabulous plus-ones.
- Smile and say, "five million followers."
- Oh! Oh, hey! [Chuckles]
["Still Young" by Odyssette
feat. Rén with the Mane playing]
[indistinct chatter]
[Ingrid] "Faust and Mephistopheles"?
So what would you sell your soul for?
Maybe a kiss?
[both chuckle]
You know, "Lucifer"
actually means "bringer of light."
Because meeting the devil illuminates
the darkness within ourselves.
- I love that we're both nerds.
- [both chuckle]
[gentle music playing]
[Murphy chuckles]
[sighs]
Murphy. I see
you already know your way around town.
Oh, I'd never miss a chance
to see you in a pretty dress.
Blue or pink.
[Nick clears throat]
[chuckles] Nick Laren, Jeff Murphy.
We work together.
- Pleasure. This is Christina.
- [Nick] Oh.
Are you having a good time?
For the price of entry,
I would have at least hoped
that the bubbly was vintage, but no go.
[Nick] Oh I'm sure we can manage that.
Thanks, but, honestly,
I think we might bounce.
This soirée's
a little too self-satisfied even for me.
Nick is actually one of the hosts.
Oh really? So I can complain
to you directly about your taste in music.
Well, if you like,
join the host committee next year,
then you can ensure the entertainment
and food are up to your standards.
For a nominal donation, of course.
Hmm.
Oh, I hope the chocolate's
not too self-satisfied for you.
Mmm.
Marzipan.
So, Ingrid.
You having a good time?
Actually, I'm having a great time.
Come on. I wanna dance.
Have fun.
["Lucky Me" by The Knocks
feat. Great Good Fine Ok playing]
♪ Lucky me ♪
♪ Lucky me ♪
[chuckles]
[both chuckling]
♪ I bet on you, lucky me ♪
♪ There's no rhyme or reason ♪
♪ You tell me that I'm dream in ♪
♪ But this is what believin' looks like ♪
♪ This is what believin' looks like ♪
♪ There's no rhyme or reason ♪
♪ You tell me that I'm dreamin' ♪
♪ But this is what believin looks like ♪
♪ But now I think I'm leavin' tonight ♪
I'm so thirsty. I'll be right back.
- [man 7] Upsy-daisy.
- [Ingrid] Sorry. Here. Let me help you.
Thanks.
Winston Keil. Buddy of Nick Laren's.
Oh, how do you know Nick?
Went to school together.
Then worked for his dad
before I went to the Department of Energy.
Winston. Department of...
Do you know Dan Fall on?
Dan's my man.
He's on fire with this Sun Corp deal.
- You know about it.
- All 2.9 billion of it.
But you didn't hear it from me.
Hear what?
It was nice meeting you,
but I got a thirsty lady waiting.
Thanks for your help.
My pleasure.
[Ingrid whispers] Francine.
Nick, I'm so sorry, but I have to go.
Well, I promise my hip-hop's better.
No. It's just I... I have to work.
I'll walk you out.
It's okay. You're a host, so host.
["Who's Your Love" by Orang Utan playing]
Well, that was worth the price.
♪ Who's your love? ♪
♪ Who's your love? ♪
["Who's Your Love" fades out]
[dramatic music playing]
♪ Ooh ♪
He knew the purchase price.
If that gets out
before the term sheet's signed...
[Rachel] He was drunk. It won't come out.
But if it leaks, there won't be a deal.
At least not for Parsons.
If you do this, won't Dan get in trouble?
I'm protecting the deal
and protecting the client. The firm.
Okay. Well, do what you have to do, then.
[dramatic music continues]
[elevator chimes]
[sighs]
You got this.
[exhales]
Excuse me for a second.
Uh you're a bit overdressed.
Yun, what's going on?
I was at the Plaza, and ran into a friend
who works at the Financial Times.
They said they're running a piece
on Sun Corp Monday.
What?
Justin?
Yeah. His dad, Leonard Coleman,
is a good friend. Wait, wait.
Who is their source?
I think someone at the DOE.
Dan's guy.
W... Well, everyone knows that Lassiter's
been looking for an LNG play.
He knows the purchase price.
Fuck! Fuck!
If I may, I have an idea.
Great. Come inside.
Okay. So, I'm basically thinking that...
[keys jingle]
[sighs]
Looks like you had
an even crazier night than me.
Lina, what... what are you doing here?
I dropped out.
What? Why?
Juilliard's a bastion of outdated posers
who've internalized the patriarchy.
Lina, you can't just waltz in here.
If you're gonna start lecturing,
I'd really rather sleep in the park.
Honestly, I'm too tired
to deal with your drama right now.
You can stay,
but I'm gonna tell Mom you're here.
Fine.
- I need to be back at the office.
- Sure.
[inhales]
This deal could get me junior partner.
I'll be back Monday.
Go! Go make junior president or whatever.
[sentimental music playing]
[sighs]
["Eye of the Storm"
by Millie Turner plays]
Have to get this term sheet signed
before the article comes out.
So, for the next 60 hours,
you're mine. Let's get to work.
♪ So hold me, hold me in the middle ♪
♪ Where fear... ♪
Can you give me that other file? There.
♪ Caught in... ♪
...with this deal. $2.9 billion.
♪ Embrace me ♪
♪ Fold in, so we forget ♪
♪ The things we want to forget ♪
♪ Caught in the eye of the storm... ♪
Look at this.
♪ When you wake up, don't think twice... ♪
[grunts]
Can you get on the...
♪ Before it starts slipping away ♪
♪ Dreams don't lie, no, dreams don't lie ♪
No, dreams don't lie ♪
♪ You gotta run, run, run, run
Don't stop ♪
♪ You gotta run, run, run, run
Don't stop ♪
♪ You gotta run ♪
["Eye of the Storm" fades out]
No message from them?
I'm sure they'll be here any minute.
[Ingrid sighs]
[clears throat] I understand
somebody asked for an autograph.
[all chuckle]
Thank you so much for helping expedite
the process this weekend.
[Min] You remember my sons Carter,
Min's general counsel, and Z.
Carter.
- What's up, man?
- Good to see you. Z.
Shit.
I haven't worked this hard since...
[scoffs] ...law school.
But yeah,
let's expedite the shit out of this.
- I wish my son were that spirited.
- That's one word for it.
We hope the rest of the process
will be less expedited, more prudent.
[Z] Yes. We look forward
to discussing your plans for integration,
especially regarding GreenTech.
Seeing as you've run roughshod
over every previous attempt...
My sons and I look forward
to our partnership.
[Marty] Excellent.
Shall we?
As you know,
we've coordinated with the Financial Times
for an exclusive
to help shape the message.
I guess we're engaged.
After these cats finish the paperwork,
you can kiss the bride.
[exhales]
Shall we meet halfway, Mr. Min?
Yes.
[mobile chimes]
[Marty] We're gonna make this work.
- [Min] Excellent.
- [Marty] It'll be wonderful.
- [Lassiter] Frank.
- Ted.
- [chuckles]
- [clapping]
- Thank you, Marty.
- Congratulations.
Yun, what the hell?
If you're on time, you're late.
Well, what'd I tell you?
Best and the brightest.
- Mm-hmm.
- Yun'll run point and close the deal.
- That work for you?
- [Lassiter] Sure. Why the hell not?
[Marty] Good. We'll get into due diligence
and bring this baby home.
[camera shutter clicks]
What happened?
I played by your rules.
- [Marty] Anyone for a drink?
- [Min] Best idea I've heard all day.
[sighs]
I hear congratulations are in order.
You single-handedly saved the Min deal.
Are those from
the most eligible bachelor in New York?
It was just a date. [Clears throat]
Francine.
Such an old-fashioned name.
[scoffs]
Well, congratulations.
Thanks.
I do remember, by the way.
Rose cliff.
Marzipan. Pineapple.
I remember all of it.
["Red Lips" by Cassandra Jenkins playing]
♪ Red lips on my mind ♪
♪ Red lips burning bright ♪
♪ I see you every time ♪
♪ I close my eyes ♪
♪ At night ♪
♪ Green eyes, you leave me blind ♪
♪ When you shine your light in mine ♪
♪ I see you in the darkness ♪
♪ Around me ♪
♪ Ooh ♪
["Red Lips" fades out]