Pearson (2019): Season 1, Episode 5 - The Former City Attorney - full transcript

Previously, on
"Pearson"...

Is that when you get off?
Delilah's has a killer whiskey.

Uh, thanks, I'm flattered,
but I...

You're seeing someone.
I get it.

All I could think about
was the married man

that I am having
an affair with.

I am so much better
than this,

- Bobby.
- Keri, Stephanie had a relapse.

I have a problem with
boundaries, so I'll shut up.

Are you for real?
Don't ever stop

speaking your mind.



Why don't you tell me
how you're gonna take your wife

to a hospital in another state?

Please don't suddenly make me
a priority because I'm sick.

I'm making you a priority
because you're my wife.

I'm going with you.

I've arranged for
Nick D'Amato to be my driver.

Are you out of your mind?

Jeff, I need
to get close to him.

- I need to find out if he's...
- What,

a murderer?

I didn't mean to put you
on the spot yesterday.

- Don't worry about it.
- Luke.

- Keri.
- Nice to meet you, Keri.

♪ I've been waiting
for someone like you ♪



♪ To pull me through
another 24 ♪

Please tell me
that's not your lunch.

"Lunch,"
what's that?

Just so you know,
Polish place on the corner

of Washington is fast
and they have homemade pierogis.

Oh, that's good to know.

I got a settlement conference
in a half an hour, though.

City attorney's office.

Hmm?

You're the hotshot
who went after U.S. Steel.

I thought you looked familiar.

There were a lot of us
on that case.

You're being modest.
What's your name again?

- Keri.
- Hi.

Bobby.

Novak.

What?

You can cut the whole
casual run-in, Alderman.

We've been in the elevator
at least ten times.

- We have?
- You know we have.

So you do know who I am.

Yes, and I also know that
you're married.

Not that you asked,

but I'm separated.

I didn't ask,
and if I had a nickel

- for every time I heard that...
- You'd have nearly a dollar. I get it.

In this case, it's true.

Says the man who promised
to support the last budget

- and then went back on it.
- So you're not only looking

to see if I'm wearing a ring,

you're studying me
at city council meetings?

I'm starting to think
you came here to run into me.

You know, instead of spending
your lunch hour

charming city employees,
maybe you should be working

for the people
who put you in office.

You don't know
what I do all day.

I know what I see,

and your good looks
are only gonna get you so far.

- I hope you don't mind.
- No, no, it's fine.

Um...

Listen, I don't mean
to be rude,

but, uh, you gotta go.

Oh, shit.

Love 'em and leave 'em.
No, it's not that.

I... I have an early meeting.

Don't worry,
I totally get it.

Hey, if you want,

I was thinking maybe we can
go away this weekend.

Kidding.

Your face, though.
Wow.

Um, seriously,
though, call you?

Yeah, yeah,
definitely call.

- All right.
- Okay.

- Are you Keri Allen?
- Yeah.

This is for you.

Fuck.

There you are.

I thought maybe you changed
your mind about our deal.

Sorry.
I asked him.

He's a bear
without his coffee and doughnut

first thing back.

Well, I'll forgive you
this time

as long as I get
a cruller out of it.

And welcome back, by the way.
How was your trip?

I'd like you
to start digging in

to some longer-term projects
for me.

Technology, manufacturing,

Ickaris' second headquarters.

You sure you want
that headache?

If that headache comes with
1/2 billion in construction,

- I'll take it.
- What I should have asked is,

do you need
another headache right now?

Is there something you want
to say, Ms. Pearson?

I know why
you were out of town.

And if there's anything
I can do to help...

I just told you
what you can do to help.

I know, but if you want
someone to talk to,

I understand
what you're going through.

I doubt that's true.

Just get the ball rolling
on those, please.

Keri.

If I knew you were waiting, I'd
have brought you a doughnut.

- I need a favor.
- What kind of favor, Keri?

It's a wrongful termination
suit against the city.

Okay, but isn't that
what you do,

defend the city
against lawsuits?

Normally, yes,
but the man suing

is my former boss,
and I'm a named defendant.

I don't mind
helping you, Keri,

but the mayor has already
given me my marching orders,

and, as you are so fond
of reminding me,

I'm no longer a lawyer.

I don't need a lawyer.

I don't want it litigated.
I want it to go away.

Isn't that what you do?

In my experience,
when someone wants something

to go away, it tells me
one of two things:

either they're afraid
of the outcome,

or they're afraid
of certain things coming out.

Which one is it?

Bobby is named
in the suit too,

and I'm trying to protect him.

The last thing he needs
right now

is to become collateral damage
in a courtroom spectacle,

given everything
that's going on with him,

and I hope that you would
feel the same way.

I'll see what I can do.

Jessica, this stays
between us.

Of course.

*PEARSON*
Season 01 Episode 05

*PEARSON*
Episode Title: "The Former City Attorney"

Synchronized by srjanapala

Yoli?

Dark roast with a splash
of cream, no sugar?

I need more than coffee.

- I have an assignment for you.
- Ooh, an assignment.

How "Mission Impossible."

You are aware that Chicago
is on the short list

to be the second headquarters
of Ickaris.

I might have
heard something.

The mayor's already done
the dog and pony show,

but I need someone
who can sell them on the city itself,

starting with a bird's-eye view
of Lincoln Yards.

Who's "them"?
Like, the CEO?

Blake Everett. He's one of
their VPs of corporate affairs.

Don't worry, he's 31
and has a phone for an ear.

- Why can't you do it?
- Excuse me?

No, I mean,
I don't understand

why you're having me do this.

Because it's mile one
of a marathon,

and I have something pressing
I have to attend to.

Yoli, what's going on?

- Nothing, I just...
- No, no.

You have been chomping
at the bit

for a chance to be in the game,
and I'm giving it to you.

Well, let's just say
I'm not Ickaris' number one fan.

Oh, well, let's just say
I pluck someone else out

of Streets and Sanitation
who is.

Not like I can't
put my personal issues aside

to do this job.
I'm happy to do it.

So...

Yoli, the file.

Thank you.
Hi, Keri Allen.

Ms. Riculli has just gone
on maternity leave,

but I'm completely caught up
to speed on your case,

and I think that you'll find
this number more than fair.

$7,000?

That won't begin
to pay our bills.

I'm sorry, that's the number
on the table.

Well, then you can keep it
on the table.

Ms. Aquino, I feel for you
and your family,

but passing
between train cars is illegal,

and your son is at fault,
not the city.

And the city's responsibility
supersedes his violation

if the train
was not maintained.

That's true.

However, I'm sure that
Ms. Riculli explained to you

that if this went to trial,

Safety and Inspections
would dispute your claim

and you would end up
with nothing.

I don't believe this.

If you give me a few days,

I could probably get this up
to $10,000.

My son is crippled,
Ms. Allen.

He'll never be normal again.

And we've asked
for those inspections.

I don't understand.

My office requested
documentation during discovery,

and we got nothing back
from your predecessor.

Something must have
gotten lost in the shuffle.

- That's not...
- Three times?

City Hall must be
quite a mess.

Still think you made
the right choice

coming here over big law?

Well, I still have my soul.

Yeah, the work is soul-sucking,

but I hear the paychecks
fill some of the void.

Eh, who needs money

when you have the glamor
of public service?

What can I help you with, Keri?

And don't tell me
you need more cases.

You already do double
anyone else.

You know how you said
it's our duty

to overturn every rock?

Oh, someone was listening
in class.

So I think some
of the evidence

may have gotten lost in
transition on Riculli's case.

Oh, uh, what evidence?

The entire case hinges on
annual inspections by the CTA,

but we don't seem
to have a single copy.

I'm sure it was
an honest mistake.

I'm sure it was too,
but I would like to go back

through the case files
and double-check.

Well, all right.
I'll look into it.

You have enough to work on.

No, I'm happy
to do it myself.

Look, Keri, the truth is,
to keep things moving,

we rely on
a reciprocal relationship

with the departments
we represent.

So in cases like these,
if they don't give it to us

we figure we don't need it.

Does that make sense?

Gentlemen.

Jessica Pearson.
Thank you for meeting with me.

Keri must be getting lazy
in her old age

if she's delegating.

I'm not here as an emissary
of the law department.

- I get my orders from the top.
- Good.

I see you've read
the complaint.

I have, and I've looked at
the surrounding circumstances

regarding your client's
termination, and, to be honest,

I don't see a case.

If that's what you see,
I'd have my eyes checked.

My eyes are just fine.

What I do see, Mr. Sharma,

is a man whose career
hasn't recovered

since he left
the city attorney's office.

That's why he's suing,
Ms. Pearson.

And that's why
I'm sure we can come

to some kind of understanding.

You want to pay me
to go away.

That is what you want,
isn't it?

- Not interested.
- Well, maybe you should be.

If this goes to trial,
the jury will see nothing more

than a bitter employee
who waited five years to sue

because he just got a divorce
and is out of money.

That's because the jury
you're imagining

isn't aware of all the facts.

The facts are that
your client cheated victims

out of liability claims
for years.

He's lucky he's still
a member of the bar.

Who the hell are you
to judge me?

My actions never hurt anyone,

and I paid the price.

And so did I, but this
isn't about what I did.

It's about what she did.

"She"?

I thought you were suing
the city and the current mayor.

Oh, we are.
But she knows what she did,

and we'll start with her.

Deposition's on Wednesday.

Hey.

I didn't miss the end of
Daylight Savings Time, did I?

No, why?

- I'm waiting for this
- Black Everett guy to show,

and he's still not here.

You're waiting
for Blake Everett?

- I'm waiting for Blake Everett.
- To take him to Lincoln Yards?

Ah, man.

You know what this is, right?

Millennials on parade.

I just find it so ironic
that they're sending us out

to whitewash the city.

Just smile and nod
and sell them

on our bike shares
and beer gardens.

Yeah, and pay no attention

to the gentrification
behind the curtain.

You know what's so funny?
I've been trying

to talk the mayor out of this,

and he sends me
to sell them on it.

I don't know why.
You're a terrible salesman.

Uh...

let's do this thing.

You always wanted
to be a tour guide.

Oh, she got jokes.

I get it.

He's deposing me?

That self-important asshole.

He didn't exactly
win me over either.

Yeah, he's just trying
to find something

to distract
from his meaningless life.

Well, he seems to think
you had something to do

with why it's meaningless.

Damn it, I asked you
to make this go away.

And I will.

But before I do,
I need a straight answer from you, Keri.

Is there any reason this man
thinks he can invalidate

the circumstances
of his firing?

- No.
- There was demonstrable proof?

It wasn't just
circumstantial evidence?

Yes, there were clear grounds
for his dismissal.

- He had to go.
- Okay, then it's personal.

As long as Sharma
has as it out for you,

you still have to prepare
for the deposition.

Great. I came to you because
I didn't want to bring in

outside council, and now
I don't have a choice, do I?

Well, at least let me
help you prepare.

- I don't think so.
- Listen to me, Keri.

I've done
a million depositions.

No one can prepare you
better than me.

You go in there
with outside council

without me exploring
every option,

whatever it is you're trying
to keep from getting out

will get out.

That man has it out for you.

Your instincts were to come
to me for help.

Trust your instincts.
Let me help you.

I didn't know that chain
to your desk was this long.

Just needed a change
of scenery.

At the very place
I recommended.

I won't read too much
into it.

I'm not here to see you,

if that's what
you're wondering.

Pierogi?

It's mushroom.

What's wrong?

Nothing.
It's just work stuff.

Doesn't seem like nothing.

I don't know
that it would be appropriate

given your position.

That's okay.
You don't have to tell me.

You wanna get something
to go, or...

The city attorney's
burying evidence.

That's a hell
of an allegation.

There was something missing
from a case I'm working on,

so I went back through
all the liability cases

under Sharma's tenure.

Every one of them settled
for way less than expected,

and there's evidence missing
from every single one.

It's a pattern.
I see it. I know it.

Talk to him about it?

I did, and he didn't seem
bothered at all,

like it was just
standard operating procedure.

- Jesus.
- This man is my mentor.

He's the best professor I had.

He hired me right out
of law school.

I owe him everything.

That complicates things,
doesn't it?

What do I do?

I thought you didn't
come here to see me.

Please.

Look, you can do
what your gut is telling you

and expose him,
but from what I've seen,

whistleblowers
rarely get rewarded.

Are you saying that to me
as a politician?

No, I'm saying that
as someone who doesn't want

to see you forced out
of City Hall.

Mr. Alderman, come here.
Take a look.

You don't have
to keep bringing me up here.

I get it. Your building is
very big and impressive.

I wanted to tell you
this in person,

see your reaction.

We're gonna make you mayor.

I... I know,
that's the idea.

No, no, buddy.
It's not an idea.

We're doing it now.

What are you talking about?

ADA Mills is dropping out,
poor bastard.

It's something about him
diddling a paralegal

a few years back.

Christ.

One mistake, your entire
political career is over.

And someone else's
gets started.

I had a consulting firm

look into your strengths
and weaknesses.

They even drafted up
a platform.

You are for jobs
and against gangs.

- What is this, a joke?
- No, not to me.

I paid 20 grand for this.

Yeah, well,
then you wasted your money.

Bobby, what...
What are you talking about?

Pat, listen to me.

I know we've been talking
about this for a long time

and I...
agreed to play the long game

and do your bidding
on city council

but... the more I'm inside,

the more this shit
gets to me.

I wanna make a mark.

You are good!

Well, you save that
for the campaign...

I'm not fucking around.

This city's got a reputation
for a reason,

and I'm sick of it.

If I'm gonna do this thing,

I want to be
a new kind of mayor.

Did you get that out
of your system?

You ready to come back
to planet Earth now?

No, I've spent a lot
of time and energy

rounding up money
for you, okay?

A lot of rich people
are gonna get behind you

because I asked them to.

You wanna be
a new kind of mayor?

You won't be any kind of mayor
if you don't win.

Trust me, Bobby.

Trust me and go along
for the ride,

and all this can be yours.

Like the mayor said,
this whole area across there

is open for development.

It's an amazing space.

There's the museums,
the waterfront,

Wrigleyville, Boystown.

And you're less than 15 miles
from both airports.

You guys definitely have

that live-work-play vibe
my workforce wants.

I didn't know "vibe"

was the company's top priority.

What's that?

Nothing.

I think the guy
who created a start-up

valued at $100 million
knows what he's doing.

Oh, no, I-I'm sure he does.

It's just, you know,
spending a fortune

on a corporate playground,
it just, uh...

When you have warehouse workers
on food stamps,

kind of seems like
a backwards strategy.

You'll have to excuse
Ms. Castillo.

- She's our resident contrarian.
- That's okay.

She's not the first person
to say it.

But you are the first

from an administration
vying for our business.

I'm not trying
to call you out or anything.

I'm just looking out
for Chicago's best interests.

- By calling me out.
- Yoli...

There's no problem here.

You're vetting a dozen cities,

so you would understand
why we want to do the same.

Hey, how about we go
check out that vegan place

in the Arts District?

Sounds great.

Fucking kidding me?

You can't talk
to that guy like that.

- You told me to speak my mind.
- What?

Yeah, the other day.

And weren't you speaking yours
before this asshole showed up?

That was my personal opinion.
I don't make policy decisions.

My job is to help the mayor.

The mayor lets them build
IckarisWorld here,

you're gonna have a lot
of angry voters.

He'll have 4,000 people
thanking him for a job.

That's what
he's gonna have.

Or was.

Fuck!

Hey.

Haven't seen you
since you got back.

I had a lot to catch up on.

Yeah, I'm sure you got
the headlines from Derrick.

We had quite a day ourselves
with Lloyd.

Derrick's very good
at his job.

Headlines conveyed the story.

Is that all?

Something else
you want to talk about?

- How is she?
- Why do you ask?

What do you mean,
"Why do I ask"?

Because I care.

I don't want
to talk about it.

Bobby, I'm just trying...

I don't want
to talk about it with you

or Jessica
or anyone else.

Ah, that's why.

You're pissed
'cause I told Jessica.

- It wasn't your business.
- You know what?

I had to tell her 'cause you're
the one that brought her in.

You know how Stephanie
feels about it.

She can't work
five feet from you

and not know what's going on.

What do you want
to know, Keri?

You wanna know
what the doctor said?

You wanna know
what the scans showed?

Nothing, okay?
No one knows.

Two days, a battery of tests,
thousands of dollars, for what?

All I want is answers,

and no one has the balls
to tell me

that five years from now,
I'm out of this office

and my wife is in a wheelchair.

That what you wanted to know?

'Cause that's my life.

You wanna be a part of that?

You waiting on me
or the mayor?

I don't clock out
until you do.

That was the deal.

Well, after this morning,
I wasn't so sure.

You were quiet.

Just doing my job.

And you've been doing it
very quietly for a while now.

Since you questioned
whether or not I was involved

in a murder or not, you mean?

No, since I determined

you absolutely had nothing
to do with one.

- I'm sorry I doubted you.
- That's fine.

But the fact
that you suspected me,

that says plenty about
what you think of me.

I don't know what to think
of you, Nick.

But this arrangement
isn't going to work

unless you trust me enough
to let your walls down.

Don't you ever get bored
of the view

down that one-way street?

What are you talking about?

You expect everyone
to open up for you

but you don't give a thing
in return.

I stood there
at that press conference

and not only did I answer
every question,

I handed out my number
for follow-ups.

You didn't give them a thing
you can't find on page one

of an internet search.

Well, what do you think
I'm hiding?

Hell, for all I know,
you're some Stepford wife

programmed to write checks
and issue sound bites.

But whatever you are,
what the hell do you know

- about what the mayor's going through?
- You don't know anything about me.

Exactly.

I don't know anything.

So you guys own
this place too?

You don't grow like we do
without taking some chances.

So, Derrick, what's up?

I got a late flight
to Atlanta.

The mayor wants
to take me to the zoo

and show me the pandas.

About that.

I'm sorry
at how that went down.

She does not represent the
views of this administration.

But she is a part of it,

and we do have 18 other cities
dying to make a deal.

I know, and they're
rolling out the red carpet.

And they should.

But you know she's not the
only one saying those things.

Is that your pitch?

"You guys suck.
Everybody knows it."

My pitch is, "We can change
the way the world sees you."

The world sees us on
the "Forbes 100" and climbing.

For now,
but look what happened

to Facebook and BP.

They were riding high,
until they weren't.

We don't have a public
relations problem, Derrick.

Right now, maybe not.
But you will, and you know it.

So what do you got?

The mayor has a group
of grassroots organizations

that will partner with Ickaris
to make this deal work for you

and for the people of Chicago.

I know what a corporate
accountability team is.

Then you know it can work.

It still seems like
you guys are getting

most of the benefits here.

This is good for your brand,
and you know it.

Tell you what.

You increase the tax cuts on
every concession that we make

to the community, and we might
have something here.

If I get the mayor
to sign off on that,

you'll go public
we're top three?

Yeah, you give the word,
I'll release it.

Please state your full name
for the record.

Keri Katherine Allen.

You are aware
that you're being deposed

in the case of Ken Sharma
versus the city of Chicago?

I am.

Will you please establish
a timeline

for your history at City Hall?

I was deputy city attorney
in 2013

until the incoming
administration

appointed me city attorney
in 2015.

And what was your
relationship to Ken Sharma?

It was
a working relationship.

We met in law school.

He was a mentor to me
for two years

until he was appointed
city attorney,

and then he hired me
right after graduation,

and I worked for him
until his departure.

- And how long was that?
- A little under a year.

- And how did it end?
- Poorly.

Why is Mayor Novak
named in the suit?

That's a question
for the person filing.

Take a wild guess.

The mayor was the one
who outed Ken Sharma

for mishandling evidence.

How did he get a hold
of the information to do that?

I gave it to him.

And how long had you known
the alderman at that time?

I don't see
how that's relevant.

How long, Ms. Allen?

Uh, about a week.

So you trusted a man
you barely knew a week

with information that could
cost you your job.

I was trying
to do the right thing.

And the mayor repaid you
for that information

by making you
the youngest city attorney

in the history of Chicago.

Is that what you mean
by "the right thing"?

That is not why
I gave him the information.

- Then why did you do it?
- I just told you, I was...

Well, if it wasn't a
quid pro quo, then what was it?

- Okay, stop it.
- What was it, Ms. Allen?

Because what it
looks like is,

you exchanged sexual favors
for professional gain.

Is that what it was?

Tell me if I'm crazy.

- You're crazy.
- I'm serious.

I really can't let him
do what he's doing.

- I have to say something. I'm just...
- Okay, take a breath.

I'm gonna go
to the inspector general.

- Wait a second...
- It's systemic.

Sharma knows all about it,
and he's taking kickbacks.

If you accuse him,
you have to have proof.

There is a crippled boy,
and they're trying

to cheat him out of money
and justify it

by calling it
prudent management.

I can't let it happen.

Okay, okay.

You want me
to talk you out of it?

Is that why you came in here?

I don't think so.

I just want you to think
before you do anything.

I have.

Are you sure
you want to do this?

I'm sure.

♪ I feel like I'm drowning ♪

♪ Oh, drowning ♪

♪ You're holding me down and ♪

♪ Holding me down ♪

♪ You're killing me slow ♪

♪ So slow, oh, no ♪

♪ I feel like I'm drowning ♪

♪ I'm drowning ♪

Hard to leave
when you look like that.

Let me give you
some extra motivation.

Listen...

your plan to go
to the inspector general,

it could take months
or years, even,

to show any real results.

So what if, in that time,
Sharma gets wind

of what's going on?

Your career's over.

Let me do it.

- How?
- I'm not sure.

I'll figure something out.

And if it doesn't work,
then your career is over.

- It won't be, trust me.
- It's too risky.

I'm not gonna ask you
to do that

- for me.
- I'm offering.

It's my way
of saying thank you.

For sleeping with you?
Why don't you just leav

some cash on the dresser?

For reminding me
why I went into this work

in the first place.

I love being an alderman.

I love it,
and I would never want

to think that I take it
for granted, but...

maybe because I was too young
when I started.

I've been getting lazy

and complacent
and a little numb.

But now...

because of you...

I got a pulse again.

And I'm not just talking
about this.

I'm... I'm talking
about everything,

all of me.

You wanna think that's a line
from a politician,

you go ahead
and think it, but...

it's true.

Let me do this for you.

I need to do this.

♪ How does it feel... ♪

♪ To know that you can't ♪

♪ Go on anymore ♪

Well, if you're here
to give me legal advice,

- you can save it.
- I'm not.

But I do want to talk to you

before you bring in
another lawyer.

I'm not bringing in
another lawyer.

- What does that mean?
- You're the mayor's fixer.

- Fix it.
- Keri.

The last wrongful termination
suit against the city

settled for a million,
so just find a number.

You can't give in.

Don't tell me what I can
and cannot do.

I'm the city attorney.

I can make a nuisance suit
go away by paying it off.

Look, I know
you're mad at me.

I'm not mad at you.

I'm mad at myself
and this man and...

everybody but you.

You've made that
perfectly clear for me.

Then you know that giving in
isn't the way to go.

- Pay him.
- The man cheated people

out of millions and
lined his own pockets,

unless you are lying

and you just made it up
to get his job.

- Fuck you.
- That's not an answer.

I didn't.
You know I didn't.

And that's what the jury
will hear.

The jury's gonna hear
a woman who was sleeping

with the soon-to-be mayor...

and still is.

There, I said it for you.
Hope you're happy.

If this gets out,
Bobby will be crushed,

but he'll recover.

And me?

No matter what anybody says,
I will always be the woman

who slept her way to the top.

It's different for women,
and you know that.

I will never recover.

Nice going, Mayor Novak.

Can't believe you actually
got him to sign off on this.

I didn't.

Oh.

Shit.

Is he mad?
Yep, he's mad.

He shouldn't be.

You not only kept him
in the running,

but it says here that
we're one of the favorites.

It's my job to speak for him,
not to go behind his back

and make promises
we can't deliver.

You could have just
told him that you were

cleaning up after me,
if you wanted.

I don't throw people
under the bus.

Well, you could have,
because I'm not ashamed

of my beliefs.

- Damn.
- No, what?

- I'm serious.
- I know you are.

Let me ask you something,
Yoli Castillo.

Why do you want
to be here?

What do you mean?

Why do you want
to be part of government

when you have zero respect
for how it works?

Because it doesn't work
for everyone.

Working for everyone
isn't practical

or even possible.

It's our job
to do the most good

for the greatest number
of people.

Wow.

You really
sold your soul, huh?

I hope you at least got
a good price for it.

I believe in a lot
of the same things you do.

I'm just a lot smarter about
trying to get them done.

Funny, it looks like
I'm standing

in the same place you are
by staying true to myself.

Well, the next time you want
to be true to yourself,

don't take me down with you.

I shouldn't be meeting you
without my lawyer present.

You're smarter
than your lawyer.

That's why I'm coming
right to you.

You think I can win,
don't you?

I think if you can
make it look like

your ambitious
young protégé

conspired with an equally
ambitious young alderman

to take you down,

that you might get
a jury to sympathize.

I'm glad you see it my way.

I said sympathize,
not win.

But what you will
definitely get

is to exact your revenge
on Keri and Bobby,

which is what you
really want, isn't it?

They destroyed my career,
Ms. Pearson.

No, you destroyed your career
when you decided

to bury evidence
and cheat innocent people.

No wonder you look like hell.
Guilt'll do that.

Look, if I had the chance
to do it over,

I might make
some different choices.

But putting $10 million
into public schools

instead of paying damages
to a kid who skipped school

to jump between train cars?

I think that was
a fair trade.

And that sounds like a man

who's still justifying
his actions.

Sounds a lot like you,
doesn't it?

Two powerful attorneys
who crossed lines

to do what they thought
was right,

only I don't have a mayor
to bail me out.

Well, that's where
you're wrong,

because your bail
is set at $1 million,

and the city's willing
to pay it.

You know, um...

I've spent my career convincing
law students like Keri

that, uh, it wasn't the money.

It was the privilege to serve
that would drive them.

You lost that privilege,
Mr. Sharma.

Oh, I lost
a lot more than that.

I mean, look at me.

I gave the city 20 years,

20 years.

And now I'm nothing in it.

Keep your money.

Don't tell me,
the mayor fired you

and you're coming back
to New York.

Hardly.

You took over and you
renamed the city Pearson.

- That's more like it.
- How are you, Jessica?

I'm just fine,
thank you very much,

but I do need a favor.

I can be on
the first plane out.

Save your miles for Tahiti.

You can do this
from right where you are.

Good, I wasn't about
to battle airport traffic.

What do you need?

Oh, man.

You should have seen
the look on Sharma's face

when I exposed his corrupt ass
to the city council.

It was beautiful.

Now I'm ready to run.

What's the matter, Pat?

City attorney
a friend of yours?

No.

No, your...
Your big money backers

were friends with him,
and now they've all pulled out.

- Fuck them.
- "Fuck them"?

This is our ticket
to a whole new revenue stream

now that the voters know
I'm gonna clean this shit up.

You idiot.

And your father said
you were the smart one.

Let's leave him
out of this.

You think I'm helping you out
of the goodness of my heart?

Your old man and I,
we had an arrangement.

What the hell
are you talking about?

Tommy Diehl.

Look what happened
to Diehl made me sick,

but everybody knows
he was dirty.

And he had nothing
to do with me.

No, he had everything
to do with you.

Quid pro quo, Bobby boy.

Quid pro quo.

Are you saying my old man
took care of Diehl?

And in exchange,
I make his son mayor.

Jesus Christ.

I don't want your help.
I don't need it.

You don't get
a choice in this.

The hell I don't!

After today, I won't have
any trouble raising money.

Oh, okay, Bobby.

All right, you... you go out
and you find other backing

'cause you're a talented,
charismatic guy,

but that's all
you'll ever be.

You're not becoming mayor
if the public finds out

that your family was involved

in the disappearance
of a union boss.

Cheer up.

You're gonna be
an important man.

To your campaign.

You can start
by getting rid of the girl.

- B3 still sticking?
- Hi.

- Hi.
- Yeah.

It's all right.

Thank you.

Um, can we go somewhere
and talk?

Listen, you don't have to
worry about stringing together

some lame version
of, "I'm a jerk

"that slept with you once and
I don't have time for a relationship."

That's not what I wanted
to talk to you about.

Either way, thank you
for what you did for me.

I should be thanking you.

It's gonna be a boon
to my career.

And it made me feel like myself
for the first time in a while.

Listen, Bobby,
now that, um, Sherma's out,

work is different for me.

I really need people to know
that I'm here on my own merits.

And not because some alderman
took an interest in you.

Yeah.

- Somebody say something?
- No, they didn't need to.

And that's the whole reason?

That and the fact
that you're married,

and I don't want
to be the reason

you don't go back
to your wife.

That's not something
I can deal with.

Just so you know,

I ever make it
to that fifth floor office,

I'm taking you with me.

Yeah, you gonna
run for mayor?

Uh, I'm thinking about it.

What do you think?

Would you vote for me?

I might.

It's a deal then.

Can't shortchange
that meteoric rise, can we?

It's over.

- Hmm?
- Your problem.

It's over.

How much?

Didn't cost
the city a dime.

You didn't cut all my ties

when you took a knife
to my career.

I still have powerful friends
in New York.

I made a call.
To who?

What's gonna happen to him?

They're lawyers, Keri,
not mobsters.

Harvey Specter
is connecting him

with some corporate firms

in the market
for a Michael Clayton.

So that's it?
He's willing to just walk away,

no revenge, no payout?
He didn't want the money.

He wanted his name back.

He wasn't gonna get
that in Chicago.

So you rewarded him
with a new job

after the shitting the bed
in his old one.

God, that's
a real sweet deal.

I did for him
what Bobby did for me.

And I can tell you
from experience,

starting over isn't easy.

He won't be living large
in exile.

- Thank you.
- You're welcome.

And I'm sorry.

For what?

I never should have
questioned

how you got your job.

The truth is, Bobby is mayor
because of you.

Nobody knows it...

and I wish they did.

Thank you.

What's the status
of my Ickaris assignment?

All taken care of.

Sounds like Everett
was satisfied

with your presentation.

He's on a plane home
right now singing our praises.

And how much ass-kissing
did Derrick have to do

to clean up your mess?

Give me one good reason

why I shouldn't fire you
right now.

I'm sorry.

I'm almost never wrong
about a person, Yoli.

But maybe I was when I thought
I saw something in you.

No, you weren't.
You're wrong now.

If you're gonna correct me,

then you'd better have
a damn good explanation.

I'm the voice
this place is missing.

I'm passionate about the things
that are important,

and I am not afraid to push on
the issues that I care about.

Isn't that what
we're supposed to do here?

Not if it costs us
valuable relationships

and opportunities.

I know I can be
a lot sometimes,

but... I'm not stupid.

I can learn how
to do this job,

but you can't teach passion.

So please...

just give me another chance.

One shot.

That's it.

♪ Oh, I don't want to stay ♪

♪ Up out here
on your fire escape ♪

♪ But you won't let me go ♪

Hey.

Sorry to just drop by.

- Hi.
- Don't worry,

I'm not stalking you.

I tried calling but, uh,

did I leave my watch
at your place?

Uh, I don't think so,

but I can check
when I get home.

Cool.

While I'm here...

I don't think
it's a good idea.

Tonight or?

You're a really nice guy,
but you were right.

I am seeing someone.

Okay.

I'm in a relationship.

It's okay, Keri.

Take it easy.

You too.

♪ We get carried away ♪

♪ Don't stop ♪

♪ I've got nothing but time ♪

♪ So come down
when you wanna start ♪

My ex-husband had ALS.

Sorry?

It's why I told Bobby
I understood

what he was going through.

It tore me apart,

knowing that someone
that I loved,

no matter how complicated
it was, was suffering.

And even though
I was so in control

of everything all day,

I was powerless
to do anything about it.

I had to stand by and watch,

and I'm not
very good at that.

Why didn't you tell Bobby?

Because the story ends
with a man dying,

and I don't think he's ready
to hear that right now.

He might appreciate
a little empathy.

But I don't really
understand it.

My ex-husband was diagnosed
after we were divorced.

I don't know
how I would have handled it

had it happened
during our marriage.

I like to think
I'm a better person now, but...

Yeah, I think
you're a better person

than even you think you are.

I don't know
why I'm telling you this.

Maybe it's because
I'm here.

♪ Let me into your heart ♪

♪ Then we'll write
on the wall ♪

♪ You're what I want,
and that's all ♪

Thank you.

I don't think
I'll need a ride tonight.

Jeff.

Miss me?

I can't believe you're here.

Well, I knew
you weren't gonna

jump on a plane to Miami,

so thought I would jump
on a plane to come see you.

I'm glad you did.

♪ You have something
that I wanna keep ♪

♪ We get carried away ♪

♪ Don't stop ♪

♪ I got nothing... ♪