Suits (2011–…): Season 8, Episode 10 - Managing Partner - full transcript

(HARVEY READING)

GAVIN: One of my transport flights
was carrying some art.

The hull depressurized,
and one of the pieces got damaged.

It had to be insured,
so what's the problem?

The insurance inspector's
got the balls to say

they'd be suing me
for the damages.

I made an appointment
with the top fertility specialist

- in the country.
- You really think

- we need a specialist?
- The sooner we get some help,

the sooner we can hold
that baby in our arms.

Two days ago, when you said
this shady son of a bitch



destroyed that painting
intentionally...

Is that how you talk
about your former clients?

Alex, this thing
is a loser for you.

- Get your client under control.
- Don't talk to me

about this case being a loser.
You're lucky we're even

- in here.
- Bullshit.

We go to court
and I will clean your clock.

Samantha and Alex
are about to go to war.

- I told her to settle.
- Well, she didn't.

And if Samantha did that,
I'll deal with her.

How? Because you've
let her do

whatever she wants
ever since she got here.

I don't suppose
it would do any good

to ask you to let
Alex go up there first.



I'm not backing
down because

I think I'm better
than Alex Williams,

and I'm not gonna say
that I'm not.

You have some
cervical fibroids

that, unfortunately,
your OB missed,

and I'd like to remove them.

If we keep
doing nothing...

It's worse than letting them
settle it themselves.

One case, head-to-head,
winner gets name partner.

As you both know,

Harvey and I each
made a promise

to put your names
on the door next.

And obviously it's not
possible for us both

to keep that promise.

This better not be you
telling us we're going up

at the same time, because as far
as I'm concerned,

that's as bullshit as telling me
you're giving it to him.

And for once,
you and I agree.

Good, because we
have another idea.

Are those what
I think they are?

HARVEY: Two conflict
of interest waivers

giving you the green light
to take off the gloves

and get in the ring.

ROBERT: You wanted
a fight. You got it.

The winner gets
their name up next.

Any questions?

I got one.

Is it gonna be
"and Williams,"

or just "Zane Specter
Litt Williams"?

I can answer that.
It's not gonna be either one.

Then I guess we'll
just have to find out.

I guess we will.

LOUIS: Well, before you
start taking any swings,

I wanna make
one thing clear.

This is a fair fight.

No using
inside information.

No looking at the other person's shit.
Are we clear?

- Yes.
- Clear.

ROBERT: And if no one else
is gonna say it, I will.

Let's get ready to rumble.

Harvey.
What are you doing here?

I came to say I know this
isn't how either of us

thought this
would go down.

And I wanted to make sure
you were good with it.

If this is what
it's gonna take,

then I'm not just
good with it.

I'm also good
with this.

Let me guess.

You want me to take
care of this for you.

It's nothing you
haven't done before.

What happened to you don't like it
when I get involved?

What I don't like is
you getting involved

when I asked you
to stay out of it.

This is me telling you
to get your ass in it.

All right, Alex.

Are you sure?

Because once I do this,
there's no taking it back.

Yes, I'm sure.

Because I guarantee you,

she's going to Robert
to do the same damn thing.

So the question is,
are you here for me or not?

I'm here for you, Alex.
I'm right the hell here.

(DOOR OPENS)

- Good, you're here.
- No.

What do you mean no?
You don't even know

- what I want.
- Bullshit, I don't.

You're here for some kind
of edge with Alex Williams,

and I'm not gonna
give it to you.

- Why not?
- Because if I step in

to help you, it undermines
the whole arrangement.

All I'm asking is to
delay the trial a week.

Samantha,
I'm managing partner here

because I stayed out when it was time.
Well, it's still time.

And if you wanna
delay this thing,

you're gonna have
to do it on your own.

- That is bullshit.
- And you're entitled to your opinion.

Now, unless you got
some other business,

why don't you just let me
wash my hands in peace?

(SINGING) See the money,
wanna stay for your meal

Get another piece of pie
for your wife

Everybody wanna know
how it feel

Everybody wanna see
what it's like

I'll even eat a bean pie
I don't mind

Me and missy is so early

Busy, busy making money

All right!

All step back
I'm 'bout to dance

The greenback boogie

Thank you.

You ending the night
or starting the day?

Both.

Same here.

Banker or lawyer?

(SIGHS)

What I am
is not interested.

Well, you might
not be interested,

but you're going to listen.
Now, we can be formal

about this, Samantha,
or you can just call me Tom.

Okay, Tom.
I'm listening.

We know there's money
laundering going on at your firm,

but we don't know how
high up the food chain it goes.

And the bureau thinks that
you'd be the perfect person

to help us answer
that question.

- Why me?
- We know that you served

your country
once before.

This is a chance
to serve it again.

Well, you can wave
the flag all you want,

but I don't know anything,
and I'm loyal to the people

I'm in the foxhole with
right now.

Well, if you're not
gonna ask what you can do

for your country, then

maybe you should ask what
your country can do to you.

- These records were sealed.
- They were.

And whether they stay sealed
is entirely your choice.

See what you can dig up,

and don't say a word
about this to anyone.

HARVEY: You don't usually come
in and sit right down.

- This must be important.
- I need to say something

about this trial,
and I need you to hear me.

Donna, if this is about
us not consulting you,

it was a name partner
decision.

It's not about
that, Harvey.

I'm here to talk about what
we're gonna do when it's over.

- What do you mean?
- We're all still gonna be here,

and win or lose, it's gonna be
on you to keep the peace.

I hope you're asking
the same of Zane.

- I'm not.
- Why not?

Because this is still
more your firm than his,

and everybody knows it.

So if Alex wins,

you need to be
magnanimous about it.

And Harvey, if Samantha wins,
you need to be the bigger man

and accept it with grace.

You don't think
Alex can win, do you?

- What if I said I don't?
- I'd wanna know why.

Because this isn't about
who the better lawyer is.

It's about winning.

And unless he suddenly
becomes a different person,

he's not willing to go
as far as she is to win.

Well, then maybe he is
becoming a different person.

- What do you mean?
- I mean, he came to me for help,

and he wasn't asking.
He was telling.

- And you gave it to him?
- I did.

Harvey, if Alex comes to you
asking for help again,

- say no.
- Why?

Because this isn't just about
keeping the peace later.

If we're not careful,
this could rip us apart

before it's even over.

What's all this?

Just wanted to make sure you
had all of our discovery.

You're bringing me
a cartload of documents

to go through
at 9:00 at night?

And this is just the tip
of the iceberg.

You might wanna
order takeout.

How much of this is purely
to waste my time?

I'll leave that to you,
but speaking of time...

I don't believe it!

You moved the trial
to tomorrow?

I don't run the four corners,
Samantha.

I fast-break.

And right now,
it's show time.

You think I don't know
what you're doing?

You're trying to speed this
thing up because you know

your client is guilty,
just like you know

if I have time to dig in,
I'll prove it.

I'm trying to speed this up
because the longer

this goes on,
the longer my client's image

gets dragged
through the mud.

Spare me the song
and dance, Alex.

The judge might not
have seen through it, but I do.

You're right.
He did see it my way.

And the only thing you're gonna see
is me wiping the floor

with you
starting tomorrow.

(PHONE RINGING)

- Yeah?
- SHEILA: Louis.

Hey, I was just
thinking about you.

What's going on?
How was your day?

Well, I've got some good
news and some bad news.

- What happened?
- SHEILA: Dean Stanton's wife

was diagnosed
with breast cancer,

and he's stepping down
to spend time with her.

Sheila, I am so sorry.

SHEILA: The good news

is he recommended me
to be interim dean.

LOUIS: Oh, my God,
that's amazing.

I'm gonna come home right now,
and we're gonna go out and celebrate.

SHEILA: Louis, you
don't have to do that.

Well, I know I don't
have to. I want to.

No, I mean,
you don't have to do that.

Because I'm already here.

I am so proud of you.

Louis, it hasn't
happened yet.

It will.

I know it will.

Excuse me, Mr. Jarvis.
Do you have a minute?

Of course I do.
But first I'll need a name.

Samantha Wheeler.

Well, Samantha Wheeler,
what can I do for you?

When I was hired, I was told I could come
to senior management with anything.

And you can.

We pride ourselves
on our reputation

for looking after
our associates.

Which is why I'm hoping
you can help me.

I was approached
by the FBI this morning.

They think something's
going on here.

Oh.

And, well,
what did you say?

I said I'm loyal
to my firm.

Well, that would presume
there's something

to be loyal about.

The guy that came
at me believes

we're laundering money.

What are you working
on right now?

The suit against Monsanto.

First thing tomorrow,
I'm farming it out

to someone else,
because if the FBI's right,

then I need someone
to dig into our books.

If I go to accounting,
then whoever's doing this is gonna

know there's something
rotten in Denmark.

- I'm on it.
- Good.

Oh, and, Samantha,
if you find anything,

no matter how small,
please, let me know.

Ladies and gentlemen,
you're going to hear a lot

of numbers in this trial,
but the only number

that matters is seven.

That's how many safeguards
there are to keep a cargo hold

from depressurizing.
It simply can't happen.

Unless someone
wants it to happen.

Twenty years ago,
I parked my car outside a 7-Eleven.

When I came out,
it was totaled,

and it took me two years
to collect $1,800

I couldn't
afford to lose.

Gavin Andrews stood to gain
millions of dollars

from destroying the very painting
he was charged with transporting.

Now, imagine
it wasn't a Corolla.

It was a $100 million
painting.

Think how hard they'll
fight not to pay.

Because it's what
insurance companies do.

They blame someone else.
They call it an act of God.

Or they just say, "Screw you.
Come and get it."

The truth is,
this is a crime,

and he should go
to prison for it.

Unfortunately, we can't
put him away for this,

but what we can do
is make him pay for it.

Because they'll do whatever
it takes to keep their money,

and we're not gonna let
them get away with it.

JUDGE: Ms. Wheeler,
your first witness.

Your Honor, I call
Gavin Andrews to the stand.

I guess you aren't
big on foreplay.

Oh, I like foreplay
just fine, Alex.

But you're right
about one thing.

You're about
to get fucked.

Mr. Andrews,
when a plane depressurizes,

the NTSB is supposed
to investigate.

But before they could,
you cleared out the cargo hold.

Why would you do that?

Because you don't leave
million-dollar works of art

to bake in the sun.

And thanks to my call, we were
able to save most of them.

Most of them.

But not the Vermeer.

And if there's one less
Vermeer in the world,

then yours
is more valuable.

Sorry to disappoint you,
but I didn't want

that painting destroyed.
I wanted to buy it.

Then let's talk
about your other art.

Five years ago, you bought
a Renoir for $8 million

and recently sold it.
Is that correct?

It is.

How much did
you sell it for?

- Considerably more.
- Isn't it true

you sold it for $55 million

to an airline manufacturer
who then happened

- to win your business?
- ALEX: Your Honor,

that's a violation of
the terms of our waiver.

She's using
privileged information.

It would be privileged,
except Mr. Andrews' wife

detailed all of this
in their divorce filing.

- What?
- He hid assets

from their
prenuptial agreement.

He took bribes and hid them
as art transactions...

Hearsay, Your Honor.
Allegations from a bitter ex-wife.

A woman who knows this man
better than anyone.

Overruled, Mr. Williams.

Divorce filings
are publicly available.

Mr. Andrews, you take
kickbacks from your suppliers.

You cheated your own wife.

Do you really expect a jury
to believe what happened

to the Vermeer
was an accident?

It was an accident.

Well, actions speak
louder than words.

And your actions
aren't just speaking.

They are screaming
that you're guilty,

and all of these people
can hear it.

God damn it, we had an agreement,
and you broke it.

I didn't break
anything.

Don't give me that shit.
There's no public record

of that divorce filing,
and there's no way his wife

knew about
that $55 million.

Then go check
the filing yourself.

I think you'll find that
it's been recently amended

and placed in
the public record,

which means I didn't
violate anything.

All right, Samantha.
You want public record.

I'll give you
public record.

Ms. Horford, instead
of looking at the whole chain

of custody, you only
focused on Starboard Airlines.

Why is that?

We looked at the whole chain
of custody, Mr. Williams.

For how long?
Ten minutes?

An hour?

Or just long enough to figure
that of all the people

you could sue, Gavin Andrews
had the deepest pockets?

HORFORD: That's insulting.
We don't do business that way.

ALEX: I think you do,
which is why you lost

Starboard Airlines as a client when
Gavin Andrews took his business elsewhere.

That has nothing
to do with this.

It has to do with you missing out
on your bonus that year.

If you're implying that I would
use my company for personal reasons...

Isn't that what you're
accusing my client of doing?

And when an analyst at Goldman
asked you why you lost

Starboard Airlines,
you said,

"The way Gavin Andrews does
business will come back

"to haunt him," meaning you
would come back to haunt him.

That's not
what I meant.

It sure sounds
like what it meant.

What I meant was that our
biggest rival gave him

- a kickback to drop...
- You have proof of that?

No, you don't, just like
you don't have proof that my client

damaged that painting.

All you have is a bunch
of smear tactics and a grudge.

Objection, testifying.

ALEX: Then I'll wrap it up.

Because you were right,
actions do speak louder than words.

And all this is, is a good old-fashioned
case of payback.

I came home as soon
as I got the voicemail.

I got the job.

Sheila, that is fantastic.
I am so proud of you.

And not only that,
they said if I do well,

I can have it
permanently.

- Permanently?
- Yes.

They were discussing it,

and the head of the search
committee said...

- Louis, what's wrong?
- Nothing, it's just we agreed

after the baby,
I'd do the heavy lifting in the fall,

and you would take over after
recruiting season ended.

The dean of a law school,
Sheila,

that's a year-round job.

There's no way you'll
be able to do both.

Well, we can, we can
make an adjustment.

What kind of adjustment?

Well, I don't know.

Don't most couples with
full-time jobs get a nanny?

I don't want a stranger
raising my child.

So you want me to turn down
an opportunity

- that may never come again?
- Not the interim part,

but the permanent part, yes.

Louis, if I did that
and we have a daughter,

how would I ever
look her in the eye?

You look at her in the eye
and you tell her, "I chose you."

If you don't, you'll never be
able to look her in the eye

at all because
you'll be working.

Okay, that's not
fair, Louis.

And if we worked out
the Jewish thing,

we can work this out.

Well, we haven't figured
that out yet.

And that was something
we hadn't discussed.

This is something
we agreed on.

Like when we agreed you'd give up
mudding, and then you didn't.

Don't throw
that back on me.

I lived up to it
in the end.

Okay, well, this is a little bit bigger
than mudding, Louis. This is my life.

And I want this job,
and I want a baby,

and I don't see why
I can't have both.

Well, I don't know
what to say to all that.

How about,
"I support your choices"?

Because I'm gonna have surgery
in three days to help us

have this baby.

And I'd feel a lot better
about it knowing we were

both on the same team.

Robert.

Samantha.

What are you doing
down here?

There was an error
with a client's billing.

I'm trying to fix it
before it gets noticed.

Which client?
Maybe I can help.

I appreciate that.
I just took care of it.

- Have a nice night.
- Samantha.

There's only two reasons
someone who's not an accountant

would be here
on a Friday night.

Either they can't
get a date,

or they want to be here
when no one's around.

What are you saying?

You're not here
to fix something.

You're here to find something.

- That's not what I'm do...
- It's okay.

I'm here for the same thing.

I think there's something shady going on
here with the money.

I just can't prove it.

Let's say I trust you.
What have you found so far?

- There's two issues.
- Bonus payments

- and retainer fees.
- Exactly.

So I tell you what.

You take the retainers.
I'll take the bonuses.

A week from now, we meet up
and see what's what.

Sounds like a plan.

Robert, why are you
doing this?

Because I don't mind
defending criminals,

but I don't put myself through
law school to work for them.

All right, you wanted help.

Well, here it is.

What I wanted
was help yesterday.

You said no,
and now it's too late.

The trial's already
started.

Well, I was wrong.

So you can hold a grudge,
or you can think of something else.

All right.

There is one thing.

After Alex tore Nina
to pieces on the stand,

I told her we needed
to shore up the investigation

into the packing company.

- She got a look on her face.
- What kind of look?

The kind of look that said I'm not
gonna be able to shore up anything.

So I said,
"Forget I asked."

Let me guess.
She already sent the files over.

I'm pretty sure they
got here after I got back.

But I don't know
since I didn't look.

Which means you need me
to make that box disappear.

Yes, I do.

Samantha,

let me ask you
one question.

Are you sure
Gavin Andrews is guilty?

Robert, I represented
the man for years.

He is always guilty.

Then consider it gone.

10:00,
right on schedule.

I'm nothing
if not prompt.

So, what'd you
come up with?

Not a thing.

The retainers
all checked out.

Shit.

Why shit?

Well, I dug into the bonuses
and struck out, too.

Maybe there's
nothing to find.

I didn't say I didn't
find anything, Robert.

I said the retainers
all checked out.

After I went down my path,
I went down yours,

and wouldn't you know?

It led right back to you.

So tell me, Robert.

Why am I holding a $100,000
off-the-books wire transfer

with your name on it?

Six months ago I found out
all three named partners

were laundering money.

They offered to cut me in.
I said no.

They put that money in there
to make me look complicit.

- Bullshit.
- It's not bullshit.

They wouldn't take the money
back, no matter what I said.

So I did the next best thing
and gave it to charity.

If you don't believe me,
I'll show you the check.

So you can cut a check, but you can't
blow the whistle? How noble.

It's more
complicated than that.

Seems pretty simple to me.

You witness a crime,
you tell the authorities.

Which is what I'm
gonna do right now.

Why don't you try telling me that
after you have a daughter?

Her name is Rachel.

She wants to be a lawyer.

But how is that gonna go
when she applies to the bar

and they say, "Isn't
your father a criminal?"

You show them the check

and make them believe
you're not a criminal.

If this comes out,
my name is tainted forever.

They'll never believe me.

And if it was just me,
I'd take that chance.

I'm sorry, Robert.
It's... (SIGHS)

- It's not my call.
- Please.

Now, you came in here because
you wanted to hear my side

of the story.

My story

is I'm a father
with a daughter.

And I need your help.

Samantha.

I was wondering when
this visit was coming.

- What visit is that?
- The one where

- you threaten me.
- I'm not here to threaten you.

I'm here to offer you a way out
before publicly humiliating you

because you're still
a client of my firm.

Get off my property.

And I do that, the jury's gonna hear
from Phillip Jones.

You thought you could
hide him from me.

I don't know anyone
by that name.

Funny, because he has
security footage showing you

meeting with him
two weeks before

you destroyed
that painting.

- He'll never testify.
- He already has.

I have him under oath saying
you specifically asked him

how much your Vermeer
would go up

if another one
got destroyed.

I've got you, Gavin,
and I am not letting go.

This is illegal
and inadmissible.

You hacked my shit.

What I did
was do to you

what I used to
do for you.

And you can threaten me
or throw me off your property,

but once we're
in that courtroom,

I am not going
anywhere.

Give me a day.

Excuse me?

I'll pay what we owe.
I just... I need a day

to get the board's approval.

No, I don't trust you.

You don't need to trust me.
You got me.

Like you just said.

I'm still a client
of the firm.

- That's gotta count for something.
- It doesn't.

Samantha, please.

I know you once told me
about your family.

Well, I have a family and...

If this comes out, think about what
it's gonna do to my kids.

One day.
I'll give you one day.

And then I'm putting you
on the stand.

KATRINA: Louis,
what's going on?

What do you mean?

I just found a bouquet
of pink carnations on my desk.

And since we both know that's
the widely accepted bouquet

of apology, I thought I'd ask
what you're apologizing for.

I wasn't apologizing to you.
I was apologizing to Sheila.

It turns out,
she didn't want an apology.

She wanted
a change of heart.

And you just made
senior partner,

so I thought rather
than throw them away...

Thank you, Louis.

But I thought you and Sheila
were doing great.

Yeah, we were until she got
offered to be the dean

of Columbia Law School.

And you're afraid
if she takes it,

she won't have time
for the baby.

Exactly, and with this added
responsibility, Katrina, I...

I don't know how
it's gonna work.

I know it's not my place.

But did you consider that
if Sheila has less time,

you might be able
to make more time?

Katrina, I can't
just leave the firm.

I know that, Louis,
but three nights ago,

you came into my office
and said you saw a look

on my face that you had
seen on yours before.

Yes, the look of wishing
for someone to share your life with.

You don't have
that look anymore.

What you do have
is two name partners

and a new senior partner
who have your back.

Which means that
when the time comes,

you'll be able to step back
a little and trust

that the firm
is in good hands.

Speaking of keeping
the firm in good hands,

Katrina, I need
to tell you something.

Gavin, what are
you doing here?

We're due in court
in an hour.

No, we're not,
because Samantha asked

for a recess,
and she got it.

What does she have now?

Doesn't matter what she has.
It matters what I have.

- What is that?
- A list of ethical violations

Samantha Wheeler engaged in over
the course of six years as my attorney.

No, I'm not ruining
Samantha's career.

Look, you don't have
to ruin anything.

You threaten to take this
to the bar, and she'll cave.

I'm not gonna
take that chance.

And we don't need to.
We're winning.

No, Alex, we're not.

What are you
talking about?

Samantha came
to my house this morning.

She has proof that I asked
an appraiser what would happen

to the value of my Vermeer
if that painting got destroyed.

- Now, if he gets on the stand...
- Let me get this straight.

There's a goddamn smoking gun,
and you kept it from me?

'Cause you're a Boy Scout,
and you would've given it to her.

All right, look.

It's bad, but it's not proof.
We can cross-examine

- this guy and...
- Let me make myself clear!

This is not a suggestion.
It is an order.

If you don't use this, I will.
And if I do it, Alex,

we're gonna skip the part
where she gets the chance

to walk away because I'll
be going straight to the bar.

I don't like that
look on your face.

- What look?
- The look that says

you're about to tell me
some serious shit.

Samantha's got Gavin
by the balls.

But I think
I got a way out.

- How?
- I did some digging.

Dexhart has 80%
of the reinsurance

for the packing company
that should have protected that painting.

Which means they'd have incentive
to clear them of any fault.

Which I believe they did
with a false report.

And you think Samantha's
hiding the real report?

I think she's too smart to look
at the real report in the first place.

And I know if we ask for it
with a subpoena,

it'll never see
the light of day.

What exactly are you
here to ask me, Alex?

I want you to get
Katrina Bennett to go over there

and ask for the unredacted
version of that report.

- No way.
- Harvey.

You're asking to have
one of our lawyers

- commit a crime.
- It's not a crime.

She's a senior partner
at this firm.

All she has to do is say that,
ask for the files,

- and get the hell out.
- And if it's so innocent,

why don't you go over there
and do it yourself?

Because I'm not blonde
and no one's gonna

mistake me
for Samantha Wheeler.

Damn it, Alex,
you said you could beat her.

I can beat her.
This is what it's gonna take.

And I wouldn't be
in this position

if you didn't break
your promise to me.

And that's bullshit
because you said

you were good with fighting
to get your name up.

What the hell
was I supposed to say?

Alex, helping to speed up
the trial is one thing.

Putting Katrina at risk?

I'm not doing it.

Then you should know,

I don't do this,

Gavin Andrews goes to the bar
tomorrow with a list

of shady things Samantha's
done over the years.

So you can help me
with this or not.

Either way, her name's
not going on that wall.

Katrina, if you're here
to go out for drinks tonight,

I can only say that the answer
is a big, fat, "Yes, please."

As much as I would love
to say that's why I'm here,

what I need is a big,
fat piece of advice.

- What is it?
- Harvey

basically asked me to
impersonate Samantha Wheeler.

What?

It's the only way to get what
they need to help Alex win.

What'd you tell him?

I told him
I didn't know.

Well, if Harvey wants you
to do this, why not do it?

Other than not wanting to
get on Samantha's bad side,

Louis specifically told me not
to help either one of them.

Did he say why?

He said that if too many
people got involved,

their fight could tear
the firm apart.

Then I say... too many people
are already involved.

You might as well go ahead.
Help Harvey.

Thanks, Donna.

What's this?

A settlement agreement.

You're dropping that lawsuit,
paying Gavin's legal fees,

and issuing
a public apology.

The hell we are.

Samantha, you can kick
and scream all you want,

but I got proof the packing
company skimped on materials

and your client
knew about it.

How the fuck
did you get these?

The same way I got
everything else.

You shared it
with me in discovery.

I didn't share
shit with you.

I never even saw
these documents.

You never saw them because
you never wanted to see them.

But Dexhart Insurance has
records proving it was sent.

You son of a bitch.
You cheated.

No, I just played
by your rules.

- So don't start crying now.
- Oh, I'm not crying.

And I as sure as hell
am not signing this.

And let me tell you
what happens if you don't.

Gavin Andrews
gets you disbarred.

- What?
- He's got information

that could end your career,
and he told me to use it,

but I didn't because I didn't
wanna do that to you.

So, what?
I'm supposed to thank you now?

I don't expect you
to thank me,

but I do expect you
to accept that it's over.

- I'm not accepting anything.
- I get it.

You're not used to losing.

But whether you wanna
admit it or not,

I won, you lost.

And come tomorrow, my name's
going up on that wall.

Louis, what are
you doing here?

Not bringing
you more flowers,

if that's what
you're wondering.

Sheila, the reason I was so
thrown with you taking on

more responsibility
was because...

I was afraid that I wouldn't
be able to take on less.

And whether you are offered
the permanent position or not,

when the time comes,

I wanna take time
for our family.

Well, I'm... I'm glad
to hear you say that.

Because the time
has come.

You mean you were offered
the permanent position?

No, not that
time, Louis.

The other time.

Oh, my God.

Are you saying what
I think you're saying?

I saw Chaz this afternoon.

And we're not gonna need
that surgery because

we're gonna have a baby.

I don't believe this.
Are you sure?

I mean,
are you absolutely sure?

Yes, I'm positive.

(VOICE BREAKING)
And I'm sorry we fought.

I just...
I'm stressed,

and I've got hormones
running through me,

and I'm not even sure if I
want that permanent position.

Hey, it's okay.

It's all gonna be okay.

I am right here by your side.
I'm not going anywhere.

How are you so calm?

Because I know
what's important now.

And it's this.

Everything's gonna be okay.

(CHUCKLES) Okay.

I got your message.
You're late.

I had some
thinking to do.

Well, I'm glad
you showed up.

Because I was beginning
to wonder if I was meeting you

or the feds
in here tonight.

I think I have a way
to get you out of this.

You mind if I ask you
what changed your mind?

Because I believe you.

I also know
if I do this for you,

you'll always
have my back.

You're saying I owe you?

I'm saying you'll
feel grateful.

It isn't the same thing.

No, it's not.

So, what's your plan?

Who here do you trust
more than anyone else?

(CHUCKLES) After tonight,
that's easy. You.

No, it can't be me.

It raises too
many red flags.

Besides, I'm not old enough.
It's not my time.

Well, what are you
talking about?

Just answer the question.

You need somebody here
to have your back.

It isn't me.
Who is it?

Two people.

Ellen Rand
and Eric Kaldor.

Then get them.

'Cause we're not out
of the woods yet.

It's good that you reached
out to me when you did.

I was starting to think
you made a wrong choice.

I've made enough wrong
choices in my life, Tom.

I'm not gonna make
a wrong one on this.

- So, what'd you find?
- Nothing.

All I found was a glitch
in the billing system.

Bullshit, we've got
information that your firm...

I don't care
what you've got.

Clients were overcharged,
then reimbursed.

That's all there was to it.

And when I subpoena
every billing record

from the last five years,
that's never gonna hold up.

And if you could have
subpoenaed those records,

you wouldn't have come to me
in the first place.

I get it.

They paid you off,

and now you're as guilty
as they are.

Don't you say that to me.

You tried to use my history
to get me to turn on my family.

And if you unseal my records,
I guarantee you the firm

of Rand Kaldor Zane will use
every resource they have

to come after you
for malicious prosecution.

- Rand Kaldor Zane?
- That's right.

Jarvis, Ellis, and Green
are all stepping down,

so if you're convinced
they really did something,

think of it as a little
punishment getting served

- after all.
- That's not punishment.

That's getting
away scot-free.

And if you think having your
name ripped off the wall

you've worked your entire
life to get up there

isn't punishment, you don't know
what it is to be a lawyer.

Because trust me,
it's all any of us ever want.

Then why didn't you put
your own name up there?

Because it's not
my time, Tom.

But you can bet your ass
someday it will be.

ROBERT: Samantha.

Are you here
to tell me you won?

I'm here to tell you
Alex Williams has a smoking gun,

and he's got me
dead to rights.

What?

I lost, Robert.

It's over.

How the hell
did that happen?

I had him.

I had my foot
on Gavin's neck.

I gave him
extra time.

And I'm not gonna lose
what's mine because Alex

used that time to win.

What are you saying?

I don't give a shit
what the agreement was.

My name's going up
on that wall,

and you're gonna
make it happen.

- I can't do that.
- Why not?

- Samantha...
- God damn it, Robert!

They found those files,
which means you didn't tip

the scales at all.

What is it gonna take for you
to get off the sidelines?

I wouldn't have to get off
the sidelines if you hadn't

shown Gavin Andrews
mercy!

Well, I didn't just do that
because he's still a client.

I did it because he
told me he had a family.

Just like you once did.

You're saying
I owe you.

You have owed me for years,
and you know it.

And before you gave
them your word,

you gave your word to me.

So the question is,

which word are you
gonna live up to?

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Louis, we need to talk.
It's important.

Yeah, of course.
Come in.

Actually, I'm glad
you're here,

'cause I have some big
news of my own.

Well, whatever it is,
it's not as big as this.

Robert's about to tell Harvey
that he's gonna put up

Samantha's name
instead of Alex's.

No, no, Alex won.

Robert can't break
his word like that.

Well, he's going to,
and if we don't do something,

we're not gonna have
a firm tomorrow.

We're gonna have
a war on our hands.

Okay, I hear you.

First thing tomorrow we'll get
into a conference room,

we'll talk
this thing through.

Louis, it's too late for that.
The time for talking is over.

We need to do something.

- And that something is...
- I'll step down.

What?

Donna, Sheila's pregnant.

I'm gonna be a father.

Oh, my God.

I was gonna ratchet
down anyway.

This way they can both
put their names up.

Louis, I am so happy for you.

- But that's not gonna work.
- What are you saying?

I'm saying you need to step
in as managing partner.

- What?
- Louis,

Robert can't run
this firm right now

and neither can Harvey.
You're the only one who can.

Sorry, Donna.
I can't.

- Why not?
- Because I'm not a leader.

They won't follow me.

Louis.

I know you went to Katrina
to protect the firm.

And you just offered to step
down to do the same thing.

If that's not the leadership
we need right now,

- I don't know what is.
- Why does it have to be now?

I just wanna be a father.

And the last thing I'd
ever wanna do is take that

away from you.

But your baby's not due
for another nine months.

And this firm
is your baby too,

and it needs you
right now.

I can't make that decision
without talking to Sheila first.

Then hurry.

Because we don't have
a lot of time.

Donna, even
if I said yes...

Harvey and Robert
would never vote

to make me
managing partner.

You leave that to me.

I take it
you're celebrating.

It's a drink, Robert.

I'm not rubbing it
in anybody's face,

but, yeah,
I'm happy for my guy.

Well, I'm here
to say something

that's gonna make
you less happy.

What's that?

I'm putting Samantha's name
on the wall, not Alex's.

I must be getting
old because

I'm pretty sure
I just heard you say

you're breaking your word.

Harvey, I know.
I made a promise.

You didn't just
make a promise.

You looked me
in the eye and you said,

"Let's settle this
in the ring."

And I don't care.
I owe her.

Then you should have put
her name up years ago.

- Not when it costs someone else.
- God damn it, I am

the managing partner
of this firm.

And we can change that right
now because I was here

before you, and I'm gonna be
here long after you're gone.

- Are you threatening me?
- I'm giving you a choice.

You and Samantha can accept
Alex or you can pack up

- your shit right now.
- I'm not going anywhere

and neither is Samantha,
because you're the past,

and she's the future.

Not here, she's not.

Now get the fuck
out of my office.

DONNA: That's enough.

No one's going anywhere,
and neither one of you

is managing partner
anymore.

Donna, stay out of this.

No, I am putting
a stop to this,

and I'm putting
a stop to it right now.

'Cause this isn't just
a friendly gathering.

This is a formal
partner meeting.

And here's how
it's gonna go.

I'm voting for Louis
for managing partner.

And he's voting
for himself.

And since there is no way that
either one of you is voting

for the other,
you might as well both vote

for him and keep this
a united front.

Because make no mistake.
Louis is managing partner.

Bullshit. There's no way you're
pulling this off.

She's not pulling this off, Robert.
I am.

This is happening whether
you like it or not.

So you think you have what
it takes to run this firm?

I know I do.

And my first order of business
is promoting Alex and Samantha

at the same time.

And any managing partner worth
his salt can see they'll never go for it.

No. They're either both gonna
accept this or they're both

gonna walk the fuck out the door
because I am sick of this shit.

And I'll tell you
something else.

You two are gonna goddamn
sell it to them.

DONNA: So, what's it gonna be?

Me and Louis
in a split decision?

Or are we gonna make
this thing unanimous?

How'd they take it?

Kicking and screaming.

Bet you wouldn't
have it any other way.

- Nope, I wouldn't.
- (CHUCKLES)

What'd you tell
Rand and Kaldor?

That all they had
to do was be ready

to act in charge, and I
could get them the firm.

And let me guess.

They knew not to ask any
more questions than that.

Isn't that what being
a great lawyer is all about?

Sometimes.

Sometimes it's about asking
the right questions.

Okay, then.

Why'd you do it?

- Do what?
- Help me.

And don't give me that line
about always having your back,

because it's gotta be
about something more.

I didn't have a father.

What?

I have no idea
who my parents were.

Didn't even
know their names.

I bounced around
the foster care system.

Never lived in the same place
for more than two years.

What does that
have to do with...

Your daughter.

I helped you because I would
have given anything to have

someone like you
looking out for me.

And I didn't wanna
take it away from her.

I don't know what to say.

Say that from now on
I'll always have someone

looking out for me.

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

- Robert.
- Samantha, have a seat.

I don't want one.

Unless you're saying
it's a seat at the table.

It is.

But you're not alone.

Alex is getting
a promotion too.

Are you kidding me?

The whole point
of there being only one

is to have it
mean something.

I know what the point is,
Samantha.

- So you sold me out.
- I didn't sell anyone out.

I once told you
I'd look out for you.

And I let that get in my head,
and it almost cost us

what we have here.

So now I'm gonna
look out for you in a way

that I should have
in the first place.

- How's that?
- By telling you the truth.

They beat us at our
own game, Samantha.

Whether we like
it or not.

But you know
what that means?

We are surrounded by
some badass people.

So let's stop fighting in here
and start fighting

everyone else out there.

Because it's time
to make peace.

Am I interrupting?

Because I wanted to say
Harvey gave me the news,

and I'm good with it
if you are.

Of course I am,
partner.

Then I guess there's only
one thing to figure out.

Williams Wheeler
or Wheeler Williams.

You won, Alex.
It's your choice.

So what do you say
we have ourselves

a good old-fashioned
group hug?

Harvey, it's been
a long day,

so if you're here
to yell at me...

Relax, Louis.
I'm here to say thank you.

We lost ourselves,
and you brought us back.

Thanks, Harvey.
Appreciate that.

It takes a lot
of balls to come at me

and Robert like that.

No, Harvey, it didn't.

Because for the first time,
I didn't care how either one

of you saw me because...

I didn't even care to be managing partner
in the first place.

What do you mean?

I'm gonna have
a baby, Harvey.

I'm gonna be a dad.

And once that hit me, dealing
with this felt so simple.

Congratulations, Louis.

I think you're gonna make
a great managing partner,

and I know you're gonna make
an outstanding father.

You two need to get a room?
Or does anybody wanna go out and celebrate?

Actually I think I'm
just gonna stay here

for a bit
and take it all in.

I understand.

- Good night, Louis.
- Good night.

Level with me.

You really think
he can handle this?

I think desperate times
require desperate measures.

And I think
something else too.

What's that?

I'm going to
enjoy watching

you and Robert
take orders from Louis.

We're not gonna be the only
ones he's in charge of.

He'll be giving you
plenty of orders, too.

No, he won't.
You're forgetting.

(WHISPERS)
I'm the Louis Whisperer.

Are you sure
about that?

When he walked in, he said
you weren't pulling it off. He was.

And who do you think
told him to say that?

Holy shit,
are you saying you're

- the real managing partner?
- I'm not saying that.

But I'm also not
not saying that.

Come on, pretty.
Drinks are on you.