The Good Fight (2017–…): Season 2, Episode 3 - Day 422 - full transcript
Reddick, Boseman, and Lockhart represent a young woman who was assaulted while a contestant on a reality dating show; Diane fears she might be the killer's next target.
(indistinct chatter)
Is that the Gossip?
No, that's the Slut.
She's not a slut.
She's a flirt.
How many guys on the show
has she hooked up with?
How many guys
are on the show?
(laughing)
BRIAN:
She's not
gonna fool anyone
with those glasses.
Here. Bring
this to Diane.
What is it?
Nothing.
(chuckles)
ANDREA: Okay, uh, reality,
you know, as in "real,"
as in "it happened
and we just filmed it."
DIANE: Your argument is that
reality shows are actually real?
No, my argument
is that we don't control
the cast.
They behave
and we observe.
They are as
they appear.
Just like
Donald Trump.
Wait a minute,
he wasn't on our network.
That...
Let's get back... Excuse me.
Let's get back
to the questioning.
Please, please.
Melanie.
Your show put us
in that penthouse.
It gave us alcohol,
and it told us
that ratings were dependent
on us pushing
the sexual content...
So you did push
the sexual content?
Let her finish.
Then your cameramen kept filming
while I was violated.
Your show was more interested
in making good TV
than protecting me.
Thank you
for that excellent speech.
Come on...
Let me
ask you this, Melanie.
You were violated,
you say.
But you don't remember
you were violated
because you also claimed
you were unconscious?
MELANIE: As I said,
the show gave us alcohol
and very little food.
Who is that guy?
MARISSA:
I can find out.
Yes.
No. Get Jay.
I'm fine.
ANDREA: ...the only reason
you know you were violated
was because one of our
producers stopped the shooting.
Not until the next day.
So why aren't you suing Blake
for $4.5 million?
He was the cast member
who violated you, right?
Why are we the ones so honored?
I think that Blake was a victim,
just like me.
Melanie, he had sex with you
while you were unconscious.
That's what you claim.
I'm still not sure why
he's not in handcuffs.
As a woman, that's
what I would want.
But I guess we're the
deep pockets here, so...
ADRIAN: Objection.
Do you recognize
this contract, Ms. Clark?
I do.
And...
would you mind
reading for me this...
highlighted portion
right there?
"Cast Member acknowledges
that the Show,
Chicago Penthouse..."
Would you like me to finish?
That is not
what happened here.
"Chicago Penthouse does not
encourage sexual behavior..."
Of course you encourage
sexual behavior.
"...and is not responsible for
any emotional or bodily harm
"that results from engaging
in such behavior
with fellow cast members."
Who was that?
Food delivery. He was
on the wrong floor.
Where was his food?
I don't know. I
think at reception?
Should I go check?
Yes.
Hey, you were
great last season.
Thank you.
ANDREA:
You're not getting
$4.5 million.
The sex
was consensual.
You just heard it wasn't.
No, what I just heard was a
woman who was tightly scripted.
Seriously?
"Your show
kept filming
while I was violated."
Melanie does not talk
like that. Come on.
Maybe not on your reality show,
where she's scripted
to be a bimbo.
Instead of here,
where she's scripted
to be a Vassar
post-grad student?
All right. What's your offer?
80 grand. The kill fee
for not showing the episo...
(Adrian snorts)
(laughs)
You know you have
no case, right?
No, you know what our case is?
What?
Your fear, Ms. Stevens.
Oh, no.
I'm really scared now.
This contract.
"You hand over all your rights,
and you can't sue
for any reason"?
All standard
in the industry.
And that's why you'll pay.
You are scared to death
we will rip this apart in court.
DIANE: If a judge
throws out your contract,
reality TV has to play fair.
You have misread
your power.
Uh, one thing,
Ms. Stevens.
You can call me Andrea.
Andrea.
Yes, Adrian.
(chuckles)
Here's our official request
for all the footage
from the day in question.
That's proprietary.
You want to bet?
(groans)
(overlapping arguing)
(loud bang)
(gasping)
I'm so sorry.
I didn't realize how
much on edge you were with
what's been going on
this past week.
I mean, a couple of lawyers
get killed,
and you all think that
you have targets on your backs.
I-I was gonna throw those files
directly at you, but, uh,
I was afraid
you'd wet yourselves.
Brian, could you
pick that up, please?
I may need to
use it again.
All right, now, with respect
to this evidentiary request,
uh, could somebody please
explain to me
the footage
and what's involved?
Yes, Your Honor,
this material is proprietary...
The videotape is vital...
(overlapping)
(Brickner stammering)
Bap! Bap! Bap!
One at a time.
You. Go.
Hi, Your Honor. Andrea Stevens.
Thrilled to meet you.
Oh, thank you.
Likewise. Uh, the footage shot
by our producers
is sometimes extremely personal.
This is proprietary material
that shouldn't
be casually exposed.
In fact,
it could embarrass, potentially,
our contestant,
so...
DIANE:
These contestants agree
to broadcast themselves
over 30 countries.
But now that a lawsuit
has been filed,
the defense wants
to protect their privacy?
What is this show?
It is a reality show
called Chicago Penthouse.
Oy.
And the goal
of the contestants
is to find a romantic match
among the other contestants.
And if they don't,
they get killed?
(Andrea laughs)
That would be interesting.
No, they get sent home.
Exhilarating.
(chuckles)
All right, let me see if I
understand this thing correctly.
There's tons of footage
of these contestants?
Yes.
And the producers
retain the right to use any
or all of this footage
for broadcast? Is that right?
That is correct, Your Honor.
Yes, that's exactly correct.
In fact...
Yeah. And-and
somewhere within
all of this footage
is evidence
of an alleged assault?
Correct.
Right.
Well, that would be, uh,
material evidence,
now, wouldn't it?
No, actually,
what I think is that...
You know what I think?
What I think is that you,
Ms. Stevens,
should give them the tapes.
And while you're at it,
supply the court
with duplicate copies.
Pronto.
That's a legal term.
Yes, Your Honor.
Okay.
Well, uh,
I'm about to bang my gavel.
So if, uh, anybody wants
to take cover under their desks,
now's the time.
(bangs)
(exclaiming, laughing)
♪
That's a video depo dump.
DIANE:
The whole season.
24-hour-a-day video
from a dozen cameras.
JAY: And they
sent them over
with no time code
or description.
It's gonna take weeks
to go through all of it.
I'll do it.
Uh,
it's up to you.
♪ It's your birthday
♪ Happy birthday,
it's your birthday... ♪
Okay, guys! To season 14!
(cheering, whooping)
MARISSA: Okay, that's Sheryl
and Tina and Johnny.
The one in the tank top.
Everybody hates him
because he's a snake.
Kill me now.
Next tape.
This one's too early.
So here's what I
don't understand.
You seem like
a semi-half-intelligent person.
Thank you.
How can you watch this?
You like football, right?
Oh, come on,
you can't equate this
with football.
Let's talk about
chronic traumatic head injuries.
I'm not criticizing
what happens
to the people on the show.
I'm just criticizing
what happens to the viewer.
Don't you have
a guilty pleasure?
Don't you watch YouTube videos
of guys diving onto ice
or watch horror movies
or read comic books?
You mean graphic novels?
Oh, my God. Seriously?
And you make fun of me?
Graphic novels
are a new literature.
(chuckles)
Right. Like Steinbeck.
What a hypocrite.
Oh, wait.
Wait, there. That-That's
the last Wrap-Up Circle.
How do you know?
They're pairing up.
Yeah.
♪
(indistinct chatter)
These are two camera angles.
♪ It's your birthday...
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
You need some help,
little lady?
Well, that confirms
the drunkenness.
Oh, my God, turn on the bubbles!
I love jets!
Wait, wait, wait,
I don't have a-a swimsuit.
MELANIE:
I don't even own a swimsuit.
♪ It's your birthday,
happy birthday... ♪
Okay. That's not good.
Well, it's still not consent.
(whoops)
Isn't this on network TV?
Yeah. They pixelate it.
♪
Uh, this goes on for a while.
♪
(laughs)
Okay. Now it's consent.
She just instigated.
MAN: Cut it.
MAN 2: Cameras off.
Why are they hiding this?
I mean, if it's not good for us,
why are they hiding it?
It could be something else
in the footage.
♪ It's your birthday...
(music continues faintly)
(footsteps approaching)
(sighs)
Hi.
I'm bored.
That's my line.
Everybody expected me
to be in jail,
so I have nothing to do.
Are you going
to your dad's arraignment?
No. I think I'm done.
It's weird. A year ago,
everything was normal.
We'd have a party every Easter.
Hey, you can come
to my house
for Pesach this year.
I'll even hide a few
Easter eggs for you.
(chuckles)
You know,
I might take you up on that.
We should get drunk at lunch.
(laughs)
Who are you?
A different person.
A different genre of person. Oh.
What?
I don't know.
Feels a little weird.
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
Shit.
♪
♪
♪
♪
♪
Don't move.
We don't want it to go airborne.
Wait, what...
what is this?
I don't know. It could be...
What, baking powder?
Uh...
No. Looks too brown.
"I'm bankrupt. I've lost
my wife. I've lost my kids.
All because of you."
Oh, fuck. It says it's ricin.
Th-That's as bad as anthrax.
Yes.
Can you reach the glass?
Yeah.
No, no, no, no,
no! Stay there!
There is ricin in this letter.
MARISSA: It says,
"Kill all lawyers."
Oh, God.
Just like the other
two killers.
Jay, clear the floor.
I'll call 911.
Everyone, exit the building!
Come on, let's go, let's go!
Leave the floor now!
This is not a drill!
Come on, let's go!
Out. Come on. Let's go.
Get up, get up.
Tell everyone there's
a-a possible chemical threat.
Get up, get out!
Let's go, let's go, let's go!
Come on.
MARISSA:
Jay!
Yo!
Jay, tell
the building engineer
to turn off the HVAC!
JAY: Right. On it. Let's go,
let's go, let's go. Come on.
We should breathe lightly,
just in case.
(alarm blaring)
(elevator bell dings)
(alarm continues blaring)
Kristen. What's wrong?
Marissa found a letter.
A threatening letter.
From a client?
To Diane.
They think it's ricin.
Ricin?
(excited chatter)
(alarm continues blaring)
Lucca.
Stay there.
What are you doing?
Don't move.
Lucca, one tiny
atom of this stuff,
and you can be dead.
Yes.
And if you
keep talking,
you're gonna breathe it in.
So shut up.
Okay.
Now, this isn't
gonna look pretty.
JAY:
Emergency response is coming.
They don't want you to move.
They're worried you'll
send the spores airborne.
Thanks. We know.
Where did the envelope
come from?
No stamps.
The mail room.
(alarm continues blaring)
This isn't a drill!
Clear the floor now!
(excited chatter)
Come on, guys. Let's go.
Excuse me.
Excuse me.
Come on, come on. What's up?
Come on, come on.
Let's go. Go, go, go, go.
LUCCA:
Oh, my... Jay! Jay!
We have a possible
chemical attack situation.
Do not touch your faces,
do not touch your clothes.
Wait at the base of the stairs
for the emergency responders.
Let's go!
Come on!
(sirens wailing)
(horn honks)
What's going on?
Chemical scare.
What? Where?
Our floor.
From a client?
One of mine.
Your husband is here.
(sirens continue wailing)
Oh, God, I hope
they're being good.
ADRIAN: They just...
they shut down
the air conditioning,
and we evacuated.
Good, good. Hey, keep
these people down here.
Isolate anyone
who exhibits any symptoms.
We've got the hazard material
team going up now.
We still have employees
up there.
I understand.
A mobile medical team
is on the way.
Do you have a minute?
Y-Yeah.
Are you all right?
Yeah. I-I wasn't here.
I was at lunch.
All right, good.
That's good.
Okay.
Okay, here it is. Ricin.
Do you want to hear?
MAIA:
I don't know.
Do I?
"Symptoms can begin any time
between one day and two months
after the exposure."
Oh.
Like a pregnancy test.
At least we won't have
to pee on a stick.
Oh, no.
What?
I think I'm gonna sneeze.
Don't.
It's involuntary.
Press your tongue between
your front teeth. It works.
(exhales) Okay, I
think that did it.
Oh, if we don't die, I'm
gonna get so drunk tonight.
(rustling in distance)
(low whirring)
Hey there.
How are you two doing?
Really good.
Just another day at
Reddick, Boseman & Lockhart.
So, I'm Drew Lovatto,
the Hazardous Materials Unit.
Nice to meet you.
Marissa Gold.
Maia.
Hey.
So, we're gonna take this all
very slowly, okay?
Now, do either
of you have
any symptoms...
Trouble breathing,
coughing, skin irritations?
I almost sneezed, but I've
gotten it under control.
Good.
I'm gonna put these masks
on your faces first.
The napkins
were a great idea.
That a good fit?
Perfect. Can I keep it?
Sure. No Darth Vader
impressions, though.
Damn.
Okay, now, don't move yet.
I see there's powder
on the desk,
your lap, your arm,
and your hand... is
it anywhere else?
MAIA:
Not that we can see.
So first, I'm
gonna move you
away from the
desk, okay?
I'm gonna need you...
Marissa.
Marissa.
I'm gonna need you, Marissa,
to stand very carefully
in one minute.
But first, I'm gonna roll you
back away from the desk, okay?
Okay.
Okay.
Now...
I'm gonna get that powder
out of your lap
very carefully.
Really? We hardly
know each other.
I'll be gentle.
I need you to stand
very carefully, very slowly.
You ready?
Yeah.
And...
stand.
Okay, good.
Stay right here.
Now, I need you...
to turn your hand over,
dump the powder in the bag.
You've done this before?
Yep. Once.
Okay. Now I need you both
to step into these bags,
remove your clothes, leave them
in the bottom of the bag.
In front of you?
I'll turn around.
♪
I'll need you both
to put these on.
Done, Drew.
DREW: Okay.
If we survive this, we figured
we should get drunk tonight.
You want
to join us?
Let's focus
on surviving this first.
Would you excuse me?
Did you really
just ask him out?
I know. Weird, right?
If I'm gonna die...
(sighs)
Baking soda.
What?
You do not need that.
Oh...
my God.
(groans)
(indistinct chatter)
♪
That's it?
Yup.
I'll get out of your hair.
Saving the world one box
of baking soda at a time.
(laughs)
DREW:
You take care.
I'm glad you didn't die.
Hey, how about that drink?
You know,
that celebratory...
"we didn't die" drink.
Sounds fun,
but I got to work late.
Well, if you change your mind...
we're gonna be
in the downstairs bar
at 8:00.
Got it.
Wow, you are forward.
IAN:
"I'm bankrupt.
"I've lost my wife,
"I've lost my kids...
"all because of you.
"You overcharge me
and go on to your next case.
"Well, not this time.
"You're going to
hurt just like me.
"This is ricin.
Consider it in lieu
of my last payment."
"Lieu" is spelled I-O-O.
Signed "A Client."
We'll run fingerprints on this,
but there's something
you can do for me.
ADRIAN:
What?
I need a list of your clients.
You know we can't do that.
Just so you know, the
suspects are your clients,
or at least Ms.
Lockhart's clients,
and I can't
fully help you
unless I know their identities.
LIZ:
Ian...
our attorney-client privilege
prevents us from doing that.
ADRIAN: And for really,
really good reason.
Some of our
clients might have
future dealings
with your department.
You can get
permission from them.
Any client
who wrote that letter
wouldn't agree to
put their name on it.
And that would narrow down
our suspects.
ADRIAN: Which we
couldn't tell you.
Look, someone is trying
to kill you.
This is not a joke.
I'm here to help;
I am not your enemy.
But I can't do anything
unless you work with me.
You know that's true.
LIZ: We can't represent
our clients at the same time
that we're having
the police investigate them.
Yeah, everything
makes sense.
Look, all I know is
you were ten years
at the Department
of Justice,
and I didn't worry
about you once,
and you've been here for
a month, and here we are.
It's an unusual time.
No, I don't think it is.
I'm doing what I want.
Stay safe.
Okay.
This is fucked.
It is...
But he's right.
We can't give him the client
names, he can't help us.
LIZ:
Look, I'm new here,
but maybe we should be looking
at what we charge clients.
What we charge clients
is competitive with every
other law firm in town, Liz.
Which is maybe why clients
are so angry with their lawyers.
Are you really blaming us?
We're the victims here.
Oh, come on,
we are far from victims.
JAY:
Why don't I do
some research
into Diane's clients?
How many are there?
Uh, 43.
Any of them upset
about our billing
or losing a case or whatever?
(chuckles):
Yeah, right.
Look,
I'll get the letter
back from the police
and compare it to
other correspondences.
There was somebody here
yesterday.
A bearded man,
delivering food.
Marissa talked to him.
I'll keep you updated.
ADRIAN: Now, we need to
get back on the phone
with Andrea Stevens.
We don't want to be seen
as being weak here.
You okay?
Oh, yeah.
Yeah? Still want
to become a pastry chef?
It's looking more
and more appealing.
Is there anything I can do?
No, I just... I just
have to shake this off.
Why don't you go home?
Take the afternoon.
If there's ever a day
you could take a break,
it's after a ricin scare.
I mean, maybe later.
I'm good. I have the depo.
I'll handle it. Go.
MARISSA:
He really was
just delivering food.
He had nothing
to do with this.
Diane's getting
a little paranoid.
With good reason.
You seem good.
Yeah. I tend to rise
to these occasions.
Are you questioning
the mail room?
Next stop.
Can I help?
No. You take
the reality show footage.
I'm on it.
I had wall-to-wall cops in here.
They messed up my whole system.
It's gonna take me three, four
hours just to get caught up.
What's this?
The threatening
envelope came inside.
Looks like it was
hand-delivered here,
then one of your guys brought
it up to Diane's office.
Wasn't one of my guys.
Doesn't everything go
through the mail room?
Everything from the outside.
This doesn't have
a signature, no time stamp.
This came from
inside the building.
ANDREA:
Oh, my gosh,
I am so sorry.
I heard.
About?
About your troubles here.
I mean, it seems like
you have some enemies, huh?
If it helps, we could take
this case off your plate,
come to some sort
of settlement.
Sure.
$4.3 million.
Mm, not quite what
I had in mind.
But 95... no,
$95,000 would do it.
Listen, you don't
want to have
another unhappy client
on your hands, do you?
Shall we?
Liz.
(quietly):
What are you doing?
Oh. Diane asked me
to sit in.
She's not feeling up to it.
Yeah.
Are you thirsty? Can I
get you something to drink,
Yeah.
Maybe, or... or maybe not,
you know?
I really don't know.
♪
Where was this
video taken?
It was at the bar
at the penthouse.
They look pretty comfortable
with each other, don't they?
That is speculation
about Melanie's state of mind,
hours before
the assault took place.
Alleged assault.
And you know there's no judge
here, right?
I'm just preserving
the objection for the record.
Of course.
Preserved.
Did you speak with Melanie
after this 3:00 encounter,
but before the later one?
I conducted an OTF.
And what is that?
That's an
"on the fly" interview.
I had a great time with Blake.
CHESTER:
Yeah, I'm sensing that
you and Blake have
good chemistry.
MELANIE: Yeah, you could say
we're getting along.
CHESTER: Sorry, sorry.
Uh, use his name, please.
Shit.
(clears throat)
Blake and I have
great chemistry.
He seems down
to have a good time.
Definitely someone to
spend some quality time with.
So, you're turning our client
into a puppet,
and then you blame her?
ANDREA (laughing):
Oh, my God.
What's wrong?
I found something
in the video.
I'm starving. Can we
talk about this later?
I don't even get
what you're asking me.
CHESTER: Oh, I think you know
exactly what I'm saying.
I mean, Melanie,
you talk the talk,
but I don't know.
I don't understand.
CHESTER: You give a good
sound bite, honey,
but TV is a visual medium.
I need the video
to back that up.
MELANIE: You don't think
that this is visual?
CHESTER: Now, that top
sums up the problem.
You are a camera tease, Melanie.
Melanie, you want to
stay on the show?
Then you gotta
show us something.
What did you mean by that?
I just meant that, uh...
You know, she was talking
a very big game, but, uh,
in reality, she...
She wasn't exactly...
Putting out?
ANDREA:
Excuse me,
who is that?
One of our investigators.
Could you ask her not to
question my client, please?
Sure. As soon as
your client
starts answering
the questions.
Look, everybody knows that
our show's ratings
go up or down
based on us being provocative.
That does not mean
that we condone rape.
Strong words.
ANDREA: I'm sorry,
I'm really confused here.
I thought your whole argument
was that she was unconscious.
Now you're arguing that
we forced her to strip
and receive oral sex.
I'm just... confused.
Please, I'm starving.
Can I even get a sandwich?
CHESTER:
Yes, after the Wrap-Up.
But look, they just put out
the tequila buffet.
So, what is... what is
the tequila buffet?
Well, all our...
All our contestants know
that we had that.
Yeah, but what... what is it?
I'm just curious.
It's a-about a dozen
different high-end tequilas,
for comparison's sake.
And no food for six hours?
Just shots of tequila?
Look, we haven't done
anything wrong.
This is show tradition.
Yes, and we're not forcing
the contestants to drink,
so please.
Is it part of season 15?
I'm sorry, what?
If you did nothing wrong,
is the tequila buffet
part of season 15?
No.
Thank you.
Yeah. Yeah.
(ringtone playing)
Hello?
Diane, it's Jay Dipersia.
Do you have one second?
Sure.
Do any of your clients have
offices inside the building?
DIANE:
Our building? Why?
I spoke to the mail room,
but the letter sent to you
came from inside the building.
Um...
Well, there's, um...
a real estate firm...
We did taxes with them.
And, um, yeah, a tech start-up.
The, uh, CEO, Alec Crichton.
We handled his divorce.
Okay, good.
Any issues with
either of them?
No, not that I remember.
The divorce, of course,
got heated.
Well, he lose custody
of his kids?
Yes.
Huh. Okay.
I'll question them. If anything
occurs to you, call me.
Um, yeah. Good-bye.
All right.
♪
ANCHOR: President Trump
has defended his decision
to end cost-sharing
reduction subsidies
by pointing
to stock price gains...
The idea of a... a prequel
just didn't interest me,
until I found another way in.
When you're a detective,
you can do anything.
Grab 'em by the pussy.
Anything.
HALLIDAY:
And a lot of people think
it's about Trump. But it's
really about a certain mindset.
(grunts) New York's a swamp,
and I'm cleaning it up.
(gunshot)
♪ Ooh...
(howling)
♪ With the devil I ride
♪ With the devil I ride...
ANCHOR 2:
This will be the third week
the potbellied pig
occupies the Map Room.
Though the president insists
Petey the Pig
is a welcome distraction,
many critics worry
the animal debases
the office of the presidency.
We want to hear from you.
Should the president keep a pig
in the White House Map Room?
Go online...
(sighs)
Uh, I like her.
She just says what she thinks.
Eh, I know. But
do you trust her?
Uh, I don't know.
Does that matter?
I'm not gonna marry her.
(chuckles)
My God, can you
imagine that marriage?
Liz and Boseman?
(both laughing)
Ugh. What did they even see
in each other?
I don't know.
Probably danger.
He called me one
of his investigators today.
Who, Boseman?
Mm-hmm.
(clicks tongue)
Or as I call him, Adrian.
Nice.
I think we're
getting closer, he and I.
And by that,
I mean he knows my name now.
I will drink to that.
(chuckles)
It's odd
that we're in such a good mood,
given that we were
almost killed today.
Well, we're the generation
of living dangerously.
Mm-hmm.
DREW: Hey!
You're still here!
Drew!
Drew!
(chuckles):
Whoa!
God, you guys are sloshed.
No! No.
We are just really happy
to see you.
Alive?
Yes! (laughs)
Yes! (laughs)
Yes!
Here, sit, sit.
These are tall chairs.
(chuckles) Uh, what
are you drinking?
Whiskey sours.
More than one sour.
Mm. Not a singular sour.
Okay.
One more?
All right.
(exhales)
So...
Oh, shit.
What?
I need you to come with me
to the bathroom.
Now?
Yes.
Don't leave.
Why? Why?
Come here.
Oh, there's no lock. Here,
just lean against the door.
(exhales)
He's here for you.
What?
He's here to see you.
No!
Yes. You
invited him tonight.
Yeah, but for... Wait!
Fuck you!
I invited him for you.
I'm not interested in him.
Yeah, I know.
But he doesn't know that.
Okay, well, uh,
do I go home?
No. No, I don't want you to.
We're having fun.
Then what do I do?
(sighs)
Hint that you're gay.
(laughs):
What?
How do I do that?
I don't know.
Oh, my God. I am
going back to the bar.
(laughs): No!
Out of the way.
Maia!
Wait!
Hi.
(clears throat)
Hey. I ordered you
two more.
Two more each?
No. That would be
irresponsible.
Ah.
I'm gay.
Oh.
(chuckling)
What should I...
say? Uh...
Congratulations.
We're not gay.
Not the two of us.
I'm just gay.
Oh!
You're really handsome.
(laughing):
Oh, my...
Okay,
I'm gonna go home.
No, no, stay.
We should all stay.
Hey.
You guys want something harder?
Yes, I'm offended!
I didn't rape her.
Why don't you tell
the truth, Melanie?
ADRIAN: Please,
refrain from
addressing my client.
You could always ask
your client to step out.
I want to be here for this.
ANDREA: Okay. Blake,
why did you leave season 14
of Chicago Penthouse?
(Blake sighs)
Because she said
I assaulted her,
and then the producers
kicked me off.
Did you have
any sexual contact
with Ms. Clark?
Yes, but she was into it.
I swear to God, I am not
the kind of guy who does
something like that.
ANDREA: So the sexual
contact was consensual?
BLAKE: Yeah. Melanie asked me
if I wanted a surefire way
to make it to the final
round. I said sure.
I mean, I'm not stupid.
I'm trying to up my brand.
The sex was her idea?
BLAKE:
100%.
She knew how to make
a spectacle,
and she knew that would mean
more camera time.
You know what pisses me off?
I'm not accusing you, Blake.
I did not do
anything wrong.
You were all over
me, Melanie.
You pulled me
into that hot tub.
It was a drunken hookup.
And I have zero
memory of that.
Well, I do.
That's the whole point.
Okay, okay, okay. Enough.
No, it's all right.
Look... (clears throat)
You didn't get me drunk.
You didn't drug me.
You didn't hold me down
and force yourself on me.
And I didn't say no.
But at some point, I
lost the ability to say no.
And your problem
is you're so sure
you're not one of those guys
that you fail to realize that,
on that day, in that moment,
you decided to finish
what you thought I had started.
You became one of those guys,
Blake.
Yeah, I heard
about that.
Jesus. Anthrax.
You guys all
right up there?
Yeah. Ricin.
Just a scare.
I understand you're one
of Diane's clients.
Oh, yeah.
That stupid bitch.
Excuse me?
Oh.
(chuckles)
No, not Diane.
She's a sweetheart.
No, my ex-wife.
She's the reason I needed Diane.
Wow...!
Cool.
What is it?
Oh. I don't know yet,
you know?
It's still trying to...
become something.
I don't know what I'm thinking
until I write it down.
(chuckles)
This is all your writing?
Yeah. Looks like
a serial killer, doesn't it?
(both chuckle)
Yep.
♪
Lori Akerman.
I was a production manager
on Chicago Penthouse.
DIANE: You were?
And why were you fired?
Because I saw what I thought
was nonconsensual sex,
and I shut down the production.
That seems like a strange reason
to fire you.
Ms. Stevens makes it sound like
the show was
just being responsible.
And yet here I am,
out of work.
I think there's
a misunderstanding here.
You were not let go
because you...
Ms. Stevens, please.
DIANE: What did you see
that concerned you?
Melanie was
in no state of mind
to be making
any kind of decisions,
much less sexual ones.
She was barely conscious.
And why didn't you stop it
at the time?
I was doing interviews
with other cast members.
I knew Melanie was drunk,
but I thought
that she and Blake
had separated by then.
No further questions.
ANDREA:
Ms. Akerman, uh,
first of all, I am so sorry
about your unemployed state.
Thank you.
How many
prior production
shutdowns
have you been involved in?
This was my first.
And prior to, uh,
Chicago Penthouse,
you worked on Daytona Beach
and Dorm Room Afterdark?
Yes.
So, what happened
on Chicago Penthouse
that was worse
than those other shows?
I already said.
Non-consensual sex.
I see.
And how did you feel
about Blake Masters taking
a prominent role on the show?
I...
How did I feel?
Yes.
Didn't you disapprove
of his casting?
(laughing):
No.
There were no African-American
female contestants on the show.
Is that correct?
I am not involved in casting.
You weren't concerned
about depicting
too many interracial
relationships?
No.
Here are some affidavits
from several producers
on Chicago Penthouse
attesting that you were
expressly concerned
about the prevalence
of interracial relationships.
Objection.
Really? Why?
Relevance.
Actually,
my guess is
you're worried
this is very relevant.
LORI: You're taking me
out of context.
I was talking
about audience perception.
I'm not a racist.
Ma'am, didn't
you shut down
the show because Blake was black
and Melanie was white?
No.
And this is why
you allowed drunken sex
between white cast members
and not interracial.
What's that?
A test.
Find anything?
Not yet. You?
Maybe.
This is the real
detective stuff, huh?
Every printer and copy machine
leaves a unique signature
of microdots on
every page it prints.
Like, a fingerprint
for that printer.
Here's the one on the
letter you opened.
Whoa.
Now, these are two
printed pages
from Diane's clients
in the building.
So we'll see if the letter
came from their printers.
First, the real estate client.
MARISSA:
No match.
Now the other one.
Damn.
I thought it would be
the real estate guy.
Maybe he printed it at home.
Or at a copy store.
Or maybe he has
more than one printer.
Mm-hmm...
Okay, good luck.
(laughs softly)
Hey, what are you doing?
There was a third camera.
Look, this is from the next day.
There's a locked-off
camera above the hot tub.
Uh, hello?
Why aren't you excited?
I am.
It's from this floor.
What?
U-Uh, the
letter to Diane?
It's not from a client
in this building,
it's from this office.
Why can't you let me
have my moment?
Why do you have to show me up?
(cackling)
Ugh!
There was a third camera
recording the assault,
Your Honor...
Alleged assault, Your Honor.
And the defense has
failed to turn it over.
You know what
I don't understand?
What happened
to Simon and Veronica?
I-I mean, they were
getting so close
during the season,
and then, nothing.
I-I mean, uh, does that
ever get explained?
I'm not sure, Your Honor, but
I can ask the producers for you,
if you'd like me to.
A-And Courtney.
I mean, why did
she get expelled?
It makes no sense.
She was the nice one.
Your Honor,
the missing footage.
Right.
Ms. Stevens?
Where is it?
I'm sorry?
Did I not make
my discovery order clear?
Oh, um, right. Uh,
the producers decided against
using the spy cam footage
this season,
and they forgot
it was even there.
Right. Yeah, that could
happen to anybody.
Mm-hmm.
Find them.
Now.
Yes, Your Honor.
Thank you, Your Honor.
Hey.
What's the matter with you?
I just ruled in your favor.
Don't I even get a smile?
Excuse me, Your Honor?
I mean...
you should smile more.
Yeah, I don't-I don't know
when it happened,
that women stopped smiling.
(snorts, laughs)
What? What is this?
What-what is it?
What is she doing?
Uh, your co-counsel
is laughing.
Is... am I missing
something here?
No, Your Honor.
We've been stretched
really thin, recently.
Oh, right.
I heard about
that whole baking soda scare.
(Diane laughing louder)
Diane. Diane, Diane.
Yeah, thank you.
Thank you, Your Honor.
I-Is she all right?
She's just pleasantly surprised,
Your Honor.
(laughing)
(continues laughing)
Uh, are you okay?
Am I?
Yes. Why?
You were laughing in there.
Yes, the judge was funny.
Oh, God.
(laughing)
Are you still microdosing?
Nope.
This is what I'm
like when I'm not.
Are you sure?
Listen, did the president
put a potbellied pig
in the White House Map Room?
Uh, excuse me?
No, was there
a story today
about Trump adopting
a pig named Petey,
and keeping him
in the White House?
I... No.
You're looking at me
like that's insane.
(elevator bell dings)
(elevator doors open)
JAY:
Hi.
Hi.
You wanted to talk to me?
Yes. Uh...
so our Wi-Fi keeps track of
when people in the firm log out.
We're all in the same server.
Did you know that?
No.
See, that's your I.D. number.
Okay.
It shows,
at 10:23 a.m. yesterday,
you were the very last one
to log out.
Yeah. Makes sense.
We're behind
on the Lanthimos brief,
and I've been working
through lunch, and pretty late.
Right, but you see,
everyone else logged out
because, of course,
there was a chemical scare,
and we all left
the building.
Well, I guess
I forgot to log out.
No, you're logged out
automatically.
Uh, you just stayed
later than everyone.
Well, like I said,
I've-I've been pretty behind.
Mm.
Why weren't you afraid
of the ricin?
It turns out, it wasn't ricin.
Right.
But no one knew that.
You sent the letter
to Diane, didn't you?
I-I don't know what you're...
Here's the thing.
You're going to jail.
No, I...
Yes.
Unless you go
apologize to Diane.
Tell me why you did it.
(crying):
There's been so much work.
And...
they wanted the brief in
on Friday,
and I can't get it in on time.
I... I was so afraid of being
fired, I just wanted a day.
Okay.
Okay.
(pats leg)
Okay.
Uh, I-I just need you
to sign something.
That was cold.
What?
Telling him to sign or you'd
turn him over to the cops,
then, you turned him
over to the cops.
I don't work for him.
I work for the firm.
(elevator bell dings)
Well...
what am I looking for?
(dance music playing
over computer)
Shh.
(music stops)
She passed out.
(music playing)
Oh, I think
you're gonna want to...
want to watch
this part, Ms. Stevens.
Yeah.
Andrea.
Mm-hmm.
♪ Happy birthday,
it's your birthday... ♪
And here's where
it gets exciting.
♪ Birthday, now,
whose birthday is it? ♪
(sighs)
Take it or leave it.
I'm not authorized
to go any higher.
(exhales)
(typing)
(door opens)
$3.2 million.
(laughing)
(grunts)
Mm.
All right.
Hey, hey, hey, hey.
Did you hear?
What? Trump is keeping
a potbellied pig
in the White House?
(chuckling):
No, Diane.
Dipersia, he caught the fellow
who sent you
that threatening letter.
Who?
One of our associates here.
Wanted more time
to write his brief.
(laughing)
No.
His brief...
(laughing)
Diane.
You all right?
Look, look, um...
I know the last few weeks
have been hard.
But are you really serious
about leaving the law?
(laughs)
Am I what?
Serious about
leaving the law.
Liz said you've been
having some difficulty
with Carl's death, and...
these copycat killings.
DIANE:
Really?
No, I'm good.
Good.
We can't afford
to lose you, too.
Adrian, these last few weeks, it
felt like death was everywhere.
That's all.
But now...
(quietly):
You're seeing life again.
No. I just don't care.
What did Tennessee Williams say?
"What is the secret
to happiness?
Insensitivity."
That's what I feel.
Well, good job, anyway.
We are $600,000 richer.
And with Trump,
we won't be taxed as much.
(laughs)
I think we should have a party
for the new offices.
Introduce ourselves
to the community again.
That sounds terrific.
Good.
Let's do it.
♪ It's your birthday,
happy birthday ♪
♪ It's your birthday, happy
birthday ♪
♪ It's your birthday,
happy birthday ♪
♪ It's your birthday
♪ It's your birthday,
happy birthday ♪
♪ It's your birthday, happy
birthday ♪
♪ It's your birthday,
happy birthday ♪
♪ It's your birthday
♪ It's your birthday,
it's your birthday ♪
♪ It's your birthday,
happy birthday ♪
♪ It's your birthday, happy
birthday ♪
(knocking)
♪ It's your birthday
♪ Happy birthday,
it's your birthday ♪
Hey.
LIZ:
Hey.
How's everything?
Good.
And fuck you.
♪ Happy birthday
♪ Now, whose birthday is it?
Is that the Gossip?
No, that's the Slut.
She's not a slut.
She's a flirt.
How many guys on the show
has she hooked up with?
How many guys
are on the show?
(laughing)
BRIAN:
She's not
gonna fool anyone
with those glasses.
Here. Bring
this to Diane.
What is it?
Nothing.
(chuckles)
ANDREA: Okay, uh, reality,
you know, as in "real,"
as in "it happened
and we just filmed it."
DIANE: Your argument is that
reality shows are actually real?
No, my argument
is that we don't control
the cast.
They behave
and we observe.
They are as
they appear.
Just like
Donald Trump.
Wait a minute,
he wasn't on our network.
That...
Let's get back... Excuse me.
Let's get back
to the questioning.
Please, please.
Melanie.
Your show put us
in that penthouse.
It gave us alcohol,
and it told us
that ratings were dependent
on us pushing
the sexual content...
So you did push
the sexual content?
Let her finish.
Then your cameramen kept filming
while I was violated.
Your show was more interested
in making good TV
than protecting me.
Thank you
for that excellent speech.
Come on...
Let me
ask you this, Melanie.
You were violated,
you say.
But you don't remember
you were violated
because you also claimed
you were unconscious?
MELANIE: As I said,
the show gave us alcohol
and very little food.
Who is that guy?
MARISSA:
I can find out.
Yes.
No. Get Jay.
I'm fine.
ANDREA: ...the only reason
you know you were violated
was because one of our
producers stopped the shooting.
Not until the next day.
So why aren't you suing Blake
for $4.5 million?
He was the cast member
who violated you, right?
Why are we the ones so honored?
I think that Blake was a victim,
just like me.
Melanie, he had sex with you
while you were unconscious.
That's what you claim.
I'm still not sure why
he's not in handcuffs.
As a woman, that's
what I would want.
But I guess we're the
deep pockets here, so...
ADRIAN: Objection.
Do you recognize
this contract, Ms. Clark?
I do.
And...
would you mind
reading for me this...
highlighted portion
right there?
"Cast Member acknowledges
that the Show,
Chicago Penthouse..."
Would you like me to finish?
That is not
what happened here.
"Chicago Penthouse does not
encourage sexual behavior..."
Of course you encourage
sexual behavior.
"...and is not responsible for
any emotional or bodily harm
"that results from engaging
in such behavior
with fellow cast members."
Who was that?
Food delivery. He was
on the wrong floor.
Where was his food?
I don't know. I
think at reception?
Should I go check?
Yes.
Hey, you were
great last season.
Thank you.
ANDREA:
You're not getting
$4.5 million.
The sex
was consensual.
You just heard it wasn't.
No, what I just heard was a
woman who was tightly scripted.
Seriously?
"Your show
kept filming
while I was violated."
Melanie does not talk
like that. Come on.
Maybe not on your reality show,
where she's scripted
to be a bimbo.
Instead of here,
where she's scripted
to be a Vassar
post-grad student?
All right. What's your offer?
80 grand. The kill fee
for not showing the episo...
(Adrian snorts)
(laughs)
You know you have
no case, right?
No, you know what our case is?
What?
Your fear, Ms. Stevens.
Oh, no.
I'm really scared now.
This contract.
"You hand over all your rights,
and you can't sue
for any reason"?
All standard
in the industry.
And that's why you'll pay.
You are scared to death
we will rip this apart in court.
DIANE: If a judge
throws out your contract,
reality TV has to play fair.
You have misread
your power.
Uh, one thing,
Ms. Stevens.
You can call me Andrea.
Andrea.
Yes, Adrian.
(chuckles)
Here's our official request
for all the footage
from the day in question.
That's proprietary.
You want to bet?
(groans)
(overlapping arguing)
(loud bang)
(gasping)
I'm so sorry.
I didn't realize how
much on edge you were with
what's been going on
this past week.
I mean, a couple of lawyers
get killed,
and you all think that
you have targets on your backs.
I-I was gonna throw those files
directly at you, but, uh,
I was afraid
you'd wet yourselves.
Brian, could you
pick that up, please?
I may need to
use it again.
All right, now, with respect
to this evidentiary request,
uh, could somebody please
explain to me
the footage
and what's involved?
Yes, Your Honor,
this material is proprietary...
The videotape is vital...
(overlapping)
(Brickner stammering)
Bap! Bap! Bap!
One at a time.
You. Go.
Hi, Your Honor. Andrea Stevens.
Thrilled to meet you.
Oh, thank you.
Likewise. Uh, the footage shot
by our producers
is sometimes extremely personal.
This is proprietary material
that shouldn't
be casually exposed.
In fact,
it could embarrass, potentially,
our contestant,
so...
DIANE:
These contestants agree
to broadcast themselves
over 30 countries.
But now that a lawsuit
has been filed,
the defense wants
to protect their privacy?
What is this show?
It is a reality show
called Chicago Penthouse.
Oy.
And the goal
of the contestants
is to find a romantic match
among the other contestants.
And if they don't,
they get killed?
(Andrea laughs)
That would be interesting.
No, they get sent home.
Exhilarating.
(chuckles)
All right, let me see if I
understand this thing correctly.
There's tons of footage
of these contestants?
Yes.
And the producers
retain the right to use any
or all of this footage
for broadcast? Is that right?
That is correct, Your Honor.
Yes, that's exactly correct.
In fact...
Yeah. And-and
somewhere within
all of this footage
is evidence
of an alleged assault?
Correct.
Right.
Well, that would be, uh,
material evidence,
now, wouldn't it?
No, actually,
what I think is that...
You know what I think?
What I think is that you,
Ms. Stevens,
should give them the tapes.
And while you're at it,
supply the court
with duplicate copies.
Pronto.
That's a legal term.
Yes, Your Honor.
Okay.
Well, uh,
I'm about to bang my gavel.
So if, uh, anybody wants
to take cover under their desks,
now's the time.
(bangs)
(exclaiming, laughing)
♪
That's a video depo dump.
DIANE:
The whole season.
24-hour-a-day video
from a dozen cameras.
JAY: And they
sent them over
with no time code
or description.
It's gonna take weeks
to go through all of it.
I'll do it.
Uh,
it's up to you.
♪ It's your birthday
♪ Happy birthday,
it's your birthday... ♪
Okay, guys! To season 14!
(cheering, whooping)
MARISSA: Okay, that's Sheryl
and Tina and Johnny.
The one in the tank top.
Everybody hates him
because he's a snake.
Kill me now.
Next tape.
This one's too early.
So here's what I
don't understand.
You seem like
a semi-half-intelligent person.
Thank you.
How can you watch this?
You like football, right?
Oh, come on,
you can't equate this
with football.
Let's talk about
chronic traumatic head injuries.
I'm not criticizing
what happens
to the people on the show.
I'm just criticizing
what happens to the viewer.
Don't you have
a guilty pleasure?
Don't you watch YouTube videos
of guys diving onto ice
or watch horror movies
or read comic books?
You mean graphic novels?
Oh, my God. Seriously?
And you make fun of me?
Graphic novels
are a new literature.
(chuckles)
Right. Like Steinbeck.
What a hypocrite.
Oh, wait.
Wait, there. That-That's
the last Wrap-Up Circle.
How do you know?
They're pairing up.
Yeah.
♪
(indistinct chatter)
These are two camera angles.
♪ It's your birthday...
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
You need some help,
little lady?
Well, that confirms
the drunkenness.
Oh, my God, turn on the bubbles!
I love jets!
Wait, wait, wait,
I don't have a-a swimsuit.
MELANIE:
I don't even own a swimsuit.
♪ It's your birthday,
happy birthday... ♪
Okay. That's not good.
Well, it's still not consent.
(whoops)
Isn't this on network TV?
Yeah. They pixelate it.
♪
Uh, this goes on for a while.
♪
(laughs)
Okay. Now it's consent.
She just instigated.
MAN: Cut it.
MAN 2: Cameras off.
Why are they hiding this?
I mean, if it's not good for us,
why are they hiding it?
It could be something else
in the footage.
♪ It's your birthday...
(music continues faintly)
(footsteps approaching)
(sighs)
Hi.
I'm bored.
That's my line.
Everybody expected me
to be in jail,
so I have nothing to do.
Are you going
to your dad's arraignment?
No. I think I'm done.
It's weird. A year ago,
everything was normal.
We'd have a party every Easter.
Hey, you can come
to my house
for Pesach this year.
I'll even hide a few
Easter eggs for you.
(chuckles)
You know,
I might take you up on that.
We should get drunk at lunch.
(laughs)
Who are you?
A different person.
A different genre of person. Oh.
What?
I don't know.
Feels a little weird.
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
Shit.
♪
♪
♪
♪
♪
Don't move.
We don't want it to go airborne.
Wait, what...
what is this?
I don't know. It could be...
What, baking powder?
Uh...
No. Looks too brown.
"I'm bankrupt. I've lost
my wife. I've lost my kids.
All because of you."
Oh, fuck. It says it's ricin.
Th-That's as bad as anthrax.
Yes.
Can you reach the glass?
Yeah.
No, no, no, no,
no! Stay there!
There is ricin in this letter.
MARISSA: It says,
"Kill all lawyers."
Oh, God.
Just like the other
two killers.
Jay, clear the floor.
I'll call 911.
Everyone, exit the building!
Come on, let's go, let's go!
Leave the floor now!
This is not a drill!
Come on, let's go!
Out. Come on. Let's go.
Get up, get up.
Tell everyone there's
a-a possible chemical threat.
Get up, get out!
Let's go, let's go, let's go!
Come on.
MARISSA:
Jay!
Yo!
Jay, tell
the building engineer
to turn off the HVAC!
JAY: Right. On it. Let's go,
let's go, let's go. Come on.
We should breathe lightly,
just in case.
(alarm blaring)
(elevator bell dings)
(alarm continues blaring)
Kristen. What's wrong?
Marissa found a letter.
A threatening letter.
From a client?
To Diane.
They think it's ricin.
Ricin?
(excited chatter)
(alarm continues blaring)
Lucca.
Stay there.
What are you doing?
Don't move.
Lucca, one tiny
atom of this stuff,
and you can be dead.
Yes.
And if you
keep talking,
you're gonna breathe it in.
So shut up.
Okay.
Now, this isn't
gonna look pretty.
JAY:
Emergency response is coming.
They don't want you to move.
They're worried you'll
send the spores airborne.
Thanks. We know.
Where did the envelope
come from?
No stamps.
The mail room.
(alarm continues blaring)
This isn't a drill!
Clear the floor now!
(excited chatter)
Come on, guys. Let's go.
Excuse me.
Excuse me.
Come on, come on. What's up?
Come on, come on.
Let's go. Go, go, go, go.
LUCCA:
Oh, my... Jay! Jay!
We have a possible
chemical attack situation.
Do not touch your faces,
do not touch your clothes.
Wait at the base of the stairs
for the emergency responders.
Let's go!
Come on!
(sirens wailing)
(horn honks)
What's going on?
Chemical scare.
What? Where?
Our floor.
From a client?
One of mine.
Your husband is here.
(sirens continue wailing)
Oh, God, I hope
they're being good.
ADRIAN: They just...
they shut down
the air conditioning,
and we evacuated.
Good, good. Hey, keep
these people down here.
Isolate anyone
who exhibits any symptoms.
We've got the hazard material
team going up now.
We still have employees
up there.
I understand.
A mobile medical team
is on the way.
Do you have a minute?
Y-Yeah.
Are you all right?
Yeah. I-I wasn't here.
I was at lunch.
All right, good.
That's good.
Okay.
Okay, here it is. Ricin.
Do you want to hear?
MAIA:
I don't know.
Do I?
"Symptoms can begin any time
between one day and two months
after the exposure."
Oh.
Like a pregnancy test.
At least we won't have
to pee on a stick.
Oh, no.
What?
I think I'm gonna sneeze.
Don't.
It's involuntary.
Press your tongue between
your front teeth. It works.
(exhales) Okay, I
think that did it.
Oh, if we don't die, I'm
gonna get so drunk tonight.
(rustling in distance)
(low whirring)
Hey there.
How are you two doing?
Really good.
Just another day at
Reddick, Boseman & Lockhart.
So, I'm Drew Lovatto,
the Hazardous Materials Unit.
Nice to meet you.
Marissa Gold.
Maia.
Hey.
So, we're gonna take this all
very slowly, okay?
Now, do either
of you have
any symptoms...
Trouble breathing,
coughing, skin irritations?
I almost sneezed, but I've
gotten it under control.
Good.
I'm gonna put these masks
on your faces first.
The napkins
were a great idea.
That a good fit?
Perfect. Can I keep it?
Sure. No Darth Vader
impressions, though.
Damn.
Okay, now, don't move yet.
I see there's powder
on the desk,
your lap, your arm,
and your hand... is
it anywhere else?
MAIA:
Not that we can see.
So first, I'm
gonna move you
away from the
desk, okay?
I'm gonna need you...
Marissa.
Marissa.
I'm gonna need you, Marissa,
to stand very carefully
in one minute.
But first, I'm gonna roll you
back away from the desk, okay?
Okay.
Okay.
Now...
I'm gonna get that powder
out of your lap
very carefully.
Really? We hardly
know each other.
I'll be gentle.
I need you to stand
very carefully, very slowly.
You ready?
Yeah.
And...
stand.
Okay, good.
Stay right here.
Now, I need you...
to turn your hand over,
dump the powder in the bag.
You've done this before?
Yep. Once.
Okay. Now I need you both
to step into these bags,
remove your clothes, leave them
in the bottom of the bag.
In front of you?
I'll turn around.
♪
I'll need you both
to put these on.
Done, Drew.
DREW: Okay.
If we survive this, we figured
we should get drunk tonight.
You want
to join us?
Let's focus
on surviving this first.
Would you excuse me?
Did you really
just ask him out?
I know. Weird, right?
If I'm gonna die...
(sighs)
Baking soda.
What?
You do not need that.
Oh...
my God.
(groans)
(indistinct chatter)
♪
That's it?
Yup.
I'll get out of your hair.
Saving the world one box
of baking soda at a time.
(laughs)
DREW:
You take care.
I'm glad you didn't die.
Hey, how about that drink?
You know,
that celebratory...
"we didn't die" drink.
Sounds fun,
but I got to work late.
Well, if you change your mind...
we're gonna be
in the downstairs bar
at 8:00.
Got it.
Wow, you are forward.
IAN:
"I'm bankrupt.
"I've lost my wife,
"I've lost my kids...
"all because of you.
"You overcharge me
and go on to your next case.
"Well, not this time.
"You're going to
hurt just like me.
"This is ricin.
Consider it in lieu
of my last payment."
"Lieu" is spelled I-O-O.
Signed "A Client."
We'll run fingerprints on this,
but there's something
you can do for me.
ADRIAN:
What?
I need a list of your clients.
You know we can't do that.
Just so you know, the
suspects are your clients,
or at least Ms.
Lockhart's clients,
and I can't
fully help you
unless I know their identities.
LIZ:
Ian...
our attorney-client privilege
prevents us from doing that.
ADRIAN: And for really,
really good reason.
Some of our
clients might have
future dealings
with your department.
You can get
permission from them.
Any client
who wrote that letter
wouldn't agree to
put their name on it.
And that would narrow down
our suspects.
ADRIAN: Which we
couldn't tell you.
Look, someone is trying
to kill you.
This is not a joke.
I'm here to help;
I am not your enemy.
But I can't do anything
unless you work with me.
You know that's true.
LIZ: We can't represent
our clients at the same time
that we're having
the police investigate them.
Yeah, everything
makes sense.
Look, all I know is
you were ten years
at the Department
of Justice,
and I didn't worry
about you once,
and you've been here for
a month, and here we are.
It's an unusual time.
No, I don't think it is.
I'm doing what I want.
Stay safe.
Okay.
This is fucked.
It is...
But he's right.
We can't give him the client
names, he can't help us.
LIZ:
Look, I'm new here,
but maybe we should be looking
at what we charge clients.
What we charge clients
is competitive with every
other law firm in town, Liz.
Which is maybe why clients
are so angry with their lawyers.
Are you really blaming us?
We're the victims here.
Oh, come on,
we are far from victims.
JAY:
Why don't I do
some research
into Diane's clients?
How many are there?
Uh, 43.
Any of them upset
about our billing
or losing a case or whatever?
(chuckles):
Yeah, right.
Look,
I'll get the letter
back from the police
and compare it to
other correspondences.
There was somebody here
yesterday.
A bearded man,
delivering food.
Marissa talked to him.
I'll keep you updated.
ADRIAN: Now, we need to
get back on the phone
with Andrea Stevens.
We don't want to be seen
as being weak here.
You okay?
Oh, yeah.
Yeah? Still want
to become a pastry chef?
It's looking more
and more appealing.
Is there anything I can do?
No, I just... I just
have to shake this off.
Why don't you go home?
Take the afternoon.
If there's ever a day
you could take a break,
it's after a ricin scare.
I mean, maybe later.
I'm good. I have the depo.
I'll handle it. Go.
MARISSA:
He really was
just delivering food.
He had nothing
to do with this.
Diane's getting
a little paranoid.
With good reason.
You seem good.
Yeah. I tend to rise
to these occasions.
Are you questioning
the mail room?
Next stop.
Can I help?
No. You take
the reality show footage.
I'm on it.
I had wall-to-wall cops in here.
They messed up my whole system.
It's gonna take me three, four
hours just to get caught up.
What's this?
The threatening
envelope came inside.
Looks like it was
hand-delivered here,
then one of your guys brought
it up to Diane's office.
Wasn't one of my guys.
Doesn't everything go
through the mail room?
Everything from the outside.
This doesn't have
a signature, no time stamp.
This came from
inside the building.
ANDREA:
Oh, my gosh,
I am so sorry.
I heard.
About?
About your troubles here.
I mean, it seems like
you have some enemies, huh?
If it helps, we could take
this case off your plate,
come to some sort
of settlement.
Sure.
$4.3 million.
Mm, not quite what
I had in mind.
But 95... no,
$95,000 would do it.
Listen, you don't
want to have
another unhappy client
on your hands, do you?
Shall we?
Liz.
(quietly):
What are you doing?
Oh. Diane asked me
to sit in.
She's not feeling up to it.
Yeah.
Are you thirsty? Can I
get you something to drink,
Yeah.
Maybe, or... or maybe not,
you know?
I really don't know.
♪
Where was this
video taken?
It was at the bar
at the penthouse.
They look pretty comfortable
with each other, don't they?
That is speculation
about Melanie's state of mind,
hours before
the assault took place.
Alleged assault.
And you know there's no judge
here, right?
I'm just preserving
the objection for the record.
Of course.
Preserved.
Did you speak with Melanie
after this 3:00 encounter,
but before the later one?
I conducted an OTF.
And what is that?
That's an
"on the fly" interview.
I had a great time with Blake.
CHESTER:
Yeah, I'm sensing that
you and Blake have
good chemistry.
MELANIE: Yeah, you could say
we're getting along.
CHESTER: Sorry, sorry.
Uh, use his name, please.
Shit.
(clears throat)
Blake and I have
great chemistry.
He seems down
to have a good time.
Definitely someone to
spend some quality time with.
So, you're turning our client
into a puppet,
and then you blame her?
ANDREA (laughing):
Oh, my God.
What's wrong?
I found something
in the video.
I'm starving. Can we
talk about this later?
I don't even get
what you're asking me.
CHESTER: Oh, I think you know
exactly what I'm saying.
I mean, Melanie,
you talk the talk,
but I don't know.
I don't understand.
CHESTER: You give a good
sound bite, honey,
but TV is a visual medium.
I need the video
to back that up.
MELANIE: You don't think
that this is visual?
CHESTER: Now, that top
sums up the problem.
You are a camera tease, Melanie.
Melanie, you want to
stay on the show?
Then you gotta
show us something.
What did you mean by that?
I just meant that, uh...
You know, she was talking
a very big game, but, uh,
in reality, she...
She wasn't exactly...
Putting out?
ANDREA:
Excuse me,
who is that?
One of our investigators.
Could you ask her not to
question my client, please?
Sure. As soon as
your client
starts answering
the questions.
Look, everybody knows that
our show's ratings
go up or down
based on us being provocative.
That does not mean
that we condone rape.
Strong words.
ANDREA: I'm sorry,
I'm really confused here.
I thought your whole argument
was that she was unconscious.
Now you're arguing that
we forced her to strip
and receive oral sex.
I'm just... confused.
Please, I'm starving.
Can I even get a sandwich?
CHESTER:
Yes, after the Wrap-Up.
But look, they just put out
the tequila buffet.
So, what is... what is
the tequila buffet?
Well, all our...
All our contestants know
that we had that.
Yeah, but what... what is it?
I'm just curious.
It's a-about a dozen
different high-end tequilas,
for comparison's sake.
And no food for six hours?
Just shots of tequila?
Look, we haven't done
anything wrong.
This is show tradition.
Yes, and we're not forcing
the contestants to drink,
so please.
Is it part of season 15?
I'm sorry, what?
If you did nothing wrong,
is the tequila buffet
part of season 15?
No.
Thank you.
Yeah. Yeah.
(ringtone playing)
Hello?
Diane, it's Jay Dipersia.
Do you have one second?
Sure.
Do any of your clients have
offices inside the building?
DIANE:
Our building? Why?
I spoke to the mail room,
but the letter sent to you
came from inside the building.
Um...
Well, there's, um...
a real estate firm...
We did taxes with them.
And, um, yeah, a tech start-up.
The, uh, CEO, Alec Crichton.
We handled his divorce.
Okay, good.
Any issues with
either of them?
No, not that I remember.
The divorce, of course,
got heated.
Well, he lose custody
of his kids?
Yes.
Huh. Okay.
I'll question them. If anything
occurs to you, call me.
Um, yeah. Good-bye.
All right.
♪
ANCHOR: President Trump
has defended his decision
to end cost-sharing
reduction subsidies
by pointing
to stock price gains...
The idea of a... a prequel
just didn't interest me,
until I found another way in.
When you're a detective,
you can do anything.
Grab 'em by the pussy.
Anything.
HALLIDAY:
And a lot of people think
it's about Trump. But it's
really about a certain mindset.
(grunts) New York's a swamp,
and I'm cleaning it up.
(gunshot)
♪ Ooh...
(howling)
♪ With the devil I ride
♪ With the devil I ride...
ANCHOR 2:
This will be the third week
the potbellied pig
occupies the Map Room.
Though the president insists
Petey the Pig
is a welcome distraction,
many critics worry
the animal debases
the office of the presidency.
We want to hear from you.
Should the president keep a pig
in the White House Map Room?
Go online...
(sighs)
Uh, I like her.
She just says what she thinks.
Eh, I know. But
do you trust her?
Uh, I don't know.
Does that matter?
I'm not gonna marry her.
(chuckles)
My God, can you
imagine that marriage?
Liz and Boseman?
(both laughing)
Ugh. What did they even see
in each other?
I don't know.
Probably danger.
He called me one
of his investigators today.
Who, Boseman?
Mm-hmm.
(clicks tongue)
Or as I call him, Adrian.
Nice.
I think we're
getting closer, he and I.
And by that,
I mean he knows my name now.
I will drink to that.
(chuckles)
It's odd
that we're in such a good mood,
given that we were
almost killed today.
Well, we're the generation
of living dangerously.
Mm-hmm.
DREW: Hey!
You're still here!
Drew!
Drew!
(chuckles):
Whoa!
God, you guys are sloshed.
No! No.
We are just really happy
to see you.
Alive?
Yes! (laughs)
Yes! (laughs)
Yes!
Here, sit, sit.
These are tall chairs.
(chuckles) Uh, what
are you drinking?
Whiskey sours.
More than one sour.
Mm. Not a singular sour.
Okay.
One more?
All right.
(exhales)
So...
Oh, shit.
What?
I need you to come with me
to the bathroom.
Now?
Yes.
Don't leave.
Why? Why?
Come here.
Oh, there's no lock. Here,
just lean against the door.
(exhales)
He's here for you.
What?
He's here to see you.
No!
Yes. You
invited him tonight.
Yeah, but for... Wait!
Fuck you!
I invited him for you.
I'm not interested in him.
Yeah, I know.
But he doesn't know that.
Okay, well, uh,
do I go home?
No. No, I don't want you to.
We're having fun.
Then what do I do?
(sighs)
Hint that you're gay.
(laughs):
What?
How do I do that?
I don't know.
Oh, my God. I am
going back to the bar.
(laughs): No!
Out of the way.
Maia!
Wait!
Hi.
(clears throat)
Hey. I ordered you
two more.
Two more each?
No. That would be
irresponsible.
Ah.
I'm gay.
Oh.
(chuckling)
What should I...
say? Uh...
Congratulations.
We're not gay.
Not the two of us.
I'm just gay.
Oh!
You're really handsome.
(laughing):
Oh, my...
Okay,
I'm gonna go home.
No, no, stay.
We should all stay.
Hey.
You guys want something harder?
Yes, I'm offended!
I didn't rape her.
Why don't you tell
the truth, Melanie?
ADRIAN: Please,
refrain from
addressing my client.
You could always ask
your client to step out.
I want to be here for this.
ANDREA: Okay. Blake,
why did you leave season 14
of Chicago Penthouse?
(Blake sighs)
Because she said
I assaulted her,
and then the producers
kicked me off.
Did you have
any sexual contact
with Ms. Clark?
Yes, but she was into it.
I swear to God, I am not
the kind of guy who does
something like that.
ANDREA: So the sexual
contact was consensual?
BLAKE: Yeah. Melanie asked me
if I wanted a surefire way
to make it to the final
round. I said sure.
I mean, I'm not stupid.
I'm trying to up my brand.
The sex was her idea?
BLAKE:
100%.
She knew how to make
a spectacle,
and she knew that would mean
more camera time.
You know what pisses me off?
I'm not accusing you, Blake.
I did not do
anything wrong.
You were all over
me, Melanie.
You pulled me
into that hot tub.
It was a drunken hookup.
And I have zero
memory of that.
Well, I do.
That's the whole point.
Okay, okay, okay. Enough.
No, it's all right.
Look... (clears throat)
You didn't get me drunk.
You didn't drug me.
You didn't hold me down
and force yourself on me.
And I didn't say no.
But at some point, I
lost the ability to say no.
And your problem
is you're so sure
you're not one of those guys
that you fail to realize that,
on that day, in that moment,
you decided to finish
what you thought I had started.
You became one of those guys,
Blake.
Yeah, I heard
about that.
Jesus. Anthrax.
You guys all
right up there?
Yeah. Ricin.
Just a scare.
I understand you're one
of Diane's clients.
Oh, yeah.
That stupid bitch.
Excuse me?
Oh.
(chuckles)
No, not Diane.
She's a sweetheart.
No, my ex-wife.
She's the reason I needed Diane.
Wow...!
Cool.
What is it?
Oh. I don't know yet,
you know?
It's still trying to...
become something.
I don't know what I'm thinking
until I write it down.
(chuckles)
This is all your writing?
Yeah. Looks like
a serial killer, doesn't it?
(both chuckle)
Yep.
♪
Lori Akerman.
I was a production manager
on Chicago Penthouse.
DIANE: You were?
And why were you fired?
Because I saw what I thought
was nonconsensual sex,
and I shut down the production.
That seems like a strange reason
to fire you.
Ms. Stevens makes it sound like
the show was
just being responsible.
And yet here I am,
out of work.
I think there's
a misunderstanding here.
You were not let go
because you...
Ms. Stevens, please.
DIANE: What did you see
that concerned you?
Melanie was
in no state of mind
to be making
any kind of decisions,
much less sexual ones.
She was barely conscious.
And why didn't you stop it
at the time?
I was doing interviews
with other cast members.
I knew Melanie was drunk,
but I thought
that she and Blake
had separated by then.
No further questions.
ANDREA:
Ms. Akerman, uh,
first of all, I am so sorry
about your unemployed state.
Thank you.
How many
prior production
shutdowns
have you been involved in?
This was my first.
And prior to, uh,
Chicago Penthouse,
you worked on Daytona Beach
and Dorm Room Afterdark?
Yes.
So, what happened
on Chicago Penthouse
that was worse
than those other shows?
I already said.
Non-consensual sex.
I see.
And how did you feel
about Blake Masters taking
a prominent role on the show?
I...
How did I feel?
Yes.
Didn't you disapprove
of his casting?
(laughing):
No.
There were no African-American
female contestants on the show.
Is that correct?
I am not involved in casting.
You weren't concerned
about depicting
too many interracial
relationships?
No.
Here are some affidavits
from several producers
on Chicago Penthouse
attesting that you were
expressly concerned
about the prevalence
of interracial relationships.
Objection.
Really? Why?
Relevance.
Actually,
my guess is
you're worried
this is very relevant.
LORI: You're taking me
out of context.
I was talking
about audience perception.
I'm not a racist.
Ma'am, didn't
you shut down
the show because Blake was black
and Melanie was white?
No.
And this is why
you allowed drunken sex
between white cast members
and not interracial.
What's that?
A test.
Find anything?
Not yet. You?
Maybe.
This is the real
detective stuff, huh?
Every printer and copy machine
leaves a unique signature
of microdots on
every page it prints.
Like, a fingerprint
for that printer.
Here's the one on the
letter you opened.
Whoa.
Now, these are two
printed pages
from Diane's clients
in the building.
So we'll see if the letter
came from their printers.
First, the real estate client.
MARISSA:
No match.
Now the other one.
Damn.
I thought it would be
the real estate guy.
Maybe he printed it at home.
Or at a copy store.
Or maybe he has
more than one printer.
Mm-hmm...
Okay, good luck.
(laughs softly)
Hey, what are you doing?
There was a third camera.
Look, this is from the next day.
There's a locked-off
camera above the hot tub.
Uh, hello?
Why aren't you excited?
I am.
It's from this floor.
What?
U-Uh, the
letter to Diane?
It's not from a client
in this building,
it's from this office.
Why can't you let me
have my moment?
Why do you have to show me up?
(cackling)
Ugh!
There was a third camera
recording the assault,
Your Honor...
Alleged assault, Your Honor.
And the defense has
failed to turn it over.
You know what
I don't understand?
What happened
to Simon and Veronica?
I-I mean, they were
getting so close
during the season,
and then, nothing.
I-I mean, uh, does that
ever get explained?
I'm not sure, Your Honor, but
I can ask the producers for you,
if you'd like me to.
A-And Courtney.
I mean, why did
she get expelled?
It makes no sense.
She was the nice one.
Your Honor,
the missing footage.
Right.
Ms. Stevens?
Where is it?
I'm sorry?
Did I not make
my discovery order clear?
Oh, um, right. Uh,
the producers decided against
using the spy cam footage
this season,
and they forgot
it was even there.
Right. Yeah, that could
happen to anybody.
Mm-hmm.
Find them.
Now.
Yes, Your Honor.
Thank you, Your Honor.
Hey.
What's the matter with you?
I just ruled in your favor.
Don't I even get a smile?
Excuse me, Your Honor?
I mean...
you should smile more.
Yeah, I don't-I don't know
when it happened,
that women stopped smiling.
(snorts, laughs)
What? What is this?
What-what is it?
What is she doing?
Uh, your co-counsel
is laughing.
Is... am I missing
something here?
No, Your Honor.
We've been stretched
really thin, recently.
Oh, right.
I heard about
that whole baking soda scare.
(Diane laughing louder)
Diane. Diane, Diane.
Yeah, thank you.
Thank you, Your Honor.
I-Is she all right?
She's just pleasantly surprised,
Your Honor.
(laughing)
(continues laughing)
Uh, are you okay?
Am I?
Yes. Why?
You were laughing in there.
Yes, the judge was funny.
Oh, God.
(laughing)
Are you still microdosing?
Nope.
This is what I'm
like when I'm not.
Are you sure?
Listen, did the president
put a potbellied pig
in the White House Map Room?
Uh, excuse me?
No, was there
a story today
about Trump adopting
a pig named Petey,
and keeping him
in the White House?
I... No.
You're looking at me
like that's insane.
(elevator bell dings)
(elevator doors open)
JAY:
Hi.
Hi.
You wanted to talk to me?
Yes. Uh...
so our Wi-Fi keeps track of
when people in the firm log out.
We're all in the same server.
Did you know that?
No.
See, that's your I.D. number.
Okay.
It shows,
at 10:23 a.m. yesterday,
you were the very last one
to log out.
Yeah. Makes sense.
We're behind
on the Lanthimos brief,
and I've been working
through lunch, and pretty late.
Right, but you see,
everyone else logged out
because, of course,
there was a chemical scare,
and we all left
the building.
Well, I guess
I forgot to log out.
No, you're logged out
automatically.
Uh, you just stayed
later than everyone.
Well, like I said,
I've-I've been pretty behind.
Mm.
Why weren't you afraid
of the ricin?
It turns out, it wasn't ricin.
Right.
But no one knew that.
You sent the letter
to Diane, didn't you?
I-I don't know what you're...
Here's the thing.
You're going to jail.
No, I...
Yes.
Unless you go
apologize to Diane.
Tell me why you did it.
(crying):
There's been so much work.
And...
they wanted the brief in
on Friday,
and I can't get it in on time.
I... I was so afraid of being
fired, I just wanted a day.
Okay.
Okay.
(pats leg)
Okay.
Uh, I-I just need you
to sign something.
That was cold.
What?
Telling him to sign or you'd
turn him over to the cops,
then, you turned him
over to the cops.
I don't work for him.
I work for the firm.
(elevator bell dings)
Well...
what am I looking for?
(dance music playing
over computer)
Shh.
(music stops)
She passed out.
(music playing)
Oh, I think
you're gonna want to...
want to watch
this part, Ms. Stevens.
Yeah.
Andrea.
Mm-hmm.
♪ Happy birthday,
it's your birthday... ♪
And here's where
it gets exciting.
♪ Birthday, now,
whose birthday is it? ♪
(sighs)
Take it or leave it.
I'm not authorized
to go any higher.
(exhales)
(typing)
(door opens)
$3.2 million.
(laughing)
(grunts)
Mm.
All right.
Hey, hey, hey, hey.
Did you hear?
What? Trump is keeping
a potbellied pig
in the White House?
(chuckling):
No, Diane.
Dipersia, he caught the fellow
who sent you
that threatening letter.
Who?
One of our associates here.
Wanted more time
to write his brief.
(laughing)
No.
His brief...
(laughing)
Diane.
You all right?
Look, look, um...
I know the last few weeks
have been hard.
But are you really serious
about leaving the law?
(laughs)
Am I what?
Serious about
leaving the law.
Liz said you've been
having some difficulty
with Carl's death, and...
these copycat killings.
DIANE:
Really?
No, I'm good.
Good.
We can't afford
to lose you, too.
Adrian, these last few weeks, it
felt like death was everywhere.
That's all.
But now...
(quietly):
You're seeing life again.
No. I just don't care.
What did Tennessee Williams say?
"What is the secret
to happiness?
Insensitivity."
That's what I feel.
Well, good job, anyway.
We are $600,000 richer.
And with Trump,
we won't be taxed as much.
(laughs)
I think we should have a party
for the new offices.
Introduce ourselves
to the community again.
That sounds terrific.
Good.
Let's do it.
♪ It's your birthday,
happy birthday ♪
♪ It's your birthday, happy
birthday ♪
♪ It's your birthday,
happy birthday ♪
♪ It's your birthday
♪ It's your birthday,
happy birthday ♪
♪ It's your birthday, happy
birthday ♪
♪ It's your birthday,
happy birthday ♪
♪ It's your birthday
♪ It's your birthday,
it's your birthday ♪
♪ It's your birthday,
happy birthday ♪
♪ It's your birthday, happy
birthday ♪
(knocking)
♪ It's your birthday
♪ Happy birthday,
it's your birthday ♪
Hey.
LIZ:
Hey.
How's everything?
Good.
And fuck you.
♪ Happy birthday
♪ Now, whose birthday is it?