The Good Fight (2017–…): Season 3, Episode 10 - The One About the End of the World - full transcript
Blum is out for revenge when he represents a group of Reddick, Boseman and Lockhart's ex-clients who claim the firm overcharged them.
These tactics
are seriously wrong.
I mean, swatting?
Valerie warned us
that someone would try
to break us up,
and that's what she's doing.
No.
Yes.
We know where you live.
Where you work,
where your husband works.
You make one call,
tell one person,
we're coming for you.
Of course,
we're all very excited
about the president's visit,
and we would like you
to be featured
at the event, Kurt.
Me? Are you sure?
Of course,
you're the Midwestern
regional director.
We'd like you to introduce
President Trump
and then stand with the rest
of the delegation
when the president
makes his remarks.
And let the president know
what an awesome job he's doing.
Send us a draft of your remarks
as soon as you can, oka...?
Okay.
Hey.
What was that about?
Nothing. Work.
You've served this firm
with dignity and grace.
And we're sure you'll do
the same on the bench.
So you don't need my advice,
but I will tell you
what my folks would tell me
whenever I'd leave the house.
Now, you drink lots of water
and don't embarrass us.
To Julius.
- Julius.
- Thank you.
I got to admit,
I-I love this place.
I love how, despite ourselves,
we're a family.
Lucca Quinn.
I agree.
Lucca has really stepped up
in matrimonial.
She's only
a fourth-year associate.
Yeah, and associates become
partners faster these days,
or they leave.
Yeah.
Well, if we're worried
about associates leaving,
I'm more worried about Rosalyn.
I agree. She's kicking ass
in litigation.
But didn't we promise it
to Lucca?
Yes, we did, we did.
And Lucca has brought in
much more business than Rosalyn.
That's not true.
Look at the billable hours
for the last year.
Rosalyn has Lucca beat.
But only because Lucca had
three months of maternity leave.
Come on, we're not gonna
punish her for that.
Months of maternity leave?
What does that mean?
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Oh, my God,
does everything have to be
an argument, you guys?
Can we just have a cordial
and intelligent discussion?
Okay, this is my argument.
They're both deserving.
Yeah.
But the advantage of Rosalyn
is what she does for
the culture of this firm.
- I don't know what that means.
- I can understand
why you wouldn't.
Are you saying
what I think you're saying?
- Hey, if the shoe fits.
- All right, all right.
What's going on?
We were both threatened.
By who?
A Rachelle Max
from DLE Strategies.
A competitor?
No, someone we worked with.
Do you know why
she threatened you?
It's a long story.
When I asked you to look
into Valerie Peyser,
it's connected to that.
The woman in Rikers?
Right.
Okay. I'll look into it.
And, Jay,
she won't seem dangerous,
but she is.
Oh, sorry, sorry
to keep you waiting.
Uh...
There was a partner meeting upstairs.
Hmm. You remember Mr. Cardwell
from 2016.
We won the settlement
with the Chicago PD.
Yes, police brutality.
Some broken ribs.
How are you, Perry?
Fine. Having a
little trouble.
I thought I'd invest my
settlement money like you said,
but I lost my job
and I've been living on it.
He wants to know
if it's possible
to get any more from the PD.
More money?
Actually, I, uh...
I don't think so, Perry.
We signed a general release
with the city
and the police department
relieving them
of further claims.
Is it possible I could
get some of what you took?
Well, we only took
what we agreed upon, Perry.
Don't forget we worked
on your case for...
three and a half years.
Expenses are expenses.
Between expenses and your
percentage, you come away
with more than I do.
I'm living on the streets.
Look, why don't we do this?
We got some contacts
at local Housing Services.
One second.
Warn building security.
There might be some issue here.
This is crap and you know it!
Uh, Jim.
Calm down...
- Need some help over here.
- This is bullshit!
Why don't you get
one of the white guys
you hired?
Mm-hmm.
Reddick/Boseman sucks!
They was my lawyers
and they made more than me!
Fuck them all!
Perry, how was it?
They were assholes.
Maybe you qualify for
government assistance of some kind.
Section 8 housing,
food stamps...
So what happens now?
And no one has an inside edge.
We make a smart decision
based on culture.
Oh, no.
What? I might have good news.
When have you ever
had good news?
Diane Lockhart...
Liz Reddick...
you've been served.
And you, too.
And can anyone point me
toward Adrian Boseman?
- It's a nuisance suit.
- I agree.
Blum has been disbarred. He
can't even represent himself.
Maybe he hired someone.
But who would work with him?
Well, the problem is: this suit
makes you look like the bad guys.
"You"? So now you're
in the third person?
Thanks, Julius.
This was your suit...
I did nothing wrong.
My position before...
was exactly as it is now.
- It's putting this firm...
- Wait, wait, wait.
Wait. Just wait. Now listen,
we've lost Chumhum.
We lost my dad's name
and now Blum is coming after
the last strength that we have:
our reputation.
We'll no longer be the defender
of the underdog;
we'll be seen
as their exploiter.
So we go in hard
and get this dismissed.
You'll notice I said "we."
There may be one problem
with that.
We're appearing
before Judge Toosi.
Who's that?
He's a-a new judge.
A Trump appointee.
You see,
this is why we need
someone more
culturally appropriate
- as a partner.
- Wait, what?
Why? Lucca was in the
meeting with the plaintiff,
and had it been handled
more sensitively...
Oh, my God, seriously?
Wait, wait, wait, wait.
Yes.
She handled it perfectly well.
Not perfectly well enough,
because we're being sued.
All the commotion
about the salary disparities,
- it never died down.
- Come on.
Making Rosalyn a partner
would address
some of those concerns.
We appreciate
everything you've said...
It wouldn't be a proper Chicago
May without lightning storms,
and as always, the sky was
filled with lightning
but without
accompanying thunder.
That may seem odd...
Marissa, have you seen this
lightning we've been having?
It's kind of creepy.
Yeah, exciting.
Okay, I have to tell you
something that I know.
But I can't tell you
how I know it.
Okay, I can tell you
how I know it,
but you can't tell
anybody how I know it.
You have to say "okay."
Okay.
When you FaceTime
Diane, or anybody,
and they don't pick up, you can
hear them for a few minutes.
What?
Yeah, it's a bug.
I'm sure Apple will fix it soon,
possibly even in
the next few weeks,
before anything legally
problematic happens,
but in the meantime,
I was FaceTiming Diane,
and I heard what was going on
in the meeting upstairs.
Okay.
They were talking about you.
Oh, no. We shouldn't be
talking about this.
Yes, but you should know
about something. No, no.
No, thanks.
Mm-mm.
They're considering you
for partner.
There's an opening
with Julius leaving,
and they're thinking of
making you an equity partner.
Okay, but I mean, we really...
I mean, I shouldn't,
you know, know any of this.
There's only one problem.
But maybe I shouldn't
say anything.
Oh, come on, Marissa.
Some of the
partners think Rosalyn
would be better for
the image of the firm.
What does that mean?
Image of the firm?
I think they think she'd do more
for the Reddick/Boseman brand.
Well, how am I not the brand?
You're not...
black enough.
Are you fucking kidding me?
Look, I didn't say it.
They said it.
Or they implied it.
Wait.
Okay, so what did they say?
Exactly.
All rise.
Good afternoon.
All right, well, not exactly
a large audience today,
but maybe people will find us.
Uh, just so you know,
they misspelled my name
on the old nameplate. Uh, I am
Judge Toosi, not Judge Tootsie,
so don't get any ideas.
That's good to know, Your Honor.
And as you probably know,
I'm a, uh,
I'm a new judge around here,
so don't let the robes fool you.
I do not ask for directions,
but I get us there eventually.
Well, that's
music to my ears, Your Honor.
Roland Blum for the plaintiff...
Your Honor, Mr. Blum has been
disbarred, and cannot... I'm... oh,
I'm sorry, I'm so...
Uh, I hadn't quite finished,
Your Honor.
If I may?
Uh, uh, yeah.
Ladies, we'll get to you.
Uh, men like us, we...
we go with our gut.
My gut tells me
not to get on a flight,
I listen.
The plane goes down,
everyone gets killed,
that's my gut saving my ass.
And what my gut
tells me here is that
the defense is afraid of me.
I've gathered together
a class of eight of their
ex-clients. Eight. These
gentlemen here in the first row.
Now they're suing because
they've had their futures
stolen from them
by that law firm.
Again, Your Honor,
Mr. Blum
is disbarred.
He cannot argue in court.
That's where these
ladies are wrong
because I won't be
arguing in court.
I'll leave that to my associate,
Maia Henson,
who also used to work at
this law firm until she became
disgusted and quit
because of their methods.
Your Honor,
this case is a vendetta
against our firm,
and we ask that
the matter be dismissed.
Not before you conduct
a hearing, Your Honor.
A hearing on what?
We have a tape.
A tape? Uh, like a,
like a tape you'd like to play?
Like, a cassette tape?
All right, do we have
a tape player? Bailiff?
Expenses are expenses.
Between expenses and
your percentage, you come away
with more than I do.
I'm living on the streets.
Look, why don't we do this?
We got some contacts
at local Housing Services.
Reddick/Boseman took 40%
of the award from Chicago PD.
They then added frills on top,
amounting to another
20% of that award.
We contest that.
Yes, and that's why
there needs to be a hearing.
So what is this?
Retribution?
No, it's lawyering.
With Blum? Are you serious?
No one else would
hire me, Diane.
He made me a partner,
and I'm building his law firm
from the ground up.
Then why come after us?
Because you've done wrong.
I mean, look at these cases.
In all eight, you made
more money than your clients.
In all eight, you had
a conflict of interest,
and yet all the while,
you were still
patting yourselves on the back,
thinking you were
fighting the good fight.
And Blum is a friend
of the underprivileged?
No, he's doing this
to destroy you.
I'm doing this to reclaim money
for your ex-clients.
I see you're still using
the portfolio I gave you.
It still serves its purpose.
Aw.
Mm.
Mm.
Kurt!
Oh, sorry.
I-I didn't know you were
coming home early.
Oh, no, don't be embarrassed, Kurt.
It's sweet.
It's just an assignment.
What...
What... No!
On behalf of the entire senior
staff around you, Mr. President,
we thank you for the opportunity
and the blessing that you've
given us to serve your agenda
and the American people.
Oh, my God.
It's just something
I need to do.
I thought this was for me.
It's for Trump?
I'm supposed to introduce him
at the V.A. speech in Wisconsin.
"The last two years
have brought me
a new optimism"?
Where you going?
Downstairs.
There's too much of
a dent in that closet.
I'd like to see if there's
a dollar amount
that would help Perry Cardwell
and provide adequate
compensation
to Maia and yourself.
Well, thanks to your efforts,
I'm no longer permitted
to be compensated for the work I do.
Mm.
There's a way to structure
your end as a consulting fee,
sidesteps the issue
of disbarment entirely.
You know, sometimes
you front the rectitude
of a priest,
other times that of a pimp.
It's whatever works, right?
Now what do you want?
What do I want?
I want
a phalanx of moving men
carrying files out that door.
I want desks and chairs sold off
at a bankruptcy auction.
I want associates and paralegals
and secretaries
sending out their résumés,
while partners sell their condos
because they can't get the stink
of Reddick/Boseman
off themselves.
And how exactly
is trying to destroy
our firm help you?
You took away my livelihood...
my trade.
You made it so I was, uh...
nothing.
If nothing else,
destroying this firm will let me
unclench my teeth
in the middle of the night.
There is no dollar amount
that'd provide
adequate compensation.
I want you gone.
Several sightings of this rare
and potentially dangerous
electrical phenomenon
known as "ball lightning"
were reported in the
Chicago area yesterday.
These balls started fires
in three Chicago area
communities:
Naperville, Wheaton, and also...
Uh, what are you watching?
Lightning balls.
C-Can I talk to you
for a second, Jay?
Uh, lightning what?
Balls.
Balls of lightning.
They're outside of Chicago.
I don't understand.
Is this a-a made-up thing?
No, the severe weather
we've been having.
- Look.
- If you spot a ball of lightning
coming your way, move out
of its path immediately.
Okay, so one more thing
to deal with.
Do you have a minute?
What do people think of me here?
What do they think of you?
I'm up for partner...
Mm.
...but apparently
I may not get it
because they think
I'm not "black enough."
Who's saying that?
The partners.
Have you heard anything?
Not "black enough"
as compared to who?
Rosalyn.
Apparently she's pro-black
in a way that I'm not.
Uh... Huh.
Everyone likes you,
just a lot of the associates
think you never hang out.
So it's high school?
I don't care
about being popular.
Who has time to hang out?
We're lawyers.
I have a ten-month-old baby.
They thought that
before you had a baby.
Okay, so I'm a traitor
to the race
because I don't get drinks
after work?
No, no, you get drinks.
You just get them with Marissa
and Maia... and Colin.
I wouldn't have come
to this firm if I weren't black.
Mm, you're hovering
dangerously close to
"my best friend is black."
Okay.
You can go now.
You asked my opinion.
Yeah, well, you know what,
I shouldn't have
because it doesn't matter.
You know, I do not have
to prove myself to anyone
or perform what they think
black should look like.
This is 2019.
I'm not playing
this stupid fucking game.
Then why did you choose
Reddick/Boseman
to represent you?
They came to see me
after my arrest.
They said they was the best
at taking it to the police.
I really thought they was
gonna look after me.
And what do you think now?
I think they
looked at me
and saw dollar signs.
They charged me for everything.
$27,000 for trial transcripts.
$23,000 for dinners.
A car service for
associates working late.
Seriously?
Is this your signature
right here?
I guess.
And, uh, this amount,
$180,000,
isn't that to cover the cost
of an expert witness?
Objection, Your Honor.
The defense is asking
Mr. Cardwell
a matter covered by
attorney-client privilege.
Are you kidding?
No, I'm not.
Your Honor, this is a catch-22.
They accuse us of overcharging,
but we can't defend ourselves
because the overcharges
are covered by...
Exactly, so pay up.
Okay, wait a minute.
Okay, okay.
Uh, I will hear arguments
on the 22nd catch,
but first... a recess?
Uh, Your Honor,
the defense requests
a sidebar in chambers.
Okay.
In your chamber.
Oh, great.
Yeah.
I wouldn't mind getting out
of this oven.
I'm burning up.
Uh, Your Honor, may I point out
that Mr. Blum should not
even be in here?
Oh, wow.
Look at these.
Oh, it's taking me
back to my childhood.
I loved model trains.
O gauge?
Of course.
Your Honor,
the expense in question is
related to narcotics charges
against Mr. Cardwell
that Reddick/Boseman
managed to have dismissed.
And anything related to those
narcotics charges is protected
by attorney-client privilege.
Isn't she sweet?
First case.
Really?
Your Honor,
the privilege Ms. Rindell refers to
is effectively waived
when Perry sued our firm.
It is not waived.
And if you admit this protected
material, Your Honor,
you'll be putting yourself
in the same position
as Robert Mueller
in terms of overreach.
- Oh, oh, what?
- This has nothing to do with
Robert Mueller...
Are you trying to intimidate the judge?
Absolutely not.
No, I'm just pointing out
the similarity to Mueller,
that's all.
Okay, no to the Mueller thing,
and whatever you want
to bring in, you can't.
So what do we think?
I think the judge is stupid.
And I think we have a more
difficult case to make.
I think that's right.
The woman over there.
The one in the
brown leather coat.
She is
threatening Diane and Liz?
Somehow I don't think I'm
getting the whole story.
What do you want to do?
Wait till her friend leaves,
then talk to her.
Good thing I have my
intimidating jacket on.
So...
we haven't really talked for a while.
Yeah.
Things at work have been
a little weird. Divided.
Yeah, I know.
And part of it is people
aren't willing to mix.
Exactly. I go off with
my friends after work
to get a drink,
and the black associates
go off with their friends.
What if we set out
to solve that?
Have a party? Or crash
each other's gatherings?
Both. Wait.
Hi.
Hi.
We work with Diane Lockhart
and Liz Reddick.
They want us to tell you
to back off.
Back off what?
Threats. He's
the tough one.
I'm just here to
see how it's done.
Well, there must be
some confusion.
I have worked with Liz and
Diane, but that court case
was over a month ago.
And I've never threatened
anyone in my life.
Then we have no need to expose
your financial issues
with your polling firm.
What financial issues?
You overcharged on the
DL Michaels focus group by 30%.
And how do we know that?
My name is Marissa Gold.
You've done polling
for my father.
Okay.
You can tell Liz and Diane
that I received their message.
And that I was willing to let
our little misunderstanding
drop, but they've clearly shown
that they're not willing
to let it drop.
So... tell them
I'll be seeing them.
That didn't go
the way I expected.
There are many
theories for ball lightning.
Many believe that it's a
condensed form of highly excited
atoms. But there are
others who believe
it's an extreme
chemical reaction
to pollutants in the air
being trapped
by greenhouse gases.
So is this related
to climate change?
Well, I've asked questions...
Kurt?
It's the middle of the night.
What are you doing?
There's a fire on the West Side.
From lightning.
Oh, my God.
This is about your speech.
I'm almost done.
No, you're not.
You only have two sentences.
They thought I wasn't
honoring the occasion.
Oh. Meaning they thought
you weren't fawning enough?
I'm fine. Just go back to bed.
Wait. Give me that.
No. You hate him.
Yes, but I love you.
And you don't have
the fawning gene.
Um...
Just, just write this.
Um... "Not since Abraham Lincoln
has our great country
"been blessed by a leader
of such wisdom
and courage." Hmm?
Ah...
Oh, my God.
I'm going to hell.
Uh, "Some say that
President Trump is simple.
"But there is strength in simplicity.
Mm.
"Complexity has only led us to
"joblessness...
and war."
Uh, "When I think of the...
immortal words
of Jesus Christ..."
Too much?
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
"When I think of the immortal
words of Margaret Thatcher..."
Right? We'll find
a quote there.
British, blah, blah, blah.
"I realize how blessed this
country is to find a leader
for this moment in time."
Huh.
What?
I think this just helped me.
With what?
There is strength in simplicity.
Contingency fees are
the cornerstone
of our adversarial
judicial system.
Now-now quite simply,
Professor Harrison,
could you explain
contingency fees to His Honor?
Kahneman and
Tversky's prospect theory
proposes a contrary analysis
to common economic wisdom:
loss aversion...
No. It's wrong.
Excuse me? It is not.
No, that idiot judge
will just stare at him.
There is strength in simplicity.
Jay, I need you.
To do what?
Draw.
This is Judy Giraffe.
Judy defends order
in the forest.
It's Judy's job to look after
Paulie Possum,
after he was attacked
by Benny Bobcat.
But Benny worries
if Judy protects all the animals
in the wild, he won't
be able to have
- his way with them...
- Your Honor,
the plaintiff would like to,
once again, register
its objection
to these cartoons...
So, you're saying that
Benny Bobcat is lying.
Contingency fees are
generally considered equitable
under U.S. law because
of the inflated cost of...
Wait. Wait, this will
never get through
to the judge.
I can't change the facts of my testimony.
We're not asking you
to change the facts,
just...
the delivery.
I did background on the judge.
He has an ASMR fixation.
You're kidding.
What's that?
I need to...
touch this microphone.
What the hell?
It-It's like a brain
orgasm for some people.
It makes them more receptive.
And one of those people
is the judge.
Your Honor...
I have to...
lean into the microphone
to help you understand
about contingencies,
and why Reddick/Boseman
needs to charge
as much as they do.
Do...
- do...
- What the fuck?
Your Honor, can the, uh,
expert witness speak up, please?
Overruled. Sit down.
Please proceed.
Here's the thing
about contingency charges:
they are necessary
for the poorer clients
to achieve justice.
Justice.
They found a way
to get to the judge.
We need to do the same.
Okay, okay. We go back
to the old playbooks.
And what's that?
Bush v. Gore, 2000.
I was 12.
Don't worry.
Let me take care of it.
Trust me, we have never
had a president
who wasn't a sociopath.
Even Obama?
Even him.
The level of
self-centeredness it takes
to think that you and only you
can change the world...
Come on now.
But I think you mean a
narcissist, not a sociopath.
Narcissist, that's better, that's better.
Yes, that's right.
You got it.
Hi. You mind
if I join you?
Sure.
You don't usually come out.
No. But you know, I had to,
uh, escape the 60-page prenup
sitting on my desk.
What were you talking about?
Uh, whether all presidents
are sociopaths or just some.
Obama thought that he deserved
to be president
as a first-term senator.
How is that not narcissism?
It's called being a visionary.
Hello, he was right.
Trump is the
most extreme of the extreme,
but the presidency
requires an individual
who doesn't experience emotion
the way us common folk do. Okay.
Well, maybe Obama does
experience emotion differently,
but you'd have to,
given all the shit he got
while in office.
I mean, I bet he wished for just
one day where he didn't have
to be "the black president."
I don't think I agree with that.
I suppose I don't think
of it that way.
I'm black and I never
want to be anything else.
I mean, the good
outweighs the bad.
Oh, yeah, sure. No.
I mean, I'm not saying
that he would ever
want to... be not black,
just... free from
the pressure... of it.
Maybe.
Sometimes.
Hey, Lucca.
Mind if I join you?
I decided we all
need to mix more.
So what are we talking about?
What's going on?
Revenge of the Empire.
Who's the Empire?
We are.
Listen,
at least you're not in jury duty.
How many of you
are from out of town?
Whoa! What was it,
this or a matinee of Cats?
Calm down, sir.
Calm down.
Okay, so what is this?
The Brooks Brothers riot.
The what?
Oh, my God.
Young people today and your lack
of historical appreciation.
Roger Stone and I set up
the Brooks Brothers riot
in Miami-Dade, back in 2000.
Now, without our boys raising
hell to stop the recount,
this country would've
suffered through Al Gore.
Oh, I can't hear you!
Let me hear that again.
Are you kidding?
Hey. It worked in 2000.
Good. Now, when I want to hear
mumbling, let me hear a little
wallah-wallah-wallah-wallah
wallah-wallah-wallah-wallah
wallah-wallah-wallah-wallah.
Good.
You worked for
Reddick/Boseman, did you not?
I did.
I served as cocounsel on, uh...
a number of matters.
I also spent a considerable
amount of time working
in their offices.
And what was your impression?
Objection. Irrelevant.
Uh...
I'm going to
overrule that objection.
On what grounds?
Uh... I... Because I have ruled.
Look,
I don't like to sit in
judgment, but I feel,
that as lawyers, you know,
we have a responsibility
to leave this world
just a little bit better.
My grandfather
came here from Belarus.
Couldn't read or write.
You know the song he
used to sing to me?
♪ The dream is still alive ♪
♪ Some day it will come true ♪
♪ And this country,
it belongs to folks like ♪
♪ Me and you. ♪
LIZ: Your Honor,
that is a car commercial.
That's okay, that's okay.
Some people
will never understand.
♪ So let the voice of freedom ♪
♪ Sing out through this land ♪
♪ This is ♪
♪ This is our country. ♪
Okay, let's stop with the
stunts, and win on the merits.
Just one more thing.
What?
I can always sense
when you need a favor.
Well, this is an easy one.
You know this new judge,
uh, Dash Toosi?
Well, I have
a matter before him.
He's no doubt heard
only the worst about me.
It'd be great if I could, uh,
get him to just rule
on the merits.
The merits?
Well, the positive merits,
not the negative ones.
You know, if you could
talk to him, oh,
that'd be great.
How's your husband doing?
Well, I mean,
your ex-husband.
Fine.
Good.
Oh,
and if you could
sit behind us in court,
that'd be great, too.
We need a,
a Pentangeli moment.
Uh, four, please.
Hello. I'm Judge Hazlewood.
Charlotte Hazlewood.
Oh, nice to meet you.
Judge Dash Toosi.
It's surprising how many lady
judges there are around here.
Mm-hmm.
So...
Constance Green's son died
while being transported
in a private prison van.
She came to you, you
didn't take her case. Why?
Objection. Irrelevant.
Your Honor,
we were treated
to a distinguished
law professor
lecturing us on how
contingency fees were essential.
Judy Giraffe?
Yes.
I believe I'm entitled
to challenge that claim.
Yep.
What was the question?
Why didn't you
accept the case
of Constance Green's son?
We thought the case was weak.
Why?
Her son resisted arrest.
If I may, isn't it a fact
you advised Ms. Green to
accept the State of Illinois's
initial offer, didn't you?
We may well have.
You also have a relationship
with a litigation investment
fund, do you not?
We do.
Or at least, we did.
Now, they evaluate
each potential case
and they decide
whether it's likely
to be profitable?
They provide us
capital so we can function.
Cases can go on for years,
Your Honor.
You lured Perry by
pretending to be committed
to justice, when in actual fact,
the only thing you valued
- was making money.
- Objection.
Uh, I, uh...
...uh, sustained.
Okay.
- I'll move on.
- Uh, may I say one thing?
I've had offices in storefronts
and in the back row
of bond court.
I've met with clients
seven nights a week
in housing projects
that you wouldn't walk into
without a police escort
and a camera crew.
I won't be held to account
because the firm that I helped
to build doesn't conform
to your idea of a
black law firm.
I'm a black man, Reddick,
Boseman & Lockhart is my firm
and I apologize for nothing.
Now I know why you
came for drinks last night.
Why?
Because we're up
for the same partnership.
Who told you?
One of the partners.
They're trying to pit us
against each other.
Why?
Because that's what people do
to the black girls.
So what do we do?
Well, first of all, it just
doesn't make sense that we would
even... What was that?
I don't know.
I have never seen
anything like that.
Me, neither.
It... no, maybe it's a,
uh, power plant fire?
Do you believe in revelation?
The Bible? No.
Well, I think
we're in the end times.
You think this is the end times?
I think it's the beginning
of the end times.
Why?
Because of that?
No, everything.
The signs, symbols.
People acting like animals.
The lying, the stealing,
the killing.
We're being judged.
It's creepy, isn't it?
Yeah.
They say it's a power plant
hit by a lightning ball.
No, I think it's a conspiracy.
The government is
trying a new weapon,
and that's what the lightning
balls are all about.
You said someone was out there?
Yes.
Someone without an appointment.
Who?
Diane Lockhart.
You want me to send her away?
What? Uh... no. No.
Send her in, please.
Would you like some water?
No, no, I'm fine.
Thank you.
Oh, I like what you're, uh,
- what you're wearing.
- Oh, thank you.
Diane.
Maia.
Please.
So you, you got what you wanted.
A corner office.
You make it sound shameful.
No.
Though my guess is you wouldn't
want it to happen with Blum.
Oh, he's not bad.
I know what I'm getting with him.
Sometimes that's better.
Maia,
I have the rare opportunity
to put things right.
We want you to come back.
F...
No.
As a partner.
I don't know what
your profit participation
is here, but I know it can't
match what we're offering.
Julius is leaving
to become a judge, and that
means there's an opening
for an equity partner.
We want you
to fill that position.
For six months, then you'll force me out.
No.
We would agree
to a five-year contract.
In lawyer years,
that's basically an eternity.
You're trying
to buy me out of my case.
Yes. But this isn't charity.
This is because
you impressed Boseman.
This is for the best reason.
I have to think about it.
Mm-hmm.
Is this weird,
that, uh...
...that we've ended up here?
Yes.
So you're trying to buy her off?
Yes.
She won't go with you.
She will if she knows
the smart move.
Hey.
Want to come on in?
Why?
♪ Fast cars, fine ass ♪
♪ These things ♪
♪ Will pass ♪
♪ And it won't ♪
♪ Get more profound ♪
♪ Ch-ch-ch, ooh, ch-ch-ch ♪
♪ Time is a game ♪
♪ Only children play well ♪
♪ How can I love you ♪
♪ If you won't lie down? ♪
You really are a piece of work.
I never heard of lightning balls
till yesterday.
Now they're gonna
burn down Chicago.
There is a woman
out there that wants to see you.
She happens to be the judge
for my divorce trial.
I didn't start seeing her
until after your trial, Liz.
How nice of you.
Liz, seriously...
I hope it's okay that I drop by.
Yeah. Please, have a seat.
I was impressed
by what you said in court.
I was moved.
That's the easy part
of battling with Blum,
you always feel like you're on
the right side, no matter what.
What?
Roland asked me
to approach Judge Toosi,
on his behalf.
And I did.
I didn't know the case.
I didn't know it involved you.
I'm sorry.
You bribed my judge?
And you're not willing
to say yes
because you think
I'm recording you?
I'm not afraid
you're recording me.
Then say you bribed Judge Toosi.
I bribed Judge Toosi.
What else do you need?
Nothing.
You want to grab dinner later?
Ha!
No.
It's love for
every American child
who deserves a chance to have
all of their dreams come true.
And I'm here tonight
to send a message:
we are fully and totally
committed to fighting
for our agenda,
and we will not stop Oh...
Kurt.
Until the job is done.
We love our country.
We celebrate our troops.
- We embrace our freedom.
- USA! USA!
We respect our flag.
We are proud of our history.
We cherish our Constitution,
including, by the way,
Kurt, my God, I love you.
The Second Amendment.
We fully protect
religious liberty.
We believe in law...
♪ Now is the time to reflect
and say "What did we learn?" ♪
♪ Well, what do you learn
when your house catches fire? ♪
♪ That things burn ♪
♪ That some things don't have
a replacement ♪
♪ Some things can be bought
for a price ♪
♪ That it's good to be rich ♪
♪ But it's hard to be nice ♪
♪ There is no Superman ♪
♪ Sometimes
there's no second chance ♪
♪ We're all flying blind
with no hands ♪
♪ By the seat of our pants ♪
♪ It feels like the rules
are in freefall ♪
♪ Who knew that the bar
was so low? ♪
♪ And maybe we're sinking,
but we're not letting go ♪
♪ Everything's everywhere ♪
♪ It's way too much
and it's all the time ♪
♪ It fills up the smoky air ♪
♪ And covers up
the perfect crime ♪
♪ It smolders and smokes ♪
♪ Till the edges
are blackened and curled ♪
♪ So come and sit here
next to me ♪
♪ At the end of the world ♪
♪ 'Cause we're the ones
coming to save us ♪
♪ We're flawed,
but we're all that we've got ♪
♪ The season is over ♪
♪ But the story is not. ♪
You heard?
What?
They offered
the partnership to Maia?
Yeah. That makes sense.
Two black girls
were up for a job
and they give it
to the white girl.
You're not angry?
No. Maia won't take it.
What do you mean? Yes, she will.
No.
She's moved on.
Then maybe
they'll offer it to you.
Maybe.
I don't care anymore.
You know, this whole year,
I realized,
the best thing is to not care.
Weird times.
Yep.
I have some acid.
Do you want to drop it?
Sure.
The end times are beautiful.
"Some say the world will end
in fire, some say in ice."
Any word from Maia?
No.
We got a fucking idiot
for a judge, Diane...
Oh, God.
...who might just
have been bribed.
Really?
Really.
The guardrails are gone, Diane.
And I can't see the road.
And I used to think that
something would save us.
The law,
personal conscience.
But now?
I don't see anything.
Love.
No, I'm not joking.
I was just...
...watching my husband Kurt
on TV,
and I realized I felt something
I haven't felt in
a very long time.
Hope.
When everything slips away,
there is that.
Love, huh?
Mm-hmm. Love.
We can't give up on that.
...the destruction
of five power plants
in the greater Chicagoland area.
With firefighters
working around the clock
since yesterday, the fires
are 80% contained.
There is still some debate
about how such
an extreme weather condition
got out of hand.
Firsthand accounts suggest that
several ball lightning strikes
resulted in a mile-long
path of destruction...
All rise.
Well, it looks like
we're all still alive.
And I'm ready to make a call.
A ruling.
Ready to rule, in fact,
because I...
am a judge.
I've been thinking a lot
about Mr. Perry over here,
what he's gone through.
It's a tough situation, man.
Tough.
I get how disappointed
he is in his lawyers,
how hard it is to watch them
sitting over there
in their fancy suits while
he's got nothing.
But then I got to admit...
...I've been thinking a lot
about Judy Giraffe.
Seems to me that
this case isn't just
about Mr. Cardwell,
it's about...
...bigger stuff.
Serious stuff.
A whole jungle.
And if I decide for Mr. Perry,
then this, this whole...
Ecosystem?
Good. Yes, this whole ecosystem
just kind of falls apart.
And I don't think
we can have that.
So...
...I'm gonna give it to Judy.
I mean, the law firm.
Okay? Yeah.
Great.
Good.
Congratulations.
You, uh, you haven't
responded to our offer.
You won.
You don't need to buy me off.
We weren't buying you off, Maia.
We want you back.
We want you home.
Maia,
there is no future with Blum.
He's disbarred.
In Illinois.
Not in D.C.
Goodbye.
♪ Fast cars, fine ass ♪
♪ These things will pass ♪
♪ And it won't get
more profound... ♪
Hit it, Fernando.
♪ Time is a game ♪
♪ Only children play well ♪
♪ How can I love you ♪
♪ If you won't lie down? ♪
♪ Lie down. ♪
You are my hero.
If they fired me, I'd be a hero.
Hmm.
I'm happy.
What... Am I ridiculous?
You...
You like narrating your life.
You know, there are
psychological studies that say,
when people are happy,
they look desperately for things
to make them unhappy.
But that won't happen to us,
will it?
No, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no. Kurt.
Tell me everything's
gonna be all right.
Everything's gonna be all right.
No, tell...
But mean it.
Everything's gonna be all right.
What could go wrong?
are seriously wrong.
I mean, swatting?
Valerie warned us
that someone would try
to break us up,
and that's what she's doing.
No.
Yes.
We know where you live.
Where you work,
where your husband works.
You make one call,
tell one person,
we're coming for you.
Of course,
we're all very excited
about the president's visit,
and we would like you
to be featured
at the event, Kurt.
Me? Are you sure?
Of course,
you're the Midwestern
regional director.
We'd like you to introduce
President Trump
and then stand with the rest
of the delegation
when the president
makes his remarks.
And let the president know
what an awesome job he's doing.
Send us a draft of your remarks
as soon as you can, oka...?
Okay.
Hey.
What was that about?
Nothing. Work.
You've served this firm
with dignity and grace.
And we're sure you'll do
the same on the bench.
So you don't need my advice,
but I will tell you
what my folks would tell me
whenever I'd leave the house.
Now, you drink lots of water
and don't embarrass us.
To Julius.
- Julius.
- Thank you.
I got to admit,
I-I love this place.
I love how, despite ourselves,
we're a family.
Lucca Quinn.
I agree.
Lucca has really stepped up
in matrimonial.
She's only
a fourth-year associate.
Yeah, and associates become
partners faster these days,
or they leave.
Yeah.
Well, if we're worried
about associates leaving,
I'm more worried about Rosalyn.
I agree. She's kicking ass
in litigation.
But didn't we promise it
to Lucca?
Yes, we did, we did.
And Lucca has brought in
much more business than Rosalyn.
That's not true.
Look at the billable hours
for the last year.
Rosalyn has Lucca beat.
But only because Lucca had
three months of maternity leave.
Come on, we're not gonna
punish her for that.
Months of maternity leave?
What does that mean?
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Oh, my God,
does everything have to be
an argument, you guys?
Can we just have a cordial
and intelligent discussion?
Okay, this is my argument.
They're both deserving.
Yeah.
But the advantage of Rosalyn
is what she does for
the culture of this firm.
- I don't know what that means.
- I can understand
why you wouldn't.
Are you saying
what I think you're saying?
- Hey, if the shoe fits.
- All right, all right.
What's going on?
We were both threatened.
By who?
A Rachelle Max
from DLE Strategies.
A competitor?
No, someone we worked with.
Do you know why
she threatened you?
It's a long story.
When I asked you to look
into Valerie Peyser,
it's connected to that.
The woman in Rikers?
Right.
Okay. I'll look into it.
And, Jay,
she won't seem dangerous,
but she is.
Oh, sorry, sorry
to keep you waiting.
Uh...
There was a partner meeting upstairs.
Hmm. You remember Mr. Cardwell
from 2016.
We won the settlement
with the Chicago PD.
Yes, police brutality.
Some broken ribs.
How are you, Perry?
Fine. Having a
little trouble.
I thought I'd invest my
settlement money like you said,
but I lost my job
and I've been living on it.
He wants to know
if it's possible
to get any more from the PD.
More money?
Actually, I, uh...
I don't think so, Perry.
We signed a general release
with the city
and the police department
relieving them
of further claims.
Is it possible I could
get some of what you took?
Well, we only took
what we agreed upon, Perry.
Don't forget we worked
on your case for...
three and a half years.
Expenses are expenses.
Between expenses and your
percentage, you come away
with more than I do.
I'm living on the streets.
Look, why don't we do this?
We got some contacts
at local Housing Services.
One second.
Warn building security.
There might be some issue here.
This is crap and you know it!
Uh, Jim.
Calm down...
- Need some help over here.
- This is bullshit!
Why don't you get
one of the white guys
you hired?
Mm-hmm.
Reddick/Boseman sucks!
They was my lawyers
and they made more than me!
Fuck them all!
Perry, how was it?
They were assholes.
Maybe you qualify for
government assistance of some kind.
Section 8 housing,
food stamps...
So what happens now?
And no one has an inside edge.
We make a smart decision
based on culture.
Oh, no.
What? I might have good news.
When have you ever
had good news?
Diane Lockhart...
Liz Reddick...
you've been served.
And you, too.
And can anyone point me
toward Adrian Boseman?
- It's a nuisance suit.
- I agree.
Blum has been disbarred. He
can't even represent himself.
Maybe he hired someone.
But who would work with him?
Well, the problem is: this suit
makes you look like the bad guys.
"You"? So now you're
in the third person?
Thanks, Julius.
This was your suit...
I did nothing wrong.
My position before...
was exactly as it is now.
- It's putting this firm...
- Wait, wait, wait.
Wait. Just wait. Now listen,
we've lost Chumhum.
We lost my dad's name
and now Blum is coming after
the last strength that we have:
our reputation.
We'll no longer be the defender
of the underdog;
we'll be seen
as their exploiter.
So we go in hard
and get this dismissed.
You'll notice I said "we."
There may be one problem
with that.
We're appearing
before Judge Toosi.
Who's that?
He's a-a new judge.
A Trump appointee.
You see,
this is why we need
someone more
culturally appropriate
- as a partner.
- Wait, what?
Why? Lucca was in the
meeting with the plaintiff,
and had it been handled
more sensitively...
Oh, my God, seriously?
Wait, wait, wait, wait.
Yes.
She handled it perfectly well.
Not perfectly well enough,
because we're being sued.
All the commotion
about the salary disparities,
- it never died down.
- Come on.
Making Rosalyn a partner
would address
some of those concerns.
We appreciate
everything you've said...
It wouldn't be a proper Chicago
May without lightning storms,
and as always, the sky was
filled with lightning
but without
accompanying thunder.
That may seem odd...
Marissa, have you seen this
lightning we've been having?
It's kind of creepy.
Yeah, exciting.
Okay, I have to tell you
something that I know.
But I can't tell you
how I know it.
Okay, I can tell you
how I know it,
but you can't tell
anybody how I know it.
You have to say "okay."
Okay.
When you FaceTime
Diane, or anybody,
and they don't pick up, you can
hear them for a few minutes.
What?
Yeah, it's a bug.
I'm sure Apple will fix it soon,
possibly even in
the next few weeks,
before anything legally
problematic happens,
but in the meantime,
I was FaceTiming Diane,
and I heard what was going on
in the meeting upstairs.
Okay.
They were talking about you.
Oh, no. We shouldn't be
talking about this.
Yes, but you should know
about something. No, no.
No, thanks.
Mm-mm.
They're considering you
for partner.
There's an opening
with Julius leaving,
and they're thinking of
making you an equity partner.
Okay, but I mean, we really...
I mean, I shouldn't,
you know, know any of this.
There's only one problem.
But maybe I shouldn't
say anything.
Oh, come on, Marissa.
Some of the
partners think Rosalyn
would be better for
the image of the firm.
What does that mean?
Image of the firm?
I think they think she'd do more
for the Reddick/Boseman brand.
Well, how am I not the brand?
You're not...
black enough.
Are you fucking kidding me?
Look, I didn't say it.
They said it.
Or they implied it.
Wait.
Okay, so what did they say?
Exactly.
All rise.
Good afternoon.
All right, well, not exactly
a large audience today,
but maybe people will find us.
Uh, just so you know,
they misspelled my name
on the old nameplate. Uh, I am
Judge Toosi, not Judge Tootsie,
so don't get any ideas.
That's good to know, Your Honor.
And as you probably know,
I'm a, uh,
I'm a new judge around here,
so don't let the robes fool you.
I do not ask for directions,
but I get us there eventually.
Well, that's
music to my ears, Your Honor.
Roland Blum for the plaintiff...
Your Honor, Mr. Blum has been
disbarred, and cannot... I'm... oh,
I'm sorry, I'm so...
Uh, I hadn't quite finished,
Your Honor.
If I may?
Uh, uh, yeah.
Ladies, we'll get to you.
Uh, men like us, we...
we go with our gut.
My gut tells me
not to get on a flight,
I listen.
The plane goes down,
everyone gets killed,
that's my gut saving my ass.
And what my gut
tells me here is that
the defense is afraid of me.
I've gathered together
a class of eight of their
ex-clients. Eight. These
gentlemen here in the first row.
Now they're suing because
they've had their futures
stolen from them
by that law firm.
Again, Your Honor,
Mr. Blum
is disbarred.
He cannot argue in court.
That's where these
ladies are wrong
because I won't be
arguing in court.
I'll leave that to my associate,
Maia Henson,
who also used to work at
this law firm until she became
disgusted and quit
because of their methods.
Your Honor,
this case is a vendetta
against our firm,
and we ask that
the matter be dismissed.
Not before you conduct
a hearing, Your Honor.
A hearing on what?
We have a tape.
A tape? Uh, like a,
like a tape you'd like to play?
Like, a cassette tape?
All right, do we have
a tape player? Bailiff?
Expenses are expenses.
Between expenses and
your percentage, you come away
with more than I do.
I'm living on the streets.
Look, why don't we do this?
We got some contacts
at local Housing Services.
Reddick/Boseman took 40%
of the award from Chicago PD.
They then added frills on top,
amounting to another
20% of that award.
We contest that.
Yes, and that's why
there needs to be a hearing.
So what is this?
Retribution?
No, it's lawyering.
With Blum? Are you serious?
No one else would
hire me, Diane.
He made me a partner,
and I'm building his law firm
from the ground up.
Then why come after us?
Because you've done wrong.
I mean, look at these cases.
In all eight, you made
more money than your clients.
In all eight, you had
a conflict of interest,
and yet all the while,
you were still
patting yourselves on the back,
thinking you were
fighting the good fight.
And Blum is a friend
of the underprivileged?
No, he's doing this
to destroy you.
I'm doing this to reclaim money
for your ex-clients.
I see you're still using
the portfolio I gave you.
It still serves its purpose.
Aw.
Mm.
Mm.
Kurt!
Oh, sorry.
I-I didn't know you were
coming home early.
Oh, no, don't be embarrassed, Kurt.
It's sweet.
It's just an assignment.
What...
What... No!
On behalf of the entire senior
staff around you, Mr. President,
we thank you for the opportunity
and the blessing that you've
given us to serve your agenda
and the American people.
Oh, my God.
It's just something
I need to do.
I thought this was for me.
It's for Trump?
I'm supposed to introduce him
at the V.A. speech in Wisconsin.
"The last two years
have brought me
a new optimism"?
Where you going?
Downstairs.
There's too much of
a dent in that closet.
I'd like to see if there's
a dollar amount
that would help Perry Cardwell
and provide adequate
compensation
to Maia and yourself.
Well, thanks to your efforts,
I'm no longer permitted
to be compensated for the work I do.
Mm.
There's a way to structure
your end as a consulting fee,
sidesteps the issue
of disbarment entirely.
You know, sometimes
you front the rectitude
of a priest,
other times that of a pimp.
It's whatever works, right?
Now what do you want?
What do I want?
I want
a phalanx of moving men
carrying files out that door.
I want desks and chairs sold off
at a bankruptcy auction.
I want associates and paralegals
and secretaries
sending out their résumés,
while partners sell their condos
because they can't get the stink
of Reddick/Boseman
off themselves.
And how exactly
is trying to destroy
our firm help you?
You took away my livelihood...
my trade.
You made it so I was, uh...
nothing.
If nothing else,
destroying this firm will let me
unclench my teeth
in the middle of the night.
There is no dollar amount
that'd provide
adequate compensation.
I want you gone.
Several sightings of this rare
and potentially dangerous
electrical phenomenon
known as "ball lightning"
were reported in the
Chicago area yesterday.
These balls started fires
in three Chicago area
communities:
Naperville, Wheaton, and also...
Uh, what are you watching?
Lightning balls.
C-Can I talk to you
for a second, Jay?
Uh, lightning what?
Balls.
Balls of lightning.
They're outside of Chicago.
I don't understand.
Is this a-a made-up thing?
No, the severe weather
we've been having.
- Look.
- If you spot a ball of lightning
coming your way, move out
of its path immediately.
Okay, so one more thing
to deal with.
Do you have a minute?
What do people think of me here?
What do they think of you?
I'm up for partner...
Mm.
...but apparently
I may not get it
because they think
I'm not "black enough."
Who's saying that?
The partners.
Have you heard anything?
Not "black enough"
as compared to who?
Rosalyn.
Apparently she's pro-black
in a way that I'm not.
Uh... Huh.
Everyone likes you,
just a lot of the associates
think you never hang out.
So it's high school?
I don't care
about being popular.
Who has time to hang out?
We're lawyers.
I have a ten-month-old baby.
They thought that
before you had a baby.
Okay, so I'm a traitor
to the race
because I don't get drinks
after work?
No, no, you get drinks.
You just get them with Marissa
and Maia... and Colin.
I wouldn't have come
to this firm if I weren't black.
Mm, you're hovering
dangerously close to
"my best friend is black."
Okay.
You can go now.
You asked my opinion.
Yeah, well, you know what,
I shouldn't have
because it doesn't matter.
You know, I do not have
to prove myself to anyone
or perform what they think
black should look like.
This is 2019.
I'm not playing
this stupid fucking game.
Then why did you choose
Reddick/Boseman
to represent you?
They came to see me
after my arrest.
They said they was the best
at taking it to the police.
I really thought they was
gonna look after me.
And what do you think now?
I think they
looked at me
and saw dollar signs.
They charged me for everything.
$27,000 for trial transcripts.
$23,000 for dinners.
A car service for
associates working late.
Seriously?
Is this your signature
right here?
I guess.
And, uh, this amount,
$180,000,
isn't that to cover the cost
of an expert witness?
Objection, Your Honor.
The defense is asking
Mr. Cardwell
a matter covered by
attorney-client privilege.
Are you kidding?
No, I'm not.
Your Honor, this is a catch-22.
They accuse us of overcharging,
but we can't defend ourselves
because the overcharges
are covered by...
Exactly, so pay up.
Okay, wait a minute.
Okay, okay.
Uh, I will hear arguments
on the 22nd catch,
but first... a recess?
Uh, Your Honor,
the defense requests
a sidebar in chambers.
Okay.
In your chamber.
Oh, great.
Yeah.
I wouldn't mind getting out
of this oven.
I'm burning up.
Uh, Your Honor, may I point out
that Mr. Blum should not
even be in here?
Oh, wow.
Look at these.
Oh, it's taking me
back to my childhood.
I loved model trains.
O gauge?
Of course.
Your Honor,
the expense in question is
related to narcotics charges
against Mr. Cardwell
that Reddick/Boseman
managed to have dismissed.
And anything related to those
narcotics charges is protected
by attorney-client privilege.
Isn't she sweet?
First case.
Really?
Your Honor,
the privilege Ms. Rindell refers to
is effectively waived
when Perry sued our firm.
It is not waived.
And if you admit this protected
material, Your Honor,
you'll be putting yourself
in the same position
as Robert Mueller
in terms of overreach.
- Oh, oh, what?
- This has nothing to do with
Robert Mueller...
Are you trying to intimidate the judge?
Absolutely not.
No, I'm just pointing out
the similarity to Mueller,
that's all.
Okay, no to the Mueller thing,
and whatever you want
to bring in, you can't.
So what do we think?
I think the judge is stupid.
And I think we have a more
difficult case to make.
I think that's right.
The woman over there.
The one in the
brown leather coat.
She is
threatening Diane and Liz?
Somehow I don't think I'm
getting the whole story.
What do you want to do?
Wait till her friend leaves,
then talk to her.
Good thing I have my
intimidating jacket on.
So...
we haven't really talked for a while.
Yeah.
Things at work have been
a little weird. Divided.
Yeah, I know.
And part of it is people
aren't willing to mix.
Exactly. I go off with
my friends after work
to get a drink,
and the black associates
go off with their friends.
What if we set out
to solve that?
Have a party? Or crash
each other's gatherings?
Both. Wait.
Hi.
Hi.
We work with Diane Lockhart
and Liz Reddick.
They want us to tell you
to back off.
Back off what?
Threats. He's
the tough one.
I'm just here to
see how it's done.
Well, there must be
some confusion.
I have worked with Liz and
Diane, but that court case
was over a month ago.
And I've never threatened
anyone in my life.
Then we have no need to expose
your financial issues
with your polling firm.
What financial issues?
You overcharged on the
DL Michaels focus group by 30%.
And how do we know that?
My name is Marissa Gold.
You've done polling
for my father.
Okay.
You can tell Liz and Diane
that I received their message.
And that I was willing to let
our little misunderstanding
drop, but they've clearly shown
that they're not willing
to let it drop.
So... tell them
I'll be seeing them.
That didn't go
the way I expected.
There are many
theories for ball lightning.
Many believe that it's a
condensed form of highly excited
atoms. But there are
others who believe
it's an extreme
chemical reaction
to pollutants in the air
being trapped
by greenhouse gases.
So is this related
to climate change?
Well, I've asked questions...
Kurt?
It's the middle of the night.
What are you doing?
There's a fire on the West Side.
From lightning.
Oh, my God.
This is about your speech.
I'm almost done.
No, you're not.
You only have two sentences.
They thought I wasn't
honoring the occasion.
Oh. Meaning they thought
you weren't fawning enough?
I'm fine. Just go back to bed.
Wait. Give me that.
No. You hate him.
Yes, but I love you.
And you don't have
the fawning gene.
Um...
Just, just write this.
Um... "Not since Abraham Lincoln
has our great country
"been blessed by a leader
of such wisdom
and courage." Hmm?
Ah...
Oh, my God.
I'm going to hell.
Uh, "Some say that
President Trump is simple.
"But there is strength in simplicity.
Mm.
"Complexity has only led us to
"joblessness...
and war."
Uh, "When I think of the...
immortal words
of Jesus Christ..."
Too much?
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
"When I think of the immortal
words of Margaret Thatcher..."
Right? We'll find
a quote there.
British, blah, blah, blah.
"I realize how blessed this
country is to find a leader
for this moment in time."
Huh.
What?
I think this just helped me.
With what?
There is strength in simplicity.
Contingency fees are
the cornerstone
of our adversarial
judicial system.
Now-now quite simply,
Professor Harrison,
could you explain
contingency fees to His Honor?
Kahneman and
Tversky's prospect theory
proposes a contrary analysis
to common economic wisdom:
loss aversion...
No. It's wrong.
Excuse me? It is not.
No, that idiot judge
will just stare at him.
There is strength in simplicity.
Jay, I need you.
To do what?
Draw.
This is Judy Giraffe.
Judy defends order
in the forest.
It's Judy's job to look after
Paulie Possum,
after he was attacked
by Benny Bobcat.
But Benny worries
if Judy protects all the animals
in the wild, he won't
be able to have
- his way with them...
- Your Honor,
the plaintiff would like to,
once again, register
its objection
to these cartoons...
So, you're saying that
Benny Bobcat is lying.
Contingency fees are
generally considered equitable
under U.S. law because
of the inflated cost of...
Wait. Wait, this will
never get through
to the judge.
I can't change the facts of my testimony.
We're not asking you
to change the facts,
just...
the delivery.
I did background on the judge.
He has an ASMR fixation.
You're kidding.
What's that?
I need to...
touch this microphone.
What the hell?
It-It's like a brain
orgasm for some people.
It makes them more receptive.
And one of those people
is the judge.
Your Honor...
I have to...
lean into the microphone
to help you understand
about contingencies,
and why Reddick/Boseman
needs to charge
as much as they do.
Do...
- do...
- What the fuck?
Your Honor, can the, uh,
expert witness speak up, please?
Overruled. Sit down.
Please proceed.
Here's the thing
about contingency charges:
they are necessary
for the poorer clients
to achieve justice.
Justice.
They found a way
to get to the judge.
We need to do the same.
Okay, okay. We go back
to the old playbooks.
And what's that?
Bush v. Gore, 2000.
I was 12.
Don't worry.
Let me take care of it.
Trust me, we have never
had a president
who wasn't a sociopath.
Even Obama?
Even him.
The level of
self-centeredness it takes
to think that you and only you
can change the world...
Come on now.
But I think you mean a
narcissist, not a sociopath.
Narcissist, that's better, that's better.
Yes, that's right.
You got it.
Hi. You mind
if I join you?
Sure.
You don't usually come out.
No. But you know, I had to,
uh, escape the 60-page prenup
sitting on my desk.
What were you talking about?
Uh, whether all presidents
are sociopaths or just some.
Obama thought that he deserved
to be president
as a first-term senator.
How is that not narcissism?
It's called being a visionary.
Hello, he was right.
Trump is the
most extreme of the extreme,
but the presidency
requires an individual
who doesn't experience emotion
the way us common folk do. Okay.
Well, maybe Obama does
experience emotion differently,
but you'd have to,
given all the shit he got
while in office.
I mean, I bet he wished for just
one day where he didn't have
to be "the black president."
I don't think I agree with that.
I suppose I don't think
of it that way.
I'm black and I never
want to be anything else.
I mean, the good
outweighs the bad.
Oh, yeah, sure. No.
I mean, I'm not saying
that he would ever
want to... be not black,
just... free from
the pressure... of it.
Maybe.
Sometimes.
Hey, Lucca.
Mind if I join you?
I decided we all
need to mix more.
So what are we talking about?
What's going on?
Revenge of the Empire.
Who's the Empire?
We are.
Listen,
at least you're not in jury duty.
How many of you
are from out of town?
Whoa! What was it,
this or a matinee of Cats?
Calm down, sir.
Calm down.
Okay, so what is this?
The Brooks Brothers riot.
The what?
Oh, my God.
Young people today and your lack
of historical appreciation.
Roger Stone and I set up
the Brooks Brothers riot
in Miami-Dade, back in 2000.
Now, without our boys raising
hell to stop the recount,
this country would've
suffered through Al Gore.
Oh, I can't hear you!
Let me hear that again.
Are you kidding?
Hey. It worked in 2000.
Good. Now, when I want to hear
mumbling, let me hear a little
wallah-wallah-wallah-wallah
wallah-wallah-wallah-wallah
wallah-wallah-wallah-wallah.
Good.
You worked for
Reddick/Boseman, did you not?
I did.
I served as cocounsel on, uh...
a number of matters.
I also spent a considerable
amount of time working
in their offices.
And what was your impression?
Objection. Irrelevant.
Uh...
I'm going to
overrule that objection.
On what grounds?
Uh... I... Because I have ruled.
Look,
I don't like to sit in
judgment, but I feel,
that as lawyers, you know,
we have a responsibility
to leave this world
just a little bit better.
My grandfather
came here from Belarus.
Couldn't read or write.
You know the song he
used to sing to me?
♪ The dream is still alive ♪
♪ Some day it will come true ♪
♪ And this country,
it belongs to folks like ♪
♪ Me and you. ♪
LIZ: Your Honor,
that is a car commercial.
That's okay, that's okay.
Some people
will never understand.
♪ So let the voice of freedom ♪
♪ Sing out through this land ♪
♪ This is ♪
♪ This is our country. ♪
Okay, let's stop with the
stunts, and win on the merits.
Just one more thing.
What?
I can always sense
when you need a favor.
Well, this is an easy one.
You know this new judge,
uh, Dash Toosi?
Well, I have
a matter before him.
He's no doubt heard
only the worst about me.
It'd be great if I could, uh,
get him to just rule
on the merits.
The merits?
Well, the positive merits,
not the negative ones.
You know, if you could
talk to him, oh,
that'd be great.
How's your husband doing?
Well, I mean,
your ex-husband.
Fine.
Good.
Oh,
and if you could
sit behind us in court,
that'd be great, too.
We need a,
a Pentangeli moment.
Uh, four, please.
Hello. I'm Judge Hazlewood.
Charlotte Hazlewood.
Oh, nice to meet you.
Judge Dash Toosi.
It's surprising how many lady
judges there are around here.
Mm-hmm.
So...
Constance Green's son died
while being transported
in a private prison van.
She came to you, you
didn't take her case. Why?
Objection. Irrelevant.
Your Honor,
we were treated
to a distinguished
law professor
lecturing us on how
contingency fees were essential.
Judy Giraffe?
Yes.
I believe I'm entitled
to challenge that claim.
Yep.
What was the question?
Why didn't you
accept the case
of Constance Green's son?
We thought the case was weak.
Why?
Her son resisted arrest.
If I may, isn't it a fact
you advised Ms. Green to
accept the State of Illinois's
initial offer, didn't you?
We may well have.
You also have a relationship
with a litigation investment
fund, do you not?
We do.
Or at least, we did.
Now, they evaluate
each potential case
and they decide
whether it's likely
to be profitable?
They provide us
capital so we can function.
Cases can go on for years,
Your Honor.
You lured Perry by
pretending to be committed
to justice, when in actual fact,
the only thing you valued
- was making money.
- Objection.
Uh, I, uh...
...uh, sustained.
Okay.
- I'll move on.
- Uh, may I say one thing?
I've had offices in storefronts
and in the back row
of bond court.
I've met with clients
seven nights a week
in housing projects
that you wouldn't walk into
without a police escort
and a camera crew.
I won't be held to account
because the firm that I helped
to build doesn't conform
to your idea of a
black law firm.
I'm a black man, Reddick,
Boseman & Lockhart is my firm
and I apologize for nothing.
Now I know why you
came for drinks last night.
Why?
Because we're up
for the same partnership.
Who told you?
One of the partners.
They're trying to pit us
against each other.
Why?
Because that's what people do
to the black girls.
So what do we do?
Well, first of all, it just
doesn't make sense that we would
even... What was that?
I don't know.
I have never seen
anything like that.
Me, neither.
It... no, maybe it's a,
uh, power plant fire?
Do you believe in revelation?
The Bible? No.
Well, I think
we're in the end times.
You think this is the end times?
I think it's the beginning
of the end times.
Why?
Because of that?
No, everything.
The signs, symbols.
People acting like animals.
The lying, the stealing,
the killing.
We're being judged.
It's creepy, isn't it?
Yeah.
They say it's a power plant
hit by a lightning ball.
No, I think it's a conspiracy.
The government is
trying a new weapon,
and that's what the lightning
balls are all about.
You said someone was out there?
Yes.
Someone without an appointment.
Who?
Diane Lockhart.
You want me to send her away?
What? Uh... no. No.
Send her in, please.
Would you like some water?
No, no, I'm fine.
Thank you.
Oh, I like what you're, uh,
- what you're wearing.
- Oh, thank you.
Diane.
Maia.
Please.
So you, you got what you wanted.
A corner office.
You make it sound shameful.
No.
Though my guess is you wouldn't
want it to happen with Blum.
Oh, he's not bad.
I know what I'm getting with him.
Sometimes that's better.
Maia,
I have the rare opportunity
to put things right.
We want you to come back.
F...
No.
As a partner.
I don't know what
your profit participation
is here, but I know it can't
match what we're offering.
Julius is leaving
to become a judge, and that
means there's an opening
for an equity partner.
We want you
to fill that position.
For six months, then you'll force me out.
No.
We would agree
to a five-year contract.
In lawyer years,
that's basically an eternity.
You're trying
to buy me out of my case.
Yes. But this isn't charity.
This is because
you impressed Boseman.
This is for the best reason.
I have to think about it.
Mm-hmm.
Is this weird,
that, uh...
...that we've ended up here?
Yes.
So you're trying to buy her off?
Yes.
She won't go with you.
She will if she knows
the smart move.
Hey.
Want to come on in?
Why?
♪ Fast cars, fine ass ♪
♪ These things ♪
♪ Will pass ♪
♪ And it won't ♪
♪ Get more profound ♪
♪ Ch-ch-ch, ooh, ch-ch-ch ♪
♪ Time is a game ♪
♪ Only children play well ♪
♪ How can I love you ♪
♪ If you won't lie down? ♪
You really are a piece of work.
I never heard of lightning balls
till yesterday.
Now they're gonna
burn down Chicago.
There is a woman
out there that wants to see you.
She happens to be the judge
for my divorce trial.
I didn't start seeing her
until after your trial, Liz.
How nice of you.
Liz, seriously...
I hope it's okay that I drop by.
Yeah. Please, have a seat.
I was impressed
by what you said in court.
I was moved.
That's the easy part
of battling with Blum,
you always feel like you're on
the right side, no matter what.
What?
Roland asked me
to approach Judge Toosi,
on his behalf.
And I did.
I didn't know the case.
I didn't know it involved you.
I'm sorry.
You bribed my judge?
And you're not willing
to say yes
because you think
I'm recording you?
I'm not afraid
you're recording me.
Then say you bribed Judge Toosi.
I bribed Judge Toosi.
What else do you need?
Nothing.
You want to grab dinner later?
Ha!
No.
It's love for
every American child
who deserves a chance to have
all of their dreams come true.
And I'm here tonight
to send a message:
we are fully and totally
committed to fighting
for our agenda,
and we will not stop Oh...
Kurt.
Until the job is done.
We love our country.
We celebrate our troops.
- We embrace our freedom.
- USA! USA!
We respect our flag.
We are proud of our history.
We cherish our Constitution,
including, by the way,
Kurt, my God, I love you.
The Second Amendment.
We fully protect
religious liberty.
We believe in law...
♪ Now is the time to reflect
and say "What did we learn?" ♪
♪ Well, what do you learn
when your house catches fire? ♪
♪ That things burn ♪
♪ That some things don't have
a replacement ♪
♪ Some things can be bought
for a price ♪
♪ That it's good to be rich ♪
♪ But it's hard to be nice ♪
♪ There is no Superman ♪
♪ Sometimes
there's no second chance ♪
♪ We're all flying blind
with no hands ♪
♪ By the seat of our pants ♪
♪ It feels like the rules
are in freefall ♪
♪ Who knew that the bar
was so low? ♪
♪ And maybe we're sinking,
but we're not letting go ♪
♪ Everything's everywhere ♪
♪ It's way too much
and it's all the time ♪
♪ It fills up the smoky air ♪
♪ And covers up
the perfect crime ♪
♪ It smolders and smokes ♪
♪ Till the edges
are blackened and curled ♪
♪ So come and sit here
next to me ♪
♪ At the end of the world ♪
♪ 'Cause we're the ones
coming to save us ♪
♪ We're flawed,
but we're all that we've got ♪
♪ The season is over ♪
♪ But the story is not. ♪
You heard?
What?
They offered
the partnership to Maia?
Yeah. That makes sense.
Two black girls
were up for a job
and they give it
to the white girl.
You're not angry?
No. Maia won't take it.
What do you mean? Yes, she will.
No.
She's moved on.
Then maybe
they'll offer it to you.
Maybe.
I don't care anymore.
You know, this whole year,
I realized,
the best thing is to not care.
Weird times.
Yep.
I have some acid.
Do you want to drop it?
Sure.
The end times are beautiful.
"Some say the world will end
in fire, some say in ice."
Any word from Maia?
No.
We got a fucking idiot
for a judge, Diane...
Oh, God.
...who might just
have been bribed.
Really?
Really.
The guardrails are gone, Diane.
And I can't see the road.
And I used to think that
something would save us.
The law,
personal conscience.
But now?
I don't see anything.
Love.
No, I'm not joking.
I was just...
...watching my husband Kurt
on TV,
and I realized I felt something
I haven't felt in
a very long time.
Hope.
When everything slips away,
there is that.
Love, huh?
Mm-hmm. Love.
We can't give up on that.
...the destruction
of five power plants
in the greater Chicagoland area.
With firefighters
working around the clock
since yesterday, the fires
are 80% contained.
There is still some debate
about how such
an extreme weather condition
got out of hand.
Firsthand accounts suggest that
several ball lightning strikes
resulted in a mile-long
path of destruction...
All rise.
Well, it looks like
we're all still alive.
And I'm ready to make a call.
A ruling.
Ready to rule, in fact,
because I...
am a judge.
I've been thinking a lot
about Mr. Perry over here,
what he's gone through.
It's a tough situation, man.
Tough.
I get how disappointed
he is in his lawyers,
how hard it is to watch them
sitting over there
in their fancy suits while
he's got nothing.
But then I got to admit...
...I've been thinking a lot
about Judy Giraffe.
Seems to me that
this case isn't just
about Mr. Cardwell,
it's about...
...bigger stuff.
Serious stuff.
A whole jungle.
And if I decide for Mr. Perry,
then this, this whole...
Ecosystem?
Good. Yes, this whole ecosystem
just kind of falls apart.
And I don't think
we can have that.
So...
...I'm gonna give it to Judy.
I mean, the law firm.
Okay? Yeah.
Great.
Good.
Congratulations.
You, uh, you haven't
responded to our offer.
You won.
You don't need to buy me off.
We weren't buying you off, Maia.
We want you back.
We want you home.
Maia,
there is no future with Blum.
He's disbarred.
In Illinois.
Not in D.C.
Goodbye.
♪ Fast cars, fine ass ♪
♪ These things will pass ♪
♪ And it won't get
more profound... ♪
Hit it, Fernando.
♪ Time is a game ♪
♪ Only children play well ♪
♪ How can I love you ♪
♪ If you won't lie down? ♪
♪ Lie down. ♪
You are my hero.
If they fired me, I'd be a hero.
Hmm.
I'm happy.
What... Am I ridiculous?
You...
You like narrating your life.
You know, there are
psychological studies that say,
when people are happy,
they look desperately for things
to make them unhappy.
But that won't happen to us,
will it?
No, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no. Kurt.
Tell me everything's
gonna be all right.
Everything's gonna be all right.
No, tell...
But mean it.
Everything's gonna be all right.
What could go wrong?