The Good Fight (2017–…): Season 4, Episode 3 - The Gang Gets a Call from HR - full transcript

Diane starts investigating memo 618. The DNC hires the firm to consult on attracting African-American voters.

It's gone.

Martha? What's gone?

They tore it down. It's gone.

Everything is gone.

- Your restaurant?
- Yes.

They can't do that... the judge
enjoined the demolition.

Well, someone did it,
because it's not here.

You screwed up, Mr. Canning.

Mrs. Lockhart. Hello.

- How did I screw up?
- You thought you were going up

against some small
pro Bono defendant,



but I've been bankrolled
by STR Laurie

to go after cases
that interest me,

and this one
really interests me.

You seem angry, Diane.

See you in court.

Jay,

I need photos of the site

and interviews
with the construction foreman.

We need to nail down who gave the
go-ahead to the bulldozers.

They'll probably argue that
it was all a miscommunication

between new Orchard corporate
and the, uh, contractors.

So we need to get it on record.

You'll probably have
the same problem

with the Rare Orchard CEO.



They just made that easier.

It's no longer
about eminent domain,

it's about unlawful seizure.

So we don't have to depose
him.-I'll pull the injunction order.

Thanks, Jay.

What the fuck?

Tell Dad if he wants
to come berate me,

do it himself, don't send his
Democratic Committee lapdog.

- Democratic Committee...
- Every time

I even talk to a Republican,
Dad is crawling up my ass.

- What Republican...
- I am not a Republican,

and I'm not
gonna vote Republican,

but I might fall in love
with a Republican

and have
little Republican children.

- What Republican are you...
- No, no, no, no.

You just tell Dad
to fuck off, okay?

- And you fuck off, too.
- Frank.

- We're ready for you.
- Good.

So nice seeing you, Marissa.

I thought you said Frank
Landau was here for me.

No. I said Frank Landau is here.

Fuck. I know you've
heard it before...

This is the most important
election of our lifetime...

But... this is
the most important election

of our lifetime.-Should
we get Diane in on this?

- No, I'd rather keep it just us for a minute.
- Why?

DNC is looking to reengage the
African American community.

- Really?
- The presidential election

comes down to Florida,
Michigan, North Carolina,

Pennsylvania, Wisconsin,

all of which have huge
African American electorate.

We don't capitalize on that,

we don't take back
the White House.

- Those are the facts.
- What do you need from us?

A strategy for reengagement.

We want hearts, not just votes.

An exclamation mark agenda that
gets black voters energized

and turning out
at '08 levels or better.

No, this is a campaign issue.

You need PR people.

Why-why come to us?

One, you're
an African American firm.

Two, we've worked with you
before on impeachment.

You fired us before
on impeachment.

No, we fired you.

Yes. Now I remember.

No hard feelings.

And three, we need
attorney-client privilege.

The risk of a leak at a
PR firm is just too high.

So, what do you say?

- Damn it!
- I just told our top client to fuck off.

Whatever you're dealing with
can't be worse.

- I can't find an injunction order.
- On what case?

Tecades v. Rare Orchard.

- When was it?
- Three days ago.

Maybe it wasn't entered
into our system yet.

I checked
the courthouse system, too.

You probably just...

It's not there.

- Thanks.
- Maybe it's under a different name.

Did you try the docket number?

Whoa.

- What?
- It says there's no case.

No Tecades v. Rare Orchard.

How is that possible?

- I don't think it is.
- Jay.

I need you
in the conference room.

- Why? What's wrong?
- Nah, nothing's wrong.

We just need you in the conference room.
All right?

Please don't tell me that.

Lucca. I need you upstairs
in the conference room.

Oh, uh, what's wrong?

Nothing's wrong.

Why does everybody think
something's wrong?

Just... just...

Uh, Bianca, I have to go.

No, it's just work.

Because I work.

Because I'm not independently
wealthy like you.

I don't always say that.

Okay. Okay, I'm hanging up now.

Because I am.

Because my boss needs me.

Okay, I'm going now.
Seriously.

No. Bye.

Goodbye. Bye.

Did you check
the courthouse system?

Theirs and ours. No case.

No injunction.
No docket number.

Well, there was
an injunction, right?

- Yes. Three days ago. It was in our system.
- You saw it?

- Yes.
- Did you print it out?

No. But we never do.

- It's in the system.
- Okay,

check to see if anyone
printed out a hard copy.

Maybe there's some...
compulsive Luddite around here.

I'll go to the courthouse.

- Why?
- Julius.

I mean, he gave the order.

Right.

Want me to go?

Uh, no.
I know who has a way with him.

And that leaves us

with one
very important question.

What's the biggest issue

facing the African American
community today?

Let it all hang out.
Let's hear it.

Lack of voting rights.

Okay.

Anybody else?

- Racism.
- Police brutality.

Institutional racism.

Good, good, good.

All right, follow-up question.

What is the Democratic Party
currently doing

to combat racism?

The Democratic Party's doing

- jack-shit to combat racism.
- Jay, Jay, come on.

And the Republicans are doing

- so much better?
- The Democrats care more

about civil rights, but...
where's the policy?

Laws don't get passed
in a vacuum.

Yeah, but they're trying,
at least.

- How about the Green New Deal?
- But that's not

just for black people.

I mean...

black people will benefit, yeah.

But you want me to get
excited, line up to vote,

maybe even miss work?

Then I want to feel like the
Dems are talking right to me

about me. What
gets us that feeling?

Excuse me. I need to take this.

It's really interesting stuff
so far.

Hey, hey, hey.

Uh... maybe
we take it down a notch

on the DNC bashing.

Look at you.

Marissa!

Oh, my gosh!

Well, I owe
a lot of this to you.

No, no, no.

Okay, some of it.

How are things at,
uh, Reddick/Boseman?

Or is it, uh...

STR Laurie...

- Reddick...
- Weird.

We call it STD Laurie
these days.

STD?

Oh! Ha-ha-ha-ha...

That was a false laugh,
Your Honor.

So, do you have a minute?

Mm, court in five minutes,

but, uh...

let's keep 'em waiting.

- I have the power now.
- That's what I like to hear.

- What's up?
- There was an injunction on a case a few days ago...

An injunction
against a demolition...

And we can't find it
in our system.

We can't find the case, either.

It's something you signed.

Hmm. What case?

Tecades v. Rare Orchard.

"Rare... Orchard."

It's not in the system.

Yeah, but it's something
you ruled on.

Are you sure?

- If it's not in the system...
- We're pretty sure.

Diane...

- this is old news.
- No, it's not.

We're bringing suit
against Rare Orchard

for ignoring
a judge's injunction,

but we can't do that if we
can't locate the injunction.

- I'm no longer on the case.
- But you ruled on it.

- And you know that you ruled.
- I've had

two dozen rulings since then...
I can't tell you

- every single...
- Julius,

- are you fucking serious?
- Don't swear

- in my chambers!
- You know what? I never used to swear, ever,

but now I find it useful.

People look at me and think
I would never swear,

so when I say
this is fucking nuts,

it has added meaning,
and this is motherfucking nuts.

I think we're done here.-Why
are you doing this, Julius?

- Doing what?
- Pretending you didn't rule

on something you did rule on.
What's going on?

Who's gotten to you?

Talk to Adrian's girlfriend.

Who's Adrian's girlfriend?

I'm needed in court.

Maternal mortality
is too gendered an issue.

And black women aren't the
ones we need to mobilize.

Wait, wait. Wait, wait, wait.
Can-can I say something?

- Yeah.
- There's one issue

that is splashy,
covers the economy

and addresses
black folks directly.

Reparations.

I'm pretty certain
that reparations

is at the top of the...
"never gonna happen" list.

- But what if it weren't?
- But...

it is. The party is moving
further and further left

every day.

There are a lot of ideas
that were once inconceivable

that are now... ordinary.

But this is really far left.

There are a lot
of black conservatives...

Maybe not Republican
conservative,

but definitely not
AOC progressive...

And we don't want
to alienate them.

And how exactly
do we make reparations happen,

practically? Just
'cause it's complicated

doesn't mean
we throw up our hands

- and say we can't do it.
- But we should...

- Do you have a minute?
- For?

Mr. Firth.

Sure. Sure.

Ms. Lockhart,
do you mind joining us?

Uh, sure.

Let's go.

He'll be right with you.

Thank you.

You know, whenever I see offices

like this, I always think that we're
all gonna be dead someday.

My God!

What's funny?

No, nothing.
Uh, Liz has a...

dark sense of humor.

I have a dark sense of humor.
Tell me.

I was just joking

that we're all
gonna be dead someday.

Uh, you had to be there.

No, I'm right with you. Hmm.

Anyway, please, come sit.

Uh, you wanted to see us?

Yes.

A young man...

begged a Zen master

to teach him the way of truth.

So the master took
the young man by the neck,

dragged him to a stream,
stuck his head underwater.

The young man gasped and fought,

but the master held him
underwater for a full minute.

And then,
just at the brink of death,

he pulled him up
out of the water and asked,

"What did you want most of all
when you were underwater?"

"Air," the young man said.

- Hmm?
- Yeah.

"Well, good,"
the master responded.

"Come back when you want truth
as much as air."

You-you want us to want truth?

That is one way to look at it.

You have the Democratic
Committee as a client?

- We do.
- You're working with them now?

Yes.

And you listed this
as a continuation

of an old case?

Is that a problem?

Only if, in fact,
it's a new case.

I think I'm missing something.
Why does that matter?

Cases prior to the merger are
split 60/40 in favor of RBL.

New business is split 40/60
in favor of STR Laurie.

First of all, how do you know

what we're billing the DNC?

- It's irrelevant.
- No.

No, it's not.
We-we have a two-year

grace period
where we do not look

at each other's books...
to encourage trust.

So how did you get access
to our books?

Trust is why I wanted
to speak with you first.

Is the Democratic Committee
new business or old business?

Old business.

Good.

That is all I needed to know.

Eh? Trust.

So... is it new business?

I could argue it both ways.

And we argued it in our favor.

That is perfectly reasonable,
but the bigger worry

is, how did he know?

He's got a spy.

A spy looking at our books?

That's my guess.

- Who?
- I don't know.

Let's put Marissa on this.

Okay, I'll talk to her.

Um, Adrian,
do you have a minute for a question?

Sure, but it's... old business.

Oh, no, no.

I went to Julius about the
missing Tecades injunction,

and he told me if I wanted
to know where it went,

to ask Adrian's girlfriend.

What?

He said, ask your girlfriend,
so let me ask.

Who is your girlfriend,

and why does she know
about my disappearing case?

Julius.

He's probably saying something
to pass the buck.

What buck? What is going on?

Why do I feel like

I'm hearing passwords
in a secret society?

There's no secret society,
Diane.

I'm in a relationship
with a judge.

Now, it is not improper,

and there are certainly
no ex parte conversations.

I just don't like my private
life being made public.

Now you know
that information is power.

And you lose information
to other people,

then you give them
all the power over you.

All right, so without
telling me the judge's name,

can you tell me what he meant by
"Ask her about the injunction"?

All I can tell you
is what I heard.

Which was?

Memo 618.

What is that?

I don't know.

I just know that Julius was
really intimidated

by something given
to him called "Memo 618."

That's it. That's all.

But you don't know what it is?-No.

But if you want to know
what happened to your case,

I'd find out what Memo 618 is.

Since the merger,

there have been 18 associates
from STD Laurie...

W-Wait.

STD?

I'm... so sorry.

Um, it's a mailroom joke.

Okay.

18 of their associates
have been on our cases,

but only one has had access
to our financials.

- Who?
- Caleb Garlin.

- Who is that?
- Second-year associate,

graduate of
the University of Virginia,

retired Army sergeant.

Retired? What is he, 50?

No. 39.

He primarily works
in litigation,

but he had access to our financials
on the Brinkman suit.

Okay. Can you find out
more about him?

Marissa, stick with him.

I don't want him sending
any more gossip upstairs.

All rise.

The Honorable
Charlotte Hazlewood presiding.

- Good day.
- Please be seated.

The Honorable Dalton Bradley
has requested

that I take his place
for this hearing. It is...?

Tecades v. Rare Orchard,
Your Honor.

Unlawful seizure.-Your
Honor, if I may interject,

I'm not sure what Ms. Lockhart
is appealing here.

There was no injunction
granted, and my crew commenced

- demolition.
- Counselor, I must agree.

What are your grounds
for an appeal?

We're not appealing, Your Honor.
The case was never tried.

This is our first time here.

Counselor... anything?

Your Honor, this case
has already been adjudicated.

Really?

Show us the docket number.

Counselor,
let me be the judge, please.

- Apologies.
- Mr. Canning, do you

- have a docket number?
- Uh...

Uh, no, I don't.

Okay, then
let's hear some testimony.

Are you ready, Counselor?

I am, Your Honor.

Guys, you're going
to lose the white vote.

Okay, let's talk
about this practically.

Who gets reparations?
What form do they take?

What's the price tag?

Well, the last one is easy...
40 acres and a mule.

Wait. Wait.

Wait. Just wait a second.

You all serious about this?

Because there is a model
for reparations

right here in Chicago.

- Jon Burge.
- Right.

- Who?
- Jon Burge.

He was an old
Chicago Police commander.

Tortured over 100 black men,

so the city of Chicago
passed an ordinance

condemning the torture,
giving monetary damages

to the survivors' families,

and then,
they made a history curriculum

about Burge mandatory

to middle
and high school students.

There's your model right there.

And the white vote is gonna say,

"None of us were alive
when slavery happened."

Which is why we focus
on the victims of Jim Crow.

There are plenty of
survivors.-That defeats the purpose.

Slavery is the original sin,
the stain on America's soul.

- Reparations is penance.
- You mean absolution.

As soon as that check clears,

white America washes
their hands,

and I'm telling you,
the line will be,

"Don't you fuckers ever
complain about racism again."

Well, people who feel like

reparations equals hush money
were always gonna feel that.

But I think
you're underestimating

- the power of white...
- No. No, I'm not.

- May I have a word?
- No, I'm not. Listen...

What do you think about where
the conversation's going?

I think...

our people are passionate
and engaged,

and we can translate
that energy into voters.

I know it's a conversation
that needs to be had.

I just wonder if we need more...
diversity in the room.

Diversity?

Just to gauge
how the ideas are landing.

Hard at work?

Uh, this may look easy,
but it's not.

- You try peeling a rutabaga.
- That's the game?

You just peel a rutabaga?

Just? Seriously?
I feel judged.

I didn't mean to disparage
your vegetable-peeling skills.

I'm sure they'll come in handy
at many law firms.

Also, it's fruit,
and it's kind of soothing.

Do you need to be soothed?

That's...

that's a very personal question. Aah!

Damn.

Sorry.

So are you Caleb?

- I am. Who are you?
- Marissa.

Are you from upstairs?

I am.

Then why are you working here?

They asked me to.

Why did they ask you to?

Um, I think...

to spy on you.

That's not a great way to
spy... to say you're spying.

I know. I'm not very good at it.

You are... very different
from what I expected.

You want to play the next round?

You'll have to teach me.

Yeah, okay.
Uh, this is a keyboard.

They need you two upstairs
in the conference room.

- Us? Why?
- Diversity.

Are we starting?
I have a couple of questions.

- David Lee.
- Exactly how much

is 40 acres and a mule
in 2020 dollars?

However much it is,
it's still not enough. Go back

far enough, and everyone comes from a tribe

that was taken over
by another tribe.

That's the history of the world.
So do we all

- deserve reparations?
- We got

reparations from Nazi
Germany.-DAVID: You maybe did.

- I didn't.
- Our relatives did.

- Oh.
- Listen, this idea of needing reparations

is just perpetuating
stereotypes.

Black folks don't need handouts.

What is he talking about?

- You are missing the point.
- Jimmy,

reparations aren't a handout.

They're payment owed
for services rendered.

Did you do that work?

If my ancestors picked cotton
for 50 years,

then they deserve that money,
not me.

Hear! Hear! Oh,
my God. You got David Lee

agreeing with you. Be proud.

Look, if your ancestors
were paid

for that work and they
passed that money down,

you would see it as family
wealth, wouldn't you?

Exactly.

Um, just wait one second.

Vernon Jordan told me a story
about growing up in Georgia.

When he was a boy,
the governor came on the radio

and said,
"I'm running for reelection,

"and I have two planks
in my platform.

"Niggers. Roads.

I'm against the first,
and I am for the second."

Now, this was the governor,

for Christ's sake.

Now, do we think
he wasn't writing that vitriol

into his official policy?

Well, I say keep
the reparations.

I'd rather have white guilt.

That I can leverage.

Marta, did you have any
warning about this demolition?

No. They just did it.

And, so,
what are you going to do?

I have no idea.

That restaurant was my life,
my world.

I'm not exaggerating.

It was the only income
that I had.

My family. I...

We don't know what...-Should I
continue, Your Honor?

Just one second.

You may continue, Counselor.

Counselor.

Uh, yes.

Um, Marta, you had some,

uh, negative reviews
in the last few months.

Yes. And you recently
discovered who wrote

- those reviews?
- Objection, Your Honor.

- Relevance.
- Sustained.

We're merely trying to
establish relevance, Your Honor.

No need. I've already ruled.

Well, how can you determine

the relevance of this evidence?

I don't...-Counselor,
you need to move on.

Um, have you found that, uh,

Rare Orchard was attempting
to sabotage you

by publishing negative
reviews?-CHARLOTTE: Counselor.

No. I have already ruled.

Do you have any other
questions, or are you done?

- I just have one more question, Your Honor.
- Does it have

anything to do
with these negative reviews?

No.

Good.

You may proceed.

What is Memo 618?

Objection, Your Honor.

Counselor, you are done.

Why? I'm just asking
what Memo 618 is.

- That's all.
- It is not relevant to this case.

The last time a judge was faced

with Memo 618,
my case disappeared.

And I see you were just handed

a document
with "Memo 618" on it,

and that's why it is relevant.

Counselor, you are in contempt.

Why? If Memo 618 means nothing,

why should I be held
in contempt?

Court is adjourned.

- Until when?
- Until I fucking decide.

Lucca Quinn?

Do you mind
accompanying me upstairs?

Why?

It's been requested.

Hello, Lucca. I'm Edie Ham.

This is Cleo and Paula.

Hi.

Have I done something wrong?

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

No, I know human resources
has a scary reputation,

but we're just plain folk
just like you.

Good to hear. So, uh, why...

- A small thing, maybe.
- There's been a complaint

about a senior attorney
at your firm.

But first,
I need you to not share

what we're about to discuss
with the attorney in question, okay?

Lucca?

I understand what you're asking.

Which attorney
are we discussing?

Adrian Boseman.

Well,
he's my immediate superior,

so I can't promise you anything.

It's up to you whether you-you
want to share with me or not.

Apparently,
Mr. Boseman used the N-word.

- Oh, you're kidding.
- No.

And we don't find it
at all comical.

We're hoping you can shed
some light on what happened

and if Mr. Boseman
has used the N-word

in your presence
on prior occasions.

What?

What's wrong?

I need to talk to you, Liz.

Okay. About?

I was asked not to
discuss this with Adrian.

Asked by who?

Unfortunately,
I was asked not to say.

But I can tell Liz.

You were asked by whom?

Human resources.

They asked me if Mr. Boseman
had used the N-word.

- Jesus Christ.
- When did he use

- the N-word?
- I was quoting Vernon Jordan.

Apparently, STR Laurie has

a zero tolerance policy
on inappropriate language.

This is bullshit.

Who told them?

They didn't say.

You know who was there
in the room?

Who?

Caleb.

- I don't think it's him.
- Why not?

Isn't he feeding info upstairs?

I don't know.

It just doesn't seem like him.
He's sort of honest.

- In what way, honest?
- When I asked him why

he was working on our floor,
he said he was spying on us.

- I'm sorry, what?
- He was joking.

If he was actually spying on
us, he wouldn't say

- he was spying on us.
- Well, maybe that's

exactly what he would say.

It's a bluff.

You like him?

Yeah, I guess so.

Okay. Well,
there's a way we can find out

if he's feeding information
upstairs.

Just tell him that we're
thinking of taking on the DNC

as a pro Bono client
in order to...

to keep money from STR Laurie.

- How do I do that?
- Marissa,

you sometimes blurt things out.

So just blurt it out.

Maybe it was a bug on your...

There. That's the same.

Then maybe it's the website.
What'd you do next?

I typed, "What is Memo 618?"

What's going on?

I don't know.

Seems like targeted malware.

I'll look into it.

Thank you. But be careful.

- What do you mean?
- I don't know.

Something's going on.

I'll be careful.

You still rutabaga-ing?

No. Working.

- How about you?
- Always working.

You sound different.
What's wrong?

Nothing. I'm just...

Upstairs has asked me
to look into something.

Oh. Upstairs?

Not your upstairs. My upstairs.

What is it?

I've been told
not to tell anyone.

Don't you want to know?

Hmm? No. No.

You were told not to tell,
don't tell.

But maybe I want to tell you.

Why?

You're right.
I'll just tell you.

You do whatever you want
with it.

We charged the DNC
as a pro Bono client

in order to keep the money
from STR Laurie.

Do you want me to tell upstairs?

No.

I want you to do what you want.

Okay.

Then I will.

How many times did you hear
the N-word used?

I think he said it once.

And were you offended
when you heard the word?

No. I think he was just
quoting someone else.

What about the rest of the room?

Do you think
any of the other associates

- were offended?
- There's always someone

who's gonna be offended,
but being offended

doesn't mean you have to run
to human resources.

It shouldn't feel like going
to HR is crossing enemy lines.

- We're all on the same side here.
- But only HR disciplines.

Because people need to feel
safe in their working environment

and know that
there will be consequences

- for poor behavior.
- Mm.

And a black person using
the N-word is poor behavior?

We're investigating the context.

Well, I fall on the "no snitching"
end of the spectrum.

And I realize
that can be dangerous.

The last thing we want here
is a culture of silence.

What did you think
of the incident?

I didn't think of it
as an incident.

What did you think of it as?

I didn't think of it
as anything.

You report directly
to Adrian Boseman, right?

I report to a lot of people.

I just wanted to clarify
that there is no risk

of anything you say
getting back to him.

Had you ever heard Adrian
Boseman use the N-word before?

It's possible.
I'm not keeping count.

And what was the content

of the story
Mr. Boseman told you?

You can summarize.

I don't think I can summarize,

actually.

It's the only thing
that did offend me,

so I remember it pretty clearly.

The governor of Georgia
actually said on the radio,

"I have two planks
in my platform.

"Niggers and roads.

"I'm against the first

and for the second."

Hey. What's up?

I, uh, found out something
you can use.

Something I can use?
I don't understand.

You think I spied
on you guys, right?

- No. I...
- Marissa, listen.

Frank Landau is buddy-buddy
with Gavin upstairs.

He's the one who told Gavin
it's a new case.

I didn't need to know that.

Yeah, but now you do.

Hello.

Mr. Jordan.

How are you?

Is that right?

So, you dragged Vernon Jordan
into this?

Adrian,
you'll have to start again.

- What are you talking about?
- HR called Vernon Jordan.

Investigating me
for the capital crime

of using the N-word.

Well, unfortunately,
I can't stand in the way

of an HR investigation.

Oh, this is
a bullshit investigation.

It's not a bullshit
investigation.

It is our standard
to thoroughly explore

any legitimate
employee complaint.

This is not legitimate!

Now, I understand,
you need to cover your ass.

But you and I both know
this is far from legitimate.

Well, what I know is that
you're aware of the rules.

You didn't sign your contract
that long ago.

STR Laurie and all its divisions

has a zero tolerance policy

for offensive language
and harassment at work.

Harassment.
Wow, wow, it's-it's...

it's growing now, huh?

I got into this
with human resources,

and they think that
the best course of action now

is for everyone
at Reddick/Boseman

to take a class on sensitivity

in the workplace.

And we'd prefer if you
didn't use that word again

at the office.

You would prefer?

Adrian, considering the
charged nature of that word,

it would be best.

You don't dictate

which words I get to use...

or when.

What if I quit?

Okay.

Call the movers...

and rent an office.

Maybe take out an ad.

Don't be so sure
I won't walk, Liz.

I have done it before.

I'm the one who walked.

Only because...

I made it impossible
for you to stay.

Only because I pushed you to it.

Oh, God, just take the class.

Just do what they want
and move forward.

I mean,
you know what the game is.

You know how to play it.

Or don't play it.

This is exhausting.

Just... fuck the class.
Do what you want.

- Hmm.
- What are they gonna do?

Are they really gonna fire
their most senior black male employee

because he used the N-word
in a quote?

Yeah, it sounds
even more ridiculous

when I say it out loud.

And-and don't forget
about that photo.

What photo?

Couple of years ago,
they took that class picture

of their 40 new hires,
and someone online posted

that there wasn't
a single black face in it.

And then they photoshopped in
three black faces.

They really did that.

They bought us
to put us in their pictures.

Oh, makes me feel warm all over.

Well, the good news is
that they need us.

Not-not just the floor.

They need us.

So do what you want.

'Cause they ain't gonna fire us.

Hmm.

- Excuse me.
- Yeah. Jay.

Okay.

I think we should put it
on the table.

- Put what on the table?
- It's uncomfortable

to pretend that someone
didn't violate the space,

so let's just talk about it.

- Who filed the complaint?
- Jay, that is

- completely inappropriate.
- How can we have an honest conversation

about reparations and the
things black people in this country

have experienced
when we're tiptoeing around

how this complaint
is being handled?

Everyone in this room,

at this firm,
has the right to go to HR

as they see fit,
without fear of retribution.

I'm not talking about
payback.-ADRIAN: Okay, Jay, I don't

- need you to fight this battle for me.
- It's not for you.

I think we all have
a right to know.

Oh, come on,
I'd rather cut my wrists

- than go to HR willingly.
- What kills me

is that this company
is more concerned

about making sure that they seem

racially sensitive
instead of actually being

racially sensitive. Yeah,
that quote was heartbreaking.

And the only thing
that person got from it

was that a bad word was said?

- This looks intense.
- Yeah. Welcome.

Yes, it's a violent word

with a violent history.

But black people reckon with it every day.

It's our word.

If we use it,
if we don't use it,

when we use, where we use it...

You don't get to have
an opinion.

Autonomy over that word

- is our reparations.
- Then good.

- You don't need us white people here
anymore.-ADRIAN: Just wait, wait, wait.

No, you heard him.

- He doesn't want us here.
- I think we should go back

to the original group on this
project. Hang on a second.

You don't know for sure that
it was a white person who snitched.

- It could have been anyone.
- Yeah, well, I think we know

who the most likely
suspects are.

- Go to hell, lady.
- Whoa.

Hey. Show some respect.

- I agree with Jay.
- This conversation

has completely derailed
ever since we changed

- the group dynamics.
- It's still important

to get different perspectives
and points of view.

But clearly, there's a limit.

- There's always limits.
- And the person

who always gets to draw the line,

regardless of race,
is the person with the most power.

Adrian, you hold the power
in this room and out of it.

Sometimes people have to find
alternative ways to level

the playing field.

And that's
exactly why departments

like human resources exist.

So... you filed the complaint?

Don't answer that. He has
no right to ask. It doesn't matter

who filed it, and I don't care
who the N-word belongs to.

Every black person should have
the choice not to hear it

in their workplace
if they don't want to.

Especially
when it's literally part

of the employer's policy.

We can all come up with reasons

why we don't want
to hear the word.

But when it comes down to it,
you're confronting the past,

and it's painful. And
there's no avoiding it.

So we're supposed to confront
the past between depositions?

Perhaps some of us would prefer

to do our emotional
heavy lifting

outside the office.

Madeline, we could have talked
about this privately.

There was no reason
to go upstairs.

Oh, you want special treatment

because you're
a big-name partner?

Well, the people upstairs are
the big names now, and I think

we should follow the rules
of the firm you made us join.

If you filed the complaint,
at least own it.

Jay, I know
you don't see it this way,

but this little stunt
you pulled...

it's called intimidation.

I know it's a bit heated.

- More than heated.
- We have a lot

of intensely passionate people
on our team,

and their opinions
are unwavering.

And it's
a difficult subject matter.

Listen, everyone at the DNC
applauds your innovation.

You've obviously chosen
the most off-beaten path.

We're just not sure this is
the right direction for us.

Thanks for your efforts.

- Frank...
- Thanks, Adrian.

Tim and Marcus
are ordering lunch.

Tim teases Marcus about
how much he loves watermelon.

He accuses Marcus
of having a sticky keyboard,

and after a few coworkers laugh,
they move on with their day.

Who would say that was
a good interaction?

Okay. Who would say that was
an uncomfortable situation?

Who would say
that was unacceptable?

I didn't know we could choose
worse than uncomfortable.

Can I change my vote?

You didn't raise your hand.

We need everyone to participate.

I don't know Marcus.

Maybe he really likes
watermelon.

Maybe Tim was correct
in his commentary.

Marcus does not eat watermelon.

Then Tim is a racist.

Karly and Marie are touching
up their hair in the bathroom...

- You're in a mood.
- This is bullshit.

Welcome to corporate America.

- We all have to do it.
- Not everyone.

No, everyone.

You see Adrian, Liz, Diane?

They still have to do it.

Just not with the peasants.

You needed me, Ms. Reddick?

- Yes. Caleb, right?
- Right.

I just wanted to thank you
for helping us out upstairs.

Sure. Just doing my job.

And if there's anything
you need from us,

just tell me.

Okay.

Good.

Yes?

Second chair.

On?

Anything. I'm here to learn.

Then we'll do our best to teach.

Okay.

- What's wrong?
- I don't know,

but this is weird.

I went to the same website,
Bar-Swarm,

using my home Wi-Fi.

And...

No rejection of service?

Right. There's no malware
at home. But watch.

I'm on the office Wi-Fi now.

So, I don't understand.

The malware only attacks here?-And only

when I use the firm's Wi-Fi.

So someone here
is trying to freeze me out

whenever I ask
"What is Memo 618?"

No, not here.

Then where?

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