The Good Wife (2009–2016): Season 3, Episode 2 - The Death Zone - full transcript

JOEL: Twenty-eight thousand feet,
73-mile-an-hour winds.

The South Col.

With 500 climbers
all crowding the same route

in the one three-week period,
it's a nightmare on Everest.

That's Hillary Step.
I shot this just below the summit.

There's always a bottleneck waiting
to use the ropes.

ATKINS: And that's
where Robert Lambros died?

Yes.

ATKINS:
And that's his body there?

Yes. He was a guide.

One of the members of his party
collapsed and died above Hillary Step



and Bobby stayed to help
and then succumbed too.

I'm sorry. I liked your brother.

- You okay?
ATKINS: Now, Regarding his book,

- the defendant's. Have you read it?
JOEL: I have.

In it, he claims that my client,

Mr. Oliver Cardiff,
came upon the dying Robert Lambros

and not only stepped over his body
to get to the summit,

but then took his bottled oxygen.

- You're aware of that accusation?
- I am.

- Do you disagree?
JOEL: I do.

I was climbing Everest
for a documentary

and I saw Mr. Cardiff here,
climbing with the British team.

And this is below the Hillary Steps?

Step. Yes.



So Mr. Cardiff
couldn't have been near Lambros?

- He was lower on the mountain?
- Yes. That would follow.

So this book is untrue?

Well, I hate to question
another climber, especially a friend,

but Danny was at base camp
and didn't see what I saw.

ATKINS:
No further questions.

Nothing personal,
but I have to rip your friend apart.

Be gentle.

Mr. Branch, what is the death zone?

The death zone?

In mountaineering parlance,
it's the altitude above 26,000 feet,

where oxygen is insufficient
to sustain life.

It's also a place where perceptions
are not to be fully trusted?

- Sometimes.
- You believe that bottled oxygen

has hurt the sport
of mountain climbing,

- so you climb without oxygen?
JOEL: I do.

- Yes.
ALICIA: So when you say

that you saw the plaintiff
below the Hillary Step,

we have to take your word for it

and yet your word could be colored
by your oxygen-deprived perception.

I believe that follows.

Your Honor, I'd like to make a motion
at this time to dismiss this lawsuit.

This is a libel suit,
not a criminal case.

The plaintiff needs not only to prove

that my client's book was wrong,
but that he knew it was wrong.

- Which we're doing.
- No. There is too much

inherent uncertainty here.

This is a case built on perception

and the death zone makes
those perceptions essentially suspect.

MAN: Responsibility?
He's got a responsibility...

Wow, he dismissed.

I'm... Heh. I'm stunned.

Me too.

- Thank you.
- Oh.

The thought of him leaving
my brother behind

and then suing me for everything...

I know. It's over.

[PHONE RINGS]

- Hi, Eli.
ELI [OVER PHONE]: Where are you?

- The meeting's in ten minutes.
- And what meeting was that again?

Okay, don't tease.
I'm not in the mood.

I'm heading back there now.
Thirty minutes.

[CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY]

- Mickey, there you are. Any trouble?
- Hey.

No. Took the elevator to the 31st floor,
walked on down. Nobody saw me.

You look like crap.

Thanks. This way.

WILL:
Who was that?

No idea.

Do you ever get the feeling
we're losing control here?

Every day.

The state's attorney can hire
any law firm he wants

to handle all civil cases
against his department.

Glenn Childs had
Brimly, Tully & Snider.

WILL:
God, I hated them.

Peter Florrick fired them
and is looking for new outside counsel.

It's $20 million a year
in new business.

- Florrick will never hire us.
DIANE: It's his wife's firm.

- His campaign manager's firm.
WILL: Which works against us.

He doesn't want it to look
like a sweetheart deal.

We've been invited in to pitch.

- How many firms have been invited?
- Eight.

Then you should pitch.

- We should pitch.
- No.

- Is there something I should know?
- About?

Well, I just don't wanna
be blind-sided.

Have you noticed
you're turning into me?

All those sports metaphors.

A better version of you.

How the hell is it
I can love a new car smell

but hate a new office one?

Because a car means fun
and an office, work.

- You getting laid anyways?
- Me?

No.

- You?
- Not since the summer of '08.

So you're the flavor of the month
these days in crisis managers.

What happened with Weiner?
Thought you'd be on that one.

Oh, God, the day politicians
discovered Twitter.

[CHUCKLES]

Hear you're the flavor of the month
in strategists.

What campaign are you on?

Um...

[DOOR CLOSES]

I need your help.

- But I can't tell you who this help's for.
- Okay.

I've been hired by a candidate who's
setting up an exploratory committee.

- For what?
- I can't tell you.

But he's got a problem.
A real problem.

- Financial or sexual?
- Eh, I can't tell you.

Mickey, you want me to crisis manage
a crisis you can't tell me?

This guy wants options, okay?

He wants to know the scandal
can be handled if he chooses to run,

but he doesn't want the scandal out
if he chooses not to run.

This is BS. It's like a bake-off
without any ingredients.

It's a buyer's market, Eli.

If you choose not to play,
there are others who will.

Now, I'm meeting
with three crisis managers.

Whoever's got the best play,
that's who I'm going with.

I'd like you to meet a good friend,
Mickey Gunn.

Yeah, I get it.
You got Saint Alicia on your team.

I'll hear from you by Thursday,
buddy.

Hi.

That was the big meeting?

Who's the investigator here?

Kalinda Sharma. Why?

I need her to investigate a scandal
before it happens.

CARDIFF:
Mrs. Florrick.

Hello.

ALICIA:
Hi.

- Are you here to see someone?
THRUSH: Yes, you.

James Thrush.
Very pleased to meet you.

And you.

How may I help you?

Do you know the key distinction

between the libel laws
in your country and mine?

Burden of proof is reversed.

In America,
it is up to the person libeled

to prove the accusations
against them

are either knowingly
or recklessly false.

In England,
it is up to the person libeling,

your writing client, Mr. Lambros,

to prove what he says is true.

This is already adjudicated,
Mr. Cardiff.

Yes, in the United States.

- Danny didn't sell books in England.
- Actually, I'm afraid he did.

This, in fact, is one which I purchased
not two weeks ago

from your wonderful Internet site,
Amazon.

- You can't...
- Actually, I'm afraid I can.

I am Queen's Counsel
of the Royal Courts of Justice

and this is a writ

of new proceedings for libel.

You had this ready
for the day you lost.

Mr. Cardiff wished to exhaust
American courts.

You're after the wrong man.
Danny did nothing wrong.

He accused me of killing his brother.

He ruined my reputation.
Read the charge.

- I'm suing him for ?20 million.
- He's not rich.

He doesn't have your money.

Oh, let's not make this
a classist issue, shall we?

I know he's not rich.
Now he'll be poor.

ALICIA: Mr. Ash Brannon?
- Mm.

So sorry to keep you waiting.
I'm Alicia Florrick.

Yes, hello. Um, I'm sorry.

Ah, Florrick, right. Two R's?

- Yes, uh, come with me.
- Certainly.

- Filial air crock.
- Excuse me?

An anagram. Sorry.
Nervous habit. Sorry.

Okay.

Um, so you are the barrister
that Danny hired.

- Is that correct?
- Actually, no. The solicitor.

No, not as posh as a barrister,
but we try harder, ha, ha.

Ahem, sorry, I'm a bit punchy.
Just, uh, first trip to the States.

You know, just off the plane.
Where are the Olsen twins? Heh.

Would you like a cup of coffee?
Will, this is Mr. Timothy Ash Brannon.

Oh, yes, the barrister. Will Gardner.

Solicitor. No on the coffee. Heh.

- Oh.
- Warden Grill.

Anagrams.

It's not a deposition.
It's a letter rogatory.

- And that's?
BRANNON: Well, basically, it's a, uh...

It's a deposition.
Evidence given before a trial.

The witnesses
are primarily in America,

so His Lordship has agreed to allow it
to be videotaped here.

Good. We'll try
to get this kicked before trial.

ALICIA: Or we stall it.
WILL: Stall what?

Cardiff doesn't need the money
from this suit. He wants the publicity.

- That's why he's expediting this.
- So? We can't just sit back.

We get this kicked,
won't be any publicity.

ALICIA: But the burden
works against us now.

We would have to prove
that Danny's book is true.

- Which we can't do.
- Ah.

We can't stall.

My wife's house, it's in Toronto
and my business too.

Uh,
Canada is a British Commonwealth.

- They froze your assets?
- Yes.

- What was your strategy in court?
- Show there could be no certainty

about the events on Everest.
There could be no libel.

Well, that strategy just went out
the window. What do we have?

To prove Cardiff
took Lambros' oxygen?

Well, nothing.
The goal wasn't to prove it.

Can we, though? Can we prove it?

What about the satellite call?

Robert talked to his wife from his
satellite phone just before he died.

We never needed the tape.

I'm on it.

Are you the investigator?

I am.

- Do you have a minute?
- Do you want me to have a minute?

So there's a scandal of some kind
but you don't know who or what it is?

Yes. Can you find out?

How does this work
when I investigate for you?

- I have no idea.
- But you are one of my bosses now?

Yes. I think so.

You probably invoice in some way.

I have to pitch
to a campaign manager on Thursday

on how to manage a scandal,

but he's afraid the scandal
will be exposed,

so he won't give me any information
and I need that information to pitch.

- Do you wanna sit down?
- No.

You want the information
so he's forced to hire you

or you'll expose it.

How have I never met you before?

We move in different circles.

PETER:
Sorry about that.

It's amazing how my life has gone from
no calls to a call sheet of 85 a day.

Heh. Yes, it's quite a change.

From prison back
to the state's attorney's office.

- How are you doing?
- I love it. I really love it.

You don't mind if Cary sits in on this,
do you?

- No, not at all. Hi, Cary.
- Diane.

He gives me insight
into all the Lockhart Gardner matters.

So you guys are the survivors.

Of the economy?

When I looked at the roll of Chicago
firms since I was last in this seat,

they're practically all gone.

Well, there's been some tough times,
but we're fighters.

- You've beaten us a few times.
- No hard feelings?

Uh...

[DIANE AND CARY CHUCKLE]

Hey, that's the reason
you're in that seat.

We're hiring an outside caretaker
for our civil cases.

Lawsuits against county hospital,
the police, or SA's office,

and we need to decide
between three firms.

Really? I thought there were eight.

- There were. We whittled it down.
- I'm honored.

The only problem is
we have some concerns.

If it's about Alicia and Eli Gold,

we've established a Chinese wall
between their work and SA business.

No, I'm not going to reject a law firm
because it might look bad to the public.

Lemond Bishop.

The drug dealer.

We only handle
his legitimate business.

And I'm sure you'll find
that every major law firm

has a few potentially
unsavory clients.

We have to have some assurances
that your money isn't tainted.

- Is that a fair word?
- It is.

Diane, look, I'm running a new office

and I know
that every state's attorney says that.

I said it my first term.
But this time, it's different.

Now, you're one of three law firms

that I'm considering to hire
as my attorney.

I need to know that you're clean.

So we just need you
to voluntarily submit to an audit

by the Illinois state
Department of Taxation.

PETER: And that won't violate
attorney-client privilege.

It gives me
an independent confirmation

that your hands are free
of drug money.

You're asking us to voluntarily submit
to an audit?

Yes. If you want the job.

Well, um, that's significant.
I'll need to talk to my partner.

Of course.

- Will?
DIANE: Yes.

- You two know each other, don't you?
- We do.

Why don't you bring him in next time

and we'll all talk about the possibility
of, uh, making this all work.

[PHONE RINGING]

Eighty-sixth call. You'll excuse me?

Yeah?

ZACH [OVER PHONE]:
Hey, Dad. I'm coming early tomorrow.

- At 8, okay?
- Okay.

- Is everything all right?
ZACH: Yeah.

Everything's fine.
I wanted to come early.

PETER:
Okay, good. Well, I'll make dinner.

Um...

Well, thanks for the vote
of confidence.

[CHUCKLES]

I think it might be more appropriate
to respond, "Good morning."

I understand the arguments
for "Good evening,"

but the court of record is in London,
not in the United States,

and as you can see,
it is morning here.

Your Lordship, I will gladly defer.
Good morning to all.

And good evening to you,
Mr. Thrush.

Who is the barrister representing
the respondent?

A solicitor, Your Lordship.
Uh, one Timothy O'Brannon.

Ahem, Brannon,
Your Lordship. No O.

Mr. Brannon,
are there any applications

to the court before we commence?

- There are, Your Honor.
- Uh, Your Lordship.

Your Lordship.

This is a sham of a lawsuit.
It's libel tourism, pure and simple.

Rich plaintiffs like Roman Polanski,
Arnold Schwarzenegger

and Mr. Cardiff can't win
their libel suits in American courts,

so they take them to England.

Sir, I understand your passion
in this matter,

but I would ask you
to address this court

with a greater degree of restraint.

I...

- Apologies, Your...
- Lordship.

Lordship. That must be an artifact
of the Polycom.

I merely wanted to stress

that there were only 18 copies
of our client's books

sold in the United Kingdom.

They were all bought online and they
were all bought by Mr. Cardiff'ss staff.

As my learned colleague well knows,
Your Lordship,

where and who purchased
these books is irrelevant.

Excuse me.
Mr. Cardiff bought the books

that he is now bringing suit to here.

Mr. Gardner, what are you doing?

L... What am I doing?

Your body.

- The disposition of your body.
- You turned your back to the judge.

- Are you kidding me?
- No. You should let me argue.

Apologies, apologies, Your Lordship.

I am new to your court.

We would argue
that your parliament

is in the midst
of rewriting these libel laws

to prevent exactly
this type of libel tourism.

Your Lordship, parliament was indeed
considering revising these very laws

until Rupert Murdoch and his recent
News of the World contretemps.

I would argue that only 23 copies
of Funding Evil

were purchased
through the Internet,

yet this court ordered
that book's destruction.

I think you'd better argue instead.
The judge likes demure.

Mr. Thrush made a fine point.
We will continue.

If I may, Your Lordship.

Yes, Mr. O'Brannon.

Uh, Brannon, Your Lordship.

We ask the court's indulgence

in hearing evidence intended
to refute the applicant's charge.

Proceed.

ROBERT [ON RECORDING]:
I love you.

[PANTING ON RECORDING]

I'm sorry.

It's just so cold.

MIA [ON RECORDING]:
Bobby, do me a favor.

Just get up. You can do it.

MIA: Please?
ROBERT: I'm so...

ROBERT:
I'm just so tired.

MIA:
I know. Your son needs you, Bobby.

[WHIMPERING]
He's here. He needs his father.

Just get up and walk.

And this was your husband?

Yes.

Ahem, he had a satellite phone.

He called from the South Col.
He always called at noon.

- And you recorded it?
- Yes.

I wanted his son to remember him.

MIA [ON RECORDING]:
Use the oxygen, Bobby, please?

And get up and walk.

ROBERT:
Ah!

Over here.

- Here.
MIA: Is someone there?

Bobby!

ROBERT:
It's the British team. Hold on.

- But they didn't stop for him?
- No.

And they took
your husband's oxygen tank?

Yes. I asked him to use
his oxygen tank, but it was gone.

No apology, no money.

But we'll agree not to print the book
in Great Britain.

[CHUCKLES]

Very emotional in there.

Nice touch using a female lawyer.

You Americans certainly do enjoy
your drama.

So does His Lordship.
Did you see him?

One-point-two million pounds
and an apology.

[CHUCKLES]

So is this some of that famous
stiff-upper-lip stuff I've heard about?

God, I do love you Yanks.
You are so easy to distract.

With our accents and our periwigs,
and our tea and crumpets.

And Benny Hill.
Don't forget Benny Hill.

But I am not the England
of Big Ben and bobbies.

I'm not the England of doilies
and cucumber sandwiches.

I'm the England of football hooligans
and Jack the Ripper.

[SHIVERS]

And this England don't play nice
and they don't play fair.

And it don't ever stop.

Now, here's some advice,
Mister, uh...

...Thrush.

When you wanna intimidate someone,
don't use so many words.

Intimidation isn't a sonnet.

[SCOFFS]

It seems we understand
each other perfectly.

Shall we?

[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS]

Mrs. Lambros, you used to be
a mountaineer yourself?

Yes, until I became pregnant.

- And why did you stop then?
- Why? I couldn't risk it with a son.

Yes, of course. Your husband
kept climbing after you gave birth?

Yes. He was a guide. It was his job.

But he was offered other climbing jobs
on less-dangerous peaks.

In the Alps, for instance?

Don't need to answer that.
We understand.

Tell me about hypoxia.

Uh, hypoxia is an extreme form
of oxygen deprivation,

prevalent at high altitudes.

Thank you. Now, isn't one
of the potential side effects

of hypoxia, hallucinations?

MIA: Potentially.
THRUSH: Mrs. Lambros, I put it to you

that your husband was hallucinating
on that telephone call.

I put it to you that your husband saw
what he wished to see,

the British team
coming to save him.

Oh, come on. You're kidding me.

Heh, I beg your pardon?

You really think that Robert Lambros
hallucinated

Cardiff taking his oxygen tank?

- Really? How does that work?
- I think, my l... Your Lordship, l...

No, seriously, how does he hallucinate
the loss of his oxygen tank?

THRUSH:
It was my contention

that he hallucinated its existence
in the first place.

If you're going to blame the victim,
at least use some better logic.

Your Lordship,
I object to the tone that this...

This what? This "American lawyer."
Is that what you were going to say?

[JUDGE MOWBRAY
CLEARS THROAT]

Let us take a short break.

- Demure, huh?
- Change of plans.

Hmm, I think I'm having
American Revolution fantasies.

That turned me on.

Hmm.

Well, I can dress up.

I want to take you now.

Well, that might prove difficult.

Hmm.

In my bathroom.

Mm-hm.

We have 10 minutes.

I'll go first.

Oh, Will, we're being watched.

Where is that book? Mm.

- To be continued.
- Mm-hm.

- Ah, we can't do that.
- I know.

He said it was about
Lemond Bishop.

They wanted to make sure none
of our billing came from drug money.

It's like putting a bull's-eye on our back
for the IRS.

I know. Do you think he's after us?

Florrick? I don't know.

Glenn Childs was this close
to a RICO charge.

Maybe Florrick's taking up the hunt.

You really think he would do that
to his wife's firm?

I think he's trying
to run a clean office.

What if we offer to open up our books
to an independent accounting firm?

Florrick might just be looking
for a gesture like that.

I think if he's serious, it's worth a try.

But let's not expose ourselves on
a subway platform unless we have to.

Oh, what a colorful
and pointless metaphor.

Thank you. It's the Brits.

I think I'm picking up their accents.

I noticed.
It really classes up the joint.

KALINDA: And here is Mr. Gunn
meeting outside of his office.

And here is the SUV license plate.

Here it is driving away.

And here is the occupant.

- Tsk. Harold Burke.
- Yeah, ex-senator.

Here's a photo of him
with his family.

- Any whiff of a scandal?
- Here's the children's nanny.

You're kidding.

Here's a photo of her leaving work.

Here's a photo of Mr. Burke
leaving work.

And here is a photo of them

at their destination.

- Nicely done.
- Thanks.

- How do I know you?
- You don't.

And yet you look so familiar.

I just have one of those faces.

I'll need you again.

Then invoice.

PETER:
Hey, Grace, set the table, please?

ZACH: Dad?
PETER: Yeah?

- Why is Mom doing this?
- Doing what?

Kicking you out.

We were just getting back to normal.

I don't get it.

What'd your mom tell you?

She said that she wanted to make
the marriage work but it didn't.

You don't kick someone out
for no reason.

[SIGHS]

I wasn't always good to your mom,
Zach.

Ah. But that was a long time ago.
And she stayed.

It wasn't just...

There were other things.

- What do you mean?
- I mean...

I hurt your mom with other things.

With someone else.

I think we should just leave it at that.

GRACE: Dad?
- Yeah.

There's something wrong
with the computer.

Okay, let's have a look.

So where are you from,
Mr. Brannon?

BRANNON: Sorry, where am I from?
- Yes. County Cork? County Clare?

Tipperary?

I have a bit of an ear for accents.

I'm just trying to place
your Irish brogue.

County Kerry.

[IN IRISH ACCENT] Ah, the
potato famine emigration, was it?

Well, fair play, lad.

And good luck to you, my boy.

What's his anagram?

Jams her tush.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

There is this inbred deference
I have to greater rank.

ALICIA:
Yeah, I know. Me too.

- Really? You don't seem so.
- I'm trying very hard to change.

Yeah.
I'm not well-disposed to change.

No, me neither.

Mandy Cox. I am a music executive
working in A and R.

THRUSH:
Thank you, Miss Cox.

And you were intending
to summit Everest

at the same time
as the events in question?

Yes, sir.
It's always been a dream of mine.

Everest. My mountain.

I've paid two guides over the past
two years to get me to the top.

And you observed Mr. Cardiff
on the South Col, is that correct?

Yes. Our Sherpa was injured
in an icefall the day before.

Mr. Cardiff was kind enough to share
one of his with us for the final assault.

THRUSH: So you made the last assault
on Everest with Mr. Cardiff.

My goodness, that was not mentioned
in Mr. Lambros' book.

There were a lot of things
not in Danny's book.

Many of us in the climbing community
were outraged at the many distortions.

Did you ever seen Mr. Cardiff step
over a body

or take anyone's oxygen tank?

Of course not. As far as I could tell,
he was the perfect gentleman.

THRUSH:
Thank you, Miss Cox.

Miss Cox, were you sleeping
with Mr. Cardiff at base camp?

THRUSH: If I may interrupt.
I suggest to my learned colleague

that these News of the World type
smear tactics

are beneath the dignity of the court.

I would tend to agree, Mrs. Florrick.

I'm sorry, please move on.

We need to find another way
to shake her.

Yes, well, unfortunately,
the judge agreed with her.

I know. Where's Kalinda?

ELl:
This is my associate, Kalinda Sharma.

She's been helping me prepare
for this meeting.

And these are my associates.

I don't know their names,
but they're expensive.

So let's hear it, Eli.

Three-day plan.
Day one, I meet your candidate.

I tell him the scandals are owned
by the first man in.

Breitbart owned the Weiner scandal.

If Weiner had released those tweets
with his spin,

he would still be in office today.

Day two, I don't ask your candidate
to tell me everything

- because candidates lie.
- I'm falling asleep here, Eli.

But I do tell him we have
to get the nanny's story straight

so that she doesn't hop off
to The National Enquirer.

Day three, we acknowledge
there is some entertainment value

in a father of three
sleeping with his nanny.

And the goal is not to smother
that value, but to harness it.

Hmm.

- That's very interesting.
- Thank you.

The only problem is it ain't Burke.

Well, Burke asked me
to run his campaign, but I said no.

And that's what you saw
when you accidentally followed me.

- You're lying.
- No, I'm not.

And here's the thing.

You follow any candidate,
you're gonna find a nanny, a hooker,

a mistress or an intern. Right?

Thanks for the pitch, buddy.
I'll see you.

Give me one more chance.

Okay.

I'm deciding Monday.

KALINDA: There are no other
candidates. I checked.

They all have strategists already.

Unless we go local.

No, no, he's a national kind of guy.

He may have gone
with someone new,

but why pick a rotten apple
from the tree?

- Maybe it's a celebrity.
- No, I can't see him tolerating that.

Ah.

- What?
- I get it.

He's flipping sides. It's a Republican.

He wanted to play
in the presidential primaries.

I'm on it.

Mazel tov.

ALICIA: Thank you for returning.
- No problem.

Before you went to Everest,
did you have any surgery performed?

No.

What do you mean?

I mean, did you have
any surgery performed?

No. What, do you mean
like an appendix out? No.

Or LASIK surgery?

Oh, yeah. No, uh, I thought you meant
like major surgery.

Yeah, LASIK. That was a while ago.

I had contacts for farsightedness

and I didn't wanna deal
with them on the mountain.

Good. And did you know
that LASIK reacts poorly

to decreased atmospheric pressure?

L...

I don't... What are you asking?

ALICIA:
I'm asking if you knew that.

COX:
No.

The vision of LASIK patients
becomes blurry at high altitudes

in the weeks following surgery due
to decreased atmospheric pressure.

- Was your vision blurry, Miss Cox?
- No.

Isn't that why you had
Mr. Cardiff'ss Sherpa carry you

- the last 1000 feet up Everest?
- That's a lie.

People keep saying that
but I wasn't carried.

Your Lordship,
this is a sworn affidavit

from Tenji Gelu,
the Sherpa in question.

Now, he swears that Miss Cox
had blurry vision

and could not have seen
any of the events in question.

He's lying. He was always lying.

He hated me because I accused him
of stealing my satellite phone.

Your Lordship,
given the circumstances,

we ask that Miss Cox be removed
from the claimant's witness list.

I would regretfully agree.

- I got it.
- Oh, no, that's okay.

Mom, I got it.

Are you okay?

- Heh. What, because I'm cleaning?
- Yes.

You have work.
I thought I'd let you do it.

Oh, you are so adorable.

Oh, come on, you know
it's gonna happen so let it happen.

Hmm.

Good. Thank you.

- How's Dad?
- He's good.

Are you good with him?

- Am I? Yeah.
ALICIA: Mm-hm.

I mean, you know...

What?

Do you think I'm like him?

Do I think you are?

No.

Really?

You're different.

Heh. Very different.

- Why?
- I just wanted to know.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

I'll get it.

- Diane?
- Yes.

I'm sorry, Alicia. I'm here... Um...

I'm trying to get in touch with Peter
and the office said he was home?

Oh! Um, well, no, he's not here.

I'm so sorry, Alicia.
I would never do this to you,

but do you have a minute?

We're competing
with two other law firms

for the state's attorney
civil business.

It'd be very lucrative, as you know.

But Peter has asked that we be
audited by the Department of Taxation.

And that... Well, ah,
that would be quite invasive.

Grace, I'll be there in a minute.

- How old?
- Fourteen.

That's a sweet age.

[CHUCKLES]

Anyway,
I suggested to the state's attorney

that we use an independent auditor,

but he insisted
on a departmental audit.

And that would open up our books
in an alarming way.

I'm not sure l...

I checked with the two other law firms
under consideration.

They have not been asked
to do the same.

So I was wondering

is there something I should know
about why Peter's only asking us?

Diane,

I've worked hard to keep my home life
separate from my work life.

I know. And I respect that.

But I need to know
if Peter is doing the same.

- I don't know how to answer that.
- Well, let me ask you this.

If you were assisting me in this
decision, how would you advise?

Agree to the audit or not?

I would advise you not to.

Well, you really have
a very lovely apartment, Alicia.

Thank you.

Take two.

Good morning.

So let's hear what you got.

Actually, Miss Sharma
and I discussed it

and we've decided to pass
on your polite offer to pitch.

But thank you.

[LAUGHS]

- You're kidding me, right?
- Nope. But thanks.

Heh. What the hell is that?

Don't you think you could have
told me over the phone?

I could have, but that would've taken
up less of your time.

Go to hell.

- What's going on?
- I don't like being used.

Heh, what are you talking about?
How did I use you?

You're considering joining
a Republican presidential campaign.

- No comment.
- But the guy's too clean.

You can't find a single thing
wrong with him.

- He's too good to be true.
- Heh, I don't know

who you're talking about.

Okay.

- And?
- You didn't have the money to vet him,

so you hinted that you wanted
to hire me so I would vet him for you.

[CHUCKLES]

Poor man's crawfishing.

You let the tourist set the bacon trap
and then you go in and raid them.

Yeah, Mickey, uh, tell me the last time
you were in the bayou?

So cut the Trapper John crap, okay?

- Are you gonna offend me now?
- Oh, yeah, I'm just getting started.

Okay.

- What'd you find out?
- No.

Come on. I'll hire you.

No. Here's how it works.

You first offer your services
to your Republican

then you hire me.

- Heh, I already did. He hired me.
- Nope.

He's had two meetings,
but he hasn't jumped yet.

- Go get hired.
- And you'll work for a Republican?

I don't mind this guy. He's not bad.

Okay. I'll call you tomorrow.

- No hard feelings, right?
- Go.

- Hey, it's business.
ELl: Go.

All right. See you.

I'll be calling on you again.

It's your dime.

BRANNON:
Mr. Cardiff, good evening.

Actually, good morning.

Yes, ahem, of course.
Good morning.

A year before you climbed Everest,
Mr. Cardiff,

you successfully summited the Trango
Towers in Pakistan, is that correct?

- Trango II, to be exact.
- Trango II.

You came upon a team
of Japanese mountaineers

during that climb, did you not?

Let's see. It's, uh... It's been so long.

BRANNON: In fact,
you not only came upon them,

you took the ropes and pitons
from a dying Japanese...

If I may quickly ask
my learned colleague

to which materials
he is referring here?

The book Only in May.

The account of a French climbing
expedition to the Trango Towers.

That was my worry. Your Lordship,
Mr. Cardiff previously brought suit,

brought successful suit against
the publisher of that very book.

It has been deemed libelous

and therefore cannot be mentioned
in these proceedings.

[BRANNON SIGHS]

Well, then let me ask you this.

In that expedition,
the one that I was just talking about...

Apologies for interrupting again,
Your Lordship,

but as part of the successful suit
against the aforementioned book,

Mr. Cardiff instigated
a super-injunction,

which, of course, means not only
are we prevented

from discussing the book,

we are prevented
from even discussing

the supposed events alluded to
in that book.

Oh, come on.

Even the request by my colleague
must be stricken.

It is as if the book and its events,

and even events questioning
the events, never happened.

Unless, of course, it's discussed
in the English press, Your Lordship.

And we would ask
for a super-injunction

to prevent the mention
of the super-injunction.

Only in England.

Look, I'm sorry,
but that is not necessary.

We need to get that book in.

The climb to Trango Towers,
it shows a pattern of abuse.

- Where are you going?
- I have an idea.

No, there's nothing there.
What am I looking for?

I don't understand what the purpose
of this whole page is.

Eli, you still have
your geek squad together, right?

Oh, hello, Alicia. How are you?

Do you have your Internet trolls
who tweet anonymously?

- Yeah, why? What do you need?
- I need some tweeting.

[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]

The tweeting fairies did their work
during the night.

I don't know
what you're talking about.

One hundred thousand
tweet followers, Your Lordship.

The super-injunction
and Mr. Cardiff'ss actions

are now a matter of discussion
in the English press.

- This is an obscenity.
- In this morning's Chronicle:

"What did Oliver Cardiff do
on the slopes of Trango II?"

Where is the respect for our laws
when any young thug with a computer

and a Twitter account
can circumvent a lawful injunction...?

I'm sorry, Mr. Thrush,
but I haven't finished.

Yes.

Please continue, Mr. Brannon.

BRANNON:
The subject of Mr. Cardiff'ss actions

during
his Pakistani climbing expedition

are now a subject of concern
in the English press, Your Lordship.

Therefore, I do not need
the manuscript of Only in May

in order to ask these questions.

We still believe the stricture of the
super-injunction applies, Your Lordship.

I did nothing wrong.

You didn't take the rope and climbing
gear from the Japanese team

- on Trango Tower? Trango II?
- I did nothing wrong.

Why did the French team say they
found you with the Japanese pitons?

We do not use pitons.
We're clean climbers.

We use chockstones
and quick draws.

Yes, which you took
from a Japanese climber.

He was dying.

Tsk. The hypocrisy here is amazing.

You, Danny, you were on K2
when a Korean climber died.

I know for a personal fact you passed
him on the way to the summit.

That was different.

How was that different?
Because he wasn't your brother?

He froze to death and you left him.
I left him. Every climber left him.

And why? Because we would've died
carrying him down.

It is the law of the death zone.
We all know we can't be carried out.

And so you did it on Everest?

The events as described
in Danny's book are a lie.

Even though you passed
a dying Robert Lambros on Everest?

The book, as told, is a lie.

Mr. Cardiff, are you planning
another climbing expedition?

- Yes.
BRANNON: When?

- Don't answer.
CARDIFF: Patagonia. One month.

Your Lordship,
there is qualified privilege

as an exception to our libel laws.

And what is that, Mr. Brannon?

When they are a warning.

Mr. Cardiff has demonstrated
a predisposition

for bypassing stranded climbers
at altitude.

Now, if this book is a warning
to climbers in the future,

then it is no longer held
to the same burden of proof

maintained by our libel laws.

I therefore ask
that this suit be dismissed

because this book, Your Lordship,
is a warning.

THRUSH: Your Lordship, that is
a strange interpretation of the law.

No, Mr. Thrush, I'm sorry.

I don't think it's a strange
interpretation of the law at all.

In fact, it seems right.

We would agree with Mr. Brannon

and therefore dismiss the suit
in letter rogatory.

Oh, ahem, apologies,
uh, Your Lordship. Ahem.

[BRANNON
AND DANNY CHUCKLE]

DANNY:
Thank you. Seriously.

BRANNON:
It's been a pleasure.

So you decided against an audit?

Smart.

Have Alicia and her husband
separated?

Is it any of our business?

If there is blowback on our firm,
then, yes, it is our business.

Is there blowback on our firm?

Will.

This is my life. It's yours too.

Have Alicia and her husband
separated?

Ask her.

[SIGHS]

We can't be the enemy
of the state's attorney.

- We're not.
- He wanted to audit us.

Because he wants to run
a clean office.

This is crazy.
She's supposed to work for us.

If she's working against,
we should let her go.

She's not.

But if she is?

Then,

we'll let her go.

If she works against us,

we are letting her go.

I can hold you to that?

Yes.