The Good Wife (2009–2016): Season 4, Episode 21 - A More Perfect Union - full transcript

Did you know him?

No. I thought you did.

You noticed the older Mom gets,
the younger her friends become?

- Where do you think she is anyway?
- Pfft.

My bet, she got us here
a half hour early

so we wouldn't be a half hour late.

I hate it when she does that.

You're missing the point.

- I love Peter.
- You do not love Peter.

Stop saying that.

- He's changed. He's not the same...
- Oh, my God.



You are one of those Oprah women.

I'm gonna take you out back
and give you a spanking.

He slept with prostitutes.
That doesn't change.

Why do you and Mom
keep pushing me toward Will?

The same reason
you just brought him up. Hm?

You're tempted.

- It's not a good thing.
- Your body is telling you something.

Oh, my God, stop it. Is that what you
tell your students in advanced algebra?

- Statistical modeling.
- Your body is telling you something?

Did you kiss him
or did Will kiss you?

Both.

- I love it when that happens.
- It was a mistake.

Well, what happened last time
with him?

Why'd you break it off?



It didn't seem like
it was a long-term thing.

Okay, do you see how insane that is?

You were worried
it wasn't gonna be a long-term thing

so you cut it off
before it could be a long-term thing?

Uh-oh. There's Mom.
Owen, don't say a word.

There you are, you two.

- Hi, Mom.
- Hi.

- I've been looking for you everywhere.
- Mom.

Everybody's in there.
What are you doing in here?

- We don't know anyone.
- Of course you don't.

- That's why I have to introduce you.
- So how do you know him?

- The deceased.
- Oh, I don't. I never met him.

No, no, it's Charlene, the wife.
She's Malcolm's niece.

She's a sweet one, and she's got
a great haircut. Come on, you'll see.

"She's got a great haircut."

Miss Peterson,
I'm so sorry for your loss.

Thank you. And you're?

Owen. Veronica's son.

He's the mathematician.
This is the lawyer, Alicia.

- I'm so sorry, Miss Peterson.
- Thank you for coming.

And thank you so much
for offering to do this.

You're welcome.

We didn't know who to call.

- Eugene, this is the lawyer.
- Hi.

- Hello.
- Will you excuse me?

Eugene works there too.
And thank you so much again.

We're incredibly grateful
for your help.

What's this about, Mom?

You're so generous with your time,
Alicia.

Thank you so much, Mrs. Florrick.

It was just such a surprise
to be given a 48-hour deadline.

I'm sorry. Uh, what are...?

Could you tell me
what we're talking about?

Oh, yes.

We're coders working for Blowtorch,
the software developer.

- Charlene, Frank, myself...
- Frank?

The deceased.

I'm sorry. Yes.

We've had 18-hour shifts this week
to get done some new software.

And Frank was driving home
for Charlene's birthday

and he fell asleep at the wheel.

- Oh, my God, I'm sorry.
- Thank you.

So that's why this contract
rankles so much.

It doesn't protect us on overtime
or number of hours.

And it says we also can't file suit.

I think they're worried
about Charlene suing.

Should they sign it or not?
That's what they wanna know.

Well, I can pull up
some comparable contracts,

- but I really shouldn't be advising...
- Whatever you can do. Thank you.

Thank you.

It's too bad nobody needs
free math work.

Okay.

Let's try not to kill anyone
in the transition.

Oops. Looks like I have a meeting
with a very severe-looking pollster.

So I'm gonna thank you gentlemen
and say goodbye. Hey, Matt.

- Hello, sir. How are you?
- Good. It's been a while.

- How was DC?
- Awful.

Heh. Will you let me know
when my wife is free? Thank you.

Sit, sit, sit.

I wanna thank you
for looking over our polling.

You know, I get worried that

our internals are being overly optimistic
about our numbers.

And I just don't wanna get caught
with my pants down.

- You know what I mean?
- I do know.

Okay. Well, that was... Heh, heh.
That was a very freighted pause.

Your internals are overly optimistic.

Our pollsters have us
leading Kresteva by five points.

- You think that's wrong?
- Yes.

Where do you think we're at?

Down by two points.

- I'm losing?
- Yes.

Can somebody...?
Anybody? Get me Eli.

I believe Harbot Welch oversampled
the African-American and youth vote.

The vote is in two weeks
and I'm losing?

Yes. Now if you could increase
Kresteva's negatives with women,

you'd be very competitive.

I attack Kresteva,
my own negatives go up.

Yes, but not your wife's.

I mean, you're not hurt if your wife
does the attacking for you.

- No.
- It's the only way...

I'm sorry. I can't do that.

Thank you. One minute.

Eli, where are you?

- In Alicia's office.
- Oh.

Honey, I'm sorry. How are you?

- I'm good. How are you?
- Ugh...

- Peter? Are you okay?
- Yeah, no, I'm fine.

Listen, would you have dinner
with me tonight?

Sure. Why?

Just to thank you for the Charlie Rose
interview on Thursday.

- You don't have to thank me.
- I know.

I wanna thank you. So how about it?

Eight o'clock, downtown,
in my campaign bus.

Okay. I'll see you then.

Hi. I like that rug.

My mom has one just like it.

Thank you.

Nancy Crozier.
What can I do for you?

Actually,
I'm here to do something for you.

We're offering a 2 percent increase
to the top 20.

- But that's it.
- I...

I have no idea
what you're talking about.

Mr. Jenlowe is within his rights
to fire them.

He doesn't want to,
but he runs a business.

- We think 2 percent's fair.
- Seriously,

I have no idea
what you're talking about.

Blowtorch.

We were told that you are the lawyer
consulting with the employees.

We want them
to sign their contracts.

Good. I'll let them know.

And delaying is not gonna work.
We're in earnest.

Earnest. Good. Got it.

I like you, Alicia.
I don't wanna see you make a mistake.

I'm not sure what mistake
I might make,

but I am glad you like me.

I don't like sarcasm.

- It's cheap.
- Okay, thank you, Nancy.

We will be in touch.

- We don't do management-labor.
- This is not a hard rule.

If we did, it wouldn't be
this coder stuff.

Excuse me. Alicia, this case
you brought in, this Blowtorch case,

we received a cease-and-desist order
from Blowtorch.

You don't have to tell us when you take
on a new client. You're a partner now.

But when it infringes on territory
occupied by ChumHum...

Okay, look, I'm sorry
this has become a thing.

They are not my new clients.

This is just a really simple favor
for my mom.

For Veronica? How's she doing?

- Good.
- Good.

Tell her hi for me.

I will.

All I'm doing for these employees
is finding comps for their contract.

- That's all.
- They think you're the lawyer...

I know, I know.
I will get this off my desk fast.

It's just management-labor
can be a bit tricky.

Don't worry, this will be fast.

But the galling thing
is the maternity leave.

There's none.

Ninety percent of these other contracts
have at least one month maternity.

- So suggest a month?
- Suggest two, they'll reduce it to one.

At the State's Attorney's office,
I negotiated down from three.

- Anything else?
- OT for any workweek

exceeding 60 hours.

And some kind of criteria
for performance-based bonuses.

- Great. Thanks, Cary.
- Sure.

Lorna, can you get me these
in triplicate?

Do any of you get overtime
if your workweek exceeds 60 hours?

- Do you?
- No.

I just came from a meeting
with Cary and Alicia,

and they were arguing
it was unfair not to.

As you can see
from these other four contracts,

from comparable workplaces
with comparable salaries...

- Charlene, you don't need to be here.
- It's okay. I wanna be.

Mrs. Peterson,
we're very sorry for your loss.

As you can see
from these other four contracts,

we need criteria
for a just-cause termination.

Yes, except none of those
other contracts were for coders.

They cover contract workers,
the same as Blowtorch's coders.

Eugene, Charlene,
do you consider yourselves

equivalent to shop workers,
pipe layers,

and janitorial service personnel?

Aren't you more like artists,
entrepreneurs?

Why don't we focus
on contractual language?

Look, these lawyers wanna talk
in dollars and cents.

But that's not
what your work is about.

It's about magic.

It's about genius.

Then why don't you pay them
like geniuses.

"Them"?
Who exactly is "them"?

Twenty Blowtorch employees.
They've signed on.

So again, if we could now turn
to maternity leave,

- you'll see it as the third bullet.
- I don't think we need to go any further.

These are letters of dismissal.

Blowtorch thanks you for your
many years of dedicated service

- Wait, excuse me.
- And wish you the best...

This is not the way to handle this.

Yes, but it's the way
we're choosing to handle it.

Your desks have been cleared,

your belongings
have been messengered home.

- You are amazing, you know that?
- I do know that.

We're looking for artists,

- not employees.
- Wait, wait, wait.

I'll sign it. I'll sign the contract.

- No.
- I'm afraid it's too late.

We're worried that your attitude
will infect our other artists.

Thank you.

It's gonna cost us votes.

We talk about this all the time.
Let's just put it to bed.

Well, it sounds like
we're both having a bad day.

Yeah, what's yours about?

I just got 20 people fired.

How about you?

They want me to go negative
on Kresteva,

- point out his sexism.
- Not when you're up by five points.

Everything all right?

Yeah.

- How's your pizza?
- Hm.

It's our first-date pizza.

And wine out of the bottle.

Well, almost like our first date.

Almost.

- What's that, Peter?
- That is a ring.

- But I already have one.
- Mm-hm.

In two weeks, I'm gonna know
whether I'm in office or not.

Either way, I have a week off.

I want you to come with me to Hawaii
and renew our vows.

Peter.

Just consider it.

- I don't know.
- Why?

Because things are good right now,

but that doesn't mean
they'll stay that way.

- Doesn't mean they won't.
- No.

They never do.

Well, all I know is that...

I love you.

Say yes.

You're at-will employees.

The company can terminate you
for any non-discriminatory reason.

- No, everyone, wait, wait. Listen.
- There is a safe harbor here.

You can't be fired
if you were trying to form a union.

Working together to collectively
bargain is considered PCA.

- "Protected concerted activity."
You want us to form a union?

- We're not teamsters.
- No.

We want you to keep from being fired
by saying you were forming a union.

- They can't fire you if you say that.
- Really?

Yes.

We'll file a complaint with the NLRB,

asking them to enjoin Blowtorch
from firing you.

Then you drag out the process of
unionizing. The whole point is to delay.

- They'll eventually fire us.
- No. Delay, you'll get leverage.

It'll keep them from hiring
replacement workers.

I think it's a good idea.

Shake the trees at OSHA,
EEOC and EBSA.

What am I looking for?

Any complaints
by Blowtorch employees

alleging an unfair
or unsafe workplace.

It'll make it easier to argue
that they were unionizing.

Organizing?
Why should we do that?

Because we're underpaid
and overworked.

And we'll be out of work
if we rock the boat.

Margie? I thought you were
gonna get me lunch.

- I'm on my way.
- The way is this way, not that way.

Hello, everyone.
Thank you for joining us

at the Chicago National
Labor Relations Board.

I am Administrative Law
Judge Rodney Jesko.

Rodney is fine, or even Rod.

Rod. Nancy Crozier
for the respondent, Blowtorch.

And I'm sorry,
but I'm very new to NLRB.

If you could let me know
when it's my turn to say my piece?

There's no need to apologize.
I'm a new judge here myself.

- Just promoted.
- Really?

Happened a few years later
than I thought it would.

But, uh...

- That's politics.
- Your Honor.

I mean, Rod.

We have affidavits from 18
recently-dismissed employees,

attesting to protected
concerted activity under the NLRA.

Wow. Eighteen? Wow.

- Miss Crozier.
- I'm sorry.

Nancy. I tend to just blurt things out
when I'm amazed.

I do the same thing. My friends
are always trying to stop me.

Rod, we ask that you enjoin Blowtorch
from firing any employees

until such time as we can prepare
a case for unionizing.

Yes, but, Rod,

each day that this labor dispute
is dragged on,

is a day that my client
gets closer to bankruptcy.

How is a handful
of terminated employees

trying to get their jobs back

going to mean
her client's financial ruin?

I'm sorry, I thought these would be
more polite proceedings.

Yes, so let's please
try to watch our tone.

Blowtorch's financial situation
is very precarious,

with resources diverted
to protracted litigation...

All right.
Well, then I see no problem

with questioning
these witnesses right now

about their organizing effort.

Your Honor, we came here expecting
to lay the groundwork for our defense...

But wasn't it Oliver Wendell Holmes
who said, "Speed is a thing

that is mightily to be wished"?

Can we question your first witness?

What am I supposed
to say? I can't lie.

We don't want you to lie.

We want you
to tell the helpful truth.

Les Newkirk
from the Department of Labor.

And you're looking for information
on Blowtorch Industries?

Yes. Workplace complaints.

Why don't you ask the employees
you're representing?

Well, we don't represent
all the employees.

Oh.

We have no outstanding complaints
against Blowtorch.

What about past complaints?

Just one in the last 18 months.

Recently withdrawn.

So how long have you been
at Lockhart Gardner?

Me? Um, a little over a month.

Any workplace issues?

No. Very happy, thank you.

Because some people contact me
as a cover for other issues.

- Pay. Benefits.
- No, good benefits. Health care.

Everything's good.

- And you?
- Happy as a clam.

Well, thank you.

Sometimes firms grow so fast,

issues of wage and hour compliance
get overlooked.

No one has to know
that you talked to me.

You get health care?

Excuse me.

Are you
from the Department of Labor?

Yes. Do you need something?

Just some advice.

Do you have someplace we can talk?

Frank's not even dead 24 hours
and we get hit with this contract.

People were outraged.
It felt punitive.

And did you discuss
collectively taking action

in response
to these contract demands?

Sorry to interrupt, but objection.

- Calls for legal conclusion.
- Indeed. Sustained.

Did you collectively voice
outrage to your boss?

At that stage, no.

But you did discuss getting together

to have your views known to someone
in a supervisory capacity, right?

Not... I mean, in terms of...

See, we were fired before we could
formulate a specific plan.

But you had time to get in touch with
me before you were terminated, right?

Yes. We collectively got in touch
with you at Frank Peterson's funeral.

And what exactly did we discuss?

How we could engage
in protected,

concerted activity
to safeguard our rights.

I'm sorry,
but the witness is obviously

regurgitating terminology
he's been fed by counsel.

- I mean, objection.
- Heh, heh.

Sustained.

When we met at the funeral,

did we discuss
potentially starting a union

- to address your contract concerns?
- Potentially, yes.

- We discussed the potentiality.
- Thank you.

- Nothing further.
- Nancy, anything?

Yes. We have one rebuttal witness.

Charlene Peterson.

Thanks for doing this.

I know we've never been very close.

Well, like I said,

statistical sampling
isn't really my area of expertise.

I'm just looking for an opinion
from someone I'm not paying.

The thing is it looks pretty good,
but I can't really tell.

I have a speech in a few minutes.

Oh, I'll let you go then.

No, no, no, go ahead. Stay.

Did you and Alicia talk?

Did we talk? Yes.

About me?

About, um... About personal things.

I've asked Alicia
to recommit to our marriage.

I know you talk with her.

I know that you and I
have had our differences.

But I'm... I'm really intent

on showing you that I wanna forget
those differences.

Peter, this isn't a campaign.
This is life.

Oh, you think I'm campaigning?

Well, you know, I read somewhere
that the surest way for a politician

to get you to love him
is to ask for something.

You'd think it'd be the opposite,
to give you something.

But, no,
voters count themselves so cheap,

you just have to ask me a favor.

I asked you here because I want things
to be better between us.

So I'd put in a good word
for you with Alicia?

Yes.

I'd better go.
And you've gotta get to that speech.

She said if we wanted
to keep our jobs,

forming a union was the only way.

- Mrs. Florrick said that?
- I object on the grounds

- of attorney-client privilege.
- The client can waive that.

I am representing
19 of her co-workers.

She's effectively waiving it
on their behalf too.

Mm. Interesting quandary.

How to split that baby.

By not.

I think I shall side
with more inclusiveness.

You may ask the question,
Miss Peterson.

Yes. Mrs. Florrick said that.

And before Mrs. Florrick advised you
to form a union,

had you or any of your fellow coders
expressed any interest in doing so?

- We did not.
- Lorna,

can you get me the Department
of Labor on the phone?

- Diane and Will asked for you.
- They...

- Now?
- Yes.

Could you close the door?

We have an insurrection on our hands,
Alicia, because of you.

The assistants
are asking for a raise.

They're inspired by this case
that isn't a case.

- Thought you were giving it up.
- The difficulty is the employer

threatened to fire them,
so we felt obligated.

You broke it, you own it.

Unfortunately.
We're at the NLRB right now.

They're not getting another cent.

These damn assistants,
they think we need them.

The assistants are asking
that we listen to their proposal.

- How many assistants?
- Eight. Why?

Well, they need a third to get a vote
on unionizing. That's not enough.

They know. You had a Department of
Labor guy out who educated them.

- We need to talk to them.
- We need to fire them before...

David, Alicia, you meet with
the assistants before they organize.

- Hear their demands.
- And then what?

Hear their demands. We don't have
the money for across-the-board raises.

We do if we don't take increases
this quarter.

We do if you don't take
any salary this year.

The difficulty, Alicia,
is we can't afford the precedent.

- Nothing from Department of Labor?
- No, no complaints.

Charlene really testified
against you?

Blowtorch has her back
in their ranks.

- You think a payoff?
- Probably.

We need some way to prove it,
though.

I'll talk to her co-workers.

Cary, did you know that Robyn
has health care?

No, I didn't.

- Do you know how much she earns?
- Um...

- No. How much?
- I don't know.

Are you feeling jealous?

Do you wanna know why the widow
is testifying for Blowtorch?

Yes, I do.

Ask Robyn,
because she gets health care.

- Kalinda.
- Yeah?

The fourth years
are starting our own firm.

We're taking five top clients
with us.

- Who?
- I'm not gonna say.

I want you to come with us.

Sure.

- Exclusively.
- No way.

They don't value you here.
We'll value you.

You'll have your own office.

- I don't want my own office.
- You'll be paid more.

Okay. Then you come up
with an offer and I'll listen.

No. You'll just use that to get up
Lockhart Gardner's offer.

We need three months
to get our ducks in order.

Okay, then come up with an offer
when you get your ducks.

Oh, by the way, the man
from the Department of Labor

said that somebody recently withdrew
their complaint against Blowtorch.

I would look there.

You filed the complaint about
the hazardous conditions at Blowtorch

- following your husband's death?
- Yes.

But you withdrew that complaint
within 24 hours?

- Yes.
- Miss Peterson,

were you offered an inducement

- to withdraw that complaint and...?
- Objection.

Rod, I'm sorry, but this young woman
has just lost her husband,

- and this is badgering.
- I don't know.

Doesn't really sound
like badgering to me.

- You can answer the question.
- They settled.

I was going to sue, but they settled.

- Rod, we believe this proves our case.
- Does not.

Actually, Nancy, I'm afraid it does.

I find that the coders of Blowtorch
were attempting to engage

in a protected concerted activity
prior to being fired.

I order that they be reinstated.

But they still need to vote to form a
union in order to retain that protection.

Otherwise, Blowtorch
has a right to fire them.

Yes, that is true.

Only if the union is not certified
before the court-imposed deadline.

And that is absolutely true.

Therefore, we ask for
an expedited deadline of 24 hours.

- What? She can't ask for 24 hours.
- Hold on, hold on, hold on.

Compromise. Compromise
is the cornerstone of any...

Well, of any building.
So I have made a decision.

Workers are going to get
their injunction,

the company's gonna get
their deadline.

- But, Rod, 24 hours...
- Listen, Alicia.

If your clients were really organizing,
they should be ready

and able to get this vote together
in 24 hours.

Jenny, I don't understand how half
this memo could be misspelled.

Just run it through a spell-check.

That's okay, Jenny.

- Hi.
- Come in.

- You taking over?
- Couldn't do worse.

You got a 5 percent raise.
We're not talking about money again.

I'm being pursued.

That's awful.
Did you talk to the police?

And I'm considering
taking the offer.

Yes, and every time you try this
gambit, it's just a little less effective.

- Who's pursuing you?
- A new firm.

Which new firm?

Robyn gets health care.

Hm. Do you want health care?

Well, health care is equivalent
to $30,000 a year.

That puts her pretty close
to my salary.

- She told you her salary?
- No, I can guess.

- She's been here five weeks, Will.
- I've been here five years.

Kalinda,
health care requires exclusivity

- and you want your freedom.
- I want my value.

Why is everybody
talking about money?

What happened to being a family?

Doing things because we're dedicated
to each other?

Look, you consider being exclusive
to us and I'll get you more money.

But otherwise, your freedom

costs you.

Well, is that a yes?

I'm gonna check with the other firm.
See if they give me a better offer.

Yes, the imaginary firm.

If the vote were right now,

how many coders
are in favor of unionizing?

- I think our 29 are pretty solid.
- And anti-union?

Management probably has about
the same number tied up.

- So it's 29-29.
- And the swing votes?

Linda Kennedy, Eric Needleman,

- those could go either way.
- We need them both.

What if we got one and they got one
and it was 30-30?

You still lose.
Tie goes to management.

Well, it's up to you.

All of you, really,
to put pressure on these two.

Make your case for unionizing.

I'm glad we are taking the time
to do this today.

We are all on the same team.

Do you realize that we get paid
10 percent less

than staff at other Chicago firms
of our size?

- No, I wasn't aware of that.
- This isn't just about the money.

Hello.

Don't mind me. Carry on.

You were saying that there
are non-financial issues as well?

Yes. It would be nice if we were able
to go see our kids in their school plays

or basketball games, without it
affecting our performance eval.

Alicia, make a note.

Any parent whose kid's playing
Jean Valjean gets the afternoon off.

- Come on, that's not what we...
- We are not discussing solutions.

This is just an introductory meeting
to lay out everyone's concerns.

Yes, let me lay out my concerns.

- David, please...
- You lay out your top three concerns,

and I'll lay out mine.

Okay.
Number one, 7 percent pay bump.

That still puts us
below the other big firms.

Two, we would like to vest in the
retirement plan in three years, not five.

- Never gonna happen.
- Can you at least hear us out?

Why don't you go to another firm
to hear you?

Are you kidding?
Did you just threaten...?

To fire Margie? Yes, I did.

She's only been with me
for 11 years.

You, I barely recognize,

so if you wanna go first,
or anybody else,

step right up.

If you terminate Margie,
we'll all go on strike.

You can't go on strike.
You're not unionized.

Then we'll vote to form a union.

You can barely
get my lunch order right.

- How are you gonna organize...?
- Everybody, please just calm down.

Calm down.

Eighteen? Oh, my God,
they're gonna draft you any day now.

How sad is that?
You can get drafted at 18,

- but you can't drink till you're 21.
- I can buy cigarettes.

- That's progress.
- And porn.

- Oh, good. A healthy conversation.
- Ha, ha, ha.

Mom really hasn't gotten a handle
on this whole gift thing.

"Hello, Alicia."

- Mom seems happy.
- Oh, she likes your kids.

Ten years, I've been trying
to get her to see them.

Well, she doesn't like babies.
They get on her nerves.

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

- Why?
- He met with me.

What?

- What does that mean?
- Well, he met with me about polling.

Peter called you up
to meet with you about polling?

Yeah.
He's worried he's not doing well,

but he can't go negative
on Kresteva's sexism

without hurting himself with women.

- What?
- I'm not sure.

I think I might be wrong about him.

He's sweet, in his way.

Especially now,
he's very vulnerable.

So, what are you two talking about?

Just these wonderful presents,
Mother. Cock-a-doodle-doo.

Ha, ha. I think they're excellent
for psychological role playing.

So I'm gonna give Zach some wine.

- Okay with you?
- No.

Oh, come on.
I let you drink wine at 16.

- I know.
- You know, in Italy,

where they give kids wine
at any age,

there's less public drunkenness
than anywhere in the world.

- You just made that up, Mom.
- No, I didn't. Look it up.

There's less public drunkenness
in Muslim countries

where alcohol's outlawed. Heh, heh.

What's wrong, Alicia?

Peter asked her to renew their vows.

Can we please just have a
conversation between the two of us

without sharing it with the world?

What? I'm the whole world now?

Peter just wants to tie you down.
I know how he works.

No, see, I...
I think we've judged him too harshly.

Oh, since when? What happened?

Don't look at me.
I'm just doing the dishes.

I talked to him,
and I think he's grown a lot.

Oh, you are so easily swayed.

No, I want my sister to be happy.

And I don't want her to be happy?

If you end up with Peter, in two
months, he'll be back with the hookers.

- I'm sorry. Do you want us to stop?
- No, no, this is why I invite you over.

Peter talks to you, I'll talk to Peter.

Mom, you talk to Peter and I'll never
let you see the kids again.

This is my life. Understood?

Good.

I'm not gonna talk to Peter.

Sabrina,
has Eugene Kreskoff arrived?

Sabrina?

Eugene said they worked the swing
votes, Kennedy and Needleman,

for most of yesterday,
but so did management.

Does he have a sense
of which way they're leaning?

Cautiously optimistic,

but wanna make another run
at them.

- We have a problem.
- What?

Kennedy and Needleman, our swing
votes, Blowtorch just fired them.

They can't do that.

Blowtorch knew Linda Kennedy
and Eric Needleman

were the swing votes
the employees needed to unionize,

- and that's why they were fired.
- No, they were fired for cause.

Well, first of all,
good morning, everyone. Heh, heh.

Good morning, Rod.

The two employees that were
terminated called in sick.

But as these videos show,
they were not sick.

These are web-chat videos
showing Needleman and Kennedy

discussing wanting to stay away
from work.

They were sick of being
intimidated for their vote.

Doesn't matter their reason.
This is blue flu.

They faked an illness
to get out of having to go to work.

The company is within their rights
to fire.

Not if the company found out
by spying on them.

Oh, she's right, Nancy.
You can't spy on your employees.

And if they were monitoring
their Facebook pages,

that would be spying.
This was routine monitoring.

Recording their private web chat?

Which were conducted
on company laptops.

Oh. These were company laptops?

That they had in their own homes,

where they had a legitimate
expectation of privacy.

I'm sorry, Rod, but I am feeling
a little bit ganged up on here.

Oh, I'm sorry, Nancy. Alicia, Cary,
could just one of you argue?

Thank you.

The employee handbook
is unambiguous, Rod.

Company-issued equipment
is subject to monitoring at all times.

Yes, and if the company combed

through every e-mail
and web chat that it monitored,

they'd find other violations too.

But they haven't
because this is just pretext.

Blowtorch knew those employees were
the swing votes in a union election.

Which is why they stayed home.

That is not why they were fired.

Thank you.
You've given me a lot to digest.

And again, I think what's best here
is compromise.

Thank you.

- Rod?
- Yes.

- What's the compromise?
- Oh, you get your election

and the company can fire
their employees for cause.

- What do we do now?
- We have a little less than three hours

before the vote.
We need to pick someone off.

- Where are you going?
- To pick someone off.

Can I talk to you?

Charlene,
first let me start by saying,

I regret what happened
between us in court.

You have suffered a terrible trag...

- Just hear me out.
- I'm not changing my vote.

Do you realize how important
this union could be?

Don't you dare play the
your-husband-died-for-this card.

I'm sorry.

Could you just let me in
for a minute?

Okay. Just give me a minute.

- Hello?
- Alicia, hi.

As Miss Peterson's lawyer,
I must ask you to desist.

Close the door.

Uh...

If I agreed to exclusivity,
what would you offer me?

- I don't know.
- Can you beat that amount?

- Is that what you're being paid here?
- Can you beat it?

If not, there's no reason to talk.

I might be able to.
I'll have to talk to my partners.

Kalinda...

I'm not getting in a bidding war
with Lockhart Gardner.

Good to know.

It was a client lunch scheduled
for my usual table at Sabatino's,

but Margie forgot
to make the reservation,

and I had to eat at a table
by the kitchen.

Jenny is doing the same to me. Trying
to show us how important they are.

- Are the clients getting wind yet?
- Not yet.

They will. The staff is rebelling.

I'm sure if we just make one or two
substantive concessions...

- You mean, surrender.
- They're not being unreasonable.

Just because you came up short
for the Blowtorch workers

doesn't mean
you can expiate your guilt.

- Easy, David.
- All right. They see us

spending more on infrastructure,
and they want more.

The problem is precedent. We can't
pay them all more at the same time.

That's why we should fire
the ringleaders.

I'll cap Margie.
You get rid of what's-her-name.

The rest of them will think twice
before they complain again.

First of all, that sets us up
for years of lawsuits.

Then let them sue.
You're management now.

- Start acting like it.
- Wait.

Will, we need to split them up,
don't we?

Let me think about it.

- You rang?
- I did.

If I commit, what'll I get?

You'll be exclusive
to Lockhart Gardner?

If I agree,
what are you gonna give me?

What do you want?

More than that.

- Is this from your imaginary new firm?
- Yep.

I need more, Will.

Well, unfortunately,
we're in the midst of a rebellion,

so any talk of salary increases
will have to wait.

Who's rebelling?

The assistants.

Why? Who were you thinking?

So when can you get back to me
with an amount?

I don't know.

Don't do anything stupid, Kalinda,
like leaving us.

Look, I'm sure you'll be fine
with Robyn and the support staff.

They're all family.

Was it your intention,
Miss Peterson,

after receiving the $4 million
in company stock,

to continue working at Blowtorch
as a coder?

I'm sorry, Rod. Objection.

If Alicia is intending to use
Miss Peterson's recent absence

during this time of grieving
to argue

- she's no longer an employee...
- I'm not arguing that at all.

Oh. Well, then objection...
Well, let's not say "overruled."

Let's just say it's delayed. Heh.

This is a copy of Blowtorch
corporate bylaws.

Could you please turn to page 63

and read paragraph 2-A,
Roman numeral four?

"Any employee or non-employee
owning a minimum of 5 percent

of the outstanding common shares
of company stock

shall be entitled to a voting seat
on the board of directors."

And given
that at the market's close today,

Blowtorch was worth
a little less than $77 million,

well, I'm sure you can do the math.

I see.
So she's a director of the company?

Yes, Rod, which means she fits
the NLRB definition of management,

- and therefore cannot vote.
- Alicia...

- that's very clever.
- Thank you.

- You're welcome.
- She has not taken her seat

- on the board.
- No, but the day she took the stock,

she was no longer qualified
as an employee

- who could vote in a union election.
- Well, I don't know if that's true.

But it sounds true.

- Rod, may I suggest a compromise?
- No, that's okay. I already have one.

Miss Peterson is no longer eligible
to vote.

And the election is to go forward
without her.

Kresteva is currently ahead
of your husband with female voters.

Do you think they see in Peter
something they do not trust?

I think it's because the press
has been more interested

in Peter's past failings
as a family man,

for which he has long since atoned,

then they are
in Mike Kresteva's present ones.

"Kresteva's present ones."

That's an interesting idea.

What is it you mean specifically?

Running a political campaign
is not a one-man show.

For every candidate out there
giving speeches and kissing babies,

there's a spouse,
who's doing everything else.

If everything is perfect, it is still
tremendously hard on that spouse.

And if it's not...

If it's not, what?

Do you wanna draw a comparison

between Mike Kresteva
and your husband?

Mike Kresteva
is struggling with alcoholism.

It's a serious disease.

- Did you talk to her?
- No, this is her.

But instead of prioritizing his family
and dealing with those issues,

Mr. Kresteva has chosen to throw
himself into a political campaign.

If voters are asking themselves,

which candidate is more,

truly more committed
to women and families,

it's my husband, Peter Florrick.

I know it now,
and I've always known it.

Hard to believe she can
say that with a straight face, isn't it?

- Miss Loy.
- Please call me Veronica.

Okay.

Are you here to see David Lee or?

No, I just saw him, thank you.

Actually, I was looking for you.

Is there something
I can help you with, Veronica?

Yes, as a matter of fact, there is.
Do you love my daughter?

- I'm sorry?
- Because if you do,

it's time to stop being polite about it.

You have a window, but it's closing.

That schmuck of a husband of hers
wants to renew their vows.

And I know my daughter.

If she does that, you're never
gonna pry her away from him,

so you've got to move now.

It's very nice to see you again,
Miss Loy.

The vote is 29 to 28.

In favor of, um?

Oh. In favor of unionizing.

- Thank you both so much.
- Congratulations.

All right, all right, everyone,
settle down there. Have a seat.

With this election certified,

this union becomes
the authorized bargaining unit

for member coders at Blowtorch.

Let the contract negotiations begin.

I'm sorry, Rod,

I don't think that Blowtorch will be able
to participate in those negotiations.

The company's been sold.

- My goodness. Really?
- Sold to whom?

I think you know the buyer,
actually. ChumHum?

They really wanted Blowtorch

for the intellectual property
and not the employees,

so it's a good thing
they got it so cheap.

Did you encourage
all the union talk at Blowtorch

in order to drive the price
of the company down?

- What?
- You brought the case to us.

Yes, but after I brought it,

did you drive the price of the company
down for ChumHum?

- No.
- So it's just a coincidence

that ChumHum bought it?

I don't know what it is,
but we didn't do anything wrong.

Business just does
what business does, Alicia.

And we're now running late
for a partners' meeting.

Good.

Ah, the executive committee
has arrived.

How is it going?

I've presented our plan
to the partnership,

and I think we've come
to a consensus

on how to handle
the clerical rebellion of 2013.

Before anyone gets fired,

I'd appreciate being able to speak
on behalf of the assistants.

We had another idea
on how to handle this.

In addition to their responsibilities
supporting you and David,

Lorna and Margie have both
been appointed staff coordinators.

While I'm sure we're both gonna miss
their friendly faces around the firm,

we're allowing them
to telecommute three days a week.

You asked us to listen,
so we listened.

This is what they wanted.

- And the other employees?
- We'll get to them in time. Baby steps.

You bought off the ringleaders.

We handled the problem in a way
that protected us and satisfied them.

It's what management does.

So on to the next order of business.

This case based on...

Whoa. Don't come on this bus
unless you have good news for me.

I have good news.

I did some polling after the interview.

- Suburban, exurban.
- Across the board.

Kresteva's lead just got erased.

It's a dead heat.

It was your interview
with Charlie Rose that did this.

Hey.

You promise me that you will never
put me through the same thing again.

Alicia,

I promise.

Then, yes.

I would love to renew our vows.

Let's do it, then.

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