Billions 4x6

1. Previously on Billions...

2. If the only way I could eat this pizza

3. was naked in the middle of Times Square, I would.

4. Problem is, you'd be sure to undress me, too.

5. You doing this here?

6. You did it.

7. We're gonna need to work out a visitation plan.

8. Figure out what's best for the boys.

9. We'd probably move.

10. They're not going anywhere till college.

11. I'm here to ask you to honor your promise to me:

12. that there was no favor you'd refuse.

13. You know I'm committed to my government post

14. as the Secretary of the Treasury.

15. But, I do like to keep an eye peeled for opportunities.

16. A proposed business?

17. Yes. Lattice grid fins.

18. Your white whale.

19. It's all you say it is, Dad.

20. Let's do something with this.

21. There is no available burial plot.

22. Who snaked me?

23. How's this: The plot is yours.

24. If you take immediate occupancy.

25. A very interesting set of permits just got expedited.

26. The beneficiary? One Charles Rhoades, Senior.

27. There it is.

28. I'm sorry to have seen Chuck's press conference.

29. I can imagine you could use some support right now...

30. So, would you like to? Talk?

31. You know, the speakeasy is an American tradition.

32. But for now, this one is just for my friends.

33. Enjoy.

34. Thank you, Nicholas.

35. The idea is: When you're inside a speakeasy,

36. you're invisible to the outside world.

37. And can be exactly who you really are.

38. So you thought you'd bribe me with vegan mango rice ice cream?

39. Yes. Is it working?

40. Maybe a little.

41. But since I can be exactly who I want to here,

42. I'm going to be direct:

43. I don't think I should talk to you.

44. I don't think I can talk to you.

45. I don't think I will talk to you.

46. I'm going to eat it in silence.

47. That works.

48. I mostly just want you to listen.

49. I'm sitting on top of the world

50. Many of the guys at Axe Capital try to get me to talk to them.

51. To let them in. Here.

52. But I'm a dispassionate trained professional.

53. So that never happens.

54. But it happened with you.

55. Why do you think that is?

56. Because of the way you listen.

57. It doesn't present as empathy.

58. But I came to understand that underneath that

59. uninflected gaze, that's what's there.

60. You feel deeply.

61. You care deeply.

62. You try to solve all the problems you see.

63. It's what makes you who you are.

64. That's probably right.

65. And that's also why you were the only one

66. who reached out after what Chuck made public.

67. You put your anger, your resentment, aside

68. and you called me human to human.

69. Yet you refused me.

70. I wasn't ready to talk then.

71. To trust you.

72. Still don't trust you.

73. Samesies.

74. But I now know if I don't talk to someone—

75. and not a dispassionate trained professional—

76. but someone who knows my world, knows me,

77. and actually gives a shit... If I don't get it out...

78. I'm gonna end up in a bad place.

79. Does that have liquor in it?

80. It does. Thank Christ.

81. What would Axe say if he knew about this?

82. This has nothing to do with him.

83. So... what then?

84. You don't have to talk about you.

85. Just listen.

86. Help me figure out me.

87. And then, if you need to share anything about you,

88. we find mutuality. But I insist on nothing.

89. I merely ask.

90. Maybe.

91. Okay.

92. Go.

93. Thank you.

94. That's right! That's right! That's right!

95. Ah!

96. - Judge DeGiulio, a word?

97. They call this the beautiful game for a reason.

98. It flows. What kind of man interrupts that?

99. You don't interrupt that. Why would you interrupt that?

100. I-I didn't know you were watching.

101. I've got Inter Milan up a goal here against —

102. Sorry to interrupt your soccer game.

103. Hey, hey, hey.

104. Fútbol in this office, please.

105. If we lose now, you get the blame.

106. I'm here with a sensitive request.

107. Yeah. No need to speak what's all over your face, kid.

108. I'm applying for a wiretap. On Charles Rhoades, Senior.

109. Junior, too, actually.

110. You're asking me if you can spy on

111. the Attorney General of the State of New York.

112. And his father.

113. Sure. Eat it all.

114. Like Big Earl. Whole left side of the menu.

115. Including the Pimlico and the Maryland Fried Chicken.

116. It's not just about my appetite.

117. Yeah, I'm hungry as hell for the Chuck Rhoades special.

118. But this is legit.

119. Rhoades Senior bribed an official.

120. Chuck is a co-conspirator—

121. What do you got in the way of evidence?

122. Uh...

123. FBI observed father and son

124. on the building site in question.

125. You got a family portrait.

126. - Judge— - Mr. US Attorney.

127. Counselor. Bryan. Your request is denied.

128. Now go eat something before you become even more lightheaded.

129. I've got fútbol to watch.

130. Connerty came for a wire on you.

131. Did you grant it?

132. I killed it. As an ordinary matter of law.

133. And I'm telling you

134. as an extraordinary matter of friendship.

135. Now, that's what warms the cockles.

136. How our bond isn't merely that of men who trade in favors but—

137. You got a good one for me?

138. And like that, the cockles go cold.

139. I already did the thing for you. You can owe me. Again.

140. Nope. I can pay now.

141. I've found you a juicy health care case.

142. Politically charged.

143. Just the type that will be cited by the Supreme Court

144. and underlined by law students for years.

145. It's supposed to go to another judge.

146. I'll get it to you.

147. Extraordinary friendship indeed.

148. Hmm.

149. I remember the first time you brought me into your lab.

150. Meant so much to me...

151. You gave me designs the next day to remake it.

152. As you remade this from whatever it was before.

153. My lattice fin.

154. Yes. I had it fabricated from carbon fiber per your specs.

155. And we have an open-source suite

156. for multi-physics simulation—

157. I'm going to need a bigger wind tunnel for final tests.

158. Of course. We'll get it.

159. I always knew I'd make it back.

160. You are back.

161. And I hope better than ever.

162. I will set the meetings.

163. With partners to take this the next hundred miles.

164. And we need to practice good business hygiene.

165. Phones and emails encrypted.

166. Traveling discreetly and indirectly.

167. Got it.

168. But is this paranoia, or is your old boss really—

169. Whatever word you're about to use, the answer is yes.

170. Yes, he is.

171. That's the lab.

172. High tech propulsion.

173. Mason Capital diverted 28 million to unspecified—

174. What are they doing in there?

175. We don't know yet. Well, find out.

176. That's why I'm here.

177. I don't need supervision.

178. Not supervising. Just mixing in.

179. I need to see what I'm gonna destroy.

180. Because believe you me, Taylor wants to destroy us.

181. Yes. But you standing here isn't gonna fix it.

182. Let me do what I do.

183. Maybe find something more befitting.

184. Don't you have a date or something?

185. Matter of fact, I do. Yeah.

186. And quit hacking my calendar.

187. Do you need something?

188. No. Just a new pair of pajamas.

189. The old ones I've got in the guest room are a bit ripe.

190. Take an extra set with you.

191. Since the marital bed is no longer providing succor—

192. You traded that for your new job.

193. You have to live with that.

194. I'm not sure I can.

195. I'd like your permission to see someone.

196. A professional.

197. A dom?

198. I'll think about it.

199. Chuck! Did you do that yourself?

200. Okay.

201. Jesus. Okay.

202. I can?

203. Yes.

204. Thank you.

205. I think this will help.

206. I'll find a place.

207. No.

208. Someone will follow you there. I can't have any—

209. I can't have even one more story about this.

210. If you have to do it. If you can't hold out.

211. Do it here.

212. Have her dress in a way she looks like

213. it's a sports massage or personal trainer.

214. I'll take the kids out.

215. Thank you.

216. It's fine. I mean it's not fine.

217. It's fine.

218. Now go to your room.

219. Victor, this is your wake up call, pal.

220. I have some ideas I want to hit you with—

221. Can I call you back? I can't really talk right now.

222. What's more important than me?

223. Nothing. Just not a good time, Axe.

224. Call you soon.

225. Orrin.

226. Strange things are afoot at the Circle K.

227. Get Spyros.

228. I want you to do a quick but deep dive

229. on potential trouble in Victor land.

230. Kappa Beta Phi.

231. They're opening their books.

232. Oh. You're finally getting made.

233. Along with such vaunted names as

234. Bloomberg, Langone, Paul Tudor Jones.

235. Well. They're lucky to have

236. your silky tenor and rough-hewn liver.

237. I know you don't care about Wall Street's elite fraternity.

238. You are above it— like a god.

239. But I am in it— like a demigod.

240. I'm happy you're happy.

241. - Your gut was right.

242. What I wouldn't give for

243. a gastrointestinal tuning fork like yours.

244. Fucking knew it.

245. What's Victor gotten into?

246. More like what has he gotten himself onto...

247. and that is the radar of my old compadres at the Commish.

248. SEC is looking into Victor for insider trading—

249. tied to a research firm called Mark to Market Analytics.

250. Whole host of offenses they can fine for,

251. and the US Attorney can toss him in a cell over.

252. They will peck where there is blood.

253. And sooner or later...

254. I need to talk to Victor.

255. Sooner.

256. Kappa Beta Phi?

257. Count one Ari Spyros jelly AF.

258. We struck some ore.

259. Could be base metal, could be gold.

260. Oh?

261. We've been fine-tooth combing official travel records

262. for our esteemed AG.

263. Jeffcoat went to Chile. Official business.

264. [T.] But on the way back, his plane made

265. an unplanned stop to refuel... in the Cayman Islands.

266. Juicy spot for financial misdeeds.

267. Tax evasion, money laundering...

268. We'll get into it. See if Jock—or his money—

269. paid a visit to any banks while in country.

270. Do it. This fucker— and his minion—

271. hate that I'm in this office.

272. Will stop at nothing to remove me.

273. So I need to fire first.

274. Thank you both for picking up the cause.

275. Your blood feud is not my cause.

276. Why are you here if you don't want to get Jock?

277. Oh, I want to get him.

278. For all the reasons that don't matter to you.

279. Understood.

280. And still appreciated.

281. My uncle used to take me here.

282. Cabbie joint.

283. They know how to eat. Mm.

284. Tell me about Mark to Market Analytics.

285. Shit.

286. I didn't cooperate with the Feds.

287. Not a word.

288. I know. That's why I'm here.

289. So tell me what you didn't tell them.

290. I thought I was supposed to keep the gray stuff

291. far away from you. You failed.

292. So now I need to know.

293. Mark to Market's a research company.

294. I pretexted my way in the door

295. and rather than close a deal for their services, I...

296. You swiped their recommended buys.

297. I also skewed the numbers they reported to their competitors

298. so they'd make bad trades.

299. Love the spirit.

300. But that's what's gonna get the government guys

301. firing at you like the end of Bonnie and Clyde.

302. Fuck me.

303. And if the SEC get the US Attorney involved—

304. they're like these cabbies:

305. they don't just want the cheek meat,

306. they'll take your whole fucking head.

307. Okay.

308. What can I do?

309. Don't do business with anyone

310. you haven't known since grade school.

311. And get a law firm on retainer.

312. Hey.

313. I'll make sure this doesn't track back to you.

314. I assumed that.

315. Right up until you said it.

316. We connected with staff at the Cayman airport.

317. Jock never left the jet.

318. And no one ever joined him on board.

319. But there could still be gold in the pan.

320. Staff members recall another Cabinet official

321. visiting on several occasions

322. that do not show up in the official logbook.

323. Then taking a Town Car with tinted windows

324. straight to Banco Esencial.

325. It was Todd Krakow. Treasury Secretary.

326. Wow.

327. Find out who he's doing business with down there.

328. And see what's up.

329. This could lead some strange and thorny places.

330. Where you thrive, Mr. Allerd...

331. I was born in the dark.

332. But, T., you don't need to continue

333. down the path if you don't want to.

334. If we're going to find a way to use Krakow against Jock, I want.

335. Gas up the State jet.

336. Dollar Bill, you've been read into this

337. 'cause you know Victor the best,

338. and 'cause vouchsafed him back in here.

339. Can we count on him to hold the line?

340. Absolutely. Guy's as loyal as John McCain in the Hanoi Hilton.

341. Cut him loose. I hate to say it,

342. but his carelessness has trumped his loyalty.

343. I agree.

344. What we owe to this famiglia isn't just blood,

345. it's sentenza—

346. You can't do it.

347. You're normally the driest-eyed guy in the room.

348. Oh, I couldn't give a fuck whether Victor lives or dies.

349. But you actually can't.

350. I've been reviewing the terms of

351. the agreement with Victor's firm.

352. Rights and responsibilities and—

353. Taylor fucked us.

354. Spacey-style.

355. Sneaky and from behind.

356. What did they do?

357. During their brief reign,

358. Taylor papered the deal with Victor's satellite—

359. - Taylor inserted a term,

360. deep in the definitions,

361. allowing Axe Cap to convert its investment

362. into a general partnership.

363. I co-own Victor's firm.

364. Victor's actions are legally attributable to me.

365. Fuckin' Trojan Horse time bomb.

366. Taylor really knew us. All of us.

367. How the fuck could Taylor just do this—unilaterally?

368. There was a co-conspirator.

369. A co-signer anyway. Mafee.

370. I am gonna grind his bones to make my bread.

371. You are free to work on that.

372. Meanwhile, I gotta put moonlight between me and Victor.

373. The deal is ironclad.

374. This thing can be prosecuted. And will be.

375. It's a Darrell Dunkenstein Griffith slam dunk.

376. Okay. Someone is gonna prosecute him,

377. but it doesn't have to be the US Attorney.

378. Go ahead and call him.

379. You want me to wrestle the case from the SEC,

380. then, basically, let Victor go?

381. Put a conviction on the books. Then justice,

382. or whatever the fuck they're calling it these days—

383. Oh. Still calling it justice—

384. Justice will be done.

385. And then no one needs to keep looking into Victor

386. or anyone connected to him.

387. Sure. Bury the case by lightly burying your old confederate.

388. No jail time. Or not much.

389. Yeah, I can do that. But why?

390. And when is this going to end?

391. Yes. Favors are owed.

392. But I am not your barristerial footman.

393. Fair. And I wouldn't ask if I didn't need.

394. Ok. The State of New York now has Victor Mateo

395. softly, gently, in its sights.

396. The New York State jet just took off for the Caymans—

397. with Chuck Rhoades on board.

398. When your wire got denied, you put out a travel bolo on him.

399. Least I could do.

400. You actually could do less.

401. And you should. Unless you want to fall into

402. the same stuff that got Chuck kicked.

403. - Which is? - Becoming a walking cliché

404. focused on territorial bullshit.

405. Let him have his. We'll take ours.

406. I'm the US Attorney now. I'm taking both.

407. While lattice, or grid fins, are—

408. Improve maneuverability.

409. Higher mach speeds reduce drag and—

410. You ready?

411. For pitching and being pitched to?

412. Call me Babe Ruth.

413. Let you go and an 86-year curse ensues?

414. Something like that.

415. You're nervous.

416. No, I'm— You are.

417. Yeah. Okay, I am. A little.

418. This is big for me.

419. I'll talk the numbers. You'll talk the science.

420. Which you know better than anybody in the entire room.

421. You can't fail.

422. Who's first?

423. His name is Brett Ford...

424. Defense contractor.

425. Sells solar flare shields to NASA.

426. And missile guidance to the military.

427. Jeff Kolanski.

428. He runs— Blackstrup.

429. 50 billion dollar market cap in aeronautics.

430. Yes. And finally Brian Dana.

431. Sharp investor.

432. More focused on startups than the others.

433. From what Taylor's said of their father,

434. he won't be a fan of the defense contractor.

435. So who are they making a deal with?

436. 'Cause we can't do dick until we know that.

437. I'll be monitoring subsequent communication.

438. Anything that tips their lean.

439. Well, then it seems like you have this in hand.

440. Enjoy your preparation for pledge week.

441. I have some work to get to.

442. One other thing:

443. I made Taylor and Wendy at the same location.

444. Not the lab.

445. I know you'd never doubt Ms. Rhoades's loyalty.

446. But in her current emotional state...

447. Monitor that situation even more closely.

448. You came a long way just to talk, my friend.

449. Had you picked up the phone,

450. I could have saved you the trip.

451. Simply told you that Mr. Krakow does not hold accounts here.

452. I've found that the drop-in is better.

453. The element of surprise?

454. Looks like you surprised yourself,

455. showing up in a Super 150s wool suit.

456. Oof.

457. When traveling, always dress for your destination.

458. Indeed I am dressed for my destination.

459. Oh, I'm heading back to New York shortly.

460. Which is why I'm wearing this, and why you ought to be.

461. Are you accusing me of something?

462. Hiding the accounts

463. or, uh, skimming from the accounts?

464. Both? Neither? Who cares.

465. You should be more concerned with the coins.

466. Coins of which currency?

467. Digital coins you have been offering.

468. Forgive me, if I don't understand all the, uh,

469. peculiarities of cyber currency.

470. But without your bank knowing it,

471. you've been using its reputation to burnish these ICO scams

472. and selling them to customers when you know damn well

473. the coins are worthless

474. if they even exist in the first place...

475. You know, I guess I do understand after all.

476. Because for all the ICO mumbo-jumbo,

477. what we have here— is an old-fashioned pig in a poke.

478. And were I to expose that scam,

479. I imagine you would be made an example of

480. by the Cayman authorities.

481. And I bet when they roar to life, they are efficient.

482. And we can avoid all that

483. if I tell you about Secretary Krakow's accounts?

484. Telling me? You're telling everybody.

485. Oh, you're coming back to New York

486. and going in front of a grand jury.

487. Today.

488. Mnh. Mnh.

489. It's a shame you're wearing that.

490. Brrr.

491. Cold in New York.

492. Fucking bad ass.

493. It truly is.

494. I'm a bit of a buff about this event.

495. Did you know one year, John Astor

496. and Cornelius Vanderbilt wore the same dress

497. and it was the social scandal of the season.

498. I bet I'll never get the tap on the shoulder.

499. You never know. When I was starting out,

500. my first big boss... he was a former president.

501. You worked for a Grand Swipe?

502. He was bringing me along.

503. Then, after the first time I went to rehab,

504. he cut me loose.

505. My father said I blew it.

506. I'd never get in.

507. I've found I've been carrying this around

508. ever since I got the invite.

509. This is Mr. Wagner.

510. A former Grand Loaf.

511. I dedicate all of this to the day he died.

512. He was so damn disappointed.

513. He'll never get to see me like this...

514. Spyros, Dollar Bill,

515. find whatever greatness lies within you and nurture it.

516. Eventually, it will be seen.

517. You already have your men, waiting to take me, huh?

518. Not his men. Not by a long shot.

519. I am the United States Attorney

520. for the Southern District of New York.

521. You always say the full title Idi Amin-style?

522. Whether or not I do, I am lord of all beasts of this case.

523. I have here a material witness order...

524. Signed by a judge, executed now by the FBI.

525. Mr. Abington, you can go with Agent Dancshazy.

526. We have a lot to talk about.

527. You fucked with the wrong Attorney General.

528. I'll see you—

529. Oh, say it, fucking say it, Chuck.

530. —In court. Goddamned right you will.

531. Great news. All three companies accepted our term sheet.

532. I don't want to do any of these deals.

533. Why'd you have us go through the meetings then?

534. I went with you, because I thought,

535. hey, this is Taylor's area of expertise.

536. But I did not come to New York to do business with strangers.

537. I came here to work with my family.

538. So, like, you wanna pass on everyone?

539. What would make you happy?

540. You. You financing the whole thing.

541. With banks, if necessary.

542. But it's clear to me you don't want to take that risk.

543. You don't believe in the idea strongly enough.

544. In me enough.

545. The smartest thing, the necessary thing,

546. is a strategic partnership.

547. Which brings with it a stronger endorsement of the utility.

548. This is a sign of how much I believe.

549. Enough not to humor you. But to make a plan to win.

550. The only plan I see is the one where you protect your own hide.

551. I'm gonna...

552. Hey, look.

553. From time to time I've been asked to get right

554. with some stuff I didn't fully agree with.

555. And I rolled with it.

556. Because I wasn't the smartest person in the room.

557. I'm always the smartest person in the room.

558. Then I can't help you. Especially if you think that

559. when you're in the same room with Taylor.

560. The four freedoms, as identified by FDR—

561. speech, worship, from fear, from want.

562. That was part of Roosevelt's shpiel

563. to get America into the war.

564. Effective.

565. Appealing to not only our desires,

566. but also to that of which we're most afraid.

567. He knew how to rouse.

568. Which do you think is the more effective tool:

569. appealing to someone's aspirations or their fear?

570. If you want to motivate someone to a specific action?

571. I say: be like Roosevelt and do both.

572. I think that's correct.

573. Thank you.

574. Louis Kahn built this, didn't he?

575. The original starchitect.

576. Before the term was even coined.

577. Yes. He called this: a space of inspired use.

578. But he never saw it come to be.

579. The financing didn't come through during his lifetime.

580. Or even right after. Despite his genius.

581. It was his son, wasn't it? Who brought him back.

582. Made that documentary about him.

583. Yes. It wasn't until the film, years after his father's death,

584. that the world remembered how special he was.

585. I see.

586. The kid—the whole movie is him trying to understand his father,

587. what made him great, what made him distant.

588. It's a search to get to the soul of a great designer

589. and innovator, who happened to be a flawed man.

590. I'm guessing, for someone like you,

591. someone who's always looking for the new approach,

592. the thought of Kahn walking around with plans

593. for something this striking and important,

594. but never saw it built...

595. And it took the child from whom he was estranged

596. to make the world remember.

597. And I thought: I want to see it.

598. And I bet Wendy would like it, too.

599. Here's what I bet.

600. I bet all Louis Kahn wanted was to connect with his son.

601. But that his work kept calling to him,

602. pushing him, driving him.

603. And at a certain point, the gap was just too great.

604. But in the end, the son found him.

605. And showed Kahn's greatness to the rest of the world.

606. I have to imagine that even through the sadness,

607. the time, the mortality,

608. there's a connection now, between them.

609. That's very hopeful.

610. I want you to be right.

611. Helena, I need you to track down

612. some old session notes from storage in the Westport office.

613. All my files for Taylor Mason.

614. - Hey. - Hey.

615. Where have you been? You haven't been very reachable.

616. Three alarm fire. It's all hosed down.

617. All good.

618. I sent Chef Ryan out.

619. Figured it might be fun if we cooked our own dinner.

620. Rolling gnocchi together? Like in Godfather 3.

621. That didn't turn out so well.

622. I refuse to believe that such a thing

623. as Godfather 3 even exists.

624. Salute.

625. So, think about what you want to make,

626. and we'll open a couple bottles while we're prepping,

627. it'll be fun—

628. That sounds like a great start to a night.

629. So, why do I have a hunch

630. that the part after dinner's gonna be even better?

631. Because you know your customer.

632. You know what a C.A.C.O. is?

633. The military thing.

634. It's Casualty Assistance Calls Officer—

635. The ones who notify next of kin when a soldier—

636. So who died?

637. More of a what.

638. The thing I said I could do for you with Victor.

639. You lose another cushy government job already—

640. Far from. No.

641. I am so deep in it, in fact,

642. that my old enemies are drawing down on me as we speak.

643. So, much as I'd like to do you your courtesy,

644. any move I make with Victor will invite scrutiny

645. from the very people you want to avoid.

646. Rather than bury the case, it will mark it with an X.

647. Huh, so I'm collateral damage.

648. Normally I'm the one casually leaving the wreckage.

649. I imagine this feels worse.

650. Both suck.

651. Well. I appreciate you delivering the news

652. promptly and in person.

653. I'm thinking we do some steaks.

654. I make a mean smashed potatoes.

655. Not mashed. I smash those fuckers.

656. You know what, I think you're right.

657. Let's go out. What?

658. Ahh, we don't need to cook. Quick dinner.

659. What happened?

660. You went to the elevator okay and you came back all fucked up.

661. Nothing. I don't want to talk about it.

662. What? Did the fire flare back up on you?

663. Details. Go. C'mon.

664. I said I don't want to talk about it. Fuck.

665. Come on.

666. Why don't we just have a drink or something?

667. This is one of those moments

668. that people get to when they scuba dive.

669. It's 'maximum recreational depth.'

670. You wondering if there's enough oxygen to go deeper?

671. No, you're wondering if you want to go deeper with me.

672. We've been deep.

673. Sure. But that doesn't count.

674. You were married for a long time.

675. For you, talking business—

676. or whatever issue you're having—

677. with a woman is more intense,

678. it's more personal than sex.

679. And you are not ready for that.

680. That doesn't seem right.

681. No. It's not right.

682. But it is true.

683. I'll give you your space.

684. Hey.

685. You ok?

686. The question is: are you?

687. With this?

688. If I said "no" would it change anything?

689. Just do what you have to do.

690. You offered this. You suggested—

691. Kevin! Eva!

692. I allowed it, yes.

693. And now, I am facilitating it.

694. By taking the kids out.

695. But it is not fair to ask me to like it.

696. I'm taking the kids out for the night,

697. so you can have your... personal training session.

698. Thank you.

699. Okay, guys.

700. - Bye, Dad. - Bye.

701. - Bye, Dad.

702. Don't let Grandpa ruin your fun.

703. Words to live by.

704. Mm.

705. So do I call you Mistress Cassie or Goddess or—

706. Unh!

707. Figured I'd find you here.

708. Dad. You are living out your pathology again.

709. If you mean not wanting another thing

710. ripped out from under me, yeah.

711. I think I've been pretty clear about that.

712. That's not the way it happened.

713. We both know it, so it's time to admit it.

714. What?

715. "Worked on a project using company resources.

716. Did not share it with company executives in a proper manner."

717. How did you get ahold of my personnel file?

718. What matters is: I know.

719. My supervisor wasn't capable of understanding it.

720. He would have fucked it up. I was taking it to the CEO—

721. But instead you tried to walk it across the street?

722. I wanted it to find a proper home

723. where it would see the light of day

724. and get the chance that it deserved.

725. And now you're spying on me... and taking their side.

726. I'm not. I'm on your side.

727. I always have been.

728. What if I told you that your company had you in line

729. to be CTO before you did what you did?

730. Are you kidding me? Don't bullshit about that—

731. Would I bullshit about that?

732. We are here now.

733. We can't hide secrets and live on false memories.

734. Not anymore.

735. Hey, kid, what do you say we keep it clean

736. and go it alone for another round?

737. With you funding the next steps.

738. An additional fourteen million, by my calculations,

739. which you'll see back fivefold.

740. Your calculations are inaccurate. And low.

741. And that return is unrealistic.

742. We need a strategic partnership.

743. There are areas, myriad areas,

744. where your wisdom, your smarts surpass mine.

745. That's what I tried to explain to Mafee.

746. But this isn't one of them. Is it?

747. No.

748. So?

749. We go your way.

750. It is hard becoming a new version of yourself.

751. You finally understand me.

752. Sorry, I know an ounce of this

753. probably costs more than caviar but, uh—

754. Jesus, Chuck.

755. It got a little out of hand.

756. It'll be okay.

757. It barely hurts—

758. I'm not worried about that.

759. People are gonna think I did this to you.

760. I'll tell 'em I took up jiu-jitsu again.

761. To plausibly account for these bruises. And future ones.

762. Wait, you plan on continuing with this?

763. Wendy. What I did tonight... I can't live without.

764. And I won't.

765. You never invited me for coffee.

766. Even when we were dating.

767. These days we rarely talk, so...

768. I made a mistake forcing the lockup.

769. So you're releasing the money?

770. No, that stays where it is.

771. But you and the kids can go to California.

772. You getting re-married?

773. New kid on the way?

774. Gonna off yourself?

775. 0-fer-3.

776. Talk to me.

777. We don't do that anymore.

778. We can't.

779. You're merely getting what you asked for.

780. On your timeline.

781. Your way.

782. Suited to your needs.

783. Well, my money, you know?

784. Yeah. I really do.

785. That was wrong and stupid to say.

786. I'm sorry. - But it was true.

787. I don't know what you valued in me.

788. If it was the street smarts or my neighborhood roots—

789. Loyalty.

790. And at some point, you feel like I violated that.

791. Shortly after I did.

792. I was about to say that.

793. I know. I spared us both.

794. Sometimes I wonder: what if you didn't get so rich?

795. What if we lived a simpler life—

796. Nah. There was never going to be a different version.

797. That's not how I'm made.

798. You're right.

799. It's nothing to be sad about, but for some reason I am.

800. Send me a rider saying I can take the kids...

801. and a quarter of the money...

802. wherever the fuck I want.

803. Ooooh, your wife laid into you good.

804. Jiu-jitsu.

805. Just getting the blood going.

806. Well, we've got a scorcher here today.

807. I know in the box score

808. this'll just go down as a motion to enjoin,

809. but I'm looking at a clash of the titans.

810. One of those old-fashioned

811. Sunday afternoon franchise crossovers.

812. King Kong vs. Godzilla.

813. Or maybe Abbott and Costello against the Mummy.

814. Mr. Rhoades, you're away.

815. Thank you, Your Honor.

816. I'd like you to vacate Mr. Connerty's

817. material witness claim against the banker, Mr. Abington,

818. and block SDNY from putting it in front of a grand jury.

819. I'm sure you've got a great answer to this, but... why?

820. Abington is my witness.

821. I found him. I signed him up.

822. Brought him back to these shores.

823. The Feds can't just bigfoot and take what they want.

824. Like you did so many times when you were in that job?

825. These crimes have a nexus to New York State—my constabulary.

826. The underlying financial fraud of... Target X originated here.

827. You can say his name. I closed the court

828. and agreed to seal the record

829. so we can talk about what we're talking about.

830. But he can't. Not really.

831. There are issues of executive privilege here.

832. Going after Treasury Secretary Krakow would involve

833. delving into some seriously protected federal material

834. that Mr. Rhoades does not have access to.

835. And given everything that would need to be redacted,

836. Mr. New York State would be gagged and blindfolded.

837. A position he knows well— —None o' that—

838. I can make the case without any of those concerns.

839. You just want what I have.

840. Is that what this is, Mr. Connerty,

841. the green-eyed monster of jealousy?

842. No. It's wanting something done right.

843. Right for whom?

844. When Mr. Connerty blows this case

845. how will we know it's genuine incompetence

846. and that he didn't bury it for his boss—

847. one Cabinet Secretary covering for another.

848. That sounds more like a Chuck Rhoades tactic.

849. Okay, neutral corners.

850. You both make decent points.

851. And it's fun as hell watching you rock 'em and sock 'em.

852. But before someone's head flies off, I'm gonna rule.

853. Judge, I have more to say—

854. I'm about to rule in your favor,

855. so maybe don't pitch past the W.

856. He's got the federal records and the witness—

857. I think a case in motion should stay in motion.

858. So Mr. Rhoades's motion is denied.

859. Yeah. Yeah, looks like there's a new one

860. darkening right under your eye.

861. Might need Mick to cut ya if you plan on continuing. Huh?

862. The modern thing is that everyone wins.

863. But we win more, right—

864. - Yes. - Mm-hmm.

865. I'm sorry, I tried to—

866. She did.

867. Go.

868. I should have looked at every contract Taylor ever worked on.

869. Dissected every move.

870. Anticipated land mines. But I didn't.

871. And now, this guy Victor—

872. who used to work for me and kind of still does—

873. he could really hurt me.

874. So, you gonna tell me what changed from our last convo?

875. Well, for one thing, I need to solve this Victor problem—

876. And you worked through whatever you needed to,

877. to free yourself up.

878. Helped that it was a prison of my own making.

879. I'd shown myself in.

880. I knew the way out. Clean.

881. And this isn't.

882. But I like messy.

883. 'Cause it gives me something to clean up.

884. I take control instead of the mess controlling me.

885. You're right.

886. I should've been talking to you about this

887. from the very beginning.

888. Yeah, true.

889. But you can tell me now...

890. You will not sit with the SEC.

891. You don't need to anymore.

892. I cleaned up your mess:

893. I purchased Mark to Market Analytics

894. for a sickening premium.

895. And with it, the silence of the CEO—

896. who will not be cooperating with the government.

897. But remember this,

898. when you look back on this time at the end of your life,

899. it was me who carried you.

900. Thank you.

901. Fuck you.

902. I now own a research firm I never wanted.

903. And your ass.

904. You're going to work off the debt.

905. If you want more of my firm—

906. You no longer have a firm.

907. Your fund has lost its utility and is done.

908. You're now back at Axe Cap, where you will work

909. like a fucking sharecropper to clear your tab.

910. Welcome back.

911. Some things have changed, but—

912. Who's that?

913. Victor Mateo.

914. Hey, rock star. What do you do here?

915. Earn.

916. I noticed a new addition to my docket.

917. That health care case begging for

918. some high-profile, DeGiulio-made law.

919. That— and a fondness for beer—

920. will light your path to the highest court in the land.

921. Loving every step of the climb...

922. You think Connerty knew

923. we were throwing that Krakow case to him?

924. No way he knows I want him to have it.

925. Men seldom realize when things are rigged in their favor.

926. It would require them to have a realistic

927. and limited view of their skills.

928. To be in touch with humility.

929. He doesn't present so humble anymore.

930. Nope. He took that viper home,

931. like it was a Kewpie doll he won at the county fair.

932. And now, he and his boss will go after each other

933. like Serbs and Croats.

934. So I get the same deal as with the other guy?

935. Better. Because you'll get federal protection.

936. Yeah, okay, sure. Yeah.

937. So Krakow would come in, personally, every other—

938. I'm in the middle of the thing.

939. Your thing has to go after this thing.

940. AG Jeffcoat's waiting.

941. In your office.

942. Excuse me.

943. Sorry you didn't make it up here in time to watch me pants Chuck.

944. Well, as indelible an image as that must have been,

945. you've had your fun.

946. Rest assured, I'm now turned to the matter at hand.

947. Krakow.

948. You cannot prosecute the Secretary of the Treasury.

949. That's a toxic look for this Administration.

950. Drop the case.

951. Then Krakow goes free... or Chuck gets him.

952. Let Chuck have at— choke on any splatter.

953. You really like getting in there behind the US Attorney's desk.

954. Every desk in the Department of Justice is my desk.

955. I didn't take this job so you could run me

956. like your goddamn remote control butler—

957. You didn't just take this job.

958. You dirty tricked your way into it,

959. you stepped over a damned corpse for it—

960. You're the one who knifed him.

961. And you said it was so this place could run different—

962. no more petty politics.

963. Petty? We are talking about the parapet

964. around the fortress of Good and Evil, you foolhardy child.

965. Cocksucker.

966. All right. You are right at the line now, son.

967. Chuck.

968. This — This is what he wanted.

969. A hint of misconduct from protecting a cabinet member,

970. and a wedge between us.

971. He knows you well enough to know you'd come down like this—

972. And you well enough to know that you couldn't abide.

973. But turns out...

974. I can.

975. I will drop the case. Immediately.

976. We will stay in lockstep and our focus will remain

977. where it should— on blunting Chuck Rhoades

978. and knocking him out of office.

979. Maybe this desk really does belong to you after all.

980. - Hi. Gia, Benjamin. - Welcome to our club.

981. Thank you.

982. Michael Wagner.

983. Maybe it's just under Wags.

984. I'm a neophyte.

985. Not seeing it.

986. I have the invitation right here—

987. Say gorgonzola.

988. Oh, you're gonna look pretty in Page Six.

989. Nussfaur. You sent this.

990. For you to endure the humiliation, Wagner.

991. Not of wearing a dress, but of being an interloper.

992. A trespasser.

993. A buttinsky.

994. A social climber who has to watch the ladder pulled up

995. right in front of your grasping, outstretched arms.

996. You are making enemies you cannot fathom

997. by deputizing KBP

998. in your little True Grit revenge fantasy.

999. You think this legal eagle would proceed without my blessing?

1000. The fucking Grand Swipe is in on this?

1001. We're homies.

1002. Ordered the invite myself.

1003. Which is the only invite you'll ever receive.

1004. You're not getting in, Wagner.

1005. Not today.

1006. Not ever.

1007. My vengeance will come like I do—

1008. slow, thunderous,

1009. and in your eye.

1010. And I just got confirmation.

1011. Brian Dana has countersigned the revised term statement.

1012. We are official.

1013. - Wow. - Hey, congratulations,

1014. - Mr. Mason. - Congratulations.

1015. Dad, tonight's a celebration not just

1016. of the quality of your invention,

1017. but the new breadth of your thinking.

1018. I will take that as a genuine compliment,

1019. not a backhanded one.

1020. As intended.

1021. Well, that's my cue.

1022. Good luck with the kickoff meeting in the a.m.

1023. You know what, I should walk out with you.

1024. Get home and start the prep on that.

1025. Ohh. Exciting new chapter.

1026. Proud of you, Dad.

1027. I bring you a case and a witness.

1028. Ooh.

1029. Krakow?

1030. Ah.

1031. Well, that must be frustrating—

1032. working at a place where cases come and go so strangely.

1033. No, funny thing— I'm used to it.

1034. Uh huh. Yeah.

1035. Except when I made these moves,

1036. you knew there was a greater plan, a greater enemy.

1037. You don't feel that way now.

1038. Oh. You're worried what's going on is small.

1039. And that it will make you small.

1040. That banker is over in your interview room.

1041. Enjoy him.

1042. You've earned it.

1043. Karl!

1044. What do I do with this banker now?

1045. I didn't want 'im in the first place.

1046. If I know Chuck Rhoades,

1047. he's gonna take the offcuts,

1048. grind 'em up together,

1049. and make 'em into something Jock can't stomach.

1050. Oh. Hey Mafee.

1051. This is a great place.

1052. Yeah, it's my nightcap slot.

1053. You come in here?

1054. I'm meeting an old friend. She picked it.

1055. Okay...

1056. This doesn't need to be so uncomfortable.

1057. People take jobs and they still talk.

1058. Axe wasn't my first boss, probably won't be my last...

1059. How's yours?

1060. Lot going on, you know—

1061. With their dad in town...

1062. Facebook.

1063. They're working on something together?

1064. Sounds sweet.

1065. Right. Yeah.

1066. Could be big too.

1067. Sure, big corporate partner, and all.

1068. More of a startup vibe, but yeah, big player.

1069. So what are you doing for fun these days?

1070. Going to Mey-hee-co next month.

1071. - Mm. - Gonna try some surfing—

1072. - They — - Oh. Shit.

1073. My friend had a problem with the babysitter.

1074. Looks like I'll be going there instead of enjoying this place.

1075. Don't ever have kids.

1076. I'm just kidding.

1077. They're the best. You should have a bunch.

1078. And have a great night.

1079. No communication from anyone in the Taylor clan.

1080. They're locked down.

1081. Still don't know who they're jumping into bed with—

1082. Ah. Looks like Cinderella had a rough night.

1083. It's the startup.

1084. Brian Dana. 375Y.

1085. Yeah, that's the one.

1086. I've been running a side mission...

1087. I was hoping that was the case.

1088. Well, now that we know 'who' Mason is in business with,

1089. we watch them build it.

1090. Then, we take it out.

1091. No.

1092. Not enough. They can come back from that.

1093. No?

1094. Well, you know the family topography. What then?

1095. Taylor needs to be the one to crush it.

1096. That will be the most devastating blow.

1097. The weight of that betrayal...

1098. they—plural, both of them—

1099. will never come back from that.

1100. Enter.

1101. Urgent or secret?

1102. When you approach a judge this late,

1103. your cause is one of the two.

1104. I'm here to apply for a wiretap.

1105. On Chuck Rhoades, for public corruption.

1106. You know, you shouldn't go shopping for judges

1107. like in-season stone fruit.

1108. Your request was already turned down by Judge DeGiulio.

1109. The relationship between the good judge and Mr. Rhoades

1110. is all the more reason why the wire is needed.

1111. You know I hold Chuck in low regard.

1112. You also know that you couldn't appeal to that.

1113. At least, not that alone.

1114. Well played.

1115. You have your wire.

1116. Hey.

1117. We— please, Wend, can we just talk.

1118. I know that we can find our way back to—