Damages s05e08 Episode Script

I'm Afraid of What I'll Find

Previously on Damages I got some stuff about how the military's handling soldiers with PTSD.
Any chance you could introduce me to McClaren? The administration just wants to know if you'd consider it.
I'm flattered.
We're talking about the fucking U.
S.
Supreme Court.
You're goddamn right you should be flattered.
I just thought you should know that he wants to talk to you.
You look so much like your mother.
What if I told you I put you in my will? Don't you ever try to contact me again.
I talked to Bruce Davies.
He gave me the name of the guy who was supplying Fund 23 with stock tips.
Helmut Torben.
You heard of him? Never seen him before in my life.
You've been supplying illegal stock tips to Fund 23.
Why is this any concern of yours? We're fucked if this ever gets out there.
You admitted what you tried to do to me.
All this time, you have believed that I would actually try to have you killed? If not you, then who? Pete was fiercely loyal to me.
He may have acted on his own in order to protect me.
Are you there? I need you.
Thanks, Pete.
It's a lot tougher than killing a dog, right? Little lamb When I am through with you There won't be anything left When I am through with you There won't be anything left When I am through with you So, if I understand you, you're saying your former boss tried to kill you.
Tried to have me killed.
Yes.
I I believe she sent someone to do it.
Is this the same attack that you've talked about before? Yes.
Ellen, how can you be sure that your boss was involved? Well, that's the thing.
I got her to admit it.
But later, she took it all back and said she was only telling me what I wanted to hear.
Do you believe her denial? I don't know what to believe.
I want to track down the man who attacked me to prove that she hired him.
- But I realize - What? I'm afraid of what I'll find.
Explain that to me.
Well, for so long, I've held her responsible, and if it turns out she wasn't I-I think I understand now why you've kept this woman in your life.
After everything that happened with David, this attack has given you a purpose.
You know, your rage at her has kept you going.
That's why you're trying this case against her.
If you found out that she had nothing to do with this attack, how would you feel? I-I don't know.
Well, what if you find out she did do it? After she confessed to me and then tried to fuck with my head by denying it? Yeah.
How would you feel? I'd want her to pay.
I'd want to make her feel as vulnerable as I did the night I was attacked.
I'd want her to experience all that pain.
All that fear.
All that humiliation.
And to live with it.
Every day, like I've had to.
Of course, we can't say for certain right now, but we're 90% sure there will be an opening on the court.
They have assurances, Patty, at least one justice is going to retire.
We're looking for people with real-world experience, not just a bunch of robes coming from the bench.
We like that you've been able to play nice on both sides of the aisle and your career is defined by righting injustice rather than party politics.
You're a crusader, Patty, and in this Main Street versus Wall Street climate, that makes you attractive.
Been fighting for the little guy your whole career.
We've got a short list of candidates, and we'd very much like to put your name on it, but we have been burned before.
You know what gets exposed when someone's life is thrust into the spotlight.
It's done.
So there's no point in vetting you if you're just going to say no.
I told Pete to have you killed.
Oh, of course.
You have to understand, uh Ms.
Hewes built an incredibly successful firm from the ground up.
She has tremendous influence and the freedom to try only those cases that interest her most.
Well, that would be very hard to give up.
You confessed to me, Patty.
Yes, it would.
Well, thanks for coming, Dennis.
You know, just being considered is a great honor.
Ms.
Hewes will give this all due consideration.
Well, that's good.
I'm glad.
It was a pleasure to meet you, Ms.
Hewes.
Likewise.
What are you doing, Patty? What? Well, he flew up here from Washington.
You got to give the guy something.
I did.
I gave him my time.
You will consider this, won't you? Sure.
I'll consider it.
Okay.
Wow, you're up early.
You still thinking about that Torben thing? How could I not? Look, I know what Bruce Davies told you, but he's a desperate man facing jail.
How do we know that he's not just pointing fingers, trying to make himself look better? No, we need to take this information to Ellen.
No.
No, we can't.
That's a bad idea.
She's our lawyer.
All right, look, there's some Fuck.
There's something you need to know.
What is it? I lied about Torben.
I do know who he is.
Who is he? He is one of our supporters.
And a very important financial backer for this organization.
Jesus Christ.
Listen, just hear me out.
Right before the Naomi Walling leak, we needed funds.
Torben was very enthusiastic about the cause, and could provide a very healthy influx of cash.
I I didn't know he was wrapped up in Princefield.
No? Why'd you lie to me about him? I don't know.
Just knee-jerk.
I fucked up.
I felt like I'd failed you.
Why would someone who provided Princefield with insider tips also want to fund us? I don't know.
But I can imagine what'll happen to this Web site if anyone else finds out about this.
Torben's a criminal, and we need to out him.
Channing, we are already embroiled in one scandal.
We can't afford to have another.
Once this case is over, then we'll go after Torben.
In the meantime, we can't tell anyone about this, not even Ellen.
All right.
We'll just keep this between us for now.
Why haven't you found McClaren's donors? All right, you see this? This is a full transcript, Bittenhaus Vs McClarenTruth.
org.
Three years ago, tried in Munich Regional Superior Court.
Defamation and slander.
Found for the defendant, our friend Channing McClaren.
And your point is? My point is that the complainant's attorneys tried every goddamn trick in the book to uncover the sources of McClaren's financing.
And? And they found nothing.
And we haven't done any better.
And these lemmings have gone through every goddamn case we can find.
McClaren's got his major donors hidden away behind layer after layer of pixie dust.
Well, the trial's around the corner, and I need to know McClaren's worth so I know how much to ask in damages.
I'm sorry, Patty.
I can't sue him if I don't know how deep his pockets are.
Well, what has Parsons turned over in discovery? According to the financial statements that she submitted, McClaren is virtually broke.
Maybe he is.
Bullshit.
Find out who's funding him and what he's worth.
All right, everybody, out.
All right, that's it.
I mean, somebody's got to say it.
You can ask for all the damages you want, but you ain't got a fucking case.
I've won with less.
Yeah, maybe.
But not without the benefit of a guilty target.
What does that mean? It means I don't believe McClaren is guilty.
All right, maybe he's an egomaniac, and maybe he got a little rough with Naomi Walling in that hotel room.
But I don't really believe that he tried to harm her.
And you got nothing to show that I'm wrong.
Well, I appreciate your opinion.
You know, it's not enough that you're wasting your time, you're risking 30-plus years of your reputation.
You think you can beat Ellen Parsons with nothing, but what if you lose, Patty? What if you lose? Get back to work.
Find out who's funding Channing McClaren.
Channing wants to tell Ellen Parsons about you.
That cannot happen.
It won't.
I've convinced him not to.
Very good.
No, not very good.
Not very good, at all.
You've compromised me.
You know damn well I would never have made this arrangement if I'd known you were involved in that crime.
Calm yourself, Mr.
Simon.
You better not have any more fucking surprises for me.
Don't worry about it.
There's nothing else.
We are still partners, yes? Soon, it will be over, you'll get everything that was promised to you.
Tell Mr.
Herreshoff I'm not pleased.
I'll tell him, but he will not care.
Well, he should care.
I can still pull the plug on this whole thing whenever I want.
For someone in your position, making threats is very foolish.
You confessed to me.
I told you what you wanted to hear.
If not you, then who? Pete.
He may have acted on his own in order to protect me.
Mrs.
McKee.
I'm surprised to hear from you.
Is everything okay? I found something in Peter's closet.
It has your name.
Did he ever explain these to you? No.
If Pete did anything bad, it was for Patty.
Because everything he did was for Patty.
You okay? Just need some air.
Oh, Patty wants another list of McClaren donors.
Hello? Hello, Mrs.
McKee? It's Ellen Parsons.
Hold your horses.
I don't move so good.
Yeah? - Hi.
- Uh-huh? It's Ellen Parsons.
I brought some pastries.
Oh.
Yeah, that thank you, that Come in.
Thank you.
Careful.
Thank you.
Don't trip.
So how are things at Hewes & Associates? Patty is well? Actually, a little after Uncle Pete passed away, Patty and I kind of went our separate ways.
Ah, yes.
Patty is very demanding boss.
Yes.
She was.
Last time I saw you, Mrs.
McKee, you gave me this.
At the time, you said something and, um, I've been wondering about it.
What did I say? You said, "Everything that Pete does is for Patty.
" I say this? Yeah.
Do you remember why? No, I'm sorry.
I I don't.
But Peter was always very loyal to Patty.
He loved her like a daughter.
Would do anything she asked.
Patty gave him job, believed in him.
Peter became a different man because of Patty.
I know they were very close.
Yeah, but they did used to argue.
I didn't know that.
Yes, big fights.
About what? Many things.
But also you.
Peter thought Patty was crazy to hire you.
She trusted you too much.
Really? Mm.
Peter saw Patty rely on you more and more.
It was almost like he was, um jealous.
Can I ask you one more question? Uh-huh.
Who is this? Peter had many friends.
Uh no.
I don't know him.
I never saw him before.
I'm sorry.
I wish I could help.
You already have.
Thank you, Mrs.
McKee.
And, uh, if you think of anything else, please give me a call.
Hi.
I'm looking for Ms.
Franklin.
Kate, yes.
Thank you for coming in.
Please.
Sure.
Have a seat.
Can I get you something to drink? No, I'm good.
So you work for Ellen? I do.
But on the phone, you said this isn't about my custody case.
No, I wanted to discuss an unrelated matter.
A client I represent has a proposition for you.
Who's your client? Lyle Hewes.
My grandfather? That's right.
But isn't the guy dead? No.
Although his health is failing, Mr.
Hewes is very much alive.
My mother told me he died when I was a kid.
I'm afraid your mother wasn't telling you the truth.
Mr.
Hewes has asked me to arrange a meeting with you.
Why? He'd like to include you in his will.
Are you serious? I am.
So, if you have an open day this week, Mr.
Hewes was hoping to explain it all to you himself.
So, Davies said Torben was responsible for passing on the illegal tips? He also seemed to think Torben may have killed Samurai Seven.
I have to go to the police with this.
You can't.
Why not? Because we're in bed with Torben.
He is McClarenTruth's biggest donor.
He funded the Princefield leaks.
How was Torben brought in as a donor? Rutger found him.
If Rutger didn't want you to tell me, then why are you here? If Helmut Torben was involved in the insider trading, then he had direct motive to discredit Naomi Walling.
Torben could have leaked her personal information, which would exonerate Channing.
Only if we have proof.
That's why we have to pursue Torben.
It's dangerous.
Torben is very wealthy and powerful.
We have to be careful of men like that.
What are you saying? If what Davies says is true, then Torben has a lot to lose.
But he has no reason to stir up trouble in our case unless I start to target him.
Then he could turn on us.
So let me get this straight.
There's a man out there who has a reason to want to discredit Naomi Walling, everything that Channing is being accused of, and you want to leave him alone? - Gitta - I'm sorry, but I don't understand.
Right now, Patty's case is weak.
The trial is just around the corner.
We can pursue Torben if and when we need to.
But to go after him unnecessarily, it's, it's stupid.
Look who's representing you.
Can you believe this cynical shit? I'm trying to win your case.
Torben is a criminal.
Who donated to your cause.
So? I just don't want to see this whole thing blow up in your face.
She has a point.
Right now, Chris Sanchez is going to be sending you his information.
Focus on that, and let's just keep this to ourselves.
The guys I've seen on the tapes, they have all the symptoms of full-blown PTSD, okay? They can't sleep, they're- they're shaky, disoriented.
These guys are ready to fall apart any second.
But they got redeployed anyway? Within weeks.
And then the shit hit the fan Suicides, friendly fire, abuse of non-combatants.
They're fed a boatload of antidepressants, and then they're sent back in.
And the military? They just buried all of it.
This is very intriguing, but we are gonna need something more concrete.
I can get you interviews.
I can get you medical records, deployment documentation.
I can get you whatever you need.
Well, if you do, then McClarenTruth would love to help you present this to the world.
So, what's the next step? Okay, these are the encryption codes you'll need to upload all the information you can get onto our servers.
And then, then what happens? You guys do what? Well, we sort through everything, clean it up, and post it.
Look, I understand your reluctance, Chris.
I can assure you what happened with Naomi Walling, that is never gonna happen again.
You don't have to go through with this, you know.
Are you sure you're okay with it? Look, I don't want to fuck up your case or anything.
Actually, I-I think it could do the opposite.
It could finally focus some positive press on McClaren.
But I But what? The information you're giving them is classified.
You broke the law to get it.
Those soldiers need this.
Somebody's got to get their story out.
I just want you to think about it.
The air's colder than a ditch-digger's ass.
Feels nice.
You sure it's okay for you to be out here like this? Course it is.
You got a cigarette? No, sorry.
Good of you to come out here like this.
Thanks.
How long you known about me? A long time.
Sure.
See, your mom and me, we don't get on.
So I never had a chance like this.
She told me you were dead.
Can't trust Pat.
Never could.
Always making mountains out of mouse piles.
Nothing but an ungrateful cunt.
Jesus.
She's your daughter.
I read your interview in that legal magazine.
That's why I wanted to see you.
Yeah, I'm interested in hearing about this proposition of yours.
I'll tell you all about it.
How far away is this place? Relax.
We'll be there soon enough.
Oh, is she a happy one? And she'll have her wings.
Hello? Yeah, sure.
One second.
It's for you.
Hello.
Patrick? Yeah.
It is Stefania.
Mrs.
McKee, how are ya? Very well, yes.
Good, I'm glad.
Is something wrong? Patrick, a woman come by asking for you.
What woman? A lawyer.
What did she say? She show me your picture.
She wants to know who you are.
I see.
I tell her nothing.
I thought you should know.
Well, thanks.
I appreciate you getting in touch.
Is everything okay? Yeah, sure.
Nothing to worry about.
Thanks for your call, Mrs.
McKee.
I'll talk to you soon.
Who was that? Just an old friend.
It looks like I have to go away for a few days.
Got some business back in New York.
So, uh, this is where my mom grew up? That's it.
What was she like as a kid? Weak, needy, scared.
You sure this is my mom you're talking about? She always shied away from a fight.
Afraid of her own shadow.
That's why I took it on myself to toughen her up.
That's why she hates me.
But it worked.
Maybe it worked too well.
Look at her now.
You're saying you made her what she is? Of course I did.
I'm her father.
Michael, did you ever meet your grandmother? I'm not sure.
I don't remember her.
Well, years ago, uh, she and your mother brought a lawsuit against me.
They conspired to take away everything that I had.
Well, um, Kate was my lawyer, but Pat beat us.
And I lost it all.
Including the land? Well, I-I-I barely managed to hold on to that.
I'm still a part owner with with, uh, her.
And she went to the judge and convinced him to make her cotrustee.
What does that mean? Means that I can't do anything without going to her.
You okay? Here.
I'm going to be gone soon, Mike.
You're the last male Hewes.
I-I-I want you to have all this.
I want you to have the the land and the house.
Everything.
My mother's not going to go for that.
Then convince her.
In the magazine interview, you talked about how she tried to wrest away custody from you.
And? You don't want to be a father, Michael.
Trust me.
You go to her, you make a bargain.
What do you mean? The kid.
You trade her the kid for the land.
Are you crazy? No, I'm not.
Children are ingrates.
They go away.
They never do what you want.
But the land the land is a constant.
It's always here for you.
Five years ago, we searched Patty Hewes' apartment after you said that you were assaulted, and we found nothing.
I mean, no body, no evidence of struggle, nothing.
Because someone cleaned it up.
Look, we don't doubt your account.
It's just, we haven't been able to corroborate it.
So, is my file closed? Technically, no.
Okay, but without any evidence or a a crime scene, there's not much that can be done.
I have something I want to show you.
I found it in the evidence box you gave me.
I think this is the blood from the guy who attacked me.
Can you test it for DNA? Please, I need you to test this.
Just see if it's in the system.
You're a lawyer you must understand that there are protocols.
What's the worst that could happen? That I'm wrong and that it leads nowhere.
We can't do that.
We can't just start sending things to the lab.
Look, a man tried to kill me.
I want to know who he is.
You lied to me.
Your father's alive.
You told me he died years ago.
I assumed he did.
My mistake.
What are you doing here, Michael? I need your signature.
What is this? My inheritance.
Your father's attorney got in touch with me.
I don't want you to have anything to do with my father or that land.
It's a little late for that.
I already hung out with Grandpa.
Don't call him that.
Cute house you grew up in.
He took me to it.
Well, as soon as he's dead, I'm going to sell the house, the land, the whole goddamn place.
He assumed you'd be resistant.
You should know better, Michael.
My father is using you.
He only reached out to you in order to get to me.
You're giving him too much credit.
He's a crazy old man.
He's harmless.
You have no idea.
Come on.
Couldn't have been that bad.
If this land stays in the family, then it-it will give Catherine roots.
Whatever hostility you have towards me or your father, don't hold it against her.
Sign it.
- Three - Is it working? I'm about to find out.
No, sir.
No, sir, I guess I do not feel ready for combat, sir.
Duly noted, Corporal.
I'm going to have the nurses over there start you on a course of medications today that will get you feeling better.
And then you'll be good to go.
No, I'm not good to go, sir.
Take the pills.
You'll see.
They'll change your outlook.
You don't understand.
Please, I can't go back.
I'm not good for my guys like this.
Soldier, take the meds.
You'll be fine.
Am I clear? Yes, sir.
Good.
I'll check on your progress in a few weeks.
Look, sir, if if I could just talk I have to talk to another patient now.
Good day, soldier.
Here's how it's going to work.
You eat here, you sleep here, you shit here.
However long it takes.
You'll work in pairs.
No one in or out until we're done.
We're air-gapped.
No Wi-Fi, no Internet, nothing.
You'll hand in your phones, your tablets, and when we're finished, I'll search you again.
No data leaves.
And absolutely nothing is posted unless I do it myself.
If anyone has a problem with any of this, you can leave now.
No problem, man.
I'm in.
Good.
Pick a partner.
All the encrypted data's on here, read-only.
Want everything gone through with a fine-tooth comb.
Every document, every video.
All personal information redacted, all faces obscured.
No mistakes.
Hi.
I ordered already.
I was starving.
I'm afraid I couldn't wait.
How dare you go behind my back.
Michael is my son.
If I wanted him to meet his grandfather and see where I grew up, I would have taken him myself.
Lyle is my client.
I was acting as his lawyer and serving his wishes.
Lyle, your client, whatever the fuck you want to call him, was an evil prick.
He is dying, Patty, and he is trying to make amends.
There is no possible way for him to make amends.
I'm sorry that he abandoned you and your mother.
That must have been horrible.
Patty, you have already made your point.
You sued him.
You beat me in court.
You wiped him out.
You took everything he had.
So why are you still clinging to all of this hatred? What is the point? There is no point.
Hating him is enough.
Stay away from my son.
Come on, man.
You've scoured everything.
It's been 68 hours.
Just push the fucking button.
Oh, beautiful.
Okay.
Here we go.
McClaren's on every front page.
A new leak.
Yeah, a big one.
He's got the military by the balls, and now he's getting more ink than that Armenian girl with the big tuchus.
Ellen's making a name for herself.
The fact is, the trial's less than two weeks away, and now she's making McClaren looking like a goddamn white knight.
I'm not worried.
She still has to hand over a list of his donors.
Front page on all of them.
Oh, beautiful.
Just what we wanted.
You happy? That's good work.
Both of you.
You bring what we asked for? McClarenTruth.
org's complete financial history of the last seven years.
I'll send you an electronic copy as well.
We asked for a list of all of McClaren's donors.
They're all in front of you.
There's a name missing.
What name? Helmut Torben.
To my knowledge Mr.
Torben has had no involvement, financial or otherwise, with McClarenTruth.
org.
Then your knowledge is limited, isn't it? Well, doesn't matter.
I've filed a request for all the information pertaining to contributions made by Mr.
Torben to your client.
If you don't hand it over, I'll have you thrown in jail for contempt.
Mr.
Torben is quite a wealthy man.
I'll be basing my request for damages on his very deep pockets.
I'm surprised as you are, kitten.
Hey, what the hell was that? It's called leverage.
Yeah, I know, I know that, but where did it come from? How did you conjure up Helmut Torben? I made an arrangement.
With who? With You were right.
Ellen Parsons intended to hide what she knows about Helmut Torben.
I only gave you this information, because I know that Channing did not hack Naomi Wailing's personal e-mails.
But I do believe that Torben had something to do with it.
Well, I'm not interested in going after an innocent man.
If Torben is truly the guilty party behind all this, I'll make sure he's prosecuted for it.
You've taken quite a risk in telling me about Torben.
The biggest risk to our organization is if Channing's reputation is destroyed.
Nothing else matters.
Ms.
Novak? Rutger Simon runs the business end of the organization, is that right? Yes, that's right.
He does.
So, if anyone made a mistake taking money from Torben, it's Mr.
Simon.
Absolutely.
Channing isn't responsible for any of it.
Oh.
Oh-oh-oh.
Oh.
What a nice surprise.
After you called, I thought, it's been too long.
Ah, yes.
I had some business in town, so I thought I'd stop by and say hello.
Come, come, sit.
I have some pastries I get for you.
So, uh, how are things at the church? You still involved like you used to be? No.
The new Monsignor is asshole.
I left Ellen Parsons' card on the table.
Thank you for this, Mrs.
McKee.
Of course.
You help me, I help you.
We got a DNA match.
You get a hit? Yeah, this knucklehead's pulled a lot of crap, but it's all low-rent.
Mostly theft.
His name's Patrick Scully.
Attempted murder seems way out of his league.
We checked his last known address.
It seems he left town several years ago.
And? Well, apparently, he's been clean ever since.
So, there's no way to locate him? Well, we put out a bulletin; if he pops up anywhere, we'll let you know.
I'm sorry, Miss Parsons, that's about the best we can do.
I understand.
Thanks for your help.
Sure.
Hey.
I heard from Michael.
Patty turned him down, I'm afraid.
You look tired.
That trip wiped you out.
You need to sleep.
I need to get that paper signed.
You know, find another way.
Talk to her again.
If she won't sign it, there is nothing I can do.
Well, that's easy for you to say.
You don't know what it's like to You okay? Hey.
Can you hear me? Uh, something's wrong.
Could you, uh, send a nurse in here, please? Well, first we need a new coat of paint.
Yeah, all it needs is a fresh coat of paint.
It's okay, relax.
Just relax.
Oh Oh Uh, I think he lost consciousness.
- I don't know - Hi, Mr.
Hewes? Mr.
Hewes, it's Talia, honey.
Can you hear me? Honey? Can you hear me? Can you step out of the way, please? Sorry.
Get the EMTs right away.
What's going on? Can you step out of the room, ma'am? Please, step out of the room.
Okay, um, uh, he has a DNR.
Yes, we know.
Who are you? Uh, I'm Kate Franklin; I'm his daughter.
It's done.
You confessed to me, Patty.
Patty.
What a surprise.
I want it, Roger.
I'm sorry? The Supreme Court.
I want the nomination.
Call your friend in Washington.
Oh, of course.
Miss Hewes.
When I am through with you There won't be anything left When I am through with you There won't be anything left When I am through with you
Previous EpisodeNext Episode