War (2026) s01e01 Episode Script
It's Done
1
SIMON CAMPBELL:
Please put your hands together
for a man
who has single-handedly
reshaped
the social media landscape,
taking Zephyr
from a scrappy startup
to a multi-million-pound
platform.
-Entrepreneur, philanthropist
-(INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
trophy husband
to a Hollywood superstar.
(GUESTS LAUGH)
SIMON:
The recipient of this year's
Pioneer of the Year Award,
Mr. Morgan Henderson.
-(GUESTS CHEERING)
-(UPBEAT MUSIC
PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS) ♪
Well done.
(CHEERS)
SIMON: Morgan!
(GUESTS CONTINUE CHEERING)
-Thank you, thank you.
-(MUSIC FADES) ♪
-It's a it's a
-(APPLAUSE FADES)
It's a cliché, I know.
It's the tiredest cliché,
um, but your applause tonight
is more warranted
than you so generously pretend
because I'm up here tonight
because of you.
Because of everyone
in this room.
Trusted colleagues,
you know who you are.
-Competitors, you definitely
know who you are.
-(GUESTS LAUGH)
MORGAN HENDERSON:
And don't think I don't know
exactly which tables you're on.
We help each other.
We drive each other on.
And it is, to me,
one of the great
missed opportunities of our age
that social media serves
more than anything else
-to force us apart.
-(PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
To separate,
isolate, to divide.
And if I'm to say anything
half serious tonight,
is that we must find ways
to stop that.
Create as much accountability
for our behavior online
as there exists "IRL."
(GUESTS CHUCKLE)
MORGAN: So clap again,
please, please clap again.
And keep clapping,
whatever table you're at,
not for me and not for you,
but if you agree.
Because we, the people
in this room,
must tackle this.
Change the culture,
just as we changed it
the first time.
Thank you very much.
(GUESTS CHEERING)
(GUESTS CONTINUE CHEERING)
Everyone, thank you.
Enjoy what's left
of the evening.
-ERIC MCDANIEL: Oh!
-GILLIAN POPE: Morgan!
Honestly,
you should be grateful.
My wife says, "Once
you've seen his dancing,
you can never unsee it."
Ruthless. Picks up the gong
and he's out the door.
-Love to Carla.
-Good night.
(UPBEAT POP MUSIC
PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS) ♪
(LIVELY CHATTER)
ERIC: Driver's out front.
I'm I'm gonna walk.
He's been waiting
for you all night.
MORGAN: Yeah, I know. Well,
send him home. I need the air.
-Congratulations.
-Thank you.
Good night.
(INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
(SIREN WAILING IN THE DISTANCE)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(ELEVATOR DINGS)
-(BUTTON BEEPS)
-(MUSIC FADES) ♪
(BUTTON BEEPS)
(LOW TENSE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
(BUTTON BEEPS)
-GUEST: Which floor?
-Fourth.
-(BUTTON BEEPS)
-(DOORS SLIDE SHUT)
(INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
-(ELEVATOR DINGS)
-GUEST: Good night.
-Good night.
-MORGAN: Good night.
-(FOOTSTEPS RECEDING)
-(MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪
I'd say congratulations,
but I worry you've had enough
of that already.
Never let that be a concern.
-(ELEVATOR DINGS)
-(MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪
I'm Flora.
I I don't do this.
Do what?
I mean it.
("OH BABY"
BY LCD SOUNDSYSTEM PLAYING) ♪
So
just say good night.
Good night.
Good night.
-(CARD READER BEEPS)
-(DOOR OPENS)
(MUSIC RISES) ♪
Oh baby ♪
Oh baby ♪
You're having a bad dream ♪
Here in my arms ♪
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
Oh sugar ♪
You came to me ♪
-(MOANS)
-Could all be a bad thing ♪
-(GRUNTS)
-(MORGAN MOANING)
Into the dark ♪
(MORGAN MOANS)
(MORGAN PANTS)
-(SONG CONCLUDES) ♪
-(SEAGULLS SQUAWKING)
(INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
(MORGAN SNORES)
(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS)
(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS)
(DISTANT SIRENS WAILING)
(DIAL TONE RINGING)
-(DIAL TONE CLICKS)
-CARLA DUVAL:
(OVER PHONE) Hello.
Carla?
CARLA: Yes.
It's done.
(CELL PHONE BEEPS)
(MUSIC FADES) ♪
(THEME MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
(MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪
JOHNNY WARREN:
Everything a man needs
to put on his CV should fit
on a single page.
That's just
my personal opinion, Mr. Schill.
Now, if that means
that there's no room
for me to tell you that I speak
five different languages,
or I've mastered the cello,
then, you know, so be it.
To be clear,
that doesn't actually mean
that you speak five languages
or have mastered the cello,
does it?
No. No, no, no.
That was just a
-That's just an example.
-Yeah.
-"The University of Michigan."
-That's correct.
How do we feel about that?
Well, it has a law degree
that rivals anything
at Harvard or Brown or Yale,
but gives great scholarships,
which, Mr. Schill,
when you're a South London kid
from a single-parent family,
it is a factor.
I graduated in 2020.
I was second in my class,
and I was fully intending
on coming back
to London
to take up an internship--
Where?
When I was asked to intern
in Manhattan at Wyatt-Wren.
-Okay.
-I know Elliot Wyatt.
Great, well then,
you'll know as well
as I do that it's one
of New York's standout firms.
I stayed there for three years,
I learnt a lot,
and now I'm back.
-Why?
-(CHUCKLES) Yeah.
Look, Mr. Schill,
in terms of interviewing here
at a firm
as fine as Cathcarts
you're the most senior
that a guy like me is
ever gonna get to meet,
so please, do not let
my modesty put you off.
I'm talented, I'm loyal,
I'm cheaper than I'll admit,
and by working harder than
anyone else in this building,
I will only get better.
So I advise you strongly,
take me on
or I walk across the street
and I get a job over there.
-At the Pret a Manger?
-(CLICKS TONGUE)
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
You dislike me?
No.
JOHNNY:
But you must look past that.
("I'M A MAN"
BY BLACK STROBE PLAYING) ♪
Speak to your colleagues.
Tell them, "I'm gonna
give this guy a month.
A month, that's it,
to prove himself."
There's something about him
you can see, this, uh
It's undeniable.
Mr. Schill.
Do not let me walk
out of that door.
-(DOORS CLOSING)
-I'm a man ♪
-I spell M ♪
-M! ♪
-A ♪
-A! ♪
-N ♪
-N! ♪
Whoa, I'm a man! ♪
(FAINT CHATTER)
(BIKE BELL DINGS)
-Johnny.
-JOHNNY: Gents.
(SONG CONTINUES) ♪
-(DOOR CLOSING)
-All you pretty women ♪
-(UTENSILS CLANGING)
-(COOKS CHATTERING)
(SERVICE BELL DINGING RAPIDLY)
-EMPLOYEE: Hi, Johnny.
-JOHNNY: Demi.
Patrick?
Told you
I'd be an hour, didn't I?
Put that on your timesheet.
I'm a man ♪
-I spell M ♪
-M! ♪
-A ♪
-A! ♪
N ♪
Woah, I'm a man ♪
-(SONG CONCLUDES) ♪
-(LIVELY LAUGHTER, CHATTER)
So? Have you been called
to the bar?
(CHUCKLES) Only this one.
Yes, sir.
Can I pay, please?
Maybe they need time
to think about it.
Well, that's the thing.
-(CARD READER BEEPS)
-Turns out they really don't.
CUSTOMER: Hi, excuse me?
Can we have a menu please?
Sir, enjoy the rest of your day.
(CARD READER CLATTERS)
Table service only, ladies.
If you'd like to take a seat
for me please?
Thank you.
They said no?
They did the lawyer version.
They just didn't say yes.
-What?
-You don't want my advice.
-No, go on, I can take it.
-You can't take it.
-JOHNNY: I can, whatever it is.
-Whatever it is.
You've been here
three months already.
You really want to be a lawyer?
Don't get too good at this.
(RIVETING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
VONNTE ADAMS: Service for 26!
-(MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪
-(DISTANT SIREN BLARING)
(MUSIC RISES) ♪
(PHOTOGRAPHERS CHATTING
IN FRENCH)
Excuse me.
FILM JOURNALIST: So this is
your third movie together?
And the two of you,
so much on-screen chemistry.
Have you built up some kind
of special rapport?
-(HESITATES) Yeah. Um
-(MUSIC FADES) ♪
You know, sometimes, um,
I'll go to ring her,
and then, uh, my phone rings
and it's Carla ringing me.
-Is that spooky or (CHUCKLES)
-It's not spooky, Jeremy.
You're ringing me
to apologize for being late,
but I ring you first, saying,
"Where the hell are you?"
-Meaning you're
the punctual one.
-(WHISPERS) They're early.
-(CARLA LAUGHS)
-Okay.
No, I'm never on time.
He's just--
He's always later than me.
(JOURNALIS
AND JEREMY SAMPSON LAUGH)
Hi.
-I'm Lucy. Nice to meet you.
-Hi.
She's wrapping up
any minute now.
-Okay.
-Just follow me.
-(DISTANT CHATTER)
-(CUTLERY CLINKING)
Water, fruit, tea, coffee.
I'll be right back.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Merci. (CHUCKLES)
-(LUCY CHUCKLES)
-(NICHOLAS TAYLOR CLEARS THROAT)
If it's true and she went ahead
with it, we walk.
We tell her how much we value
our relationship,
hence why we came all this way,
but it's just it's not
how we work.
It's not who we are,
so we cannot represent her.
We're not saying that.
Clients will like that approach
in the long term.
There won't be a long term
if we turn it down.
-It's entrapment.
-SERENA BYRNE: Not by us.
-By our side.
-By our client.
Without our knowledge.
And it's our job
to dig her out of the hole.
We need the moral high ground.
Oh, Nick. We're lawyers.
We need no such thing.
(DOOR OPENS)
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-It's not what we set up for.
-SERENA: A case like this
is huge financially.
-Yep.
-And it could make our name.
-All right. Look out.
-SERENA: Carla, hi.
-Hi.
-(CLEARS THROAT)
-Hi.
SERENA: Nice to see you.
We're so looking forward
to this new film of yours.
CARLA: You are?
You must tell me what it's like.
-Joke.
-(CHUCKLES POLITELY)
Um, we were wondering, Carla,
at the meeting in London,
you suggested something
that we both felt was unwise.
-A young woman you mentioned.
-NICHOLAS: Flora.
SERENA:
We had concerns
about your idea regarding Flora.
So if you haven't already
gone through with that,
-we strongly advise--
-It's here.
There it is.
-The photo.
-Um
This, so you're aware,
is completely underhand.
-It shows he'll never change.
-And it's of no legal value.
CARLA: Well, it's proof.
And it means we can get started.
Prepare the paperwork.
That's what I want.
I knew these things
were going on
when we first got married.
Another time last year.
He denies it, of course.
But I can tell.
I should have never married him
in the first place.
That's what this means.
So you take this photo,
you take this case,
and you take him for every
fucking penny he's got.
And he's got quite a few.
(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
(MUSIC FADES) ♪
(MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING
OVER SPEAKERS) ♪
-(SOPHIE COLE SQUEALS)
-Hello, gorgeous!
-Oh, there she is.
-(DOOR CLOSES)
Coat off, please.
If only so I can steal it
immediately.
-Soph, this house looks amazing.
-Thank you.
-BELLA CROFT: This is Johnny.
-SOPHIE: Hi.
-Soph. Very lovely to meet you.
-Nice to meet you,
nice to meet you.
-BELLA: Oh my God!
-Angus.
-Johnny. Nice to meet you.
-Hi.
-What should I do with, um
-ANGUS COLE: Oh, whatever, mate.
-Um, yeah.
-(JOHNNY CLEARS THROAT)
(LIVELY CHATTER)
ANGUS: And look, don't all look
at me like that, okay?
Just because I work in the city
doesn't mean I'm right-wing.
-Oh, please!
-ANGUS: No, no,
I have, uh, liberal,
uh, leanings.
-(LAUGHS)
-Angus is a liberal at weekends.
But Monday to Friday,
if he's at work--
Or in the back of a cab.
-(LAUGHS)
-Exactly!
Then the truth soon emerges.
Don't try
and influence John, okay?
John knows what I'm talking
about, don't you, John?
I have left-wing credentials.
He knows.
-(GROUP LAUGHS)
-Yeah, Angus is a communist,
isn't he?
(CHUCKLES) Thank you.
I think you might be
the only communist
that buys his shirts
on Jermyn Street though.
-(GROUP LAUGHS)
-(CHUCKLING) Oh my God!
And, uh, what about you?
What does the man that
bestest Bella met in America
-do exactly?
-JOHNNY: Hmm. (CLICKS TONGUE)
Johnny's a lawyer.
-Is he?
-A jolly good one, aren't you?
ANGUS: Are you? Where?
At what-- what firm?
Or can't he remember?
(CHUCKLES)
Angus.
-It's just a question.
-He's weighing up offers.
Um, he's had a meeting
with Cathcarts.
And various other places.
Doesn't want to walk
in the first place
that throws money at him.
-You know?
-ANGUS: Hmm.
I think they'd be lucky
to have you.
-Thank you.
-(ANGUS CHUCKLES)
Whoever they are.
-Fucking hell.
Right, well, uh
-(BELLA LAUGHS)
Listen, I'm gonna go
and smoke this out there.
-That's the Sophie rule.
-Excellent rule.
Everyone is welcome to join.
-DREW: Come on, let's get weird.
-SOPHIE: Right.
-ANGUS: It's been way too long.
-(BELLA CHUCKLES)
SOPHIE: Here we go.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-Now this
-(DOOR SLIDES SHUT)
-This is a classic.
-("RIDE A WHITE SWAN" BY
T. REX PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS) ♪
Ride it on out
Like a bird in the sky ways ♪
-(OVERLAPPING CHATTER)
-Ride it on out
Like you were a bird ♪
Fly it all out
Like an eagle in a sunbeam ♪
Ride it on out
Like you were a bird ♪
-(HORN HONKING)
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(SONG FADES) ♪
Before you say anything,
he is one of my oldest friends.
Yeah, I can fucking tell.
You spent half the night
with him in the back garden.
Half the night. Hmm.
How, uh
How long has he had a thing
for you, then?
-Ang Angus is like a brother.
-Yeah.
-To you, maybe, but not to him.
-Oh, don't be like that.
No, don't reduce me
to some demoiselle
to be fought over.
No.
You do not need to speak for me.
Someone had to say something.
-You said I had job offers.
-BELLA: Because you will.
No, because you're embarrassed
that I don't.
That's-- That's why you said it.
-BELLA: Hmm.
-(PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
We've been back
for three months already
and you're still
in some shitty fucking bar.
Well, it's actually
a very expensive fucking bar.
-Very high-end customers.
-Hmm. Hmm.
Some of the people in there
use the word "demoiselle."
I just haven't, you know,
I haven't heard that word
since I was growing up
in Peckham.
Stop it, Johnny.
I'm trying to be angry with you.
Just saying. People
were always dropping that one
on the Ledbury Estate.
(CHUCKLES)
You cheeky prick.
(HESITATES) "Demoiselle."
(BELLA CHUCKLES)
Fucking hell.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
(CHUCKLES)
(RIVETING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
CLEO HYLAND: Nick
and Serena are ready for you.
JOY "BUDGIE" BUDGE:
Excellent. Thank you, Cleo.
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-(TELEPHONE RINGING)
BUDGIE: Where is she now?
NICHOLAS: Still in Paris,
but London later this week
for the European premiere.
And the photograph?
We're the only ones
who've got it.
-Who-- Who's we? You two?
-BOTH: Yeah.
BUDGIE: Hmm.
You've not sent this
to anyone else?
SERENA: No.
Good. Delete it.
The whole correspondence.
Speak to IT,
make sure it's gone, gone.
Then she needs to send it again
so that you can create
a paper trail to show
that you disapproved
immediately.
Thank you, Budgie.
And Carla must never,
from this day forward,
contact this Flora girl again.
Not till the divorce is done.
Is that clear?
-NICHOLAS: Yes.
Thank you, Budgie.
-SERENA: Thank you, Budgie.
How she obtained this image
is regrettable.
That it exists,
let's be honest,
makes the world a far
more enjoyable place to be.
Someone should be
writing this down.
-Yep.
-(INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
He said he sets an alarm
for the middle of the night
just so he can be the first one
to reply to American emails.
You know, that's how competitive
it is to work there.
One of you,
doesn't matter which.
If you try and race me,
you will look ridiculous.
I say that purely as a friend.
Yep.
(SIGHS DEEPLY) A friend.
BUDGIE: The line is as follows.
Over the past ten years,
not only has he denied
any cheating,
he's claimed she's mad
for even suggesting it.
This makes Carla paranoid,
and in turn,
causes her to commission
this honey trap.
Something, we have her admit
in this nice
new paper trail of ours,
she deliberately kept from us
until after it had happened.
Because she knew,
and it pains us all,
it would have been something
we'd have strongly denounced.
(MUSIC FADES) ♪
BUDGIE: However,
the resulting image proves,
and here's the double win,
that not only was he lying
about his infidelities
(TYPING STOPS)
-But gaslighting her, too. Hmm.
-Hmm. Did she pay her?
-No.
-BUDGIE: You sure?
Yes,
they're friends, apparently.
BUDGIE: Well, if she didn't,
she shouldn't.
But we must be
certain either way.
Aside from that,
in your judgment,
there's nothing to stop us?
-Stop you?
-SERENA: Serving.
We want to break
the prenuptial agreement.
Nick did Carla's deal
at his old firm.
NICHOLAS: Yeah.
We did a drop-hands arrangement,
as in they each walk away
with what they brought
to the marriage at the time.
The problem is she was worth
much more back then,
and he was
worth significantly less.
BUDGIE:
And you'd want to reflect that.
SERENA: Yeah.
And we want everything ready
before Cathcarts get
even the slightest whiff.
(INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
-(NEWSPAPER RUSTLING)
-(CUTLERY CLINKING)
(MUSIC FADES) ♪
ERIC: If I'd known we were
staying in London,
I would have gotten us
a round at Sunningdale.
Yeah, no,
it's Carla's premiere on Friday.
She wants the flat to get ready,
so I thought I'd stick around,
and you know, support.
There you were
thinking the romance was dead.
I'd never say that.
Oh, Christ,
I'm not gonna make it
with these fucking green juices.
What?
-I know your secret.
-(MORGAN SIPS)
From the other night.
After the awards show.
Michael Ancker
messaged you. Direct.
To say he was in London.
-True.
-I know it's true.
I wasn't asking if it was true.
We have a whole team
managing your account.
Eric, Eric, Eric, Eric.
Be American by all means,
but please do it
a little more quietly.
All right.
The only reason
that he would message you
on your social media platform,
not his,
is if he's serious
about buying Zephyr.
Eric.
Ancker is an appalling man.
We set up our platform
as a reaction to his.
Every man has his price.
Yeah, and mine
is prohibitively high.
-(ERIC CHUCKLES)
-You don't like the juice?
No, I'm just saving it for,
like, a pudding.
Mmm. It does look delicious.
Oh, you think so?
He'd love one too, please.
-Thanks very much.
-(RIVETING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
(ERIC CHUCKLES)
(MUSIC RISES) ♪
Oh, you're liking
the lamb, guys?
Between you and me,
that's my personal favorite.
-Sorry, the bathroom?
-It's just at the back, madam.
-Down the stairs
and straight ahead.
-CUSTOMER: Thanks.
JOHNNY: Yeah,
the bill is on its way, sir.
It sends its apologies.
See you next time, guys.
Thank you, thank you.
Espresso lungo.
Sorry for the wait, guys.
So you enjoyed the linguine?
Between you and me,
it's my personal favorite.
-(DINER GIGGLES)
-Was that intentional?
-That depends.
-On?
On how you feel about it.
(DINERS CHUCKLE)
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY) Okay.
(MUSIC FALLS) ♪
(MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪
JOHNNY: What matters
is the client,
especially in family law.
The client must know
that we can see their anguish
and their fear,
but they must also know
that we perceive it as less
of a problem than they do.
That's the trade.
Telling them that everything's
gonna work out fine
is the last thing they're going
to want to hear.
What they need to hear is, um
May I switch to French
for a moment, please?
(RIVETING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
Is that everything's
going to shit.
-You think?
-JOHNNY: Absolutely.
No one objects
to spending lots of money
if it ends up
saving them a fortune.
We represent value, Mrs. Grant,
because we're expensive.
LAWYER:
You're wanting to be considered
as a senior associate.
(MUSIC RISES) ♪
Your CV doesn't
quite bear that out.
SENIOR PARTNER :
I spoke to Wyatt-Wren
in Manhattan,
and they thought
that your time there
had been less of a triumph
than you seem to recall.
JOHNNY:
Speak to your colleagues.
Tell them, "I'm gonna give
this guy a month."
Tell them, "I'm gonna give
this guy a week."
"A day. A day. That's it."
You're gonna go (EXHALES)
"What a day. What a guy."
It's indisputable.
Undeniable.
Irrefutable.
Inexplicable.
Please understand, I would never
risk selling myself to you
in this way unless
I could look you in the eye
and tell you
that I was a perfect fit
for Knatchball and Sand.
for Cosset Eldrige.
Cavendish Row.
Delamere Futterton Lynch.
(MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪
-(TRAFFIC RUMBLING)
-(DISTANT SIRENS WAILING)
(PASSENGER CARS CHUGGING
ON RAIL TRACKS)
-HARRIET CROFT:
And how is Angus?
-BELLA: Doing well.
Their house looks amazing.
We're hosting the return supper
on Friday.
-Are we?
-Yeah.
It's the only night that Angus
and Sophie could do.
He has
this big presentation thing.
Oh, please tell me
you're not gonna cook.
No, Johnny will cook.
Johnny's a genius
in the kitchen.
Go on. Tell her.
You want me to tell your mum
that I'm a genius
in the kitchen?
-BELLA: Yeah.
-Johnny, Bella works in PR.
This is free PR.
I'd take it if I were you.
-(BELLA CHUCKLES)
-(CHUCKLES) Yeah.
Bella's father is not a genius
in the kitchen.
Well, he could be.
He's never set foot
in a fucking kitchen,
so how would we know?
No, I'll take these, Mum.
No worries.
(MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING
OVER SPEAKERS) ♪
Um
-(GLASSES CLINKING)
-(FAUCET RUNNING)
Bella says that you're
struggling to find
work as a lawyer.
No, I'm not struggling.
-What--
-HARRIET: Must be terribly hard.
All those graduates
in your rearview mirror.
You know, you mustn't think
because we happen
to be a certain type of people
that we have any expectations
when it comes to jobs like that.
In the City.
Or the professions.
It's just not how we think.
-Okay?
-JOHNNY: Yeah, yeah, of course.
Don't be silly. No, I don't
BELLA: You're in our room.
We're in the sofa bed.
-No arguments.
-HARRIET: Fantastic.
(RIVETING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
(MUSIC RISES) ♪
-Ten minutes tops, yeah?
-DRIVER: All right, sir.
(DOOR LOCK BUZZING)
Did you see
yesterday's Daily Express?
-(MUSIC FADES) ♪
-Do I look like a man who saw
yesterday's Daily Express?
MORGAN: Isn't that one
of the lawyers she used
when we did the prenup?
ST. JOHN SMALLWOOD: Hmm.
Nicholas Taylor, that's right.
And that's his wife.
Well,
why would she be with them?
In Paris?
You don't bump
into your lawyer in Paris.
ST. JOHN: They could be advising
on any number of things.
Might have nothing to do
with your marriage.
MORGAN: Well, if it didn't
relate to my marriage,
then she'd have told me.
And I'd have told her
to talk to you.
-ST. JOHN: I've no idea.
-What?
Whether she'd have told you.
But if you're
telling me she would
-I am.
-Then I believe you, Morgan.
Wonderful to see you.
Why am I here?
So I can ask
if we should be worried,
and if we are,
what we should do about it.
You mean the prospect
of her filing for divorce?
Thank you, Simon.
How's your relationship?
(SIGHS) Well, we spend
so little time together.
Initially due to work,
and then out of habit,
and now
now by design.
Legally, you're secure.
We got the prenup we wanted.
That took time,
as you'll recall.
But we did that
so that if ever a situation
like this arose,
you'd be protected.
How protected?
ST. JOHN: She can't fucking
touch you, not in this country.
And we are in this country.
They can plot and plan and eat
as many baguettes as they like.
But the fact is, I'll be honest,
thanks to me,
you're bulletproof.
The main things that
invalidate a prenup are A,
if you signed it under duress,
which neither of you did
because it was properly
papered, properly witnessed,
or B, you failed
to disclose any assets
or failed to hide
any assets properly,
as I prefer to put it.
She might come after you
if you failed to keep it
in your trousers,
your well-tailored trousers,
but you haven't, have you?
Not recently anyhow.
-Well, not for a couple of
-ST. JOHN: Months?
Years.
ST. JOHN: Either way,
it's irrelevant, in legal terms.
But it might explain
the Paris rendezvous.
May I take this?
Do I look like a man
who wants to hold
onto yesterday's Daily Express?
Very good. Send Carla my love.
-MORGAN: I won't be doing that.
-Correct answer.
-(DOOR CREAKS OPEN)
-(INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
(DOOR CLOSES)
(TENSE
DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
-(DIAL TONE RINGING)
-ST. JOHN: Where is Her Majesty?
Well, get her out of court,
find David Schill,
set up a meeting.
Yes.
-(CELL PHONE BEEPS)
-Sorry about that.
(CAR ENGINE STARTS)
(MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪
(MUSIC RISES, FADES) ♪
SERENA:
We'll need a proper team.
Two partners, that's us,
a barrister, that's Budgie,
Budgie's team,
and I'm thinking
two senior associates,
two juniors and a paralegal.
Of course she can afford it.
She's a Hollywood actress.
She's married to a billionaire.
Okay, maybe she doesn't have it
in the retainer, but
She can pay us back
when she wins.
Well, we do that
and we don't win,
-then we're fucked.
-The second she serves,
he'll go straight to Cathcarts.
-The only way
to beat Cathcarts
-(CELL PHONE CHIMES)
to spend, to hire people,
no matter what the cost.
What is it?
It's saying,
"The war room is ready."
-It's not as if we weren't
gonna do it.
-Ready? Already?
-I just think that we need to
-What?
-You just think? What?
-I'm not gonna apologize
for setting up a law firm, Nick.
I'm not asking you
to apologize--
And I'm not frightened
of taking them on.
I am frightened,
but there's no way
I'm gonna let
Cathcarts know that.
-Definitely not Beatrice.
-Then talk to me.
I am talking to you.
NICHOLAS: Before you decide.
You don't just
go ahead without me
and start spending money.
Listen. If we're gonna do this,
take on the big boys with Carla,
a client I brought into the firm
in the first place, remember?
Then we need to do it together,
no matter your talents
as a lawyer,
no matter mine.
-I'm actually an amazing lawyer,
don't know if you--
-I'm serious.
(QUIETLY) Okay.
Otherwise, there's no point.
(SOFT PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
-A team.
-Mm-hmm.
A team.
So
we're doing this. Yes?
We're doing this.
(NICHOLAS CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
Okay, we better get going.
-This war room won't run itself.
-(GROANS)
(TENSE DRAMATIC MUSIC
PLAYING) ♪
She's on her way right now.
Show me.
Big, fat, insert-swear-word
of-choice problem.
-Shit.
-(MUSIC FADES) ♪
I picked a stronger one
than that.
Serena Byrne
and Nicholas Taylor.
Thank you. We know who they are.
DAVID SCHILL: Well, we know her.
She used to work here.
She's like me,
except not as good.
Morgan Henderson keeps
a retainer here
for any legal support
he or they might need.
"They" being the operative word.
So the only reason Carla
would be meeting
with Siegfried & Roy here
would be to revisit the prenup.
-You've seen him?
-Yes.
-BEATRICE UBOSI: In person?
-Yes.
-Asked how the marriage is?
-Yes.
-Asked if he's been faithful?
-Yes.
-BEATRICE: And he said yes?
-Yes.
And you've discussed
all this amongst yourselves
and you think he's lying?
Or that there's some sort
of serious problem?
And you've called me
back from court
to ask me what to do
because he's our biggest client.
Because you love this
and it's actually
quite exciting.
What did you decide?
We start work anyway,
assume he's bullshitting
and do everything
we can possibly think of
to try and get ahead of this.
And we do all that, why?
"'Cause that's what
he's fucking paying for."
(RIVETING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
-(LIVELY CHATTER)
-(MUSIC RISES) ♪
Evening, gents,
I have the Jack's Creek sirloin
for you there
and the linguine alle cozze.
(DINERS LAUGHING LOUDLY)
Honestly. But that's
the thing with these sort
of guys nowadays,
you can't fucking trust them.
Do you know what I mean?
Like, who do they think I am?
(GROUP LAUGHS)
Fucking arses
the lot of them, I swear.
Vonnte. I'm done, mate.
I'll see you tomorrow.
Oh, do these before you go?
Table 23.
(ANGUS LAUGHING LOUDLY)
(MUSIC FALLS) ♪
(SIGHS SHARPLY)
I have a Prosecco and a Negroni
for you there, ladies. Enjoy.
DINER: Excuse me.
(MUSIC FADES) ♪
DINER: Excuse me.
-Can we get a wine list, please?
-John!
Uh, everyone, this is
Uh, this is John.
He's dating Bella Croft.
-DINER 1: Okay.
-(GROUP EXCLAIMS)
ANGUS: Now, John
John's a, uh
He's a lawyer.
(SNORTS) Uh, he's currently
fending off offers
from the top firms in London.
I mean,
the poor guy's inundated.
(GROUP SNICKERS)
It's good to see you again.
No, John. John,
wait, wait, wait. Wait, wait.
Come back. Don't run away.
Uh, we're ready to order,
actually.
Yeah.
JOHNNY: Okay.
What can I get you?
We
would like
some contracts, please.
(GROUP SNICKERS)
ANGUS: Some lawsuits to start.
Uh, maybe throw in
a last will and testament.
(LAUGHS) Maybe some affidavits
for the table.
-(GROANS)
-(DINERS GASP, MURMUR)
ANGUS: (SHOUTS)
What the fuck are you doing?
You broke my fucking nose!
Ow!
-Ow!
-(DINERS MURMURING)
-DINER: Is someone
gonna do something?
-(ANGUS GROANS)
DINER: I mean,
he just whacked him in the face.
("I'M A MAN"
BY BLACK STROBE PLAYING) ♪
ANGUS: (MUFFLED)
You broke my fucking nose,
you fucking tosspot.
-I spell M ♪
-M! ♪
(ANGUS CONTINUES WHINING)
-A ♪
-A! ♪
-M ♪
-M! ♪
-Whoa, I'm a man ♪
-ANGUS: Fucking arsehole.
-(SONG CONCLUDES) ♪
-If I don't fire you,
they'll fire me too.
-I can't afford to lose this.
-JOHNNY: It's okay.
I've got the ex-wife with a kid.
The whole situation is just
Vonnte, it's fine, mate.
I get it.
Do you want these back?
(SOFT PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
You know what, man?
Keep the peas.
-(CHUCKLES)
-That's a fucking terrible joke.
VONNTE: See you later, okay?
(DOOR CREAKS OPEN)
(DOOR CREAKS SHUT)
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
(DIAL TONE RINGS, CLICKS)
VOICEMAIL:
You have one new message.
-(MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪
-(DISTANT SIRENS WAILING)
BELLA: Are you fucking serious?
-You hit Angus?
-Yep.
He has
this huge client presentation
that I told you about
and you literally fucking attack
him in public.
I punched him in the face.
What the fuck, Johnny? Why?
-JOHNNY: Why?
-(HESITATES)
'Cause he deserved it.
Hi, Harriet.
-BELLA: Why?
-HARRIET: Hello.
He was talking to me
like a piece of shit
in front of all of his friends,
and then I hit him,
and then all of a sudden
he wasn't talking to me
like a piece of shit
in front of his mates.
There's a word for it,
and I forget what it is.
-People like me punching
people like him.
-Fucking insane.
-Fucking insane.
-I don't-- "Punching up."
"Punching up."
And your mum agrees,
'cause if she didn't,
she'd be saying something.
At least hear his side
of the story.
-Just--
-JOHNNY: Oh, I forgot
about the client meeting.
-I like that. Thank you.
-BELLA: Did they fire you?
-(FAUCET RUNNING)
-Did they fire you?
(FAUCET STOPS)
Because Angus told Sophie
that they took you off
and you didn't come back,
so presumably
-Yep, they fired me.
-Brilliant.
(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
Great, Johnny.
Do you know what
that dinner was for?
I wanted them to meet you.
Because I've been telling them
how serious I am about this.
About you.
Exactly. So do you want to be
with someone that takes
all that shit or someone that
does something about it?
(SNIFFLES)
We're-- We're back in London
because you screwed up
in New York.
Please don't do that again.
One of the, uh, firms
that I interviewed for,
they-- they called
and offered me a job.
(SOFTLY) Fuck off.
I said I had
one more interview to go
and then I'd let 'em know.
(LOW
INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
(CHUCKLES)
Oh my (CHUCKLES)
It was a busy old day.
-Johnny Warren?
-Yes.
-Cleo.
-Nice to meet you, Cleo.
-They're ready for you.
-Lovely, thank you.
(CLEARS THROAT)
-In the back.
-Oh, thank you very much.
Can I get you
a drink or anything?
Uh
-Tea would be lovely,
if that's okay?
-Tea. On the way.
-Thank you.
-(MUSIC FADES) ♪
This is just
my personal opinion.
It's more succinct this way.
Nothing on the second page
of a CV will convince you
if the first page
hasn't already.
-SERENA: Mm-hmm.
-Makes sense.
You have strong experience
in family law in New York.
Yes, at Wyatt-Wren.
Yep, we spoke to them,
to Elliot Wyatt, the son.
-I worked with Elliot directly.
-Mm, he said.
SERENA: He said you come across
as overconfident,
but that that's
more down to insecurity
than inexperience.
His way of saying
(SIGHS) you're not young.
Not for a young person, anyway.
He said underneath you're sharp,
good with clients,
and that you know family law
better than he does.
(JOHNNY SCOFFS SOFTLY)
-He said that?
-NICHOLAS: Mm.
"If he's in London, just make
sure he's working for you."
(CHUCKLES) Well,
that's very, um
Well, it's very kind of him.
Um
Now, look,
before we go any further,
I feel I should tell you
that I I do already have
an offer from another firm.
Which one?
It's more of a general position,
I think,
when what I'm really looking for
is, uh, to be working
on a big case.
Yeah, of course.
Something I can really
sink my teeth into.
Which firm?
Um
Cathcarts.
(LOW RIVETING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
SERENA: Hmm.
We do have a case coming up.
Biggest one we've ever worked on
and there is one place left
at the table
for a junior associate.
A divorce.
A good one?
In that it's a bad one.
Johnny, we would like
to offer you that role,
but the condition is
you have to decide now.
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-(TELEPHONE RINGING)
They're offering.
You can tell.
Look at her body language.
She's his for a lager and lime.
I'd hire him.
I'd hire the shit out of him.
(MUSIC RISES) ♪
(ALARM BEEPING)
(KEYPAD BEEPING)
-(ALARM STOPS)
-(DOOR LOCK CHIRPS, BUZZES)
-(DOOR OPENS)
-(KEYS JANGLING)
(DOOR CLOSES)
(SIGHS)
ERIC: Pick-up's at 6:30.
Premier is ten minutes away.
We thought that you
and Carla might want
to travel together.
MORGAN: Well, it'd be odd
if we arrived separately.
What's this?
Earring?
-Has Carla been here?
-ERIC: Carla? No.
She's using the apartment.
-GILLIAN: Hmm.
-MORGAN: Well, it's not mine.
-Keep it. Why not?
-(KEYBOARD CLACKING)
GILLIAN: I'm not gonna wear
one earring, Morgan.
-I'm not a pirate.
-(NOTIFICATION CHIMES)
Cathcarts is supposed
to see you this afternoon.
If this is
about the Ancker thing--
It's not about
fucking Ancker, Eric.
How many times?
(LOW TENSE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
Confirm with Cathcarts,
but Carla mustn't know
I'm there.
We'll tell her you're getting
ready for the premiere.
Getting ready for the premiere.
That's exactly what I'm doing.
(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
(EXHALES)
(MUSIC FALLS) ♪
(DARK DRAMATIC MUSIC
OVERLAPPING) ♪
(ELEVATOR DINGS)
Hello, Carla.
-CARLA: Hi.
-Nice to see you. Hello.
-LUCY: Hi.
-If you want to
(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)
(MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪
-SERENA: Carla.
-CARLA: Hi.
-SERENA: Hi. Nice to see you.
-How are you? Good to see you.
-NICHOLAS: Hi. You all right?
-Hi, Nick.
-How are you? Very well, thanks.
-Yeah? Good, good.
(MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪
-We have only one question.
-Please.
-Who was she?
-Who was?
Morgan, much as you might not
like it right now,
you have at some point
had the forethought to pay us
a lot of money to ask you
awkward questions like these
so that we can protect you
from the fallout that comes
from the resulting answers.
Another go. Who was she?
Quick as you can,
your wife has a big enough
head start as it is.
Her name is Flora Monroe.
She's an actress, a friend.
We did a film, we got on.
And you haven't paid her?
-Of course not.
-Then, contacted her?
No, because you told me not to.
Look, I told her
how I don't know Morgan anymore.
Who he sees, what he's planning.
(SCOFFS) If I wanna know
what he's up to, I google him.
He's done it before.
-Cheated?
-CARLA: Yes.
I wanted to know
if he'd gone back
to all of that,
and she said she'd help.
How old is Flora?
What's it matter?
Why are you answering?
Have you slept with her too?
ST. JOHN: It matters
because the younger she is,
the worse it looks.
She's younger than me.
You may have
to narrow that down.
(CHUCKLES)
MORGAN: (SCOFFS) Early thirties.
Late twenties.
Mid-twenties.
She's no younger than that.
It was a joke at first,
a stupid joke.
Maybe she should, you know,
test it. Test him.
I forgot all about it,
and then when I heard
another rumor,
I thought,
you know what, why not?
Because (SCOFFS)
'Cause then at least I'd know.
MORGAN:
She was at this awards ceremony.
We were at the same hotel.
On the same floor.
It was nothing very
It was just two people.
She seemed very
(SCOFFS) I'm not having you
all gawping at me.
I'm not paying you
to catch me out.
There's an army
of people out there
who are quite willing
to do that for free.
In fact,
they fucking specialize in it.
What I want, if you've made
this deduction of yours,
and she's about to serve me
with divorce papers,
is for you to tell me
what you're going
to do about it.
The plan is as follows.
You do your premiere tonight
together.
This gives the impression
that you want him at events
that are important to you.
You hold his hand,
the press sees that,
you have no idea
what a rat he's been.
Then tonight, via email,
copying his lawyers, we serve.
-I want to serve him.
-SERENA: You can't.
I want to look him in the eye.
You can't. Not in person.
You can ask someone,
a lawyer or anyone
who's court-certified,
but much better for you to have
your big red carpet moment
and then hit him with the email.
(LOW TENSE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
ST. JOHN:
What we do is get ahead of this.
David.
We've taken
on an extra solicitor,
not particularly senior,
but someone who can focus
exclusively on this case.
Before we hired him, I spoke
to a friend in New York,
Elliot Wyatt,
to get a reference.
The reference was decent enough.
I then made him promise
to give a far better reference
to anyone else who might
subsequently get in touch
wanting to offer
this new solicitor of ours
a job of their own.
And that's what happened.
As chance would have it,
our good friends
at Taylor & Byrne
were looking to recruit
a new junior associate
for a high-profile divorce case
they're working on.
He interviewed yesterday.
Went very well, apparently.
They offered him the job.
He works for them now.
ERIC:
Except he really works for us?
DAVID:
Except he really works for us.
MORGAN:
Are you out of your mind?
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
If this gets out,
I'm fucked, surely.
Morgan, this is likely to be
the biggest divorce trial
in British legal history,
and you've just admitted
to screwing
a 25-year-old stranger.
(SIGHS)
To be clear,
you're fucked already.
(MUSIC RISES) ♪
We are taking on a rich man
with strong legal backing.
Cathcarts is
the best law firm in London.
Our potential speaks for itself.
And let us not forget, you are
the wronged party here.
You are the wronged party here.
There can be
no doubt about that.
We will play dirty
if we have to.
And if they play dirty,
we will be total
and utter filth.
Midnight, Carla,
and then we click send.
All we need is your word.
Do I have your permission
to proceed?
(MUSIC SWELLS) ♪
-(MUSIC FADES) ♪
-Good.
Let battle commence.
BEATRICE: This mole of ours,
it's definitely confirmed?
We can have
no uncertainty there.
The moment he got the job,
he was to message me
straight away.
And what precisely did he say?
(INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
(CHUCKLES)
(MUSIC RISES,
TURNS DRAMATIC) ♪
The car's just pulling up now.
(MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪
(MUSIC FALLS) ♪
(MUSIC FADES) ♪
The film sounds fascinating.
Who do you play?
I am a spy in the war.
It's all crossing.
Double-crossing.
-Secrets and betrayal.
-(BROODING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
Exactly.
It's not my kind
of thing either.
(CHUCKLES)
(MUSIC RISES) ♪
(MUSIC FALLS) ♪
-(MUSIC INTENSIFIES) ♪
-I love you! I love you! Carla!
-(FANS CLAMORING)
-(CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING)
-CARLA: How are you? Hi.
-JEREMY: Hi.
-You look sensational.
-Thank you.
I'm in town tonight.
-They've given me a great suite.
-Never gonna happen, Jeremy.
Ever.
-(CROWD CLAMORING)
-(LUCY SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
(OVERLAPPING CHATTER)
(MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪
(INDISTINCT CLAMOR)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Carla!
("THE END"
BY NANCY SINATRA PLAYING) ♪
(SOUND BECOMES MUFFLED)
At the end of the rainbow ♪
You'll find a pot of gold ♪
But just tell me you love me ♪
And you are only mine ♪
And our love will go on ♪
'Til the end of time ♪
-(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS)
-At the end of a river ♪
The water stops its flow ♪
At the end of a highway ♪
There's no place you can go ♪
And our love will go on ♪
'Til the end of time ♪
(SONG CONCLUDES) ♪
SIMON CAMPBELL:
Please put your hands together
for a man
who has single-handedly
reshaped
the social media landscape,
taking Zephyr
from a scrappy startup
to a multi-million-pound
platform.
-Entrepreneur, philanthropist
-(INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
trophy husband
to a Hollywood superstar.
(GUESTS LAUGH)
SIMON:
The recipient of this year's
Pioneer of the Year Award,
Mr. Morgan Henderson.
-(GUESTS CHEERING)
-(UPBEAT MUSIC
PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS) ♪
Well done.
(CHEERS)
SIMON: Morgan!
(GUESTS CONTINUE CHEERING)
-Thank you, thank you.
-(MUSIC FADES) ♪
-It's a it's a
-(APPLAUSE FADES)
It's a cliché, I know.
It's the tiredest cliché,
um, but your applause tonight
is more warranted
than you so generously pretend
because I'm up here tonight
because of you.
Because of everyone
in this room.
Trusted colleagues,
you know who you are.
-Competitors, you definitely
know who you are.
-(GUESTS LAUGH)
MORGAN HENDERSON:
And don't think I don't know
exactly which tables you're on.
We help each other.
We drive each other on.
And it is, to me,
one of the great
missed opportunities of our age
that social media serves
more than anything else
-to force us apart.
-(PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
To separate,
isolate, to divide.
And if I'm to say anything
half serious tonight,
is that we must find ways
to stop that.
Create as much accountability
for our behavior online
as there exists "IRL."
(GUESTS CHUCKLE)
MORGAN: So clap again,
please, please clap again.
And keep clapping,
whatever table you're at,
not for me and not for you,
but if you agree.
Because we, the people
in this room,
must tackle this.
Change the culture,
just as we changed it
the first time.
Thank you very much.
(GUESTS CHEERING)
(GUESTS CONTINUE CHEERING)
Everyone, thank you.
Enjoy what's left
of the evening.
-ERIC MCDANIEL: Oh!
-GILLIAN POPE: Morgan!
Honestly,
you should be grateful.
My wife says, "Once
you've seen his dancing,
you can never unsee it."
Ruthless. Picks up the gong
and he's out the door.
-Love to Carla.
-Good night.
(UPBEAT POP MUSIC
PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS) ♪
(LIVELY CHATTER)
ERIC: Driver's out front.
I'm I'm gonna walk.
He's been waiting
for you all night.
MORGAN: Yeah, I know. Well,
send him home. I need the air.
-Congratulations.
-Thank you.
Good night.
(INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
(SIREN WAILING IN THE DISTANCE)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(ELEVATOR DINGS)
-(BUTTON BEEPS)
-(MUSIC FADES) ♪
(BUTTON BEEPS)
(LOW TENSE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
(BUTTON BEEPS)
-GUEST: Which floor?
-Fourth.
-(BUTTON BEEPS)
-(DOORS SLIDE SHUT)
(INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
-(ELEVATOR DINGS)
-GUEST: Good night.
-Good night.
-MORGAN: Good night.
-(FOOTSTEPS RECEDING)
-(MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪
I'd say congratulations,
but I worry you've had enough
of that already.
Never let that be a concern.
-(ELEVATOR DINGS)
-(MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪
I'm Flora.
I I don't do this.
Do what?
I mean it.
("OH BABY"
BY LCD SOUNDSYSTEM PLAYING) ♪
So
just say good night.
Good night.
Good night.
-(CARD READER BEEPS)
-(DOOR OPENS)
(MUSIC RISES) ♪
Oh baby ♪
Oh baby ♪
You're having a bad dream ♪
Here in my arms ♪
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
Oh sugar ♪
You came to me ♪
-(MOANS)
-Could all be a bad thing ♪
-(GRUNTS)
-(MORGAN MOANING)
Into the dark ♪
(MORGAN MOANS)
(MORGAN PANTS)
-(SONG CONCLUDES) ♪
-(SEAGULLS SQUAWKING)
(INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
(MORGAN SNORES)
(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS)
(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS)
(DISTANT SIRENS WAILING)
(DIAL TONE RINGING)
-(DIAL TONE CLICKS)
-CARLA DUVAL:
(OVER PHONE) Hello.
Carla?
CARLA: Yes.
It's done.
(CELL PHONE BEEPS)
(MUSIC FADES) ♪
(THEME MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
(MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪
JOHNNY WARREN:
Everything a man needs
to put on his CV should fit
on a single page.
That's just
my personal opinion, Mr. Schill.
Now, if that means
that there's no room
for me to tell you that I speak
five different languages,
or I've mastered the cello,
then, you know, so be it.
To be clear,
that doesn't actually mean
that you speak five languages
or have mastered the cello,
does it?
No. No, no, no.
That was just a
-That's just an example.
-Yeah.
-"The University of Michigan."
-That's correct.
How do we feel about that?
Well, it has a law degree
that rivals anything
at Harvard or Brown or Yale,
but gives great scholarships,
which, Mr. Schill,
when you're a South London kid
from a single-parent family,
it is a factor.
I graduated in 2020.
I was second in my class,
and I was fully intending
on coming back
to London
to take up an internship--
Where?
When I was asked to intern
in Manhattan at Wyatt-Wren.
-Okay.
-I know Elliot Wyatt.
Great, well then,
you'll know as well
as I do that it's one
of New York's standout firms.
I stayed there for three years,
I learnt a lot,
and now I'm back.
-Why?
-(CHUCKLES) Yeah.
Look, Mr. Schill,
in terms of interviewing here
at a firm
as fine as Cathcarts
you're the most senior
that a guy like me is
ever gonna get to meet,
so please, do not let
my modesty put you off.
I'm talented, I'm loyal,
I'm cheaper than I'll admit,
and by working harder than
anyone else in this building,
I will only get better.
So I advise you strongly,
take me on
or I walk across the street
and I get a job over there.
-At the Pret a Manger?
-(CLICKS TONGUE)
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
You dislike me?
No.
JOHNNY:
But you must look past that.
("I'M A MAN"
BY BLACK STROBE PLAYING) ♪
Speak to your colleagues.
Tell them, "I'm gonna
give this guy a month.
A month, that's it,
to prove himself."
There's something about him
you can see, this, uh
It's undeniable.
Mr. Schill.
Do not let me walk
out of that door.
-(DOORS CLOSING)
-I'm a man ♪
-I spell M ♪
-M! ♪
-A ♪
-A! ♪
-N ♪
-N! ♪
Whoa, I'm a man! ♪
(FAINT CHATTER)
(BIKE BELL DINGS)
-Johnny.
-JOHNNY: Gents.
(SONG CONTINUES) ♪
-(DOOR CLOSING)
-All you pretty women ♪
-(UTENSILS CLANGING)
-(COOKS CHATTERING)
(SERVICE BELL DINGING RAPIDLY)
-EMPLOYEE: Hi, Johnny.
-JOHNNY: Demi.
Patrick?
Told you
I'd be an hour, didn't I?
Put that on your timesheet.
I'm a man ♪
-I spell M ♪
-M! ♪
-A ♪
-A! ♪
N ♪
Woah, I'm a man ♪
-(SONG CONCLUDES) ♪
-(LIVELY LAUGHTER, CHATTER)
So? Have you been called
to the bar?
(CHUCKLES) Only this one.
Yes, sir.
Can I pay, please?
Maybe they need time
to think about it.
Well, that's the thing.
-(CARD READER BEEPS)
-Turns out they really don't.
CUSTOMER: Hi, excuse me?
Can we have a menu please?
Sir, enjoy the rest of your day.
(CARD READER CLATTERS)
Table service only, ladies.
If you'd like to take a seat
for me please?
Thank you.
They said no?
They did the lawyer version.
They just didn't say yes.
-What?
-You don't want my advice.
-No, go on, I can take it.
-You can't take it.
-JOHNNY: I can, whatever it is.
-Whatever it is.
You've been here
three months already.
You really want to be a lawyer?
Don't get too good at this.
(RIVETING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
VONNTE ADAMS: Service for 26!
-(MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪
-(DISTANT SIREN BLARING)
(MUSIC RISES) ♪
(PHOTOGRAPHERS CHATTING
IN FRENCH)
Excuse me.
FILM JOURNALIST: So this is
your third movie together?
And the two of you,
so much on-screen chemistry.
Have you built up some kind
of special rapport?
-(HESITATES) Yeah. Um
-(MUSIC FADES) ♪
You know, sometimes, um,
I'll go to ring her,
and then, uh, my phone rings
and it's Carla ringing me.
-Is that spooky or (CHUCKLES)
-It's not spooky, Jeremy.
You're ringing me
to apologize for being late,
but I ring you first, saying,
"Where the hell are you?"
-Meaning you're
the punctual one.
-(WHISPERS) They're early.
-(CARLA LAUGHS)
-Okay.
No, I'm never on time.
He's just--
He's always later than me.
(JOURNALIS
AND JEREMY SAMPSON LAUGH)
Hi.
-I'm Lucy. Nice to meet you.
-Hi.
She's wrapping up
any minute now.
-Okay.
-Just follow me.
-(DISTANT CHATTER)
-(CUTLERY CLINKING)
Water, fruit, tea, coffee.
I'll be right back.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Merci. (CHUCKLES)
-(LUCY CHUCKLES)
-(NICHOLAS TAYLOR CLEARS THROAT)
If it's true and she went ahead
with it, we walk.
We tell her how much we value
our relationship,
hence why we came all this way,
but it's just it's not
how we work.
It's not who we are,
so we cannot represent her.
We're not saying that.
Clients will like that approach
in the long term.
There won't be a long term
if we turn it down.
-It's entrapment.
-SERENA BYRNE: Not by us.
-By our side.
-By our client.
Without our knowledge.
And it's our job
to dig her out of the hole.
We need the moral high ground.
Oh, Nick. We're lawyers.
We need no such thing.
(DOOR OPENS)
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-It's not what we set up for.
-SERENA: A case like this
is huge financially.
-Yep.
-And it could make our name.
-All right. Look out.
-SERENA: Carla, hi.
-Hi.
-(CLEARS THROAT)
-Hi.
SERENA: Nice to see you.
We're so looking forward
to this new film of yours.
CARLA: You are?
You must tell me what it's like.
-Joke.
-(CHUCKLES POLITELY)
Um, we were wondering, Carla,
at the meeting in London,
you suggested something
that we both felt was unwise.
-A young woman you mentioned.
-NICHOLAS: Flora.
SERENA:
We had concerns
about your idea regarding Flora.
So if you haven't already
gone through with that,
-we strongly advise--
-It's here.
There it is.
-The photo.
-Um
This, so you're aware,
is completely underhand.
-It shows he'll never change.
-And it's of no legal value.
CARLA: Well, it's proof.
And it means we can get started.
Prepare the paperwork.
That's what I want.
I knew these things
were going on
when we first got married.
Another time last year.
He denies it, of course.
But I can tell.
I should have never married him
in the first place.
That's what this means.
So you take this photo,
you take this case,
and you take him for every
fucking penny he's got.
And he's got quite a few.
(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
(MUSIC FADES) ♪
(MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING
OVER SPEAKERS) ♪
-(SOPHIE COLE SQUEALS)
-Hello, gorgeous!
-Oh, there she is.
-(DOOR CLOSES)
Coat off, please.
If only so I can steal it
immediately.
-Soph, this house looks amazing.
-Thank you.
-BELLA CROFT: This is Johnny.
-SOPHIE: Hi.
-Soph. Very lovely to meet you.
-Nice to meet you,
nice to meet you.
-BELLA: Oh my God!
-Angus.
-Johnny. Nice to meet you.
-Hi.
-What should I do with, um
-ANGUS COLE: Oh, whatever, mate.
-Um, yeah.
-(JOHNNY CLEARS THROAT)
(LIVELY CHATTER)
ANGUS: And look, don't all look
at me like that, okay?
Just because I work in the city
doesn't mean I'm right-wing.
-Oh, please!
-ANGUS: No, no,
I have, uh, liberal,
uh, leanings.
-(LAUGHS)
-Angus is a liberal at weekends.
But Monday to Friday,
if he's at work--
Or in the back of a cab.
-(LAUGHS)
-Exactly!
Then the truth soon emerges.
Don't try
and influence John, okay?
John knows what I'm talking
about, don't you, John?
I have left-wing credentials.
He knows.
-(GROUP LAUGHS)
-Yeah, Angus is a communist,
isn't he?
(CHUCKLES) Thank you.
I think you might be
the only communist
that buys his shirts
on Jermyn Street though.
-(GROUP LAUGHS)
-(CHUCKLING) Oh my God!
And, uh, what about you?
What does the man that
bestest Bella met in America
-do exactly?
-JOHNNY: Hmm. (CLICKS TONGUE)
Johnny's a lawyer.
-Is he?
-A jolly good one, aren't you?
ANGUS: Are you? Where?
At what-- what firm?
Or can't he remember?
(CHUCKLES)
Angus.
-It's just a question.
-He's weighing up offers.
Um, he's had a meeting
with Cathcarts.
And various other places.
Doesn't want to walk
in the first place
that throws money at him.
-You know?
-ANGUS: Hmm.
I think they'd be lucky
to have you.
-Thank you.
-(ANGUS CHUCKLES)
Whoever they are.
-Fucking hell.
Right, well, uh
-(BELLA LAUGHS)
Listen, I'm gonna go
and smoke this out there.
-That's the Sophie rule.
-Excellent rule.
Everyone is welcome to join.
-DREW: Come on, let's get weird.
-SOPHIE: Right.
-ANGUS: It's been way too long.
-(BELLA CHUCKLES)
SOPHIE: Here we go.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-Now this
-(DOOR SLIDES SHUT)
-This is a classic.
-("RIDE A WHITE SWAN" BY
T. REX PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS) ♪
Ride it on out
Like a bird in the sky ways ♪
-(OVERLAPPING CHATTER)
-Ride it on out
Like you were a bird ♪
Fly it all out
Like an eagle in a sunbeam ♪
Ride it on out
Like you were a bird ♪
-(HORN HONKING)
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(SONG FADES) ♪
Before you say anything,
he is one of my oldest friends.
Yeah, I can fucking tell.
You spent half the night
with him in the back garden.
Half the night. Hmm.
How, uh
How long has he had a thing
for you, then?
-Ang Angus is like a brother.
-Yeah.
-To you, maybe, but not to him.
-Oh, don't be like that.
No, don't reduce me
to some demoiselle
to be fought over.
No.
You do not need to speak for me.
Someone had to say something.
-You said I had job offers.
-BELLA: Because you will.
No, because you're embarrassed
that I don't.
That's-- That's why you said it.
-BELLA: Hmm.
-(PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
We've been back
for three months already
and you're still
in some shitty fucking bar.
Well, it's actually
a very expensive fucking bar.
-Very high-end customers.
-Hmm. Hmm.
Some of the people in there
use the word "demoiselle."
I just haven't, you know,
I haven't heard that word
since I was growing up
in Peckham.
Stop it, Johnny.
I'm trying to be angry with you.
Just saying. People
were always dropping that one
on the Ledbury Estate.
(CHUCKLES)
You cheeky prick.
(HESITATES) "Demoiselle."
(BELLA CHUCKLES)
Fucking hell.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
(CHUCKLES)
(RIVETING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
CLEO HYLAND: Nick
and Serena are ready for you.
JOY "BUDGIE" BUDGE:
Excellent. Thank you, Cleo.
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-(TELEPHONE RINGING)
BUDGIE: Where is she now?
NICHOLAS: Still in Paris,
but London later this week
for the European premiere.
And the photograph?
We're the only ones
who've got it.
-Who-- Who's we? You two?
-BOTH: Yeah.
BUDGIE: Hmm.
You've not sent this
to anyone else?
SERENA: No.
Good. Delete it.
The whole correspondence.
Speak to IT,
make sure it's gone, gone.
Then she needs to send it again
so that you can create
a paper trail to show
that you disapproved
immediately.
Thank you, Budgie.
And Carla must never,
from this day forward,
contact this Flora girl again.
Not till the divorce is done.
Is that clear?
-NICHOLAS: Yes.
Thank you, Budgie.
-SERENA: Thank you, Budgie.
How she obtained this image
is regrettable.
That it exists,
let's be honest,
makes the world a far
more enjoyable place to be.
Someone should be
writing this down.
-Yep.
-(INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
He said he sets an alarm
for the middle of the night
just so he can be the first one
to reply to American emails.
You know, that's how competitive
it is to work there.
One of you,
doesn't matter which.
If you try and race me,
you will look ridiculous.
I say that purely as a friend.
Yep.
(SIGHS DEEPLY) A friend.
BUDGIE: The line is as follows.
Over the past ten years,
not only has he denied
any cheating,
he's claimed she's mad
for even suggesting it.
This makes Carla paranoid,
and in turn,
causes her to commission
this honey trap.
Something, we have her admit
in this nice
new paper trail of ours,
she deliberately kept from us
until after it had happened.
Because she knew,
and it pains us all,
it would have been something
we'd have strongly denounced.
(MUSIC FADES) ♪
BUDGIE: However,
the resulting image proves,
and here's the double win,
that not only was he lying
about his infidelities
(TYPING STOPS)
-But gaslighting her, too. Hmm.
-Hmm. Did she pay her?
-No.
-BUDGIE: You sure?
Yes,
they're friends, apparently.
BUDGIE: Well, if she didn't,
she shouldn't.
But we must be
certain either way.
Aside from that,
in your judgment,
there's nothing to stop us?
-Stop you?
-SERENA: Serving.
We want to break
the prenuptial agreement.
Nick did Carla's deal
at his old firm.
NICHOLAS: Yeah.
We did a drop-hands arrangement,
as in they each walk away
with what they brought
to the marriage at the time.
The problem is she was worth
much more back then,
and he was
worth significantly less.
BUDGIE:
And you'd want to reflect that.
SERENA: Yeah.
And we want everything ready
before Cathcarts get
even the slightest whiff.
(INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
-(NEWSPAPER RUSTLING)
-(CUTLERY CLINKING)
(MUSIC FADES) ♪
ERIC: If I'd known we were
staying in London,
I would have gotten us
a round at Sunningdale.
Yeah, no,
it's Carla's premiere on Friday.
She wants the flat to get ready,
so I thought I'd stick around,
and you know, support.
There you were
thinking the romance was dead.
I'd never say that.
Oh, Christ,
I'm not gonna make it
with these fucking green juices.
What?
-I know your secret.
-(MORGAN SIPS)
From the other night.
After the awards show.
Michael Ancker
messaged you. Direct.
To say he was in London.
-True.
-I know it's true.
I wasn't asking if it was true.
We have a whole team
managing your account.
Eric, Eric, Eric, Eric.
Be American by all means,
but please do it
a little more quietly.
All right.
The only reason
that he would message you
on your social media platform,
not his,
is if he's serious
about buying Zephyr.
Eric.
Ancker is an appalling man.
We set up our platform
as a reaction to his.
Every man has his price.
Yeah, and mine
is prohibitively high.
-(ERIC CHUCKLES)
-You don't like the juice?
No, I'm just saving it for,
like, a pudding.
Mmm. It does look delicious.
Oh, you think so?
He'd love one too, please.
-Thanks very much.
-(RIVETING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
(ERIC CHUCKLES)
(MUSIC RISES) ♪
Oh, you're liking
the lamb, guys?
Between you and me,
that's my personal favorite.
-Sorry, the bathroom?
-It's just at the back, madam.
-Down the stairs
and straight ahead.
-CUSTOMER: Thanks.
JOHNNY: Yeah,
the bill is on its way, sir.
It sends its apologies.
See you next time, guys.
Thank you, thank you.
Espresso lungo.
Sorry for the wait, guys.
So you enjoyed the linguine?
Between you and me,
it's my personal favorite.
-(DINER GIGGLES)
-Was that intentional?
-That depends.
-On?
On how you feel about it.
(DINERS CHUCKLE)
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY) Okay.
(MUSIC FALLS) ♪
(MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪
JOHNNY: What matters
is the client,
especially in family law.
The client must know
that we can see their anguish
and their fear,
but they must also know
that we perceive it as less
of a problem than they do.
That's the trade.
Telling them that everything's
gonna work out fine
is the last thing they're going
to want to hear.
What they need to hear is, um
May I switch to French
for a moment, please?
(RIVETING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
Is that everything's
going to shit.
-You think?
-JOHNNY: Absolutely.
No one objects
to spending lots of money
if it ends up
saving them a fortune.
We represent value, Mrs. Grant,
because we're expensive.
LAWYER:
You're wanting to be considered
as a senior associate.
(MUSIC RISES) ♪
Your CV doesn't
quite bear that out.
SENIOR PARTNER :
I spoke to Wyatt-Wren
in Manhattan,
and they thought
that your time there
had been less of a triumph
than you seem to recall.
JOHNNY:
Speak to your colleagues.
Tell them, "I'm gonna give
this guy a month."
Tell them, "I'm gonna give
this guy a week."
"A day. A day. That's it."
You're gonna go (EXHALES)
"What a day. What a guy."
It's indisputable.
Undeniable.
Irrefutable.
Inexplicable.
Please understand, I would never
risk selling myself to you
in this way unless
I could look you in the eye
and tell you
that I was a perfect fit
for Knatchball and Sand.
for Cosset Eldrige.
Cavendish Row.
Delamere Futterton Lynch.
(MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪
-(TRAFFIC RUMBLING)
-(DISTANT SIRENS WAILING)
(PASSENGER CARS CHUGGING
ON RAIL TRACKS)
-HARRIET CROFT:
And how is Angus?
-BELLA: Doing well.
Their house looks amazing.
We're hosting the return supper
on Friday.
-Are we?
-Yeah.
It's the only night that Angus
and Sophie could do.
He has
this big presentation thing.
Oh, please tell me
you're not gonna cook.
No, Johnny will cook.
Johnny's a genius
in the kitchen.
Go on. Tell her.
You want me to tell your mum
that I'm a genius
in the kitchen?
-BELLA: Yeah.
-Johnny, Bella works in PR.
This is free PR.
I'd take it if I were you.
-(BELLA CHUCKLES)
-(CHUCKLES) Yeah.
Bella's father is not a genius
in the kitchen.
Well, he could be.
He's never set foot
in a fucking kitchen,
so how would we know?
No, I'll take these, Mum.
No worries.
(MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING
OVER SPEAKERS) ♪
Um
-(GLASSES CLINKING)
-(FAUCET RUNNING)
Bella says that you're
struggling to find
work as a lawyer.
No, I'm not struggling.
-What--
-HARRIET: Must be terribly hard.
All those graduates
in your rearview mirror.
You know, you mustn't think
because we happen
to be a certain type of people
that we have any expectations
when it comes to jobs like that.
In the City.
Or the professions.
It's just not how we think.
-Okay?
-JOHNNY: Yeah, yeah, of course.
Don't be silly. No, I don't
BELLA: You're in our room.
We're in the sofa bed.
-No arguments.
-HARRIET: Fantastic.
(RIVETING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
(MUSIC RISES) ♪
-Ten minutes tops, yeah?
-DRIVER: All right, sir.
(DOOR LOCK BUZZING)
Did you see
yesterday's Daily Express?
-(MUSIC FADES) ♪
-Do I look like a man who saw
yesterday's Daily Express?
MORGAN: Isn't that one
of the lawyers she used
when we did the prenup?
ST. JOHN SMALLWOOD: Hmm.
Nicholas Taylor, that's right.
And that's his wife.
Well,
why would she be with them?
In Paris?
You don't bump
into your lawyer in Paris.
ST. JOHN: They could be advising
on any number of things.
Might have nothing to do
with your marriage.
MORGAN: Well, if it didn't
relate to my marriage,
then she'd have told me.
And I'd have told her
to talk to you.
-ST. JOHN: I've no idea.
-What?
Whether she'd have told you.
But if you're
telling me she would
-I am.
-Then I believe you, Morgan.
Wonderful to see you.
Why am I here?
So I can ask
if we should be worried,
and if we are,
what we should do about it.
You mean the prospect
of her filing for divorce?
Thank you, Simon.
How's your relationship?
(SIGHS) Well, we spend
so little time together.
Initially due to work,
and then out of habit,
and now
now by design.
Legally, you're secure.
We got the prenup we wanted.
That took time,
as you'll recall.
But we did that
so that if ever a situation
like this arose,
you'd be protected.
How protected?
ST. JOHN: She can't fucking
touch you, not in this country.
And we are in this country.
They can plot and plan and eat
as many baguettes as they like.
But the fact is, I'll be honest,
thanks to me,
you're bulletproof.
The main things that
invalidate a prenup are A,
if you signed it under duress,
which neither of you did
because it was properly
papered, properly witnessed,
or B, you failed
to disclose any assets
or failed to hide
any assets properly,
as I prefer to put it.
She might come after you
if you failed to keep it
in your trousers,
your well-tailored trousers,
but you haven't, have you?
Not recently anyhow.
-Well, not for a couple of
-ST. JOHN: Months?
Years.
ST. JOHN: Either way,
it's irrelevant, in legal terms.
But it might explain
the Paris rendezvous.
May I take this?
Do I look like a man
who wants to hold
onto yesterday's Daily Express?
Very good. Send Carla my love.
-MORGAN: I won't be doing that.
-Correct answer.
-(DOOR CREAKS OPEN)
-(INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
(DOOR CLOSES)
(TENSE
DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
-(DIAL TONE RINGING)
-ST. JOHN: Where is Her Majesty?
Well, get her out of court,
find David Schill,
set up a meeting.
Yes.
-(CELL PHONE BEEPS)
-Sorry about that.
(CAR ENGINE STARTS)
(MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪
(MUSIC RISES, FADES) ♪
SERENA:
We'll need a proper team.
Two partners, that's us,
a barrister, that's Budgie,
Budgie's team,
and I'm thinking
two senior associates,
two juniors and a paralegal.
Of course she can afford it.
She's a Hollywood actress.
She's married to a billionaire.
Okay, maybe she doesn't have it
in the retainer, but
She can pay us back
when she wins.
Well, we do that
and we don't win,
-then we're fucked.
-The second she serves,
he'll go straight to Cathcarts.
-The only way
to beat Cathcarts
-(CELL PHONE CHIMES)
to spend, to hire people,
no matter what the cost.
What is it?
It's saying,
"The war room is ready."
-It's not as if we weren't
gonna do it.
-Ready? Already?
-I just think that we need to
-What?
-You just think? What?
-I'm not gonna apologize
for setting up a law firm, Nick.
I'm not asking you
to apologize--
And I'm not frightened
of taking them on.
I am frightened,
but there's no way
I'm gonna let
Cathcarts know that.
-Definitely not Beatrice.
-Then talk to me.
I am talking to you.
NICHOLAS: Before you decide.
You don't just
go ahead without me
and start spending money.
Listen. If we're gonna do this,
take on the big boys with Carla,
a client I brought into the firm
in the first place, remember?
Then we need to do it together,
no matter your talents
as a lawyer,
no matter mine.
-I'm actually an amazing lawyer,
don't know if you--
-I'm serious.
(QUIETLY) Okay.
Otherwise, there's no point.
(SOFT PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
-A team.
-Mm-hmm.
A team.
So
we're doing this. Yes?
We're doing this.
(NICHOLAS CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
Okay, we better get going.
-This war room won't run itself.
-(GROANS)
(TENSE DRAMATIC MUSIC
PLAYING) ♪
She's on her way right now.
Show me.
Big, fat, insert-swear-word
of-choice problem.
-Shit.
-(MUSIC FADES) ♪
I picked a stronger one
than that.
Serena Byrne
and Nicholas Taylor.
Thank you. We know who they are.
DAVID SCHILL: Well, we know her.
She used to work here.
She's like me,
except not as good.
Morgan Henderson keeps
a retainer here
for any legal support
he or they might need.
"They" being the operative word.
So the only reason Carla
would be meeting
with Siegfried & Roy here
would be to revisit the prenup.
-You've seen him?
-Yes.
-BEATRICE UBOSI: In person?
-Yes.
-Asked how the marriage is?
-Yes.
-Asked if he's been faithful?
-Yes.
-BEATRICE: And he said yes?
-Yes.
And you've discussed
all this amongst yourselves
and you think he's lying?
Or that there's some sort
of serious problem?
And you've called me
back from court
to ask me what to do
because he's our biggest client.
Because you love this
and it's actually
quite exciting.
What did you decide?
We start work anyway,
assume he's bullshitting
and do everything
we can possibly think of
to try and get ahead of this.
And we do all that, why?
"'Cause that's what
he's fucking paying for."
(RIVETING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
-(LIVELY CHATTER)
-(MUSIC RISES) ♪
Evening, gents,
I have the Jack's Creek sirloin
for you there
and the linguine alle cozze.
(DINERS LAUGHING LOUDLY)
Honestly. But that's
the thing with these sort
of guys nowadays,
you can't fucking trust them.
Do you know what I mean?
Like, who do they think I am?
(GROUP LAUGHS)
Fucking arses
the lot of them, I swear.
Vonnte. I'm done, mate.
I'll see you tomorrow.
Oh, do these before you go?
Table 23.
(ANGUS LAUGHING LOUDLY)
(MUSIC FALLS) ♪
(SIGHS SHARPLY)
I have a Prosecco and a Negroni
for you there, ladies. Enjoy.
DINER: Excuse me.
(MUSIC FADES) ♪
DINER: Excuse me.
-Can we get a wine list, please?
-John!
Uh, everyone, this is
Uh, this is John.
He's dating Bella Croft.
-DINER 1: Okay.
-(GROUP EXCLAIMS)
ANGUS: Now, John
John's a, uh
He's a lawyer.
(SNORTS) Uh, he's currently
fending off offers
from the top firms in London.
I mean,
the poor guy's inundated.
(GROUP SNICKERS)
It's good to see you again.
No, John. John,
wait, wait, wait. Wait, wait.
Come back. Don't run away.
Uh, we're ready to order,
actually.
Yeah.
JOHNNY: Okay.
What can I get you?
We
would like
some contracts, please.
(GROUP SNICKERS)
ANGUS: Some lawsuits to start.
Uh, maybe throw in
a last will and testament.
(LAUGHS) Maybe some affidavits
for the table.
-(GROANS)
-(DINERS GASP, MURMUR)
ANGUS: (SHOUTS)
What the fuck are you doing?
You broke my fucking nose!
Ow!
-Ow!
-(DINERS MURMURING)
-DINER: Is someone
gonna do something?
-(ANGUS GROANS)
DINER: I mean,
he just whacked him in the face.
("I'M A MAN"
BY BLACK STROBE PLAYING) ♪
ANGUS: (MUFFLED)
You broke my fucking nose,
you fucking tosspot.
-I spell M ♪
-M! ♪
(ANGUS CONTINUES WHINING)
-A ♪
-A! ♪
-M ♪
-M! ♪
-Whoa, I'm a man ♪
-ANGUS: Fucking arsehole.
-(SONG CONCLUDES) ♪
-If I don't fire you,
they'll fire me too.
-I can't afford to lose this.
-JOHNNY: It's okay.
I've got the ex-wife with a kid.
The whole situation is just
Vonnte, it's fine, mate.
I get it.
Do you want these back?
(SOFT PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
You know what, man?
Keep the peas.
-(CHUCKLES)
-That's a fucking terrible joke.
VONNTE: See you later, okay?
(DOOR CREAKS OPEN)
(DOOR CREAKS SHUT)
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
(DIAL TONE RINGS, CLICKS)
VOICEMAIL:
You have one new message.
-(MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪
-(DISTANT SIRENS WAILING)
BELLA: Are you fucking serious?
-You hit Angus?
-Yep.
He has
this huge client presentation
that I told you about
and you literally fucking attack
him in public.
I punched him in the face.
What the fuck, Johnny? Why?
-JOHNNY: Why?
-(HESITATES)
'Cause he deserved it.
Hi, Harriet.
-BELLA: Why?
-HARRIET: Hello.
He was talking to me
like a piece of shit
in front of all of his friends,
and then I hit him,
and then all of a sudden
he wasn't talking to me
like a piece of shit
in front of his mates.
There's a word for it,
and I forget what it is.
-People like me punching
people like him.
-Fucking insane.
-Fucking insane.
-I don't-- "Punching up."
"Punching up."
And your mum agrees,
'cause if she didn't,
she'd be saying something.
At least hear his side
of the story.
-Just--
-JOHNNY: Oh, I forgot
about the client meeting.
-I like that. Thank you.
-BELLA: Did they fire you?
-(FAUCET RUNNING)
-Did they fire you?
(FAUCET STOPS)
Because Angus told Sophie
that they took you off
and you didn't come back,
so presumably
-Yep, they fired me.
-Brilliant.
(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
Great, Johnny.
Do you know what
that dinner was for?
I wanted them to meet you.
Because I've been telling them
how serious I am about this.
About you.
Exactly. So do you want to be
with someone that takes
all that shit or someone that
does something about it?
(SNIFFLES)
We're-- We're back in London
because you screwed up
in New York.
Please don't do that again.
One of the, uh, firms
that I interviewed for,
they-- they called
and offered me a job.
(SOFTLY) Fuck off.
I said I had
one more interview to go
and then I'd let 'em know.
(LOW
INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
(CHUCKLES)
Oh my (CHUCKLES)
It was a busy old day.
-Johnny Warren?
-Yes.
-Cleo.
-Nice to meet you, Cleo.
-They're ready for you.
-Lovely, thank you.
(CLEARS THROAT)
-In the back.
-Oh, thank you very much.
Can I get you
a drink or anything?
Uh
-Tea would be lovely,
if that's okay?
-Tea. On the way.
-Thank you.
-(MUSIC FADES) ♪
This is just
my personal opinion.
It's more succinct this way.
Nothing on the second page
of a CV will convince you
if the first page
hasn't already.
-SERENA: Mm-hmm.
-Makes sense.
You have strong experience
in family law in New York.
Yes, at Wyatt-Wren.
Yep, we spoke to them,
to Elliot Wyatt, the son.
-I worked with Elliot directly.
-Mm, he said.
SERENA: He said you come across
as overconfident,
but that that's
more down to insecurity
than inexperience.
His way of saying
(SIGHS) you're not young.
Not for a young person, anyway.
He said underneath you're sharp,
good with clients,
and that you know family law
better than he does.
(JOHNNY SCOFFS SOFTLY)
-He said that?
-NICHOLAS: Mm.
"If he's in London, just make
sure he's working for you."
(CHUCKLES) Well,
that's very, um
Well, it's very kind of him.
Um
Now, look,
before we go any further,
I feel I should tell you
that I I do already have
an offer from another firm.
Which one?
It's more of a general position,
I think,
when what I'm really looking for
is, uh, to be working
on a big case.
Yeah, of course.
Something I can really
sink my teeth into.
Which firm?
Um
Cathcarts.
(LOW RIVETING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
SERENA: Hmm.
We do have a case coming up.
Biggest one we've ever worked on
and there is one place left
at the table
for a junior associate.
A divorce.
A good one?
In that it's a bad one.
Johnny, we would like
to offer you that role,
but the condition is
you have to decide now.
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-(TELEPHONE RINGING)
They're offering.
You can tell.
Look at her body language.
She's his for a lager and lime.
I'd hire him.
I'd hire the shit out of him.
(MUSIC RISES) ♪
(ALARM BEEPING)
(KEYPAD BEEPING)
-(ALARM STOPS)
-(DOOR LOCK CHIRPS, BUZZES)
-(DOOR OPENS)
-(KEYS JANGLING)
(DOOR CLOSES)
(SIGHS)
ERIC: Pick-up's at 6:30.
Premier is ten minutes away.
We thought that you
and Carla might want
to travel together.
MORGAN: Well, it'd be odd
if we arrived separately.
What's this?
Earring?
-Has Carla been here?
-ERIC: Carla? No.
She's using the apartment.
-GILLIAN: Hmm.
-MORGAN: Well, it's not mine.
-Keep it. Why not?
-(KEYBOARD CLACKING)
GILLIAN: I'm not gonna wear
one earring, Morgan.
-I'm not a pirate.
-(NOTIFICATION CHIMES)
Cathcarts is supposed
to see you this afternoon.
If this is
about the Ancker thing--
It's not about
fucking Ancker, Eric.
How many times?
(LOW TENSE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
Confirm with Cathcarts,
but Carla mustn't know
I'm there.
We'll tell her you're getting
ready for the premiere.
Getting ready for the premiere.
That's exactly what I'm doing.
(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
(EXHALES)
(MUSIC FALLS) ♪
(DARK DRAMATIC MUSIC
OVERLAPPING) ♪
(ELEVATOR DINGS)
Hello, Carla.
-CARLA: Hi.
-Nice to see you. Hello.
-LUCY: Hi.
-If you want to
(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)
(MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪
-SERENA: Carla.
-CARLA: Hi.
-SERENA: Hi. Nice to see you.
-How are you? Good to see you.
-NICHOLAS: Hi. You all right?
-Hi, Nick.
-How are you? Very well, thanks.
-Yeah? Good, good.
(MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪
-We have only one question.
-Please.
-Who was she?
-Who was?
Morgan, much as you might not
like it right now,
you have at some point
had the forethought to pay us
a lot of money to ask you
awkward questions like these
so that we can protect you
from the fallout that comes
from the resulting answers.
Another go. Who was she?
Quick as you can,
your wife has a big enough
head start as it is.
Her name is Flora Monroe.
She's an actress, a friend.
We did a film, we got on.
And you haven't paid her?
-Of course not.
-Then, contacted her?
No, because you told me not to.
Look, I told her
how I don't know Morgan anymore.
Who he sees, what he's planning.
(SCOFFS) If I wanna know
what he's up to, I google him.
He's done it before.
-Cheated?
-CARLA: Yes.
I wanted to know
if he'd gone back
to all of that,
and she said she'd help.
How old is Flora?
What's it matter?
Why are you answering?
Have you slept with her too?
ST. JOHN: It matters
because the younger she is,
the worse it looks.
She's younger than me.
You may have
to narrow that down.
(CHUCKLES)
MORGAN: (SCOFFS) Early thirties.
Late twenties.
Mid-twenties.
She's no younger than that.
It was a joke at first,
a stupid joke.
Maybe she should, you know,
test it. Test him.
I forgot all about it,
and then when I heard
another rumor,
I thought,
you know what, why not?
Because (SCOFFS)
'Cause then at least I'd know.
MORGAN:
She was at this awards ceremony.
We were at the same hotel.
On the same floor.
It was nothing very
It was just two people.
She seemed very
(SCOFFS) I'm not having you
all gawping at me.
I'm not paying you
to catch me out.
There's an army
of people out there
who are quite willing
to do that for free.
In fact,
they fucking specialize in it.
What I want, if you've made
this deduction of yours,
and she's about to serve me
with divorce papers,
is for you to tell me
what you're going
to do about it.
The plan is as follows.
You do your premiere tonight
together.
This gives the impression
that you want him at events
that are important to you.
You hold his hand,
the press sees that,
you have no idea
what a rat he's been.
Then tonight, via email,
copying his lawyers, we serve.
-I want to serve him.
-SERENA: You can't.
I want to look him in the eye.
You can't. Not in person.
You can ask someone,
a lawyer or anyone
who's court-certified,
but much better for you to have
your big red carpet moment
and then hit him with the email.
(LOW TENSE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
ST. JOHN:
What we do is get ahead of this.
David.
We've taken
on an extra solicitor,
not particularly senior,
but someone who can focus
exclusively on this case.
Before we hired him, I spoke
to a friend in New York,
Elliot Wyatt,
to get a reference.
The reference was decent enough.
I then made him promise
to give a far better reference
to anyone else who might
subsequently get in touch
wanting to offer
this new solicitor of ours
a job of their own.
And that's what happened.
As chance would have it,
our good friends
at Taylor & Byrne
were looking to recruit
a new junior associate
for a high-profile divorce case
they're working on.
He interviewed yesterday.
Went very well, apparently.
They offered him the job.
He works for them now.
ERIC:
Except he really works for us?
DAVID:
Except he really works for us.
MORGAN:
Are you out of your mind?
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
If this gets out,
I'm fucked, surely.
Morgan, this is likely to be
the biggest divorce trial
in British legal history,
and you've just admitted
to screwing
a 25-year-old stranger.
(SIGHS)
To be clear,
you're fucked already.
(MUSIC RISES) ♪
We are taking on a rich man
with strong legal backing.
Cathcarts is
the best law firm in London.
Our potential speaks for itself.
And let us not forget, you are
the wronged party here.
You are the wronged party here.
There can be
no doubt about that.
We will play dirty
if we have to.
And if they play dirty,
we will be total
and utter filth.
Midnight, Carla,
and then we click send.
All we need is your word.
Do I have your permission
to proceed?
(MUSIC SWELLS) ♪
-(MUSIC FADES) ♪
-Good.
Let battle commence.
BEATRICE: This mole of ours,
it's definitely confirmed?
We can have
no uncertainty there.
The moment he got the job,
he was to message me
straight away.
And what precisely did he say?
(INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
(CHUCKLES)
(MUSIC RISES,
TURNS DRAMATIC) ♪
The car's just pulling up now.
(MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪
(MUSIC FALLS) ♪
(MUSIC FADES) ♪
The film sounds fascinating.
Who do you play?
I am a spy in the war.
It's all crossing.
Double-crossing.
-Secrets and betrayal.
-(BROODING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
Exactly.
It's not my kind
of thing either.
(CHUCKLES)
(MUSIC RISES) ♪
(MUSIC FALLS) ♪
-(MUSIC INTENSIFIES) ♪
-I love you! I love you! Carla!
-(FANS CLAMORING)
-(CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING)
-CARLA: How are you? Hi.
-JEREMY: Hi.
-You look sensational.
-Thank you.
I'm in town tonight.
-They've given me a great suite.
-Never gonna happen, Jeremy.
Ever.
-(CROWD CLAMORING)
-(LUCY SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
(OVERLAPPING CHATTER)
(MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪
(INDISTINCT CLAMOR)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Carla!
("THE END"
BY NANCY SINATRA PLAYING) ♪
(SOUND BECOMES MUFFLED)
At the end of the rainbow ♪
You'll find a pot of gold ♪
But just tell me you love me ♪
And you are only mine ♪
And our love will go on ♪
'Til the end of time ♪
-(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS)
-At the end of a river ♪
The water stops its flow ♪
At the end of a highway ♪
There's no place you can go ♪
And our love will go on ♪
'Til the end of time ♪
(SONG CONCLUDES) ♪