Matlock (2024) s02e04 Episode Script
Piece of My Heart
1
MATTY: I'm Madeline Matlock.
I'm a lawyer,
like the old TV show.
Most of what you know
about me is based in truth.
- But it's also a lie.
- Good evening, Mrs. Kingston.
- Who the hell are you?
- I wasn't like this before your firm
protected the pharmaceutical
company that killed my daughter.
"Eleanor Kingston
"loved baking and singing karaoke.
And, above all, she loved
her son, Alfred Edwin Kingston."
Joey's Alfie's father.
- Joey checked into rehab.
- Oh.
A so-called whistleblower reached out
to a reporter.
So now we smoke that leak out.
MATTY: There's somebody else out there
who is fighting your fight.
But Senior and the Wolf
they'll just
ferret out whoever it is.
Not if I say I was
- the leak.
- MATTY: Talk to me
about the mysterious Debra Palmer.
She's a freelance makeup artist.
Lives in Hell's Kitchen.
Wish we used Mrs. Belvin's credentials
to get access to
the Wellbrexa expense reports.
MATTY: Wouldn't that be great?
OLYMPIA: Mm-hmm.
MATTY: You and I
have to find a way to work together
despite our trust issues
to bring down Senior.
Okay, Counselor,
here's what I'm gonna need.
Full access to emails and texts.
And by access, I mean passwords.
Kicking off with an outrageous
request to set the range
- and try to rattle me?
- No.
I'm laying out the basic requirements
to begin negotiations.
Nothing outrageous about it.
REMY: Excuse me.
We offered $96,000
to settle a wrongful death suit
for a minimum-wage worker
who was seven years past retirement
when our factory wasn't even liable.
But you know what is outrageous,
Ms. Lawrence?
Rolling in here
with three other lawyers
like this is a congressional hearing
instead of a settlement conference.
Now, I'd be intimidated
if I didn't have my own
three all-stars as backup
my brains,
my looks, and my mom.
- (GRUNTS) -Did he just say
- Yes,
I did.
Incredible lady. Like wine, she gets
better with age. And I ran
this number by my mother,
and she thinks it's more than fair.
Lots of things aren't fair.
The fact that your husband
took a study from discovery
that could have altered the path
of the opioid epidemic
The fact that you deceived me
for a year
- about every single thing in your life.
- Exactly.
There's no trust between us.
So when I say the word,
you hand me your phone.
And when you say the word,
I hand you mine.
What if it's a personal text?
No commenting.
And no crossing
any emotional boundaries.
Damn right I'm playing up the emotion.
Tell your mom
Frank Russo gave Windham
Railworks 33 years of his life.
A-And the factory manager,
Arnold Madsen,
repaid him for his loyalty
by making him work
through a Category 4 storm.
He was trapped inside,
- drowned
- A tragedy.
But the factory's safety handbook
is thicker than the Bible.
Frank should have evacuated.
And even if you can prove
that the factory
breached duty of care
- Oh, I can.
- Mr. Russo was an older man.
He had, at best,
a year left on the job.
He was slowing down.
MATTY: We have to move quickly,
and we only get one shot.
- I'll make contact with Debra Palmer.
- You memorized
- everything in the expense reports?
- Of course.
Camelot Club.
Watermelon martinis.
And karaoke.
Once I get Debra
to ID who from Wellbrexa
- was on the Australia trip
- We target
the weakest link,
confront them with the study
that was buried, and
convince them to flip on Senior.
Do we have a deal?
If you stipulate
to the terms I laid out.
I have no choice, given
the complete absence of trust.
This isn't about trust.
It's about survival.
♪
And we have a deal.
No deal.
MATTY: And, Mr. Hodges,
I don't think your mother
would appreciate
the implication that,
because you're older,
you aren't useful.
Good point, Counselor.
And maybe Frank wasn't as fast
as some of the younger guys,
but he definitely wasn't retiring.
And when I put
his widow Gloria on the stand
and she starts talking about
what her husband meant to her,
those jurors will be digging
in their own pocket
to compensate her.
We'll see you in court.
(THUNDER RUMBLING) -FRANK:
The water's still coming in,
but I've, um, I've stacked sandbags
- (GLASS SHATTERING)
- Shoot. Shoot, I-I got to go.
I-I got to go stack some more.
- (WATER FLOWING)
- But, listen, listen,
if this is the last chance
I get to talk to you,
I need you to know
being your husband
has been the honor of my life.
And those were
your husband's last words?
They were.
And I-I hate to bring up finances
when what you lost is so much bigger.
But can we talk about the stress
that's adding to your grief?
Yes.
Uh, Frank (SNIFFLES)
Planned on working
as long as he could,
because we didn't have savings.
Since he passed,
I've stopped three of my medications.
The rest, I take half.
I keep the heat in the house off
unless it gets below 45 degrees.
Found all my old sweaters.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
And Frank's.
Sorry.
I just miss my best friend.
MATTY: You should've heard her, Edwin.
How she talked about her husband,
how they-they meant everything
to each other.
You know who he reminded me of?
Hmm?
My first boyfriend, Ralph.
- Ah. Ralph.
- (LAUGHING)
Ran for the hills.
Smart guy.
ALFIE: Okay, I have an idea.
And before you say anything,
just keep an open mind.
- Not a promising start.
- I won't be riding motorcycles.
I want to learn to fix them.
Is he really talking
about motorcycles right now?
Maybe he said "bicycles."
- Ah.
- Open mind.
I think that's what my dad is into.
Or what he was into in 2007,
when he last posted on Facebook.
I'm not sure what he's into now.
Hopefully recovery.
Well, obviously. He's in rehab.
Well, addiction
is a monster your father's
been living with for 20 years.
So just take a deep breath
whenever you feel
your hopes getting up too high.
- Okay?
- Grammy, you don't understand.
He's never had a reason
to stay sober before.
Now he has me.
Ellie says she has a reason
to stay sober now
and I should stop worrying.
Well, tell her we've been
worrying for nine years now.
Uh, speaking of which,
- last night
- (PHONE CHIMES)
Oh. Hold on.
It's Ellie.
She's got another idea
for her baby shower.
"You're gonna love it."
She's gonna tell me today
at the ultrasound.
So what about last night?
She just sounded a little
slower on the phone.
Well, we'll know
after the structural ultrasound.
- Yeah.
- The doctor said that if
the birth weight and a few
other markers are on track,
Ellie probably isn't using.
Four months to go.
♪
Well, ding-dang,
thank you, ma'am.
I'll see you at 3:00, Debra.
I'll be the one looking sleepier
than a sloth on a daybed.
(LAUGHS)
Adios.
"Due to the recent breach,
"the firm is implementing
new security protocols.
"I am honored
"to serve as the legal representative
"on Jacobson Moore's
compliance committee,
in partnership with our very talented,
uh, IT department."
Thank you for the, uh,
kind words, Julian.
- Yes.
- We'll be switching
security systems,
adding new features
and new security safeguards.
Oh, wow.
"Exactly, Isaac.
"And we're here
to answer any questions
and ensure a smooth transition."
No questions.
Uh, one comment though.
You two have a really nice rhythm.
Oh, thank you.
Please sign here confirming
that you've heard our
instructions and will comply.
♪
My dad, uh,
keeps finding new ways
to humiliate me.
Can I quit now?
Mrs. Belvin was the leaker.
She's clearly the one
who wrote you anonymously.
With the NDA, we are safe.
We're not. Not yet.
(PHONE VIBRATES)
- (SIGHS)
- One second. Sorry.
It's my case.
Wh Uh, what do you mean?
Why aren't we safe? (SIGHS)
What if Mrs. Belvin told someone else?
You think Senior just tucked in
what happened and went to bed?
He's probably gathering evidence
against you
in case this ever gets out.
So we need to build our case
and prove that he gave the order.
I-I know. You're right.
Uh, it's just
my comedic repartee
with Isaac aside, Compliance
isn't my dream
Jacobson Moore subcommittee.
Well, can it be useful, at least?
Can you get your father's new password
so we can get access to his files?
I will try.
But
how are you feeling today?
OLYMPIA (OVER PHONE): I'm okay.
JULIAN: Good. I know
your dad's birthday is hard.
I'm-I'm here if you need anything.
OLYMPIA: Thank you.
That means a lot.
We'll talk later?
I'm sorry. I didn't
Why don't you stay here
while I'm at court
so you can focus on Debra Palmer.
(ELEVATOR DINGS)
Hey, Sarah.
Did you run an audio check?
Sure did, boss. Sounds great.
Or as great as a drowning man's
last words can sound.
See you soon.
Can I have this quarter?
I'm getting hangry,
- and I don't want to yell at you.
- No.
What did I just say?
This is not a quarter.
This is my grandmother's
St. Philomena coin.
I'm bringing it
to Claudia's first sonogram,
so I have to leave work
about an hour or so early.
- No problem. I'll cover for you.
- Thanks.
So just out of curiosity,
how much time
is this baby gonna take up?
- (SIGHS)
- No, genuinely.
I want to be a good partner in this.
I'm gonna add a new color
to our shared calendar.
I'm thinking green,
because babies look
and act like little aliens.
- (CHUCKLES)
- Very considerate.
Um, and I'm actually not sure.
Maybe a couple hours a month
for prenatal appointments?
Easy. And post-birth?
"Post-birth" meaning "life"?
Are you asking how much time
will my child take up?
Don't be silly.
How would you know that?
- Yeah.
- Just (CHUCKLES)
Approximately?
Can we check in
after the baby is born?
- No problem.
- (CLANKING)
You know, I'm actually getting
pretty excited for the sonogram.
I think when I see the baby
for the first time,
it's actually gonna feel real.
- (CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
- Yeah.
And this coin has a great story to it.
Santa Philomena is the patron
saint of infants and babies,
and my abuela Delfina had it in Cuba.
And she held it
when my mom gave birth,
- just praying for a grandson.
- Just wondering,
does this count as the baby hours?
Let's get to court.
REMY: Your Honor,
before the jury is seated,
I move to exclude
Gloria Russo's testimony.
- What?
- While sympathetic,
it has no bearing on
the legal merits of this case.
Opposing counsel
is trying to bootstrap
a mountain of emotion
to a molehill of facts.
OLYMPIA: Bootstrapping? Your Honor,
Gloria Russo is our principal witness
and the victim's widow.
REMY: And as Counselor Lawrence knows,
emotional damages
and loss of consortium
are not compensable under New York law
in a wrongful death lawsuit.
But New York law does allow
the jury to consider
the economic damages
my client has suffered.
And I am willing
to stipulate to all of it.
The waffles,
the Sunday back rubs,
the Uber she takes to the doctor,
the handyman covering the honey-dos.
Stipulate, stipulate, stip-u-late.
What I'm not willing to stipulate to
is the heightened emotion
that will distort
the economic damages.
Because that is when it becomes
more prejudicial than probative.
He is trying to take away her voice.
- Your Honor, please do not
- (GAVEL BANGS)
Mrs. Russo's testimony
will be excluded.
GLORIA: I can't talk about Frank?
♪
Heard we lost the face of the case
and our entry point
to hearing Frank's last words.
Figured we'd be regrouping.
(PHONE CHIMES)
Tell me you found precedent.
Anything for a motion to reconsider?
Okay, then we pivot.
From victim to villain.
Sounds about right.
If we can't make the jury sad,
make 'em mad.
And funnel their anger
into the maximum allowable
damages, exactly.
Sarah, Billy, talk to the employees.
See if they'll give you any dirt
on Arnold Madsen's actions
the day of the flood.
We already tried.
BILLY: No one will talk.
MATTY: No one will talk
yet.
If confronted with evidence
The weakest link?
- Exactly.
- SARAH: Uh,
for those of us outside
of your mind meld
MATTY: Well, we have Madsen's emails
from discovery.
He said some awful mean things
about Frank.
So we show 'em to his coworkers.
OLYMPIA: Mm-hmm. Reading
how callous their boss was
about their beloved colleague
might convince
at least one person to come forward.
Go search through the emails
and find the most damning ones,
while I establish
that the factory breached
their duty of care.
Come on, Matty.
Oh, I'm sorry, Sarah.
I actually have an appointment
this afternoon.
SARAH: Why did I even
bother making a shared calendar
if no one enters their appointments?
And your sonogram wasn't in green.
OLYMPIA: Your sonogram's today, Billy?
That's so exciting.
(HEART BEATING RAPIDLY)
Everything's measuring
right where we want it to be.
Damn straight.
I've been doing all the things,
prenatal vitamins, folic acid.
It's also got me thinking about names.
I want something original, right?
What about
- Folic Acid Kingston?
- Oh.
- You're not serious.
- Actually,
Acid Folic.
"Acid Folic" is badass.
- What
- Of course I'm not serious.
(LAUGHING)
And the fact that you thought I was
- (LAUGHS)
- I'll give you guys a minute.
- Yes.
- (LAUGHS)
I hate you.
You love me.
- I do.
- (CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
So much.
Now do you believe I'm sober?
Because I am.
And I'm gonna stay that way.
I finally have a reason.
All I want.
Oh. I decided where
I'm gonna have my baby shower.
Just keep an open mind.
MATTY: Oh. Careful, Debra.
Don't be nervous.
Doctors have scalpels,
and I have this magic foundation
which I chemically formulated myself.
Patent pending.
How does it feel?
Oh.
Wow.
W It's, uh
Silky?
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
Maybe just a
little thicker silky
than I'm used to. (CHUCKLES)
Yeah. Makes sense.
I moonlight
as a mortuary cosmetologist,
doing open casket work.
So all of the products
in my line, Eternal Glamour,
are medical-grade.
- Oh.
- Mm-hmm.
Well, I guess
I should just consider this
my audition for my swan song.
(LAUGHING)
But I swear I have seen you somewhere.
- Hmm.
- Have you ever been to Texas?
No. Never.
- I hardly get to travel.
- Hmm.
And just so you know,
we'll add the color back in later.
- Okay?
- Okay.
Cindy Shapiro, you said?
As I live and breathe.
Hmm.
Do you ever go to
the foot massage place on 72nd?
Nope.
Gosh, this is bugging me.
Not Texas.
You never travel.
Haven't been abroad.
I mean, I have once.
I went to Sydney, Australia.
Oh.
Well, only time I was there
was 14 or 15 years ago,
so that's highly unlikely.
Oh, my God.
I was there, like, 15 years ago.
- No.
- Yes.
Now, you wait a minute.
Did you ever do a karaoke number
- at the Camelot Club?
- Camelot Club!
- Yes, yes, yes!
- Oh, my!
(GASPS) -Best watermelon
martini I ever had.
OMG. Same.
Knock me over with a feather.
(SCOFFS) -The world
really is as small as a pea.
That was the last trip I took
before I found out my ex-husband was
a lying, cheating
son of a you-know-what.
Oh.
Who were you traveling with?
Oh.
Let's just call him
"Mr. Magic Pants."
JULIAN: Is my dad here?
We're here for his security update.
Five minutes, tops.
He doesn't have five minutes.
He has me.
Just pull up the firm's portal
and click "Update."
Then type in his old password.
Let me guess enter a new password
- and authenticate with my phone?
- ISAAC: Yeah.
Uh Oh.
Here we go.
(CLEARS THROAT)
(MOUSE CLICKING)
- (KEY CLACKS)
- ISAAC: You're done.
Hero.
(ALARM BELL RINGING)
(RINGING STOPS)
Mr. Bennett, are these the same
noise-canceling headphones
issued by Windham Railworks?
They are. Yes.
So you wouldn't be able
to hear the alarm
notifying you to evacuate?
Guys on the main floor could.
But, no, not in the machine shop.
- OLYMPIA: Hmm.
- REMY: Is an alarm bell
the only way the factory
alerted workers to an emergency?
No. There's also the light.
I've seen the light!
(LAUGHING)
Your Honor, I'd like to offer
a demonstrative exhibit.
Does this accurately depict the window
across from the workstation
where you and Frank worked?
Yes, it does.
"See the glare
and take care."
That's a catchy phrase.
Uh, do you recognize it?
Yeah, it's from the factory handbook.
REMY: Right here.
"If emergency lights are activated,
employees
should evacuate immediately."
While you're wearing your
company-mandated eye protection,
could you see the red light?
Nope.
OLYMPIA: So it was possible to miss it
while doing your job?
Yeah. And Frank was a rule follower.
Official, unofficial
he didn't want to lose his job.
Sounds like he took his job seriously.
And if the factory did, too,
he'd still be alive.
But if you can't see the glare,
you can't take care.
(DOOR CREAKS OPEN)
♪
Sounds like you stuck
the landing on breach of duty
of care.
So w-we're just gonna act like
this isn't happening?
Yes, we are.
Now, did Sarah and Billy find anybody
who was willing
to testify against Madsen?
- Can you stop staring at me?
- Mm-mmm.
I don't think that I can.
And they haven't found anyone yet.
You were in the makeup chair
for a while.
How'd it go with Debra?
She was down there with Senior.
And, um
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
she calls him "Mr. Magic Pants."
- Mm-mmm. Stop it.
- No. No, no, no.
- I heard all about his performance
- (CHUCKLES)
down under.
- No, Matty.
- (LAUGHS): Oh, yeah.
Did you get into any specifics
about her time in Australia?
Find out who else was there?
No, but we're meeting up
tomorrow night.
And let me tell you this is a woman
who will talk when she drinks.
Are you going someplace boozy?
Karaoke bar.
We're reliving
the night we met in Sydney.
And I'm sure I can get her
to ID who was there
once she confirms
the name of the company.
REMY: Counselor.
Tammy Faye.
A word?
Look, I'll admit,
you got the W on breach.
My mom's a little worried.
Doesn't sleep well when I'm down.
So let's go an even 100 grand.
That's one third
of what we're asking for.
I thought you set the range
so high to throw me off.
Gloria depended
on Frank's income to live.
Without it, she will lose
her home in two years.
And I hate that.
But if I put Madsen
on the stand tomorrow
and he testifies to
Frank's limited future earnings,
the jury could come back with less.
Are we back
to "one foot in the grave"?
Because I could have
my incredibly dynamic colleague
lead tomorrow.
Tammy Faye?
Tammy freaking Faye.
I just turned down
a decent settlement offer.
Tell me you found our weak link.
I think we did. His name is Glen.
We showed him the emails
where Madsen was trashing Frank,
and the Glenster was pissed.
- "Testify against his boss" pissed?
- No.
But tattletale pissed. He told us
Madsen actually left early
the day of the flood.
Before the alarm went off.
Okay. This-this could be good.
But without evidence,
- we're looking at hearsay.
- I know.
That's why Billy and I
We found a recycling plant
along the route
Madsen would've driven to get home.
And it's got CCTV cameras.
And if Madsen left
before the evacuation order,
we'll have the time stamp to prove it.
Hey. Sorry about that.
- Everything okay with the baby?
- Yeah, yeah.
Claudia's just trying to figure
out our Thanksgiving plans.
Oh.
I mean, I'm not sure
if Thanksgiving plans
really count as baby-related plans.
Not how I'd color-code it, at least.
No, I'm not gonna
constantly take calls.
Just things are
all new right now
I get that.
And they'll be new for
It's fine.
We're here, and we're gonna
get this CCTV footage.
Great.
OLYMPIA: That's definitely Madsen.
Matches the license plate
we have for him,
and he is leaving the factory
at 4:29 p.m.
Three minutes before the alarm.
Are you sure you don't want
to wash that off your face?
It's not a question of want.
It's whether you got
furniture polish lying around.
And leaving early is
definitely gonna undermine
his credibility with the jury,
but it
It's not gonna get Gloria
the payout she deserves.
We need gross negligence.
- Mm.
- Which means proof
that Madsen knew leaving early
would endanger his employees
and did it anyway.
Allen testified about
unofficial rules.
Maybe there's something there?
Yeah, but how are
we gonna get the rules
if none of the employees
will talk to us?
(PHONE DINGS)
Alfie. He wants me home.
He wants to show me something
"better than motorcycles."
Go.
I'm going home to try
to figure out how to connect
Madsen leaving
with Frank's decision to stay.
And your family should
get to enjoy this makeover.
(LAUGHING)
(BOTH LAUGHING)
- Are you done laughing?
- I'm trying really hard, Baby Jane.
- Edwin.
- I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Okay, Alfie,
what's better than motorcycles?
Your face.
(BOTH LAUGHING)
And the 12 steps.
Joey's probably
reading this right now,
so I figured I should, too.
And I left a copy in your office.
The book warns that
you're not supposed to go
to places like bars and clubs
when there's no reason to be there.
Oh, the reason is karaoke.
You think we should call ahead
and ask them to remove the booze?
I asked her about that
last night on the phone,
and she said no,
she would rather feel normal.
Well, that's addict behavior, Edwin.
People need to know that
so she can't hide.
I asked if her sponsor
was gonna be there.
And none of the friends
that she used to use with.
And it's only one night.
I know.
But recovery isn't a nine-to-five job.
You don't get to clock in and out.
(PHONE VIBRATES)
Did you get Frank's time cards?
Mm-hmm. Used to be
a real nine-to-five guy.
Great work.
You want to lead cross tomorrow?
If you don't mind, I want to get ready
to meet Debra at karaoke.
Go crush Madsen in court.
Okay, bye.
Mr. Madsen,
can you identify the vehicle
- in the footage I just played?
- Yes. That's my car.
Let me direct your attention to
the time stamp. Can you read it?
- 4:29 p.m.
- Our records say
that the alarm at the factory
went off at 4:32 p.m.
So, by my math,
this video shows you leaving
ten minutes before
your employees were given
the signal to evacuate. Is that right?
(SIGHS) Y-Yes, it is.
I did leave early,
but I don't know why
Frank didn't evacuate
with the rest of the guys.
This is a log of all
of Mr. Russo's time cards.
He was a nine-to-five employee, right?
- That's right.
- You'll notice that, for years,
Mr. Russo always clocked out
within minutes of 5:00 p.m.
But after you took over as manager,
that changed, didn't it?
- It's highlighted there.
- Yeah.
OLYMPIA: Let's see.
5:23.6:02.
5:35.
Seems like Mr. Russo's clock-outs
were always within a few minutes
of you filing your end-of-day reports.
Was it your practice to check
your employees' work
- before dismissing them for the day?
- Yes.
I checked every employee's
station for quality control.
And knowing that
Mr. Russo always waited
for your daily check,
did you stop by his station
on the day of the flood to let
him know that he should go home?
- Well, no, I-I
- No further questions.
REMY: Obviously, the day in question
wasn't a typical day.
Mr. Madsen, why did you
leave early that day?
My, uh, daughter
she has mobility issues.
She uses a wheelchair.
And on the day of the hurricane,
she was at home.
And our house, it backs up to a creek,
and it was flooding.
And the cell towers were down,
and I had no way
of getting hold of her.
In that moment,
all I could think about
was getting home to my baby girl.
Just to make sure she was safe.
OLYMPIA: The jury was eating that up.
Remy just gutted the emotion
out of our case and somehow
got them to feel sorry for Madsen.
So much for gross negligence.
We need to find anything we can use
to argue for a mistrial.
If we can land
a more sympathetic judge,
maybe we can get
Gloria's testimony back in.
SARAH: Oh, we're in Hail Mary land.
Should we try to reach Matty?
Late doctor's appointment.
("CAN'T STOP LOVING YOU"
BY 5 ALARM PLAYING IN DISTANCE)
- (LIVELY CHATTER)
- (SONG CONTINUES)
Hi.
DEBRA: Oh, Cindy!
- Hi, hi, hi!
- (MATTY LAUGHS)
- Aw.
- Oh.
Hey.
So, what did people think
- of your look yesterday?
- (CHUCKLES)
Compliment city?
Well, honey, I was turning heads
faster than a twister
in a trailer park.
I knew it!
I'm surprised you didn't sleep
with your makeup on.
I told you it would stay.
Oh, well, I was just worried
about my sateen pillowcases.
- (CHUCKLES)
- Oh, okay.
Well, I think that our
watermelon martinis are ready,
only cranberry,
'cause that's all they had.
- Oh, that's okay.
- BRB.
(CHUCKLES): Okay.
I was lying in your arms ♪
- (LAUGHTER, LIVELY CHATTER)
- (SOFT ROCK MUSIC PLAYING)
Where is she?
Bathroom. I asked three people.
She should be out soon.
This is gonna be fine, right?
It might even
be more than fine,
because of the baby.
I hope you're right, Edw
♪
Mom, Dad. Yay, you got here.
Hi.
Sorry. I'm in the bathroom
every ten minutes.
This baby is sitting on my bladder.
Why is Cara here?
- She heard about the party.
- You're supposed to
stay away from people you used with.
Cara's clean now, and I've
known her since high school.
- That's the problem.
- It's fine, Mom.
I promise.
Let's just have
a fun time tonight, okay?
My ex-husband kept making
reservations under
"The Carpet King of Round Rock."
And we went to the Sydney Opera House,
the ticket girl actually
called him "Your Highness."
Shut the front door!
- True story.
- (LAUGHING)
What line of work did you say
your guy was in?
I'm forgetting his name.
His line of work?
Um
Oh, yeah, I think it was
corporate schmorporate
with a PhD in "Charge it, please."
(BOTH LAUGHING)
Honestly, all those guys
just sounded like
the teacher in Peanuts to me,
just like, "Wah, wah, wah, wah."
(LAUGHING)
Same.
Whenever I was trapped
in a hotel room,
listening to him go on
some boring business talk,
I used to whip off my bra
and let the girls fly free.
(LAUGHING)
So, how did you
and Mr. Magic Pants meet?
Feels like I put my name in
a hundred years ago.
I'm just gonna go and see
where I am on the list.
Can't stop loving you ♪
'Cause I can't stop loving you ♪
(PHONE VIBRATES)
DJ: Next up, Debra!
- (APPLAUSE)
- (SONG ENDS)
DEBRA (SINGSONGY): Come on, Cindy.
Come sing with me.
Come on, don't make me do it alone.
Get up here.
You already told me your song.
("PIECE OF MY HEART"
INSTRUMENTAL PLAYING)
Come on, Mom. You have to.
- Aw, no.
- Our favorite song.
- (PEOPLE SHOUTING ENCOURAGEMENT)
- Go. Go, go, go, go, go.
(CROWD CHEERING AND WHISTLING)
Well, come on ♪
Come on, come on ♪
Come on ♪
Didn't I make you feel ♪
Like you ♪
Were the only man? ♪
Yeah, and didn't I give you
nearly everything ♪
That a woman possibly can? ♪
Honey, you know I did ♪
And each time I tell myself ♪
That I, well,
I think I've had enough ♪
But I'm gonna show you, baby ♪
That a woman can be tough ♪
I want you to ♪
Come on, come on, come on ♪
Come on ♪
And take it ♪
Take another little piece ♪
Of my heart now, baby ♪
Break it ♪
Break another little piece ♪
Of my heart now, darling, yeah ♪
(MUSIC CONTINUES)
Ellie, wait.
I can't believe
you were checking my pupils.
I'm sorry.
But it's been nine years of addiction.
And why is Cara here?
Hello? Earth to Cindy.
You okay?
You two were amazing.
I actually got out of my chair.
Well, thank you.
It was, uh, kind of
a reunion tour of sorts.
Wait, how do you know each other?
MATTY: Well, it's a funny story.
We met in Australia
when my ex-husband was
hawking time-shares,
and Debra here was with, uh
Oh, gosh.
I just got a call.
Roger Leonard died.
Oh, he's not famous or anything,
but I did his wife's funeral
a couple of years ago,
so I should, um, call his son
and see if I can drum up
some business.
Well, shoot, now.
You don't want to stay
and do another song?
- Yeah.
- (DEBRA SIGHS)
I wish. (CHUCKLES)
But the key to open-casket
funerals is timely embalming.
I'll text you tomorrow.
- Okay.
- Bye.
MATTY: Well, that was a bust.
(UPBEAT POP MUSIC PLAYING)
How did it go with Madsen?
Not great. (SIGHS)
Turns out he went home
to help his sick child.
I've never lost
a kid before, obviously.
But when my dad died,
I thought I could,
you know, gut it out,
keep pushing ahead.
Because that is my superpower,
right? Like you?
How we're good at our jobs.
But with my dad
I couldn't.
This feels like
crossing emotional boundaries.
We're working together and it's
affecting the work, that's all.
Anyway.
Therapy helped me.
(LAUGHING): Therapy. Oh, God.
Therapy.
At my age?
Trust me,
I've sat through
enough 12-step programs
to last three lifetimes.
I've taken fearless moral inventories.
I've attended group sessions in rehab.
What did you just say?
- Group therapy in rehab.
- No.
Moral inventory.
Hold on.
What do you think?
- Hmm?
- I think
you ought to call Mr. Hodges,
and I'll call his mama.
MADSEN: One year.
Max. That's all the time
Frank Russo had left at Windham.
- Unfortunately.
- And as his supervisor,
you're certain you wouldn't have
kept him longer?
Honestly, I kept him
as long as I could,
but he was slowing down,
- couldn't perform all his job requirements.
- OLYMPIA: Objection.
There is no evidence of anything
here but age discrimination.
If Ms. Lawrence wants evidence,
we're more than happy to provide it.
I'd like to introduce
page 19 of the employee handbook.
Mr. Russo's job description.
Mr. Madsen, which job requirements
could Mr. Russo no longer perform?
"A machinist must be able to lift
in excess of 50 pounds."
Frank was pushing 73 years old.
He definitely couldn't do that.
I was worried that
it would be a danger to him,
not to mention his coworkers.
Thank you for clarifying.
No further questions.
Recross, if I may?
Your contention is
that Frank Russo was
- unable to lift 50 pounds?
- I mean,
- yeah, he had a limp.
- And how many pounds
were the sandbags
used to protect the factory
- in case of emergency?
- I don't know.
Allow me to direct you to Appendix C
of your employee manual.
Please read line 28.
"Three pallets of 60-pound sandbags."
So, they weighed 60 pounds each?
That's what the manual says.
Your Honor, I have some audio
I'd like to introduce
as impeachment evidence.
It will prove that
Frank Russo was capable
of lifting more than 50 pounds.
- Objection!
- To what?
Mr. Madsen just testified
that Frank Russo's
future work prospects
were limited by his inability to lift.
And Mr. Hodges has made it very clear
that our client's career longevity
is directly material
to the issues of damages.
Overruled. I'll allow the audio.
- FRANK (ON RECORDING): Hey, sweetheart.
- (RAIN FALLING)
I just, uh I just wanted you
to know that I'm safe.
I wish I could be home
with you right now,
but it just doesn't
feel safe to leave.
- (THUNDER RUMBLING)
- Hey, you
you remember that time
we moved into our first house
and as soon as we plugged in
the record player,
the power went out? (CHUCKLES)
You lit candles and
did your worst McCartney.
We danced all night.
I wish I could
I wish I could be there
- for one more dance with you.
- (THUNDER CRASHING)
The water's still coming in,
but I've, uh,
- I've stacked sandbags
- (OBJECTS CLATTERING)
Shoot. Shoot. I-I got to go.
I-I got to go stack some more,
but listen.
Listen, if this is the last chance
I get to talk to you,
I need you to know
being your husband
has been the honor of my life.
(PLAYBACK STOPS)
Counselor.
One more time at the settlement table?
Only if it's a really big number.
The kind that'll knock your mama out.
Half a million dollars.
That's what Remy just offered.
We showed them how much more
Frank had to give to the workforce.
And what he meant to you.
His voice was heard.
Now I-I just need to figure out
a way to live without my best friend.
But at least we never wasted
a single moment together.
Every time he asked me to dance,
I said yes.
No. No, no, no. No, no, no.
- Everything okay, hon?
- Billy left this.
And it's very important to him,
and I got to run.
- Gloria leave?
- Yeah.
I got your text. What's up?
Debra reached out
to cancel karaoke next week.
Said she can't keep
living in the past.
I said no problem,
asked to reschedule.
This is what I got. No answer.
Whoa. She blocked you.
Wait, try sending it again.
(PHONE WHOOSHES)
I don't get it. We were having fun.
But she did leave
pretty abruptly last night
after you asked
who she was in Australia with.
She wouldn't answer.
She evaded every time I tried.
You think she signed an NDA?
I think Senior made sure
whatever went on in Australia
stayed in Australia.
So we need to get our hands
on that, see what it covered.
Maybe your friend
in Compliance can help.
OLYMPIA: Hey.
Any luck with your dad's password?
I looked away just as Stuart
was entering the new one,
because I found something else.
Something big.
(FETAL HEARTBEAT PULSING)
Strong heartbeat.
Measuring well.
- It looks perfect.
- (CHUCKLES)
SARAH: Oh.
Sorry. I was just dropping
your grandmother's coin off,
because I know you wanted it.
And then I heard and
and I saw
You're having a baby.
I can't believe it.
You're, like, having a baby.
Anyways, you-you already knew that.
- Sorry.
- Okay.
Um, great to see you again, Claudia.
Congratulations.
(DOOR CLOSES)
I think she just realized
we're having an actual human baby
and not a calendar entry.
I should have stayed
in the moment, Edwin.
With Ellie.
She was sober at that baby shower.
Well, yeah, but you were also right.
Cara was there, using.
Ellie relapsed a few weeks later.
But she was sober then.
That night.
She was sober,
and she was present,
and she was Ellie.
And I was too busy
worrying about the future to be
to just be with her.
I just wish I had those moments back.
Did Alfie's father bring this on?
No, our client,
Gloria.
Said she never wasted a moment
with her husband.
(EDWIN CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
Said yes every time
he asked her to dance.
So let's dance.
- (CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
- Say yes.
Yes.
Let me find one.
("PIECE OF MY HEART"
BY ERMA FRANKLIN PLAYING)
Didn't I make you feel ♪
Like you ♪
Were the only man? ♪
Didn't I give you everything that ♪
A woman possibly can ♪
(DOORBELL RINGS)
What?
But with all the love I give you ♪
It's never enough ♪
But I'm gonna show you, baby ♪
We have a problem.
Any luck with your father's password?
I looked away just as Stuart
was entering the new one,
because I found something else.
Something big.
I saw a box on his desk
with a laptop
belonging to Mrs. Belvin.
Stuart handed it off
to my new IT buddy,
who I convinced to explain to me
how he wipes the tech clean.
And guess what I saw.
Text messages between you
and Mrs. Belvin.
You reached out to talk just before
her meeting with the Wolf.
Okay, we can explain that away.
If that was all.
And I also saw Belvin printed
Senior's expense reports
from his Australia trip 14 years ago.
- Which makes sense, right?
- Except she printed it
four minutes before
she met with my father.
She didn't leave with it,
it wasn't recovered,
and I saw Matty
leaving Mrs. B's office
right around that time.
What if you're right,
and Belvin wasn't working alone?
What if she asked Matty for help?
- Oh, no.
- Oh, yes.
Julian thinks you're involved
with Mrs. Belvin
and the Wellbrexa leak.
sync & corrections awaqeded
MATTY: I'm Madeline Matlock.
I'm a lawyer,
like the old TV show.
Most of what you know
about me is based in truth.
- But it's also a lie.
- Good evening, Mrs. Kingston.
- Who the hell are you?
- I wasn't like this before your firm
protected the pharmaceutical
company that killed my daughter.
"Eleanor Kingston
"loved baking and singing karaoke.
And, above all, she loved
her son, Alfred Edwin Kingston."
Joey's Alfie's father.
- Joey checked into rehab.
- Oh.
A so-called whistleblower reached out
to a reporter.
So now we smoke that leak out.
MATTY: There's somebody else out there
who is fighting your fight.
But Senior and the Wolf
they'll just
ferret out whoever it is.
Not if I say I was
- the leak.
- MATTY: Talk to me
about the mysterious Debra Palmer.
She's a freelance makeup artist.
Lives in Hell's Kitchen.
Wish we used Mrs. Belvin's credentials
to get access to
the Wellbrexa expense reports.
MATTY: Wouldn't that be great?
OLYMPIA: Mm-hmm.
MATTY: You and I
have to find a way to work together
despite our trust issues
to bring down Senior.
Okay, Counselor,
here's what I'm gonna need.
Full access to emails and texts.
And by access, I mean passwords.
Kicking off with an outrageous
request to set the range
- and try to rattle me?
- No.
I'm laying out the basic requirements
to begin negotiations.
Nothing outrageous about it.
REMY: Excuse me.
We offered $96,000
to settle a wrongful death suit
for a minimum-wage worker
who was seven years past retirement
when our factory wasn't even liable.
But you know what is outrageous,
Ms. Lawrence?
Rolling in here
with three other lawyers
like this is a congressional hearing
instead of a settlement conference.
Now, I'd be intimidated
if I didn't have my own
three all-stars as backup
my brains,
my looks, and my mom.
- (GRUNTS) -Did he just say
- Yes,
I did.
Incredible lady. Like wine, she gets
better with age. And I ran
this number by my mother,
and she thinks it's more than fair.
Lots of things aren't fair.
The fact that your husband
took a study from discovery
that could have altered the path
of the opioid epidemic
The fact that you deceived me
for a year
- about every single thing in your life.
- Exactly.
There's no trust between us.
So when I say the word,
you hand me your phone.
And when you say the word,
I hand you mine.
What if it's a personal text?
No commenting.
And no crossing
any emotional boundaries.
Damn right I'm playing up the emotion.
Tell your mom
Frank Russo gave Windham
Railworks 33 years of his life.
A-And the factory manager,
Arnold Madsen,
repaid him for his loyalty
by making him work
through a Category 4 storm.
He was trapped inside,
- drowned
- A tragedy.
But the factory's safety handbook
is thicker than the Bible.
Frank should have evacuated.
And even if you can prove
that the factory
breached duty of care
- Oh, I can.
- Mr. Russo was an older man.
He had, at best,
a year left on the job.
He was slowing down.
MATTY: We have to move quickly,
and we only get one shot.
- I'll make contact with Debra Palmer.
- You memorized
- everything in the expense reports?
- Of course.
Camelot Club.
Watermelon martinis.
And karaoke.
Once I get Debra
to ID who from Wellbrexa
- was on the Australia trip
- We target
the weakest link,
confront them with the study
that was buried, and
convince them to flip on Senior.
Do we have a deal?
If you stipulate
to the terms I laid out.
I have no choice, given
the complete absence of trust.
This isn't about trust.
It's about survival.
♪
And we have a deal.
No deal.
MATTY: And, Mr. Hodges,
I don't think your mother
would appreciate
the implication that,
because you're older,
you aren't useful.
Good point, Counselor.
And maybe Frank wasn't as fast
as some of the younger guys,
but he definitely wasn't retiring.
And when I put
his widow Gloria on the stand
and she starts talking about
what her husband meant to her,
those jurors will be digging
in their own pocket
to compensate her.
We'll see you in court.
(THUNDER RUMBLING) -FRANK:
The water's still coming in,
but I've, um, I've stacked sandbags
- (GLASS SHATTERING)
- Shoot. Shoot, I-I got to go.
I-I got to go stack some more.
- (WATER FLOWING)
- But, listen, listen,
if this is the last chance
I get to talk to you,
I need you to know
being your husband
has been the honor of my life.
And those were
your husband's last words?
They were.
And I-I hate to bring up finances
when what you lost is so much bigger.
But can we talk about the stress
that's adding to your grief?
Yes.
Uh, Frank (SNIFFLES)
Planned on working
as long as he could,
because we didn't have savings.
Since he passed,
I've stopped three of my medications.
The rest, I take half.
I keep the heat in the house off
unless it gets below 45 degrees.
Found all my old sweaters.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
And Frank's.
Sorry.
I just miss my best friend.
MATTY: You should've heard her, Edwin.
How she talked about her husband,
how they-they meant everything
to each other.
You know who he reminded me of?
Hmm?
My first boyfriend, Ralph.
- Ah. Ralph.
- (LAUGHING)
Ran for the hills.
Smart guy.
ALFIE: Okay, I have an idea.
And before you say anything,
just keep an open mind.
- Not a promising start.
- I won't be riding motorcycles.
I want to learn to fix them.
Is he really talking
about motorcycles right now?
Maybe he said "bicycles."
- Ah.
- Open mind.
I think that's what my dad is into.
Or what he was into in 2007,
when he last posted on Facebook.
I'm not sure what he's into now.
Hopefully recovery.
Well, obviously. He's in rehab.
Well, addiction
is a monster your father's
been living with for 20 years.
So just take a deep breath
whenever you feel
your hopes getting up too high.
- Okay?
- Grammy, you don't understand.
He's never had a reason
to stay sober before.
Now he has me.
Ellie says she has a reason
to stay sober now
and I should stop worrying.
Well, tell her we've been
worrying for nine years now.
Uh, speaking of which,
- last night
- (PHONE CHIMES)
Oh. Hold on.
It's Ellie.
She's got another idea
for her baby shower.
"You're gonna love it."
She's gonna tell me today
at the ultrasound.
So what about last night?
She just sounded a little
slower on the phone.
Well, we'll know
after the structural ultrasound.
- Yeah.
- The doctor said that if
the birth weight and a few
other markers are on track,
Ellie probably isn't using.
Four months to go.
♪
Well, ding-dang,
thank you, ma'am.
I'll see you at 3:00, Debra.
I'll be the one looking sleepier
than a sloth on a daybed.
(LAUGHS)
Adios.
"Due to the recent breach,
"the firm is implementing
new security protocols.
"I am honored
"to serve as the legal representative
"on Jacobson Moore's
compliance committee,
in partnership with our very talented,
uh, IT department."
Thank you for the, uh,
kind words, Julian.
- Yes.
- We'll be switching
security systems,
adding new features
and new security safeguards.
Oh, wow.
"Exactly, Isaac.
"And we're here
to answer any questions
and ensure a smooth transition."
No questions.
Uh, one comment though.
You two have a really nice rhythm.
Oh, thank you.
Please sign here confirming
that you've heard our
instructions and will comply.
♪
My dad, uh,
keeps finding new ways
to humiliate me.
Can I quit now?
Mrs. Belvin was the leaker.
She's clearly the one
who wrote you anonymously.
With the NDA, we are safe.
We're not. Not yet.
(PHONE VIBRATES)
- (SIGHS)
- One second. Sorry.
It's my case.
Wh Uh, what do you mean?
Why aren't we safe? (SIGHS)
What if Mrs. Belvin told someone else?
You think Senior just tucked in
what happened and went to bed?
He's probably gathering evidence
against you
in case this ever gets out.
So we need to build our case
and prove that he gave the order.
I-I know. You're right.
Uh, it's just
my comedic repartee
with Isaac aside, Compliance
isn't my dream
Jacobson Moore subcommittee.
Well, can it be useful, at least?
Can you get your father's new password
so we can get access to his files?
I will try.
But
how are you feeling today?
OLYMPIA (OVER PHONE): I'm okay.
JULIAN: Good. I know
your dad's birthday is hard.
I'm-I'm here if you need anything.
OLYMPIA: Thank you.
That means a lot.
We'll talk later?
I'm sorry. I didn't
Why don't you stay here
while I'm at court
so you can focus on Debra Palmer.
(ELEVATOR DINGS)
Hey, Sarah.
Did you run an audio check?
Sure did, boss. Sounds great.
Or as great as a drowning man's
last words can sound.
See you soon.
Can I have this quarter?
I'm getting hangry,
- and I don't want to yell at you.
- No.
What did I just say?
This is not a quarter.
This is my grandmother's
St. Philomena coin.
I'm bringing it
to Claudia's first sonogram,
so I have to leave work
about an hour or so early.
- No problem. I'll cover for you.
- Thanks.
So just out of curiosity,
how much time
is this baby gonna take up?
- (SIGHS)
- No, genuinely.
I want to be a good partner in this.
I'm gonna add a new color
to our shared calendar.
I'm thinking green,
because babies look
and act like little aliens.
- (CHUCKLES)
- Very considerate.
Um, and I'm actually not sure.
Maybe a couple hours a month
for prenatal appointments?
Easy. And post-birth?
"Post-birth" meaning "life"?
Are you asking how much time
will my child take up?
Don't be silly.
How would you know that?
- Yeah.
- Just (CHUCKLES)
Approximately?
Can we check in
after the baby is born?
- No problem.
- (CLANKING)
You know, I'm actually getting
pretty excited for the sonogram.
I think when I see the baby
for the first time,
it's actually gonna feel real.
- (CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
- Yeah.
And this coin has a great story to it.
Santa Philomena is the patron
saint of infants and babies,
and my abuela Delfina had it in Cuba.
And she held it
when my mom gave birth,
- just praying for a grandson.
- Just wondering,
does this count as the baby hours?
Let's get to court.
REMY: Your Honor,
before the jury is seated,
I move to exclude
Gloria Russo's testimony.
- What?
- While sympathetic,
it has no bearing on
the legal merits of this case.
Opposing counsel
is trying to bootstrap
a mountain of emotion
to a molehill of facts.
OLYMPIA: Bootstrapping? Your Honor,
Gloria Russo is our principal witness
and the victim's widow.
REMY: And as Counselor Lawrence knows,
emotional damages
and loss of consortium
are not compensable under New York law
in a wrongful death lawsuit.
But New York law does allow
the jury to consider
the economic damages
my client has suffered.
And I am willing
to stipulate to all of it.
The waffles,
the Sunday back rubs,
the Uber she takes to the doctor,
the handyman covering the honey-dos.
Stipulate, stipulate, stip-u-late.
What I'm not willing to stipulate to
is the heightened emotion
that will distort
the economic damages.
Because that is when it becomes
more prejudicial than probative.
He is trying to take away her voice.
- Your Honor, please do not
- (GAVEL BANGS)
Mrs. Russo's testimony
will be excluded.
GLORIA: I can't talk about Frank?
♪
Heard we lost the face of the case
and our entry point
to hearing Frank's last words.
Figured we'd be regrouping.
(PHONE CHIMES)
Tell me you found precedent.
Anything for a motion to reconsider?
Okay, then we pivot.
From victim to villain.
Sounds about right.
If we can't make the jury sad,
make 'em mad.
And funnel their anger
into the maximum allowable
damages, exactly.
Sarah, Billy, talk to the employees.
See if they'll give you any dirt
on Arnold Madsen's actions
the day of the flood.
We already tried.
BILLY: No one will talk.
MATTY: No one will talk
yet.
If confronted with evidence
The weakest link?
- Exactly.
- SARAH: Uh,
for those of us outside
of your mind meld
MATTY: Well, we have Madsen's emails
from discovery.
He said some awful mean things
about Frank.
So we show 'em to his coworkers.
OLYMPIA: Mm-hmm. Reading
how callous their boss was
about their beloved colleague
might convince
at least one person to come forward.
Go search through the emails
and find the most damning ones,
while I establish
that the factory breached
their duty of care.
Come on, Matty.
Oh, I'm sorry, Sarah.
I actually have an appointment
this afternoon.
SARAH: Why did I even
bother making a shared calendar
if no one enters their appointments?
And your sonogram wasn't in green.
OLYMPIA: Your sonogram's today, Billy?
That's so exciting.
(HEART BEATING RAPIDLY)
Everything's measuring
right where we want it to be.
Damn straight.
I've been doing all the things,
prenatal vitamins, folic acid.
It's also got me thinking about names.
I want something original, right?
What about
- Folic Acid Kingston?
- Oh.
- You're not serious.
- Actually,
Acid Folic.
"Acid Folic" is badass.
- What
- Of course I'm not serious.
(LAUGHING)
And the fact that you thought I was
- (LAUGHS)
- I'll give you guys a minute.
- Yes.
- (LAUGHS)
I hate you.
You love me.
- I do.
- (CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
So much.
Now do you believe I'm sober?
Because I am.
And I'm gonna stay that way.
I finally have a reason.
All I want.
Oh. I decided where
I'm gonna have my baby shower.
Just keep an open mind.
MATTY: Oh. Careful, Debra.
Don't be nervous.
Doctors have scalpels,
and I have this magic foundation
which I chemically formulated myself.
Patent pending.
How does it feel?
Oh.
Wow.
W It's, uh
Silky?
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
Maybe just a
little thicker silky
than I'm used to. (CHUCKLES)
Yeah. Makes sense.
I moonlight
as a mortuary cosmetologist,
doing open casket work.
So all of the products
in my line, Eternal Glamour,
are medical-grade.
- Oh.
- Mm-hmm.
Well, I guess
I should just consider this
my audition for my swan song.
(LAUGHING)
But I swear I have seen you somewhere.
- Hmm.
- Have you ever been to Texas?
No. Never.
- I hardly get to travel.
- Hmm.
And just so you know,
we'll add the color back in later.
- Okay?
- Okay.
Cindy Shapiro, you said?
As I live and breathe.
Hmm.
Do you ever go to
the foot massage place on 72nd?
Nope.
Gosh, this is bugging me.
Not Texas.
You never travel.
Haven't been abroad.
I mean, I have once.
I went to Sydney, Australia.
Oh.
Well, only time I was there
was 14 or 15 years ago,
so that's highly unlikely.
Oh, my God.
I was there, like, 15 years ago.
- No.
- Yes.
Now, you wait a minute.
Did you ever do a karaoke number
- at the Camelot Club?
- Camelot Club!
- Yes, yes, yes!
- Oh, my!
(GASPS) -Best watermelon
martini I ever had.
OMG. Same.
Knock me over with a feather.
(SCOFFS) -The world
really is as small as a pea.
That was the last trip I took
before I found out my ex-husband was
a lying, cheating
son of a you-know-what.
Oh.
Who were you traveling with?
Oh.
Let's just call him
"Mr. Magic Pants."
JULIAN: Is my dad here?
We're here for his security update.
Five minutes, tops.
He doesn't have five minutes.
He has me.
Just pull up the firm's portal
and click "Update."
Then type in his old password.
Let me guess enter a new password
- and authenticate with my phone?
- ISAAC: Yeah.
Uh Oh.
Here we go.
(CLEARS THROAT)
(MOUSE CLICKING)
- (KEY CLACKS)
- ISAAC: You're done.
Hero.
(ALARM BELL RINGING)
(RINGING STOPS)
Mr. Bennett, are these the same
noise-canceling headphones
issued by Windham Railworks?
They are. Yes.
So you wouldn't be able
to hear the alarm
notifying you to evacuate?
Guys on the main floor could.
But, no, not in the machine shop.
- OLYMPIA: Hmm.
- REMY: Is an alarm bell
the only way the factory
alerted workers to an emergency?
No. There's also the light.
I've seen the light!
(LAUGHING)
Your Honor, I'd like to offer
a demonstrative exhibit.
Does this accurately depict the window
across from the workstation
where you and Frank worked?
Yes, it does.
"See the glare
and take care."
That's a catchy phrase.
Uh, do you recognize it?
Yeah, it's from the factory handbook.
REMY: Right here.
"If emergency lights are activated,
employees
should evacuate immediately."
While you're wearing your
company-mandated eye protection,
could you see the red light?
Nope.
OLYMPIA: So it was possible to miss it
while doing your job?
Yeah. And Frank was a rule follower.
Official, unofficial
he didn't want to lose his job.
Sounds like he took his job seriously.
And if the factory did, too,
he'd still be alive.
But if you can't see the glare,
you can't take care.
(DOOR CREAKS OPEN)
♪
Sounds like you stuck
the landing on breach of duty
of care.
So w-we're just gonna act like
this isn't happening?
Yes, we are.
Now, did Sarah and Billy find anybody
who was willing
to testify against Madsen?
- Can you stop staring at me?
- Mm-mmm.
I don't think that I can.
And they haven't found anyone yet.
You were in the makeup chair
for a while.
How'd it go with Debra?
She was down there with Senior.
And, um
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
she calls him "Mr. Magic Pants."
- Mm-mmm. Stop it.
- No. No, no, no.
- I heard all about his performance
- (CHUCKLES)
down under.
- No, Matty.
- (LAUGHS): Oh, yeah.
Did you get into any specifics
about her time in Australia?
Find out who else was there?
No, but we're meeting up
tomorrow night.
And let me tell you this is a woman
who will talk when she drinks.
Are you going someplace boozy?
Karaoke bar.
We're reliving
the night we met in Sydney.
And I'm sure I can get her
to ID who was there
once she confirms
the name of the company.
REMY: Counselor.
Tammy Faye.
A word?
Look, I'll admit,
you got the W on breach.
My mom's a little worried.
Doesn't sleep well when I'm down.
So let's go an even 100 grand.
That's one third
of what we're asking for.
I thought you set the range
so high to throw me off.
Gloria depended
on Frank's income to live.
Without it, she will lose
her home in two years.
And I hate that.
But if I put Madsen
on the stand tomorrow
and he testifies to
Frank's limited future earnings,
the jury could come back with less.
Are we back
to "one foot in the grave"?
Because I could have
my incredibly dynamic colleague
lead tomorrow.
Tammy Faye?
Tammy freaking Faye.
I just turned down
a decent settlement offer.
Tell me you found our weak link.
I think we did. His name is Glen.
We showed him the emails
where Madsen was trashing Frank,
and the Glenster was pissed.
- "Testify against his boss" pissed?
- No.
But tattletale pissed. He told us
Madsen actually left early
the day of the flood.
Before the alarm went off.
Okay. This-this could be good.
But without evidence,
- we're looking at hearsay.
- I know.
That's why Billy and I
We found a recycling plant
along the route
Madsen would've driven to get home.
And it's got CCTV cameras.
And if Madsen left
before the evacuation order,
we'll have the time stamp to prove it.
Hey. Sorry about that.
- Everything okay with the baby?
- Yeah, yeah.
Claudia's just trying to figure
out our Thanksgiving plans.
Oh.
I mean, I'm not sure
if Thanksgiving plans
really count as baby-related plans.
Not how I'd color-code it, at least.
No, I'm not gonna
constantly take calls.
Just things are
all new right now
I get that.
And they'll be new for
It's fine.
We're here, and we're gonna
get this CCTV footage.
Great.
OLYMPIA: That's definitely Madsen.
Matches the license plate
we have for him,
and he is leaving the factory
at 4:29 p.m.
Three minutes before the alarm.
Are you sure you don't want
to wash that off your face?
It's not a question of want.
It's whether you got
furniture polish lying around.
And leaving early is
definitely gonna undermine
his credibility with the jury,
but it
It's not gonna get Gloria
the payout she deserves.
We need gross negligence.
- Mm.
- Which means proof
that Madsen knew leaving early
would endanger his employees
and did it anyway.
Allen testified about
unofficial rules.
Maybe there's something there?
Yeah, but how are
we gonna get the rules
if none of the employees
will talk to us?
(PHONE DINGS)
Alfie. He wants me home.
He wants to show me something
"better than motorcycles."
Go.
I'm going home to try
to figure out how to connect
Madsen leaving
with Frank's decision to stay.
And your family should
get to enjoy this makeover.
(LAUGHING)
(BOTH LAUGHING)
- Are you done laughing?
- I'm trying really hard, Baby Jane.
- Edwin.
- I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Okay, Alfie,
what's better than motorcycles?
Your face.
(BOTH LAUGHING)
And the 12 steps.
Joey's probably
reading this right now,
so I figured I should, too.
And I left a copy in your office.
The book warns that
you're not supposed to go
to places like bars and clubs
when there's no reason to be there.
Oh, the reason is karaoke.
You think we should call ahead
and ask them to remove the booze?
I asked her about that
last night on the phone,
and she said no,
she would rather feel normal.
Well, that's addict behavior, Edwin.
People need to know that
so she can't hide.
I asked if her sponsor
was gonna be there.
And none of the friends
that she used to use with.
And it's only one night.
I know.
But recovery isn't a nine-to-five job.
You don't get to clock in and out.
(PHONE VIBRATES)
Did you get Frank's time cards?
Mm-hmm. Used to be
a real nine-to-five guy.
Great work.
You want to lead cross tomorrow?
If you don't mind, I want to get ready
to meet Debra at karaoke.
Go crush Madsen in court.
Okay, bye.
Mr. Madsen,
can you identify the vehicle
- in the footage I just played?
- Yes. That's my car.
Let me direct your attention to
the time stamp. Can you read it?
- 4:29 p.m.
- Our records say
that the alarm at the factory
went off at 4:32 p.m.
So, by my math,
this video shows you leaving
ten minutes before
your employees were given
the signal to evacuate. Is that right?
(SIGHS) Y-Yes, it is.
I did leave early,
but I don't know why
Frank didn't evacuate
with the rest of the guys.
This is a log of all
of Mr. Russo's time cards.
He was a nine-to-five employee, right?
- That's right.
- You'll notice that, for years,
Mr. Russo always clocked out
within minutes of 5:00 p.m.
But after you took over as manager,
that changed, didn't it?
- It's highlighted there.
- Yeah.
OLYMPIA: Let's see.
5:23.6:02.
5:35.
Seems like Mr. Russo's clock-outs
were always within a few minutes
of you filing your end-of-day reports.
Was it your practice to check
your employees' work
- before dismissing them for the day?
- Yes.
I checked every employee's
station for quality control.
And knowing that
Mr. Russo always waited
for your daily check,
did you stop by his station
on the day of the flood to let
him know that he should go home?
- Well, no, I-I
- No further questions.
REMY: Obviously, the day in question
wasn't a typical day.
Mr. Madsen, why did you
leave early that day?
My, uh, daughter
she has mobility issues.
She uses a wheelchair.
And on the day of the hurricane,
she was at home.
And our house, it backs up to a creek,
and it was flooding.
And the cell towers were down,
and I had no way
of getting hold of her.
In that moment,
all I could think about
was getting home to my baby girl.
Just to make sure she was safe.
OLYMPIA: The jury was eating that up.
Remy just gutted the emotion
out of our case and somehow
got them to feel sorry for Madsen.
So much for gross negligence.
We need to find anything we can use
to argue for a mistrial.
If we can land
a more sympathetic judge,
maybe we can get
Gloria's testimony back in.
SARAH: Oh, we're in Hail Mary land.
Should we try to reach Matty?
Late doctor's appointment.
("CAN'T STOP LOVING YOU"
BY 5 ALARM PLAYING IN DISTANCE)
- (LIVELY CHATTER)
- (SONG CONTINUES)
Hi.
DEBRA: Oh, Cindy!
- Hi, hi, hi!
- (MATTY LAUGHS)
- Aw.
- Oh.
Hey.
So, what did people think
- of your look yesterday?
- (CHUCKLES)
Compliment city?
Well, honey, I was turning heads
faster than a twister
in a trailer park.
I knew it!
I'm surprised you didn't sleep
with your makeup on.
I told you it would stay.
Oh, well, I was just worried
about my sateen pillowcases.
- (CHUCKLES)
- Oh, okay.
Well, I think that our
watermelon martinis are ready,
only cranberry,
'cause that's all they had.
- Oh, that's okay.
- BRB.
(CHUCKLES): Okay.
I was lying in your arms ♪
- (LAUGHTER, LIVELY CHATTER)
- (SOFT ROCK MUSIC PLAYING)
Where is she?
Bathroom. I asked three people.
She should be out soon.
This is gonna be fine, right?
It might even
be more than fine,
because of the baby.
I hope you're right, Edw
♪
Mom, Dad. Yay, you got here.
Hi.
Sorry. I'm in the bathroom
every ten minutes.
This baby is sitting on my bladder.
Why is Cara here?
- She heard about the party.
- You're supposed to
stay away from people you used with.
Cara's clean now, and I've
known her since high school.
- That's the problem.
- It's fine, Mom.
I promise.
Let's just have
a fun time tonight, okay?
My ex-husband kept making
reservations under
"The Carpet King of Round Rock."
And we went to the Sydney Opera House,
the ticket girl actually
called him "Your Highness."
Shut the front door!
- True story.
- (LAUGHING)
What line of work did you say
your guy was in?
I'm forgetting his name.
His line of work?
Um
Oh, yeah, I think it was
corporate schmorporate
with a PhD in "Charge it, please."
(BOTH LAUGHING)
Honestly, all those guys
just sounded like
the teacher in Peanuts to me,
just like, "Wah, wah, wah, wah."
(LAUGHING)
Same.
Whenever I was trapped
in a hotel room,
listening to him go on
some boring business talk,
I used to whip off my bra
and let the girls fly free.
(LAUGHING)
So, how did you
and Mr. Magic Pants meet?
Feels like I put my name in
a hundred years ago.
I'm just gonna go and see
where I am on the list.
Can't stop loving you ♪
'Cause I can't stop loving you ♪
(PHONE VIBRATES)
DJ: Next up, Debra!
- (APPLAUSE)
- (SONG ENDS)
DEBRA (SINGSONGY): Come on, Cindy.
Come sing with me.
Come on, don't make me do it alone.
Get up here.
You already told me your song.
("PIECE OF MY HEART"
INSTRUMENTAL PLAYING)
Come on, Mom. You have to.
- Aw, no.
- Our favorite song.
- (PEOPLE SHOUTING ENCOURAGEMENT)
- Go. Go, go, go, go, go.
(CROWD CHEERING AND WHISTLING)
Well, come on ♪
Come on, come on ♪
Come on ♪
Didn't I make you feel ♪
Like you ♪
Were the only man? ♪
Yeah, and didn't I give you
nearly everything ♪
That a woman possibly can? ♪
Honey, you know I did ♪
And each time I tell myself ♪
That I, well,
I think I've had enough ♪
But I'm gonna show you, baby ♪
That a woman can be tough ♪
I want you to ♪
Come on, come on, come on ♪
Come on ♪
And take it ♪
Take another little piece ♪
Of my heart now, baby ♪
Break it ♪
Break another little piece ♪
Of my heart now, darling, yeah ♪
(MUSIC CONTINUES)
Ellie, wait.
I can't believe
you were checking my pupils.
I'm sorry.
But it's been nine years of addiction.
And why is Cara here?
Hello? Earth to Cindy.
You okay?
You two were amazing.
I actually got out of my chair.
Well, thank you.
It was, uh, kind of
a reunion tour of sorts.
Wait, how do you know each other?
MATTY: Well, it's a funny story.
We met in Australia
when my ex-husband was
hawking time-shares,
and Debra here was with, uh
Oh, gosh.
I just got a call.
Roger Leonard died.
Oh, he's not famous or anything,
but I did his wife's funeral
a couple of years ago,
so I should, um, call his son
and see if I can drum up
some business.
Well, shoot, now.
You don't want to stay
and do another song?
- Yeah.
- (DEBRA SIGHS)
I wish. (CHUCKLES)
But the key to open-casket
funerals is timely embalming.
I'll text you tomorrow.
- Okay.
- Bye.
MATTY: Well, that was a bust.
(UPBEAT POP MUSIC PLAYING)
How did it go with Madsen?
Not great. (SIGHS)
Turns out he went home
to help his sick child.
I've never lost
a kid before, obviously.
But when my dad died,
I thought I could,
you know, gut it out,
keep pushing ahead.
Because that is my superpower,
right? Like you?
How we're good at our jobs.
But with my dad
I couldn't.
This feels like
crossing emotional boundaries.
We're working together and it's
affecting the work, that's all.
Anyway.
Therapy helped me.
(LAUGHING): Therapy. Oh, God.
Therapy.
At my age?
Trust me,
I've sat through
enough 12-step programs
to last three lifetimes.
I've taken fearless moral inventories.
I've attended group sessions in rehab.
What did you just say?
- Group therapy in rehab.
- No.
Moral inventory.
Hold on.
What do you think?
- Hmm?
- I think
you ought to call Mr. Hodges,
and I'll call his mama.
MADSEN: One year.
Max. That's all the time
Frank Russo had left at Windham.
- Unfortunately.
- And as his supervisor,
you're certain you wouldn't have
kept him longer?
Honestly, I kept him
as long as I could,
but he was slowing down,
- couldn't perform all his job requirements.
- OLYMPIA: Objection.
There is no evidence of anything
here but age discrimination.
If Ms. Lawrence wants evidence,
we're more than happy to provide it.
I'd like to introduce
page 19 of the employee handbook.
Mr. Russo's job description.
Mr. Madsen, which job requirements
could Mr. Russo no longer perform?
"A machinist must be able to lift
in excess of 50 pounds."
Frank was pushing 73 years old.
He definitely couldn't do that.
I was worried that
it would be a danger to him,
not to mention his coworkers.
Thank you for clarifying.
No further questions.
Recross, if I may?
Your contention is
that Frank Russo was
- unable to lift 50 pounds?
- I mean,
- yeah, he had a limp.
- And how many pounds
were the sandbags
used to protect the factory
- in case of emergency?
- I don't know.
Allow me to direct you to Appendix C
of your employee manual.
Please read line 28.
"Three pallets of 60-pound sandbags."
So, they weighed 60 pounds each?
That's what the manual says.
Your Honor, I have some audio
I'd like to introduce
as impeachment evidence.
It will prove that
Frank Russo was capable
of lifting more than 50 pounds.
- Objection!
- To what?
Mr. Madsen just testified
that Frank Russo's
future work prospects
were limited by his inability to lift.
And Mr. Hodges has made it very clear
that our client's career longevity
is directly material
to the issues of damages.
Overruled. I'll allow the audio.
- FRANK (ON RECORDING): Hey, sweetheart.
- (RAIN FALLING)
I just, uh I just wanted you
to know that I'm safe.
I wish I could be home
with you right now,
but it just doesn't
feel safe to leave.
- (THUNDER RUMBLING)
- Hey, you
you remember that time
we moved into our first house
and as soon as we plugged in
the record player,
the power went out? (CHUCKLES)
You lit candles and
did your worst McCartney.
We danced all night.
I wish I could
I wish I could be there
- for one more dance with you.
- (THUNDER CRASHING)
The water's still coming in,
but I've, uh,
- I've stacked sandbags
- (OBJECTS CLATTERING)
Shoot. Shoot. I-I got to go.
I-I got to go stack some more,
but listen.
Listen, if this is the last chance
I get to talk to you,
I need you to know
being your husband
has been the honor of my life.
(PLAYBACK STOPS)
Counselor.
One more time at the settlement table?
Only if it's a really big number.
The kind that'll knock your mama out.
Half a million dollars.
That's what Remy just offered.
We showed them how much more
Frank had to give to the workforce.
And what he meant to you.
His voice was heard.
Now I-I just need to figure out
a way to live without my best friend.
But at least we never wasted
a single moment together.
Every time he asked me to dance,
I said yes.
No. No, no, no. No, no, no.
- Everything okay, hon?
- Billy left this.
And it's very important to him,
and I got to run.
- Gloria leave?
- Yeah.
I got your text. What's up?
Debra reached out
to cancel karaoke next week.
Said she can't keep
living in the past.
I said no problem,
asked to reschedule.
This is what I got. No answer.
Whoa. She blocked you.
Wait, try sending it again.
(PHONE WHOOSHES)
I don't get it. We were having fun.
But she did leave
pretty abruptly last night
after you asked
who she was in Australia with.
She wouldn't answer.
She evaded every time I tried.
You think she signed an NDA?
I think Senior made sure
whatever went on in Australia
stayed in Australia.
So we need to get our hands
on that, see what it covered.
Maybe your friend
in Compliance can help.
OLYMPIA: Hey.
Any luck with your dad's password?
I looked away just as Stuart
was entering the new one,
because I found something else.
Something big.
(FETAL HEARTBEAT PULSING)
Strong heartbeat.
Measuring well.
- It looks perfect.
- (CHUCKLES)
SARAH: Oh.
Sorry. I was just dropping
your grandmother's coin off,
because I know you wanted it.
And then I heard and
and I saw
You're having a baby.
I can't believe it.
You're, like, having a baby.
Anyways, you-you already knew that.
- Sorry.
- Okay.
Um, great to see you again, Claudia.
Congratulations.
(DOOR CLOSES)
I think she just realized
we're having an actual human baby
and not a calendar entry.
I should have stayed
in the moment, Edwin.
With Ellie.
She was sober at that baby shower.
Well, yeah, but you were also right.
Cara was there, using.
Ellie relapsed a few weeks later.
But she was sober then.
That night.
She was sober,
and she was present,
and she was Ellie.
And I was too busy
worrying about the future to be
to just be with her.
I just wish I had those moments back.
Did Alfie's father bring this on?
No, our client,
Gloria.
Said she never wasted a moment
with her husband.
(EDWIN CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
Said yes every time
he asked her to dance.
So let's dance.
- (CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
- Say yes.
Yes.
Let me find one.
("PIECE OF MY HEART"
BY ERMA FRANKLIN PLAYING)
Didn't I make you feel ♪
Like you ♪
Were the only man? ♪
Didn't I give you everything that ♪
A woman possibly can ♪
(DOORBELL RINGS)
What?
But with all the love I give you ♪
It's never enough ♪
But I'm gonna show you, baby ♪
We have a problem.
Any luck with your father's password?
I looked away just as Stuart
was entering the new one,
because I found something else.
Something big.
I saw a box on his desk
with a laptop
belonging to Mrs. Belvin.
Stuart handed it off
to my new IT buddy,
who I convinced to explain to me
how he wipes the tech clean.
And guess what I saw.
Text messages between you
and Mrs. Belvin.
You reached out to talk just before
her meeting with the Wolf.
Okay, we can explain that away.
If that was all.
And I also saw Belvin printed
Senior's expense reports
from his Australia trip 14 years ago.
- Which makes sense, right?
- Except she printed it
four minutes before
she met with my father.
She didn't leave with it,
it wasn't recovered,
and I saw Matty
leaving Mrs. B's office
right around that time.
What if you're right,
and Belvin wasn't working alone?
What if she asked Matty for help?
- Oh, no.
- Oh, yes.
Julian thinks you're involved
with Mrs. Belvin
and the Wellbrexa leak.
sync & corrections awaqeded