The Guardian (2001) s01e22 Episode Script
The Beginning
Fallin and associates.
How may I Well, this, is, uh, turning out to be somewhat of a regular thing.
Uh, I know that you all know that I've been going through, um, this federal judicial nomination process.
And I also know that many of you have given of your precious time to discuss and exaggerate some of my merits to the committee and the FBI.
And I sincerely want to thank you all for that.
Today, um, a little bit bittersweet for me.
The good news is that my appointment has been confirmed.
But that also means that I will be leaving the firm.
So effective today, our newest partner Nathan Caldwell will be assuming the position of managing partner, and the firm will be called Caldwell and associates from now on.
Nathan, congratulations.
Well, um, I don't want to take this moment for anything other than to congratulate Burton.
Um, as for the future, my philosophy is, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
So, you all have your jobs, and the firm will continue to operate exactly as Mr.
fallin.
We need to talk.
Do you know where Mandy gressler is? No.
She try to contact you? No.
Mind if we put a tap on your phone? I'm gonna need to have my lawyer present if this is gonna continue.
Look.
Mandy's on the move.
Just missed her at her sister's house in Scranton.
Showed up at her ex-husband's place in Redding about a day late.
And would you believe she took first place in an amateur stripping contest in morgantown? Mandy's got a bit of a habit.
Then, you'd know all about that, huh, Nick? What is it you want from me, detective darger? Well, eventually she'll come back to the city, and when she does, she'll call you.
I barely know her.
Well, no matter your relationship, she's gone through all her other options.
She knows you're a lawyer.
You got money.
She probably thinks you're above the fray.
Here's my cell phone number.
When she contacts you, you call me.
And we'll clear this mess up.
Ah.
Nick, will you close the door, please? Now, I guess you're feeling a little frustrated about what's been happening around here.
I think that in time, you'll see me as an ally And a decent leader.
So, you think we can make this thing work? You gonna make me a partner? Well, I don't want to make any major changes this early in my tenure, Nick.
Just might make the others nervous.
Just give me a little time to transition, huh? I am sentencing you to 1,500 hours of community service, using your skills as a corporate attorney to work as a child advocate.
You want to have it both ways, Brian.
You dump all of this planning into my lap, and now all of a sudden in the eleventh hour-- hang on.
Just wait-- in the eleventh hour, you--you're blaming me for everything.
I have a lot on my plate, too.
Fine.
Forget it.
You all right? It's ok.
It's just all this wedding stuff.
You know, it's, uh, really a cliche at this point, but, uh, it's a mess.
And, uh, I'm just trying-- it's ok.
Sorry.
What was it that you needed? Uh, the high school discrimination file.
Oh.
Right.
Um, it came in through Alvin, so if you, uh, if you need more information Sure you're all right? Yeah.
Yeah.
Ok.
Nick.
Alvin.
Hey.
Hey.
Morning, James.
Morning.
Levi.
Uh, James.
Can I see you a second? What's up? That black eye levi has.
Yeah? Did he get it boxing? Yeah.
With you? Yes.
James-- Alvin, we've already had this conversation once before.
What I do with my nephew on my time is my business.
Have you given any thought to that parenting class that I told you about? I appreciate your concern, but I know what I'm doing.
Yeah, but hitting a kid-- I mean, resolving stuff with violence, James-- Alvin, it's a sport.
He can handle it.
Dr.
Reed, good to see you.
You, too, Nick.
How have you been? Well, thanks to you, a few doctors, and medication, great.
Well, I'm glad to hear it.
I'm not saying it's been-- I miss my wife.
Of course.
And hunter does, immensely.
But the two of us, it's good.
Hunter's progressing nicely in school.
I'm looking for work.
That's great.
Where? Teaching-- possibly at chatsworth, as an adjunct.
The Dean has been very receptive.
So how can I help you today, Dr.
Reed? The money that you got for hunter, I'm the trustee.
That's right.
And if anything were to happen to me-- hunter's grandfather would become trustee until hunter turns 25.
I don't trust hunter's grandfather with $5 million.
Ok.
So you don't want Donald sample as hunter's second trustee.
No.
Do you have another trustee in mind? You.
Well, you--you realize, Dr.
Reed, that you're asking me to potentially play a very large role in hunter's life.
If it weren't for you, hunter wouldn't even have this money.
I'd be in jail for murder.
Most of all You made sure that hunter and I stayed together.
You've already done so much.
If you want to say no, I understand.
No, II accept.
It's open.
Hey, hi, Laurie.
Hey, James.
We got an appointment today? UmNo.
Is it ok if I sit down? Please.
So, what can I help you with? I stopped by levi's school on my way here.
He do something? No.
Uh I'm afraid you did.
So, this is an official visit.
James, I want to talk to you about parenting classes.
Who called you in? Levi's on home detention.
Periodic checks are part of the arrangement.
Levi's juvenile probation officer handles those, not you.
I'm here to avoid that.
Don't do me any favors.
James! You dimed me out to social services? What? What's wrong with you?! I suggested Laurie talk to you about a parenting class.
Do you know how embarrassing and unnecessary this is? What you're trying to do with your nephew is great.
We just think you may need some help.
That was sweet.
Look, I cannot ignore the potential physical abuse of a child just because it's being done by one of my lawyers.
It's just a parenting class, James.
I'll take a parenting class when the courts tell me to.
Hey, Nick.
Good to see you.
Hey.
What is Mitchell lichtman doing in here? Caldwell brought him back.
Why? Caldwell says this is a big move for him and he can't do it without lichtman.
You fired him.
He committed a felony.
Nicholas I resigned from the firm yesterday.
I no longer have any say on how it's run.
What's his title? What's his position? Partner.
Ok.
They voted him in yesterday.
It was Caldwell's first order of business.
First order of business? Yeah.
Caldwell planned on bringing him back the moment you cut him loose.
Could be.
Jake, come with me.
Did they make you partner? You screwed me over for lichtman because you wanted to get into their government relations department.
Nick, look, I-- ok, I was desperate.
I--I am barred from doing mergers.
My father kept you in this firm because he liked you.
You seriously think Caldwell and lichtman would do the same for you? What are you saying? I don't trust those two, Jake.
Do you? No.
But what choice do we have? Meet me at legal services tonight at 9:30.
Bring Arnold Parker, Henry stone, and Lisa jacoby.
What a dump.
Nick? Where are you? In here.
Ok, let's go this way.
Hey.
We all probably know why we're here.
None of us feels too good about the changes that are going on with the firm, and Nick and I have a few ideas we wanted to present to you.
Thanks, Jake.
I just want to keep it simple.
I want something different-- a real partnership, a place that the clients belong to the firm and we divide the profits equally.
A place where we decide on the risks and get the rewards.
No inflated partner salaries, no downtown rent, no useless associates.
No Caldwell and lichtman.
No Caldwell and lichtman.
Who are the clients? We will bring the people that we service in my father's firm.
Caldwell and lichtman can't hold on to them if we leave.
Will your father support this? What does it matter now? Michelle, I need you to call Alfred Barnes and set up a breakfast for tomorrow morning.
And can you pull the shield industry file and have it sent to my home? Oh, God.
How was your month? I've been sitting in here, like, 2 hours.
There's a sign over there about the garage having carcinogens, something about a warning for pregnant mothers.
The police are looking for you.
You don't think I know that? I need $6,000.
I've gone to the police, I've made my deal, you should go and make yours.
Did you tell 'em the truth? That I saved your life? And that Lenny was going crazy? I told them what happened.
What the-- what? You told them I shot Lenny in the back and that I was ripping Dale off? That's-- I told them what happened, Mandy.
When you talk to the police, it might help them understand.
I need money! I can't help you.
Oh, I could tell them what you did.
I didn't do anything.
You know, if I get in trouble, I could tell them that we were involved.
I could tell them that you were in on scamming Dale.
I could tell them a lot of things.
Give me a hundred so I can get a motel room.
You go make your deal.
Please? Come on! Detective darger.
You know, you suck.
Mandy-- I need to speak with detective darger.
This really gives me peace of mind, Nick.
I appreciate it.
No problem.
You know, hunter talks about you all the time.
Well, I'd like to spend some more time with him.
Well, how about this evening? I've got 2 tickets to the ball game right behind home plate.
You can't take him? The Dean at chatsworth wants me to meet with the committee this evening.
Be great if I could, you know, for the job.
Sure.
Yeah.
Great.
Well the game starts around 7:35.
Hunter likes batting practice.
Why don't you come by around 6:00? Thanks.
Yeah.
Great.
Hey.
You wanted to see me? Yeah.
Come on in.
I'm just packing up some last-minute things here.
I thought maybe you might want some of this crap.
No.
My--my office is pretty much done.
I arranged with Nathan-- I, uh, arranged for you to have this office.
Thank you.
Yeah.
What is it? I'm not-- I'm not going to be staying here.
Really? When did you make that decision? Today.
I guess it was today.
Hmm.
Yeah, I was--I was-- I was gonna tell you.
WellWhat are you gonna do, go across the street? No.
A few of us from here are going to start our own firm.
A few of you? Yes.
You think that's the best move? I do.
Well, I don't want to Get into your decision, but, um If you leave, there's a good chance you Lose all my clients.
I think several will come with me.
Caldwell know about this--this, uh, defection? Not yet.
Am I supposed to sit on it for you? I would appreciate it.
I see.
Huh.
You--do you realize that I brought Caldwell in here basically to protect you? Give you a better shot at holding on to the clients and keeping the firm going.
Did you consider that before you decided to Cannibalize it? I did.
I did consider that.
Well Guess you gotta do what-- gotta do what you gotta do.
Mandy gressler spent the night in a motel out in mckeesport, near the turnpike entrance.
Ok.
Did you enjoy bangin' her? What? You were certainly dumb enough to pay for her room.
Can you come sit here for a second, please? She stole my credit card.
How, may I ask, would she do that? My car--I keep duplicates of my credit cards in my car, and she stole it from the car.
You drove her someplace? No, I didn't.
She jumped in my car when I was in the parking garage.
You didn't tell me that before.
I didn't? I didn't? She jumped in my car.
That's when she asked me for the money.
You know, I looked it up, fallin.
In your own version of events at that strip club, you committed 3 technical probation violations.
Now, the only reason I don't haul you in right now is on the off chance that you two cross paths again.
You, uh, you need something? Yeah.
What's going on? Uh, well, you know I'm the legal guardian, uh For my nephew levi.
Home detention, right? That's right.
Alvin's under the impression that I might not be such a good influence.
Now there's a hearing to force me to take parenting classes.
Based on what? Based on levi's entirely voluntary participation in boxing lessons with me.
Alvin told Laurie, who talked to levi's juvenile probation officer.
The jpo filed a report with the judge.
Oh, you want me to represent you.
Well, it'll be fine.
Just follow my lead.
No.
No.
What? No.
If you want me to represent you, then I call the shots.
I've done over a thousand of these hearings.
Have you ever been a party? No.
You know-- I call the shots.
You should talk to levi.
He's in the conference room doing homework.
I know.
I know.
It's your game.
Nick.
You know, uh, thanks.
That's all right.
'79 world series starters.
Billy stargell, bill garner, Tim foley, madlock, and ed ott.
Center field? Omar moreno.
Left? Bill Robinson and milner platooned.
Right? Dave Parker.
There you go.
You got the rotation? Blyleven, candelaria, bibby, and Goose gossage was the closer.
Gossage was in New York that year.
Ah Tekulve, he was the closer.
Who was the fourth starter? I'll have to ask my dad.
He knows all about this stuff.
Well, thank you for the tickets.
Thanks for taking me.
It was great.
See you later.
See ya.
Nick, it's Alvin.
I'm at Pittsburgh general.
Thomas Reed tried to kill himself.
Dr.
wagman to O.
R.
5.
Dr.
wagman, please report to O.
R.
5.
What's going on? Dr.
Reed tried to overdose.
What? He's all right? They pumped his stomach.
He's stable.
Did hunter find him? Yeah.
No, Nick, don't! No.
Hunter? Hunter? Please, leave him alone.
Mr.
sample-- don't you think you've done enough to the boy? Mr.
sample, I understand-- don't you ever tell me you understand anything until you become a father who loses his only child.
Not until you become a grandfather who watches some punk lawyer place his grandchild in the killer's hands.
Hunter, I'm gonna make sure your father gets the best care he can.
Just leave.
Dr.
foreman to oncology.
Dr.
foreman, report to oncology.
Nick.
God, I'm sorry.
Need to talk about it? Listen.
It happens like this all the time.
You do your job, you follow your gut, and it blows up in your face.
I've been there.
Want to get a cup of coffee? No.
Get a bite to eat, hang out-- no, no.
Look, Nick, you can't just-- I don't want to hang out, Alvin.
I don't want to talk.
I don't want to be your friend.
I don't want to hear your recovery story.
The senator would like to see you.
Oh, I appreciate the heads-up, Mr.
Parker.
So thank you.
Arnold.
Nick, have a seat.
I have to say, we have gotten off to a Truly unfortunate start.
And much of that is my fault.
I take responsibility for For underestimating you, not taking into account your many years of work here, your importance to the firm.
What is your point? My point is I have reconsidered my position.
I've spoken to the other partners, and we are prepared to offer you a full equity partnership.
No, thanks.
You don't want to do this.
Nick, if you take our clients, I can make life pretty miserable for your father.
James, why did you become levi's guardian in the first place? He's my nephew and I love him.
He was in trouble, and he had nowhere else to go.
Have you been a guardian before? No.
Why do you take levi to the boxing gym? I believe that training and discipline is good for him.
And why boxing? Why not karate or football? It's what I know.
It got me off the streets as a teenager, gave me a family of people, kept off me drugs and in school.
I mean, it's a beautiful sport.
It trains the body and the mind.
Is it common to get bruises on your face when you're in the ring? It's a sport.
You hit, get hit.
No further questions.
Ms.
Shaw.
Is it true that you were a golden gloves champion? Yes.
What weight class? Light heavyweight.
How much does levi weigh? I don't know.
Is that light heavyweight? Welterweight.
Did you obtain permission from levi's juvenile probation officer for your visits to the gym? Yes.
When you spoke to the jpo, did you clarify that you personally would be boxing levi? No.
Has levi been trained as a boxer? That's what I'm doing now.
Before you took him into the ring.
No.
Do you think it's appropriate with your vast experience as a fighter and your clear size advantage to take a 16-year-old boy into the ring and punch him in the stomach and the face? It's just boxing.
No further questions, your honor.
Mr.
mooney, why did you originally decide to teach levi to box? He needed structure.
Well, the rules of home detention are very structured.
I thought he needed more.
Has levi broken any conditions of home detention while under your care? I'm waiting, counselor.
He skipped school once to be with his girlfriend and got picked up by a truant officer.
He missed a counseling meeting.
You may step down, Mr.
mooney.
Miss solt, in making your recommendation about a parenting class, were you aware of these violations? No, your honor.
I have no problem with boxing.
I do have a problem with levi boxing you, Mr.
mooney.
However, my biggest problem is not with levi's activities in the gym.
Levi, you were charged with manslaughter.
You were able to avoid being sentenced to a juvenile detention facility only by agreeing to judge Sutton's very specific rules of home detention.
You broke those rules.
Mr.
mooney, you and the boxing gym do not take the place of the court.
I am placing levi mooney in the shumann center for the next 60 days.
Mr.
mooney, we can revisit the issue of levi's home detention under your care in 2 months' time, when you complete a parenting class.
So you're just going to throw him in jail and not give him a second chance? James.
James.
Mr.
mooney, home detention was that second chance.
He'll be out in 2 months.
Hi.
What do you got? So Henderson's in.
So is mandel and hopefinger.
We're keeping Atlantic union finance, American box, and, uh, Stephen sophets.
How about you? Everybody so far.
Good.
All right.
The other guys got about 7 clients between them.
I just got off the phone with the real estate guy.
He said we can get that loft space on the South side up and running by the end of the month.
So you want to pull the trigger? Yeah.
I can't believe we're doing this.
I can't believe we're doing this.
Can you have these files pulled and sent to my house? Kroft steakhouse, Miller tech, Stein industries.
But these are-- these are all Arnold Parker's clients.
Yeah.
James.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
We need to get past this.
Past this? Past the-- you sent my nephew to detention.
Quitting this job won't make it better.
Why do you even do this kind of work? You don't have any kids.
You don't even know the world these kids come from.
I do it because it's good work.
Alvin, this job was my goal, not something to just cover up time, something to just cover up the fact that nobody wants to be around a pompous, 12-step control freak.
That's not fair.
No, I'll tell you what's not fair.
Bringing my family around here to show them what they can become And having you call social services on me and humiliate me in front of my family and colleagues, all because of what I'm doing you don't understand.
I'm sorry.
Tell that to levi.
Don't quit your job, James.
You're the best lawyer they have here.
You are.
What the hell's going on here? You know, I need to talk to you.
Ok.
Where have you been? I took a vacation.
What is it? Uh, you know my--my wedding was turning into such a mess, and it really became a monster.
Brian's always fighting with me about everything.
I, uh I confessed to Brian, you know, I mean, about our--my slip.
And, uh, I didn't mention your name, and--and--and I told him that it didn't go anywhere, but-- and he was-- he was really very angry, as I guess I, you know, I expected he would be.
He was angry? Yeah, you know, of course.
Uh And, um Well, I didn't know-- I, uh You know, I've been confused.
And, um, and then I felt relieved, because I didn't know What to expect.
So we We called it off.
I think that's good.
It's good.
No.
We called off the big wedding, and we went to Atlantic city and got married.
Ok.
Miss solt, your recommendation? Under the circumstances, hunter should live with his grandparents.
Any objections to this? No, ma'am.
Hunter Reed will be permanently placed with his maternal grandparents Donald and Phyllis sample.
Good luck to both of you.
Thank you very much.
Mr.
sample I'd like your permission to have a word with hunter.
Listen Hunter, I, um, I made a mistake.
When I fought for you to stay with your father, uh I should have known that you belong with your grandparents.
I should have known that your father wasn't ready, and I should have just Let your grandparents take care of you long enough to be sure.
This is the right thing.
It's the way it should be.
And you know I can't accept any of these.
Now, you could have given them to me before my appointment, but, uh No, but seriously, um, I really appreciate it, but, uh, they've all, uh, they've all got to go back.
Ohh Ohh Yeah, I'll tell you what, just enjoy yourselves.
Excuse me for one second.
I just--- be right back.
Hey, Nicholas.
Thanks for coming.
You trade this firm for the bench? What? What does lichtman have on you? I don't know what you're talking about.
Caldwell pull some strings to get your appointment? You don't think I got the appointment on my own merits? That's not what I meant.
Well, that hurts, Nicholas.
That hurts.
Well, tell me you didn't, dad.
Tell me you didn't trade this place and my future for the bench.
I'll tell you what, Nicholas, uh Why don't you, uh-- why don't you take over this place? Make the decisions that affect, uh, hundreds of people.
Listen to 'em kiss your ass and whisper behind your back.
You decide when to bend and when to break and when to fight.
You make those choices and live with them.
And once you-- once you do that, maybe--maybe then you'll be ready to have a conversation about what I had to do to keep this place going and keep you and everybody else around here in diapers.
Oh, hey.
Come on in.
Burton, I just-- I just saw Nicholas Storm out of here.
I thought you were gonna fix things up with him.
I made no such promise.
There's something you should know.
I trusted Mitchell with everything that came through my office.
Everything? He's got a little leverage, Burton.
A little.
You promised me a chance to work in a profitable law firm.
I promised Mitchell.
You never mentioned that you'd be stepping away to a federal bench.
I thought I made that up to you by making you a managing partner.
Well, you did, but the clients have to stay at the firm for that to have any value.
My intention was that Nicholas would have my clients.
Then we need Nick Or we're both in trouble.
I never included my son in this deal.
Ever.
Canceled your mastercard.
'Cause the police told me you had it.
Yeah.
I got back to my motel room and there were, like, 3 cop cars there.
I had to leave my favorite pair of shoes.
Sorry to hear it.
I'm all ready.
For what? To go to the police.
Like you said.
Let's call them right now.
I'm not, um-- not right now.
I'm really, really high.
And I decided this afternoon that it was time, so I picked up an 8-ball.
Just to soothe myself.
'Cause you know how it is.
Once you go in, there's nothing.
But I ended up doing all of it, and I can't go in there all stressed out.
You gotta go in.
But I need to take a shower first and have a cigarette, ok? There's a shower upstairs.
Detective darger, it's Nick fallin.
I have Mandy gressler in my apartment.
Ohh! What are you doing?! Ow! Ohh Lying bastard! Aah! Just wait.
No-- let go of me! Let me go! Mandy, just calm down.
You bastard! Will you stop--please, stop it.
Let me go! Calm-- Oh, my God.
Mandy? Mandy, you all right? Mandy.
Oh, my God.
Oh, God.
OkOk Ok I--I need an ambulance to I have a woman--I think her heart has stopped.
Yeah, I'm feeling for a pulse.
No, she's-- she doesn't have a pulse.
Nick, you home? No.
Y-you can't come in.
Listen, I have to talk to you for a minute.
Can't it wait? Son, listen to me, ok? When you, uh-- when you got arrested, things were not looking so good.
It turns out the d.
A.
Was gunning for you.
He wasn't about to plea bargain.
In fact, he was looking for 5 years minimum.
I went to Caldwell to make a deal, and he agreed to talk the d.
A.
Down to a misdemeanor-- look, can we talk about this tomorrow? I had to promise him a partnership.
What, you gave him your firm? Now here's the problem.
I just found out that kid lichtman knew all about it.
He has records of all our discussions.
If he gives it up to other people, it could be very bad.
Dad, I can't talk about this now, ok? Son, listen to me.
I cannot! I just came over here to tell you first.
As far as I'm concerned, they can both go to hell.
All right, I've heard it.
I've heard it.
Just don't let them push you around.
I won't.
You know, you have to go now.
Don't let them do that to you.
Dad, you have to leave now.
You can't be here.
Please, dad, just leave.
Just take care of yourself.
Just leave.
Hey, dad, it's, uh-- it's Nick, uh I'm leaving you this message 'cause, uh I'm, uh You know, I-I'm sorry.
I'm sorry for-- for, uh, everything, and, uh, I just haven't, uh, been Yeah.
I'm just--I'm sorry.
Ok? Look, I--I came back here because I wanted to work with you 'cause I respect you, and--and I wanted to spend more time with you, and And I'm afraid that I-I've just done what I usually do, and I'm just afraid, and Dad, I--I just want you to know that That I--I love you and-- and I just want to apologize.
How may I Well, this, is, uh, turning out to be somewhat of a regular thing.
Uh, I know that you all know that I've been going through, um, this federal judicial nomination process.
And I also know that many of you have given of your precious time to discuss and exaggerate some of my merits to the committee and the FBI.
And I sincerely want to thank you all for that.
Today, um, a little bit bittersweet for me.
The good news is that my appointment has been confirmed.
But that also means that I will be leaving the firm.
So effective today, our newest partner Nathan Caldwell will be assuming the position of managing partner, and the firm will be called Caldwell and associates from now on.
Nathan, congratulations.
Well, um, I don't want to take this moment for anything other than to congratulate Burton.
Um, as for the future, my philosophy is, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
So, you all have your jobs, and the firm will continue to operate exactly as Mr.
fallin.
We need to talk.
Do you know where Mandy gressler is? No.
She try to contact you? No.
Mind if we put a tap on your phone? I'm gonna need to have my lawyer present if this is gonna continue.
Look.
Mandy's on the move.
Just missed her at her sister's house in Scranton.
Showed up at her ex-husband's place in Redding about a day late.
And would you believe she took first place in an amateur stripping contest in morgantown? Mandy's got a bit of a habit.
Then, you'd know all about that, huh, Nick? What is it you want from me, detective darger? Well, eventually she'll come back to the city, and when she does, she'll call you.
I barely know her.
Well, no matter your relationship, she's gone through all her other options.
She knows you're a lawyer.
You got money.
She probably thinks you're above the fray.
Here's my cell phone number.
When she contacts you, you call me.
And we'll clear this mess up.
Ah.
Nick, will you close the door, please? Now, I guess you're feeling a little frustrated about what's been happening around here.
I think that in time, you'll see me as an ally And a decent leader.
So, you think we can make this thing work? You gonna make me a partner? Well, I don't want to make any major changes this early in my tenure, Nick.
Just might make the others nervous.
Just give me a little time to transition, huh? I am sentencing you to 1,500 hours of community service, using your skills as a corporate attorney to work as a child advocate.
You want to have it both ways, Brian.
You dump all of this planning into my lap, and now all of a sudden in the eleventh hour-- hang on.
Just wait-- in the eleventh hour, you--you're blaming me for everything.
I have a lot on my plate, too.
Fine.
Forget it.
You all right? It's ok.
It's just all this wedding stuff.
You know, it's, uh, really a cliche at this point, but, uh, it's a mess.
And, uh, I'm just trying-- it's ok.
Sorry.
What was it that you needed? Uh, the high school discrimination file.
Oh.
Right.
Um, it came in through Alvin, so if you, uh, if you need more information Sure you're all right? Yeah.
Yeah.
Ok.
Nick.
Alvin.
Hey.
Hey.
Morning, James.
Morning.
Levi.
Uh, James.
Can I see you a second? What's up? That black eye levi has.
Yeah? Did he get it boxing? Yeah.
With you? Yes.
James-- Alvin, we've already had this conversation once before.
What I do with my nephew on my time is my business.
Have you given any thought to that parenting class that I told you about? I appreciate your concern, but I know what I'm doing.
Yeah, but hitting a kid-- I mean, resolving stuff with violence, James-- Alvin, it's a sport.
He can handle it.
Dr.
Reed, good to see you.
You, too, Nick.
How have you been? Well, thanks to you, a few doctors, and medication, great.
Well, I'm glad to hear it.
I'm not saying it's been-- I miss my wife.
Of course.
And hunter does, immensely.
But the two of us, it's good.
Hunter's progressing nicely in school.
I'm looking for work.
That's great.
Where? Teaching-- possibly at chatsworth, as an adjunct.
The Dean has been very receptive.
So how can I help you today, Dr.
Reed? The money that you got for hunter, I'm the trustee.
That's right.
And if anything were to happen to me-- hunter's grandfather would become trustee until hunter turns 25.
I don't trust hunter's grandfather with $5 million.
Ok.
So you don't want Donald sample as hunter's second trustee.
No.
Do you have another trustee in mind? You.
Well, you--you realize, Dr.
Reed, that you're asking me to potentially play a very large role in hunter's life.
If it weren't for you, hunter wouldn't even have this money.
I'd be in jail for murder.
Most of all You made sure that hunter and I stayed together.
You've already done so much.
If you want to say no, I understand.
No, II accept.
It's open.
Hey, hi, Laurie.
Hey, James.
We got an appointment today? UmNo.
Is it ok if I sit down? Please.
So, what can I help you with? I stopped by levi's school on my way here.
He do something? No.
Uh I'm afraid you did.
So, this is an official visit.
James, I want to talk to you about parenting classes.
Who called you in? Levi's on home detention.
Periodic checks are part of the arrangement.
Levi's juvenile probation officer handles those, not you.
I'm here to avoid that.
Don't do me any favors.
James! You dimed me out to social services? What? What's wrong with you?! I suggested Laurie talk to you about a parenting class.
Do you know how embarrassing and unnecessary this is? What you're trying to do with your nephew is great.
We just think you may need some help.
That was sweet.
Look, I cannot ignore the potential physical abuse of a child just because it's being done by one of my lawyers.
It's just a parenting class, James.
I'll take a parenting class when the courts tell me to.
Hey, Nick.
Good to see you.
Hey.
What is Mitchell lichtman doing in here? Caldwell brought him back.
Why? Caldwell says this is a big move for him and he can't do it without lichtman.
You fired him.
He committed a felony.
Nicholas I resigned from the firm yesterday.
I no longer have any say on how it's run.
What's his title? What's his position? Partner.
Ok.
They voted him in yesterday.
It was Caldwell's first order of business.
First order of business? Yeah.
Caldwell planned on bringing him back the moment you cut him loose.
Could be.
Jake, come with me.
Did they make you partner? You screwed me over for lichtman because you wanted to get into their government relations department.
Nick, look, I-- ok, I was desperate.
I--I am barred from doing mergers.
My father kept you in this firm because he liked you.
You seriously think Caldwell and lichtman would do the same for you? What are you saying? I don't trust those two, Jake.
Do you? No.
But what choice do we have? Meet me at legal services tonight at 9:30.
Bring Arnold Parker, Henry stone, and Lisa jacoby.
What a dump.
Nick? Where are you? In here.
Ok, let's go this way.
Hey.
We all probably know why we're here.
None of us feels too good about the changes that are going on with the firm, and Nick and I have a few ideas we wanted to present to you.
Thanks, Jake.
I just want to keep it simple.
I want something different-- a real partnership, a place that the clients belong to the firm and we divide the profits equally.
A place where we decide on the risks and get the rewards.
No inflated partner salaries, no downtown rent, no useless associates.
No Caldwell and lichtman.
No Caldwell and lichtman.
Who are the clients? We will bring the people that we service in my father's firm.
Caldwell and lichtman can't hold on to them if we leave.
Will your father support this? What does it matter now? Michelle, I need you to call Alfred Barnes and set up a breakfast for tomorrow morning.
And can you pull the shield industry file and have it sent to my home? Oh, God.
How was your month? I've been sitting in here, like, 2 hours.
There's a sign over there about the garage having carcinogens, something about a warning for pregnant mothers.
The police are looking for you.
You don't think I know that? I need $6,000.
I've gone to the police, I've made my deal, you should go and make yours.
Did you tell 'em the truth? That I saved your life? And that Lenny was going crazy? I told them what happened.
What the-- what? You told them I shot Lenny in the back and that I was ripping Dale off? That's-- I told them what happened, Mandy.
When you talk to the police, it might help them understand.
I need money! I can't help you.
Oh, I could tell them what you did.
I didn't do anything.
You know, if I get in trouble, I could tell them that we were involved.
I could tell them that you were in on scamming Dale.
I could tell them a lot of things.
Give me a hundred so I can get a motel room.
You go make your deal.
Please? Come on! Detective darger.
You know, you suck.
Mandy-- I need to speak with detective darger.
This really gives me peace of mind, Nick.
I appreciate it.
No problem.
You know, hunter talks about you all the time.
Well, I'd like to spend some more time with him.
Well, how about this evening? I've got 2 tickets to the ball game right behind home plate.
You can't take him? The Dean at chatsworth wants me to meet with the committee this evening.
Be great if I could, you know, for the job.
Sure.
Yeah.
Great.
Well the game starts around 7:35.
Hunter likes batting practice.
Why don't you come by around 6:00? Thanks.
Yeah.
Great.
Hey.
You wanted to see me? Yeah.
Come on in.
I'm just packing up some last-minute things here.
I thought maybe you might want some of this crap.
No.
My--my office is pretty much done.
I arranged with Nathan-- I, uh, arranged for you to have this office.
Thank you.
Yeah.
What is it? I'm not-- I'm not going to be staying here.
Really? When did you make that decision? Today.
I guess it was today.
Hmm.
Yeah, I was--I was-- I was gonna tell you.
WellWhat are you gonna do, go across the street? No.
A few of us from here are going to start our own firm.
A few of you? Yes.
You think that's the best move? I do.
Well, I don't want to Get into your decision, but, um If you leave, there's a good chance you Lose all my clients.
I think several will come with me.
Caldwell know about this--this, uh, defection? Not yet.
Am I supposed to sit on it for you? I would appreciate it.
I see.
Huh.
You--do you realize that I brought Caldwell in here basically to protect you? Give you a better shot at holding on to the clients and keeping the firm going.
Did you consider that before you decided to Cannibalize it? I did.
I did consider that.
Well Guess you gotta do what-- gotta do what you gotta do.
Mandy gressler spent the night in a motel out in mckeesport, near the turnpike entrance.
Ok.
Did you enjoy bangin' her? What? You were certainly dumb enough to pay for her room.
Can you come sit here for a second, please? She stole my credit card.
How, may I ask, would she do that? My car--I keep duplicates of my credit cards in my car, and she stole it from the car.
You drove her someplace? No, I didn't.
She jumped in my car when I was in the parking garage.
You didn't tell me that before.
I didn't? I didn't? She jumped in my car.
That's when she asked me for the money.
You know, I looked it up, fallin.
In your own version of events at that strip club, you committed 3 technical probation violations.
Now, the only reason I don't haul you in right now is on the off chance that you two cross paths again.
You, uh, you need something? Yeah.
What's going on? Uh, well, you know I'm the legal guardian, uh For my nephew levi.
Home detention, right? That's right.
Alvin's under the impression that I might not be such a good influence.
Now there's a hearing to force me to take parenting classes.
Based on what? Based on levi's entirely voluntary participation in boxing lessons with me.
Alvin told Laurie, who talked to levi's juvenile probation officer.
The jpo filed a report with the judge.
Oh, you want me to represent you.
Well, it'll be fine.
Just follow my lead.
No.
No.
What? No.
If you want me to represent you, then I call the shots.
I've done over a thousand of these hearings.
Have you ever been a party? No.
You know-- I call the shots.
You should talk to levi.
He's in the conference room doing homework.
I know.
I know.
It's your game.
Nick.
You know, uh, thanks.
That's all right.
'79 world series starters.
Billy stargell, bill garner, Tim foley, madlock, and ed ott.
Center field? Omar moreno.
Left? Bill Robinson and milner platooned.
Right? Dave Parker.
There you go.
You got the rotation? Blyleven, candelaria, bibby, and Goose gossage was the closer.
Gossage was in New York that year.
Ah Tekulve, he was the closer.
Who was the fourth starter? I'll have to ask my dad.
He knows all about this stuff.
Well, thank you for the tickets.
Thanks for taking me.
It was great.
See you later.
See ya.
Nick, it's Alvin.
I'm at Pittsburgh general.
Thomas Reed tried to kill himself.
Dr.
wagman to O.
R.
5.
Dr.
wagman, please report to O.
R.
5.
What's going on? Dr.
Reed tried to overdose.
What? He's all right? They pumped his stomach.
He's stable.
Did hunter find him? Yeah.
No, Nick, don't! No.
Hunter? Hunter? Please, leave him alone.
Mr.
sample-- don't you think you've done enough to the boy? Mr.
sample, I understand-- don't you ever tell me you understand anything until you become a father who loses his only child.
Not until you become a grandfather who watches some punk lawyer place his grandchild in the killer's hands.
Hunter, I'm gonna make sure your father gets the best care he can.
Just leave.
Dr.
foreman to oncology.
Dr.
foreman, report to oncology.
Nick.
God, I'm sorry.
Need to talk about it? Listen.
It happens like this all the time.
You do your job, you follow your gut, and it blows up in your face.
I've been there.
Want to get a cup of coffee? No.
Get a bite to eat, hang out-- no, no.
Look, Nick, you can't just-- I don't want to hang out, Alvin.
I don't want to talk.
I don't want to be your friend.
I don't want to hear your recovery story.
The senator would like to see you.
Oh, I appreciate the heads-up, Mr.
Parker.
So thank you.
Arnold.
Nick, have a seat.
I have to say, we have gotten off to a Truly unfortunate start.
And much of that is my fault.
I take responsibility for For underestimating you, not taking into account your many years of work here, your importance to the firm.
What is your point? My point is I have reconsidered my position.
I've spoken to the other partners, and we are prepared to offer you a full equity partnership.
No, thanks.
You don't want to do this.
Nick, if you take our clients, I can make life pretty miserable for your father.
James, why did you become levi's guardian in the first place? He's my nephew and I love him.
He was in trouble, and he had nowhere else to go.
Have you been a guardian before? No.
Why do you take levi to the boxing gym? I believe that training and discipline is good for him.
And why boxing? Why not karate or football? It's what I know.
It got me off the streets as a teenager, gave me a family of people, kept off me drugs and in school.
I mean, it's a beautiful sport.
It trains the body and the mind.
Is it common to get bruises on your face when you're in the ring? It's a sport.
You hit, get hit.
No further questions.
Ms.
Shaw.
Is it true that you were a golden gloves champion? Yes.
What weight class? Light heavyweight.
How much does levi weigh? I don't know.
Is that light heavyweight? Welterweight.
Did you obtain permission from levi's juvenile probation officer for your visits to the gym? Yes.
When you spoke to the jpo, did you clarify that you personally would be boxing levi? No.
Has levi been trained as a boxer? That's what I'm doing now.
Before you took him into the ring.
No.
Do you think it's appropriate with your vast experience as a fighter and your clear size advantage to take a 16-year-old boy into the ring and punch him in the stomach and the face? It's just boxing.
No further questions, your honor.
Mr.
mooney, why did you originally decide to teach levi to box? He needed structure.
Well, the rules of home detention are very structured.
I thought he needed more.
Has levi broken any conditions of home detention while under your care? I'm waiting, counselor.
He skipped school once to be with his girlfriend and got picked up by a truant officer.
He missed a counseling meeting.
You may step down, Mr.
mooney.
Miss solt, in making your recommendation about a parenting class, were you aware of these violations? No, your honor.
I have no problem with boxing.
I do have a problem with levi boxing you, Mr.
mooney.
However, my biggest problem is not with levi's activities in the gym.
Levi, you were charged with manslaughter.
You were able to avoid being sentenced to a juvenile detention facility only by agreeing to judge Sutton's very specific rules of home detention.
You broke those rules.
Mr.
mooney, you and the boxing gym do not take the place of the court.
I am placing levi mooney in the shumann center for the next 60 days.
Mr.
mooney, we can revisit the issue of levi's home detention under your care in 2 months' time, when you complete a parenting class.
So you're just going to throw him in jail and not give him a second chance? James.
James.
Mr.
mooney, home detention was that second chance.
He'll be out in 2 months.
Hi.
What do you got? So Henderson's in.
So is mandel and hopefinger.
We're keeping Atlantic union finance, American box, and, uh, Stephen sophets.
How about you? Everybody so far.
Good.
All right.
The other guys got about 7 clients between them.
I just got off the phone with the real estate guy.
He said we can get that loft space on the South side up and running by the end of the month.
So you want to pull the trigger? Yeah.
I can't believe we're doing this.
I can't believe we're doing this.
Can you have these files pulled and sent to my house? Kroft steakhouse, Miller tech, Stein industries.
But these are-- these are all Arnold Parker's clients.
Yeah.
James.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
We need to get past this.
Past this? Past the-- you sent my nephew to detention.
Quitting this job won't make it better.
Why do you even do this kind of work? You don't have any kids.
You don't even know the world these kids come from.
I do it because it's good work.
Alvin, this job was my goal, not something to just cover up time, something to just cover up the fact that nobody wants to be around a pompous, 12-step control freak.
That's not fair.
No, I'll tell you what's not fair.
Bringing my family around here to show them what they can become And having you call social services on me and humiliate me in front of my family and colleagues, all because of what I'm doing you don't understand.
I'm sorry.
Tell that to levi.
Don't quit your job, James.
You're the best lawyer they have here.
You are.
What the hell's going on here? You know, I need to talk to you.
Ok.
Where have you been? I took a vacation.
What is it? Uh, you know my--my wedding was turning into such a mess, and it really became a monster.
Brian's always fighting with me about everything.
I, uh I confessed to Brian, you know, I mean, about our--my slip.
And, uh, I didn't mention your name, and--and--and I told him that it didn't go anywhere, but-- and he was-- he was really very angry, as I guess I, you know, I expected he would be.
He was angry? Yeah, you know, of course.
Uh And, um Well, I didn't know-- I, uh You know, I've been confused.
And, um, and then I felt relieved, because I didn't know What to expect.
So we We called it off.
I think that's good.
It's good.
No.
We called off the big wedding, and we went to Atlantic city and got married.
Ok.
Miss solt, your recommendation? Under the circumstances, hunter should live with his grandparents.
Any objections to this? No, ma'am.
Hunter Reed will be permanently placed with his maternal grandparents Donald and Phyllis sample.
Good luck to both of you.
Thank you very much.
Mr.
sample I'd like your permission to have a word with hunter.
Listen Hunter, I, um, I made a mistake.
When I fought for you to stay with your father, uh I should have known that you belong with your grandparents.
I should have known that your father wasn't ready, and I should have just Let your grandparents take care of you long enough to be sure.
This is the right thing.
It's the way it should be.
And you know I can't accept any of these.
Now, you could have given them to me before my appointment, but, uh No, but seriously, um, I really appreciate it, but, uh, they've all, uh, they've all got to go back.
Ohh Ohh Yeah, I'll tell you what, just enjoy yourselves.
Excuse me for one second.
I just--- be right back.
Hey, Nicholas.
Thanks for coming.
You trade this firm for the bench? What? What does lichtman have on you? I don't know what you're talking about.
Caldwell pull some strings to get your appointment? You don't think I got the appointment on my own merits? That's not what I meant.
Well, that hurts, Nicholas.
That hurts.
Well, tell me you didn't, dad.
Tell me you didn't trade this place and my future for the bench.
I'll tell you what, Nicholas, uh Why don't you, uh-- why don't you take over this place? Make the decisions that affect, uh, hundreds of people.
Listen to 'em kiss your ass and whisper behind your back.
You decide when to bend and when to break and when to fight.
You make those choices and live with them.
And once you-- once you do that, maybe--maybe then you'll be ready to have a conversation about what I had to do to keep this place going and keep you and everybody else around here in diapers.
Oh, hey.
Come on in.
Burton, I just-- I just saw Nicholas Storm out of here.
I thought you were gonna fix things up with him.
I made no such promise.
There's something you should know.
I trusted Mitchell with everything that came through my office.
Everything? He's got a little leverage, Burton.
A little.
You promised me a chance to work in a profitable law firm.
I promised Mitchell.
You never mentioned that you'd be stepping away to a federal bench.
I thought I made that up to you by making you a managing partner.
Well, you did, but the clients have to stay at the firm for that to have any value.
My intention was that Nicholas would have my clients.
Then we need Nick Or we're both in trouble.
I never included my son in this deal.
Ever.
Canceled your mastercard.
'Cause the police told me you had it.
Yeah.
I got back to my motel room and there were, like, 3 cop cars there.
I had to leave my favorite pair of shoes.
Sorry to hear it.
I'm all ready.
For what? To go to the police.
Like you said.
Let's call them right now.
I'm not, um-- not right now.
I'm really, really high.
And I decided this afternoon that it was time, so I picked up an 8-ball.
Just to soothe myself.
'Cause you know how it is.
Once you go in, there's nothing.
But I ended up doing all of it, and I can't go in there all stressed out.
You gotta go in.
But I need to take a shower first and have a cigarette, ok? There's a shower upstairs.
Detective darger, it's Nick fallin.
I have Mandy gressler in my apartment.
Ohh! What are you doing?! Ow! Ohh Lying bastard! Aah! Just wait.
No-- let go of me! Let me go! Mandy, just calm down.
You bastard! Will you stop--please, stop it.
Let me go! Calm-- Oh, my God.
Mandy? Mandy, you all right? Mandy.
Oh, my God.
Oh, God.
OkOk Ok I--I need an ambulance to I have a woman--I think her heart has stopped.
Yeah, I'm feeling for a pulse.
No, she's-- she doesn't have a pulse.
Nick, you home? No.
Y-you can't come in.
Listen, I have to talk to you for a minute.
Can't it wait? Son, listen to me, ok? When you, uh-- when you got arrested, things were not looking so good.
It turns out the d.
A.
Was gunning for you.
He wasn't about to plea bargain.
In fact, he was looking for 5 years minimum.
I went to Caldwell to make a deal, and he agreed to talk the d.
A.
Down to a misdemeanor-- look, can we talk about this tomorrow? I had to promise him a partnership.
What, you gave him your firm? Now here's the problem.
I just found out that kid lichtman knew all about it.
He has records of all our discussions.
If he gives it up to other people, it could be very bad.
Dad, I can't talk about this now, ok? Son, listen to me.
I cannot! I just came over here to tell you first.
As far as I'm concerned, they can both go to hell.
All right, I've heard it.
I've heard it.
Just don't let them push you around.
I won't.
You know, you have to go now.
Don't let them do that to you.
Dad, you have to leave now.
You can't be here.
Please, dad, just leave.
Just take care of yourself.
Just leave.
Hey, dad, it's, uh-- it's Nick, uh I'm leaving you this message 'cause, uh I'm, uh You know, I-I'm sorry.
I'm sorry for-- for, uh, everything, and, uh, I just haven't, uh, been Yeah.
I'm just--I'm sorry.
Ok? Look, I--I came back here because I wanted to work with you 'cause I respect you, and--and I wanted to spend more time with you, and And I'm afraid that I-I've just done what I usually do, and I'm just afraid, and Dad, I--I just want you to know that That I--I love you and-- and I just want to apologize.