Original subtitles

Final stage of arbitration.

Otherwise, we go to court.

Yes, but remember, we have the upper hand.

- Hi, there. - Good morning.

Hi, hi. Good Morning.

- Serena Byrne. - Yes.

You're on the first floor.

It's so strange to be back here.

What's your... What's your name again?

- Mandy. - Mandy, yeah.

I worked here for the past six years and it's so...

It's surreal to be back here.

I'm glad to see they've renovated the foyer.

- Yeah. - That was actually something that...

that I said that they should do.

Anyway, it's nice to see you again.

- Yeah. Bye. - Bye.

We're looking forward to today.

- Yeah. - Yeah, we are.

Prenup's gone and I think we're in really excellent shape.

St. John's leading on their side, by the way.

So it's you versus him.

How are all the cravings?

Werther's Original. Club biscuits.

I'm into all sorts these days.

So, Nick, let's, recap before we all go in.

Estate analyst has property at 100 million,

investments and pensions at 50. Another 50 for other assets

including art.

Morgan had a penchant for Cubism, Expressionism,

anything early 20th Century.

- Or the guy that buys his art does. - Well, exactly.

All in, we're looking at 300 million.

- Yeah. - Of which we'll expect half.

Obviously. However...

Zephyr remains the wild card.

Worth pennies when they got married but...

It's all gone silly since then.

What does that mean in numbers?

As I've said to Serena,

overall figure you should be asking for today is half a billion.

Sterling.

Which explains why our client's in such a jolly mood.

St. John's leading on their side.

Yes, I was aware of that, thank you.

Singer.

"Singer"?

Nick and I were at Borthwicks together years ago,

and that was his nickname, Singer.

I just remembered this morning.

I should mention some of the...

the nicknames that we had for you, St. John.

Please, go ahead.

Well, I don't think we want to sink to that now, do we?

Is it because there weren't any?

Hard to remember things that don't exist, I suppose.

They did exist.

May I begin, following the dismissal of the PNA

by thanking the Cathcarts team for, as I understand it,

putting forward a new starting point, yes?

That is correct. Fifty percent of our client's net worth.

I wish to make it very...

clear that...

that we object to this derisory figure.

- What is the figure? - Well, it seems to relate

to your client's pett... petty cash tin,

rather than, you know,

instead of his... amassed assets.

It relates to the agreed assets listed in the disclosures.

If there's a problem, Singer, let's hear it.

Isn't that what we're all trying to do here?

Mr. Taylor, the floor is yours.

We... we absolutely...

cannot proceed with this... you know, until...

until we get time to interrogate this number.

What's the fucking number?

May I remind everyone, should this process fail,

we have no choice but to proceed to trial.

Forty-five?

I know.

Forty-five.

Well, don't bring me here. If you know I'm upset,

don't bring me to a place like this.

Or was that the plan?

Take her to the library, stop her from shouting at us

for getting it so badly wrong?

We haven't gotten it wrong.

This morning, you said half a billion.

I know.

That's more than ten times as much.

I know.

- Stop saying you know. - It's a ridiculous offer.

But it is all just... It's standard game play.

Look, I get that it's an obscene amount of money,

but the fact is, it's not 50-50.

Even if it was 50p and 50p, if I am one half of this partnership.

You expect the same as Morgan, and we agree with that.

Don't we?

Totally. Totally.

And we will push back aggressively,

and, you know, just make a mockery of this number.

- Really? - You just watch.

'Cause those weren't exactly the vibes you were giving off in the meeting.

You went for the more "sit there looking dumbstruck" approach.

Nick, slight problem.

Call me sooner rather than later, please.

Well, it's probably better you weren't there, to be honest.

The whole thing felt like one big willy-waving exercise.

St. John trying to prove he had the biggest sword in the room.

Nick, not quite...

Not... not quite what?

My God, it was like he'd left his sword at home. Thanks.

But that's okay. I mean, they can offer us as little as they want.

Our position is strong.

Right, let's go back through the shadow valuations

and look to see if there's anything we've missed.

Above the grunt work now, are we?

Are you gonna find Morgan's hidden billions in his socials?

He's looking for what he's hiding by looking at what he's showing.

Sorry, we've tried that already.

Michael Ancker has liked every Morgan post for the last month

with zero interaction from Morgan until a week ago.

Gillian Pope, that's Zephyr's CFO,

has been chef-kissing the shit out of Ancker's posts.

You think they are going to sell?

No. No, he does that, Carla gets half.

Whatever it is, you should tell Nick and Serena.

She wants to know everything. They're having a drink with Carla.

Yep. Cool. Right, I'll see you in a bit.

We have everybody working on this, Carla. The whole firm.

People are working through the night so that in the morning, I promise you,

we will call their bluff.

Tell me how you're feeling.

We're drinking okay wine

in a not great bar,

while Morgan's team are working round the clock

to fuck me over.

I'm just ever so slightly under-fucking-whelmed

with both of you,

is how I'm feeling.

- Shall I get you a car? - I've got a car.

What I need is a decent divorce.

What the fuck is wrong with you?

Thank you.

- You one of the people working late? - One of the many.

How's it going?

Oh, you're fucked.

Was it all right, missing that party? Was your girlfriend pissed?

Well, it was my fault.

But she forgets that I'm not trained in posh prick etiquette, but I do try.

Don't.

Don't try.

Don't pretend to be anything that you're not.

Says the actress.

Can't kid a kidder.

Yeah, but it cuts both ways, dunnit?

You know, not everyone gets to see the real Carla Duval,

but when they do, it's...

When they do, it's what?

Well, it's such a pleasant surprise.

Careful. There are people taking photos on their phones.

She needed reassurance.

I gave her reassurance.

Oh, did you? I think I must have missed that bit.

- Why are you being like this? - We're about to get fired.

It's one thing losing your first big case.

It's another thing losing the actual sodding client.

- And the worst thing... - We're not gonna lose the client.

Is she's absolutely right.

You just sat there while St. John made a fool of us.

Of you.

It was a low ball offer, Nick. Not even a very good one.

You locate your balls and you fire back.

We can't counter until we know how they're minimizing his worth.

Or I can take over, because I can, if you want.

Swap now. That'll look very...

Very what? Very...

Very weak?

- Oh, God. - Michael wanted me to update you all

on the latest information request we're making to Zephyr.

Yep.

Thank you, Johnny.

You can update Nick. I'm leaving.

Oh, and by the way,

Bernard wants you back at the office when we're done.

Small one?

I'm not having one.

He is. I have to go and see Cathy.

I'm having one because we're up.

The mole has come up for air.

They're all at sixes and sevens, arguing internally.

Mummy's cross with Daddy because Daddy did badly at work today.

Which means what, do we think? That they might settle?

- How boring of them. - I'd like them to settle.

- How boring of you. - Provided it's a good offer.

And I say that, St. John, because something's wrong.

They got the prenup thrown out.

They arrived here this morning in high spirits.

Then all of a sudden, some silly opening offer...

- Silly? - Sends them sprawling.

Even we think more of them than that.

I don't want us getting caught out by some kind of feint here.

There must be more to this.

There is.

Nicholas can't look St. John in the face because of the Singer situation.

When Taylor first qualified,

Fiona Rose-Macklin and I threw him in the deep end,

had him present to one of our biggest clients.

This was at Borthwicks?

And he thought that meant a one-to-one.

But when the client turned up, he had the entire board with him.

Poor Nick went to pot, started jabbering, stammering,

couldn't get his words out in the room, and then couldn't get past it for months.

In the end, Fiona found him a vocal coach

whose technique was to sing.

Sing?

Sing through the stutter.

Hence the nickname.

And you never let him forget it?

No, I reminded him.

Not quite the same th... thing.

That's bullying.

Don't say it like it's bad.

It means he's having flashbacks, which is good for us.

More of the same tomorrow, we hope.

Turn my lights out when you go.

She's always been like that.

Triple checking, in case we're not ahead.

Not a bad habit, I suppose.

"The simple act of paying attention can get you a long way."

Remind me?

Keanu Reeves.

It's looking worse than we thought.

Wage bill is high.

Office isn't cheap, as we know.

And we're not taking on any new cases.

The Carla case is all-consuming.

Then it needs to be resolved.

No, we need to win it. That's what we need, Bernard.

I don't think you understand the position we're in here.

What a black hole this is.

Everyone in the building is working on Duval.

So either we get better and win it, or get worse and we get fired.

Because this can't go on.

How bad are we talking?

By next month, you won't be able to pay me to tell you how bad.

Everything Michael's found today, if you could summarize it in an email

and send it to the whole team. I want everyone knowing

what points I'll be hitting tomorrow morning.

And do you want that as in, like, right now?

If that's okay with you, Saeed.

Yeah.

Four years at law school, and I'm basically the bosses' bitch.

At least you are a bitch.

Imagine being me.

Working this hard just hoping to achieve bitch status.

I don't even mind doing it. He just doesn't rate me.

Of course he does.

Hey, there's a group of us that go out on Thursdays.

I can't.

I promised Philip I'd shortlist house viewings with him later.

Oh, wow.

What, you gonna move to the burbs and start gardening?

Finish the notes, come for a drink.

Michael Ancker's EA is gonna be there.

Well, not his actual EA,

but his EA's EA who works in the London office,

and he is absolutely hot.

Not that that last bit's relevant in any way.

Absolutely not.

- Bye. - Bye-bye.

We need all the paperwork you can get.

Bank statements, proof of address, whatever you can find.

I'm just arriving now.

Good.

Stephen's with me. We've been on this all day.

How far have you got?

Getting there.

Slowly.

What the hell's taking so long?

You're gifting multi-millions worth of shares

to your colleague to prevent your wife getting hold of them, Morgan.

Not sending me 50 quid for my birthday.

Oh, I tell you what would speed things up.

If you came to the office, gave us

those signatures we've been chasing you for.

Or we could come to you.

Morgan.

I'll call you back.

Oh my God, stop it!

You came!

- Hi. - Aw, hi.

Guys, this is Saeed.

- Hi. - Hi, Saeed.

He's a fellow junior, and he is sober as fuck,

so let's help a guy out.

Which one is Ancker's EA?

Oh, wouldn't you like to know?

He's not even here.

- Which one do you want? - I want none of them.

Oh, my gosh.

Yeah!

- Good job. - Molly, what is in that?

- I'm gonna go get a drink! - Okay!

Sorry.

There you go.

Cheers.

Hello!

Taylor's boy. Out on a school night. Tut, tut.

Listen, if it makes you feel any better, that guy seemed like a bit of a dick.

Excuse me?

I just mean you shouldn't worry if someone doesn't,

you know, see your qualities.

No, I said excuse me.

Molly! Molly.

You're not gonna believe who I've just seen.

This is Saeed. We work together.

And this is Noah, who I was telling you about.

Yeah, apparently you work for a guy who doesn't appreciate you either.

Well, is it that obvious?

No, no, I just...

I feel like I've met you before, if that's not weird.

No. No, it's nice.

I'm gonna go.

- Really? - Yes.

You're welcome, bitch.

- Bye-bye. - See you.

Bye!

So you're a lawyer?

Yes.

That's pretty cool.

I mean, it's not really, but thank you.

Can I have some cigarette?

Sure.

All right, lads?

- Go in there. - Sorry guys!

Wait.

Okay.

Wait, you're not into gardening, are you?

What is that, like some kind of fucked up euphemism?

No, no, like actual gardening.

No, I don't have an opinion on that.

Good. Me neither.

Okay, let's... let's do some of this.

Whoa! No, no, no, no, no, no. I'll be awake all night.

Oh, don't worry about that. You'll be awake anyway.

You gotta be joking.

We're not fucking settling, not at a shitty low number.

We are sinking financially.

And you're worried Carla's going to sack us.

- She won't. - Then why say it?

Because I want to fight, Nicky. That's what I want.

I want to win, not throw the towel in.

- It doesn't have to come across like that. - Really? Because it feels like that to me.

- You're a lawyer. - So?

So it doesn't matter what you feel.

We strike a deal, proactive, something that works for Carla.

Okay, it's not half a billion.

It... it would never have been half a billion.

But it just... it beats whatever's in the prenup.

She wins, he wins, and we get ourselves out of this mess.

This is our first big case.

It's our only case, if we don't.

You know what, no, no, that is not why we set up.

That is not what Carla deserves.

Carla doesn't get a fucking vote!

No, no she doesn't, and that's why she's relying on us!

I'm serious, Nick.

Be stronger.

Take control of this.

Get past whatever school reunion bullshit

you and St. John have going on and win this.

If it's a number, it needs to be decent.

No? Nothing more to say?

- Morning. - Morning.

Right.

We are quorate, save for our...

Save for our clients.

Maybe they've given up on us altogether and have decided to arbitrate themselves.

No? Okay. No.

Thanks.

Just a moment.

One question.

Why the premiere?

My big night.

Why so cruel?

It was their idea.

Not mine.

They just forced you to go along with it, did they?

Good morning.

As a result of extensive work undertaken yesterday and last night,

looking into the agreed asset list, lifestyle expenses,

the needs and entitlements of Ms. Duval as a mother,

we reject the 45-million-pounds opening offer and today p...

And today propose a settlement figure of 315 million pounds sterling,

which takes into account Ms. Duval's expected shares in

and contributions to the creation of Zephyr Communications

and all associated assets and companies.

Do you want to be the one to reject that or shall I?

What did we say about spoilers?

No.

Without any discussion with Mr. Henderson?

No discussion required.

There's no need to discuss with my client the concept

of him giving your client 315 million pounds sterling

when he doesn't have 315 million pounds sterling to give.

Our forensic accountants would say otherwise.

Then now might be the time to get rid of them.

But you do acknowledge the paucity of yesterday's offer, Mr. Smallwood?

There is a significant gap here, you'll agree.

More so, looking through these than during mediation.

We'll adjust a little, but I can't have us all distracted

by the number Singer's just put out there.

No? Why?

Zephyr alone's recently been valued at a billion pounds.

- And that figure's only gonna go... - Valued by whom?

- Sorry? - Just because you put it on a spreadsheet

and print it out doesn't make it true.

You appear to be confusing

our client's potential earnings with his actual wealth.

That's right, of course.

Unless you're suggesting your client has some right

to the future hypothetical endeavors of Zephyr,

I suggest you adjust your thinking.

Perhaps, Singer,

I can have a slice of your bonus next year,

or maybe you can share

in Ms. Ubosi's winnings in the Christmas tombola.

Although these things have potential, they do not as yet,

and in all likelihood never will, exist.

Well, you've just had a sip of water.

The point here is to acknowledge the fact that Zephyr, as a...

This is why Fiona got in that specialist I was telling you about.

Maybe we could all sing a song.

- St. John. - Serena.

Yeah, I think we're a little off topic.

Agreed.

I don't know about you, Mr. Smallwood, but we're here to make realistic proposals

at the end of a marriage which saw your client move

with the support of our client from obscurity to, well...

If Mr. Henderson has only amassed

the 45 million that you claim, then perhaps we should

be ringing his billionaire, "big boy friends"

and seeing, I don't know, where he went wrong.

Yes or no, is Mr. Henderson's share percentage

of Zephyr established and confirmed by both parties?

- Yes. - No.

The exact structure of Zephyr has turned out

to be a lot more complicated than first thought.

Hard to put into words.

If we are to find a way through this, can I urge all parties to turn up

with agreed figures, or even disputed figures?

I put that to you most pointedly, Mr. Henderson,

It's your company after all.

You should know who owns it.

Of course.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

We were in Normandy. We were walking on that beach

and we talked about Zephyr together.

- Shall we not do this here? - It's the truth, Morgan.

I don't care who hears it.

Delays on the Central line, apparently.

Thank you.

I wish I could tell you it wasn't personal,

but that's precisely what it is.

He hasn't stammered in years.

But it's in there. And St. John knows it is.

And it's at its worst when he points it out.

It's that old dynamic.

St. John's the boss that Nick can never impress.

He's just making the most of that.

"Find the weak spot..."

- "...and never let go." - That's what you taught me.

You were right to step in.

And when you did, it was...

it was very good.

Oh, and I keep meaning to say,

congratulations on the bump.

- No... - Nick, the shoe shop called me back.

They said blisters are quite common. Best thing is to push through it.

What, at 600 quid a bloody pair?

Someone had a good night.

Saeed!

What the fuck time do you call this?

No, I have not slept.

And yes, I am still a little bit drunk.

But you need to know this has all been entirely for the cause.

Cause?

Henderson's pulling a massive stunt with Zephyr shares.

How could you possibly know that?

Michael Ancker.

He has an executive assistant, who has an executive assistant,

who knows way too much.

Pub chat is useless to me, Saeed.

Oh, no, no, no. That's why I went home with the pub chat.

He told me everything. He doesn't care. He thinks Ancker's rhyming slang as it is.

Ancker wants to acquire Zephyr.

He's been after it for months.

Henderson would never sell to that maniac, certainly not now.

Well, then the message came

through to Ancker's office telling them to hold fire.

Not because they don't want to sell,

but because they want to wait to have that conversation

until after they've "cleaned house."

Message from who?

Well, Henderson might not want to sell,

but there's clearly people at Zephyr who do.

The guy said that Henderson is transferring his shares

to his colleagues to deplete his net worth,

then they will transfer them back post-settlement.

- Right? - Yes!

You should get wrecked more often.

Nick.

I'm not just a graduate.

I'm actually way better at this stuff than I think you give me credit for and...

Yeah, just think you should hear that.

Budgie. Yeah.

Budgie, where are you?

So I'm making home visits now, like the family GP.

Apologies. Let me get you a drink.

I...

I wrote her something.

Carla.

It's not gonna mess with anything, it's just...

I wanted you to know that I intend giving it to her.

Can you read my handwriting?

Unfortunately, yes.

I've decided we should play this whole thing a bit straighter.

A bit...?

Straighter, fairer.

I'm a very wealthy man.

I'm no angel, and I don't want this upsetting her

any more than it has.

Serving her on the red carpet was a particularly low blow.

The fuck are you doing?

St. John, I...

I'm not asking your opinion.

I'm ordering you, 300 million.

If that's what this takes, then let's do it.

Save everyone the pain.

She set you up.

The girl at the awards show?

She was a honey trap.

Hang on, w...

Carla paid her to sleep with you.

Flora Monroe is the low blow.

There's an innuendo there if we want it.

What?

No, no, no, no. No, she was...

We won't be playing anything straighter or fairer, Morgan. Why?

Because that's not what Carla is doing.

Five minutes, Nick, then I'm back to court.

If you want to freeze any asset movement, you need a Mareva injunction.

- But would they know we're doing it? - No, we can do it ex-parte.

These things are often urgent. Is this urgent?

How urgent?

I see.

Nick, I must warn you,

if we spring this now, Cathcarts going to get awfully grumpy.

They'll try and hit you in other ways.

Take it to court, you mean?

Take it to court.

String it out.

Bleed you dry.

And they can do that, Nick. They've got very deep pockets.

The financial implications

- for you could be... - Oh, ruinous, I know, I know.

I think they probably think you don't have the stomach for the fight.

Our firm or me, personally?

Honestly, both.

What does Serena say?

- I haven't asked her yet. - Then it's on you, Nick, I'm afraid.

If you want me to make the application today,

I'm afraid I need to know now.

Nick?

- This way. - Thank you.

We know Henderson's offloading his Zephyr shares to employees,

hiding assets he's intending to reclaim post-settlement.

To stop that happening, I am applying for a Mareva injunction.

And I think you know we'll get it.

And you said all that in one go.

Well, let me say this.

You start lobbing bits of paper about,

this late in the day, and we'll end up in one place.

I know that.

Litigation.

I understand that.

And the last thing I want to do is unsettle you,

but that is a very long and very public

and very embarrassing way for you to lose.

We both know Henderson won't look good in court.

Do we?

- After all the things he's done. - Done?

Or done at your client's instigation?

What's that meant to mean?

It means stop pretending to be brave and make your offer

so we can both get on with our evening.

The offer is 300 million.

Counter is sixty.

Two-eighty, and we have a...

deal.

Let me cut to best and final.

The highest he'll go is one-ten.

Whoops, there, I've said it.

Maybe that's the Glenmorangie talking, but shake on that and it's over.

A score draw, away from home,

saves your wife from bailing you out.

Again.

I'm lucky my wife is so formidable.

If you'd tried harder, you could have kept her at Cathcarts.

Tricky when Beatrice didn't really rate her,

vetoed her for partner, if I remember correctly.

And she's usually right about that sort of thing.

You see, you think you've got us all pegged, don't you?

You should know that I am not the graduate

that first arrived at Borthwicks.

And I am better at this stuff than you think I am.

But you still don't have the balls to take this

to court, Singer, and that, I am afraid,

will never change.

What... what time is it?

It's late.

What's wrong?

Nothing. Everything's fine.

I just had Budgie get us a Mareva injunction,

stop Morgan Henderson diverting assets away

- from Carla. - What?

And then I went to St. John, and he said that if we did that,

we could end up in court.

So we renegotiated, and he improved his offer.

To what?

A hundred and ten million.

And you said?

I told him where to shove it.

I said, one-ten is nowhere near.

That we are stronger than he realized and we are going to fight him.

We're gonna win.

Oh, it's fucking crazy.

And Bernard is going to kill me, but...

that's the call.

We're going to court.

We're going to court.

And that's it? That's how you left it?

No.

I said, "If you make one more joke about my stammer,

I'm going to put you through the next fucking window."

Did you?

No.

But on the way home, I thought, "that is what I should have said."

Hi.

Here you are. Got a spare.

What's going on?

We're going to court, mate.

Do you know what that means?

It means Saeed is gonna be fucking insufferable.

And Bernard's gonna lose what's left of his shit.

Nora and Michael reckon they're clean outta cash.

Anyway...

- Thank you. - Of course.

Johnny.

Thought you could use one of these, mate.

Thanks.

You...

not keen on the court plan, then?

It's not my circus, not my monkeys.

Carla knows who you are, yes?

Yes.

Yeah, I'm sending a litigation form to that printer there.

She needs to sign that today.

There's envelopes on the side.

Printing it now. Take it to her,

get her signature, bring it back when it's done.

Did you hear what I said?

Back when it's done.

- Good man. - All right, mate.

Good morning, Taylor and Byrne.

Serena said he's hiding assets.

It's like I have no idea who I've been married to.

I slept next to this person for ten years.

I have no idea who he is.

Listen, this isn't normal life, remember?

This is a crazy fucking fight.

So forget him and worry about you.

Going to court means no privacy,

everyone knows everything, you're in the papers every day,

there's stuff online, there's...

shit about my son.

Just feels like there's no turning back.

No, Carla, look.

They want to get you what's right, what's fair.

That's the plan, no settling.

Yes, it's a fucking nightmare, but you go in there with Budgie,

you get what you deserve,

and then you and Gabriel are set for the rest of your lives.

Why are you the one talking like this?

Someone so junior.

- It's not what... - No, it's... it's what I want.

- Sorry. - It's fine.

You don't have to.

I want to.