Original subtitles

Pathetic.

Stand up. Those seats are for clients.

I'm a client. I am. I'm a client.

My mistake. You look so young.

I thought you were one of our new associates.

The rest of you, let's go.

This is the executive floor. You will only come up here if invited.

That's the partners' conference room. And those?

Those are the partners.

This stairway over here leads to the offices of STR Laurie,

my offices.

They are off-limits to associates unless invited.

And you won't be invited.

That's right. They're letting you play lawyer, Marissa.

How nice.

- Fucking prick. - This is someone from HR.

- Jenny Klay. Hello. - She will take over from here.

Any questions, ask her.

Welcome to Reddick Lockhart and Associates.

Let's go downstairs, and get better acquainted.

- That's not an answer. - Adrian founded this firm.

- He is not easily replaced. - No one here is trying to replace him.

But some of us are more than ready to step up to a name partnership.

We're considering every option.

I'd like to understand the new leadership structure.

Diane and I are going to run the firm together. For now.

Just the two of you?

A Black firm being run by a White woman?

I'm not running it alone. I'm here to assist Liz.

Really? Because she needs assistance?

I'm going to pass this around,

and I want everybody to take some, as much or as little as you want.

Tomorrow, you will meet your direct supervisors

here at Reddick and Lockhart.

Also please be sure to bring two copies of ID with you

as they will be required to complete your onboarding paperwork.

It's an icebreaker. For every square you take,

you have to tell a secret about yourself.

Good. Now we'll go around. Introduce yourself.

And for every square of toilet paper,

you have to say one personal thing about yourself.

- There's going to be a discussion. - Is this the discussion?

Because I feel like it's just the two of you telling us what's what.

We hear you. And we are going to get back to you, I promise,

but right now our priority is hiring a senior associate.

- I'm not convinced we need one. - Lucca was one of our best.

And we need someone with real experience to take on her caseload.

Unless one of you would like to step up and take over Family Law.

That's what I thought.

- Do you know Omar Peters? - I don't.

He's a really good headhunter.

I think I'm gonna get him looking, if that's okay with you.

- Sounds good. - Look at you two working in lockstep.

What do you need, David?

Which one of you is taking Boseman's office?

We hadn't discussed it.

Well, discuss. The corner office can't just sit empty.

Looks like failure.

Friday. Tell us by Friday.

And there are new hires awaiting marching orders.

I have a client meeting. We'll discuss.

Marissa Gold. Originally from Chicago. Chicago' Kent.

- I'm first year law clinic. - And your secrets?

Secret. I used to be married to a mime. But it didn't work out.

Thank you, Marissa.

I usually just make shit up.

Carmen?

Carmen Moyo. Victorville, California.

And your secrets?

Secret. I hate games.

Hey! I need to interrupt.

Hello, everybody. You can keep your seats.

This is Liz Reddick, one of our two name partners.

We're all going to have a chance to get to know each other a little bit later,

and everybody will have a mentor.

Hey. Hi.

All right. But today we are fulfilling client maintenance.

We regularly check in with our most valuable clients.

And so I'm going to call their names off on this list.

And if any of you feel a particular interest, just let me know.

James Rothberg, Adell Development.

I guess we've all heard of him. All right, you. Okay?

You're going to go find partner Madeline Gilford,

and she will supervise you.

Next, Bobby Lafarge, CFL headquarters.

You, I want you to go find partner John Wilson.

And Oscar Rivi, Menard Correctional Center.

I guess we've all heard of him. Menard is maximum security.

You will be very well-protected.

Good. You're going to be working with partner Barry Poe.

Okay? Great. Thank you.

Why was this summons sent to you?

I don't know. Is it bad news?

No, not necessarily.

But l'll be fighting the same case in two different courts.

But this case has only one plaintiff.

So if we win, it sets a helpful precedent for the large case.

And if all of the plaintiffs can't even agree on a venue,

well, that's good for us.

And all I did was teach these people's kids during COVID. No good deed...

This is Phoebe. She's one of my associates.

- Hello, Miss Hedger. - She will go with you to court today.

Phoebe, she has an 11 AM with Judge Wackner.

- But shouldn't you go, Diane? - It's just a formality.

I need to stay here and work on your brief.

I assure you. You're in good hands, ma'am.

There's Marisa, remember? She investigated your case last year.

Marissa? We need a continuance on Tony Hedger's case.

Really? I get to argue a continuance?

No. You get to accompany Phoebe who'll argue a continuance,

and you get to hold the client's hand. Okay?

Okay.

Carmen, right? I don't want you to be intimidated.

He can sense fear. We have a half-hour,

but we don't need more than ten minutes.

There'll be a translator in the room. Rivi will let us know his complaints.

We listen. We never commit.

- Are you taking notes? - Yes.

There's basically nothing we can do for him. It's more like a venting session.

There's no need for you to talk at all. Sit, listen, leave.

- But your ID expired. - What?

I can't let you in. Your license expired three weeks ago.

I couldn't renew it during the pandemic. Can't you just...?

No.

- I can do this. - Not alone you can't.

Sit. Listen. Leave. I can do that.

I think we're lost.

Hey, Gage! Which court is Judge Wackner in?

- Judge which? - Wackner.

- Ninth Circuit? - Yeah.

- We have an 11 AM summons. - There's no Wackner here.

- What are you doing? - Asking directions.

Yeah, the Ninth Circuit. Courtroom 305, 11 AM.

What?

Look. It's the nine and three quarters circuit.

- Come on. - It's a Harry Potter joke.

Yeah, I get that. Funny.

Wild goose chase. Time to go home.

Do we think this is the plaintiff just messing with us?

I'm not sure, ma'am. But we'll call right away.

- Wait. - What?

What is this, a treasure hunt?

This is not right.

Wait. I'm calling Diane.

We have an 11 o'clock summons. We're five minutes late.

I'm not going down that alley to some hidden court.

I'll check it out and call you.

Now where?

I don't know. What happens in Harry Potter?

They run their cart at a barrier or something, and they pop through.

Okay, so a barrier. We look for a barrier.

I feel like we should leave bread crumbs or something.

- Nine and three quarters? - Yes.

Through there.

We agreed on two minutes. You had two minutes and that's it.

Stop. I just want one person speaking at a time.

Your Honor, you said I had two uninterrupted minutes to speak.

And he had two minutes. I timed him.

Stop it. How do we break a tie? Come on.

- One, two, three. - Good, rock over scissors.

Closing arguments are done. Give me about ten minutes.

I'll have a decision. Take a break.

Are you my eleven o'clock?

I don't know. We have a summons.

- Come on in. You're late. - Sorry, but is this a real court?

- Yeah, get ready. - Ready, Your Honor.

Your Honor, Defense Counsel asks that the court grant a continuance

until such time as we've been able...

You're Defense Counsel. Why do you refer to yourself in the third person?

I'm not actually licensed to practice law.

I'm not actually licensed to be a judge. So we're in the same boat.

Mister Schultz, please call your first witness.

- Ready, Your Honor. - Wait! Can I object?

You can. Overruled.

Your Honor, let me call the real lawyer. I'm not a real lawyer.

- What's your name? - Marissa.

Marissa, do you understand the issues in this case?

- You believe in your client? - Yeah.

- You have the summons? - Yeah. Here.

What else do you need? Let's go.

- What is this? - I have no idea.

What do you want to do?

Look, that's one of the parents suing me. If we walk out, we lose.

Why are you whispering? You don't think we can hear you?

What the fuck is this?

Where is my lawyer?

Is there another lawyer with you?

I am Carmen Moyo.

They're sending little girls to manage me, now?

Those motherfuckers!

Is there another lawyer to represent me?

Mister Rivi, I'm here to make sure the prison is providing everything

you're entitled to. How is the prison staff treating you?

The Wi-Fi is shit. The worst fucking Wi-Fi I've ever seen.

The Wi-Fi is bad.

And so it happens, that the white, Yankees, faggots here

they have better bandwidth than the entire world.

And I'm fucking starving,

because I eat their food and I don't stop shitting.

Do you understand?

I have complained to your firm a thousand times

and those motherfuckers don't do shit.

He doesn't like the food. It upsets his stomach.

Maybe our firm does nothing because your translator is shit.

She apologizes for her firm doing nothing.

How come you speak Spanish?

Night school.

- He asked if... - The translator is for your benefit.

I can't tell him to leave, but you can.

This is not for you to say, miss. The prison has ordered that I translate.

Yes, but I speak Spanish,

so your services are not needed.

Mr. Rivi,

if you want, you can ask the translator to leave.

Do you hear, motherfucker?

Go fuck yourself.

Go!

The prison will hear of this.

Who are you?

Carmen Moyo.

Why are you helping me, my love?

I'm your lawyer.

I've had a lot of lawyers.

But I'm still behind bars.

I'm just out of law school.

So you haven't learned to be a bad lawyer yet?

I'm here for client maintenance.

Very interesting!

What do you need?

How much time do you have?

Hey. You look great, Caleb.

California sunshine. How's the weather there?

Warm and balmy. Here's Liz now.

I didn't tell her you became available. So she'll be surprised.

- Yes, she will. - Look who the headhunter dragged in.

Hey, Caleb. How are you?

- Good, Liz. How are you? - Good. Where are you?

Santa Barbara. I've been out here for the pandemic. My family's here.

And are they good?

Yeah, healthy. Good. Thank you.

You look good.

Thank you. So do you.

- It's been a lifetime. - I was surprised to get a call...

- I'm sorry. Go ahead. - No, no, you.

No, you were saying something about you were surprised.

I was surprised to get the call about this position opening.

I think our headhunter is just looking for people that we are familiar with.

Okay. Well, I would love to be given a hearing.

And we'd love to give it to you.

How do you do with Family Law?

I better take this. You two talk.

Look, I understand if this is a bad idea.

When I got the call, I thought it was you reaching out.

I should have reached out. I just...

You know, things ended so...

- Weird? - Abruptly.

- You're in the room alone, right? - Yes.

Can we just act like we never slept with each other?

Can you?

I'm the employee. Of course, I can.

Well, do you really want the job?

I do. I liked the firm. I liked what the firm stood for.

Okay.

Well, we will...

Let us talk about it.

Good. And, Liz, if it doesn't work out,

I get it. No hard feelings.

Okay, start again. What?

There's a court behind the court that's adjudicating Hedger's case.

I don't understand. Is it a mediation court?

No. It's a court someone invented.

Why are we there?

Because the plaintiff is there with an attorney.

If it has no power, and it has no jurisdiction,

what does it have?

A judge in a robe.

I'm suing because she said she would educate our kids

during the pandemic. But it didn't turn out like we expected.

You contacted the defendant when the public schools closed down?

Yes. We heard she was a private school teacher who had started

this company, Poducation.

It was gonna be a small group of kids, all COVID-safe,

so that they wouldn't fall behind.

- So what was the problem? - She was teaching socialism.

- Please... - You'll get your turn.

Could you elaborate?

Suddenly, my daughter came home judging us. She calls me a Karen.

She said that we were useless rich people

who reinforce White supremacy.

She said we were like the family from Parasite,

who don't even see people suffering right under their noses.

So you're asking that your 60 000 dollars for the year be refunded?

- Exactly. - Sounds reasonable.

- Objection. - On what grounds?

The judge can decide for himself what is reasonable.

He doesn't need you to decide for him.

That's a good point. I don't need your color commentary. Sustained.

- Any other questions? - No.

But just so you know, I wasn't trying to influence...

Don't dig yourself deeper. Just sit down. Okay, you, go.

My chief counsel is in transit. If you could give us twenty minutes.

No. But I can rule right now if you're not ready to go.

No. We're ready.

So, ma'am, good morning.

- Hello. - You claim that you, what again?

That my client is teaching socialism?

Yes. And I didn't sign up for that.

I see. Your Honor, this is a sorry state of affairs.

- Mister Schlepp... - Schultz.

Right, he says he hopes you find justice.

I think that's what we all are looking for.

And, as George Clooney so eloquently put it after the tragic death

of Princess Diana,

who should we see about that? Miss Hedger?

- Is she the proper focus of our ire? - Kid, I hate speeches.

Unless I'm giving them. Even then, I'm just trying to stall.

So...

And if you have nothing to ask the witness, sit the hell down.

This is not the kind of court where you can just run out the clock.

Miss Fulton, when did you realize

that my client was teaching socialism?

When my daughter went on about Parasite.

- She got that from my client's school? - From her pod, yes.

That's why I want my sixty-thousand dollars back.

So your daughter loved that movie? Parasite?

- She did. - But you didn't?

It was all right. The ending was a bit violent.

- It upset me. - All that knifing on the lawn.

So you and your daughter must've had different reactions

when it won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

We did. She was dancing around, rubbing my nose in it.

The Academy Awards were held in February of 2020,

a month before schools shut down.

If your daughter thinks you're like the people in Parasite,

she couldn't have gotten that from Miss Hedger

because the teaching pod didn't yet exist!

Objection. Counselor is putting words in my client's mouth.

Do you have better words for your client?

Okay, Dean, put it on the board. One-zero.

Your Honor, I move for a brief recess.

- That was longer than I thought. - He had a lot to say.

- About what? - Wi-Fi.

A half hour about Wi-Fi?

And food. He doesn't like the food.

And what did you say?

I said I would bring his concerns to the prison

That's it?

I sat. I listened. I left.

What else?

I don't understand. What is this?

- I have no idea. - Then why are you arguing here?

Why are you arguing at all? You're not a lawyer.

We were going to lose.

Lose what? This is not a court.

We're in the back of a Copy Coop.

And what is William Schultz doing there?

- He's representing the plaintiff. - I'm losing my mind.

Look, this is not legal. We have got to get out of here.

No. I don't want to.

Tony, whatever happens here, it's irrelevant.

It doesn't matter if we win or lose.

Look.

Those are some of the other parents suing me.

They're seeing how this case goes.

Which is why we don't want to lose here.

So let's not. Look, I like this judge.

He's better than the judges in real court.

But that's the point. It's not real.

Diane, what is real?

I have spent the last eight months going from one deposition to another,

and nothing ever happens.

It just keeps getting delayed and pushed,

and I can't get on with my life.

This is reality to me.

I want you to win the case here.

William. What are you doing here?

I'm wondering whether to eat this. Or was that an existential question?

No. I meant, you're a real lawyer. What are you doing here?

I'm getting paid. Business is down except for everything in bankruptcy,

and court dockets are backlogged into next year.

If clients want to pay to resolve their differences in crazy-court,

what's the downside?

You're treating this like arbitration?

If we agree to be bound by Judge Wacko, this is arbitration.

I don't understand anything anymore.

Sure you do. That's why this is throwing you.

Welcome to 2021.

I was grateful for the teaching job during COVID.

I've got to put food on the table. But I also have my principles.

You didn't feel like you could live by your principles

while working for Poducation?

Tony doesn't tolerate anyone to the right of Noam Chomsky.

One Ayn Rand assignment and I was out.

He quit and left me in the lurch.

Other than firing you, how else did Tony show her political leanings?

One of the other teachers Janice, said that another teacher,

Stuart, heard Tony say "you've got to brainwash these rich rats"...

Objection. Hearsay.

- I don't care. Go on. - Sir!

Your Honor.

Your Honor, the hearsay rule prevents gossip from being used as evidence.

How can you weigh the truth of a statement

unless it's made under oath?

The same way I do in life. The same way you do.

Use your brains.

So, did you say "you gotta brainwash these rich brats"?

- No. - Yes, you did.

No, I didn't. And you didn't even hear it yourself.

Someone heard it from someone. You tried to get more pay,

and when I tried to hold you to your contract, you quit.

- Because of your political emphasis. -There was no political emphasis!

You said that you couldn't trust anybody who voted Republican.

- That wasn't what I said. - What did you say?

Your Honor, may I have a moment to confer...

No. I like the truth that is found in sudden utterances.

What did you say?

We were talking about the Conways

and I said, "I couldn't fall in love with anyone who voted for Trump".

That's all.

Go ahead, Dean. One for the Ps.

Your Honor, that has nothing to do with this case.

It is a private belief held by my client,

a belief that is shared by most of the country.

- And do you share it? - I am not the question.

The question is whether a school administrator's private belief...

Stop. It's one-to-one.

You haven't lost anything.

I think, for your own benefit,

you should let your co-counsel argue for you.

My co-counsel?

Marissa.

Your Honor, Marissa is not a lawyer.

Well, I'm not a judge. Time to close up shop for the day.

You got a validation stamp right here.

Have a nice, you know...

- Find out what this judge is about. - Okay.

In about ten minutes I'm gonna go and lock up.

So how long has this been going on?

- Two months. - You're kidding. It's insane.

- It's crazy, right? - And how'd you get involved?

So I was working at the courts when COVID hit. Then I was out of a job.

- And Wackner hired you? - Yeah, man. Same salary.

Same number of hours.

- Why is he doing it? - What, this court?

You ever seen Watts Towers?

No. What's that?

I got some relatives who live near there.

It's just these towers this guy built in Watts in his spare time.

Got it in his head to build something beautiful.

And it is.

Think that's what Wackner's doing.

Building something in his spare time because he thinks he can do it better.

People don't trust the system since it costs a lot to win,

and even more to lose.

What is that?

Grateful Dead.

He sings it all the time.

He knows what to choose.

Who the fuck are you?

Carmen Moyo.

I'm not your lawyer so this whole session is subject to surveillance.

That's why that chirping you hear.

Then get the fuck out of here.

I am Oscar Rivi's lawyer.

What does he need?

My client has been prosecuted for a murder he did not commit.

- Is that really what he said? - Let me speak.

Rivi knows you're looking at thirty years for murder-one.

And he knows you have information that could exonerate him.

And that testimony would make your time go much easier at Statesville.

He knows how time goes hard.

And it goes easier when you have a clean conscience.

Who are you?

I told you. I'm Oscar Rivi's attorney.

- And how old are you? - Twenty-eight.

- So you're telling me... - I'm not telling you anything.

I'm just making the obvious clear.

There are people in the Statesville Christian community

that can help you if you want to come clean with God.

You're just a little girl.

I am. But I know how God works.

Okay. Tell Rivi...

No, I'm not telling him anything. I'm leaving now.

Thank you for listening.

Hello?

Is this is the great Elizabeth Reddick?

Well, I don't know about great, but yes.

This is Charles Lester.

Mister Lester, yes. You're a lawyer representing...

I'm sorry. Who again?

How quickly they forget.

I represent Mister Rivi.

Not his lawyer. His business manager.

Yes. I believe we just had our bi-annual meeting with Mister Rivi.

You did. And that is the point of my call.

Mister Rivi only wants to meet from this moment on

with the lawyer Carmen Moyo.

I don't understand.

He doesn't like the partner who was sent, Barry something.

He doesn't want to see him anymore.

And he wants all his business holdings transferred through Miss Moyo.

But she's...

Mister Lester, Carmen Moyo is a first-year associate.

She's only been with us two days.

Is there some problem with my client's request?

No, no. It's just that she's very young.

Very young. She's just out of law school.

He wants her as his only lawyer. Is there any problem with that?

Mister Lester, let me speak to my team.

We like to offer our top clients more services than one lawyer can provide.

I've been working with my client for five years now.

He knows what he wants. He knows his mind.

So make it happen,

or you and I will be having a more unpleasant conversation.

Mister Lester, where are you? Can I call you back?

I am at the only payphone in Chicago. I'll call you back.

Hey.

Hey.

Expanding your tastes?

It's for work.

Kurt.

Do you think I should give up my name partnership at the firm?

What?

I'm getting pressure to give up my top opinion at the firm.

- Your opinion? - What?

- You said your top opinion. - No, my top position.

I'm White. The firm is supposed to be Black.

And with Adrian gone, the optics...

Optics. Are you the best lawyer there?

I'm... No.

Well, okay. I'm one of the best. But that's not what this is about.

It's a bad look having a Black law firm with a White leader.

- And I want to do what's right. - Diane, you and I disagree on so much.

You obviously asked my opinion because you know that I will argue

something you know you won't.

Which is?

Identity politics is destroying America.

You knew I'd argue that. It's making everything about race.

Because it has to be about race until it's about equality.

Well, equality doesn't come through more obsession with race.

It comes from elevating talent over mediocrity.

You and I both know that White mediocrity is the default position.

Every manager hires who he knows.

Well, then you're right. Step aside. You shouldn't be leading that firm.

Really?

I'm taking a shower.

You wanted to see me?

Carmen. Yes. Come in.

Go ahead. Take a seat.

- So how is life at Reddick Lockhart? - Did I do something wrong?

No, no, no. I just want to see how things are going.

I like it here.

There's nothing to compare it to except law school,

but it's great to be out of the legal clinics.

At a certain point, simulation feels like a waste of time.

I'd rather be in the thick of it.

And now you are.

I know you're working with Barry on the Rivi maintenance.

Yes. It's a wonderful opportunity.

Rivi's manager has requested that you take on a larger role.

Really?

Rivi wants you to be his only lawyer.

I don't know what to say. That's surprising.

Rivi has an unbelievable amount of charisma.

But in my experience, it's better to maintain a professional distance.

I'm very professional.

I don't doubt it. But you yourself said...

Is the firm dissatisfied with my work?

No.

It's my intention to treat all my clients like humans.

Even the ones who might be murderers or are definitely murderers.

And I think Mister Rivi might be responding to that

because it's something that he hasn't received previously.

Let me be very clear, Carmen.

We are talking about your own personal safety here.

Yes. And I thank you.

If you want me not to be involved with this case,

I will completely understand.

Well, I will admit I was surprised when I got the call.

It's just so great to see you, Julius.

How long has it been?

Well, for Diane, it was when I was being handcuffed

and taken away to prison.

It feels like forever. But that's probably just 2020.

Thank you for looking past my troubles.

I want you to know I don't take that for granted.

Last year was terrible.

Diane, you stood by my side and I can't ever thank you enough.

Of course, Julius. Come on, you're family.

And the one deserving recipient of a Trump pardon.

And I didn't even have to pay for it.

It's a good thing. I couldn't afford one.

Speaking of pay, we cannot pay you what you made before.

I need a job. And this place is home.

I'd be happy to be of counsel.

I know this is so awkward. Let's just reframe the issue.

It's not that I'm accepting a lower position.

It's that you're getting a deal.

God, I hate this process.

- So, Caleb? - Let me think about it.

- You want Julius? - I want time to think about it.

It all happened so quick. The second schools closed,

I knew parents would need help.

So I rented some space, and I put together a plan.

- Very entrepreneurial of you. - Thank you.

I hired teachers, which wasn't hard

'cause there were so many layoffs.

I walked the parents through the hours, the classes,

the fees, and the COVID protocols.

- Curriculum. - And what about the curriculum?

Did you agree to a teaching philosophy, anything like that?

It was at my discretion. That was the agreement.

And was that agreement in the contract?

Excuse me, Your Honor, can I finish my questions?

Was any agreement about the curriculum in the contract?

It was part of the handshake deal, Your Honor.

They paid me on Venmo, and I took care of the rest.

But during COVID, how could they have a handshake agreement,

if there was no shaking hands?

Mister Schultz knows full well handshake deal are acceptable words...

If there was no contract, my client should definitely get her money back.

A handshake deal is still a binding contract,

even in real... Even in usual courts.

- What one, Your Honor? - Plaintiff.

Your Honor, the plaintiff can't just pull out of an agreement

whenever she wants.

Who is it who said she should have watched each card played

and played it slow?

Excuse me?

Every time we make a deal we're wondering what to choose.

We watch each card. Wanting not to lose.

And so you play it slow. Don't let the deal go down.

What are you talking about?

'Cause it costs a lot to win, even more to lose.

You and me bound to spend some time, wondering what to choose.

I'm sorry, is this a song?

Grateful Dead.

Dean, I was wrong. Erase.

Your Honor, a song is not evidence.

Sure, it is. Cicero used to use Homer as much as the Roman code.

Art is evidence.

Okay, then, your client started counting her money

when she was sittin' at the table.

What is that? Kenny Rogers?

That's right.

No.

No, no, no. Dean. A demerit.

- Your Honor, this is so unfair. - Any other questions, Counselor?

Yes, we do, Your Honor. Thank you. Proceed, Marissa.

No.

These are from the courthouse vending machines. They've been inspected.

I don't give a shit.

Talk to your superior. See if he gives a shit.

- Now they're inspected. - Thank you.

- Gracias. - De nada.

Are you Carmen?

I am. Are you Mister Vanegas's lawyer?

And business manager. Charles Lester. And this is his.

All stand. The Honorable Wick Stilton presiding.

We have a motion today.

Hello!

Yes, Your Honor. I'm sorry.

I'm new to this. My first time in court.

Welcome, Counselor. Everybody remembers their first time.

Although yours does seem to be decidedly more interesting.

We've seen you in here before, Mister Rivi.

Your Honor, this is a habeas corpus motion.

In meeting last time with my client,

I realized that he might be innocent of the charges he was accused...

- That would be murder, Your Honor. - Really, innocent? How novel.

Three weeks ago, a Mister Vanegas was arrested and pled

to three manslaughter charges of competing gang members.

It occurred to me these killings had many of the same characteristics

as the murder my client was accused of.

A jury decided this, Your Honor.

Yes, but they did not have the facts we have now.

This is the lawyer representing Mister Vanegas.

And he has something for us.

- Charles Lester, Your Honor. - I recognize you too.

- Hi! - Hey!

My client had a guilty conscience

and he wanted to come clean before he served his time.

Dead God!

Can I speak without being interrupted?

Yes.

My client swears that he is responsible for the crime

that Mister Rivi is accused of.

In fact, he has given sworn testimony as to the whereabouts of the weapon.

The gun the police never found.

The one they accused my client of using.

This is all very convenient.

Your Honor, the only thing that's convenient

is that I'm new to the law and believed my client's innocence.

So I investigated. That is all.

Clearly this lawyer acted as a go-between

for two murderous criminals, allowing Vanegas to acquire

the facts he needed to help his boss.

Your Honor, we're not that sophisticated.

Here are prison records, showing that Miss Moyo visited Vanegas

in his cell 24 hours after her visit with Rivi.

And if you have any doubts of what was said, review the prison tapes.

I was not Mister Vanegas's lawyer

so my communication with him was not privileged.

You'll see I said nothing incriminating.

I was just there to support my client. That's all.

Thank you. I will review all these materials.

But I need Miss Moyo to approach the bench, please.

Well done!

I thought I should be here, too, for this.

You haven't been at this very long, have you, Miss?

No, Your Honor.

Everyone's entitled to legal representation,

and I'm sure you never intend to do anything illegal or unethical.

Of course not, Your Honor.

These are some rough customers you're dealing with.

Don't let them take advantage of your inexperience.

I'll help her where I can, Your Honor.

That is small comfort, Mister Lester.

Miss Moyo, there are a lot of bad actors taking advantage

of the system. Don't make yourself vulnerable to them.

- Well, I'm not sure... - Shut the hell up.

Thank you, Your Honor. I will keep that in mind.

Good.

While I recognize that you just had a victory in court,

the long term reputation of this firm matters a whole lot more to me

than short-term wins.

That makes sense.

I'm not going to ask you any questions

about what you may or may not have done.

You're a capable lawyer. Clearly.

That's why you were hired.

This is just a reminder that you are to conduct yourself

in a manner at all times that does not put this firm at risk.

This is the only reminder you're going to get.

Do you have any questions?

I'm just listening.

You really don't give a shit what people think about you, do you?

I'm here to do a good job for my clients.

I think I did that for Mister Rivi.

And since he wants me to be the only one to represent him,

I'll focus on that.

Okay. We're done.

Thank you.

By the way, I'm your mentor.

I'll need you here Friday to discuss.

Thank you, Miss Reddick.

I respected your father.

Your Honor, the defense calls Isabel Pressley.

What the hell is she doing here?

You didn't give us any notice of this witness.

I'm sorry, do we have to?

I thought truth was always found in sudden utterances.

You just got yourself half a bell for quoting me.

- Thank you, Your Honor. - Thank you.

Miss Pressley, you were the first parent to withdraw your child

from Poducation, correct?

Yes. But I didn't ask for my money back because Tony did nothing wrong.

- So why did you pull out? - Because the other parents. Hi, guys.

They were going to get us all killed with COVID. Especially her.

- This is ridiculous. - What do you mean?

She kept inviting the other kids over to her house for slumber parties,

no masks, totally against the rules.

- So that explains it! - How do you know?

She put pictures on Facebook.

You get that made up next door?

Yes, Your Honor, at Copy Coop. A good deal.

Don't suck up too much. It's a good product placement.

She doesn't give a shit about what anybody teaches.

The pod shut down because Nell was a super spreader.

You're just jealous because your stupid kid was never invited.

We believe this proves that the plaintiffs claim of socialist teaching

was an excuse to cover up her own irresponsibility

and deny hard-working educators the money that they'd earned.

One second.

Dean, defense.

- We haven't had closing arguments. - I'm ready to rule.

Everybody sit down. Relax.

So, this side broke the COVID rules. That's not good.

Then again, let's be honest, who hasn't?

Still, she paid, so she has a right to complain about the service she got.

On the other hand, this lady was doing her best to challenge her students

to think critically about the world they came from,

even if she used Parasite, a movie I thought had moments.

Wasn't as good as Hell or High Water.

And in the end, the parents chose to outsource the education

of their kids when most people had to teach them at home.

You could have done that. You didn't.

You can't ask for your money back after.

I'm siding with you. Just lighten up on the lefty stuff next time.

And you have to pay for her lawyer because this was bullshit.

Done.

See? I knew we'd do better here!

Yeah, I have to say, his ruling was reasonable.

Hold it. Brain dead. I almost forgot!

I have found that the thing we most crave, win or lose,

is respect and acknowledgment.

So I want everyone to shake hands.

You mean literally?

Two sides, two lines.

Go down the line, shake hands, look each other in the eye and say:

"I respect and I love you."

Because the law means nothing if people don't feel respect for it.

And each other. Come on. Let's go. Don't have all day.

Make it a line around the block. Come on.

I respect and I love you.

You could have done better, but let's go.

- I respect and I love you. - There you go. Smiling face.

I respect and I love you.

- Do you have a card? - No. Do I need one?

Write down your number. I need a lawyer here.

I respect you and I love you.

No!

It's too bad he's not a lawyer. We could hire him.

We could do worse.

So, speaking of...

- I say it's Julius. - Julius?

Convicted of bribery, pardoned by Trump, Julius?

Yes. I've thought about it.

And we know him. We trust him.

I like Julius.

Yeah. I like him, too.

And he's right. It is a good deal for us.

You slept with Caleb, didn't you?

I'm going to go to call Julius.

Great. And one more thing.

This is an African-American firm,

and it deserves a Black partner in the corner office. You take it.

- Diane... - I insist.

Part of me feels like I should thank you and another part of me doesn't.

Thank you.

And one more thing.

I thought that was the last thing.

I've thought about this.

I believe I contribute to this firm,

and I worry I'm gonna be pushed aside.

So I think we need another African American partner,

and we should discuss whom.

But I want a commitment from you that I will retain a name-partner position

no matter what.

Diane, as long as I have any power over the decision,

you will retain your name partner position.

Thank you.

And let's discuss a third partner, huh?

How was your first week?

Okay. You?

Good.

So, I guess it begins.