Original subtitles

Robert Frost says fences make good neighbors.

But in this case, we have to ask,

do neighbors make good fences?

My Uncle Irving happened to have a fence and sign business.

I shudder to think what he would have thought of this chain-link monstrosity.

Who's playing?

Hey! Nobody.

That's the focus group. It's your guy, Wackner.

It must not be going well if you're calling him my guy.

Why aren't you there in person?

It is in Vegas, where the real Americans live.

What do all those x's mean?

Those x's are all the people that would change the channel.

- That's a lot of x's. - Yeah. That's a lot of x's.

But it's just the first cut. The Q and A begins.

So, pretty fun stuff. So, on a scale from one to five,

how would you rate your level of excitement for Wackner Rules?

Use your dials.

Am I to guess that low numbers are bad?

Yeah. Let's see here.

"Ask them what would make them rate the show higher."

So, what exactly didn't you like about the show?

Very impressive.

You know, that's just me, running the universe from my laptop.

The cases are stupid. A fight over a barking dog,

shoes that don't fit.

Looks like a lot of you are agreeing. What would you rather see?

Something that matters. Something like burglary or robbery or something.

Yes, the wisdom of the crowd.

Give them blood and violence every time.

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

Was I not paying you enough attention?

- You weren't, as a matter of fact. - Well, I'm going to now.

Here's the deal, they loved some things and not others.

Why do I care? How many people in a focus group?

Twelve. Six men, six women.

I'm supposed to change what I do based on twelve people?

Your first case is up, Your Honor.

So what does this focus group want me to do?

Just ignore it. You just do you and ignore everything they say.

And what do they say?

That they find the court engaging, and the costumes,

and you. They think you're smart, funny.

I sense a "but" coming.

They think that the cases are silly.

What do they want us to do? A murder case?

No, no, no, that's never gonna happen, right?

I mean,

there are better cases, yeah?

Such as?

I don't know. Like a robbery.

Okay, I'll leave you two to find some bank robbers.

I gotta get back to work.

Look, at some point we have to start taking this thing seriously, okay?

His court needs this show.

Look at Trump. He wasn't shit until "The Apprentice".

- What do you want him to do? - Better cases. More drama, okay?

Yeah, okay.

Shit!

I want everybody to breathe. Breathe in! Everybody together!

Come on, let out some stress. Counselor, you're not breathing.

Let's go. 5 seconds inhale. One, two, three, four, five.

Thanks for agreeing to see me, mr. Cord.

Do you mind if we go outside?

As you can see, STR Laurie forced us to lay off

twenty percent of our associates.

I intend to hire them back for my new firm.

Aren't they the B-team?

No. They are all capable lawyers.

The real key here, sir,

is that a new minority-owned law firm would be open

to no-bid governmental contracts for the next eight years.

Reddick and Lockhart, no longer eligible.

Julius, I'm a rich man,

and I'm standing in an alley outside a Copy Coop

in the middle of nowhere. Why am I doing that?

- Because you think it's the future. - Right.

And it has the potential to win.

My career has been about siding with successful disrupters,

financing the insane geniuses.

This disrupts nothing.

I'm a Black conservative.

This will be a Black law firm that shares your values.

A Black law firm with very little chance of success.

I'm sorry, Julius.

Look at your client list. I don't see this as a winner.

What about Diane Lockhart?

You think she has a winning client list?

Is Diane Lockhart leaving with you?

She has expressed interest.

Okay. You come on back to me with Diane, and we'll talk.

Diane, please. It's Julius.

Wait, I'm leaving.

Sorry, sir. I already wrote you up.

- There's no meter here. - You're in a purple zone.

There's no such thing as a purple zone.

Court staff parking.

- What court are you talking about? - Judge Wackner's.

Okay, got it. It's a joke.

No, sir. But don't worry. It's just a forty-dollar ticket.

Lady, you can't just walk around making up your own tickets.

This is a public thoroughfare.

You shouldn't have done that, sir.

Ma'am, you can't just make up your own laws

and paint the curb any color that you want.

The city of Chicago controls public parking.

Unfortunately, sir, I just witnessed you

disposing and vandalizing a parking ticket,

which will results in a three hundred and fifty dollar fine

on top of the forty dollar ticket.

You're impersonating a parking enforcement official, which is illegal.

- Here you go, sir. - Thank you.

Sir, I just witnessed you vandalizing a vandalization ticket.

And that will result in even a third fine.

Judgement for the defense. Please face each other,

look at each other and say, "I love and respect you".

I love you, and I respect you.

Beautiful. Everybody in the courtroom give me a hee haw.

Maybe this reality show is a mistake.

Find out what I got to do to get out of it.

No. But I'll find out how they're portraying you.

- Because you want this to happen. - Why?

Because you have fewer cases this week than the week before.

And fewer than the week before that.

This court goes away unless more people know you're here.

So what're you gonna do?

I'm gonna exercise this part of your contract.

Meaningful consultation on cuts.

I got that?

You got that. Time to exercise it.

Go kick some ass.

Do you have a minute?

David Cord is getting behind us.

- Behind? - Our new firm.

Julius, there is no new firm. I haven't said I'm interested yet.

- You're on the outs here, Diane. - David Lee is insisting that I stay.

Look at that. You know what they're doing right now?

No.

They're threatening to resign unless you are replaced as name partner.

At a certain point it won't matter what David Lee says.

Your days are numbered here, Diane.

Okay, let me think about it.

- You need to act now. - No. I need to think about it.

Mister Cord, can you hear me?

Yeah. It's good news.

Diane and I would like to meet. Can you hear me?

I'll call you back.

Hello! Someone stole my car!

Hi, Mister Cain. You say someone stole your car?

Yes, my space is gone.

l mean, my car is gone!

Are you sure you didn't park it in the wrong space? It happens a lot.

- But not to me! - Did you try clicking the key?

Yeah, I tried.

You have to listen for the chirp.

I listened for the chirp. See?

You probably mis-parked it.

No, no! Wait! That's my car!

Hello! Can you stop him?

That's my car! Hey! Come back!

That guy just towed my car.

That was your car?

Yes, that was my car!

- You need to pay your tickets. - What?

Hi! My car was towed.

And the receipt said it was towed here.

Can I see your ticket?

I don't have the ticket, ma'am.

There was no ticket, but here's the towing receipt.

I actually need the ticket so I can see you paid it.

There was no way to pay it, ma'am. It wasn't an official ticket.

I can't release the vehicle, sir.

You'll have to get Parking Enforcement to reissue the ticket.

There was no Parking Enforcement.

You see this? The seal?

It says Wackner's City of Chicago.

That's not a real seal.

- Okay, let me check for you. - Thank you.

- You got one of those, too? - Yeah, you did, too?

Parking in a purple zone.

Oh my God! This is insane!

There is no such thing.

How do they get away with towing us?

They don't! They can't. They just did it!

I'm sorry, sir. You'll have to get a reissue of the ticket.

- What? This is nuts. - What're you gonna do?

I'm gonna go back there. I'm gonna fight this.

- They can't get away with this. - I'll go, too.

Good. We'll put up a united front.

Damn right. This is a scam!

Where are the aces?

- Magic! - Where are the aces?

- Here, here, here and here. - No.

Oh my God. How did you do that?

So what it is you need, David?

You're happy with what we're doing for you, right?

- What your firm is doing? - Yes.

- I am. - Good.

Then bring all your business to us. West Coast, East Coast, Europe.

You'll be surprised how much synergy between your legal strategies

can streamline your financial issues.

No.

Why not? Aren't you happy with us?

Sure. Things are going well.

Then let us memorialize a fuller representation of your business.

David, you're losing one of your name partners.

Excuse me?

You're losing Diane Lockhart.

I won't go to a firm that's breaking apart.

We're not.

I don't know where you heard that, but it's not true.

- Where did you hear that? - Where's the Queen?

Liz. We need to talk.

- I'm in a meeting. - That's right. With me. Now.

- Diane, upstairs. - In ten minutes.

No.

In three weeks, the board of STR Laurie is coming from London and Dubai

to meet the partners and staff.

They want to observe and be impressed by a well-oiled machine.

That's what I promised them.

- But that's not what I'm seeing. - We're making it work, David.

No, you're not.

Are you leaving the firm?

- Excuse me? - I was told you're leaving the firm.

- By whom? - David Cord.

What the hell?

What's going on, Diane?

I was asked to join another firm.

What firm?

I can't say.

But you're considering it.

I was told that the equity partners are threatening to resign

unless I resign,

so, yes, I'm considering any offer that I'm given.

No one is threatening to resign without my permission.

And if you were to poach even one of our clients,

you wouldn't survive the lawsuit.

David, don't threaten me. I'm not poaching any clients.

Although, they'd certainly be free to make whatever decision they want.

We're supposed to believe that you wouldn't poach clients

after the stunt you pulled with the teamsters?

Diane, what are your issues?

I'm a name partner being squeezed out of the decision-making process.

- And why is that, Diane? - Because of my race.

Because no one respects your decision to stay in your position.

It is not yours by right.

I fought as hard as anyone here to keep this firm solvent.

And I didn't inherit this firm, I was invited.

And for that you are paid an yearly bonus.

You don't own the respect of the associates. You have to earn it!

Okay, that's it. Stop.

- Both of you go to my desk. - What?

I said go to my desk. Both of you.

Are you gonna spank us?

Stand on both sides of my desk now.

- Is this some sort of trust exercise? - Yes.

Grab both ends on three.

Pick it up and carry it the fuck down into your office, Liz.

Because if you don't solve your differences in the next 24 hours,

I'm coming to live and work with you.

And you don't want me down there solving your problems for you.

Do you understand?

If you're going to leave, there's nothing to talk about.

Liz, I don't want to leave this firm,

and you don't want me to leave.

So, why don't we hire a partner to replace Boseman?

I'll think about it.

Okay, what do we got?

- Parking violations, Your Honor. - No, no.

Our cars were stolen by you and this court.

- We did nothing wrong! - They were in the staff parking?

Yes. And he tore up his ticket.

And then tore up the ticket for vandalizing the ticket.

I'm a lawyer. If you don't give us our cars back,

our next call will be to the police for your illegal seizure.

a class two felony.

What if I give you a chance to say I'm sorry,

and then I forgive your tickets?

We have nothing to apologize for. We've done nothing wrong!

- Yes! I'm sorry. - Me, too, Your Honor!

Apologies accepted. Rita, give them their stickers.

But you don't want to apologize, is that right, sir?

Because you stole my car? No.

I want to go to the police. And then I want an apology from you.

Okay. Good. Next case.

- You're making big a mistake. - No.

All you have to do is apologize, and you get your car back.

I don't think I'm the one making the mistake here.

- This is bullshit. - Maybe. Next case.

Your Honor. I have a few other smaller parking matters.

We want to add more purple spaces up the street.

Good. We need more reserved staff parking.

Thank you, Rita. Have a good day.

Okay. Come on up, sir.

Takes hard work to get funny, and you know that.

But you haven't done anything for the women you hurt.

You haven't made amends. You don't even seem remorseful.

When I was in the IDF, I learned a lot. A lot about life.

But also, a lot about people and how to talk to them.

Okay, what's his issue?

- It's not his issue. It's mine. - Okay, what's your issue?

- Your re-edit. It's all about me. - What are you talking about?

You re-edited the pilot to be all about me.

No, we didn't. Look!

Max, step outside for a moment.

She's the smartest person in that room.

She fights for what she believes, and she looks great on camera.

- That's my objective opinion. - You need help.

It needed passion, direction. Now it has it.

She makes Wackner ten times better than he has any right to be.

Bottom line,

you make Wackner the star, or you are fired. Okay?

Okay, we over-adjusted.

But now we're back on track.

This is stupid. What am I doing?

What are you looking for?

A good lawyer. Someone Black.

Partner material.

Someone who's friendly with me,

but not so friendly that Liz rejects him or her.

Prosecutor or defense?

It doesn't matter. Either one.

I was always defense, but Liz came from the US Attorney's office.

So prosecutor?

But someone who wants to work here.

And it needs to be a name.

Go for a woman. Romney's binders of women.

We were too hard on him, weren't we?

Yes, we were.

The latest partisan fight always takes precedence.

But not with you.

You were friends with Scalia forever.

Yes. I liked him.

So, is that who I want?

Someone I disagree with on most things, but whom I like?

That's something that only you would know.

But I need someone who Liz will think that I don't want,

so then she will want her.

You know who I'm thinking of?

I do. Because that's why I thought of you.

She was your law clerk, wasn't she?

For five years.

Allegra Durado.

How do you know her?

Emily's List. I saw her at events.

I knew her well enough to say hello.

What is she doing now?

Well, I don't know. She left me to write a book.

Some enormous tome on truth.

Is she still mentally acute? I heard she had a meltdown.

Really? I believe that's hearsay propagated by her ex-husband.

He has since been committed.

Why don't you call her?

- God, I miss you. - I'm not gone.

Hi, I was here earlier about my court being towed.

- Your court? - Sorry, my car.

Here's the receipt.

Yeah, give me a sec.

- Mister Cain? - Yeah.

I'm Officer Harp, and this is Ardor.

Based on observing the stolen parking fee receipt booklet in your hand,

we have probable cause under the Fourth Amendment

to determine that a crime was committed.

- We're taking you into custody now. - This is insane.

Please just put your hands behind your back.

It's a fake court. They took my car. None of it is real.

As real as Officer McFinley's death.

- What did you just say? - Put your hands behind your back.

She said Officer McFinley. Is that what this is about?

This is about you stealing 2 000 dollars' worth of court merchandise.

Just enough to make it a class three felony.

That's right.

- Diane Lockhart. - Hey, Allegra!

This is like stepping into your mind.

No, my mind is more...

Okay. This could be a short conversation.

I didn't know you were at a law firm.

No, I'm not. They just let me use their empty offices.

Or the first regime did.

I don't know if this current regime even knows I'm here.

- Why short? - Excuse me?

You said, short conversation. Hold on.

- Is this all for your book? - I think so.

I'm not sure. It's still finding itself.

Sometimes, it's a book about Civil War justice.

Other times, it's a book about the nature and history of truth.

Well, that's ambitious.

So this is going to be an odd start,

but Ruth Ginsburg has been appearing to me.

And she mentioned your name.

Really?

Yes, really.

Well, you're right. It's an odd way to start.

Messy.

Messy?

When I said: "No, my mind is more messy."

I hated leaving that unresolved. So why did Ruth mention me?

Well, I am a partner at Reddick Lockhart.

We're looking for a third partner,

someone with a legendary status like yourself.

- I haven't worked at a firm in years. - You started a firm.

Well, I haven't run a firm in years.

Well, then come and work with us.

It just feels a little too safe. Like we're pulling our punches.

It's the cases that he picks.

I mean, it's three people with parking tickets,

suing the potato chip company.

Remember that moment when Wackner yelled at me?

Yeah. I wanted to go punch him. "Don't make Marissa cry."

I didn't cry.

I can edit it so you are crying if you want.

Are you questioning my integrity?

In another century they would burn people who can do what you do.

You're funnier in person.

I'm a lot of things in person.

I know.

Let's see the footage. How much time do you have?

They need it streamed to Vegas in an hour.

Are you questioning my integrity?

- I'm asking if you pre-judged... - No!

You will answer my question before you ask me yours.

I've been told not to use it.

Really? I like it. It's drama.

You will answer my question before you ask me...

Mister Cain, good to have you back.

Okay, if I stole something, and I'm not admitting that I did,

why am I here in this court, this fake court?

If it was a real charge, I should be taken to Grand and Central.

Danny Trumpet for the defense.

We ask for immediate release on his own recognizance.

Danny, you're still wearing your devil horns.

Apologies, Your Honor. I was Devil's Advocate in the last case.

- What the hell is going on? - Let me argue for you, sir.

A lawyer is a fool for his own client.

That's not even how that goes!

This is why the prosecution requests denial of bail.

Julius Cain has a prior bribery charge,

so we believe that he is a flight risk.

Okay, I want to get taken to Grand and Central right now!

Your Honor, Mister Cain was pardoned for that bribery charge,

and it was stricken from his record.

Only due to a pay-off to the Trump administration.

What? No, no. I never paid anyone off!

Let me argue for you, please.

Your Honor, this is an outrage. An outrage.

Look at this man. He has done nothing wrong.

The stolen ticket book was found on his person.

Which is the whole point of a trial.

But let me tell you a story about this man.

A man who grew up poor and alone. Son of a janitor...

What are you talking about?

His only friends, the comic books he kept always by his side.

Phil, "This is Us" music.

And that's how he got into the law.

He would create stories with the characters from the comic books.

What would happen with the Human Torch if he was accused of assault?

And that brings us to today.

Julius Cain has too much respect for the law to commit these crimes.

How could the defender of the Human Torch

do what these officers say he done?

And how could he be imprisoned for a mere parking ticket?

No. Your Honor, if he had paid the parking ticket,

that would be one thing. But he kept destroying property.

He kept expressing his disdain for this court.

And then he stole this court's property.

- Then prove it at trial! - No, I'll do better.

Your Honor, ask him. Could you stop with that, please?

Your Honor, if Julius is released on his own recognizance,

will he return to this court for his trial date?

- That is an unfair question. - Why is that unfair?

That's the whole point of a trial hearing.

Julius has too much respect for the rule of law

to deign to even answer such a question.

It's a worthy question.

Mister Cain, if I release you, will you return for your trial?

Say yes.

Your Honor, sir, these officers brought me here today

in retaliation for the death of an officer who was murdered

after we sued the city.

This court is being used. And you are being used!

You're not planning on returning for trial, are you?

That's not what he said.

Are you, sir?

Are you fucking nuts?

This is a joke! This isn't a court.

This is a police attack on our firm! On me!

Bail denied. Arrestee will be remanded until trial.

Wait, wait!

Isn't the whole point of this court to have a speedy trial?

Yes, sir.

All right, then I want a speedy trial. I'm ready to go right now.

- But I'm not. - I don't need you.

- I'm ready to go. - Prosecution's ready.

Can you control yourself?

No, Goddamit!

You will answer my question before you ask me yours.

You've already decided how this case will end.

If we're here to give to Del the ending that he wants for his TV show

then yes, I am questioning your integrity.

The women who have trusted this court deserve representation.

Hello. Miss Durado?

Yes. Miss Reddick?

Yes. Is that a comic book?

It is?

Do you enjoy comic books?

No.

There's a maze on the back. I was doing the maze.

- Do you want to come back? - Yes.

Thanks for seeing me.

I know this is weird,

but I'm trying to drag my brain out of the book I'm writing

and get back to some practical law.

So I'm meeting with some top partners, and someone suggested you.

Well, I am honored.

What are you looking for?

A position, I guess. This is nice.

Great corner. Northwestern sun. Is that Willis Tower?

No. It's over there.

Have a seat.

So, I guess I'm looking to run a firm. What are your suggestions?

Did Diane Lockhart reach out to you?

She did.

She suggested you come in here and talk about a position,

so that I would offer you the partnership here,

and think it was my idea?

Yes.

Diane thinks that you will side with her

in partnership decisions instead of me?

That's right.

And what if I hire you, will you do that?

No.

Why?

I'm not a political person. When people convince me, I side with them.

That's why I clerked for Scalia and Ginsburg.

Will you tell Diane about this conversation?

Only if she asks.

Well, damn, look at you.

- Thank you. - How'd Max do?

Good, I think. The cut is out.

What's going on here? What are the cops doing?

- Bringing the drama. Lots of it, too. - What drama?

Parking ticket turned felony three theft.

You're kidding? That sounds cool.

Oh my God!

Julius, what are you doing?

Questioning my life and sanity.

- Are you the felony three? - Ma'am, we need you to step back.

Fuck you. I'm the court clerk. You step back.

Call the office. Tell them I have to cancel my afternoon appointments.

Maybe for the next three years if I'm jailed in your Candy Land prison.

What are you doing prosecuting Julius Cain?

What am I doing? My job.

But he's from our firm.

- So? - So it's bullshit. Let him go.

No. You're the one who accused me of bending justice

to give Del that happy ending he was looking for.

- This is different. - How?

Because he's from your law firm.

More the reason not to bend the rules for him.

Oh my God, when did you become some person you've become?

Diane, I need you to come down to Wackner's court right now.

Julius is being prosecuted.

For what?

- The cavalry has arrived. - What's going on?

I'm about to be sent to prison for parking in a purple zone.

What does that mean?

If I explained it to you, it wouldn't make any more sense.

You see the...

Yes. It's payback.

Shall we call the police, the real ones?

Those are the real ones.

- What about the SA's office? - They're not our friends.

I can't imagine that they're happy about make-believe court.

Well, if it fucks with us, then they might be.

Good news. We just did another Vegas test with the new edit.

- Can't wait. - Look. That is where you blew up.

- When did I blow up? - Don't get upset.

I didn't approve this, but our editor dropped in the explosion

where Marissa accused you of using the court to further my interests.

They want you to explode. They want to see you care about something.

They want to see cases that matter. Look, I'll be honest with you.

We haven't had ninety five percent on anything.

Not on any reality show. But that's what you have.

Hal, you're a hit. They love you.

I just want my court to keep going.

Okay, you keep doing this,

you keep doing cases just like this, and we'll keep your court going.

Julius Cain, you have been charged with misusing parking privileges

and with stealing court property.

That means nothing to you because you do not respect this court,

something I take personally.

Especially, coming from a former judge convicted of bribery.

- Mister Wackner! - No!

You and your colleagues think you get to decide

when and how justice is determined.

You think it is your right to make and break the rules as you see fit.

Mister Wackner, you're being unfair!

You do not own the law, Mister Cain.

The law does not belong to you or your law firm.

The law belongs to the people!

USA!

Thank you. How odd to be back in the saddle.

- I can't wait to get to know you. - And us you.

Your reputation precedes you.

I hope that's a good thing.

Look who's relieved.

It's taken the heat off her.

- Hello! - Hello, Mister Wackner!

That sounds cold. Am I going to be scolded?

No.

What's that?

- How did I earn that? - You didn't.

It's what's left of your retainer. We're returning it.

I hardly need pro bono representation at this point.

We are withdrawing from representing you.

We feel we have irreconcilable differences.

There are a lot of lawyers in Chicago.

Here is a list of two dozen who are excellent

and would be willing to represent you.

No, no, no.

Yes, yes, yes.

I trust you.

You've been paid. You've received privileged information.

We're bound by attorney-client privilege no matter what,

and we will pass your files on to any of these lawyers.

No, but thank you.

You prosecuted one of our lawyers over a parking ticket!

Your lawyer was released today with time served.

- Compassionate release. - It doesn't matter.

We are withdrawing our representation. You have no choice in the matter.

Yes, I do. I've been studying the law.

I get to choose my attorney. I choose you.

- Lawyers are allowed to withdraw. - No.

Anyway, you've been actively seeking David Cord's full representation.

What will he think when you guys try to drop me?

I like you guys. I don't want to lose you.

Or Marissa.

No hard feelings about today. It happens.

Thank you.

By the way, they picked up my pilot. Congratulations!

Fuck!