All language subtitles for Billions.S06E12.Billions.Cold.Storage.1080NTb

[Dave]
Previously on Billions...

Billionaires plot in secret to
take everything for themselves.

Unlike Chuck,
I want to invest in your future.

I failed to protect
my goddamn queen.

Dave, I just need another day
with the files.

I will messenger them back
first thing in the morning.

Those who come alone to pack up
their gear and soak in the loss.

He had to remind me
that he took from me.

Prince has different priorities.

So we're gonna trust this guy?

- -
- You good?
- -
- Absolutely.

You had to have told him that
I would be in a warring posture

toward the man who took
what I was away from me.

Motherhusker.

Michael fucking Prince
is running for president.

President of the United States
of America.

- -
- And one of us...
- -
- Both of us.

...could be running
Michael Prince Capital.

We need to save the country

by stopping Mike Prince.

So now you see
why it wasn't enough

to remove Chuck from office,

to try to neutralize him.

We need to take that son of
a bitch entirely off the board.

I have a series of questions,

for which I expect
truthful answers,

at the end of which one of you
will walk out a free man,

the other will remain
to be arrested and indicted.

So I'd like to know

what this drive of yours
contains, Mr. Prince.

Crypto, I suspect.

I don't know what's on
this particular drive.

And even if I did, so what?

Strong indication of tax fraud.
We'll get to the particulars.

And before you say it doesn't--

He already said it.

Guilty of giving
a false statement.

Slow down, Chuck.

You should know, Mr. Prince,

that we believe this drive
has crypto on it,

to finance
your Mike Money program

and catapult you into the lead
for the presidential.

Let's start by getting it open.

I-I can't open it.
I don't have the code.

I'll allow you to use
your phone or computer

to retrieve the code.

It's not that
I don't have it on me.

- -
- It's that I don't have it. -[scoffs]

I hope we're not disputing
that this belongs to you,

because it was retrieved
from one of your companies--

We will be examining
the legality

-of how it was retrieved.
- -
- Happy to.

Let's talk about the last
72 hours and how we got here.

Okay, where do you
want to start?

Oh, I'll start.

And volunteer how I had reason
to hip-check a former employee.

- -
- Current.
- -
- Both, really.

One to me, another to you.

Isn't that right, Kate?

Do not directly address
your counterpart's attorney

unless she addresses you first.

And, no, you tried
to hip-check me.

But, like Rollergirl,
I skated out the way,

and you went crashing
into the boards.

[sighs]

You a dead-end gumshoe now,
sitting stakeouts?

Because I saw you
when I walked in.

Your skills are lacking.

You're gonna want
to get in the car.

Yeah. Seems like it.

An oldie,
but it has a solid backbeat.

A case against
the Butters family

and their company
that produces opioids,

but you declined
to prosecute.

- -
- I remember.
- -
- Feds finally took them down,

two years after you played
"not it."

Can't prosecute them all,
Chuck, even if we want to.

Well, that's the thing.
You didn't want to. Not really.

'Cause I learned your father
is on three charitable boards,

including the museum,

with the head
of the Butters family.

Yeah, maybe I'm not
so dead-end

when it comes to gum-shoeing
after all.

And right now you're asking
yourself how it will look

when the public finds out
you sided

with drug pushers
and fat cats.

Which means you're asking
the right question.

And the answer
to that query is, yes,

you are on the wrong side
of history.

I'm always on the right side
of everything.

- -
- It's the only way I roll.
- -
- Sure.

But you're living out your
pathology, aren't you, Kate?

Letting others go first.

Or is it, uh...
Prince gets what he wants,

and when he ends up
in the White House,

you get a cabinet
appointment?

Is that the grand plan now?

Oh, you didn't know.

You know what?

He could win.

If I thought otherwise,
we wouldn't be here.

I wouldn't be forced
to do this to you.

- -
- I'd walk away.
- -
- Do what?

He's Greg Stillson, Kate.

And you don't need a coma
or supernatural powers

to know I'm right.

So you're the man to get him
to hold up a baby?

Can you think of anyone
more capable?

I will take this
under advisement.

Uh, no thinking,
just moving.

Helping me take down
Mike Prince.

Not doing that.

[sighs]

You know, if there was
one reason

for your leaving NYAG
that was valid, it was this.

You shouldn't be putting
anyone else's political plans

ahead of yours.

And that includes grandiose ones
like being elected president.

The shoes and the bags
are not that nice.

They're pretty nice.

If you don't help me,

I'll roast you.

And you'll never even make
the statehouse.

[inhales deeply]

I can keep this?

Nice try. I have copies.

[Prince] Well, Chuck,
while you were trying

to turn my people
against me--

Your people?
You took her from this office.

I was trying to do
some darned good.

See, here's the thing
about Mike Prince--

Oh, forget the rest, Dave.

Arrest him for felonious use
of the third person.

[Dave]
Would that I could,

but now that we're focused
on you,

why don't you tell me
what you were up to?

Me?

It's fine. Answer.

Well, Kate, as you know,
it was a beautiful time for me,

watching the leadership
of my company

take its next natural steps
in its growth.

Help yourselves.

Someone offers you caviar,
don't be bashful.

Don't hold back. Take it.

It's a life rule.

Usually, what I'd do if I wanted
to celebrate something,

mark a big occasion,

is I'd get someone
like Nobu Matsuhisa in here

to prepare some
one-in-a-million sushi.

Or Guy Fieri to fire up

some kind of insane
grilled cheese concoction.

But tonight, I don't want
any outsiders aboard.

Not even legends.

Because tonight is about us.

It's about celebrating us.

Who we are
and who we're becoming.

Who and what I'm becoming.

Tonight is about locking in
my succession plan.

Now while I thought we'd be
in for a battle of ideas,

a spirited debate,
fight to the death,

I was presented with
an undeniable proposal:

a council of two.

Taylor and Phillip
will be co-heads of the firm,

which will shortly convert
to a blind trust

as I step away to pursue...

Yeah.

Yeah, I'm gonna
entrust you with it.

...as I pursue my run for
president of the United States.

[applause]

Oh, sh-- Oh, damn.

[grunts]
Stains. Gotta fix that.

[humming nervously]

Club soda-- No, okay.
Excuse me.

[chuckles]

[breathing rapidly]

I'd tell you to breathe,

but you're doing
too much of that as it is.

Is this a "stay and watch you
hyperventilate" situation,

or a "leave you to it

because the worst that will
happen is you'll pass out"?

I did something that's gonna
ruin things for everybody.

Define "things" and "everybody"
in this context.

Context?

Okay, well, you, for one.

And Philip.

And your new job
you were just given.

Because this whole
political-presidential deal

is going to blow up
in Mike Prince's face.

And when it does, he's going
to come back to run the firm

if he doesn't close it,
and you'll lose your spot.

And then, also, everybody else,
like in the country,

because Prince
won't be president.

And you're sure of this how?
And you did what?

[sighs] Somehow I knew
I was going to tell you,

even though you're the last
person I want to know.

Okay.

I slept with our boss,

and people who boink the young
employee don't get elected.

And the people who were boinked
get treated way worse.

I'll be Monica.

No, wait, he was already
president, and...

Monica's sort of a hero now.

I'm gonna be
Sydney fucking Leathers.

Donna Rice.
Rielle.

The women who cost them
the office.

Oh, I don't want
to fucking be Rielle.

Okay.

You were converting
your business

because you wanted to run
for higher office.

The only thing more obvious
than that for a billionaire

is building a space program,
a real toy rocket.

You have one of those?

My whole life
is a rocket ride.

[scoffs]
Must be nice, as they say.

Ah, yes, the battle cry
of the bitter.

The mating call
of the meek and the miserable.

But you know what?
It is nice.

Oh, it's so nice.

Which is why, no, I don't need
an actual trip to Mars.

Space isn't my final frontier.

Too much to do right here
on the third rock from the sun

and in the sleepless city,
which is what I was focused on.

New York. The country. Not me.

Yeah, no, a hundred percenter
right there.

I mean, that's why
a guy named Mike

would call a thing
Mike Money,

'cause he wants the focus away
from himself.

Yeah, it's all well documented.

I was meeting with other
similarly minded people of means

just to get them to kick in
with me to support Mike Money.

The name was just branding.

I've said all this publicly.

And the support was rolling in.

Rolling like a Pete Weber
alley-shaker.

And it would have saved you
all this trouble,

and a likely trip to jail,
if instead of trying to trap me,

you would have remembered
Mr. Weber's words:

"Who do you think you are?

I am!"

You?

You're the fella
couldn't get

his own friends
to stand with him.

We're not footing
the bill ourselves.

Even the first installment
was too much and dangerous.

We need to approach
all these folks.

- -
- Ask for broad support.
- -
- Yes, yes.

So it doesn't sound like
noblesse oblige,

like a guy trying
to personally buy--

That won't get it done.
That's right.

Instead we go
with the hat out and--

Absolutely, a little pinch
of sawdust from the pocket,

and its Coles and Atkins time.
The old soft-shoe.

[Prince]
I had it going, too,

until you tried
to foul that all up.

[Chuck] I would like
to take credit for that.

But not one of them
was with you from the start.

Least, not according to them.

You know, I'm happy to
throw good money after bad

if it's a cause
I give a shit about.

You know, one that makes
a certain great man

grow in the public stature.

That man would be you, then?

Who the fuck else, Rhoades?
You?

No, I'm done kicking in
on someone else's joyride.

If I'm not banging
the cheerleader,

I'm not loaning my Silverado
out to the tailgate.

How were you able to resist
Prince's entreaties?

In our game,
everyone's smart.

Everyone's got an angle.
Everyone asks the favors.

Learning how to say "fuck no"

in a way they keep
doing favors for you,

that's the skill.

You all usually can't wait

to form up the circle jerk

and start passing
the Jergens.

What's different this time?

Got tired of all the chafing,
I guess.

So not one of them
joined in.

They must be concerned

that something about it
isn't legit,

or will reflect badly
on them.

What do you think?

Or maybe they decided
he's a dick,

or realized it and don't want
to cosign his mission?

- -
- Or--
- -
- Don't you think

you could be running
these scenarios on your own?

Or not running scenarios
and living your life.

You don't need me here.

Contrary to what
you seem to believe,

I do have better things
I could be doing.

Hmm. Other, sure.
Not better.

My wife texted me she just got
something very special

from the Goop store,

which she wanted to try out
in front of me.

- -
- So, yeah.
- -
- Charge me hourly if you must.

You're my sounding board, buddy.

No, no, I'd never
charge you.

I'd just want you
to actually hear the sounds

bouncing off the board
telling you to stop.

Au contraire, mon frère.

Hearing myself think aloud
has made it clear.

Guys like Prince,

if they're seen doing
big charity like this alone,

their investors think
they're all in on it

and not focused on them,
or they've gone socialist.

He needs cover.

But I'm gonna
strip that away.

[Prince] You can be skeptical
about motive.

You can be angry that this
isn't a public right,

having enough money to both
eat and buy textbooks

for your middle schooler without
having to work 18-hour days

and all the rest,
but you cannot deny

that the kids here
at this Boys and Girls Club

-will benefit the most.
- -
- That's right.

Thank God we can intercede now.
Change the cycle of poverty.

Fix systemic imbalances.
Really help.

You and your cronies will get
helped plenty by tax breaks.

No, no.
Not how Mike Money works.

This is unrestricted income--

Perhaps that's why your cronies
aren't in this with you.

And why, when you failed
to entice them,

you had to bankroll the entire
$3.5 billion yourself.

Chuck, you're letting
your personal animus--

[Chuck]
Animus?

[chuckles]
Oh.

Is that what they call
seeing the truth these days?

Because this is the truth,

a truth you no doubt want
to keep from your investors,

who will think you mad.

You are so determined
not to look like a man

who can't keep his promise
that you are willing to risk

30% of your net worth.

[laughs]
As a starter.

[reporter]
Is it true, Mike?

You're putting billions
of your own dollars into this?

So no other investors?
You're out on this limb alone?

[reporters clamoring]

[reporter]
Mr. Prince...

[overlapped shouting]

[all clamoring]

Mr. Prince, do you care
to comment on the story

about you financing
Mike Money on your own?

Why were you
dodging that?

Gosh, you know,
maybe it's the Midwest in me,

but the way I grew up,

you weren't supposed to take
credit for doing good deeds,

you're just supposed
to do them.

[all clamoring]

[chimes]

Oh, come on.

One nice part
about doing the right thing,

even if you're on your own
at first,

is that everyone's gonna get
to where you're at

sooner or later.

You'll already be there.

Un-fucking-believable.

You know what?
I need to take a minute.

Phone break, comfort break,
all of it,

as I'm sure you two do.

[sighs]

[laughs]

Well, I'll admit
this much.

You sucked me in like fucking
Johnny fucking Chan

to get you to cop
it was your money.

Well, you knew I'd sniff it out
and expose you.

You wanted the glory,

but didn't want to be
seen as asking for it.

[chuckles]
Brilliantly done, Mike.

You're the guy spinning
the backgammon cubes

and trying
to roll a double six.

And you're the only guy
in this room who broke the law.

You know she's recording us

in hopes of a self-incrimination
twofer.

And you also know
I did no such thing.

Though there is one Magic
Mike-level lawbreaker in here,

and he goes by the same name.

It was the women in that flick
were the lawbreakers.

Rhoades, we are here
entirely because of you.

I'm about as far aboveboard
as Greg Louganis in his prime.

Well, and like that great
platform man, you may indeed

rise above for a short moment,
but gravity will do its work,

and plummet you will.

No, I do not feel
taken advantage of.

I was down for it.
I am down.

No power dynamic was at play.

If anything,
I led and he followed.

But I didn't know
the ramifications

and how they would ramificate.

Ramify?

Linguistics don't matter here.
What matters is--

Shutting me up, probably, right?

Shit, I'm a motormouth.

I can't even shut myself up.

I will shut up now, though,
as you all, what, brainstorm?

- -
- Strategize?
- -
- Rian, I don't believe

it would be useful
to hear whatever

is said next
for you or me.

I-I need to know
who's gonna talk to Prince

-to tell him I outed--
- -
- Shh!

- -
- Shh!
- -
- Right. Okay, then.

So, yeah.

First step is sanitize.

Assume the press will find out
once he announces.

His opponents
will certainly be looking.

And feeding it to the press.
We need points of exposure.

- -
- Beyond the--
- -
- Security cameras at his house,

ergo security company,
ergo system has a feed,

ergo guy watches the feed.

Million points
of vulnerability

nobody thinks about
when they get distracted.

Staff was mostly
on clean-up after the party,

but they were there.

Coat check would've noticed her
coat was the only one hanging.

Party that big,
you figure a 10% abandonment,

-but possible.
- -
- Cell phone pings.

- -
- Car service. Food delivery.
- -
- We're dancing around the thing.

- -
- We are.
- -
- Money.

A payoff. I imagine
not your first with him.

The fact that you are forced
to imagine

says a lot about my level

of discretion in
this setting, does it not?

I am impressed.

And now I know the cash
is locked down on your side.

It's our side.
All of us.

And it has to be solid enough

that we're not in some
parking lot

feeding disinformation
to some guy

we hope gets it into the Post
or the Times.

- -
- Agreed.
- -
- Has she asked for a payoff?

Do we think
she even wants that?

Because she didn't seem
concerned about herself.

They never seem.
It is simply easier,

cleaner if she
takes the money.

Mm...

You disagree with the plan?

We're not saying
the actual, actual thing,

which means we're thinking
the thing.

And maybe it's my new life
with Chelz

and the promise of a more
wholesome future,

but we all know the cleanest way

is when the young girl
turns up dead.

- -
- What the fuck, Wags?
- -
- Fucking hell.

And that's where
I draw the line.

I'm not fucking going there.

Nobody is killing anyone.

It isn't even
under consideration.

- -
- Right?
- -
- No, not really.

Not at all.

Though I must say
I'm surprised, Wags,

'cause this is usually
the point

where you say
you "know a guy"

who can make all
the problems disappear.

But you're not
volunteering him now.

Well, I must say
I'm surprised, Scoot,

because you're a guy who listens
to Brahms and quaffs Scotch

with his family just downstairs,

and you're willing to do
just about fucking anything.

Guys, we need to figure out
if a payment is welcome

before anything happens.

In the meantime...

which hatches
do we have to batten?

Let's start with the digital.

Everyone in my firm was working
for the good of the enterprise.

For our investors.
It's what we do.

I'm sure what happened there
was essential

to the survival of MPC.

But I'd like to turn our focus
to what brought you here.

Oh, you mean this knucklehead
breaking into my warehouse?

[Chuck] Oh, no breaking.
No entering.

Technically, Chuck,
and for the record--

Yes, all right,
yes, entering.

But legally,
within the legal limits.

I was piqued that you played me
into having the city

celebrate you
like Jeter after the flip.

And embarrassed, I admit.

So, I don't know, maybe
to save face with myself,

I decided, as an afterthought,

to look into the specifics

of how you were financing
the plan.

You know what happens when these
stock floggers go for it,

whether it be on a big purchase
or big initiative.

Fire sales, disruption.

They start swinging erratically,
moving money, and before long,

the wheels start
coming off.

Mm-hmm. Is that what's
happening here?

Far from it, Chuck.

It's business as usual
at Michael Prince Capital.

I got up into the carcass,

but Prince's last
big transaction

was a 2.5 billion payment
to Axe.

He kept the investment arm.
It's up on the year.

He spun off the bank, but kept
the armored car company.

There are lots of other
business details, but--

[laughs]
Wait.

Hot question:

Why would Mike Prince
need an armored car company

without a bank?

Huh.

No, the hot question is:

Why would Chuck Rhoades,
a private citizen,

stalk my companies,
my vehicles, my life?

Answer: I should have gotten
a restraining order.

In fact, Dave, I'd like to apply
for a restraining order

against Chuck Rhoades.

That happens in court,
not here.

Lot of bluster,
but you didn't call it

a wild goose chase,
did you, Mike?

[Dave]
Chuck, the man has a point.

He was living his life,

and it seems you were trying
to live his life, too.

It does hit me kind of weird.

Mr. Prince,
how did you first find out

Chuck was all
up in your business?

I started getting calls

from employees I'd never
spoken to before.

Guy offloads anything with the
stench of Bobby Axelrod on it,

including the banks,

but keeps the Axe Bank
armored cars

that shuttle things
to the bank?

And the drivers
just standing by,

hanging out,
waiting for what, exactly?

Is he heavily
into bullion transport?

I don't know.

So he pays you all this money

and gives you
all this power,

and you can't find out
the mandate of a subsidiary?

Look, I am here at your demand,
but I am simply unable

to share any information
that I don't have.

I'm not seeing unable,
I'm seeing unwilling.

And that is different.

I want the manifests
from that company.

I want to know where those
armored fucking cars are going.

You can go now.

You're gonna want
to watch that tone with me.

I am not a recalcitrant child.

Oh, no, I don't think
I will watch it.

Because while I have the utmost
respect for the Kate Sacker

that walked out the door to find
her own way in the world,

what I am seeing here is someone
who is uninterested

in what is good and right
and fair.

And that is disappointing.

So, yeah, I will speak to you
like John Kelly did to a skel,

wristwatch off and everything,
until I get what I asked for.

It won't elicit you any more
answers than I've already given.

But knock yourself out, okay?

Oh, and if you think
you're gonna tune me up

like David Caruso did
felon of the week, know this:

I'll throw first and last.

There won't be any
in between.

[chuckles]
And then,

I will get up off the floor
and make it

so you are embarrassed
to walk down the streets

of the very city
you grew up in.

I have the goods on you.
Don't forget that.

Now, go do what I need.

[Ira] Place is warmer,
aesthetically at least.

Maybe just on the outside,
though.

It accurately reflects
the character of its owner.

If you say so.

I do.

I, uh-- I need a favor.

I need your help
getting Chuck off me.

He's running me
like a cheap C.I.

Oh, he is taking advantage of
the resources available to him.

That may be,

but Chuck shouldn't
extort and coerce,

well, anybody, but
especially former employees.

Former mentees.

Me. So... you can get him
to back off of this.

If he wants to find
an angle on Prince,

have him do it
the legitimate way.

Chuck has kept me apprised
of his plans,

including with regards to you.

And I have given him
counsel to relent.

- -
- And?
- -
- He will not relent.

You're getting jammed
by a master of the craft.

I wish it weren't so,
and I'd be happier

if he picked a different target,

but... we don't
control that, do we?

Hmm.

[sighs]

Armored car company manifest.

That's what he wanted.

See if that ends
my part of it.

Will try.

But pretty certain
it will not.

What are you reading there,
friend?

- -
- Louis L'Amour.
- -
- Ah. America's storyteller.

Tales of hard men
on the open plain.

It's the Sacketts?

Those are good.

I'm a High Lonesome man
myself.

It's good to see it
going down on paper,

not some device,
for a change.

Yeah. Why not, right?

I'm surprised a man of action
like yourself has the time.

Aren't you busy running
Mike Prince's cash to and fro,

hoping it doesn't turn
into a stagecoach robbery

like in, uh,
The Sixth Shotgun?

Who'd you say you were again?

I didn't. I'm an adjunct to the
Private Security Advisory Board.

- -
- Doing a survey.
- -
- Hmm. Adjunct.

I see.

Anyway, no, I'm not busy.

Lots of downtime.

Only about a dozen single
runs have been made

since Mr. Prince
took over the company.

Yeah. We're aware of that.

One truck to each
of 12 of Prince's companies

within driving distance,
huh?

Yep, his secure
archive facilities.

Well, what got delivered,
money bags?

Nuclear warheads?

Not so exciting.

A black plastic case.

Truck full of them?

Nope.

One in each truck.

Rattled around the whole way
down I-90.

Did you happen to take a look
inside? What was in there?

Nope.

Rule number one:
no lookie-loos.

Just handed it off
and then drove back.

Okay. As you should.

And well done.

You ought to try Zane Grey next.

So, of course, after the armored
car driver called Mr. Prince

and he put together
what was happening,

I let him know
the extent to which

I had been extorted
by Chuck in all this.

You told him.

She did.
Disgraceful conduct, Chuck.

Well, given what's at stake,

everything is fair
and on the table.

Mr. Prince,
based on these developments,

would you like new counsel
for this proceeding?

I'll stick with Miss Sacker.

Your call.

And you're going
to have to live with it.

Now, what's on this drive?

Data.

Billions in Bitcoin.
He was gonna say that.

- -
- It just caught in his throat. -[Prince] I wish.

That would make everything
I was doing much easier.

As it was, there were flare-ups
that were distracting my people.

Sit down.

[Rian]
I am, or I think I am.

Is this considered sitting?

No, it is not.
You're, uh, perched.

Official.

Sitting.

Uh, I am here to offer
some measure of comfort,

to witness this exchange--

not in the legal sense,
we're all signing NDAs--

but on your behalf.

Emotionally.

I can't stop them
from proposing what they will.

Proposing.

They're going to convey
a number, an amount,

that has been set aside
to cement an agreement

between you and all parties.

A payoff. Hush money.

Which I definitely
don't want.

Don't think of it
like that, then.

Think of it as a bonus for work
well done at Mase Carbon.

That's all this is.

But that's not all, is it?

It's a lump sum.

And I take it.

And because I do,

all of a sudden
a power dynamic

that never existed before
rears up.

Not between him and me,
but between all of you and me.

There's always been
a power dynamic at play here.

Unless you were there,
and I know you weren't,

you don't get
to decide that.

I don't want money.

I want you to trust me.

Well, that may be
impossible.

Right, 'cause I could
fuck things up for him.

But I don't want to,

and you kind of have to have
faith in me on that.

Money is gonna make it
way worse.

If money is off the table,

then we need to focus
on points of contact.

- -
- Ew. -[Scooter] No.

The ones reporters
can find.

The ones people Wags employs
can find,

because they see all,
hear all, and know all.

[Wags]
Not easy, but we got it done.

Everything about that night
and the morning after

is locked down.

Knocked out cell phone
triangulation,

scrubbed records.

NDA's been signed
by your morning-after driver.

Prince housekeepers, already
under gag orders, have been--

Well, then, while I'm not
taking a payoff,

you should probably expend
some effort

sanitizing the following
two days as well.

[sighs]

Is this, A, a fuckup
of major proportion

that will define
the rest of my life,

B, an unforced error that's
merely a blip on the radar,

or C, a life experience,
neither good nor bad,

that I learn from?

The answer is D.

It's whatever you decide
to make it right now.

Are you saying that
to just put me off

because you're pissed
at what I did?

I am not angry with you
for sleeping with Prince.

At your age, expressing yourself
and your desires is necessary.

It's growth.

Hurt, though?
Did I hurt you by--?

Did you lie to me
when you demurred at the party?

No.

I understood exactly
what you said and meant.

And I fucking admired you
for knowing yourself

well enough to say it.

Which means you knew enough
before hooking up with Prince

to calibrate what it might
feel like afterwards,

and you knew you could
handle it emotionally.

That was before I understood
the dealio at this level.

And so what do you want now?

I want...

I don't want to burn Prince
in any way.

I wish he'd have
thought this through, but--

The appetite he has,
it doesn't turn off

just because his brain
tells it to.

Yeah.

But I also don't want
to be burnt.

And when people find out,

I'm gonna feel really,
really bad.

Then don't let them.

How do I control that?

Did you take the money?

No. No.

Then you are still in control,

and you control every single
thing you do from here.

Affairs are revealed
through behavior.

That's what gives spouses,

or, in this case
reporters, the clues.

So I act like nothing happened,

and then it's like
nothing happened?

That has worked for many
a serial killer

through the centuries.

The problem is,
after a while,

the urge to let someone in
on what you've done,

of its significance,
leads to mistakes.

The killings
get closer together.

The methods get wilder.

Then suddenly,
the cops are at their door.

I don't want anyone at my door.

Then be careful
and aware.

And if, at any time,
you change your mind

or decide this isn't
what you wanted,

or what you want to keep secret,
I'm here.

And will be here.

And I will back you
in whatever path you take.

To the fucking end, Rian.

[slurps and gulps]

I can't believe you had to drink
this garbage all these years.

My platonic ideal of coffee
was the one I drank in college.

My study partner
was from the country.

Dirt-poor, and, uh,

she used to throw coffee beans
in boiling water,

and put a paper towel over a cup
and pour it right through.

Coffee kept us grinding
on our papers all night.

You were rich. You could've
bought her a machine.

Even then,
I knew the thing to do

was to learn to love the suck.

I had no illusions
about what it would mean

to give in to my desire for
a more comfortable, easier way.

That's why I have you
by my side.

Let's go. We're just about
to get to the part

where Chuck tells us
how he got the drive.

- -
- Stole it, you mean.
- -
- Come on in. Let's find out.

A hard-sided plastic case was
delivered to the secure archives

of each of Prince's companies,

the very same companies
where I was offered jobs.

And I need to put my hand
to one of these.

Let's take a peek.

Loving the sound of it

almost as much
as this pizza pie.

Any ideas as to how?

Well, sure.

I thought I'd go
to an old and trusted.

You know, the resourceful type
who may, in his travels,

have come across a dummy warrant
that might've been signed

by a friendly judge
without the particulars,

like addresses and dates
filled out.

Just something I could merely
wave to scare the rubes

into letting me in.

It seems like a hoot, Chuck.

I might happen to know
just such a man.

And I bet he'd keep
something like that

in a false-bottom drawer,

just waiting
for the right reason

for it to see the light of day.

Are the drives locked down?

Why am I on speakerphone?

It's Kate and me only.
She's up to speed.

I need to know where they are
and what's protecting them.

Each drive was driven
to a warehouse

with a secure vault in it,

each warehouse
in a separate state.

No drive is ever stored
with any other drive.

We're clear.

Mind if we keep that?

- -
- Paperwork.
- -
- It's okay by me.

[Scooter] The warehouses are
all for different industries,

so which companies
have vaults inside

will be hard to determine
to the casual

or even considered observer.

Still, if someone found out
we had a vault, and where,

the companies we chose
all have legitimate reasons.

Precious metals,
cash flow, et cetera.

We keep the platinum here before
it's processed into chips.

We need to see inside.

[keypad beeping]

There she is.

Appreciate your help here,
Officer.

Thank you, Scooter.

Hey, Scoot, uh,

let's go ahead and shuffle
the deck

and move those cases anyway.

Maybe don't even tell me where,
short term,

so I can't be compelled
to answer.

Understood.
I have some ideas.

Satisfied?

No. But unsurprised.

That's why I did what I did.

[chuckles]

[Nick]
See, this is an Iron Forge,

very legitimate
cold storage drive

with a self-locking feature.

Uh-huh. Self-locking.

Yeah, I've heard of that.

Yeah, ten incorrect attempts
and it'll encrypt itself,

making it impossible
to access whatever's on it.

So, what I'd do,
I'd buy like 20 Iron Forges,

get to work uncapping
and finding side channels

to access the digital keys.

Well, get to work, then.

That's what I'd do
if I had six months.

Ah, six months?

You've got closer
to six fucking hours.

I need this one opened
so I can use it

to get to the others
before they're moved and hidden.

I'm gonna need to
bring in some equipment.

Running crypto-hunter
password cracker software.

- -
- Some real dark web shit.
- -
- Grand. Now what?

We sit back
and let it work.

[sighs]

[snaps fingers]

What do we got?

We got something.

Yeah? Crypto?

Yeah.

It's a wallet.

Fair warning
on the ten attempts.

How many shots you have left?

Two more. That's why I woke you.

Didn't want to pull the trigger
without--

Proceed.

You... sure?

Do it.

-[computer chimes]
-[gasps]

Holy shit.

- -
- Is that...?
- -
- Yes.

[laughs]
Yes, it is.

Crypto wallet holding
various coins that,

at today's rates,

total approximately
$150 million.

[laughs]

Since we're in, could we,
you know...?

No, not one digital farthing.

Dave?

We have it.

It's clear to me.

Prince is funding
Mike Money with crypto.

There's nothing illegal
about that.

It is if he isn't paying taxes
on said crypto.

These guys all bought
shit tons of it

back when it cost
a dollar.

Now they're on a freeroll.

My tech guy checked
the transaction record,

and 150 mil in coin
was sold last year

and put into an account
that became the feeder fund

for the Mike Money program.

And guess who wasn't notified.

That would be
the New York State Department

of Taxation and Finance.

Multiply it
by the other locations

where he undoubtedly
has more drives stashed,

and we are talking
about a financial scam

on the same scale
as the biggest ever played.

It's a full Al Capone.

You mean a full
Lauryn Hill.

-[sighs]
- -
- If we can prove it.

With a Wesley Snipes thrown in,
times a thousand, yes.

You just need to authorize
and conduct the raids

on all the other
locations.

And you're dead certain
there's crypto

on those other drives?

If you don't have
independent proof,

I will have had no cause
to stage the raids,

since the first one
was illegally gotten.

It was under your purview.

You just need to state that
under oath,

that you instructed me--

And I will if you're right.

And then Prince will swing.

But if there isn't,
you'll be swinging, Chuck.

This is your freedom
on the line, so decide now.

You can walk away,
drop this.

We return this drive
and make sure he squares up.

But if you insist and I go for
the rest, you'd better be right.

Because if we go down this road,

one of you is ending up
in jail.

I know my man.
He doesn't do small.

One drive? Nah.
The rest are gonna be there.

But we gotta move quick,

because I also bet
he's gonna move them.

Okay, then.

The raids are a go.

[sighs]

[sirens blaring]

[tires screech]

Kneel down, you sinners
To streetwise religion

Greed's been crowned
The new king

Hollywood dream teens

Yesterday's trash queens

Save the blessings
For the final ring

Amen

Take a ride
On the wild side

Wild side

Thank you.
Appreciate that.

I carry my crucifix

Under my death list

Forward my mail to me
In hell

Liars and the martyrs
Lost faith in the Father

Thank you.

Long lost
In the wishing well

And that's when
we sent for you.

Oh, and there's more.

There are these.

[door closes]

Didn't count on seeing those
in here, did you, Michael?

We managed to intercept them

just as you were
trying to have them removed.

Hold on--

Those were gained
through improper seizure.

Probable cause
based on the first drive.

Which was gained
through fraudulent means.

We'll see about that,

since this one has been opened
and does hold crypto.

If it's been open
the entire time, why have--?

This is probably a good time

to disclose that Miss Sacker
has made my client aware

that she has critical
information about the nature

of Mr. Prince's tax dodge.

You're going
to be heartily sorry

you didn't swap out counsel when
she starts swearing a statement

-on your attempt to defr--
- -
- Ooh, no.

See, Chuck, that's what
I led you to believe.

Wasn't actually true.

[chuckles]

But I made it plain
that your failure to prosecute

the opioid case would result--

Chuck, you really shouldn't--

Yeah, incriminate yourself.
Further.

Truth is, I wasn't ever
in your crosshairs, Chuck.

All those years
we worked together,

I was paying attention
real close.

So, that case you
wanted to squeeze me on

won't break the way you think,

because I didn't fail
to prosecute the Butters family

in order to protect
my father's friends.

I stood down at federal request
to let their charges play out.

Nothing unusual
or special about it.

[Chuck]
No.

The only unusual thing is,

you pulled the federal
declination request

from the file when you
slipped it back to Dave.

[Sacker] I did pull the federal
declination request

from the file.

You go public,
I look like a hero.

After Dave screwed us
on the subway cars,

I pretty much saw how this
was going to play out.

Chuck was always willing
to consider

mutually assured destruction,

even if the other side
didn't know.

So, I sent back a file
with the other cases,

one that would make me
look vulnerable.

Call it insurance policy,
since that's what it was.

And I just removed the federal
notice asking me to stand down,

so Chuck would think
I could be squeezed

for ignoring
the opioid crisis.

And this is the squeezing time.

It would appear Mike Money and
your bid for office set him off.

He knows about
the presidential bid.

He deduced it,
then told me.

I'd have liked to have been
the one to do that.

To game out how to launch
your career in politics

along with mine.
I'm sorry.

Hmm, we can have
that conversation

when the light at the end
of the tunnel

isn't a train
called Chuck Rhoades.

What does he want?

He believes I have drives
squirreled away

with enough untaxed crypto
to fund Mike Money

and the rest of the trip
to Washington.

And do you?

Because now is the time
to tell me.

Is it real, or is it theater?

Empty drives, or are you
moving money around?

I am happy to get my popcorn
and unwrap my hard candy

before the curtain comes up
if it is the latter,

but I will need to know.

You seem awfully calm.

I have good people
taking care of me.

No better place to be.

Let me walk you
to the elevator.

[elevator dings]

I was expecting this visit.

Looking forward to it, even.

That's not the reax
I figured.

When you spilled that champagne,
I almost laughed,

but I felt it would have
undercut the moment.

How could you laugh at something
so jeopardizing?

If I thought our time together
would jeopardize my candidacy,

I wouldn't have done it.

Are you sure you're in

that kind of control?

Maybe I'm too in control.

I need to offset it
with a little tolerable risk.

That's what I am?
Acceptable risk?

Tolerable. Not acceptable.
It's different.

Yeah, tolerable
because it's worth it.

This is fun.

Makes me feel more present,
and also more relaxed,

which will allow
for better decision making.

I'm like your fucking Xanny?

[laughs]
Without the hangover.

I have one.

This whole thing
has given me one.

That's because this is
the first time your actions

have broader ramifications.

Yeah, that's the word I used,
sort of.

This is what happens
as you become more.

Things you do matter.

But you can't let it stop you.
You just have to take steps.

You took steps?

The kind of people who write
those kind of stories,

they're the people I pay
to write other stories.

The networks,
I'm in business with them.

Our coworkers,
they're happy and satisfied

with how they're paid
by and large,

so they're not out
to stab me or you.

This seems, I don't know,

a cavalier attitude to have
if you really want to end up

in the Oval Office.

I'd say that every guy
who ended up there

had a cavalier attitude
about this sort of thing,

and had teams of people
who ran fire drills

so that when the real fires
happened, they'd be ready.

Except for Nixon,
who was wound so tight,

he couldn't last out his term.

So you knew your peeps
would get on top of this.

You knew there would be
a fire drill.

Sure. Knew there could be.

Does that make you
feel better?

It makes me feel...weird.

And like you want to leave?

Not necessarily.

[sighs]

Like I need a drink.

I'm not the
"I need a drink" type.

We're all that type
every once in a while.

Coming right up.

The thing of it is, Rian,
we'll have a drink,

but you don't really need one.

You just need
to understand

that there are people
that things happen to

and people who make things
happen.

And you need to land on
which one you want to be.

And when you do that,

when you decide
what you want to feel,

that is the true source
of power.

And when you get there,

people will see what you want
them to see on your face.

Most people never
figure this out.

The ones that do,
they get to run the world.

[David]
So, here we are.

Are you prepared to run
password combinations

and try to open
these suckers up?

I am.

This is really
not necessary.

I can just take these back

and have them opened
on my own time.

I've got topflight people
for that.

We'll be filing to get

the original
drive back immediately,

as well as the rest of these.

Yeah, and Chuck will be on
surveillance video

in my circuit board company's
secure archives.

Impersonating
a state prosecutor.

Using a fraudulent
instrument.

Hmm, not just suspect.
Guilty.

[Dave] We'll need to see
what's on these drives

before we sort all that out.

Now, Mr. Prince, are you sure
you don't have the passwords

for these properly obtained
drives?

Because, as you know,
though you may pretend not to,

these are secure drives
that allow ten attempts

before locking forever.

I wish I could help you.

[Dave]
So here's the thing:

I'm going to have
this technician

start making attempts.

So, if there's crypto
on these drives,

you're faced with losing it.

There is, believe me.

And you, are you sure
you still want to proceed?

Because if this doesn't go how
you think, it's jail for you.

In the words of C.W. McCall...

let's put the hammer down.

[device beeps]

That's one...

-[beeps]
-...two...

[typing]

-[beeps]
-...three attempts.

You sure you have nothing
to volunteer, Mr. Prince?

-[typing]
-[Nick] Four.

-[beeps]
- -
- Five.

I object to this activity.

I want a judge on the phone
right fucking now to stop this.

[typing]

-[beeps]
- -
- Six...

and seven.

Mr. Rhoades, Chuck,

if you relent,

there's a road to convincing
Mr. Prince to walk away.

Do you want to take
a strategic retreat?

No, he'll crack.

Expensive game of chicken.

I'll play.

-[typing]
-[computer beeps]

[Nick]
Eight.

-[beeps]
- -
- Nine.

Hold up.
Let me just advise my client.

[whispering] Mike, we can beat
the case if there is one.

It's not worth losing billions
if they're there.

Let me stop this.

[typing]

Ten.

[rhythmic beeping]

[softly]
Fuck.

That's it.

[sighs]

You just sacrificed
over $3 billion.

Well, shit,
I lost my fucking bet.

[laughs]

I don't fucking believe it.
He thinks...

he must think
that there's another way

to open those drives.

I told you,
I don't have the passwords.

I will arrange bail
right away.

[Dave]
Once you finish with him,

you can escort Mr. Allerd
from the building.

Am I free to go?

[Tuk]
Andrea in accounting,

the girl who always gets out
on the 11th floor

with the black hair,

and Jeannie from Mase Carb.

- -
- Oh, I think her name is Jenny.
- -Her name is Jane-
- Anne.

And you're not sleeping
with any of them.

Let the man make a list.

If sexual congress between
two office mates

is now considered okay,

I think we should
avail ourselves.

I have availed in the past.

And if you can,
I highly recommend it.

And I can help.

You told him to be that exact,
didn't you?

Erik just knows
who he's serving.

Do you?

"Serving" is a strange word
in this context, but, yes,

I know what I signed up for,

which is why I told you
not to come work with us.

It wasn't because
I was squeamish

about all the dirty money.

I begged you to get out.

But I knew how
this was going to end:

with you running the place,

and that it's a bag of lava
that's gonna erupt all over you.

And you'll still be the guy
who knows it all

and fixes it all anyway.

Because that's your priority,

getting a guy like him
into the White House.

Something very close
to that, yes.

And everyone who's ever been
in the White House

is a guy like him.

That's how they get in.

I can't help you anymore
now that we're here.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Mm.

I thought I was fine.

But you aren't?

The kind of man he is,

the outside
that doesn't match the inside,

the whole thing...

What does it say about us
that we work for him?

It says we're biding our time
for a little while longer,

because they're the ones
that run the places.

That's why we do.

It doesn't mean anything.

We'll have our own places
soon enough.

Do you feel like
you have refuge?

[scoffs]
Come on.

After this week? I don't know.

Which I guess is the point.

I feel like I see things
too clearly to pretend anymore.

And yet you show up to work
every day.

So do you.

I thought I would enjoy
some proper scheming.

The kind of galoshes-wearing
sewer crawl I cut my teeth on.

[chuckles]

But you don't feel that way?

With Axe, I know
you shouldn't compare,

but I didn't have to pretend
I was making glittery cupcakes

while shivving a motherfucker
who needed shivving.

It was honest, in its way.

This is something else.

Maybe Prince's way
is more powerful...

with its veneer of goodness.

It inspires.

Are you inspired?

Drinks are on me.

This night's cost me
3.5 billion already.

So let's drink the fanciest shit
in the place.

- -
- Goddamn it.
- -
- Yep, now you know.

...even more to lose

You and me bound
To spend some time

Wondering what to choose

Goes to show

You don't ever know

Watch each card you play
And play it slow

To our collective wounds of war.

Long may they remind us
of the cost

of everything we've won.

I been gambling hereabouts

For ten good solid years

If I told you
All that went down

It would burn off
Both of your ears

Goes to show
You don't ever know

Watch each card you play
And play it slow

Wait until
That deal come round

Don't you let that deal
Go down, no, no

[door clanks shut]

Well, if I'd known
you were coming,

I'd have given you
my best "Roxanne."

- -
- Like Eddie Murphy?
- -
- Mm.

Sure.

Roxanne

You don't have to put on
The red light

Not really in the mood, Dave.

Not from you.

Roxanne

It's weirdly appropriate,

'cause I'm Nolte,
and I'm here

to spring your ass
to get our man.

There's a car full of loot
somewhere?

Chuck, we're gonna destroy
Mike Prince together.

[laughs]

Ah.

I don't appear to be a man
in a position to do that.

I used a dummy warrant.

Gained evidence
under false pretense.

All that shit you said
that put me here.

I said that
to cover our tracks.

You couldn't tell?

I was more focused
on how tight the cuffs were.

Focus on this.

This is the real warrant
that I had authorized,

with a judge
who signed off.

Since you were acting
at my direction

with this cooperation agreement,

dated before you used
that fake warrant.

All you have to do is sign it.

You're gonna clear me.

You saw, didn't you?

Yeah.

I had to play the whole thing
to the end,

but I've seen enough liars

in enough interrogation rooms
to know.

His knees almost buckled
when he tried to stand.

He's a pro,
but he almost puked himself,

like Tom Reagan
down at Miller's Crossing.

This fucker was planning
to buy the White House

with cryptocurrency.

You got him to flush
billions of dollars,

but that's not
punishment enough.

Any man willing to do that

is willing to do unspeakable
things to feed those desires.

We can't let that happen.

That's what I've been
telling you!

Well, it ain't gonna happen
on my watch.

-[laughs]
- -
- So, yeah,

you'll be in the clear.

But no one can know.

You're gonna be working

under cover of disgrace.

The world will think
you're under indictment

and going away
right up until the minute

we lock Mike Prince up.

Damn fucking straight.

You got a deal.

...you don't ever know

Watch each card you play
And play it slow

Wait until that deal
come round

Don't you let
that deal go down

Wait until that deal
come round

Don't you let that deal
Go down

Wait until that deal
come round

Don't you let that deal
Go down

Don't you let
That deal go down

Don't you let that deal
Go down

No, no