Yay!
- Good afternoon, friends.
Good morning, Miss Kathy.
How are you feeling today?
Good!
Oh, that's great.
But you know who's not feeling so good today?
Who?
Mr. Magoo.
Oh. Oh, no.
Sad. Poor Mr. Magoo.
What makes you feel better when you're sick?
Medicine!
I heard "medicine,"
and that's what we're going to talk about today.
Medicine.
Now, can anyone tell me what this is?
A pill.
That's right.
Pills make us feel so much better when we're sick.
My mommy says pills can hurt you.
Oh, not if you follow the prescribed FDA regulations.
- What's "FDA"? - Oh.
Good question, Sally.
"FDA" stands for "Food and Drug Administration."
Who knows how a pill gets approved by the FDA?
There are three steps to the FDA approval process.
The first step:
the scientist has to invent a pill that makes people better.
The second step: the scientist needs
to test the pill on lots and lots of people.
And the third step:
if the pill works, the scientist sends the test results
to the FDA for approval!
Yay!
Why can't the FDA do the testing?
The FDA doesn't have the money...
...or the resources to do the testing.
Couldn't the scientist just lie about the test results?
Now Jimmy, why would a scientist lie about test results?
To make lots of money.
Okay. But that's why we have the FDA,
to stop scientists from lying.
What if the scientist promised the FDA some of the money?
- Like a bribe. - Yeah.
- No, no. No, no, no, no.
No, no. No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
The FDA would never accept a bribe.
- How do you know?
You know what? Uh, I think Mr. Magoo is feeling better.
- Oh!
I hear him purring.
Oh. I feel good.
The pill made me feel all better.
Is Mr. Magoo addicted to pills now?
- What does "addicted" mean? - My dad says
- my mommy's addicted to quaaludes, and... - Okay.
-
I was mid-digestif.
Sorry I interrupted.
Well...
It's spilt milk now.
I'm told
you've requested, mm,
a favor... from me.
Yeah, I called your assistant so I didn't have to bother you.
Well, I need to hear it from you.
So you can tell me "no"?
That's a chance you have to take.
All right.
All I need are the research results
for an advisory letter I wrote 25 years ago.
I've always admired your ability
to, um,
remain calm in the face of an impending shitstorm.
I don't scare as easy as you do.
Maybe that's why we made such a great team.
Is that what it was?
My memory's a little fuzzy.
I advised you
25 years ago
not to take Zax Pharma on as a client.
It must just tickle the shit out of you
that it came back to bite me in the ass.
If I can... locate
the file with the research results
that you're after...
it's yours.
And what do I owe you?
Two things.
Destroy George and Arthur Zax.
And then...
...we go after the rest of the Big Pharma fuck-faces.
Together?
I'm reluctantly nearing the summit of my existence.
I'd relish nothing more
than an opportunity to plant one last flag:
a wooden stake through the heart
of those...
bloodsucking felons who callously profit
from... pill after pill,
and who stole...
...so many of my days and...
and nights since the war.
Well, you don't need me to do that.
You should do that.
Well, Billy...
...my line doesn't reach that deep down in the ocean anymore.
I'm not so sure mine does, either, Donnie.
If you can pull off
this hat trick, it will.
Let's just hope you find that file.
Okay, this guy and this guy and this guy.
Yeah.
Mr. McBride, I don't want to speak to you.
I just need a minute.
That stunt you pulled in the courtroom? Outrageous.
You were representing the State of California,
and me by extension.
"Embarrassed" doesn't even begin to cover it.
I know it didn't turn out the way you expected.
I'd say that's an understatement, Mr. McBride.
The people in this state are dying from opioids.
It is my responsibility to ensure
that they receive the justice they deserve.
And you just pissed that away in court
with your gross negligence.
I'm not asking for forgiveness.
Of course not.
You simply create the mess
and then walk away without any remorse.
Ms. Herrera, Ms. Herrera, please, please, please.
I need you to come to my disciplinary hearing today,
and then I can explain everything to you, okay?
I don't need to do anything for you, Mr. McBride.
And I don't want to hear an explanation.
- I've read the transcript. - Yeah, but you don't know
what's in between the lines.
That's what you need to know.
You've wasted enough of my time.
I couldn't say what I needed to in open court.
Please. You're out for justice, right?
So am I. So if you truly want justice,
you're gonna want to hear what I got to say in there.
Ah. Did you spring McBride from the pokey,
or did you leave him to rake his tin cup against the bars?
Aw. Can we get started?
Russell Drug's new number is $160 million.
It was 900 last time.
I'm not the one who knocked over your Jenga tower.
A hundred sixty was good enough for Tom True
when he settled Zax Pharma, right, Rob?
Hmm?
It's still 900? It's still 900.
Nine hundred for Russell makes it look
like they have something to hide.
They do. That's why they're settling.
- I guess that's it then. - I guess it is.
Uh, 600, same as Tillinger,
and we'll eat our contingency fee on that one.
What are you getting, a third?
What?
Oh, we were.
Well, then, 400 for Russell.
That would annihilate our entire share.
You'll be eating the whole $1.5 billion
if you lose in court.
No, because the jury will take a literal shit
on top of your clients. You don't want to go to court.
Six hundred is a good number. That way, you get to go back
to your bosses and tell them what a good boy you've been,
they'll be happy, you'll be happy, we'll be happy.
Otherwise, we're all gonna be in trial for a month,
and we're all gonna be fucking miserable.
All right, 600.
I'm happy. You?
- Maleficent? - Yeah.
Hey, we're fucking ecstatic.
-
Thank you.
Hey.
Wow. Hey.
I was just... I was in town, and I figured I'd stop by, you know?
Sure.
Billy wants you to know that he's working on it.
Okay. How much do you know?
More than you. He gave me the full rundown.
Yeah, but that's not fair, 'cause I don't know shit.
Like, just now, I'm upstairs, I can't stall.
I have to negotiate a settlement.
I mean, what am I supposed to...?
- Sorry to interrupt. - Hi.
Ava said things went great with Griffin.
You feel good?
Not really.
Well, you did great.
I'm sorry. This is my friend from out of town, Brittany.
Uh, Samantha Margolis.
She's the managing partner.
- Uh, my boss. - Oh. Oh, nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you. Sam. - Hi. Hello.
So where are you from?
- Chicago. - Oh, great. I love Chicago.
Mm.
And how do you guys know each other?
We used to work together.
- Our old days in real estate. - That's right.
Oh, that's right. I forget that you used to sell houses.
Yeah.
Would you like a ride to the hearing?
Uh, you know, I'm gonna take a few minutes,
and I'll see you there, but thank you.
It was nice meeting you. Enjoy your stay.
Nice to meet you.
So?
It's good to see you.
Okay. It's good to see you, too.
Don't go to Billy's disbarment hearing.
William Hamilton McBride
has engaged in misconduct
that has threatened the administration of justice.
He was held in contempt and forcibly removed from court.
He failed to communicate settlement offers to his clients
and refused to abide by their decision.
He breached privileged client confidences
and used protected information to the disadvantage
of his former client.
To protect the public,
we are asking for his immediate disbarment.
Mr. McBride.
Mr. McBride?
- Yes. - Do you have
anything to say in your defense?
Yes, Your Honor.
Twenty-five years ago,
Zax Pharma hired me to review test results
of an experimental drug and write
an advisory letter.
The reason they hired me
was because I wasn't an expert in the field.
It was just strategy.
You see, these huge corporations,
they, uh, toss a little work
to all the law firms around
so these attorneys can't sue them in the future.
This hearing is about your misconduct,
Mr. McBride, not corporate strategy.
Right.
But our ethics rules
are meant to shield and protect our clients.
But they've become weapons for the rich and powerful.
Get to the point, Mr. McBride.
Okay.
My point is, is that one of the defendants
in the case that I was dismissed from is Zax Pharma.
They're being sued for their role in the opioid epidemic.
More specifically, their liability
in the manufacture, marketing and sale
of a drug called Trimadone,
which caused a public health crisis.
And what I've discovered
is 25 years ago, they hired me
to review test results of a drug that they were hoping
would be a nonaddictive form of Trimadone.
Which means 25 years ago,
they knew that Trimadone was highly addictive.
Otherwise,
they wouldn't develop
another one. Another version.
A nonaddictive one.
They withheld this information
every step of this case.
They lied.
Either defend
your misconduct, Mr. McBride, or I'm cutting you off.
That's fraud on the tribunal, pure and simple.
Oh, that's it, Mr. McBride.
I've given you plenty of leeway.
There's nothing you've said that excuses breaching
a client's confidence in open court,
but I suspect
that wasn't your point.
You've shown a clear disregard
for our rules of professional responsibility
and an indifference toward atonement for your misconduct.
You are hereby suspended
from the practice of law for a year,
and you are on probation until you can prove
your knowledge of the rules of professional responsibility,
which means you will be taking the MPRE again.
This court is adjourned.
I understand, but I just...
I can hear what you're saying.
But I just... I urge you to reconsider.
Billy McBride just put his career on the line
in order to get that information into court.
Now, if what he said is true, we have to pursue it.
To be clear, if we pursue Zax
and we void the $160 million settlement
and force a trial, that's your choice.
However, if Griffin pulls both of the settlements,
we are liable for $1.5 billion.
Correct.
Yeah, it's a lot of money.
I will eat the 160,
but Billy McBride's malpractice?
Now, that's on Margolis & True
and, frankly, not my problem.
Right.
Better get to work.
Jesus fucking Christ.
Sam, I-I really think
that you're not seeing the bigger picture here.
So, if we go to trial
and we can prove everything that McBride says,
then Margolis & True becomes the firm
that takes down Big Pharma.
That's gonna generate more business
- than we could ever have imagined. - Yeah.
- And what if we lose? - Well, with bloody Patty
leading the show, we will.
- You step up, I'm really... - No.
- That's not gonna happen. - Sam, I'm confident
- that if you take this position... - No.
Ava, no. It's not happening.
So, what are we gonna do?
"We"?
You and I are in the same boat on this.
And the boat is fucked.
I didn't leak confidential stuff.
- Did you? - No.
Then why is my dad so pissed off?
The new pill isn't ready. It's not gonna pass FDA testing.
Well, then make it pass.
Companies fudge numbers all the time.
No. He's an asshole, but I can't just make it pass
because he wants it on the market.
Amurzyn is dangerous,
and I don't think you want to be CEO
of your dad's shit pile, do you?
No.
I am just so sick
- of him shitting on me. - Well, it's gonna be
our company one day, right?
Yeah.
So let's do it right.
Okay.
I hope your eye feels better.
Hey, Dad.
She's not gonna fix the test.
Yeah, no problem.
Fucking asshole.
Can ride my tail anytime, Mr. Z.
Yeah, I know how much you like that feeling of me up your ass.
ridin' in cars
on the finest avenue
on the street
shovin'
in a queue
with you...
Do me a solid, Johnny.
Use that move in Daytona, huh?
I want that cup.
Yes, sir. That's the plan.
-
Steering feels a little loose now.
You want me to let Manny know?
Well, I sure as shit don't want you going anywhere near it.
Hey, Joe.
- Hey. - Thanks for coming.
Course. Nice car.
Listen, Joe, we've known each other a long time,
so I won't, uh, bore you
with the whole "my family is absolutely devastated"
song and dance.
I mean, we are, of course. Genuinely.
But you're a man of science, so let's talk results.
We have something on the horizon, Joe.
It's a real breakthrough.
Just a matter of time before it hits your inbox.
We both know people are suffering.
Now is the time to fast-track a real solution.
Is that why you dragged me down to this fast track?
Y-You got my attention, George.
But there are a lot of eyes on me right now.
On everyone at the FDA.
I'm not afraid of eyes. Are you?
Well, it...
depends on what I'm looking at.
How about a career change?
At my age?
I think right time, right price,
those eyes wouldn't even blink.
I have been thinking of retiring.
Even better.
Well, I think the, uh, the Food and Drug Administration
would welcome a solution
to this truly devastating opioid epidemic.
That's great to hear, Joe. I'm glad we're on the same page.
Fern will be in touch.
See you.
- Well done. - Wow.
Could these FDA guys be any easier to fucking turn?
Ridiculous.
- It's Ava.
Marko let me in.
Are you decent?
Oh, hardly.
Muscle spasms?
What's your pain level?
- Oh, about an eight. - Hmm.
I had a flare-up
after Herrera said she wanted to go to court.
Yeah, well, I'm not surprised.
I'm sorry.
God, that McBride.
You know, I find myself daydreaming
about Diana Blackwood and her shotgun.
If only she had had a better aim.
Mm.
- You okay? -
I'm not taking over the fucking case, Ava.
- That's not what I want to hear. - Oh, I know.
The stress of court if I'm having a bad day.
I can hardly talk. I can't think.
If I fall, knock myself out during opening statements,
it's gonna be a fucking shit show.
That would be a fucking shit show
and very dramatic.
Our insurance would cover it,
not to mention the jury sympathy.
It's not a bad idea.
It's Patty's case.
It's a risk.
She's a risk.
You're gonna risk your father's firm,
his legacy, everything?
Do you know what I do find odd?
That really wasn't like you,
to miss the fact that McBride had worked with Zax Pharma.
I made a mistake.
Yeah.
Yeah. Listen, feel better.
-
last night
You're always looking for an answer.
You ever find it?
- Uh, it's tricky. - It's obvious.
So tell me the answer.
It's your puzzle.
I have to do everything for you?
You raised me.
- Hey, Billy. - Hi, Tom.
I want you to meet my daughter.
Amanda, this is Billy McBride. Billy, Amanda.
It's a pleasure to meet you, Amanda.
You know, she's dead.
You know, it's my fault.
You did your best.
I don't think I did.
Well, that's my fault.
You resented me.
There's your answer.
22 down?
22 down. Mm-hmm.
Resent.
You never wanted the responsibility.
Never thought I'd be sheriff.
You weren't great at it.
- It was just so hard. - It kind of isn't.
It's just a job.
No, it's more than that, it's a whole life.
Life is a cereal.
God, why do you have to make everything so goddamn dramatic?
I love you, kid.
You said your dad used to say that.
You know, I used to hate him.
And now?
Now I know him.
You forgot the note you ordered.
- You have to read it.
Arthur?
I don't understand what's happening to me.
Everything keeps getting all mixed up.
What I experienced and my, my life now...
Is that normal?
Yeah, well, no.
Nothing about you is normal.
I just feel like I'm getting further away
from whatever it is I'm looking for.
Maybe that's the point.
Busy?
Yes.
You know, this, this used to be my office,
and we had mice.
- Have you seen any mice? - I have not seen any mice.
Good. Good.
Hmm.
So...
the attorney general wants a trial.
And how did that happen?
She showed up at McBride's disbarment hearing.
Which you would have known had you been there,
but you were conspicuously absent.
Yes, I couldn't make it.
Hmm. Any reason?
Uh, well, it doesn't matter.
Well, if the judge approves a trial,
then you'll be first chair, litigating one
of the biggest pharmaceutical lawsuits in history.
How do you feel about that?
- Great. - Really?
I can think of 1.5 billion reasons why it's not "great."
What do you want from me?
Step aside, and suggest that Sam take the case.
- She might listen to you. - Sam doesn't litigate anymore.
She's... lost perspective.
Well, if she wants me to do it, I'm gonna do it.
Hmm.
I don't trust you.
Well, I'm sorry, um,
I could give a fuck, because you don't matter.
I think you'll find I matter a little bit.
- No, you don't. - I matter financially.
Great.
Like, I made sure to deposit
your equity partner capital contribution straightaway,
which means that you are financially liable
for your share of the $1.5 billion
should this case collapse like a dying star in your hands.
You know, it sounds to me like I'm all you got,
so I would suggest
that you learn how to fucking deal with it.
- I'll be next door, Patty. -
I am aware.
in yourself
Hey. - Hey. Um...
Hey, can we talk?
Yeah, absolutely. I-I actually, uh,
was just thinking about how I miss talking to you.
How it would be nice to go to dinner or something, sometime.
I think it's time that I moved on from Margolis & True.
I need to make a change,
I need to, uh, find the right place that's...
- Okay, wait. Hold on. Hold on. - I, um...
I've learned so much from working with you...
Okay, stop!
What's going on, Bob?
- Rob. - Yeah.
Are you okay?
Was I ever gonna be made partner?
Yeah, that's what I thought.
Okay. You know, I... It-it's time.
It's time that I moved on.
Okay, you know, we might go to trial on a case
you've been prepping for a year and a half.
Yeah.
That's really fucking unprofessional.
Please. Don't do this.
Thank you for everything, Sam.
Okay.
That's probably Tom's wife.
She called me earlier.
You should take that.
Hi, Judy?
- Okay. -
seem less sad
I'm so sorry.
trickling from my eyes
Yeah.
I appreciate that.
to look inside your mind
all my weeping blues away
on morning tide...
- Is that bad? - No.
Would you tell me if it was bad?
Bad news isn't my job.
Tom's dead.
His body washed up on Marshall Beach.
I guess he jumped.
Really?
Yeah, his wife just called me.
She sounded relieved.
Are you?
Well, I just hope he found some peace.
Me, too.
of my ignorance...
Good move going to Herrera, by the way.
You got exactly what you wanted.
Yeah, well, I didn't want it this way.
Yeah, neither did I. But here we are.
Yeah. Well, you know, you can still
get on the right side of this thing.
There is no right side, Billy.
I know you want to save your dad's firm,
but he's dead and you're not.
You know, you can start making better choices
for the people that are still here.
Lying in my bed, I hear
What the fuck, Sam?!
Why did you do that?
Uh, you're gonna buy me a new machine!
- I know you're good for it. - -
What the fuck was that?
Who's Frank?
My neighbor. The one with, uh, your doppelgänger.
You've seen him.
- Oh, that guy. - Yeah.
Turns out he owns the whole block.
You think you can dig up some info?
Try.
Oh, did you ever get those test results back from Cooperman?
We'll see.
Patty can't reopen the case without 'em.
Well, she-she said she had to negotiate a settlement.
Figured that'd happen.
Man, shit's really upside-down if you're waiting on Cooperman
to do you a favor.
Yeah, no shit.
Is Denise happy?
I think so.
I don't know. She doesn't really tell me everything.
Like someone I know.
Will you tell her I don't resent her?
Where is this coming from?
Well, after I got shot, I...
took my pain and anger out on her.
I don't know how much she told you.
Well, she just...
All I know is that she doesn't want to talk to you.
Yeah.
We should get going. I know you got a lot of stuff to do.
- Thanks for helping me. - Yeah.
I don't know how I'd do anything without you.
There's something I have to tell you.
Okay.
Remember when you called me
and some dude answered the phone?
- Yeah. - Well, that's Mike.
And, um...
Well, I mean, he and I work together at the same law firm,
so he's also a P.I.
And... he came with me on this trip.
- And... - And?
And...
he's kind and generous and...
We fucking live together. We have a fucking cat.
Okay? There. Now you know.
What's the cat's name?
Kojak.
"Who loves ya, baby?"
- That's good. - Hmm.
Hey!
Hey! That's my research!
That's my lab! Hey, I'm your boss!
Let me in! That's my equipment!
Stop it! Hey!
Your personal effects will be delivered to your home.
- I want to talk to my uncle. - He's not in the mood
- to chat. - He can't go forward
- without me. - He can do whatever he wants.
You're done here, Kate.
I suggest you review your nondisclosure agreement.
Fuck you, Fern.
Bye.
Hi.
Come on in.
Uh, y-you want something to drink?
All I got is, like, whiskey and tap water.
I'm okay, thanks.
Uh... you don't mind if I do, hopefully.
So what's up?
My uncle froze me out of the company.
Confiscated everything, lost all my access.
What do I do?
Just hang in there. I'm working on it.
Did you notice if anybody followed you?
I don't know.
Did you get the Amurzyn test results from your old law firm?
Yeah, I'm working on that, too.
I got fired off the case, so, um...
I don't need you worried about that.
What?
I'm working it from the outside.
What does that mean?
Look, you're just gonna have to trust me, okay?
I'm gonna stop your uncle,
but I can't do it without you.
Are you still willing to testify in court?
Yeah.
Okay.
How very cloak-and-dagger.
Would you rather walk through the front door?
Just... Where is he?
Just upstairs.
Fern.
Of course.
I'll get him.
I'm sweating.
I'll spare you.
Thank you.
The state AG wants to void the settlement with Zax.
So I heard.
And?
Fantastic.
Really?
Yeah. Not a big deal, but...
you saved me $160 million.
And if we go to trial?
Well...
I win either way.
Right? That's why you came here,
to assure me that I win either way?
- Yeah, "but."
Let me guess. You'd like to amend our agreement.
Yeah, well, the original agreement
was for a series of settlements
that were beneficial to both of us.
And now that's... ...dead in the water.
Yeah, I guess I could see how $1.5 billion would be...
a tough pill for your firm to swallow,
so to speak.
So to speak.
Well, then...
what do you propose?
A new agreement that is equally beneficial.
If we do go to trial and...
when you win,
I'll lose my firm.
Yeah, you're in a real fucking pickle.
- Billy McBride was your idea. - Good idea.
- Until you mismanaged him. - Okay,
George, you're right. Okay?
You got me. So what do you want to do?
Nothing.
I'm not gonna destroy my firm over nothing.
So lose the case and then we'll talk.
I'm gonna need a guarantee.
No, let's just see how things shake out.
If we don't go to trial...
guess you came all this way for nothing.
I'll have Fern help you to your car.
- He wouldn't have killed himself.
Well, that's the thing with suicide.
You never really know.
-
Thanks, honey.
Would you mind saving the drink?
I'm gonna go have a smoke.
Mr. McBride.
What's up?
I had explicit instructions to hand this to you
when you were alone.
Cooperman?
He always goes for the theatrics.
One more thing.
Yeah?
Do you mind?
Huh?
Do you mind?
If it gets this shit over with,
go for it.
Get it?
Thanks, man.
He's coming for you.