07x03 - Mudmare

[bunniefuu]

Maybe you don't know how babies are made.

Because when people are trying, they know they're trying!

And just because no one ever wants to try with you doesn't give you the right to tell me how to run my associates!

I think Rachel should handle the associates.

I am up here; Rachel's down here.

And you don't give dominion over the associates to someone down here.

Which one of my clients are you after?

Because we both know you can't have Pfizer.

- Yes, I can.

- Then make me name partner.

Harvey's making his friend name partner.

He's accused me of being jealous, and I don't know what to do.

- Are you jealous?

- Of course I'm g*dd*mn jealous!

If you keep letting your emotions dictate your behavior, you won't need to worry about being replaced.

You'll drive Harvey away all by yourself.

Stop apologizing and start intimidating.

That's a hell of a slogan, Harvey, but what does it actually mean?

It means you go out, you find a reporter, and you control the narrative.

If I lose this case, the only article that's gonna get written is that I never should've been able to practice law in the first place.

If you can't figure out a way to win, maybe I shouldn't have brought you back in the first place.

A reporter from the "Times" is coming here.

We are doing an interview: "The Redemption of a Fraudulent Lawyer.

" I don't want my behavior to drive a wedge between us, which means I accept Alex as name partner.

For what it's worth, Alex is still coming, but not as name partner.

- Really?

- You're right.

We can't water down the firm like that.

I have to say [laughs.]

I've been wanting this for so long.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would come true.

We're the only name partners now, Louis.

And I meant it when I said it.

I want us to share things like this.

I can't tell you how happy that makes me.

You're not gonna cry, are you?

Are you kidding?

The last time I cried in here, I messed up the pH.

I had a yeast infection for weeks.

You're not gonna do the other thing you told me you did in the mud, are you?

Harvey, I told you, that was a one-time thing.

And believe me, you're no Missy Dietler.

Who's Missy Dietler?

- What is he doing here?

- What do you mean?

Harvey and I go mudding together all the time.

So why don't you lug yourself out of there so I can get my tub back?

This is my tub.

And you always told me it was weird for male friends to mud together.

But Harvey and I are more than just friends.

We're best friends.

And then what did you do?

What do you think I did?

I called you.

Louis, it was just a dream.

Just a dream?

It was a g*dd*mn mud-mare.

Don't you get it?

Harvey let his buddy into my firm.

Now he's in my mud.

I mean, what's next?

I walk into my bathroom and I find him sh1tting on my toothbrush?

Louis, we talked about this.

If you let this overwhelm you, you're going to bring about the thing you're most afraid of.

Did you hear me?

He was in my mud.

How the hell am I not supposed to let that overwhelm me?

Well has it occurred to you that instead of worrying this Alex person is going to come between you and Harvey, you could use this as an opportunity to make a new friend?

That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

Be that as it may, as I see it, you have a chance to have one more friend or one less friend.

I suggest you go with one more.

[soft dramatic music.]

- Donna.

- Rachel.

Can I get you two anything?

Coffee, tea, a copy of your article in the "Sunday Times"?

Don't need it.

Read it yesterday.

Have one at home.

And by one, he means ten.

Are you sure you don't want to take just one more look at it?

I'm good.

Thanks, Donna.

Okeydokey.

You have a nice day.

Something's going on with her, I can tell.

What do you mean?

You telling me you didn't notice that grin on her face?

Rachel, you've known Donna longer than I have, but I didn't see a grin.

I'm telling you, I think you're imagining it.

Right.

Totally imagined it.

Harvey.

Rachel.

You know, black can be slimming.

Something to think about next time.

I take it this is your way of apologizing for saying you never should've hired me back.

And it gave me a chance to say the slimming thing.

Sorry, Mike.

You had a point, Harvey.

This is the Radiant Technologies merger.

Yep.

Back to one for me.

Great, except you don't need me for this.

Deal's done.

They sign tomorrow.

Which is why Klein Robinson thought that I wouldn't mind if they put a few last-minute changes in the contract.

And a few last-minute changes means they're trying to pull some last-minute bullshit.

Now that sounds like the impressive young lawyer I read about in the article.

Why don't you figure out what they're trying to do?

And get it done by lunch.

Who says I need slimming?

See the money, wanna stay for your meal Get another piece of pie for your wife Everybody wanna know how it feel Everybody wanna see what it's like I'll even eat a bean pie, I don't mind Me and Missy is so busy, busy making money All right All step back, I'm 'bout to dance Suits 7x03 Mudmare The greenback boogie [exhales.]

Don't be hostile.

Don't be hostile.

Louis, what are you doing?

- What?

- Leave him alone.

It's his first day.

No, Donna, it's not like that.

I come in peace.

You swear?

Yes, I brought him a living thing.

- Is it poisonous?

- No, Donna, it is not.

Okay.

Well, I got my eyes on you.

And that plant.

[exhales heavily.]

Don't be hostile.

Alex Williams, Louis Litt.

I brought you a honeysuckle.

Excuse me?

It's a gesture, since we might've gotten off on the wrong foot.

You mean because you tried to poach my biggest client and keep me from joining the firm?

Yes, perhaps that's the foot we got off on.

But I was hoping we could get onto other foot.

Here.

I appreciate the gesture, Louis.

By the way, your work on the Andersen case was extraordinary.

You followed my Andersen work?

Yes.

In fact, it reminded me of my Pricehouse strategy.

Truth be told, I based it on your Pricehouse strategy.

Get the f--well then, you took it to a whole other level.

[chuckles.]

Thank you, Louis.

I'm sorry about the poaching.

Don't worry about it.

[sighs contentedly.]

Hey, would you like to grab lunch?

Eating at your desk is no way to celebrate your first day.

You're right, it's not.

I'll meet you at the lobby at 1:00.

Sounds good.

And thanks for the plant.

You're welcome.

I don't know if you care about this, but cats love it.

Oh, I know.

We've got two tabbies at home that are gonna go crazy over that bad boy.

- Tabbies?

- Yup.

Holy sh*t, I'm gonna make a reservation at the best restaurant in the city, you BFF, you.

Son of a bitch.

Mr.

Reyes?

- Yes.

- Mike Ross.

They said you wanted to see me?

Yes, thank you for taking the time.

Of course.

I read your interview yesterday.

And my son was in prison too.

But unlike you, he didn't make it out.

This says your son d*ed of a heart att*ck.

-Yes, a heart att*ck out of nowhere.

You think they're hiding something.

Well, they won't take my calls or answer my letters.

What would you think?

I'd think that there might be something wrong.

But that doesn't mean that there is.

Mr.

Ross, my son was 28 years old.

And he was up for parole next month.

There's something they're not telling me.

All right, I'll look into it.

Um, but I'm not gonna be able to get to this for a few days.

A few days.

Why can't you start now?

Because I have a deal with my firm that allows me to do cases like this, but not only cases like this.

And right now, I'm in the middle of something else.

Mr.

Ross, the last lawyer I talked to said there was some kind of a statute that says I only have another two weeks to file a lawsuit.

And I'm telling you, two weeks should be more than enough time, but I--I can't drop everything just to take your case.

I understand.

But Chris was caught with an ounce of marijuana.

He never should have been there in the first place.

And if time runs out on this and I couldn't get him justice Okay.

I'll see what I can do.

Stephanie, we need to talk about this assignment.

Is there a problem with it?

Yes, the problem is you didn't do it.

Jason did.

Because Jason is better at cataloging procedure than I am.

Right, but if you don't do the things you're not good at, you'll never get better.

The thing is, I don't really want to get better at cataloging procedure.

I know that, just like I didn't want to be a paralegal specializing in research for as long as I was.

But it turns out we had a case last year that we only won because I was outstanding at research.

Okay, I see your point.

I won't do it again.

Good.

Because I have another case that requires some procedure to be catalogued, and I put it aside especially for you.

But Stephanie, I want your word that you won't pawn it off on Jason.

You have my word.

[phone buzzing.]

Well, look who it is.

Don't tell me, you feel bad about canceling the other night and now you're dying to make it up to me.

It's as though you read my mind.

One of my many skills.

How does dinner tonight sound?

How does having it at my place sound?

You're a crafty one, aren't you?

What?

I've got some steaks I've been wanting to throw on the grill.

No, you want to have dinner at your place 'cause it's the closest restaurant in the city to your bedroom.

Did you read that in "Zagat's"?

No, I read your mind.

Then what time am I thinking?

How about 8:00?

Better make it 8:30.

I got to go buy some steaks.

Good, you're here.

Tell me you figured out what bullshit they're trying to sneak into this deal.

They're not trying to sneak anything into it.

They're trying to get out of it.

That doesn't make sense.

They came to us for this merger.

They must've gotten a better offer, because they buried an escape clause in the addendum.

- You know what we have to do.

- Yes, I do.

But you're gonna have to do it without me.

Something's come up, it's on a deadline, and I need to take care of it.

- What kind of thing?

- A pro Bono thing.

Since when does one for me mean two for you?

Harvey, a man d*ed in prison and it doesn't smell right.

Also, the only reason I found out about it is I took your advice and did that interview.

So it's my fault that you're dropping my case?

Yeah, I like to look at it that way.

Seriously, go get 'em.

Thanks, Harvey.

The last guy brought me a plant.

Let me guess, the last guy was Louis.

- You got it.

- Well, I guarantee my welcome gift is a lot more fun than his.

Since when is a merger signing fun?

Since the guys on the other side are trying to rip us off and think we don't know.

Why didn't you tell me that in the first place?

Come on.

I'll fill you in on the way over.

Wait, the meeting's now?

Yeah, is that a problem?

I told Louis we'd get lunch.

Business trumps lunch.

Louis'll understand.

Just call him and let him know.

[phone ringing.]

Alex, hi, I was just on my way to meet you.

About that, Louis.

I have to reschedule.

A work thing came up.

I hope you understand.

Yeah, of course.

Business comes first.

Thanks.

We'll do it another time.

In fact, I'm free all week.

Louis?

You okay?

Uh, yeah, I'm okay.

I, uh-- it's allergy season.

I--I think it's probably best that we don't have lunch today.

I, uh--my--my chest feels like a vice.

All good?

I think so.

What kind of plant did he get you, anyway?

- Honeysuckle.

- Huh.

I never knew that was an indoor plant.

Can be.

Matter of fact, our cats are gonna love it.

- You have cats?

- Why you gotta be like that?

- Why you gotta have cats?

- I like my cats.

No, you don't.

[laughing.]

Ms. Snyder?

Mike Ross.

Is that name supposed to mean something to me?

No, but I'm representing the family of Chris Reyes.

Hoping that name does.

Of course.

Any time an inmate dies, we take it very seriously.

But not seriously enough to give an accounting of his death despite repeated requests by his family.

I received no such requests.

It's a shame you didn't call first.

I could've prepared something.

I didn't want you to be prepared, 'cause I want to know what actually happened.

Mr. Ross, when you do what I do, you get used to people assuming the worst about your company, so I would appreciate a little respect.

Ms. Snyder, when you do what I do, you get used to companies proving you right, so I would appreciate a little action.

Apparently Mr.

Reyes was in a fight.

He was sent to solitary, where he complained of difficulty breathing.

A doctor was called and delivered treatment.

Unfortunately, he d*ed a few hours later.

Well, if he was in a fight, there has to be an incident report.

That may be, but you have no right to access it.

We're a private corporation.

That's privileged.

Okay, then how about you give me the names of the guards who saw it?

You know I can't give you that either.

And you know that if I bring a suit against you, I'm gonna get all of this anyway.

So why don't you save yourself the publicity and just give it to me now?

I don't care what that thing says.

It's not the whole story.

Mr. Reyes, I know this isn't what you wanted to hear, but I'm not seeing a case.

It says there that my son d*ed alone in solitary confinement.

Why didn't they take him to an infirmary?

Because he was seen by a doctor.

There was an explanation for his symptoms.

I know you think I'm just a man who can't accept his child's death.

But that's not true.

Mr.

Reyes, a fight in prison can elevate your heart rate.

Nobody knows that better than I do.

What they're saying happened is plausible.

Then you didn't know my son.

I told you, he was up for parole next month.

He wouldn't have gotten into a fight.

What exactly are you saying?

One of those inmates must have come for him.

And that prison didn't give enough of a sh*t about Chris to protect him.

Mr.

Reyes, I know that you came to me because that article said I wanted to help people and I do, but I know.

My son's already dead.

But if they could've stopped this and they didn't, it's going to happen again.

[somber music.]

Chase, I'd like you to meet our newest senior partner, Alex Williams.

Two senior partners just to sign a contract.

Seems excessive.

It would be, but we're not here to sign anything.

What are you talking about?

He must think I'm pretty dumb.

People always underestimate a pretty face.

Maybe he just thinks you're dumb.

'Cause of the droopy eyes.

Valid theory.

Not unprecedented.

Nobody thinks you're dumb.

Then why the hell did you sneak this clause to the back of my g*dd*mn contract?

We didn't sneak anything.

We were just looking at our options.

Bullshit.

You're trying to use us as a stalking horse so you can merge with Gorban.

So what if I was?

What are you going to do to stop it?

I'll tell you what I did.

I called Alex.

And what I did was call my law school roommate at the DOJ about the anti-trust issues raised by you merging with Gorban.

What do you want?

We want you to live up to the terms of the original agreement.

With one exception.

You're gonna take a step down.

- I'm not stepping down.

- Yes, you are.

This new company doesn't need two outside counsels.

Particularly one who tries to pull shady sh*t without his client knowing about it.

Looks like you're gonna take one for the team, Chase.

The question is, would you like to bow out or get kicked out?

[tense music.]

How the hell can I calm down?

I was watching my mud-mare come true.

You don't know what you saw, Louis.

I'm sorry, I forgot I was blind.

I must've dialed your number using my Braille-a-phone.

You know that's not what I meant.

No, you're right, it's the only explanation as to why I wouldn't know what I just saw, which was Harvey and Alex, arm in arm, laughing at me!

Louis, listen to me.

We knew this was going to happen.

That I was gonna be betrayed by my best friend?

No, that you were going to try to be good-- - Did it.

- Try not to be you.

- Accomplished.

- Then perceive a potentially nonexistent slight and go straight to stage seven.

What the hell are you talking about?

Panic, sorrow, self-loathing, hatred, justification, self-loathing again, and rage.

I call it the seven stages of Louis.

You are so full of sh*t, and you're a total fraud, and I'm actually gonna-- ah, uh, I see your point.

Stage 7b.

No one likes a gloater, Stan.

Be that as it may.

You need a strategy, Louis.

For now and the next time this happens.

[sighs.]

The breathing exercises.

It's the only thing that's ever worked for you.

What would I do without you, Doc?

No need to go down that road, my friend.

Now, picture yourself near the ocean, laying in the sand.

Isn't it lovely?

I got to say, that was pretty fun.

I agree.

I always wanted to pretend I had a friend at the DOJ.

Not a bad first day.

Speaking of my first day, what's up with that Louis Litt guy?

- What do you mean?

- I don't know.

First he tries to stop me from coming over, then he brings me a plant, then when I called to cancel lunch, I could've sworn he was about to cry or something.

What?

Louis is he's complicated.

What do you mean, complicated?

Well, you know he didn't want you here, right?

The thing is, it wasn't professional.

What else could it be?

He was worried that I was gonna be better friends with you than him.

[scoffs.]

What the hell is wrong with this guy?

Does he have a crush on you?

No.

Yeah, he totally has a crush on me.

But not like that.

Maybe this'll work.

You ever seen "MASH"?

Of course, but what does that have to do with this?

Louis is Frank Burns.

Oh.

Why didn't you say so in the first place?

Now I totally get it.

- You sure?

- Yeah.

He loves you, hates you, and wants to be you, all at the same time.

Huh, you do get it.

Yeah, I do.

The question is, are you sure he's gonna be okay with me, or do I have to watch out?

Well, let me ask you this.

Did you tell him your cats are gonna love his honeysuckle?

Yes.

Then I think you'll be fine.

Excuse me.

You guys know Chris Reyes?

Doesn't ring a bell.

That's strange, 'cause according to the incident report the three of you were on duty the night he d*ed.

Even if I were, I wouldn't have anything to say about it, so you can get the fu-- out of here.

Hey, come on.

I just have a few questions, that's all.

This is a prison.

All questions go through the main office.

Where do you think I got your names?

I don't give a sh*t where you got 'em.

You're gonna forget you ever heard 'em.

And if I see your face again, there's gonna be a problem.

Okay, look, I'm not trying to start any trouble here.

But a man is dead, and I need to find out what happened.

For a guy who's not looking to cause any trouble, you sure don't listen too good.

Come on, Drew.

Let's go.

That's what he wants.

I'm telling you, he's not worth it.

[tense music.]

You're one of those assholes who just love getting the sh*t b*at out of him, aren't you?

No, I've had the sh*t b*at out of me, and I can tell you, I didn't love it at all.

Then you better get the hell out of here before it happens again.

I will, just as soon as you answer my questions.

And why would I do that?

Because your name is at the top of the list, and I'm guessing you know what that means.

Yeah, I'm the scapegoat.

But it also means anything they get, they know it came from me.

Except you just told me to go to hell in front of all your buddies, and they saw you meant it.

That's why you came to me at the prison.

Now you got cover.

And I suggest you use it.

Because I am gonna find out what happened here, and when I do, they are gonna shield themselves from liability and I am gonna end up coming after you instead.

Or you can tell me what I need to know, and I'll leave you out of it.

I'm the one who pulled him out of the fight and threw him in the hole.

He started complaining saying he was having problems breathing.

I told my supervisor, and my supervisor said he was gonna call the doctor.

That's all I know.

Bullshit that's all you know.

Look, did Chris get k*lled because he was onto something?

- No.

- Well, that kid, he didn't just up and get in a fight without good reason.

You don't know what you're talking about.

Look, are the guards corrupt?

What the hell did you just say?

- Was somebody out to get him?

- No, he just d*ed!

Look, there's no conspiracy.

Nobody's evil.

Just cheap.

What does that mean?

It means the only reason they were able to wale on him for as long as they did is 'cause they didn't have enough of us on duty that night, 'cause the prison doesn't give a sh*t about anything except its bottom line.

So what did you do?

So I told him he could have the money, but if--if he tried taking those albums, we're gonna have trouble.

[laughs.]

This was lovely.

But I have an early morning tomorrow.

I think I should get home.

Paula, what's going on?

It's nothing.

Really.

Nothing?

We had a great night.

All of a sudden you have to go?

You wouldn't understand.

Try me.

I had lunch with the woman who was my mentor today.

And we were having a wonderful time catching up with each other, and then out of the blue, she asked me if I was seeing anyone.

I said no.

Well, we haven't exactly been seeing each other for very long.

It's understandable if you-- No, it wasn't that, Harvey.

It's that I felt a little What?

Ashamed.

Ashamed.

This isn't a small thing, what we're doing, Harvey.

At least it's not to me.

It's not to me either.

Well, I'm not sure I realized exactly how not small it is until today.

I don't understand.

We've been over this.

It's in writing.

There's no violation with us seeing each other.

This isn't something that I am trying to get away with, Harvey.

It's how I'm feeling inside.

- So what are you saying?

- I'm not saying anything.

I'm just saying I think I should sleep at my place tonight.

[soft dramatic music.]

Donna, I need to talk to you about something.

About what?

About the fact that I'm pissed off.

What's going on?

I gave Stephanie Patel an assignment and she handed it off.

Did you talk to her about it?

Yes, I did, and she gave me her word that she would never do it again, but she did.

I don't understand.

This has Stephanie's name on it.

I don't care whose name is on it.

There's no way that that wasn't written by a first-year associate.

Rachel, please tell me you're not thinking about going to Louis with this.

Are you kidding me?

We took Louis off the associates because of his incident with Stephanie.

If I tell him that she's being insubordinate, he'll k*ll her.

Well, I can't believe I'm saying this, but maybe you should take a page out of Louis' book.

What do you mean?

When Louis first took over the associates, he used to plant a fake associate and fire him in front of the entire class on day one.

And I used to think he was crazy, but Stephanie never would have pulled something like this with Louis.

Okay, first of all, that's just not how I operate.

And second of all, they've all been here.

They'd all be able to tell that it was fake.

Then maybe you need to real fire her.

Because this is a second offense and if you keep letting it go, where does it end?

I'm not gonna do that.

Do you mind if I ask you why not?

Because I don't want my first official act to be f*ring someone.

I understand that, Rachel.

But you better think of something.

Because the one thing that Louis understood was that you've got to come out of the gate in command, or they're gonna walk all over you.

Yes?

Mr.

Reyes, it's Mike Ross.

I went to the prison, and I talked to one of the guards.

What did he say?

He said all the prison cares about is their bottom line.

So I'm filing a lawsuit tonight.

Thank you so much, Mr.

Ross.

I thought that article was maybe too good to be true.

I appreciate that, Oscar, but don't thank me until I get you the answers you're looking for.

You finished the paperwork already?

I might have to give you a raise.

Save your money, Harvey.

I'm here about something else.

What's going on?

I just heard Mike Ross is handling a pro bono.

Yeah, we have a deal.

Why?

You need him for something?

Yeah, I need him to drop that case.

Why?

Because there's a conflict with Masterson Construction.

Mike's pro bono is against some prison.

And guess who builds those prisons.

Wait a second.

Are you telling me to go back on my word because your client's bullying you?

Harvey, I thought we were in this together.

- So did I.

- Then get on board.

Because they're not just any client.

They're one of my biggest.

And if they leave because you chose some prisoner over one of the biggest developers in the country, people are gonna get the message that we don't want to be in the real estate business.

Did they say they were gonna give people that message?

- Harvey-- - Did they or not?

- They did.

- Drop 'em.

- God damn it-- - I said drop 'em.

- No.

- Excuse me?

I may not be name partner yet, but you don't get to tell me who my clients are.

Yes, I do.

Harvey, listen to yourself.

It's one pro bono.

He just took it.

He can drop it.

I gave him my word.

And you once gave your word to me and went back on it and I let it go.

Because I understood it was business.

If this kid doesn't get that, what the hell is he doing here?

Stephanie, I asked you to come to my office.

That was over an hour ago.

I was working on the Sanderson brief.

I was about to come down.

Well, I need to talk to you now, because you told me that you wouldn't hand this off, and you did.

No, I told you that I wouldn't hand it off to Jason, and I didn't.

I'm sorry, are you trying to get out of this on a technicality?

I'm your supervisor, not opposing counsel.

Rachel, I tried to be nice about this, but I'm a fourth-year associate, and I'm not wasting my time on something a first-year could handle.

Now, if you don't mind, I would like to get back to work.

Actually, I do mind.

Excuse me, Stephanie, I'm speaking to you.

It doesn't matter what year you are.

I'm head of the associates.

If I give you an assignment, you do it.

And when you give me one that's worth my time, I will.

What's going on here?

Donna, I'm handling it.

What's going on is that I am a grown woman, and I don't need to be told what to do by someone with less experience as a lawyer than me.

Then you're really gonna hate being told what to do by someone with no experience as a lawyer.

- Donna-- - Excuse me?

I said, you're here, and I'm here.

So unless you want to deal with me, you'll listen when Rachel tells you something.

I was recruited to come here.

And I was told that I would be valued for my mind, my billings, and my relationship with my clients.

And since I got here, I have had to take sh*t from Louis.

And now you're asking me to waste my time and my ability on something like this.

- Okay-- - You're right, Stephanie.

You shouldn't have been treated like that by Louis.

And Rachel and I took care of it.

Now as for your time and ability, if you don't do whatever assignment Rachel gives you, I don't give a sh*t how good you are.

We are gonna show you the door.

[somber music.]

Hey.

Did you come by to tell me that the work I did saved your ass?

It did, but that's not why I'm here.

Harvey, what's going on?

You have to drop your pro bono.

There's a conflict with one of our clients.

What?

Who?

I checked for conflicts before I took the case.

- It's a new client.

- Well, if it's a new client, then let's drop them.

We can't.

They're a huge developer.

A developer?

I'm suing a prison.

I know that, but they're saying-- I don't care what they're saying.

That's not a conflict.

That's a shakedown.

- Mike-- - No.

You're gonna give me the green light, and then I find something, and then you're gonna make me dump them for no good reason?

It's not no good reason.

It's Alex's developer, and I just brought him in.

I let him lose one of his biggest clients his first week here, it's a disaster.

And I let a man die without getting him justice.

What the hell is that?

Listen to me-- Listen to yourself.

We had a deal.

Now this clown is asking me to drop a client that I made a promise to.

Except he's not asking you to drop him, Mike.

I am.

And if you don't, that deal we made--it's over.

How could you do that?

Do what?

I was helping you.

No, Donna, you were undermining me.

Undermining you?

You needed backup.

That's what I'm here for.

No, I needed to handle the situation, which is what I was doing until you decided to interfere in something that you don't know anything about.

No offense, Rachel, but I did know something about it, and from what I could tell, you weren't handling it at all.

And you think what you did was any better?

I think I told you that you need to set the tone early on.

Okay, and the tone that you just set is that if you're not there, she can walk all over me.

Well, I don't know what room you were in, but she was doing that anyway.

And what does it say about me if the other associates see me letting her do that?

What it says is that you trust my leadership style instead of thinking that you need to fight my fights for me.

Stephanie needed what I gave her.

And if you think that was me fighting your fights, you don't know what you're talking about.

Because if it were up to me, I would've fired her on the spot.

Well then, why didn't you?

Because they're not my associates.

You're right.

They're mine.

And I fought for you to get them.

And you just belittled me and embarrassed me in front of all of them.

And that is not something that I thought my friend would do to me.

Well, you know what, I never thought I would say this, but maybe you weren't ready for your new position.

Well, you know what, Donna?

Maybe neither were you.

Dr.

Lipschitz, I, uh-- I know you're in a session.

I just wanted to say that you were right.

Uh, I was overreacting.

I do not have a problem with Alex.

And, uh, if I ever get triggered again, I have the deep breathing.

Anyway, thanks again.

Auf Wiedersehen.

- [sighs discontentedly.]

- Mike.

It's good to see you.

This'll just take a few minutes, and then it's all yours.

No, it doesn't matter how long it takes, Louis.

We can just charge the time back to some client, right?

'Cause nobody around here gives a sh*t about anything other than making money anyway.

Mike, what is going on?

What's going on is that the only reason I came back here is that Harvey and I made a deal, and it hasn't even been a week, and he's already going back on it.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, that's not gonna happen on my watch.

Okay?

So just slow down.

Tell me what the hell you're talking about.

Harvey, we need to talk.

Mike just told me you're breaking a deal with him.

Well, he shouldn't have told you that, because that's none of your business.

None of my business?

My name's on the wall as much as yours.

Look, if Mike doesn't drop that case, we lose a major client.

I can't have that.

- No, Harvey.

What we can't have is you setting a precedent that Alex's clients can run roughshod all over us.

Keep your voices down.

Oh, I get it.

So this isn't about me breaking my deal with Mike.

This is about you being jealous of Alex.

No, it isn't.

I thought it was a mistake even before I found out that it was Alex's client.

- Harvey, he has a point.

- Bullshit.

You told me you were afraid that I was gonna become better friends with him than you, and that's what this is.

How dare you say that to me in front of Donna?

I told you that in complete confidence.

This isn't about my relationship with Alex.

This is about your relationship with Alex and how you're afraid to stand up to him.

You want to run that by me again?

I just ran it by you.

What you are doing is a mistake.

I don't think so, and Donna doesn't think so, which means-- Actually, Harvey, I do.

And if it's all the same to you, I can speak for myself.

- Are you kidding me?

- No, I'm not.

Because the last time you said if I had something to say, say it in the g*dd*mn meeting.

Well, this is the g*dd*mn meeting.

And I happen to think we should keep our word to Mike instead of letting some client bully us.

Well, I appreciate the input.

But I told you you'd get a vote when I said there'd be a vote, and this isn't a vote.

As for you, take a look in the mirror, because the only reason that you're pissed about this is your new honeysuckle friend canceled lunch on you for me.

[solemn music.]

Louis Aren't you a little old to be spending your break in a comic book store?

Everybody has their hobbies, Mike.

Mine's comics.

Yours is helping big corporations screw over the little guy.

Oliver, wait.

I just, I came here because I owe you an apology, and this is my way of doing it.

What's that?

More money to make everything okay?

It's a case.

It's one that means a lot to me.

It's about a guy who d*ed in prison.

If it means so much to you, why don't you do it yourself?

I can't.

We have a conflict with one of our clients.

Well, that's a nice speech, Mike, but I'm not interested, because there's something in it for you, like always.

Oliver, please, look, before you say no, just listen to what I have to say.

I don't need to listen to you anymore.

God damn it, I almost d*ed in there.

What?

My second night in Danbury, I thought that someone was gonna k*ll me.

And then my last night, I knew that same guy was coming for me again.

But I got out.

This kid didn't.

The only thing that's in this for me is making sure that this doesn't happen to someone else.

This seems pretty cut-and-dry, Mike.

That's how they want it to look.

I already know they didn't have enough guard staff on duty that night.

Which means they probably didn't have enough medical staff either.

Or maybe none at all.

Look, I can't let them get away with this without handing it off to the one lawyer I know cares enough to see it through.

Okay, Mike.

I'm in.

- Donna, whatever it is-- - Rachel, I'm so sorry.

What I did was wrong and horrible and showed you no respect, and then you came and tried to tell me that, and I made it a thousand times worse.

Why would you do something like that in the first place?

'Cause I'm new at this.

Then I saw Stephanie treating you like sh*t, and it felt like she was doing that to me.

Because you're the one that gave me the job.

Maybe.

And then you told me I cut your legs out, and that made me feel even worse, and I took it out on you.

- Donna-- - Rachel, you were right.

I'm not completely ready for this.

And I'm not always gonna get things right, and I got them really wrong today.

Maybe not all wrong.

What do you mean?

I thought about it too.

I am finally a member of the bar.

I don't want to supervise anyone right now.

I just want to be the best lawyer I can be.

I understand.

I'll take care of the associates for now.

Donna.

What made you realize all that?

Let's just say I was reminded what it feels like when someone speaks for you and what they're saying is the complete opposite of what you wanted to say.

- Louis?

- Harvey.

The one who gave you your new position.

Exactly.

I'm so sorry, Donna.

I'm sorry too, Rachel.

Harvey, it's late.

Whatever it is-- Did you pawn that thing off to the clinic?

You asked me to drop it, so I dropped it.

Bullshit.

You gave it to the clinic you're affiliated with.

The clinic you told me I could give cases to at my discretion.

Maybe you missed the memo.

If our firm is in any way associated with that case, we lose a huge client.

Harvey, I'm not working on it.

Then you're gonna put that in writing, and you're gonna deliver it to Alex's client.

Ironclad Chinese wall.

You have nothing to do with this case.

Are you saying you don't trust me?

You saying you didn't know what you were doing when you gave it to the clinic?

Okay, Harvey.

I'll put it in writing.

I want you word you're gonna live by what you sign.

You have my word.

You wanted to see me?

Yes, I did, I was just wondering, have you redone the assignment that Rachel gave you?

Not yet.

I had a ton on my plate.

I was gonna get to it tomorrow.

You're fired.

Please, I-I really was going to do it.

I believe you.

But my rule is three strikes and you're out.

Otherwise, where does it end?

In that case, why not do this publicly?

I don't need to do this publicly, Stephanie.

When you're not here tomorrow, people will know what happened.

But I do want you to know, I wish you well.

Do you expect me to believe that?

I don't know.

But it's true.

Before you say anything, I came here for a reason.

Because this is where we met, but it isn't where I need to be anymore.

Harvey, I don't think-- I just have one question to ask you.

Are you worried about what this woman's gonna think or because you think what we're doing is wrong?

Because if this is just about what other people think, it's crazy.

Well, it isn't crazy to me, and I need you to understand that.

I do understand that, but I also know we have a connection, and to throw that away because of some figment of your imagination-- It is not a figment of my imagination.

And I'm not worried about what she thinks.

I am worried about what I think.

- And what is it that you think?

That what if this was a terrible mistake and it doesn't work out and I look like a fool?

Okay.

I know I'm not the therapist here, but isn't that the risk of any relationship?

I'm scared, Harvey.

Me too.

What do you say we both be scared together?

[vocal pop music.]

Can I help you?

Yeah.

My name is Mike Ross.

I would say nice to meet you, but I'm pretty sure you don't feel the same way.

Not particularly.

What's this?

My next 15 potential lawsuits.

I just want to make sure you don't have any conflicts with any of these.

Maybe your client's grandmother shops at the supermarket across the street from number 12.

I'll take a look.

Good, 'cause just to be clear, if I'd known there was a conflict, I never would've taken the case.

I appreciate you dropping it.

I was bulldozed into dropping it, just like I was bulldozed into signing this.

Now, I can live with both those things, but I never want to get caught in this situation again.

- [chuckles.]

- What's so funny?

I just told my client the same damn thing.

Bullshit.

You think this makes me look good?

Well then I guess we're in the same boat after all.

It's nice to meet you, Mike.

Welcome to Pearson Specter Litt.

You said I needed a strategy for when it happened.

Well, I used your strategy, and I got over it, but it didn't fix a g*dd*mn thing!

Louis, calm down.

I'm here for you.

No, you're not!

You're never there for me.

You're always against me.

I did what you said, and this time, it's not my fault.

And I don't give a sh*t what you think.

I'm not the horrible person you always say I am.

Louis, I don't think you're a horrible person.

I think you're a wonderful person.

And if I haven't made that clear to you, I am very sorry.

Well, you can be sorry all you want, Harvey.

- Louis?

- But you are wrong about me.

I'm not a worthless piece of sh*t.

You failed me.

And you were wrong.

You were wrong!

[phone slams.]