06x07 - Napoleon's Hat

[bunniefuu]

Previously on Billions...

The city's down.
It's a perfect opportunity to rebuild.

All of this is some
big romantic gesture?

I think we should both
proceed with caution.

I came here to hire you.

There's a w*r going on,

between the very wealth
you are trying to accrue

and the rest of us.
The stakes are absolute.

New Yorkers will be
riding in style in time

for the games.

And you'll be the hero
to take them there.

No. The governor of New York will be.

Isn't this getting too
expensive to be worth it?

Not until the torch is lit in Manhattan.

After we eat, it's off to Palazzo

with our soft targets.

The place is loaded with talent.

Thank you for taking the time to see...

There's no money without the cars.

No but you did promise it to the MTA.

We'll make an undirected donation

of two billion dollars to
the MTA tomorrow morning.

Without a source close to Prince,

you'll just be guessing
blind at his att*cks.

[CHUCK] You can get me the
names of the contenders

for Prince's list.

MPC,
meet the final piece of the Prince List.

Indiana A&M.

[ALL CHEER]

Are you leaving?

Why?

You down for another round?

Oh, you so want to.

But you haven't allowed
yourself a free morning

since junior high, and now you're stuck.

Stay. For breakfast.

Okay. It won't just be the two of us...

[LAUGHS]

I... I could use your help.

And your charm.

Colin Drache is coming
over for a meeting.

He's gonna get us primed
for the final vote

at the end of the week.

He's gonna want his palms greased,
that guy.

I have a workaround.

You think he keeps himself
in Brunello Cucinelli

taking "workarounds"
instead of fat envelopes?

That's why you need to be there.

I can't let him get me
like Napoleon's hat,

two corners.

With you there,
he can't ask for a payoff.

I love New York. Who doesn't?

It's a fine city.

It's a fine slogan.

But even the most fervent
amoureux de New York

would have to concede,
your public transportation

is an insult

to both the public and transportation.

No. If you go by what exists now, sure.

But by the time the games are here...

Let me guess. Your trains will
be as speedy as Monfils himself

and won't smell like liquefied humanity.

I'm meeting with the MTA later

to sell them on a brighter future.

I've got a lead engineer

and private funding all lined up.

It's as good as done.

There's a deadline.

You'll get an agreement
within the next three days?

Yep. Just in time for
every Commission member

to write those grand three letters,

"NYC," on their ballots.

I've seen the subway plans myself.

Excellent. There remains
one matter to discuss.

A delicate one...

which we could address if we were...

a bit more like un chapeau de Napoleon.

Perhaps I could return or...

Oh. Oh, no,
there's no need for a return visit.

[DROPS FOLDER]

This outlines an initiative
I'm funding with Indiana A&M

seeking a greater level
of international diversity.

It allows certain members of the ICS

to select which kids
in their community...

deserving kids... get the scholarships.

Now, the school
will have final approval,

but it'll make some of
your commissioners heroes.

And do a lot of good around the world.

I've got a C.I. stuck
into the Prince List.

Stuart Legere, President of Indiana A&M.

I got a call from him on my way in.

Prince is offering scholarships

like a Pez dispenser.

Scholarships are a bad thing now?

We've gotta talk scholarships.

- All above board.
- [CHUCKLES]

- You want to think so.
- What are you worried about?

He's giving them to members
of the Olympic Commission

- to use as leverage...
- That's mom's apple pie

compared to what usually happens
in the grapple for the games.

Chuck's gonna go after them.

- Oh, come on...
- I'm telling you.

Let me coordinate with Indiana A&M,

help them language their
announcement so it's clear

they were seeking these students.

And with the recipients,
make sure they declare

the scholarships on their taxes.

There's merely been an introduction,

a connection made.

That's a level of care
beyond legal due diligence.

Which is what we need,

because Chuck is going to go after them.

[CHUCK] My guess is,

somewhere inside this
is a direct bribe of sorts,

a quid pro quo.

I sometimes think
I'm a good guesser, too.

Like when Howard Stern
used to have the Rosie head

filled with jelly beans.
But no matter how sure I was,

- I never got it right.
- That they became friends

is one of the great
shocks of my lifetime.

It's wonderful.

But these scholarships are not.

My nose never lies.

It's like that toucan
in the Froot Loops ads.

And I smell something.

You hired me to
anticipate Chuck's moves.

If he finds out about this,

he's gonna try to make
it look real look bad.

The Olympic announcement
is in three days.

He will see this deadline
as putting pressure on you

to shore up the bid.

And Chuck Rhoades thinks
that any wealthy plunger

in a tight spot pays his way out.

That guy.

A Cypress Hill song comes to mind.

I can't picture you listening to that.

Lot of years in basketball locker rooms.

Raps along,
but never says the curse words.

So we need to only talk
about every part of that,

or never speak of it again.

I choose "B." So...

The harbor is mined here.

We do it right,
we sail through to dry land.

We do it wrong, bang.

Good. Thank you, Kate.

You pay her to lock it down.

You pay me to make it work.

These scholarships will be
. % pure when she's done.

But even that Ivory Snow

might not be enough to bring this home.

Salt Lake City lost the ' Winter Games

because they were giving
out saltwater taffy

while Nagano was comping
resort vacations.

We're playing with a
boa constrictor here.

We don't get away
without being squeezed.

The games are part of my long-term plans

for myself and this city.

But I have an angle.

The Olympics are under pressure

to move past the sordid reputation.

I'm the guy offering to
usher them into a new age,

a fully respectable one.

My gut is that they're not looking for

free sushi dinners and
massages this go-round.

Maybe they just want to
camouflage it better.

Nah, I saw Colin's face when
I handed him that folder.

It was exactly what he was looking for.

No one puts on a read
better than you, Mike.

But do you want to be the first person

who really tried to get
the games to New York City

with no grease?

Or the person who got the
games to New York City?

[CELL PHONE BUZZES]

- Hi.
- That event tonight at Kevin's school...

- I forgot all about it.
- [CHUCK] Tonight?

I missed it entirely. My mistake.

What, are they accepting
donations of valuables

now that they've cleaned
out our bank account?

Just as painful. Carnival fundraiser.

They have us down as
volunteers to work the booths.

That implies we were willing.

Neither of us has attended

a Parent Association meeting this year.

I'm guessing they wouldn't accept

a paralegal in our stead?

Not if we want to
remain in good standing.

Kevin's gonna be applying
to colleges soon.

And if you can't get him into Yale,

we're gonna need them to jam him into...

Don't say Cornell.

I was hoping you could
take one for the team.

I would. I will.

Next time. Work is...

I'm asking for a favor, Chuck.

Which I would love to do for you.

Hell, at next year's carnival,

I'll do the dunk t*nk,

and I'll let you take the first sh*t.

I just don't think I can
make it happen right now.

Hmm.

[SLAMS RECEIVER]

[SIGHS]

[WOMAN] Ten times the efficiency.

Zero accidents. Zero delays.

[SUPPLE] Easier said than built.

Only slightly so for Ms. Reddy.

She's put the full force
of her engineering genius

and her network building experience

into complete signal overhaul.

I've already designed
the routing systems

and run simulated tests.

This will save lives

and lots of money in the long term.

[DOOR OPENS]

[PRINCE] Mayor Johnson.

I didn't know you'd be joining us today.

Would've waited if I had.

Since you couldn't buy us a new subway,

I wanna hear how Mike Prince
plans to save

the subway we've got.

[PRINCE] Two words:

Olympic Express.

An express train service
to and from Olympic venues.

It'll incentivize more
tourists to use mass transit,

and, with the higher fares,
it will be a major

revenue generator for the MTA.

I love to walk down Fifth
Avenue and window shop.

It's fun to imagine wearing
all those pretty things.

But as soon as you step inside the store

and flip over that price tag,

the illusion is broken.

I'm stepping inside the
store this budget cycle,

coordinating closely
with all city agencies.

I'm sorry, Mike,
we just can't afford luxury items.

Well, that's the best part.

Won't cost the city a thing. Nada.

I have commitments from
prominent financiers,

including Sruthi,
to provide all the funding.

- Every cent.
- Yeah, sure.

We might as well build a private train

just for Mr. Michael Prince
while we're at it.

There's nothing but upside
for the MTA on this.

Nothing in this city comes free.

Sorry, Mike, we don't need you.

We don't want to be indebted
to private investors.

We're floating public transpo bonds

to raise the funds the MTA needs.

You want to see the
Olympics come to New York.

I know you do.

I can't be seen doing your bidding.

Not this term.

Especially after all
that drama with Rhoades.

I was standing up there
being shouted at, too.

By voters.

Cute idea, though. Olympic Express.

Maybe for .

Well, that's that.

Not over. Stand by.

Your company will be wiring
signals by next week,

one way or another.

I'm just looking for a
little courtesy here, Nadine,

between our offices on interstate fraud.

No, New York did not "steal" anything.

And for the record,

I was trying to help.

I was the one behind
the Boss and Bon Jovi

playing that show.

Don't lose faith,
New Jersey's still in the hunt.

Stand by.

New Jersey AG.

Her governor's pissed 'cause

New York snaked the Olympic bid.

But it hasn't even been announced.

I'm aware. But there have been whispers.

I had the whole thing tilted
their way and not Prince's.

Something happened that night
that overshadowed the show

and put New York back in the lead.

That's where we need to be looking.

- Karl!
- Reporting.

Work with Dave to get me
the chopper manifests

from the night the advance
team flew to the Stone Pony.

I need to know everyone
on board to and fro.

I remember the days you
didn't have to take roll call

in a whirlybird.

Now that I think about it,

things have changed for the better.

Haircuts haven't.

Beer neither.

But, yeah, some things.

I'll go get started.

And maybe you should get
back on those scholarships.

I'm here to catch flagrant law-breakers.

I'm good with that.

But I can't go in on hunting
an upstanding guy

sticking the tips of his
Purple Labels over the line.

There is another kind,

besides the flagrant and the line-toer,

and that is one who believes
there is no line for him.

Because his stature,

because his wealth,
gives him the divine right.

And you think that's Mike Prince?

- It is.
- If you're going after him

because his ego is too big,

everyone who lives north of
th Street is guilty of that.

Maybe the whole damn island.

Look, it seems like

you want to prosecute the idea

of this kind of wealth itself.

But the courts don't offer
a cause of action for that.

They oughta.

You say that

because you are from it.

Only those with wealth

have the privilege of resenting it.

But, for the rest of us,

it's that dream that makes things go.

Innovation. Industry.

The life-changing fortune
that comes along with it.

You're telling me you
didn't raise your kids

to aspire to more?

I've certainly raised mine that way.

Part of why I took the
shortest maternity leave

on record at the defender's office.

That American myth

is just as sweet as an ice-cold Coke,

and it's been guzzled down
by folks on the lower rungs

who don't want to tax the rich

because they think they'll be
that rich themselves someday.

And tell me you don't hope
your kids spend more time

with theirs than you did.

I want them to have it all.

[CHUCK] Only guys like Prince get that.

People like him,

who accumulate such
outsized power and lucre,

thr*aten the very thing that
makes America truly great,

democracy.

An equal voice for all.

That is a crime in and of itself.

I'm aware of exactly where

the American Dream falls short,
believe me.

But we're not about to flip

an entire system of wealth and privilege

by netting one Mike Prince.

[CHUCKLES]

Just promise me.
If we get to the end of this

and there's no crime,

we move on to some real criminals.

I'll do you one better.

I'll let you pick the next target.

I'll look for a lever to move
the Transport Workers Union

to get them to pressure the MTA Board.

No, no more of that.

The Board isn't the issue,
Mayor Johnson is.

They were with us till she walked in.

But she's all cashed up
for subway improvements

from a new bond issuance.

Then what do we offer her?

She couldn't handle the
political heat from Rhoades

and his Godzilla routine.
She said as much.

Then you need to make it hotter for her

to stand against the Olympics
rather than for them.

Yep.

I'll take the Skyway, you know?

High above the little one-way, sure.

Yeah. Good.

I'll set up a Zoom
with those fine folks.

I've looked at them all, Chuck.
All legit.

And, honestly,
some pretty deserving kids

are gonna get to go to college.

College will be better for it, too.

Proud we are of all of them.

My old firm had a digger on payroll.

I asked him to look into
Prince and the Olympics.

He found no evidence of illegal activity

- in connection with the bid.
- Yet.

He hasn't found it...

[ALLRED] You wanna make a man dance?

Hit him with a subpoena.

You should've seen the
guy at Sky Star Aviation

scramble to get me these manifests

once I showed him the stamp.

Michael Prince, not on board.

Scooter Dunbar was listed,
but also didn't fly.

The rest was Commish advance team,

except for Wagner and one Colin Drache.

Michael Wagner.

The Captain Trips for this
merry band of pranksters.

I made a great spirit
guide in my salad days.

Loose, breathable clothing is key.

Wagner was the only
Prince employee on board.

Your bloodhound doesn't know
how men like Prince think.

I do.

He's insulated himself.

Prince only would've sent
someone like Michael Wagner

in his stead for one reason.

Wagner carries the black bag.

The man wears decorative rings,
for Christ sake.

We really can't jump
to legal conclusions

- based on accessories.
- Oh, yeah, we can.

Karl, find out who this Colin Drache is.

We're off to a meeting across the river.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

You shouldn't have sh*t-canned Lauren.

- Come again?
- That came out wrong.

That's not what I meant.

We need an IR person. We need something.

Every time there's a ratings change,

our switchboard lights up with
calls from panicky investors.

Not our actual switchboard,
which we don't have,

- but like our metaphoric one.
- I get you.

Using the ratings to punch holes
in our investment theories.

Like sick people using WebMD
to second-guess their doctor.

More like people using
Moody's to bust my ball...

Surely you can handle that.

I can handle drunk
Gerard Butler wannabes

nudging up against me at Minnows

with their Fiddlehead IPAs.

Doesn't mean I want to
waste my time on them.

Rankin's releasing a slew
of upgrades and downgrades

later this week.

Sure to bring a fresh onslaught.

Maybe there's a way we can
preempt these kinds of calls.

Establish our own ratings criteria.

Cool idea, but...

I don't even have nights
and weekends as it is.

Yeah. That would involve
hundreds of hours of analysis.

We could crowdsource it.

Hey.

Tight-lipped bunch in that place.

- I got the bartender talking.
- How?

I recognized the tattoo artist
who did a piece on his neck.

Learned that trick last
time I was a prosecutor.

- So what did we get?
- He heard some of the foreigners saying

their next stop was "The Palazzo."

Palazzo.

High-end cathouse.

Or it was. They shut down during COVID.

I thought they never reopened.

You missed the email blast?

Well, let's go. Where is it?

You're asking me?

Hey, I'm not judging,
but you're the Overton Window guy,

so I figured...

No, no, I'm outta that game.

So we have to find Palazzo.

Yep.

It's our Fleur de Lis.

I think I know how to
solve the MTA issue.

A move has been made.

Is it going to work?

Let's go see Prince.

Maybe we wait a b*at on that,

until after I make my play.

Ms. Mayor,
call for comment from the Post.

Seems Mike Prince is in talks to sell

that new subway tech to Minneapolis.

Minneapolis doesn't
even have a g*dd*mn...

Headlines are gonna m*rder
you for passing on it.

"It's A Twin Pity,

NYC Loses Out Thanks to Her Honor."

And so forth.

Get Mike Prince on the phone for me.

[RANKIN] No glory in helming

a third-generation family business,

I'll tell you that. None.

Sure, my name's on the door,

but if I make money, it's expected.

Everyone in the clan has their
hand out waiting to be filled,

so I can only f*ck it up from there,
which makes me ornery.

Someone with very little
to lose when it comes

to tangling with a new competitor.

I like the direct thr*at thing.

You don't see it so much anymore

except from guys like you.

It's bracing.
I'd love you to go further.

To put it bluntly, you'll wake me up.

You have.

You don't make enemies
of the well-entrenched.

Even if you win, the cost is too great.

Plus, you'll embarrass yourself.

We're an institution.

We have expertise, track record,

client relationships.

You issue one inaccurate rating,

some errant data point,

and you lose all credibility.

As an investor, too.

So let me buy your crowd
sourcing algorithm from you,

salvage whatever I can.

That was a quick zip around the corner

from Extortion Ave to Payoff Lane.

[LAUGHS]

You'll walk away with
your reputation intact,

a little change in your pocket.

You see your track record
as an advantage?

You haven't upgraded your system since

Nelly came out with
Country Grammar in .

Not even after you
rated subprimes triple-A

during the housing bubble.
None of you did.

The beauty of my algo is that
it's extracurricular for me

and very low-cost to operate.

Say you're right, and there's a glitch.

No, several.

We can weather them
until we prove ourselves

and outperform you.

Besides, I have another offer already.

And like you said,
it might make sense to sell,

given the hats I already wear.

"Offer"?

sh*t.

- Standard & Poor's?
- I can't say.

Look, my main reason for
starting this is accuracy.

Whoever actually runs the thing.

I'll match, no, better their offer.

Sure, I'll let you.

Because, much like your family,

I'm interested in seeing you do better.

Thank you, Taylor, this is the right...

But I need to make sure
that certain city issuances

of certain city authorities are examined

and rated accurately,

low as that might be.

[LAUGHS] That's more old school than...

You're old school as
a barbershop quartet.

Your hairstyle alone
could make this happen.

Otherwise, I put you out of business,

and you can explain that
to folks at the next reunion.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

What do you say, guys? Hmm?

You came.

I said I'd try. As did you.

Now I guess they've assigned
us to work together.

I guess they did.

Well, uh,
much as I appreciate the backup,

I think I've got the bobbing
for apples under control.

Fresh water and apples
for each contestant.

Sanitized bucket. Feel free to take off.

And suffer the disapproving glares

of the coven of PTA moms as I leave?

Fat chance.

I'm sticking it out.

I think one of them
hexed me on the way in

when she found out I didn't RSVP.

- No takers yet?
- Not a one.

It's a dreadful game, really.

Your face submerged, inhaling water.

I'd never equate the two,

but it's not unlike waterboarding,

I'll tell you that from experience.

Oh, it's a story for another time.

[MAN] Rhoades.

Taking a break from
your billionaire bashing

to turn this place commie, too?

Save it for the ballot box, sir.

I want to get into it now.

[LAUGHS] No,

you walking inferiority complex.

Why don't you do us all a favor

and go find yourself
a therapist instead of

picking fights with greater men?

Unless you want him to drag
you for paying your nanny

- and housekeeper off the books...
- Shut the f*ck up, Karen.

Ohh, pal, that is a line
you do not want to cross,

unless you want to end up
like Andy "The Hawk" Price,

knocked out standing by Sugar Ray.

[BOTH LAUGH]

Thanks for getting my back.

- We struck a nerve.
- Yeah.

I think it was the combo of a smug smile

and boat shoes.

There's a lotta those around here,
unfortunately.

The year Sperrys or a Vineyard Vines

blazer shows up on
Kevin's Christmas list

is the year we transfer
him to public school.

Mm-hmm. Should we have that convo again?

We always said we'd revisit
it if there were good reason.

We'll think on it...

but probably, yes.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

- Mike.
- Hi.

Uh... come in.

I don't want to jinx it,
but I have reason to believe

things are looking good
for the games right now.

The mayor called me for a meet.

In person.

Only one reason for that call.

Kickass, Michael Prince. Nicely done.

I had Skyline flown in from Cincinnati,

a celebratory four-way and five-way.

You're still the only
Midwesterner I know

- who can handle it.
- You know I can,

but I have dinner plans
that I can't get out of.

Oh, no sweat. I-I should have checked.

You're still coming to the
announcement event though, yeah?

Of course.
That's the whole reason I'm here.

[SIGHING] Good.

Win or lose, I want you by my side.

What's up?

It's been nice,

being here and seeing
more of each other.

And there's a small part of me
that wanted New York to lose,

for the games to go to
Prague or Mexico City.

So you could challenge yourself
on another nation's soil,

no home field advantage?

No.

To see if you'd put in the effort.

I need to be training at
altitude in the mountains.

Would you pull yourself
away from your company,

fly to me on a Friday night?

Make calls and dial into
meetings from my base camp?

Now that it's so convenient,
we'll never really know.

[SCOFFS] Well that's the point
of having your own jet, right?

The freedom to commit to what you love.

I'd bring the hotspot,

the sat phone, whatever it took.

But we're lucky we don't have
to deal with that added strain.

We get the best of both worlds this way.

Okay. Good.

I'm gonna finish getting ready.
I'll see you at the thing.

[GLASS SHATTERS]

Fortune favored me tonight
at the silent auction table.

I'm surprised you bid on something.

Only under great duress.

A dinner at home for two
by Chef Daniel Boulud.

Nicely done.

I'm sure it'll be exquisite.

[LAUGHS]

Well, uh, actually,

I don't have a special
someone to share it with

at this juncture.

And I can't face asking
Ira or my dad to join me.

Why don't you take it?

Yeah, make a special night
of it for you and a friend.

I... I don't really have
anyone to ask either,

at the moment.

Huh.

Why don't we enjoy it together,

at the house?

It's a fine idea.

Check my calendar.

[MAYOR JOHNSON] I am damned
if I work too closely

with billionaires and damned
if I don't work closely enough.

It's a tough spot.

The headlines haven't been kind.

And now you're also saddled with every

subway delay and malfunction.

If I can be blamed for
the subway's failures,

I plan on taking credit
for its success, too.

Which is why you're here.

It is.

I'm here to tell you that

we don't need any money from you
or your "steering committee."

And even if you shower
Minneapolis with your gifts,

we have a subway upgrade
plan of our own in place.

That's not what you said on the phone

when you begged for this meeting.

Because I hadn't explained my situation

to the governor yet.

But it seems he recently fell into

two billion in unexpected cash.

A kind donation from a generous,

civic-minded individual.

And Sweeney's diverting
it to the MTA's budget.

With that and the new bond
issuance we're planning,

the hole's all filled in.

We're going to announce
our upgrade plan tomorrow.

I'm looking forward to the headlines.

I can take plenty more
than my train tech

to the Twin Cities.

I could take my business, my holdings,

my taxes.

Your job isn't to fix the trains.

It's to keep the whales like me
swimming in your waters,

raising the tides for everyone.

Oh, I've seen Blackfish.

But now I know
from personal experience, too.

Trying to work with you
only makes you hostile.

You're free to swim where you please.

Two billion.

Sweeney's using my
own money to block me.

[SIGHS]

The Prague and Mexico City
bids have sent contingents

to Athens ahead of tomorrow's vote.

They've set meetings.
That means one thing:

They've found the vulnerable
among the advance team,

and they're going to be very
persuasive in person. Very.

The Olympics aren't going
to be my curtain call.

I plan on having a lifetime of
grand projects, as you know.

My reputation and my
career are inseparable.

So we're back at square one.

With one day left.

Never feels like it,

but that's the best place to be.

We're bringing the ball up,

they're in a full-court defense.

Lotta pressure.

But you keep control
and break the press.

Nobody's back, and it's an easy bucket.

We just gotta break the press.

You're a man with an
eerily extensive knowledge

of New York's darker corners.

Do you know where "Palazzo" is?

Not sure.

I did go to a pretty
incredible place once

in Okinawa called "Whisper Alley"

when I was detailed to a
Department of Defense trip

with some generals, though.

There was a hell of a banana show,

and they served sake

with a habu viper in the bottle.

You know what?

Never mind.

Chef Boulud says he will handle
any dietary restrictions.

The only restriction will be
my belt after I eat all this.

Though I have heard
the bouillabaisse is...

Oh, yeah, no, it sure is.

I had it a few years back.

We did. Together. At, uh, Café...

Boulud. Right.

Yes. With that...

weird couple we met at The Blantyre.

Oh, my God.

Yes.

[CHUCKLES] Oh, man,
the folks you meet on vacation.

Should stay in your memory,

before they take down five martinis,

and never at your table.

Pick whatever looks good to you, Chuck.

I'm sure it'll be great.

Okay, good.

I have been looking through
all of our Olympic dealings

with my Chuck goggles on,
and I found something.

The night you two
entertained the advance team

for the Commission.

The manifests for the
helicopter company Jersey

used that night have been subpoenaed.

Nothing can be linked to M-TAP.

Doesn't have to be.

Chuck gets one lead,
announces an investigation,

Commission gets rattled
and goes with another city.

Do you all have everything locked down?

That would be a question for...

Moi.

None of the professionals
involved in that evening's

activities are a liability.
Discretion is their craft.

Good. Make sure of it.

Best for us all if I
don't touch that one.

This Palazzo business.

Asking around with the
criminals in custody,

none of them can afford it.

All I've got is an old address.

It was becoming too well known,

so they picked up
and moved it elsewhere.

Well, these places shuffle locations

like handsy priests change dioceses.

We could use some help on this.

There's someone I can ask.

Thanks.

[OPERATOR] We're sorry,

you have reached a number

that has been disconnected

or is no longer in service.

[OPERATOR] The number you
dialed has been changed,

disconnected,
or is no longer in service.

Madison, it's me.

I can't get through to the Palazzo.

Have you heard anything?

Has there been any trouble?

Ask around, would ya?

Okay. Let me know.

I'm here on business.

Thank you for agreeing to see me again.

I know that you had
hoped to never have to.

That was a long time ago.

And you were a good customer before.

My favorite kind.

Not for the right reasons.

Oh, I needed it, yeah.

At the moment, though...

I see that.

You're different now, changed.

For the time being, at least.

Palazzo. I need its current location.

I didn't know any other way to find it.

That place doesn't offer
what you're into.

Unless your arousal template
has completely changed...

I just need the address.

[GRUNTS]

Like I said...

Strictly business.

I see.

Oh, and one more thing
you will absolutely need.

The password.

There's panic at the MTA.

Rankin Ratings Agency has just
put New York's subway system

- on Credit Watch Negative...
- Scooter!

...that's a warning to
investors that their rating

will be dropping soon.

There's already been a
discussion of shutting down

a subway line to cut costs...

I'm telling you this now
before you see it yourself.

Mase Carb is buying MTA bonds.

People are spooked by
the Credit Watch Negative

and they're selling them
like they're Beanie Babies.

But that's not all.

You'll see, when you look at our sheet,

that we went to cash for this
ahead of the announcement.

So you were prepared?

You knew this was coming,
and you said nothing to me.

I encouraged Rankin to take
a closer look at the MTA.

And when they did, they agreed
with me that AAA was too high.

Mase Carb will make a profit,

and the MTA is now in a tight spot,

which I believe is exactly
where you need them to be.

We saw it as a win-win.

Your pronouns haven't changed,
have they?

You're using "we" to mean...

Yes, I knew.

So you both did this behind my back?

- For you, you mean.
- I made the choice

to ignite the fuse on a move
that would solve your problem.

The mayor is on the phone.
She wants to meet ASAP.

Ask her to hold a minute.

The governor will be calling also,
probably.

This could easily be
seen as manipulation.

If word leaks about this,
it could t*nk our bid...

everything we've been working for.

What's the rating gonna be, triple-B?

- Double-B.
- Jesus.

My best move is to get ahead
of this by calling foul now.

You were right. I have the governor

on the line now, too.

Leonard Supple.
MTA Board, is also on the phone.

They all want the same meeting.

If you really want,
I can unwind all of this

before the new rating is announced.

I can change it back and take
my ratings algo off the market.

No. Tell them all I'm
ready to meet tonight.

Lady Bertilak.

Members only tonight.

- Hup!
- [SIRENS BLARING]

[OFFICER] Let's move, people!

Man up! Lets go!

Go, go, go.

Ready?

- Hands on the wall!
- Police!

Hands on the wall!

[MAN] Warrant?

I've never seen a bridge club
with so many patrons under .

I'd like to see 'em try and play a hand.

It's clear.

We got nothing.

It's all good.

[CELL PHONE VIBRATES]

They're gone.

They didn't find anything.

Damn right!

Next time I pay every employee
their full night's wages,

something unspeakable
is going to transpire,

and I will be right in the middle of it.

[EXHALES]

We both should've seen this coming.

We've shown the stealth
of a Santa Con bar crawl.

They were expecting us.

Now once, in college, I participated

in what was called a "Hash run."

The idea is only the
organizer of the run

knows the true route.

He or she marks it out

with small piles of flour on the ground,

but only intermittently.

You have to uncover the route as you go,

wrong turns and all.

Sounds like an effective
model for tricking yourself

into running longer.
But not for an investigation.

[CHUCK] I disagree.

There, the reward
was supposedly in the doing.

There was nothing waiting
at the end other than

a fleeting sense of
accomplishment and shin splints.

We may have gone down
an unfruitful path tonight,

but there is more to uncover.

But that's exactly it, Chuck.

We have no idea if that's true.

That presto change-o tells us it is.

If Prince wants to win the Olympics,

he'll have to offer
plenty more than one night

at a sex club.

The final vote is in less than hours.

When men like Prince are under pressure,

they take shortcuts.

Yeah, so you've said.

But all we've got to
show for that theory

is an armed raid on a bridge club.

You know that was no bridge club.

Sure, but that's not how
it's gonna look on the books.

Double-B.

Tough break.

f*ckin' Rankin.

We canceled the debt offering.

Set off a chain reaction
across every maturity.

I assume you have a cash shortfall now,

hence the meeting?

Yeah, we'll, uh, we'll do your plan.

The Olympic Express,
the signal overhaul, all of it.

And you're okay accepting private funds?

We have to.
It's the only way we can keep

the lines running at this point.

Oh, I'm a moon jelly.

I drift with the tides,

and they've turned.

I'm back on Team Olympics.

No. I'm just happy I can help.

Sruthi?

Let's get started right now.

Mark?

We don't have a second to lose.

Damn.

[KNOCKS]

Colin Drache.

The unknown on the chopper that night?

- I looked into him.
- Hmm.

If we're trying to catch a fixer,

my money's on this bub.

He's not a Commission member?

He used to be Commish,

but he left under a cloud
of suspicion after Sochi.

Word is he ended up with a villa

on the Black Sea for his efforts.

He's "consulted" on all the games since.

Have any charges been brought?

- Anything been proven?
- Guy's a Vaselined watermelon.

Where there's smoke,
there's always burning piles of money.

We're taking this to Sweeney.

I'm going to pass on
another uninvited bust-in.

That hasn't worked out for me this week.

Fine. Call your private eye.

See what he can find on Colin Drache.

[SIGHS]

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Drop that fork

before you take a mouthful of bung!

What the hell, Chuck?
This is salad niçoise.

Uh-huh, so they say,

but you never know.

If prepared the right way,

pig rectum can pass for calamari.

- Often does.
- Yep.

Bung on your tongue.

And now you've ruined my appetite.

Mike Prince has prepared
a golden brown Olympic bid,

and he's served it to you with a smile

and a little ramekin of marinara.

But, as with all things that man does,

it's not as genuine as it appears.

This sh*t again?

Look, Chuck,
I tried playing for your side.

I really did.

The man came back with a baseball bat

and took it to my budget

like Sonny LoSpecchio in Bronx Tale.

And as with the offense
that inspired that work,

the truth of Prince's
misdeeds will come out.

He's using a fixer to
move the Commission.

Get ahead on this.

Stop backing the Olympics
and save yourself

from going down with him.

You got a case?

Because every bid
has a consultant, Chuck.

And most of these guys
aren't winning any civic awards.

So surely you can prove all this.

Oh, I'm building one.

Hell of a case.

I want the Olympics now, Chuck.
In fact, I need them.

The games are gonna do
good things for the city,

like fix the subways.

And for me, it's gonna launch me onto

the national political stage.

But think of the downside,

the adverse consequences for the city.

So it'll enrich Mike Prince
and his "steering committee"

of other billies a bit more.

But none of this would've
happened without their cash.

So the pros outweigh the cons.

Colin's here.

This'll be a quick meeting.

Let's go clinch these games.

[COLIN] Well,
congratulations are in order.

You've put in one hell of a bid.

The Commission is impressed.

Well, we couldn't have done it
without your guidance, Colin.

The stadium, the venues,
the scholarships.

The Olympic Express was a great idea.

They really like the sound of that one.

As did the MTA.

You've now given them every
reason to choose New York...

except for one.

As I say, all are impressed,

but there are certain parties...

that, um,

may still need to be...

inspired.

Would you gentlemen excuse us?

I know what a two-person meeting means.

And I know what happens to someone

when they go down this road.

You're gonna wake up
tomorrow a different person

in ways you don't see for a long time.

Even if it gets you the games,

don't do it.

You know why Scooter went
straight back to his office?

Because he knows what I know.

I'll be fine.

Do you think Rankin will
use our ratings program

to actually issue better ratings?

Or will they sit on it now
that it's no longer a thr*at

and go back to business as usual?

Honestly, I don't know.

Are you here to clear your conscience?

Tell me I did the wrong
thing by selling to them?

Honestly, no.

I'm sure you had a reason.

I did.

Thank you for this.

Call me with anything else
you turn up. Yeah.

We've got to scoop up
Colin Drache and sweat him.

I just got the Intel back from my guy.

We may finally have something.

There's a web of wire
transfers attached to Drache.

Can they be traced back to Prince?

Or to any rogue ICS members?

We can't tell where the wires came from,

or their final destination.

But Drache recently received
five million dollars

to an offshore account.

If that money came from Mike Prince...

Can we be sure?

It's just as likely
those wires came from

the Mexico City or Prague bids.

Colin's had contact with all
of them at different points.

Your P.I. can't untangle the knot?

Not without the voluntary
cooperation of the banks.

Well, then there's only
one way to know for sure.

If the confetti falls
on New York tonight,

we'll know that Prince's payment
to Colin Drache got it done.

And we grab Drache right there.

Snatch him up before the
announcement is made.

[JAZZ MUSIC PLAYS]

We sure Prague isn't
gonna take this from us?

The Vegas books had it at a
. % implied probability.

London at even.

So am I gonna have a bunch of angry

construction workers busting
my onions tomorrow morning?

Nah.

I woke up joyful today.

My body tells me we'll win this.

Thank you to the candidate cities

for your incredible bid presentations.

All were worthy.

But one bid stood above all the others.

And the International
Commission of Sport

has the honor of announcing

that the Olympic Games in

are awarded to...

New York City!

- [ALL CHEER]
- Yes!

You actually did the thing.

We did.

[LAUGHS]

Hey, everybody, let's go out
and celebrate with the city!

This is exciting.

I feel like I won the gold.

I'm filled with patriotic fervor.

It feels heady, just like a whip-it.

Hey, good job.

- Well done, Mike.
- Thanks for your help.

You did a lot to make this happen today.

Thank you for the recognition.

But I thought you didn't like my move.

I didn't mind what you did.
I mind how you did it.

I'm not the drunk dad in the family.

You don't need to make secret plans

about how to manage me at Christmas,

where to hide the booze.

I can know these things.

[LAUGHS]

[CROWD CHEERING]

[MAN] !

There he is.

New York, we did it!

's gonna be
an incredible time in this city!

[ALL CHEER]

[FIREWORKS EXPLODING]

Excuse me.

Drache is gone.

Vaselined watermelon m*therf*cker!

Oh, of course he's gone, Dave.

He never existed.

But look who's still up there.

Mike Prince and friends.

Prince didn't pull this off
all by his lonesome.

He and his cabal of rich cronies

steamrolled the city and the state

and elements of the
goddamned Commission of Sport

to get this done.

So we separate Prince
from his power base.

Mmm-hmm. Let him fall like
the smoke from the fireworks

drifting down on this fine city.

Well, another win
for the good guys, right?

I think it's a win for all of us.

The city. The country. The whole thing.

Smile, Chuck.

You're on the winning team this time.

Nah. I'm staying on my side.

And losers for now will be later to win.

Right?

No surprise there.

["THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN'"
BY CHRIS CORNELL PLAYS]

♪ Come gather 'round people ♪

♪ Wherever you roam ♪

♪ And admit that the waters ♪

♪ Above you have grown ♪

♪ And accept it that soon ♪

♪ You'll be drenched to the bone... ♪

[PRINCE] We're gonna drink this down.

Oh, that sounds good, but I can't stay.

Why?

You can come with, but I have to go back

to the St. Regis to pack.

Pack?

- We just won.
- Hell, yeah, we won!

But before the games,
I need spend time in the mountains,

climbing with prospective team members.

You're competing here.

Don't you need to practice on location?

The best training atmosphere
for me now, is out west.

- You know that.
- Yeah, but I thought

we were gonna try, here, us?

Like we talked about.

Yeah, we also talked
about you being willing

to fly to Prague, remember?

Much shorter flights to Denver.

[LAUGHS]

So the work falls on me again.

[SIGHS]

Is that how you feel?

No. It's not.

I just need to know
that you're in it, too.

My level of commitment,

to everything I do,

has not been in doubt since summer camp

when I was .

The rock wall.

Yeah. Four-sided.

They made us put on
lipstick to climb it.

There were photos of heartthrobs,

like Johnny Depp and Michael J. Fox.

And we had to put a big
lipstick kiss on one

when we made it to the top.

I had a different version of that action

in the locker room at basketball camp.

The Olympics mean

something very different
to me than they do to you.

There's a gold medal waiting now,

not some lipstick-smeared
photo of River Phoenix.

This is everything

I ever worked for.

And I need you to put in the time

to do the work,

and climb for the kiss.

Yes.

Yes, you're right.

And I will.

Well, then, you can open
that bottle of champagne.

I can pack in the morning.

I reached Wendy.

She sends her apologies.

She doesn't think Chuck's
gonna show either.

Oh, really?

Well, dinner is ready.

Would you, uh, get the children

and maybe come and join me?

- Yeah, I'll-I'll check.
- Okay, thank you.

♪ The line it is drawn ♪

♪ The curse ♪

♪ It is cast ♪

♪ And the slow one now ♪

♪ Will later be... ♪

They're not hungry.

Well, take a seat.

Have dinner with me.

This is a Long Island Fluke Crudo,

with gooseberry and sea beans.

So good. Holy sh..., Chef,

that's... wow.

Thank you. Bon appétit.

♪ Will later ♪

♪ Be last ♪

♪ For the times ♪

♪ They are a-changin' ♪

♪ A... ♪

♪ A-changin' ♪