01x02 - Optics

[bunniefuu]

Hey, I like to think that I...
We have evolved.

- Foggy!
- Why? Why?

What're you gonna do about Daredevil?

I'm not him anymore.

I made a promise to myself
that I'd let the system handle it.

Take care of yourself, Matt.

It's been some time, hasn't it?

I was wondering if we
could have a little chat?

So if you step out of line,
I will be there.

Should you go back
to any of your old activities,

there will be consequences.

Wilson Fisk has been elected

the 112th mayor of New York City.

He won.

Sir, let me touch up your eye.

Thank you, New York.

Vanessa and I, we offer
our deepest regards.

It's humbling to be sitting here,

speaking to you as mayor this evening.

Beginning of the new year,

and most importantly, a new era
for the greatest city in the world.

This city is in shambles.

Crime, poverty, a feeling of uneasiness,

as if any moment, things could explode.

But New Yorkers are tough.

We know how to take care of ourselves.

We don't need a g*n-toting vigilante
who wears a skull on his chest

or a man who dresses in a spider outfit.

Or a guy who wears devil
horns to save us. No.

We'll be our best once again.

Fisk, the mayor?

- I... I just can't.
- I made you one promise.

What are you gonna do, move
to Boston? You hate the Celtics.

- I intend to keep it.
- You hearing this guy?

Hear him? I f*cking love him.

And that is that the rule of law

will return to New York City.

That is what I will deliver
to the city of New York.

The city that bore me, elected me.
The city that I love.

Good night and happy new year.

Es que ya yo te dije donde yo estaba.

Tenía unas cuantas cositas
que hacer y se me fue el tiempo.

- No, no.
- You don't got nothing on you.

I got... Nothing, nothing.

What are you doing, Nicky?

- You trying to dodge us?
- Me tengo que ir.

I wasn't dodging you, man.

I've just been, you know, busy.

- I think you've been dodging us.
- No, no, no, man.

Just doing my own thing.

- Hey.
- It seems like you are.

Hey, hey.

- Hey! Take it easy!
- I don't have anything.

Hey, buddy, this doesn't concern you.

Hey! You're beatin' on a guy
who can't defend himself.

- It concerns me.
- Okay, okay.

I said stay out of it.

Let it go.

Hey!

No.

No!

NYPD. Do not move.

Any thoughts on the
disappearance of Daredevil?

Daredevil?

Haven't heard that name
in a long time, man.

And I don't miss him. He's a clown.

You know, who needs him?

He's more trouble than
he's worth. Good riddance.

Are the strong obligated
to protect the weak?

Yeah, they are, but they're
kind of whiny about it.

And then they start preying on the weak.

Fire Chief Carter is your 10 a.m.

We can do that here or at the firehouse.

Firehouse. Carter, he's
known to be a doubter,

so best I come to him.

My thoughts exactly. After that,
we have six more stops.

I've put in another call
to Commissioner Gallo. It's our third.

How old do you think this desk is?

Excuse me?

How long do you think this desk
has been here? It's old.

Vanessa would know by sight.

You wonder. Did Fiorello
La Guardia sit here?

He was a hero of my father's, you know?

No, no, I didn't.

My father, he didn't respect many men.

Well, none actually.

Except for La Guardia.

His tenacity. Him standing
up to Tammany Hall.

Fiorello La Guardia, he built this city.

Sir...

Yeah, I... Sorry. Yes.

Uh...

I'm really looking forward to meeting
District Attorney Hochberg.

These meet and greets,
can't we push them?

These first few days are critical.
Optics are gonna matter.

Establishing connections is how we
set the tone with the stakeholders

who can make or break your agenda.

And let's be honest, a lot of
these people absolutely hate you.

I'm used to that.

And there's something else.

And I'm sorry if this is heading
into personal territory. Your wife...

What about Vanessa?

Uh, okay. Well, the inaugural speech
tracked better than expected,

especially with the
younger constituents.

However, Vanessa's resistance
to being part of the narrative

is hurting you with
more traditional voters.

I see.

Uh, the timing on this is not ideal,

but my wife and I, we have work to do.

Could you grant us a little leeway?

Absolutely, sir.

Well, the good news is she's
in holding. She's sobering up

and back amongst the living.
I also wouldn't hold my breath.

Her blood alcohol was 0.15
and she has two priors, so...

Do you have any idea
of how long this will take?

Because I was hoping to get to work

and I can't miss another shift.

Now here's what's
gonna happen, cop k*ller.

You are gonna sign a confession.

You know what? I...

I told a colleague I'd check
on a client of theirs.

Let me do that. Um, I'll call you
later if I have an update, okay?

- Okay.
- Thank you.

Thank you.

Hector Ayala?

Those guys tune you up?

- Does it matter?
- Yeah.

It does. Matters to me.

I'm a lawyer. My name is Matthew.

You're the public defender?

No. I'm a defense attorney.
I have my own practice.

I didn't call you.
How'd you get in here?

You know, they're saying
you k*lled a cop?

All I was trying to do
was help a guy out.

Well, that's not their story.

They're saying you approached
two officers on the platform...

No, man. Esos hijos de puta on the
platform never said they were cops.

They never said nothing.

Look, all I was trying to do
was break up a beating, okay?

So what happened to the officer who...

One of them tripped
trying to take me out.

Look, I didn't push him, I swear.

I wasn't trying to k*ll anybody.
That's not me.

And I sure as sh*t didn't know

there was a train coming.

I mean, one second he's there,

and then... he's gone.

Is there anything you're not telling me?

No, man. Nothing.

You're still pretty wired, I'm sure.
Everything is a little fuzzy.

We need to go over it a few more times

before the arraignment.

- But for now, that's all we need to do.
- I can't afford you.

Don't worry about that.
I'd still like to represent you.

You're in good hands, Hector.

Wait, hold up.

You're blind?

Shut up!

Once we arrive at the senior center,
you'll say a few words,

and then they want to present you
with the key to the borough.

I'm already the mayor. Why
do I need a key to Brooklyn?

Like it or not, the outer
boroughs are your base.

Especially Staten Island.

You got Staten, don't need Manhattan.

Sorry.

This city is broken. I said I'd fix it.

Sir, the first 100 days
are about settling in,

getting a feel for the office.

Try anything big now, you're
painting a target on your back.

Good. Targets draw
attention to problems.

You hired me because I know

how politics work in New York City...

... and right now, it's all about
maintaining the status quo.

So your advice to the newly
inaugurated mayor of New York

is that he do nothing.

What's going on here?

It's a big hole.

We'll be around it in, like, a minute.

Hey. Hey, what're you doing?

Oh... Sir, I'd advise against
whatever you...

sh*t. Why didn't you stop him?

That's your job, not mine.

Foreman. Who's the foreman?

Yeah. What's up? Hey, you're the mayor.

- Yes.
- How you doing?

I want you to stop what you're
doing and fill that hole.

You have the equipment and the manpower.

Hey, sorry, sir. It's the red tape.

We're waitin' on the permit approval.

Consider it approved.

You got it. Fellas, hole!

Let's go. Now! Move!

- Coming.
- Mikey,

hey, we're back in business.

- Let's go.
- Yes, sir.

There's too much traffic. All right?

- Hurry up.
- Yes. Filling a hole like this,

it's not rocket science.

Remember I told you
that I'd get things done?

Well, here I am getting them done.

f*ck yeah!

I love you, man.

I assume that is what
you meant by optics.

Yes, Mayor Fisk. It was indeed.

- Sir?
- Yeah.

Solid hole work, you know,
filling in that hole.

Oh, thank you, Daniel.

I send you off for a DUl,

and you come back with a cop k*lling?

With everything that this firm
has going on right now?

The cops at the station
were beating him senseless.

What did you want me to do?

He probably wouldn't have
made it past the weekend.

And, for what it's worth,
I think he might be innocent.

You can barely handle
your current caseload.

- I'd have to sit second chair.
- A high-profile case like this

- is not the worst thing in the world.
- It's exactly the opposite

of what this firm needs right now.

Okay, so my old partner at Midtown
slipped me the police report.

The other cop said there was no victim.

He said that it was
an unprovoked attack.

Uh... well, our client says there was.

"He said, he said".

Matt, you take on this case,

it's gonna look like you're
siding against the whole NYPD.

Kirsten, what did I tell you to get you

to come over from the DA's office?

You said that I was brilliant,
which is true.

That is true. What else?

You said we'd take on the hard cases.

And impossible odds
work is what we do here.

Okay.

Thank you.

I just need Arnie to take over
for me on the Rogers depo.

Great. I appreciate it.

Talk to Hector's wife, and I
need you to find the witness

that Hector saved on the platform.

I believe him, Cherry.

Okay.

So you want me to find the guy
on the platform?

Yes.

How much you want me to push?

As much as you have to...

and do some digging on Hector for me.

There's something about his
story that doesn't track.

Wait. He's innocent or
his story doesn't track?

Uh...

Both.

There he is. Mr. Murdock.
Mr. Murdock. Over here.

Why are you representing
a cop k*ller, Mr. Murdock?

- Are you anti-cop?
- My client is innocent,

and we look forward to his day
in court. Thank you very much.

What does the Ayala family
have to say about this?

- Thank you.
- That's all for now.

Are you worried about
the reputation of your firm?

How does it feel to know that Mayor Fisk

will be watching this
trial very closely?

Drakkar Noir, the scent of choice
for New York's finest.

NYPD backs its own.

That's the as*h*le
who k*lled my partner.

How you doing, Hector?

- Pretty bad, Matt.
- All right. Hang in there.

Like I said, the first step
in a long process.

Is your wife here?

No.

- Oh, sh*t.
- What?

It's the Hawk.

Hochberg?

Mmm-hmm.

People of the state of New York
versus Hector Ayala

Charged with m*rder in the
first degree, second degree,

and manslaughter in the first degree.

Benjamin Hochberg, Your
Honor, representing the People

- of the State of New York.
- Matt Murdock for the defense, Your Honor.

We'll waive the readings,
not the rights.

Given the serious nature of the charges,

People ask that the defendant
be remanded without bail.

- Your Honor, the defense would ask...
- The People's motion is granted.

- Uh... Your Honor, if I could...
- I said bail is denied.

Mr. Ayala is a decorated Army
veteran. He has no record.

He served as a CPA for 15 years.
He's a pillar of his community.

He's also accused of k*lling
a New York City police officer.

- Next case, please.
- Thank you, Your Honor.

- In good hands, huh?
- It's gonna be okay.

You know, I should have known
that you had an agenda,

giving me your number the other night.

I'm a journalist, bro.

Besides, we can k*ll it here as
friends with political benefits.

You get me access to him,

I give him a straight line
to the under-30 demo.

And then who's got two thumbs
and is a total hero?

Me.

Phone.

What? Bullshit.

Condition of this level of access.

I'm covering my a*s. So you don't post.

Fair enough.

Look, play softball in there,
okay? I'm calling in a favor.

Wait, I thought you said
you were his guy.

I am. I might have
embellished a little bit.

Wow.

You know, I can't tell if you're
an idiot or an operator.

Well, maybe I'm... I
don't know what I am.

You've got five.

I must say, your coverage
of my campaign was spot on.

And not for nothing,

you're one of the first people
to take me seriously.

BB. Is that short for something?
Beatrice? Betty?

Just BB. I was named for my uncle.

Ben Urich.

Yeah.

I knew him.

He was a good journalist.

I asked Commissioner Gallo about
you on three separate occasions.

Every time...

nothing.

Not a word.

It's got me thinking.

There must be a story there.

And is there?

One of my sources at the NYPD tells me

that Gallo is now poised to resign.

I mean, Gallo is a celebrated
police commissioner.

Maybe the most beloved
this city has ever seen.

That puts you in a big fat bind.

That NYPD's rank and file are planning
on standing behind their guy

in protest of you, Mr. Mayor.

I mean, the force is already
woefully understaffed,

and you've got vigilantes
picking up the slack.

If you lose the cops, you lose the city.

Thank you, Ms. Urich.

Just one more question about Mrs. Fisk.

I'm sorry, but I'm out of time.

This way, please.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I...

I hope we speak again soon.

Sir, I am so sorry. She was not supposed
to ask about your wife. I...

It's okay, Daniel.

I have a feeling that this young woman

is used to being underestimated.

We'll use that.

Confronting one's past trauma
can lead to building skills

and techniques to find peace.
Like the book says,

"Identify, interrogate, release".

So, any hints about your next book?

I've been thinking a lot
about projected personas.

How we present a curated
version of ourselves,

like through filters on
social media or masks.

Mmm. Interesting. Maybe even timely.

Could be. It's still
in the early stages,

but, um, I'll make sure
to give you a galley copy.

Thank you. And thanks for coming today.

You're very welcome.

Thank you so much for
coming. I really appreciate it.

I... I love your work.

Thank you.

Dr. Glenn, I need... I need help.

Are you... Are you taking
any new clients?

I can always move things
around. Here's my email.

I'm sure we can work something out.

Thank you. Truly.

Could you?

Of course.

Thank you.

No, thank you.

Quite beautiful. Really,
thank you very much.

Thanks, guys, all right? We'll see you.

Honey, I gotta go deal with this.

It's a classy move, turning up
to a police funeral after it's ended.

I didn't want to distract from
the ceremony, Commissioner.

I did need to talk to you.

I wonder how it feels for a guy like
you to come to a place like this.

Are you even capable of
feeling guilt or remorse?

Guilt?

I didn't k*ll Officer Shanahan.

Maybe not him, but plenty of others.

Still makes no sense
to me, this mayor thing.

So you gave up your
criminal empire for what?

So you could have less
money and less power?

So you could kowtow to an Italian
son of a b*tch in a cemetery?

How are we gonna fix this issue?

Do you... Do you know
who Samuel Vance was?

No, of course you don't.

Mayor Vance was the mayor
of New York in 1874.

He served for one month.

It is my personal mission
to make sure that your term

is shorter than his.

I see right through you, Fisk.

You... You're not a mayor who
loves his city. You're a whiny kid

who wants everyone to love him,

a monster trying to rewrite his legacy.

Well, guess what?

It's too late.

Once a thug, always a thug.

See you around, Kingpin.

Your husband needs you, Soledad.

It's important that
you're seen in court.

Can I ask you both something?

We've read the papers,
seen the news and all that.

Can you just be straight?

Does my husband have a chance?

An NYPD cop is dead.

And anytime that happens,
a big machine gets turned on

to try to figure out what went wrong.

And to punish whoever k*lled the cop.

Punish them severely. And
that machine has no off switch.

It just goes and goes
until somebody pays.

But Matt Murdock and this woman here

are the two best lawyers
I've ever seen, so.

Now, if I could just get
Hector's suit for court?

Okay, it's on the bed.
I can get it together.

No, no, no, no. You two stay and talk.

Soledad, whatever is going on
between you and Hector,

I'm really hoping you can
set it aside. He needs you.

He needs me, or he needs
me to show up in court?

Trials are about
feelings as much as facts.

The jury is gonna feel a certain
way if you're there by his side

and another if you're absent.

I need to get to work.

Are you married?

No, I'm not.

When you first come together,

everything feels wide open.
Anything's possible.

Little by little, that fades.

Things changed.

Hector... he's not the man I married.

This all boils down to one question.

Do you want this man
spending his life in prison?

You're taking me to Eastern Europe?

- Yes.
- It's fine with me.

How about...

Mmm...

Belize?

Belize? Belize I like.

The jewel in the heart
of the Caribbean Basin.

- Perfect. Yep.
- Salty sea air...

Warm sand between our toes.

Double-fisting mai tais.

Yeah, that sounds good.
Okay, so this fantasy of ours...

What happens after the mai tais?

Oh, um, the possibilities are endless.

- Oh, yeah?
- Mmm-hmm.

Maybe, uh, later, I
can give you a taste.

We'll take the check, please?

Sorry.

Cherry Mobile.

Do you mind? I... I don't think
he'd call unless it was important.

- Take it.
- Yeah. It'll be two seconds.

You'll make it up to me later.

- With interest, I promise.
- I'll collect.

- Cherry, talk to me.
- Guess what I found.

White Tiger? Really?

You were investigating me?

We talked for hours
and you neglect to tell me

that you moonlight as a vigilante?

I wasn't in the suit
or wearing my amulet.

I had no extra powers.
It's not relevant.

It's relevant.

You hide your identity

and go out and solve things
the way you see fit.

We're trying to position this
as a one-off event.

I find out you're going out
at night looking for trouble.

I'm not looking for trouble.

Someone's gotta protect the streets.

People are going missing.
No one seems to care.

It's not like Daredevil's
around anymore.

If I can find this out, you better
believe the DA's office can.

Let them. The people need a hero.

I'm out there every night, putting
my life on the line for them.

Your wife agree with that choice?

This is a tough case, Hector.

A cop is dead.

And the only way I can win it

is if I know every way I can lose it.

You're right.

You're right. I'm sorry.
I should have told you.

You okay? Sound like you're in pain.

Hmm.

Rikers Island is no picnic.

It's equal opportunity beatdowns.
Guards and inmates alike.

All right, hang in there, okay?

I'll make some calls, see what I can do.

He's been waiting 20 minutes.

Yes. Yeah. Send him in.

Well, you seem pretty busy,

so I'll get right to the point.

I'm resigning my post,
effective tonight at midnight.

And due to unforeseen
scheduling conflicts,

I will not be able to stay on
to help with the transition.

But you will need a new
Police Commissioner,

and... And guess what?
A lot of new cops as well.

Goodbye, Fisk.

Before you go, just one thing.

You're originally from Philadelphia.

- That's right.
- And you know that,

the cheesesteaks are great in Philly.

Mr. Cashman, what's the name
of the one that we like?

Geno's, Mr. Mayor.

Geno's, right, right.
But that's your favorite.

I... I...

I think that the best
is one that I found.

It's actually right outside of the city.

D'Angelo's in King of Prussia.

Mr. Cashman was kind enough
to drive down there

and pick me one up for lunch.

It was delicious.

The concept of compromise...

it's been on my mind a lot.

So I have some compromises to propose.

As far as a pay raise
for your police force,

zero.

And when it comes to
overtime minimums...

None.

And... and...

- An expanded cadet class.
- Yes, yes.

That's not happening.

So what do you say, Commissioner?
Do we have a deal?

Fine. No, I'll stay.

Be careful what you wish for.

Well played.

No.

For the most part, men are weak.

Any man can be swayed
by a single piece of paper.

He thought he could keep
that child a secret.

Sandwich was disgusting.

Hector's history as the White Tiger
has no bearing on this case.

The defense moves to suppress.

This is next level, Murdock.
That guy's a vigilante.

Who wasn't in possession
of his mystical amulet.

Or in the White Tiger outfit
at the time of the incident.

Allowing this type of totally
inflammatory information

will unfairly bias the jurors.

It perfectly meets the standard
of more prejudicial than probative.

Cut the crap. It speaks straight
to the heart of the case.

It suggests a pattern of behavior

- that drove Hector Ayala...
- Please.

... to k*ll Officer Shanahan

- on that subway platform.
- Your Honor, the jury will be

deliberating about the tragic
events of a single evening.

The proceedings must rest
not on my client's clothing,

but what happened on
the platform that night.

Look... I get... I get it.
I do. I get the instinct

to allow everything but the
kitchen sink in as evidence.

But it's not right, and with respect,

it's not what you're up there to do.

- Okay.
- Oh, my God.

I'm granting the motion in limine.

The People are directed not to discuss
or introduce any evidence

of Hector Ayala's life as White Tiger

or any acts of vigilantism.

This is some bullshit, Jerry.

Thank you, Your Honor.

When I was comin' up
and you seen the blue,

you looked at those brass buttons.

It says something,
it meant something, you know?

But there's none of that.
There's no respect anymore.

Jails are revolving doors now.

Police officers have their hands tied.

I feel like nobody's
being held accountable,

and I'm sick and tired of being afraid.

Find the witness?

Ghosts are hard to find, Matty.

Isn't that why I hired you?

My ghost bustin' days
are long gone, my friend.

We're just not finding anything

that says the guy is telling the truth.

Except for the fact that he is.

I know this case hits close to home.

All the more reason it's dangerous.

Are you saying my judgment is clouded
because of who Hector is?

'Cause of who you are.

- 'Cause of who you were.
- Nah.

- This case is about Hector Ayala.
- Okay.

Let's say you're right and I'm wrong.
Hypothetically speaking...

It's not hypothetical, Cherry, is it?

Is it?

You know I know he
was telling the truth.

And we both know it doesn't
matter if you can't prove it.

And for what it's worth,

I like the Matt Murdock
I've seen this year.

The guy that went out
and found his own way,

got out of the Kitchen, wears a...

normal suit. He's doing some good.

"Behold the Lamb of God.

Behold him who takes away
the sins of the world.

Blessed are those called
to the supper of the Lamb".

"Lord, I am not worthy

that you should enter under my roof,

but only say the word and
my soul shall be healed".

Um, finally finished all my paperwork.
That's it for me.

I'm headed home.

Heather calling.

- Hey.
- Hey. Um...

I won't be able to make
our reservation tonight.

I'm meeting a new client.

Rain check?

Just a missed opportunity.

Yeah, sounds good.

Thanks.

These aren't really necessary.
It comes with the office.

We appreciate your discretion.

Sir? Madam.

Dr. Glenn, allow me to introduce
Mayor and Mrs. Fisk.

So I usually like to start off
with a couple of questions.

What sparked you to come to therapy, and

what would you like to get out of it?

Vanessa, why don't you start us off?

My husband and I have been through
a lot these last couple of years.

Until very recently, we
ran a complex business.

Then Wilson left.

Disappeared, really.

I'm curious to hear more about that.

Wilson?

I was assaulted by a vigilante.

The... recovery process,
it was quite involved.

I couldn't stay in touch with Vanessa.

I couldn't stay in communication
with her.

It was for the best.

Was it for the best for you, Vanessa?

- I think in some ways, it was...
- In some ways...

I... I took over the business.

It thrived.

It had never been more profitable.

And relationship between
management and labor was...

robust. And fulfilling.

For both sides.

But was your husband's absence
fulfilling for you personally?

I... uh...

I was lonely.

I missed Wilson.

Then he returns and I really don't
know how I feel about that.

Why are we here?

'Cause it doesn't feel like
we have a choice.

I'd like to hear from you, Wilson.

I'm here because I don't
want to lose my wife.

- What?
- Found him.

All right, I'll meet you there.

- We doing this now?
- Yeah.

He's at 950 West 185th
Street, Apartment 30.

Meet you out front.

Call Cherry.

- Matt.
- Hey,

I need you to drive to
Fort Tryon Park. Quickly.

Who is it?

My name is Matthew
Murdock. I'm a lawyer.

I represent Hector Ayala,

the man who saved you
on the subway platform.

Look, I know you know who I am,

and I know you're scared.

But I'm here to help. You can trust me.

Thank you. Thank you. Shut
the door. What's your name?

- Nicky Torres.
- Nicky.

You are the key witness
in my defense of Hector Ayala.

To be blunt, you're the only person

standing between him and
consecutive life sentences.

I can't, man. If I go against the cops,

it's gonna be really bad for me.

It is already bad for you.
They have located you.

They're coming to k*ll you.
You need to come with me now.

sh*t, they're already here.
Nicky, you have about



Look, man, I don't even
know who you are.

Ten seconds. They're coming.

- How do I know you're not...
- Go out the fire escape. Go.

NYPD. Open up.

Nicky. I have a guy in Fort Tryon Park.

He's gonna find you.
He's gonna get you safe.

NYPD. Open up.

You're the lawyer.

If you're looking for
the man Hector Ayala

saved on the subway platform,

sadly, he's no longer here.

Move.

I said move!

- Where is he?
- He's not here.

- Where'd he go?
- Listen, man,

I'm visually impaired. I'd love to help.

Go ahead.

He's a lawyer.

- I'll do it.
- No, don't do this.

Don't do this. You don't
want to do this.