09x01 - Everything's Changed

[bunniefuu]

Previously on "Suits" He's not just suing us.

He's trying to get a guilty verdict so he can use it and come after my license.

What?

Donna was the one who told you about Simon, but I want you to say it was me.

If you can't tell me who you were to him, maybe you can tell me who he is to you.

I just know that he's somebody that I can't seem to figure out how to cut out of me.

You knew because Harvey Specter told you.

I knew because Robert Zane told me.

Mr.

Kessler, who was it?

All I know is that Alex Williams informed me of Pierpont's plan.

How could you take the fall for something you didn't do?

How could you do that to me?

Because I did something else, and I can't live with it anymore.

What are you talking about?

That man that att*cked you, he was k*lled in his own cell, and it's my fault.

What am I supposed to do when I have a big victory or a terrible loss and the only person I want to run and tell isn't there?

Samantha, I'm so sorry, but I have to go.

[intimate, brooding music]

[soft rock music]

Say it again.

I looked around, and you weren't there.

I'm here now.

What?

I just wish I'd come to my senses sooner.

[chuckles]

It's okay.

I was worth the wait.

[chuckles]

Donna I know.

[whispering]

We have to get some sleep.

[both sigh]

Everything's changed.

I know.

Wheeler, phone call for you.

Says it's urgent.

This is Samantha Wheeler.

Samantha, it's Katrina.

I got in early this morning because I figured we'd have a lot to take care of with the whole Robert situation, which is why I was here when the call came in and-- Katrina, I'm in the middle of a workout.

Can you just cut to it?

You need to get in here, and you need to get in here now.

[foreboding music]

Rachel, call me as soon as you get this.

It happened.

And by "it," I mean-- oh, sh*t, I gotta go.

Who was that?

No one.

- Rachel.

- Told her, didn't you?

No.

Yeah.

Well, in that case, I hope she listens to her messages before Mike, 'cause I just left him a doozy.

What?

I didn't authorize you to do that.

Wait, seriously, what did you tell him?

What'd you tell Rachel?

That you were better the first time.

Good, 'cause that's exactly what I told Mike about you.

No, you didn't.

And neither did I, because you weren't.

Because more vigorous isn't necessarily better.

- Neither is younger.

- Really?

12 hours in and you're gonna trot that one out?

12 years in, and, no, Donna, I'm not Because I am glad I came over last night.

Me too.

You do know I'm coming over again tonight, right?

Yeah, Harvey, I do know that.

There is one thing that I don't know.

What exactly changed to make you come over here?

[knocking on door]

- Are you expecting someone?

- No.

[phone buzzing]

But I do know who it is, and it's bad.

- How bad?

- Louis bad.

He just texted me.

He's right outside.

Holy sh*t.

- He cannot see me in here.

- What are we gonna do?

Well, I can't climb out the window, if that's what you're suggesting.

- We're 12 stories up.

- You could stick the landing.

[knocking continues]

Louis: Donna, I know you're in there.

- sh*t.

- Wait a minute.

What are we so afraid of?

Harvey, are you saying what I think you're saying?

I am.

Let's let him in.

[mellow music]

[knocking continues]

All right, we need to talk, and we need to talk right now.

I went to Harvey's.

He didn't answer his door, so now I'm here.

And you're here.

I am.

And you're in the same exact clothes you were in last night.

Guilty as charged.

Oh, my God.

I know exactly what you two were doing.

Louis, before you jump-- You were up all night trying to figure out how you were gonna handle the Zane situation.

- We were indeed.

- Up all night.

Thinking about the situation.

Well, I can't believe it.

You should have called me.

We could have done it together.

Could have, but it's probably best that we didn't.

I don't know.

They do say the more the merrier.

Harvey.

You know what, I don't care that you left me out.

The most important thing is that you guys were banging it out all night.

both: That we were.

So what'd you come up with?

Probably nothing as helpful as what you've come up with.

Well, the only thing I know is that we need to put out a press release as soon as possible.

Then you came to the right place, because Donna is top notch at releases.

Why, thank you, Harvey.

You know, you're not so bad yourself.

Will you please stop stroking each other's egos?

I'm just as good at releasing as either one of you.

In fact, I hammered one out this morning.

Don't.

Louis, this is great.

It takes responsibility while still standing behind our partner.

So we are agreed.

We stand behind Robert.

We do.

Well, then I'll put this out right away.

And, Harvey, when you get in, get together with Samantha and make sure the two of you lock up every last one of Robert's clients.

I'm on it, Louis.

[soft music]

[door opens, shuts]

I don't get it.

How could he be such a good lawyer and not see what's right in front of his face?

Well, to be fair, you didn't see what was right in front of your face for 12 years.

Fair enough.

But it does beg the question-- Let's not tell Louis or anybody else.

Why not?

Because Louis might be clueless, but he's right.

There's gonna be a lot of blowback from the hearing, and I'd rather share our news when the people we care about are in the right frame of mind to hear it.

About that news.

Before Louis got here, you asked what had changed-- Harvey, I want to know everything, and when I do, I want to be able to hang on every last word, but now's not the time.

So what do you say that you go home and you change into that armor and you get ready to fight for Robert's good name?

Suits 9x01 Everything's Changed 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 The greenback boogie [upbeat pop music]

Alex Williams.

Depends who's asking.

My name is Steven Faulkner.

I'm with the New York Bar.

I wanted to talk about what you did at that hearing yesterday.

I did what anybody would have done.

All the same, you showed a lot of courage exposing your partner.

Robert Zane's a legend.

That couldn't have been easy.

It wasn't.

Well, the Bar noticed, which is why I'm here to discuss the next step: removing Zane's name from your letterhead.

What?

Why do we do that?

Because the man broke privilege, and put your firm in a position to start hemorrhaging clients.

And since when are our clients the business of the state bar?

Your clients aren't, but your firm's character is.

Look, I know what Robert did was unethical, but it was one mistake.

We're talking about a man's legacy.

And leaving his name up doesn't just hurt the legacy of your firm.

It's hurting the integrity of the Bar.

And what if I don't see it that way?

More importantly, what if my partners don't?

Because it's not my call.

Let's just say it would be to everyone's benefit if you and your partners take that name down of your own accord.

[tense music]

[line trilling]

This is Thomas Kessler.

I'm not available right now.

Please leave a message.

Thomas, hey.

It's me.

Um I was just wondering if you were free for lunch today.

Give me a call when you can.

Samantha, whatever it is, it'll have to wait.

We have to start locking up Robert's clients before-- That's why I'm here.

Three of them have already put their accounts up for review.

Son of a bitch.

The Bar just ruled on Robert yesterday.

It gets worse.

I reached out to six more and none of them would take my call.

Which means six more are about to go.

And the only way that could happen this fast is if somebody's already poisoned the well.

You think Hardman's still after us?

I did, until I saw these notices were dated two days ago.

And two days ago, Hardman was gunning to have me disbarred, not Robert.

Exactly.

Then who the hell knew to go after his clients?

The same man that tried to blackmail Robert into taking his name off our wall.

Blackmail?

What are you talking about?

I'm talking about you and I going to pay a visit to Eric Kaldor.

[phones ringing]

Thomas.

What can I do for you?

Unfortunately, Alex, I'm here to say that there's no longer anything you can do for me.

- You're putting us in review.

- Not in review.

I'm letting you go.

Thomas-- No, let--let me save you whatever you're gonna say, because I'm not interested in your excuses.

You're my lawyer.

You knew something, and you kept it from me.

We've been over this.

The reason I-- What we haven't been over is that I was forced to lie yesterday.

Thomas-- You can't make this better, Alex.

Every time I come here I'm gonna be thinking about everything that happened.

I can't live that way.

I'm sorry.

Then let me at least say this: I appreciate what you did, and I'm sorry it turned out this way.

That makes two of us.

[indistinct chatter]

[puck clatters]

[skates scraping]

Harvey Specter and Samantha.

Wow.

I figured you guys would be, uh, too busy cleaning up Robert's mess to come play hockey.

Cut the sh*t, Eric.

We know you're going after Robert's clients.

It's funny, when I first started whispering that Robert was stepping down, nobody believed me.

But now they think I'm a regular Nostradamus.

And if you think we're just gonna stand by and let you raid our kitchen, you've been checked into the boards one too many times.

I think I cannot believe that she's fighting your fight.

It's not his fight, Eric.

It's all of ours.

Yeah, if you say so.

But if it wasn't for old Harvey here, Robert's clients would still be at your firm.

And in case you hadn't noticed, so would Robert.

And you can try to drive a wedge between us all you want.

It's not gonna work.

So why don't you go ahead and tell us, what's it gonna take for you to back off Robert's clients?

Well, you know, if I can't drive a wedge, I can't drive a wedge.

But what it's gonna take for me to back off your hero's clients is for old Harvey here to give me ten of his.

Ooh, look at that.

Maybe I did drive a wedge.

You keep hitching your wagon to the wrong man, sweet pea.

You didn't drive a wedge between anything, you piece of sh*t.

Call me "sweet pea" one more ----ing time.

[tense music]

You're probably gonna want to think about my offer before you say no.

But don't take too long, all right?

And if you lay a hand on me one more time, I'll have you thrown out of the Bar faster than your disgraced mentor.

Alex, hey, just the man I was about to see.

Listen, Harvey and Samantha, they're working on keeping Robert's clients, but they may need some back-up.

I want you to be ready.

Well, Louis, I don't know how ready I'll be when I can't even keep my own clients.

- What?

- Kessler just left us.

sh*t.

Well, this isn't over.

I'll just give him a call.

You're not gonna be able to change his mind, Louis.

How do you know that?

Because Harvey used up all of our goodwill when he asked him to g*dd*mn lie for us.

Alex, I know you're upset about losing a client, but it's not exactly news that Harvey did that.

That's what I'm trying to tell you, Louis.

I got approached today by the New York Bar.

It was off the record, but the guy pretty much told me if we don't take Zane's name down, they'll do it for us.

Bullshit, they don't have the authority to do that.

And if you're suggesting that we should do it anyway-- You think I want to take his name down?

Well, then what are you so worked up about, Alex?

Because in the past two hours I've been punched in the gut twice, and I want to do something about it.

Well, I don't know what to do about Thomas, but I sure as hell know what to do about the other thing.

What's that?

I wanna check to see how bad our reputation is.

You're gonna make sure that they don't have the authority to take that name down, and then we're gonna tell the New York Bar to go f*ck themselves.

I've gotta say, I've never seen you like that before.

I thought you were gonna k*ll him.

If you hadn't been there, I just might have.

Well, I appreciate you not letting him drive that wedge.

I know you must have been tempted by his offer because of-- I wasn't tempted, Harvey.

If Robert taught me anything, it's that when a teammate is being att*cked, you don't leave their side.

No, you don't.

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Depends on what you're thinking.

I'm thinking that when a teammate's under att*ck, you don't just stand by them.

You turn the tables.

Because the best defense is a good offense.

- Exactly.

- [laughs]

What?

I was just thinking, I must have said that to Mike Ross about a thousand times.

Jesus, last night it was Jessica, tonight it's Mike Ross.

Am I gonna have to hear stories about him now too?

What I meant was, I keep getting reminded of how alike we are.

Well, here's to going on offense.

To going on offense.

- Speaking of last night - What about it?

I know I said I didn't need you checking up on me, but you did anyway.

And the truth is, I appreciated it.

Because I was hurting.

But?

But then you just up and left.

What happened?

I know how that must have seemed, but I was hurting too.

And then all of a sudden I get it.

You needed to be alone.

Yeah, I did.

But, Samantha, I'm sorry if I left you in the lurch.

I understand.

It must have been tough, knowing what Robert gave up for you.

It was.

Which is why tomorrow, you and I are gonna make sure that the only person giving anything up is Eric Kaldor.

[tense music]

- Thomas, hi.

- Hey.

So I'm guessing lunch today won't work.

I'm sorry I didn't call you back earlier, Donna.

I had some business matters to attend to.

You mean like f*ring us?

What happened with Alex had nothing to do with us.

It was business.

Well, I wish it hadn't come to that, but I understand.

And I'm sorry - For everything.

- Please don't say it.

You said everything there is to say yesterday.

The truth is, I-- I didn't call you back because I just didn't have it in me to endure hearing the rest.

Thomas, listen to me, you are such a good man-- You don't have to soft-pedal it, Donna.

Nobody goes from spending their nights together to lunch.

There are so many things I want to say about you.

Maybe another time.

[somber music]

Take care, Thomas.

Good-bye, Donna.

There's my love.

I hope you're in the mood for your favorite, 'cause this matzo's about to get brei'd.

That sounds amazing.

Tough day?

Yeah, you could say that.

The Bar wants us to take Robert's name down.

But before I tell them to go to hell-- You need to know if you can afford to.

That's why you're making matzo brei.

You know.

How bad is it?

The students that were hoping to interview with you this year pulled their resumes back.

I overheard some of them talking.

They said if you're not willing to distance yourself from someone who's been disbarred, then you don't care about the reputation of your firm.

They said that?

Louis, maybe it's time for you to consider-- No, I can't do it.

Why not?

You took Jessica's name down.

Yeah, that was different.

She knew about Mike.

She was guilty.

But Rob Robert, what?

What I'm about to tell you stays between these walls.

It wasn't Robert.

It was Harvey.

More specifically, it was Donna.

What?

Oh, my God.

Exactly.

The man took a huge b*llet for us, Sheila.

I'm not just gonna rip his name down now.

Okay, Louis, Harvey and Donna or not, the world thinks it was Robert.

You don't have a choice.

Sheila, when our child grows up and asks me how to make decisions, I'm not going to say, "Take the way out that protects your reputation at the cost of your character.

" And I understand all of that, but you asked me how bad it was, and the truth is, if I didn't know you and I had heard what had happened, I'd be feeling the same way my students do.

[tense music]

[line trilling, clicks]

- Donna: Hey.

- Hey.

Let me guess: you can't come over tonight.

How'd you know?

Because I know Robert's clients haven't been locked down yet, and I'm the one who told you to put on your armor.

Have I ever told you how much I love it when you do that?

No, but I knew it anyway.

See what I did there?

Hey, what's going on?

Samantha asked what happened to me last night.

I didn't know what to say.

So what did you say?

She assumed I wanted to be alone, so I let her think that.

That's not true.

I didn't just let her think that.

I lied to her.

I told her she was right.

Well, that's not ideal, but I know what it's like to be having a tough conversation and not wanna say something that's gonna hurt the other person even more.

Did something happen?

Thomas and I ended it tonight.

Oh, my God.

Donna, I didn't know that you two were still together.

- I would never have-- - Listen to me.

It was already over, and he knew it.

- Are you sure?

- I'm sure.

Harvey, you didn't do anything wrong.

I swear.

Thanks.

All right, you ready to do a deep dive into Kaldor's clients?

Well, as long as we're going after Kaldor's, what do you say we also go after Ellen Rand's?

What do you think this pile is?

Louis.

- It's been too long.

- It has.

But I'm sorry to say, Henry, this is not a social call.

I'm guessing this has something to do with Robert's disbarment.

I just discovered, as of today, we do not have one single applicant from any of the top ten schools, and I was hoping that you could help us change that by steering some students our way.

Because, as you know, if Harvard comes, the rest follow.

Louis, I'm not a recruiter.

But when you suggest something, Henry, the students listen.

Except they don't come to me for things like that.

That's fine, I can come to them.

You have an ethics conference coming up.

Let me be the keynote speaker.

Louis, the university has approval of all speakers.

There's no way they're gonna let you be keynote right now.

Professor, please, I I have nowhere else to turn.

I need your help.

All right, Louis.

I'll try.

But if I'm gonna vouch for you, I want you to tell me what happened.

Is Robert undercutting you just to get even?

I don't buy it.

Well, if you could figure out that Robert wouldn't do this, you could figure out the truth for yourself.

Harvey.

Louis how could this happen on your watch?

You know what, Henry?

sh*t's happened on your watch too.

sh*t that you did, and we helped you get out of it.

Louis, I'm not criticizing you.

I'm concerned about you.

Well, then why don't you concern yourself with what I just asked of you?

And concern yourself with it before the end of the week.

You won't just be signing the best legal team in the city.

You'll also be gaining access to our network of high-powered clients.

Clients like this one, who would love to finance your Singapore expansion.

Ms.

Wheeler, I didn't get to where I am today by turning down a free lunch, but I'm starting to think that you're wasting my time.

How so?

By not acknowledging your firm's Robert Zane problem.

What Robert Zane problem?

Look, I like Robert, but I can't sell this move.

To my board, Zane is a four-letter word.

Robert's disbarment doesn't reflect the culture at our firm.

Then why aren't you taking his name down?

Because, you gotta understand the history.

The only thing I have to understand is that keeping Zane's name up sends the signal that you stand by what he did.

We do stand by him.

He was a great lawyer and an even better man, and the Bar's decision doesn't change that.

Then I'll be blunt.

His name is only half of it.

It's also a matter of his people.

What do you mean, "his people"?

One of your partners came from the Robert Zane coaching tree.

And you know what they say about trees and apples and all that sh*t.

- What are you trying to say?

- I'm saying-- That the only way we'd ever consider signing is if you were to let Ms.

Wheeler go as well.

Well, that's not gonna happen.

- I'm not going anywhere.

- Then I wish you luck.

But there is no way we're leaving Rand Kaldor to sign with you.

And if you think anyone else will, you're not the lawyer I've always heard you were.

[tense music]

Harvey, where are you?

I struck out.

If we don't come up with something, we might as well give Eric the keys to Robert's house, because he sure as hell is gonna end up with all of his clients.

[sighs]

Samantha.

How's it going with Zane's roster?

At the moment, it's not going at all.

All right, listen to me.

Our reputation took a hit.

But if the clients people most expect to leave decide to stay, it's gonna send a message to the world that we can still be trusted.

I don't know what to tell you, Louis.

We had a plan to go on offense and it's not working out on my end.

- What about Harvey?

- I don't know.

What do you mean, you don't know?

I mean, I have been breaking my back to get this done and I can't even reach Harvey, which makes me wonder if he even gives a sh*t about this at all.

Don't you say that.

The night it happened, he did not sleep a wink because he was up all night at Donna's trying to figure out what to do.

- Was he, now?

- Yeah, he was.

Well, that is good to know.

In fact, you might have just given me an idea about how we can keep Robert's clients after all.

[phone buzzing]

- Hello?

- Alex.

Steven Faulkner.

How are you?

To tell you the truth, Steven, better than I was yesterday.

Because I looked into whether you had precedent to make us remove Robert's name, and what do you know?

- You don't.

- Is that a fact?

It is.

Seven years ago, another firm had a partner disbarred and you didn't just let them leave up his name.

You let them leave up his bio too.

Since we're talking about bios, let's talk about yours.

Because I'm not just calling to check in.

I'm calling to make you an offer.

Become managing partner.

- What?

- That's right.

We may not have authority to make you change your name, but we do have authority to make changes to a firm's leadership when it fails.

- Bullshit.

- Don't believe me?

Look it up.

You seem to like doing that.

What I like are my partners, and there's no way I would ever betray Louis Litt.

Alex, if you don't take action, there will be consequences.

There have already been consequences, Steve.

And you came to me with two proposals, so let me give you my two answers.

Go to hell and go f*ck yourself.

[tense music]

- You get my message?

- Yeah, I did.

Good.

So nice of you to return.

I didn't return your call because I've been a little busy trying to come back with some good news.

And?

- Look, Samantha-- - That's what I thought.

Well, it doesn't matter anyway, because we're gonna give Eric what he wants.

Robert's clients?

We can't do that.

Not his clients, Harvey.

Yours.

What happened to "teammates don't do that"?

- Things change.

- Like what?

Why don't you ask your girlfriend?

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

Like hell you don't.

You didn't leave the other night to go be alone.

You left to be with Donna.

And Louis might buy that bullshit about you being up all night talking about what to do, but I know talking is not what you were up to.

Samantha, listen to me-- Why don't we skip the part where you try to explain why you lied to me and get to the part where you give Eric your clients?

First of all, you have no idea what happened between me and Donna the other night.

Second of all, I don't believe you're asking me to give up my clients because you're, what, jealous?

You think this is because I'm jealous?

Then what the hell is it about?

I lost everything that night.

Robert was everything to me, and the person I lost him for was you.

And instead of feeling bad about it like you said you did, you were off having a little romp with person whose fault it really was.

So give up your clients or don't, but if your answer is no, I'm gonna put you through that wall.

- Yes, may I help you?

- Katrina Bennett.

- I'm Sheila Sazs.

- Sheila.

Yes, we meet at last.

Indeed we do.

- And I must say, it is-- - Save it.

You don't like me.

I don't like you.

But we both would k*ll for Louis, and I respect that.

I'm listening.

This firm's in trouble, and I won't let it go down while my captain is at its helm.

You're talking about the ramifications of Robert leaving.

I'm talking about no one trusting you while his name is on that wall.

I always admired Robert.

But if I'm being honest, I had my doubts about leaving his name up.

Then I was right to come to you.

And you think he'll hear it better if it comes from me?

I don't care how he hears it.

It just needs to get done.

- Then it will.

- Good.

But don't mention my coming here.

I told him I had book club tonight.

- What are you saying you read?

- "Eat Pray Love.

" Good choice, except that is the kind of thing he'll want to read with you, assuming he hasn't read it already.

- Oh, God, you're right.

- I suggest "Amazons.

" It's about hockey.

He'll never pick it up.

Perhaps I might like you after all.

I have to admit, when I look at you I see myself.

Though, more attractive with far less sexual magnetism.

Why would you say that to me?

Because I'm starting to care about you, and truth be told, your beauty's a turn-off.

Friendly advice: you might want to frump it up a bit.

[brooding music]

Remember that thing about not telling anyone?

Samantha knows.

And from that look on your face, she's not taking it well.

She's not taking anything well.

Let me guess, she just lost the most important person in her life, and then she finds out that the night it happened we're off having a party.

Yeah, something like that.

Well, you can't really blame her for that, can you?

No, not for that.

But I can sure as hell blame her for the things she said.

- How bad?

- Bad.

I'm telling you, if she weren't a woman-- Harvey, if there is one thing I know about Samantha, it's that she wouldn't want you to treat her differently because she's a woman.

What are you saying?

I'm saying it sounds like she's spoiling for a fight.

And sometimes when somebody wants a fight, you have no choice but to give it to them.

I am not getting in the ring with Samantha.

Yes, you are.

She boxes every morning.

You go in there tomorrow, you let her get it out of her system.

Are you nuts?

I'm not hitting a woman.

If I were you, I'd be more worried about losing to that woman.

I am not losing to anyone!

Harvey, she has m*llitary training.

Louis said that she put down his mugger in about five seconds flat, and from what I know about fighting, the more pissed off person usually wins.

Harvey, listen to me.

She needs this just like you would.

So if you're not willing to give it to her, that's not looking out for her.

That's just disrespecting her.

Whatever it is, I am tired of talking.

We're not talking.

We're going right now.

- I'm not fighting you.

- Yeah, you are.

You've been talking about it since the day you got here.

Now you're pissed, and you said you wanted to put me through a wall.

Well, here I am.

You're damn right, I want to put you through a wall, but not today.

You feel awful about what you did, and I don't want any excuses when I kick your ass.

There aren't gonna be any excuses because I'm not gonna need them.

- Get out of my face.

- I'm not going anywhere.

Watch yourself.

You're in the ring with the man who's responsible for disbarring your mentor.

I'm warning you.

The man who put his needs in front of yours.

You don't want to do this.

The man who decided his love life was more import-- [grunts]

[rock music]

- I guess it's on.

- Yes, it is.

[both grunt]

Ready to be done?

Oh, I'm just getting started.

Katrina, what are you doing here so early?

I need to talk to you, and I need it to be before this place is crawling with people.

Okay, what is it?

It's what everyone in this firm knows has to be done and no one seems willing to tell Louis.

You mean taking Zane's name down?

- Yes, that's what I mean.

- He's not gonna want to do it.

You think I do?

But the longer we leave his name up there, the more damage we inflict on ourselves.

See that right there?

- You know what I mean.

- So what if I do?

Why are you coming to me and not Harvey or Donna?

Because it's going to come down to a vote, and without you and Louis pushing the others, it's never going to happen.

And if that's not good enough, because you owe me.

No, you're not calling that in for this.

Did you think I was gonna ask you to wash my car?

Alex, you know this is the right thing to do.

What the hell is stopping you?

He didn't do it, Katrina.

Robert didn't do it.

For what it's worth, I didn't think he did.

But that doesn't matter, because he said he did.

[tense music]

All right.

I'll get Louis to agree.

[weights rattling]

I'm surprised you have the strength to pick that up.

Me?

I'm surprised you can sit after I kicked your ass.

You didn't kick anything, but I'll admit, you did pretty good for a guy in his 70s.

Hey, those are fighting words.

- You wanna go again?

- No.

Me neither.

Look, if you want me to give up my clients to Kaldor, I will.

But is that what Robert would want?

[sighs]

No.

It's not what I want, either.

Then what is?

We fight for his clients.

We keep who we can keep, but his name stays up no matter what.

I can live with that.

So can I.

[mellow music]

[phone buzzing]

[phone clicks]

- Louis.

- Henry, hi.

Thanks for getting back to me so soon.

Listen, I-- about what I said earlier-- Don't give it another thought.

I understand you're under a lot of stress.

And I'm sorry to say I'm about to add to it.

Don't tell me, they said I'm not welcome as keynote speaker.

Even if they didn't, Louis, Harvard students are not going to be fooled by some speech.

They're going to respond to your actions.

Oh, damn it, I'm taking every action I can think of.

No, Louis, you're bending over backwards to avoid taking the one action you should.

Thanks for trying, Henry.

Take care, Louis.

You look like you just got some bad news.

I did.

This thing our reputation, it's worse than I thought.

Actually that's what I'm here to talk to you about.

No, I'm not doing it.

Louis, even Katrina knows it's the right thing.

She went to you behind my back?

She would have come in here and told you that to your face, but I didn't give her the chance.

Why not?

Because I didn't want her to hear that the Bar tried to get me to take over as managing partner.

- What?

They can't do that.

- They can, and they have.

In '97, they got a name partner to step in as managing partner in exactly the same situation.

You're here to tell me you're taking over.

I'm here to tell you that if they can do that, what else can they do?

- I don't know.

- And I don't want to find out.

- It's gonna require a vote.

- And we have two right here.

We need three.

You know that Samantha will not say yes.

And neither will Donna, since this whole thing started with her.

[soft laugh]

- Harvey.

- He's our only chance.

- I say we go see him right now.

- No.

I went to him with something like this before.

He didn't like it then and he certainly won't like it now.

And I'm telling you, the only chance we have of him saying yes is if I go to see him alone.

[tense music]

Gina, I know Kaldor said that if you went with them, they'd-- Look [laughs]

If it's your final decision, there's nothing left for me to say.

That was one of Robert's clients, wasn't it?

What can I say?

You win some.

You lose some.

That's why I'm here, Harvey.

Been losing too many, and we need to put an end to this.

What are you talking about?

I'm talking about taking Robert's name down.

- Not gonna happen.

- Harvey-- Damn it, Louis, I gave Samantha my word!

- You said-- - I know what I said.

But since then, the Bar has been up our asses, clients have been dropping like flies, and we are not gonna have any associates next year if we do not do this.

Now, Alex is with me.

That's two votes.

- Your vote makes it happen.

- Makes what happen, Louis?

Samantha, I was just explaining to Harvey-- You weren't explaining sh*t.

You were going behind my back trying to pull Robert's name down, and over my dead body is that gonna happen.

Well, it is not only up to you.

You gave me your word that Robert's name stays up.

- Did you tell him that?

- Yes, I did.

Then what the f*ck is going on here?

What's going is, if we don't do this, this firm has no future.

Then let me be clear: if you do this, I'm gone, and you'll be lucky if I don't go to the Bar and tell them what really happened.

[tense music]

You really think she's gonna go to the Bar?

I don't know.

Well, God damn it, Harvey, his name stays up and his clients go, we might as well just close up shop.

Then we'll just have to make sure his clients stay.

What the hell does that mean?

It means we don't need to take Robert's name down.

We just have to keep his clients.

Well, we aren't keeping his clients.

We haven't been, Louis, but we can.

And I know just where to start.

Well, look what the cat dragged in.

You're backing off, and you're backing off now.

Whose am I getting, Robert's or yours?

Wait, don't tell me, don't tell me.

I wanna guess this one.

They're mine.

Wow, I would have totally gotten that wrong.

You must really be hating this right now.

What did she do to convince you?

Why don't you just take your win and go home, Eric?

It's no fun winning if you can't rub it in.

I mean, I knew she had Zane wrapped around her little finger, I just didn't-- Finish that sentence, Eric.

Go ahead, finish that sentence.

[sniffs]

- I'll treat 'em well.

- You do that.

And don't you ever say another word about Robert again.

[tense music]

You trying to decide if you're gonna k*ll Louis or not?

[chuckles]

It's 50/50.

Well, if it makes any difference, Rand Kaldor officially backed off.

Harvey gave his clients to Eric?

He did.

But he still has one more to give up, and it's one of his favorites.

Brick Street Athletics.

- Why?

- He wanted to make a gesture.

He did, or you did?

He did, Samantha.

It was 100% his idea.

I just asked if I could be the one to tell you because it would give me a chance to say something that I need to say.

Donna, you don't have to.

I put myself over the firm, and it cost you dearly.

And if I'm being honest, if I could somehow go back and take it all away, I don't know if I would.

But I'm sorry.

I am so sorry.

Donna he didn't just leave because of you.

What?

[melancholy piano music]

He did something years ago for me.

It had been eating him up, and I didn't know about it.

When he left, he told me, and ever since then-- No wonder you were so upset.

You felt responsible.

He's gone, Donna.

I know.

But for what it's worth, we're here to pick up the slack.

I imagine you heard about Zane's name staying up.

I did.

Look, I know it goes without saying, but I'm gonna say it anyway.

- I still owe you.

- No.

I asked you to convince Louis, and you did that.

You don't owe me anything.

Well, I might not owe you, but that doesn't mean you can't still come knocking.

I guess this means we're rolling the dice that keeping Zane's clients will be enough.

I guess it does.

Alex, I don't mean to pry, but do you know something I don't?

Nothing worth telling.

Night, Katrina.

I've got to admit, I never thought I'd see this place again.

Even with the furniture, it's not the same without Harvey, why did you want me to meet you here?

Mike asked me to rent it out for them when they left.

I never did.

Well, it must have cost them a fortune.

Didn't cost them a thing.

I created a fake tenant.

I've been paying rent ever since.

In case they came back.

- I know it sounds crazy, but-- - It's not crazy.

You know, I'm glad that Louis interrupted us the other morning.

- You are?

- Yeah.

Gave me time to realize I have more to tell you.

Like, about this apartment?

It used to remind me of all the things I've lost.

But now it reminds me of all the things you've helped me accept.

What do you mean?

I mean, a week ago I never would have come over knowing that you were still with Thomas.

But that night, I didn't even think about it, because once it hit me that we should be together, it felt like we've always been together.

Uh-oh, you're gonna make me cry.

I'm just getting started.

[upbeat music]

I thought I was gonna lose everything at that hearing, and then I didn't.

But I felt empty.

And then I won and you weren't there.

What I'm trying to say is that that night, everything finally made sense.

I'm finally where I'm supposed to be.

We both are.

What?

Guess whose name I put on the fake lease?

Rick Sorkin.

Oh, my God, that's the kid who didn't show up for his interview the day you hired Mike.

See?

That's what I love about you.

You get me.

"Love about me"?

Love about you.

[elevator dings]

- Louis Litt?

- Yeah.

My name is Faye Richardson.

I'm here on behalf of the New York Bar Association.

Here to do what?

This is a court order granting me full control of your law firm under the Bar's special master provision.

[tense music]

No.

You can't do this.

You're correct.

You do have a choice.

You can refuse, in which case tomorrow morning the Bar will suspend every partner in this firm from practicing law for six months.

You do that, you might as well take us apart brick by brick.

Be that as it may, the only way to avoid that outcome is for you to sign that document right now.