02x12 - Grey Areas
Posted: 07/29/21 08:50
- (SHARP THUD)
- MAN: I gave them my s.
(SHARP THUD)
I'm gonna be next month.
What am I supposed to do now?
Where am I supposed to go?
Is there anything more pathetic
than an unemployed
-year-old white male?
Okay.
They fired you.
Slamming your head into the wall
isn't going to change that, is it?
I hate them.
Your anger is overwhelming you, Lex.
I want to k*ll them, Doctor.
That's what I want to do.
I want them to dieie.
You're in a feeling place, Lex,
not a thinking place.
We need to put reason back in charge.
I know you know that.
- Screw reason.
- No.
In moments of crisis,
when life overwhelms us,
all we have is reason.
Stand up.
You're okay.
You're going to be okay.
This is not the end of your life.
Y-You're here.
In this room with me.
It's just the two of us.
We're gonna talk this out
and come up with a plan.
Okay?
♪ ♪
I'm sorry, sir.
The partners are in a meeting.
You can't go in there!
(TWO g*nshots)
(g*nsh*t)
(PIANO PLAYING GENTLE MUSIC)
- (CHUCKLES) Thanks.
- Yeah.
(CHUCKLES)
- Jason.
- Hmm.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
Donovan. Good to see you.
I was surprised to hear from you.
How long has it been?
Too long.
Coming over here, I kept
remembering the two of us.
years ago, newly licensed,
sharing that basement office
on West End Avenue.
(CHUCKLES) The dungeon.
One window and the faint smell of mildew.
Now here we are.
I need your help, Jace.
You read about Harper Milton Capital?
Two or three months ago.
Disgruntled ex-employee walks in
and sh**t both partners.
He was a patient of mine.
The partners' widows are suing me.
On what grounds?
Psychotherapy malpractice.
So was he dangerous?
Hindsight not withstanding?
He was troubled, depression.
Intermittent expl*sive Disorder.
Some PTSD as a result
of childhood trauma.
But I conducted the risk assessment,
and he had no specific plans
to commit v*olence.
Then legally I think you have a case.
MARISSA: Dr. Donovan Benanti.
Award-winning psychologist
and, according to our fearless leader,
one of the nicest guys
and most meticulous clinicians
in the business.
Which I'm sure will be abundantly clear
from the six months of session
notes Benanti's turned over
regarding Lex Becker.
Well, sorry to be a
buzz k*ll here, but...
Bull's friend saw the k*ller
on the same day he was fired
and the same day he k*lled those men.
Now, he had to have been
a mess in that session.
Why didn't Dr. Benanti warn anyone?
Because thoughts and actions
are two different things.
That's why the professional
standard in a case like this
is for the psychologist to determine
if there is a serious
and imminent thr*at.
OKAY, I'LL ASK: What is
"a serious and imminent thr*at"?
As defined by law,
a serious and imminent thr*at
basically requires three things:
an identified victim,
a specific plan
to commit v*olence, and means.
- Means, like a w*apon.
- Yes.
And without all three of those elements,
the law does not require a clinician
to break doctor-patient confidentiality.
But then you've got two grieving
widows at the plaintiff's table.
That is our challenge.
Annabelle Harper and Sherryl
Milton lost their husbands.
The jury will sympathize
and want to compensate them
for their suffering.
CABLE: Okay, so how about we end this
before it gets to a jury?
I mean, why don't we try
to talk settlement?
Dr. Benanti is in private practice.
He gets his clients through
reputation and recommendations.
If he appears to admit liability
in a double m*rder-su1c1de,
his career is over.
BENNY: You're right.
But I've got another idea.
BENNY: The defense would like to argue
a motion for summary
judgment in this case.
Your Honor, to throw this lawsuit out
before going to trial would be
a gross miscarriage of justice.
On what grounds, Mr. Colón?
BENNY: We understand why Mrs. Harper
and Mrs. Milton filed suit.
When the perpetrator of
a crime commits su1c1de,
survivors want to hold
someone else accountable.
But that doesn't change the fact
that Dr. Benanti did nothing wrong.
The case simply doesn't
stand up on its own merits.
I beg to differ.
BENNY: At best, the plaintiffs
can argue that, given
Lex's anger at being fired,
he identified his bosses
as potential victims to Dr. Benanti.
That's one out of the three
of the major elements needed to report.
How about three out of three?
This video is time-stamped two days
before Lex Becker k*lled
Brady Harper and Tobias Milton...
k*lled them by sh**ting them in the head,
just like he's practicing there,
with the same type of g*n
that was used in the murders.
It might be the same
g*n, for all we know.
I don't know about you, Your Honor,
but this certainly looks like evidence
of planning and means to me.
Oh, that video could mean
anything, Your Honor.
It certainly doesn't
prove that Dr. Benanti
- had any knowledge of...
- I don't know
what it proves, Mr. Colón.
But we'll certainly have ample time
to get to the bottom of that
in front of a jury.
So, motion for summary judgment denied.
I am ordering this case
to trial immediately.
BENNY: I've got Chunk
going to the g*n range
to confirm whose g*n Lex
was actually using there.
Excellent.
And since the g*n used
in the m*rder-su1c1de
was actually left behind
and taken into evidence,
Danny was able to confirm
that it was unregistered.
The serial numbers were scratched off.
So there's no record of its purchase.
Exactly.
Well, that is a great start,
but I need someone to tell me
what set this guy off.
From the moment he left Don's office
to the moment he k*lled
those men, what happened?
Was there some incident
that triggered this?
There's no better way
to prove that Don had
nothing to do with this
than to tell a jury who did.
(KNOCK ON DOOR)
- Ah.
- Wow, Jace.
- Don. (CHUCKLES)
- This is quite something.
Don Benanti.
Finest clinical psychologist
I've ever met.
I'd like you to meet
Benny Colón, the finest in-house attorney
I've ever worked with, and
your current counsel of record.
Pleasure to meet you.
Thrilled you're willing to take this on.
Oh, I take on pretty much
whatever he takes on.
(LAUGHS) He signs the checks.
Aha.
So, today we go and start,
uh, w-what is that word?
(CHUCKLES) Voir dire. Jury selection.
But before we get to that,
Benny, would you give us a moment?
Sure.
Tell me you didn't know
he was going to the g*n range.
Prosecution has security footage
of your patient
sh**ting human silhouettes
right between the eyes
for almost an hour,
less than two days before
he ex*cuted those men.
Tell me you didn't know about this.
I can't. I knew.
Truth is
it was my idea.
Come on, Donovan. A g*n range?
For a patient with
Intermittent expl*sive Disorder?
- Really?
- Really.
I felt he needed safe, controlled ways
to release his aggression.
I was trying to introduce him
to new coping mechanisms.
sh**ting,
fencing, Thai boxing.
A variety of activities
I hoped would allow him
to work out his anger
in a socially appropriate way.
Don't judge me.
You know as well as I do,
just because someone
goes to a g*n range doesn't mean
they're planning to sh**t someone.
A depressive with PTSD
and impulse control issues
isn't just "someone."
Well, I don't know what to tell you.
It was working.
He was markedly calmer,
showing great improvement.
Huh.
All right. Come on.
Let's go. Court awaits.
So let's talk narrative.
Narrative?
BENNY: A trial is a battle
of two competing stories.
They tell their stories and we tell ours.
So what's our narrative?
BULL: Simple.
Psychologists aren't mind police.
Holding them responsible for
the actions of their patients
after they leave the doctor's office
is not only impossible, it's dangerous.
You know them?
It's the widows of the men Lex k*lled.
BENNY: Otherwise known as
the people taking you to court.
And that's their lawyer, Mark Zimmer.
BULL: It's okay to feel for them
and still know they're in the wrong here.
- Of course, I know that.
- In fact,
that's what we'll be looking for
in our jurors.
People that can make the distinction
between logic and emotion.
The other side will try
to play on the heartstrings.
To counter that,
we need analytical thinkers.
People who can separate what
happened in the hour you spent
with Lex from everything
that happened afterward.
BENNY: Ms. Larsen,
what do you do for a living?
For a living? Data entry.
Don't get too excited, Bull.
Her seemingly perfect analytical job
is only temp work;
she's trained as a dancer.
(CLEARS THROAT)
BENNY: The defense would like to thank
and excuse this juror, Your Honor.
When you go to a restaurant
with a group of friends,
who here takes control, splits the bill
and calculates a tip?
These three jurors are acceptable
to the defense, Your Honor.
Happy dividing and compartmentalizing.
That's exactly what we want.
Martin Hamilton.
MARISSA (OVER EARPIECE): years old.
Software engineer.
His job requires both creative
and analytical skills.
That's a tough call.
How many hot dog vendors
would you say are
in the borough of Manhattan?
Uh, well,
if Manhattan is about
blocks north to south
and avenues east to west...
A regimented thinker.
Perfect.
...one cart for every nine square blocks,
- I would say...
- Thank you.
Juror number two is acceptable
to the defense, Your Honor.
Then we have our jury.
Okay. Well, we got
what we needed, didn't we?
We did.
We got what we needed based
on what we know today,
but you're a smart guy, Don,
so I need to prepare you.
A trial is a lot like
an approaching storm.
You know it's coming.
You pull together appropriate provisions,
you board up the house, but
you still have to ride it out
and hope it isn't
any stronger than you thought,
or lasts any longer than you expected.
Anything can happen.
What?
Please.
I have weather insurance.
I have Jason Bull.
(CHUCKLES)
- (KNOCK ON DOOR)
- Entrez.
Entra.
Eniru.
Hmm.
See, that's French, Italian,
and I have no idea.
Esperanto, just in case.
Nice.
When the Tower of Babel falls,
I am sticking with you.
So you need to check this out.
It's Benanti's notes
from a session with Lex.
His first session, actually.
And?
And look at the upper right-hand corner.
BULL: "Referred by A. Harper."
A. Harper.
You don't think Annabelle Harper,
Brady Harper's widow,
the plaintiff in this case,
referred Lex to Benanti, do you?
Hmm.
- Door-to-door service.
- Ah.
You guys really are a one-stop shop.
I have something to run by you.
I wanted to do it in private
before we go to court.
Sounds serious.
Hmm. Kind of a hypothetical.
Okay.
If, in some kind of alternate universe,
a former patient of yours were
to take the stand in a lawsuit...
mind you, I'm not asking you
to reveal any privileged information...
but if, hypothetically,
that were to happen,
would your legal team
have anything to worry about?
I'd like to think
I've been a great counselor
to all of my patients.
Hmm.
I was still half asleep
when Brady kissed me good-bye
that morning.
If I'd known it was the last time
I'd ever see him, I...
Just wish I'd put my
glasses on, you know?
So I could have really looked at him.
The crow's-feet around his eyes
when he smiled, and...
the way he chewed on his lower lip
when he pretended to be listening but
his mind was somewhere else.
If I'd have known, I'd...
I'd have gotten up,
put my arms around him.
Never let him walk out that door.
Objection, Your Honor.
With all due respect, relevance.
Sustained.
MARISSA: I'll tell you the relevance.
Analytical or not,
the jurors are eating this up.
They really feel for this woman, Bull.
Of course they do.
She's a sympathy machine.
Benny'll get her back on cross.
I hope so,
because I'm beginning to forget
what the color green looks like.
ZIMMER: No further questions, Your Honor.
JUDGE: Your witness, Counselor.
I'd like to begin by saying
how profoundly sorry I am for your loss.
Thank you. I appreciate that.
You're welcome.
Um, but I have to ask.
In Dr. Benanti's session notes,
he mentions that Lex was
referred to him by an A. Harper.
Was that you?
Brady had mentioned there was a bright
but troubled young trader at the firm.
There'd been a few outbursts,
and he said he thought he might
have to let this kid, Lex, go.
And, um, I recommended he send
him to Dr. Benanti instead
and try to get him help.
I wish to God now that I hadn't.
BENNY: And how did you know Dr. Benanti?
Did you, uh, read about him?
Did you hear about him from a friend?
Why did you recommend...?
Objection, Your Honor. Privileged.
It's all right. Mark, I'll answer.
I have nothing to hide.
I recommended Dr. Benanti
because he was my therapist.
I had been going through a hard time,
and I sought treatment from him.
BENNY: That's interesting.
So, in the time that you
went to Dr. Benanti,
did you find him to be
a negligent practitioner,
as your lawsuit suggests he was with Lex?
No.
No. In fact, he was
actually very thorough,
very attentive.
He-he helped me a great deal.
He'd even call between sessions
to check up on me.
BENNY: Wow.
Sounds like Dr. Benanti was
the opposite of negligent.
Sounds like he was downright solicitous.
No further questions, Your Honor.
MARISSA: Hey, you were right, Bull.
Benny is k*lling it.
I think we're out of the woods
with Annabelle.
Oh, I'm not so sure about that.
Tell me you did not sleep with a patient.
Tell me you did not sleep
with Annabelle Harper.
What are you talking about?
Of course I didn't sleep with my patient.
When she was on the stand,
you were leaning in, preening,
mirroring her facial expressions.
It was like a freshman lecture
on subconscious indicators
of intimacy and attraction.
Bull, I promise you,
I didn't sleep with her.
Okay, did you ever touch her? Kiss her?
Were you in love with her?
Was it an emotional affair?
I mean, were there
any e-mails, texts, gifts?
How exposed are we on this?!
Jason, slow down.
Okay. I...
admired Annabelle.
Her thoughtfulness.
How gracefully she dealt with
what she was going through.
But did I have feelings for her? Perhaps.
I've had feelings for a thousand people,
some of them my patients.
You know how it is.
Our line of work.
But I swear to you,
I broke no ethical boundaries.
Did she know about your feelings for her?
I certainly hope not.
No, she couldn't have.
Well, she mentioned phone calls.
I mean, I worked
clinical practice eight years,
and I made follow-up calls
maybe six times.
Why did you call her? What would you say?
You know that's confidential.
- Well...
- But I swear to you,
I did not make those calls often,
but when I did,
it was for an urgent reason.
Please. Jason, you got to trust me here.
You're my lifeline. You're all I've got.
Of course I trust you.
And I'm sorry. I just, I just...
No, you don't have to be sorry.
You're right. I understand.
It's like a giant storm.
And you're trying to read the weather.
(KNOCK ON DOOR)
Anybody home?
(CLEARS THROAT)
Hey, just, uh, wanted to let you know.
We, uh, just wrapped up.
Wrapped up what?
Mock trial.
Benny preparing Benanti
for his testimony.
I stood up in the booth and watched.
(CHUCKLES): Man, what a show.
You make it home last night?
You get any sleep?
Not that I'm aware of.
Now, why are you poring over
Lex's patient records?
Didn't Marissa prepare summaries
of those for you?
What'd you come in here to tell me?
Well, just that Benny grilled
Benanti six ways from Sunday,
and he's rock solid.
The guy's a quick learner.
He was able to take everything
that Benny threw at him
and use it to pivot back to the
talking points of our narrative.
And the mock jury found him
extremely trustworthy.
Of course they did.
He's a student of human behavior.
He knows how to read it,
he knows how to model it.
Strike that.
He's a master of human behavior.
Best I've ever seen.
What's wrong, Bull?
I have no idea.
And it's driving me crazy.
The g*n... where did Lex get it?
Uh, well, we haven't really had much luck
running that down, Bull.
Why is that?
It's a g*n.
It had to come from somewhere.
This one's on me.
I figured with no serial number,
it had to have been purchased illegally.
And given Lex's white collar background,
I assumed he got it online.
But I've searched all
of the arms trading sites,
and there's no record
of a Beretta being purchased
from any of the I.P. addresses
Lex has access to.
Wait a second. What kind of g*n was it?
A Beretta. A Beretta Tomcat.
No, it wasn't.
(DOORBELL BUZZING)
(DOORBELL BUZZING)
Jace.
Come in.
Want to have a seat?
Or would you rather put your feet up?
(CHUCKLES) I'm not a patient.
This isn't a session.
Okay. What is it?
I want to tell you a story.
A story about a young,
ambitious psychologist
just starting out in private practice.
He wanted to make a difference,
so naturally he chose
tough, sometimes even dangerous patients.
And to protect himself, he kept
a Beretta Tomcat in his desk.
Ring any bells?
It was you and me against
the world in that office, Don,
so I showed you my g*n,
where I kept it, how to use it.
Didn't you tell me you got
one of your own after I left?
Didn't you tell me
it was just like the one I had?
I need to see it.
Aren't you gonna open it?
What's the point?
We both know it's empty.
Do you believe in destiny?
Every night,
when I put my head on the pillow,
I'd dream of her.
I'd dream of us.
And I also knew, of course,
that she was dreaming about me.
But I also knew,
deep down, that she was...
un-have-able.
She was married to Brady Harper...
richer than God.
And he wasn't going anywhere,
and she wasn't about to leave him,
so I made my peace with it.
She was still mine on our afternoons.
We still had our phone calls.
She was my secret and I was her secret.
And then one day,
Lex walked in here and said
that her husband had fired him,
that he wanted to k*ll him,
wanted him dead.
I mean...
isn't that the definition of destiny?
All I really had to do was
put the g*n in his hand
and ask him nicely.
He trusted you to help him, to save him.
- And you used him...
- Used him,
preyed on his shame, called him son,
told him to make me proud.
I gave him what he craved:
a few moments of tenderness,
of understanding.
And in the end,
I put him out of his misery.
What's so wrong with that?
So what if I got something
I wanted out of it, too?
My God, you're certifiable.
I'm nothing of the kind, Jason,
and you know it.
That's what's making you so angry.
The pragmatism of it all,
the elegant simplicity of it.
Our job is to improve lives,
Donovan, not destroy them.
Says who?
That's a fairy tale, Jace.
Look around.
We swore no Hippocratic oath.
We psychologists created
the CIA's enhanced t*rture
program, for heaven's sake.
No, sir. It's our job
to listen to people,
to know them, and to decode
how it is they work.
And what we do with
that information, well...
You know I can't let this stand.
I can't be a party to this.
I'm sorry, old friend.
It's not like you have a lot of choice.
You're a member of my defense team.
This entire conversation is protected
under attorney-client privilege.
You can't call the police.
You can't tell the authorities.
You can't tell anyone.
(SCOFFS)
(SNORTS, SPITS)
Early birds.
Always been a couple of early birds.
I couldn't sleep. How about you?
You're the clinical psychologist, Don.
You tell me.
I can't lie.
I was having nightmares that you quit.
Doesn't work that way.
I can't quit just because
a client is guilty.
You tell anyone?
Like who?
Attorney-client privilege, remember?
How about Benny?
I'd never say a word to him.
He's legally and ethically bound
to provide a rigorous defense.
I don't want to make that
any harder than it has to be.
Thank you.
Don't judge her.
You can't judge her.
What?
You're a deeply disturbed man.
I'm just happy you found your other.
So, after you calmed Lex down,
you did what's called a risk assessment.
Now, what does that entail, exactly?
It's a series of questions
to try to ascertain
if Lex had any desires or plans
to hurt himself or anyone else.
And did he? In your opinion.
No. I spent about
minutes asking him
about his intentions.
Not only did he not have
any plans to commit v*olence,
his anger at being fired dissipated
throughout our time together.
Therefore, you determined that there was
no need to warn anyone.
In my career, I've been concerned
about patients' intentions
enough to warn the authorities
on more than one occasion,
but this was not one of those times.
Despite what happened
later that day, I can say
without hesitation,
when Lex left my office,
he gave every indication
that he had made his peace
with being let go and was excited
about exploring
new employment possibilities.
No further questions, Your Honor.
JUDGE: Your witness.
MARISSA: Nothing but good news here.
Our jurors seem very sympathetic
towards Dr. Benanti, Bull.
They find him straightforward, honest.
If he keeps this up,
I think we're home free.
Bull? Can you hear me?
Is this working?
I heard you, Marissa. Thanks.
This thorough risk assessment of yours...
did you ask follow-up questions,
clarifying questions?
The risk assessment
took as long as it did
because I asked
so many clarifying questions.
Did you specifically ask
if Lex had a g*n?
Yes. He said he did not.
How do you know he wasn't lying to you?
Well, I'm not a mind reader,
but I saw no indication that he was.
Hmm. Are you sure?
Objection. Your Honor,
asked and answered.
I'll rephrase.
You were seeing ten patients a day.
Is it possible you were
overworked or overtired,
that you missed something?
Anything is possible,
I suppose, but I certainly wasn't aware
of being overtired or overworked.
Honestly, my focus at that point
was on my patient.
Not engaging in speculation,
keeping his cool, staying on message.
Benny did an incredible job
here, Bull.
This guy's unflappable.
Benanti might have new clients
by the time this is over.
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
ZIMMER: Can you really
sit there, Dr. Benanti,
now that two good men are dead...
their widows without husbands,
their children without fathers...
can you really sit there
and say you made the right decision?
There are thousands
of young men in America
with the same psychological
profile as Lex Becker.
Most of them will never commit a crime.
A frustrating truth is
that for all our progress
in psychology and psychiatry,
the human mind remains
very much a mystery.
There's no surefire way to predict
who can be reached and who can't,
who will commit v*olence or who won't.
All anyone can do is
make the best decision they can
with the information they have.
The power of logic.
You put together the perfect
jury for this argument.
Bu, it is a sea of green over here.
(GAVEL BANGS)
JUROR: We the jury find the defendant,
Dr. Donovan Benanti, not liable.
JUDGE: Court would like to
thank you for your service.
You are dismissed.
(LAUGHS) Congratulations, Doc.
(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)
(DOORBELL RINGS)
ANNABELLE: Who is it?
Dr. Jason Bull. I'd love a word.
I'm sorry.
The doorman didn't call and
say you were on your way up.
And, uh, I'm not in the
habit of opening my door
for people who are unannounced.
Mm. Well, if I go back down
and have the doorman
announce me, will you let me in?
Step away from my door, Dr. Bull,
or I'm calling the police.
Okay. I just...
I'm sure you'll think this is crazy.
I'm sure you'll think
this is beside the point,
but I just need to know.
If you wanted to be together so badly,
and then went ahead and risked everything
to make it happen and you love him,
why did you take him to court?
(LOCK CLICKS)
What are you talking about?
Who are you talking about?
Dr. Benanti?
Be together? Love him?
The man I love is dead.
You just successfully defended
the person responsible in court.
Now get away from my door.
(LOCK CLICKS)
Mrs. Harper.
I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
I thought that...
Doesn't matter what I thought.
I was wrong.
I've been wrong about everything.
But I want to fix it.
Let me make this right, please.
He fooled me, too.
But I know some things, things
I can't legally share with you,
but if you will trust me,
if you'll give me a chance,
I think that there is a way
we can make sure
that he's punished for what he did...
and a way to get you the truth.
(LOCK CLICKS)
(SIGHS)
Please.
(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)
(SIGHS)
Happy Saturday.
Does anybody know why we're here?
That seems to be
the million-dollar question.
Where's Benny?
I told him to stay home.
Well, any particular reason?
Because he is a member of the
New York State Bar Association.
And that matters because...?
Because we're gonna engage in
a little team-building activity.
And if all goes well, the outside world
will be none the wiser;
but if it doesn't,
I don't want Benny to be
censured by the bar.
(CLICKS TONGUE)
ANNABELLE (OVER SPEAKERPHONE):
I did what you asked.
I called Dr. Benanti, asked
if he'd meet me for dinner.
Said I wanted to try and make it
up to him for the lawsuit.
You were right.
He, uh, he jumped at the chance.
Excellent.
I've got my whole team here.
They're all on board.
Question is: are you?
I miss my husband, Dr. Bull.
What's the worst that happens?
I join him?
MARISSA: That's your plan?
We are gonna send this poor woman
on a dinner date with a k*ller?
Let's keep our facts straight.
Don's never actually k*lled anyone,
at least not by his own hand.
That's what makes what he did so evil.
I need him to confess,
or he is gonna be free to take advantage
of some poor damaged soul
and do it again.
I am not asking about
what you need, I'm asking
is this woman gonna be safe.
Psychologically speaking,
I have every reason
to believe she will be.
Don harbors deep romantic
delusions about Annabelle.
He believes they are
meant to be together.
And now that her husband
is dead, they will be.
As long as Annabelle plays
into those delusions,
she should be fine.
"Should be" doesn't inspire confidence.
Well, the former cornerback
of the Georgia Bulldogs
will be there one table away,
prepared to take down the good doctor
if things should get out of hand.
And former FBI field agent
Danielle James will also be there.
They're having dinner together.
Didn't even know you two were a thing.
Well, I got to warn you,
I'm not a cheap date.
MARISSA: Bull, look,
seriously, how much jeopardy
are we putting this woman in?
I'll be in her ear
telling her what to say,
and you and Cable will be
sitting right by my side.
And you really think
this has a chance of working?
Mm.
The more she flatters him,
the more she puffs him up,
the more likely he is to make a mistake.
His ego is his weakness.
We need to play on that,
get him to confess to Annabelle.
If he does...
that confession is not protected.
She is not his lawyer.
She is not part of his legal team.
That is not what I'm asking.
Objects of delusion
are usually only in danger
if they challenge the delusion...
if she refuses his affection
or humiliates him in some way.
Well, what if Annabelle can't
handle it and does just that?
That's why I have you and Chunk there.
You're not just muscle.
Benanti's never seen you before,
so you will be my eyes
and ears on the ground.
Okay, I'm not a lawyer yet,
but I know enough to know
that this plan relies
on information obtained
in the course of protected conversations
between you and Dr. Benanti.
I mean, conversations that are covered
under attorney-client privilege.
Yeah? So?
So... is this legal?
(CHUCKLES)
Legal? Oh.
Here's the thing. It's not criminal.
And you won't go to jail.
And I will pay any fines or judgments.
Now, ask me
if it's the right thing to do.
I don't have to.
I know it is.
Anyone want to opt out?
Then turn off your cell
phones, ladies and gentlemen.
Our feature attraction is about to begin.
DANNY: Still no sign of her.
MARISSA: Relax, everybody.
The driver's just pulling up
to the restaurant.
You've got the recorder?
I do.
I do, and it's on.
And you still feel up to this?
Yes, I do.
Just remember, I've got people there.
You don't need to know who they are.
You just need to know
that they are close by.
And I am watching.
So if anything goes awry,
don't worry, you're protected.
Do as I say, and say as I say.
Trust me.
I do. I-I'm here, aren't I?
(PIANO PLAYING GENTLE MUSIC)
(LAUGHTER, QUIET CHATTER)
Here she comes.
Thank you.
Bull, you'd be proud of her.
She's putting on quite a show.
My God, look at you.
You're glowing.
Wow. He really is crazy, isn't he?
ANNABELLE: Dr. Benanti, I'm...
I'm in mourning.
Well, whatever you're in, it becomes you.
BULL: I know it's hard,
but smile, seem flattered.
Call him "Don""
not "Doctor," and lean in when he talks.
He's an expert
at picking up nonverbal cues.
DANNY: Wow. She's sitting
on the edge of her seat.
Her eyes are glued to his.
I think I'm jealous.
Loosen him up. Apologize for the trial.
I just, I just have
to say again how sorry I am
about everything that's happened.
You know, if it were up to me,
I never would have sued,
but Sherryl Milton, she...
she insisted.
Don't you think I sensed that?
BULL: Now, I know this isn't something
you want to do, but we need to build up
his confidence and get him
to let down his defenses.
Do you think you could
reach across the table
and touch his hand?
MARISSA: Danny, Chunk,
from where you are, can you tell
if she's touching his hand?
Not yet.
Oh, wait a second.
The answer to your question is yes.
Thank you.
To you.
To destiny.
BULL: Now, Annabelle,
I need you to repeat
what I'm about to say as if it's yours.
Okay? Here we go.
I know this isn't a session...
I know this isn't a session,
and I know we're not here to talk about
me and my problems, but...
can I tell you a deep, dark secret?
You can tell me anything.
I know I'm supposed to be sad,
and I know I'm...
I'm supposed to be grieving...
...but deep down,
what I've, what I've really felt
since that man sh*t Brady is...
relief.
Does that make me a bad person?
No.
It makes you someone
who put up with a partner
who made the business
of living difficult.
He was a big, suffocating personality.
Of course it feels better now.
Would you think I was a horrible
person if I told you I...
Sometimes I fantasize...
about thanking that fellow Lex...
...the one who sh*t my husband...
MARISSA: Uh, we are at DEFCON , guys.
If something's gonna happen,
it's gonna happen now.
For what he did.
...for what he did,
for... giving me my life back.
For setting me free.
Is everything all right, Don?
Did I, did I say something to upset you?
I-I mean...
I just... I just think it's so amazing.
If Lex hadn't done what he did...
we wouldn't be here tonight.
It wasn't Lex.
What are you talking about?
What are you talking about?
Thank me.
It was me.
I mean, I didn't pull the trigger,
but... I knew I could get Lex to.
I gave him my g*n...
told him what to do.
I did this for you.
I did it for us.
(GASPS SOFTLY)
Marissa... something's going on.
I think Annabelle might lose it.
(SOBBING)
You-you need to talk Annabelle down.
Annabelle, I need you to breathe.
I need you to stay calm.
Excuse yourself if you have to.
Annabelle, I don't understand.
Why are you crying?
No, don't order till I get back!
(GASPS)
Oh, my goodness, I'm so sorry, I'm sorry.
- What have you done?
- Oh, my gosh.
- Let's get you cleaned up.
- Oh, honey, I know.
- I'm sorry.
- Belinda, look what you've done.
- Wait.
- I'm so sorry.
This is terrible. You have to
let me pay for your dinner.
No, that's not necessary.
If I, if I could just...
But I insist.
How much Bob De Niro you think
we're looking at here?
- Huh? Oh.
- I have no idea.
I'd say it's pretty significant.
(CHUCKLES)
Looks like we've done
quite a bit of damage.
Yeah, we think you did, too.
(DOOR BUZZES)
Forgive me, Don.
I know it looks like I came empty-handed,
but I actually brought
a lovely ' Haut-Brion.
Would have paired brilliantly
with those chips
out from the vending machine, but alas,
the guards did not share my enthusiasm.
- What are you doing here?
- I don't know.
I guess I'm just that kind of guy.
The kind of guy that goes
out on a limb for a friend.
The kind of guy that shows up
when a colleague calls and asks for help.
The kind of guy that visits you in jail
when you've been denied bail.
But I guess it could be worse.
Lots of natural light.
And you look pretty good in khaki.
Go ahead, take your victory lap.
But I'm not an idiot.
I know you're the reason
I'm in here, and I'll prove it.
- And when I do...
- (LAUGHS)
I'm sorry, prove what, exactly?
That I suggested Annabelle ask you out
and record the conversation?
Even if you could prove that...
and it will be awfully hard
to do that from prison...
and it still wouldn't change the fact
that you confessed on tape
to orchestrating m*rder.
And it still wouldn't change the fact
that the police found
the lockbox in your office
and matched your fingerprint
to the partial print
they found on the g*n
from the crime scene.
No, all it would do is
give you the opportunity to sue me.
Again, from prison. And you'd lose.
And even if you didn't,
I don't think my professional reputation
would take too big a hit
if I was found liable
for protecting the world
from a complete psychopath.
Well, (SIGHS) I should
get back to the office.
There.
Don't want you to think
the visit was a total loss.
- MAN: I gave them my s.
(SHARP THUD)
I'm gonna be next month.
What am I supposed to do now?
Where am I supposed to go?
Is there anything more pathetic
than an unemployed
-year-old white male?
Okay.
They fired you.
Slamming your head into the wall
isn't going to change that, is it?
I hate them.
Your anger is overwhelming you, Lex.
I want to k*ll them, Doctor.
That's what I want to do.
I want them to dieie.
You're in a feeling place, Lex,
not a thinking place.
We need to put reason back in charge.
I know you know that.
- Screw reason.
- No.
In moments of crisis,
when life overwhelms us,
all we have is reason.
Stand up.
You're okay.
You're going to be okay.
This is not the end of your life.
Y-You're here.
In this room with me.
It's just the two of us.
We're gonna talk this out
and come up with a plan.
Okay?
♪ ♪
I'm sorry, sir.
The partners are in a meeting.
You can't go in there!
(TWO g*nshots)
(g*nsh*t)
(PIANO PLAYING GENTLE MUSIC)
- (CHUCKLES) Thanks.
- Yeah.
(CHUCKLES)
- Jason.
- Hmm.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
Donovan. Good to see you.
I was surprised to hear from you.
How long has it been?
Too long.
Coming over here, I kept
remembering the two of us.
years ago, newly licensed,
sharing that basement office
on West End Avenue.
(CHUCKLES) The dungeon.
One window and the faint smell of mildew.
Now here we are.
I need your help, Jace.
You read about Harper Milton Capital?
Two or three months ago.
Disgruntled ex-employee walks in
and sh**t both partners.
He was a patient of mine.
The partners' widows are suing me.
On what grounds?
Psychotherapy malpractice.
So was he dangerous?
Hindsight not withstanding?
He was troubled, depression.
Intermittent expl*sive Disorder.
Some PTSD as a result
of childhood trauma.
But I conducted the risk assessment,
and he had no specific plans
to commit v*olence.
Then legally I think you have a case.
MARISSA: Dr. Donovan Benanti.
Award-winning psychologist
and, according to our fearless leader,
one of the nicest guys
and most meticulous clinicians
in the business.
Which I'm sure will be abundantly clear
from the six months of session
notes Benanti's turned over
regarding Lex Becker.
Well, sorry to be a
buzz k*ll here, but...
Bull's friend saw the k*ller
on the same day he was fired
and the same day he k*lled those men.
Now, he had to have been
a mess in that session.
Why didn't Dr. Benanti warn anyone?
Because thoughts and actions
are two different things.
That's why the professional
standard in a case like this
is for the psychologist to determine
if there is a serious
and imminent thr*at.
OKAY, I'LL ASK: What is
"a serious and imminent thr*at"?
As defined by law,
a serious and imminent thr*at
basically requires three things:
an identified victim,
a specific plan
to commit v*olence, and means.
- Means, like a w*apon.
- Yes.
And without all three of those elements,
the law does not require a clinician
to break doctor-patient confidentiality.
But then you've got two grieving
widows at the plaintiff's table.
That is our challenge.
Annabelle Harper and Sherryl
Milton lost their husbands.
The jury will sympathize
and want to compensate them
for their suffering.
CABLE: Okay, so how about we end this
before it gets to a jury?
I mean, why don't we try
to talk settlement?
Dr. Benanti is in private practice.
He gets his clients through
reputation and recommendations.
If he appears to admit liability
in a double m*rder-su1c1de,
his career is over.
BENNY: You're right.
But I've got another idea.
BENNY: The defense would like to argue
a motion for summary
judgment in this case.
Your Honor, to throw this lawsuit out
before going to trial would be
a gross miscarriage of justice.
On what grounds, Mr. Colón?
BENNY: We understand why Mrs. Harper
and Mrs. Milton filed suit.
When the perpetrator of
a crime commits su1c1de,
survivors want to hold
someone else accountable.
But that doesn't change the fact
that Dr. Benanti did nothing wrong.
The case simply doesn't
stand up on its own merits.
I beg to differ.
BENNY: At best, the plaintiffs
can argue that, given
Lex's anger at being fired,
he identified his bosses
as potential victims to Dr. Benanti.
That's one out of the three
of the major elements needed to report.
How about three out of three?
This video is time-stamped two days
before Lex Becker k*lled
Brady Harper and Tobias Milton...
k*lled them by sh**ting them in the head,
just like he's practicing there,
with the same type of g*n
that was used in the murders.
It might be the same
g*n, for all we know.
I don't know about you, Your Honor,
but this certainly looks like evidence
of planning and means to me.
Oh, that video could mean
anything, Your Honor.
It certainly doesn't
prove that Dr. Benanti
- had any knowledge of...
- I don't know
what it proves, Mr. Colón.
But we'll certainly have ample time
to get to the bottom of that
in front of a jury.
So, motion for summary judgment denied.
I am ordering this case
to trial immediately.
BENNY: I've got Chunk
going to the g*n range
to confirm whose g*n Lex
was actually using there.
Excellent.
And since the g*n used
in the m*rder-su1c1de
was actually left behind
and taken into evidence,
Danny was able to confirm
that it was unregistered.
The serial numbers were scratched off.
So there's no record of its purchase.
Exactly.
Well, that is a great start,
but I need someone to tell me
what set this guy off.
From the moment he left Don's office
to the moment he k*lled
those men, what happened?
Was there some incident
that triggered this?
There's no better way
to prove that Don had
nothing to do with this
than to tell a jury who did.
(KNOCK ON DOOR)
- Ah.
- Wow, Jace.
- Don. (CHUCKLES)
- This is quite something.
Don Benanti.
Finest clinical psychologist
I've ever met.
I'd like you to meet
Benny Colón, the finest in-house attorney
I've ever worked with, and
your current counsel of record.
Pleasure to meet you.
Thrilled you're willing to take this on.
Oh, I take on pretty much
whatever he takes on.
(LAUGHS) He signs the checks.
Aha.
So, today we go and start,
uh, w-what is that word?
(CHUCKLES) Voir dire. Jury selection.
But before we get to that,
Benny, would you give us a moment?
Sure.
Tell me you didn't know
he was going to the g*n range.
Prosecution has security footage
of your patient
sh**ting human silhouettes
right between the eyes
for almost an hour,
less than two days before
he ex*cuted those men.
Tell me you didn't know about this.
I can't. I knew.
Truth is
it was my idea.
Come on, Donovan. A g*n range?
For a patient with
Intermittent expl*sive Disorder?
- Really?
- Really.
I felt he needed safe, controlled ways
to release his aggression.
I was trying to introduce him
to new coping mechanisms.
sh**ting,
fencing, Thai boxing.
A variety of activities
I hoped would allow him
to work out his anger
in a socially appropriate way.
Don't judge me.
You know as well as I do,
just because someone
goes to a g*n range doesn't mean
they're planning to sh**t someone.
A depressive with PTSD
and impulse control issues
isn't just "someone."
Well, I don't know what to tell you.
It was working.
He was markedly calmer,
showing great improvement.
Huh.
All right. Come on.
Let's go. Court awaits.
So let's talk narrative.
Narrative?
BENNY: A trial is a battle
of two competing stories.
They tell their stories and we tell ours.
So what's our narrative?
BULL: Simple.
Psychologists aren't mind police.
Holding them responsible for
the actions of their patients
after they leave the doctor's office
is not only impossible, it's dangerous.
You know them?
It's the widows of the men Lex k*lled.
BENNY: Otherwise known as
the people taking you to court.
And that's their lawyer, Mark Zimmer.
BULL: It's okay to feel for them
and still know they're in the wrong here.
- Of course, I know that.
- In fact,
that's what we'll be looking for
in our jurors.
People that can make the distinction
between logic and emotion.
The other side will try
to play on the heartstrings.
To counter that,
we need analytical thinkers.
People who can separate what
happened in the hour you spent
with Lex from everything
that happened afterward.
BENNY: Ms. Larsen,
what do you do for a living?
For a living? Data entry.
Don't get too excited, Bull.
Her seemingly perfect analytical job
is only temp work;
she's trained as a dancer.
(CLEARS THROAT)
BENNY: The defense would like to thank
and excuse this juror, Your Honor.
When you go to a restaurant
with a group of friends,
who here takes control, splits the bill
and calculates a tip?
These three jurors are acceptable
to the defense, Your Honor.
Happy dividing and compartmentalizing.
That's exactly what we want.
Martin Hamilton.
MARISSA (OVER EARPIECE): years old.
Software engineer.
His job requires both creative
and analytical skills.
That's a tough call.
How many hot dog vendors
would you say are
in the borough of Manhattan?
Uh, well,
if Manhattan is about
blocks north to south
and avenues east to west...
A regimented thinker.
Perfect.
...one cart for every nine square blocks,
- I would say...
- Thank you.
Juror number two is acceptable
to the defense, Your Honor.
Then we have our jury.
Okay. Well, we got
what we needed, didn't we?
We did.
We got what we needed based
on what we know today,
but you're a smart guy, Don,
so I need to prepare you.
A trial is a lot like
an approaching storm.
You know it's coming.
You pull together appropriate provisions,
you board up the house, but
you still have to ride it out
and hope it isn't
any stronger than you thought,
or lasts any longer than you expected.
Anything can happen.
What?
Please.
I have weather insurance.
I have Jason Bull.
(CHUCKLES)
- (KNOCK ON DOOR)
- Entrez.
Entra.
Eniru.
Hmm.
See, that's French, Italian,
and I have no idea.
Esperanto, just in case.
Nice.
When the Tower of Babel falls,
I am sticking with you.
So you need to check this out.
It's Benanti's notes
from a session with Lex.
His first session, actually.
And?
And look at the upper right-hand corner.
BULL: "Referred by A. Harper."
A. Harper.
You don't think Annabelle Harper,
Brady Harper's widow,
the plaintiff in this case,
referred Lex to Benanti, do you?
Hmm.
- Door-to-door service.
- Ah.
You guys really are a one-stop shop.
I have something to run by you.
I wanted to do it in private
before we go to court.
Sounds serious.
Hmm. Kind of a hypothetical.
Okay.
If, in some kind of alternate universe,
a former patient of yours were
to take the stand in a lawsuit...
mind you, I'm not asking you
to reveal any privileged information...
but if, hypothetically,
that were to happen,
would your legal team
have anything to worry about?
I'd like to think
I've been a great counselor
to all of my patients.
Hmm.
I was still half asleep
when Brady kissed me good-bye
that morning.
If I'd known it was the last time
I'd ever see him, I...
Just wish I'd put my
glasses on, you know?
So I could have really looked at him.
The crow's-feet around his eyes
when he smiled, and...
the way he chewed on his lower lip
when he pretended to be listening but
his mind was somewhere else.
If I'd have known, I'd...
I'd have gotten up,
put my arms around him.
Never let him walk out that door.
Objection, Your Honor.
With all due respect, relevance.
Sustained.
MARISSA: I'll tell you the relevance.
Analytical or not,
the jurors are eating this up.
They really feel for this woman, Bull.
Of course they do.
She's a sympathy machine.
Benny'll get her back on cross.
I hope so,
because I'm beginning to forget
what the color green looks like.
ZIMMER: No further questions, Your Honor.
JUDGE: Your witness, Counselor.
I'd like to begin by saying
how profoundly sorry I am for your loss.
Thank you. I appreciate that.
You're welcome.
Um, but I have to ask.
In Dr. Benanti's session notes,
he mentions that Lex was
referred to him by an A. Harper.
Was that you?
Brady had mentioned there was a bright
but troubled young trader at the firm.
There'd been a few outbursts,
and he said he thought he might
have to let this kid, Lex, go.
And, um, I recommended he send
him to Dr. Benanti instead
and try to get him help.
I wish to God now that I hadn't.
BENNY: And how did you know Dr. Benanti?
Did you, uh, read about him?
Did you hear about him from a friend?
Why did you recommend...?
Objection, Your Honor. Privileged.
It's all right. Mark, I'll answer.
I have nothing to hide.
I recommended Dr. Benanti
because he was my therapist.
I had been going through a hard time,
and I sought treatment from him.
BENNY: That's interesting.
So, in the time that you
went to Dr. Benanti,
did you find him to be
a negligent practitioner,
as your lawsuit suggests he was with Lex?
No.
No. In fact, he was
actually very thorough,
very attentive.
He-he helped me a great deal.
He'd even call between sessions
to check up on me.
BENNY: Wow.
Sounds like Dr. Benanti was
the opposite of negligent.
Sounds like he was downright solicitous.
No further questions, Your Honor.
MARISSA: Hey, you were right, Bull.
Benny is k*lling it.
I think we're out of the woods
with Annabelle.
Oh, I'm not so sure about that.
Tell me you did not sleep with a patient.
Tell me you did not sleep
with Annabelle Harper.
What are you talking about?
Of course I didn't sleep with my patient.
When she was on the stand,
you were leaning in, preening,
mirroring her facial expressions.
It was like a freshman lecture
on subconscious indicators
of intimacy and attraction.
Bull, I promise you,
I didn't sleep with her.
Okay, did you ever touch her? Kiss her?
Were you in love with her?
Was it an emotional affair?
I mean, were there
any e-mails, texts, gifts?
How exposed are we on this?!
Jason, slow down.
Okay. I...
admired Annabelle.
Her thoughtfulness.
How gracefully she dealt with
what she was going through.
But did I have feelings for her? Perhaps.
I've had feelings for a thousand people,
some of them my patients.
You know how it is.
Our line of work.
But I swear to you,
I broke no ethical boundaries.
Did she know about your feelings for her?
I certainly hope not.
No, she couldn't have.
Well, she mentioned phone calls.
I mean, I worked
clinical practice eight years,
and I made follow-up calls
maybe six times.
Why did you call her? What would you say?
You know that's confidential.
- Well...
- But I swear to you,
I did not make those calls often,
but when I did,
it was for an urgent reason.
Please. Jason, you got to trust me here.
You're my lifeline. You're all I've got.
Of course I trust you.
And I'm sorry. I just, I just...
No, you don't have to be sorry.
You're right. I understand.
It's like a giant storm.
And you're trying to read the weather.
(KNOCK ON DOOR)
Anybody home?
(CLEARS THROAT)
Hey, just, uh, wanted to let you know.
We, uh, just wrapped up.
Wrapped up what?
Mock trial.
Benny preparing Benanti
for his testimony.
I stood up in the booth and watched.
(CHUCKLES): Man, what a show.
You make it home last night?
You get any sleep?
Not that I'm aware of.
Now, why are you poring over
Lex's patient records?
Didn't Marissa prepare summaries
of those for you?
What'd you come in here to tell me?
Well, just that Benny grilled
Benanti six ways from Sunday,
and he's rock solid.
The guy's a quick learner.
He was able to take everything
that Benny threw at him
and use it to pivot back to the
talking points of our narrative.
And the mock jury found him
extremely trustworthy.
Of course they did.
He's a student of human behavior.
He knows how to read it,
he knows how to model it.
Strike that.
He's a master of human behavior.
Best I've ever seen.
What's wrong, Bull?
I have no idea.
And it's driving me crazy.
The g*n... where did Lex get it?
Uh, well, we haven't really had much luck
running that down, Bull.
Why is that?
It's a g*n.
It had to come from somewhere.
This one's on me.
I figured with no serial number,
it had to have been purchased illegally.
And given Lex's white collar background,
I assumed he got it online.
But I've searched all
of the arms trading sites,
and there's no record
of a Beretta being purchased
from any of the I.P. addresses
Lex has access to.
Wait a second. What kind of g*n was it?
A Beretta. A Beretta Tomcat.
No, it wasn't.
(DOORBELL BUZZING)
(DOORBELL BUZZING)
Jace.
Come in.
Want to have a seat?
Or would you rather put your feet up?
(CHUCKLES) I'm not a patient.
This isn't a session.
Okay. What is it?
I want to tell you a story.
A story about a young,
ambitious psychologist
just starting out in private practice.
He wanted to make a difference,
so naturally he chose
tough, sometimes even dangerous patients.
And to protect himself, he kept
a Beretta Tomcat in his desk.
Ring any bells?
It was you and me against
the world in that office, Don,
so I showed you my g*n,
where I kept it, how to use it.
Didn't you tell me you got
one of your own after I left?
Didn't you tell me
it was just like the one I had?
I need to see it.
Aren't you gonna open it?
What's the point?
We both know it's empty.
Do you believe in destiny?
Every night,
when I put my head on the pillow,
I'd dream of her.
I'd dream of us.
And I also knew, of course,
that she was dreaming about me.
But I also knew,
deep down, that she was...
un-have-able.
She was married to Brady Harper...
richer than God.
And he wasn't going anywhere,
and she wasn't about to leave him,
so I made my peace with it.
She was still mine on our afternoons.
We still had our phone calls.
She was my secret and I was her secret.
And then one day,
Lex walked in here and said
that her husband had fired him,
that he wanted to k*ll him,
wanted him dead.
I mean...
isn't that the definition of destiny?
All I really had to do was
put the g*n in his hand
and ask him nicely.
He trusted you to help him, to save him.
- And you used him...
- Used him,
preyed on his shame, called him son,
told him to make me proud.
I gave him what he craved:
a few moments of tenderness,
of understanding.
And in the end,
I put him out of his misery.
What's so wrong with that?
So what if I got something
I wanted out of it, too?
My God, you're certifiable.
I'm nothing of the kind, Jason,
and you know it.
That's what's making you so angry.
The pragmatism of it all,
the elegant simplicity of it.
Our job is to improve lives,
Donovan, not destroy them.
Says who?
That's a fairy tale, Jace.
Look around.
We swore no Hippocratic oath.
We psychologists created
the CIA's enhanced t*rture
program, for heaven's sake.
No, sir. It's our job
to listen to people,
to know them, and to decode
how it is they work.
And what we do with
that information, well...
You know I can't let this stand.
I can't be a party to this.
I'm sorry, old friend.
It's not like you have a lot of choice.
You're a member of my defense team.
This entire conversation is protected
under attorney-client privilege.
You can't call the police.
You can't tell the authorities.
You can't tell anyone.
(SCOFFS)
(SNORTS, SPITS)
Early birds.
Always been a couple of early birds.
I couldn't sleep. How about you?
You're the clinical psychologist, Don.
You tell me.
I can't lie.
I was having nightmares that you quit.
Doesn't work that way.
I can't quit just because
a client is guilty.
You tell anyone?
Like who?
Attorney-client privilege, remember?
How about Benny?
I'd never say a word to him.
He's legally and ethically bound
to provide a rigorous defense.
I don't want to make that
any harder than it has to be.
Thank you.
Don't judge her.
You can't judge her.
What?
You're a deeply disturbed man.
I'm just happy you found your other.
So, after you calmed Lex down,
you did what's called a risk assessment.
Now, what does that entail, exactly?
It's a series of questions
to try to ascertain
if Lex had any desires or plans
to hurt himself or anyone else.
And did he? In your opinion.
No. I spent about
minutes asking him
about his intentions.
Not only did he not have
any plans to commit v*olence,
his anger at being fired dissipated
throughout our time together.
Therefore, you determined that there was
no need to warn anyone.
In my career, I've been concerned
about patients' intentions
enough to warn the authorities
on more than one occasion,
but this was not one of those times.
Despite what happened
later that day, I can say
without hesitation,
when Lex left my office,
he gave every indication
that he had made his peace
with being let go and was excited
about exploring
new employment possibilities.
No further questions, Your Honor.
JUDGE: Your witness.
MARISSA: Nothing but good news here.
Our jurors seem very sympathetic
towards Dr. Benanti, Bull.
They find him straightforward, honest.
If he keeps this up,
I think we're home free.
Bull? Can you hear me?
Is this working?
I heard you, Marissa. Thanks.
This thorough risk assessment of yours...
did you ask follow-up questions,
clarifying questions?
The risk assessment
took as long as it did
because I asked
so many clarifying questions.
Did you specifically ask
if Lex had a g*n?
Yes. He said he did not.
How do you know he wasn't lying to you?
Well, I'm not a mind reader,
but I saw no indication that he was.
Hmm. Are you sure?
Objection. Your Honor,
asked and answered.
I'll rephrase.
You were seeing ten patients a day.
Is it possible you were
overworked or overtired,
that you missed something?
Anything is possible,
I suppose, but I certainly wasn't aware
of being overtired or overworked.
Honestly, my focus at that point
was on my patient.
Not engaging in speculation,
keeping his cool, staying on message.
Benny did an incredible job
here, Bull.
This guy's unflappable.
Benanti might have new clients
by the time this is over.
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
ZIMMER: Can you really
sit there, Dr. Benanti,
now that two good men are dead...
their widows without husbands,
their children without fathers...
can you really sit there
and say you made the right decision?
There are thousands
of young men in America
with the same psychological
profile as Lex Becker.
Most of them will never commit a crime.
A frustrating truth is
that for all our progress
in psychology and psychiatry,
the human mind remains
very much a mystery.
There's no surefire way to predict
who can be reached and who can't,
who will commit v*olence or who won't.
All anyone can do is
make the best decision they can
with the information they have.
The power of logic.
You put together the perfect
jury for this argument.
Bu, it is a sea of green over here.
(GAVEL BANGS)
JUROR: We the jury find the defendant,
Dr. Donovan Benanti, not liable.
JUDGE: Court would like to
thank you for your service.
You are dismissed.
(LAUGHS) Congratulations, Doc.
(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)
(DOORBELL RINGS)
ANNABELLE: Who is it?
Dr. Jason Bull. I'd love a word.
I'm sorry.
The doorman didn't call and
say you were on your way up.
And, uh, I'm not in the
habit of opening my door
for people who are unannounced.
Mm. Well, if I go back down
and have the doorman
announce me, will you let me in?
Step away from my door, Dr. Bull,
or I'm calling the police.
Okay. I just...
I'm sure you'll think this is crazy.
I'm sure you'll think
this is beside the point,
but I just need to know.
If you wanted to be together so badly,
and then went ahead and risked everything
to make it happen and you love him,
why did you take him to court?
(LOCK CLICKS)
What are you talking about?
Who are you talking about?
Dr. Benanti?
Be together? Love him?
The man I love is dead.
You just successfully defended
the person responsible in court.
Now get away from my door.
(LOCK CLICKS)
Mrs. Harper.
I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
I thought that...
Doesn't matter what I thought.
I was wrong.
I've been wrong about everything.
But I want to fix it.
Let me make this right, please.
He fooled me, too.
But I know some things, things
I can't legally share with you,
but if you will trust me,
if you'll give me a chance,
I think that there is a way
we can make sure
that he's punished for what he did...
and a way to get you the truth.
(LOCK CLICKS)
(SIGHS)
Please.
(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)
(SIGHS)
Happy Saturday.
Does anybody know why we're here?
That seems to be
the million-dollar question.
Where's Benny?
I told him to stay home.
Well, any particular reason?
Because he is a member of the
New York State Bar Association.
And that matters because...?
Because we're gonna engage in
a little team-building activity.
And if all goes well, the outside world
will be none the wiser;
but if it doesn't,
I don't want Benny to be
censured by the bar.
(CLICKS TONGUE)
ANNABELLE (OVER SPEAKERPHONE):
I did what you asked.
I called Dr. Benanti, asked
if he'd meet me for dinner.
Said I wanted to try and make it
up to him for the lawsuit.
You were right.
He, uh, he jumped at the chance.
Excellent.
I've got my whole team here.
They're all on board.
Question is: are you?
I miss my husband, Dr. Bull.
What's the worst that happens?
I join him?
MARISSA: That's your plan?
We are gonna send this poor woman
on a dinner date with a k*ller?
Let's keep our facts straight.
Don's never actually k*lled anyone,
at least not by his own hand.
That's what makes what he did so evil.
I need him to confess,
or he is gonna be free to take advantage
of some poor damaged soul
and do it again.
I am not asking about
what you need, I'm asking
is this woman gonna be safe.
Psychologically speaking,
I have every reason
to believe she will be.
Don harbors deep romantic
delusions about Annabelle.
He believes they are
meant to be together.
And now that her husband
is dead, they will be.
As long as Annabelle plays
into those delusions,
she should be fine.
"Should be" doesn't inspire confidence.
Well, the former cornerback
of the Georgia Bulldogs
will be there one table away,
prepared to take down the good doctor
if things should get out of hand.
And former FBI field agent
Danielle James will also be there.
They're having dinner together.
Didn't even know you two were a thing.
Well, I got to warn you,
I'm not a cheap date.
MARISSA: Bull, look,
seriously, how much jeopardy
are we putting this woman in?
I'll be in her ear
telling her what to say,
and you and Cable will be
sitting right by my side.
And you really think
this has a chance of working?
Mm.
The more she flatters him,
the more she puffs him up,
the more likely he is to make a mistake.
His ego is his weakness.
We need to play on that,
get him to confess to Annabelle.
If he does...
that confession is not protected.
She is not his lawyer.
She is not part of his legal team.
That is not what I'm asking.
Objects of delusion
are usually only in danger
if they challenge the delusion...
if she refuses his affection
or humiliates him in some way.
Well, what if Annabelle can't
handle it and does just that?
That's why I have you and Chunk there.
You're not just muscle.
Benanti's never seen you before,
so you will be my eyes
and ears on the ground.
Okay, I'm not a lawyer yet,
but I know enough to know
that this plan relies
on information obtained
in the course of protected conversations
between you and Dr. Benanti.
I mean, conversations that are covered
under attorney-client privilege.
Yeah? So?
So... is this legal?
(CHUCKLES)
Legal? Oh.
Here's the thing. It's not criminal.
And you won't go to jail.
And I will pay any fines or judgments.
Now, ask me
if it's the right thing to do.
I don't have to.
I know it is.
Anyone want to opt out?
Then turn off your cell
phones, ladies and gentlemen.
Our feature attraction is about to begin.
DANNY: Still no sign of her.
MARISSA: Relax, everybody.
The driver's just pulling up
to the restaurant.
You've got the recorder?
I do.
I do, and it's on.
And you still feel up to this?
Yes, I do.
Just remember, I've got people there.
You don't need to know who they are.
You just need to know
that they are close by.
And I am watching.
So if anything goes awry,
don't worry, you're protected.
Do as I say, and say as I say.
Trust me.
I do. I-I'm here, aren't I?
(PIANO PLAYING GENTLE MUSIC)
(LAUGHTER, QUIET CHATTER)
Here she comes.
Thank you.
Bull, you'd be proud of her.
She's putting on quite a show.
My God, look at you.
You're glowing.
Wow. He really is crazy, isn't he?
ANNABELLE: Dr. Benanti, I'm...
I'm in mourning.
Well, whatever you're in, it becomes you.
BULL: I know it's hard,
but smile, seem flattered.
Call him "Don""
not "Doctor," and lean in when he talks.
He's an expert
at picking up nonverbal cues.
DANNY: Wow. She's sitting
on the edge of her seat.
Her eyes are glued to his.
I think I'm jealous.
Loosen him up. Apologize for the trial.
I just, I just have
to say again how sorry I am
about everything that's happened.
You know, if it were up to me,
I never would have sued,
but Sherryl Milton, she...
she insisted.
Don't you think I sensed that?
BULL: Now, I know this isn't something
you want to do, but we need to build up
his confidence and get him
to let down his defenses.
Do you think you could
reach across the table
and touch his hand?
MARISSA: Danny, Chunk,
from where you are, can you tell
if she's touching his hand?
Not yet.
Oh, wait a second.
The answer to your question is yes.
Thank you.
To you.
To destiny.
BULL: Now, Annabelle,
I need you to repeat
what I'm about to say as if it's yours.
Okay? Here we go.
I know this isn't a session...
I know this isn't a session,
and I know we're not here to talk about
me and my problems, but...
can I tell you a deep, dark secret?
You can tell me anything.
I know I'm supposed to be sad,
and I know I'm...
I'm supposed to be grieving...
...but deep down,
what I've, what I've really felt
since that man sh*t Brady is...
relief.
Does that make me a bad person?
No.
It makes you someone
who put up with a partner
who made the business
of living difficult.
He was a big, suffocating personality.
Of course it feels better now.
Would you think I was a horrible
person if I told you I...
Sometimes I fantasize...
about thanking that fellow Lex...
...the one who sh*t my husband...
MARISSA: Uh, we are at DEFCON , guys.
If something's gonna happen,
it's gonna happen now.
For what he did.
...for what he did,
for... giving me my life back.
For setting me free.
Is everything all right, Don?
Did I, did I say something to upset you?
I-I mean...
I just... I just think it's so amazing.
If Lex hadn't done what he did...
we wouldn't be here tonight.
It wasn't Lex.
What are you talking about?
What are you talking about?
Thank me.
It was me.
I mean, I didn't pull the trigger,
but... I knew I could get Lex to.
I gave him my g*n...
told him what to do.
I did this for you.
I did it for us.
(GASPS SOFTLY)
Marissa... something's going on.
I think Annabelle might lose it.
(SOBBING)
You-you need to talk Annabelle down.
Annabelle, I need you to breathe.
I need you to stay calm.
Excuse yourself if you have to.
Annabelle, I don't understand.
Why are you crying?
No, don't order till I get back!
(GASPS)
Oh, my goodness, I'm so sorry, I'm sorry.
- What have you done?
- Oh, my gosh.
- Let's get you cleaned up.
- Oh, honey, I know.
- I'm sorry.
- Belinda, look what you've done.
- Wait.
- I'm so sorry.
This is terrible. You have to
let me pay for your dinner.
No, that's not necessary.
If I, if I could just...
But I insist.
How much Bob De Niro you think
we're looking at here?
- Huh? Oh.
- I have no idea.
I'd say it's pretty significant.
(CHUCKLES)
Looks like we've done
quite a bit of damage.
Yeah, we think you did, too.
(DOOR BUZZES)
Forgive me, Don.
I know it looks like I came empty-handed,
but I actually brought
a lovely ' Haut-Brion.
Would have paired brilliantly
with those chips
out from the vending machine, but alas,
the guards did not share my enthusiasm.
- What are you doing here?
- I don't know.
I guess I'm just that kind of guy.
The kind of guy that goes
out on a limb for a friend.
The kind of guy that shows up
when a colleague calls and asks for help.
The kind of guy that visits you in jail
when you've been denied bail.
But I guess it could be worse.
Lots of natural light.
And you look pretty good in khaki.
Go ahead, take your victory lap.
But I'm not an idiot.
I know you're the reason
I'm in here, and I'll prove it.
- And when I do...
- (LAUGHS)
I'm sorry, prove what, exactly?
That I suggested Annabelle ask you out
and record the conversation?
Even if you could prove that...
and it will be awfully hard
to do that from prison...
and it still wouldn't change the fact
that you confessed on tape
to orchestrating m*rder.
And it still wouldn't change the fact
that the police found
the lockbox in your office
and matched your fingerprint
to the partial print
they found on the g*n
from the crime scene.
No, all it would do is
give you the opportunity to sue me.
Again, from prison. And you'd lose.
And even if you didn't,
I don't think my professional reputation
would take too big a hit
if I was found liable
for protecting the world
from a complete psychopath.
Well, (SIGHS) I should
get back to the office.
There.
Don't want you to think
the visit was a total loss.