06x02 - Lying Eyes

[bunniefuu]

[CHUCK] Previously on Billions.

This company, formerly known
as Axe Holding Company,

Axe Asset Management, and Axe Bank,

belongs to me now.

[BONNIE] We used to work for a k*ller.

Now we got a guy who
wants to know how we feel.

Just tell me what you
need to succeed here.

A boss I can trust and work with.

[CANNONS f*ring]

The a*tillery.
I didn't come looking for a w*r.

I need this place.

But you f*ckers need me too.

Listen, you m*therf*ckers,
we've got a new general.

You better get in f*cking step.

I'm unlike the man who came before me.

I do not break the law.

Billionaires break the laws of decency.

I need you to get to the
right decision and approach.

What if we weren't attached to
the way it's always been done.

I am hereby creating The Prince List,

which involves shedding all

the dirty capital currently invested.

[APPLAUSE]

Follow me!

- [CROWD CHEERING]
- Yeah!

You wanted your w*r, you got it.

Fire in the hole.

[CANNONBALL BOOMS]

["PLUSH" BY STONE TEMPLE PILOTS PLAYING]

♪ And I feel ♪

♪ That time's a-wasting, go ♪

♪ So where ya going to tomorrow? ♪

♪ And I see ♪

♪ So would you even care? ♪

[GRUNTS]

Almost. Good.

- [SIGHS]
- Again.

Hands go a little softer
in the big city, Mike?

[ANDY] Oh,
he'll tell ya he's a quarry man,

a limestoner from birth, that he was...

Born with calluses.

Which is true.

But you can't keep 'em
counting dollar bills.

Just get bigger ones.

Diamond shaped.

You wanna try a different route, Mike?

No. I gotta send this.

[ALEX] Just do what she did.

[PRINCE] I'm no Andy,

or I'd be coaching the games.

L.A. . Badass.

An American coaching an American team

for an American Olympics.

Lot of room to make history there.

Just like with this jump, Mike,

you wanna downplay the significance.

See the handhold and
will yourself to it.

Just do it.

[GRUNTS]

Closer.

How long do you have to be in L.A. for?

We'll see how long it
takes to build this thing.

Construction on the
complex starts next week.

Let's try this again, Mike.

I'm heading back in the morning.

I think if you can get your
left hand in that crimp

before you go for the dyno,
you'd have it.

Uh-huh.
Wanna grab dinner before I leave?

We're not going to do that.

[MAN ON TV] You can take
the next months' shipment

in the name of a freight forwarder.

[MAN ] Freight forwarder?

Freight forwarder and a customs broker.

- All right?
- Hmm-hmm.

- Good, good, good.
- Where are you going with this?

You just listen.

We're gonna stand this
thing on its head.

Eyes up.

Mase Carb. You, too.

You know what some folks would
call Paul Revere these days?

Dreamy?

A whistleblower.

He called out bad actors
at great risk to himself

and helped win a righteous w*r.

What does it take to
break with the ranks

and blow the whistle on wrongdoing?

Big retailer's been playing dirty.

Shoes and gears say "Made in China,"

but they're using forced labor
in Uighur concentration camps.

Rask Sportswear.

[WINSTON] Rask? Love them.

I wear their board shorts when I shred.

When you...?

At home, when I play Among Us.

But if I did surf...

They do make great sh*t.

All the same.

Second-generation company
currently headed up

by the founder's son, Stuart Rask, Jr.

It has over , retail
locations worldwide.

Market cap, billion dollars.

And we're gonna short
the snot out of it.

I want us positioned
to take this ride down

like Slim Pickens on
the nuke in Strangelove.

All the way to the ground and then...

[MIMICS WORLD BLOWING UP]

[BEN KIM] I'm definitely
anti-concentration camp,

but Rask hasn't had a bad
quarter in literally years.

And I'm not using
literally figuratively,

I'm using "literally" literally.

Rask has the financials

to withstand the siege of Leningrad.

It's a "shame and short."

The key is to build social pressure

that goes beyond the numbers.

Make it unacceptable to
be seen wearing Rask,

let alone holding their shares.

I'll grab my ma's rosary

and pray while we're at it.

Taylor sees it just right.

A sportswear brand is
the perfect target.

Once we expose Rask,
their sponsored athletes

will swear off the brand, the fans
will follow. The stock will be over.

[TAYLOR] And if we pull it off,
it will send a message

to the Prince List investors,
the retail sector,

- and the world, won't it?
- [PRINCE] Yeah.

It's a statement win.

Get after it.

Why were they pushing back?

They're concerned they're
being sent to charge

a machinegun nest for moral reasons.

And they don't trust a leader
asking them to do that.

For profit, for greed,

they'll charge like it's
the beach at Normandy.

But not for a cause.

Kobe was skeptical of
the triangle at first.

Show 'em they can win
under you like Phil did,

you'll have 'em for life,
but to do that, this...

Yeah. Has to work. Got it.

- You know your piece?
- I do.

- AG Rhoades!
- Hey.

Wendy told me you'd be
stopping by for your kids.

- Yes, sir.
- I'll...

I'll be, just,

if you see a woman, mid- s,

- blonde hair, yoga everything...
- Hmm-hmm.

- ...stall her.
- What...

I'll be right back. Guard the door.

Hmm-hmm.

[DOOR OPENS]

Okay, let me get
those kids down for you.

What the hell was that just now?

- Attorney-client?
- Sure.

Guy on the tenth floor
got his dates mixed up.

Needed help getting his mistress out

before the wife came back.

Oh. That is a tremendous feat of loyalty

and timing, no doubt.

You keep a lot of things
straight around here, don't you?

- I have my moments.
- Oh, come on.

Is there anything in this building

that works without your help?

Mrs. Resler!

Your husband wanted me to buzz
him the moment you arrived.

Oh.

- Welcome back to the big city.
- [CHUCKLES]

Can I expect you back
at the office now, too?

Uh, the office is not where my
new w*r is going to be waged.

Not at first.

Tractor, again?

[SCOFFS]

Maybe.

But the venue matters
less than the message,

the mandate.

Now I realized it's not one billionaire

having his way with the city.

That's wrong, but it's not existential.

But the overall effect
of the billionaire class?

They're a scourge.

No, I'm gonna get them where they live.

I see.

We're gonna stand this
thing on its head.

Mamet? Okay.

But he pulled that off in a small town.

- This is New York.
- Well, New York

is a lot of small towns
stitched together.

Welcome, members
of Manhattan Door & Custodial.

As president of this union...

- [BANGS GAVEL]
- I call this meeting to order.

Look at this,

the doorman's vote must
suddenly mean something,

because here's our state AG
crashing my little speech.

[CHUCK LAUGHS]

Good afternoon, everyone.
No. Far from crashing.

I am here to champion your cause.

I know how hard you all work
and how little thanks you get.

In fact, during the recent plague,

who was on the front lines,
manning the doors

while the well-heeled
residents took cover?

You mean the ones who
actually stuck around

and didn't run off to
their beach houses?

I do. Yeah.

No one here got a months-long
vacation like they did.

Which is why, if you'll have me,

I'm going to take up the fight
to get you hazard back pay

for the work you did
during the pandemic.

I volunteer to be your
unofficial mouthpiece

and fight the Tenants and
Property Management Board

on your behalf.

Don't all cheer at once, please.

Okay,

you're a regular knight errant.

Thing is, we don't want your help.

We're already in the middle
of a negotiation with them,

and we're making progress.

Bringing in some
high-profile state official

could spook the TPMB

and ruin the forward movement.

Plus, you got an angle.

[LAUGHS]

I don't know what it is, but you do.

[SACKER] You need to know?

As long as it serves you and yours?

We see folks like you all day,
every day.

We see what they say
versus what they do.

Why should we believe
you're going to help us?

We don't f*cking know you.

I know him.

He's all right.

Thank you, Rafa.

You see the news, don't you?

I have made it quite plain that,

in looking out upon this state and city,

I have identified the one group

that has made them worse.

And those are the very people
trying to do you dirty now.

I am not like them.

Like Rafa said, I'm all right.

And he knows my whole family.

Wife and kids.

Ex-wife.

[RAFA] Ex-wife is a generous tipper.

And his kids are "please"
and "thank you."

Well, that's good to hear.

And the reason my
children show respect is

they know how I feel

about those who put themselves out there

for the greater good.

But you know what the one
problem with folks like you is?

You're so busy taking care of others,

of making sure that
nothing gets in the way

of them living their best lives,
that you put yourselves second.

You just accept what's offered.

That ends today!

Now!

Because I know how to
ask for what's deserved.

Earned. For dignity.

Respect. And I'm going to
use that not on my behalf.

But on yours.

What say you?!

Hell, yeah!

All right, Rhoades.

Go get 'em.

Victor was right.

He's often right.

I grew up...

Guys like that,
I always assumed they were...

No, you'd be correct most of the time.

And he's some of those things.

But he's smart.

Fascinating.

Anyhoozit,
when it comes to sports brands,

the market has a short
memory for causes,

a long one for numbers.

Prince would know that.
He'd have that knowledge baked in.

I've found five less-established brands

that're dirtier than Rask.

I expect similar brands
like that will fall a little,

in sympathy with Rask,
but how much worse can it get?

Much worse.

All sorts of egregious
sh*t I'd spell out,

except I hate spelling things out loud.

Almost as much as I hate being right

and not being able to prove it.

That's what the money is, proof.

Let's mukbang the whole sector.

No. Hold off for now.

This initiative would
have worked under Axe,

but Prince has different priorities.

He seems to be after
more than profits here.

So what, are you saying,
"He's a kind man,

a wise man, he has plans,
he has wisdom?"

'Cause vom city at that.

I don't know yet,
but I know he's not Axe.

We're operating differently now.

Mase Carb's not going to be
the siloed resistance anymore.

So we're gonna trust this guy?

We're throwing in. For now.

Until we have more information.

Stay on mission.

[SIGHS]

Attorney General Rhoades,

I'm at a total loss as to
why you've involved yourself

in negotiations between our

Tenants and Property Management Board

and the Doormen's and Custodial Union.

All matters involving
members of this state

are within my purview,

and that includes both
your fine organizations.

But especially when it
concerns those who are often

trod upon by the powerful and wealthy.

So I have lent them my voice

and my office as venue.

[MACGOWAN] Well,
much as they don't need it,

- I guess it's fine.
- They don't?

No. I was already prepared to
offer a two-percent increase

in management fees. They've earned it.

Two percent, that'd be great...

Uh, Duilio, please.

Allow me.

Two percent is theft.

Might as well pick
their f*cking pockets.

These are the brave souls who
protect you in your slumber.

If this board won't
agree to five percent,

then these negotiations are nothing

but a cruel charade.

No dice.

Because he said? He's Barzini?

Well, Mr. Lazarra...

Yeah, I know who Bud Lazarra is

and how much real estate
he owns in this city.

What you might not know is,
I speak for the residents.

And we're not paying.

Sunburn, windburn, or whiskey?

It's all three.

Surf, turf, and Glenlivet.

Most of us skipped town for Covid.

Here the Hamptons, Vail, Caribbean.

They even let some
especially high-net-worth

individuals into New Zealand.

So the doormen had the easiest
workday they've ever seen.

Ah, sir, this is the problem exactly.

Wealthy residents like yourselves

retreated to the comfort of
their many vacation homes,

leaving their helpers behind,

guarding their empty apartments,

fully exposed at the very
epicenter of a pandemic

unparalleled in modern history.

You stand in their debt.

I find it curious that our doormen

hadn't thought to bring
this up themselves.

And then you show up,
flinging your sh*t all around

like a chimpanzee at the zoo.

I've heard about your theatrics,
Rhoades.

But you'll receive no applause here

'cause I've got better things to do.

That's it?

The meeting's done when Lazarra is.

That was wrong. This is wrong.

Yeah. I mean how can they
shortside you like that?

- I mean, two percent?
- Not them. You.

They agreed to a bump that
would make my guys glad,

but now we're getting zilch.

You would have me sit back

and let them take us for a ride, then?

Settle for less than
your union deserves?

- No way.
- What do you propose?

I think it's time for
your boys to go on strike.

Uh-huh. No way.
I can't make them go out.

Not when there's a real
offer on the table.

I... [SIGHS]

[CHUCKLES]

Look, man.

I'm here to help.

I led with the g*dd*mn carrot, you know?

Let's just keep going
in that direction, together.

You're gonna have to show me the stick.

[LAUGHS] Ah, the stick.

Well, that is wielded by other agencies.

The DTF, you know?

The state Department of
Taxation and Finance.

All that unreported
income from holiday tips

you and your boys enjoy.

I'll try to fight 'em off,
but at some point,

I'll have to investigate

and widen the scope to
every other service union,

letting them know that
the pattern started

with the doormen.

Which should do wonders
for your social lives.

Jesus.

Yeah. Well.

Like I said, I'll try to fight 'em off,

but you were asking about the stick,
and that's it.

The one that's going to
cr*ck you across the skull.

So...

So,

I guess we're on strike.

Rian ran the numbers.

There are more profitable
ways to make the same point

in the same sector.

You think Prince's lack of experience

in the public markets is showing?

No, it's not that.

He has the brainpower and the
right instincts for this place.

Then why don't you just talk to him,

voice your reservations,
show him your data?

I'm considering that
this might all be a test.

Does he want us to confront him,

or does he want us to
show that we trust him?

A test?

That sounds like an Axe move,
not something Prince would do.

- I say there's no test.
- So you think he's misguided?

I'm not going to make that
kind of an assessment for you.

If you have your doubts, talk to Prince.

If I confronted every person
here who gave me reason

to doubt them from time to time,

I'd need headgear and mouthpiece
for every single conversation.

- Everyone?
- Yes.

Present company not excluded.

Alex said he'd be
posting right about now.

Let's check the Tok.

Every time I try to open it,

I'm accosted by Gordon
Ramsay yelling at someone.

[ALEX] Hey, everyone, this is Alex.

I wanted to let you guys know
how I feel about Rask gear.

I just found out they've
been using unethical labor

and lying about it for years,
which is why I use

the NorthFace, a company I can trust.

Rask is a Dumpster fire of a company,

so this feels about right.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

Hundreds of thousands of views already.

People doing stitches and duets.

It's made it to Twitter.

Naomi Osaka is dropping
their sponsorship, too.

Women's soccer's talking a boycott.

Stock price is falling.

[LAUGHS] Excellent.

[SACKER] I saw that the doormen
are officially on strike.

[CHUCK] Hmm, the foyers of Manhattan's

wealthiest buildings stand empty.

Good.

The, uh, negotiation meeting

with the Tenants and
Property Management Board

went the way you thought it would?

I rejected their paltry
attempts at compromise

and worked them all up
into a rage. Karl!

Take these and deliver them directly.

Addresses are on there.

I want them to go straight from
your hand to their recipient's.

No middlemen.

This will be a real tour
of Central Park views.

Only better way is by blimp.

This one I will deliver myself.

Bud Lazarra. He's the key.

The other residents will
take their cues from him.

[DOOR OPENS]

Ah!

Christ on a bike!

Okay, Bud, keep your focus.

[CHUCK] You know what? It's funny,

I'd heard that whole
"don't move your head" thing was a myth.

But right before you shanked it,
Buddy-boy,

I did detect some wobble
in the cranial area.

But I'm sure Mr. Breed here
can train that out of you.

If you weren't an officer of the court,

your own cranial area would be
getting quite a jolt, Rhoades.

Ah.

Think you wanna hit me now?

This is for you.

A bill for the doormen's hazard pay.

[CHUCKLES]

I might find your antics amusing

if they weren't such a nuisance.

It's like getting your house
egged on All Hallow's Eve.

But your scheme won't work, Rhoades.

He gets that a lot.

Hmm. And from men even more
entitled than yourself.

Hmm. And they do work, so...

you might want to think about that.

- Yeah.
- [TAPS WATCH]

And we expect timely payment.

Nice to meetcha, Breedster.

He can use every bit of that
encouraging coaching of yours.

[BREED] All right, Bud, let's do this.

You're going to face bigger
distractions than that.

AOC just tweeted. She blasted Rask.

Now there's a heavy hitter.

Is it trending? Has the market reacted?

Yes and yes.

We're down to $ . a share.

You didn't seem quite surprised enough.

Wasn't I?

That tweet can't just be good luck.

All right. I made a call.

Nothing improper.

Made sure her staffers knew the issue.

Nicely done. What about the other thing?

The rentable equipment is
being pulled to Pennsylvania,

- to wait in the wings.
- What about the companies that own?

They're tied up with projects elsewhere.

Supply chain is thin in
the industry right now,

a real flexion point.

I know the stakes here.
And I knew what to do.

But if it brings reassurance
to check that I've...

Fair enough.

And thank you.

It's convenient that you're up here.

I have an HR matter.

- Sure. How can I help?
- I'm going to fire Rian.

Whoa.

- Okay. Reason?
- She directly disobeyed my orders.

No room for ambiguity?

None. She took a position
I told her not to take.

Several, actually.

Not only is it reckless,
but it's also dangerous.

- Was it smart?
- Does that matter?

Come with me.

f*ring Rian may be the best
move for you as a boss,

but it's not the best
move for you as a person,

holistically.

Since when do we do
holistically in this place?

New place, new thing.
And it applies, since the whole reason

you want to fire her is
she hurt your feelings.

If a colonel gives an order...

This is not The Big Red One.

This is about you wanting
blind trust from your acolyte.

It's about culture fit.

We've undergone a sea change here,

and Rian's still playing
by the old rules.

She's proven herself unable
or unwilling to adapt.

And have you adjusted, Taylor?

Really?

Because f*ring Rian sounds like exactly

what Axe would do if
he were in your shoes.

Aim for , as close as you can get.

Let's whack those
f*cking bids like they're

Frankie Pentangeli about to testify!

[WHISPERS] Are you sure we can
still take directions from him?

He's still the...

whatever his job title is.

[WAGS] Ready now, almost there.

Why are we huddling up?

Play's already been called.

Just readying the team
to cover their positions

as soon as the stock hits $ .

For a nice tidy profit.

I didn't buy Axe Cap for tidy.

I want a big, sloppy profit.

In your words, Wags,
"A monster pig. A Hogzilla."

Everyone,
hold till the stock dips under five.

Five it is, baller.

Isn't that going to be a problem?

There's a problem with the short.

You too?

I'm glad you're here, Taylor.

You should both know.

I have two things to disclose.

One. I'm old pals with Stuey Rask.

[INAUDIBLE]

Stuey and I met at rock fantasy camp.

♪ You can't hide ♪

♪ Your lyin' eyes ♪

♪ And your smile ♪

♪ Is a thin disguise ♪

♪ I thought by now ♪

♪ You'd realize ♪

♪ There ain't no way to hide ♪

♪ Your lyin' eyes ♪

Most of the other attendees
were suburban dads

who thought four IPAs,
a joint, and a spin on p*rn

was a wild night.

Stuey and I...

understood each other.

We were kindred spirits,

rock gods from another life.

He even lets me sing
the Glenn Frey parts.

Touching.

But you said you had two things.

What else do you need to disclose?

That stock is about to rebound.

Very soon.

- How?
- What'd you do?

I negotiated a buyout,

so that Prince could
profit off the short.

But then I added a part two
so that Stuey would be okay.

Come on.

See, I put a buyer in place.

As soon as word of
the takeover gets out,

the Rask stock's gonna pop.

You ruined my play

and put hundreds of
millions in capital at risk

because you wanted to sing Eagles songs.

He lets me sing the Glenn Frey parts.

I don't care!

He thought you could both win this way.

You'd profit off the short,

and Rask would still recover.

If Rask recovers, I don't win.

[SCOOTER] Uh-oh.
The Bloomberg alert just dropped.

"Astra Sports is preparing an
offer to buy Rask Sportswear,

"leaving Stuart Rask, Jr.,

in as CEO for ten years."

Stock is already rebounding.

We're hemorrhaging money by the second.

We could try and cover our position.

We have to stop this takeover
from happening. It's the only way.

Before the Robinhood
knuckleheads jump on him

or we're washed away by the retail wave.

You created this problem, fix it.

- How can I fix it?
- If I asked you that question,

you'd say I'm a
resourceful m*therf*cker.

I can be. I am.

You might also say,
"If there's something Rask is hiding,

I'll Easy Rawlins that sh*t.
In fact, I have it already."

I might. Yeah.

But to do Stu dirty like that...

I mean, Glenn would never
have done that to Don Henley.

Rask isn't Henley.

He's Felder.

Don't make me do to you
what they did to him.

Would it be along the lines
of f*ring me for cause,

tying me up in lawsuits

to enforce a non-compete, et cetera?

[SCOOTER] You say you're on the team,
Wags. Be on the team.

Do the thing the team guy does,

or you're not on the team, are you?

[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]

What cockamamie scheme do
you have cooking in that

Crock-Pot of a head of yours now, Sonny?

[LAUGHS]

It is the first battle in
the new w*r I'm waging,

against the billionaires,
the criminal class.

And I'm starting with the doormen.

Since when are you the voice
of Johnnie Lunch Bucket?

Since it suits the needs
of my constituents.

In the short and long term.

I'm listening.

But I'm not saying any more.

I'm going to keep my own counsel.

Ah, hell. My doorman is perfectly happy.

He always has a big smile

on his face when he greets me.

That is his job, Dad.

And you will have to pay the bill,

just as soon as Bud Lazarra cracks.

[SCOFFS]

That'll never happen.

You'd do not want to mess with Lazarra.

Why, because you've thrown
in with him already?

Nah, I'm done teaming up
with your enemies.

I took the wrong side of
that bet for the last time.

Well, I'm glad to hear it.

Son, do you remember

the first summer

that we took the house at the Vineyard?

You were probably five or six.

Mm-hmm, I do.

Are you contemplating
an extended vacation?

[CHUCKLES]

Perhaps I should be, but no.

You were a feeble swimmer, at best.

Finally, one day,

you got out past the shore break

to the calmer water.

You turned to show me,

big, proud smile on your face.

You didn't see the wave coming.

- And you didn't warn me?
- Warn you?!

I clapped and kept your attention on me

until the wave came and
wiped you out completely.

I knew it was a lesson you
needed to learn the hard way.

I got infections in both ears.

So, now you oughta know,

don't turn your back on oceanic forces.

See, I'm done teaching you lessons.

Those are for your sister now.

I am warnin' you this time,

before the wave breaks.

Lazarra's formidable.

I appreciate the warning

as a gesture of goodwill.

And a mark of the beginning of
a new phase of our relationship.

But you and I both know

when I get big game in my sights...

I can't lower my r*fle.

Well, in that case, my boy,

I wish you luck.

I'll don my blaze orange...

and step out of the line of fire.

Goodnight, Dad.

Excuse me!

Hi. I'm Andy Salter.

There's Prince tacked on there,
if you're being particular.

Of course! You're his ex-wife, or...

Sorry, are you still...

Hi. Good.
I figured it wouldn't be too long.

Since the last time I saw you,

the main sponsor of my climbing team

and the entire games is
potentially bankrupt.

And I just learned that
the construction company

that's building my training facility

can't get the equipment they need.

Somehow the heavy
machinery got diverted.

And now,
L.A.'s host status is on life support.

Meetings are being
held about pulling it.

The commission's set to
start re-shopping the bid.

- There's a plan.
- Yeah.

That's clear.

It's all going to be resolved.

Why are you cratering my dream gig?

Do you remember our third date?

The Indiana State Fair?

We turned every booth
into a competition.

I swear, if they kept records
for the milk bottle ring toss

and the balloon dart,
we would have smashed them.

I had armloads of those
shitty stuffed animals.

A few times in my life, I've had,

I guess folks would
call them epiphanies.

Where something just came clear,
in an instant.

And each one set the
tone for everything else.

One was when I first
picked up a basketball.

The other was when I realized
that I was able to understand

the intrinsic value of an
opportunity in an instant,

and then there was
that night at the fair.

I knew you were the one.

I was right about all three.

Yeah.

No doubt.

But basketball and markets

don't have agencies or
free will of their own.

I do.

I see the way you look at me.

Still.

Loving you.

Admiring you.

Still being attracted to you.

None of that means we want
to live the same kind of life.

And none of that means you
get to unilaterally decide

- the direction of mine.
- I've never done that.

You're trying to do that now.

This is about cleaning
up a dirty company

and an entire industry along with it.

- It's bigger than us.
- Yeah. Sure it is.

Fine, yes, I stand to profit.

Hugely, in fact.

It's a ten-bagger if Rask blows up.

That's not what I meant.

It's no coincidence that you
got involved with my sponsor.

There are plenty of other ways
to make a point and a profit.

Okay. I looked into the company
because of your proximity to it,

and I saw an opportunity that
was too important to pass up.

- Mike...
- I have a way we can both win.

I was already winning.

I'm just trying to do my own thing,

and you can't leave it alone.

Be honest with me...
Are you trying to buy back

- the relationship you want?
- I haven't given up.

- You should, though.
- I just need you to trust me

and see how this is going to resolve.

If what you say is true,
that I'm not letting you go,

then you have to also know

I anticipated your reaction to it.

When you're on the mountain,

you can know what you're supposed to do,

what you're trying to do.

It doesn't mean you can pull it off.

And if you try and fail,

there may not be a path to recover.

So if you are making some big move here,

be really sure you have your footing.

Because you and I are
tied to the same rope now,

and if you peel off,
you take me down with you.

Strike's been called off.

Doormen are back in uniform
and back at their posts.

Billionaires still haven't paid?

Nope.

Well, that was fast.

I guess I have to go
crawling back to Lazarra now.

As we knew you would.

I've got my checkbook

and my first aid kit ready,

depending on the outcome.

[EXHALES]

This is my city,

and you've come to
learn that the hard way.

I know you bribed Mr. Santulli,

the head of the Door & Custodial Union,

to get his men back to work.

That's a cute story, Chuck.

But I prefer nonfiction myself.

We settled at the original
two percent number.

So once again, you've proved yourself

to be nothing more than a
colossal waste of my time.

Ah, but see,

I have video.

Hey. How you doing?

It's a private estate.
Full beach access.

Kauai at Christmastime
is pretty special.

So, when can we get your
boys back on the door?

Right away.

Thanks for the use of the pooch.

Sure. Thanks a lot.

[CHUCK] Once you were spotted together,

my financial crimes people threw a net

and found the wire transfers.

You may be sophisticated
at hiding baksheesh, but, uh,

Santulli isn't.

That flush on your face is that, uh,

surf, turf or something else?

[CLICKS TONGUE]

This would make a real juicy morsel

to throw to the press.

Yeah, I can imagine every outlet

would want a bite.

But... I'm a reasonable man.

If you can get your cohort
of fellow billies to agree

to a five-percent management
fee increase for the doormen,

I don't believe I'll see
the need to leak this story.

Olivia, how are things at New York Mag?

Always good when someone
calls with a story.

What's the situation in there?

Chuck's in there right now.

If his meeting doesn't go
the way he wants it to,

he's ready to deliver
a cover story to you

with necessary evidence.

If Chuck wins the meeting,
there won't be a story.

This time. But a nice raincheck.

Let's hope the meeting combusts then.

I'll be waiting in the car.

Why the hell would I trust you?

Because you know how he operates.

And I'll need you in my
corner down the line.

All right.

We'll pay.

I'll round up everybody myself.

[SENIOR] It looks like the
tides have turned, Bud.

We can't fight oceanic forces.

[CHUCK] Hmm.

Oh, you should have seen
the crimson shade

of old Lazarra's cheeks when
I showed him what we had.

I wish I had a swatch of it
to repaint my living room

as a victory trophy. [LAUGHS]

They're gonna pay.

Tell Olivia to move on to her next lead?

No.

It's a beautiful night.

I'm feeling like a chat.

You do that,
the billionaires of this city

are sure to come after you.

I'd never tell.

But I might tell her where to look.

Former holders of your very office

did not survive that att*ck.

Are you sure painting
targets on our backs

is the best move right now?

No more skeletons
in my closets to rattle.

Let 'em just try and Spitzer me.

Are you looking for your
way out of this job?

You pigged out on those other
sportswear companies dropping

after I explicitly told you to wait.

I knew you'd see it.

That's how confident I
was that they'd pay off.

And they did.

The numbers supported my hypothesis.

I upped you from analyst

so you could take positions I supported,

not so you could go off
and improv on your own

like an Eric Dolphy solo.

Yeah, well, I waited.

And then Rask started rebounding,

so I pulled the trigger.

And thanks to me,
Mase Carb's in the black now.

You shouldn't have done that.

I already told you no.
My last instructions still stood,

despite the change in Rask's price.

[SIGHS]

Leaving money on the
table is like seeing

a punch buggy and not punching someone.

It just feels wrong.

- But I could have listened to you.
- Should.

I should have listened to you.

I will protect you this time.

Prince won't know you made this call.

But this game you're playing...

Yeah. Like Miles's band
recording b*tches Brew.

No net.

I got it.

Astra Sports has canceled its buyout
of Rask Sportswear

after learning of CEO Stuart Rask, Jr's

secret partnership with
North Korean dictator

Kim Jong-un.

Jesus.

This is what you were sitting on?

Stuey went to North
Korea with Dennis Rodman

some years ago, even after
the other sportswear companies

- canceled and backed out.
- Remarkable. Why?

Rask was still a
boutique brand back then.

They needed to grow.

They came back from their
trip fully capitalized.

Kim's been a silent partner
this whole time. Still is.

Until now...

Look at the after-market ticker.

Rask is tanking.

Federal Trade Commission's
doing a full probe.

[SCOOTER] Well, Wagsy, you did it.

You k*lled the buyout
and fed it to the dogs.

[SIGHS]

[CELL PHONE VIBRATES]

Hey, Stu...

It...

Listen...

can't we just talk
about this at rehearsal?

Stuey just kicked me out of the band.

Olivia told me that Lazarra article

should drop tonight.

We'd better batten down the hatches.

Nah, let the gale blow. I'm ready.

I'm trying to think
like Hackman in Heist,

to understand why turning
Lazarra against you

is the smart play,
and I am coming up dry.

Well, something my father
taught me long ago.

Sometimes,
you just have to break some sh*t.

Find out the strength of the
reaction on the other side.

Use your will. Not your wits.

And make them know your moves

can't be anticipated.

That no one is safe.

I'm not sure that old school crap
is still gonna play.

The old school crap
plays like Bobby Short.

You just have to know when.

Sometime when I'm drunk enough...

[LAUGHS]

ask me about pancake eaters.

That'll explain it.

Okay. Well, it better.

You promised me a winning season, Chuck.

Right now we're looking
like the New York Jets.

I'm running out of time
before I'll have to quit

and campaign / .

I am under no illusion that
you'll be by my side forever.

But right now,

we've got our biggest
mandate on the docket.

I can't lose my MVP yet.

I need you, Kate.

And I commit here,
and I sense that you can even feel it

that we are about to
have some very big wins.

And the right kind.

For the folks,
like the five percent the doorman got.

Ones that will propel you
where you want to go.

Where we all need you to go.

And then, once we're done
with that and we're ready,

you will have my
full-throated endorsement

and use of all my connections.

Okay, Boss.

- They're pulling them.
- The games?

From the International
Commission of Sport...

"With the human rights
abuses at the hand of

"our main sponsor...

"in direct contravention
to the spirit of the...

"delays in construction and
innumerable other problems...

"re-opening a modified

and condensed bid
process to be completed."

Rask is facing bankruptcy,

and Stuey is being hauled in
front of Congress next week

on human rights abuses.

They looked to other sponsors,
but no one stepped up.

Too smoky at the moment.

When they saw they couldn't
pull it off financially,

they started making outgoing calls.

[CELL PHONE VIBRATES]

Yes.

We should meet and talk about it.

I see you didn't fire Rian.

Was Prince upset?

I covered for her, actually.

I saw that she had learned the lesson.

Did you take the credit
for her or for you?

What would I stand to gain?

Your freedom.

If Prince fired you.

No.

I want to stay.

You saw the news about the games?

Prince isn't just playing the markets.

His chessboard is much bigger,

and I don't think he's
done making his moves yet.

When I'm done,
this city will look very different.

Over there, you see that?

That's where the Athletes'
Village will go.

We'll turn it all into
low-income housing

after the games are over.

And that there,

is where we'll build the aquatic center.

It can then be used as a
public natatorium after.

The very first New York Olympics.

It's a lot of work, Mike.

The city's down,

busted up, hurting.

It's the perfect opportunity to rebuild.

Every time New York has fallen...

It has been lifted up and
rebuilt by a great man.

And that's you this time.

Us.

Not only will you keep
your coaching job,

you'll now be head coach
of all sport climbing.

You'll oversee all three events,

lead climbing, speed climbing,

and bouldering.

And the version of this place
you'll see before I'm done,

you won't want to leave so quickly.

[TAYLOR] If he is who I think he is,

I may be able to start
doing my job differently,

to change my purpose and
who I am as a result.

You've got a lot riding on that read.

You still think I'm wrong about him?

I think we should both
proceed with caution.

I think it's worth
considering that what he did

might not have been based on some

lofty ethical reason.

What then, if not ethics?

His wife came by yesterday.

I knew he was married,

but that she's out of the picture.

Yeah. But she still showed up here.

All of this is some
big romantic gesture?

That, or he has Narcissistic
Personality Disorder.

And what would that mean,
in Prince's case?

He thinks he's better
than everyone else.

And he won't stop till
he gets what he wants.

[PRINCE] For you, Coach Salter.

Nice.

You know this is far from a sure thing?

Sure, there's a lot left to do.

I'll have to gather some support.

Some support? You'll need a coalition.

You have to move the legislature.

The whole political machine,
city and state.

And the people too.

Need to sell the goddamned
commission on the idea.

Sure. I'm ready for all of that.

There's something else.

I'm not ready to give up.

On us.

Still mad at me?

I reserve the right.

- Try on the jacket. See if you like it.
- I'll put it on

as soon as New York is
officially announced.

And I'm not moving here until then.

All right. But if I were you,
I'd start looking at apartments.

[LAUGHS]

Dinner?

Sure.

Dinner.

["LYIN' EYES" BY THE EAGLES PLAYING]

♪ You can't hide ♪

♪ Your lyin' eyes ♪

♪ And your smile ♪

♪ Is a thin disguise ♪

♪ I thought by now ♪

♪ You'd realize ♪

♪ There ain't no way to hide ♪

♪ Your lyin' eyes ♪

♪ There ain't no way to hide ♪

♪ Your lyin' eyes ♪