All language subtitles for BILLIONS - S05 E02 - The Chris Rock Test

[Prince] Previously
on "Billions"...

You've come far
and learned much.

Until we see each other

and move your knowledge
into the world, be well.

[Wags] An invitation for
you to do a Vanity Fair

cover photo shoot for
the "New Decas" issue.

Somebody else will
probably get the cover.

Probably Mike Prince.

[Prince] I was hoping you'd
make it to 'The Mike' this year.

You and I could
do a fireside chat.

It'd be the highlight
of the conference.

Ah. Maybe this year we will.

[Axe] Try to take me
out in some magazine?

I'll come see you on
your home fucking turf.

The separation has convinced me.

[Wendy] We need to be done.

I am not here because
you forced me to be.

Or because Chuck did. I
am here as Chuck's operative.

[Taylor] because
he wants to get you.

[Axe] That crypto mine
that you busted upstate,

[Axe] I'd appreciate it
if you'd drop the case.

Best I can do is make it a
civil and not a criminal action.

An act of friendship that
goes beyond the norm.

♪ Dramatic music ♪

♪♪♪

♪ U2's "Vertigo" ♪

♪♪♪

[plane engine starts]

♪♪♪

♪ Lights go down, it's dark ♪

Security, security seaplane
departing dock at 23rd Street.

♪ Can't rule your heart ♪

♪ A feeling's so much
stronger than a thought ♪

♪ Your eyes are wide and though
your soul, it can't be bought ♪

♪ Your mind can wander ♪

♪ Hello, hello ♪

♪ Hola ♪

♪ I'm at a place
called Vertigo ♪

♪ ¿Dónde está? ♪

♪ It's everything I
wish I didn't know ♪

Well, this works a little
differently than normal therapy.

[chuckles] I work a little
differently than normal.

I'm not gonna challenge or
even explore that statement.

You know why?

Because this works a little
differently than normal therapy.

The mission here is to dim

the emotional
response to past trauma.

Mm-hmm.

Let's choose some
people to use as resources.

So, you're gonna
need a comforter,

a protector, and a wise person.

They can be alive or
dead, real or fictional.

Old days, Wendy
filled all these roles.

These aren't those.

No, yeah, hundred
percent, true, okay.

Uh...

For my comforter, I'm
going with Ira Schirmer.

My best friend.

For my protector, Alan Alda.

Oh, that's a good one.

I use Tony Siragusa.

Oh. Big and
kind. I get it, yeah.

Um, for wisdom...

I am a voracious
reader of crime fiction.

And recently Darkly
Dreaming Dexter

has found its way
to my night table.

So for a wise
person, a serial killer?

We may need to
schedule more sessions.

Not him, his father,
of sorts, Harry...

He had all the answers.

Okay. A father figure. Good.

And finally, uh, a safe space.

A place where you...
Yale Law Library.

Describe a recent moment
where you felt betrayed.

Drop a plumb line down
through your memory.

Where does it catch?

What, uh, image or idea

do you associate
this betrayal with?

9/11.

Traumatic day for sure.

Yes, but, uh, not the
day, uh, the monument.

He... Axelrod...
Was being arrested,

and she was there.

She... your wife?

Wendy. Yes.

Uh... I knew she would be there.

But, uh...

[Chuck] The way they
clung to each other...

What's the emotion
associated with that image?

Rage.

And, uh... sadness.

[scoffs]

Jealousy.

Where do you feel
that... in your body?

Everywhere.

What negative self-belief
does that bring up?

That Axe is a criminal.

And once again,
that's a negative belief

about the man you
call Axe, not you.

Well, once I vanquish him, uh,

then I'll be able to
focus on Rhoades.

If you do the 'you'
part, you may find

the 'him' part doesn't
matter so much.

I know that should be right.

But it just doesn't feel right.

Here, take the dampers.

Follow this light
with your eyes.

When you experience
traumatic feelings,

focus on the resources
in your safe space.

Mm-hmm.

Conjure them. Trust them.

We practiced this all week.

Follow the light with your
eyes and be with them.

Especially if you think
about the monument site...

Or either of the
people you saw there.

[remote beeps]

There's not a person
who meets you,

doesn't think you're special.

Even the bad guys.

Maybe especially the bad guys.

You have that thing, gets
people to come to you.

To open up even if
they know they shouldn't.

Now, your portfolio
is impressive.

But I think it could
be more impressive.

Extend far past the
isle of Manhattan.

I see that for you.

I want to make it happen.

Plantains, boiled and mashed.

They call it mangú.

Fills you up for a
day in the fields.

I should feed it to my guys.

The story goes that American
soldiers down in the DR

were offered it
and they refused it.

Until one brave... And
probably very hungry...

Infantryman went in.

And he liked it so
damn much he said:

«Man, that's good."

Got shortened to mangú.

Nifty story.

Mm. Problem is, it's bullshit.

Doesn't hold up under scrutiny.

And neither does your
offer. Why do I get more?

Because someone else gets less.

Mm. That I believe.

Okay.

Offer me nice
things, I'll take 'em...

Because I like nice things.

But they buy you no latitude.

You step wrong and
you'll have me after you...

And you'll find I'm a lot
harder to olé than the other guy,

because I care about the
crime and not the criminal.

Hey, good.

Keep your eye on
the sparrow, ya know?

♪ Dramatic music plays ♪

[door bell jingles]

♪♪♪

All right. I got my part done.

She's gonna burrow up
his ass like a toilet snake.

And I have our
info. It's confirmed:

Simon Shenk is leaving
Errix Biotech for the FDA.

And he's set for the conference.

So is Jules Hakli,
Ameri-Hospitals.

The whole pharma team. Good.

Mike Prince may think he's
got home field advantage.

But these road dogs
are gonna play spoiler.

Got your flannels?

In the car. [engine starts]

♪♪♪

[sighs]

♪♪♪

Uh, hey, it's me.

File the order...

Yes. I know it's
a warring gesture.

I'm a man at war. File it.

♪♪♪

These windows, no shades.

Let the whole city watch
you do your wild thing.

Remind me not to have you
and Bill over after I move in.

Oh, that would be
safe these days...

His book's flatlined.
So... He can't...

perform unless
his portfolio does?

No. I can't get it up
to fuck a non-earner.

Oh... Go deeper.
That's what I said.

Bill's been swinging
from "Fuck it, I'll do it live"

to choking back tears like he's
listening to "Goodnight Saigon."

I'm worried about him.

And I don't even like to think
about anybody but myself.

It might help if you let
him know his entire worth

isn't wrapped up in
his P&L's performance.

So... lie to him?

You want me to lie to him?

I can do that.

[realtor] I'm sorry
we've hit a snag.

Your bank just withdrew
your pre-approval.

It seems your husband
got an automatic

temporary restraining
order on your assets.

He froze your fucking loot?

[scoffs]

I guess it's war.

♪ Dramatic music plays ♪

I'm sorry. I'll, uh,
get right into it.

♪♪♪

[sighs]

You know the shot?

No. Just told to be here.

That's usually not
a very good sign.

Mm.

[door opens]

Ah, Chuck.

The Manhattan D.A.

[Chuck] Ah.

I always forget, are
you Law or Order?

[chuckles]

You also have some cases
to brief the governor on?

No.

Those crypto-miners damn
near decimated that town.

City council had
to go to the market

and buy electricity ten
times the normal rates.

Fucking libraries are
closed because of it.

We should be having mug shots,
perp walks, prison sentences.

And instead, you handed
out a speeding ticket.

We did the best we could.

You know what? I believe that.

Which is why Gramm
gets it from here on out.

You think you're yanking
crypto from my purview?

Was I being obtuse?

Where does a man measure from?

The base.

That's where we're yanking from.

[Sweeney] All criminal
referrals from this office.

[Sweeney] will now flow to her.

[Sweeney] Lock,
stock, kit, and caboodle.

You see, because,
unlike you, Chuck,

she is not terrycloth
soft on big business.

The people of New
York State elected me

because they believed
in my judgment...

They elected you so they could
feel good about their sex lives

and think of themselves
as liberal and fair.

The people of
Manhattan, however,

elected me to punish predators.

Not slug shots of
Dubonnet with them.

[chuckles] You sip Dubonnet...

I have no fucking idea.

That you do is the
nub of the problem.

Interface with her office,

see if there's any
other cases she wants.

♪♪♪

[sighs]

Axelrod's behind this move.

Know how I know?

Tattaglia's a pimp?
Could never orchestrate

something like this? Exactly.

And a move like this really
awakens my Dark Passenger...

You've been
reading Dexter again.

Indeed I have.

Thinking about dismemberment
instead of prosecution?

Well, in a way.

Dexter Morgan's Dark
Passenger could only

be sated by the
brutal act of taking life.

But, in order to make something
decent of this innate drive,

he developed a code.

A way that he could kill,
but for the 'right' reasons.

I will do the same.

I will loose my urges
for dominion and victory

only in the name of justice
and in accordance with it.

You really are serious
about making a change.

That raises the
degree of difficulty.

May-haps. But I am
committed to this course.

To purge the world of villainy.

And myself of... I
guess villainy, too.

So if you want to help
yourself and help this office,

you will find a way to get
on board with this code.

And to keep me held to it,

as Dexter's father did him.

♪ Mid-tempo music plays ♪

♪♪♪

I haven't been having
much fun lately, you know?

But I will enjoy using
this guy to get what I want,

and at his own fucking party.

[Taylor] Because he can fly?

Because he thinks
he can fly above me.

♪♪♪

He'll learn it's best to
keep his feet on the ground

while trying to trade body blows

with the Theogenes
of Wall Street.

Whoa. Easy, Wags. Sorry.

Must be all the high-mindedness
in this mountain air.

[Taylor] The battle
you're talking about

is you and Prince
at the Fireside Chat?

[Axe] Yes. But that'll
be one for the crowd.

Prince has gone deep
on psycho-ceuticals.

And we're about to go deeper.

Your trip up north.

Mm, yeah. Wasn't just for kicks.

We got a shaman who opened
us up to the power of ayahuasca

at just the right moment.

Along with universal
truths, we saw a market.

We were late to psilocybin.

Won't happen with pharma-huasca.

And there's the man
that can secure it.

Simon Shenk from Errix.

[Wags] Soon to be of the FDA.

He'll need to divest.

And you'll be there
to assume his shares.

Like Ed Kemper
inhabited his victims' souls.

Gruesome.

For a drug like
medical ayahuasca

you'll need to establish
hospital-based trials,

to help mainstream it. Mm.

[dogs barking]

♪♪♪

[cheers and applause]

Come on!

So, we all have our missions.

Sure you can handle the
emotional component of yours?

I am the one of us who
can handle emotions, yes.

- [man] There he is.
- [applause]

Welcome to 'The Mike.'

How lucky are we, to be
here, to do this, together?

I love knowing that in 24 hours,

I'm gonna be smarter and
better than I am right now.

Because of you all.

Welcome, Axe.
Thanks for being here.

Hey, thanks for
finally having me.

You don't need to
make me look good.

This is the first
time you accepted.

Let's kick some butt together.

[man] Yeah!

[woman] All right.

You got yourself a
secret golden tunnel.

I want on the trip.

Who are you again?

You're running your own money.

As hedge fund violations go,

that's like shouting
the N word...

Not illegal, but
enough to get you fired.

I would never do that. And
I am not running my own...

You left the separate
account up on your screen

when you went to the
bathroom to jerk off.

I go to the bathroom
to go to the bathroom.

Mm. Bottle of Jergens

peeking out of your
pocket says different.

But, hey, that's your business.

My business is getting
in on your extracurricular.

I know you've got a 3
Sharpe ratio strategy.

It's 3.64 actually,

but only to six figures.

Any bigger than that
and it won't work...

We get stuck in the
tube like Augustus Gloop.

What the fuck?

Figure out how to get it
big enough to cut me in,

or I'll cut you.

Like with a knife?

Are you threatening to... No.

But I'll flip ya.

♪ Mid-tempo music plays ♪

I'll flip ya for real.

♪♪♪

[Wendy] Chuck can't actually
have veto power over what I buy.

If a judge were
going by the book,

you'd be allowed to
buy ten apartments.

You can easily afford that

out of your share
of the marital assets.

But the thing is...

Chuck knows a lot of judges.

Outcome is unpredictable.

So I could lose the apartment?

Given the timeline
to get to court...

you've already
lost the apartment.

He did this because I
put out that statement...

Which I did because
he was too busy

hanging from the
ceiling to do it himself.

And he did because you
did because his parents

and your parents because
America because England

because ancient Rome
because primordial ooze.

I appreciate your
bedside, Orrin.

Yes, Chuck would behave
better if he felt better.

But that's not my
responsibility anymore.

Probably never was.

I need to make
myself feel better.

So, we go to court.

We have a situation...

♪ dramatic music plays ♪

♪♪♪

Ali Kashkhokh.

Allocator for Ontario Educators.

I wish we'd known
you were coming.

Bobby isn't here right now.

And neither are Wagner
or Taylor Mason, right?

Ah, you knew that.

Peach, make her comfortable.

Yeah, good luck with that.

♪♪♪

Ali Kashkhokh is hardcore...

What she is is a
total fuckin... Wags.

We have a billion plus
of her union's dollars.

And she's a bellwether
for the industry.

[Axe] If she approves or
disapproves, people listen.

What I was gonna say.
We can be back in an hour.

Nah, it's just a spot-check.

She's hoping to avoid us,
so she can poke around

for the second set of
Untouchables books.

And you rushing back will
make you look like Al Capone.

But we don't actually
have anything to hide, right?

Of course not.
Don't be ridiculous.

Thought not.

Losing Ontario Educators
would be bad though...

Pants-shit bad. I
get it. Lemme go.

She's already hammering
away at the weak spots...

The market's like
a fragile bridge.

We don't know exactly when,
but eventually it will collapse...

[Ben Kim] And all the cars
on it will tumble into the ocean.

Many drivers will drown.

The cars in this metaphor
are the investments,

the drivers are the
investors, like you, and...

Sorry.

I can't have you pulling
people off their desks

during trading hours.

It's not good for the fine
educators of Ontario...

Or any of our other investors.

Yeah, sure. But me
hearing their answers is.

Why don't I get you to IR,

have them curate a tour,
answer any further questions.

♪♪♪

Well, I was nominated
for their Second Circuit.

That's why I sent you that
box of embargoed smokes.

May be premature.

There's a certain senator
in possession of information

that could sink my battleship.

What information?

Which senator?

Well, you know her well.

She put your name forward
for the U.S. Attorney's job.

Marcia Vandeveer. Sure.

Old pal of my father's.

A fact which suggests
we may be able to just

roll her away like a
stone from your tomb.

You didn't answer
the other part.

The senator has become
aware that when I was at DOJ

I co-authored a memorandum
endorsing a then-novel reading

of a subclause of the
Geneva Convention.

The torture memo?

You wrote the
fucking torture memo?

I wrote a memo.

On a fine point of legal...
It wasn't the "T" word.

It was "enhanced interrogation."

A vital tool in
intelligence gathering.

You're welcome by the way
for the very blanket of freedom...

Thank you. And how the hell

am I supposed to
explain that to the senator?

I would simply like to
defend myself publicly.

Face the shame head on.

Turn it into pride.

As I did.

Well, I was hoping
with your help

we might shift the Overton
Window once more.

Okay. But my thing
was a harmless...

The waterboarding wasn't really
as bad as the media made it out.

Aah!

[sputters] It's torture!

I may have been
wrong on this one...

You're damn fucking
right... It's torture!

And if even I don't like it...

Believe me, that
was the sport version.

You should see how I roll
on covert hostile actors...

Rolled. Not anymore.

In fact. Not ever.

Don't even know why I said that.

You're not a military
man. That's the way we go.

Uh, you trusted the generals.
Who would have done otherwise?

Me. No, I would not
have endorsed that shit.

No doubt. But I'm building my
case for Senator Vandeveer.

To get her to
forget his scribblings

and see him for the man he is.

Chuck, you want to
think the best of me.

Well, everyone does.

I'll get rid of this.

Don't know where I
dug it up in the first place.

No, double no, fuck
no... It's your job.

We sent you on the road
to learn investor relations.

Only to find I sucked at it.

Why?

Too fucking abrasive.

While Bonnie may
have proven herself

something of a hothouse flower,

I have the rugged areole
of a desert succulent.

And an almost
pornographic knowledge

of all things Axe Capitale.

♪ Mid-tempo music plays ♪

[sips]

♪♪♪

I need you to gentle
down an investor.

She's a beast. You
are the best choice

for the job. It's what you do.

Well, it's what she does
for Mase Cap, not Axe Cap.

Last I checked, this
all falls under Axe Cap.

Last I checked, we still
had some sovereignty.

You can't just
conscript our officers.

If you want to borrow Lauren,

you should talk to Taylor first.

Have you? Didn't have time.

[Hammon] Did you
have time to talk to Axe?

There is a chain of command.

You're in violation.

This is where you
want to make a stand?

Here, now, over this?

Every encroachment needs
to be called out and dealt with.

♪ Dramatic music plays ♪

Look, I am willing to
meet with this allocator

if that's going to be helpful...

Where should I tell her
you're taking her tonight?

Given the moves
she's already pulled,

she doesn't want
the wine-and-dine

or the shot-and-grind.

Tomorrow, first
thing in the office.

After I have Union
Square Cafe ferry over

some very special
room service to her hotel.

♪♪♪

[applause]

[dogs whine]

Each year's Mike finds
us here in front of the fire,

tackling a big topic.

This year's: Is it time
for a new capitalism?

We can keep it short: No!

[laughter]

And who better to chop it
up with than Bobby Axelrod?

[applause]

Seriously, Bobby, isn't
it incumbent upon us...

Those who've
'won' by any metric...

To acknowledge that we
didn't do it alone, and to...

Yeah, no, I-I-I know
what you say about

learning and giving
back and all the rest.

And I believe it's
what you tell yourself.

But if we look at it,

we see that it's not
the whole truth. Is it?

I guess not, Axe.
Tell us what is.

You want me to
reduce it to one thing?

I can.

It's about being picked.

[Axe] Being singled out.

Every one of us has
already been singled out.

And this confers it, officially.

Like Davos. Or the
Allen conference.

You're either in Sun
Valley or you don't exist.

But what goes on there, or here,

doesn't matter
beyond that, at all.

It's not about the conversation.

It's about the invitation.

This gives me remarkable insight
into how you think about trades.

It's all bottom line.

But what if some
of us aren't like that?

[scoffs]

Been known to throw an elbow
or two when you need to, Mike.

Sure. When I compete
I'm there to win.

But I choose my playing
field carefully now.

And always against
opponents the same size as me.

And no one's making
money while they're here.

See, that's another canard.

Every single person in this room
earns money while they sleep.

While they dream.
While they fuck.

[laughter]

I can honestly say I
haven't accepted payment

for that particular
act in years.

[laughter]

Look, you want to leave here
feeling better about yourself

than when you came. That's it.

Isn't that the benefit
of helping others,

[Prince] the selfish
part of giving back?

Why is that something
to be ashamed of?

[Axe] It's not. But still:
not the whole thing.

Your man's getting boxed in.

No such box. Just
you watch, Scoot.

What do you think
I get out of this?

It can't be status conferred,
since I do the inviting.

For you?

Respite from guilt.

That's your whole
platform, isn't it.

From he who has too much
to she who has too little.

It's your basketball
story, your history.

You talk about how it
wasn't your own achievement.

Not only my own.

My town, in Indiana,

had the third largest
high school arena...

Yes, arena... in the country.

I was fortunate to
be a standout... a star.

When we had a
big game coming up,

families would paint their
picket fences green and white,

my school colors.

And if I'd jog past,

everyone would come out of
their houses and cheer for me.

I can still hear the
roar of it in my head:

haaaaaaa... And
what you take from that

is that you stood
on their shoulders.

That they lifted you
up to your success.

You were nothing special.

That's right. I was supported.

It's important for all
of us to remember that.

It's what separates us from
demagogues and other monsters.

Ah. No sale.

I don't like everyone
in this room.

But I do respect
everyone in this room.

Because I know each
and every one of you has

a portfolio of accomplishments
that sets you apart,

proves your
exceptional qualities.

And I assume that
goes for you, too.

Well, unlike you, I'm
not embarrassed to say it.

As I'd expect. Because
I know your story

as much as you know mine.
How you came from nothing.

Yeah, it's true.

Your dad was an
insurance salesman.

You ate dinner
with him every night.

My dad was gonzo.

I ate dinner wherever I could.

And yet you were still
in the wealthiest state

in the wealthiest
country in the world.

With access to
the best healthcare,

schools, infrastructure.

And you were born white and male

at a time that was
a huge advantage

in the greatest capital market
in the history of mankind.

The roads were
paved for you, Bobby.

Which is why you were able
to move so quickly across them.

Wow.

I knew you were
wracked with guilt,

but this takes it to a
whole different level.

Sure. The roads were paved.

But I didn't even have
a goddamned car.

Now, you see, this is
where we are different.

I don't pretend I'm an
ordinary guy got lucky.

I am a monster.

A carnivorous fucking monster.

♪ Dramatic music plays ♪

It was success or oblivion
for me just as it was for you,

whether you want
to admit it here or not.

[Axe] See, that's
what all this is for you.

[Axe] A way to forget
you are that monster.

You have to be one.

Or you could never have
gotten here in the first place.

See?

Don't bring that
weak shit our way.

Not over yet.

♪♪♪

Maybe you're right...

But I must be one of the
cuddly kind from Monsters, Inc.

Because tomorrow I'll
be out loading pallets

for the "Shake the
Quake" relief mission

for earthquake
victims in Honduras.

First we organize the supplies,

then we air drop
'em next weekend.

We're not just
writing checks here.

Care to join me and
see if giving back

with your own two hands
changes your mind?

Whoops!

Trap door.

Uh, I was planning
on leaving, but, um...

♪♪♪

Sure. Why not, Mike?

Count me in.

[applause]

♪♪♪

Thank you.

That genius really thinks he
trapped you into joining him.

No idea it's what you wanted.

[chuckles]

[laughter]

You think they'll be putting
their backs into it tomorrow?

The bankers?

Stevens and Callahan and them?

♪ Mid-tempo music plays ♪

Would you put your back
into anything if you were them?

Their banks have 80 billion on
their balance sheet between 'em.

So I seriously doubt it.

That's right.

Callahan's got
a contract for life.

Driscoll's got it even better...
His name's on his bank.

Father's name.

Well, like I said...

Their racket's as
old as J.P. Morgan's

and Charles
Merrill's themselves.

[Axe] We both got
evening plans ahead.

The world's changed
over the past year, cap'n.

To be safe, we institute
a four-part protocol.

To prevent misunderstandings.

You send a text after:
«Hey, what a great night!"

She'll respond in kind.

You send a gift the next
morning, leave her smiling.

You make secondary plans even if

you have no intention
of keeping them.

And when you don't keep them...

Who do you think
you're talking to?

I'm a gentleman.

Fucking right you are.

If I send you a text
after, it's a real text.

Text, don't text. Fine.

It's not that I've been
ducking your calls,

it's just that I've been...

Ducking my calls.

I have. Yes.

I feel like you're going
to pull your money.

Are you going to
pull your money?

I don't want to talk
shop while I'm up here...

It's a financial conference.

So that's why you're here,
to keep my money on board?

Yes.

It's been four months since
I moved under Axe's roof.

And we haven't had a
single call during that time

about business or anything else.

[Taylor] I wanted to see you.

And here you are. Like
King Kong in chains.

Not easy to get used to.

You know, it took me a long
time to get my balance back

after you ended our thing.

I'm glad you were able to.

♪ Dramatic music plays ♪

So, the money...
So, indeed... ♪♪♪

Checkmate. Good game.

Particularly quick, Hikaru.

♪♪♪

Where are we at?

Will the senator see me?

She will. Problem is:

I'm not sure I should
walk you into it.

Why not?

Well, you did the thing.

A youthful indiscretion.

Born out of loyalty,
and commitment,

and the ability to
craft sound arguments

on any side of an issue.

[DeGiulio] It's also not
the kind I'd make again.

So people can change?

That's what you're
saying. You've changed?

You're no longer law school
DeGiulio, or Deputy AG DeGiulio.

You're truly Judge DeGiulio.

Ah, this isn't about me.

You aren't really
interested in if I can change.

Or man can change.

You want to figure
out if you can.

It's being put to the test.

I am changing.

It's happening in
front of your eyes.

Well, that's gonna
be useful to you,

stating it with authority.

Self-hypnosis.

[chuckles]

Look, you've done
the impossible before.

Why not now?

Well, after a certain
age it gets harder.

Or maybe undoable.

Or so incremental
as to have no impact.

Well, I prefer to
think of it as evolving.

You want to know if I
would have written the memo

when I was younger or older?

I'm more concerned with
taking the lessons of it forward.

That's why I want to be
on the Supreme Court.

So that the accumulation of
all that I know can benefit...

Bullshit.

Fine. [laughs]

I do believe I have
more capacity.

For good, for ill, for anything.

The truth is... I
just really want it.

Ah.

I want to feel the power
of the seat make me more.

♪ Dramatic music plays ♪

What's your driver?

I, uh, let certain
of my... quests

drag me into the wastelands.

And it cost me every...
It cost me too much.

I may still need to do
these kinds of things,

but I also need to serve

the best of me at the same time.

♪♪♪

You and Axelrod.

It started as justice,

then became something
that wasn't, but...

Mm-hmm. It still can be again.

And I can help you, Chuck.

I want to.

If I'm in a position to.

♪♪♪

[chuckles]

You can indeed
craft an argument.

We'll keep our appointment
with the senator.

And put all this to the test.

♪♪♪

[Wendy] Maybe now's a
good time for our one-on-one.

Mandatory inspection.
Like I'm back in the service.

Don't like to
think of it that way.

Why not? When I was in the Navy,

at least I knew what
my purpose was.

Now I don't have a clue.

What the fuck do
I do here, Wendy?

My whole career
I've run operations...

Logistics, combat, organization.

I tried to live my life
by Jim Baker's words:

«You can either
focus on the 'Chief'

or the 'of Staff.'"

«Those who have
focused on the 'of Staff'

have done pretty well."

But if Mase Cap is
no longer an operation,

what do I do here?

Are you asking me to define that

as Human Resources or
as a performance coach?

You have two fucking
jobs. I have zero.

[Wendy] Definitely need
the performance coach.

And I can help you.

I can help you get
into Olympian form...

but towards what aim, what
discipline, is a fair question.

And you need to
be asking Taylor.

So why aren't you?

♪ Bury me with my guns on ♪

[cheers, whistles]

I confronted my
ego and let go of it.

Seems intact again.

Sure. You come back to yourself.

It's one experience,
not therapeutic dosing.

But Bram Longriver really
opened our eyes to the potential.

You spent time with Bram?

He was our personal
guide and shaman.

Longriver carries kind of a
mystical weight in the Valley.

We have that mystique behind us.

Along with the full force
of his evangelical power.

Gives us instant
credibility with the therapists

who are using the
synthetic ayahuasca

as part of their treatment...

that is, as soon as you make it

legally available
in the U.S. market.

So you know I'm
headed to the FDA.

We have real intel.

And I have worked to
make sure no one finds out

until it's done... preserving
the value of your position.

Let's talk about us buying
your shares in Errix...

[chuckles]

♪♪♪

Hi.

[MC] Now turn your
attention to the main stage

and put your hands
together for Brandi...

[cheers and applause]

♪ She's my cherry pie ♪

♪ Cool drink of water,
such a sweet surprise ♪

♪ Tastes so good,
make a grown man cry ♪

♪ Sweet Cherry Pie ♪

♪ dramatic music plays ♪

♪♪♪

Did you close Shenk?

It was a late night.

Conversations were had.

You didn't close him? The fuck?

Unexpected circumstances.

What, you get
distracted by a stripper?

Not in the way you mean...

Well, what happened, then?
Get robbed again, roofied?

I failed the Chris Rock test.

Her stage name was Brandi,

but... but it was really Mandy.

My Mandy.

My sweet little Mandy.

Your...

I didn't keep my
daughter off the pole.

Brutal.

Want me to shut the place down?

No, it's okay. I got...
I got her out of there.

I s-shipped her
off to a facility.

I think I'll have it
shut down anyway.

Thank you.

♪♪♪

[cries]

♪♪♪

[clears throat]

And Shenk?

I'll close today.

Oscar wants out?

He wouldn't even engage.

[sighs]

Ivy, would you draft
some of your colleagues

to help put my people
back together, please?

I'll do it myself.

♪♪♪

[Axe] Fuckin' bankers.

♪♪♪

Didn't intend to spend
an extra day in New York.

Hope you enjoyed your
accommodations and the dinner.

Food doesn't travel well.

Let's get to it.

Okayyy.

Let's start with the
current portfolio...

♪ dramatic music plays ♪

[Ben Kim] You have a cache
of emerging market bonds

that I'm particularly proud of.

Where are the marks?

How are you valuing that?

You saw the 13F...

That's 45 days stale.
What do I own now?

How do I know there's not
a Mississippi-sized delta?

We could show you that
if you want plain vanilla,

60-40 for retirement.

[Lauren] But if you wanted
that, you wouldn't be here.

We had your
aggression index at a 6.7.

Do you really break
things down that way?

Not on the external documents...

But based on your goals,
the investments you made...

And the investments you
left behind to come to us...

We figured that
was your sweet spot.

What if we could take
a little more danger?

People talk about quant
fundamentals, human overlay.

I overlay like you
wouldn't believe.

See, there are certain
risks that are not risky to you,

they're not risky to Axe Cap.

Personally risky to me?
I don't think that way.

I just think if you're not
making 15 percent every year,

then my father
was right about me.

What did he say?

He blamed himself for not
punching my mother hard enough

to kill me the night
she told him she was...

That's plenty right there.

♪♪♪

[Spyros] Guys like that...

Revvin' up your engine,
metal under tension...

My job is to keep you off the
highway to the danger zone.

And how do you do that?

I know my SEC like
Bear Bryant knew his.

♪♪♪

That was a kick in the heinie.

You wanted the unvarnished look.

And we do have the
numbers to back up...

Truth is, I don't care what
these people all said...

Just that they
didn't wilt or crack.

In many founder-named
shops, the whole place collapses

if the founder isn't
in their face 24/7.

That clearly is
not the case here.

The numbers do
speak for themselves.

And thank you for that dinner...

The gnocchi was firm and
tasty and the halibut sublime.

Thought it didn't travel?

We all have our roles to play.

Mine here was hard-ass.

But you played
yours to perfection.

Senator, I understand
you have concerns.

Now let's address them
where they can be spoken to

most fully and frankly...
Right here and now.

Behind doors which are closed.

I have just one question...
And I can ask it anywhere.

Judge, did you write that memo?

This memo?

I did, Senator.

Then that, as they
say, is the ballgame.

The other side protects
its own no matter the sin.

If I do the same, I
would be the same.

I must hold Judge DeGiulio

to the same standards
I keep for myself.

And they are as high
as a midnight showing

of Cheech and
Chong's Up in Smoke.

♪ Dramatic music plays ♪

Had I suffered such
a regrettable lapse,

I would withdraw my name...

And I would kiss my career
and my sweet ass goodbye.

♪♪♪

[door opens]

I think that time I
got waterboarded.

«Never let your head hang down.

Never give up and
sit down and grieve.

Find another way."

Your dad?

[elevator bell
dings] Close. Nixon.

Inspiring.

The fuck is the other
way, the next move?

I don't know yet. But I
will reach out when I do.

♪♪♪

I would have done
exactly the same as you.

Well, I'm glad you didn't
try to change my mind.

So you'll keep the memo buried?

I will as long as he doesn't
go for a lifetime post.

Good.

He's still destined for
great things, though.

What do you have in mind?

♪ Mid-tempo music plays ♪

- Hey, Eddie.
- Keep it up.

Hey. Thanks a lot.

♪♪♪

Gonna take care
of all these yourself?

Getting a workout too, huh?

♪♪♪

All right, bring it in.

Gotta lift with your legs.

That's what they say.

Thanks for the help.

Well, you can return the favor:

Host Stage Three pharma-huasca
trials at your medical center.

We're not a university hospital.

Well, that's why we need you.

Bram Longriver says:

«We're in a race between
catastrophe and consciousness."

You have Longriver?

If we're gonna win, we
need much wider testing.

Is the Axelrod Foundation
willing to back that race?

I can make a call.

Then make that call.

- [camera shutter clicks]
- Great.

Thanks for everything.
I'll circle back.

♪♪♪

You Michael Johnson-ed
right over to Jules Hakli.

The hospital CEO.

Always wanted to shake his hand.

Uh huh. And now
you're back hard at it.

You know, you and I should
share a beer at the closing dinner.

We always have an
amazing presentation.

Sure. I'll try to make it.

♪♪♪

Not gonna let me
sort in peace, huh?

Oscar, I was bleeding out.

I couldn't just shut my firm.

If I did, I could never
re-open, or raise again.

It was a way to preserve
the name. To continue.

It's the answer to the
one question you didn't ask

but should have: Would I do
absolutely anything to survive?

The answer is yes.

That's why you should
leave your money with me.

Last year, Axe Cap
showed returns of 17 percent

while growing by 22 percent.

I was shrinking, dying.

So you gained all the
benefits of bankruptcy...

Indemnification,
restructuring, wound-licking...

Without actually declaring.

And you're going to tell me
that you're going to be better.

Already are better... Yes.

Since I've been there we're
up 7.2 percent... you're up.

The difference between
blitz and regular chess?

In the traditional game, when
it's the other person's turn,

you consider what
you might do next.

You let your mind
wander, meditate, be open.

With fast chess, you've
anticipated their move

and your response
before they've made it.

Which game have we been playing?

I don't want to have my
money with Bobby Axelrod,

I don't want to be
associated with him.

And if you are, I don't want
to be associated with you.

And you knew that before
I opened my mouth...

I-I-I hope when we meet
again it's not as competitors.

If you go back out on
your own, give me a call.

Oscar: You shouldn't have made
that rook sacrifice at move 37.

That's why you lost.

♪ Mid-tempo music plays ♪

Well, you slipped
away last night.

Apologies. Personal business.

I'll bet.

I've seen a guy take a girl
straight to the Champagne Room...

But never straight
out of the club.

At least not outside Thailand.

What type of bar
fine she run you?

Wasn't like that.

Just had to have a little chat.

I guess there's no
such thing as too young

when they're firm as a
genetically modified plumcot.

Mr. Axelrod and I know
Errix is a family business.

So we'll pay market
for your shares,

but we have to work together
to keep the stock price high

for your relatives.

Sell to us and do your share

with approvals once
you're at the FDA,

and we're all sitting
pretty in Schaefer city.

[laughs]

Ah, yes, that sounds fun.

But it's Longriver
I'm interested in.

His reach makes markets...
And makes this deal.

Then you're talking to the
right guy, 'cause we got him.

Bobby, I'm gonna need to stay
in the apartment a little longer.

Is that... Yeah, more than okay.

You know I never use it.

[Wendy] Thank
you. I'm sure I'll...

Thought you found
a place you loved?

Uh... the deal got "Chucked."

Ah, you could've called me
in. Why didn't you call me in?

I thought I could
sort it quickly.

But it's going to take a minute.

[Axe] The man's a
delight. You know?

Look, I can buy
the place for you.

Pay me back as soon as...

It's gone. Thank
you, but... it's gone.

All right. Well, stay as
long as you need then.

Hey, one more thing.

Yeah?

Gut him.

That's the plan.

[Dollar Bill] A
ten percent loss?

You took my scrilla
down ten fucking percent?

I tried to warn you. The algo...

Your added investment forced
it to make suboptimal trades.

Why is your brilliant
machine fucking retarded?!

Bill, what you want won't work.

Like fuck it won't...

This shit is a nerdy new world.

I had to have it put
into terms I understand.

So let me translate for you:
A man can manage two wives.

But you try to keep
four wives going,

you can't keep
everyone satisfied.

Too many variables,
not enough Bill.

The whole thing crumbles.

I needed this.

You are a useless fucking bunch.

♪ Mid-tempo music plays ♪

Give him back his money.

Investor beware.

Maybe. But you didn't
actually invest his shit

and risk fucking
up your side stash.

I'm keeping it as
an asshole tax.

Return it as an asshole tribute.

[door opens]

♪ Dramatic music plays ♪

You know, I was almost
back at my desk when it hit me.

So I may not be able
to crawl ass-to-mouth

through your
algorithmic centipede,

but the one thing that has kept
me in my chair all these years,

WINNING, is that I know
a liar when I smell one.

Your trading thing might not
work with the added capital,

but when I look in your eyes,

I do not see someone
who has lost money.

I see someone who's
trying to steal from me.

So by the time I actually
get back to my desk,

my money better be there,
or this time I will cut you.

♪♪♪

[door opens]

♪♪♪

This is the thank you.

The way you
conducted yourself...

And everyone else...
It was the full Dudamel.

[chuckles]

I want you to take over
IR for all of Axe Cap.

Formally.

I have a job.

You still have it.

This job is better.

More responsibility, access.

More money, in
case that matters.

When doesn't it matter?

When you're being
untruthful with yourself.

Not a risk.

It is quite the offer.

And yet, I can't help
but feel I'm being used.

So that you can isolate
Taylor even more.

I thought we were past
Mase Cap paranoia.

Is it paranoia?

I'm using your talent.

If Taylor feels
similar appreciation,

they'll bless this.

Let me sleep on it.

[knock on door]

Thanks.

Where'd we end up?

Well, not where you were,

not where you expected to be,

but a very good
place, I believe.

Solicitor General.

Acting SG.

Acting. [Laughs] Of course.

The price for killing the memo.

Indeed. Everything
stays nice and quiet.

Well, useful to
you too, isn't it?

With you as NYAG and
me on the federal bench,

weren't gonna see me that often.

It'll be better this way.

It's a prestigious post...

And still an avenue to the show.

Two current Justices
were SGs before.

Everyone gets
everything he wants, huh?

I'm just glad I could
be a friend to you.

Early dinner at Luger's?

On me.

♪ Dramatic music plays ♪

[sighs]

[footsteps approaching]

♪♪♪

Game's changed.

No, game's the same...

Fucking computer boys
scrape data and code algos.

Slurp up all the alpha.

Need to find a
new way to beat it.

Market's closed, player,

nothing left for you on
that screen until morning.

But I'm here.

What did you have in mind?

Why don't you show me those
new cup holders in the mini-v...?

♪♪♪

How 'bout a raincheck.

I think I need some
alone time... ♪♪♪

[sighs]

Is Taylor here?

[Lauren] They just got back.

Tea?

I'm gonna roll dry.

Imagine you know about Lauren
lending herself out to Axe Cap?

And I imagine you know that

she's been asked to
make it a permanent detail.

I did not.

Are you going to agree to that?

She wants to do it.
It's a good opportunity.

She'll rep both shops.

And that's all
right? It's how it is.

And if I don't like it? I
don't know what to tell you.

There's a lot I don't like.
Doesn't mean I can change it.

♪ Dramatic music plays ♪

♪♪♪

Pop-quiz, hot shot.

Mm.

Not really a pop-quiz.
I'm fully prepared.

Where did I put Adam DeGiulio?

Solicitor General?

What was wrong with
the Second Circuit?

Served him, not you.

The New York Attorney General

doesn't get before
them very often.

Why Solicitor General then?

You lost your New
York criminal jurisdiction

to the Manhattan D.A. Mm-hmm.

So maybe we go big game hunting

in another neck of the woods...
Like the Supreme Court?

And wouldn't you
know who decides

who gets to argue
before the Court:

Solicitor fucking General.

I get up in front of the
Nine, I'm taking you with.

Oh, damn straight. [chuckles]

Did you, uh...

You leak that memo to the
senator in the first place?

I, uh, put it in motion

before I made my deal
with the Dark Passenger.

And it was too
late to pull it back.

And you'd never do a friend
like that anymore, right?

♪♪♪

Right?

♪♪♪

Good thing we don't
have to know that today.

♪♪♪

We've got something
special for you tonight.

I hope you've all
kept your appetite.

[Prince] 'cause we brought
a little bit of Brooklyn up here.

[Prince] to Mohonk
Mountain House.

From Lilia, Chef Missy Robbins.

[Prince] and her
partner, Sean Feeney.

We're so excited for you to try
one of my favorite pasta dishes,

which is the dish that
reminds me every day

how much I love to cook.

And we hope you enjoy.

[applause]

[indistinct conversations]

Give it to me. Struck
terms with Shenk.

He loves the Longriver piece.

Was a dealmaker.

I got my arms around
Hakli the same way.

Let's get the fuck out of here.

[glass clinking]

It's been my
privilege, all Mike long,

to fete so many of you.

[Prince] And it's good to end
on someone I respect so much.

[Prince] Someone I'm proud
to call a friend and a guide.

And though he's
late in arriving,

I think he's going to be a
big part of all of our lives.

Please, a warm hand
for my key partner

in a breakthrough
healthcare initiative...

Shaman Bram Longriver.

[applause]

♪ Dramatic music plays ♪

I feel a deep spiritual
debt to the man...

but I nevertheless
feel compelled

to separate his
dick from his balls.

Mr. Longriver's going to
share some wisdom with us

after dinner, but,
please, come say hi.

♪♪♪

You stole my shaman.

He belongs to the whole world.

You didn't come in
the spirit of The Mike.

You came to scuttle
around and take for yourself.

But the game was
already over, man.

I thought there was
enough for everybody.

Success breeds success
and all that happy horse shit.

You don't come
to a man's house...

This isn't your
house... Close enough.

Like I told ya: When I
compete, hell, I'm there to win.

Well, hear me: Game's
not over, buddy boy.

Not by a country fucking mile.

I'm aware.

♪♪♪

Look at those fat
fucking furballs...

Wags, you ever get tired
of working for a living?

Every damn day.

But I've got a nasty
addiction called money.

So I do what I do.

You?

No. Never.

Until today.

You know, they call
us traders 'gamblers.'

The world economy's
just one big casino,

fueled by a giant debt bubble
and computer driven derivatives.

And there's only
one thing better

than being a
gambler at a casino.

That's being the
house. That is right.

There's a systemized
machine out there

sucking capital from localities

and injecting it into
the global markets...

Where it can be used to
speculate and manipulate.

And if something goes
wrong, there are bailouts

and bail-ins, federal
aid and easing.

Where the government
doesn't hunt you down,

but instead gives you
a nice soft net to land in.

That's your answer
to the fireside chat:

You want to become a bank.

I want to become a bank.

In order to rob it?

In order that I don't have to.

[laughter]

And to sleep like they do.

And to die in my
own fucking bed.

♪♪♪

Told ya: done giving you info.

Goes the other way. I'm
giving you information:

I know what you did.

Maybe selling me
out to Axe was a move.

But maybe you're actually,
appallingly, under his sway.

Doesn't matter.
There will come a time

when you will be forced
to line up against Axe

for your very survival.

'Cause he's not
capable of a true alliance,

only destruction.

And if such a time comes...

When it does, you will need me.

Though I have come to realize

the ways in which
Axe and I are alike.

We both are possessed
of and by a sort of monster.

But unlike Axe, I
am in control of mine.

I have a code.

And I need that code?

No.

You need that monster.

♪ Sturgill Simpson's
«Remember To Breathe" ♪

♪♪♪

♪ Go out late at night ♪

♪ Just to see what I can find ♪

♪ Staying in the shadows ♪

♪ Where the light
don't ever shine ♪

♪ Having one way conversations ♪

♪ With the darkness in my mind ♪

♪ He does all the talking ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm the quiet kind ♪

♪ So peel it off ♪

♪ Pull 'em down ♪

♪ Let me see it ♪

♪ Turn around ♪

♪ Just lay back ♪

♪ And let it happen ♪

♪ And remember to breathe ♪

♪♪♪

♪ Staying off the radar ♪

♪ Like a bomber on the run ♪

♪ Do another lap
around the target ♪

♪ Just for fun ♪

♪ Staying quiet, keeping calm ♪

♪ Until I find the one ♪

♪ Feel the wave wash over
me when the deed is done ♪