All language subtitles for The College Admissions Scandal (2019) 1080p

♪

♪

Wait for it...
Here it comes.

Oh god, we've jumped
to three this year.

And you're not opening
a bottle of champagne?

That's two notches
above last year.

Well, which puts
Danny's chances

two notches closer
to impossible.

Have a little more faith
in our son.

Who's at one and two?

Well, Princeton knocked Harvard
off the top.

Great.

That's going to make
about a quarter of my office

insufferable today, and another
quarter in despair.

I love you.

♪

♪ The mess you made
always seems... ♪

Hey.

What did we say about studying
your algebra?

The test today could tip it
to an A.

Your grades junior year
are everything.

Everything is a big word,
Caroline.

Okay, all right.

But if you don't ace
Algebra Three,

you don't get
into AP next year,

and you know what an important
piece of the puzzle APs

are for Stanford.

Your entire obsession
with me getting in

is a massive delusion.

Hey, don't be so sure.

Double legacy, your verbals
on the SATs, your music?

We are this close.

You cannot imagine the way going
there follows you through life.

The doors it opens.

I mean, it's worth
the hard work.

Now I know my son.

It's not the hard work
that's the problem,

it's the music.

And why should he even go
to college at all?

And we don't have to tell you
that music is basically

un-monetizeable unless you reach
the absolute top.

You can climb that mountain
with a great job

that you're proud of,

just as well as you can climb it
while you're waiting tables.

Andale, bro.

Will you give it your all,
please?

And will you keep studying
in the car?

Yeah, yeah.

I guess math will come
in handy

when I've got a table that wants
to split the cheque.

I love you.

I love you too.

Later, buddy.

-Molly barely broke 1300.
-Hi.

But they say PSAT plus 75
equals SAT,

so that would put her
maybe, maybe,

maybe in the Emery Zone.

The extracurricular would have
to be off the charts.

She does tutoring every weekend
for abused kids at a shelter.

Is that stuff even
working anymore?

I hear nowadays they have
to start their own program.

Well, and that barely counts
unless you get big press.

This is gonna kill me.

This is absolutely gonna
kill me.

How did Danny do on the PSATs?

You know boys that age
and testing.

But we are sicking an army
of tutors on him

once we settle on a consultant.

How bad was it?

High twelves.

What consultants
are you thinking?

Still shopping.

We adore Joanne Goldman.

She got Jimmy Dewitt
into Harvard,

and that was no mean feat.

And I hear Emily Duran
is a wiz with the UCs

and Lauren Garland did great
work with the Orsi twins.

Too fast, too fast.

It sounds like we are all
burning in the same inferno.

Caroline DeVere,
Bethany Slade.

Nice to meet you.

Good to meet you.

If the rumours are true, I might
have found us a saviour,

Have you ever heard
of a Rick Singer?

Pricy.

His got clients who send
their jets for him.

The story is, last year alone,
three at USC,

two at Stanford.

In one year?

Yeah.

So next week, we are having
a meet and greet with him

at my office in Santa Monica,

San Remo Wealth Management,

You know, something little
that we do for our clients.

If you text me, then I can give
you the details.

My partner set the whole thing
up, swears by him.

His daughter's
college counsellor

had her pegged for Skidmore
at best.

And now, her mother's picking
out dorm room curtains at...

Where?

Yale.

Wow.

-Wow!
-Nice.

So, worst case scenario,
we're with fellow sufferers.

Best case scenario,
San Remo Wealth Management

gets some new clients.

Yeah.

I think I finally got
the copy right.

How's this?

"Hunger isn't far away
in the fields of Africa,

"or the slums of India,
it's just around the corner..."

It's... it's beautiful, the
graphics are a little homemade,

and the guy that does our
quarterly reports is a genius,

and I'm just going to get him
to spruce it up.

Corporate and glossy is kind of
the opposite of the point.

Not gloss.

Impact.

And the more impactful it is,

the more you're gonna shine
on your college-

Please don't say it.

I'm not doing this
for college suck.

I'm just saying that
it's possible to do well

by doing good.

If we're going to this
stupid thing,

can we go already?

As soon as your sister
is dressed.

I'm totally dressed.

Someday I will teach you
how to make an impression.

What am I, 50?

There's no way
I'm wearing that.

No, I won't guarantee

your kids will get into
any particular school.

All I'll guarantee is I know

what particular schools
are looking for.

And how to get you
to check those boxes.

This isn't an art,
this is a science.

And um, I've already done
all the risky lab experiments

so you won't have to.

But you know,
after all the chaos,

the payoff for me, the thing
that I do this for

is so they'll find the school

that's the right fit
for them.

Because that's all that matters.

Your kids and their success,

and the one life any of us get
on this beautiful planet

with all of its infinite
possibilities.

Thank you.

Are they torturing you too?

The thought of running away
to Siberia has crossed my mind.

Yeah, if that's far enough.

Ooh, there he is.

The man of the hour.

Hello.

And this young man,
I... I know you.

You do?

Yes.

I know you very well.

IQ busting off the charts,
parents going out of their minds

because the grades
ain't showing it?

That's because your mind's
on something more important,

it's your music.

Playing that guitar.

Mom, did you tell him?

I have never met this man
before in my life.

I sense the vibe.

The soulful eyes.

Okay, the telltale callus
on the left thumb.

No, seriously, it's because
I'm looking in a mirror.

I was you.

Don't let them bully you.

Only you know what's right
for you.

Right?

And you, smart move coming with.

Never too early to start
building your brand.

Personally, I think
the whole thing's insane.

Oh.

I'm never applying to college,
I'll just join the army.

West Point for this one.

Um, may I give you my card?

Oh, yes you may.

Here's mine.

Oh, thank you.

Great, thank you.
Just give me a call back.

Founding Partners, San Remo
Wealth Management.

Residences in Aspen,
Fisher Island,

Manhattan, and Bel Air.

Husband.

Uh, divorced.

Ugly custody fight.

Drug problems on the dad's side,

six billion in managed funds
on the wife's.

Guess who won.

I'll follow up,
if she doesn't.

Social workers.

Honoured by the city for
outreach to homeless youths...

La, la, la, la, la.

Uh, Jackson DeVere, attorney.

The firm is Estrin, Orloff
and Lobell.

Partner?

Yep.

The wife is a decorator
who counts among her clients

three Oscar winners,
and a sultan or two.

Tell me what you want
to do in life.

I know this sounds dumb,
and like what everybody says.

But I've been so lucky
and I want to do something

that'll, you know, will help
other people be lucky.

Like the food bank thing
I showed you,

but in a way that, like,
really changes things.

And why do you think Yale
in particular

is going to make
that come true?

Um...

Isn't that the definition
of self-evident?

You wanna change the world,
and you have to go to the school

with the people that are
going to be running it.

Maybe we should let Emma
explain it in her own words.

That's really it.

Yeah.

What my mom said.

Amazing faculty
and super smart kids.

Okay, but... but Yale isn't the
only place with those things.

I'm thinking that there's
something else, am I right?

Well... My boyfriend's
a freshman.

Okay, now we're talking.

See, there's nothing like
a personal motive

to get you working
on your grades

and your SAT scores, right?

Look, about my GPA and scores,

realistically if I want to be
near my boyfriend,

should I just be going
for Trinity?

Don't give me heart attacks,
and don't sell yourself short.

I want to hear what you think,
Mr. Singer.

Honestly, looking at
what I've got...

...Do I stand a chance in hell
of getting into Stanford?

I mean...

Is my mom on crack?

No more than everybody's parents
are on crack.

What the top schools are looking
for are special kids.

Kids with a personal brand.

You know who that kid is?

That's you.

You just need to prove it
to them.

So I'm going to be expecting
a lot out of you

in the next few months.

Some college courses
to shine up those grades,

you can take them online.

You're in a band at school,
right?

Pull together a few bands.

Make yourself leader of
the program that you created,

and you build that brand.

Your sand trap is those scores,
and the swing that gets you out?

SAT prep.

Two nights a week.

Practice tests till
your head explodes.

But oh, when those pieces
come back together,

you're going to be
a Stanford man.

A little pain now,
a lot of gain later,

you write your own ticket.

The choices are yours,
the rest of your life...

Are we ready to roll?

That's not good enough,
I need to hear it.

Nice and loud.

Now, are we ready to roll?

Go Stanford!

Go Stanford!

Go Yale!

Go Yale!

Yeah!

♪

Ms. Slade.

There's nothing ungood
about any of this.

There's just knowing
where we are.

With these scores, Yale is not
remotely a possibility.

But given Emma's interest
in non-profits,

the public policy department
at George Washington

may actually be a better fit.

Seriously?

Because every year,

I pay my $50,000 in tuition
like clockwork,

and the best you've got for me
is George Washington?

Ms. Slade, the faculty
there is...

I know what this is.

Some kind of a privilege thing.

This is some twisted revenge
on the one percent,

and if you think that you're
going to deprive my daughter

of the support that you would
give to any other child,

we will see how long
you have your job.

Are... Are you threatening me?

I think that I am.

Yeah.

It's brain structure.

You can either do the test
or you can't.

Well, it's... it's not just
the tests, Danny.

It's the last two
science quizzes,

and the procrastinating.

I mean, have you even started
your paper on the 100 Years War?

No.

Because that's not due
for another two weeks.

Oh, so you're going to wait
two weeks minus one day.

Yeah, yeah, go ahead.

Say it.

"Like you always do."

I'm scared for you, Danny.

I mean, you keep going this way,
in this world the way it is?

I don't know how you're going
to earn a living.

And... and don't think
we're going to support you

the rest of your life.

You're going to end up homeless
and in the streets!

Caroline!

Okay, yeah.

Now we've left the planet.

Where are you going?

I... I don't know, maybe to
stake out a place in tent city.

I don't know how to help
him anymore.

I swear to god I'm losing
my mind.

I am so sorry, but I need
to get to court.

That's all right,
you can go.

I can handle it.

She's just right here.

Thank you.

All right, listen.

Some of these counsellors,

they don't know shit
from shinola, okay.

You worked with
the Kriegers, right?

Yeah, yeah.

Clay's a...

Clay's a good kid.

Clay's IQ is the same number
as his shoe size.

I'm telling you, Rick,
whatever magic

you worked to get Clay Krieger
into Georgetown,

you're going to wave that
same wand for Emma at Yale.

Are we clear?

We're clear.

So what is it?

What is the magic?

Hi, Mr. Singer.

Carry on, soldier!

To be honest, there's um...

There's no magic at all.

Oh, Rick.
Thanks for coming.

Hi, hi, hi.

Look, we'll just take
the SATs again.

I know we can squeeze a couple
hundred more points out of him.

Honestly, I... I don't think
he can do that.

I mean, you do such great work
for so many people.

There must be something
you can do for Danny.

Um... Well...

Well, what?

There are things.

One thing in particular,
actually.

Well, we'll do anything.

The admissions committees
give a lot of weight

to the athletic group.

Being recruited for a sport.

It's a very common tactic,

kind of a side-door,
if you will.

Okay, well, I mean for a kid
who doesn't even know

how to hold a baseball bat,

I'm really not up for jokes
right now.

Nobody's joking here.

This is insane.

Mmm. It was completely surreal.

So, how does it work?

The... the coaches
just get to...

Yes.

They get to pick a few kids
that they want in,

and that list gives
those applications

the extra gas they need
to get over the line.

So what, Singer just hands
the coaches a bag of cash

and then they pick
your kid,

whether or not your kid

actually ever played
that sport?

Well, there's Rick Singer's
foundation,

and that foundation is supposed
to provide scholarships

for underprivileged children.

But it doesn't.

Apparently not.

Oh, my God.

And the parents put money
into that foundation,

and then the foundation...

Pays the bribes.

Are they bribes?

Yeah. They're kind of bribes.

No, they're actually bribes.

Well, there's more.

But it costs extra.

There's this "shrink",
Rick Singer's shrink.

Paid for out of the scholarship
fund for the "underprivileged"?

Mm-hmm.

And the shrink says
that your kid needs

extra time for the SATs,

and the kid goes to this
special location

where there's a proctor,
who's also on the payroll.

No.

Yes.

Yeah, and the proctor either
provides the answer for the kid,

or takes the test
after the kid goes,

and the scores go up
like 400 points,

or whatever you want.

Oh, my god.

So, so that's how he does it.

Yeah.

So all of this Ivy League,

all of this Stanford,
Georgetown, USC, UCLA...

He says he's done it
for hundreds of families.

And names you would recognize.

Actors, actresses.

It seems so easy.

I'm amazed everybody
doesn't do it.

Well, not everybody has a
quarter of a million dollars

laying in their kitchen drawer.

That's how much?

Well, it's 150 for the sports
and 100 for the test.

Cheaper than endowing
a library.

And no more fighting
with Danny.

Yeah, well, there's that.

So?

Well.

Do we?

Are you seriously
asking me that?

Yeah. Yeah, why not, do we?
I mean...

We could get into very serious
trouble for this, Caroline.

All right?

And it would kill Danny.

I mean, you know him,
he's so...

I know, but...

Caroline.

I know, I know.

Morrie Tobin.

Quite a resume.

Yale alum, zillionaire,
criminal mastermind.

Cuffing a guy like this
in front of his family.

That sends a message.

Am I bad that it made me smile
to see all those 0.01 percenters

running around like ants when
you poke a stick in their hill?

Yeah, pretty bad.

Nobody offered you coffee?

I'd like it if you got
to the point.

I actually don't think
you will,

but whatever you say.

Congrats on stealing
eight figures

of the hard-earned money
of others

in this calendar year alone.

But just for reference,
the last fellow we pulled in

on a pump-and-dump on the scale
of yours is about...

three years into his 18
in Lompoc.

Frankly, I'm scratching my head,

wondering what you could
possibly be building

this lunacy on.

Scratch no more.

What if I had something
for you?

Something like what, Morrie?

Does it involve a lot of,
you know, money?

Oh yeah.

And sports.

And powerful families,
and most of all,

elite bastions of
higher education.

Okay. We're making
quick progress here.

I've got my shrink lined up to
meet with Emma anytime Wednesday

that works for you guys.

'Kay, you are a genius,
and you're a beautiful person.

I will get that set up ASAP.

Should I make the 500k payable
to your business?

No, no, this goes
a different route.

My foundation.

You got a 5013 on that?

Yep.

Okay.

So I get to deduct
the whole thing.

That's a fringe benefit.

And soccer works for the sport.

Easy to work up a photo
of Emma kicking a ball.

Okay.

I'm on it.

Now, when Emma meets
with the shrink,

she's going to have to make
herself look a little um,

you know, stupid.

She's going to have to sell
a learning difference.

Will she play?

She's her mother's daughter.

Well, kids, you know.

I could say you never know.

It's um, it's doable to keep
the kid in the dark,

but it's riskier.

Well, I'd prefer to save
the risk for my clients.

Very wise.

You coming in?

I need to find three examples
of irony in the first chapter

of Pride and Prejudice,
and the quiz is timed.

Opening line, for one.

Her famous fact,
universally acknowledged

is neither acknowledged
nor universal nor a fact.

God, you're sexy when you know
what you're talking about.

As rare as that is.

Sweetheart?

When you're finished
with your quiz,

could I talk to you
for a second?

For the Farbers,

in an ironic dentist waiting
room 1959 kind of way.

Yeah.

Let's give it a shot.

Uh, listen Colby.

Would you run down
to the design centre

and make sure that Dina isn't
drowning in that Aspen thing?

I'm on my way.

So for the Anderson boy,
I'm thinking crew.

Never picked up an oar,
but perfect body for a coxswain.

That's worked for us
before, right?

Gorgeously.

So we'll do that for the usual
100k to you...

And 50 to USC Athletics.

Okay, thank you.
Excuse me.

Hey, Caroline.

Hey.

So I talked to Jackson,

and we are feeling that you are
doing such great work for us,

and we want to stay the course,
but with no, um...

Extra services.

Yeah, if... if it's all right
to continue on that basis.

Are you kidding?
Of course.

He'll do great.

Just keep cracking that whip.

Okay, so we'll talk soon.

Yep.

Wait, seriously?

I say I'm in soccer
and I see a therapist,

and that's it, I'm just like,
accepted to Yale?

Yeah, basically.

Wow.

Okay, I know, I know,
it's a lot.

But it's... it's normal.

Rick's done it hundreds
of other times.

What happens to
everything else?

Do I keep taking
the online courses?

Yeah, you know, with just a
little help from Rick's people.

They take the courses for me.

Well, yeah, 'cause
that way you can just...

you can focus on
your schoolwork, right?

Emma.

Darling.

Do you remember when we went
on the college tour

and we saw all those concert
halls and the stadiums

that were named
after the families

that gave them money
to build them?

Of course.

Yeah, yeah.

Do you think the descendants
of those people

had trouble getting
into those schools?

Of course not.

And we understand that,
and we think it's fair,

because we know those people
gave that money

to help preserve the future of
the children they love, right?

I mean, I can't endow
a concert hall,

but I can do whatever I can
for the child I love.

And, I mean, it's not just
the wealthy

who find the ways to do the best
for their children.

Like, what parent of a brilliant
minority child

wouldn't take every advantage
they can?

I've read about minority kids
who've been accepted

to Ivy League schools with SATs
200 points lower than yours,

and we understand that,
and we think that's fair,

because we know those
communities are doing

whatever they can for
the children they love.

They have their advantages,
and we have ours.

It's just one continuum.

You studied Darwin last year,
didn't you?

Yes.

It is the natural way
of the world.

Some species survive,
and some don't.

Some people can do this
for their kids,

and some people can't.

And, I mean,
don't kid yourself,

think about how far Yale
is from Trinity.

It's not just another city
in Connecticut,

it's on another planet,
in another galaxy,

and without Rick Singer's help
for the next two years,

Bryan is going to be on another
planet without you.

So, we need to start planning.

I need to get a photograph
of you kicking a soccer ball,

for your athletic profile.

Can I start setting this up?

I don't know.

I have to get dressed,
can we talk about this later?

Yeah.

Sure.

Hi.

Is your Dad coming out west
for his week with you?

Not for a while.

He got a job in Philadelphia.

He doesn't think now is
the time to ask for time off.

Oh!

A job means he's sober.

Yeah, almost seven months.

Fingers crossed, sweetheart.

Come here.

What?

Your dad has this huge heart,
just like you.

But he was born with, what...
what's the word for it,

not contempt, but a disdain, for
the natural way of the world

and it just brought him down
every single time.

And I pray that you can listen
to your huge heart

without shutting out your mind
like he did.

I love you.

I love you too.

Come here.

Um, I'm glad we
could get together

and finish this up
in person.

Coach Meredith.

You and me both.

So it's a guarantee?

For the 450k, my daughter
will be recruited

for women's soccer at Yale?

Yet to fail.

Two thousand gets us rolling,
right?

Yeah.

You never get nervous that
somebody's figuring this out?

The number of Ivy League titles
and championships

I've racked up in my 24 years
of coaching at Yale

the Great and Mighty?

I'm pretty high up
on the trust ladder.

This something you do
on your own?

Morrie, Morrie,
don't go so fast.

This one's on my own,

but sometimes I work with a guy
named Rick Singer in LA.

Ever met him?

No.

You ever hear of
Rick Singer?

No.

Look, we all want
the same thing, right?

For Danny to come out on top.

So are we all ready
to move forward?

Yes.

Danny?

You too?

'Cause how you're going,

it's not just Stanford
that's at risk,

it's all the other places
you're applying to

down to the safes.

So, are you with us?

Yes.

Okay.

Uh, now there's going to be
a little screw tightening,

just the common sense kind.

So Danny.

We want you to stay in
until your grades improve,

especially in Algebra and Bio.

Wait, um, uh, are you
grounding me?

It's not punishment.

No but this is screwed up,
because I'm...

I'm playing the Airliner
next Thursday.

Do you know how long I've been
trying to make that happen?

That can be rescheduled.

We are serious about this.

Yeah, and if you can't live
with that,

we're prepared to take away your
guitar and your recording gear.

Okay?

Hi, Daddy.

I hope that wall behind me
is out of focus.

I do not want you screen
grabbing it

and selling my entire plot on
the black market in Malaysia.

Is there a black market
for novels?

Only brilliant ones.

I read the first chapter
six times a week.

Oh, my god, when Ethan
finds the robin's nest,

it makes me cry every time.

Will you send me more?

Oh yeah. For the price
of a visit.

The second that school's out.

Well, that would make me
supremely happy.

Now, are you supremely happy,
my angel?

I'm good.

Father's ears sense they aren't
hearing the entire story.

What troubles your soul,
my love?

I don't know, Dad.

Um...

There's just things that
I'm not certain about.

Well, maybe that's
because you're signing

into your mother's
machine made,

consumer indexed idea
of what certainty is,

when in fact the entire
concept of certainty

might be entirely overrated.

So tell me, what's the problem
and how can papa help?

There's no problem.

Really.

I'm... I'm good.

I actually have a ton
of homework to do,

so I should probably go.

Talk to you tomorrow.

I love you.

I love you too.

Bryan, you're here.

Yeah, I got a later flight, I
wanted to see you one more...

Yo! Dude.

Yo, listen, 'kay.

So we can move into the two
bedroom on Dwight in January,

but if we drag in Megan
and Priyanka,

we can get ourselves the big
place on Wister Square

and get the hell out of
the Yale dorms.

Yes, I knew you'd say that,
man.

This calls for Pimm's Cup all
around the second I get back.

Woohoo, let's go!

Come on, Emma!

You gotta kick here.

Come on, let's go!

Come on, Emma!

Right now.

Kick it higher!

Let's go.

I want you to put
fruit in there.

Faster and higher.

Let's back it up.

One, two, three.

Higher and faster.

Yes!

I don't think my soccer matches
are a picnic for my mom.

I mean, who wants to hear
the other team calling

their supposedly sweet little
girl names like "killer,"

and "monster,"
and "agent of death?"

Sorry Mom, but I wear
those titles

like a queen wears a crown.

I can't believe I wrote that.

Well, you can thank my team.

Now, did the shrink send you
the letter about the extra time?

I got it today.

Okay, when you send it on,

specify that you need to take
the test in Houston,

because the place I use in West
Hollywood is booked that day.

Well, what reason do I give?

Anything.

You're there for a family
wedding, Bar Mitzvah.

They don't care.

So now, I call my test guy.

He's Harvard, total genius.

Can pinpoint it right
to the number we want.

Can the number be 1540?

Down, girl.

A 500 point jump is
a humongous red flag.

Let's target 1450.

With That and the soccer
recruitment,

that's more than enough.

See?

Hold up, hold up.

Where we going now, boss?

I've got three new ones
for you in Houston.

All right.

All right, kids.

So the trick here, if you
didn't know already,

is for you all not to get the
same answers right and wrong.

So.

For this first one, why don't
you go "C," you two go "B."

How did it go?

Oh, my god, if people had
any idea this was possible.

Shh, shh!

Yo, Danny.

You killed it tonight.

You killed it so bad, I'm
surprised we don't hear sirens.

I owe it to all my fans.

I'll be seein' ya.

Good night.

♪

Woah.

The rents.

Probably wondering where the
prodigal son has got himself to.

Oh, we know where you got
yourself to.

Oh, well great.

Saves us the Q and A.

Peace out.

You are so high.

Almost as high as you were when
you got kicked out of Disneyland

for jumping out of the boat
in Pirates of the Caribbean.

Okay.

I should've never told you
that story.

But that is irrelevant,
because you have a Bio test

in less than six hours,
and that counts as...

What? What?

What percentage of the grade?

Do you know it to
the decimal point?

You knew the consequences
of breaking the rules

that we set out for you.

Danny?

Dad?

Danny.

Okay.

What do Bruce Springsteen
and Bob Dylan have in common,

besides being geniuses?

And David Bowie, Bruno Mars,
Louis Armstrong.

What do they all have
in common?

None of them went to Stanford!

Or any college at all.

Danny!

Danny!!

Come back here!

♪

Turn that off!

Danny!

Turn that off!

The police will be here!

Can you believe it?

-Are you serious?
-No!

I know.

That's amazing.

It's incredible.

It's... it's everything.

Hi!

Someone just have a baby?

Guess how much Emma's
SAT score went up?

Guess?

400 points?

380.

Is that not dazzling?

Well, if that's not dazzling,
I don't know what is.

-That's good, right?
-It's amazing!

Okay, sure.

Let 'em have their continuance.

They don't have a case.

In a month, they still won't
have a case.

Craig wants you in meeting
room A, partners' meeting.

What's going on?

We just learn Jeff Bezos
is a client?

Better.

You know a little thing called
"getting into Princeton?"

Shawn?

Ha, ha!

My son and heir got in early.

People donate millions for gyms
and libraries

to get their kids into college
all the time.

Is this any different
than that?

Yes, it is.

No, it isn't.

And what about SAT training
and tutors,

and affording better schools
from pre-K on up?

It's all the same thing.

I mean, is there anything
you wouldn't do for Danny?

Anything in the world?

Nothing.

He's losing his way,
Jackson.

He needs us.

Parents are supposed
to do anything they can

for their kids.

There isn't any limit to that.

There shouldn't be a limit.

And to think I was afraid we
were pushing them on this one.

Don't admire it too long.

Gotta get this baby
in the bank.

Put it to work.

Hello?

Okay, if we do this,
there's a condition.

A big one.

Danny can never know about
this, ever.

Is that doable?

That's the case with many
of our families.

It's good that way.

Kids think they did
it themselves.

Gives them confidence.

There's one thing
I don't get.

What happens when
he gets there

and he doesn't show up
for sailing?

You send a note over the summer
saying he had an injury,

plantar fasciitis.

We'll work all that out.

So...

Okay, I make a cheque payable
to your foundation?

I'll have my accountant
handle the details.

Okay.

Jackson and I will
call you later

and we'll talk about
the next steps.

Okay.

How does he know a coach
will be receptive

and not turn him in?

Is it just the coach
who doesn't feel

he's getting enough money
or credit?

Just endless hounding to raise
more cash for his sport?

Rick hears enough complaining,
he makes his move.

I can't speak for
any other coaches.

Is the illegal stuff just Yale,

just families in southern
California?

I can't speak for any other
regions or any other family.

Well, he doesn't have to.

Just check his client list.

My bet is, if we tap
Singer's phone,

it'll blow our minds.

Yeah.

Kids into Stanford, Georgetown,
tons and tons into USC.

From Morrie Tobin
to Coach Meredith,

to Rick Singer.

How does it feel to be the match
that burns down a forest?

What grade were we in
when I first said

I wanted to do engineering
at Stanford?

I don't know,
how weird were you?

Six, maybe seven?

Fourth.

Because I heard Willie Hewlett
went there.

Wow.

You're a double legacy,
and you could give a shit.

And me?

I got nothin'.

You've got a 4.1 GPA,
and 5s in all your APs.

So do 70 percent of
the people who apply.

Oh, how about this?

He's moving the barbecue.

A little more effort.

Yeah, we could flip this
and make it work.

I'll have my office give it
a try. Oh, shoot.

Hey, honey.

Hey.

-Hey!
-Come here.

Is there a meeting
I didn't know about?

No, just going over
some new stuff.

You're not going
to believe it.

That gig I got publicly executed
for playing last week?

Devon Blake was there.

He's this huge manager,
he got Jesse Reed started.

Anyway, he has a bunch of ideas
on things I should be doing,

stuff I could change.

But he wants to rep me.

Oh, wow.

Wow.

Actually, one of his guys here
recorded my whole set

and put it on a flash drive.

Want to hear it?

Oh, that's so great, honey.

But just be careful, okay?

Careful about what?

Well, I mean, I mean,
it's wonderful.

But just, so many people around
here make so many promises.

Young people get preyed on.

So just don't sign anything
until I have a look at it, okay?

He's this huge manager,
and he loved what I did,

and he wants to take me on.

How can you not see
how cool that is?

Oh my god, honey,
it's so cool.

It's wonderful,
we're so happy for you.

We're, we're just trying
to protect you.

Okay.

What new stuff?

Talking about your favourite
topic with this round of SATs.

Yeah.

So, Rick has lined up a
psychologist to meet with you,

um, to see if we can get
a letter

saying that you need extra time
for the test.

What are you talking about?

Why would they give me
extra time?

Well, look at everything
we've learned about you.

Off the charts IQ,
trouble with tests,

trouble keeping your butt
in the chair,

I mean, if that's not
undiagnosed ADHD, what is?

Right, and the doctor can meet
with you Wednesday,

this Wednesday at 4:30
in Westwood,

so, is that good for you?

Yeah.

You know, the way you say that,
it's like I have a choice.

It's okay.

It's okay.

You wanted to see me?

Yes.

Have a seat.

I'm not in trouble, am I?

I'm not sure.

I got a call from Yale,
asking why your application

was all about soccer

when you haven't played
any soccer in high school.

I'll have to say,
I'm curious myself.

'Cause that's a summer thing.

Hmm.

Well, they're seeming to want
some more documentation

on that activity.

Great.

I'll talk to my mom.

She has all the stuff,
okay?

Okay.

Bethany, it's going to be okay.

It's not okay.

How are you going to get us
out of this?

It's nothing I haven't dealt
with 100 times before.

Rick.

It really scares me that you
are not answering my question.

You never once said that
anything like this was possible,

and you swore to us
that this was airtight.

Bethany, we've got this.

You know why?

We got the secret weapon,
and that is you.

Bethany, calm down.

I'm calm.

Please.

I'm with you.
I want to help.

I promise.

Well, I'm really glad
to hear that.

It's just the fact that this
clueless college counsellor

missed the fact that Emma
goes to France every summer

to play on the National
Youth Soccer Team,

so that it doesn't get
in the way

of her schoolwork
during the year.

It's just that I was on the
search committee that hired you

to run the place, it's just that
I was Chair of the committee

that raised all the money
to build the music building

that you got all the credit for,
it's just that I have a daughter

who would be just as happy
at another overpriced school

as she is here, unless you tell
that clueless counsellor

not to stand in the way
of something

my daughter has dreamed about
all her life.

Am I making myself clear?

Repeat after me.

7, 24, 19, 11, 9.

7, 24, 19, 11, 9.

Okay.

Great.

All done.

I will put this in the system
right away,

results should be on the site
in 10 days.

Cool, thanks.

Mm-hmm.

It wasn't too boring,
watching me fill the bubbles?

That's the gig.

Take care.

Thanks.

♪

She didn't just apologize,

she begged my forgiveness
for ever doubting my daughter.

She grovelled.

It was gorgeous.

That is awesome news.

Well, I'm probably
going to regret this,

'cause you might try
to charge me more money.

But you are worth every penny

of the half million
that I paid you.

So once we get this
in the bag,

we get to work on Taylor,
right?

Taylor's another
ball of wax.

She's smart enough
not to need this,

but you, Rick,
you're a genius.

Well, tell friends.

Just don't tell them too much.

No way in hell.

Great job, son.

How did I... That's like
350 points better!

No, 385!

If I did that good,
maybe I should,

I should take it again.

Like, blow the roof off!

No, no, no, no, no, no.

That's fine,
that's better than fine.

You're good.

Does that get
the embargo lifted?

Of course. Sure.

-Yes.
-Yes.

Yes, yes!

Devon wanted me
to do the open mic

at the hotel cafe
this Sunday,

he's going to bring all
these people to hear me,

I... I gotta...
I gotta call him!

Go, yes!

That is amazing news,
Caroline.

Oh, I know.

I mean, he was walking on air.

See? It's always that way.

It gives them confidence,

and they feel great
about themselves.

...I'm just so excited.

Listen, I've got some
people here.

I gotta go.

Oh, right, yeah.

Okay.

Well, thank you so much
for everything.

The foundation endeavors
to provide education

that would normally
be unattainable

to underprivileged students.

To how many underprivileged
students

did your foundation
provide education?

Not directly, but um...

I want an answer,
not an excuse.

The foundation isn't set up

to directly fund
underprivileged students.

Some of the moneys are paid
to athletic departments

for use in their programs,

which include support for
the underprivileged.

And the rest?

Where did that go?

Your personal account?

The personal accounts
of athletic coaches?

We don't have
to answer that.

Okay.

Let's go to the charges.

Mail fraud.

Honest services mail fraud.

Racketeering.

There's a case to be made
for 20 years.

Racketeering is illegal.

That's what we call
the side door.

Getting my kid recruited
for a sport

he doesn't play competitively?

Yeah, on this path,
you pay 250.

It goes into my foundation, and
the kicker is it's a 5013,

so you can write off
every dime.

What are you asking us for?

Cheques came from the Isaacsons,
and the Kaplins.

Got 'em both in the foundation,
they'll clear tomorrow.

Sounds good.

So, here's the deal.

The yacht is now in Mykonos,
and they want you to see it

before you start work.

But I thought I saw it
in St. Barts.

He says he wants to make sure

that the colours
in the main salon

work with the light of
the Mediterranean.

Oh.

Hey, Rick.

What's going on?

I want you to be the first
person I called

about something
that's going on.

I just wanted to give you
the heads up

that my foundation
is being audited.

Should I uh?...

What... what do you mean,
"audited"?

They're going over our payments,
including the payment for 100k

that you made to have Mark
Riddell take the SAT for Danny.

This is scaring me.

There's no reason it should.

It's totally routine, I just...
I was calling to make sure

that you and I are
on the same page.

Because of course I wouldn't
tell the IRS that you paid 150k

to have an athletic coach
at Stanford

recruit your son for a sport
he didn't play.

So in case you get a call,
you know.

Why would I get a call?

Well...

Audits, foundations, that's...
that's what they do.

So in case you get a call,
you're going to say that

the $250,000 total that you paid
to our foundation

was to help underserved kids,

and you're not going to say
what it was really for.

I'll just say that...
that I was inspired

by your helping underprivileged
kids get into college.

That's excellent.

This is not making me happy.

But you'll be happy when you
get your letter from Stanford,

and you find out that the 250k
was worth it for Danny.

Agreed?

Agreed.

Anyway, 99 percent chance
you don't hear from anybody,

so we'll talk soon, okay?

Yeah.

Okay.

Uh, Kaplan.

Hey, Rick.

Gordon, hey.

I'm calling to give you
the heads up my foundation

is being audited.

Do you think that I'm some kind
of a moron

that I am going to tell the IRS

that I paid you to cheat
on my daughter's SATs?

I'm just dotting my I's.

I'm just going to tell them
that I made the donation

to your foundation and where
the money went from there,

I know nothing about.

That's perfect.

Okay.

While I have you on the phone,
Emma is on spring break

and I am just going out of
my mind waiting to hear,

and I know that you're not
supposed to say anything,

but I also know that
you're five steps ahead

of any game
that you're playing.

So, is Emma in
at Yale or not?

Basically, Emma was in
the second the athletic team

vouched for her.

Oh my god!

Slow down, slow down,

I'm not supposed
to tip that, so.

Can't tell a soul.

Just you, okay?

[p

Hey, mom.

Welcome to the party.

Hey, honey!

Hey Beth.

Uh, want a gin and tonic?

I'm just calling to say
that by rights,

it should be champagne,

and you have to totally keep
this on the QT right now,

but honey, you got in.

You're going to Yale!

Oh my god, oh my god!

Oh my god!

We're going to school together!

I love you so...!

Listen, I know this is
ancient history.

I mean, the boy's, what,
a junior at Georgetown now?

But I appreciate knowing
I can count on you to say

the right thing
if the IRS calls.

Thank you.

Hello, Caroline.

Don't get mad at Bethany,
she didn't want to tell us.

We practically had to beat
her up to get it out of her,

but we heard about Emma.

And I know you know
who's in and who isn't,

so if you know about Danny,
please tell us now,

because we are practically
jumping out of our skin.

I'm happy to discreetly inquire.

Call me back in an hour.

Thank you, Rick.

You're the best.

♪

♪

♪...these days, ♪

♪ this California sun is... ♪

Are you ready for this,
angel?

Ready for what?

We just got off the phone
with Rick.

You got in.

You're going to Stanford.

Wait, seriously?

Yes.

We're so proud of you!

We're so incredibly
proud of you!

Oh my god, you did it.

Look at you, all lost
in your phone.

What are you hiding?

What? Nothing.

You can't bullshit someone
who's known you

since you were in diapers.

Let me see it.

Danny, why are you looking up
images of Stanford?

Cause I got in?

How did you hear?

That guy that
my parents hired?

He has some inside line.

Holy shit!

What's going on?

Uh... Big man on campus here
just got into Stanford!

What?

You heard already?

Oh my god, Danny,
that's amazing!

Guys, guess who just
got into Stanford?

♪

♪

I plead guilty,
Your Honour.

Your Honour, I...

I plead guilty.

Guilty, Your Honour.

♪

It's the FBI open the door!!!

Caroline and Jackson DeVere?

Yes?

I am placing you under arrest
on charges of mail fraud,

honest services mail fraud,
and racketeering.

You have the right
to remain silent.

What's going on?

Anything you say can and
will be used against you...

Hey, what the hell?

Why are you doing that?

It's just a misunderstanding.

A misunderstanding about what?
What did you do?

We'll... we'll call you
as soon as we can, okay?

Go to school,

and keep things normal like
any other day, okay Danny?

Okay, you want normal,
tell me what's happening!

You don't know
anything about it.

Anything about what?!

Do I get to find out why
there is a million cops

on our front lawn?

I don't know, but I am
going to find out.

Esmeralda, will you get Taylor
dressed for school

and take her there?

I might have to go
with the police

and find out what is going on,

but I will be back by the time
you get home from school.

♪

♪

You're joining our live coverage
on this morning's breaking news.

The FBI calling it
Operation Varsity Blues.

A nearly year long
investigation...

Hey, bro.

Looks like you caught
a good breeze there.

What the hell
did they do?

So how long have you been
lying to me?

No, Tristan.

I... I swear.

How about getting to second base
with Nancy Hendler

in the sixth grade?

Was that bullshit too?

And what about this manager
that wants to sign you?

Does he even exist?

Okay, no.

I have to call my parents.

So, so, taking the test,
the extra time you got?

They paid that shrink to say
you needed it.

They didn't tell me.

I didn't know anything
until this second.

Right, they did
this whole thing,

fake SATs, fake sports,
for months and months,

without you happening
to notice?

They just kind of slipped in
a sailing championship

onto your application
when you weren't looking?

Tristan.

Do you think I would do that?

No, no, no.
Look at me.

Do you think I would do that?

How much did your SATs go up
the second time you took them?

Tristan.

How many points did they go up?

385.

You know, it's funny.

A couple of weeks ago,
you called me at 11:00PM

to tell me that Wendy Miller
liked a comment

on your comment about Vampire
Weekend's California tour dates.

But a 25 percent jump
on your SATs, in a year,

when all we talk about
is getting into college?

That wasn't worth a text?!!

Look, I didn't tell you
about that because...

Because what?

Because I know how badly
you want to go.

I... I just didn't want you
to freak

that the competition
was gaining on you.

Oh. Thank you for
taking pity on me.

Tristan, Tristan, I swear.

I'm trying to think of
an unmelodramatic way

of walking out of here.

But nothing's coming
to me.

I can't...

♪

Jewelry, phones,
and personal items.

How long do you think
we'll be in custody?

There are various factors
which will determine that.

What factors?

The first is how quickly we
can process you through booking.

May I come in?

Sure.

Honey, uh...

You're going to need to go
home this morning.

What?

We have a car coming
to take you.

Did something happen
to my mom or dad?

Nothing like that,
they're okay, but...

Something did happen.

Is my mom going to jail?

Am I going to be arrested,
too?

You can find all that out
when you get home.

The car is coming soon,
you should pack up.

I don't want to go home.

Please let me stay.

You need to be home,
honey.

You need your mom,
and she needs you.

Bryan.

You never played soccer
in your life.

How do you even know
about that?

They published the complaint.

Stuff your mom said
on a wiretap.

That means you know
about this.

You know my mom.

She runs my life.

I didn't have a choice.

So did you, like,
do a photoshoot?

Did you even take your SATs
again at all,

or did they just have someone
take that for you?

I'm setting bond at $500,000,

which I take it is not a
hardship for the defendant.

It is not, Your Honour.

She's surrendered her passport?

She has.

Arraignment will be
in Federal Court

in Boston, Massachusetts
on the date to be set.

Government transport is
available should you choose

to avail yourself of it.

Will you confirm
that you will attend?

Actually, it would be really
great to know

what that exact date is,
right now.

Because I have a whole crazy
series of client meetings

and taxes in Colorado
that I can't move,

and also in Saint Louis
the week after.

Bethany.

What?

I'm not saying that I'm not
going to be there.

I'm just trying to...

Your Honour,

my client confirms that she will
be at the arraignment.

Of course I confirm
I'll be there.

I just think it's really fair

to see if there is any
flexibility with these dates.

There is not.

I'm sure there is with
this amount of lead time.

Your... Your Honour,
we will be there.

Hi, Emma, honey.

I know you're on
your way home.

Bryan's mom texted me,

so call me when
you get back, okay?

He's still not answering.

I need to reach him.

Track him.

We promised him
we wouldn't do that.

Caroline.

He's in Big Bear.

Of course.

He loves Big Bear.

Because we don't.

He's going to hate us
for the rest of our lives.

Oh my god, the walk
of shame.

I mean, Bethany,
who could be surprised?

But Caroline?

She seems so down to earth.

Yeah.

Like, honest.

You just never know anybody.

Jackson better be hiring
crisis PR.

'Cause we sure as shit are.

The parents paid
William Rick Singer

who in turn allegedly...

Don't even say it.

It's all one big Rodeo Drive
shopping spree

for these parents.

Chanel, Gucci, Mercedes,
Rolex, Harvard.

...in his employ would help and
or correct students' exams.

Hello, Bethany.

You made for some historic
television this morning.

Okay, before you say anything,

I want to assure you
that no shade

is going to fall on this firm,
and I take full responsibility

for overstepping in my zeal,
as any mother would.

So I've booked off
the afternoon,

and I'm going to call
the big clients,

and I don't think anybody's
going to care

how Emma got her test scores.

Our recommendation is
that you speak with Maggie.

What the hell, Tom?

Are you my partner of 18 years,

or are you some parrot
trained by HR?

It's best that we talk
in my office.

You're of course free to consult
legal counsel at any time,

but it's our suggestion
that you hear us out first.

And it's my suggestion
that the next person

that uses the subjunctive
go screw themselves.

I'm going to be in my office.

Hey, Colby.

They called about the trip
to Mykonos.

I had to turn in my passport,

I don't know
when I can go now.

Caroline...

They're cancelling the trip.

Oh.

Okay, well, did you find out
when they want to reschedule.

They said they'd
get back to me.

Caroline?

What?

There were some emails
from the hotel in Carmel,

and from the Winograds.

They don't want to continue.

And what about the Doernbergs?

A text from their assistant
cancelling lunch on Tuesday.

She said she'd circle back
later on.

Okay, thanks.

I'll call you later.

...Across the nation
from UCLA...

Okay.

I made a sizeable donation
to the foundation

run by our educational
consultant,

which, as far
as I had any idea,

provided educational support
to the underprivileged.

End of story.

So when Rick told you
not to tell the IRS

what that foundation had
done with the money,

you said "do you think
I am some kind of moron

"that I would tell the IRS

"I paid you to cheat on
my daughter's boards?"

Exactly.

I wouldn't tell the IRS that,
because I didn't do it.

Come on, Bethany.

You... you know
that a... a

jury will likely hear
that differently.

The prosecution will argue
that it's strongly implied.

I'm not pleading guilty.

Rick led like crazy
on that call,

and I never once
for a second followed.

The paper trail is...

...Leads to a foundation
that donated money

to the underserved, full stop,
end of story.

Bethany.

Allan.

You took pictures
of your daughter

pretending to play soccer.

With a professional
photographer.

Now, with enough contrition
and smiting of the breast

I can maybe, maybe get you
a fine and six months.

Me?

Prison?

For doing anything I could
to help my child?

That's not something
I'm going to apologize for.

Allan, thank you so much
for being honest and upfront

about how you see this.

I'm going to seek counsel
with the balls

to stand up to a lynch mob.

Works for me.

This isn't just about what law
you have or haven't broken.

What you've done to Emma.

Allan.

Could they go after Emma?

I don't know if she'll be
indicted or not.

We may not know for a while.

But could it happen?

I have no crystal ball.

I wish you the best of luck.

Allan.

Allan!

It's a nightmare we're never
going to wake up from.

It's going to go on and on.

I can't believe this is actually
happening to us.

It's not something
that's happening to us.

It's something that
you made happen.

What?

Are you really going
to do that?

You're going to go there?

You're going to blame
this on me?

You pushed us,
you dragged us...

I dragged you?

What are you talking about?

You could've stopped it
at any moment.

You're the lawyer, you knew
the consequences!

Like I didn't try!

I told you that
this was fraud.

I said "this is
a serious crime."

Oh, come on Jackson!

You jumped in as deeply
as I did,

the minute you found out your
boss's kid got into Princeton!

You're right about one thing.

This is a nightmare.

Do you have any idea
how bad this is?!

I mean, right now
it's mail fraud,

but if they slip in
money laundering,

that is real time.

How could that happen?

Could we go to prison?

It depends on what we do now.

What do we do now?

I don't know.

I don't know anything anymore.

Stupid.

Stupid!

Stupid, stupid, stupid!

Stupid!

It's your only hope.

Do you know what
that means?

We plead guilty to a felony,
I lose my license.

Not a lawyer anymore.

It's horrible, I know.

But the alternative.

It keeps hitting me in waves.

Everything that's gone.

You're young, time passes.

People forget and forgive.

Look at Martha Stewart.

I want to do it.

I want to plead guilty.

I want to beg for forgiveness
of everybody.

It's our only hope.

Of what?

Of being able to walk
outside our house.

Of our son ever speaking
to us again.

You're sure of this?

What will they do to us?

The sentence is going
to have a lot to do

with how contrite the judges
think you are.

We're all exhausted.

Maybe we should talk tomorrow
first thing.

Okay.

We'll get through this.

It's Danny.

His phone's back on.

Where is he?

He's getting off
the 405 and Sunset.

He's almost home.

I don't know if I can do this.

The parents indicted as a result
of Operation Varsity Blues

include CEO of a major
corporation...

I'm sorry we're so late,
Ms. Bethany.

Congratulations on screwing
every pooch in the kennel.

I don't need any grief
from you.

No one giving grief?

You should've seen what it
was like at school today.

Half the people looking at me
like I had a skunk on my head,

and the other half gave me this
stupid concerned moony faces,

asking if I was okay.

It was more than I could take.

Come here, angel.

Let me give you a hug.

I don't want a hug right now.

Mr. Singer, Mr. Singer,
over here, over here...

Wouldn't you do anything in the
world for Josesito and Shayla?

Anything?

I'll go put laundry in.

Hi, folks.

I... I got all chilled out
in the woods,

so don't worry.

There's no fireworks this time.

So no Stanford, I guess.

Pesky little clause I signed
about everything

on my application
actually being true.

But you know, there is
this one good thing.

You know how you
always worried

about me trying to make
a living as a musician?

You don't have to worry
about that anymore.

'Cause Devon Blake called.

Don't know who that is?

Are you... you drawing
a blank?

Click on the name, and
the manager Danny's been

all foolishly excited over,
pop right up.

Danny.

So Devon called me,
and he said he feels like,

for right now, you know,
just temporarily and stuff,

given everything
that's going on,

maybe we should cool it.

As in, burn my number
and scatter the ashes.

But hope's not lost.

'Cause you know, maybe someday,
when you guys get out of prison,

you can come hear me
open for the guy

who opens for the headliner at
the San Bernardino Holiday Inn.

Sweetheart, please.
Just listen to us.

What we did was so wrong,
it was ugly.

Yeah, I know, keep going.

It was an act of violence
against you.

Ah, that one I like.

But please know
that we did this

because we thought
we were helping you.

Because we love you.

And we're going to make sure
that everyone knows

that it was all us, that you had
nothing to do with this.

The courts, the press
of Stanford,

your music manager.

Everybody.

We're going to spend

the rest of our lives
fixing this, Danny.

You know, there was actually
this one scene in the affidavit,

it, it gave me chills.

It was awesome.

I'm going to read it to you.

Dad: "For the payment, can
we make it for consulting,

"so I can pay it from
my business account?"

Rick: "Absolutely."

Mom: "So on top of everything,

"we can write the whole
thing off as an expense?"

Beautiful.

Sweetheart?

You swore nobody
would ever know.

You said this could
never happen.

I am so sorry.

At least now I know
what you think of me.

I love you.

Let me see, what was it?

Something like,

"I won't have to do this
for Taylor,

"she's smart, not like her
moron sister."

I was kidding.
It was a joke.

It was just something
that I was saying to Rick!

You were right.

I am a moron, for letting you
talk me into this.

I thought that I was helping
you get what you wanted.

Who even knows what that is?

I only know what you've told me
to want my whole life.

Are blueberries even
my favourite food,

or is that just something
you programmed into me

because of the blueberry
parfaits

at my stupid fifth
birthday party

with the stupid clowns
on the stupid blue ponies?

Sweetheart.

I tried to call Dad.

I tried him a hundred times,
and he didn't answer.

He always answers right away.

He hates me now.

He thinks I'm just like you,

and he's never going
to talk to me again.

Emma!

Sweetheart!

You two deserve each other.

He doesn't have any music on.

He never doesn't have
any music on.

He needs time to process this.

Danny? Are you all right?

Door's open,
you can come in.

Oh. Where are you going?

Far.

Danny, I swear to you...

No.

No. If you say one more word
about how you did it for me,

you will never see me again.

You did it for one reason,

so you could have something
to say at cocktail parties

that would make
your friends jealous.

That is not true.

It can join the billion other
things flying around

that aren't true.

Oh please, Danny.
Please, please don't go.

How could you do it?

How could you lie to me
for months?

I mean, would it have
been so terrible

if I had worked as a waiter
and I played in clubs?

What would've been
so terrible if I had...

if I had failed at that,
if I had starved?

I would've figured
something out.

Sorry I wasn't the son
you wanted.

Oh...

You are the son I've adored
since the moment

I felt the first kick.

You're perfect.

Oh, Danny.

Danny.

Hi, Allan.

If you're calling to yell
at me some more,

this door is closed.

I'm making this call
as a courtesy,

to tell you something
not very good, I'm afraid.

Your partners are firing
you for cause,

and I've been notified
that they're exercising

their right to take
your equity.

I'm going to fight it.

That's a mountain of legal.

It's a good thing you have
properties you can liquidate.

Your... your house,
the place in Aspen...

Why are you laughing?

Because it's all just all
such a gorgeous joke.

I mean, everything is leveraged
against the equity.

Peter borrowed from Paul
so many times

he didn't know which apostle
he was anymore,

but I know what
I am going to do.

I'm going to call Ruth Madoff
and find out how she gets by.

So Allan, do you know anyone
who has her number?

Bethany, I'm sorry that it's
turned out this way, but...

Hello?

Leave me alone.

Emma, please.

Go away.

I don't want to talk to you.

It's me, if that's all right.

Daddy?

I got all your calls
as soon as I landed.

Why don't you hate me?

I posed for that photo, I
let somebody take my SATs,

I stole somebody's spot
at Yale.

I... I know all that.

I know you were part
of a terrible thing.

Then why are you here?

Because you inherited
enough twisted genes

from me to account for
a lifetime of terrible.

That's no excuse.

Not on its own, maybe.

But if you throw
in being 17...

No, it's still not enough.

Bryan treated me like a disease,
because I am one.

No college will take me,
and they shouldn't.

Any job I ever want, they're
going to look me up and...

I just want to die.

Right now.

I want to stop breathing
and die.

Hey, listen.

There's only one thing
that you can do,

and that is live better.

Until the world sees it.

That's what you can do,
honey.

That is all you can do.

There she is!

♪

♪ Lay me down ♪

♪ I got this feeling
in my chest ♪

♪ I think it's time
we put it all to rest ♪

♪

♪ Cold dead ground ♪

♪ Wilted flowers
in your hand ♪

♪ They may never come
to life again ♪

♪ Lay me down ♪

♪ Lay me down ♪

♪ Just walk out ♪

♪ Oh, lay me down ♪

♪ Lives slow drown ♪

♪ You always knew this
time would come ♪

♪ Closed our eyes and tried
our best to run ♪

♪ Hopeful now ♪

♪ Chains were wrapped
around our heart ♪

♪ Locked us up inside
a funeral march ♪

♪ Lay me down ♪

♪ Lay me down ♪

♪ Just walk out ♪

♪ Oh, lay me down ♪

♪

♪ Lay me down ♪

♪

♪

♪

♪