Original subtitles

♪ ♪

♪ Yeah we brewin' like Medici ♪

♪ A little freaky ♪

♪ Lemme look, lemme look I wanna see, see ♪

♪ Take a snap of the center in a sea breeze ♪

♪ A little salty, feel the feeling ♪

♪ It's the hype, yeah ♪

♪ It's the night, uh ♪

♪ I'm gonna live it up however I. ♪

♪ Yeah, uh, uh ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Yeah, uh, uh ♪

♪ ♪

Okay, good.

You can freeze that, Miss Court Clerk.

This is one of the toughest decisions I've made

because I respect the brilliance of both of you.

Go ahead and stand.

Tip Top Trina made up a dance she calls...

-What was it? -"Spanky Leg."

WACKNER: She put it online.

Soon after, a popular video game appeared, charging money

for people to have their avatar do a similar dance.

And that was called, um...

What was that?

"Yankee Leg." Totally different.

-And Tip Top Trina wasn't paid a cent? -TRINA: That's right.

-She didn't have a copyright. -I didn't need a copyright.

I recorded it and put it on TikTok.

-Yeah, and I didn't steal it. -TRINA: Okay,

-well, that's not really true, because I... -Do you own hip-hop,

-do you own tap dancing? -WACKNER: All right, all right, all right. Hey, stop.

-Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey! -(arguing stops)

We're all gonna take a breath here.

Come on. Calm down. Just breathe, please.

(computer pings)

(mouthing)

Okay.

After extensive consultation with my court clerk,

here's my decision.

By the power invested in me by absolutely no one,

I find the defendant, Garrison Vitar,

committed intellectual property theft

by jacking Trina's "Spanky Leg,"

and must split the profits,

roughly six million dollars, fifty-fifty.

-(bell rings) -Next case.

Are you fucking serious?!

I am serious, Mr. Vitar.

I talked to, I don't know, six lawyers,

who said Trina does not have a case.

This whole thing is a fucking joke.

One which you agreed to, my friend.

I only agreed to it because I was promised a quick verdict.

Which I gave you.

Uh, just remember to leave your moose suit and a check

with Marissa on your way out. Next case.

Fuck the moose suit. Fuck this court.

And fuck you!

Okay? I am, I'm suing your ass.

(murmuring, gasping)

All right, yes, you've been subpoenaed.

-Hello, Mr. Cord. -Liz.

I think we should countersue.

I don't want the court's authority undercut.

Which court?

-Mine. -Yeah, well, here's the problem.

Mr. Vitar is suing you for brand disparagement.

-(computer pings) -Okay.

He... uh, he is insisting that his video game

has taken a hit in the marketplace

and he wants $800,000 and your court closed.

-That's overreach. He won't get it. -MARISSA: He signed a contract

-to abide by Hal's ruling. -LIZ: Yes,

and that's what we will lean on. But almost any real judge

is not gonna look kindly on someone playing a judge.

I'm not playing judge. I am a judge.

Mr. Wackner, listen to me.

Your court does not have the force of law.

You can't imprison anyone.

You can't force someone to pay.

The court we're going to-- it does all those things,

-and loves doing those things. -(computer pings)

All right, now, if they close your doors,

the police can enforce that. You could go to jail.

So, please, let me fight this case for you. All right?

Keep the craziness and the-the fiction

to a minimum, and I can win this.

But they're gonna want to make you the focus,

and if they do, we lose.

So, please, don't become the focus.

How do I do that?

You respect the judge.

You-you wear a suit.

You answer "yes" and "no" and nothing else.

-I don't own a suit. -I can get you one.

This is why I started a court.

What do you think?

He doesn't like being told what to do.

He'll just do the opposite.

Yeah, that's what I thought.

Uh, Okay, I-I need your help, Marissa.

You're my Wackner whisperer.

Just keep him in line.

If I can, I will.

Thank you. Thank you.

Everyone, please take your seats.

So, today, we have one question.

How do we create more opportunities for Black lawyers?

I'd like to welcome our panelists,

leaders of the top four Black Chicago law firms.

Let's hear it for Isaiah Drummond,

founder of Dooley, Rich and Associates.

(applause)

Jeff Taha, who runs Taha and Brickman.

(applause continues)

Danny Rata, who you might have heard of before,

from Rata, Mooney, and Brock.

(applause)

And Diane Lockhart.

(applause softens)

So, let's talk about opportunities for Black lawyers.

Diane?

(phone pings)

(pinging)

Sorry.

-(ping) -(clears throat)

Um...

(pinging)

Okay...

-How do I stop this sound? -What sound, sir?

(pings)

20 times an hour.

What is it and why do I care?

Dawnk. It's our new intra-company messaging system.

Why?

-It's faster than email. -(ping)

You can have a thread on specific topics,

share documents and reach the people you need

-by tagging them. -What do you mean, tagging?

-Attaching their name. -Like email?

Why don't I just email or find them and yell at them?

The associates... they, they prefer this.

Everyone's tired of running up and down the stairs,

-hunting people down. -(pinging)

And some of us don't love having to deal with people directly.

(ping)

-Who is "Anonymous Crab?" -If you don't sign in with your account,

the system assigns you an anonymous avatar.

Why?

It's meant to foster free communication.

(pinging)

DAVID: "How the hell did this..."

...happen?

How did Diane end up at a Black conference

speaking for our firm?

What an embarrassment.

Take a look at this.

Anonymous Crab just posted a video.

How do I play it?

So, how does that work, Diane, you running a Black firm?

Oh, well, I'm just a co-partner at, ooh, um, Reddick/Lockhart.

Uh-oh. That's not good for Diane.

But isn't your husband involved with the white supremacists

who attacked the Capitol?

No. He was completely cleared of those charges.

But didn't he just take a job to revitalize the NRA?

I...

No. I believe that's an error.

Oh, God, I love technology.

Okay.

How are we doing with the rich rapist?

Sir, he's not a rapist.

How's he doing?

Preliminary hearing next week.

(ping)

I heard she didn't even have seniority.

She just jumped past other Black partners

to become our name partner. It's crazy.

-(pinging) -MAN: Diane doesn't give a shit

about this firm's legacy.

MAN 2: Diane is clueless.

-And yet, somehow, she's the one in charge? -(laughs)

-(ping) -WOMAN: Liz needs to do something about this.

-(ping) -MAN: Liz will never do it on her own.

-We need to do something ourselves. - (ping)

MAN 2: Some of us already are doing something by speaking up.

-(ping) -WOMAN: We just need to keep it going.

-I know, look at Black Twitter, it's exploding. -(ping)

What is Black Twitter?

What?

What is Black Twitter?

People on Twitter who are Black and talk to each other.

-How do I get on it? -Uh, well,

I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.

It's not just Diane. That's bad enough,

but did you hear who Julius Cain represented?

MAN: Oh, I know.

Fucking Trumpite.

Why the hell is he even working here?

-(ping) -I don't have any problem with him working here.

It's him representing a white supremacist

like Diane's husband.

-What the fuck? -(ping)

I know. Julius Cane is such a coon.

(pinging)

(pinging continues)

(pinging)

(quiet chatter)

(pinging)

-(murmuring) -(pinging continues)

(pinging)

Devin. (knocks on door)

You have a minute?

Mr. Cain, hello. Yes.

(Julius clears throat)

What do you need?

Do you know who Anonymous Platypus is on our,

-uh, new office app? -Do I? No.

There-there won't be any repercussions.

I, uh, I just want to ask him a few questions.

The app gives us anonymous animal names

if users don't sign in.

It allows more freedom and less judgement when making comments.

I understand, but there has to be one Platypus, right?

No. The computer switches animals every day.

So, today, I'm Anonymous Chipmunk.

The day before, I was Anonymous Giraffe.

-Is there something wrong? -No, no, no. No, no. Uh...

-Just, uh... (clears throat) -(pinging)

DEVIN: Oh, my God.

I-I didn't see that.

I'm sorry, Mr. Cain. This is not cool.

Yeah, well, if you see them, you let them know.

Oh, I'll do more than that.

(pings)

That should end it, sir.

(murmuring)

-It's a sham court, Your Honor. -Anything that he has to say, this, no...

-It pretends to judge matters fairly... -This is a meritless case.

-...but the so-called judge... -There was a contract...

No, no, no, no, no.

-I am not going to shout over you... -(arguing stops)

as my voice is not at its best this morning.

But what I will do, if this continues,

is hand out my little contempt cards.

The value goes up.

It starts at $500, $1,000...

(gasps) $10,000.

Wow, I really love that.

FARLEY: Sir, let your lawyer speak.

Mr. Schultz, didn't your clients sign a mediation contract?

He signed this, Your Honor.

I'm not sure I'd call it a contract.

What is that?

It's a contract written on the back of a Chinese take-out menu.

Your Honor, the contract could have been chiseled on a rock.

The terms are explicit and signed by both parties.

Certainly true, Mr. Schultz.

Ridiculous, but true.

Are, are you disputing that this is your client's signature?

-SCHULTZ: No, but I... -LIZ: We move to dismiss.

Mr. Vitar is bound by the terms of the arbitration agreement

to honor Judge Wackner's decision.

-Judge Wackner? -Sorry.

No. Mr. Wackner.

Uh-huh. Mr. Wackner, do you purport to be a judge?

I don't purport to be anything. I am...

I judge facts. In that sense, I'm a judge.

My client was told he had to address Mr. Wackner

as "Your Honor."

"Your Honor" is a term of endearment.

Like the "Queen of Soul," or "Captain Crunch"

or "Count Chocula."

-And who are you? -Uh, I'm Mr...

Uh, I'm Judge... Mr. Wackner's law clerk...

LIZ: Uh, okay. Legally, it doesn't matter

how Mr. Wackner was addressed during arbitration.

The point is that Mr. Vitar himself

gave him decision-making authority when he signed...

On the understanding the man was sane.

Your Honor, Mr. Wackner is of unsound mind.

LIZ: Your Honor, he's joking.

Mr. Wackner, if you lose,

your court will be disbanded,

and you will pay $800,000.

You really think this is the time to joke?

LIZ: We agree, Your Honor,

and we ask that you dismiss this case, based on its merits.

Your Honor, at the very minimum, you should hear evidence

on Mr. Wackner's unsound mind.

I agree. I'll hear the evidence.

It won't take very long.

This was your first time attempting to resolve a dispute

-through Mr. Wackner, is that correct? -It is.

Uh, I wouldn't have gone anywhere near him

-if I knew what a psycho ward he was running... -Objection.

Sustained.

What aspects of Mr. Wackner's so-called court

made you feel that way?

Oh. Where to start?

A scoreboard, um...

Quizzing potential jurors on state capitals?

-WACKNER: Oh, Christ. -What, if any,

specific instructions were you given

as to appropriate wardrobe?

I was told to wear a moose suit.

I'm sorry. What?

I had to wear a moose suit.

A moose suit. What is a moose suit?

It's a suit that looks like a moose.

It has a straw hat and a basket.

SCHULTZ: Who told you to wear a moose suit?

Uh, the court officer. He said it came from Wackner.

Objection, hearsay.

Your Honor, because we're not relying

solely on hearsay,

-we'd like to introduce videos. -Your Honor,

we submitted the official court transcripts.

-This is the first we are hearing about videos. -That's odd.

They were recorded by one of Ms. Reddick's own clients.

-Who? -Del Cooper,

for a streaming reality show.

COOPER: There she is.

Hey.

How we doing?

Okay.

How am I doing?

When were you gonna tell me?

What? That you, uh, didn't like Cajun?

No. The cameras in Wackner's courtroom.

You're doing a reality show about my client?

Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah.

The People's Court meets Mr. Wizard.

Amazing, right?

But he's my client.

You, you got him through me.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, baby. That--

That makes it sound like I was using you.

I met him in your elevator. That's all.

You need some of this.

N-No. No, no, no. You didn't...

You didn't ask me.

Liz... (chuckling)

(stammers) Why would I ask you?

Well, because...

(stammers)

Because they're using it against me in court.

That's unfortunate, baby.

But-but this streaming show

could be really good for Wackner.

It-It'll draw attention to his court.

And as I say that...

that-that-that sounds...

Okay, look. I'm Sorry.

But look, if you ran into the President of Lionsgate Films

in my elevator, I would say go for it, baby.

In fact, use every single contact in my book.

Why?

Because that's what power couples do.

Okay. I just, I...

What?

I just, I don't think this is a good idea.

Wackner becoming popular?

Why?

He's funny.

He's a disrupter and...

disrupters gotta disrupt.

And look, if I hadn't have done it,

someone else would've.

It's that kind of idea.

Okay. I just...

I don't think it's gonna end well.

Why not? Hmm?

Comedy has its own logic.

So just... (exhales sharply)

Just breathe.

Grab the wine.

I made you some scrimps.

Come on.

You know, I thought it was pretty sexy

when you were mad at me earlier.

-Oh... -Yeah.

Well, you just keep it up.

I'm gonna be sexy all the time.

-Oh, and I'm gonna make you mad all night. -(laughing)

("1812 Overture, Op. 49" playing)

(phone pings)

(pinging)

There must be something we can do about this.

Talk to the partners.

Ask them how we could have the white supremacist

-running our firm. -(ping)

-They won't do shit. -(ping)

They can't be happy either.

All they have to do is vote Diane out.

KURT: Hello?

♪ ♪

Are we getting drunk?

♪ ♪

What?

Can I turn that down?

(music volume lowers)

I asked are we getting drunk?

Are we getting a job with the NRA?

Did somebody call?

No.

I was at a conference and someone asked.

The NRA is trying to revitalize itself

after its recent scandals.

Its National Board asked

if I would be interested in a position.

And you said yes?

No, I said I want to hear more.

And did you hear more?

I heard it's a position in Illinois,

it offers $167,000,

and I would be my own boss.

So you're thinking

of taking it?

I'm thinking I don't have a job, and it's worth considering.

The NR-fucking-A?

The ACLU wasn't calling.

(exhales)

Diane...

our politics are very different.

I know.

I'm...

lately, struck by just how different they are.

You want to convert me?

No. I would just like one week when I don't have to defend you.

How are you defending me?

Nothing.

You'll tell me when they offer you the job?

They may not offer it.

No, they will.

Kurt.

KURT: Mm.

Kurt, I need to ask you something.

Are you awake?

(groaning)

I am now.

I need to ask you something.

What?

Who did you vote for in 2020?

(scoffs)

No, seriously.

(sighs)

I know you wrote in Ted Cruz in 2016,

but who did you vote for last year?

Diane.

We came through a lot this year.

Can't we just let it rest?

I don't know.

I want to.

Hmm.

DIANE: Hello.

What do I do?

-(pinging) -(chattering)

(pinging continues)

(pinging more frequent)

(conversing indistinctly)

(pinging)

-This is making me crazy. -(arguing)

(pinging)

Can we just... can every...

Can everyone just turn off the Dawnk app.

For... just for... Please, just a minute.

Okay. Is anybody else receiving any offensive messages?

The best thing we can do is ignore it.

It becomes a Streisand effect if we complain.

I didn't complain.

I just want to speak with

whoever's writing the nasty things.

I have to agree with Julius.

If these youngbloods start thinking they can speak

to their superiors any which way...

But what's the option? We can't censor them.

You know, this wouldn't be an issue,

if not for Diane and her husband.

And I'm sorry to say it, Julius,

but you should never have agreed to take that case.

It was Diane's case. Hello?

She defended me.

But not that client. Diane should've known better.

Come on. Diane is not responsible for her husband.

No. No. That-that's unfair.

Listen, we all live in the real world, right?

I mean, you are who you associate with.

And in the real world of this firm,

Diane's billable hours speak for themselves.

The rest of us put in the hours too, for the record.

And none of us have spouses on the hook to the FBI.

-The case has been dropped. -DANIEL: Nice work.

Liz, when I joined this firm,

it was because of your father's legacy.

It was about Black civil rights, activism, justice.

That's what people talked about in meetings.

Now, people talk about billable hours,

million-dollar clients,

-corporate payouts. Now, I... -Okay.

I know it's not your fault.

That was Boseman's vision,

and we were trying to survive the Trump years

by bringing in white lawyers.

But those days are gone.

They're done with.

And I miss being a strong Black firm.

Amen.

Did I miss something about a partners' meeting?

LIZ: Uh, no, no. This was impromptu.

(clears throat)

Well if I can be of any assistance...

Yeah, I'll-I'll-I'll bring you up to speed later.

-You got to handle this, Liz. -Handle what?

You cannot have a white partner leading a Black firm.

We'll lose clients

with that kind of hypocrisy.

(ping)

Is this the beginning of the end?

I don't want to be in the bathroom

and accidentally miss anything.

What are you talking about?

The meeting in Liz's office.

You're not in it.

Forget it.

I was joking.

WOMAN: Liz Reddick's office.

Hi. Can I get time with Liz later on today?

Who's calling?

It's Diane.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(pinging)

LIZ: Here.

(pinging)

Who thought that sound was pleasing?

All day in court today.

-No. -Yeah.

I finally had to ask Carmen

how to silence the notifications.

All right. There you go.

Permanently silenced.

Can I have a soda water?

Thank you.

Do you think that Dawnk actually increases productivity?

No.

But I know that the associates would riot

if we got rid of it. So...

What do the partners think?

God, Madeline can't even open it.

(laughing): She's...

She's lost her password three times.

-(laughs) -She finally just gave up.

You know, 'cause it's Madeline.

Well...

Thanks for sitting down with me, Liz.

Of course.

So, you're wondering about the meeting today?

-I am. -Yeah.

Uh, it was about Julius.

He's being harassed on Dawnk.

Okay, and I couldn't be a part of that?

He's being harassed because he's defending your husband.

Well, that's unfortunate.

We've represented people far worse than Kurt,

who, by the way, was found innocent.

I'm not saying that he wasn't.

But...

January 6.

I mean, we watched the Confederate flag

make its way into the Capitol building.

You know, those people that

Kurt didn't want to turn over to the FBI,

those people...

They don't even want us alive.

Well, not all of them.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. I...

certainly not defending those people.

They're all despicable traitors.

And now, that's what people are saying about Julius.

And me?

Diane, I...

-Am I being pushed out? -No.

Not pushed out.

You're a name partner. You can't be pushed out.

But...?

The partners just think you should do the right thing.

And step aside?

No. Stay in the firm.

Stay as an equity partner,

just step back from your managerial role.

Liz, I-- I pull in the big clients.

I...

I get the billable hours.

But still, "maybe you should step aside."

Weren't we going to form a firm

led by women?

And I...

hope that it will be.

But Black women?

Diane, I...

I am not voting against you.

I promised you that I wouldn't.

But there is growing anger here.

They want to address it at the next partners' meeting.

So just think about it.

You're a good person.

No, I'm not.

Yes, you are.

(groans)

What do you want to do?

What do I want to do?

I want to keep my name on the letterhead.

I want to keep what I fought for.

Against gender and then age discrimination.

I deserve that position.

And I don't want to step aside.

Then don't.

Diane, this is the first time

I've ever heard you sound defeated.

Because I can't win this.

-Sure you can. -No, I can't.

You just don't want to.

It's bigger than that.

To fight this would go against every fiber of my being.

Every fiber in your being is about winning.

If you don't try to win,

then you might as well give up on everything.

Kurt, I appreciate the pep talk,

but I don't think the way you think.

I cannot put my interests above a whole group of people--

Black people--

just so I can keep my position.

No, I'm saying you are talented.

If someone is gonna beat you, let them beat you,

but with talent.

But a Black person's talent

has always been valued less than mine.

Then you're right.

Give up.

Leave the firm.

They don't want you.

(grunts)

Kurt...

You don't think the election was stolen, do you?

Kurt?

Well?

What do you think?

About your work?

Yeah, shh. He's sleeping.

Yes.

I think you know what I think.

No, I-I don't think I do.

I think you're brilliant.

I think any law firm would be insane to let you go.

That's not you.

That's you telling me what I want to hear.

You want to know what I really think?

I do. Tell me.

All my life, I was told to step aside.

I was in law school. I had a baby.

And I was told I should step aside,

so that a man could take my position.

I was told to step aside

when Jimmy Carter appointed me to the Court of Appeals.

And the same with the Supreme Court.

Here's the thing...

Don't step aside because someone wants you to.

Don't step aside for politics.

Men are always asking women to step aside

so a man can go first.

Even though I'm being asked to step aside

so that a Black person can take my place?

Can you still do something for women?

Yes.

(chuckling): Then... then do it.

Don't step aside.

Whatever it takes, don't step aside.

So how's business?

You tell me.

Well, no more lawsuits.

And you had your best year this year.

Yeah, who knew?

Pandemic years are great for fracking.

And being in this firm helps with Democratic influencers.

Yeah, I see that.

So, Bob, I asked you here today

because the firm is undergoing a fairly major change.

I'm stepping down as a partner,

so I won't be meeting with you day-to-day on your cases.

-What? -Yes.

I'm sorry. Madeline will be handling your cases.

She's standing right over there.

Wait.

I don't get this. Who is she?

Uh, she's a partner.

She's very good.

I'll-I'll still be handling your cases.

I just won't have daily contact with you.

But I'm more comfortable with you.

I don't won't to start over with someone new.

I can make you more comfortable with Madeline.

But we're comfortable with you.

I can make you comfortable with Julius.

He's a very competent lawyer.

-Are you retiring? -No.

The firm just wants to let some other people step forward

into a name partner position.

We don't like this.

All right? We're comfortable with you.

So, who should we call about it?

WOMAN: ...analysts using data-driven forecasting tools...

(phone buzzing)

(exhales sharply)

David Lee.

Oh. Hey.

What?

No, who told you that?

You're not gonna lose Diane.

She's still your primary.

Okay. Okay.

Let me get into this.

(laughs) No. No, I'll call you.

Okay, Dean, put it on the board.

One-zero.

AUDIENCE: Cut the shit!

We object!

♪ Come on... ♪

...defense!

Today, I'm no longer Judge Wackner.

I'm Judge Shmuley.

Everybody needs to call me Judge Shmuley.

♪ They like it when you frown ♪

-♪ But hate it when you're happy ♪ -(pinging)

♪ No time for feeling down ♪

♪ Turnin' up some passion ♪

(pings)

♪ So when they ask how I feel... ♪

Okay. I think I've seen enough.

♪ Everything tight, feeling good like it should... ♪

Put me on the stand.

No. That's...

I don't think that's a good idea.

Let her ask me questions. I'll offer context.

♪ Everything tight... ♪

So let's talk about context, Hal.

Actually...

you know, why don't we do this?

Your Honor...

-WACKNER: Yes. -Yes.

Uh, instead of me asking the questions,

I'm sure you have questions of your own.

Sir, what possible excuse do you have

for keeping score at trial?

The scoreboard keeps the lawyers on their toes.

I don't want anyone to lose simply because

they didn't know where I stood.

And it seems a good idea that they have a roadmap

to my thinking.

-Keeps me honest. -Okay, and...

what the hell is this thing about Scmuley?

Oh. You didn't say it correctly.

-It's Shmuley. -Ah.

Shmuley's Hebrew. It means, "His Name is God."

It's also the name of my uncle.

He died that day, with a smile on his face.

And I loved him, and, uh...

-I wanted to honor him. -Okay, nice.

And the moose and the buffalo suits,

what's that about?

-Do you watch The Masked Singer? -No.

Well, yes. Uh, once.

Well, I like to think of myself as unbiased,

but I'm not.

I judge based on race, gender, class, age.

I like to think I don't, but I do.

And when the plaintiff and defense are in disguises,

I can't.

I can't see who they are.

Why not put them behind a screen?

Well, it's good for the litigants. Um...

It's hard to have a sense of entitlement

when you're dressed as a moose.

(chuckles)

Okay. I'm ready to rule.

-Your Honor, wait... -No. No.

Mr. Schultz, uh, you have done an excellent job

conveying what it's like to be a litigant in Mr. Wackner's court,

but much of what he does is challenge convention,

and in doing so, streamlines the process.

And for that, I give him credit.

What is before this court

is whether the parties will be bound by his rulings.

Given that they agreed to be so bound,

I don't think that the plaintiff's evidence is...

-Your Honor, one quick amendment. -Quick.

-Your Honor, you, you have already ruled. -I want to hear.

You determined that Mr. Wackner is sound,

but that doesn't mean he's unbiased.

He's already testified that he is a biased mediator.

-Oh, come on. -He said it himself.

Um...

"I like to think of myself as unbiased, but I'm not."

-That's a direct quote. -MARISSA: He said he battles

his bias with these costumes.

Yes, but we have other proof of his bias.

And I would ask the court for an opportunity to demonstrate.

LIZ: Again, Your Honor,

you have already ruled.

-Your Honor, wait. -Wait. Wait. Wait.

I-- I will withhold judgement

until you can present more evidence, Counselor.

WACKNER: You're in a tough spot, Judge.

-I would have done the exact same thing. -Mr. Wackner...

I think it would be a good idea for you to shut up.

♪ Yeah, we brewin' like Medici, a little freaky ♪

♪ Lemme look, lemme look I wanna see, see ♪

♪ Take a snap of the center in a sea breeze ♪

♪ A little... ♪

Okay.

Is this the only record of Trina's dance?

As far as I know, yes.

To your knowledge, she never wrote it down anywhere?

Objection. Relevance. What does it matter

-whether she wrote it down or not? -Copyright law requires

that creative expression be fixed

before it can be licensed.

Yes, but fixed doesn't mean written down.

It just means recorded.

And she's obviously done that,

because we're all here looking at it.

SCHULTZ: May I continue?

I don't know.

This is all confusing to me.

Let me try to clarify, Your Honor.

This tape we just watched, who recorded it?

Did Trina record it?

Well, no, but her boyfriend did.

So isn't it true

the person who fixed the creative expression

is the owner of the copyright?

LIZ: Objection. Beyond his expertise.

Oh, uh, I'll, I'll grant you that.

And the question doesn't need to be asked. That's true.

So the owner of the copyright is not the dancer.

She didn't write her choreography down.

It's the person who held the camera

and recorded the choreography?

Yes, which is why I paid Russell Chuckwagon $40,000

to insure this copyright.

Who's Russell Chuckwagon?

Tip-top Trina's estranged boyfriend.

FARLEY: So you just ignored the boyfriend?

Of course I ignored the boyfriend.

-Mr. Chuckwagon? -Yes.

The only reason that video has any value

is because of Trina's dance.

The notion that he deserves any consideration

just because he happened to be holding the camera...

It-it makes the law an ass.

As you can see, Mr. Wackner has completely disregarded the law.

Arbitrators are under no obligation to follow the law

unless the contract stipulates to that,

which it doesn't, in this case.

More-Moreover, Mr. Schultz's line of argument

relies on laws with disturbing racial implications.

By requiring that art be recorded before being owned,

the law systematically disadvantages Black jazz

and bebop musicians, as well as break dancers

and flamenco artists...

There are a whole slew of gifted,

often non-white people

who specialize in improvisational art.

Do you... do you really want to suggest

that whoever's holding a phone next to them

is the one that owns the art that they created?

FARLEY: Sit down, Mr. Wackner.

Defense counsel is saying that she agrees with him?

-That the law is an ass? -I...

In this particular case, yes, I guess I do.

We need to stop worshipping

at the heels of legal weasels and corporate pirates.

SCHULTZ: Do I need to say more, Your Honor?

The defense revels in disregarding

a central tenet of copyright law.

In this case, the court agrees.

The law is an ass.

Hey.

Don't make me regret this.

Mr. Wackner is well within his rights to ignore

Mr. Chuckwagon's massive contribution to the arts.

Ms. Reddick, I'm ready to rule.

Your Honor,

-we have one more witness. -WACKNER: Oh, my God,

it's like a zombie.

I think you can step down now, Mr. Wackner.

We've heard enough metaphors from you today.

Who is the new witness,

-Mr. Schultz? -His name is Del Cooper.

SCHULTZ: Mr. Cooper, you missed quite a passionate little speech

-by the defendant about corporate pirates. -I did?

-LIZ: Objection. -Sustained.

Mr. Schultz, why don't you just get to the point?

Gladly.

Who is the financial backer for Wackner's so-called court?

What do you mean?

Mr. Wackner's court has become more and more expensive

over the last month.

-Who's footing the bill? -Objection.

You're Honor, I-I'm not sure why this is being asked

of a mere TV producer.

I'm asking because this "mere TV producer"

has inside information about the court's financing.

Why does this really matter at all?

SCHULTZ: Because of bias, Your Honor.

I think the answer to my question

will be self-explanatory.

Okay.

Go ahead.

Do you know who is financing this court?

I do.

FARLEY: Who?

David Cord.

David Cord?

David Cord the billion...

Yes, the billionaire financier.

That gentleman right there.

Why do you think he's here?

He's financing a video game company in direct competition.

Uh, uh, objection, Your Honor.

(stammering) The-the counselor is testifying.

Oh, no, no. Come on. Come on. Just hold on a minute.

Mr. Schultz, finish your thought.

SCHULTZ: Mr. Cord invests in Riga,

my client's biggest gaming rival,

while also investing in Mr. Wackner's court.

A short time later,

Mr. Wackner rules against my client.

Did you not think it was worth mentioning

that you'd invested in competing game manufacturers?

I invest in everything.

I've got 10% of this, 20% of that.

Actually, I had no idea I was invested

in a video game company.

Then I propose we seize the moment.

-What does that mean? -We march back in there,

-and I bowl them over with the truth. -Oh, my God.

History's been made by great rhetorical flourishes.

Well, not really.

WACKNER: "We shall fight them on the beaches."

"We few, we happy few..."

LIZ: Mr. Cord, their next move is going to be

to subpoena your financial records.

They're gonna want to put you on the stand.

I don't think you want to go down that road.

-You're right. -All right.

Now, let's... let's ask for a continuance.

All right? We'll be unopposed from the other side.

They-- they're in no hurry to force this issue.

A continuance till when?

Well, the judge has a busy calendar.

So, I don't know, about ten months.

Holy fucking hell. That's the problem.

No one's in a hurry. We delay and delay and delay.

One day, we look back on our lives,

wonder where the fuck they went.

-People die while we wait. -MARISSA: Hal.

This allows you to keep your court open.

It gives you the whole year to work out the kinks

and get it on TV.

What does it matter

if people do not have to follow my judgements?

I say six million

and they just go whining to Big Boy court.

It's appeal, appeal, appeal. It never fucking ends.

(phone chimes)

LIZ: Oh, God.

Do you know what this is about?

No idea.

What the fuck is going on?

Could you be a bit more specific?

My bosses in Dubai,

they don't think in terms of millions or even billions.

They think in terms of trillions of dollars.

They look at their computer's algorithms and only react

when it blinks red.

And you two, you're blinking red.

-Why? -Four of your top clients have called with issues.

What issues?

The teamsters, they're being shifted to another partner.

Bob the fracking king, he's being shifted, too.

Who told them about a reorganization?

Diane.

-Thoughts? -Nothing from me.

I met with my clients.

I just told them of a restructuring

that I was being told about.

DAVID: What restructuring?

Wait. Wait, David. Stop.

Is this a power play on your part?

No. It's just updating my clients.

David, Diane was told about frustration

at the partner level about a white woman

being a name partner in a Black firm.

And apparently, this is her response.

I just told our clients what was going on.

Stop.

Both of you.

Diane's a fucking name partner

until STR Laurie says she's not.

No one decides until I decide.

Now, stick your race war back in its bottle.

Diane.

That was a mistake.

I am on your side, and you don't even realize it.

(indistinct chatter)

You see what they're writing about me?

Yes.

I want to start my own firm.

And I want you to be the other name partner.

(laughing)

♪ ♪

(pounding on door)

♪ ♪

Who is it?

Who is it?

Who the hell are you?

Don't worry who we are.

-Worry who you are. -What does that mean?

I have people...

-No! (screaming) -(blows landing)

Your Honor, I would like to offer my profound apology

for my behavior in this court.

Baring my buttocks was an unforgivable act of disrespect,

one that I will regret to the end of my days.

I-I have here a letter of, uh, apology

and a check made out for a lot

to Tip-top Trina for the amount that she is owed,

according to your wise decision.

I don't know what to say.

I am touched. Truly.

May I ask, what happened to your leg?

(scoffs) Tennis accident.

Thank you.

Ah...

Sorry.

Look who's here.

(applause)

Look each other in the eye and say,

"I respect and love you."

I respect and love you.

I... Oh, for fuck's sake.

I respect and love you.

Good.

Justice.

It's different for me than it was for you.

What do you mean?

When you fought, you fought against white males,

the dominant culture.

But for me, I would be up against...

another dominated culture.

Black lawyers.

So what do I do?

(chuckles) I don't know.

If you knew that Obama

was going to nominate a Black justice to replace you,

would you have stepped aside?

No.

Why not?

Well, I know what I can do,

but I-I don't know what my replacement would do

if he got nominated. I...

What you know is always better than what might happen.

Mm.

What about Kurt?

What-what about him?

We don't agree about anything.

Well, I didn't agree on anything with Scalia,

but I-I liked him.

Yeah. Why did you like him?

The opera?

No.

What, then?

He made me laugh.

That's it?

Yeah.

You certainly didn't agree about abortion.

Oh. We-we violently disagreed on abortion,

and school prayer.

He was a nightmare on everything.

He was a nightmare on diversity.

But...?

Well, it's... He was funny.

He made me laugh and...

so, we...

We had dinner together.

And you just wouldn't talk about the political stuff?

Well, he teased me

and I teased him.

You know, life is too short to fight over everything.

And, you're, you're, you're right about opera.

Opera is good.

Food is good.

And his pasta...

was amazing.

His spaghetti carbonara.

Oh, my lord.

-You can't hate a man like that. -(laughing)

My husband is going to work for the NRA.

You ever read Scalia's 2000 dissent

on Stenberg v. Carhart?

Working for the NRA

is child's play.

You know, you like who you like.

I don't like bland people.

And a lot of the people

who agree with me politically are bland.

Thank you.

Did you have a nightmare?

No, a dream.

About?

You and me.

What was it?

Me...

close to you,

holding you like this.

Do you want me to not take the NRA job?

No. I want you to take it and be happy.

-And then I'll sue you. -(chuckles)

Captioning sponsored by CBS

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org

♪ ♪