Billions

Previously on Billions...

Red dots? That means sold. That means--

There was a pre-pre-viewing?

Damn, man. Not my intention to scoop you.

I'd love to buy if you have more.

Yeah. I don't paint for money. Never have.

Before the funds land with us, we can designate them.

Yale Law.

Georgie boy!

Hello, Dad.

Sandicot's not getting the gaming license.

It's over.

You fronted like the whole thing was wired.

Was that bait? Or were you the bait?

There will come a time

when you will be forced to line up against Axe

for your very survival.

He's not capable of a true alliance.

Isn't it incumbent upon us

to acknowledge that we didn't do it alone?

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

I am a monster.

A carnivorous fucking monster.

This was my favorite place in the house.

Even though it's not technically in the house.

Yeah.

I come out here most every day, too.

Even in the winter.

My mom's worried I'll catch pneumonia.

But I still do it.

Yep.

Mine didn't like it either.

At night I'd even sneak out here after she went to bed.

And just breathe.

Inside that house...

eh, for me, this was better.

Yeah. I like it at night.

- -Til I can hardly see the hoop.

Looking at the lights go out the other houses.

And me thinking.

The thinking I did out here,

it's what set my whole life in motion.

Hey, Randy, I was just telling Savion

how I used to come out here as a kid growing up in Yonkers.

You mind if I...

No. Not at all. Go on ahead.

You know, this was a rough neighborhood even back then.

No one really had any money at all.

Snowy mornings, I'd come out here, shovel the driveway,

and then I'd stand here and I'd look at other people

digging themselves out.

Eventually the plows would come through,

but only after they had already been to the rich neighborhoods.

Same thing now.

They don't give much of a shit for us.

Yeah. Last streets plowed, man.

If people wanted to go to work,

they had to get out here with a shovel.

I saw that as an advantage.

Started up my first business.

You know? Did all the shoveling myself.

Then I hired some friends.

Then I expanded to other neighborhoods.

And I took the money I earned. I invested it in other ideas.

That's how I started, man.

I have Yonkers to thank for my success.

That's why I'm glad to be back here, returning the favor.

Ok, you two, that should just about end outside time.

Come on in.

Hey, I just wanted to say I really enjoyed meeting you both.

Then come on back, and have dinner with us.

I'll make meatloaf.

It'll make you feel like you're a kid again.

Can't wait. Dinner at home in my hometown.

Only I'm not gonna allow you to do any work.

I'm gonna bring my chef.

And we're gonna make this special.

Alright.

Mm.

Of course... Unbelievable...

The man knows no bounds.

Who's got hold of your nectarines?

Grapefruits. Please.

And it's a man who's spreading his wings

from the cozy confines of Wall Street

to the mean streets of Yonkers.

Opportunity Zone is up for grabs there.

Those are pretty sweet setups--

real cap gains advantages.

The tax breaks are supposed to be

for the benefit of downtrodden neighborhoods,

to stimulate investment and development.

And treadmills were originally built

as a system of punishment for convicts--

hard labor milling grain--

not firm-bunned soccer moms.

You're right, old man.

And you know what? I need you to suit up.

Ahhh. I'm not sure I--

Oh. You can develop with the best of 'em.

And you're back off the sidelines

now that you're a young father.

Alright. You don't need to win it.

Just compete hard enough that you provoke some illegal moves,

some unfair competition from Axe.

Or destabilize him. Either way it's a win for me...

What do you say?

You need me to suit up,

I'll suit up.

Game.

Run it back.

My ball. No dunking.

Other than that, come at me.

And you know I will.

MP. This isn't the only one-on-one game you're in.

Axelrod is going after the Yonkers Opportunity Zone.

Alright.

Observe and report, so I'm ready to act--

after I handle the Human Highlight Film.

- -One-nothing.

That's the only free one you get...

Wags, get me with Daymond John.

Ooo, a poppa shark.

I need you. In there.

Huh. Sneak attack.

Mediation.

Alright, well, let me get ahead of it by apologizing,

so I can start my day.

I'm sorry, Taylor...that you're in snowflake mode--

Snowflake?--

And that your save-the-Earth play

led me to a bigger score with good old rock oil.

Well, Mr. Plainview,

you didn't offend my delicate sensibilities.

What you did do was fuck up the bigger score.

-Is that right? - Yes, it is.

This is a list of colleges and universities

with endowments that were ripe for divestment.

This first wave had a potential haul of 8.8 billion.

All un-gettable now, since the pitch is ruined

because you made us look

like greedy, opportunistic hypocrites.

Projections on potential assets are always overly optimistic.

Listen: This comes down to poor communication.

And a lack of alignment, for which you're both to blame.

Taylor, you should have trusted him

and told him the entire play.

He cracked out of turn and moved aggressively,

and in this case-- Bobby, that was in error.

But by holding out, Taylor, you're just as responsible.

You know, perception and optics

are at all-time importance levels

in our business and in life.

And a unified team is a much more powerful image

than either of you individually.

Quant and fundamental.

Impact and traditional-- the best of both worlds.

The question is: What are we gonna do about it now?

...What if we played it as an activist move--

-Yes. - Hmm.

Push the companies to clean up,

to put in the kind of initiatives

the schools will be impressed by.

Sell it as policing from the inside.

Which will allow us to sell divestment to more institutions.

I should do it. My reputation--

Agreed.

I'll go talk with Argyra and Charter Offshore.

You practically dressed me down in front of a junior.

I need to maintain a shred of credibility.

We both know you missed it.

I was trying to broker the least embarrassing version.

Professor Rhoades. I'm--

Oh, I know-- Catherine Brant.

I heard you were up here.

Read your book, even.

Which one? I've written six.

Well, the one everyone read. The O Gap.

Was it helpful?

Well, I'm not saying that I needed it, just that--

Why is it that every time I ask men if it was helpful,

that's the reaction I get?

Women just give me hugs of thanks.

Are you asking for a hug?

No.

I am here with an ask, though.

I teach in the sociology department.

And this year, this week, in fact,

I'm lecturing on your speech.

Ah. Which one? I have given many.

The one everyone saw.

The one about owning your sexuality.

And not being ashamed of it.

Was it helpful?

Yes.

See how easy that is.

For you. Yeah.

So here's my ask: Would you come to my class?

Let me ask you some questions?

Let the students ask you some?