Billions

We're gonna destroy Mike Prince together.

You're gonna clear me.

The world will think you're under indictment and going away,

right up until the minute

we lock Mike Prince up.

You got a deal.

But no one can know.

The GPS ankle monitor, Judge,

is an unnecessary and extraordinary measure.

- Request denied. - You knew the deal.

- This man is a crusader. - This piece basically says

you're the Robin Hood of New York City.

- I am. - We were supposed to be in this together.

You made me ashamed to be seen in public,

divided my family, and you shut me out.

You're making your only friend into your enemy.

Taylor Mason Carbon will be sunsetted,

but you will still be right here at the head of one unified firm.

We can't embarrass each other.

We need to slake our appetites.

Michael fucking Prince is running for president.

But I have decided that he is dangerous.

I came over here for your help.

If that's why you've come, you're not alone.

All that's missing is Han and the Millennium Falcon.

I guess that's where I come in.

Axe Global's lean and mean as James Coburn's silhouette

- in the Mag Seven days. - Listen,

only a moron wouldn't be "hodling" in this market.

This is not the time for paper hands.

No, if that's how you feel,

then you should be off saving trees or children.

Whatever the fuck. I'm making money.

Plus I got Gordie trading in digital currency.

Kid's a killer with the blockchain.

Ah, "Crusher" Blackwell of the crypto.

Get 'em, Gordo!

Give 'em the big splash like Crusher used to.

I am banging 'em two at a time, Uncle Wags.

The two billion you started with...

- Doubled, more or less. - Yeah, of course he has.

Rags to riches, twice over.

From stowaway on a plane to king of the castle,

- emperor of the realm. - We got it, Wagsy.

You seem different.

Lighter. Focused. Happy.

Yes, like Bruce Wayne after training at the monastery.

Steve Jobs after meditating in India.

- Deadlier than ever. - Okay.

You guys are laying this on thicker

than a Carol Kaye bassline.

But instead, tell me this.

Prince send you here to get me leaning forward

so he can knock me down again?

I can see h-how you'd... but no.

If he even knew we were here, we'd be whacked.

We kind of planted the idea for this trip in a way that...

Made him think it was his?

I've been on the smoking end of that.

No fun.

Our ostensible purpose here is to flake off

certain controversial foreign investors

in anticipation of Prince's run.

Huh. Prince for Prez.

It doesn't get easier to swallow the more you say it.

And the future leader of the free world

has no clue that he flew the three of you out here

so that you could...

Enlist you in a campaign against him?

Against his campaign.

It's tough to be a billionaire these days.

All right.

Let's get to it. Come on.

The State of New York is moving

to dismiss the indictment with prejudice, yes?

Yes, we're moving to dismiss all charges against Mr. Rhoades.

And the reason for dismissal,

Madam Attorney General?

I'll take the first part first.

- No evidence... - Mr. Rhoades,

- the judge asked... - No crime. No nothing.

Plus, no jury would convict,

since the general cultural reappraisal of my prior work

has lifted my reputation to heights so high

not even Dick Fosbury could flop over it.

The State of New York no longer feels

it can prove Mr. Rhoades's guilt

beyond a reasonable doubt, Your Honor.

Despite the defendant's Ochocinco touchdown dance,

the motion is granted with prejudice.

Mr. Rhoades, charges are dismissed.

You are free to go.

Attorney General Mahar...

I advise you to exercise better judgment

in future prosecutions,

especially given the waste of judicial resources.

Understood, Your Honor.

Hot damn.

Describe it to me.

The moment you enter the Oval and sit behind the desk.

The way you see it when you daydream.

I've never once conjured that image.

I'm not the sort of man...

First campaign I was on, my boss, the Ragin' Cajun,

laid it out for me.

You gotta make these guys tell you the dream.

It's the only way to get inside their heads.

His guy was a megalomaniac.

I won't work for one who isn't,

'cause that sucker's never getting there.

And every single one of you rolls that first moment

around your brains like Marshall Mathers imagined

the first time he'd have an audience with Dre.

Now you've presented this challenge well.

I can't tell if I score more points

with you as a politician...

We never use that word. You're not a politician.

You're hoping to contribute by doing a public service.

- A statesman. - Good. Yes.

Still, I can't tell if I score more points

by giving in quickly to your frame

or by continuing to resist it.

Nicely rendered, as I said.

Don't vamp.

You won't have time to when the cameras are on.

I walk into the Oval alone.

Slowly.

Hesitate before coming around and sitting in the chair.

I take the letter the previous fella wrote,

put it in my jacket pocket to read later.

I let myself take three deep breaths

of total and complete satisfaction.

And then I call Scooter in,

and we start doing the nation's business.

If you were a normal candidate,

the only win would have been to refuse the premise,

start talking about something else.

But since I'm not, I lean into the authenticity,

the man of purpose who isn't afraid

to seem like he wants it all.

Yeah. Bring him along with you

so they think it can happen to them too.

The money, the power, the job.

So they keep two thoughts about you in their heads

at the same time. You're just like them.

Small town. Grit and effort, and luck smiling upon.

But also that you are nothing like them at all,

that you are their better who will protect them

and lead them while at least understanding them.

You get it.

That's why you're the best

in your game.

So, you in? You gonna run the campaign?

Because you parried one attack? Uh, no.

I'm a bit of a way from in.

But I'm not out.

Not sure you believe yet in me, or... ?

I'm not sure I see the path.

When I do something, it usually works.

And if it doesn't, I pivot in such a way

that no one remembers...

"Usually" isn't gonna be good enough.

You're running as an independent,

which is gonna burn me with the DNC if we lose

and with the GOP if I ever decide to change stripes.

Can't be a bad thing these days.

As the Cajun taught me,

Dems are about as fun as a church dance,

and even less sexy.

- But their checks clear. - Yeah, well, with me,

you can forget about checks. I pay cash.

And when we win,

you'll be feted as a miracle worker.

That part is true.

And now I know how you get there.

The Eisenhower path.

That's pretty much it.

I have to win a world war?

Oh, ha! If only.

No, you have to be excellent in your chosen field.

Best in the world.

He already is.

Even better than he's been.

So good at it that it becomes obvious

why he should take that skill set to the Oval.

So he needs record returns.

But within impossible parameters.

Every investment your firm makes is gonna be scrutinized

for both profitability and ethical soundness.

Sounds like a typical day here at MPC.

Don't sell it.

Do it.

Show me, everyone,

that you can create unseen returns

without coming close to the line,

while at the same time slowly turning to face the public,

and, uh, yeah, I'm a real possibility for you.

I'll do it.

I was born to do it.

And, uh, you have to know,