The Good Fight

Okay, runway model, you look fantastic.

What's different?

Gee, thanks.

You know what I mean.

Something's going on.

Maybe I'm just having a good day.

Oh, my God.

- You got a Birkin. - It's no big deal.

It is absolutely a big deal. Is this a Bianca hand-me-down?

No.

Why? Does it look... does it look used?

No, it looks gorgeous.

Are your hands clean?

So, wait... did you buy this?

Yeah, I-I... I wanted one.

Everybody wants one, like a yacht or a pony.

Ooh, it's the swivel latch. I love the swivel latch.

How do you know so much about Birkins?

I was raised around rich people.

Ooh, saddle stitching.

So, wait, where did you buy this?

At a... a... sample sale.

Really? Well, you're lucky you didn't get scammed.

- What do you mean? - Well, if it were counterfeit,

the feet would screw off, but these don't.

See? They're hammered in.

Huh.

Lucca has a Birkin.

I... Shh.

Thank you, Frank, for giving us another chance.

Uh, please.

We're not here about your firm, Adrian.

We are here about you.

- Me? - Yes.

- Did you watch the Democratic debates this year? - Yeah.

- Which one? - Any of 'em.

We started out with the most

diverse slate in our history, but come the end of January,

no candidate of color went the distance.

And that's something we need to correct.

Four years from now, we need an African-American candidate

that can go the distance.

I agree. So how can I help?

You can be that candidate.

Are you kidding me right now, Frank?

No. Look, we don't expect you to win,

but we want to groom you to stay on the stage until Iowa.

Black voters need to see themselves up there.

But you want me to run for president?

Yes.

Wow.

You're a fighter, but with gravitas.

We saw your punditry from last year. It was very good.

You spoke eloquently on issues that matter.

You seem very comfortable in your own skin.

You've made a name for yourself on police brutality,

and that takes you away from the Kamala Harris problem.

- And you're tall. - People like that.

But I've said some very controversial things, Frank.

You're not afraid to break the rules,

which is a good thing, because there's no rulebook anymore.

Donald Trump took it, burned it and took a shit on the ashes.

And if he wins in November, God help us,

we need to come back in 2024 with everything we've got.

Can I, um, think about this?

- Mm, of course. - But in the meantime,

- it's confidential. - Oh, absolutely.

Not a word to anybody.

Okay.

It's beyond confidential.

Not your mother, not your shrink, no one.

Okay.

They said what?

In 2024.

Oh, they don't expect me to win the nomination.

It's more about defining the future of the party...

You're the future of the party?

- You're jealous. - No, I am not.

I j... just...

What are your positions?

Medicare for all? Section 1325

of the U.S. immigration code? Troops in Northeast Syria?

- Maybe you want to be my policy advisor, huh? - I'm the reason

the DNC came into this office in the first place.

And, unlike you, I have actually worked in government.

Mm, like "Kamela" Harris.

It's Kamala. Learn how to say her damn name.

And what, are you-are you saying

that former prosecutors are unelectable?

Or just black, female former prosecutors?

Congratulations.

Why, thank you.

I have to head to court.

Better work on your platform.

Huh.

Would it kill them to recruit a woman

every once in while?

Melanie! Melanie!

Looking good.

My leg was starting to... cramp.

I need to... stretch it out more.

- You ready for court? - Not really.

Talk about butterflies.

You'll be fine, Melanie.

But look, I wanted to catch you before we go to court.

We're changing strategies.

We're what? Why?

Well, we think that, given the politics of the situation,

we have a better chance of success going with race.

Um... if that's what you think.

But look, nothing else has changed.

You are still the injured party here.

So what do I wear in court?

I was six when I learned to swim,

uh, which is late compared to the other girls.

Uh, there was no pool near me.

My mom would get me up quarter after 3:00,

get me to the pool by 5:00.

I'd work out till 7:00.

Then she'd have me at school by 8:00.

Uh, it was about an hour- and-a-half drive

each way, depending on traffic.

Did you have a private coach, Melanie?

No. Just my mom.

So even though you didn't have the advantages of your

teammates, you still made finalist on the Olympic team?

Objection. Relevance?

Overruled.

Try "counselor is testifying."

Counselor is testifying.

- Sustained. - Melanie,

in 2019, was there a scheduled

qualifying meet for the Olympic trials?

- Yes. - And was that

- rescheduled for this year? - Yes.

- Why was that? - Objection.

The witness was not the one

doing the rescheduling, Your Honor.

She's hardly in a position to know why.

I'm guessing she has an opinion.

As I am also guessing that your client,

the Olympic Committee, has an opinion,

- so, overruled. - Go ahead.

Uh, the meet was rescheduled to 2020

to give Sadie Lipton more time to train.

And Sadie Lipton is the swimmer who replaced you

- on the Olympic team? - Yes.

And Sadie Lipton is obviously white, right?

- Yes. - Okay, I got it.

Uh, is there any reason to believe

that race played a part in this decision?

I'm not someone who sees racism in everything,

but our team doctor, Dr. Ludovic...

he thought I couldn't hear him when he said:

black people's bones are denser than whites,

that elite swimmers need a low bone density,

so blacks were at a disadvantage.

All right, I'm getting it. Uh, thank you very much, dear.

Next?

As president

of U.S. Olympic Swimming,

what is your principle function?

Of course I'd like to think it was to inspire others,

but the truth is, my principle function is to lead by example.

And what was your reaction

when Dr. Ludovic's remarks about

African-American bone density

- got back to you? - I fired him that same day.

Is there racism on the U.S. Olympic Committee?

No. And if there were, I would weed it out.

Thank you. Nothing further.

- Mr. Pezner, what's Rule Number 50? - Oh, objection, Your Honor.

- I haven't even asked my question, sir! - Because Rule Number...

- It's got nothing to do with anything. - Wai... Uh, uh, uh, uh,

Hey, eh, eh, eh, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

Somebody want to clue the judge in here?

I mean, what is Rule 50?

It is the new rule

that prohibits political protests

by athletes at the Olympic Games.

Okay.

Counselor, connect the dots.

You knew, sir, did you not, that Melanie Evers had,

in the past, participated in political protests?

Listen, I am sympathetic to Black Lives Matter.

I am not interested in your sympathies, sir.

- I'm asking you if you knew. - Objection,

Your Honor. Badgering the witness.

Eh, but not much of a badger. Overruled.

- Yes. I knew. - And isn't that

the reason that you kicked her off the team?

She was not kicked off the team.

Her time was slower than the other swimmers.

Slower than Sadie Lipton by one-tenth

- of a second. - Which is slower.

You changed the rules, sir,

to let Sadie Lipton compete in 2020, and thereby

replace our client, Melanie Evers. Okay, when

did this become a debating society?

Uh, you know, I kind of like debates.