Billions

Previously on Billions...

There's someone I need you to see.

George Minchak.

She vets all of my candidates.

You want her to know everything.

I'm not really sure I'm entirely comfortable with that.

Mmmm.

Red!

I'm sorry.

Did I not pick up the body language?

I didn't get permission.

Klaxon. Belgian car company.

They're headed for a recall. Bottom's gonna drop out.

I had a craving for Bistro Grisby last night.

We used to go there all the time.

- They closed four years ago. - Sad.

Surveillance of a federal employee is a Class E felony,

so if you want me to keep it up,

I'm gonna need to charge you a higher rate.

Then it's a good day for business.

Try Taylor Mason.

Anything big Axe is wading into,

Taylor's there with a snorkel mask.

Divorces are hard.

So are marriages.

Yeah, I've heard other people say that.

Wendy Rhoades is a liability,

and I will never be okay with the two of you talking.

I personally... won't see her.

I'm sure it must be hard for you to not have access to him,

but we think it's best for everyone.

Which is why I set the policy.

_

Fuck.

Lara?

Boys?

Hi, it's Lara. Leave a message.

Hey.

It's me.

You call me?

You can't just...

Will you just call me, please?

Get in.

Maybe lying in your marriage was tolerated,

looked upon with leniency,

considered some sort of fucked up foreplay,

but in my marriage in 15 years,

I have never lied to my wife except once,

except about what was said between you and me.

You were the only person who could've told her about that.

So please, tell me, what did you say to my wife?

She was under the impression

that our no-session arrangement came from you.

I corrected her.

The words. The actual words.

I said I set the policy,

and that was the only way I could work there.

I didn't mean to come between you and Lara.

You of all people,

you know precisely what response you're eliciting.

If you do it, you mean to do it.

Can I get out of the car now?

I'll call if we have any other questions.

Or maybe I'll just show up.

Just got off the phone with Pacquin.

He sent these from the house security cams.

She took four 10k bricks out of the vault,

and we have her here with the boys

walking out of the house with light luggage.

Rippling out.

The jets are on the ground, the choppers are in the hangar,

and the residences,

Hamptons, the city apartment,

Aspen, Miami, the vineyard, all empty.

GPS on the car?

I disabled them all months ago at your request.

Right. Fuck.

All three phones are off,

and they've not used the EZ Pass or any other credit cards yet.

Uh...

Cancel my morning sessions, please.

I'm not feeling so well.

I'll try to make it in by the afternoon.

Thanks.

Did you bring your tribute?

- I... - Ah!

I didn't ask you to speak.

And I don't want to look at your pathetic face either.

You... are nothing.

Down.

Time for me to make my preparations.

Don't move a muscle.

Hi, it's Lara. Leave a message.

Hey, look, look, I'm not,

I'm not trying to make an excuse, but, uh, you know,

I was... I was trying to protect you,

and I know you weren't happy with Wendy coming back,

and I was trying to respect that.

I'm trying to give you comfort.

Maybe I could've done it different.

I... I don't know,

but you could've done this a different way, too.

So, Ms. Minchak, how should we proceed?

My goal is to do oppo before they do oppo,

so if there is a potential October surprise,

we drop it in February during the fucking Super Bowl.

I like the thinking.

Like the thinking, and as I said,

you're welcome here for as long as you need.

I know that Wendy has the homestead,

and the Yale Club has a few too many prying eyes for...

Yes, thank you.

Are you sure no coffee?

No, thank you.

Pound cake.

Seventy percent sour cream.

This works best one on one.

Of course.

I'll just, uh...

I'll be... I'll be right... right inside,

uh, in case you need anything.

Hmm?

So...

How should we do this?

Why are you asking me?

Keep it interesting.

I've done, uh, first couple levels,

the dirty stuff those pop-up ads

promised to find on your high-school sweetheart.

Those websites actually work?

More than they should.

I do it myself, though.

I search the TROs, the DUIs, the tax liens.

You were fine there.

Tomorrow starts the deep dive,

your receipts, browser history,

interviewing those who have known you

- intimately since school days. - Jesus.

It's a shit show.

Today, though, you ever go to SeaWorld?

No. I've never been to one of those places.

- The mistreatment of the... - Right.

Whale's got to jump and flip whether he wants to or not.

But then he gets his herring.

Quite so.

Today, though, you're that whale.

I'm gonna run through a list of areas.

- You'll let me know... - Mm-hmm.

if we have an issue.

Fire away.

- Aborted pregnancies? - No.

Uh, unwanted sexual advances in the workplace?

No.

- Fiscal malfeasance? - No.

- Hiring of undocumented workers? - No. None of those.

- Cheating? - No.

- Same-sex exploration... - No.

Membership of racially-exclusive clubs?

No.

Okay. Let's get personal.

The separation, where are we on that?

Uh, in counseling.

Is it working?

It's a process.

Can that process be complete by the time we announce?

'Cause we need to know what we're selling,

- and that can't be a process. - Noted.

Will she be a problem if you split?

No.

No... bad mouthing, blackmail?

No.

Such a perfect fucking couple,

why are you getting a divorce?

I didn't say we were.

Well, shit,

given her ties to Wall Street,

no tragedy if it goes that way.

Hi. What can I get you?

I know what you're having.

They'll have a double shot almond milk latte to go.

Do I know you?

Name on that's Taylor Amber Mason.

And I'll have a Macchiato.

Name's Bryan Connerty.

You've been following me.

Taylor, you don't know me,

but I think we should get acquainted.

You talk like a cop but dress like a lawyer.

- I'm a U.S. Attorney. - Yeah.

So, why would I want

- further acquaintance? - Because you work

at Axe Capital, and I'm the guy who can keep your life

- from becoming a nightmare. - I like nightmares.

When I wake up, they leave me deeply valuing my reality.

But nice chatting.

My bad. You know what, my bad.

I always felt Ed Harris went too hard at Mitch McDeere

in that diner when they first met.

Should've made him feel safe, not threatened,

and here I went the other way, but I do want you to feel safe.