The Good Fight

Motherfucker.

Oh, I'm sorry. You didn't hear that?

Motherfucker!

Fuck you and your moronic defund-the-police bullshit!

Why? Because you're putting Trump back into the White House,

you stupid fucking taint-lick!

You've never heard me swear before?

Well, aren't you in for a treat?

Fuck you, and fuck your mother, too.

Yeah. That'll really get people agreeing with your politics,

asshole!

I'm here to see Julius Cain, and this was in the elevator.

- Another one? - Mm.

Tell security it was a man in camouflage on 18th.

- Could be Antifa, could be Proud Boys. - Thanks.

Uh, your name, sir?

- Rahm Emanuel. - Please take a seat?

Sure.

- Eli. - What is this, a lounge bar?

Do you mind going back to reception?

I'm just finishing up a call.

No, I'll wait.

What's that about?

Oh, they're making a documentary about the top five

Black prosecutors. Now, will you please

wait in reception?

I'm here to ask you a small favor.

Eli Gold does not ask for small favors.

Well, a medium one.

Put Marissa back on the Lila Royce case.

She was having a bad day.

- That's all. - Eli, it's a $3 million case.

It's not a training ground for lawyers.

Look, I'll second chair for her.

Do you even know what the case is?

A pop star being sued

for not honoring her contract to play in Israel.

- Right. - So how can you defend her?

Because I'm Jewish? That is so anti-Semitic.

O-Okay, okay.

It's not up to me. It's up to the client.

- Talk to her. - Good. I'll call her.

Uh, hang on, Eli.

Marissa was there for me,

so I want to offer you a bit of advice for her.

Make sure she wins this one.

You ready?

Doctor, I had a near-death experience recently.

Will that change anything?

- What happened? - A fake hand grenade

from the protest, but I...

I really thought I was gonna die, and I went numb.

Well, many people believe

that this treatment helps you step outside yourself

to examine why you felt what you did.

So, I don't think that'll be a problem.

Ready?

I guess.

See you in an hour.

Breathe deeply.

Count back from eight.

Eight.

Seven.

Six.

Five.

Four.

Three...

So, uh, top five Black prosecutors?

- Yes. It's inspired by Kamala Harris. - Mm-hmm.

You know, so many Black women are looking

for role models today.

Yeah. And, uh, what's it on, uh, Netflix or...?

- Uh, we're still finding a home. - Okay, well,

anything for a fellow SGRho.

Oh. It's the way to go.

Isn't it?

So this is called an "Interrotron."

Just look right in there.

You'll see my face so you can just talk right to me.

But on tape, it'll look like you're talking to the lens.

Sounds great. Uh, perfect.

Okay. So, Ms. Red dick, did you find

your father's legacy as a major civil rights activist

to be a burden or an asset in your job?

Well, my father's reputation did open some doors.

Was it difficult working as a prosecutor?

Tell me what you mean?

Convicting people your dad would've defended.

Well, I, you...

you know, I think that there are bad people in the world,

and the best way to protect the good people is

to convict the bad.

Were there any people you were worried about convicting?

Tell me... I'm sorry. Tell me what you mean?

Some of the other prosecutors we interviewed felt sometimes

their superiors, their white superiors,

required they prosecute even if they had some hesitations.

Did you have anything like that?

Uh, um... no.

Tell me about the Matthews case.

I'm sorry. The Matthews?

Murder in the first degree, 2008.

Man accused of killing his pregnant girlfriend.

We're-we're focusing on one difficult case

with each of the prosecutors we're profiling, just as a way

to drill down on struggles in the job.

Can you tell us about it?

You wanted to see me, sir?

Ri'Chard.

Please, sit down, Carmen.

Here, have a Pie Crust Cookie.

My mom made 'em.

No, I'm fine.

We thank You, Jesus, for this new day.

And thank You for the opportunity

to reveal Your gifts, and to help us earn our daily bread.

In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Amen.

In 1995, I was living out of my car in Atlanta.

I had nothing.

I used to dig McDonald's scratch-off cards

out of the trash to "win" free meals.

Then, one morning, I found an LSAT study guide,

and I started to read it.

First out of boredom, then out of interest,

because I thought to myself, "This, I could do."

I read it cover to cover three times.

Then I went to the library, and a man there,

C.J. Howard, saw me check out a stack of law books

as tall as I was, and he offered me a job.

As a paralegal in a local Black law firm.

He didn't do it to be kind.

He told me, "I'm doing this because I expect you

to make me a million dollars."

And I did.

Now I've been looking at how much money

you've made for this firm, Carmen.

You've earned more than any other associate,

more than 90% of the partners.

And yet, for some reason, you are still being treated

like a new lawyer fresh out of law school.

I am a new lawyer fresh out of law school.

I want to change that!

I want to move you upstairs.

Right there.

Come on in.

These are third-year associates.

They now work for you.

They no longer take commands from the other partners.

If you want them to grab your laundry, they'll do it.

Thank you.

Why am I doing this?

I don't expect you to make me a million dollars.

I expect you to make me $20 million.

In the first year.

Mr. Lane, I appreciate the confidence,

but I can't accept all this.

Why?

I don't like having people work for me.

I don't like having to explain myself.

Thank you for the office,

but I don't want the attention.

I just want to keep working the way I've been working.

Carmen, no one wants the attention,

but Jesus marks some of us

for greater things.

And the attention will come either way.

Thank you, sir,

but...

I want to remain where I am.

I respect that.

It's good to meet you, Carmen.

Oh, by the way, do you and Liz not get along?

No. We do.

She's my mentor.

Huh.

I'll be mentoring you from now on.

What?

Is everything all right?

Yes. Mr. Lane just wanted to meet.

- Why? - He wants to mentor me.

Really?

Yes.

You heard we got a new one?

Yes. And it's not just our building.

All the buildings on the street are getting grenades.

And they're counting down to some last protest

- on November 10. - All right.

Then we need to arrange for extra security detail,

- especially to escort our lawyers to their cars. - Uh-huh.

All right? And can you do one more thing for me?

Can you look into a Deandra Min ton?

- Who? - It's this, uh, documentary that I agreed to.

There's a chance that it's not all positive.

Tough questions?

Well, she asked a lot about a case

that I prosecuted 13 years ago.

Matthews. It was... it was a murder case.

- See you tomorrow. - All right. Can't wait.

Thanks, guys. Thank you.