Pearson

Effective immediately,

I have decided to resign as alderman of the 54th ward.

Now you have 60 days to replace her with someone

who better represents the community.

Thanks to you, today's my last day.

I can't very well hire

an assistant who doesn't know everyone in City Hall.

- Ms. - Pearson is late for a meeting.

Move aside now.

I can really use someone who knows his way around.

She asked if I'd be her driver.

Did she?

It's not a bad idea, you know?

Don't think, just do your job and let me know what

Bobby's doing with this woman.

I'm giving her an office, that's all.

Hey, that shit with North Park is nothing compared

to what she could find.

And that's why I hired her.

Cory, Mark, say hello to your cousin Jessica.

She is a successful woman, Angela.

She's all talk, Mom.

I've seen this movie before.

What movie's that?

The one where you tell me you work for the mayor

and he wants to see me.

Turns out I work for you today.

You decided to take me up on my offer?

It's what you want, isn't it?

Just a little surprised, is all.

What changed your mind?

Good news isn't enough for you, lady?

You gotta dissect the shit out of it?

All right, first of all,

if we're going to do this, you're gonna have

to stop calling me lady.

If we're gonna do this,

maybe we should stop talking about what to call you

and get to work, Ms. Pearson.

Work it is.

Oh, I got it this time.

Hey, I'm sorry that I'm running late.

There was an issue with

the hot water in my building, and the super took

an hour to get here, though I'm not sure why

'cause he lives on the first floor.

Why aren't you talking?

I hear you.

You're running late.

- Yeah, so I just didn't want - you waiting around for me

If you need to go see Morrissey

about the endorsement.

What are you talking about?

You wanted to go over

strategy for the WBC meeting.

You made a big deal out of it.

It's not a problem.

You're being weird.

Are you in the office?

Very good.

Keep me posted.

I'll do that.

Classical.

I can change it if you want.

Not on my account.

I like it.

So have you always lived in Chicago?

What are you doing?

It's called making conversation.

- I'm not one for small talk, Ms. - Pearson,

especially when I'm working.

If you want to chat, get yourself a cab or an Uber.

No, I don't need to chat, but I do need someone

who knows City Hall is in the other direction.

We're not going to City Hall.

We're going to see Mr. McGann.

I don't work for Pat McGann.

I work for the mayor.

We both do, and he wants you to take this meeting.

And may I ask where the mayor is?

He's out of pocket.

Out of pocket.

And that's a quaint term meaning?

Meaning none of your business.

Hmm.

I asked you to drive me, Nick, because you know

your way around, and I didn't mean that you know

which streets go one way.

So the next time the mayor or anyone else

asks you to take me somewhere,

you check with me first.

Those are my rules.

And go!

Last time I saw you, things didn't go

so well for you.

I got my project, and you got some vague

job with the mayor.

I'd say it worked out well for both of us.

Glad to hear there aren't any hard feelings.

Not from me.

Eh, where's Bobby?

Whatever you say to him, you can say to me.

You speak for him now too.

Only when I need to.

I hope that's not too vague for you.

I'm beginning to enjoy this.

I can go all day.

Good.

We can finally get to know each other.

Before you skip to the honeymoon,

I know there's something on your mind

or you wouldn't have summoned the mayor

first thing.

Let's get to it.

The vacant alderman seat in the 54th.

What about it?

I want my friend Betsy Sullivan sitting on it.

I wasn't aware you appointed aldermen.

I don't.

Bobby does.

And now I'm telling him who to appoint.

I hope that's not too vague for you.

Not that I don't trust your judgment,

but that's an important ward for Bobby.

So before I recommend anybody, I'm gonna have to do

a little due diligence.

A smart woman like you, I'd expect nothing less.

See that?

That wasn't painful.

We might just find common ground after all.

- Well, do me a favor, Ms. - Pearson.

Do your vetting today.

I don't want that seat collecting dust.

Don't forget your lunch, baby.

There you go.

- Cory, come on. - Coming.

Hey, Mom, can I go to Jonah's birthday party?

Yeah. When is it?

Next week.

Uh, of course you can.

Thanks for asking.

That was very polite.

Are we still going to be here?

What?

I thought we have to move.

- No, no. - We're not going anywhere.

Don't worry about that.

Yeah!

He's not in yet, Keri.

- It's 10:00. - Where is he?

I talked to him for a couple seconds.

He said he had some personal business.

Okay.

Does he know we have a meeting at 2:00 today?

- It's still on the books. - I assume he does.

Tell him I stopped by.

- While I have you here... - I'm not doing the stupid

"Faces of City Hall" thing.

Come on, Keri, ever since that messed-up

Jessica rollout, PR has been really getting on me

- about doing something positive. - I don't have time.

It's just a couple of pictures for the website

and a meet-and-greet with some high school girls.

In and out, I'll work it around your meeting...

No, uh, no, I like my privacy, Derrick.

I know, but PR likes you.

Chicago girl, civic duty, you know how it is.

It makes us look relevant.

You good? Good.

I'll bring the photographer by your office later.

You're a pain in the ass.

No school today?

I'm spending some time with my kids, Ms. Pearson.

You have a problem with that?

Not at all.

The only thing I have a problem

with is you dumping McGann on me after what he did

to my family.

How'd you think this was going to go, hmm?

Did you think you were gonna be spending your days

helping out in soup kitchens?

You knew the deal.

Oh, I knew he was a part of it.

I didn't know he was gonna fill

the entire city council with his cronies.

He doesn't.

I don't think he knows that.

Look, from the minute you

pulled your little magic act

and got Debbie Coats out,

it was just a matter of time

- before he made a suggestion. - It's what he does.

I was with him five minutes ago,

and it wasn't a suggestion.

It was a direct order for me to give to you.

Dad!

Son of a bitch.

Dad! Daddy!

What do you want me to say?