Pearson

I'm dropping your mother's lawsuit.

What do you mean you're dropping it?

The mayor offered me a job if I let it go.

Well, while you're out here cutting yourself a deal,

I have to find my family a place to live.

If I take this job, I can do more than

just save one housing project.

She's a threat to both of us, Bobby.

And that's why I hired her.

Do your job and let me know what Bobby's doing with this woman.

You want me to spy on my brother?

If not for me, do it for yourself.

The man who went up against the city was found murdered.

If your friend knows something, tell him to show you.

You're about to be the mayor's

brand new right hand, I live with you,

and that makes me a part of it.

- So much for having my back. - I do have your back, Jessica.

But right now, I need to look after my own.

Let me see.

Bobby, I have worked too hard to be seen as that girl.

No one sees you as that.

She does, the woman that you brought in to keep me clean

sees me as that.

Lillian, I dropped your lawsuit

in exchange for a job with the mayor.

I know, but why didn't you tell me?

I made a promise to save your home,

and I couldn't make it happen.

You have a problem you need solved.

Why don't you tell me what Pat McGann has on you?

Where am I in all this?

What happens if the truth comes out?

Nothing's coming out.

Lillian, what are you doing here?

Have you heard the saying,

if the mountain won't come to Muhammad?

Let me guess.

This is about me not coming into your home last night.

This is about me fixing you a nice warm breakfast and that.

Ooh, my, my, my.

Wow, I've seen pictures of places like this.

I was under the impression

that you lived here with somebody.

It's complicated.

Oh, huh. I had complicated once.

Turned uncomplicated when he walked out on us.

Lillian, this is incredibly sweet of you, but I was

about to run out the door, and I'm running late...

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

- No, I know that, but I... - No, buts.

Go tell that boss of yours you'll get there when you get there.

Go.

Let's see...

- I'll be down in 15. - 15?

Do you have some place you need to be?

No, I've already been waiting half an hour.

Then you'll get paid for every minute of it.

My Lord, I know this man.

Oh, Lillian, I'm sorry.

You weren't supposed to see these.

This is Carl, my neighbor.

What are you doing with a picture of him like this?

It's just work stuff.

Now what about that breakfast you promised me?

You gonna crack those eggs or do I have to do it myself?

Old school, I like it.

Jessica Pearson.

I don't get it.

We never had a formal introduction.

Now that we're gonna be working together, I thought it was time.

I wouldn't actually say we're gonna be working together.

We're gonna be working for the same man.

And the way I see it, that puts us on the same team.

Nick D'Amato.

Nice to meet you, Nick D'Amato.

Maybe next time you're lurking in the shadows,

you'll make a proper introduction.

Well, since we're gonna be working together,

you should know the mayor's got a thing about being on time.

Thanks for the heads up.

- Oscar. Hey. - What up?

What happened to the posts of your daughter?

It's been a whole minute. What, you holding out on me?

Obsessed, I'm telling you.

Tomorrow's her birthday, putting on a fiesta.

Feliz cumpleaños, bebecita.

I can't believe she's three already.

Right?

Do you mind if I slip by? I'm running late.

Yeah, we're all going through security, lady.

Well, some of us are trying.

I don't need you to valet my car,

I just need to get to work.

Wait, you work here?

'Cause I've been here for five years.

I know everyone in this place.

Apparently not everyone.

I work for your boss.

Jason Epstein? Uh-huh.

Your other boss, the man upstairs.

I knew you'd get it.

_

_

Who is that?

I mean, Jesus, he's already getting a library.

Now you want a stadium?

Nobody said stadium.

It's a baseball field for kids.

Trying to get Obama elected again?

I'm trying to get you elected again.

Sorry I'm late, I ran into a little nuisance downstairs.

I was just leaving anyway.

Why don't you take the rest of the morning to get settled.

Hell, take the rest of the day, if you want.

- The whole day? - Mm-hmm.

That's Bobby's way of saying you kicked ass yesterday.

Oh, Bobby might have told me that before

I made my driver run four red lights.

That's 400 large. Do you want her to mail it in or pay directly?

Give her a pass. I'm in a charitable mood.

Oh, since you're in a good mood,

you might want to avoid the elevator,

take the back way out.

- Oh, we got press? - How many?

When they travel in a pack like that,

it's hard to count.

What do you say, Derrick?

Should we throw 'em a bone today?

I mean, I'm always the one telling you not to dodge.

Have fun.

All right, don't all jump at once.

The mayor's been kind enough to answer a few questions.

Hello, first floor. What's it been, a week?

Nine days, actually.

Oh, now you're gonna be accurate.

Have you thought about a replacement for Alderman Coats?

Her resignation was yesterday.

It's an important ward, I don't wanna rush the decision.

With all due respect, your decisions lately

don't exactly make a lot of sense.

You wanna be more specific, Terry?

Jessica Pearson.

You brought in a disbarred New York lawyer to be your fixer.

Yeah, I did. What's your question?

What exactly is Ms. Pearson going to be doing for you?

- Is it legal? - Give me a break.

It's a legitimate question.

Why are you afraid to answer it?

I came out here to do you guys a favor.

We're done here. Get out of my face.

What the hell was that?

I seriously hope you're not blaming me for that.

You used to be one of them.

From now on, I wanna know every question

they're gonna ask before they ask it.

That little audible was your idea, not mine.

If you want, I can let you go.

You can prowl the halls with those assholes again.

Look, I'm not saying you deserved it.

I know those guys can be brutal,

but you had to know they were gonna ask about her at some point.

I did know, and I was prepared to answer questions.

But she's been here all of 48 hours.

She's not even on the payroll yet.

- So? - So someone leaked that

to embarrass me or her or both.

Or people have legitimate questions.

And by people, you mean you.

Hey, I like the woman,

but even I don't know how she ended up working for you,

and I'm pretty sure I don't wanna know.

Don't push it, Derrick.

Look, if you want, I can try to figure out how they got onto her.

I don't need a PI,

I need a press secretary who protects me.

Just do your job.

What do you think? Homey, right?

Well, it's definitely... lived in.

Just give it a good yank.

What are my other options?

Inventory's limited, budget cuts.

But now that I think of it, my husband works

in Water Management and his boss just died.

I can swap out your desk before they pack up his.

You know what, I'm just gonna pick something out, myself.

There's really nothing else left in the warehouse.

No, I'm not talking about a warehouse.

The city won't pay for outside vendors.

Do me a favor.

Have your friends in Facilities

clear this place out, swap out the fluorescents,

and there's a brand new Nespresso machine

with your name on it.

You got it.

You ever need anything else, come find me.

I will.

Okay.

Sorry, I had to take that.

No, don't worry about it. This won't take much longer,