Billions

Previously on Billions...

You want an unprecedented raise in record time.

So how are you going to help me get the first ten stacks?

We need Grigor Andolov.

I just want to see you work a little bit harder for it.

You breached my threshold and threatened me.

Just wait a second...

Drop your credentials at the guard's desk.

And GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!

What the fuck?!

What, exactly, did you do?

How do I get you to break your letter of intent

with Oscar Langstraat?

It basically solves our problem.

You sold out my relationship in order to do it.

He said I was off the raise team.

I won't stagnate.

Not for Axe. Not for anybody.

I'll talk to him.

With someone like Taylor, what they need is forward momentum,

above all things.

Where the fuck did Jeffcoat get all this money?

TexasSouthCable.

I want you to launch an investigation

into Jock Jeffcoat's brother and TexasSouthCable.

Nothing makes me feel so alive as putting my head in a tiger's mouth.

We're gonna get Jock on trying to stop it.

Obstruction of justice.

I'm putting you on the raise team.

Fuckin' A. Onward and upward.

There's gonna be 30 Bil on the table,

get ready to help me haul it outta there.

It looks like you're ready to get into business.

I need a meeting with your boss, Grigor Andolov.

[Frank Sinatra's "Come Fly With Me" playing]

The Sands is proud to present

a wonderful new show, a man and his music.

The music of Count Basie and his great band.

_

And the man is Frank Sinatra.

You smell that?

You smell that? That's money, son...

People who have never been near money will say:

"I smell money," when entering a casino

or showing up at a sales conference.

They, of course, can't

because they don't know how to recognize the scent.

But you?

Like a shorthaired pointer on a dabbling duck.

And I am telling you, Sef, I smell money.

How did all these people get in my room?

Gentlemen, today's the day!

- How much is on the table? - By the close of the event,

30 billion will be earmarked, invested, captured.

If we don't walk out of here

with at least a third of the available capital...

I've teed this whole thing up so that you will.

Should I give you "napalm in the morning"...

I already got a version...

Then "no vice but beggary"?

How 'bout Nick Saban?

Roll Tide... Roll!

That's fucking impressive.

I count on it.

Where's Taylor?

I have a text. They say: "Soon. Organizing some last-minute things."

Pitch doesn't work without Taylor.

They better make it.

I was just asking myself if I would.

And you know what?

I would!

Wow.

Every day you live this life you learn something about yourself.

Delightful!

If you're delighted, just imagine how it makes me feel.

That's good.

You didn't even flinch.

Like the titan, Lee Iacocca.

That's important.

To business then.

I read your approach in the materials you sent.

What's your market outlook?

I could tell you that interest rates have topped out for the near term,

that the tax and regulatory climate are favorable,

that growth is looking somewhat robust...

I could also read your tea leaves or the creases in your palm

or divine the future by cleromancy...

Cleromancy?

Casting bones.

But I'm no gypsy.

So instead I'll tell you that my anticipation and my reaction

to moment by moment changes in market conditions

are lightning quick.

And cutting edge tech:

a quant piece that wasn't even in place during the past year

that reflects my already positive results.

Sure. But it's all words.

And words have very little to do with how I decide things.

What then?

Internal process.

Like your casting bones. But inside.

Last question...

Why are you leaving Axe?

After all, he made you.

We can debate that statement some other time.

As for your question:

the same reason you leave a house

that has a furnace leaking carbon monoxide:

It's the only way to survive.

I like this image.

They say you can't taste it or smell it

or even know that it's putting you to sleep.

But I always think I would:

most people are already sleepwalking through their lives.

So they don't even notice.

How could they, it's only a matter of degree.

You crushed it.

I'm glad I brokered this meeting.

I have to talk to him, but I imagine money will be flowing shortly.

So your suite is the largest one.

Because there is more demand for you than we can fit.

- Hey, Sara. - Hey, Axe.

I didn't see you down on the list.

Yeah, I'm not here to invest, so I didn't want to take a spot.

I know you've said you'll never take Spanx public...

And I won't.

Yeah, but when you do, let me know.

See ya, Axe.

Oh, ho, ho, I thought the velociraptor was extinct.

And yet it walks amongst us.

A velociraptor doesn't walk.

It stalks, hunts, kills, with great stealth and speed,

and if you want him to prove that to you,

- keep fucking talking. - Easy, pal.

They're just jealous 'cause we got a waiting list.

Because you're the freak show, the ten-in-one.

Everyone wants to take a look.

But after they stare at the bearded lady for five minutes,

they'll walk down to my suite, hand me the grisbi.

After today, everyone will know that Axe Capital is just like Atlantis,

this once great land, now totally underwater

and feels like a figment of someone's imagination.

Sorry to interrupt the rebalancing of your lower body meridians.

- Will you excuse us, please? - Uh-huh.

Target letter

announcing the investigation into Zeb Jeffcoat.

Once it's signed and the hard copy is sent

along with the PDF, there's no turning back.

No. The proverbial Rubicon.

We cross it and Jock goes on the offensive.

And even though that's what we want...

Intimidating nevertheless.

We are in the chute...

We can expect Zeb to call his big brother immediately...

And for him to go batshit.

Or...

Or he's cool as can be.

But there's no way he's cool enough

to simply let this play out in court.

Since it would lead back to him.

He'll confer with his lawyers.

But not in a way that will leave a trail.

Ultimately he will fall back and make his move

to derail the case.

And that attack will come on one of two fronts.

He will either ruin, threaten, pressure or otherwise discredit and destroy you,

since you'll be bringing the case.

Or he will try to compromise

who he surmises to be the star witness.

Now, if we can leak to him that Ashley Cutler is the key

and is in our neck of the woods,

Jock will likely head to New York.

But the question is: which move will he make first?

If he digs on me, he'll come up with a bouquet of begonias.

Yes. Yes. I did as hard a vet on you as one could do.

I knew to get where I needed to get

I'd have to be Jackie Robinson clean.

Then I want that witness.

Which means he can either try his luck with the head of the State Police...

over whom he has no sway...

or he can call me, and implore me

to use my particular set of powers to aid in his cause.

My phone has to be the one that rings.

Yes, we need that to happen.

But what if it doesn't?

You and I know Cutler is a weak witness.