Boss

Lewy Body causes progressive decline.

I have it. There's no cure.

I'm sorry.

- Is there something else I should know? - No.

My guy said it's some pretty powerful shit.

- Who's it for? - A friend.

A friend I need to know about?

No, relax. There's nothing to worry about.

I want you to run for governor against Mac Cullen.

There's a different view of the world from the one you have at the moment.

If you want to see it, there's a certain group

of people in Chicago I'd like you to meet.

A year from now the mayor runs for reelection.

Drop out of the governor's race and you'll have

the organizational support you need to take him on.

If we're gonna move on this, we have to do it soon.

What do you say?

The document that shows

then sanitation director Thomas Kane

authorized the dump of trichloroethylene

was made public by a blogger, Chumpbait.

We make it so it's not about us.

We make it so it's about how a small town

deals with the end of the world.

12 years ago I was approached

by a member of Mayor Kane's staff

and told that any reference to trichloroethylene

was to be redacted from the report.

Alongside Mayor Kane, I did wrong.

Surfacing last night a bombshell.

Dr. Gabriela Reyes, head of research at Children's Memorial at the time,

claiming the Kane administration coerced her into redacting

damning materials from her official report.

I could've stood strong, but I did not.

Alongside Mayor Kane, I did wrong.

Give me an old Chicago on tap.

I'd like a ride on the Riverview coaster,

but they both went under in '67 just after the blizzard.

- 26". - 27.

- We made a killing. - Six sidewalks, four driveways

and two shovels.

Where are those industrious little bastards?

I thought I'd be seeing you.

- Can we go for a walk? - I'll check with the owner,

tell him the mayor wants a word.

This can't be an easy time for you.

It goes with the territory.

What's so important, alderman,

that you needed to see me on a Saturday?

I'd like to offer my assistance.

Help the mayor make a graceful exit.

You know, recent revelations aside,

he's done many positive things for the city

for which he should be remembered.

That's very kind of you. I'll relay the message.

She looks good on tv,

Dr. Reyes.

Respectable.

Unimpeachable.

Troubled by a past transgression

and then pointing her elegant finger

at your guy for poisoning children

and then covering it up.

That ball doesn't bounce.

Look, I have no interest

in shaming him out of office.

I'd like to offer him a way to leave

with a little dignity during this difficult time.

If...?

If he promises not to run again.

To free it up for whom? You?

No.

I don't need to try that suit on.

I know a bad fit by looking at it.

And if he doesn't?

Then we'll be forced to start impeachment hearings.

We?

The wheels are already in motion,

but say the word and we'll put the brakes on.

You know where to reach me.

Sorry to interrupt, but Mrs. Kane is on the line.

- I'm in a meeting. - She's looking for the mayor.

- She's left several messages. - The mayor's not taking any calls right now.

He'll get back to her at his earliest convenience.

Yes sir.

They have a pretty airtight case.

I assume you're aware of all the details.

Appendix two, you'll find them listed alphabetically

under "Bensenville plaintiffs."

These are all everyday folks--

Their numbers sizeable and growing--

Whose health and well-being were pretty badly compromised by the mayor's negligence

and the cover-up he engineered to avoid personal responsibility.

We're aware of the details, Mr. McGantry.

Elliot, please. Look, we don't have to play the game too hard here.

We know what we have. You know it too.

- What are you offering? - A 12-hour window

for the mayor to agree to a settlement.

The mayor has no intention of admitting guilt

- because he's-- - Not guilty. Of course.

- The terms? - Steep,

though not as steep should he decide to go to trial instead.

The choice is his, sort of.

I mean does man really have free choice?

"Brothers Karamazov," "the Grand Inquisitor"?

It changed my life.

I'll pass these on and get back to you.

- 12 hours. - Heard you the first time.

I assume you've seen some photos

of the plaintiffs involved, but just in case you haven't.

This is tragic.

Hey, it's me. Any word from the mayor?

- No ma'am. Nothing yet. - Leave another message.

- Okay. - Shit.

Those people are fishing down there.

Yeah. In the mornings they come to watch for birds.

From a chemical dump to a fucking garden of eden.

It was a quarry before that.

Someday somebody'll come along and convince the city

to build condos next to the fishing pond

and turn it into something else.

Another layer for the archeologists to dig up.

- Remember Harold Baines? - Do I remember?

You were a pathetic cubbie when we first met.

Cooperstown turned him down again.

- Could be his last shot. - Fuck them.

How many hall-of-famers have over 3,000 hits?

His mistake was not quitting when he was on top,

ending his career when he was batting .161.

You can't quit when the team still needs you.

Yeah.

I worked for the city since before I could vote.

I'm not sure I know what anything else would even feel like.

- You'd hate it. - How do you know?

'Cause you need to be on the field.

The game is what keeps you going.

You'd shrivel up and die without it.

- Recognize it? - Why?

I haven't been back there since--

You were running errands for Jack Manning

- at the housing authority. - The greasiest palm in the city.

Man taught me all I ever needed to know

about how things work.

They were all in bed with Sorell--

All of 'em.

Paid off by that greedy fucking slumlord to look the other way

while my family dodged rats and drug dealers.

You came and took one look,

saw what this place had become.

"Screw Jack Manning," you said,

"and screw the housing authority."

I was showing off for your sister.

Yeah.

As far as I'm concerned, that's the night you became Tom Kane.

No response yet from the mayor's office

as the controversy shows no signs of abating.

Try again.

I don't care. Try every five minutes until you reach him.

Reference to trichloro--

Birth defects, lung abnormalities,

severe asthma.

- Yeah? - It's me. What are you wearing?

A suit of armor. It's the middle of a work day.

- It's Saturday. - Have you been watching the news?

- I need to see you. - Ben, primaries are four days away.

- Are you focusing? - I am, on you.

- I need to see you. - I am in the middle of a shitstorm.

I am not gonna drop everything and trek out to Decatur.

You don't have to.

Come with me, one hour.

You came back to Chicago for a quick fuck?

What's going on?

What's going on?

Get the fuck out of here, okay?

- You're wasting my time. - What if I drop out of the race?

That's why I'm here.

I had a meeting with some people and they think I should quit.

Who's they?

Cullen, Ross, others.

They came to me, proposed I drop out of the primary and...

- And? - ...Run next year.

- Next year? - For mayor.

Against?

Are you out of your fucking mind?

They think I can win, that they can make it happen.

- Well, they're using you. - For what?

You just asked me yourself-- have you been watching the news?

Forget a year, he may not be in office next Monday.

Don't underestimate. You have no idea.

Even if he does bounce back, if I don't make this move,

I'm in his pocket the rest of my political life.

What about Ross's pocket or Cullen's pocket?

It's different. They're different. I know how to handle them.

- How are they different? - This whole fucking thing is sinking.

We don't have to go down with it.

We have choices, options.

Why are you telling me all this?

I'm telling you this because I trust my instincts and I trust yours.

I mean think about this. How much have you had to compromise?

Sacrifice? And for what?