succession

11 DC

While the Roy's were at a conference, a New York Magazine article dropped. Alleging that cruises executive, Lester McClintock, had pressured female workers into having sex to renew their contracts. This Waystar cruise scandal has put the company in hot water. Spiraling into the Roys being compelled to testify in Washington, D.C. before the Senate regarding allegations of sexual misconduct on their company's cruise ships.

Their small group enters the government building to find Logan already there with Kendall. They are working from a boardroom before and during all the proceedings before Congress. They all find a seat at the large wooden table in the center of the room, surrounded by their whole legal team. Tom is the first one to be called to the stand and is understandably quite nervous. 

One Senator bangs a gavel and addresses the room. "The committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, will come to order. We welcome everyone to today's hearing on corporate abuses in the Brightstar cruise lines."

Tom is confronted by an aggressive Senator Eavis, who continuously questions him for all his actions, while Logan, Ken, Shiv and Rose watch together from the board room. But things really go down hill as he is questioned about Lester's nickname Moe. Tom claims to not know the reasoning behind the man's nickname.. "Moe Lester." But he really struggles to escape culpability when he is pressed on why he only seems to use this nickname when talking about Lester... but never to him. And when confronted about missing documents that were checked out by Greg, in a panic, Tom claims to not know who Greg is. This leaves everyone in the boardroom, along with Greg who was in the audience, in a panic.

When Tom returns to the room he has a full breakdown accusing everyone of fucking him, as Greg paces back and forth repeating a variation of, "oh fuck.. oh man." Greg ends up leaving the room, in a complete stressed state. The legal team requests that someone go find him because Greg is up next.

Rose goes to calm him down. She finds him pacing once again in the bathroom.

Greg stops, surprised to see her in the mens room, "Hey are you allowed to be in here?"

"It's fine i have my assistant like barricading the door." Rose says, grabbing his arms trying to ground him.

Greg, very agitated, blurts out, "I'm going to go to- fucking- jail because of TOM!!"

Rose hops on to the sink and brings his head to her chest, caressing his head. Greg is basically doubled over, holding on for dear life embracing Rose, comforted by her touch.

"You wont go to jail. I promise you that... I'll make sure they wont burn you. okay?" Rose whispers to him, somewhat ending his downward spiral.

Its time for Greg to be called before the committee.

He anxiously enters the room to the sounds of indistinct chatter and camera clicking. He takes his seat and the room is called to order.

Senator Eavis starts in again, "Gregory Hirsch, executive assistant to Tom Wambsgans, correct?"

Greg: Yes. Yes, if it is to be said

Senator Eavis: Im sorry?

Greg: Uh.. if it is to be said, so it be-- so it is.

Senator Eavis: Are you alright?

Greg: Uh... yes. Uh.. I merely wish to answer in the affirmative fashion.

Senator Eavis: You can speak to us normally.

Greg: Thanks- thank you Senator. Uh.. so i shall.

After they finished with Greg, Logan and Kendall go. Logan rather calmly read his statement before Congress, but when he was asked a tough question, he pushed Kendall in front of the bus to answer. Surprisingly they pulled through very smoothly.

Later on that evening Rose visits her parents home to check in with her dad. She finds Logan sitting in front of the TV, watching ATN cover the hearing. Rose watches as the news anchor relays the proceedings, "Logan Roy served self-satisfied hypocrites on the senate commerce committee a healthy portion of reality pie today when he delivered them a taken for the ages."

Rose brings her father a drink and sits down next to him. Instead of drinking hers she just rotates her glass, swirling the ice and trying to figure out the best way to approach this conversation.

Rose begins, "So do you think thats it? Do you think we're through it?"

Logan thinks for a second before answering, "Honestly?... No. Not with the shareholders. Today went well for us but... I'm hurt, we're hurt."

Logan turns his attention back to the broadcast. Rose can tell her father is thinking his strategy through as he's saying it.

Logan takes a sip and starts again, "No, we cant just blame dead old Moe, they'll want something else... It's time for a blood sacrifice.