Trama

Logan, Kendall, Gerri and Tom testify before Congress; Shiv speaks candidly to Kira, a victim who is set to be a key witness; in Turkey, Roman's business pitch takes a chilling turn.

The episode opens with Logan Roy (Brian Cox) walking through Central Park followed by his bodyguard Colin (Scott Nicholson). It is early evening. In the Roy apartment living room, Logan's family are watching the broadcast of an expose by James Weissel (uncredited). Gathered are: Connor Roy (Alan Ruck), Cousin Greg Hirsch (Nicholas Braun), the company financial officer Frank Vernon (Peter Friedman), Roman Roy (Kieran Culkin), Tom Wambsgans (Matthew Macfadyen) and Kendall Roy (Jeremy Strong). All are mocking the broadcast. Susan Vardy (Debbye Turner), the broadcast host, introduces James Weissel and outlines his allegations of wrongdoing at Brighstar Cruise Lines, which include cover-ups of sexual exploitation and payouts of millions of dollars. He names Lester McClintock as the man in charge at the time. During the course of the interview other senior Waystar employees are mentioned, including: Gerri Kellman, Bill Lockheart (Mark Blum), Kendall Roy and Tom Wambsgans. An exasperated Logan has had enough, "I can't watch any more of this f**king bulls**t." He tosses the TV remote control to his oldest son, Connor and storms off. In another room his senior staff is watching the program and taking notes. Those assembled include: Gerri Kellman (J. Smith-Cameron), Karl (David Rasche), Karolina (Dagmara Kominczyk) and Hugo Baker (Fisher Stevens). Shiv Roy (Sarah Snook) is on her way over by limo. Karolina hands Logan the talking points they will employ during their PR response. Gerri expresses the opinion that they hang it all on the now deceased Lester McClintock. The group decides to add Bill Lockheart to the list of sacrificial lambs. Gerri believes that there is no paper trail that leads any higher than Bill.

Credits Roll.

Greg announces to the family that he has decided to forego his grandfather's inheritance of $250 million and stay with Uncle Logan because he believes Logan will protect him. Greg knows he is involved deeply in the Brightstar scandal. Roman summarizes the group think that Bill will be left holding the bag and Logan agrees that it will all blow over in 48 hours. Shiv disagrees and informs the group, "I'm just off the phone, and it's definite. Either [Senators] Gil [Eavis] or Gilliard are going to call for hearings. Yeah, Senate Commerce, probably House, too." Logan screams, "No! No! I can't have this now!" Logan directs Karolina to make some phone calls and call in some political favors. Hugo suggests Tom and Gerri be added to the list of those who will explain things to congress. Obviously Logan and Kendall will be questioned. Frank reminds the group that the shareholder meeting is two and one-half weeks away.

Logan pulls Roman out of the meeting to direct his youngest son to speak again to Eduard Asgarov of Turkey to take the company private. Logan tells Roman, "Congress will spook shareholders. I'm on a knife's edge. Ten bad minutes on camera in D.C., that could be it. The end." Roman faces his own limitations and admits to Logan that he might not be up to the challenge. Logan expresses his confidence that Roman can pull this off. Logan adds, "Take Laird and Karl. For the details." Roman then mentions the whereabouts of Marcia. Logan answers without answering. Roman departs. He meets Rhea Jarrell (Holly Hunter) at the elevator. Logan greets Rhea. Rhea voices her concerns about becoming CEO of Waystar-Royco, "Yeah. Worried I've agreed to be CEO of a dumpster fire pirate death ship. The magazine [article] was one thing, but this? Yeah, I feel like I'm your prophylactic. A rubber you've slipped on, so I can protect you. I can see I fulfill a useful role at this point." Logan assures Rhea that she is good and will help with the current situation. Rhea expresses her reluctance and displeasure at being used. Rhea observes, "It's fun to be the new bride. Rearranging the bachelor's apartment. Putting flowers out. It's just not nice to think you might find a corpse in the freezer, you know, Bluebeard?" Rhea agrees to meet with the crisis team and provide an encouraging word or two. After the chore is done, Rhea departs.

Roman, Karl and Jamie Laird (Danny Huston) board the company jet for Scotland. They meet with Eduard Asgarov (Babak Tafti) while watching their soccer team practice. Roman asks straight out if Asgarov and his Dad can take Waystar private. The reply is yes, but Roman and his team must go to Turkey to pitch their plan to Eduard's Dad directly at the Azeri investment conference in Bursa. The Waystar team arrives in Washington and are greeted outside the Senate Building to chants and protesters. Some are waving placards that say, "Roys are Poison" and "Rapestar S**tco." Roman, Karl and Laird are being driven to their meeting with Asgarov and his father, or so they think. After clearing security, including a metal detector, Shiv, Tom, Hugo and Gerri are dismayed when they see Bill Lockheart. Bill greets his old comrades warmly. Bill explains that he is not a witness, but an interested party to the proceedings. At a nearby hotel, one Waystar group meets while the witnesses meet in a Senate conference room. Tom is anxious, but Hugo reminds him, "It is not a court house. It is a stage, okay? Anything goes, Filibuster. Every minute you're speaking, you're stealing from them and their horses**t." They head for the hearing chambers. Gerri and Tom sit at the witness table. Senator Gilliard (Linda Marie Larson) opens the hearing.

In Turkey, Roman makes his pitch. During the meeting they hear a commotion outside the room. A couple of armed men enter the room. Eduard tells Roman, Laird and Karl to go with the armed men. Kadir (Ekin Koc) dressed all in black collects the trio's cellphones. The hearing continues with Senator Gil Eavis (Eric Bogosian) questioning Tom about "Uncle Mo". Tom bungles his responses. Logan, watching from the waiting room is very disappointed in Tom's performance. Roman and company are escorted to a ballroom in the hotel. Guards are standing by heavily armed. Eduard is trying to explain things to Roman, but it is clear he isn't completely sure what is happening either. Senator Eavis asks about the Thanksgiving Day document destruction. The boxes were signed out by Gregory Hirsch. Eavis asks Tom if he knows a Gregory Hirsch and Tom says no, then changes his answer to yes. Hugo Baker is so horrified by Tom's poor performance he asks Shiv, "What is it like to be married to a man with two assholes?" Tom enters the war room and blames his dismal performance on Hugo. Greg enters and freaks out. Logan throws Greg out. Ken suggests to Shiv that she find out what the Senator has next on his agenda. Shiv goes to see her old boss, Senator Eavis and asks for a favor. In exchange for good ATN press coverage and concentration on Weissel and Bill Lockheart, he leaves Waystar senior management alone. Eavis is not interested. His aid tells Shiv they have a better witness than Weissel and her testimony will be explosive. The witness is a woman named Kira and she will provide damaging testimony about Lester McClintock and the threats and intimidation. [Note: I can't imagine a sitting Senator would meet with the daughter of a hearing target and divulge such information about a "secret" witness.] It seems that Senator Gilliard and Rhea are friends, so Logan asks Rhea to talk to the Senator and set up a meeting with the victim and handle the matter. Rhea is stunned. Logan directs Shiv and Rhea to try. Next in the witness chairs are Logan and Kendall. Naomi Pierce (Annabelle Dexter-Jones) is in the audience to lend moral support to Kendall. During the questioning, Logan tries deflection and pleads ignorance until he shifts the Cruise Division matter onto Kendall. Kendall immediately goes on the attack against Senator Eavis. Ken questions the Senator's motives behind the vendetta against Logan Roy and his media outlets.

All the foreign nationals are locked in the hotel ballroom. Karl admits to having a panic attack as people are being escorted, at gun point, out of the ballroom. Eduard discusses more details on the investment. Shiv and Rhea go off to meet with Kira, the Cruise Line victim and would be witness at the Senate hearing. Rhea sighs, "Well, this doesn't feel great." Shiv agrees, adding, "No, no, soft skills, lady-dirty s**t-work." When they arrive at the playground Rhea informs Shiv, "Look, I'm not going in." She tells Shiv she doesn't have to either, but Shiv explains that her fortune is tied up in the success of the company, so she does have to do this unpleasant chore. Shiv greets Kira (Sally Murphy) in the park playground. In a skillful maneuver Shiv convinces Kira that it would be better for her to drop out of the Senate hearings. Shiv tells Kira that everyone wants what's best for themselves, so she should decide for herself. Shiv demonstrates that a skillful mix of deceit, lies, fake concern, and self-interest works its magic. When a man enters the ballroom and asks all foreign nationals to identify themselves, Roman, Laird and Karl expect the worst. The trio is told to follow the man, but Asgarov remains in the ballroom.

With the day's hearing over, the Waystar crowd meets in a large room. The Senator from Missouri congratulates Kendall on his performance. Bill Lockheart adds his praise. Applause greets Logan's entrance. Logan talks to Bill. Bill makes it clear in a very subtle but unmistakable way that he has information and logs that could be very damaging if Waystar wants to make him the scapegoat. Logan got the message. Logan thanks Shiv for the Kira intervention, as it seems the woman decided for personal reasons not to testify. Logan next praises his son, Ken, on his performance at the hearings. Gerri tells Logan that Rhea has arrived and would like a private word. Rhea admits, "So, as you know, I didn't go in [to meet with Kira]." Logan assures his next CEO that it was ok. He praises Shiv's role to Rhea. Rhea wants to settle another matter. She wants to know how Logan managed the Kira affair. Logan refuses to give a straight answer. Logan has the ability to lie so casually, Rhea observes, "It's kind of a superpower, isn't it? If you can lie to someone like that...to their face." Rhea informs Logan that she's done with it all. Logan just thinks it a play for more money by Rhea. Exasperated he tells Rhea, "I could always find someone else. You know you're fungible." Rhea dares Logan to replace her as she walks away.

At Logan's apartment Shiv hands her Dad a drink. They are watching an ATN commentary on the Senate hearings. Shiv wants to confirm the news that Rhea is leaving. Logan confirms the news and expresses his concern over the shareholders meeting. He admits the hearing hurt him. Shiv is told, "Bill's on maneuvers. He won't go quietly. No, no, no. Bill's not the answer." He tells his daughter, "We need something big. Time for a blood sacrifice."

End Credits Roll.