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Full Disclosure is the seventh episode of the seventh season of Suits and the 99th overall. It first aired on August 23, 2017.
Synopsis
Harvey learns the scope of Alex's involvement with the prison case; Mike tries to keep the case alive; Lipschitz forces Louis out of his comfort zone; Donna tries to balance work and life.
Plot
In flashbacks to the Pearson Hardman days, it is revealed that Alex Williams arranged for himself and Harvey Specter to get junior partner positions at Bratton Gould, following Harvey's displeasure over Daniel Hardmans' promotion of Louis Litt to junior partner ahead of himself. Alex assures Thomas Bratton that Harvey's arrival is a "done deal", but Jessica Pearson ultimately convinces Harvey to stay, causing problems for Alex. Harvey apologizes to Alex, and promises a favor if he ever needs it. Alex is given mostly grunt work and unwinnable cases for several years, and his only way back in is to become part of an unholy alliance between Bratton, Masterson Construction and Reform Corporation, an alliance that Mike Ross has just discovered in the present day.
Mike tries to get Anita Gibbs to take over the Masterson case as a criminal matter, now that the civil case has been dropped, but Gibbs sees too many conflicts. A flashback scene reveals Donna broke up with Mark Meadows, her boyfriend of six months, when it becomes clear she will follow Harvey wherever he goes. In the present, Alex reveals all to Mike, including how his life could be in danger if Masterson is prosecuted, while Harvey reveals the same to Donna.
Cast
Main Cast
- Gabriel Macht as Harvey Specter
- Patrick J. Adams as Mike Ross
- Rick Hoffman as Louis Litt
- Meghan Markle as Rachel Zane
- Sarah Rafferty as Donna Paulsen
- Gina Torres as Jessica Pearson
Recurring Cast
- Dulé Hill as Alex Williams
- Leslie Hope as Anita Gibbs
- Paul Schulze as Frank Gallo
- David Reale as Benjamin
- Ray Proscia as Stan Lipschitz
Guest Cast
- Jay Harrington as Mark Meadows
- Al Sapienza as Thomas Bratton
- Blair Williams as Pat Kreuger
- Nabil Rajo as Jeffrey
- Jorge Molina as Judge Rudolph Montoya
Major/Highlighted Events
Flashbacks
- Following Louis Litt's promotion to junior partner, Harvey Specter is disillusioned in his tenure at Pearson Hardman. While playing poker with his friend Alex Williams, a senior associate at Bratton Gould, Alex proposes that Harvey join Bratton Gould and that the two of them become junior partners. While Thomas Bratton is interesting in poaching one from Skadden instead, he is willing to promote Harvey and Alex to junior partner under the condition that Harvey gives his word that he will leave Pearson Hardman to join them, which Harvey does. However, as Harvey begins to pack up his things, Jessica Pearson apologizes if he has been mistreated and informs him that she has made a deal with Daniel Hardman that Harvey would be the firm's next junior partner, and Harvey decides to stay.
- Harvey apologizes to Alex for breaking his word and promises Alex that if he ever required a favor from him in the future, no matter what, he would repay him.
- Louis is made Head of the Associates by Jessica.
Present Day
- Alex Williams reveals that after Harvey Specter broke his word, he was not promoted and was scorned by Bratton Gould, who gave him unwinnable cases and had him work ninety hours a week. After a few years, however, he was given a chance to redeem himself by Thomas Bratton, who had him represent Masterson Construction, who built the prisons owned and operated by Reform Corp. As their attorney, Alex signed a waiver that allowed the prison to supplement their workers with prisoner labor, although in reality, the prisoners consisted of the entire workforce. In addition to Bratton Gould, Masterson Construction and Reform Corporation benefiting from using prisoners for unpaid labor, they had defrauded the state by filing inflated labor costs by 80%.
- After a prisoner died while working, a guard gave Alex a letter regarding Reform Corp.'s cover-up of the prisoner's death. Alex passed it on to Thomas Bratton, who informed Masterson and Reform Corp., and the three arranged for the guard to be murdered. Additionally, Bratton connected all of Alex's bonuses to the incident to make it seem like Alex was responsible. As Alex had a family and attempting to expose the trio would implicate him, Alex chose to keep silent on the matter and aided the other three companies in maintaining their crime.
Cultural References
Flashbacks
- Louis mentions Mikhail Baryshnikov.
- Louis refers to Harvey as F. Lee Bailey and later as a cross between Marlon Brando and Superman.
- William Shakespeare is mentioned.
Present Day
- Downton Abbey is mentioned.
Trivia
- Goddamn Counter: 2
- Louis is revealed to be Jewish.
- The flashback scenes in this episode take place right after the Pearson Hardman flashback scenes in the season 4 episode "Fork in the Road".
Goofs/Inconsistencies
- The flashback scene is said to take place "seven years" ago in 2009, after the events of the Pearson Hardman flashbacks in "Fork in the Road", an episode which also stated that it was taking place in 2009. However, during these flashbacks, Daniel Hardman is present and operating as managing partner; according to the season 2 episode "Rewind", Hardman was ousted from the firm in 2007, meaning that these flashback scenes would take place prior to 2009.
- Louis refers to Harvey as a sixth-year associate; while it is correct that Harvey would be at least a sixth-year, in the flashbacks shown in "Fork in the Road", which take place right before, Harvey is stated to be a fifth-year associate.
- It is revealed in this episode that Jessica Pearson made an appointment with Dr. Stan Lipschitz on Louis' behalf shortly after he was promoted by Hardman to junior partner. However, this contradicts Louis' statement in the season 4 episode "Pound of Flesh", where Louis states that he spent 14 years of therapy with Lipschitz.
- In the flashback scenes of Harvey's office during his tenure as senior associate, the door is located on the wrong side.
Quotes
Alex: Kings over seven, motherfucker. |
Lipschitz: If I ask you the one person whose respect you crave the most, who would it be? Don't dwell on it; just say the first name that pops into your head. Louis: Harvey Specter. Lipschitz: Good! What's he like? Louis: He's like a cross between Marlon Brando and Superman. What? Lipschitz: I'm just picturing. This Harvey. is he a friend? Louis: He's my best friend. Lipschitz: Hm. Would he describe you as his best friend? Louis: What the– what the fuck is that supposed to mean? Lipschitz: Louis! Louis: You son of a bitch! You implyin' that I'm not as good as him, that I'm worthless? Well you know what, you Nazi supposed Jew? I don't need to take that from ya; I'm goddamn out of here! |
Mike: Harvey, they are lining their pockets on the backs of people who should have gone free years ago, and you're letting them get away with it! Harvey: I'm their lawyer, I'm not a prosecutor. Mike: What the fuck does Alex Williams have on you, huh? Harvey: Nobody has anything on me. Mike: Then why the hell you doing this? 'Cause there's no way it's for the money. |
Gallery
