High Noon

"What if Hardman planted the CM memo in the first place? Donna never saw the memo. Donna never makes mistakes. What if she never saw it four years ago because it wasn't there?"
— Harvey Specter

High Noon is the tenth episode of the second season of Suits and the 22nd overall. It first aired on August 23, 2012.

Synopsis

Harvey needs Mike's help as the battle for control of Pearson Hardman reaches its climax. But Mike drops off the grid following a dramatic turn in his personal life.

Plot

To be added

Cast

Main Cast

Recurring Cast

David Costabile as Daniel Hardman
Eric Close as Travis Tanner

Guest Cast

Elisabeth Hower as Tess
John Finn as Lawrence Kemp
Matt Murray as Man

Major/Highlighted Events

Daniel Hardman wins the partnership vote and becomes the new managing partner of Pearson Hardman.
Harvey goes to Mike's apartment and the pair smoke weed and get high. Harvey suggests that they go pee in Louis' office, but when they get to the firm, Harvey decides to disclose the secret behind the can opener and the thumbtacks to Mike. However, the pair find Louis rummaging through Harvey's office. Harvey nearly punches Louis before Mike stops him.
- Mike goes through the office's contents, believing that Louis might have planted something to get rid of him. He then suggests that they plant something in Hardman's office to get rid of him since Hardman wouldn't hesitate to do the same, and Harvey realizes the Coastal Motors memo was planted by Hardman to oust him.
- Louis, who had smelt marijuana off Harvey, presents a drug test authorization to Hardman and fires Harvey. However, according to the firm's by-laws, a senior partner's dismissal can be contested at a hearing comprised of fellow senior partners.

Mike and Harvey inform Jessica that Hardman planted the memo and allied himself with Travis Tanner. Tanner himself privately notifies Harvey that he settled because the memo was fradulent and therefore would not hold up in court. Jessica tells them to get proof, and Mike pays a visit to C.M.'s CEO, Lawrence Kemp. During Harvey's termination hearing, the majority of the partners vote against Harvey being fired. Jessica, however, declares that Hardman had engineered the whole suit against her firm, forcing each senior partner to pay $100,000 of their own money, for the sole purpose of buying control. Hardman claims that they have no proof, only for Mike to crash the meeting and declare that he has a sworn affidavit stating that Hardman knew about the C.M. defects six years ago. Jessica then declares that fraudulently suing the firm is grounds for dismissal, and the majority of the partners, including Louis, vote for Hardman to be ousted.
- Hardman threatens to take the matter to court unless Jessica signs a confidentiality clause, which she does.
- Mike privately admits to Harvey and Jessica that he could not get Kemp to sign the affidavit and thus signed it under his own name.
Mike reunites with his former childhood girlfriend Tess at Edith Ross' funeral. He makes out with Tess, but breaks it off when she tells him she is married, ordering her to leave. At work, Mike kisses Rachel, but she tells him that people don't make smart decision when they are reeling from a loss. Mike later invites Tess to his apartment despite her being married, and after having sex, are interrupted by the arrival of Rachel. Rachel declares that she doesn't wish to be smart and wants to be with Mike, but sees Tess wrapped in a bed sheet.

Cultural References

The episode title is a reference to the 1952 Western film of the same name.
Mike and Harvey quote "These pretzels are making me thirsty!" from Seinfeld.
Louis claims that he always pays back his debts as he is a Lannister, referencing Game of Thrones.
Louis believes Harvey's favorite basketball player to be "Shaquille O'Bryant".
Mike mentions Bob Marley.
Mike quotes Morgan Freeman's character Red from The Shawshank Redemption when he says to Harvey: "I mean, seriously, how often do you really look at a man's shoes?".

Trivia

Goddamn Counter: 1
For the second time, Paul Porter is missing from a mandatory senior partners' meeting.
It is revealed that Jessica and Harvey smoked weed in her office in the past as a celebration.
A diploma in Harvey's office reveals that he graduated from New York University.

Goofs/Inconsistencies

Jessica tells Hardman to consider the $3 million he embezzled from the firm five years ago as his partnership being bought out. However, in "Rewind", Jessica states that the amount Hardman stole was $500,000.

Quotes

Harvey: What was really on that affidavit, anyway?
Mike: What I said was on it.
Harvey: You realize it's a felony to sign someone else's name to a sworn document.
Mike: I didn't sign someone else's name. I signed my own name. I mean, seriously, how often do you really look at a man's shoes?