S02E09 - Binding Arbitration
No: 17 | Season: 2 Episode: 9 | Air Date: 7-Jun-15 | Ratings: 1.87
Summary
After Big Head finds a prototype Nucleus phone left behind at a bar by Hooli engineers, he gives the phone to Richard to use as leverage against Gavin Belson. After a round of awkward lawyer aided negotiation Gavin's lawyers agree to drop the lawsuit and settle for binding arbitration. Pete Monahan, a disbarred lawyer, agrees to represent Richard on spec because he is no longer allowed to practice law in a real court due to suspected sex crimes. Monahan interviews Richard and reveals that Richard had indeed used a Hooli computer to run a short test of Pied Piper while his personal laptop was being repaired, meaning that Hooli would own the rights to Pied Piper. Their only hope is that the Hooli lawyers do not discover this fact, and initially they do not, as they seem to be centering their case on establishing Big Head as a capable engineer who had a hand in Pied Piper. However, when Erlich is put on the witness stand he inadvertently reveals that Richard's laptop was in the shop being fixed, giving the necessary clue to the opposition. Richard, who is unwilling to lie under oath, finally admits that he used a Hooli computer. Meanwhile, due to low viewership, a technician is sent to take down the condor egg camera. However, he falls and becomes trapped in a ravine, and it is all live-streamed on Pied Piper's system.
Director and Writers
Director: Mike Judge
Written by: Dan O'Keefe
Quotes
Music
"Stretch Your Face" by Tobacco (Opening title music)
"Evil Friends (Jake One Remix)" by Portugal. The Man feat. Danny Brown (End-credits music.)
Notes and Trivia
Matt McCoy who plays arbitrator "Pete Monahan" once played "Lloyd Braun" on the "Seinfeld" series, which is where Executive Producer Alec Berg began his career.
Goofs
When Erlich takes the yogurt out of the refrigerator the camera cuts away, but when it cuts back a few seconds later the container is opened and a spoon is already in the yogurt.
Locations
The building that is used in the outside shots of the Palo Alto "Arbitration Center" is actually located at 150 East Olive Avenue, Burbank, CA. (Google)
Cast
Starring | Thomas Middleditch | Richard Hendricks |
Starring | T.J. Miller | Erlich Bachman |
Starring | Josh Brener | Nelson 'Big Head' Bighetti |
Starring | Martin Starr | Bertram Gilfoyle |
Starring | Kumail Nanjiani | Dinesh Chugtai |
Starring | Amanda Crew | Monica Hall |
Starring | Zach Woods | Donald 'Jared' Dunn |
Starring | Matt Ross | Gavin Belson |
Starring | Suzanne Cryer | Laurie Bream (credit only) |
Starring | Jimmy O. Yang | Jian Yang (credit only) |
Guest Starring | Ben Feldman | Ron LaFlamme |
Guest Starring | Patrick Daniel | Tech Guy |
Guest Starring | Aly Mawji | Aly Dutta |
Guest Starring | Matt McCoy | Pete Monahan |
Guest Starring | Karen Strassman | Hooli Lead Counsel |
Guest Starring | Brian Tichnell | Jason |
Co-Starring | Cate Cohen | Melinda |
Co-Starring | Stephanie Rose Feldman | |
Co-Starring | Jules Hartley | Hooli Assistant Counsel |
Co-Starring | Bart McCarthy | Judge Underwood |
Co-Starring | Diallo Riddle | Paul |