The episode kicks off in bustling New York City, the year being 2010, where Ted Black (portrayed by Stephen Amell) pays a visit to Billy (Aleks Paunovic), delivering an ultimatum: testify or face the consequences, which could lead to his daughter's arrest. Scarcely has Ted departed the premises when a deafening explosion rocks the house, and he awakens in the comfort of his own home to find Eddie Black (Carson A. Egan) hovering over him, reassuring him that it was all but a nightmare. Graciously, Eddie decides to whip up some breakfast, already up and about.
Meanwhile, Stuart Lane (Josh McDermitt) steps into his workplace only to be greeted by the shocking news of Lester Thompson's (Kevin Weisman) arrest for murder. Elsewhere, Ted presents Dylan Pryor (Victoria Justice) with a lucrative new deal sealed with Warner Brothers, only to be promptly informed by her that he is no longer her representative. With Rick Dodsen's (Bryan Greenberg) entrance, Dylan inquires about the aftermath of the upcoming merger. After a brief negotiation, Ted concedes to not reassign her to another lawyer if she signs immediately, giving her until he reaches his office to make up her mind before exiting. Rick follows suit moments later, revealing their colluded charade.
In the hallway, Ted bumps into Erica Rollins (Lex Scott Davis), who expresses her desire for a promotion, which he dismisses by awarding it to Rick instead. Their conversation is abruptly halted by the arrival of Rosalyn (Azita Ghanizada), who breaks the news that Dylan has signed the papers.
Returning to his office, Rick finds John Amos (played by the same John Amos) awaiting him. John, hopeful for a role with hypnotic, seeks Rick's assistance. Rick politely declines, noting the role's age disparity and their lack of agency status, suggesting John should take it up with Ted.
A disgruntled Lester is freed from custody by Stuart, who clarifies their respective roles: Ted handles production while Stuart deals with criminal matters. Lester confides in Stuart about his partner's suicide during their grand opening celebration, insisting on self-defense despite Stuart's efforts to persuade him otherwise. Lester, steadfast in his innocence, challenges Stuart to conjure up a witness.
Erica drops by Rick's office, her playful taunts filling the air, just as Rosalyn approaches Ted with solemn news: his father is in hospice care. Ted, already aware, responds coldly, instructing Rosalyn to inform them to call back only when his father has passed. This brusque exchange triggers a poignant flashback to 2010, when Ted's father, Matt Letscher, offered him a job in the aftermath of the blast. Ted, however, politely declined the offer. His reverie is abruptly shattered by Rick, who seeks to discuss Erica and a potential promotion, a conversation that quickly sours and culminates in Rick revealing sensitive information about John. Rosalyn re-enters, laden with Ted's workload, gently urging him to ease up on Rick.
Ted then ventures into Stuart's office, resolved to voice his unwavering commitment to the impending merger. As he inks the deal, Stuart reflects on a poignant milestone: fifteen years ago to the day, they embarked on their entrepreneurial journey together. Stuart persuades Ted to celebrate this anniversary later that evening.
Meanwhile, Leah Power, played by Alice Lee, pays Rick a visit, expressing her desire to work under his wing. Rick, however, reminds her that she is currently under Erica's supervision. Leah counters, asserting that Erica is uninterested in mentoring her. Despite her earnest plea, Rick stands firm, redirecting her to discuss the matter with Erica.
Elsewhere, Ted confronts a disgruntled Lester, who informs him that he intends to proceed with his case irrespective of Ted's advice. Ted reassures Lester that Stuart is the foremost defense attorney in the nation, a sentiment Lester concedes to, agreeing to let Stuart represent him.
Ted and Stuart, basking in the glow of their monumental achievement, chose to commemorate the occasion by poking fun at Clooney during their festive dinner. As the evening drew to a close, Ted was eager to return to the office, but Stuart's persuasive charms led him astray, convincing him to head over to Jones' place for one more libation. Ted, eventually succumbing to the alcohol's influence, stumbled home inebriated. Once laid out on the couch in a drunken stupor, his mind drifted back to a harrowing memory from 2010—the moment Billy was pronounced dead at the hospital. Despite the doctor's and Kevin's (played by Troy Winbush) profound displeasure, Ted managed to convince them to perpetuate a charade, pretending that Billy still breathed.
The next morning, Ted was jolted awake by Rick with the startling news that Stuart had poached every senior member across all departments, sparing only sports and entertainment. Rick advocated for filing an injunction, but Ted insisted on a different tack—securing signed contracts from clients they couldn't afford to part with. On his mission to accomplish this, Ted bumped into Amanda Stevens (played by Maggie Grace). He propositioned her to spend the day aiding in client retention, only to be met with her steadfast refusal. Even after dangling a generous $100,000 incentive, she stood her ground.
Confronting Stuart head-on, Ted demanded explanations. Stuart, appearing unrepentant, shared that he now understood Ted's predicament all too well. Ted threatened legal action, to which Stuart casually replied that if a lawsuit were in the cards, he'd be there with the papers already. Stuart then posed a poignant question: what did Ted truly desire? Ted articulated his need for Litvak, Johnson, and Riley. Stuart, however, flatly denied his request and warned that any legal proceedings would uncover the real reason behind Ted's departure from New York.
Later, Ted paid a visit to Greg Litvak (played by Rob Nagle). He played Greg the recording of his conversation with Stuart, hoping to sway him into bringing Riley and Johnson on board. Greg, moved by Ted's plea, agreed to the proposition.
Stuart reaches out to Erica with an enticing proposition, offering her the prestigious role of Head of Entertainment at his company, contingent upon her spying on Ted for a period of six months. Erica, hesitant to commit immediately, seeks counsel from Rick, attempting to persuade him to withdraw his candidacy for a similar position at Ted's firm. Rick, steadfast in his resolve, refuses her plea and warns her that Ted will forever doubt her loyalty. Undeterred, Erica proceeds straight to Ted, presenting her case directly, yet meets with a swift rejection. However, Ted does assign her the task of securing as many clients as possible, including Rick's.
Ted visits Amanda, inquiring about the nature of her legal practice. Amanda reveals her specialization in criminal defense, prompting Ted to query how she can defend clients potentially guilty of their charges. She replies emphatically that everyone deserves a fair defense. Additionally, Amanda hints at her awareness of the undercurrents between Ted and Stuart, cautioning him that once a certain path is embarked upon, there is no turning back.
Ted seeks out Rick once more, offering an apology for his earlier harsh words and revealing his decision to appoint Erica as Head of Entertainment. Meanwhile, Leah confronts Erica, demanding to be nominated for the position of Senior Associate, threatening to find an ally who will comply if Erica refuses. Erica assures Leah of her willingness to fight for her but requests her understanding regarding her inability to act on her behalf for the next six months. The content of Erica's explanation remains unseen.
In a bid to undermine Stuart, Ted attempts to convince Lester to terminate Stuart's employment and hire him instead, asserting his trustworthiness where Stuart's is lacking. Upon returning to his office, Ted finds Leah awaiting him, informing him that Erica is secretly aligned with Stuart. Alarmed, Ted rushes to Erica's office, demanding her immediate departure. Erica clarifies that she orchestrated the encounter with Leah as a test of loyalty, admitting she hadn't approached Stuart, but acknowledging perhaps she should have. Furthermore, she alerts Ted to the possibility that if Stuart approached her for espionage, he may have similarly targeted Rick.
Ted receives a poignant letter from Rick, announcing his resignation from their shared firm. Distressed, Ted seeks out John to convey the news about Rick and assure him that the audition can still proceed as planned. John, however, reveals that he is present not merely for Rick's sake but because Ted appears unfocused, grappling with the heartbreaking loss of his father. John earnestly advises Ted to seek forgiveness for his late father, to which Ted responds with a firm refusal, insisting that his father does not deserve it. John counters gently, urging Ted to grant forgiveness for his own peace of mind, rather than his father's.
Later, Ted sits down with Samantha Railsback (played by Rachelle Goulding) to confide in her about his father's impending demise. Meanwhile, Erica finds herself in a dilemma with her mother, contemplating whether to support Ted or Stuart in an ongoing power struggle. During their conversation, Ted confronts Samantha, inquiring whether it was her initiative or Stuart's to exclude him from the firm. Samantha candidly admits it was Stuart's doing. Ted vows to fight back with all his might.
When Ted inquires why Erica has stayed loyal to him instead of switching sides to Stuart, she responds by saying that he sees her for her true self. As a gesture of appreciation and trust, he promotes her to the head of entertainment, effective immediately. Erica, expressing her aspirations for partnership, receives his agreement.
As Ted boards a plane, he finds himself lost in a poignant reverie, revisiting a poignant conversation with Eddie about their father's abandonment. Separately, Erica confesses to Leah about misleading her about abandoning Ted, yet Leah chooses not to terminate her employment.
Ted pays a visit to Kevin, seeking his assistance in a pressing matter. Kevin responds by revealing that unresolved issues with his own father had drastically derailed his career, and initially declines the request. However, Ted persuades him by reminding Kevin of a debt owed, insisting that Kevin is the one capable of taking on the challenge.
Ted then proceeds to confront his father, revisiting memories of a cherished Yankees game they once attended together, accompanied by Eddie. He delves deeper, confronting his father about the conviction that led to someone else's hands taking Eddie's life. Ted imparts a poignant ultimatum: redemption can only be found in accepting a solitary fate.
Later, Ted and Stuart converge at a hearing, where the discussion revolves around appointing substitute counsel for Lester's case. Stuart informs Lester that Ted is willing to step in and represent him in a murder trial, and Lester, acknowledging Ted's unwavering belief in his innocence, agrees without hesitation. Stuart relinquishes the case without protest. Lester, steadfast in his innocence, pleads not guilty.
The episode concludes with Erica, holding her freshly minted Black & Associates business cards, symbolizing both a fresh start and the promising ventures ahead.
