Previously on "In Treatment"...
He knew that Kate was in Italy with another man.
He threw it in my face.
How dare you?
It's completely over, if that matters at all.
Am I the first patient to be in love with you, Paul?
- Are you all right? - Yeah, I don't think I can do this.
- Do what? - I just don't think it's leading anywhere.
- Where do you want it to lead, Alex? - Some place sane. I miss flying.
We need to discuss in a little greater detail your ending therapy.
We are finishing today.
- Tell him I'm ready. - Well, let's just talk about whether you are ready or not.
- I need this. - You put me in a very difficult position, Alex.
I never had a patient die before in treatment.
- Are you going out? - I'm gonna see Laura.
Weird being in a patient's house?
You're not a patient. You're over me?
No, I'm not.
- Paul. - I saw Laura today.
I went over there to tell her that I loved her.
- What happened? - I had an anxiety attack.
You had to take him apart, didn't you?
Did you think that Alex's therapy here has something to do with his death?
Okay, all right, I'm coming.
- Who is it? - Delivery.
Okay.
Mr. Prince.
Have you thought, if you moved to Brooklyn I wouldn't find you?
- Is -- Is everything okay? - Okay?
- Would you forget already? - No, of course I didn't.
How can I ever forget that?
No one wants to take responsibility.
You know, everybody thinks they can just run away.
I don't anymore.
I -- I'm a little confused, it's been over a year. Has something happened?
I got a report back from the Navy.
There was no sign of a... mechanical malfunction.
I didn't know that.
But you knew my son wasn't ready to fly.
You knew... and you did nothing to stop him.
Now he's gone. You still practicing?
Would you like to come inside?
Is this your new office, where you help people...
like you did Alex?
- I would never go in there. - Mr. Prince, Alex's death was...
a tragedy, I can't even imagine to begin to imagine what you --
I don't want you to imagine, man, I want you to live it.
- I understand your rage. - You understand nothing!
You wanna understand something, doctor?
- Maybe you will understand this. - What's this?
Lawsuit... against you.
I told them I'd serve the summons myself.
Can we talk about this, please?
- Is that gonna bring him back? - No, obviously it's not gonna bring him back.
Well, you know.
That's what Alex killed in the first place: talking with you.
- I did not kill your son, Mr. Prince. - Oh, yeah.
Tell that to his son.
- I'm sorry. - No, no. That's not good enough.
You're gonna pay.
I want you to pay.
In Treatment, S02E01 Mia: Week One
Mr. Weston? This way, please.
Paul.
It's been a while. How are you?
I -- I'm fine, it's, it's, uh... It's me, isn't it?
- I wasn't sure you would remember. - Of course I remember.
You have changed.
Actually I, I, I had an appointment with, uh, Mr. Ellis.
I know. Unfortunately he stuck down in D.C. He sends his apologies. I'm covering.
Ah, okay. Well, then maybe I should wait for him to come back.
Oh, you can, but he might be a while and... I've already looked at your file.
But still... given our history...
God. Please, Paul.
The first hearing is, um, in eight weeks.
I, I think it's in your best interest to get started.
Eight weeks. Is that enough time?
No, exactly. Look, you're here, let's just do the first consultation.
I'll ask some questions, you'll ask some questions, and that's it.
Mr. Ellis can see you next time if you'd like.
- Okay. - Great.
Well, beautiful view.
- Yeah, all the trappings. - Right.
Have a seat.
I've handled a lot of malpractice cases.
Malpractice?
I can imagine how difficult this must be for you.
Um... No, I'm, uh, I'm fine, really, uh...
Malpractice, I...
How do we... How do we begin?
We'll start with some personal information, just to verify, is that okay?
Sure, sure.
- You're 53? - Yeah.
- You look great. - Thank you.
Men are lucky like that.
God, it's annoying.
You have a BA and a MS from Columbia University and a Ph.D. from the new school.
- That's impressive. - Thank you.
And then, after your New York internship, you, you just... picked up and moved?
Uh, no, that was, uh, that was a few years later.
I actually went to the, uh, to the Baltimore Institute.
Right, the summer of '88. I'd first started law school.
And, uh, now you live and work in Brooklyn. Welcome back.
Thank you. Well, I actually got back, uh, last summer.
I see.
- And you are recently divorced? - Does it say that in my file?
From your insurance company it's the first year you've circled the "D" on the form.
Then I guess I am... "D"-vorced, yeah.
- And three children? - Yes.
Are they with you?
All right, so I assume you understand the basics of the lawsuit?
You know, to be quite honest, I don't really understand any of it.
Okay, well, let's start from the top.
You're being sued by your ex-patient's estate.
They claim that you should have understood that Mr. Prince wasn't ready to fly,
and you should have alerted the Navy to his condition.
They're suing you for $20 million.
Fucking hell.
Only three million of which is covered by your insurer.
You'd like some water?
- Yeah, please. - Or maybe something stronger?
- What? - It's a joke, it's just a bad joke.
Sorry, I'm not at my most jovial.
Well... who, who would be?
In my personal opinion... this lawsuit is without merit.
But we live in a litigious society.
So this, this first, uh, hearing, uh... it...
- It could just get thrown out. - It could... and it should.
But the threshold to allow a case to go to trial is subjective.
There is the law, and then there is the judge you draw.
You've been through a divorce, so, you must know that.
Yeah, but the law is still the law, isn't it?
Yes, but your patient was...
a young man, a father, a war hero.
Yeah, well, to be absolutely honest,
I don't think that he would see himself as a, as a war hero.
Either way, a hometown judge may wanna give his family their day in court.
But I tho... I thought you said it wouldn't go to trial.
Well, it shouldn't, but if it does
juries can let their emotions get in the way of the facts,
especially when it comes to suicide cases.
What do you mean, "suicide"?
Are you telling me that you think Alex killed himself?
That's not what I'm saying, but his attorneys claim that he did.
And they're out there right now, deposing everyone he knew,
and they will find people who say that he seemed depressed, and... not himself.
- And the Navy report -- - Well, of course the Navy are going to absolve himself,
of course they are, that's not really a big surprise.
Well, we will be making that point if it gets that far,
but by then it becomes a contest of experts.
We'll find people who testify that you upheld the standard of care.
Right, and they'll pay people to say that I didn't.
I, I, I just don't understand how this can be happening.
Paul, the point is, these things do happen,
and that's why firms like ours exist.
Your insurance company chose this firm for a reason.
Did you follow the Bullinger case?
The surgeon who operated on the wrong side of somebody's brain?
I mean, that guy was completely incompetent.
The facts were against us.
But I was head counsel and we won.
So what you're saying is that the insurance company chose you,
because they think I'm guilty and you get guilty people off, is that it?
No, that's not what I meant.
My point is: I've handled dozens of negligence cases
many which... seemed... far worse than this one.
I'm confident we can help you.
I said no calls, Henry.
It's Mr. Netsky.
Dad, I'm in the middle of a meeting, are you okay?
Oh, I'm so glad. And it fits?
I know mom hates green, but I love you in it.
Okay, I have to go. I love you, bye.
No more calls.
- I'm sorry, my father -- - It's okay.
Since he sold the candy store he has some free time.
- A lot of free time. - He must be very proud of you.
I've come a long way from the Pulaski Bridge.
Anyway, let's keep going.
Your session notes, you haven't sent us in yet, we're gonna need those right away.
I, I, I don't have any notes.
- Really? - No, I don't... I don't take notes.
Oh. That could be a bit of a problem for us.
What do you mean, "a problem"? I...
Lots of therapists don't take notes.
I mean, I start a session, I'm in it, I know everything there is to be known about the patient,
and I don't need to write it down.
Okay, well maybe, because the situation's like this, you should.
Process notes may not be therapeutically important,
- but legally -- - Is this that what you're saying,
that a bad therapist who takes notes is better than
a good therapist who doesn't take notes, is that what you're saying?
I'm not saying that at all, I'm...
Now I'm some kind of criminal, because I never take notes?
I wouldn't say "never", Paul, I'm pretty sure you took them with me.
Can we take a, a break, I'll -- just a few minutes.
Hey, dad. I'm good...
Sorry. My father doesn't quite understand the concept of "She is in a meeting".
Those aren't mine... the children, in case you're wondering.
- Beautiful kids. - My nieces.
I've never married.
It's funny, a lot of woman lawyers are like shrinks,
they don't put out personal photos, but since they are not my kids I figured...
Now let's keep going, uh... where were we?
Um, I think that you were reminding me that, uh... I took notes when I was your therapist.
You haven't been my therapist in... 20 years. I, I shouldn't have brought up that.
I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable.
I was, I was kind of uncomfortable anyway.
Everyone who comes in here under these circumstances is.
Let's get back to solving this.
You didn't take notes.
Did you... consult with any colleagues about Mr. Prince's treatment?
Uh, well, yes, actually I, I had weekly sessions last year with, uh,
what we call a... a supervisor.
Great. What is his or her name?
Uh... Gina Toll, Dr. Gina Toll.
- That's a relief. Uh, is she in Maryland? - Uh, hmm.
Okay, great. We'll have to get a deposition from her.
Is that... absolutely necessary?
We need to affirm that you did all you could for Mr. Prince.
Well, I... I don't know if she'll, if she'll do it.
Why not?
Well, because our... relationship has been a little, uh... strained at times.
Over this?
Do you think she might believe... you're in some way culpable?
I, I... I honestly don't know what, what she might think.
- Is that a "yes"? - I honestly don't know.
Look... in, in the first place, Alex... wasn't in treatment that long.
Why not?
The, uh... the process of separation is, is quite, uh... quite complex.
Did you refer him to someone else? How did it end?
- I, I don't see what difference that, that makes. - Oh, it can make... a lot of difference.
Why did the treatment end so quickly?
- What do you mean by quickly? - Well... before the patient was better.
- It was his choice to leave. - Why? What happened in that last session?
He said that... he said that he was...
ready to fly and he told me not to screw up his life.
And you let him go?
Yes, I let him go.
The attorneys are gonna claim that he wasn't psychologically fit.
Suicides often seem better before they kill themselves,
upbeat and determined, once they have a plan in place.
Because sometimes when people are actually doing better
- they seem upbeat and put plans into place. - So, which was it with Alex?
I don't know, I'm still trying to figure that out.
Look, my patient died, I'm, I'm, I'm human.
I have... doubts.
You wanna talk about them?
No, Mia, I... do not... want to talk about them.
God, this... this is... it's Kafkaesque.
Paul, we're in a battle here.
It's not like therapy.
You used to tell me to look for the gray?
Not now.
The law is "win or lose", there is no subtext here.
Actually, I think there is quite... quite a bit of subtext here.
I don't follow you.
You asked me if Alex's treatment was too quick,
you, you asked me if I ended his therapy before he was better.
It's just due diligence.
But it could also be that the...
that the war is getting a little bit... crossed.
It seems to me that you are if I'm expressing some of the feelings that maybe...
- Bennett, I'm in a meeting. - Yes, I know. Apologies.
I wanted to meet Dr. Weston. I'm Bennett Ryan, managing partner.
Nice to meet you.
Yeah, I just wanted to apologize on behalf of Mr. Ellis, but I want you to know
I was thrilled when Ms. Netsky grabbed the case.
You're in good hands. But you know that.
I understand you two go back aways?
Thank you, Ben.
Oh, and if I there's anything you need, please, don't hesitate to call.
Thank you.
Oh, uh, Mia, I have to rain check our meeting. Sorry.
No problem.
It's not what you think.
Oh. What, what do I think?
He shouldn't have walked in here like that, I...
- It's -- fine. - Actually, it wasn't fine.
I'm a head litigator, okay, he is the managing partner.
There is a lot of subtext behind that performance.
There was?
Yeah, it's okay, you don't have to worry about it.
You know, Mia, I think, I think we should, uh, we should stop now.
- When Mr. Ellis comes back I, I -- - What are you saying?
I just don't think that we should work together.
That's funny.
- Haven't we been in here before? - How do you mean?
I was 22, dealing with the crisis...
and you just disappeared.
- That's what you remember? - No, that's what happened.
You were there one week and gone the next.
Mia, obviously I, I... I'm not a perfect therapist, but if I...
If you did feel abandoned and I... I apologize.
Don't give me that "I'm sorry if you feel" bullshit.
I felt abandoned, because you abandoned me.
I'm sure that we talked about that in, in our sessions.
Oh, did we?
Then how come that last day I, I, I sat there, on your couch... devastated.
Mia, I was moving with my family to Maryland.
I couldn't leave. You told me I had to.
I gave you a gift that day. Do you, do you remember?
- Well, I, I'm not exactly, it's, it's -- - No, yeah.
I never heard from you after I left.
It's not usual for therapists to keep in touch with patients, when they --
Some do.
- If the patient means something. - Mia, of course you meant.
You know what, forget it, forget it.
This is, this is stupid.
We can stop here, let's stop here.
- It's my turn, I'm throwing you out. - Mia...
Bennett said that, uh... that you grabbed may case when I was got detained.
I, I, I... I'm just curious why you... why you think you did that.
I don't know. It doesn't matter.
You know, the last time I saw you, you were, you were just a kid.
I remember you were worried that you wouldn't make it
throw your first semester at law school, but now...
Look at you, look at -- where you are.
- Where am I? - You are the head litigator.
The wall full of, full of clippings.
I think that... I think that you wanted me to see that.
- To see that you are now a... success. - I'm a success?
Why? Because I work in a tall building?
Or because I wear a Prada suit?
Or because I summer in the Hamptons and go to all the gala openings at the fucking Met?
Yeah, I made it, through law school.
All the way to the top floor.
With the beautiful views, and the windows that don't open
and the fucking jackhammers that never stop.
And you know what I do when I won a case,
one of those hopeless ones that only I will take?
I go out and I get drunk, with my gay secretary.
And then I stumble home to my one-bedroom condo
and I pray that I can fall asleep.
You're hoping to show me...
both, how well you've done, and...
how sad you are?
I see you sitting there, and all I can think, I can't stop thinking...
It didn't have to be this way.
How do you mean?
Don't tell me you forgot that, too.
- No. - No, me neither.
This is a mistake.
I'll get your file to Mr. Ellis.
He'll, he'll do an excellent job. He's almost as good as I am.
- It's fine. - I'll make sure Ellis gives it the top priority.
Thank you. Look, I --
And I, you know, I, I really do have to kick you out. I have a meeting with another client.
I understand.
Thank you.
Mia.