- Logan informs his skeptical management team of his plan to make another attempt to acquire Pierce; Greg worries his pre-meeting will put his standing with the family at risk; Connor's presidential announcement irritates Logan.
- The episode opens with Greg Hirsch (Nicholas Braun) speaking with a writer, Michelle Pantsil (Jessica Hecht) discussing Logan Roy. They are at a coffee shop or bookstore and the place is nearly empty. Greg knows that Logan has forbid anyone in his orbit from speaking to Michelle. Unfortunately for Greg his naivete provides Michelle with some confirmation about Logan's character. Greg tells her, "I don't wanna make my uncle mad, because he can be scary, vindictive, paranoid and violent." As Michelle quickly scribbles down this juicy quote Greg realizes he has committed a cardinal sin. Michelle explains the ground rules and pulls out a tape recorder. This spooks Greg and he gets up and leaves.
Credits Roll.
Logan Roy (Brian Cox) is in his office getting his blood pressure taken by Dr. Judith (John Rue). The doctor questions Logan about any symptoms he is having and suggests he take things a little easier. Jamie Laird (Danny Huston) meets Logan in his office. He explains that he has made the first inquiries about Pierce. The two walk to a nearby office where the rest of the senior staff are gathered. Kendall Roy (Jeremy Strong) converses with his PA, Jess (Juliana Canfield) while Gerri Kellman (J. Smith-Cameron) works on some meeting notes. Karolina (Dagmara Dominczyk), Karl (David Rasche) and Gerri are enjoying a break with coffee and pastries. Logan asks about progress and his youngest son, Roman (Kieran Culkin) tells his father, "Just taking five to regroup." Logan is exasperated and asks no one in particular, "I've got three banks, 50 lawyers, two PR agencies, DF King, and an army of private dicks trying to fight this takeover, but take five to eat my pastries, why don't you?" Gerri, as tactfully as possible, voices the group's concern about the timing of an acquisition [of PGM - Pierce Global Media] during a proxy fight. Logan makes it clear he wants PGM. Gerri reminds Logan that the last attempt to buy Pierce was very unsuccessful and probably poisoned the well for another try. Logan finally gets all assembled to reluctantly agree his plan to buy Pierce is a good one. His son-in-law, Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) adds to the yes-man chorus. After Logan leaves, the executives express their concerns and reluctance to agree to such a risky move. Back in Logan's office, Ken, Roman and Jamie Laird discuss the logistics of making an offer. Jamie explains, "The tough part is contact with the family. We'll need a pair of safe hands. Dainty hands, in exquisite mittens." Jamie adds, that their former CFO, Frank Vernon, would be the perfect candidate to approach the Pierce family. He explains that Frank is close to both Nan Pierce and Naomi Pierce, and both are crucial to a merger or acquisition. Logan is excited about this deal, but he despises Frank because Frank and Kendall engineered an unsuccessful palace coup against him. However, Logan is also pragmatic and asks Kendall, "You think he'd come back?" Ken assures his father that Frank can be properly enticed back and Logan proclaims, "Guest of f**king honor at the retreat." The retreat this year will be in Hungary and Logan proclaims it will be a morale booster. Before the meeting concludes, Gerri and Karolina interrupt to tell Logan, "It's Connor."
Connor Roy (Alan Ruck) has prepared a video announcement that he is Beta testing. He intends to run for President of the United States. Tabitha (Caitlin Fitzgerald) is watching this and asks Roman, "Hey. Have you seen this?" Roman tells her that he has seen it. They watch the part where Connor explains that he wants to eliminate taxes within 10 years and in the meantime he doesn't intend to pay any taxes. He dares the government to come and arrest him. Roman tells Tabitha that his Dad is handling the Connor situation. He asks Tabitha how well she knows Naomi Pierce. He explains, "Dad wants to buy PGM." Tabitha asks, "So, what, you wanna use Naomi to broker a deal?" Roman quickly replies, "Bingo. And I think it's a good plan. I land the deal, I kill Kendall and I'm crowned the king. Just like in Hamlet." Roman is uncomfortable with how Tabitha knows Naomi. Logan calls Shiv (Sarah Snook) and assigns her the task of talking to Conner to dissuade him running for office. Tom and Shiv discuss the Pierce acquisition. Shiv got the news from Gerri and agrees that it is a bad move. Tom thinks it might work, but more because he is intimidated by his father-in-law. Shiv tells her husband to talk to Logan in Hungary to forget the deal. Then she reminds Tom, "People would do well to remember there's gonna be a new sheriff in town one day." Tom gets the message, although it is unclear whether he is more afraid of Logan or his wife.
The SUVs arrive in the hanger. They board the company jet. Logan interrupts Gerri and Karolina whispering to each other. Gerri explains that Karolina has an update on the unauthorized Logan Roy biography. Logan suggests offering the writer a job working at the studio as a script writer to stop working on the biography. Logan then lays down the law, "Anyone who speaks to her is f**ked. They're dead to me. No one goes sniffing around my f**king panties." Karolina reluctantly admits that someone close has already spoken, but doesn't know who. A convoy of vehicles enters the grounds of an Eastern European mansion/hunting lodge. Frank Vernon (Peter Friedman) enters and asks, "Is this the right place for the punishment beating?" Logan presents his former CFO with a watch as a peace offering, then goes on to explain he needs his help with approaching Pierce. Shiv goes to Connor's apartment and finds him in the kitchen preparing wine in a blender. Connor introduces Shiv to his consultants, both of whom Shiv knows all too well. She has little regard for them as she will explain, in time, to both Connor and Willa. Shiv sums up her visit with, "Don't release the video. Okay? Please?" Willa (Justine Lupe) joins Connor and Shiv. Connor asks his sister to join his consulting team. Willa excuses herself; she is meeting her cast for drinks. Shiv invites herself along.
With their orange ball caps the retreat members walk around with guns while the beaters scare up creatures to shoot. Tom and Greg are paired up. Greg asks about the competency of Sam, the IT guy who does background checks on employees. Greg admits he was the one to talk to the biographer. Shiv and Willa are chatting in a bar. She asks Willa to assist her in getting Connor to tone things down. Willa is uncomfortable with the discussion topic when Chris (Saamer Usmani), one of the cast in her play, passes by to introduce himself to Shiv. Ken and Roman are paired up. They discuss the biography writer and the Pierce deal. Roman gets a phone call from Naomi Pierce. Roman refuses to tell Kendall about the call. It is evening at the lodge, and outside dozens of wild pigs are piled up and set out for group photographs. Karl and Gerri talk to Tom about approaching Logan to express reservations about the Pierce pursuit. They explain that as Logan's son-in-law he might be better placed to broach the touchy subject. Jamie tells Logan that the Pierce family banker got word of the pursuit and it freaked the family out. Logan is convinced there was a leak, it was done to scuttle the deal, and someone on the retreat was responsible. He intends to find out who. Tom tells Logan that his executive team is against the Pierce deal. Logan is furious, and all assembled will soon learn how he deals with perceived treachery.
Logan proposes a toast to the team. He is in a huge dining room. One executive, Ray (Patch Darragh) starts to leave for a bathroom break, but Logan stops him, "I mean, we're locking down." There follows a stunned silence. Everyone is invited to sit and eat. Chris is chatting up Shiv at the bar. Shiv calls Tom to remind him of her orders to talk to Logan. Willa shows Shiv a news broadcast on her phone. The news anchor shows a clip of Connor's tax defiant pronouncement. Back in Hungary, Logan puts Frank on the spot for a toast, then asks, "Why'd you come, Frank?" Logan questions his former CFO's intentions and proceeds to personally insult the man by bringing up very personal things in his life. Logan states, "Someone has spoken to Michelle Pantsil. We've got rats on this ship. And Pierce. Who's got my back? Who's really behind me?" Then Logan really gets into character and begins a cruel and intimidating game. He goes to each top executive and dredges up all their personal peccadilloes, like Karl's womanizing, then demands all surrender their company issued and personal phones. Then he announces the start of a humiliating game he calls Boar on the Floor. First up is Karl. Tom joins Karl as victim number two. The next target is Gerri. Logan orders her to stand up. Regarding the Pierce deal, she confesses she's had doubts. She is being honest and it keeps her from becoming a Boar on the Floor contestant. Logan then zeroes in on his grand-nephew, Greg. Logan wants to know if Greg is taking his marching orders from Ewan, Logan's older brother. Greg soon joins Tom and Karl by the fireplace. Roman is ordered to his feet and asked about his call from the biographer. Ken and Logan set Roman up on this. Ken asks about the mystery call Roman took earlier. The three boars are ordered to sit on the floor. Frank, as guest of honor, is ordered to feed the piggies. Logan goes a step further ordering the three to "Oink for your sausages, piggies, Oink!" The trio fight for two sausages thrown to them. Roman makes the mistake of recording the ordeal on his cell phone. This gives Kendall the chance to seize the iPhone. While Kendall reviews Roman's phone for incriminating texts or phone calls, back in New York, Shiv is enjoying a one night stand with Chris. Ken announces to Logan, "Dad. It was Roman. Roman talked to Pierce." He shows the screen to his father. "He took a call from Naomi Pierce." Roman tries his best to explain his intentions, but Logan dismisses it with, "Roman, you're a moron." When Logan asks out loud, "Who backs me on Pierce?" It is Kendall that discloses, "None of them do, Dad. They're all against it. Okay? Karl's lying, Ray's lying, Gerri's playing both sides." Logan makes it clear, "Here's news. We are going after it." As Logan storms off, Kendall throws Roman's phone back to his younger brother.
A light snow fell overnight. The next morning everyone gathers for breakfast. It is a somber gathering. In a calculated dig, Cyd asks Tom, "Morning Tom. Sausage? I'll eat your sausage, Tom." After what happened the night before, Gerri asks Frank if it is true he is considering a return to Waystar. Frank tells her he needs the money. Logan orders Frank and Kendall to join him at his table. Karolina informs Logan that she has discovered who talked to the biographer, "It was Mo." Mo's wife also told Karolina that her husband died last night. Logan suggests his tech guy, whom he refers to as rat-f**ker Sam, go over to examine Mo's accounts - text and email. Notably absent from breakfast is Roman. Gerri notices and goes to see him in his room. Roman is upset that he will be reporting to Frank again. Gerri helps an obviously hungover Roman button his shirt. He blames Tabitha for the call to Naomi Pierce. He asks Gerri what he can do so his father will take him more seriously. Gerri suggests the Management Training Program. On the flight home Frank informs Logan that Pierce's CEO, Rhea Jarrell, emailed him. Frank promises he can get Logan and Rhea together to discuss the merger/acquisition. Tom gets home and Shiv is waiting for him. He doesn't go into details of what happened in Hungary, but does request more collaboration on their group game plans. Logan calls Shiv to let her know it is time for her to start at Waystar. We close with Shiv sitting on the couch with a sly smile on her face.
End Credits Roll.
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