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Harvey: I know we had an arrangement, but I came here to change it. [...] I win, you don't fire me. You back me for Managing Partner.
Darby: You want to take down Jessica?
Harvey: Yes. I do.

Harvey Specter and Edward Darby

The Arrangement is the first episode of the third season of Suits and the 29th overall. It first aired on July 16, 2013.

Synopsis

Jessica's new partnership is tested; Harvey must prove a high-profile client's innocence; Mike tries to manage the fallout from his revelation.

Plot

The episode begins with Mike being called into Harvey's office in the middle of the night. Harvey explains that they are having an essential partners only meeting to discuss the merger, and Mike has been promoted to partner for his help in making this happen. Harvey also tells Mike that he has decided to accept his loss to Jessica and forgiven Mike for what he did, since he had no choice. In the meeting, Darby and Jessica begin making their speech, which is interrupted by Rachel. Mike tells Harvey that he told her the truth, when Louis asks what the truth is, Rachel replies that Mike is a fraud and she will not let him get away with it. Mike asks how could she do this to him, to which Rachel replies that he did it to himself and is arrested. Mike then wakes up in a cold sweat and realizes it was a dream.

Harvey is examining an offer in his office as Donna enters and tells him Darby needs an answer as to which branch he wants Scottie to work. Harvey pauses before telling her that he decided to send her to London, refusing to talk about his decision and instead asks to have Ray bring him to Brooklyn. Harvey arrives at a sports executive office to negotiate the contract of his client Deron Williams, before returning to his apartment to find Jessica. She asks why he is closing a deal behind their client's back, especially since the offer he used as leverage in closing the deal was a bluff and could have backfired. She accuses him of wanting the deal to backfire so that she will fire him, but he insists that this is how he operates and what she used to value him for.

Mike goes to see Rachel to talk about their situation. She insists that they will not be sleeping together, to which he asks if that refusal is for "now or ever?" to which Rachel angrily tells him that she asked for time to process his secret as Mike interrupts her to tell her about his nightmare. She insists that she would never betray him, as he replies he realized after waking up the real nightmare wasn't that she might turn him in, but that she wouldn't want to be with him: something he wanted since he first saw her. While Rachel wishes that he never told her the truth, they both agree that they are happy with what happened afterwards. Rachel then asks if he isn't afraid that he will be exposed, and as he confirms that he is, Rachel tells him that he could quit to prevent that from happening.

Mike arrives at the office reliving his nightmare, and attempts to approach Harvey who gives him a glare before turning away. Mike then attempts to talk to Jessica, who presents him with his own office for his efforts in the merger and in fooling Hardman. Mike comments that the road to where he is doesn't usually involve stabbing someone in the back, as Jessica relates his situation to how she was given a car when her parents got separated. She hated that car since it represented her parent's separation, but then began to saw the car as what she used to get to Harvard and eventually to her current position. Mike can similarly see his new office as either a reminder of his betrayal to Harvey, or a symbol of the greater things he could accomplish at the firm. He asks if her parents ever got back together, to which she replies that they didn't. As she leaves, she smiles while seeing the new sign of the firm: Pearson Darby.

Jessica and Darby discuss how despite the latter's bigger control of the firm, her name is still placed first as a gesture by Darby to signify that their partnership is equal. Darby then informs Jessica how he plans to have Harvey represent Ava Hessington in her trial against the US government, something which she will not have a say in, causing her to realize that their partnership is not truly equal. Jessica then approaches Harvey and tells him that Darby was furious about how he handled his deal with Deron Williams, but she fought to give him a chance to prove his worth by taking on the Hessington case. She tells him this is a chance for them to make up, which he agrees.

Rachel sees Mike's new office and tells him how it is convenient that while he was earlier afraid of being exposed, he now has a brand new office. Mike tells her that Jessica offered him this office before he could talk about his retirement, and they begin to argue. While arguing, Rachel comments that while she has been trying to earn one as long as she can remember, he didn't do a thing to deserve it. When he insists that she has no idea what he did for it, she replies that she actually doesn't know anything about him anymore.

The next day, Harvey confronts Darby and reveals that he is aware of Jessica's deception. He agrees to work on the Hessington case only if Darby will tear up his non complete and allow him to leave afterwards. When Darby asks if he hates the merger that much, he replies that since the merger Jessica has accused him of trying to get fired, and then lying to him about fighting to get him on this case. Darby comments on the irony that her believing Harvey wanted to be fired led him to genuinely wanting to be fired now, but agrees to Harvey's terms.

Mike then meets Louis in the copier room, who sees the former was making copies of his letter of resignation. Mike explains that Harvey no longer wants anything to do with him, and he has no idea how to fix their relationship. Louis tells Mike about how when he and Harvey were both associates, Harvey seemed unstoppable, like Superman. When Hardman decided to give him an assignment that had undoable workload and was ultimately unwinnable to humble him, Louis thought this could be an opportunity to offer his help and become friends. Instead, Harvey glared at him as though to say "How dare you?" Mike assumes the morale of the story is that Harvey has and always will be a lone wolf, but Louis replies that it is in fact the opposite: Harvey is no longer Superman, but Batman, who needs his Robin. Since Harvey prioritizes winning above all else, Mike just needs to remind him of how he is needed by helping him win. To do so, he would need to access Harvey's hard drive and proceeds to ask Benjamin for help. Benjamin asks why he would want to help Mike, when for the past ten months he has been tracking Mike's internet movement to seek revenge for the last time Mike outsmarted him. Mike replies that Benjamin for the foreseeable future will help him with whatever he asks, as he has recorded Benjamin admitting that he has hacked Mike's personal computer.

Harvey is working on a huge pile of documents from the Hessington case, which is only a fifth of what they have. Donna suggests Mike enlist help with the case, but when he refuses to ask Mike for help, she insists that he ask Scottie instead. While initially upset that Harvey sent her to the London office, Harvey asks if she could help him now that he is genuinely asking, as she was willing to help before without him doing so. He tells her how the first time he saw her, the sight of her stopped him in his tracks, and the second time when she answered a question in class, made him realize her looks were only her second greatest asset. Harvey tells her how she has always meant something to him, moving her and changing her mind.

Harvey approaches Ava Hessington to convince her to be a client. Both of them have checked up on the other, and are aware of the morally grey things they have done. She admits the bribery charges she is being accused of are true, and Harvey acknowledges this before leaving the office as her official attorney. Harvey enters the lobby of the firm to find Mike waiting for him, with information that could aid in the Hessington case. All the information Mike has however, is already in Harvey's hands and was discussed with Ava Hessington earlier. Harvey tells Mike that he isn't replaceable: he was working as a lawyer before he met Mike and he will be doing so long after he has forgotten him. Mike then tells Harvey to just hurt him however he wants, since it will lead to his forgiveness, but he needs Harvey to listen to the information he has. Harvey then angrily tells him that a time when he would have listened to Mike was before he was betrayed by him, and that even though Jessica threatened him, Mike should have came to Harvey as no matter who threatens him he should have still remained loyal. Emotional, Mike rushes to Rachel's apartment and promises to tell her everything but at the end of the night they will either be done with each other or sleep together. The next morning they wake up in bed together, and he has told her everything.

Harvey and Ava sit before Richard Jenson, arguing how although men in Ava's position would typically be let off with a fine, she is instead being threatened with jail time. Jenson insists that this case is not about her gender, prompting Harvey to ask her to leave the room. Harvey asks how much Ava needs to give him to be let off, however Jenson insists that he needs someone to go to prison as he is planning to run for politics. Harvey proposes making an example out of more serious offenders instead, but Jenson remains adamant that he cannot afford to make any deals regarding this case.

At the firm, Rachel distracts Donna by claiming Richard Gere is in the lobby to allow Mike to sneak into Harvey's office and place the information he found on Harvey's desk. Donna later enters Mike's office to ask for his help, but is in fact a segue into her commenting that he seems to like doing things for others who neither asked, wanted, nor needed him to do, before handing him the file he left on Harvey's desk. Donna tells him Harvey valued Mike not for his usefulness, but his loyalty which he has lost and cannot regain. Mike tells Donna he also hid multiple copies of the file in Harvey's office, as whether he is forgiven or not, Harvey will need this information. Donna tells Mike that this won't lead to Harvey's forgiveness. Mike asks Donna if she can keep their own relationship separate from his and Harvey's, to which Donna replies that she feels betrayed too, since she has been looking out for Mike since his first day. Mike asks if she remembers when he had her back last year but she ignored him and almost cost Harvey his license, as she rebuts that what she did was for Harvey and not herself and in the end she didn't get a new office like Mike did but instead got fired.

The next day, Mike asks for a favor from Benjamin, but first makes a gesture by allowing him to delete the recording, as while he has enough enemies, he would prefer to have him as a friend. Mike asks Benjamin to cryptically build him a "time machine" to fix a mistake he made. Jessica is called into Mike's office where he holds a copy of the letter to the district attorney she threatened him with. After confirming that he is not recording their conversation, Mike tells her that this copy was from her hard drive and has her computer's data signature: proving its authenticity and date, meaning that if she sends this letter in future she will also be complicit. Jessica asks what he wants, to which he asks if she would trade the car she received for her parents being together. When she confirms she would, Mike says that he has that chance now: he wants to give back the office, as it may be a step towards Harvey's forgiveness.

Harvey tells Donna how he was unable to change Jenson's mind as Donna hands him the file Mike gave her, which reveals how Jenson lied to him. Harvey realizes that the file was from Mike, but both he and Donna agree that although the information is useful, he doesn't have to forgive Mike. Harvey confronts Jenson on how his main campaign contributor is also Hessington Oil's main competitor: Jenson doesn't want Ava to be imprisoned, he wants a trial that will cause their stock to plummet. Harvey tells Jenson to cut a deal for Ava and to look for a new campaign contributor or he will reveal this conflict of interest. As Harvey returns to the firm, he finds Cameron Dennis waiting: Jenson appointed Dennis as a special prosecutor to the case to avoid a conflict of interest. Jessica asks Darby into her office to confirm why Ava Hessington is so important to him: her father was also his former lover. Jessica warns Darby that if Harvey finds out how important she is, he may use it as leverage to leave. Darby however replies that he does not believe Harvey is truly intending to leave. Harvey meets with Darby as they discuss the new involvement of Cameron Dennis. Harvey tells Darby he knows how important Ava is, and that now the terms of him winning the case will be that Darby will support Harvey's attempt to replace Jessica as managing partner of the firm.

Meanwhile, Donna checks in on Louis who is exclaiming in annoyance. Since the merger, the new quartermaster, Barbara L. Tottingham, will not buy any Uniball pens, instead purchasing pens that keep breaking in Louis' hand. Louis believes that the new quartermaster has a vendetta against him, as Donna tricks him into applying the spilled ink on his hand onto his face in the shape of Hitler's moustache and to do an impression of a Nazi salute, which he believes to be a rotator cuff exercise. Louis makes a note to Norma on his Dictaphone on how he needs Barbara L. Tottingham's number, before relaying to another secretary to tell Norma to purchase him Uniball pens or he will cancel her vacation. Louis tries to get a Bran bar from the pantry, only to find that they are all gone. He finds Nesbitt standing behind him, who is in fact the real quartermaster: Barbara L. Tottingham was in fact a convoluted reference linking to a BLT sandwich, and eventually the Count of Monte Cristo, a story about revenge from the assumed dead. Nesbitt tells him that he is taking his revenge on Louis by not only refusing to purchase Bran bars for the pantry but by outright banning them from being consumed in the firm. Louis tells Donna about the situation, and he believes that Nigel's revenge has only begun unless he is stopped, something which Donna says Louis can only do by removing him as quartermaster.

Louis waits for Darby in his temporary office, surprising him with the latter's favorite tea, food and even choice of pen and ink, all to make the point that he is the best choice to become the new quartermaster. Nesbitt brings Louis some Bran bars and Uniball pens in an attempt to ask that he is allowed to keep his position as quarter master. When Louis refuses, Nesbitt reveals this was his true plan as Darby International's bylaws prohibit someone from being in charge of both personnel and logistics at the same time: Louis will no longer be in charge of the associates. If Louis asks Darby to undo his new position he would lose his credibility, meaning there is nothing Louis can do to reclaim his position.


Cast

Main Cast

Recurring Cast

Guest Cast

Major/Highlighted Events

Pearson Darby - The New Sign

Pearson Hardman no more

  • The firm is officially renamed Pearson Darby.
    • According to the merger negotiations, the firm was to be called Darby Pearson, as Edward Darby has 51% control while Jessica Pearson has 49%. However, Darby decided to let Jessica's name be first merely as a gesture.
  • Nigel Nesbitt is appointed quartermaster of Pearson Darby, and bans uniball pens and raisin bran bars, knowing how much Louis loves them. Louis then has himself appointed as quartermaster, but in his haste, misses the by-laws which state that one cannot be in charge of the both the animate and inanimate. Nigel then usurps Louis as head of the associates.
  • Rachel promises not to expose Mike, although she tries telling him to quit. Mike then realizes that Rachel is hostile because she does not know much about him rather than his fraud, prompting him to go to Rachel's apartment and declare that he will explain everything about his life and that it will either lead to them breaking up or having sex in Rachel's bed, an agreement which Rachel agrees to; Mike and Rachel then begin a sexual relationship, with Rachel accepting Mike for who he is.
Mike's Office (3x01)

Mike's new office

  • Jessica moves Mike from his cubicle in the associates' bullpen to his very own office, although he returns it at the end since he believes doing so may open an opportunity for Harvey to forgive him.
  • Harvey is tasked with handling a bribery charge that involves prison sentencing for Ava Hessington, the daughter of Darby's lover. Harvey initially asks to get fired in exchange for winning, but after Cameron Dennis is appointed special prosecutor, he is reminded that he does not run from fights and instead asks that he be named managing partner upon his victory, therefore ousting Jessica.

Cultural References

Trivia

  • Goddamn Counter: 5
  • Gabriel Macht and Patrick J. Adams are co-producers as of this episode.
  • Benjamin reveals that he has been tracking Mike's computer usage for the past seven months, as he remembers Mike having bested him and "bamboozling" a laptop out of him. However, this does not mean that that event took place seven months ago, as it would not match up with the timeline presented thus far; it merely denotes that Mike has been tracked for seven months.
  • Harvey represents Deron Williams in this episode, set and released in 2013, working to have the Brooklyn Nets pay triple in order to avoid losing him to the Dallas Mavericks. In 2015, Deron Williams would leave Brooklyn and join the Mavericks.

Quotes

Mike: I need to talk to you.
Jessica: You want to talk about how things played out. But the place to do that is somewhere more private. [presents him with his own office] You didn't just come through on the merger. You bluffed Hardman, turned Monica Eton and put us over the top on Folsom Foods. That's a lot of coming through in the clutch. And I wouldn't have saved your ass if I didn't think you deserved to be here.
Mike: I don't know what to say.
Jessica: Well, the usual response is "Thank you".
Mike: The usual road to getting here doesn't involve stabbing someone in the back.
Jessica: Doesn't it? When I was 16, I came home, my mother sat me down, and said my parents were separating. Trial basis. But the good news was, she was going to get me a car to help with my sister. All my friends talked about how lucky I was to have it. I hated that car. Every time I got in it, I... Well, it just reminded me.
Mike: Why are you telling me this?
Jessica: Because five years later, that same car got me to Harvard, which led me here. So, you can think of this office as a reminder of what you did to Harvey, or as a symbol of what you can accomplish at the firm. Now. Do you still have something to say?
Mike: No. No, I don't. [pause] They ever get back together?
Jessica: No. No, they didn't.

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