Damages Episode 4.01 There's Only One Way to Try a Case

Two years have passed since Patty and Ellen last worked together. Ellen has taken a position at Nye's firm, but her ultimate goal is to open her own practice. She reconnects with her high school friend, Chris Sanchez, who has recently returned from a stint at High Star, a private contractor in the Middle East. Unable to get assistance from the corporation or the government, Ellen decides to look into his case. Both her new boss and Patty warn Ellen about building a case against Howard Erickson and the High Star Security Corp. A High Star contact, Jerry Boorman, tracks Ellen. Erickson pressures Congresswoman Donna Chase to maintain government support and funds for High Star. Chris, shaken from his last failed mission, reaches out to his old friend and recruiter, Anthony Carter. When Ellen interviews a widow from Chris's recent failed mission, she discovers he is hiding information. Chris seeks therapy, but his new therapist is killed in an apartment gas explosion. Flash forward: A hooded man is beheaded.

Meanwhile, Patty has spent the last two years raising her granddaughter, Catherine. With her son having left town, she's been caring for the baby and experiencing a second chance at motherhood-all while still pursuing big litigation cases. Ellen urges Patty to find for her son, Michael. Patty fires her nanny after one day, when the nanny points out that Patty forgot her granddaughter's birthday.