Ep 7. We Are Not Animals

Patty Hewes is a ruthless and cunning attorney who will stop at nothing to win her cases, even if it means sacrificing those closest to her. In season 1 episode 7 of Damages, titled "We Are Not Animals," Patty and her team are still reeling from the discovery that Gregory Malina, their star witness in a class action lawsuit against billionaire Arthur Frobisher, has been murdered. Meanwhile, Ellen Parsons, Patty's protégé, is struggling with her own demons as she realizes the extent of Patty's coldness and ruthlessness.

The episode opens with Patty and her team attending a memorial service for Gregory Malina, who was found brutally murdered in his apartment just days before he was supposed to testify in court. As they pay their respects, Patty's right-hand man, Tom Shayes, receives a call from Pete McKee, Frobisher's head of security, who claims to have information about the murder. Tom meets with McKee at a diner, where McKee gives him a surveillance tape that shows a man leaving Gregory Malina's apartment building on the night of his murder. Tom is skeptical of McKee's motives and wonders if Frobisher is somehow involved.

Meanwhile, Ellen is dealing with her own issues as she realizes that Patty may have known about Gregory's murder before it happened. Ellen becomes convinced that Patty ordered the hit on Gregory in order to protect her case, and she starts to distance herself from Patty. Ellen's boyfriend, David, tries to convince her that Patty is just doing what she needs to do to win, but Ellen is no longer sure if she wants to be a part of it.

As the case against Frobisher heats up, Patty enlists the help of a woman named Claire Maddox, a former employee of Frobisher's who has evidence that could help their case. Claire is reluctant to get involved, but Patty convinces her that it's the right thing to do. At the same time, Frobisher's lawyers try to discredit Gregory's testimony by pointing out that he had a history of mental illness and drug abuse. Patty is furious and starts to suspect that Frobisher's team may have had something to do with Gregory's murder.

The tension between Patty and Ellen reaches a boiling point when Ellen confronts Patty about her suspicions that Patty ordered Gregory's murder. Patty denies it, but Ellen is no longer convinced. The two women have a heated argument, during which Patty reveals a shocking secret about Ellen's past. Ellen is devastated and decides to leave the firm.

As the episode comes to a close, Tom receives a call from McKee, who tells him that the man on the surveillance tape is a hitman named Leonard Winstone. Tom realizes that Winstone is a notorious killer who has been hired by some of New York's most powerful people. It becomes clear that there is much more at stake in the case against Frobisher than anyone could have imagined, and that the lives of everyone involved are in danger.

Overall, "We Are Not Animals" is a tense and suspenseful episode that delves deeper into the complex relationships between the show's main characters. As the case against Frobisher heats up, the stakes get higher and the danger becomes more real. With twists and turns around every corner, viewers are left on the edge of their seats, wondering what will happen next.