Ozark, Season 3

Wendy Byrde:
So, listen...I know how concerned you are about security. And...I just want you to know I've been thinking a lot about it, too. About safety... and our future.

Marty Byrde:
Okay.

Wendy Byrde:
I've been reading about the cartel war. Navarro's lost 61 men in the last five weeks alone.

Marty Byrde:
Hmm. What's that got to do with us?

Wendy Byrde:
There's a saying in politics. "Never let a good crisis go to waste."

Marty Byrde:
And?

Wendy Byrde:
And...Helen's coming into town. I know, you're expecting the worst, but let's...let's preempt that. Pitch her on the idea of expansion.

Marty Byrde:
What does that mean?

Wendy Byrde:
Hotels. Casinos, but we keep the daily operations legitimate. We sell the idea to Navarro as a safety net. We put his share in a trust...for his kids. Untouchable. That way, if the cartel war goes south, then he has a whole new revenue stream. Completely legal. Well? What do you think?

Marty Byrde:
Well, I just...I think that's batshit crazy.

Wendy Byrde:
It's not.

Marty Byrde:
No?

Wendy Byrde:
No. It's not. And actually, it was Helen's idea. She talked to us about expansion. There is a...hotel and casino on the Kansas border in St. Joe's. Its infrastructure is old. It's getting killed by a casino across the river. And all it needs is an influx of cash to upgrade, and they would crush their competition, but their margins are too low. It's a win-win.

Marty Byrde:
No.

Wendy Byrde:
Just like that?

Marty Byrde:
Just like that.

Wendy Byrde:
Jesus. [scoffs] Of course.

Marty Byrde:
I'm trying to keep us safe, Wendy.

Wendy Byrde:
Yeah, well, so am I.

Marty Byrde:
I mean, how much more fucking stress do you wanna take on?

Wendy BYrde:
This would all be legitimate.

Marty Byrde:
Except for the seed money from the drug lord, which, by definition, is not legitimate?

Wendy Byrde:
We are pre-approved by the gaming commission. No one would question the initial investment. We have Navarro's gratitude. This would only increase it. Don't you understand? We're in.

Marty Byrde:
We're alive. Big difference. You want to know what a good outcome from this cartel war would be? Navarro getting blown off the face of the Earth, and you and I being out from underneath this.

Wendy Byrde:
But what if that doesn't happen? Expansion makes us a political player. It insulates us, and that keeps us safe. We could be the very legitimate, very public face of Missouri gaming. [chuckles] We'd be too big to fail.

Marty Byrde:
Wendy, I did not agree to stay here to start raising red flag after red flag.

Wendy Byrde:
It's the smart play.

Marty Byrde:
Stop. I'm here. Take the fucking victory, okay? And do not tell me what is smart and what is not smart. You blew through that stop sign six months ago.

Wendy Byrde:
Do you know what I did today? I talked to a woman about her toe ring stand. I have the time. We have the clout. I can do this. Just think-- think about the things we could build. Why should the Charles Wilkeses of the world have a stranglehold on this state? We could have the money and the influence. We could control every political lever in Missouri. We could give millions to the causes that we care about. We could run this goddamn place.

Marty Byrde:
Do you even hear yourself?

Wendy Byrde:
I do. Do you hear me?