- "Me and you, pal... We're gonna do this. We're gonna be the best damn avocados this city has ever seen."
"Best damn avocados." - ―Foggy Nelson and Matt Murdock
Nelson v. Murdock is the tenth episode of the first season of the television series Daredevil.
Synopsis[]
Murdock and Foggy's relationship is put to the ultimate test while a new enemy against Fisk emerges.
Plot[]
Over ten years ago, while attending Columbia University, Matt Murdock becomes roommates with Foggy Nelson, as the two become the best of friends. The two graduate and become lawyers at Landman and Zack, and although Nelson is thrilled to become a big-time lawyer, Murdock is not satisfied. The two discuss that defending corporations from people who need help is not what they became lawyers for, so Nelson decides to quit Landman and Zack with him. While drinking at Josie's Bar, Nelson comes up with the idea of their own law firm, Nelson and Murdock, where the two can help people in need.
In the present, Murdock wakes up at his apartment, heavily wounded after a confrontation with Nobu Yoshioka. He is met by Nelson who is angered by the fact that his best friend has been lying to him this whole time. Murdock tries to explain his condition to Nelson, but it does not help much, since it does not negate the fact that Murdock lied about his inability to see. Nelson asks Murdock is he responsible for the bombings and attack on the NYPD, to which he replies that Wilson Fisk was behind everything. As Murdock describes his fight with Yoshioka, Nelson calls Murdock out for his vigilante activities, as he is supposed to act by the book of law.
Karen Page calls Murdock, but Nelson grabs the phone and says that Page deserves to know, while Murdock begs not to tell her. Page then calls Nelson to ask about Murdock, and Nelson lies to her that Murdock got into an accident, asking Page not to come. Nelson feels hurt that he had to lie to the person he cares about and demands Murdock to tell him everything, without leaving anything out.
Madame Gao meets with Fisk and tells him about a story about a snake that tried to eat an elephant but got betrayed by its ambitions. She brings up Yoshioka's death that was engineered by Fisk and ponders when would his ambition turn against her, but Fisk assures her that Gao has his respect, unlike others. Gao tells Fisk that ever since he found love, he changed greatly and she finds those changes rather concerning. She advises Fisk to resolve his internal conflict between his desires to be both a renowned public figure and a crimelord. Fisk must make his choice of which path he should take, otherwise someone will make that choice for him.
Ben Urich visits Doris in Metro-General Hospital, telling her that doctors think she is improving. Urich also mentions the story he is working on and says that there are more important things in his life than the job. Doris replies that Urich is a reporter and should never forget who he is, adding that Urich did not change since his youth as much as he thinks he did. As Doris' illness kicked in and she forgot about their conversation, Urich was approached by Shirley Benson, who tells him bad news about his wife.
Murdock shows Nelson a chest where he was hiding his vigilante suit, prompting him to ask where did Murdock learn how to fight. Murdock tells him about his training with Stick, while Nelson finds it hard to believe a story about a blind old man teaching martial arts. Murdock then explains his enhanced senses that allow him to know much more than others can see, including detecting if the person is lying by listening to their heartbeat. Nelson realizes that Murdock knew that Page was telling the truth about the Daniel Fisher murder by listening to her heartbeat, and says that unethical and invasive. He also realizes that every time he was not telling the truth to Murdock, he knew and just played along, which infuriates Nelson even more.
Back in his office, Urich looks through the brochure for caring homes, when he gets approached by Mitchell Ellison who asks why Urich handed over the fundraiser story. Urich brushes it off as a personal matter and Ellison tells Urich that there is a chance for him to move onto the editor position. Urich says that he is a reporter and the position of editor is not for him, while Ellison adds that the job comes with a better salary to support his wife. Urich is determined to continue as a reporter but promises to Ellison that he will consider the offer.
Page returns to the office where she is met by Urich who hands over her all the material on the Fisk investigation. Urich tells her that the insurance extension did not come through, so she is unable to stay in Metro-General. As he cannot find an affordable hospice for her, Urich decides to get Doris home and let Page continue chasing the story, understanding how important it is. Page tells Urich about a nursing home upstate and asks Urich to come there with her, so he would reconsider his decision.
Fisk fills Leland Owlsley in about the incident with Yoshioka and tells him to speak with Gao and reassure her that everything is under control. Owlsley is rather displeased about what Fisk did to their associate, while James Wesley reminds him that he was never found of Yoshioka himself. Owlsley agrees with Gao about Fisk changing since he met Vanessa Marianna, but Fisk claims that despite that, he is still determined to achieve his goals. Owlsley agrees to speak with Gao and although Fisk expresses his gratitude, Owlsley is not thrilled about the direction their group is heading towards.
After talking to Brett Mahoney, Nelson informs Murdock that Junkie Jake was found by the police, but he fell off the top of the building to his death. Nelson asks if Murdock was the one who killed him but Murdock replies that it was Fisk who made sure to cover the tracks. Murdock tells Nelson that he does not kill but he seriously considered killing Fisk after what happened to Elena Cardenas. Nelson is horrified and reminds him about their strive to take Fisk down by using the law, but Murdock says that sometimes the law is not enough.
As Nelson questions how did Murdock start to do what he does, Murdock tells him a story how his enhanced hearing allowed him to hear how the people of Hell's Kitchen suffer every night. He tried to block it off but one night he heard a little girl who was been abused by her father. Murdock tried to call Child Services but they could not do anything without evidence, so Murdock realized that the law cannot help the girl but he can. Murdock stalked the man and attacked him while wearing a mask, forcing him to stay away to his daughter and beating him up. Nelson says that despite Murdock's talk about justice, he simply uses it as an excuse to hit people and he cannot stop, to which Murdock replies that he does not want to stop.
Page and Urich arrive at Saint Bénézet Retirement Care and although Urich says that he cannot afford the place, Page still wants to look around. Page decides to speak with someone who lives there and approaches Marlene Vistain. Urich notices that Page asks her strange questions about her previous marriages and Vistain tells them about her son, named Wilson. Urich realizes that Vistain is Fisk's mother and when Page asks about her first husband, Vistain tells them the truth about what Fisk did to him when he was a boy.
Fisk holds a fundraiser event at Van Lunt Building, giving a speach to the guests about his determination to rebuild the city. Fisk then speaks to the guests, including Senator Randolph Cherryh, while Owlsley assures him he has taken care of Gao. Suddenly, the guests who drank the champagne start to collapse, including Marianna, to Fisk's ultimate horror.
Looking at Murdock's wounds, he says that he will die if keeps up like this, adding that he and Page are also involved, although they did not get a say in it. Murdock replies that the law failed Cardenas and he must do what he does to make Hell's Kitchen a better place, in which Nelson hears Fisk's narratives. Nelson remarks that Murdock almost took a life to achieve his goals, same as Fisk does, but Murdock tries to convince that it was just a mistake. As the both break down in tears, Nelson says that if Murdock got himself arrested or killed, no one would believe that he and Page were not involved. Murdock tells Nelson that the city needs him as a vigilante, to which Nelson replies that he only needs his friend, before leaving. Nelson returns to the office and takes his belongings, leaving the Nelson and Murdock placard in a trash can.
Cast[]
Main Cast:
- Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock/Daredevil
- Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page
- Elden Henson as Foggy Nelson
- Toby Leonard Moore as James Wesley
- Vondie Curtis-Hall as Ben Urich
- Bob Gunton as Leland Owlsley
- Ayelet Zurer as Vanessa Marianna
- Vincent D'Onofrio as Wilson Fisk
Guest Stars:
- Phyllis Somerville as Marlene Vistain
- Wai Ching Ho as Madame Gao
- Geoffrey Cantor as Mitchell Ellison
- Susan Varon as Josie
- Suzanne H. Smart as Shirley Benson
- Adriane Lenox as Doris Urich
- Jonathan Walker as Senator Randolph Cherryh
- Richard Bekins as Parish Landman
- Dave T. Koenig as Lawyer
- Tom Knutson as Sick Man
- John Tobias as Elderly Man
- Luis Moreno as Male Attendant
- Christopher Parker as Abusive Dad (uncredited)
- Doris McCarthy as Upscale Gala Guest (uncredited)
- Lynette Scire as Upscale Banquet Couple (uncredited)
- Steve Ferrarie as Upscale Banquet Couple (uncredited)
- Joy Bridenbaker as Upscale Gala Banquet Guest Attendee (uncredited)
- Isabelle Fretheim as Gala Victim (uncredited)
- Odette Warder Henderson as Paralegal (uncredited)
- Sabrina Iacobellis as Party Guest (uncredited)
- Lynn Marocola as Bar Patron (uncredited)
- Justin Michael Woods as Court Officer (uncredited)
- Roy Phillips as Bar Patron (uncredited)
- Leroy Phillips Jr. as Bar Patron (uncredited)
Appearances[]
Locations[]
- Earth
- New York City, New York
- Matt Murdock's Apartment
- Nelson and Murdock Law Office
- Metro-General Hospital
- New York Bulletin Building
- Wilson Fisk's Penthouse
- Van Lunt Building
- Columbia University (flashback)
- Landman and Zack Building (flashback)
- Josie's Bar (flashback)
- Saint Agnes Orphanage (mentioned)
- 15th Precinct Police Station (mentioned)
- Pier 81 Warehouse (mentioned)
- Nelson's Meats (indirectly mentioned)
- New York
- Londonderry, New Hampshire (mentioned)
- New York City, New York
- Multiverse
- K'un-Lun (mentioned)
Events[]
- Attack on Vanessa Marianna
- Bombing of Hell's Kitchen (mentioned)
- Rand Enterprises Truck Crash (mentioned)
- Duel at Pier 81 (mentioned)
- Duel of Harlem (newspaper)
- Battle of New York (newspaper)
- Murder of Bill Fisk (mentioned)
Items[]
To be added
Vehicles[]
- Bentley (mentioned)
Creatures[]
- Leviathans (newspaper)
- Dinosaurs (figures)
- Snakes (mentioned)
- Elephants (mentioned)
- Peacocks (mentioned)
Organizations[]
- Nelson and Murdock
- New York Bulletin
- Hand
- Landman and Zack (flashback)
- Brooklyn Bolts (mentioned)
- Roxxon Corporation (mentioned)
Mentioned[]
- Better Tomorrow Initiative
- Claire Temple
- Harris
- Jack Murdock
- Nobu Yoshioka
- Stick
- Elektra
- Anna Nelson
- Hulk (newspaper)
- Abomination (newspaper)
- M. Caldwell
- Haverson
- Lee Owlsley
- Brett Mahoney
- Junkie Jake
- Elena Cardenas
- Morales
- Arthur Vistain
- Martin
- Bill Fisk
- Cornelius van Lunt
- Thurgood Marshall
- Mother Teresa
- Top Gun
- Kung Fu
- Star Wars
Music[]
| Song title | Artist | Location(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me) | Train |
|
| Broken Hymn | Brett Detar |
|
| Avocados at Law | John Paesano |
|
