Patty Hewes
Encyclopedia
Patricia "Patty" Hewes is fictional character
on the American legal thriller Damages
, portrayed by Glenn Close
. Being described as "ruthless", "master manipulator" and "brilliant", Patty is a high-stakes litigator managing her own law firm called Hewes & Associates. Conceived as "woman who commands power and influence in a male-dominated world" the character is wildly praised for its complexity and the acting performances of its portrayer, Close.
Serving as the show's protagonist
, Patty's and Ellen
's mentor-protégée relationship is the focal point of the show. Starting as ordinary associates and eventually progressing to a mother-daughter like relationship. Patty's behavior towards her opponents (most notably Arthur Frobisher), clients and her estranged relations with her son Michael are recurring storylines that are frequently explored.
Since the show's pilot episode Patty's character and Close's performance are a subjects of constant praise. One example is Tim Goodman of the San Francisco Chronicle
who wrote that "it's Close who makes Damages a series to contend with" and called her "compelling". Close's portrayal earned her numerous awards, including two Primetime Emmy Awards
for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series and one Golden Globe Award
for Best Actress – Television Series Drama among others.
Patty married young, to a man who supported her as she made her way through law school. However, when Patty became pregnant just as she landed a job at a powerful law firm, her first husband demanded that she turn down the job and postpone her dreams of becoming a lawyer in order to raise their child. After being told that her pregnancy would require her to stay in bed, Patty opted to induce a miscarriage while riding a horse. The loss of her child (a girl) would haunt Patty, who quickly divorced her husband and began her law career.
Patty would quickly become a successful lawyer, one whose ruthlessness was matched by her corruption. While the extent of her corruption has yet to be revealed, this included bribery and witness intimidation. In one case, Patty convinced a company scientist, Daniel Purcell, to lie under oath in order to win her case. Patty and Daniel had a brief affair during this period, resulting in the birth of Patty's only child, a son. She also remarried, to a successful stock broker who spends most of his days out of the country on business.
At the beginning of the series, Patty is involved in a class action lawsuit against corrupt billionaire Arthur Frobisher (Ted Danson
), over his insider trading
that left his employees and investors penniless. As part of a complex game of cat and mouse to get a witness who can incriminate Frobisher, Patty hires young law school graduate Ellen Parsons
(Rose Byrne
), as her soon-to-be sister-in-law had a one-night stand with the witness needed to bust Frobisher and the corrupt FEC official who he was in league with. When Patty and Ellen discover that Ray Fiske (Frobisher's lawyer) was also involved in the insider trading cover-up, Patty blackmails him to make him throw the case. Unfortunately, this backfires and Fiske kills himself in front of Patty. Ellen helps Patty cover up the crime, but when Ellen asks her if she feels remorse over what they did (blackmailing Fiske), Patty realizes that Ellen is a liability and orders her murdered. Unfortunately the hit fails, even as Patty begins to regret the decision as she has begun to see Ellen as a surrogate for her deceased daughter. When Frobisher has Ellen's fiance killed in an attempt to get him to give up evidence that irrefutably incriminates Frobisher, Ellen is arrested for the murder. Ellen trades the evidence in exchange for Patty clearing her of the charges and full usage of the firm to find her fiance's murderers and proof that Frobisher was responsible. Patty uses the evidence to blackmail Frobisher into settling the case out of court for 93% of his vast fortune. However, unknown to Patty, Ellen has realized that Patty tried to have her killed and agrees to help the FBI bust Patty.
In season two, Patty reunites with Daniel Purcell, who killed his wife when he agrees to cover up for his new employer's toxic pesticide via endorsing a false report upon the product. Patty targets the corporation, whose corrupt influence stretches throughout New York City and beyond. Patty also realizes that she's being investigated by the FBI, when her personal assistant (who arranged the hit on Ellen) is arrested and attempts suicide while in custody, in order to avoid being forced to implicate Patty. In the end, Patty manages to weave a complex scheme to clear her name and bring down her season two nemesis, but at the cost of being stabbed by a corrupt executive, losing her husband (whose infidelity is revealed to the world due to Ellen's scheming), and ultimately Ellen herself, who resigns from the law firm after holding Patty at gunpoint and forcing her to confess her role on the hit on her.
In season three, Patty manages to land work helping the Department of Justice investigate the Tobin family, whose investment company has been revealed to be one big Ponzi scheme. With Ellen now working as a prosecutor, Patty seeks to find out where the Tobin family is hiding the money, not knowing that Ellen is secretly helping Patty's longtime associate, Tom Shayes, find the money as well after it is revealed that he lost his life savings in the scheme. Patty's relationship with her son also collapses, when she finds out that he is marrying an older woman, who became pregnant when the two had sex prior to his becoming legally able to consent to sex. Her son seeks revenge by ramming her car with his in an assassination attempt, which is followed up by the revelation that the Tobins have had Tom murdered. Tom's death brings Patty and Ellen closer, reconciling the two. Patty and Ellen will be going head to head in court as Ellen is the only witness for Michael in his bid to win custody of his daughter Catherine away from Patty.
and a protégée was the core of the series' concept. Although the initial story idea did not have the series set in the legal arena, the creators chose it inspired by the power and dynamics of the modern society and the powerful and influential women. The FX channel known for having complex, "antisocial" and "twisted" protagonists in their shows like Michael Chiklis
' Vic Mackey
on The Shield
conceived Patty as non-evil but strong and powered person.
, also a powerful woman, Close approached FX president John Landgraf
about the possibility of a spin-off series about Rawling. Her only condition was that the show be shot in New York City, where she resides. Soon afterwards Landgraf suggested the role of Patty Hewes, which Close accepted. She was aware that many people felt television was very beneath a five-time Academy Award nominee, but responded: "[If] It's good writing, what difference does it make where it is?".
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
on the American legal thriller Damages
Damages (TV series)
Damages is an American television drama series created by the writing and production trio of Daniel Zelman and brothers Glenn and Todd A. Kessler . It is broadcast in the United States on the DirecTV channel Audience Network after originally airing on FX and is produced by the creators' own...
, portrayed by Glenn Close
Glenn Close
Glenn Close is an American actress and singer of theatre and film, known for her roles as a femme fatale Glenn Close (born March 19, 1947) is an American actress and singer of theatre and film, known for her roles as a femme fatale Glenn Close (born March 19, 1947) is an American actress and...
. Being described as "ruthless", "master manipulator" and "brilliant", Patty is a high-stakes litigator managing her own law firm called Hewes & Associates. Conceived as "woman who commands power and influence in a male-dominated world" the character is wildly praised for its complexity and the acting performances of its portrayer, Close.
Serving as the show's protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
, Patty's and Ellen
Ellen Parsons
Ellen Parsons is a fictional character on the American legal thriller series Damages. Portrayed by Rose Byrne, the character serves as the show's deuteragonist...
's mentor-protégée relationship is the focal point of the show. Starting as ordinary associates and eventually progressing to a mother-daughter like relationship. Patty's behavior towards her opponents (most notably Arthur Frobisher), clients and her estranged relations with her son Michael are recurring storylines that are frequently explored.
Since the show's pilot episode Patty's character and Close's performance are a subjects of constant praise. One example is Tim Goodman of the San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
who wrote that "it's Close who makes Damages a series to contend with" and called her "compelling". Close's portrayal earned her numerous awards, including two Primetime Emmy Awards
Primetime Emmy Award
The Primetime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming...
for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series and one Golden Globe Award
Golden Globe Award
The Golden Globe Award is an accolade bestowed by the 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign...
for Best Actress – Television Series Drama among others.
Character history
The daughter of a judge, Patty grew up surrounded by the legal system and a desire to become a lawyer. However, her notions of justice were warped by the physical abuse she suffered at the hands of her father, who to his peers was a fair and honest judge but in private, a sadistic bully. As such, Patty developed a hatred for those who use their positions of power to bully and torment others.Patty married young, to a man who supported her as she made her way through law school. However, when Patty became pregnant just as she landed a job at a powerful law firm, her first husband demanded that she turn down the job and postpone her dreams of becoming a lawyer in order to raise their child. After being told that her pregnancy would require her to stay in bed, Patty opted to induce a miscarriage while riding a horse. The loss of her child (a girl) would haunt Patty, who quickly divorced her husband and began her law career.
Patty would quickly become a successful lawyer, one whose ruthlessness was matched by her corruption. While the extent of her corruption has yet to be revealed, this included bribery and witness intimidation. In one case, Patty convinced a company scientist, Daniel Purcell, to lie under oath in order to win her case. Patty and Daniel had a brief affair during this period, resulting in the birth of Patty's only child, a son. She also remarried, to a successful stock broker who spends most of his days out of the country on business.
At the beginning of the series, Patty is involved in a class action lawsuit against corrupt billionaire Arthur Frobisher (Ted Danson
Ted Danson
Edward Bridge “Ted” Danson III is an American actor best known for his role as central character Sam Malone in the sitcom Cheers, and his role as Dr. John Becker on the series Becker. He also plays a recurring role on Larry David's HBO sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm and starred alongside Glenn Close...
), over his insider trading
Insider trading
Insider trading is the trading of a corporation's stock or other securities by individuals with potential access to non-public information about the company...
that left his employees and investors penniless. As part of a complex game of cat and mouse to get a witness who can incriminate Frobisher, Patty hires young law school graduate Ellen Parsons
Ellen Parsons
Ellen Parsons is a fictional character on the American legal thriller series Damages. Portrayed by Rose Byrne, the character serves as the show's deuteragonist...
(Rose Byrne
Rose Byrne
Mary Rose Byrne is an Australian actress.Byrne made her screen debut in 1994 with a small role in the film Dallas Doll...
), as her soon-to-be sister-in-law had a one-night stand with the witness needed to bust Frobisher and the corrupt FEC official who he was in league with. When Patty and Ellen discover that Ray Fiske (Frobisher's lawyer) was also involved in the insider trading cover-up, Patty blackmails him to make him throw the case. Unfortunately, this backfires and Fiske kills himself in front of Patty. Ellen helps Patty cover up the crime, but when Ellen asks her if she feels remorse over what they did (blackmailing Fiske), Patty realizes that Ellen is a liability and orders her murdered. Unfortunately the hit fails, even as Patty begins to regret the decision as she has begun to see Ellen as a surrogate for her deceased daughter. When Frobisher has Ellen's fiance killed in an attempt to get him to give up evidence that irrefutably incriminates Frobisher, Ellen is arrested for the murder. Ellen trades the evidence in exchange for Patty clearing her of the charges and full usage of the firm to find her fiance's murderers and proof that Frobisher was responsible. Patty uses the evidence to blackmail Frobisher into settling the case out of court for 93% of his vast fortune. However, unknown to Patty, Ellen has realized that Patty tried to have her killed and agrees to help the FBI bust Patty.
In season two, Patty reunites with Daniel Purcell, who killed his wife when he agrees to cover up for his new employer's toxic pesticide via endorsing a false report upon the product. Patty targets the corporation, whose corrupt influence stretches throughout New York City and beyond. Patty also realizes that she's being investigated by the FBI, when her personal assistant (who arranged the hit on Ellen) is arrested and attempts suicide while in custody, in order to avoid being forced to implicate Patty. In the end, Patty manages to weave a complex scheme to clear her name and bring down her season two nemesis, but at the cost of being stabbed by a corrupt executive, losing her husband (whose infidelity is revealed to the world due to Ellen's scheming), and ultimately Ellen herself, who resigns from the law firm after holding Patty at gunpoint and forcing her to confess her role on the hit on her.
In season three, Patty manages to land work helping the Department of Justice investigate the Tobin family, whose investment company has been revealed to be one big Ponzi scheme. With Ellen now working as a prosecutor, Patty seeks to find out where the Tobin family is hiding the money, not knowing that Ellen is secretly helping Patty's longtime associate, Tom Shayes, find the money as well after it is revealed that he lost his life savings in the scheme. Patty's relationship with her son also collapses, when she finds out that he is marrying an older woman, who became pregnant when the two had sex prior to his becoming legally able to consent to sex. Her son seeks revenge by ramming her car with his in an assassination attempt, which is followed up by the revelation that the Tobins have had Tom murdered. Tom's death brings Patty and Ellen closer, reconciling the two. Patty and Ellen will be going head to head in court as Ellen is the only witness for Michael in his bid to win custody of his daughter Catherine away from Patty.
Conception
The relationship between a mentorMentor
In Greek mythology, Mentor was the son of Alcimus or Anchialus. In his old age Mentor was a friend of Odysseus who placed Mentor and Odysseus' foster-brother Eumaeus in charge of his son Telemachus, and of Odysseus' palace, when Odysseus left for the Trojan War.When Athena visited Telemachus she...
and a protégée was the core of the series' concept. Although the initial story idea did not have the series set in the legal arena, the creators chose it inspired by the power and dynamics of the modern society and the powerful and influential women. The FX channel known for having complex, "antisocial" and "twisted" protagonists in their shows like Michael Chiklis
Michael Chiklis
Michael Charles Chiklis is an American actor, voice actor, occasional director and television producer. Some of the previous roles for which he is best known include Commissioner Tony Scali on the ABC police drama The Commish, LAPD Detective Vic Mackey on the FX police drama The Shield, Thing in...
' Vic Mackey
Vic Mackey
Detective Victor Samuel "Vic" Mackey, portrayed by Michael Chiklis, was the antihero and main protagonist of the FX crime drama series The Shield. Mackey was a corrupt and brutal Detective in the Los Angeles Police Department; he stole from drug dealers, routinely beat suspects and committed murder...
on The Shield
The Shield
The Shield is an American television drama series starring Michael Chiklis which premiered on March 12, 2002 on FX in the United States and concluded on November 25, 2008 after seven seasons...
conceived Patty as non-evil but strong and powered person.
Casting
Having previously starred in The Shields fourth season as Monica RawlingMonica Rawling
Captain Monica Rawling is a fictional character from the FX television show The Shield, played by Glenn Close, who received an Emmy nomination as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her performance.-Character history:...
, also a powerful woman, Close approached FX president John Landgraf
John Landgraf
John Landgraf is the FX Network president and executive producer of the show 30 Days.-Producing credits:*30 Days*Reno 911!*Reno 911!: Miami *Karen Sisco*Other People's Business*UC: Undercover*The American Embassy...
about the possibility of a spin-off series about Rawling. Her only condition was that the show be shot in New York City, where she resides. Soon afterwards Landgraf suggested the role of Patty Hewes, which Close accepted. She was aware that many people felt television was very beneath a five-time Academy Award nominee, but responded: "[If] It's good writing, what difference does it make where it is?".