01x04 - Through the Grapevine

[bunniefuu]

[ominous music]

[ominous music increases]

- We have a problem.

- No, I have a problem,
but lucky for me,

my solution is right
through this door.

- Lace, Lace, Lace, Lace, Lace.

- What happened to it?

- Well, they must have heard
what was on it and snatched it,

but I'll investigate, I'll
get to the bottom of it.

- Okay, maybe you
don't understand.

Maybe you didn't hear me.

I don't have time
for an investigation.

My family name is being
dragged through the mud.

- You mean Duke's dirt?

- Oh, f*ck off, Sloan.

[cameras clicking]

- What do you have to
say about your brother

faking his death to try
to get out of prison?

- Enough, my client
didn't fake his death.

You're chasing the wrong story.

You might want to look
into Mrs. Marzili's

extra-curricular activities.

- [Nora] In every vineyard,
there are bound to be grapes

that sour on the grapevine.

- [Aaron] To maintain the vine,

the sour grapes must be snipped.

[phone rings]

- [Nora] This is Nora.

- Whatever you're doing,
clear your schedule.

It's time for an audit.

Oh, and have fun.

- [Aaron] But in this case,

two gardeners are
better than one.

Double the skill,
double the precision.

♪ No more talking about it

♪ The way it is, the way it is

♪ It's no mystery

♪ There's no getting around it

♪ When you're here,
when you're here ♪

♪ We got chemistry

♪ We light up

♪ When we ignite

♪ We are stars in
a darkened sky ♪

♪ When you leave

♪ Don't forget to remember

♪ Don't forget to remember me

♪ When you leave

♪ Don't forget to remember

♪ Don't forget to remember me

♪ Remember me

- So that's your plan, picking
off the sources one by one?

- It's smart, it's simple,
hits 'em where it hurts.

- And it will take forever.

- Okay, what's your plan?

- Something a
little less subtle.

- We just got
another three emails.

Our sources are
dropping like flies.

- Oh, f*ck 'em, we have
hundreds of informants

all over the country,
it's one less source.

- It's the 64th email
we've got today.

They all say the same, they
don't want to remain a source

if they can't stay anonymous.

Someone's exposing them.

- Excuse me?

- We still have the
viral cop story.

What do you want to do?

I need your final approval.

Duke!
- Just approve it,

we'll figure it out
when I get back.

- Zoe, you can't put that
much jam on your pancakes.

- What about chocolate syrup?

- Only if you let me
pour it next time.

- Okay.

- Somebody burning pancakes?

- Don't come for my pancakes.

At least they ain't
undercooked like yours

with little batter
ba*ls in the middle.

- I thought y'all
liked my batter ba*ls.

- [Zoe] I do!

- I don't like
your mama's ba*ls.

- Wow, who knew being accused

of r*pe could look so peaceful?

- Yo, it's way too
early, chill out.

Do you expect me to get a
part-time job or something?

What do you want?

- What I expect is for
you to give me something,

anything that could
help with your case.

- What happened
to the recording?

- Somebody stole it
from the station.

Most likely the Marzilis
slithered their way in.

- You gotta get to Roland Cain.

- I thought you said
he wouldn't talk.

- He probably won't,

but what other f*cking
choice do we have?

- Is there anyone else
that Mrs. Marzili has

like Roland Caine, suppliers,

middle men to the
escorts, anybody?

- Nah, from what I saw
Roland was the main guy.

- What about a backup?

What if he wasn't available?

- I don't think so.

I can't say for sure.

Nobody knows Mrs. Marzili's
business better than Roland.

He's a good witness.

- I've just got to get to
him before the Marzilis do.

- You can, and you will.

You Lacey McCullough,
if Plan A don't work,

you move on to Plan A part two.

- Damn right.

- If that don't work,
I guess me and mama got

to hide out in Mexico.

- [Lacey] Silly.

- On a scale of one to 10,
how raunchy is the footage?

- Don't ever ask me
about raunchy footage

involving my brother.

Do you have no limits?

- You're asking if you
don't know the answer.

- There is no footage,
Daniel's phone is missing.

- So what are we gonna do?

- We may have one witness
for Daniel's case,

a man by the name
of Roland Cain.

He was the one who
gave Danny the idea

to do something strange
for a little change.

- Why am I here?

- Well, as much I would have
loved to email you instead,

I need everyone
on the same page.

- Come on, Chelsea,
we're a team.

- I couldn't find anything out,

maybe you'll have better luck.

Here's Daniel's login and
password to the Cloud.

See if you can find
anything interesting.

- What about us?

- Cain used to be Daniel's
dealer, and I am willing

to bet that he is
fluent in the language

of the underground world.

You know who else is?

- Big D.

- Benji, go with Othello to
see what she knows about him.

- I got you.

- And we're already
behind schedule.

Wait, wait, are we clear?

- [Benji] Yeah, we clear.

- Okay, well, let's get to it.

- Duke posted again.

- I am not interested
in what he has to say,

smut about my family-
- No, that's not it.

- [Duke] Police are
saying after this video-

- This is LaDonna Mills, Oscar
Award winning black queen.

She's like our
black Meryl Streep.

- [Officer] Just relax, relax.

- [Britney] If they
get away with this...

- It was like
running into a wall.

I came this close to
breaking my sobriety today.

I almost blew it.

First, I lose a bunch of
sources and I have no idea why.

Then someone leaves
me a threatening note
with blood on it.

I mean, I get it, I'm a
gossip, but it's my job.

I'm not supposed to be
minding my own business.

That don't mean to cut
off my g*dd*mn fingers.

- [Man] Kind of comes with
the territory though, right?

- I'm sorry, I thought
I could share without...

Being interrupted.

- I'm sorry, it's my first time.

- Let's try not to crosstalk.

You may continue.

- Thank you, as I was
saying, no fingers, no fun.

- While I'm deeply remorseful of

how yesterday's events
unfolded, I can say

I can confidently state
that my actions were taken

in self-defense.
- Stop.

- [Officer] And for the
protection of the people.

- Rewind.

- How many times are we gonna
watch him say the same thing?

- You would consider yourself
a moral compass, right?

You think he's lying.

- I mean, it's
obvious, isn't it?

Look at him, he's
proud, arrogant.

He probably thinks he can
get away with sh**ting her.

Worse has happened.

- Something's not right.
- Exactly.

- I think he's
telling the truth.

- You think he's innocent.

- I'm not saying she
deserved to be choked out,

if that's what you're
asking, but if you've learned

anything from me or this
firm, you'd know there's

always more to the story.

- You know, alcoholism
isn't something you can kick

with a cancer stick.

- Really?

- I've bounced between
enough poisons to know.

It's not good for you.

- Want one?
- Of course.

Thank you.
- My pleasure.

- Got a light?
- Do I.

- Hey, I'm sorry about
being rude earlier.

- It's fine.

Expect nothing less from
someone trying to stay sober.

- I didn't get your name.

- Michael.

You must be Duke.

- In the sober flesh.

- So, Duke's having a hard day?

Sounds like he
could use a detour.

- I really shouldn't, I
already took a long lunch break

sneaking into this meeting,
so I should probably get back.

- Back to the place that
stressed you out enough

to bring you here?

I know a place we can go,
take your mind off things.

- I don't know.

- Come on, let's
be sober together.

Come on, Duke.

- Duke, what would Jesus do?

- You weren't kidding when
you said we'd be sober.

What do they call this again?

- Safe sex on the beach.

- Wow, I see what
they did there.

- [Benji] Hey, Mama.

- Hey, kiddo.

And there he is.

- Big D, nice dress.

- Millennials, baby
boy, millennials.

So, how's the task
master treating you?

- He's alright.

- Call me what you
want, but Lacey and I

are putting wonder boy's
mathematical wizardry

and photographic
genius to good use.

Benji is our secret weapon.

- Of course, he is.

Speaking of geniuses,
how's Lacey holding up?

- She's holding together.

With Daniel's r*pe allegations

and Tony's filing
an appeal coming,

it's testing her resolve.

- I can imagine.

Well, remind her that
she's not in this alone.

I'm here for you.
- Thank you.

- We all are.

How are you holding up, Romeo?

- Well, I could have done
without the lipstick message

on my bathroom mirror
or my vintage Corvette

getting keyed last night.

- [laughs] Damn, she
keyed the Corvette, too?

- Different she.

Aside from that, all is well.

- Well, that just sounds
like a typical weekend

in the life and times
of the Othello Charles.

- Right, anyway, we're
looking for a man

by the name of Roland Cain.

He runs in different circles.

That name ring a bell?

- It does, but I haven't
seen him in here in a while.

- Well, he used to be
Daniel's old dealer.

He could be a witness.

We need to get to him
before his mouth is sewn up

by hundred dollar bills.

- The last time I saw
him was at the Dungeon.

- Wait, what about people
who used to buy from him?

Maybe some of Roland's old
customers kick it in here, too.

- I do know of one
of his old customers.

Trent Murphy.
- Wait, Trent Murphy?

You mean the first pick in
the 2018 draft Trent Murphy?

- When was he last seen here?

- I could check the
security cameras,

but I know where
he'll be tonight,

at the Marzili's celebrating.

They just signed
him to their team.

- Ah, and wherever
there's a party...

- There's somebody selling
party favors, baby.

- I'm not gonna lie,
I needed this, Mike.

- I'm glad I could help.

- Do you need a ride somewhere?

Your place maybe?

- I don't want to keep
you from work any longer.

- Oh, you can keep me
from whatever you want.

- I bet you would like that.

[camera clicks]

- Tell me something good.

- I wouldn't exactly
call it a good news.

- What would you call it then?

- Equivocal, ambiguous,
double edged.

- I'm sufficiently intrigued.

Let me hear it.

- Well, we know
where Cain will be.

Hard part might be
getting to him, though.

- [Lacey] What do you mean?

- Cain will most
likely rear his head

at a reception tonight,
but the reception is

at the Marzili's.

- Is there an issue with that?

- Well, it's a private soiree.

But I could pull some
strings and get an invite.

- Perfect timing, I could
use some non-equivocal news.

What did you find?

- There's nothing.

By the way, your brother's
into some freaky sh*t.

- What do you mean nothing?

It's the Cloud.

- I searched his data within
the last three months.

Anything helpful's
been scrubbed.

We are one step behind, again.

- Maybe Chelsea should go
to the reception tonight.

- What reception?
- No.

- The Marzilis are having
a small party tonight

at their house, and if
one of us can get in,

we could possibly get
Roland Cain to talk.

- They're so tight
with security,

they must have
cameras in every room.

I could hack their system.

- That is the best unequivocal
news I've heard all day.

- Okay, but who's
gonna get to Cain?

I mean, Chelsea
can't hack the system

and talk to him
at the same time.

- Can't the twins do it?

Where are they, anyway?

- Fine, you're all going.

But I can't afford
another f*ck up.

As of now, the twins
are on assignment.

- Let's go, kids.

- I know this is
gonna sound crazy,

but I don't want this to
be the last time I see you.

- We did have fun, didn't we?

- I did appreciate the detour.

- Look, I know you
said you're supposed

to meet your
younger sister here.

- Oh, I am.

She was only gone about three
minutes, but who's counting?

♪ Many men try to reach ya

♪ Many men have failed

♪ Well, if you wanna
get to heaven ♪

♪ You gotta raise
a little hell ♪

- I don't think you
timed this right.

He'll come out of
there any second

and school isn't out
for another few hours.

- True, but recess starts
in three, two, one.

[bell rings]

- Look, guys, it's a weirdo!

[children laugh]

[ominous music]

- What the f*ck?

- Where are we on the audit?

- [Aaron] We're just about done.

But our little journalist
is gonna have to deal

with his own story for awhile.

- What story is that?

- [Nora] Alcoholic gossip
blogger wakes up undressed

in his own puke in front
of an elementary school.

- Jesus Christ.

- [Aaron] It was her idea.

- [Nora] Well, Lacey,
you did say to have fun.

- Well, he wouldn't be drinking
anyway, that would ruin him.

- [Aaron] Maybe not, but with
all the pedestrian footage

we're getting, not even passing
a breathalyzer will save him

from getting ripped
apart online.

He'll be fighting the
sex registry for a while.

- Good, I'm gonna need you to
head over to the Marzili's.

They're having a reception
tonight and I need you there.

I'll have Othello fill you in.

- [Aaron] Copy.

- What the f*ck is this?

- I'm gonna need you to calm
that sh*t down and try again.

- Enough, whatever squabble
you got with Duke needs

to stay between the
two of you, okay?

Leave me out of it.

- First of all, it's
no squabble, okay?

He came after my family.

No one does that and walks free.

And, as of three seconds
ago, I just got confirmation

that Duke is in some school
zone showing everyone

what he had for breakfast.

So what could you possibly
be throwing a tantrum about?

- You got some nerve.

All I know is that life was good

before I got dragged
into this firm.

Now I'm coming home to find
out that someone's after me.

Who could it be other than Duke?

You know who it is, don't you?

- It's not important,
not now at least.

- sh*t, I should have known.

This whole thing was a
mistake from day one.

- I will explain everything,
but right now I need you

to go to the Marzili's.

- Like hell I will.

- Chelsea, it is
impossible for me

to explain everything
to you right now.

But I promise it will
make sense in the end.

- Listen, you got a
week or I'm walking.

- Just do your job.

[elegant music]

- [Woman On Right]
Susan, you're very brave

for doing what you're doing.

We all draw strength from you.

- Thank you.

Thank you all for
making it here tonight.

We appreciate you coming
to celebrate with us.

This has been a difficult time,

as I'm sure you all have heard,

but victims of sexual as*ault
don't have to stay victims.

[guests applaud]

The key is to press on,
to keep fighting no matter

who you are or
where you come from.

That is the only way
justice will prevail

for all sexual as*ault victims.

[guests applaud]

Here's to keeping up the fight.

And now to the reason
we are all here

for tonight's occasion,
Frank and I would like

to congratulate Trent Murphy
for making the best decision

of his life by joining our team.

Let's all raise a glass,
or two if you're me,

cheers, to gaining not only
a new member of our team,

but a new member of our family.

To Trent.
[guests applaud]

- Family, that was cheesy.

- They don't know a
thing about family.

All they care about is trying
to fit into a crowd of people

that they don't even like.

Good evening.

Othello Charles
and Benjamin Walls.

- I'm sorry, I can't
find your names on here.

- Well, in that case,
I guess you'll have

to explain to your employer
why you didn't extend

any courtesy to guests that
the mayor has requested.

Benji.

Thank you.

- Okay, Aaron, I need
you to look for a server

with the Guardex logo on it.

- Copy.

- I've made a couple of rounds
now, he's just not here.

- [Chelsea] If he's
not here, he's dead.

- She's right.

It's an elegant party,

He wouldn't be slinging
dope into people's pockets

like he was on the corner.

Try checking the kitchen.

- [Nora] Why?

- Because the kid is
right, just do it.

[hip hop beat]

- I found the server.

- [Chelsea] Good, I need
you to attach the spoofer

to the main network cable
on the Guardex drive

and run the imitation
program on my clone drive.

Let me know when it's done.

[hip hop music]

♪ Never make it easy

[hip hop music]

♪ Never make it easy

[hip hop music]

♪ Take me to the chopper

♪ Flyin' this and
up the numbers ♪

♪ Though I'm drownin'
I can't stop it ♪

♪ 'Cause they just can't
keep me out of buying ♪

♪ Never get enough, boy,
you know I got a lot ♪

♪ No, I never get enough
'cause that's all I got ♪

[elegant background music]

- She found him.

- Good work, Benji.

- All right, Nora we need to see

if we can persuade
him to come outside.

We need him to be alone
in order for us to get

what we need to get from him.

[loud thump]
- What was that?

- I don't know.

Morning, sunshine.

- What the f*ck's going on,
what's happening, who are you?

- Oh, today's your lucky day.

It looks like you
get to be someone's

get-out-of-jail-free card.

- [Roland] What?

- Whether he's your
friend or an old customer,

Daniel McCullough was
wrongly accused of r*pe

by the dusty b*tch
throwing this soiree.

- I don't know what
you're talking about.

- Now, we all know you're
not reason Little Danny is

behind bars, but you are the
one who made the connection.

- Like I said, I have no clue
what you're talking about.

- Are you certain, Roland?

- He's been bought,
it's useless.

- We might not even need him.

This should just about do it.

- Holy sh*t, all right, I'm in.

I'm gonna override the
surveillance parameters

to see if I can view the footage

from the day Daniel was there.

Guys, we f*ck' got it.

- [Aaron] All right, let's
go before things get crazy.

- This is pretty raunchy.

- [Othello] [laughs] I knew it.

- [Nora] Good gardeners
understand the best time

to plant grapevines is
late winter, early spring,

if the irrigation is right.

However, regardless of the
conditions of the irrigation,

exceptional gardeners
know how to manipulate

and maneuver the vineyard
to get the outcome

they truly desire.

[loud bang and crash]

- [Benji] What was that?

[woman screams]

- Oh sh*t.
- [Othello] What happened?

- Things just got crazy.

- [Aaron] Nonetheless,
no matter how skilled

and crafty the gardeners may be,

every once in a while the
leaf or a stem gets ingested,

and the effect is poisonous.

[hard rock music]