(somber dramatic music)
(nails tapping)
(cork clattering)
- Late again.
Tonight of all nights.
(Dana sighing)
(door beeping)
- What now?
- You forgot.
- Forgot what?
- Our anniversary.
(scoffs) Maybe you never
planned to remember.
- Hm.
Okay.
- No, no, no, no, no, no.
No, baby, baby, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, baby, no, no, please. Please.
No. No!
Get off of me!
- Shut up! Be quiet!
- [Dana] You're hurting me, Matthew, stop!
- [Matthew] Shut up!
- [Dana] (screams) Matthew,
stop! You're hurting me!
Stop!
- m*therf*cker, shut up.
I told you before.
If that's what you want.
Is that what you want?
I told you!
Happy anniversary, b*tch.
Now clean yourself up.
(Matthew sighing)
(sighs) Hm.
Hm. Ah.
Hm.
Hm.
- Nine years.
Nine.
And you do this to me?
- Nine years what?
I just told you happy anniversary.
- Nine years.
- What about the nine
long years, Mrs. Cole?
Huh?
What?
(Dana screaming)
(Matthew gasping)
(dramatic music)
Dana.
(Dana laughing)
- Ah.
- Dana!
- I'm Dana now?
I was just a b*tch a second ago.
You don't get to hurt me!
(pan slamming)
Not again! Not anymore!
(Dana breathing heavily)
He's gone.
He's, he's gone. (sobs)
Is this what freedom feels like?
(steady dramatic music)
- Let the record reflect that this hearing
is being conducted in a closed courtroom
due to the extraordinary media attention
and in the interest of
preserving the integrity
of these proceedings.
And all parties are present.
- Your Honor, the state has reviewed
the negotiated plea agreement.
Ms. Cole has agreed to
enter a plea of guilty
in the offense of voluntary manslaughter
in violation of Code 16-5-2.
The recommended sentence
is a term of five years
in the custody of the Georgia
Department of Corrections
to be followed by three
years on probation.
- Ms. Cole.
Do you understand the terms
of this plea agreement?
And including the specific sentence
of five years imprisonment
followed by three years on probation?
- Yes, your Honor.
- And do you accept
these terms voluntarily
and of your own free will?
- [Dana] I do.
- Very well.
Before I make my final ruling,
I will hear up to two
victim impact statements.
Following those, Ms. Cole, you will have
an opportunity to make a
statement, if you wish.
Mr. Randy Townsend, please.
- Matthew was my friend,
my business partner.
And say what you want about him,
but he was sharp and he was brilliant,
and he didn't deserve to die like that.
Dana Cole didn't just
destroy him physically,
she destroyed his name, his legacy.
Five years is merciful.
Far more merciful than she deserves.
I just wanna make sure she serves them.
All of them.
Matt's gone and there's nothing
that's gonna bring him back.
Perhaps this will bring closure
for the rest of us,
who really knew who Matt was.
- [Judge] Ms. Carla Pryor.
- Dana isn't perfect.
And she never claimed to be,
but she loved Matthew.
And even more than that, she feared him.
I saw the bruises,
and I heard the stories
that Dana wouldn't tell me.
Now, I can't pretend to know everything
that happened that night,
but I know she didn't wake up that morning
planning to k*ll him.
She woke up trying to survive him.
If prison is meant to punish and reform,
then let it be just.
Let it be balanced.
Dana has already lost everything.
This sentence?
It just may give her a chance to rebuild
what little life she has left.
Thank you.
- Ms. Cole. Any words?
- Your Honor,
before you enter in my sentence,
I just, I'd like to say this.
I never wanted to be here.
Not in this courtroom,
and not in a situation
where a cast-iron skillet
became the only language
he would listen to.
I know what I did.
And I've already stood before this court
and entered in a plea of guilty
to voluntary manslaughter.
I accept that plea.
And I accept my
responsibility for my actions.
But before you judge me based on a moment,
I'd like you to look
at my life before this.
I was an officer once.
I was sworn in to protect and serve,
but nobody ever protected me.
I made police reports,
I hid bruises under makeup,
and the only time I was ever truly seen
was when I stood over him
while he laid on that floor.
(stammers) I'm not saying this
so you can excuse me for my actions.
I'm saying this so you can understand why.
Why I did what I did.
(stammers) Why I'm accepting this plea.
Because I'll serve these five years
and I'll do my probation,
but I'll finally be free.
Thank you.
- Hm.
Having heard the statements
of the victims of the family
and Ms. Cole's response,
the court now renders its judgment.
It is therefore the judgment
and the sentence of this court
that you, Dana Cole, be committed
to the custody of the Georgia
Department of Corrections
for a period of five years
and following that, you
will be in probation
for three years.
And let the record reflect
that this plea agreement is accepted.
And the sentence is imposed as stated.
May peace eventually find all involved.
This hearing is adjourned.
(gavel banging)
(somber music)
- [Officer] State your name.
Dana Cole.
- Louder.
- Dana Cole.
- You'll get it back when or if you leave.
One phone, one purse.
One wallet, one cosmetic,
one personal effect.
Do you have anything else on you?
One necklace, one ring.
All will be held in property
storage until release.
Sign here, please.
- Turn to your left.
(camera shutter clicking)
Turn around.
All the way around.
Thank you.
(camera shutter clicking)
Now face forward.
(camera shutter clicking)
(Dana sighing)
- This can't be my life.
This is not how things are supposed to be.
- Happy anniversary, baby.
You are the best thing that
has ever happened to me.
- You remembered.
- Of course, how could I not? Come here.
I love you, Dana Cole.
- I love you, Matthew Cole.
(both laughing)
- When we make it out of this grind,
I'm going to buy you a bigger house.
With a porch swing.
(both laughing)
Just me and you, baby.
Hm.
(Dana laughing)
(Dana sighing)
- Get it together.
What am I supposed to do
when I get outta here?
How am I gonna make money?
(tuts) b*stard.
(Dana sighing)
Life was so much better before that money.
You're leaving?
Again?
- It's work, Dana.
We've been over this.
- Well, work used to be nine to five.
Not flights three times a week
to places you never take me.
- Oh, not this sh*t again.
Do I ever complain about
your 12-hour shifts?
- No, but you know when I'm coming home.
Matt, you used to like
to hang out with me.
Now I just feel like
something you check on
in between your money
moves and your conferences.
- That money you speak of pays
for this house you live in,
that car you drive, not to
mention your peace of mind.
- That money changed you.
You used to be gentle
with me. Remember that?
- Well, maybe if you appreciated
what I was doing for us,
I wouldn't have to leave so much.
- You leave because you want to!
(Matthew sighing)
- [Matthew] Say that sh*t again!
(sorrowful dramatic music)
(Dana sobbing)
- Who are you?
(steady dramatic music)
- Babe.
You still mad?
I know you're not still mad at me.
You don't hear me talking?
Maybe you're still mad.
I'm sorry.
You know how I get sometime.
Hm, you look good though.
Mm, let me take that off.
(Matthew moaning)
Oh, baby.
Mm, baby.
Hm, baby.
Mm. Mm.
Mm.
(footsteps crunching)
(dog barking distantly)
- (laughs) Carla?
- Who else did you think it would be?
Come on.
- I didn't think anyone was coming.
- Four years does not
erase everything, Dana.
- I know.
- Yeah.
Let me get a look at you.
Okay, okay.
(both laughing)
- Thank you so much for everything,
taking care of my house.
God, I don't even know
what it looks like anymore.
- Well, it's still standing.
But of course, it needed a little TLC
so I kept up with the yard
and made sure that the pipes
didn't freeze in the winter.
- Alright, alright.
- So, you hungry?
- (sighs) I'm starving.
- I bet. Let's go.
- Oh-
- Let's go get some food.
- Thank you so much.
Yeah, for everything.
I honestly don't even know where to begin
now that I'm out, girl, I'm just so happy!
- Okay, just take it one day at a time.
- Yeah?
- That's where you begin.
- Jesus.
(car engine rumbling)
I didn't think I'd be
able to come back here
after everything that
happened inside these walls.
I guess I really didn't have a choice.
I can't thank you enough, for everything.
- You're welcome.
I also stopped the roof from leaking
and made sure that the lights stayed on.
- I don't even know if
I wanna be back here.
This place holds a lot of memories.
- Yeah. But it's yours.
Just take it one night at a time,
and if you need something
different down the road,
we'll figure that out.
- Yeah, but it's not just the house, it's,
(scoffs) me.
I don't even know who I'm supposed to be
after four years in that hell hole.
- You're still you, Dana.
Just a more seasoned version.
Someone who's seen more than her share.
You're allowed to take your time.
- Yeah.
And I heard about everything you did too.
Checking the mail and
running off that realtor
who thought the place was abandoned.
- I wasn't about to let that happen.
But it wasn't even about that, D,
it was about you.
I couldn't let everything get taken.
Not after all that happened.
- Four years and you still
here, like I'd never left.
- [Carla] I always said I would be.
- Yeah, but you didn't have to.
- You're right.
But I wanted to.
You were my partner
long before any of this.
That doesn't just stop,
girl, I got your back.
You ever think about us?
Like, what we were, what we could've been?
- All the time.
But I try not to rewrite history.
Figured we did what we
could with what we had.
- Maybe there's more left to write.
- Maybe.
- But no pressure.
Let's just take it one day at a time.
- After four years, tomorrow
sounds like a great start.
You kept that?
- [Carla] I didn't know
what to do with them.
Thought you'd wanna decide.
- It feels like a lifetime ago.
It feels like I died in that prison
and someone else walked out.
He had money, you know?
A lot of it.
Hidden somewhere, he didn't trust banks.
He always said that the
world would go sideways
and you need to control your own escape.
- I remember that.
He wasn't just paranoid.
He was batshit crazy.
- He showed me once.
Half asleep, drunk.
Said if he ever disappeared,
I'd know where to find it.
Never did go looking for it.
- Is that something that they
asked you about on the inside?
- (scoffs) Did they?
Investigators, lawyers.
Thought maybe I k*lled him for it
and that it wasn't self-defense.
- Dana?
- Yeah?
- I've stood by you through it all.
The trials, the whispers, the years.
But can I ask you something
without you shutting down?
- Yeah?
- Was it really just self-defense
or was it about that money?
- b*tch, you think I
k*lled him for the money?
- You said it wasn't about the money.
But you're the one who
brought it up, first day back.
Why even bring it up?
- Yeah, because it was
a memory, a thought.
Not a f*cking motive.
- But you knew what bringing
it up would sound like.
You knew what I might think.
- Wait, whoa, whoa.
Whoa, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
(stammers) Is this a trap?
You, you come and you offer
me a ride home and then,
and then you make me some tea
and then hope that I slip up?
- Don't get it twisted, b*tch.
I made sure that you had
some place to come home to.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah, but then now
you come up with this sh*t.
- I had to ask the damn question.
Because if you did do this for the money
or for whatever motive,
then what the hell have
I been defending you for?
- You don't forget a man
choking you until your ears ring
or the way his eyes look
when you finally hit back.
- Dana, I'm not accusing you.
But I know you, and I know
when you're hiding something.
- I didn't m*rder him for his money!
I m*rder*d him because I didn't wanna die
with his hands around my throat!
- Then why are you still holding on
to that story about the stash?
Why even bring it up?
- You think I care about some hidden stash
over my freedom?
(frame clattering)
You wanna accuse me? Fine.
But you don't get to do it in my house.
- Dana.
- Get the f*ck out.
Now!
- You called me the one
person that never left.
- Don't make me repeat myself.
If it was self-defense,
I hope one day for your sake,
you stop trying to prove it.
(door beeping)
(Dana sighing)
(steady music)
(Dana sighing)
- If this dress could talk.
- Listen to me very closely, okay?
You will not embarrass me tonight.
You will show up, on time,
looking like you belong next to me.
- Matthew, I told you I'd be ready.
- Matter of fact, wear
that green dress I bought.
You know, the one that actually fits.
Not the little off-brand sh*t you tried
at the last fundraiser.
Oh, that damn mouth of yours.
People will be watching,
all the big names, donors.
So you smile, you nod, you shake hands,
and you support me.
'Cause that's your job. Do your job.
And one more thing.
If you even think about drinking too much.
Just be ready at six.
Remember to smile, nod,
shake hands, and shut up.
'Cause if you f*ck this up, (chuckles)
I swear to God I'm f*cking you up.
And I know you'd best be
hearing me loud and clear.
- It's a scholarship banquet,
not the f*cking Met Gala.
- Ungrateful m*therf*cker.
Get off my phone. (sighs)
- Definitely don't deserve her.
(steady jazz music)
- Dana, sweetheart.
I wanna introduce you
to one of my brightest lieutenants.
This is Deon.
He keeps the engine
running behind the curtain.
Can't do what I do without this man.
- I'll take that.
- Pleasure to meet you.
- Likewise, Mrs. Cole.
- I prefer Dana.
- Now, Deon's not the type to mingle,
but when I say he make those numbers sing,
and when I say clean, I mean spotless.
No smoke, no trail.
And that's why he gets
to keep hanging around.
Ain't that right, Deon?
- Or, I'm just really good at cleaning up
other people's mess.
- Exactly, that's the spirit.
Hello, how are you?
- Hi, great to see you.
- Likewise.
- Yes, wonderful event here.
- Thank you very much,
thank you for coming.
- Yes, just a quick interview?
- Sure, sure, why not?
- Okay. Okay.
- So, how long have you
worked with Matthew?
- Too long.
- Mr. Cole, how do you
feel about tonight's events
and the students you'll be impacting?
- I feel amazing.
I'm proud to say we've
awarded over $100,000
in scholarships this year.
I tell the students all the time,
it's not about money, it's
about building a legacy.
And that's what we're doing here.
- Absolutely.
- Everything he does is a photo op
with a tax deduction.
- And yet, here we are.
Playing the game.
- For now.
(Dana laughing gently)
- I see you finished your glass.
Don't get sloppy tonight, alright?
Come on, Deon.
Let's go do this generous check photo.
Make these people believe
we actually give a damn.
- Right.
You alright?
- Aren't we all?
(Dana sighing)
- [Deon] You alright?
- Just a little too much wine, I guess.
A little too much everything.
- [Deon] Yeah, I saw that.
(steady music)
- This is crazy.
- Don't stop.
If I put it down down you can take it
Baby you can take it
If I put it down down you can have it
Baby you can have it
If I put it down down you can take it
Baby you can take it
If I put it down down you can have it
Baby you can have it
- You want me?
- [Deon] Oh, yes.
(both moaning and gasping)
- You know this can't happen again.
- That's probably what you
told yourself before this time.
- Seriously, if he suspects anything.
- He won't, okay?
He won't.
- Yeah.
Okay, well, I'll go out,
you come out three minutes after.
Don't come looking for me again tonight.
- What if I'm not done looking?
(Dana laughing gently)
(relaxed music)
- Where the hell have you been?
- The, the wine, it hit
harder than I expected.
I, I just stepped outside
for some fresh air.
- Hm. I told you to pace yourself.
- Sorry.
I'm fine. Nobody noticed.
- Hm.
Fine, just,
stay close the rest of the night, okay?
And, you look stunning, by the way.
- Thanks.
- Ah, there he is!
We could not have pulled
off tonight without you.
- Glad I can make the magic happen.
- You know what? This deserves a toast.
To success, control,
and to always being 11 steps ahead.
- Cheers to that.
(glasses clinking)
(Dana sighing)
- God.
Was it always this bad?
I helped him build this.
The clients, the offshore
accounts, the loopholes.
And when things got messy,
who cleaned it up? Me.
This ain't about what's fair, justice.
This ain't blood money.
No, b*tch, this is your money.
But where would he hide it?
He didn't trust banks. Not fully.
So where?
You planned on the world failing but,
you didn't plan on me surviving you.
(door knocking)
- My brother!
Right on time.
Got some news to share.
- Always straight to business.
- Hey, come on.
- Alright.
- You already know what it is.
- Let's hear it.
- Client's name is Mikhail Bron.
Big tech money guy out of Prague.
- Okay.
- Owns a few shell companies
in Dubai, but the real operation
is black market AI applications.
I'm talking facial recognition,
surveillance tools,
even predictive threat software.
- Hm.
- Check that out.
- You sure about this?
Guy's got Interpol whispers
and rumors to ties to militia funding.
- Hell yeah, I'm sure.
But see, that's exactly why he's valuable.
He's rich, smart,
and desperate enough to
keep the money moving
without any heat.
That's leverage.
- Listen, it sounds lucrative
and ill*gal as hell.
It is most definitely a RICO
charge waiting to happen.
- Well, the legal part depends
on where you're standing
and who's willing to look the other way.
So, as long as we don't
leave any digital footprints,
which we won't, then we're good.
You follow me?
- Mhmm.
- So, right now, the plan is to push 40%
to offshore accounts over in the Caymans,
under those shell firms.
- Okay.
- Another 30%, digital currency
'cause Bitcoin is still popping.
- Right.
- Then the rest,
quiet real estate buys
in cities nobody ever visits on purpose.
- Okay. I still don't get it.
Why not park the money in private banks
like we do the rest of them?
You still don't trust them.
- It's not about trusting them,
it's about knowing how fragile they are.
And besides, these banks aren't vaults.
They're bait.
- Meaning?
- I've been in cybersecurity over 15 years
and I've watched hackers
cr*pple entire banks
with just one line of bad code.
Ransomware, zero-day exploits,
even DDoS attacks.
(chuckles) You know what's
scarier then getting robbed?
- No, tell me.
- It's realizing the vaults
were never locked to begin with.
- Then why use banks at all?
- Because appearance matters.
To the IRS, for one.
Potential partners, investors,
they all expect a clean front.
Let me show you something.
See this here?
This for me.
This what they'll never see.
Check that out. (chuckles)
- [Randy] Jesus!
- Yes, Lord.
- Is this real?
- Hell yeah, it's real.
- Damn.
- Hey.
All me. All me, free.
- Look, I gotta give it to you, brother.
You are always thinking
10 steps ahead, man.
- The only way to be ahead of those
who feel like they're 11 steps ahead.
- Well, let me ask you.
I mean, how much is that?
- sh*t, enough to disappear twice.
Maybe even three times if you pack light,
I ain't taking nothing
with me except that.
- Alright, so look, what's the end game?
Clearly you got plenty.
How much is enough?
- When the world goes
sideways, my brother,
and it will, you need to be
able to control your own escape.
And that means planes,
passports, and payoffs.
Now, I know you got your
little 800 credit score,
that's great.
But cash rules.
- (chuckles) Look, n*gga-
- What you want me to tell you?
- Look, when do you sleep, n*gga?
- Only when everything is in my name,
or in my hand, or right here!
- Well, sh*t, you got it, baby.
I can't knock it, I can't knock it.
- Listen, hold on, hold on.
(computer beeping)
Wait a minute now.
- What's that?
- I hope it's what I think it is.
First deposit from Bron
has been confirmed.
We are in business.
- f*ck it, let's get it, then.
- Hm.
Hm.
Yeah.
(dramatic tense music)
(glass tapping)
(Dana sighing)
(Dana sighing)
(Dana sighing)
(door creaking)
(Dana breathing shakily)
- My birthday, maybe?
(keypad beeping)
His birthday?
(keypad beeping)
(laughs) Narcissistic b*stard.
Hm.
How many secrets were you hiding?
(Dana sighing)
Okay.
(steady mysterious music)
So, that was a part of the plan,
just not the escape.
(doorbell ringing)
(sighs) Randy.
- Didn't expect flowers, did you?
- I didn't expect you.
- Well, news travels fast.
I heard you was out, quick too.
No reunion tour, no press.
So I figured I'd come
by and say welcome back.
- Ironic. Seeing as in
you testified against me.
- Come on, Dana, you know
that wasn't personal.
That was survival.
Girl, you know how the game go.
Those are fresh, by the way.
(Randy sighing)
It still smells like him in here.
Leather and arrogance.
- (scoffs) Funny.
I was thinking it smells like,
opportunism and bullshit.
(Randy laughing)
- You still got that mouth.
It always made Matt nervous.
Me too, if I'm being honest with you.
- Well, don't be. What do you want?
- Well, I'll bite.
Five years? Out in four?
I thought you'd at least get 10.
After all, you did k*ll the n*gga.
- Yeah, in the heat of passion,
and the court agreed.
- (chuckles) See, that's the
funny thing about courts.
They need just enough
smoke to call it a fire.
But look, I am not here
to rehash all of that.
Matt is gone, nothing's
gonna bring him back,
I just can't by to check on you, you know?
I see you got a car.
Matt never liked car notes,
he would buy them out, cash.
- Nah, what you came to see
is what I found out and what I know.
You don't give a f*ck about
what kind of car I drive.
- See, you was always sharp.
I liked that about you,
even when I couldn't stand you.
But, let's be clear.
We know that Matt had assets tucked away.
Hell, he showed me a video
in the office one time
of a storage unit full of cash, documents,
and disc drives and whatnot.
So, I just came to see.
I mean, you know Matt,
he was always paranoid,
always thinking that the
world was gonna go sideways.
- He wasn't wrong. Just early.
- Yeah. Well, maybe.
Anyway, I came by to see
if you came across anything unusual.
Maybe I can help, you know?
Help you sort it all out.
- And if I've already sorted things out?
- Then you are a lot sharper
than I give you credit for.
But look, remember.
Loyalty is dead.
Leverage, it's eternal.
Alright, I'll let you breathe.
But you know, I'll be around.
And Dana, honey, keep in mind.
Watch your back.
I'm not the only one who's
gonna be coming around knocking.
It's good seeing you, girl.
Must've been doing Pilates in prison.
You look good.
Oh, put those flowers in water.
(dogs barking distantly)
Yeah, she knows something.
Yeah.
Alright.
- Now I gotta deal with this bullshit.
(Dana sighing)
Should've left when I had the chance.
Me and the money.
(device tapping)
You know more than you said, Randy.
As do I.
(tense dramatic music)
- [Matthew] Going somewhere?
- Matthew, (stammers) I wasn't, I-
- Ah, save it.
I've been watching you
ever since you hit that dining room.
So, you didn't think I
have cameras in every room?
So, what is this?
My loving wife, suddenly playing thief.
- Matthew, I'm just trying to leave.
I, I need to leave-
- With my money.
- With what's left of my life!
- Get here.
(sinister music)
(Dana gasping)
- Oh!
- You think you're a prisoner.
b*tch, look around.
You live like a queen
and you really don't
know what real pain is.
You lucky I'm a Christian
or I'd show you what real pain is.
- One day, you gonna reap what you sow.
(Matthew chuckling)
- Perhaps, but today ain't that day.
I'll be back.
Clean yourself up.
'Cause you look like sh*t.
- This won't be my life.
Not forever.
(tense ominous music)
Hello?
Just paranoid.
(bolt clicking)
(Dana sighing)
(cellphone beeping)
(cellphone vibrating)
Hello?
- [Carla] Dana. Hey.
I'm sorry.
I shouldn't have come at you like that.
- I'm good.
- [Carla] You sure?
You sound like-
- I said I'm good.
- [Carla] Okay.
I'm here if you need anything.
Just don't shut me out.
(bolt clicking)
- I knew there could be scarring.
Maybe hormonal changes, but,
to hear it out loud,
permanently infertile.
(Dana sighing)
I didn't know it would feel like this.
- Dana, we made those decisions together.
Back then, it,
it just made sense.
We weren't ready.
- I know.
And I don't regret
those decisions, I just.
Now I can't give you a family.
I, I can't carry your child and what,
what if that changes the
way you feel about me?
- You are my family.
That hasn't changed.
And it won't.
- You really want me?
Just, just me?
- You think I stayed all this time,
built this life with you,
fell in love with you,
based off what you could give me?
Yes, I want you.
You, Dana.
I fell in love with a woman
that made me believe in something.
Despite my own damage.
This changes nothing.
You are still the only woman, (sniffs)
I wanna spend the rest of my life with.
We are enough.
Most importantly, you are enough, (sniffs)
for me.
(Matthew sobbing)
- Getting back to me, piece by piece.
(steady music)
- Oh, look what the cat done drug in.
Girl, how you doing?
- I'm good, girl.
- Oh, what in the world we
got going on with this hair?
- Just do what you can.
- Is this prison hair?
- It is, but I kept my edges. (laughs)
- Oh thank God, okay, so,
oh my goodness, you got
five years of no trim?
- Mhmm.
- Oh Lord, okay.
We got some work to do.
Oh, yes.
As soon as I get done with her,
I gotta set her under this
dryer, and I'll get to you, okay?
- Sounds good.
- Alright.
- I'm sorry, I don't mean to interrupt,
but you are so pretty.
You got that grown woman glow.
You just got a vibe.
- Thank you.
I was about to say the same about you.
- I just believe in giving
a woman her flowers.
Like, life is too short.
- I agree.
That's the nicest thing anyone
has said to me all week.
- First time here?
- No, just looking for a fresh start.
- Hm, fresh starts are powerful.
I'm Michelle, by the way.
- Oh, I'm Dana. Nice
to meet you, Michelle.
- Nice to meet you too.
Well Dana, if you're ever in the mood
for lunch or coffee,
I would love to reconnect.
- I would like that.
Here, gimme your number.
- Let's swap.
- [Dana] Oh. (laughs)
- Alright, well, can't wait.
I'll text you this week.
- I'm looking forward to it.
(steady laid-back music)
- [Customer] What's going on?
Hey, got an order for Frank?
One sugar espresso?
- Oh yeah, I'll get it.
- [Frank] Thank you.
- Hey.
- Hey.
- Appreciate you.
- Yes sir, yes sir.
Enjoy.
- Thank you.
- Thanks again for meeting up.
People usually get like
a on-guard version of me.
- I agree, it's the same. (laughs)
It's rare to find this
kind of genuine energy.
I'm really glad you texted me.
- Yeah, me too.
It's just something that just felt
so familiar and safe.
- Wow. That means a lot.
- So, how has your week been?
- Oof.
Ah, it's good.
Just trying to get back to myself.
It just feels like the world kept going.
But yeah, enough about me.
How about you, and tell
me about your family.
- Well, my mom passed away five years ago,
but she's been struggling
for a really long time.
My dad passed a year after that,
but he wasn't around much at all.
Sometimes I wonder what
happened between them.
- I'm sorry to hear that.
You have any siblings?
- No. No cousins that I know of.
Just this guy that my mom called my uncle.
He's not blood but he looks out for me
and pays my rent, tuition.
But we're not exactly close.
- Hm. And you trust him?
- Mm, I trust that he'll
give me what I need,
but not always for free.
- That's a lot to carry on your own.
- Yeah, it is, but I
think I make it look easy.
(Dana laughing gently)
Yeah. Generous.
What about you?
- Well, I don't really
talk about it much, but,
I was adopted.
I grew up in Detroit and I
was raised by a good family,
so, no bad history there.
But I always felt like I was
missing something, you know?
- Have you ever tried to find them?
- I thought about it, but no I didn't.
Just never followed through with it.
I always felt like I would just
create the family I didn't have.
- I understand that.
- I see you got some textbooks there.
What are you studying?
- Network engineering.
It just makes sense to me, you know?
Like, numbers and code
are the only things that don't lie.
- That's funny because my
ex studied the same thing.
He had a cybersecurity firm.
Made so much money, super successful.
We had a complicated history.
- Small world.
Any children?
- No. (sighs)
I didn't have kids, I always wanted to.
I wanted to have a whole tribe actually,
but when I was younger
I made some choices and,
can't have kids.
- Hm. I'm so sorry.
- Mm, what's done is done.
But if I did have a daughter,
I would have loved her to grow up
and be just like you.
- Yeah, you seem like the mother
that I've always needed,
but I don't really know
how to trust that yet.
- It's okay.
You don't have to trust me all at once.
So, let's make this a regular thing.
We can take it one cup of tea at a time.
- I told you not to call me again.
Don't know how many
times I have to say this.
It was one night, g*dd*mn!
Listen, whatever you thought you heard,
you clearly misunderstood,
so let's not romanticize this sh*t.
You were convenient,
the head was top tier,
but it was one night, it was a mistake.
And I have moved on with
the life that I have
with the woman that I love.
- Okay, so but what am
I supposed to do, huh?
With her?
With myself, look, Matthew,
I'm drowning, okay?
Look, sometimes I just,
I think about ending it all.
I'm tired, Matthew.
And I don't know.
I don't know how I'm
supposed to handle all this.
I don't know what to do.
- Well, you better get
help, learn how to swim.
I've given you everything that you need.
- I don't need your f*cking money!
I don't need you. I don't need that.
I need you to be there for her,
Michelle needs you!
That's what she f*cking needs, okay?
That's what she needs!
She needs to see her father,
she needs to know her father.
She needs to talk to you.
She needs to see you. That's it.
It's not that f*cking hard.
- Absolutely not.
Lemme tell you what's gonna happen.
Randy will make sure the
payments keep coming.
All the monthly expenses,
her tuition, it's handled.
She'll never want for anything.
But this, us,
this sh*t never existed.
- You heartless b*tch.
- Oh no, b*tch, I'm realistic.
I told you I have a life.
Dana does not know and she never will,
I refuse to let some p*ssy
ruin what I've built.
You and the girl, stay away.
No calls, no messages, nothing.
Do not play with me.
Or I will end you my damn self.
End of story.
- Michelle, she's gonna hate
the f*ck outta you one day,
watch, she's gonna hate you.
She's going to hate your a*s.
- Hm.
Better she hates a ghost
than f*ck up my life.
Now, get off my damn phone.
(somber music)
(Michelle's mother sobbing)
- [Randy] Was that the girl's mother?
- [Matthew] n*gga, is you spying on me?
What the hell are you
doing in my office anyway?
- I was walking in and
the door was halfway open,
I heard you talking loud.
What the hell is going on, Matt?
- Don't worry about it,
that ain't your business.
- Oh, you made it my business
when you made me the money
man in your bullshit.
That girl's your daughter and you acting
like she's some sort of
disposable side effect.
What if Dana finds out?
- She won't. That's why you're involved.
You're supposed to see to that.
- And what if she does, then what?
You think she's gonna
forgive you after this?
After everything?
- Just drop it.
- I'm not dropping a damn thing.
That girl's your daughter
and you about to ghost her
and have her not grow up with her father
and have all kind of questions
that she's never gonna get the answers to.
Matt, that's coward sh*t.
- I'm not here to be nobody's daddy,
I'm here to protect what I have with Dana!
This will destroy her and you know that.
- Then you be a man and
you stand on that sh*t.
Don't put it on me.
- Hm.
You'll do what I'm paying you to do,
which is to make sure Michelle
never wants for anything,
but nothing ever gets traced back to me
because if I even hear one whisper,
one thread comes back to me,
oh, it will be some
consequences and repercussions.
- You threatening me, Matthew?
(Matthew chuckling)
- m*therf*cker, I'm reminding
you who you work for.
You better look at the sign.
- You press your luck with me
and you gon' f*ck around and find out,
and find out fast.
I don't scare easy, n*gga.
(Matthew laughing)
- I said what I said,
go do your f*cking job.
- You know, all this f*cking
sh*t that you burying
is gonna jump up and bite you in your a*s.
- Hm.
Perhaps.
(g*nsh*t echoing)
(doorbell ringing)
(door knocking)
- We received a call
about an anonymous threat.
- Come in.
- You're sure you didn't
fabricate all this?
People do all kinds of things
when they're scared or-
- You think I'm making this up?
- I think your husband's
death was never really clean.
Lotta whispers. Big money left behind.
And you had motive.
- Yeah, well he had secrets
and a lot of issues that a lot
of people didn't know about,
so f*ck your little theories.
- This threat, it could be real.
Real enough for somebody
else to end up dead.
People talk, Dana.
And dangerous people listen.
- Yeah.
That's why you need to be out there
investigating them, not interrogating me.
- Oh, I am.
But as far as I'm concerned,
you're not off the table.
You never were.
You're good, Dana.
Too damn good. And that's
why I don't trust you.
Be careful.
Or somebody out there won't knock first.
Have a good night, Dana.
- sh*t. (sighs)
Who can I trust?
Carla?
Maybe, but,
what if she's being watched too?
No.
Okay.
I did just meet Michelle.
I don't know, it was
something in her eyes,
it just felt like I could trust her.
No. No, it's too soon.
(sighs) Okay.
For now, I trust myself.
My instincts kept me alive this long.
Somebody's coming.
And I'll be ready.
(dramatic suspenseful music)
- Dana?
What are you doing here?
- Making a deposit.
That's what people do at banks, right?
- But you've been ghosting me for days.
And now all of a sudden
I run into you here.
Come on, D. What's going on?
- Someone left a package on my doorstep.
No return address.
- [Carla] What kind of package?
- It had photos of me and
Matthew, circled in red,
articles about his death.
It was a threat.
Said they knew about the
money he left behind.
Said they're coming for it.
- Have you called the police, Dana?
What the hell?
- Yeah, and guess who showed up?
Detective Sticks.
Thinks I have motive.
Money, revenge maybe?
- That man never could separate
his instinct from his ego.
So what are you gonna do?
- That's the thing.
I don't know who I can trust.
- [Carla] Even me.
- You...
Carla, you said some things
after Matthew's death.
- Dana, I had to ask, okay?
I know what people are
capable of when they're pushed
and I know what he did to you.
- Yeah, but this is bigger
than a bad marriage or secrets.
Someone is after me.
They're watching, waiting.
And if I let the wrong person in,
that might be the end of me.
- Then let the right
person in the room, Dana.
Alright? I'm not here to judge you.
I'm your friend and I'm here
because I know you didn't
deserve any of that.
So tell me what you need.
- I need to stay two steps ahead.
I need someone who has my
back, no questions asked.
- [Carla] You've had
that since the academy.
- Carla, I wanna trust you, I really do,
but everything just feels sideways.
Like people are looking
at me through peepholes.
- Then let the right person in the room!
- Just let me think about it, okay?
- You don't have all day to think, okay?
Because who's ever out there,
they're coming and they're not gonna wait.
- Yeah.
(Dana sighing)
You better not be lying to me.
(Dana sighing)
(relaxed music)
I didn't know if I should call.
I'm glad I did.
- Me too.
You asked, I'm here.
Couldn't miss this.
Not after everything.
Surprised to hear from you, though.
I was hearing you were out.
I didn't believe it.
- So glad to be out.
Get some fresh air, some clarity,
and a good cup of coffee.
- Yeah, this place here got the good kind.
- Ah, it's alright. (chuckles)
It's better than prison coffee.
- I bet.
(Dana sighing)
You look like yourself again.
- I'm getting there.
- Good.
- So, how'd you hear I was out?
- (chuckles) Some clickbait post.
Called it a community sighting
or something like that. (laughs)
- While I was in there,
I kept replaying the
banquet over and over.
You made me feel something real.
Even if it was for a moment.
- Me too.
But it wasn't just for a moment.
Serious, Dana.
It was real for me.
- I have to ask you something.
Did you believe the rumors?
About me doing it for money?
- Well, I heard them.
But no, I didn't believe them.
I know what kind of man Matthew was.
I know how he talked to
you, how he treated you.
I knew that halo he put
on was just a front.
- He broke me.
In ways I didn't know
a person could break.
- He didn't deserve the
pedestal he put himself on.
- [Dana] He didn't.
- But I didn't judge you.
And I still don't.
(sighs) Just wish there was
something I could've done
when I had the chance.
- Trying to be a hero now?
- (chuckles) Nah.
Just a man that wants to see the real you.
A woman that made me feel something real
for the first time in a long time.
I'm not trying to come off like a savior
or an easy rebound, but,
if there's still any place in your heart
that believes in second chances,
let me be the one you can trust.
Even if it means one day at a time.
- (sighs) I've been so confused lately.
Learned not to give that
out so easily anymore.
- Not asking for easy.
I'm asking for real.
After you.
- Thank you.
(camera shutter clicking)
- Enjoy that non-prison coffee you had?
- Oh, you have jokes, huh?
- Crazy.
(both laughing)
- I'll let you in, but slow.
- Slow is good enough for me.
(car door beeping)
Enjoy your day, beautiful.
(camera shutter clicking)
(Dana sighing)
- Okay, Dana.
Don't fall in love, okay?
Just because he's kind to you
doesn't mean he's safe.
You need to stay sharp. (sighs)
Hey, b*tch. Don't get
cute and fall in love.
I'm not falling in love,
I'm, (stammers) I'm thinking.
Yeah, yeah. You're
thinking with your heart.
(laughs) That man got that cat wet
and now you wanna feel
your way through this?
Nah, f*ck that.
But he's kind to me.
Alright.
That n*gga might mean well,
hell, he might even be real.
But you know what's more real?
That package on your doorstep,
that blood on your hands,
and that m*therf*cking money.
So don't get caught playing house
when you need to be playing chess.
Don't forget the mission, get the money.
Find out who's watching you,
and don't let that
smile get you f*cked up.
(Dana sighing)
Tomorrow I'll figure out
what to do with Deon.
The drive, all of it.
But for now...
(eerie tense music)
(Dana sighing)
(cellphone beeping)
It's not good.
(cellphone beeping)
"Sounds scary. Want me to come by?"
- Hey.
- Hey.
I just wanted to call
because messages can
be a little deceiving.
- Oh, understandable.
- Did you really wanna come by
or are you just being nice?
- I wouldn't offer if I didn't mean it.
I actually like talking to you.
- Okay, well,
yeah, swing by, I could
really use the company.
- I'm halfway out the house now.
- Alright.
- Bye.
(Dana sighing)
(door knocking)
- Hey.
- Hey!
- Come on in.
- This is a nice place.
- Thanks.
Go ahead and make yourself comfortable.
Do you want some water
or wine or anything?
- Uh, wine if you're having some.
- After the past few days, I need a glass.
- It's nice.
That's him.
- Got us some glasses.
I got you white, I figured
you might like that.
(Michelle sobbing)
Michelle?
(Michelle sobbing)
(glasses clattering)
- You don't know what it's
like to be trapped outside.
Finding my mom dead.
Having a sperm donor who
don't give a f*ck about me.
Walking around every damn day, broken!
On the inside.
I'm angry!
Broken.
But on the outside,
I mean, I smile.
I mean, I play the good student.
I check all the boxes!
And yet still.
I feel nothing.
- Michelle, please.
(g*nsh*t echoing)
(somber dramatic music)
- What the hell are you doing?
God!
(Michelle shuddering)
How in the f*ck are we
supposed to find the money now?
(steady hip-hop music)
Yeah, yeah
Oh
Million dollars blowing like a breeze
Buying off their houses and the keys
Feel the flow ascending,
won't you leave
Million dollars blowing like a breeze
Looking back like I've
really seen a millie
California motivated,
first time I seen a Bentley
Warner tried to put
me on, I wasn't ready
Had me bending corners in it
Like this m*therf*cker heavy
Flying standby walking
past first class
Looking at these dirt bags
knowing I deserve that
In Atlanta auditioning
for Dallas, Austin
Asking where the b*tches,
didn't even think of acting
Guess they seen it in me,
guess they seen the passion
Went from eating Denny's
now I'm eating crab meat
With a bad b*tch, rich,
blowing money fast
Mitch thinking I'll be
living this 'til the casket
Couldn't sit still
looking for the big thrill
I done ran through a mill
thinking I was rich still
Them n*gg*s and them b*tches
That was chilling with me gone
Guess they really
wasn't with me all along
Sing the song, Kice, million dollars
Blowing like a breeze
Buying off their houses and the keys
Feel the flow ascending,
won't you leave
Million dollars blowing like a breeze
Tell me that you wanna come with me
Take a chance on me I'm guaranteed
I could show you things you never seen
Million dollars blowing like a breeze
Kice, how the story go
Rags to riches, now f*cking
with the baddest b*tches
But shorty showed me she was
solid I ain't had a liquid
Passionate, I'm cracking
it from the back position
My b*tch ain't gonna have to lift sh*t
When I'm back in business
Winners know b*tches love
you when you lit and glow
Money getting low, she start talking
'Bout the gender roles
My b*tch different though
Black women pissed, say I dissed them
But I found my angel
playing in the snow
Black queens forever,
snow bunnies know
I'm just kidding, f*ck the
pigment, it's who love a n*gga
Dump them if they don't
reciprocate the love you give them
All that silly drama,
they ain't really problems
Wait until you make a million dollars
Million dollars blowing like a breeze
Buying off their houses and the keys
Feel the flow ascending,
won't you leave
Million dollars blowing like a breeze
Now I got a house
House full of my best friends
Dancing on the couch,
putting all of my
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