01x85 - Episode 85

[bunniefuu]

[clears throat]

You wanted to see me, Detective?

Word is you been grilling my dad
over that little puff piece

you doing on Marcel.

When I specifically told you
he had no involvement.

Look, something came up.

Like what?

Like...

...I found a connection
between Malone

and Vernon.

-Vernon Dupree?
-Yeah.

That threw me, too,

finding out
that our grandfather-in-law

is somehow tied to this.

-Wait, that's just...
-Hard to believe.

I know. So I came here
to talk to you about it,

and I ran into your dad.

And then I saw
the opportunity to...

gauge the reaction
of the chief of police.

And then you dragged him
into it, when I told you

-he had nothing to do with it.
-Look, Jacob,

this is all starting
to feel like a bad joke.

How about we just lay
all of our cards on the table

and compare notes?

Look, I know
you have a job to do,

but in full transparency,

I got to side with my dad
on this one.

I get that.

And I need you to know that I
have Martin's back just as hard.

TYRELL:
Pop.

I know this looks random.

Don't trip.

I invited someone over to run

some middle game tactics.

Got to stay sharp.

-Is that right?
-Yeah.

We were at the park.

It got too dark.

I figured
we should just finish up here.

You don't mind, right?

Tyrell, come over here.

Well, now,

if it isn't the man
of the house himself.

You got yourself
quite a nice place here.

Uh, pardon me.

Where are my manners?

My name's Kenneth.

Your son calls me Kenny.

It's a real pleasure
to meet you.

♪ ♪

Randy, you better have
a hell of an explanation

for what happened to my money.

[phone buzzing]

[buzzing continues]

-[doorbell chimes]
-[phone buzzes]
-Someone's here.

-I'll get it.
-Oh, no, wait, babe. I got it.

We installed
this security camera feature

for this very reason.

Okay.

-Well, Bill, who's here?
-[door closes]

[sighs]

Honey.
[sniffs, sighs]

Get ready for a battle.

Hmm. To what do we owe
this displeasure?

Oh, hello to you, too.

Hayley.

And to answer your question,
this is a sweet potato pie,

which is often seen
as a gesture of goodwill.

I just wanted to bring
a little something to say

how relieved I am
that you and the baby are okay

after that unfortunate incident.

That's the reason you came?

To bring us pie?

-What other reason
would there be?
-Oh,

I don't know.

Maybe to apologize

for sending me to the hospital
in the first place.

Hey.

-Is everything okay?
-Uh...

Did you forget something
in the car?

No, no.

It's nothing like that.

What's up? Talk to me.

How are you feeling?

God, I must seem crazy.

Um...

I ask you out,

I pick here of all places,

and now I'm standing outside the
restaurant frozen like a statue.

[chuckles]

Ashley, I've gone on my share
of crazy dates,

and this doesn't
even come close.

[chuckles]

It's just...
[sighs]

I spent so many nights here
with Derek.

I can still see him there
kneeling,

ring in hand, looking up at me
with so much hope.

And now I'm back
with another man.

-I must be breaking some
unwritten rule or something.
-Hey.

Hey, hey, hey. [chuckles]
We can go somewhere else.

It's okay.

Come on.

No.

No. You know what? We're here.

I need to do this now.

-Okay. Okay.
-So I can move past this

and put this all behind me.

Yeah, like you said
at the hospital.

The hair of the dog.

Exactly.

Yeah.

[chuckles]
Okay.

In that case...

[clears throat]

...you ready to turn some heads?

[exhales]

Let's go.

[speaking indistinctly]

Watch your step.

-[indistinct chatter]
-They haven't clocked us yet.

We can still leave gracefully.

No.

Running away isn't my style.

After moping around
and feeling sorry for myself,

this was much needed.

Thank you for dragging me out.

Mm. Thanks for letting me.

Sometimes we all need-- oh--

a little dragging.

Ash, hey.

Small world
keeps getting smaller.

What are the odds,

-am I right?
-Yeah, um...

You.

Derek. Hey.

Uh, you, too, Shanice.

ASHLEY:
Boss.

Oh, the only thing I'm bossing
around is this martini glass.

Left the scrubs
and my sensible shoes at work.

Tonight,

I'm just a woman
enjoying some fine company.

-My ex's company.
-DEREK: Hey, listen,

-Ash, about that--
-No, you know what,

no need to explain.
We're all adults here.

Some more adult than others,
apparently.

Excuse us.
We didn't mean to intrude.

Yeah, we just wanted
to come over and say hi

so it wasn't awkward when
you spotted us across the room.

Oh, 'cause that would have been
the awkward part. [chuckles]

You know what? Um, we both hope

you two are having
a fantastic evening.

It is the perfect spot for it.

Sometimes you just got
to splurge.

Budget be damned, am I right?

-[chuckles]
-[clears throat] We're leaving.

-Okay.
-Uh...

-Yeah.
-[chuckles softly]

[scoffs]

Good thing that wasn't
the weirdest interaction

in the history of first dates.

[sighs]

Aren't you overstating a little?

And, anyway,
all of this negative energy

can't be good for the baby.

Mm.

Now you're concerned
about my baby.

We thought
we almost lost our child.

Oh, please.

She's cramping a little bit

and suddenly I'm the villain?

What? You know what, Dani,
the only reason

I didn't put you in your place
at the hospital last night

-is because Hayley asked me--
-Bill, stop.

After all, maybe she's right.

Excuse me?

Yeah.
Maybe I should just let it go.

-Let bygones be bygones.
-DANI: Finally,

-someone being sensible.
-I mean,

why would I be upset

that she called me desperate
and insecure?

Yeah.

You know what?

Maybe I should just forgive
and forget everything you said,

because nothing says

"I'm sorry that
I almost cost you your baby"

quite like sweet potato pie.

JACOB:
Wait, hold on a minute.

When did I ever suggest

that your husband
was mixed up in this?

You didn't.

As far as I knew,
we're investigating

because Martin is afraid
of Malone for whatever reason.

-Is there something
you're not telling me?
-No, I'm...

I'm just saying that,
if there was,

I would take it to my grave.

Okay, well,
I can't blame you for that.

But let's get back on track,

because this whole Marcel and
Vernon thing is tripping me out.

-Do you want to know
what your dad told me?
-And everything

your source said. All of it.

Well...

my source said that Vernon
served as a character witness

at Malone's IA investigation.

I heard about that,
came to talk to you,

and I got your dad instead.

Okay. And?

And your dad sat me down
and said, "Let's chat."

But then he tried
to stonewall me,

saying that IA hearings
are confidential.

They are. And the chief's got
to protect his people

from the press.

It's in the job description.

Got it.
But then he was forthcoming

and confirmed the info
about Vernon.

Off the record.

Okay, well,
it sounds like Vernon

and my dad are in the clear.

Okay, now your turn.

What are you not telling me?

[sighs]

My dad instructed me
to fall back

on talking to you about Malone.

[chuckles]

Okay, that doesn't sound like
he has anything to hide at all.

Look, we both got
folks we're protecting,

but Marcel took money from Joey.

That's a fact.

And now, mysteriously,
there's this $500K payout

from two years ago?

Around the same time Martin
came home looking shell-shocked.

In my line of work,
when something smells this bad,

you keep digging
till you hit pay dirt.

And just what kind of dirt
are you two hoping to find?

My name's Kenneth.
Your son calls me Kenny.

It's a real pleasure
to meet you.

Aren't you gonna shake my hand,
Congressman?

You don't want your boy thinking
his father

forgot his home training,
do you?

Such a pleasure. But we're
gonna have to cut this short.

No, wait, Pop, we were just
getting to the Sicilian Defence.

Not tonight.

They grow up so fast.

One minute, they're home safe
and then the next...

I believe you were leaving.

Mm-hmm.

It's been a real pleasure,
Tyrell.

Hope to see you again soon.

What's your deal?

Be so for real right now.

You come and just humiliate me
like that?

You know if that was a kid
from school,

he'll clown me nonstop.

-You know that.
-Listen to me.

You need to end all contact
with him now.

-For what?
-My God, Tyrell,
you act like you don't get it.

Son, you just invited
a stranger into our home.

An adult stranger.

No, I didn't. I know Kenny.

We play chess online.

Wait, what?

He recognized me at the park
from my profile.

That's why I invited him back--
because I know him.

How long have you
been playing chess with him?

For a couple of weeks.

He was trash at first,
but he upped his game now.

Show me.

There we go. Done.

No. You did not just block him.

And you better not unblock him,
do you hear me?

-You can't just--
-I can just.

And I don't have to explain it.

When it comes to my life
and my friends--

Friend.

I'm your parent.
You're the child.

That's how it goes.

End of story.

I'm gonna be in college soon,

making my own decisions,

but you're still gonna treat me
like a child.

How am I supposed to gain
any respect from anybody

when my own pop doesn't?

[phone chimes]

Look, I have to go out.

Lock the door behind me.
Every lock.

Bet you want
to double-check, too,

since you clearly don't trust me

-with any--
-Just do it!

Please.

[door opens, closes]

Okay, Dani, let me break this
down for you, all right?

[sighs] I came to your house
yesterday feeling grateful.

Remorseful, even.

And I hoped that we could...

maybe be respectful adults
about this whole thing.

Because you are the expert
in respect, aren't you?

I really thought
we turned a corner, Dani.

I did.

I had the stroke
and you showed up.

And you showed genuine concern
for my wellbeing.

And that meant a lot to me.

But here's where you messed up.

I'm building a future
with Hayley.

We're expecting a child. And,
who knows, maybe more than one.

So contrary to whatever
fantasy's playing out

in your head,

this is not
some temporary situation

that's gonna flame out.

-So he says now.
-[sighs] Okay.

All right.

Maybe this is on me.
All right? Maybe it's me.

'Cause I actually thought

that we could have
a civilized conversation.

But instead you turned it
into ammunition against my wife.

-Bill. Your blood pressure.
-No, no, no, no. Sweetheart, no.

She needs to hear this.

You sent my pregnant wife to the
hospital with your mind games.

-Allegedly pregnant.
-And your jealousy.

And your spite. And it
almost cost us everything.

And you think you can walk
in here with a damn pie

and make it all go away?

Here's what's gonna happen.
Okay?

You're gonna give Haley
her long-deserved apology,

or you can walk
your bougie, self-righteous a*s

right out that damn door.

You know what?

No.

How does Chelsea like to say it?

I am ten toes down,

and I stand behind
every damn word I said.

I'm sorry.

I will get over it in a minute.

It just...

Tonight is supposed to be
about us.

And it still is about us.

Maybe talking about it
won't hurt.

Go on. Tell me
what's bothering you, Ashley.

Is it what you said
about him splurging?

Because that came
with some heat behind it.

I guess I was just annoyed.

We were on such a tight budget

because Derek had
some unexpected expenses.

But now look at him now--

here with Shanice,
living his best life.

[chuckles]
Shanice makes good money.

Maybe she's paying for it.

-It's not only that.
-Hmm.

Derek claims
that I broke his heart.

Well, if it was that hard
on him, then why is he back

at the scene of the crime
acting like it never happened?

Says the woman who suggested
we come to the same spot.

Maybe Derek likes their crispy

Brussels sprouts
drizzled in chili oil.

[chuckles]

[chuckles softly]

-I highly doubt it.
-Mm.

But thank you for doing that.

Snapping me out of my spiral
that was sure to come.

Yeah, that's
sort of my superpower.

But seriously though,
uh, the same way

you're not letting this place

become a symbol of...

what happened,

maybe Derek's thinking
the same thing, too.

Maybe you're right.

Yeah.

I guess it's just gonna be
a process for both of us.

Why on earth
did I suggest this place?

I should've known. I should've
known we'd run into Ashley

and things would get awkward.

She always talks
about how much she loves Uptown.

Uh, if it makes you feel
any better,

this is the last spot I thought
I'd run into her.

It's where I proposed.

Uh...

Oh, now I feel
even more terrible.

Don't. I almost suggested
going someplace else, but...

then the more
I thought about it,

no, got to turn the page
at some point.

Face the monster head-on.

Coming here helps me do that.

Or...

...at least that's what
I keep telling myself.

[Shanice chuckles softly]

Sorry to interrupt.

Nah, nah,
you weren't interrupting.

-We were just...
-Planning karaoke night.

Right. You know, Smitty and I
sometimes get paired up,

so we want to make sure
we come correct.

-Mm.
-I thought I heard

something about dirt.

Ah, well, Jacob was just saying
I do him dirty

every time we hit the stage.

He can't keep up with the raps,

-so I got to carry the team.
-[chuckles]

I would've thought
you had enough to write

about that retirement piece
on me by now.

I guess a good reporter
stays hungry.

Always looking
for that k*ller quote to...

make the story pop.

You caught me, Detective.

And you--

I hope you're being
a loyal partner

and making me look good.

And let's keep
the strip club visits

we wrote off as surveillance
off the record.

SMITTY:
Damn, I wasn't recording.

You want to repeat that one?

Let's see.

Is there anyone
I could steer your way

to help you round out
your story?

You know, I bet my garbageman
can tell you some tales.

I think I'm managing just fine
with my own sources,

but thank you.

In fact, I talked
to Chief Hawthorne about you.

Mm. Me and Hawthorne
go way back.

How'd that go?

Nothing but glowing praise.

You don't have something on him,
do you?

That was lightning quick.

You must've rushed here
as soon as you got my text.

What the hell
do you think you're doing,

coming to my house like that?

You might want to get
your eyes checked, Congressman.

It's like the boy said--

just some friendly chess.

Friendly, my a*s.

And when do you play chess?

You'd be surprised
what people like me can do

when properly motivated.

Let me make myself crystal clear
for your simple mind.

Stay away from my son,

my daughter, and my husband.

Our business is between us.

Now, where's an uppity
politician like yourself

get the idea
he's calling the shots?

I don't get
why you're doing this.

This was supposed to be handled.

Your very tall and very fancy
friend thought the same thing,

but it didn't go down
the way you boys figured.

I made myself crystal clear
what would happen

if you tried pulling a fast one,

and that's
exactly what happened.

DANI:
Can we just park

the outrage for a moment?

Because time will prove

that she is unworthy
of this newly acquired life,

and you will realize the thing
that we all see so damn clearly.

Why even bother with
this whole performance then?

Why even show up here
playing as the concerned ex-wife

with your little peace offering?

You know what, Hayley,

that might be the only thing
you've ever said

that made sense,
because I'm asking myself

the same damn question.

Because everyone has been in my
ear about taking the high road

and give grace, they say.

"Be the bigger person."

But some people
just don't deserve that.

Like someone who would weaponize
an honest conversation

and turn it
into a medical crisis.

How convenient.

No.

How calculated.

Not everyone is as devious
as you, Dani.

Some of us just want to be happy

and not cause havoc
everywhere they go.

Speaking of which,

I baked that pie from scratch.

You might want to consider that
before you take a bite.

Did she just insinuate what
I think she was insinuating?

Yeah.

[scoffs]

Tell me something,

was she always this unhinged?

To be honest...
[scoffs]

that was always part
of the attraction.

[line ringing]

[phone buzzing]

Do you need to step out
and take that?

No. Just another spam call.

They never quit, do they?

Randy's gone rogue.

I need him found.
Like, yesterday.

Call me back.

Glad to hear
the chief talked me up.

I wish he'd been that generous
last time I was up for a raise.

-Hmm.
-Speaking of work,

we need to, uh, do
that robbery report.

D.A.'s been breathing
down my neck.

Far be it for me
to keep justice waiting.

I can see myself out.

You know damn well
that report's been filed.

So you want to tell me
why you got rid of Smitty?

Sure.

The answer starts
with my bank account.

You know,
it's funny, Congressman.

Right now, my bank account
should be as stuffed

as a turkey on Thanksgiving Day.

But wouldn't you know it,

there's not a damn thing
in there.

The money was supposed
to be delivered.

-If something went wrong, th--
-Don't play dumb with me.

The only thing surprising you is
that I'm standing here breathing

instead of floating face down
in the Potomac.

What are you saying?
You were attacked?

How can you tell
a politician's lying again?

Oh, that's right. You just watch
their mouth move.

Usually you're right.

But in this case, I swear--

Didn't you tell me
you knew important people

that make
your problems disappear?

Give me a break. I was defending
myself in the moment.

Now, if something went wrong,
I had no idea, I swear.

Save the speech for
the campaign trail, Congressman.

The price just doubled anyway.

And I want it tomorrow
by sunrise.

I have already shown you
how easy it is

for me to get
to your precious family.

So try me again.

See what happens.

Shanice, I got to admit,

getting your DM to go to dinner
caught me off guard.

Even more so when you offered
to pay. I mean,

-what the hell?
-[chuckles] Boy, please.

Can't a sister
do something nice for once?

All right.
Well, I got it next time.

Oh. So there's gonna be
a next time.

Why not?

You're fun,

interesting.

[chuckles softly]
In what ways?

For starters,
you're a physical therapist

-and a registered nurse.
-Mm.

Not to mention
head nurse at Garland Memorial.

-[laughing]
-That's no joke.

What are you,
an overachiever or something?

-Maybe a little
around the edges.
-[chuckles]

No, don't brush it off
like it's no big deal.

I really want to know.

I grew up hooked on mystery.

Always curious, always learning.

But with a pull to help people.

It's just who I am.

[chuckles] Put that all together
and it makes sense

that I'd become a nurse
and a physical therapist.

I wanted to understand
how the body works.

How to help heal it.

How to help people get back
to feeling like themselves.

But I also learned that recovery
isn't just about movement

and medicine.

It's about presence.

A smile.

A touch.

Just listening
when someone needs to be heard.

That's the kind of care

that sticks with people.

And that's why I do what I do.

And you?

Thank you for helping keep
the community safe.

Oh, I did something right
for once.

-That's new.
-[chuckles]

Oh, now don't start
that self-pity nonsense.

You literally run
into burning buildings

while everyone else runs out.

That is not nothing neither.
[chuckles softly]

Yeah.

So what made you become
a firefighter?

There was this firehouse
on my street growing up.

I used to stand on the corner

-and just watch them work.
-Oh.

Little Derek,

-the firehouse stalker, huh?
-[laughs]

-[chuckles]
-In hindsight,
it's probably not the move.

But one day, this firefighter

let me hang inside
and listen to their stories.

It was the way they talked
about what they did.

-Mm.
-Saving people's lives,

rescuing their pets.

It wasn't a job to them.

It was a purpose.

And it felt like my chance to do
something that actually matters.

Ah. That's why you take your job

-so serious.
-Mm.

I just do what I can.

Uh-uh. Don't. Don't do that.

Don't downplay it.

Do you know how rare it is to
find a man

who finds beauty
in serving others?

That's a compliment, Derek.
Take it.

-Okay.
-[laughs]

-You've earned it.
[chuckles]

Oh, God, I'm doing it again.
[sighs]

I'm so sorry, Andre.

Some date I'm turning out to be.

Like I told you earlier,
it's okay.

I've been through worse.

Remind me to tell you
about the woman

who admitted
to being a grifter...

[chuckles]
on the first date.

-Oh, my God. That's awful.
-Yeah.

You do have a way of making
women feel comfortable though.

-Hmm?
-I can't blame her

for letting her guard down
around you.

Ah. Thank you.

To you.

For being extremely easy
to talk to

and exactly what I needed
tonight.

From here on out,

you have my full attention.

Ooh.

That's a lot
to live up to there.

Uh, let's hope I don't fail
to rise to the challenge.

You're one to talk,
Mr. International Photographer,

jet-setting around the world,

hobnobbing it
with the donor class.

[chuckles]
What are you doing slumming it

with a first-year nurse anyway?

Hey, I'm not slumming it
from anywhere. [chuckles]

And from my vantage point,
I'm sitting

with the most interesting person
in the room.

Hmm?

Okay...

Okay.

-Mystery man.
-Mm.

[chuckles softly]
Tell me something real.

Something Google doesn't know.

[inhales deeply]
Okay.

Let's see. Uh...

I wear a size 11 shoe.

[laughs]

I'm serious.

I've heard the stories.

Mm.

Charity galas on the weekends.

-Yeah?
-All-white parties
in the Hamptons.

Mm-hmm.

What's that all about?

Well, as you already know,

I lost my parents as an adult.

Um...

I inherited enough to
never worry about money again.

So most of the luxuries
that I have,

I couldn't do it without that.

But those privileges
come with responsibility.

How so?

The pictures that I take--

most of that money
goes to causes

that my parents believed in.

In their names.

Kind of like keeping
their legacies alive, you know?

-Wow. [chuckles]
-Yeah.

That's something I...

didn't expect.

Yeah, I'm full of surprises.

Could take you a lifetime
to uncover them all.

What about your bank account,
now?

You mean your boy Smith
didn't fill you in?

Well, let me paint you
a picture.

Your daddy thinks I need some...

good press before retirement.

Enter your friend Smitty,

asking all sorts
of friendly questions

till, suddenly,

he wants to know
about Joey Armstrong.

Like I'm all in bed
with the guy.

And all this connects
to your accounts how?

Someone went looking
through my accounts.

Nothing taken, just looking.

Now, who do we know
that might be that curious?

You think Smitty?

I did what we're trained to do--

put myself in the perp's shoes

and thought,
"What would catch my eye?"

Two deposits.

Both cash, both interesting.

If you didn't know the story.

Inquiring minds want to know.
What are they?

Well, the first one's easy.

Five grand from some lucky hands

when I was doing a sting
operation at Armstrong's casino.

And the other?

That one's a lot more.

Half a mil.

I'm sure that caught
your friend's attention.

That's if it was Smitty.

Which we don't know.

It was my inheritance.

My sister sold our parents'
place and paid me my half.

In cash?

That's a strange way
to do family business.

She was different like that.

"Was"? As in past tense?

Cancer.

She passed two years ago.

My condolences.

I'm sure losing somebody
like that can be tough.

But the problem is,

that story's
gonna be hard to verify.

Hard for who, exactly?

Well, looks like our popularity
has turned in the neighborhood.

Can you believe
we have another visitor?

Bill.

Congressman.

I'll be upstairs.

We won't be long, baby.

Showing up here to give me
one more thing to explain

to my pregnant wife?

Is that smart?

Your wife's feelings
are the least of my problems.

Okay. Look,
I've had a day, Martin.

All right,
just get straight to it.

All of you shut me out of this.

My own grandfather,

that dirty cop, and you.

And guess what--

you made matters worse.

Okay. Chess?

In my house.

With my son.

Okay, that's shocking.

You're telling me
this bottom-feeding good old boy

knows how to play
a thinking man's game?

-Smart enough
to beat you at yours.
-Hey, hey, hey, hey.

Watch yourself now.

Do you have any idea
what could have happened

if I hadn't walked in?

Look, it was a message,
all right?

A power play letting you know
he could be three moves ahead.

Tyrell was never
in any real danger.

You don't know that.

No more than you knew
that this was handled.

These are my children, Bill.

Hey, hey, hey.

You need to get ahold
of yourself, okay?

Emotion clouds judgment.

Easy for you to say

when it's not your family
being threatened.

What if this was Hayley?

Or Chelsea?

Naomi?
[scoffs]

I couldn't live with myself
if anything happened to them.

Look, I'm about to be
a father again, okay?

I understand
exactly what's at stake here.

[scoffs]

Then why is he saying
he never got paid?

I know you didn't get cheap
on my family's expense.

Martin, no, I swear to you,
that's not what happened.

Then what?

I followed your lead.

I stayed quiet.

And then he ends up in my house,

playing games
with my son's life?

You're supposed to be
the great fixer.

Now look
where your fixes got us.

Okay, look.

Every second
you spend here ragging on me

is a second
I'm not fixing this, okay?

Listen, go home.

Be with your son.

Let me do what I do best.

And I'm supposed
to just trust you again?

After all of this.

You got a better play? Huh?

I didn't think so.

Go home. All right?

And let a professional
clean this up.

[sighs deeply]

Listen to yourself.

You're starting to sound
just like your reporter buddy.

It seemed
like a natural question to me.

Also, Smitty's family.

Just remember
what family signs your checks

when your buddy's done digging
through my personal business.

Is that a threat, Malone?

Or just friendly advice
between partners?

Just think of it
as a wake-up call.

I mean, partners take care
of each other, right?

What are you getting at?

You're letting a journalist
with an agenda get in your head.

Reporters, man--
they're all the same.

They use anybody to get their
story and then they're gone,

leaving you hanging
with whatever mess they stirred.

[phone buzzing]

I better see
if this is important.

[chuckles]
Can I ask you something?

Mm.

What am I doing right?

I'm not sure I follow.

Well, you haven't looked over
at a certain table in a while.

So whatever's working,
I want to keep that same energy.

-[chuckles]
-Well, you do have my attention.

-Mm.
-So why don't you
riddle me this?

Okay.

What's a guy like you
doing out here single?

All right, would I be too trite

if I said
that I'm focusing on myself?

In my self-care era?

Yeah, I would say you
were overdoing it. [chuckles]

-Mm.
-The résumé looks right.

-Mm.
-You probably have your phone
blowing up all day long.

N-N-No comment.

-No comment.
-Okay, seriously,
what's the catch?

-You got bodies in your basement
or something?
-[chuckles]

Nah.

Just most days,

I think the whole relationship
thing is overrated.

Ah. Okay, there it is.

You can't possibly mean that.

Look around.
[scoffs]

Everybody who talks about
forever means it until they...

don't.

So you would consider yourself
pragmatic?

I guess.

My aunt and uncle
were relationship goals.

And now they can't even breathe
the same air.

Yeah.

It's funny how forever
turns into "never mind" so fast.

Yeah.
Then it's just toxic energy

until it's eventually over.

But you said "most days."

-Mm.
-What's your formula
for making it work?

Meeting someone
who makes you forget

why you were playing it so safe
in the first place.

Someone like you, for starters.

[door closes]

Tyrell, stop.

I know you're mad.

Yeah. I'm mad.

I'm also embarrassed.

You treated that guy like he was
a criminal or something.

Overreacted.

Like always.

What is that supposed to mean?

Forget it.

No. You have something to say
and I want to hear it.

So say it.

You're not like Dad.

When things happen,
he stays chill.

Samantha and I can go to him
and talk to him.

But you?
[scoffs]

You just be wilding out
for no reason.

It's like we have
to walk on eggshells

-to avoid you from blowing up.
-It's true.

-Your dad and I
handle things differently.
-So tell me,

why did you have to treat Kenny
like that?

We've had friends over before.

You've never acted like that.

Okay, yes, maybe he's an adult

and I should've texted you.

But I can handle myself.

[scoffs]
What's up, Pop? I mean,

is there something
you're not telling me?

Exactly.

Just another pointless Martin
Richardson crash-out. [scoffs]

Huh.

Still grinding at this hour.

I thought you
and Detective Malone

would have been done by now.

The man loves to delegate.

Suddenly my rapping skills

aren't the only thing
coming up short.

Yeah. About that karaoke story,

I got a little carried away.

You aren't the only one.

Marcel's got quite
a few stories himself.

Says you've been digging
in places you shouldn't.

Is that why he was so pressed
to clear me out?

Yeah. He's got explanations
for everything.

Including
that mysterious half a mil.

Says it's from the proceeds
of selling family property.

Deposited via cash?

Do you believe him?

What do you think?

[phone buzzing]

Hmm.

Just the man
I needed to talk to.

We've got a problem.

I'm way ahead of you.

Looks like my guy took the money
intended for our friend

and is trying to skip town.

I've made some calls.

He'll realize his mistake soon
enough, if he hasn't already.

Oh, he did more than that.

Come again?

Your reliable guy
didn't just take the money.

He also didn't finish the job

when it came
to our mutual friend.

Are you saying
that busboy's still breathing?

Fix this now

or everyone involved is screwed.

[sighs]

It's done.

[sighs]

But we have a problem.

-[laughing]
-[chuckling]

Yeah. I thought it was funny.

Ashley. Andre.

I hope you have a good night.

Yeah. You, too.

[Shanice clears throat]

Now, where were we?

Uh...
[chuckles] Oh, um,

we were switching
the conversation back to you.

So, tell me something real.

Something that I can't find
on Google.

♪ ♪