01x91 - Episode 91

[bunniefuu]

[sighs]

It feels so good to be home.

[phone rings]

No. Mood k*ller.

Vernon,

darling husband, I'm home.

Where in the world...?

[phone chimes]

So he's dead.

And just like that,
my nightmare is over.

Yeah, robbery turned fatal.

Wrong place, wrong time.
Look, you won't have

the busboy
to worry about anymore.

All right, you can call it
destiny or dumb luck,

but it played in your favor.

A lucky break?

That's what we're calling it?

♪ ♪

This is straight-up crazy.

We're really gonna
just sit here?

We should just tell Pop
to come home.

This whole waiting,

not knowing if he's okay
or-or when he's coming home,

it's irking me.

She's right.

Pop's probably just as scared
as we are right now.

Your pop had a choice.

He chose to leave.

Apparently, dealing with this,

whatever this is,

took priority over staying

and talking to his family
about it.

So what do we do now?

Now we wait.

He'll be back when he's ready.

And then?

And then we talk.

You good, Martin?

You look
like you could pass out.

I came here ready
to burn everything down.

My career, my reputation.

And I damn near did.

I can't believe
I almost went through with it.

Neither can I.

Though some of us seem to have
planned for every contingency.

See something fascinating?

Just waiting on you
to drop the act.

What act is that?

The one where you pretend
I'm here

for any other reason
except being your alibi.

You're here
because you're beautiful.

And I love looking
at beautiful things.

What, it can't just be
because I enjoy your company?

That line may work
on other women,

but we both know
I'm not like other women.

Our beloved congressman calls

for a press conference
out of the blue.

Bill Hamilton shows him
something on his phone.

Suddenly, it's all over.

And throughout it all,
you don't even blink.

Should I?

Life happens.

I'm close with the Duprees,
remember?

And if they're
wrapped up in something,

I want to know about it.

Every...

dirty...

detail.

Another minute, and those
reporters were gonna know

the truth about what happened
two years ago.

A version of it anyway.

I was going to take
full responsibility, Granddad.

Protect you.

Both of you.

Yeah, well, that's handled now.

All of us can breathe easy.

Yeah, now that he's dead.

Wait, hold up.

This picture was sent to you

at the perfect time.

What the hell, Bill?

Look, our friend at Metro did
what any decent cop would do.

Soon as he ID'd the vic,
he knew we needed to know.

But the timing, though.

My press conference,

that photo.

It's all way too neat.

Life has a funny way
of surprising us.

You know, some coincidences
destroy everything we've built.

And others, they're like
divine intervention.

Yes.

A man died tonight.

That's tragic,
I'm not gonna sugarcoat that.

But for two years you've been
living under a shadow, Martin.

A good man trapped by bad luck.

Look at you.

A loving husband and father,

a dedicated
United States congressman

fighting for the people.

And all this time,
you've been carrying

the weight of uncertainty,

knowing that whenever the past
made itself known,

it wouldn't just disrupt your
life, it would dismantle it.

It certainly felt that way.

I know, son.

Well, guess what.

It's over now.

Right?

You can breathe finally.

Fix that mess with Smitty.

You can stop living life like
disaster's around every corner.

Look.

The threat isn't on hold,
Martin.

It's gone.

What's your gut telling you?

They claimed family emergency,
but no one's rushed out.

Everyone's still here and
having whispered conversations.

You know what?

What am I thinking?
I can't trust you anyhow.

Keep your secrets.

I'll get what I need
straight from the source.

What's wrong?

Worried about
what I'll find out?

No, I'm not worried
about what you'll find out.

But you should be.

[phone buzzing]

Is it Pop?

It's not.

I'm sorry
to disappoint you guys,

but I really do have
to take this.

-Dad, whatever it is...
-Samantha,

can you please
just give me the room? Here.

Take this.

Thank you.

Gordon.

Hey. Yeah.

No, it's-it's
a little unexpected, but

are you still at the office?

Wait. Martin?

Canceled? What press conference
are you talking about?

Does any of this
make sense to you?

Hey, listen, listen.

This right here is your Get Out
of Jail Free card, nephew.

Let's just take it and run.

That's just it, Bill.

I don't think it is.

When Kenny showed up,
I was trapped.

But tonight?

Tonight I finally chose
to stand in my truth.

And whether he's dead
or alive,

my nightmares won't stop
until I do.

No. Uh, I mean...

Handle your business
with Smitty,

your mother and the family,
but going public?

That's just begging
for more trouble.

You've been trying to stop me

since the minute
I walked through the door.

I thought you were
looking out for me.

But you were
just buying your time.

And that photo

being sent right
when I was about to speak?

That couldn't have been
a coincidence.

Just be 100% with me, Bill.

What's really going on?

Yes, Candice. Same publication,
different desk.

Well, you know
I'm not gonna comment

on my husband or his work.

Besides, wasn't
that press conference

canceled anyway, right?

Yep, canceled due
to a family emergency,

so I just wanted to call
and check on you

and make sure everything's okay.

Nice try, but I know
a story hunt when I hear it.

You're not gonna find
your lead here,

but I...
appreciate your concern.

I'll see you at work.

[sighs]

Damn it, Martin,
what kind of mess

did you get yourself
caught up in?

You need
to slow your roll, nephew.

Your emotions are running
too hot right now.

Nah. For the first time tonight,

I'm seeing crystal clear.

You got Joey Armstrong posted
in here like he owns the place.

I thought he was coming in here
to shut me down,

but maybe he knew exactly
how this was gonna play out.

Vernon.

Now you want my input?

And Kenny suddenly is dead?

And our friend at the Metro.

That was Detective Malone,
right?

He took the case.

Or was it the chief of police
who assigned a different friend?

BILL:
You're reaching.

And then those photos sent
to your phone at the right time.

Coincidences happen.

One, maybe two.

I could buy that,
but all of this?

REPORTER:
Congressman Richardson.

Any comment on why tonight's
press conference was canceled?

I'm dealing
with a private family matter.

That's all I can say
at this time.

The congressman isn't taking
any more questions.

I need everybody out.

Come on, guys.

I can see
the relief on your face.

I told you I could handle this.

Why didn't you stop him?

Martin, please.
We'll work through this.

Uh, no, we can't work through it

because he's already fixed it.

I can't even come clean.

You took that away from me.

Voices down, huh?

There are still people here.

MARTIN:
Nobody cared to ask me
what I wanted

or gave a damn about
how I felt going through this.

And now it's too late.

Excuse me.

You sorry son of a...

Something changed when he
canceled that press conference.

I felt it in you.

Well, I'm feeling
a lot of things tonight.

Don't play with me, Joey.

I'm on to something.

Why can't you admit it?

You sure you want to do this?

Try me.

Okay.

Tonight we arranged
for a very bad man

to be disposed of.

Disposed of?

Meaning?

Whatever meaning lets you
sleep at night.

Uh, that call, who was it?

It has to be about Pop.

Everything is about Pop tonight.

You say it like it's his fault.

It is, isn't it?

We don't know that.

[door opens]

No. Please, Smitty,

let me explain.

Now you want to talk?

All those nights of me
holding you

through your nightmares,
you couldn't explain then.

The weeks of me
watching you destroy yourself.

The weeks of you watching me
worry myself sick.

Dad, please!

He's home.
Isn't that what matters?

I'm so sorry.

I know how worried
you've all been.

We're just glad
you're here, Pop.

Aren't we, Dad?

All the lies, Martin.

-I know.
-The secrets.

Watching you spiral.

And then you push me away
like I'm nothing.

The kids watching
their pop fall apart

and not understanding why.

You're right about all of it.

My family deserves better.

You're damn straight we do.

And that ends tonight.

No more secrets.

No more hiding.

Go ahead.

We're all here.

We're all listening.

I need to talk
to your father alone.

SMITTY:
No.

Whatever darkness
you're carrying

or whatever secrets
you're finally ready to share,

they affect every single person
in this room.

This family--
we don't do secrets anymore.

And they deserve
to hear it, too.

I thought the danger is
what drew you to me.

Plenty of things get me
hot and bothered,

but at the moment
I think I'm just bothered.

Are you unclear or just hoping

that your worst suspicions
aren't true?

Well, I would like them
to be wrong.

Are they?

[sighs]

Babe.

There are limits to what
I will share about my business.

You like to play that you get

turned on by the rush.

By getting close to the edge.

Honey, that is a dangerous game.

And why don't you let me be
the judge of that?

Okay.

You really want to know exactly
what happened tonight?

Every dirty detail,
as you put it?

Fine.

Just say the word.

I told you
to call off the th*gs.

I told you how lucky we were

that Joey's man
didn't follow through

on his assignment to take out
Martin's blackmailer.

You looked me right in the eyes

and we agreed

that we would pay this man
whatever it took.

No. No, you heard exactly

what your self-righteous a*s
wanted

to hear, as usual.

You intentionally
misrepresented.

Money wasn't gonna cut it, okay?

We tried that two years ago,
and look what happened.

He came right back,
thirsty for more.

And he would have kept coming.

Bleeding us dry, putting
your precious family at risk.

My family is at risk.

We're accessories to m*rder.

Aw, come on, old man.

You really think
that I'm that sloppy?

That's not
why you beg for my help

to clean up every single one
of your messes.

You know, that's what
you never understood.

You need me a whole lot more
than I need you.

Yeah, until your dysfunctional
family implodes again.

And they will, they always do.

You know what, and this time

maybe I won't come running
to help you.

Maybe I'll remember tonight
and tell the almighty Duprees

that they can all go to hell.

Well, I hope you feel better

after getting all of that
off your chest.

Huh?

Someone finally
showed their teeth.

But we both know who really
holds the power in this room.

SAMANTHA:
Dad, if it helps,
we can go upstairs.

Speak for yourself, sis.

I want the tea.

Tyrell, can you not say
whatever dumb comment

that just jumps into your head?

Pop already said that
he would explain everything.

If you need to talk to him
first, we can go upstairs.

I don't even know
what I'm agreeing to, so fine.

We'll be right upstairs.

Right, Tyrell?

Against my will.

I am so deeply sorry.

About all of it.

I don't want
your damn apologies.

I don't want your guilt.

I want answers.

I saw him, Martin.

The man that you let
near our children.

So I need to know exactly
what happened two years ago

and what right you thought
you had to keep it from me.

And I swear

before God, if you lie to me
one more time...

Two years ago,

that night,

I was at a political event
with Granddad.

We were on our way back

and we took a wrong turn.

No big deal, right?

I was laughing
at Granddad's stories,

having a good time...

So there I was doing my thing
at the town hall meeting,

and there was this dog
that kept barking.

One of your constituents
brought their pet?

Oh, yeah, and every time
I was on the brink

of an important point...

The dog would bark.

Like he had
the script of my speech.

[both laughing]

The dog's timing was
better than Richard Pryor.

Had everybody
in that room laughing.

So what'd you do?

Politely asked the dog's owner
if she could keep her pet quiet.

-Uh-oh.
-Uh-oh is right.

She got all insulted.

Told me in no uncertain terms,

"My dog has got
something to say,

and you refuse to call on him."

[bang]

Oh.

Flat tire.

Looks like it.

What did it matter
if we took a scenic route?

But it mattered.

Oh, my God.

It mattered.

It was a dark,
deserted country road.

We were all alone.

Well, that's what we thought.

Anyway.

[sighs]

No problem, Granddad,
you just sit back and relax.

I'll change the tire.

[chuckling]:
Don't mind if I do.

All right.

♪ ♪

What we got here?

You boys got car problems?

Never known a spook yet
who knew squat about cars.

MARTIN:
We don't want any trouble.

I'm just gonna change the tire,
and we'll be out of your way.

VERNON:
Oh, oh.

I want to thank you gentlemen
for stopping to help us.

But my grandson and I,

we got this.

Don't look that way to me,
old man.

Looks like you two are gonna be
out here all night

unless a couple
of friendly bystanders

like ourselves
pitch in and help.

Of course, it'll cost you.

How much money you got?

Perhaps we should call
the police to assist us.

Cops won't change your tires.

-Let's see what color's
your money.
-Yeah.

-Don't do this.
-Hey! Hey!

[grunting]

[shouting]

Martin!

Stop! It's enough!

-[shouting]
-It's over. It's over.

He's dead.

This guy's unconscious.

Dear God.

What have I done?

[exhales]
I...

I can't believe it.

There's more.

Speaking of secrets...

...isn't that your pal

making an unexpected appearance?

Hello, Detective.

Please join our little party.

I hear it's been quite
the productive evening.

ANITA:
Allow me, my love.

-Oh...
-[laughs]

When did you...?

Just got in.

-Oh.
-Perfect timing, it seems.

Time stands still
when you're near.

Always has.

Mmm.

[phone ringing]

You should get that.

No.

Nothing's more important
than right now.

[chuckles]

You have no idea

how much I needed
to see you tonight.

Vernon, baby.

Tell me.

Tell me all of it.

Then what came after?

I'm not so sure about that part.

I was so out of it.

Hey.

Don't shut down on me, Martin,
not again.

Sorry.

Granddad knew who to call
to handle this business

and who could make
something like this disappear.

Detective Malone.

That man showed up
like he was already waiting

with Chief Hawthorne
right behind him.

Jacob's father.

So he was in on this.

Granddad made the order.

And he told him to get me
out of there.

And he brought me back home.

And that's when you saw me.

I knew that something serious
had gone down.

And your-your clothes were...

Where's your clothes?

What happened to your suit?

They were Granddad's.

There was so much blood, Smitty.

I k*lled a man.

And I snuffed his life
like it was nothing.

And the other?

What I did to his face.

I see it in my nightmares.

It was awful.

And...

...that's why
I couldn't tell you.

But...

there was still...

There's still a body.

And you still had a witness
to silence.

Were... you a part of that?

I went along with all of it.

Even when Joey Armstrong
was brought in.

Bill's doing.

And that's why Malone's account
blew up.

Saving a congressman's career

doesn't come cheap.

But you were
just defending yourself.

Yeah, but there are
no guarantees.

You know that.

One minute I'm happy and...

enjoying my granddad laughing,

no care in the world.

And then, the next...

The next?

I can't even explain

the rage, Smitty.

When that white man put
his hands on my granddad...

something inside of me snapped.

And I couldn't control it.

And I didn't want to control it.

I just wanted to protect him.

And I wanted to stand
against that hate.

Stand against everything
that they stood for.

I still can't believe I did it.

I couldn't stop myself.

I couldn't even try.

I'm so sorry.

You were living in hell

this entire time. I...

I can't imagine what that must
have been like for you.

I just learned the most
fascinating thing about you boys

and your-- How'd you put it?

Oh, that's right--
disposal business.

It must be quite
the adrenaline rush.

Remind me again what you find

remotely attractive
about this one.

I appreciate a smart mouth,

especially
when it knows when to stop.

You started this little round
of truth or dare, baby.

And now I'm ending it.

Fun time's over, Vanessa.

-I'll be the one to make...
-Enough!

I mean it, Vanessa,
this isn't a damn game.

If you push this
any further tonight or ever...

...then our evening won't end

with the usual fun
on a poker table.

It'll be
a much less happy ending.

For you.

Drinking alone?

Here's a tip.

When you are solo drinking
at the bar,

looking like your dog just died,

that's what we
in the dating pool

call a red flag.

Of all the gin joints
in all the world.

Since you're
the one who materialized

as if by magic,

it must have been something good

that brought you home
this early.

Was it the Articulettes
being back in harmony?

The set list
finally came together?

Your voice finding
that sweet spot?

Stop.

Right now.

Something's wrong.

You know I can sense that in you

just as clearly
as you would sense it in me.

It's your homecoming, baby.

I don't want to spoil it
with my troubles.

Mm-mm, that ship sailed
when I saw your face.

Come, sit.

Now.

No more dancing around.

You want the rest now?

Yeah.

No more delays, Martin.

Kenny was one of them.

The survivor.

I had convinced myself
he was gone for good.

The way I beat
his face that night.

I just found out
that my father was called in.

For plastic surgery.

And after that was done,

he was given money.

To start a new life overseas.

Far from us.

And then he did the math.

You paid him off once,
he can come back for more.

Only this time he used our kids

as a first play to get to you.

He was more calculated
than that.

He's been around here for weeks.

Right under our noses.

Weeks?

Yeah.

He got himself hired

at the country club as a busboy.

Every day I'd walked by him

and not even realized

what was standing
right in front of me.

Until...

he made it very clear

that he was back.

And how much it would cost

for him to keep quiet.

So he's been blackmailing you

and putting our family
at risk for weeks,

and you still
kept me in the dark?

Granddad insisted
that was for the best.

Vernon isn't
in this relationship, Martin.

I desperately wanted
to tell you, I did.

But if this went bad,

one of us had to stay clean

for Samantha and Tyrell's sake.

Plausible deniability?

Is that really what
you're going with right now?

The kids couldn't lose
both of their fathers.

Yeah, but they can be exposed
to a monster.

I spoke to him.

And what did that accomplish?

You got his word
that if you pay him off,

he would leave us alone?

Do you really believe
his promises?

You really think he's somebody
that knows the meaning of trust?

I thought
Granddad had handled it.

Meanwhile,
I'm in this marriage with you,

sleeping with you, and you leave
me and the kids vulnerable

by not giving us
the information.

And that's why I called Malone.

And look what good that did.

Yeah, the guy
with the innocent-looking face

that you paid for, by the way,

got to our son through
a pickup game of chess.

And to our daughter
with that app nonsense.

Our kids, Martin.

If that guy wanted retribution
instead of money...

I know. I know.

I confronted him.

What?

-Alone, Smitty?
-Yeah.

Yeah, I had no reason
to think he was dangerous

because my husband
didn't tell me.

And you know what he said?

He said that you're the villain
in this story.

Maybe he's right.

No, no, no, no, no.
You do not get to do that.

You do not get to play
on the sympathies.

I held you
when you had these nightmares.

I begged you to let me in.

Maybe you thought that you were
protecting us,

but now that
this r*cist piece of trash

is back here,
you owed me the truth.

And you owed
our kids protection.

And you failed us.

Maybe I'll give you boys
some privacy,

find myself
a nice glass of wine.

I don't think that's necessary.

I'm sure I know exactly
what my friend came to share.

So we're all caught up,
Detective?

All squared away.

Then, if you'll excuse us...

...I'd like to know exactly

what other dangerous thoughts

Ms. McBride
has been entertaining.

I was just about to tell you
that you certainly know

how to make your point.

But do you know
how to take direction?

Especially when it counts?

I think I just proved
I can play nice.

Good to know.

For now, anyway.

I'll take what I can get.

You know, you're just about
the last person

I need to see right now.

Don't tell me
you're still in a snit

about the whole pregnancy
emergency thing with Hayley.

I didn't drag her
over to my place.

Barging in was her idea.

And since your wife decided

to show up unannounced,
fully aware

of how I feel about her,
your marriage,

and your expectation,
she should have anticipated

that she might have
gotten upset.

If she truly cared so much

about the supposed bundle,

she should have stayed away.

Okay.

So don't blame you. Blame her?

[chuckles]
It's so typical of you.

You know me well.

Just like I know
you're glad I showed up.

That's what you think?

Well, you haven't
told me to leave yet.

And if I had to guess,

you are relieved
you have someone to open up to.

[chuckles]

I got to hand it to you, Dani.

When you're wrong,
you take it to new levels.

Try me.

Why do you even care?

Maybe I'm just bored
since Pamela left town,

and watching the great
Bill Hamilton miserable

always was
quality entertainment.

Fine.

[sighs]
It has to do with your daddy.

-Ooh.
-Yeah. He just...

chewed me out, man.

Didn't pull one single punch.

And a few of 'em landed?

Hard.

-Did you have it coming?
-Mm.

-What do you think?
-[laughs]

That's definitely a yes.

Although I still can't see it.

Daddy's just
a big old teddy bear.

To you maybe.

I get the grizzly version.

Well, if Daddy went full tilt,

it's because he knew
you could take it.

Why do you think he invested
so much in you back in the day?

Because I married his baby girl.

You can't be a nobody
when you become a Dupree.

Well, there's that.

But he saw
something in you, too.

Hmm, what,
a convenient punching bag?

When the occasion demanded.

Also...

ambition...

intelligence...

drive.

Come on, don't play dumb.

You and Daddy always
complemented each other.

Still do.

Nah.

Not anymore.

I wanted to tell you before,

during your last visit.

But you were practically glowing

while you talked about
the concert and rehearsals.

Plus our kids and grandkids
were here.

And I didn't want to ruin
the good time for them.

Vernon, stop stalling.

What has you this shaken?

It's Martin.

You know that, uh,

night from two years ago?

The night we never talk about.

It's all come back.

And our grandson, Anita...

...he's drowning.

What I did that night
was not a decision.

It was a reaction.

An instinct to saving
my granddad's life and my own.

And what came after,

those were decisions, choices.

All of them bad.

But the worst choice
of them all?

I wasn't honest with you.

And I'm so sorry, Smitty.

I know.

I know you are.

And what happened to you
two years ago,

I wouldn't wish that
on my worst enemy.

The fact that that happened
to my husband?

Martin, that was,
that was the hardest thing

I've ever had to listen to,
and I am so sorry

that you,
you suffered like that.

Then you understand
why I didn't tell you before.

Yeah.

I do. I...

I would not have gone along
with that cover-up.

-Smitty...
-No.

I said I understood
why you didn't tell me

when it happened two years ago.

You were in shock.

And then the months
and years since,

I can chalk that up to loyalty

for your grandfather and others.

Self-preservation.

But...

There should have been
a time where the loyalty

for this family
that we've built together

mattered more.

Where you were compelled
to tell me.

And that time came and went.

When that evil came into town.

When he came back.

I tried to handle it.

But you didn't.

And it got dangerous.

And, Martin...

it's still dangerous.

And that's
why you need to leave.

Tonight.

Smitty, no.

If that man is targeting you,

I will not have you
anywhere near our kids.

-Baby, no.
-Not until the danger
has passed.

It has passed. It's over.

-Don't you dare lie to me.
-I'm not.

What, did you give him
another payoff?

A lot of good
that did last time.

You don't understand.

How much longer
before he shows up

in another chess game
with our son?

-It won't happen.
-You can't know that.

I can.

Because he's dead.