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01x03 - Incoming Widow

Episode transcripts for the TV show, "The Better Sister". Aired: May 29, 2025.*
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Two estranged sisters, one married to, and the other divorced from the same man, are forced together after he is m*rder*d.

01x03 - Incoming Widow

Post by bunniefuu »

Previously on The Better Sister

- [siren wailing]

- [grunts]

[Guidry] You Ethan?

I’m Detective Guidry.

This is my partner, Detective Bowen.

There was an incident

involving your father.

He didn't make it.

You should know we contacted

- Nicole Macintosh.

- [Chloe] You know that

Nicky's an addict

and she hasn't seen him in many years.

But she's still his legal guardian.

We have a few more questions

for Ethan if--

- It's fine.

- No. I'm your mother.

Go to your room. That is final.

[Chloe] I found this Lyft receipt.

And wh-what is this company-- Gentry?

Uh, they seem like

every other group we represent, but

I'll check it out.

Hey, Arty, is everything okay?

[Arty] The detectives are outside

with NYPD. There's nothing I can do.

Search warrant for the premises.

- Who's the commanding officer here?

- Finally.

Michelle Sanders. I've been hired by the

family as counsel for Ethan Macintosh.

They have information that we don't.

[Ethan] Kevin said something

different than I did.

- [Nicky] You don't have to touch me!

- [Guidry] Ethan Macintosh,

you are under arrest

- for the m*rder of Adam Macintosh.

- No, no-- Come on.

You can get out of my way!

[intriguing music playing]

[Adam] What was going through your head?

Adam, please.

Baby

you could have k*lled somebody.

[boy] Ethan.

Yo, Ethan.

You want?

[weak chuckle]

[Adam] So you were playing with it

after you stole it?

What, you show off to your friends

'cause you're so f*cking cool?

Adam.

- [echoing] Hey, Mac.

- [regular volume] Hey, Helen.

[Adam] Are you out of your mind?

[echoing, indistinct chatter]

It was pretty tough to make.

[continues indistinctly]

- The f*ck?

- [Adam] Could have shot yourself

- in the f*cking head.

- Adam.

g*n!

Ethan

this could follow you around

for the rest of your life.



[sighs]

Sonia,

tell Nora to put a pause

on the f*cking press roundups.

[doorbell rings]

I can't believe they took him,

those miserable b*stards.

- [door closes]

- It's a f*cking nightmare.

- And the paparazzi's circling out front.

- Downstairs?

Bunch of rats scurrying.

Oh, God. Jesus.

He only just got arrested last night.

They know m*rder in the Hamptons--

perfect family

not so perfect.

You know people love that sh*t.

- Yeah.

- At least your doorman

is keeping them at bay, for now.

Oh, no, no, A-Arty's not like that.

[chuckles] Yeah.

I'm glad you trust him.

But I'd-I'd add a few hundred bucks

to whatever it is you're paying him.

Insurance.

You look like sh*t.

The optics of your situation

is starting to worry the board.

Aren't you the board?

I am, but everyone's got an a*s to kiss,

you know that.

And right now my board is concerned

that you're not gonna be able to give

The Real Thing the attention it deserves.

That was fast.

Well, no, that's not

how they're saying it.

They're offering condolences.

If there's anything they can do,

don't hesitate.

But soon there are gonna be whispers

of a potential replacement.

Suggestions of a sabbatical, a break.

Albeit one that never ends.

By the time you're ready to come back,

whoever you've trained

will have taken your place,

your name on the masthead

replaced with hers.

The person I've trained

or the person you pick?

Don't do that.

[haunting music]

We're on the same side.

You need to make it clear

at the board meeting tomorrow

you're not going anywhere.

Oh, f*ck, I completely forgot.

[Catherine] My driver

can take you out there.

- Prep on the road.

- I already have.

But I-I got to ready.

I got to handle this.

No. You're perfect.

[chuckles]

Grief is something

people can connect to.

Makes you human.

Relatable.

You're someone people want to root for.

That's why everyone loves the Kennedys.

[chuckles] That's a shaky parallel.

It is a heartbreaking story

no one can turn away from.

So you make that work

for the next chapter of your story.

Can we wait on packaging this, please?

Spinning this as opportunity

is ghoulish, I know.

What we're really

talking about here is you

and your strength,

generally and in this moment.

It will only make the magazine better.

It will only make you better.

Good.

[door opens]

- [door closes]

- [Nicky] A little early for a visit, no?

How long have you been there?

Just a little bit, Jackie O.

She seems

to have her priorities straight, though.

"I know you're worried about your kid,

but let's not forget about the brand."

[scoffs] Far as surrogates go,

pretty hard right turn away from Mom.

You know,

she's more like a sister, actually.

Catherine is brilliant

and she is helping me navigate

some very tricky terrain.

"Brilliant" is an overused term,

as is "genius."

- She's a legend.

- As is "legend."

She's one of the first female,

Black multimillionaires in this country,

and one of the only Black women

to ever run a Fortune 500 company.

Did you write the Wikipedia page yourself?

[scoffs]

I just-- I actually can't with you.

Chloe, nobody gives a sh*t

about the two of you

and your little dance for your board.

Oh, you mean my job?

Yeah, that thing

that paid for Ethan's whole life.

And what a life.

- I'm gonna print my notes.

- Okay.

That's for your meeting tomorrow.

And today, Ethan has a hearing

and, Chloe, we still

don't know sh*t about it.

I have been trying to get through to her.

She is not picking up, okay?

Jesus. You don't think

I'm going crazy right now?

Try again. You're not paying her enough?

- Fine. Happy to.

- [line ringing]

[Sanders] You've reached

Michelle Sanders.

- Please leave a message.

- [beep]

Hi, Michelle.

This is Chloe Taylor, um, calling again.

Would you please call me back

as soon as you have any information

about today's hearing whatsoever?

I would really appreciate it.

Also, we still have no info

regarding where Ethan is being held.

Manhattan is saying Long Island

and vice versa.

So, please call me.

- Fine.

- Okay.

[line ringing]

That's a good idea.

[policeman] East Hampton

Police Department.

Hi. Detective Guidry, please.

- One moment.

- This b*tch.

This is Detective Nan Guidry.

Hi. Detective Guidry,

this is Chloe Taylor,

Ethan Macintosh's mom.

Where is Ethan being held?

Uh, Suffolk County Detention.

I'm sorry, I thought you knew that.

Appreciate the runaround. Thank you.

Oh, my God. Now what?

- Let's just go out there.

- Great.

I am so tired of waiting.

- Great. Let's f*cking go there.

- Let's go.

- Good.

- All right.

- Good.

- Go get changed.

Why would I?

Your age,

a passing understanding of decorum,

a camel toe that can be seen

from outer space.

[short chuckle]

[pensive music]

Why didn't they call the cops?

It wasn't loaded.

They knew I wasn't gonna do anything.

Then why did you bring it?

It was a mistake.

Got put in my bag by accident.

You get in a lot of trouble, Ethan?

[eerie music playing]

[Adam] Whose is it, Ethan?

[Ethan] I was holding it for a friend.

Dad, I swear

it isn't mine.

Whose is it, Ethan?

So you were

actually holding it for somebody?

Are you telling me the weed was Kevin's?

Oh.

H-He had some people

to-to meet up with that night.

My dad would have lost it

if he ever found out,

so I-I couldn't be with Kevin,

in case he got caught or something.

That's

that's why I left him on the beach

and told him

to pick me up when he got done.

[phone vibrates]

Is that my mom?

She can be intense.

[weak chuckle]

She's just worried.

You know, now might be a good time

for a break.

Hmm?

Maybe we can both use something to eat.

[sniffles]

Thanks.

Was I okay?

Nine times out of ten,

first interview's all bullshit anyway.

It's all right.

We're just getting to know each other.

The time's gonna come

when the prosecutor's gonna paint you

as a violent kid

who's capable of k*lling his father

who has no plausible alibi.

So I'm hoping that by the time I get back,

after you've gotten some food

in your stomach

and a little time to think about things,

you'll give me something more than

"It was put in my bag by accident."

[whimsical music playing on speakers]

[Guidry] Official autopsy report

just came in.

Bill Braddock's office.

Got to cross him off our list.

What about the labs--

blood stain on the shoe?

Ethan's own.

Probably from the cut on his arm,

fist fight with the pops

before he k*lled him.

Mm.

Hello.

- [car door closes]

- [Bowen] Mr. Braddock,

Detectives Bowen and Guidry here.

[Guidry] You're a difficult

man to get hold of.

[Bill] There's a lot to process,

as you can imagine,

on top of the usual business.

How can I help you?

On the day of his m*rder,

we know Adam Macintosh

and Jake Rodriguez were working

with the Gentry Group,

and we also know that

you sent him on a second meeting

with them alone.

[Guidry] What we want to know is why.

You like Adam better?

A little competition's healthy

between boys.

[Bowen] Was there tension between

Mr. Rodriguez and Mr. Macintosh

regarding this competition?

They understood their differing appeals.

Adam was a rigorous thinker.

Gentry took a liking to him.

He seems to have feted them

with a send-off meal out in Queens.

Adam ever mention, uh, an issue

with anyone from the Gentry Group?

Never. Wasn't a squeaky wheel.

Any of his files regarding

the Gentry Group might be relevant

- to our investigation?

- I can't imagine they would be.

Lawyers aren't known

for their imaginations.

Oh, mine is quite vivid, I can assure you.

And all of Adam's files

would be protected under attorney-client

privilege, until subpoenaed.

Subpoena in process, via the prosecution.

Whom am I having the pleasure

of speaking to right now?

Nan Guidry.

Well, I look forward to complying

upon receipt, Mrs. Guidry.

Or is it Ms.?

Detective'll do.

Please do reach out if I can answer

any more questions, Detective.

[hangs up]

That queen is deleting files as we speak.

Not that it matters.

Maybe Jake Rodriguez really was jealous.

Sure, but enough to k*ll him?

Uh, okay, I can't read your size two font.

Jake Rodriguez's phone records,

per your request.

A bunch of calls back and forth

to an unregistered number,

some on the night of the m*rder.

Single guy spends a lot of time

with an attractive couple.

It's a tricky triangle.

I could like it

if it actually supported

any of the other evidence

or the arrest we already made.

Always yucking my yum.

Okay, I do not

want to hear the words "yuck" or "yum"

cross your lips ever again in my presence.

- [chuckles]

- Do you hear me? Thank you.

- [engine starts]

- Let's get out of here.

[suspenseful music playing]

[scoffs]

Right, and now

the room's such a f*cking mess.



[phone closes]

[sighs]

[mariachi music playing on speakers]

You look good, buddy.

Like a man.

If only you'd just stand up straighter.

- Jesus.

- [indistinct chatter]

Thank God, I'm starving.

- Uh, hot dog, ketchup.

- Okay, man.

Uh, two for me please.

Mustard, no ketchup.

- Let's just start with one, all right?

- You got it, bro.

Hey, come on, man.

His age, my average was, what, four?

Yeah, well, you were

fueling a swim scholarship.

It's different.

- Make it three.

- All right.

Eso. There you go. There we go.

- [speaking Spanish]

- There you go.

- We can give it to Mom.

- Muchas gracias.

- Buen provecho, boys.

- Thank you.

[Adam] I mean, if you, like,

exercised, ever.

- [elevator bell dings]

- [elevator doors open]

Will you just relax?

You have, like, five more in the closet

that look exactly like this.

Hey, car's around the side?

Fan club will never know you left.

- Thank you.

- Hey.

- No, no, no, no

- No, no, I found that.

I'm pretty sure it's yours.

- Thank you.

- Least I can do.

[Chloe] Faster, please.

[Nicky scoffs]

[percussive music playing]

[door closes]

[locks click]

[sighs] Okay.

This thing's like a spaceship.

Can you take those down, please?

This is more comfortable for my back.

[sighs]

Well, it's disgusting and dangerous.

[sighs] Only if you're a bad driver.

[chair motor humming]

Oh, my God.

Will you just do me a favor?

There's a phone in my bag.

Will you pull it out and plug it

into the console, please?

Yes, boss.

[tense music playing]

Where'd you get this?

I found it in my office.

I think it might be Adam's.

Adam's?

Yeah. Nicky, just plug it in.

Uh, Chlo, I'm pretty sure

this runs on coal.

There's a dongle on the console.

[chuckles] A what now?

A universal charger. Come on.

[chuckles]

I do love hearing you say "dongle."

[phone rings]

Oh.

Okay.

Hey, Bill.

I'm in the car with my sister Nicole.

- [Nicky] Howdy.

- [Bill] Uh, well, hello.

Listen, I wanted to follow up

on the Gentry Group of it all.

- Oh, great.

- Yeah. As I suspected,

Adam was having meetings out at JFK

- on Friday.

- I knew that.

And when I asked my younger colleagues

about Kew Gardens, they explained

the clients often like to experience

a little bit of local flavor

when they come to town.

I see.

Anyways, it's a dead end.

I told those stupid detectives

who called this morning as much.

Yeah, I mentioned the Lyfts to them.

Who-who called?

Oh, they double teamed me.

Hey, is the smug one a l*sbian?

- Loud and proud.

- [chuckles] Knew it.

And the threats against you--

- have they followed up?

- Doubtful.

But Catherine's guy's looking into it.

Well, listen, if they're just gonna

sit around on their lazy asses,

- I'd be happy to play the heavy.

- [Chloe] No.

It's all right, Bill.

All right, well, if you change your mind,

the offer stands.

- Stay safe, you too.

- Okay, thank you.

- [sighs]

- Okay, well, now you know.

Yeah.

[cell phone chimes]

Oh, Nicky.

- That's-- This is--

- [Nicky] Yeah, okay, okay.

Looks empty, Chlo.

What do you mean?

There's no calls, no texts.

There's no contacts in the contact book.

I don't think it was used.

[sighs] What the f*ck, Adam?

What were you doing

with an empty burner phone?

If I say "dealing drugs,"

will you get mad?

Yeah.

- Dealing dru--

- Don't say it.

- But what if--

- Don't.

- Maybe it was your

- Shh.

- housekeeper Analisa's.

- Shh. Shh.

- [phone closes]

- Maybe she's dealing drugs. [sucks teeth]

[atmospheric music]

She seems to have bought it.

The benefit

of a grieving widow's distraction.

For now.

So, Gentry confirms a meeting with Adam

that we don't have in our books.

Adam starts taking Lyfts out to Queens

on his own personal account.

Was he making a play

to steal Gentry as a client?

Well, he was ambitious.

I fully suspected it, had been for months.

But Gentry entertains it?

Leaving me?

[chuckles softly]

Well, you are sort of an as*h*le.

An as*h*le who's been

burying their bodies for a long time.

Whatever law firm it is

that's trying to poach Adam

wanted him

to bring Gentry along as a client.

Adam makes a show

of what he can do for Gentry

in greener pastures,

but Gentry doesn't take kindly

to having their intimate details

used as a deal sweetener.

So they confirmed

the solo meeting with Adam,

knowing that it would get back to me.

They only had to confirm it

because he's dead.

Regardless, Adam has made a mess

that needs cleaning up.

And what--

Latinos are famous

for their cleaning skills?

You said it, not me.

Lord knows what else he left

lying around that house with him.

Bless his soul.

So you'll head out to the house

since you're going that way anyway?

Your secretary told me

that you were meeting with the counsel

you referred for Ethan.

I'm sure that Chloe really appreciates

the support.

And don't wear those trousers

around the office anymore.

They're very distracting.

[line ringing]

No.

Confirmation from Gentry's

got him down a different path.

Well, I'm headed out there now.

Can stop by tonight.

[reporter] have, of late,

been observing changing mating rituals

of gazelles in the Serengeti.

[Mark Hamilton] I've never seen them

so frisky, for lack of a better word.

Frisky gazelles.

- Turn it up.

- [sniffles]

[reporter] What effect this extra

conjugation will have remains to be seen.

[scoffs] Wait nine and a half months,

you'll see the effects.

Gazelles don't have

the same gestational period as humans.

[Hamilton] Uh, but,

uh, our research is showing that

You do not

know the gestational period of gazelles.

[chuckles]

I do.

Why would I make something like that up?

[laughs] But why

would you ever know that?

I know things.

Okay, boss.

- I know things.

- Sure.

[anchor] Good afternoon.

Late on Friday night,

Attorney Adam Macintosh

was brutally stabbed to death

inside his Long Island home.

- [phone chimes]

- [Chloe] Call Michelle Sanders.

[Siri] I'm sorry. I didn't get that.

Call Michelle Sanders.

- Calling Mitchell Sampson.

- [line ringing]

No, not f*cking Mitchell.

I said call Michelle Sanders.

Okay. I'll just--

I'll dial it for you, okay?

I'm sorry.

- I didn't find a Michelle Sampson.

- Would you just

f*cking call Michelle f*cking Sanders?!

f*ck!

[cries]

[somber music playing]

Ah

[whimpers]

f*ck. I mean, what the f*ck

is gonna happen today?

Is he gonna go to jail?

- No.

- [gasps]

Jesus Christ, Nicky.

What if he did it?

What if he did it?

He didn't do it.

Chloe.

You know him.

You know that.

Do I?

Chloe.

[sniffles, sighs]

He didn't, honey.

He didn't, I promise.

- [sighs]

- I know he didn't.

Everything is going to be okay.

How? How?

[sniffles]

- [sighs]

- Just do the next indicated thing.

And what the f*ck is that?

Find the person who did it.

- Right.

- Right. Okay.

- All right. Okay.

- Yeah. Okay.

[indistinct chatter]

- Hey.

- Hey.

Hey. Good to see you.

Thank you for meeting me.

Is that all you're gonna thank me for?

[chuckles] And for taking the case.

I owed you. You called, I came.

I walked right into that clusterfuck

of my own volition.

Sister wives thing--

that-that's new for me.

Black people don't do that sh*t.

We do other sh*t.

- How do you mean?

- Well, it's not every day

a woman marries her sister's ex-husband.

Oh, yeah, well sure.

- There's that.

- Yeah.

There's that.

But it's the kid I can't get a read on,

you know?

He's-he's just not

what you would expect.

Yeah, he's his own person.

Chloe's done a great job with him.

Well, uh, uh, they both,

uh, have. Or did.

It's

Well, assuming

the hearing goes as I think it will,

moms will take him home tonight.

What can I get for you today?

Caesar salad, extra croutons,

and probably fish

- with steamed vegetables for him.

- Fish-- [sighs]

He's watching his figure.

Thank you.

Yeah. [laughs]

So, I'm sorry. You-- So, uh

Ethan's other mom-- she's in town?

Mm-hmm.

- Do you know her?

- Uh, no.

They've mentioned

Adam's ex a couple times.

Unstable.

They had a restraining order against her.

You know, they always got cagey

about whatever happened back then,

and I-I didn't, uh I didn't press.

Didn't realize you two were that close.

- Not at first.

- Mm-hmm.

Neither of us ever

really fit in to the club.

You know, a place like Braddock,

you check a box.

I was brown, he was poor.

- White enough, but not really white.

- Mm.

First gen to go to college, both trying

to do better than your parents did.

Yeah, I get it.

Big deal to get where we are,

but, uh

he never really enjoyed it.

Hmm.

Not like you.

[chuckles] Yeah, right. Sure.

You didn't have

to come all the way out here.

Murray's Cheese basket

would have sufficed.

Oh, no, hey

I had to come out here anyway.

The deck's being resurfaced.

And, uh

I really appreciate it.

You all right?

[scoffs] I don't know.

Not really. [chuckles softly]

[phone vibrates]

- Sorry.

- It's okay.

Hey.

All right. Be right there.

[turn signal clicking]

[Chloe sighs]

[ambient music playing]

Okay. Let's go.

No, I'm not going in there.

- What?

- You got it.

Just don't let them walk all over you.

You know what? Yeah.

Maybe you should stay in the car.

We don't need you punching any cops today.

Okay.

I'll be back.

[Guidry] All the incisions

were three and a quarter,

except the one on the neck.

Looks like the assailant yanked

to get the knife out there.

It's a wider gash.

Smooth, very common blade type.

Kind they sell at every corner store,

right in between the bongs

and fake Viagra.

You ever take that stuff? Horny goat weed?

Here.

What-what are you talking about?

City's rotten with this kind

of paraphernalia, is what I'm saying.

Ample opportunity for the kid

to purchase the knife that did this.

And where is it now?

Tosses it.

- What?

- Mm, mm.

Say it, Bowen.

Alarm was disarmed

20 minutes before Adam was k*lled.

Chloe said they never set it.

Most people don't

lie to the cops that confidently.

So, maybe it wasn't a lie.

- Maybe Adam set the alarm.

- Right. Yeah.

And the kid disarmed it.

Kid's not the only one in the house

that has the code.

[scoffs]

[ominous music playing]

[gasps softly]

It's as good as dead.

Remember how I showed you?

Nicole.

I'll do it.

[Hank] It's the merciful

thing.



I told her to keep it clean.

[Bowen] It's a beautiful ring.

Probably cost as much as my car.

- Incoming widow.

- Oh.

I need to speak with you both.

I found this in my apartment.

Just, you know, get the metadata.

Uh, this isn't the Genius Bar, ma'am.

Clearly.

But I thought you said

you had tech people.

This may be hard to hear, Ms. Taylor,

but, uh, we don't work for you.

What about the p*rn*graphy that I gave you

that was sent to my home in Manhattan?

Any progress with that?

Fingerprinted, sent by someone

with an alibi the night in question.

Yeah, hating your politics not a crime,

but, uh, we'd be happy to help you

with a restraining order against her.

Okay. W-What about the Lyft receipts?

Which your husband's boss

and client confirmed

were trips made

in the regular course of business.

Okay. I hired my own cybersecurity expert.

- Okay? I did that.

- While we appreciate

the legwork there,

the animosity directed at you

coming from your own place of work

does not concern our case as of now.

[Chloe] Why the f*ck not?

[door squeaks open]

[door closes]

[sighs] Look, I'm a mother, too.

And I feel for you, I feel for your son.

But maybe we ought to just

head to the hearing?

Starts in about half an hour.

f*ck. [muttering]

f*ck was that?

That, my friend, was entitlement.

What's with not giving the ring back?

Gives us a reason to pay another visit.

Uh, not sure about that hat.

Nor I that mustache.

Ladies.

- Hey.

- Hi.

[door closes]

So, Ethan, there's a change of plans.

The hearing got moved up.

Why?

Cases like these, sometimes they just

push things through more quickly.

Smaller courthouse,

they're just not used to dealing

with this kind of attention, you know?

This might be a good thing, though.

Means we can hopefully

get you home sooner.

Does my mom know?

Yes. Here's what's gonna happen.

Prosecutor will talk first, then it's me.

It's a pre-trial hearing.

You don't need to say a word.

I'll be next to you

the whole time. All right?

How you feeling?

I don't know.

Scared, I I guess.

That's good. That's really good.

The judge will want to see that.

I'm gonna tell them you loved your dad.

You would never do anything to hurt him.

- We're gonna tell them the truth.

- [knocking]

We're coming.

[eerie music playing]

It wasn't a mistake,

bringing the g*n to school.

I was trying to get rid of it.

I was afraid to have it in the house.

Hands behind your back, Ethan.

Oh, wow.

- [Nicky scoffs]

- Hey, there she is.

- [Chloe] Oh, my God.

- [Nicky] Ten points for hitting

- this as*h*le.

- [Chloe scoffs] Get out of the road.

- [Nicky] Just-- This is nuts.

- [reporter] And we see the vehicle with,

presumably, Chloe Taylor inside.

[clamoring continuing]

[̈Nicky] What do we do?

Keep our heads down. We don't say a word.

We bring Ethan home.

- [paparazzo] All right.

- Ms. Taylor, right here. Into the lens.

- [photographer] Hey, Ms. Taylor!

- [woman] Ms. Taylor!

- [man] Got a question for you.

- Where were you

- [male reporter] Chloe, care to comment?

[all clamoring]

We're not sure

if she will be giving

- any statement.

- Don't know how you deal with this.

[clamoring continuing]

[sighs]

[Chloe] Uh, Macintosh. Okay.

[tense music playing]

- It's got to be this way.

- Yeah, let's go down here.

Okay.