01x83 - Episode 83

[bunniefuu]

Hello?
Anyone in here?

What the hell are you doing?
Have you lost your damn mind?

Barging in here like
you're giving a stump speech.

You want to
blow this whole thing?

This is happening because of me.
I'm the one being threatened.

You want to
say that a little louder?

I'm making sure this goes down
right this time.

Everybody thought we had
gotten rid of this bigot

two years ago, and turns out

-that was just the beginning.
-Okay,

well,
count your blessings, okay?

-You're still a congressman.
-And I would like to stay one.

Then get out of here
and let me do my job.

No, I'm making sure
I see how this plays out,

and that what I'm told
after the fact is the truth.

No, I'm not going anywhere.

Hey, listen, okay?

Martin,
take your ego out of this

and think for a second,
all right?

The closer you are to
the problem you're trying

to solve,
the more ways it can go south.

Well, good thing I'm here.

I'm a politician, so I'm
no stranger to improvisation.

No, no, see, that's
exactly what I'm afraid of.

There's no room for that
in this situation, okay?

It's best
that we stick to our plan.

No, I'm staying.

Suit yourself.

It seems the guy
we're in business with

is not rearing to get his money.

Yeah, don't get your boxers
in a bunch. He'll show.

Now, Martin,
for the last time, back off

and leave the rest to me.

You want to visit Mom?
Then I'll tell you what you do.

Like everybody else...

...take your things and leave.

-You okay?
-Not really.

What are you thinking about?

Looks like your brain
is going a mile a minute.

And that usually
comes with a lot of talking.

-You know me too well.
-Well, I don't know about that.

Surprised you called me
to have dinner with you.

The surprise
is you actually showed up.

No, I wouldn't do you
like that, Mama.

If I wasn't coming,
I'd just be real about it.

So what's the occasion?

Well, should I
tell you a cool story?

Maybe find a funny meme

on my phone to show you?

Or you want the truth?

Just be straight with me always.

You are kind of
goody-two-shoes, like that way.

I am who I am.

And social media
doesn't do it for me anymore.

[sighs] I've become...

very familiar with
the perils of the socials.

You know, old daughter of mine,

it's not easy
being the town pariah.

The woman people turn away from,
the woman people

whisper about behind your back.

The woman people
make a crazy post about.

The truth is, Eva...

I'm lonely.

♪ ♪

[phone chimes]

[phone buzzes]

Aren't you supposed
to be on a date?

-She was a no-show.
-Did she call, text?

Sounds of silence. I mean,
maybe she got tied up at work.

Oh, well, do you want me
to check for you?

I'm at the hospital keeping
tabs on Dad's newest employee.

You know,
the extremely evil Eva.

-How's that going?
-She's not here. She left early.

Kat girl, it's way past
quitting time.

Yeah, but she's new.

Where's the dedication?

Oh.

I'll check on the doc for you
and I'll hit you later.

Okay, bye.

-If this guy shows up...
-He'll be here.

Yeah, well, when he gets here.

I know you like to think
of yourself as a mastermind.

That's cool. But don't forget,

we're working together on this.

Okay, you did your part,
Congressman,

and you did it well
when you got this guy

to agree to show up
to a location that we picked.

I hear a "but" in there.

Okay, you know what?
I've about had it

with you Duprees telling me
how to do what I do.

Look, I've helped you
and your family

out of this situation before,
and I can do it again.

So instead of micromanaging what
you don't know anything about,

you need to
leave me room to operate

and handle the details, okay?

Leave this to me
and go do something noble.

Think the kid will behave?

[phone chimes]

-You're still here.
-I was just leaving.

I thought you were ghosting me.
You didn't call.

No, I would have. I just...

I was so ready for our date.
Impeccable shoes, a fire outfit,

and a purse
that set off the whole look.

Phone in hand, just about
to text you I was on my way.

And as I'm making my way
through the ER, this kid comes

barreling through the bathroom
like his life depends on it.

And before I could even react,
he unleashes full-force

-projectile vomit all over me.
-Ew.

Right?
It was chest to toe.

Oh.

Shoes: ruined.

Outfit: a biohazard.

My new bag: critical condition.

Then the poor kid passes out.

I drop everything
just to catch him.

Got him seen to,
got his mom calmed down,

picked up my phone,
which wouldn't work.

Took one look and sniff
and had to shower and change.

Then I transferred my stuff
from my wrecked purse

to this ratty old bag.

And my phone still wouldn't
work, so I couldn't call.

But I got here
as fast as I could,

and I was gonna look so cute.

[laughs]
We'll start over, okay?

-Hey.
-Hey.

And you're giving scrubs
a whole new look.

Very cute.

And maybe if
you let me take a look

at that purse,
I can find a way to salvage it.

Hmm. That's a lost cause.

Guess I'll just have to
break down and buy a new one.

You wouldn't happen to
know anyone

who could help me out
on that front, would you?

There's one particular
purse line that has a bag

I am dying to get my hands on.

You know,
that's real funny, because

I have a purse line
with a bag that would love

to have your hands on it.

We're not really talking
about purses anymore, are we?

How'd you guess?

Now, I know that I promised
to treat you to a good dinner,

but I am more interested
in thinking about...

Exactly what I'm thinking about.

[laughs]
Okay, but confession.

I tend to leapfrog.

You're gonna have to give me
a little bit more than that.

Are we talking relationships?

Yeah, but not so much jumping
from person to person

as much as "just met"
to intimacy.

So you think
we're moving too fast?

You're lonely.

LESLIE:
I see that skeptical look.

Can you blame me?

You think that this is
a bid for sympathy from you?

You said it, not me.

I didn't expect you
to make this easy, but...

Mama, why don't you just
tell me what it is you want?

Look, I knew a dinner
out with you might be tough

after all that
we've gone through.

You mean after
everything you put us through?

Fine. Fair.

All right? I mean,
the whole host of misdeeds

on your head and mine.

Call it whatever you want.

But, honey, it still hurts,

you not wanting
to be close to me.

I mean, since you were born,
it's always been

you and me, baby.

Always you and me.

And now it's just me.

Well, you might have thought
about that before you dragged me

into all your drama and schemes
and then kicked me out.

Fair enough.
I wish you understood me.

Not necessarily agreed with me,

but I really want you to get me.

But I do, Mama.

-Like nobody else.
-No, I don't think so.

I think you see me
like everyone else.

Like the vengeful harridan
who's dead set on

destroying the Fairmont Crest
first family, right?

Honestly?

Yeah.

Sounds about right.

I'm assuming everything's
in place on your end?

It is.

Casino will stay closed
as long as we need

and our blackmailer won't see
anything we don't want him to.

Piece of cake.

Well, let's be real, Armstrong.

It's never as easy as we hope
or as hard as we fear.

I like the way you think.

Yeah, well, I'm a realist.

-You dabble in odds.
-Hmm.

That may be more realistic
than you realize.

Oh, yeah, that's right.

I heard that you're called
the Gambling Buddha.

You're like the philosopher
of the poker table.

Right?

-So they say.
-Hmm.

Can't say I ever took to it,
but it stuck.

What do they call you?

Counselor.

[laughs]

You know, I'm just saying,
but if you ever want to

switch up your interests,
I can always use a partner

-with your particular skill set.
-Hmm.

I own a tier-one law firm.

Got my name on the door
and everything.

I'll be staying right
where I am.

Well, if you ever
change your mind.

Wait for it.

Mmm.

♪ ♪

It never feels fast
until I'm in it,

and then suddenly
I'm being dumped.

I don't see that happening
between us.

That's how it sneaks up on you.

Post-dump is when it
actually hits.

And that's when I start
replaying everything.

How it started, the chemistry,
the late nights,

the effortless dates,
the slow fade, the pullback.

And then, once again,

I'm kicking myself because I've
leaped straight over the part

where I'm supposed to pace
myself and protect my heart

and get to know the person
well enough

to see the next thing coming.

You fixed it.

Brilliant.

Phones for me are like scans
and scalpels for you.

Just tools of the trade.

Thank you.

What if what's next
is more chemistry

and late nights
and effortless dates for days

and weeks and months?

That sounds so nice.

But I'm getting the feeling
you're a leaper, too.

Well, I don't know for sure
since I've never really

leapt into a relationship.

You kept your options open.

I had a few people in the mix.

I guess we did do things
backwards, huh?

You mean how we knew we were

absolutely hot for each other
the moment we met?

And then we came
to the restaurant.

So much for wining and dining
each other into bed.

Well, to be fair, we did
have dinner on our first date.

But do you call takeout dinner?

No, I'm supposed to treat you
to an evening

of fine linen napkins, gleaming
china and impeccable service,

dining under soft candlelight
in a five-star restaurant

where every detail
is curated to perfection.

Our sweet and sour chicken
still counts.

[both laugh]

If for no other reason
than my fortune cookie

saying go for it,

and far be it from me
to argue with fate.

Is that how you see us?
Fated?

I'm not sure.

-Then why...
-Bring it up?

Because we're already finishing
each other's sentences.

Oh.

[both laugh]

How does your dad feel
about who you date?

[scoffs] As if my dating life
or my sexuality

was anything that I would
discuss with my dad.

Why not? You're not close?

Well, I can't say that exactly.

I mean, he was there
my whole childhood.

Um, we had a closeness,
but not a closeness in, like,

a touchy-feely kind of way.

I mean, I'm not sure, but I
think that when he looks at me,

he sees my mom.

Or maybe he sees a sharp,
focused businesswoman

who's starting her own company
like he started his own firm.

I don't think he sees me at all,
much less being like him.

My sister Naomi,
now, she's a carbon copy.

She's a lawyer like him.

She likes to argue like him.

And, you know,
she's really, really smart.

-You're pretty smart, too.
-Says the neurosurgeon.

Yeah. Which is why
you should believe me.

And if my estimation
isn't good enough for you,

believe your own stats.

Designer, model, entrepreneur,

successful in all three.

Hence, millions of followers.

Chelsea, you are one of
the smartest women I know.

Did you ever wonder
what I was like

before I fell in love
with your father?

I used to think about it a lot.

But after we got to town,

the man you were
complaining about

didn't even seem
like a real person.

More like a character
you constructed

and could rail against.

And honestly, you didn't
seem like somebody

a normal person
would fall in love with.

Ouch.

But fair.

Look at you. All grown up.

Straightforward.

And just as beautiful
as you want to be.

You probably don't want
to hear this,

but back then,
I was a lot like you, honey.

Mm-hmm.

I was smart, ambitious
and looking.

-Looking?
-Oh, yeah.

What does that even mean?

I was looking for something,
wasn't sure what it was,

but I knew that my jobs
as a waitress and a bartender,

they were just stopgaps.

But I was looking
for something in Ted.

I thought I found it.

I thought I found
a way out in him.

I thought he was my salvation.

When I realized that he wasn't,

it was a real kick in the teeth.

But it also turned me
into who I am now.

I don't know, Mama.

I know you pretty well,

and it sounds like
you're losing yourself.

What does that even mean?

It means: Who are you?

Without Ted,
without this community,

without some 30-year-old dream,
who are you?

Do you even remember
the woman I grew up loving?

Do you remember
how to be my mother?

[indistinct chatter]

See you around.

-What's that?
-What?

That look. That cloud.

I'm crazy about you, Chelsea.

You know that, right?

I think so.

No, I know so.

That means I'm here
for all of it.

Not just the cheery stuff.
All of it.

You sure?

Look, this, you and me,
we're new.

And it's surprising
and wonderful.

But I'm not gonna lie.
It's scary, too.

Okay, say more.

I tend to guard my heart.
Not sure why.

Maybe it was because I was
so serious about my career.

I wanted few distractions.

And relationships
were distracting.

I can see that. And believe it
or not, I understand.

You do?

My mom had me in modeling
at a very early age.

It wasn't glamorous or fun
and all of that.

More often than not,
it was grueling exercise,

eating a strict regimen

and not doing anything
to mess up my skin.

It was work.

And I was serious about it.

But I've seen your feed.

You've been such a party girl.

And how do you feel about that?

Honestly, a little wary.

I've never dated anyone
like you before.

And?

And I'm gonna throw caution
to the wind, as they say.

Now, when did they say that?

Back when the dinosaurs
had group chats?

[laughs] All right, well,
tell me more about you.

-Oh.
-Your family, your life.

It doesn't have to be
about your dad,

if that's a sensitive
subject for you.

It's not sensitive,
just disappointing.

I mean, you've met him.
You know how he is.

Bossy, stubborn, cranky.

And prideful.

And when that man makes up
his mind, it's hard to change.

I can really tell you anything.

And I want to hear it all.
Every last syllable.

I've never been
in a relationship

where I didn't feel confined.

And I don't feel that way
with you.

I don't feel judged.

I feel like
I'm listened to. And I...

I finally feel free.

Is that someone you know?

I don't think so. I mean,
she could be a patient, but...

I think it's actually you
she's looking at.

Of course I remember the me
I was with you.

I mean, the times that...

that we shared ice cream
right out of the pint.

Getting that magazine
and circling all those

free activities for kids
and their parents.

The Saturday movies, kids at
that theater up the street.

Mm-hmm. Or times

when we didn't have
money to do anything.

So we'd just walk around looking
at all the street performers

and rating them on that scale
that we made up.

Lollipop, which meant
the highest,

to prune cake, which meant
they were terrible.

And then when we got home,
we were laughing and talking

about that tap dancer
that was such a prune cake.

And your stepdad didn't have any
idea what we were talking about.

Alan.

Alan was kind of slow, right?

Maybe a little.

But he was there,
which was important.

Just being there.

Like you, Mama.

You were always there.

You want to go somewhere else?

Absolutely not.

This could be interesting.

Hey, Martin.
Where have you been?

Have you given up on
your workout routine?

Not exactly.

You seem kind of edgy.

Let's go hit the gym.
Let's go after those weights.

-You all set?
-Yeah.

Do I sense hesitation?

No, boss.

I'll do what you ask.

Whatever I ask.

Yeah.

-Whatever.
-Good.

You know where to find me.

-Okay, let's review.
-Let's not.

Come on.
You know I'm helpful.

I could see it in your eyes.

You like working with me.

Okay, maybe a little.

In an unofficial, "you as
a junior detective" sort of way.

-I knew it.
-But do you also know

that you can
jeopardize my investigation?

Yeah, you've said that
for weeks.

And that you're annoying.

You got to stop annoying me.

You said that, too.

But here we are.

It's no shame in needing
my help, Jacob.

I don't need your help, Kat.

You're just not giving me
a choice.

That's one way to look at it.

I like to see it as

my cousin-in-law using
his time and expertise

to help the very important
family he married into.

Well, I am certainly
glad to hear

that I did some things
right by you.

You did.

I don't ever remember
saying otherwise.

I'm the same woman
that raised you.

I know.

And since I'm that same woman,
I want to hear all about

your new job
at Ted's medical practice.

Honestly, it's a lot of
responsibility.

I mean, the billing codes alone

are enough to
make your head spin.

-Hmm.
-But you know what's the most

surprising part?

That one over there is
helping me learn the ropes.

Helping you?

Somehow Ted arranged it.

But it makes sense
since it was Kat's job before.

Now she's busy selling
and making purses.

Yeah, well,
you better be careful

of that one, little girl.

She's the kind to exact
a very high toll

for any so-called help.

Believe me.

At this point, I'm basically
a certified expert

in predicting
Kat Richardson's shady moves.

I see them coming
before she thinks of them.

I'll be careful.

Good.

Is that someone you know?

I thought I knew her,
but turns out I didn't.

That's Allison,

the woman I told you I dated
for about five minutes.

It didn't really go anywhere.

Right. I remember.

Half the couple.

She really has some radar
on you.

And she's coming over.

I really thought
I was being low-key.

You know, just casually watching
you from across the room

like some undercover agent.

Clearly, I'm-I'm not as slick
as I thought.

How are you doing?

Good.

Hi. I'm Allison.

Also known as the woman
intruding on your date.

Apologies for that.

No problem.

Nice to meet you. Madison.

Great name.

And I hope you meant the part
about it not being a problem.

Because I'm about to become
a lot more rude and intrusive.

Chelsea, can I talk to you
for a minute?

Alone? If you don't mind.

And if you don't mind,
it'd really mean a lot to me.

This really isn't a good time.

It's all right, Chelsea.

I have an early morning
in neurology tomorrow.

I should probably get going.

Look, you really don't
have to take off, okay?

I was kind of hoping to...

Well, you know
what I was hoping for.

Me, too. Soon.

[door closes]

[sighs]

-Allison.
-Wow.

She seems like the full package.

Gorgeous, brains.

Is she yours?

We meet again.

Do I know you?

Once upon a time,
there was a congressman

on the side of the road
about two years ago.

And after your encounter,
you were out of it.

And you needed
a little work done.

So yeah, we've met.

-Who the hell are you?
-Who, me?

Oh, I don't have a name.

But you can call me the fixer.

Potentially your worst
nightmare.

You see, we have a mess
on our hands.

A mess that was started by you.

So I'm here to fix that.

But first, I think you need
a little civics lesson.

What the hell does that mean?

You do realize who you're
dealing with, don't you?

Because I'm counting on you
not being as dumb as you look.

The Dupree family,

to whom Congressman
Martin Richardson belongs,

is extremely powerful.

In your trash heap language,
you might say

they run the rodeo around here.

But you know that, of course.

And if you don't make
the right choice and back off,

there will be
untold dangers in your path.

And accidents that creep up
when you least expect it.

Let's cut to the chase.
Is that my money?

Those surgically improved ears
of yours,

how are they working for you?

-Fine.
-Okay,

so you don't have
a hearing problem.

Listen, you can't...

That's where you're wrong.

There's no limit
to what I can do.

Now, what you need to do

is leave or suffer
the consequences.

[phone buzzing]

You got two days
to get out of town.

Or what?
You'll k*ll me?

Nah. That's not me.

This is the end
of my participation right here.

[phone buzzing]

What happened?
Where's the guy?

Where are you?

At the country club.

All right.
Well, sit tight.

I'll be there in 15.

Stop holding back on me, Jacob.

-What's the new lead?
-All right.

There's been a potential
breakthrough.

I've been waiting forever
for this.

-What you got?
-It's a security expert I found.

But it's probably nothing.
You shouldn't get your hopes up.

Stop treating me
like a kid, Jacob.

-Then stop acting like one.
-Fine.

The expert found a tiny scratch
on the other side of the helmet.

So what does that mean?

If it's a breakthrough clue,
it has to mean something, right?

Maybe. If we can match it

to the helmet
and the footage, yes.

I don't get it.

How did the FBI not notice?

But you, Mr. Rank-and-File, did.

See? There you go.

Biting the hand that feeds you.

Way to go, Kat.

You're like my big brother.

Little sisters tease brothers.
It's a rule.

The same rule that says brothers
don't share what they know

until they're good and ready.

Stop torturing me, Jacob.

So this scratch?

The scratch was found on
the opposite side of the helmet

that was found in the footage.

So it's not on the video.

How soon they forget.

Look, when Laura's car
ran off the road...

-Oh, my gosh!
-Keep it down.

The motorcycle turned around

and went back
in the direction it came.

So that means the other side
of the helmet is on the video.

Exactly.

The FBI spent all their time
trying to get a glimpse

of the face, that they
pretty much ignored the helmet.

So what now?

Well, now we break down
the video

and analyze the scratch.

If the scratch is visible

and it matches the one
on the helmet in evidence...

Then we can place Leslie
at the scene of the crash.

Exactly.

I'm sorry.

Who you're dating
isn't any of my business.

No, it isn't.

So, you want to tell me
what it is that you want?

I've just missed you, Chelsea.

Missed what exactly?

You, Craig and I,
we had a couple of fun nights,

and then I asked to see you
alone and you shut it down.

I'm sorry if I hurt you.

I don't bruise that easily.

I'm just recounting
our brief history.

I'm sorry anyway.

Okay. All is forgiven.

Wait, I wish I could
tell you the whole story.

I don't think there's
anything left to say.

But there is.

You never read me wrong.

I was interested in seeing you.

Okay.

But it made Craig jealous.

You guys approached me.

I know. But after I told Craig

that I wanted to see you alone,
he gave me an ultimatum.

Drop you or he'd leave me.

So I did.

I did it to save my marriage.

If you two weren't ready
to be polyamorous,

that's really not my fault.

None of this is your fault.

It's mine.

I've made such a mess of this.

It's okay, Allison, really.

But I think I made a big mistake
with Craig.

He isn't who I thought
I married.

He's bitter and he's angry.

And honestly, I'm scared.

-Thank you.
-Thank you.

Thanks for dinner, Mama.

No, thanks for letting me
take you out.

Eva, I've been thinking about
how I made you my...

my accomplice, so to speak,

in my vendetta against Ted.

You have?

I told you I've been doing
some soul searching.

What have you been telling
yourself about it?

That I have so many regrets.

That it was a crappy thing for
a mother to do to her daughter.

Oh, yeah.

It kind of was.

And now, I know you need time

in finding your new place
in your new life.

And time to fix the damage
that I've created for you.

But this?

[scoffs] Sitting here with you,

sharing a meal and talking
to you like mother and daughter.

Not just mother and daughter.

But like friends.

[sighs] Oh, baby.

It-it means the world to me.

Tonight was nice, Mama.

Yeah, it was.

What's that brat over there
smiling about?

[scoffs]
Don't say brat, Mama.

It doesn't mean
what you think it means.

Oh.

You are cooked.

What the hell does she mean
by that?

Is there any way
you can put a rush

on your analyst
using that software?

It takes as long as it takes.

But we need to prove the helmet
was the one that Leslie wore.

That's what
I'm talking about, Kat.

You can either do a job fast
or you can do it right.

I'm sure the security app people
are working as fast as they can.

But they need matches, evidence.

Those are the things you give
to a D.A. to make a good case.

A case they can win in court.

Okay, but what if there's
no match?

What if they're
different helmets?

Or what if what we see
isn't concrete enough?

Then Leslie walks.

I know that you can't tell
who somebody is

just based off of
one or two encounters,

but Craig, he doesn't
strike me as a person

to be bitter or violent.

You think I'm lying.

Like I said, I don't know
the two of you very well.

It's hard to know what to think.

Craig has always had a temper.

And he's always scared me.

My brother-in-law
is a detective.

And if you want to file a formal
complaint against him...

No, no, no.
I-I'm not ready for that.

And that's not why
I wanted to talk to you.

Oh. What is it?

Truth is, I'd like to pick up
where we left off.

Just you and me.

Uh, I'll have a double bourbon
on the rocks.

He'll have the same.

[sighs]

What happened?
Did you make the payoff?

Martin, for the thousandth time,
you don't want to know.

I sure do want to know, Bill.

This is my life
we're talking about here.

My career, my-my family.

Okay.

That busboy shouldn't be
bothering you again, okay?

What does that even mean?

It means exactly what I said.

And that's all you need to know.

♪ ♪

Don't bother.

So, friend, how are we going
to help each other?

I found a connection between
Malone and Vernon.

Daddy, is what is bothering you
related to Martin?

I'm at the hospital, Jacob.
Please come quick.

It's an emergency.

What the hell?

Are you afraid of Joey?

Terrified.

You're a spoiled,
selfish little b*tch.

Is that the best you've got?

You ready to turn some heads?