01x94 - Episode 94

[bunniefuu]

I confronted Leslie about

almost k*lling Laura twice.

You lost control
and spit a few insults.

I came pretty damn close
to strangling her.

An unidentified man
was found dead

at a local park this afternoon.

Single g*nsh*t wound,

looked like a robbery.

Some coincidences
destroy everything we built.

And others, they're
like divine intervention.

We did what
we thought best for Martin.

I know that's
not gonna satisfy Nicole.

You and Daddy put my son
through two years of hell

so we almighty Duprees
could save face?

That... is not noble.

It's disgusting.

ANITA:
Vernon.

You can't do this.

I thought I was sparing Martin

so he could
walk away from it clean.

-Mission accomplished.
-How can you say that?

He's not in prison.

He still has Smitty
and the children.

They're separated.

For the moment.

The point is,

he has spent
the past two years

being present for his family

and earning praise
for his work in Congress.

None of that would have been
possible if you had gone

to the authorities that night.

You and I both know that.

What about the nightmares?

The guilt?

I did that to my grandson.

Made a bad situation worse.

Damned Martin to Hell,
all of us.

It's the worst
decision of my life.

If you had known,
if we had known

it would lead to this here,

of course, we would have
done things differently.

But since we can't undo
what's been done...

Do we move forward? Wiser?

A little battered.

Remorseful.

And strive to make
the most of what remains.

Hey, baby.

You didn't need to
stop talking on my account.

Can we do anything for you?

Now that I've had some time,

I need to see my mom again.

Are you sure you're ready?

Everything's finally
out in the open.

No more secrets.

This is a pleasant surprise.

Please, come in.

If this is about what happened
at Orphey Gene's,

you had every right--

Stop pretending, Ted.

I finally know what
you've been keeping from me

all of these years.

How could you?

You're going to have
to fill me in, Nicole.

-I don't understand what--
-Please.

As if what's happened today
has escaped you?

The press conference?

I've been in surgery all day,
so forgive me

if I haven't plugged into
the Dupree party line.

You have so many secrets, you
can't even keep track anymore.

Now I learn that
you've been hiding

yet another truth about our son,
from our son and from me.

♪ ♪

Babe, what makes
a person shift gears?

Go from hot to cold,
from a million questions

to the silent treatment,
just like that?

Anyone in particular?

Smitty. First he's begging me
for inside information

and now he's trying
to k*ll the Marcel story.

Well, I'm sure
he has his reasons.

What if he's
covering for Martin?

[laughs] My cousin?

Who's all about
protecting his image?

Mr. Most Likely
to Not Get Involved?

Well, he is a congressman.

Okay.

Goes to w*r with his words,

might tear you apart in Scrabble

and sure,
watch your back in a debate.

But come on.

A couple of days ago,

you thought Martin was a victim
of your partner's corruption.

Besides Smitty dropping
the story idea, what's changed?

Marcel found
a body in Stance Park.

At the same time,
Martin called off

an impromptu press conference.

Okay, and you think
these two events

are connected somehow? Why?

Well, when I went back to Smitty

to tell him everything I knew,
he shut down.

Protective of his spouse. And?

Yeah, but
he doubled down, Naomi.

Claimed spousal privilege.

Maybe he just
thought you were being nosy.

Because there is no way Martin,

of all people,
is connected to a crime.

Stranger things have happened.

This is your family
we're talking about.

Getting a text from you
that reads, "R U up?"

You could do better.

It got you here, didn't it?

Was there an underlying reason
that I was summoned?

It can't be that I rather
enjoy lying under you.

Mm. Something tells me I just
got used as your distraction.

But from what? Or is it a whom?

Since we are
being radically honest,

I had the most confounding
conversation tonight.

Mm.

Let me guess. [scoffs]
Your ex.

-Where's the fire?
-I've been calling you

for hours.

It's been a busy night, sweetie.

I cannot believe that you put us
in this position.

[indistinct P.A. announcement]

Told you you had me wrong.

Bam. Resistance bands returned,

in perfect condition.

Mm, but did you use it?

-As instructed.
-And?

You were right.
I did the exercises,

increased my range of motion.

See? I'll have you back
to normal in no time.

I've been told, uh,
there's magic in these.

You know,
I could do a house call,

come work out your kinks.

You'd do that for me?

There's not much I wouldn't do.

I'm no fan of Bill Hamilton's,
but if this is the result,

run in to him more often.

If you think
I'm gonna be as magnanimous

-with your candy striper pal...
-Ashley?

Nah, you're not jealous.

You can do whatever
and whomever you choose.

[chuckles]

What's that smile?

Uh, just thinking about the day
I make you eat those words.

In your dreams.

-In our future.
-Oof.

You'll see.

I would much rather
stay in the present...

-Mm-hmm?
-...and think about

all the trouble
we can get into right now.

-Yeah?
-[phone vibrating]

Ooh, hold that thought.

Hey, Daddy, what's up?

We need you at the house, Dani.

As soon as you can get here.

Is everyone all right?

As a matter of fact, no.

We are not all right.

Get here safely,
but quickly, okay?

All right, I'm on my way.

To what position are you
referring to, sweetheart?

Well, criminal for one,

and irresponsible
on top of that. Careless.

And all that blows back
on the entire family.

I'm... I'm aware of that,

which is why
I've been handling it.

You call not responding to their
correspondence "handling it"?

-Ah.
-[snaps fingers]

The purse design Mode Pizzicato

is accusing you of copying. I...

What did you think
I was talking about?

Baby, it's been a long day.

I offered
to go to another lawyer.

If you didn't have time to deal
with it, you should've told me.

Come on, I would never
let you down like that.

You already have.

Did you even see the letter?

They're threatening to petition

for a summary judgment
in their favor.

Okay, I've just been so busy.

The last time I used
that excuse, I got grounded.

My lawyer said he would
take care of everything.

Your father never told you
not to trust a lawyer?

Come on. We'll smooth it out.

Dad, I came to you

because you know
what this company means to me.

And you don't let things
fall through the cracks. Ever.

There's been a lot
on my mind these days.

Okay? I apologize, Chelsea.

What's going on?

For two years, Ted.

Two years you hid that you
changed that man's face.

And now that man is back
to haunt our child.

You act as if I had a choice.

Did Martin tell you
what happened?

Mother filled me in tonight.

And this is your response?

Martin could have died
on that road two years ago.

Could have been tried
and convicted of m*rder,

and you're questioning why
I stepped in to help?

Why you kept it from me.

I did it for you.

For your family.

For our son. For Kat. For us.

'Cause I know what it's like to
make a devastating mistake

and want to make it all go away.

You didn't even tell Martin
that you performed that surgery.

To what end, Nicole?

To make my son
grovel for forgiveness?

To be one more reminder
of what he did on an awful night

to save
your father's life and his own?

And that a man died as a result?

It wasn't about you.

Nothing ever is.

You know that self-pity crap
is beneath you.

Not to mention blatantly untrue.

I am telling you
how this feels, Ted.

I went from being confident
in my life and marriage

to realizing that the people
that I love the most

don't trust and respect me
enough to tell me the truth.

Or were you under the orders
of the Dupree High Command

to leave me in the dark?

Vernon and Anita needed a favor
that would benefit our son.

Why would I refuse?

Did they hold
a g*n to your head?

Insist that you keep this
catastrophic event a secret

from the woman that you vowed
to honor and respect?

Nicole, the goal
was to protect Martin.

From his own mother?

What did you think
the consequences would be?

That I would turn him in?

Of course not.

Then I don't understand.

Vernon wanted to keep that night

as contained as possible.
I agreed.

You and Martin and my father

could just go about your lives

as if nothing happened?

Force Martin to-to

bury that secret even deeper,

hoping that it would go away
like the man that he k*lled?

I did what I thought was best.

The guilt that he must have felt

with no one to turn to.

How could you be so careless?

So cruel
to your own flesh and blood?

To deny him of his mother?

The nightmares, the terror.

Vernon and I thought--

I don't want to hear it.

Do you know why?

Because the more that I hear,

the more I wonder
who the hell I married.

You took Martin in tow

when you went
to go visit your mistress.

You kept him from the one person
in this world

who could help him
navigate the aftermath

of this horrendous attack.

You kept me

from helping my son.

I know how this looks. I--

Whatever very slim possibility

there might have been

of us getting back together,

it's ruined.

You ruined it.

Hey, it's me.
Um, I'm at the hospital

and I need backup.

I'll explain later.

I don't know if you noticed...

Yeah.

You already returned
the resistance band?

Yep. Noticed.

But you're still here.

Kinda slow
on the uptick, Shanice?

Oh, then bring me up to speed.

I haven't had much
to smile about lately.

You changed that.

Reciprocal?

Yeah.

But just so I know

where to direct
this heat we're generating,

are we just
brightening each other's day,

or is this for
the benefit of others?

What if it's both?

Is that a problem?

[laughs]

Do you really think Martin is
involved in something ill*gal?

I think Smitty jumping
to the spousal equivalent

of remaining silent to avoid
incriminating his husband

is suspicious.

As a lawyer, I give
Smitty points for being smart.

He knows not to talk
to the police

without an attorney present.

He brought his suspicions to me,

came to me
with all these questions,

wanting all these answers,
and nothing but the truth,

and now he's just
changing his mind.

Having questions before

doesn't mean
he owes you answers now.

Smitty knows what's going on.

He told me
he gave Martin an ultimatum

and followed through with it.

I want to know why.
What changed?

We've been married long enough

to know that couples go through
changes on the daily.

We could start
the morning in a fight

and be making out
in our cars by noon.

Maybe you caught Smitty
at a bad time.

Just give them some privacy.

Okay.

Unless...

is there something more
than Martin and Smitty?

Maybe somebody
a little closer to home?

My father?

What about Elon?

I don't know, just thinking it

makes me feel like
I'm disrespecting him.

Well, it might
help to talk about it.

And by the way, we're covered
under that spousal thing.

It comes in handy, right?

Mm.

Okay. Well,
I tried to talk to him about

the body that Marcel
found in the park,

but he told me it was routine.

And what's unusual about it?

It was almost like
he was ordering me

not to ask
too many questions about it.

Well, can't it be coincidence?

Something's connecting
Martin and Marcel,

and whatever it is...

Could be
connecting them to a dead man.

And your dad
could be a part of it?

Like I said,
I don't even want to think it.

But what if I'm right?

What if there actually
is something to all of this?

What if your dad is right,

and you are taking
a handful of questions

and turning them into
a crisis that does not exist?

I just want to cry.

I want to know why two men

in a truck on a country road

saw our men

in suits,

in a nice car,

with good intentions
and bad directions,

I-I want to know why they were
so afraid,

or angry, or filled with malice

that they wanted...

We'll never know.

Thank God you survived.

In a blink, it could
have been a different outcome.

It was horrifying.

One minute, I'm changing a tire,
and then the next...

You and Nicole

never faced
this kind of violence.

I prayed, worked hard

so you wouldn't.

Protests, marches, sit-ins,

never giving up
until new laws were enacted.

-But here we are.
-DANI: You know, you

and Mother taught us
that with hard work

and determination,
things can change.

These men were taught
that we are the enemy,

to be feared.

I feared those men.

And I don't know
when it clicked in.

Was it the moment I saw them?

Or did I make an assumption,

like they made
assumptions about us?

It was the way
they got out of their truck.

Their first words
were derogatory.

That those words and
their demeanor didn't change

when I spoke to them politely.

That...

that they demanded money.

That the first one
laid hands on me.

They pulled a g*n.

Whatever fear you may have felt,

Martin, you didn't act on it
until I was attacked.

That's the truth of it.

I love you.

And I am so grateful
you were there to keep

Daddy from harm.

Okay?

Nicole.

I told her tonight.

You think she'll forgive me?

You're using our son's ordeal

as an excuse to stop fighting
for our marriage.

How many times am I just
supposed to stand here

and allow myself
to get knocked out by you, Ted?

If this soul-shattering event
had happened to Kat,

and I didn't inform you,

you're saying that
you would just let it go?

I would try to understand.

I did try.

When I was confronted
with the decades-old lie

about your affair.

And now, I get hit with this,
to be relegated

to less than a spectator
in my own son's life

by Martin,
my father and my husband.

I was trying to keep you
out of the line of fire, Nicole.

If the truth
had become public knowledge,

you were in the clear.

You weren't complicit
in any of it.

It wasn't just about shielding
Martin from the fallout.

I didn't want it to touch you.

So it was an act of chivalry

that you lied to me daily
for years.

I never lied
about how much I love you.

Is that what you told yourself
when you helped our son

cover up a night
that changed his life?

His psyche.

When you were cheating on me

with that basket case
when I was so desperately trying

to give you another child?

I know how this looks.

Then you will understand why
I'm taking these next steps.

Mm.

What steps?

Nicole, please.
Just hear me out.

Nicole.

I've got zero issues
with you having mixed motives.

Really?

I may have
a few motives of my own.

Well, tell me about them.

Well, it's been a minute since
I flexed my flirt game,

and this charm
doesn't tone itself.

[laughs]

A woman's got
to keep her skills sharp,

and this is cardio for the soul.

Well, I am glad
to be of service.

And I'd be honored to help you
find your way back

to the woman you want.

[indistinct P.A. announcement]

Watch this.

[laughs]

Derek!
Boy, you are so crazy!

I don't mind being messy
as long as you're honest.

This could be the start
of a very fun...

-something.
-Mm.

-I'll be gentle.
-[elevator dings]

What is an award-winning
photographer doing

at the hospital so late?

I hope everything's all right.

You asked me to come.

Are you feverish?

Are you smelling toast
that's burning?

A stroke is not
anything to play with, Ash.

Just shut up and follow my lead.

I am working, silly.

I can't just drop everything
to get a nightcap with you,

no matter how hard you beg.

I am so lost.

ASHLEY:
That is just

so flattering for you to say.

No, I have never
considered modeling

'cause my heart, you know,
it's in nursing,

but, um, you just say
the nicest things.

What's that thing that you get

when you reschedule your plans?

A rain check?

Yeah, it's a deal.

No, it's a date.

[sighs] Thank you
so much for doing this.

I don't know how
I'm going to repay you.

Oh, I can think of something.

You have the gall to ask me
why I dropped the ball?

It's just not like you.

You know what else
isn't like me?

Having a stroke.

Two, in fact.

Enduring physical therapy

administered by
the Marquis de Sade.

[scoffs]

But you know what's
really not like me?

Having you ask me for help.

It's been a long time.

Maybe it was too soon.

If it's too much
for you to handle,

I won't go
to a different firm,

but I can use another lawyer
at this firm. Tomas, maybe.

And I'll do
whatever I can to help you

with whatever
you're going through.

You mean that?

I might not always
love what you do,

but I do love you.

And I plan on keeping you around
for a long, long time, okay?

Okay, that's
my intention, too, baby.

And I love you, too.

No more secrets from each other.

From the rest of the world,
that's fine.

That's how it should be.

But with family,
we have to stay close.

Thick as thieves.

As tight as Duprees.

Yeah.

Oh, Daddy.

And Nicole's
been through so much.

And she'll hate what I've done.

She taught me to be
a better man than that.

She raised you right.

A man died that night

because someone
put him on the path

to his own destruction.

He was someone's son.

A brother
to someone just as cruel.

He was taught that violence

was a means
to get what you want,

and that is not our way.

It is not.

And yet, I thank God

that Vernon Dupree
and Martin Richardson

aren't names to be written
on a T-shirt,

or turned into a mural
on Capitol Hill.

I wish it hadn't happened.

We didn't cause this.

You defended us.

There was no time
for debate club tactics

and cotillion refinement.

Your lives were on the line.

DANI:
Every decision you made

that led you home
was the right one.

You would tell
your own children the same.

[Martin scoffs]

My children.

That b*stard
knew how to get to me.

Through the people
I love the most.

They won't understand.

How could they?

I could lose my family for good.

Let's say your worst suspicions

of Martin are accurate.

Okay? Something criminal

went down between him
and your partner two years ago,

and the dead man in the park

stalked Martin's family
because of it.

And let's say, for fun,

that your father
is involved, too.

Do you really want to kick
that hornet's nest?

[knocking on door]

Hell of a day.

Yeah, it's about to get worse.
There's a chance I'll be

retaining you
as my divorce lawyer.

That's not my specialty,
professionally speaking.

But I do know of
a firm on K Street

-that's full of sharks.
-Hmm.

A former client of mine
needed to get out of a prenup

that she was coerced
into signing.

The poor ex had to fork over
everything but a fork.

Hmm. Well, sh**t me their info.
Wouldn't hurt.

Mm-hmm.

So, I take it things
escalated with Nicole.

She found out about Martin
and the surgery I performed

on the surviving r*cist.

The Duprees told her everything
after the press conference.

And somebody's going to have
to bring me up to speed on that.

Why would they tell Nicole
two years after the fact?

Especially after
we got the dirtbag

to leave town again.

Yeah, about that.

He's dead.

Police found his body
at Stance Park this afternoon.

Oh, my God, Bill.
What did you do?

Smitty would never
turn the children against you.

The facts could do it for him.

The truth is
you're a wonderful father

and your kids adore you.

We all know your heart, baby.

[front door opens]

♪ ♪

Mama.

[cries]

It's gonna be okay.
Don't worry, Mama's got you.

I'm so sorry
to break your heart.

Yeah, let's hope that
the first time is the last time.

Thanks so much
for the invitation.

It's always nice to be asked.

Wow.

Who's overdoing it this time?

[laughing]:
See you later,

an... alligator.

Wow. "Alligator." Really?

-I'm just, I'm out of practice.
-Well, look, we need

to polish up on your skills.
I'll leave you in the dust.

[sighs]

[Ashley scoffs]

He's not even listening.

Good, because that was pathetic.

Come on, if you really
want to get back out there,

you should get
some helpful hints

on how to hack your love life,

'cause that wasn't it.

Well, excuse me for being in

a monogamous relationship
for years.

[sighs]

Leave already? Geez.

Whoa. Okay.

Talk to you later.

Have fun.

Bye.

[indistinct P.A. announcement]

DEREK:
Hey, Ash.

Hey.

If by "what I did," you meant

where was I at the time
of that derelict's death?

In a room full of witnesses,

including Martin and Vernon.

Pretty convenient, the three
of you with an airtight alibi.

Yeah, one could see it that way.

Nicole never mentioned
anything about the body.

That's because they've
only told her part of the story.

Thank goodness.

The fewer people who know
the whole truth, the better.

And you're one of those people

who knows the whole truth.

The police suspect
it was a robbery gone wrong.

That could be dangerous
for a lot of people,

if the cops dig too deep.

Yeah, well, we have
good friends on the force.

Hmm.

We should be thankful
your son-in-law

isn't on the case, huh?

That's the last thing we need.

You expect me to ignore the fact

that Martin might be
involved in a m*rder?

Listen, all I'm suggesting
is that you slow your roll

before you
speed towards justice.

Here we go.

I'm sorry, what?

Just like a Dupree.

Thank you for that compliment.

Because if you're saying we are

a loving, loyal family

who fight for each other
for justice and our people,

then yes,
I have never been more proud

to be a Dupree
when I'm defending us.

And last time I checked,

you were one of us.

And so is Elon.

Family, Jacob.

You know that Statue of Justice

in every precinct
and courthouse?

She's blind.

-And you're not.
-I'm duty bound

to uphold the law,
no matter who's involved.

But it's all supposition.

A dead body in a park

happening at the same time
as a press conference

and as five babies
are being born

and as a car accident
on the beltway?

Baby, you're reaching.

But what if I'm right?

Okay, yes. Let's...

let's consider this
for a moment, shall we?

If all your
suppositions are true,

what happens then?

You topple
the father you revere.

He loses his job,

and you damage
that relationship.

Martin has to step down
from his seat in Congress

and be replaced by
God knows who.

And a whole community
is affected

after losing
their bright shining star

who enacted actual change
in the system.

You can't do this.

You are the one who would
set all of that in motion.

And what about my family, huh?

The scar
you would leave on people

who treat you like blood.

Any idea what
would happen to us?

Even if a crime
has been committed?

You're an officer
of the court, Naomi.

You know what I'm talking about.

-I'm a Dupree.
-Oh, family first?

My family is your family.

Jacob, please.

I'm just asking for you
to let Elon and Marcel

handle this case.

For everyone's sake.

Just this one time.

Please.

I was so afraid.

Mm-mm.

Not tonight.

Tonight, I want you to sleep.

Hopefully, you get
a full night's rest

with none of the nightmares.

Tomorrow...
tomorrow, we get to work.

I'll help you through this.

Start fixing some
of the broken places.

-I need that.
-Mm, you are going to get

everything you need.

But tonight, it's rest.

And your mom.

You have your mom now.

-Okay?
-I know.

-I love you.
-I love you, too.

-You know that, don't you?
-I know.

I know. I know.

-Working hard?
-You know the drill.

Tough to get that balance.

Work on one hand,

then grieving a lost love when
you're trying to find

a way to move on.

It is challenging.

But I wouldn't call
Andre moving on, per se.

You know, he's just been real...

supportive.

Even through... you know.

Good, I'm glad.

But Shanice, wow.

[chuckles]
Never saw that coming.

She's nice.
She's a good person.

And it turns out that

I like a woman
who's hardworking,

smart.

She's gotta be funny.

Patient.

Like you.

But not you.

This isn't easy, is it?

Not at all.

I should say
that I want you to be happy.

And don't get me wrong. I do.

I just wanted you
to be happy with me.

Just...

...say you don't hate me.

Hate you?

Ashley, I could never hate you.

Ever.

What are we supposed to do now?

Let Elon and Marcel
do their job.

A man was just m*rder*d.

How can you be so calm?

A threat was eliminated,
all right?

And not just to Martin,
but to his children.

Son of a b*tch
targeted Tyrell and Samantha,

walked right up on them
in broad daylight.

And in their home.

I'm not shedding
a single tear that he's gone.

Cookies?

At this hour?

With everything
that's happening?

Where did you find cookies?

[mouth full]:
Rowena.

[clears throat]

Rowena.

She has a hidden stash
she doesn't know I know about.

More secrets.

All right.

What do you wanna do?

You want to pack? Run away?

Drive all night?
Where do you wanna go?



When all of this was new and we
had our whole lives ahead of us.

That's where I wanna go.

You wanna go back?

Let's go back.

All the way to...

♪ Miss Mary Mack, Mack, Mack♪

Before boys and jobs

and hidden cookies.

When it was
just me and my sister.

Unshakeable.

How did we get here?

I miss who we used to be.

It's the good thing
about us, you know?

Think you're alone,

you never really are.

Family.

We're not perfect people.

I realize.

But we're also not the enemy.

We can be a bitter pill.

But you need us.

And we can help you heal.

So stop pushing us away, okay?

It's a waste of energy
'cause we're not going anywhere.

Okay.

I love you.

I love you back, Sissy.

Mm-hmm.

♪ ♪