01x146 - Episode 146

[bunniefuu]

Easy now.
I'm not here for you.

Although watching you
hop around like a rabbit

on Red Bull
is pretty entertaining.

You're the executioner.
You expect me to believe that?

You don't have a damn choice.

If you think I was here
to put you in the ground,

you think I'd stroll in
like Sunday service?

Nah.

If you're looking for the boss,
he's not here.

I know that.

I left Joey back at the station.

Just here to wet my whistle.

The-the police station?

He's handling business.

Putting out fires, pulling out
some slick magic tricks.

What type of tricks?

If I'm in trouble,
I have a sister in Tallahassee.

Say the word, I'm gone.

Would you calm
your twitchy a*s down? Damn.

Joey arranged for
a different disappearing act.

Turns out
I was never here the night

Doc McBride went missing.

Joey can make up
whatever alibi for you he wants.

Not anymore.

♪ ♪

[crying]

Why do we have to keep
watching this?

It-It's not gonna
change anything.

Doug is gonna walk out that
door, get into his car, and...

My bad.
Um, we can stop now.

[Vanessa sighs, sniffles]

I just thought there was,

you know, for a split second...

I don't know.

I was hoping that
there was a moment

where Dad had one moment
of clarity,

or that he understood
what he was about to do.

That is what alcohol does.
What drinking too much does.

It impairs your judgement.

Yeah, but Dad's seen...

I-I mean, he saw bodies
wrecked by drunk driving.

He drilled into me and Deanna

about innocent victims
he couldn't save,

who died because
of somebody else's stupidity.

Now, look at him.

No hesitation.

Not even a pause.

The same way he kept ordering
drinks like glasses of water.

After he pawned off
his anniversary watch.

Decades of marriage traded in

for chips that lasted
less than an hour,

and-and after
that last chip was gone...

it was like Doug had
nothing left to live for.

♪ ♪

SMITTY: Samantha? Tyrell?

Anybody home?

-Thank God.
-Smitty, look,

-I think we should...
-Sit down.

Martin, you want
to turn yourself in?

Have you lost your damn mind?

I was gonna do it before,
at the press conference.

When you were backed
into a corner.

Nothing's forcing you
to go public now

except for your own
misguided hero complex.

Don't psychoanalyze me, Smitty.

This is not about heroics.
It's about you.

You think this is what I want?

Really? To throw yourself
to the wolves

so that every news anchor
and gossip blog

and regular Joe
with a YouTube channel

can dig into
our personal business?

No. I know you don't
want to hurt me.

Then explain it to me then.

'Cause right now
it's not making sense.

Keeping that secret--
it's what blew us up.

I told myself
that I was protecting you,

my kids,
my grandfather's legacy.

Hell, I even sold myself
on some B.S.

that I was doing
to progress the country.

So what's the point

if it costs me everything
that actually matters?

Having my husband's regard,

his high opinion, his love--

I want to be worthy
of all of that again.

So this is what I have to do
to earn his trust back,

then so be it.

Absolutely not.

And this is why.

They're still navigating
turbulent waters,

but the way Smitty
looks at Martin and vice versa,

there is still a mighty love
there that gives me hope.

Seems like everyone
in your family

is having relationship problems
these days.

Martin and Smitty
making their way back.

Kat getting tangled up
with Tomas after he played her.

-And then there's you.
-Me? Please.

I have made my peace
with how everything turned out.

I will find my contentment
in my children's happiness.

-That is reward enough.
-Mm-hmm.

Say, what's a girl got to do
to get a real drink around here?

Sorry, ran out.

With that ostentatious display,
you expect me to believe

Nicole Dupree Richardson--

who has assistants
for her assistants--

-that you just ran out
of alcohol?
-It has been busy.

I haven't had a chance
to restock

on your favorite brands
of tequila and vodka.

Nicole, what do you think?
I'm gonna get tipsy

and make wedding plans
with my rideshare driver?

You said it, not me.

I am saying you have
nothing to worry about.

Good.

Unless you're hiding
another fine nephew.

-Tequila. Tequila. Tequila.
-[both laugh]

You are impossible.

Let me go get you that drink

before you start
another family scandal.

No, no, don't bother.

I'll be a big girl.
I'll get by without it.

Probably for the wise.

Listen, I know you're still
prickly about Andre and me.

Huh. What gave you
that impression?

Just remember, at first,

you had to get over
us seeing each other.

Marriage is just
the next logical step.

You're kidding, right?

So we might've skipped
a few chapters.

Sorry, still not buying it.

This feels like
it has more to do with Bill

than any love connection.

Andre and I aren't traditional,

that is for sure,
but we care about each other.

That part is real.

Just don't hurt him, okay?

I love Andre
like he is one of my own.

And I know he walks around here
like he has it all figured out,

but losing your parents
like that?

Hurting that man
is not on the menu.

I may be reckless
with my own heart,

but I'm not playing games
with his.

Speaking of hearts.

Your speech at Doug's memorial
was beautiful.

We do the dead no favors
by making them saints.

Doug was... complicated,

no different
than the rest of us.

I just never thought
I'd see the day when a man

who repairs hearts for a living

would get behind
the wheel drunk.

Did you know Doug
was spiraling like that?

Let's just say
I knew that he had demons.

I just didn't think
that they'd win.

I feel for Vanessa.

Losing your husband like that...

You think she'll get through it?

Get through? Maybe.

Be okay?

That's another story.

Is there any more footage?
What about parking lot cameras?

You know, something,
anything that shows me

him actually
getting into his car?

Unfortunately,
the camera back there

has been busted
for over a month.

I keep writing the manager
to replace the part,

but it's back-ordered.

Why didn't-- why doesn't
this video have any sound?

I mean, what am I
supposed to do,

-read my dad's...
-Damn it, Darnell! Look at him.

Well, I know he was drunk, Mom.

What I don't know is why
he got into that car.

You know, maybe
if I understood that,

this whole thing would start
making more sense to me.

We've seen enough.

That is Doug.

At least what he became.

I'm sorry, baby, th-this is hard
for you, but I-I can't. I can't.

Hang on,
we're missing something.

Take a look at that table.

DONNELL:
Wait, what'd we miss?

It's the dealer.

He was the last person
your father interacted with,

so he's the first person
we should talk to.

That certified creep?

Well, last time I saw him, he
was wearing my father's watch.

Uh, but Detective Hawthorne
makes a good point.

Maybe Drake
could shed some light

on Dr. McBride's state of mind.

Would that help you find
the closure you're looking for?

Yeah. I think so.

Well, he's not
on the payroll anymore,

but I can reach out and
get him down here. Excuse me.

What's wrong, Mom?

I mean, don't you think
this is a good idea?

No, Donnell. I don't.

That's some favor
Joey did for you.

Editing you right out
of the security footage

like you were never here.

That selfish b*stard
didn't do it for me.

That's the thing
you better remember about Joey.

The day he does a selfless act

is the day
I eat my service weapon.

Yeah, word is he clipped
your wings.

Retirement papers signed
and everything.

Guess the Caribbean
will have to wait.

Don't remind me.

[phone beeps]

First, Joey tells me to be here
in case he needs me.

Now, he wants me
to go to the station.

He has some things he wants me
to say about the doctor.

-What's he setting me up for?
-My advice? Follow instructions.

-And if I don't?
-Better keep your head
on a swivel

and pray that Joey
doesn't cancel your Christmas.

Take a good look.
These are your kids.

I know who they are, Smitty.

Do you?
Because I'm just wondering

how you think they fit
into this plan.

They deserve to know
the full story.

So that's your big plan,

just to drop a b*mb
on their lives?

You're just gonna
go to them and say,

"Hey, Samantha and Tyrell.

"Yeah, remember when we told you
that everything was fine?

"We actually lied.
Your pops k*lled someone,

and now the whole family's
gonna be put on trial for it."

You were the one
in this very room who said

this family doesn't do
any secrets anymore.

They probably already sense

there's more
to the story anyway.

Of course they do.

They're teenagers
with built-in lie detectors.

But sensing and knowing
are two very different things.

They're almost grown
and out in the world

without our protection.

We can't shield them forever.

This isn't
about protection, Martin.

This is about them
living their lives.

Those two beautiful souls
have suffered more

than most people do
in their entire lives.

Don't you think I know that?

Damn it.

-What am I supposed to do?
-Martin.

Stop and think about
how selfish this is.

What's gonna happen to Vernon,

who orchestrated
the entire cover-up?

Anita will be charged
as an accessory.

Your father reconstructed
that bigot's face.

Bill is a pain,
but do you really want

your cousin's father
to go to prison?

And don't even get me started
on Joey Armstrong.

Do you think
I lose sleep at night

wondering what would happen
to Joey Armstrong?

Martin, think about
what a man like that does

when he's backed into a corner.

And how that
affects your family.

What good is this
grand sacrifice

if everyone you love
pays the price for it?

Unless...

Unless what?

Unless the offer
was the entire point.

Maybe you had no intention
of following through with this.

Maybe you just needed me
to believe that you would.

How could I be so stupid?

You think that
I would've wised up by now.

-Smitty.
-Do not "Smitty" me
with your politician's tone.

-I can't even look
at you right now.
-Smitty.

Do you really believe that I
would manipulate you right after

just saying that I would do
anything to earn your trust?

At this point,
I don't know what to believe.

Wow.

You must really think
the worst of me.

You've lied to me before.

To protect you, yes.

To shield myself, absolutely.

But...

...not a strategy to play you.

Maybe we're more broken
than we thought.

-What are you showing me?
-Receipts.

This is the text message
I sent to Jacob

saying that we need to talk.

Here's his response

telling us when to meet.

I'm not doing this
for show, Smitty.

I was actually going gonna tell
the whole story.

Okay. Maybe I overreacted.

You think?

And I... Yes, I heard you,
in regards to the fallout.

Yeah, how were you planning
on handling that?

I kept telling myself the truth:

that I was protecting
Granddad's life and my own.

That, somehow,
I could get through it.

Because I can handle a scandal,

but my husband
thinking I'm a fraud?

That's a hit
I don't think I can take.

Damn.

I'm sorry, Martin.

Yeah.

Me too.

Did you see
how Vanessa was today?

Like a shell of herself?

Walking, talking,
hugging everyone

with that polite smile
plastered on her face,

-but her eyes?
-Empty as ever.

That woman needed someone
she could lean on today.

Someone who wasn't dealing
with their own grief.

Vanessa has someone
she could lean on,

-but he stayed away.
-Who?

Don't hold out on me.

-I don't know if I should.
-Girl, spill.

I will sit here all night
if I have to.

Vanessa seems to be getting
uncomfortably close...

...with Joey Armstrong.

What? Are you sure?

And I thought marrying Andre
was scandalous.

I shouldn't have said anything,

-and I don't want
to start any gossip.
-Are they...

I don't know for a fact if
they're sleeping together yet,

but if they haven't,

it is definitely headed
in that direction.

Guess I better get down there.

-Tell them what Joey wants.
-Stick to the script.

Doug was drunk, gambled heavy,

lost everything
and stumbled out. Nothing more.

Especially my role
in the matter.

Right. Simple enough.

Hold up.

-What now?
-I'm coming, too.

That wasn't part of the plan.

Don't get your boxers
in a bunch.

We'll go separately,
so no one can connect

this little performance,
obviously.

Then why don't you just
stay the hell away?

'Cause the boss texted me, too.

Looks like His Highness
doesn't trust you to go solo.

I can't imagine why.

-I won't mess this up.
-Damn straight you won't.

'Cause if that skittish
little brain of yours

even flirts with going rogue,

you just remember
the good doctor's mistake

and who made sure
he paid the price.

I don't understand.

That shady dealer was
the last person to talk to Dad.

That is exactly why
I don't want to see him.

Talk to me.

I'm sorry Donnell, but this day
has-has been hard enough.

Standing in front of everyone
at that service,

pretending to be strong,

listening to them talk about
the Doug they thought they knew,

and how shocked they were
that he could've done this,

but I was not shocked,
not one bit.

I'm confused.
What are you saying?

Did you know Dad was going
to the casino that night?

Did you two fight about it?

Listen. Doug, you've been
drinking, and we both know

how you get when alcohol
starts making decisions for you.

And what exactly have you
been doing, Vanessa?

While I'm out here
with my soul laid bare

like some idiot, you're, what?

Baring your body to a man

that only sees you
for a plaything?

I-I-I didn't know
it would lead to this.

My-my God, no, don't you think

I would've stopped him
if I could have?

Look at you, diagnosing Vanessa
like she's a case study

in one of your
psychiatric journals.

Don't be ridiculous. I'm
expressing legitimate concern.

You've heard the rumors
about Joey.

Maybe.

But you know what they say
about matters of the heart.

It wants what it wants.

Sometimes you can't dictate
who someone can be with,

and trying to tends
to backfire spectacularly.

Point taken.

Guess that goes
for Kat's situation as well.

Part of me feels like
I should be intervening,

but she is an adult, and like
Chelsea so astutely pointed out,

telling Kat not to do something
is like hanging

a giant neon "go for it" sign.

Dupree women
and our taste in men.

I hope that is not your way
of transitioning

-into a conversation about Ted.
-[laughs]

Because I cannot handle

the emotional excavation
right now.

Fair. Let's talk
about Carlton instead.

There is nothing to talk about,

despite the FBI-level
interrogation

you and Chelsea
handed him earlier.

Carlton and I
are just... friends.

Oh, yeah,
not a hint of attraction.

Not after the way he was looking
at you at the memorial

and in this very room
with those bedroom eyes.

And I always give my friend
a peck on the lips

when I'm saying goodbye.

He is still Ted's partner.

That's why
you're counting him out?

Ted doesn't get a vote,
especially when it's a man

you've known since med school,

and when that man
is hot buttered toast

with cinnamon on top.

Plus, you tell everyone
who can listen

how done you are with Ted.

Yes, but it's not just Ted.

I'm done with love altogether.

I shouldn't have said that.

Accusing you of manipulating me,

that was... out of line.

But it's how you felt.

You honestly believed
that I would weaponize

something as serious
as turning myself in.

That's how far
we've fallen, Smitty.

And that's why I have to do
something drastic.

No.

No, I'm not gonna let you
fall on some sword, Martin.

Even if you tell the truth,
there's no guarantee

that a jury will believe you.

Martin, the risk is too big.

Then how do I fix my life?

Are things
getting better for you?

Because I feel like I'm
left stranded in purgatory,

praying that, one day,
I'm worth trusting again.

I'm not keeping you in limbo
just to watch you squirm.

Then where's the finish line?

And when?

I don't know.

-Then how are we...
-Martin, I don't know.

Look, Smitty,
I'm a man of action.

Vernon Dupree--

if he saw a problem,
saw something that was broken,

he would roll up his sleeves,
get his hands dirty and fix it.

I'm not some busted radiator
you can tinker with, Martin.

And you didn't just break us,
you betrayed me.

You looked me
in the eyes for years,

holding a secret
that would destroy everything.

Everything that I love.

And there's no
quick fix for that.

There's no part
that you can order.

There's no switch
that you can flip.

Then why won't you
at least let me try?

Anything is better than this.

But you're tying
both of my hands,

and it's absolutely k*lling me.

Mom, I'm not trying
to make you cry

any more than you
already are, okay?

Dad's choices were his own.

Whatever was
going through his head

that made him
get behind the wheel

wasn't for you to fix.

I can't talk to him, though.

All I have to get answers is
that video and that guy Drake.

I-I understand. I...

I'm-I'm sorry, baby. I...

I-I just can't be here anymore.

Thank you, Detective.

-I'll walk you out.
-Uh, no, I can do that.

Uh, my ex-employee
should be here any minute,

so if there's nothing else
you need from me,

I'll be on my way.

After everything
that's happened,

please let me
walk you to your car.

Your mom's going
through it right now.

And it seems like
she's not the only one.

You holding up okay?

Define "okay."

I thought you left.

After you say something like,
"I'm done with love"? No way.

-What I said...
-Is the most unhinged thing

I've heard since the stylist
tried to convince me

jean whiskers
were making a comeback.

Is it that ridiculous that I'm
not interested in putting myself

through the
emotional wringer again?

Besides, I am too old
to start over.

Don't you dare use that O word.
We're too close in age.

Unless it's the other O word,
then we can talk.

I'm being serious, Dani.

My career demands
everything from me,

not to mention
my philanthropy work.

Excuse me if I don't want
to devote what little time

I have left to some
fleeting romance

that's bound to go nowhere.

You are trying so hard
to make this sound logical.

And what is wrong
with being logical?

Love isn't that.
Never has been, never will be.

Plus, making some
sweeping declaration like,

"I'm done with love"
is less logical and more...

well, me.

Would you like
to try that again?

I'm the one who gets jilted
then spins out of control.

I'm the one who obsesses over my
ex and lets everything about him

drive my whole existence.

-I'm the one who...
-Runs off and marries

a much, much, much younger man
in an impromptu Vegas wedding?

If it proves the point, sure.

Nicole Dupree Richardson,
there is only room

for one emotional hurricane
in this family,

so get out of my lane
and get back into your own.

So you need to take out
your phone and text Jacob

and cancel the meeting
before he starts wondering

and he opens up that
whole can of worms again.

-We should talk about this more.
-No. We are done talking.

Text him right now
or I will take that phone

from your fingers
and do it myself.

You know I will.

Thank you.

Done.

But that still doesn't answer
what's next for us.

I came back.
I slept on the couch.

Moved out when I thought
it was the right thing to do.

Yeah, I know.

I hate all
the back and forth, too.

Now you talk me out
of doing the one thing

I thought would move
the needle for us.

Maybe there's something else.

Y'all still at it?

Thought that was open and shut.

You remember my old partner
that you met earlier today?

Sorry again for your loss, kid.

But if you don't mind me
saying so,

watching your pops
at his darkest hour on repeat

ain't gonna bring you
much peace.

All due respect, Detective,

I didn't ask
for a psychological assessment.

I'm just trying to figure out

what my dad's state of mind
was before he died.

It's the only piece
of the puzzle I'm missing,

and it's driving me crazy.

Wish I could help, but...

...never met the guy.

I'm Drake.

Guess I shouldn't be surprised
you wanted to see me,

-all things considered.
-No, don't sweat it.

It's not about the watch you
stole from my father's wrist.

I already apologized for that.

Actually, it's a good thing
Joey hit me up when he did.

I was boxing up my apartment

with plans to be
on the road by sundown.

You leaving town?
That's convenient timing.

There's nothing left
for me here.

Joey cut me loose after
the watch incident, remember?

For every baller that walks out
of that casino stacking paper,

there's five or six more who
go home having lost everything.

After a while,
that energy begins

-to weigh you down, you know?
-Oh, save us the sob story.

My father's dead and you were
the last one to see him.

So start talking.

-How did you get here so fast?
-Oh, I know all the shortcuts.

It's practically
my business model.

Macallan 18.
Neat, please.

-And for the lady?
-Just a water.

Uh, make it a gin martini,
please.

I can't blame Donnell
for wanting to know more

about his father's mindset
the night he died.

Same.

This hit him like a freight
train he never saw coming.

You too.

God, Joey,
my-my hands were shaking.

I-I couldn't very well tell
my son that his parents

got into a vicious fight
the night his father died.

Especially when...

...the fight was about you.

Tell us what you remember.

Uh, Doc comes in for this
high-stakes game, loses big.

Instead of bouncing, he sticks
around for some blackjack.

Man was on a mission to either
win it back or go down trying.

No, that doesn't track.

My dad was methodical
about everything,

even down to the way
he organized his socks.

But you're saying he kept going
after nearly losing it all?

Look, when people get desperate,
they don't act like themselves.

No, especially when someone's
gassing them up.

When the drinks keep flowing
and someone's in their ear

telling them that
their luck's gonna change.

Who's conducting this
interview, Detective? You?

-Or junior here?
-Relax.

Is there anything else
you want to tell us?

Like how you didn't stop
my dad from driving?

Donnell, Maryland law
doesn't state...

I know what the law says
about server liability,

and I don't care.

On that video, my dad
was weaving back and forth

like he'd gone 15 rounds,

but you kept serving him
because a drunk loses more.

Is that it?

It's my job to deal cards.

Not babysit grown men.

Look, I feel bad
about what happened.

I even stepped away
to call Doc an Uber,

and when I came back,
he was gone.

What was I supposed to do--

chase the man
into the parking lot?

One more thing before we wrap.

At any point,
did Dr. McBride mention

needing to meet anyone
that night?

As far as I know, his only
destination was his bed.

Man was in no shape
for socializing.

One last thing.

I thought
that was the last thing.

Did my dad say anything
that might give us insight

on to what
his state of mind was?

About what he was feeling?
Or-or-or thinking?

About my sister? About my mom?

Or-or me?

I just need to know something
or anything

that might help me
understand wh...

why he would leave us.

Just that he didn't like losing.

But who does?

All right, that should do it.

But I'd put
the travel plans on hold.

I might have to ask
more questions,

and I'd hate to have
to track you down.

Fine. I'll say put.

Not what you were hoping for?

No, not even close.

Usually, when I'm working
through a complicated case,

food helps clear my mind.

Come on, let's get something.
I got you.

Imagine if Donnell
finds out the truth.

Doug and I fought that night,
but I wasn't even in here-here.

I-I was with you in Puerto Rico,

taking off my wedding ring
so we could...

Donnell is strong.
He'll get through this.

And you just need to hold on.

You have nothing
to feel guilty about. Nothing.

But that, that last call,
it-it...

Our-our words were
so bitter and angry.

The truth is,
Doug brought this on himself.

Every card he played,
every drink he swallowed.

His choices, not yours.

When we were at the station
and you were in tears,

all I wanted to do
was reach out and comfort you.

Let me be your strength
when you can't find any.

♪ You've got some explaining♪

♪ To do while we're waiting♪

♪ For you to come here
to the smoke café.♪

Couples therapy.

We'd have to be careful
about the secret, of course,

but we could air things out,

dig deep. You know?

-It'll be hard, but...
-Well,

if it's gonna work,
it has to be.

So you'd do it?

Hell yeah.
[chuckles]

I will camp outside
that therapist's doorstep

if it meant ending
this nightmare.

But... will it be enough?

No.

That's only half the solution.

Nice pep talk,
but you are way off target.

Am I? You're the rational one.

I'm the emotional wreck.
You know what?

Let's throw out
all the psychobabble

and call it what it is.

You're a woman
who is scared to death.

Can you blame me after
everything I've been through?

So, I've built a wall
to protect myself.

You call that fear.
I call that wisdom.

You're letting
one man's betrayal

dictate the rest of your life.

But it wasn't just
one man, Dani.

Ted and I were everything
to each other.

Strangers would stop us
at galas, the grocery store,

church, calling our relationship
the gold standard.

And maybe it wasn't
the perfection

that some thought it was,

but it was really good.

Until the rug got pulled out
publicly, brutally.

I was there.

I know how hard
that fall was, truly.

But I picked myself back up.

And I might still be
a little wobbly, but I am never,

ever gonna fall like that again.

You call it crazy, Dani.
I call it survival.

[phone chimes]

I have to leave.

A business matter
needs my urgent attention.

But before I go,

I owe you an apology.

-For?
-For being your sister.

You watched my marriage implode,

and you swore
you would never end up like me.

So when it happened to you,
you shut down completely.

-Dani...
-Let me finish.

I set a bad example.

But your heart?

It's too big to close.

Carlton doesn't
have to be the one.

But he can be
the one for right now.

Therapy aside, I think
we need something else

that we can build on.

I agree.

Something that we can hold on to

and gives us hope
that we can push through this.

What were you thinking?

Date night.

Once a week.

Something outside of therapy
that we can meet up for.

Something that
we can look forward to.

Like we were in our 20s.

-Like when we fell in love.
-Yeah.

Yeah, a place where we can
reminisce and share and laugh.

God, I miss laughing
so much, Martin.

Do you really think
we can do this?

Because I can't take it if you
change your mind tomorrow.

Okay.

Then tonight.

I want our marriage back
more than anything.

And I have to put in
the work, too.

So this is how we do it,
one step at a time.

One date night at a time.

Then tonight it is.

-This.
-What?

You.

Your strength. Feeling
your arms around me. I...

I-I want time to stop.

Oh. Wouldn't that be nice?

I don't know what to do, Joey.

There-There-There's so much

colliding inside of me
right now.

I-I don't know
where to put it all.

We'll figure it out.

-But that's on hold for now.
-[door opens]

Right now
the priority is your son.

[door closes]