Original subtitles

JACOB: Are you sure?

Well, did he ask why?

All right, thanks. I'll follow up.

Is this seat taken?

Does it matter if I said it was?

No. Question.

How long do we have to wait for you to step up your game

and put the cuffs on Crazy Leslie?

Martin, is that you?

Of- of course I understand.

Yeah, like I already said, it's already on my agenda.

But you have to work with me on this one.

No, I-I'm here.

I'm just a little distracted.

You have my word.

Yeah, we'll take it up at the next town hall meeting.

But we have to do a complete full vetting first.

[mouths]

Whoa.

I-I had no idea.

Um, please, um, tell me everything.

Start from the beginning.

? ?

What's that look?

I just didn't know it would be like this.

This has a lot of moving parts.

What's surprising?

You know how, in a musical,

we're supposed to suspend our disbelief

and imagine that people are singing everything

instead of saying it?

Are you about to start singing?

Uh, no, but I might just burst out into song,

and then birds are gonna start making all my dresses.

Mm. Do they do purses?

You'd really save a lot on labor costs.

I mean, I am legit fairy-tale happy.

And what makes it so much better

is that you are so real.

Okay.

Well, let's hear it.

No.

Come on, Chelsea.

Serenade me.

Or give me a good bop or something.

I'm open either way.

No, I told you I was close, but I'm not there yet, okay?

Plus I got my mom's smize, not my grandmother's pipes.

Mm, fine.

I will let you off the hook.

[chuckles]

But I feel it, too, Chelsea.

I'm so glad you pulled up next to me that day.

But do you think we're getting too greedy?

Maybe, but I just can't get enough of you.

I mean, I'm hooked, what can I say?

Neither of us have been even remotely restrained.

Should we be?

I can't lie and say that I haven't thought about that.

And my grandmother did bring it up the other day.

I knew it.

So people think we're moving too fast.

And it doesn't matter.

I answered her with her own quote.

Some people have a slow burn.

And some are just like a lightning strike.

When you know, you know.

It sounds like Ms. Anita Dupree

knows a thing or two about relationships.

Oh, I mean, she and Granddad are the standard.

I've never seen a love like theirs.

So calm yet fierce, impenetrable.

Madison, you are going to love her.

I mean, the Anita Dupree effect is real.

We all bow down.

I thought we'd have a family meeting like back in the day.

Well, my manicure is still wet.

And it's not like back in the day.

Ladies, we have one crack

at this reunion concert.

And I want to make sure that it is fire,

like the kids say.

Yes, and you know we want that, too.

Now, what's got your couture lingerie in a twist?

Well, at rehearsal yesterday, something seemed off.

Now, our voices are in sync.

But our bodies, that's another matter.

What do you mean? We've all kept it tight.

Oh, no, no, no shade on our figures.

I know we look good. [chuckles]

But...

think about Beyonc�'s tour.

Which one?

Any of them.

Like her, we're telling a story.

Not just with our voices

but with the staging and the movement.

Now, I've made a few calls.

And there is this choreographer who I know you will love.

-Innovative... -I thought you changed.

But Anita Dupree's ready to throw out the old

for new and shiny all over again.

Well, hell no.

This is not me trying to throw away the past.

But some things do need to stay back there,

like that tired, old choreography.

Now, I know we want to honor what we've done

while also stepping into something fresh.

-But our fans want us to... -Our fans appreciate

calling back to the old days.

But they are exploring moves and music

that are right now, today.

So why wouldn't we do the same?

Breathing new life into our old classics

will make them timeless.

And if we twerk to our old songs,

is that gonna bring all the kids to the yard?

Or do you want us hanging from the ceiling like Pink?

That's not what she's saying.

Is it, Anita?

Thank you, Tracy.

What I'm saying is...

You know what I think is rich?

You suggesting we try something fresh

when we're right back where we started.

You bossing us around.

You running the show.

That is not what I'm doing.

-You see... -You know what I see?

You're changing everything up at the last second

so you can become the star.

We agreed to come back as equals.

No one's singing backup for you anymore, Anita.

Please, Sharon, that is not what...

You just called us in here to tell us what you decided.

You didn't ask us.

You used to do the same thing.

With our hair, with our costumes, all of it.

Well, I did not sign up for a repeat

of our not-so-greatest hits.

The choreography was good enough for us,

and it's good enough for us now.

And Horace even spruced it up enough.

So it's an homage.

You ever thought about that?

We can't pretend that time hasn't passed.

That we haven't been changed

by everything that's happened to us.

By all that we've done.

Now, the updated arrangements of our songs reflects that.

We're not teenagers

singing and two-stepping

about heartbreak that we barely experienced.

We are grown women who have known real love

and hurt

and happiness.

And that's what needs to be reflected up on that stage.

What's the point if we don't have anything new to say?

I have something new to say.

How about...

you do this without me?

Seriously, Kat, are you stalking me?

How'd you even know I'd be here?

Because I'm that good.

I knew you weren't at the station.

Already called over there.

Checked to see if there were any major crimes

you'd be out protecting and serving on.

Don't tell me you got a police scanner.

Not yet, but I probably should.

And I figured if you were out in the world,

tracking Leslie's every move,

you'd say something to me.

Maybe.

And if you weren't here, I could at least grab some coffee, so...

You just don't quit, do you?

It's not in me.

You know, there was a time when I objected to you

relentlessly touching my case.

Um, it feels like you're still objecting.

You're saying that's changed?

No.

It's still annoying and inappropriate.

You know you love me being

your unofficial partner.

I'm pretty sure I remember not deputizing you.

And despite the fact that you were arguing

that you were Zendaya,

I wouldn't be comfortable having you on a ride-along.

It's still a strong point, and I stand by it.

Anyway, what's going on with our case?

Our?

Yes.

Whatever. It looks like you had a point.

We have a match.

Yes! I knew it.

We've got that bitch dead to rights.

Leslie definitely ran Laura off the road.

Can I confess something?

Yes, please.

There's so much I don't know about you,

and there's a lot that I want to try.

Thanks.

But it's not that kind of confession.

Okay.

Yeah, lay it on me.

With all this talk about your grandmother,

I'm sort of glad she wasn't at the Meet Madison party.

Why?

I know that you're just joking when you call her a queen,

but she really is a big deal.

[chuckles] More like a BFD, okay?

Gran is the best.

You talk about her in superlatives

because she's earned them.

And it's not just this huge force that Anita Dupree is

in the world at large but how important she is to you.

Well, I didn't say all that stuff

to make you feel intimidated.

I know.

But what if she doesn't take to me, Chelsea?

What if I fail some test

I don't even know I'm participating in?

My family's not like yours.

Your family does press conferences and sets up

meet and greets to introduce girlfriends.

I'm lucky if I see my family more than once a year.

I feel like she's gonna be expecting more.

Okay, one:

you're a BFD, too.

Dr. Top of Her Class Neurologist.

Okay? Never forget that.

And two: I'll let you in on a little secret.

There are actually

three Anita Duprees.

Okay, there's

the one outsiders think she is.

A celestial being on high.

[laughs] Yep.

And there's the one she actually is.

A matriarch.

But most of the time, she's just Gran.

A really, really fabulous gran.

But Gran nonetheless.

She's the heart of us.

That is so sweet.

And sometimes, you know, when she's doing

her grandmotherly things, she'll start to hum

under her breath.

And then you hear that voice.

And then you remember.

She is the Anita.

The voice of a generation.

It's kind of trippy, really. [chuckles]

A superstar musician

who exudes class and keeps her family center.

She sounds incredible.

I don't know if I'm even more excited

to meet her or more scared.

The sooner we rip the Band-Aid off, the better.

And she is just going to fall in love with you.

And what better time than the Articulettes reunion show?

You get to see the gran and the diva.

Okay? I cannot wait.

Hi, Pop. Bye, Pop.

Oh, so close yet so far.

Bring it in.

Uh... nice try.

We don't kiss and run.

Huh?

Why are you in such a rush, Samantha?

I'm not.

Then, where are you going?

Just out for a bit, that's it.

Out where?

Pop, can you chill?

It's not like I'm gonna go meet up

with a weird stranger to play chess.

Oh, what the hell, Samantha?

Do you think that's funny?

Too soon?

Hi, you ladies know what you want yet?

You're The Real Chels.

Your tutorial on finding your light changed my selfies.

I'm happy to help.

-Can we take a selfie? -Of course.

Let's do it.

Okay, you've got this.

We look amazing.

Ten out of ten, no notes.

-And tag me. -[squeals] I'm gagged.

Okay, sorry. What can I get you?

Uh, I think we might need a few more minutes.

Can you come back in a bit, please?

Thank you.

I'm supposed to pretend like that's normal, right?

A total stranger wanting to take a selfie with you?

You having Hamfans and Chelsea-nites and Chel-Belles.

Oh, I like Chel-Belles.

But the truth is, there's a new influencer

born on these socials every five seconds.

I don't get how you just shrug off having millions

of people out there who care about your every move.

I'm not dismissing it.

I appreciate the follows and the double taps,

but I'm really trying to...

bring more to it, you know?

Chelsea.

There's real talent in what you do.

It's more than being simply so damn gorgeous.

You know how to make people

who look at a photo of you feel something.

You inspire confidence.

Look what just happened.

Do you miss modeling?

Even a little bit?

I haven't had a chance to miss it.

You know, there's still campaigns rolling out

that I shot before I quit, and...

no one has abandoned me on socials yet.

But that was never your favorite aspect of the job.

What about the rest of you?

You're getting to know me really well.

Yeah, fashion is what I love.

It's not so much the runways and the shoots.

But now that ChelseaKat is really taking off,

I get to make the beautiful things

and not be the beautiful thing.

That's a whole lot of change to process.

And it's all for the better.

I've been dreaming of designing for forever.

I've been doodling and sketching and keeping it all a secret.

In a way, I've been dreaming of you.

I just didn't know who you were yet.

But seriously.

Whatever's next in this chapter of life...

...it may be fast, but it's right.

How do you know it's not just timing?

Like, I showed up when you happened to be ready.

Am I the right person or just some hot, sweet coincidence?

Well, I like that you threw hot and sweet in there.

Oh, that's just me attempting to believe

the things you say about me.

Well, believe it.

Divine timing, coincidence, fate,

call it whatever you want.

Madison,

we're here.

And I'm gonna take full advantage of it.

What?

What's that look?

I'm afraid you'll get to know me better.

And then you'll see I'm not as exciting as you are.

I'm not some designer- influencer-supermodel-princess.

I'm not a princess.

But you're a Dupree.

And you are very sexy

and brilliant and a literal lifesaver.

Okay?

I was totally kidding.

Just like how I thought that you being freaked out

last night would blow over.

Why are you being like this?

That came out a bit harsher than I meant.

It's just, everything with yesterday and your brother...

Tyrell and his blind chess meetup really threw you, huh?

Pop, Tyrell and I are well aware of stranger danger.

And I think because it's so niche and nerdy,

Tyrell couldn't wrap his head around anyone creepy

trolling around in his chess space.

But he gets that it could have been more dangerous.

So do I.

Good.

You keep assuming that we're not paying attention,

but, really,

I have this all figured out.

It's all your fault, really.

New day, same blame.

What's the offense now?

You and Granddad introduced him to chess.

Gave him an outlet that he fell in love with.

And not only is that boy good, but...

Pop, he's a master.

Let me break this down for you.

Have you ever heard of Wemby Wembanyama?

Better question, how have you?

Victor Wembanyama is the center of the San Antonio Spurs.

First round draft pick.

And I believe he was the Rookie of the Year last year.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, sports, whatever.

But what you may also not know is that he's

a killer chess player and hella cute.

Oh, last year, when he was in New York,

he put up the chess bat signals on his socials

for people to come play with him in the park.

Tons of people showed up and nobody got hurt.

Well, not unless you want to count feelings.

I see, but in this scenario,

is your brother Wemby or the strangers in the park?

Both.

Things are getting better for Tyrell,

but chess is still his window at the swamp.

He's one of the best players in the district for his age,

but he's still starved for someone that can match him.

Someone with a high enough ELO.

And sometimes that means going beyond your circle.

Just like Wemby.

Honey, I'm sure

that Wemby is a good kid.

But he's also a celebrity.

So he probably had private security

hiding in plain sight.

On your brother's end,

he brought a grown man to this house

when no one was home.

Have you thought about that analogy?

True, valid points.

But, hey, Tyrell's chess date

just turned out to be some nerdy, harmless old guy.

You met him, am I wrong?

Oh, pump your brakes.

But yes.

The helmet is the same one worn by the motorcycle rider

that ran Laura off the road.

And we know the helmet belongs to Leslie.

Dots connected?

Almost.

We still don't know that she was wearing it

on that motorcycle at the precise moment of the accident.

Oh, my gosh.

What more do we need?

For her murderous tail to have taken a selfie

while she ran Laura down?

Who else would be on the motorcycle?

You don't think I'm frustrated, too?

But it's the job.

It's not like TV.

We have to get past reasonable doubt.

And I still don't have enough proof

that it was definitely her that did it.

So we just keep getting closer and closer,

and it's never enough?

One step forward, two steps back.

You know, I actually couldn't be your partner

because the law is stupid.

What's the point if she just keeps walking away free?

The system is designed to protect the innocent.

We just have to work even harder to get the guilty.

[sighs]

And what's going on with you and Smitty?

-Just be careful, okay? -Pop.

You are being way too intense.

Tyrell's fine, I'm fine.

The guy- if him being here, if he got to you- he's gone.

So why are you still bothered?

Because anything could happen out there, Samantha.

Seeing Tyrell be so cavalier.

We tried to make it crystal clear

that while we're well-known and respected in the community,

this world is still crazy.

We hear you.

But we are not staying holed up

here at home until we're 30, okay?

30 is a stretch.

29 is the max.

Funny.

I'm leaving this house, Pop.

Okay, I'm gonna go to the park, get kissed by the sun,

maybe take some cringe selfies,

enjoy the butterflies and the flowers

and a nice iced latte like every other girl my age, okay?

All right, keep your volume down on your headphones

and walk there and come right back.

Okay, and I may meet up with my new boyfriend.

Come again?

He's so cute and furry.

Furry?

Well, if you must know,

he's the most adorable squirrel.

He's even got his own account.

Crashing photos in the park is kind of his thing.

Well, before it gets serious, I want to hear his intentions.

Oh, gross, Pop.

Well, go, go.

Just get out of here before I change my mind.

Don't wait up.

-Wait, turn your location on. -[door closes]

Fancy meeting you here, brother-in-law.

What's going on with you and Jacob?

JACOB: Not that it's your business,

but Smitty's here about a story he's doing.

What he said.

Fine. Be clandestine.

See if I care.

Let me know if you hear anything else.

Don't do anything I have to explain later.

Well, uh...

Mm-hmm.

-Bye. -Bye.

Thank you for throwing Kat off the scent.

This way I don't have to dodge her questions later.

What about my questions?

Because I have an important one.

I'll answer whatever I can.

Yeah, I owe you.

You keep making time for me,

even though I'm sure you have your own load at the station.

Don't mention it.

But by looking at you,

it seems like my load of problems

are about to get even heavier.

What's going on with Martin?

On the house?

Perks of the job.

[chuckles]

So,

in your new now,

how's it been, navigating that with your cousin Kat?

Well, this is the first time I'm doing anything

in my career without my momager.

And it's brand-new and uncharted territory

and honestly a little scary.

But Kat's really good with the business side.

I mean, she sees things that I just don't.

And she knows how to anticipate hurdles.

I can't imagine so many unknowns.

Being a doctor can be so linear.

It's really just a matter of figuring out your specialty

and allowing everything else to line up.

Well, I'm sure that Kat and I will face

our challenges down the road.

But so far,

change has been really, really good to me.

With work and with you.

So, I have a question for you.

Do you think it'll be too much to handle?

Me being in flux?

I think I can handle it.

In fact, I think I'm the one who might burst into song now.

Oh, well, I have a better idea.

Well, Congressman,

you really do live on the edge.

Well, I wouldn't risk calling you if it wasn't serious.

I'll make it quick.

You don't think I already know what happened

with our friend and his little chess move?

Our guy thought he was smooth, trying to hit you where it hurt.

Your kid.

But it won't happen again.

Oh, I know.

That's why I asked you here.

He just checkmated himself.

I know my husband, but the more we find out,

the more I question Martin's role in whatever this mess is.

What are you saying, Smitty?

I still think that Martin is the victim here.

But what if I'm wrong?

The money plus the corrupt cop plus Martin?

What if I'm just seeing what I want to see?

Then you get Martin to lawyer up.

Look, I told you when this first started,

there was no part of me that felt like Martin was guilty.

But I operate on facts.

And if the facts lead me in a different direction,

I have to follow.

Which means we'll have to part ways.

Let's hope that's a bridge we don't have to cross.

Look, I get it.

When it's family, it's complicated.

But it's who I am.

And if Martin is culpable in any way,

I can't turn a blind eye.

Then I wonder if I've already told you too much.

Look, Jacob, journalists have a code, too.

And I respect you not being above the law

when it comes to Martin.

But I do wonder, does the same apply to your father?

If we find out that he's involved just as deep?

I'm sure my father's got nothing to do with it.

But when it comes to justice, there are no exceptions.

Not for Martin.

And not for my dad.

I think you've proven that it's best to leave the cleanup

of your mess to those equipped to handle it.

I'd do that if my family wasn't in our friend's crosshairs.

We need police protection 24-7.

I'll pay for everyone.

Samantha, Tyrell, and Smitty.

But we need them not to know that they're being tailed.

Especially Smitty.

He's already suspicious enough.

Can we do that, Detective?

Or do I need to go private?

You can be assured that your family will be protected.

Should we check on her?

She'll be back when she's pulled herself together.

Do you agree with her?

We all know this is not about the choreography.

I know we have to honor the past,

and I promise that we will.

But we can't bring all that into every step ball change

we take, or we will never be ready in time.

Now would you please tell Sharon I'm right?

We're supposed to be sisters.

Sisters tell each other when their slip's showing.

And come on.

You know that routine is just as tired as we are.

[laughs]

I can't do that.

I'm sorry.

So you have to agree with Sharon

because you two are the victims and I'm the villain.

Is that right?

I couldn't possibly just want this show to be a success.

To make us all look good.

After all these years, it's all the same, sister.

You still think you're the one who decides what's good.

In your mind,

you were the only one with the talent, the taste.

Back then, we were too naive and too damn caught up

in making the Anita Williams

to even have a mind of our own.

But that was back then.

And we don't have to fall in formation anymore.

Especially because we have a bigger stake

in the success of this reunion than you do.

And how is that?

You don't need the money, Anita.

We do.

Nothing is really on the line for you.

You already had it all.

You still do.

But for Sharon and me, this concert could give us

the careers we've been chasing since we were kids.

Don't you think I know that?

That's why I'm putting all this energy

into making us stronger and sharper.

By walking around like you own us.

That is not true.

It's there.

In everything you say.

Every suggestion you make.

"Let's do it my way.

"Because I know better.

And am better than you."

Just because you have the money

to pay for some fancy choreographer

and new vocal arrangements,

it doesn't make you right, Anita.

It doesn't put you in charge.

We're not for sale.

Nobody's trying to buy you.

I'm here to put in the work.

Quality work.

Because you're writing checks,

what you say goes.

Oh, I see.

So you'll take my money but not my input.

No, okay.

How about I get out my checkbook right now,

sign off on everything,

and head on home?

And you can do the concert without me.

I'm beginning to think of this as our place.

Anywhere we're together is our place.

Ooh, now that was smooth.

You've got to teach a course.

[both laugh]

Wait, we've been talking about me, me, me this whole time.

Tell me something new about you, Dr. Montgomery.

I'd love to.

But as it turns out, I'm more show than tell.

What do you say we go back to our other favorite place?

Where's that?

Your bed.

Say less.

What the hell?

All right, thanks for the intel.

I'm on my way back.

Sorry about that.

You're just doing your job.

Smitty, I'm not gonna push you to tell me something

that you want to keep from me.

-Something that can incriminate Martin. -I appreciate that.

But that also means this could be the end of our arrangement.

I'm not gonna ask you to compromise your ethics.

Although something tells me this isn't a hypothetical.

What just happened?

That call I just got makes me feel

like we should stop swapping info.

What'd you learn?

Martin just requested police protection

through the department.

What?

Police protection? What?

Is there some type of national security threat?

Smitty, I don't think he would ask local police

to look out for you and the kids if it was national.

I also don't think the request would have come

through the channel it came through.

-Don't tell me... -Marcel Malone.

What is Martin hiding?

And why does he feel like my family needs protection?

Who's painting who the villain now?

We're not gold diggers who came

sniffing around your Birkin for a payout.

You came to us, remember?

I wasn't the one who brought up money.

-Sharon did. -Wow.

It's as if you've completely left Cabrini-Green behind.

We were there then and we're here now.

And we remember every damn thing.

And that's the problem, isn't it?

The whole world out there, they see you as this icon.

But here in this room...

we're the only people in the world who know better.

And you hate us for that.

I don't hate you. I love you.

-I've missed you. -Then prove it.

Show it.

I don't even think you know how.

You don't respect us.

Not our talent.

Not our opinions.

This, for you, is a way for you

to right one of your many wrongs.

And we might as well be just another one of your charities.

You think the fact that we never made it

was proof that we didn't have what you have,

instead of it being the result

of you abandoning us.

I have never said that.

But you thought it.

Do you know how rare chances like ours were?

You took that from us and ran off with it.

We never got another one.

Not because we weren't good enough

but because lightning doesn't usually strike twice.

You didn't look back until now.

Until Barbara haunted you into it.

If you would have done this 20 years ago,

you could have resurrected us.

But you kept us twisting in the wind.

All those years.

If you felt that way, believe me,

that was not my intention.

Your intentions don't matter.

What we feel matters.

What we feel.

What you did matters.

What you're doing right now.

I think we can

all acknowledge that most of this does fall on me.

If I hadn't followed Dante,

you wouldn't have followed me,

leaving Barbara behind.

And if I hadn't gone solo,

maybe we'd all be EGOTs right now.

But we'll never know.

And we can't turn back the clock.

And I hoped

that I could make up for some of this.

And I thought

maybe we could recreate that magic.

But maybe it's just gone.

So what?

Now you're giving up?

We're here.

Committed to doing the work.

And so now the reunion's off because you say so?

-You look like you saw a ghost. -Yeah.

A ghost of relationships past.

What is Allison doing here?

Wait. Your Allison?

She's here again?

Oh, she's such a pain.

She was never really my Allison.

Okay. Hey, look.

We're about to head to our happy place.

Okay? Don't worry about it.

-She can't touch us. -You're right.

Let's just go.

Wow. Small world.

What are you doing here?

Are you following me or something?

Oh, I would never decide the future

of the Articulettes on my own.

So you two make the call.

Everything is paid for,

including the original choreographer.

Call it "retro chic."

And don't, don't change a damn thing.

Hell, I could even get our old costumes from the Hall of Fame.

But just yours, because I'm out.

-Anita, if we walk out that door... -You know, I knew

there would be tears,

I knew there would be disagreements,

but I thought we had the will to get up on that stage.

Not just for the three of us but for the four of us.

Articulettes strong.

But I guess that was just too much to ask.

Anita, we don't need to do...

Get the hell out of my hotel suite.

The concert will be fine without me.

[door opens]

[crying softly]

Martin did not say a word to me about needing protection.

-I can see that. -How could he let me

leave the house knowing that our kids are in danger?

Hey. We don't know the details here.

What we do know isn't good.

I have spent the last week trying to figure out

what Malone did to my husband, and now I find out

they're friendly enough that Martin trusts him

to protect our kids?

Something does not add up.

Well, then, you need to stop tiptoeing around this thing

and confront Martin.

Don't let him walk away until he comes clean

with the truth and nothing but.

-You're right. -This isn't just about you anymore, Smitty.

This is about your family and those kids who you love so much.

I need to face this head-on.

[door opens]

[laughs softly] I-I am so useless

when it comes to this stuff.

Me and technology never quite hit it off.

Oh, let me. It's crazy simple.

I am so lucky I found you.

[chuckles]

Who the hell do you think you are, summoning me?

And what's so damned urgent?

One Dupree is enough.

I've met my read-for-filth quota.

Daddy really got under your skin tonight.

Yeah, it's a good thing that I'm not the type of man

who gives ultimatums.

Like, "If you walk out of that door,

don't bother coming back."

NAOMI: Martin wants protection

from the crooked cop that his own husband is investigating?

Look, if you ask me, something weird is going on.

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