Original subtitles

I confronted Leslie about

almost killing 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 gunshot 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 kill 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 war 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 murder,

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 gun 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 killed?

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 illegal?

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 gun.

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 bastard 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, shoot 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 racist.

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 murder?

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 murdered.

How can you be so calm?

A threat was eliminated, all right?

And not just to Martin, but to his children.

Son of a bitch 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?

25 years back. Maybe 30.

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.

? ?

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