Original subtitles

- AMARA: Previously on "Ambitions."

- You were a pleasant distraction.

But I don't make a habit of going to bed

with common miscreants.

- Amara's mine. You had her one time.

But I have her every night for the rest of my life.

Get rid of him. - How?

- I don't care. Figure it out.

- I'm going to see my son, one way or another.

- I would never hurt you.

- Titus Hughes, you are under arrest.

- Ow! Man, it's too tight!

- You have the right to an attorney.

- Bella Tru is... quite intriguing.

- The apparel or the woman? - Both.

- Stay the hell away from my daughter.

- RONDELL: Oh, my god, yes.

- EVAN: Looks like my sister just might've won.

- Don't be too sure about that, Evan.

- STEPHANIE: Sorry, Rondell.

A girl from The Banks is no match for a bitch from Buckhead.

- [traffic outside]

- [sniffs] Oh.

[sighs]

I'll never replace all those signatures in time.

- Baby, it's just a setback.

- [sighs]

- Running out of grits during breakfast rush is a setback.

This is a disaster, 'cause 60% of them

don't live in the neighborhood.

- Hey, you--you couldn't have known, baby.

- Peters is behind this.

Him-- [sniffs]

--or my no-good sister-in-law.

- Your brother is more likely

to have ordered an audit than his wife.

- Now, you wait just one damn--

- I'm sorry, Mr. Lancaster, but it's true.

The audit on Rondell's petition came from the city.

And let's not forget how many eminent domain orders

have been enforced by Evan since he being elected mayor.

- Evan would never do that to me.

- He sure wouldn't.

Now Hamilton, I've held my peace

because it seems like my daughter likes you.

But I would not have you disparage my son's name.

- I apologize, sir.

Won't happen again. - Make sure it doesn't.

- [door opens]

- [sighs] - [door shuts]

- I didn't mean to upset your old man.

- Daddy's proud of his kids.

At least he has reason with Evan.

- No, mm-mm.

No, don't--don't talk like that.

We're gonna keep fighting.

Hell, we'll go--we'll go door-to-door to get signatures,

if we need. - There's no time for that.

It took months to get all those signatures.

Face it, Kent!

They won.

Look, I just need to be alone.

- ♪

- [sniffs]

- [doorbell dings]

- [sighs] - [door shuts]

- [water rushing]

- [upbeat, pulsating club music]

♪

- LORI: What's up, Heather? Hey, I use that service too.

- Isn't it cool? - I love it.

Hey. Want to get a drink?

- Lori, I can't thank you enough

for letting us host this month's AI mixer here.

This is such an amazing space. - Isn't it, though?

I oversaw the redesign personally.

- [giggles]

- Let's get you a drink.

- Yes. I could use one.

Thank you. Cheers.

- To friendship. - To many more.

- Yes.

So, how often do you have these mixers?

- HEATHER: I try to have at least one a month.

So whose idea was it to put the reds and blacks,

with the turquoises and the blues,

and the greens, and the purples, and the oranges?

It just comes together so well. - LORI: Thank you.

- I mean, I could never-- - Excuse me, Heather.

Something just came up. - Okay.

- ♪

- See something you like?

- Oh yeah. We both do.

- We?

- ♪

- You wanna get out of here?

- Ah...

- ♪

- Hm.

- ♪

- [moans]

- ♪

- Yeah. Yeah.

Mm. Right there.

[gasps]

- [theme music]

♪

- Yes, sir. I will.

Uh...

- Who was that? - My father.

The city is auditing Rondell.

The majority of the signatures for her petition are invalid.

- Oh. - She's not taking it well.

Pops asked me to stop by.

- Oh, poor Rondell.

And after all the hard work that she put in.

I will make sure to have nothing but kind words for her

at the Thelma's anniversary party.

- You're attending?

You usually have a mountain of excuses

when it comes to my family events.

- What can I say? I'm in a festive mood.

[chuckles]

Oh, don't look at me like that.

You know I did not have Rondell audited.

How could you think such a thing?

- Well, you were raised by wolves.

- Better to be the wolf than the sheep she slaughters.

- Mm.

- Maybe you're the one who ordered the audit.

- [chuckles] I've been trying to convince my family to move on

to greener pastures for years.

But I would never hurt Rondell to make it happen.

See, that's the difference between you and me.

- Okay, fine. I didn't do it.

You didn't do it. But it's done.

And I think we will both agree that it's for the best.

In fact, I have a solution that will satisfy everyone.

- And by everyone, you mean the Carlisles and Greg Peters?

- Despite what you may think, I empathize with Rondell.

I have come to...respect her.

Even admire her a bit.

Seeing... [giggles]

her friends and neighbors rally behind

her valiant efforts to save The Banks have, mm,

opened my eyes to the value of Thelma's Place.

- Mm-hmm. - So...

I will take care of Greg Peters.

But I need you to handle your sister.

- Why me?

- Because you are her adorable baby brother.

- ♪

- [phone rings]

- ♪

- Everything alright?

- Just work.

- Hunter, I need to--

- Oh, I'm surprised you found time to come to work,

considering you've been so busy mauling

unsuspecting civil servants.

- Don't believe everything you read, Lori.

Where's Hunter?

- Anxious to plead your case to Daddy so he won't enforce

the morality clause in your contract?

- Not nearly as anxious as you are to hop in that chair

and play boss lady every time he isn't around.

- [sighs]

- You know what?

I'll come back when there's a grown-up at the desk.

- Why did you do it?

- I'm only gonna say this once.

I did not attack Damian Collins.

That man is a liar and a sociopath.

- Wow, you have quite the temper on you, Titus.

Were you this angry when you beat that man's face in?

- [phone rings]

- You know what, Lori? If you wanna help, do your job.

- [chuckles] - When the media calls,

tell them I'm innocent

and that Purifoy fully supports me.

- And just why would I lift a finger for you?

You've been a pain in my ass since the day you arrived.

- Do you have any idea how bad it looks

to have your general counsel accused of a crime

he didn't commit right before we go to trial?

- You should've thought of that before you pummeled that man.

My job is to promote my family's company,

not clean up your messes.

I knew it was a mistake hiring you.

That man you beat up, Damian Collins.

I've read on the internet

he works for the US Attorney's Office.

Isn't that where your wife works?

Huh.

- Thank you.

- [doorbell rings]

- Abuela!

- Oh, there he is, my little loved one.

Abuela has missed you! - Mami, I need you.

- Tell me something I don't know.

- Corazón Textiles wants me to do some additional design work.

I need you to watch Joaquin for me this afternoon

so I can run some errands over at AmericasMart.

- The Thelma's Place anniversary party is this week.

Rondell really needs me here. - I need you more, Mami.

I wouldn't ask if it wasn't an emergency.

- [sighs]

- [doorbell rings]

- Well, I guess I could ask Keisha

if she could cover me this afternoon.

- [squeals] Mami, you're the best. Ah!

What would I do without you? - I don't know.

Give me a kiss bye, baby. Mwah!

- Say bye! - Bye!

What would she do without me?

[laughs] You wanna help Abuela?

Yes, let's go.

Oh, I missed you so much.

- [doorbell rings]

- [door shuts]

- DAMIAN: The whole thing is just unfortunate.

I think he was on something.

I'm just concerned about...

- What?

- Sorry. Talk to you a minute?

- [indistinct chatter]

- We have nothing to say to each other.

And we're not working together ever again.

- He's so swollen. - I know.

- You--you act like I'm the one who attacked your husband

and not the other way around.

- We both know Titus never touched you.

- [phone rings]

- DAMIAN: I feel sorry for you, Amara.

You're a strong woman who's obviously put her faith in a man

that doesn't deserve it.

- [phone vibrates]

- ♪

- Is that the wife or the girlfriend of the man

that actually did that to your face?

- You jealous?

- I regret the day I ever laid eyes on you.

- That's funny.

'Cause I remember you couldn't get enough of this thing

I was laying on you.

- Me and a dozen others, I'm sure.

You're disgusting.

- You're the only one that meant anything.

I've got someplace I gotta be.

You've gotta decide who you're gonna believe--

me or your husband.

- I choose my husband.

- Now you choose your husband.

- ♪

- [doorbell rings] - Ah, thank you.

Hoo! Child.

What is this supposed to be?

- My world-famous rutabaga pie.

- Oh, excuse you?

- Well, Senior and I, we were talking.

And we think it'll be a good idea

if I start pitching in around here.

- Oh. That's what we think?

- Um... [laughs nervously]

Lu, I think I smell those kale chips getting extra crispy.

- Oh, thank you for reminding me.

- BOTH: Mwah.

- SENIOR: Yeah. [laughs nervously]

- Kale chips? What?

- Uh yeah, I was gonna talk to you about that this morning,

but you were gone before I woke up.

- Talk about what?

You letting that woman take over Momma's restaurant?

- Don't be like that, Rondell.

Sometimes we have to make room for change.

- What's your point, Daddy?

- Well, my point is...

maybe it's time you go on with your life.

And Lulene, she's got some really good ideas

how we can freshen up the menu.

- Ain't nothing wrong with our menu.

And Lulene needs to stick to babysitting them badass kids.

- She's part of my life now, Rondell.

And it would be nice

if you would make her feel more welcome.

Especially since...

- Please tell me that ain't what I think it is.

- [chuckles]

[sighs]

[chuckles]

[sighs]

- ♪

- Slow down, Joaquin.

You make Abuelita nervous when you run like that.

- Oh, he is going to be a track star in high school and college,

just like his old--

Hey. [groans]

You wanna take this big truck back to the truck depot?

- Let's see how fast you can go.

Vroom! Good boy!

- JOAQUIN: Beep, beep!

- I appreciate you letting me spend time with him.

- It's not for you.

I saw what growing up without a father did to my Isobel.

Joaquin shouldn't have to go through that.

- Joaquin will never want for anything.

I promise you.

When Bella and I first got together, I wasn't mayor, Inez.

I believed we could build a life together and have a family.

- You still can.

But you don't want that, do you?

You never did. - Oh come on, Inez.

Bella is a grown-ass woman.

She has to own her part in all of this.

- I don't give a damn if she is 17 or 70.

She is still my baby.

And you've taken everything that's innocent about her

and you have destroyed it. - [door shuts]

- Oh, god.

- What the hell is going on here?

Hey, baby.

- Mija, I--I didn't expect you back so soon.

- Don't "mija" me.

[sighs] Baby, here, go play with your toy.

Okay? Go play with your truck.

- [Joaquin's footsteps]

- Why are you here?

- I needed to see him, I've been telling you this.

- How could you?

- Mija, a boy needs his father in his life.

- Goodbye, Mami.

- [sighs]

- ♪

- I insist that you stick to the visitation schedule,

and you sneak behind my back with my mother.

- I will do whatever it takes to have Joaquin in my life.

I thought you understood that by now.

- JOAQUIN: Vroom, vroom! - Hey!

I'll see you next time, little man.

- [laughs] Bye, Mr. Evan!

- [door opens and shuts] - Mami! Ha, ha!

- Come on, baby.

[sighs]

- [police siren wails]

- [knocking on door]

[knocking on door]

- To what do I owe the honor of Her Majesty's presence?

- This isn't a social call.

- Oh? Not surprised.

[clears throat]

- I was when I got the news of Titus's arrest.

- Pretty good move, huh?

- You idiot. - Here we go.

- I brought you here to break up his marriage,

not ruin the man's career.

- You forgot to give me the manual when you blackmailed me

into wrecking the Hughes's lives.

So, uh, I've had to wing it.

- Titus isn't a violent man.

There is no way that you provoked him into hitting you.

Unless you finally got that slut Amara into bed.

- You'd love that, wouldn't you? - [giggles]

- You didn't aim me at that marriage to get a leg up

on opposing counsel. If that was the case,

you'd be thrilled about him going to jail.

You're in love with that lame-ass,

off-brand Johnny Cochran?

- You are not fit to rinse out Titus Hughes's boxer briefs.

Make the charges go away.

- I told the police Titus attacked me.

I can't just, uh, change my story.

- I don't give a damn how you do it.

Just get Titus out from under this.

Fail, and I will make certain that the DOJ uncovers

every last one of your tainted prosecutions.

[chuckles]

- What's to stop me from snapping your little neck

like a twig right here in this hotel room?

- [pants]

- [click]

- Will this do, for starters?

[panting] Okay.

Do as I instructed.

Make the charges disappear. And from now on,

don't you make a move against Titus

without clearing it with me first.

Understood?

[pants]

[chuckles] [gasps]

Good boy.

- ♪

- [phone rings]

- Amaralicious in the house. Look at you, snatched as always.

- Well, you're not looking too shabby yourself.

How's the juice fast going? - Girl, it is killing me,

which is fine as long as it works.

- [laughs] - I should have my eight-pack

just in time for Pride.

- [chuckling] What can I do for you, Brody?

- It's that time again.

I need to download new security patches on everyone's laptop.

- Oh, well, you know, just send me the link.

I can do it. - I forget.

You're, like, one of the three actually tech-savvy people

who work in this building.

- Yeah, you know, I know my way around a laptop.

- You definitely use yours enough,

all hours of the day and night.

- [phone rings]

- What is that supposed to mean?

Are you spying on me?

- [chuckles] Sweetie, I work IT for the Department of Justice.

I spy on everyone. - Right.

- Part of my job is to monitor activity in ID-CAC cards.

When I saw how often you were up working,

'til 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning, I said,

"That woman must love her job."

- [chuckling]

- It is you logging in, right? - Of course.

It's just, you know, these hours are just getting to me,

you know? My brain is fried.

- We've all been there.

Let me know if you have any problems

with that security patch. - Will do. Bye.

- [phone rings]

- ♪

- [beeping]

- [phone rings]

- Damn it, Titus.

- You tipping today? - Just like always.

[chuckles]

- [doorbell rings]

- [sighs]

- Ooh!

You look like you lost your best friend.

And your dog died.

- All them other blues songs too.

Refill.

And I just discovered Daddy is proposing to Luelene.

- What? That was fast.

- Thinking about proposing to some other woman

on the anniversary of opening Momma's restaurant.

Of all the disrespectful, triflin' things he could do.

- The man waited over 35 years

to get this serious about somebody.

I bet Momma's up in heaven happy he's finally moving on.

Look, you're the reason I'm here.

Not Pops and Luelene.

- Came to gloat 'cause I lost my signatures?

- No, I came to make you a proposal

that saves Thelma's Place

and lets me keep improving my city.

- How? - By making Thelma's Place

the cornerstone of the English Rose development,

just like Momma made it the cornerstone of The Banks.

- A buck-nekid Idris Elba couldn't convince me

to team up with Greg Peters. - I was skeptical at first.

But Stephanie's got it all figured out.

- Oh, I bet she does.

- Rondell.

Now, this neighborhood is eventually gonna change

no matter how hard you keep fighting.

But this is our chance to keep

the new and improved Thelma's Place open right here

for generations to come. - [sighs]

- Come on, let me set up a meeting with Stephanie.

What's the worst that could come of it?

- What's the worst that can come of a meeting

with Stephanie Lancaster? Now, come on.

- [laughter]

- Please? - Fine.

- Yes! - [laughs]

- Thank you.

- I guess I'll hear the old she-devil out.

But I ain't making no promises. - Thank you!

- [doorbell rings] - [sighs]

- [doorbell rings]

- [clock ticks]

- [door shuts]

- Ugh.

- Were you expecting someone else?

- I got a text from Carly asking me to stop by.

Said it was an emergency and you wouldn't be here.

Let me guess... that was all BS?

- I sent the text from Carly's laptop.

It's high time you and I speak.

Woman to woman.

I don't appreciate you exploiting my daughter,

and I want it to stop.

- I think you have me confused with you and your husband.

Carly confided in me about how you tried to force her

to date the son of one of your douchebag friends?

- Carly had no business discussing that

or anything else with you.

- Oh, you'd be surprised what your daughter and I chat about

during pillow talk.

- [chuckles] You know what, Lori?

I like your style.

- Hm. Is that so?

- In fact, if you didn't have

Hunter Purifoy's venomous blood running through your veins,

we could probably be friends.

Platonic friends, of course.

- Oh. - I'm strictly dickly.

- That's perfectly fine.

They're not my type.

Good thing Carly takes after her father in the looks department.

- [chuckles]

Wait, don't leave yet.

It would be utterly rude of me to send you away

without at least offering you a drink.

You always seem so... thirsty.

Jess? Daniel?

Please bring in the refreshments.

- [giggling]

- [moans]

- Oh, don't worry. It's not spite.

[gasps] You three seem

like you already know each other.

- [moans]

- We sure do. [giggles]

- Shh.

- [moans]

- Are you sure you can't use that drink?

[chuckles]

Sit your ass down.

- You set me up.

- Jess and Daniel here are two of the most in-demand

high-end escorts in Atlanta.

I knew that a brazen, indiscriminate tramp like you

would never be able to resist their charms.

- Lady, you really need a hobby. - Mm.

I figured you'd eventually show your true colors

and break my daughter's heart. I just sped things along.

You're dismissed.

- You went to all this for nothing.

Carly and I never agreed to be exclusive.

- I doubt that my daughter would see it that way.

You see, Carly's always been quite the romantic.

- She's never gonna believe you.

It's my word against her psycho bitch mom and a pair of hookers.

- Oh, she'll believe me when she sees the video

of your vile sexcapades.

- They taped us?

Show that to anyone and I will sue your ass into bankruptcy.

- Oh, enough.

I refuse to waste any more time sparring

with a vapid little nothing like you.

Break up with my daughter immediately

or I will blow up your life

the way our friend Daniel blew out your back.

- You really want me to hurt Carly that way?

She's in love with me.

- She's too young to know what love is.

You were just able to get her whipped so fast

because you're older, and God knows more experienced.

[chuckles]

Sure, it'll hurt her for a while,

but she'll get over it.

I'll see to it.

Constance!

- Yes, Mrs. Lancaster? - Take out the trash.

- ♪

- [chuckles]

- ♪ Late nights, early mornings ♪

- Ha, ha, ha, ha! Vroom, vroom!

Beep, beep!

- What? Mijo, no!

No, no, no, no, no.

Now I'll never get this done in time.

No, baby.

[sighs] - [knocking on door]

- Oh, god.

[sighs]

Who is it? - SENIOR: It's Senior.

Hey, hey, I was in the neighborhood.

Thought I'd stop by.

- It's really not a good time right now, Senior.

- Oh, no, no, no. I'm not gonna stay long.

You eat yet? - [sighs]

Honestly, I don't even know.

Come on in. - Good.

Yeah, we got ribs, mac and cheese,

turnip greens...your favorites.

- It smells good. Thank you, Senior.

You--you really didn't have to. - Nah, don't mention it.

[sighs]

You know, your momma's awfully worried about you.

- Did she put you up to this? - SENIOR: No, no, no.

I came on my own, to, uh, take my mind off things.

Um...

Oh, I don't know if Inez mentioned this to you,

but, um-- [laughs]

--I'm planning to propose to, uh, Luelene.

- Oh my god! What? That is amazing!

Although if she's as tough as a wife as she was a babysitter

when I was kid, you're gonna have your hands full.

- Oh, there he is, little man. [chuckles]

- Ooh, let's go over here. - Oh, look at there.

- Boy.

Here you go, baby. Play with your truck.

- Ain't nothing like a momma's love.

It looks like you could use a little help

keeping a certain someone entertained.

- [sighs] No kidding. - Mm-hmm.

Hey, Joaquin? Come here, buddy!

You wanna play hide-and-seek? Come on!

- [laughs] - Alright, I'm right behind you.

Now I'm gonna catch you. - Can't catch me!

- I'm gonna catch you! I gotcha!

I'm right behind you! Oh!

Oh, you're gonna hide from me!

- My computer contains classified government files.

Why are you spying on me, Titus?

Hacking in is a violation of trust.

- I didn't hack in. I used your ID card.

- This isn't funny! Alright?

You could've triggered an investigation!

You could've gotten me fired! What are you thinking?

- Guys like Damian

always have something they're trying to cover up.

Well, I intend to uncover all his shit.

- I don't even--

I don't even recognize you lately.

- Only thing changed is Damian showed up.

And it's on me to get rid of him, whatever it takes.

- I can't deal with you right now.

- ♪

- [grunts]

[sighs]

- And to think...

Amara Hughes walked away from all that.

- Like I said, I'm a man of my word.

- [chuckles]

- No kissing.

- Oh. You're one of those.

- [police siren wails]

- Mm! This tea smells pretty good.

Can't say I've ever had it before.

And what you call it? Uh, oolong?

- Yes. Do you like it?

- Mm.

- Daddy, this ain't no tea party.

Stephanie ain't doing nothing but trying to soften us up.

- There's no need to be unpleasant, Rondell.

I will admit that we have had our differences.

But I'm ready to put them aside for the good of the family.

- Cut the crap, Stephanie.

Come on with your little show-and-tell.

- Okay, fine.

This is the new proposed Thelma's Place.

- SENIOR: Mm.

Oh, your momma would love this, Rondell.

- Yeah, well, somebody aced architectural drawing class.

Don't matter. I got demands.

- Name them.

- My family shall retain ownership

of the Thelma's Place name

and the land the restaurant sits on.

- Of course you can retain ownership

of the Thelma's Place trademark.

Really. Who wants that?

- Excuse you? - STEPHANIE: [clears throat]

I mean, the name should remain with the family.

However, you can't own the land.

That's a nonstarter. But Peters will offer you

a 99-year lease at a rate that's a steal.

Imagine...

a myriad of shops.

[giggles] Midrise apartments, townhouses.

All that comprise English Rose.

That means more money.

- And probably more problems.

- Uh, Stephanie, um, could my daughter and I...

have a moment? - Oh, yes, of course.

- SENIOR: Yeah.

- You too.

- Thank you.

- [sighs]

- Well, I'm thinking we should give her offer some thought.

- What? - No, just hear me out.

When they were gonna tear Thelma's Place down,

that was one thing.

You put your heart and soul into this place, Rondell.

All I'm saying is just think about it.

- But Daddy!

What's she saying is we're gonna be in business

with the antichrist for the next 99 years.

- Oh, come on, Rondell.

You and I both know Peters ain't gonna live that long.

- [laughter]

- I mean, true, but I'm scared of who gonna come after him.

- Don't worry about that.

My money's on you outlasting the entire Peters clan.

Look, I'll back you, whatever you decide.

But Rondell, sometimes you can be so stubborn,

you can't even see a good thing.

- Well, I don't trust nothing that Stephanie ever says.

- We'll make sure she'll stand behind her word.

[sighs] She is family.

- Knock, knock, knock!

[laughs] Have I given you two enough time?

- SENIOR: Uh, yeah, Stephanie, yeah.

Uh...look, to be clear, Peters agreed to all of this?

- Of course. He's ready to compromise.

- Well, what about Inez, Luelene, Big Charlie?

- Your friends will be handsomely compensated

above market value.

- Hm.

- So...do we have a deal?

- Seems like a deal to me.

- [laughing]

- Oh, you've made a wonderful decision.

You both made the right decision.

In the meantime, I will have the contracts drawn up.

Oh, Rondell.

Thank you, Senior. [chuckles]

When you draw up the contracts,

leave out that part about the 99-year lease.

Oh, and forget that part about the other tenants in The Banks

getting above-market value.

That hood rat doesn't know how to read a contract.

Go on. - Mm-hmm.

- ♪

- [door opens and shuts]

- Mm.

[laughs]

- Can I borrow your--

- WOMAN: Hey, Jackson, I'll meet you after class.

- Come on.

- A couple more edits on my PowerPoint--

- Uh, what are you doing here?

- Um, we need to talk.

- Hm. That sounds ominous.

- Look, Carly, you're sweet and all.

But I just...

- I don't like where this is going.

- I think we should put whatever this is on pause.

- Whatever this is?

I thought this was a relationship.

- See, that's just it. You're so into labels and shit.

You just kept pushing until your viper mother found out.

- What does my mother have to do with this?

- Everything! Okay?!

I have never seen anything like that woman.

- You're not making any sense.

Tell me what my mother did.

- [sighs] Okay, you might as well know everything.

I had a threesome with a couple of randos I met at a mixer.

- Are you serious right now? - I'm not proud of it, alright?

And to be fair, we never defined our relationship.

- Don't give me that bullshit!

- [car horn honks]

- We were a couple. And you know it.

- [indistinct chatter]

- Yeah, I do.

And I'm sorry I hurt you, Carly. I really am.

I'm a jerk, okay?

But so is your mother.

You need to watch out for her. - Stop talking about my mother.

- She was behind it. - Behind what?

- [sighs] She hired a pair of prostitutes to seduce me.

Ask her if you don't believe me.

- ♪

- I'm so--

- ♪

- [sighs]

Goodbye, Carly.

- [sighs]

- [indistinct chatter]

- Don't you think it's time to give up the charade, Amara?

Stop pretending like you and Titus

is some blissfully married couple.

I know you're not happy. - You need to leave now.

- I dropped the charges.

- I'm calling security.

- I can still taste you on my lips.

- Get out!

- So much for gratitude, huh? - I said get out!

- I want you to know I'd do anything for you.

I'm going back to Birmingham, but not without you.

I want you. You want me.

The math couldn't be simpler. What's the problem?

- ♪

- [smack]

- Go to hell.

- You and Bella re always fighting and making up.

Y'all will be back on track before you know it.

- She's pretty pissed this time.

- RONDELL: How about I call her?

Remind her little fast behind that you the only momma she got.

[laughs] Some of us wish we still had our mommas around.

- Mm.

[sighs] Thank you, girl.

- I love you. - I know.

- [chuckles]

- Since I might not be watching Joaquin much,

I can help more with NAG.

I can go door to door, collecting new signatures.

I can do phone banking. You name it.

We have to stop Peters.

- Inez, there's something I need to talk to you about.

I took a meeting and-- - [doorbell rings]

- Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho.

- [laughter]

- The place looks great. - Thank you.

- I need to check the food.

- For you.

So, how is it going, partner?

- Lower your damn voice and stop grinning like a Cheshire cat.

- [laughs]

[sighs]

Hi, Carly.

- Come here, baby. - Hey, Daddy.

- Is everything okay, young lady?

- Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for asking.

I just need some fresh air.

- Here less than a minute and my family members

are already fleeing from your presence.

- Well, not all members of your family.

Hey, baby. - Hey, baby.

- BOTH: Mwah.

- For you. - [laughs]

- [doorbell rings]

- You promise? [laughs]

- Hello. Not getting cold feet, are you?

- Didn't think I would, but, uh, I'm sweating worse

than a crooked preacher on judgment day.

- [laughter]

- And you're sure they said tomorrow morning

was the final deadline? - Yeah, yeah, yeah.

- Thank you. - Yes, ma'am.

- Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I know what you're going to say, but it simply can't be helped.

- You are not gonna do this here, not tonight.

- It can't wait. Peters' investors are demanding

that the deal be finalized immediately.

- Not now. Under no circumstances.

- It was a tough sell for them in the first place.

I need to follow through while they're still on board.

- My father is about to propose, for Christ sake.

- Oh, isn't that cute?

Love still blooms in the American ghetto.

- Alright, do your wheeling and dealing another time, please.

- Evan, what do you expect me to do?

Wait for the offer to expire?

It will be Thelma's last dinner, literally.

- I swear, Steph, if you make this into a spectacle--

- If there's one thing Stephanie Lancaster knows how to do,

it's be low key.

Rondell? Can I--

can I speak with you in private?

- Can it wait?

I am trying to host a dinner party.

There you go, baby.

- I'm afraid not. - Ugh!

- You alright? - Yeah.

- Uh, Luelene, uh, I know there's been a lot of talk

about Thelma tonight.

But you won't have to live with my late wife's ghost forever.

- To tell you the truth,

I've been a little worried about that.

It's hard to compete with a dead woman.

- Oh, no, no, no.

You ain't gotta compete with nobody.

See, it's like this.

[sighs] Luelene--

- I told you, I ain't signing nothing tonight!

- Rondell, there's a lot of money on the table.

For god's sake, just sign the damn contract.

- No.

- What money? - What contract?

- [clears throat] I'm so happy that we are all here

to commemorate this auspicious occasion.

- Stephanie, don't.

- This is a night of wonderful new beginnings.

Thelma's Place will be better than ever

now that Rondell and Senior

have agreed to make it the mainstay

of the English Rose development project.

- Is this true?

- Everybody will be taken care of, I promise.

- Greg Peters has been throwing us money for months.

And we turned him down because you made us believe

that all of us united could save this neighborhood.

We supported you, Rondell. - That's right.

- Thelma would be ashamed. - Oh, come on.

- You knew about this and you didn't talk to me about it?

What's gonna happen to my daycare?

I thought I meant more to you. - Luelene, wait! Wait!

Luelene!

- Rondell, I need the contract signed.

- You make me sick!

You couldn't wait just one more night, could you?

- Sign the contract and you will have many more nights here.

- That is enough, Stephanie.

We will deal with the contract situation tomorrow.

- None of you seem to comprehend what's at stake.

- Grr.

Babe--baby, please! I can explain!

- No, no, no, don't "Baby" me. Don't--don't "Baby" me!

I know all too well about

Lancaster selling out this community!

- RONDELL: Come on.

Please, like--come on. - No.

- [grunts] - [doorbell rings]

- What's your problem?

- Everything Lori said about you is true!

Isn't it?!

God! - [doorbell rings]

- What the hell did you do to our daughter?

- What I've always tried to do, protect her.

- Oh, please!

I don't know what's up with Carly.

But I can guaran-damn-tee that you're the cause of her pain.

Everything you touch turns to shit!

- Rondell!

Rondell, wait! Rondell!

- ♪

- [grunts] - [clank]

- I hope you're happy, Stephanie.

- Evan--

Evan. - [doorbell rings]

- ♪

- EVAN: Next time on "Ambitions."

- You are using Thelma's Place as a crutch.

Sign it!

Rondell is no longer a problem.

We're just ironing out a few details.

- Stephanie is only your friend

so long as you play by her rules.

- Bitch!

- I saw how he was looking at you.

- I am keeping this relationship SP--

Strictly Professional.

- How long have you been sleeping with

Assistant US Attorney Collins?

- Amara's quite the live wire. She couldn't get enough.

- ♪

- ♪

- ♪

- [ding]