Original subtitles

Leave it to you to cut to the heart of it.

I think that's what I love about you the most.

You're always real and honest with me.

Hold up.

You love me?

No, I mean, I just...

I want you to know how incredible I think you are.

I shouldn't have put you on the spot like that. It's...

Well, I could have phrased it better.

No, it's okay, really.

No need to explain.

I know what we are.

What does that mean?

-I'm sure you have questions. -Just one.

When exactly did Joey start making you feel alive?

Was that before or after Dad died?

Can you chill, sis?

You're the one who cosigned on this whole ambush

and helped her pin me in the booth.

You wouldn't talk to me otherwise.

Well, I'm stuck here now, so let's talk.

But this time, be straight with us.

I have been.

I was devastated after your father passed.

When I said those words, clumsy as they were,

what-what... what I meant was that Joey helped me

find my way back after that very troubling time.

We get it, Mom.

Your creepy-ass lover was the answer to all your prayers.

You just couldn't wait for Dad to go.

My whole life was wrapped up in Doug.

Yeah, then why throw the affair in his face?

I did no such thing, Deanna.

I was grieving.

All those galas and cocktail parties,

playing the perfect wife for the camera,

all while you were sneaking around with

-that bottom-feeding hustler. -Enough!

You think you have all the answers because you're angry.

You don't understand.

I get it all too well.

Sis, I... I don't...

No. I'm tired of her gaslighting us.

The second I saw you with him, I knew exactly what it was.

And don't tell me Dad didn't, too.

? ?

NAOMI: Kat!

Don't tell me the spa double-booked

your appointment again.

No, I figured I'd get back into kickboxing.

Best way to sweat out my aggressions

without traumatizing some poor ChelseaKat production manager.

Mm. Well, who's the true target?

The walking red flag that married into our family.

[sighs] Well, what's Hayley done now?

Suddenly decided Tomas is public enemy number one.

And I can't figure out if it's jealousy or boredom

or just her hobby of collecting opps like Birkin bags.

But she's circling, and I can't figure out how to shut her down.

Yet.

You don't think I have the answer?

Well, you did used to be her bestie.

Okay, correction: I thought we were.

But she was just biding her time, looking for a crack

in my parents' marriage so she could blow them up.

Well, hypothetically, if you had seen it coming,

how would you have handled it?

I'm-a have to plead the Fifth on that one.

-Thank you. -[phone vibrating]

[sighs]

Hayley Hamilton.

JOEY: How's Bill's better half?

Joey?

This is

unexpected.

Well, life is full of surprises.

You know, I came across some intel

I think you might find useful.

Any chance you can stop by the casino?

We have a major case coming up.

And?

As an indispensable member of our legal team,

I am needed at the office.

Why can't you just tell me over the phone?

Where's the fun in that?

Now, I'm sure you can come up with some excuse to step away.

You always do.

[chuckles]

You're making assumptions.

And do yourself a favor. Don't mention this to Bill.

I'll see you when you get here.

You here for a game?

Not today.

Though I did walk away with some nice pocket change

the last time I was here.

But I came by to talk.

Uh, but if you're too busy...

No, your luck is holding.

I happen to be free.

Unless you're here on a mission from your mother,

in which case it's not just no, it's hell no.

No mama nonsense involved.

This is about Izaiah.

He told me your secret.

I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable.

There's no dodging the fact that the last time you said

those three little words to anybody,

it was to the love of your life.

It's not the end of my life, Shanice.

Right.

Plenty of fun adventure ahead.

Of course...

it would be tough to top what happened with you and Nicole

and your love-meet in Maui and that instant love connection.

I don't need to catch lightning in a bottle twice.

I am trying to make this easy for you.

There is a part of you that will always love Nicole,

and I understand that.

Look.

Yes, what we had was beautiful.

But beautiful things come to an end.

It doesn't make what happens next less real.

I know you are ready to move past the hurt,

and I am willing to meet you where you're at,

but it's normal for the person on the rebound

-to not want to be... -Rebound?

We're back to that?

-[knocks] -We still on for tonight?

Don't even think about backing out on me.

I was kind of hoping somebody came to their senses

-and called it off for us. -Ugh.

You are not the only one.

I thought Vanessa might have an epiphany and realize

this little "play nice" double date was a terrible idea.

Should've known the odds were against me.

Odds? Cute.

-Considering Joey's profession. -[chuckles]

He is not any happier about

this little social experiment than we are.

Told me as much at the clinic opening.

Well, I have another consult, but I'll be done in time

to pick you up at the house,

'cause I brought a change of clothes.

So did I, so we could just

-leave from here. -Perfect.

Let me know if that cancellation call comes.

-Fingers crossed. -[chuckles]

So just what did the black sheep

of the Hawthorne family tell you?

Cut the act, Joey.

I've known for a while now that there was someone

who kept Izaiah from falling off a cliff.

He finally told me it was you.

I was aware that was his intention.

It's still not information I make public.

If I wanted to snitch, I would have done so already.

I'm not here to cause problems.

It just hit me that Izaiah was

the only one who ever thanked you.

I just tossed him a rope.

Whether or not he climbed up is on him.

It matters more than you know.

Young Black men like Izaiah-

the world loves to write them off.

Folks stop believing in them,

so they stop believing in themselves.

But you gave him something:

faith, when nobody else had it, not even his own fam.

That support changed his whole trajectory,

and not just for Izaiah

but for every Banneker kid he's pulling up behind him.

You give me too much credit.

Somebody else might have come along

and made a difference for Izaiah,

but I'm just glad you did when you did.

Deanna.

Please. Your... your father's gambling started

long before Joey came into the picture.

We talked about this.

Dad didn't let Mom see how bad things really were,

not until it was too late to pull him back from the edge.

I loved your father.

I still love him.

And if I could move heaven and earth

to bring him back, I would.

DEANNA: But you couldn't get him help?

No therapist, rehab, intervention, nothing?

He said he was recovering, he- that he could do it

on his own, that-that he had it handled.

He was an addict, Mom!

Of course it's what he said!

You're acting like Mom is some kind of expert on this

when she's not.

And neither are you.

Nobody could have stopped Dad if he wasn't ready.

But it didn't help that she was sneaking around with that thug.

That is not true.

Nothing- Look at me!

Nothing happened between Joey and me,

not before your father died.

And I stand on that!

I don't believe you.

After all this time, I still lose my mind

thinking about how Hayley played me.

And now she's on the same game with different players.

Right now she's gunning for Tomas.

She already put him on notice that he could lose his job.

What is her problem with him?

Tomas was working a criminal case.

The charges eventually got dropped,

but Hayley got real cozy with his client.

-A man? -A woman.

The same one Hayley was with when she got mugged.

Oh, yeah, I know who you're talking about.

Um, I met her after the attack.

Lynette, right?

Ding, ding, ding. I met her myself.

She and Hayley are two peas in a sketchy-ass pod.

Yeah, I talked to her at the hospital,

and she seemed fine at first, but...

I don't know. Something felt off.

You got good instincts.

With con artists, the first impression

is usually so polished, they slip right past your radar.

Lawyer instincts.

So what's their beef with Tomas?

Lynette and Hayley are pushing this narrative

that Tomas was hitting on Lynette.

Well, that's a smart way to get my dad on their side.

He'd be hypersensitive about that

since the lawsuit I filed against the firm.

Exactly. And Hayley knew it.

What was Lynette originally charged with?

Embezzlement.

And Tomas was sure she was guilty as sin.

Okay, so... let me get this straight.

Hayley's new bestie is

a con artist with embezzlement charges,

and together they're trying to take Tomas down?

That is definitely troubling.

You surprise me.

I get that a lot.

The whole town knows my business, thanks to Mama.

So I'm pretty sure you heard

that I grew up without my real dad.

Word does travel.

You know, I used to sit up some nights

and just feel sorry for myself.

But now I think maybe it's worse having a father who's there

and who still treats you like you're not good enough,

who stays looking at you sideways

the way Elon does with Izaiah.

Yeah, it's tough. No doubt about it.

When you met Izaiah,

did you know he was different right away?

No, not at first.

My instinct was to recruit him into my business,

but it didn't take long before I saw

that he really deserved better.

He's sharp.

Quick study.

He's always watching.

Always learning.

You sound proud of him. I can hear it in your voice.

Yeah, I am.

And I'm glad that he's back.

I can keep an eye on him, make sure he stays on track.

From a distance, of course.

Sounds like you've been a silent partner with him.

Same way you move with the clinic.

Always lurking in the shadows,

-making sure things don't fall apart. -[chuckles]

Yeah, you're not wrong.

Mom, move. I can't stand

to be trapped here with you another second.

[stammers] You're taking your grief out on Mom,

and it's not fair.

If you want to sit here and listen to this foolishness,

then that's on you.

But it makes me sick to be in the same space

as someone who would betray Dad like that.

Well, cross-examining Mom isn't gonna bring him back.

You're just looking for someone to blame

because it hurts too much to sit with right now.

You sound just like her.

I-I can't. I can't.

Mom, move before I climb over this table.

Fine.

[inhales deeply]

You warned me.

Guess you were right.

She shouldn't come after you like that.

Dad wouldn't have wanted it, no matter what happened.

I tried to save him, Donnell.

God knows I tried. It w-wasn't enough.

On that, on that, she's right, but not the rest.

[Vanessa sighs]

Can we talk about this later, Ted?

I have work, and, um, weren't you supposed to be meeting Eva?

No, not yet.

Court reservations aren't for a while yet.

And I don't want to let this go.

I want to know, is this still your issue?

That I'm using you to get over a broken heart?

I just don't want to fool myself.

I don't want to read more into this than what it really is.

Mm.

Because what if I'm just repeating

my history with Leslie? Is that what you think?

I thought you understood I'm not the man I used to be.

And you of all people could see past the mistakes.

Past the mess I made.

I'm sorry, Ted, I just...

I really can't do this right now.

[door closes]

Well, look who found time in her busy schedule.

The case got continued,

and lucky you, I can't resist a good mystery.

Mm-hmm.

Well, I won't keep you in suspense.

Bill has concerns about this Lynette woman

and asked me to dig.

So dig. Why should I care?

You mean aside from the fact

that you and she are tighter than you led Bill to believe?

What is this, an interrogation?

No, not at all.

I'd never expect you to confess something to me

that you'd never admit to your own husband.

And you're mistaken yet again, Joey.

There's no daylight between

what Bill and I know about each other.

Well, you know, that might be true on planet Pluto,

but here on Earth,

this Lynette woman is claiming to have witnessed a crime.

A crime that never happened.

I had bruises to prove that there was...

A crime that doesn't happen makes her less a witness

and more of an accomplice

to whatever scheme you and Randy are running.

I don't know any Randys any more than I know you.

[sighs]

Really?

We have to call him Sammy?

Oh, well, Sammy is a casual acquaintance, just like Lynette.

[Joey chuckles]

Whoever told you that bedtime story

has a wild imagination.

Call it a hunch.

So, if you're not sharing and you don't expect me to,

then why am I here? This...

You know, running a casino can be so boring.

Most people play it safe.

But you?

You are that rare, thrilling exception

of someone who is willing to go all in.

Hayley, I admire your winning streak.

But like all gamblers know...

...eventually, everyone's luck runs out.

And when mine does, what?

You're offering me a lifeline?

[laughs]: No.

I'm just curious how you're going to play your hand.

So, Leslie really went ahead

and booked the chapel for the wedding

you're not having?

Lined up designers,

a band, probably doves, too.

You know, I had a talk with her,

and hopefully, it will do some good.

But that woman has more nerve than a toothache.

It got me so upset, I was two seconds away

from flipping a table.

But Izaiah convinced me to just let it ride.

Said that if Mama wanted to blow her money

throwing us a party, let her.

-Well... -I mean, at least she's not

breathing down Derek's neck or dragging the Duprees

or stirring the pot with you and Shanice.

Uh, knock on all the wood.

Speaking of your girlfriend.

I don't know if Shanice would want to be called that yet.

We haven't exactly defined things.

Okay, labels or not,

I've seen the way she looks at you,

and it doesn't give casual, it gives she's in deep.

Eh, maybe we're misreading the situation.

Shanice and I had a talk earlier, and it made me realize

we're not as connected as I thought, you know?

Well, damn. Somebody's dressed to impress.

Well, I have a date with Nicole tonight,

though you may not want to share that part

with your boy, Dr. Kial Rollins.

Uh, don't do that, because you are both my people.

And for the record, Dr. Dupree's love life

-is none of my business. -Hm.

Wish you had come to that conclusion before

you started playing matchmaker.

In my defense, I didn't think the thing between Nicole

and Kial would go anywhere past the harmless flirting stage.

Well, it did.

I mean, not that I'm worried or anything.

Oh, clearly.

[phone vibrating]

[phone vibrating]

I'm not worried.

Hm. You keep telling yourself that until you believe it.

I'm serious. Okay?

Things will work out exactly how they're meant to.

Meaning you trust Nicole's gonna choose you over Kial.

Figures. Surgeons got to have all the confidence in the world.

See, nurses like me-

we've seen too many things go wrong,

-which makes us hardened cynics. -Mm.

What you call cynicism, I call doubt.

So you're telling me you have no doubt where Nicole's concerned?

Not even that she might pick Kial?

Mm-mmm. Damn right I don't.

You see, I know Nicole better than he ever will.

She's steady, honest.

She owns her choices, even the hard ones.

And that is why I trust her.

And if you can't trust the person you're building with,

well, then, hell, what are you really building anyway?

Well, when you put it like that...

There you are.

I'm sorry for hogging your date.

Wow, Nicole, you look stunning.

Like, traffic-stopping stunning.

I second that.

Thank you both.

Shanice, a favor?

Can you take a pic before I spill something on this shirt?

Oh, glad to.

You two look...

...solid.

Shanice and I...

aren't in the place where we're saying "I love you,"

but I originally thought we were on that road.

Men.

What?

Y'all think tapping into your emotions

makes y'all look weak or whatever.

It's not that. I can handle my emotions.

The problem is Shanice has just decided that

nothing I say about my feelings is real.

Like everything that comes out of my mouth is just game.

Maybe that's because...

Because?

Sorry, it just hit me that I'm giving

romantic advice to my dad, and it feels weird.

Okay, well, I need you to get over that

'cause I need all the insight I can get.

Okay, remember when Izaiah and I got into that blow-up?

Yeah, you wanted more and thought he didn't?

More like I was scared he wanted me for the wrong reasons.

I mean, homeboy just got his heart stomped bad,

and so I panicked, thinking that I was just

a way for him to get his groove back.

So slowing things down with him

wasn't because you weren't into him.

More like I was just trying to protect my heart.

Well, what did he do to convince you to open it?

It wasn't one big grand gesture, but hella little ones.

Like the way he checked on me

without being all in my business.

How he never pressured me

to move faster than what I was ready for.

Izaiah didn't take it personal that trust was hard for me.

He understood that I'd been hurt,

and he made space for me to heal

while showing me through his actions

what his feelings were.

I'm so rusty I've forgotten

how to pursue a woman who doesn't already trust me.

You know, I know we had this tennis court reserved,

but would you mind if I...

Go handle your business, Dad, and tell Shanice I said hey.

All right.

All right.

Well, look at you.

Single-handedly raising the property value of this place.

Flattery when you've barely arrived?

Careful, you'll run out of material.

Not possible.

Though it looks like I'm not the only one

who needs to pace themselves.

No. This one's yours.

Relax.

I already broke bread with Nicole at the clinic opening.

We smoothed out all the awkward. We'll be fine.

It's not Nicole. It's Deanna.

I thought if Donnell forced her to sit down with me,

maybe I could reach her.

Didn't take it well?

She went off.

Accused me of being with you before Doug died.

Said I flaunted it in his face.

I swore she was wrong, but she saw right through me, and...

Donnell?

I doubt he believed me either.

EVA: You're Vanessa's son, right?

-Donnell. Eva? -Right.

How's your sister?

Last time I saw her, she wasn't in the best headspace.

Not much has changed.

I'm really sorry that happened to your family.

From what I heard, it seemed like Deanna

-was really close to your dad. -We both were.

I miss him,

especially while watching my mom and sis go at it.

I'm the man of the house now, but...

I have no clue what to do with them.

If I'm overstepping, tell me,

but my boyfriend works at Banneker.

He's an advisor, and he's really easy to talk to.

Thanks. Maybe I'll hit him up.

I'll AirDrop his info. His name's Izaiah.

There you are, Donnell.

Cavorting with the enemy, are we?

I'm not really up for the tit-for-Kat today.

I was just being friendly.

You guys got beef?

Too complicated to get into.

You know what? I'll see you around, Donnell.

Oh, Eva, tell your fianc� I said hey.

Oh, you're engaged?

-No. -KAT: Aw.

That's wild. I thought I heard different.

Must've been Filter Queen Eva still editing the truth.

Uh... Naomi.

Everything okay?

Of course. I'm-I'm just startled.

That mugging rattled me more than I-I realized.

Yeah, I'm sure it must be unnerving for you,

but I'm actually glad we ran into each other.

There's something I've been wondering.

Why are you going after Tomas?

I'm just following your lead,

taking a strong stand against harassment in the workplace.

When I filed my lawsuit,

I talked to multiple women at the firm,

and not one had anything negative to say about Tomas.

They described him as respectful and considerate.

The complete opposite picture you're trying to paint.

And because he wasn't guilty of anything then,

he's, what, forever blameless?

Come on, you know that's not how predators work.

When someone works hard to build a stellar reputation,

that should count for something.

I know what I heard.

Tomas hit on Lynette, plain and simple.

And I went straight to my husband

to protect her, Bill, and the firm.

You know, there would've been a time when I found you

really convincing, but now I know better.

Shanice.

Hi. You got a second?

-Sure. -Um... No, no.

What's on your mind?

Um...

Well, I was thinking about something you said,

and I probably overreacted,

and this is new for both of us.

And all you've gotten from me so far is talk,

and talk doesn't earn trust.

Ted, I didn't mean to accuse you of playing me.

I know what kind of man you are.

Mm.

I've just been hurt before by men who...

Let's just say I tend to second-guess every sweet word.

I would never mislead you like that.

But you can't possibly know that

unless I put in the work to show you.

No, you don't have anything to prove to me.

No, no, see, that's where you're wrong.

And I don't mind. And it might even be fun.

But there's one thing I need you to hear me out on.

I'm listening.

Uh...

Me moving slow and not jumping at big commitments

is not because I'm doubting what we have.

It's me...

...trying not to screw it up.

Thanks for pulling up when I texted.

I know it was last-minute.

What's wrong?

You look almost as bad as when

your first high school girlfriend dumped you.

-Her loss, by the way. -Yeah, you were...

you were great to talk to back then.

And I'm hoping I can talk to you now.

Especially since I think you'd actually get it.

This is about your mother and her romantic adventures?

Things got heated today.

Deanna accused my mom of...

messing around with Joey when my dad was still alive.

Sheesh. Straight for the jugular.

What was her rebuttal?

Got all emotional.

Talking about how she would never

disrespect my dad like that,

about how she loved him until the day he died.

And do you believe her?

I want to.

You remember Carlton from New Year's Eve?

How can I forget.

-Ted's medical partner. -Joey.

Vanessa.

-Sorry if we kept you waiting. -Oh, not at all.

We know you both came straight from work.

-Busy day? -Very.

I, uh, spent most of the morning in surgery.

Everyone survive?

[Vanessa chuckles weakly]

Uh, surgery is a sensitive subject.

Yes, I am aware of what happened to your mother, Joey,

and, uh, it's a...

a story that gets passed around in medical circles.

Well, I hope it makes for good cocktail chatter.

Quite the opposite.

I just want you to know how sorry I am for your loss.

Heartbreaking. I can't imagine the pain you felt.

She ended her life as a cautionary tale.

Collateral damage to a predatory industry

that thrives on obsession.

And the parasites who profit from it.

Present company excluded, of course.

-Did I mess this up? -Not even close.

I realize I can't put this all on you.

I have to earn your trust, too, and that means not spinning out

every time you don't say what I want to hear.

You know one of my favorite things about us?

Other than these curves and my infectious smile?

Mm. Other than those.

-It's that this came out of nowhere. -Right?

It's, like, one day I am doing my job, and then the next,

I am catching feelings

for a doctor who tells terrible jokes.

And gets way too excited about bird watching.

Hey, ornithology is a very respectable hobby.

See? Terrible jokes.

Which is

probably why it feels too good to be true.

So let's not screw it up.

Let's just let this thing go wild and...

...see where it takes us.

No pressure. No expectations.

Except when we're being honest, and honestly,

I can't begin to tell you where this ride is gonna end up.

But I am more than excited to find out.

Naomi, please.

Look, I don't even know why you're defending him.

What Tomas did was out of pocket, and you know it.

Even if he was, which I'm not really buying,

people make mistakes.

They say the wrong things. They misread a situation.

That's not the victim's fault.

That also doesn't make him a predator.

I'm suggesting you let this go, Hayley.

And why should I?

Do you remember how you lied to my dad about that sonogram?

Okay, I wouldn't exactly phrase it like that.

You claimed you went and got checked out,

but we both know that didn't happen.

I could've blown your whole cover, but I didn't say a word.

Digging up ancient history. Wow.

That's a reach, even for you.

No, not a reach. Just a reminder.

That it would show good judgement on your part

to leave Tomas alone.

Mom came right out and said she wasn't happy with Dad.

So, it's not hard to picture her turning to someone else.

Deanna's convinced that's why Dad started drinking so much.

Basically blaming Mom for his death.

That really sucks.

Sums it up.

I know from personal experience that

having your family's history rewritten is traumatic as hell.

The thing is, though, Mom's been a complete wreck

ever since Dad passed.

Of course. She loved your dad.

The love might not have been perfect, but

it didn't make it any less real.

I just wish it made sense.

How can you grieve someone you betrayed?

How can you miss someone you weren't happy with?

Love is messy and contradictory

and full of all kinds of emotions that don't add up.

I'm just torn.

If I lash out at Mom the way Deanna's been doing,

it'll just push her further into Joey.

But then I think about my dad.

And about how broken he was.

I think he knew.

Let me say this, and then I'll shut up.

Nothing burns me more than illegitimate,

unqualified hacks parading around as plastic surgeons.

I have testified against plenty of those butchers.

All due respect, Doc, but

"legit plastic surgeon" feels like an oxymoron.

Kind of like "jumbo shrimp" or "passive-aggressive."

Can we talk about the weather or the Wizards' playoff...

I mean, nobody but nobody needs liposuction

or tummy tucks or any of the other procedures

that your type is peddling.

You're conveniently forgetting...

Don't insult my intelligence

by mentioning cleft palates or burn victims.

That's the charity case fraction of your business.

It's the feel-good stories that you trot out when you

get uncomfortable questions about your Porsche payments.

Now, the real fortune is made by profiting off

people's addictions, by feeding their insecurities

until they're eligible for frequent filler miles.

Uh, you are casting aspersions against the wrong practice.

Ted and Carlton carefully screen

all of their patients for body dysmorphic disorder,

unrealistic expectations, and for psychological readiness.

Nicole wrote the protocol herself.

That I did,

and they turn away more patients than accept

since we care more about people than profit margins.

But please, Joey, tell us more about

your uh, sudden aversion to profiting off of addictions.

When should we expect you to hand over your gaming license?

Nicole, that's hardly fair.

No, no, that is fair. She's right.

I mean, I never took a vow to do no harm.

Right, right because that oath would require, um...

I-I'm sorry, what was the word?

-Conscience. -Yes.

Though I imagine that is unfamiliar territory for you

since your business has never been about

helping anyone except yourself.

Oh, how I wish I could be one of you self-righteous do-gooders.

Doctors who profit off misery.

Preachers who chase skirts between sermons.

Politicians and all those dead bodies.

Sometimes literally.

Okay, can I get anyone a drink?

-Oh, yeah, -I'll take another round over here.

-Will you make a really stiff one? Thank you. -I'll take a double.

Be right back.

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