Original subtitles

Your mother is free to do whatever she wants.

I just want her to be happy.

She is.

With Andre.

Oh, my God.

What?

I know that woman.

I feel like I owe it to Dana to extend some grace.

Well, when that urge goes away, you let me know.

Leave my grandson alone.

And our family, as well.

And when you want to cash in your favor,

you come to me.

Happy non-anniversary.

Am I interrupting something?

Of course not, honey.

TED: What can we do for you, son?

You can start by telling me why my divorced parents

were just in each other's arms.

On their wedding anniversary, no less.

? ?

[phone chimes]

No need to stress yourself, I'm comfortable eating here.

No, Mama, I think we should go somewhere else.

Anywhere else.

And why would we do that?

Let me guess.

It has something to do with this being

the day of the anniversary and you not wanting to be

here at the scene of the crime.

[sighs]

Well, look at you!

I was just thinking,

I haven't seen my eldest granddaughter in days.

Are these...

The nausea relief mints you love?

Ginger-flavored.

Bless you, baby.

I know you only have one more round of chemo left.

The doctor said the treatments worked.

The tumor shrank.

Hallelujah.

And once they remove the tumor

and your tests come back clean,

hopefully you will be in remission.

I am so ready for that.

Ah, you've earned your peace, Gran.

I just pray your mother never has to go through this.

And I am so thankful my grandbabies

tested negative for that cursed gene.

I have it.

I have the same variant that Mom and Gran have,

so that means my chances

of getting certain types of cancers are increased.

Bill.

Please, don't let the concept of knocking stop you.

We need to have a serious discussion about Martin.

? ?

Oh, my God.

What?

I know that woman.

Which one?

Lia Whitmore.

She's chief of staff at Garland.

She's basically the gatekeeper for that hospital.

That saves me a lot of time.

I'll reach out, see if she remembers Lynette.

Maybe she met with her in person

or consulted with her at the bank.

You know,

I could save you even more time.

How?

I could talk to her.

Chief, you're out amongst the people today.

Just doing some outreach.

You mind showing me today's nursing schedule?

Oh, I've got it memorized. Which nurse are you looking for?

Morgan.

Ashley will be in later today.

You want me to send her your way when she clocks in?

Mm, that's all right. I'll catch up with her myself.

She being praised or counseled?

You know, I run a tight ship,

so if any one of my nurses is getting out of hand,

I'd rather handle it directly.

Just following up on a conversation we had.

About what?

Her priorities.

More specifically, distractions from them.

Mm.

You mean that laboratory lothario

she's all starry-eyed over, huh?

Ashley...

I have been patient long enough.

What is going on?

Who stabbed you?

I can't.

You know, you have asked me to risk everything.

My job, my license, my peace of mind,

and you still don't think that I deserve answers.

I hate that I can't be straight up with you,

but I am trying to protect you.

[sighs]

You know what? You're right. This isn't fair.

You've gone above and beyond.

More than...

more than I could ever deserve.

So I'm gonna do something for you.

I'll go.

- [clears throat] - Don't get the wrong idea.

We were just having a moment. A platonic one.

Just hugging it out, that's all.

Hugging what out, exactly?

Our anniversary.

Uh, correction... our non-anniversary.

Oh, we decided not to ignore it or sweep it under the rug.

Kat and I thought today would be rough for you two,

so we came up with a plan.

- TED: Ah. - Look at that.

Our kids think we need babysitting.

It was out of love, I assure you.

We were gonna divide and conquer.

Oh. So, I got you in this plan?

And Kat will be contacting you soon.

Well, it's nice that our kids are worried about us, but...

It is not your responsibility.

Parents take care of their children,

not the other way around.

Can we please not do this?

Do what? Eat like civilized people?

You do remember what went down here? Because I do.

You blew up a marriage...

worse, an entire family... in one speech.

Meanwhile, I was being whispered about

in every nook and cranny in the DMV.

Girl, stop all this melodrama, okay?

At least they were talking about you.

That's more than most can say.

I don't want to be talked about like that, Mama,

which is why I want to go somewhere else.

And not to talk about that night.

And worse, I don't want to run into anybody

who is still salty over it.

Do you have no shame?

I think you know the answer to that, precious.

No, I-I'm really asking.

Is there even a small part of you

that regrets what happened that night?

The truth?

Yes. I have one regret.

Finally.

I regret...

that I didn't do it sooner. Mm!

How's Jacob?

He's good. Still out of town for training,

but hopefully he'll be home soon.

Well, make sure to let him know

we missed that handsome smile of his around here.

Speaking of smiles, I saw the Articulettes

were trending again last night.

And I was thinking,

once you get the all clear from Dr. Bauer,

we should see them.

What's wrong?

I just pray nothing else derails that plan.

Like what?

Secrets, baby.

They always seem to come out,

and at the most inopportune time.

You should have come to me.

I went to Martin because I was hoping the rumors weren't true.

It's one thing to represent a district,

it's another to represent a whole state.

That kind of power doesn't invite scrutiny; it demands it.

I don't need a lecture about politics from you.

I was passing civil rights legislation

while you were still a twinkle in your pappy's eye.

Then you know better than anyone

how fast the tide turns when there's blood in the water.

They will dig, Vernon.

Deep, and they'll find that night.

The one we buried, the one that nearly buried us.

Martin was born to serve.

He's principled and decent.

He actually gives a damn about the people he represents.

We need men like that

in the rooms where real decisions are being made.

And you discouraging him from his calling is...

Criminal?

Coming from a man who's made a fortune

defending the indefensible.

Doesn't make it any less applicable.

This is about policy,

shaping policy

that will define the next 50 years.

It's a serious matter.

It seems like I'm the only one who understands

just how serious it is.

That's why I warned Martin not to run.

And I'm telling you,

none of the men involved will ever come forward.

They know that exposure means mutual annihilation.

With all due respect, Vernon, you are being naive.

And even if it does stay buried,

Martin will still be vulnerable.

You think if he makes it to the Senate

that Joey Armstrong won't come back sniffing around again?

He already has.

- [Grayson yelping] - You okay?

Answer me or I'm coming in.

[knocking]

What, what... oh, my God. What happened?

It's... it's embarrassing.

What? W... try me.

I dropped the shampoo,

and when I bent over to pick it up,

- I tweaked my side... yeesh. - Yeah, you did more

than tweak it. Okay, you reopened the wound.

Come on.

I... You gotta sit before you make it worse.

I'm sorry about the mess.

After you work your magic,

I will put everything back as it was.

Okay.

I don't have the right size bandages,

but I have more in the car. Do not move.

[phone buzzing]

Yeah.

You sound rough, man.

Ah, I'm on the mend.

But I'm good now.

You sure?

Because Ren's not gonna stop.

We gotta talk about what happens next.

I'll call when I'm in the clear.

I never should've lifted the ban on staff dating.

Feelings get messy, and people get sloppy.

Eh, speak for yourself, Lia.

Some of us know how to separate both plates.

And yet...

drama keeps making its way in.

Take yesterday, for example.

Nurse Morgan seemed far more worried

about Grayson than her own patients.

Oh, you mean when he dragged himself in here

looking like death warmed over?

Ashley said it was because of a hangover the night before,

but between me and you,

I think there is more to the story.

That's exactly what I didn't want to hear.

I should be the one to question Lia Whitmore.

It is my job.

No one's disputing that, Counselor.

But you're overlooking one thing.

- Which is? - I actually know her.

We've been at the same charity galas

and fundraisers for years.

My parents work at the hospital,

and when I ran my dad's practice,

we crossed paths all the time.

And were all those encounters cordial?

Aren't they always?

Meanwhile,

you're the ex-lawyer for the woman who robbed her blind.

Who do you think she's more likely to open up to?

Besides, I was already planning

to stop by the hospital to check on Mom.

If Lia's there, I'll just, you know, casually pounce.

"Pounce"?

This requires a subtle, delicate approach.

You-you can't go in all... Kat-like.

Don't worry.

I'll be as smooth as my hair after a silk press.

So, what happened with Joey?

I put him on notice.

I made it clear that if he wants to collect on his favors,

he comes to me, not Martin.

Well, that's noble of you.

I just hope the congressman appreciates

what you've done for him.

Or are we shielding him from this, too,

just like we did with the roadside cleanup?

Are you suggesting I've made him soft?

You've given him a false sense of security,

a belief that his mistakes will always

be handled by men like us.

Hmph.

What would you have me do, hmm?

Let him drown in the name of character development?

You think throwing my grandson to the wolves

will make him noble?

It makes him dinner.

It'll make him a man.

Come on, Vernon, you and I both know that Martin is reckless.

He acts first, strategizes later,

and then he looks for a safety net

with our initials stitched on it.

Just the other day,

he acted like I was butting in his business.

Well, he's not entirely wrong.

You know what else he's not?

Ready.

And when the spotlight burns brighter and hotter

than his ego can handle... which it will...

he will do exactly what he always does.

Lose control. Again.

I won't deny it's a possibility.

But then stop pretending that you can fix it

when it happens, Vernon.

Because the day will come

when we won't be around to bail him out.

Well, that day is not today.

And as long as I have breath and influence,

I will protect my grandson

by any means necessary.

Even if it means making a deal with the devil.

It's my debt to settle.

Yours, too.

And when Joey comes to collect...

I want to know that you've got my back.

Whatever you need.

Good.

Gran?

Are you okay? You seem...

somewhere else.

You always did know how to read me.

It's Martin.

What about him?

There's talk of him running for the Senate in two years.

Already?

That's the way it's done, sweetheart.

And your granddad is worried.

Right now he's meeting with people he swore

he'd never deal with again.

This has to do with that night

and what happened on the country road?

More like what came after.

Is the man Granddad's meeting with Joey Armstrong?

And Vernon's intention is to set boundary lines.

But when you're involved with someone like Joey,

there's no such thing.

And that's what concerns me.

Your granddad would walk through hell

to fight for this family.

And I hate that he has to...

align himself with someone so treacherous.

Sometimes you tell yourself it's temporary.

You're just doing what you have to.

And when it's all over, you can walk away clean.

Is there something you want to share?

Nothing, Gran, I'm fine.

You sure?

Because if you want to discuss anything,

- I'm right here... - [phone chimes]

Oh, I'm so sorry. I completely...

forgot I have something to take care of.

But I will check in with you later, okay?

- Love you, Gran. - Uh-huh.

Well, if it isn't my two favorite ladies of Garland.

Back at you, Kat.

Dr. Whitmore. It's been a minute.

Not since last fall's sickle cell awareness fundraiser.

We had a good laugh about Mrs. McClusky's hat.

[laughs] Yes, the one that looked like

it was trying to catch satellite signals.

I remember.

Guess you're too busy to make the social rounds?

The chief of staff's work is never done.

Who are you here to see, Kat?

Your mother, your father,

or your father's latest girlfriend?

Uh...

Oh, um, none of the above.

Do-do you have a minute?

It's about all I have.

Okay...

If this is on behalf of the Dupree Heritage Foundation,

there's an entire department of this hospital

that handles those requests.

Uh, it is about money,

but not donations.

What is this about?

Lynette Wise.

The woman who wiped out your investment account.

Well, I should head to my office,

wrap up a few things before Kat shows up.

- Bye, Mom. - Bye, baby.

Thank you for the talk.

Now, I know a congressman up for reelection

probably has a long line of constituents

and lobbyists fighting for his afternoon.

I made room.

I've been looking forward

to spending some time with my old man.

Yeah, that's... that's good to hear.

This time last year, you couldn't stand

to be in the same room as me.

We've done a lot of growing since then.

Maybe you have, but I'm still a work in progress.

Still haven't completely forgiven myself for

tearing our family apart.

Well, don't dwell on it, Dad.

We've all learned to live in this new normal.

Even Mom.

Yeah.

You know, I'm-I'm grateful she and I

got to share a moment like that just now.

But it's, uh, strange, you know,

seeing her walk out,

knowing I won't be with her later

to celebrate our marriage like we did

for decades, you know.

Just knowing that that part of my life

is over.

That's life.

Sometimes it takes you to strange places

you didn't see coming.

Ha! Tell me about it.

Just yesterday, I found myself

defending the woman who caused my divorce

to the woman I'm currently dating.

Doesn't get any stranger than that.

To everyone getting what they deserved one year ago.

I'm not toasting. My dad and Nicole

did not deserve to get dragged like that.

Agree to disagree.

Okay, celebrate on your own.

Okay, no, wait. Hold up.

All right, I surrender. No more anniversary talk.

Cross my heart.

Double cross.

But I'm serious, I do wish Nicole found out sooner.

Do your promises mean nothing?

I am not trying to be malicious to Saint Nic.

Just thinking about you, baby.

Okay, listen, if I had forced Ted

to tell the truth when you were born,

your whole life would have been different.

And I know I blamed a lot of people over the years,

but the truth is,

it all came back to me.

I wasn't strong enough.

I let Bill bully me.

I let him run me out of town

and steal the life that you were entitled to.

The family that you should have been a part of from day one.

So, yes...

I'm celebrating the night that I finally did right

by my baby girl.

Your hat, Mama.

- Your hat. - Oh. [laughs]

- I love you. - I love you.

I should... I should go home. This unplanned visit

must be stressing you out.

Well, I'm a nurse.

Handling stress is sort of my thing.

Please stay a few more nights.

Look at me.

I need a change of clothes.

But do you really?

[both chuckle]

- Careful... - Yeah.

I'm less likely to overexert myself at my place.

I promise to see you soon.

[door opens]

[door closes]

[groans softly]

Lynette Wise.

What can you tell me about her?

How do you know that name?

Let's just say she tried it with the wrong people.

She tried taking advantage of someone close to my family.

And that makes my business yours?

Technically, it makes it ours.

You were one of her victims, right?

I don't know very much about the woman.

The bank told me she was fired, charges were filed,

and that I wouldn't see a dime of my money.

Recently, I found out

the charges were dropped. There's justice for you.

Believe me,

I understand the feeling.

I've seen a lot of good people take all the hits

while toxic ones just walk away untouched.

You and the other victims must be really pissed.

Maybe fantasizing about taking matters into their own hands?

What's with all the leading questions?

Cards on the table...

Lynette disappeared.

That's news to me.

We're trying to figure out what happened to her.

Then I can't help you.

I've told you everything I know.

W... [sighs]

Thank you.

Hey, Nicole.

Got a second to talk?

I, um... I have an issue that I think you may be

the only one who can help with.

Then I will do my best.

What's the problem?

Leslie.

Ah, that problem.

Yeah, I know this may be awkward,

so if you'd rather not,

- then I totally... - It's fine.

What did she do this time?

Short version?

She got mouthy, and Ted, of all people,

had the nerve to defend her.

Hmm... that is not a quick fix.

Ted and Leslie have a daughter,

and that's a connection that's permanent.

And Leslie will use it every chance she gets.

Mm. Not what I wanted to hear.

Honesty rarely is.

Uh, what are you two kiki-ing about?

Just sharing with your mom

how I have to resist the urge to commit bodily harm

every time Leslie opens her mouth.

You're talking about Leslie? Today?

[gasps] Oh, the anniversary.

Nicole, I am so s...

Don't worry about it. It's fine.

You sure you're okay?

I am proud to have such a thoughtful daughter,

but your father and I just had this really great talk,

and we decided we're not gonna let that night

erase all of our good memories.

Well, lunch is on me.

You can tell me about some of those good memories

while we eat.

I am craving wagyu tenderloin.

Ironic, I know. It was the main dish that night,

but the club is serving it again.

The club?

Mom, that's scandal headquarters.

What are the chances history will repeat itself?

Relax, honey. The coast is clear.

[Leslie and Eva laughing]

The unmitigated gall.

Look, I swear, we're not trying to play any games.

We are not trying to cause a scene.

We are all acutely aware of what today is,

and what transpired here a year ago.

Yes.

Liberation.

Liberation for me,

for my daughter.

Liberation from all those dirty little secrets

that kept us from our rightful place in this society.

And liberation for you, my dear.

From a marriage that was built on lies.

Honestly, you should be thanking me.

I mean, if I hadn't come back in town,

then you'd still be playing the dutiful, clueless wife.

Well, look at you now, Ms. Nicky. Ow!

Got you a whole buffet of fine men.

You're welcome.

Oh, my, you are wound as tight

as a tambourine on Easter Sunday.

I'm guessing Joey Armstrong owns half of these knots?

You'd be about right.

He agreed to leave Martin alone and to come to me and only me

when he decides to cash in his favors.

Hmm. That's progress, I suppose.

But we both know men like Joey Armstrong don't do favors,

they make investments.

Which is why I saw Bill.

Oh.

Safe to say he's the other half of these knots.

- Next glass, coming right up. - No need. No need.

I told Bill to be ready

since Joey will come knocking.

It's just a matter of when.

You have done your best to fortify the defenses.

I just pray it doesn't come at too high a price.

Why were you defending Leslie?

Well, your grandmother laid into Dana

for being rude to Shanice.

Good for Gran.

Someone probably needed to check her.

Yeah, well, later, Shanice saw me consoling Dana,

and, uh, she didn't like that.

I don't blame her.

I feel responsible for the woman Dana's become.

She's angry, she's bitter.

And that pain, it just forces her to

bleed out onto everybody else.

So, let me get this right...

you feel responsible for the behavior

of a grown woman who wreaks havoc everywhere she goes?

Now make that make sense.

Well, I...

You know what? Forget it.

Uh, here I am, ranting about my troubles

when I'm not the only one in a tough spot.

Mom told you?

Yeah. It's Nicole and I's job to take care of you guys.

But can I be frank?

Please.

Okay. Your mother is telling me

that you've been keeping secrets from Smitty,

making calls on your own,

saying it's about him,

but it's really about you.

Does that sound familiar?

Well, when you put it like that...

Yeah, me. 20-plus years ago.

And we saw how that turned out.

I didn't tell Smitty about the Senate run

until after I had floated it past a few other people.

That was a mistake.

And compounded, because...

we had already argued

because I hired security detail without his input.

Run that back. Security detail?

It's simply a campaign precaution.

Still, you thought you'd make decisions

about your husband's security without consulting him?

As I said, it was a mistake. [sighs]

Smitty didn't like the idea,

so I pulled the personal protection.

Joey overheard and offered to help.

Okay, wait, wait a minute, please tell me...

I turned him down.

Oh, thank God.

The last thing you need is to owe that man another favor.

But as for your run for Senate,

all of us who agreed to help you that night,

we knew what we were getting into.

We made our decision, and we would do it again.

But as for this run, that has to be about

your decision, what you want,

and what's best for your family.

Thanks, Dad.

Just think,

three years ago.

That night on that country road

is still dictating what I can and can't do in my life.

I know, son.

I know.

Thanks for coming, man. You good?

Yeah, I've been better.

Have you heard from your contact at the hospital?

Why? What happened?

Ren. He's gone radio silent.

Oh, great, maybe I won't get stabbed again.

Listen, man, I promise I'll get us out of this.

The red market, Ren, all of it.

How you gonna do that?

By having you tell me who your contact is at the hospital.

Look, man, if we pull that contact,

the rest fall like dominoes, and we can both walk away clean.

Haven't I proven myself to you by now?

Ren could have killed you.

Who's to say he won't go after somebody you love next?

Something happened with Grayson?

Okay, before we get into any of it,

we need to establish something.

Okay.

Okay.

You cannot repeat a word of what I'm about to tell you,

especially not to Jacob.

- Ashley, what is happening? - No, promise.

I need to hear you say it.

I promise.

Heaven knows I owe you for keeping all my secrets.

Grayson was stabbed.

- What? - He showed up at my place,

he was bleeding. I-I treated the wound,

- and he's better now. - But why didn't you take him

- to the hospital? - Because he refused.

He said whoever did it was part of something bigger,

something dangerous, and he...

He didn't want to drag me into it

by sharing all the details,

but I cannot just stand by and do nothing.

I have to figure this out.

Well, that's a tall order.

If Grayson refuses to give you any information,

where would you even start?

Garland Memorial.

Got an update on Lynette. Now a good time?

Yeah, good as any.

Keegan sent me the updated list of her victims.

Kat was with me when the email came through,

and a name jumped out at her.

Dr. Lia Whitmore.

The chief of staff at Garland?

Kat says she knows her, socially.

I figured Whitmore would be more willing to speak

to someone like her than Lynette's ex-lawyer.

And you agreed to that?

She made a solid case.

I don't care if it was an argument

worthy of the Supreme Court. Listen to me.

My niece is not on my payroll,

and she doesn't need to be meddling

in a case that's already attracting

the wrong kind of attention, damn it.

Mailing a thank-you card is proper etiquette

when one receives a gift.

I'd send one to your shouse,

but I hear that your move-in date

got pushed indefinitely?

- Oh! - Ready for lunch, honey?

Are you sure you're still hungry, Mom?

'Cause you just ate,

and didn't leave a single crumb.

Charge it to the Thomas account.

My treat.

Oh, how sweet.

Well, I guess I'll have to order the most expensive items.

We both will.

Orphey Gene's?

- For real? - Mm-hmm.

I thought you would be itching for round two.

Please.

I would rather spend the day celebrating with my baby girl,

not brawling with the gruesome twosome.

Is my little mama growing up?

[laughs]

Girl, go to the car. I'll be there in a sec.

Excuse me.

Yes, ma'am?

If Nicole Dupree tries to charge her meal to my account...

deny it.

- Yes, Miss Thomas. - Thank you.

[chuckles]

Grayson is a good guy.

I know you think that...

I know it.

And if he's caught up in something messy,

it's gotta be out of desperation,

worrying about his mom...

You know, he's been struggling to pay for her care.

Say that's true.

Have you stayed out of it?

Please tell me you haven't gone so far for this guy

that it could cost you your job or worse.

- Ashley... - Nothing that I can't handle.

You better be sure about that.

That is exactly why I need to figure this out.

Tell me your theory.

Okay...

a couple of weeks ago, a stabbing victim...

Max something... he was admitted to Garland.

And at the time, I thought it was just another street crime.

But now, after everything that's happened,

I can't stop thinking about how sketched out Grayson was

around this patient. I think he knew him.

What if...

whatever this guy was that came after Max

came after Grayson, too?

It could be a coincidence.

Everything in my gut is screaming that it isn't.

And there is someone we can ask.

Who?

Smitty.

My cousin's husband?

The stabbing victim listed Smitty

as his emergency contact. He visited the guy.

I-I wasn't working, but the other nurses told me.

Maybe we can see if there's something that he knows.

All right, there's something you need to understand.

The person we're talking about, she's connected.

It's gonna be hard to just get out from under her thumb.

Let me be the judge of that.

No, no, no. You don't understand.

She pulled strings to get me at the job I'm at.

I-I can't just quit.

Because you're their inside man.

Yeah. And I went along with it

because the money I made

helped me take care of my mother.

And I thought if I just, if I just kept my head down,

it would be worth it, but...

Now I realize I can't help my mom if I'm dead.

Listen, man, I promise we'll figure all that out.

But first, I need a name.

- Okay, it's... - [phone chimes]

I gotta go.

What happened, man? Who was that?

I-I can't, I can't. I just... I gotta go.

- I gotta go. - Grayson!

Grayson!

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