Original subtitles

-[pop music playing] -LESLIE: Rent. Bill.

Trash.

Electric bill.

Bill. Bill.

All trash.

Ooh.

Purses and shoes and jewelry.

-Oh, my. Mm. -[door opening]

Keep.

-[chuckles] -[grunts]

Hey, Mama. I got the groceries you asked me to pick up.

Hmm. "Dana Leslie Thomas."

Trash.

-Uh, wait, Mama. -Hmm?

That looks like something important.

Something official.

Goody Two-shoes.

-[music shuts off] -All right.

I shall open it, then.

Mm-hmm.

"Dear Dana Leslie Thomas,

"We hope this finds you well

"regarding an important legal matter

concerning an inheritance."

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

W-Wait, wait, wait, wait, an inheritance?

What's that about?

Don't ask me, child. I don't know.

Well, what else does it say?

[groans] Oh, my goodness.

Okay.

"We're..." lawyer, lawyer, lawyers.

And, uh...

"Please don't hesitate.

Contact us with any questions."

Blah, blah, blah.

Oh, my God. I should call them right away.

Uh, Mama.

Are you nuts?

[groans] Have either of you seen my phone?

Nope.

Samantha, can you call me?

-Maybe that'll help. -I'm checking my email,

trying to figure out this new block schedule thing.

Seriously? I need to find my phone.

Chill, Dad. I'll summon it.

Since somebody can't be bothered.

[buzzing]

[knocking]

Oh, when it rains, it pours.

Are either of you expecting somebody?

Not me.

[door opens]

[Smitty sighs]

Guess you really didn't feel like cooking.

Hi, kids.

What do you mean?

I had no idea you were coming over.

[chuckles softly] Smitty, I got your text

telling me to bring all this food.

? ?

? ?

Regina.

We're right over here.

Please, come sit.

I'm really glad you came.

I almost didn't.

But I figured you'd keep pestering me

unless I talked to you in person.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bug you.

And you remember my husband Jacob.

He actually introduced me to June.

We never got into how you met her.

How'd that happen?

Well...

...when I was a patrol cop,

Tent City was on my beat.

There was something about June. I liked her.

So I'd stop to engage her and try to get her to seek help.

Of course she refused.

As you know, June is stubborn,

-to put it mildly. -[chuckles softly]

But, anyway, she was arrested for assaulting

a social worker for going through her things.

So I called in Naomi to represent her.

And I also developed a soft spot for June, too.

I can see you're not bad people.

But nothing has changed.

At least not for me.

Can you tell us why?

My sister June is a lost cause.

Sorry.

But why do you say that?

What else can I call a woman who abandoned her kids?

I can't forgive that.

I know you wanted to help them back then.

And no matter how you feel about June now,

don't you still care about those kids?

Wouldn't you want to reconnect with them if you could?

What are we even talking about?

They were adopted.

A closed adoption.

They're gone. In the wind.

Sorry, but I'm done.

Don't call anymore about this.

Regina, please, just...

just look at this before you go.

I am so sorry I couldn't get out of that meeting, baby.

No, don't you dare apologize.

Okay, I... I may have miscarried,

but we have to go on with our lives.

You have so many obligations, Bill,

and I know exactly what they are, too.

I'm-I'm right here with you every day.

[chuckles softly] Well, most days.

Irrelevant.

-Mm. -The point is,

I know how important you are and...

how in demand you are.

So I'm okay with that.

Well, right now, the only thing I want to be busy with

is taking care of you. Okay?

Can I get you anything?

More tea?

No, I'm... all tea'd out.

And, really, I'm just tired of being stuck on this sofa.

We can't mope around here for the rest of our lives.

Let's start living

like functional human beings again, huh?

Yeah. Yeah.

You know what, how about I take you out to a nice dinner, hmm?

That'll be a nice, refreshing change of scenery, right?

I do want to go out,

but not to a restaurant.

Okay. Where, then?

I want to go to the hospital.

You-you need to go to the hospital, babe?

Why didn't you tell me something was wrong?

What's-what's the matter? What happened?

Wait. Slow down, Bill.

Okay? I'm-I'm fine.

Outside of the...

the sadness and pain of losing the baby.

I'm hanging in.

[sighs] Okay.

Then why the hospital?

That's where the doctor who gave me the bad news is.

Dr. Macy. I checked,

and she's working late this evening.

So, yeah, babe, let's go right now.

-We can get everything straight. -It's not just about my health.

It's about what you said earlier.

What did I say?

About trying again.

For another baby.

Oh. [chuckles softly]

I said that we can.

Okay? I mean, to console you.

But I wasn't trying to make you feel pressured,

-sweetie. I... -Oh. No, baby,

I-I don't feel pressured.

I promise.

It's just...

I don't know if-if I can get there mentally.

You know what I mean?

Okay, it's more like...

can my body even take it after what happened?

I need to know that...

I can get pregnant.

And I'm-I'm just wondering if I messed that chance up for us.

No, no. Hey, no, don't-don't do that, sweetheart.

Please don't beat yourself up like that, okay?

You didn't mess up anything. You didn't do that.

Look, we got all the time in the world to get answers

like that. Okay?

And we can decide what we want to do,

okay, and when we want to do it.

Not knowing is...

eating me alive.

Okay? And I want answers.

And I know you do, too.

This is for the both of us.

Then let's go.

Here are the birth certificates for Ronald and Cecile

and some other forms I was able to round up.

I also was able to find the name of the foster care home

that they were originally sent to.

Before they were adopted out.

Where does that get us?

Well, it depends on how all this played out.

Do you know who made the initial call to CPS?

One of the neighbors, I guess.

Someone called Child Protective Services on my sister

because she was a terrible mother.

That's what led to those kids

being put into foster care in the first place.

If only my sister had let me take them

before things spiraled out of control.

Now they're lost to that closed adoption.

Maybe not.

Babe, you know the odds.

And I refuse to get my hopes up.

As a lawyer, you know better than anyone how this works.

We'll never find out where they are.

But we have to try.

You know, all this time, I've been doing this for June.

And now I'm thinking wider than that.

I'm thinking about those kids.

Maybe they want to know their mother

or the aunt that they haven't seen in years.

That's quite a few maybes.

Here's another one.

Maybe, if you stay with us,

help us see this through,

maybe you'll look back and be glad that you did.

I take back that part where I said you're a lawyer.

It's clear you're a saleswoman.

[chuckles softly]

Did I sell you on it?

Sadly, no.

Look, I know I seem really hard-hearted

about June and this situation,

but it's not that.

This is really painful for me.

Talk to me. Please.

First I lost my sister because she blew up her mind

thanks to those drugs that she took.

Then I lost those beautiful, innocent kids.

It's like my heart has been beat up too many times already.

So for my own spirit,

my own sanity,

I have to move on.

[sighs]

I found this at my place.

It's June's.

Give it to her for me?

What's in it?

Just some junk she collected.

What's that?

Oh! You leave that alone, little girl.

I am not going to change my mind about that thing.

Mama, I don't get you. It could be really important,

-and you're not even gonna follow up to find out? -[sighs]

Girl, do you know how much mail I get like that?

I mean, I could paper the walls with the pages I get like that

on a weekly basis.

Wait, so you received that letter before?

What? A couple of times now.

Yeah? [gasps]

"Call us and cash in now."

Total con.

Takes one to know one.

Careful.

Let's just say I'm savvy.

Or stubborn.

Or a know-it-all.

-Or- -Hey, hey, hey, hey. Cut it out.

All right?

Now let's just be real about this.

An inheritance?

For someone from a family like mine?

Please.

Look, I know what you're saying, Mama.

But you already went through the money Ted gave you.

God knows what you spent it on.

Maybe an infinite supply of wigs.

Hey.

Those wigs were very important to my work.

What work?

You're unemployed.

I'm a creative.

Okay, well, think creatively.

I mean, you're always complaining about being broke,

sending me to Ted to try to finesse you some more money.

You know, which I wouldn't complain

if you paid him another visit.

But what if you try to be self-sufficient for once,

instead of always looking for ways to get over on people?

Honey, if people are stupid, they are just stupid, okay?

They'll fall for anything.

You know what I think?

Ooh, child, I'm sure you're going to tell me.

I think the only things you want out of life

are the ones that satisfy your sense of outrage.

You're a rage-aholic.

Okay? The only thing that gives you that big dopamine hit

is your need for revenge or payback.

Like you taking my ticket to go see Anita Dupree's concert.

You're so freaking entitled sometimes.

I do plenty for myself.

Like?

Buy my own alcohol,

which I need after all that grief I got from you.

So yo' mama is going to the store.

And buy your vodka with what?

I have a tab.

See? Stupid people.

Stick around.

We can have a drink together.

'Cause, child, you need it.

[door closes]

Look, when I say I got an invite, I got an invite.

"We should have family pizza night.

The kids miss you. How's tonight?"

Martin, I promise, I did not send this text.

Well, if you didn't,

who did?

Maybe the person

who didn't want to help me find my missing phone.

Found it.

Samantha, you can't just snap your fingers

and fix what's wrong between your Pop and me.

And as much as I wish that was possible,

I have to agree with your dad here.

I'm not a kid. I'm not, like, doing magical thinking.

I just didn't want to give up on our little family unit.

This felt like something that I could do.

For at least one night.

Well, I did already buy these pizzas.

Who could say no to freshly baked pizza?

I'll keep these warm in the oven

while you two get the table ready.

I'm glad this is working out,

but your father is right.

That wasn't cool.

It really hurts that we're all in this mess,

and I understand that it's because of you.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is...

I didn't do it for you.

I did it for us.

Eva, I'm home.

Got to put the groceries up.

Eva?

Eva, you here?

Really?

I got your message.

I'm really glad you called.

You are?

Well, yeah.

I know the last time we saw each other wasn't...

easy.

Downplaying much?

Before that, you were probably the easiest person

I've ever talked to.

I know it couldn't have been fun hearing how Kat and I finally...

figured out a way forward.

Nope. Wasn't.

But when you called, I was sort of hoping

maybe things between us really are okay,

that we can continue being friends, because...

...I really like you.

Of course we can be friends.

That was never a question on my end.

You're the one with...

[sighs] ...well, with some constraints.

Anyway, I'm glad you had time to meet.

Um...

it's stupid, small stuff,

but I kind of need your advice on it.

But you only have so much time

because you have someplace to be?

That's why you checked your watch.

You don't want to be late to meet Kat.

What is that?

A letter?

Yeah.

June wrote it to me.

Do you mind if I read it?

Help yourself. But it's just gibberish.

I couldn't make it out.

I got through about one paragraph

and I had to put it down.

Trying to read it made me want to cry.

Regina, are you sure you want to give this back

before you even try to read the rest of it?

I'm sure.

I can't handle it.

I'm sorry. I really need to go.

Um, it's-it's not my place

to give June's personal stuff back to her.

I think you should do it.

-No, no, no, no, no. -Just hear me out.

You say all this stuff is junk, but...

maybe it means something to June.

This could be the last time you see your sister.

She's been in the hospital twice

in the short time that we've known her.

Your returning the box could be...

a gesture you hold on to.

So that you'll look back and think

at least you did one last good thing for her.

I... don't know.

Just wait here. Okay?

Jacob and I will be right back with her.

Please.

If I'm here when you get back, okay.

But if I decide I can't handle it,

I'll leave it at the counter.

But if I do-

believe me when I tell you- I'm gone.

And if I say I'm gone,

I'm gone.

That's all we can ask for.

Thank you.

Naomi, what's going on?

What did you see in the letter?

A Hail Mary.

Yeah, I'm supposed to see Kat in a little while, but,

right now, I'm doing this.

And I'm doing it until we're done.

-Really? -Yeah.

What you got for me?

A letter.

My mom says it's, like, the third one like it

that she's gotten.

But she keeps tossing it because she thinks it's a scam.

What do you think?

I don't know.

Maybe it is.

But maybe it isn't.

That's why I called you.

Because if it is real and she ignores it,

she could be missing out on something good, right?

I mean, I figured you see this kind of stuff all the time.

Right? So what do you think?

You...

you think whether it's legit or not?

Um, you're right. I do see stuff like this at work

from time to time.

Clients send them on to me.

99% of the time, they're just what your mom says, a scam.

-[sighs] -But there is that one percent

that turns out to be the real thing.

Okay, uh, I don't know what to do.

Help me out here. What should I do?

You know, it's not too late.

Mm, mm, just get out of here,

save this exam for another day.

-You really mean that, don't you? -Of course, babe.

Come on, you can't possibly think I'd shine you on

after everything we've just been through.

I'm talking about how this affects you.

Finding out if we could try for a child again

means everything to you.

Yet you'd pick up and leave the hospital

-despite that? -Okay, correction-

being happy with you means everything to me.

Okay?

And, yeah, a child would expand that happiness, but...

at the end of the day, as long as I have you...

You really do want to leave.

[footsteps approaching]

The Hamiltons?

That's us.

First, let me offer my condolences.

I understand you're here to discuss your prognosis

for any future pregnancy.

Yes, that was the plan.

After such an ordeal,

I'm impressed you took the time to come here.

-I can't rest until I know. -And you do need to rest.

I'll just do a quick exam and take notes for later input.

Sure. Yeah.

I'm-I'm sorry. I think my wife needs a little more, um,

time to process what happened.

Of course.

You know, Mrs. Hamilton,

this kind of event wreaks havoc on our hormones.

Feeling low, anxious, depressed-

it's very common.

If it's all the same to you, we'll just reschedule.

No, Bill, we're staying.

Let's get the truth,

so at least we know.

Let's do it right now.

All right.

Mr. Hamilton, you're welcome to wait here

or you can come into the exam room if you like.

I'm not leaving your side.

MACY: Follow me.

Listen, Naomi, I know we're caught up in the middle

of all this June stuff.

But when we're alone,

we have a few things we need to talk about.

-Things that are hard to believe. -Oh, my God.

I've been all over the place with this.

Are-are you okay?

Honestly? No.

-What's going on? -It's not me.

It's about my father and the possible cover-up.

Right.

Sorry. Um, distracted.

Did you talk to Anita and Vernon?

Yes.

Um, Granddad actually gave me a dollar and...

Wow. Of course.

So now everything he told you is privileged.

-You Duprees. -Like you said-

not here, not now.

I'm sorry.

I wish things were different. And I'm as horrified

by all this as you must be.

My father's tied up in all this,

and you couldn't let me know anything?

I hated it.

I really did.

I believe you.

But still, Naomi.

Like I said, this isn't the time or place.

But we have some things to unpack.

Yeah.

I know.

-[door opens] -[departing footsteps]

I read online about some bill that you're involved with.

Yes, I finally got some traction

on that anti-bullying legislation, so...

I'm going to get another slice.

We say "excuse me" when we get up from the table in this house.

To the stove? Don't be so uptight.

When was the last time anybody said that on pizza night?

-Hey, don't talk to your dad like that. -SMITTY: I am

fully capable of handling this.

-He's my son, too. -SMITTY: You couldn't tell

with the way you've been acting the last two years.

-Facts. -SAMANTHA: Can we just, like, take it down

-a notch? Please. -This is stupid. This was your idea.

-Hey, don't talk to your sister like that. -No, okay,

you can't steal my phone and put me into a situation

-I didn't agree to. -Okay, well, at least I had an idea.

-What did you two do besides sit there being salty? -I'm allowed to be salty

-when I'm being manipulated. -Hey, I didn't ask Samantha to invite me.

-[overlapping arguing] -You put her in this situation

that made her feel like she had to do that.

-Hey, everybody just calm down. -You can't just stand up

for yourself, speak up for yourself?

You have your kids do it for you?

-We're not doing this. -We are doing this.

I just don't understand how you can accept

the invitation to come over without checking first.

It's a little presumptuous,

given everything we've been through,

-don't you think? -Well, maybe I was the one

that was too trusting.

TYRELL: Stop!

What are we doing? It's pizza night.

Yes, everything sucks.

And Samantha, I'm sorry I wasn't helping.

But we should be able

to get through one crappy night together, right?

We're a family.

A family that likes to play spades

on pizza night.

Now, is anybody going anywhere?

-No. -Then let's get the cards out

and let's play.

And we'll whup you like we always do.

Good idea.

LESLIE: So, where'd you go,

-Miss Thing? -[door closes]

Did you take my letter and show it to somebody?

Yes, Mama.

-Mm. -Since you weren't even curious,

I wanted to get advice on what to do about it.

And what did Mr. Smarty Pants say?

-You don't know where I went. -Oh, yes, I do.

You will never be smarter than me, little girl,

because I have people smarts.

Mm-hmm. You, you like to, uh, play it safe.

Whatever. Okay, so it turns out

there is a possibility that this is real.

And if you toss it, then you're throwing away

any chance of benefiting.

Mm. So you left out of here on a chance

that my junk mail isn't junk?

Well, guess what-

there is a chance

that I could be related to Barack Obama.

Come on, Mama. Be real.

I am.

There's always a chance, honey.

But mostly not.

Okay, well, look at it like this.

Let's say somebody gives you a lottery ticket

-for your birthday. -[groans]

You'd check out the numbers, wouldn't you?

That's what this could be.

Look.

You. Now.

Tomas says it's safe to call as long as you don't allow them

to push you for any sensitive information.

And if they have a question about you,

then you can just turn it around on them.

Make them be the ones to offer any sensitive information.

Okay? And if it is a scam,

then they're reading off of a script.

You can throw them off.

Why are we doing this again?

Because even you think it's a little fishy.

Just dial.

Do you know how hard it is

to get a sleeping bag the temperature you like?

June, it's hot out.

So?

[muttering]

[sighs]

My memory might not be what it used to be,

but I sure remember walking out on you the last time I saw you.

What's to remember?

It's what you always did- walk away.

Whenever things got hard, I'd see your back.

Especially when it came to your kids.

June. Wait. No, no.

You can leave, but I need you to do something for me first.

Regina has something for you.

Sit.

Sit.

You left this at my place the last time you were there.

You stole this.

You stole it from me.

No, June, she didn't.

The important thing is that you have it back now.

And, look,

everything you left in your box is still there.

Including the letter.

I don't...

rem- What letter?

Something you wrote to Regina?

JUNE: I don't remember writing

this one letter.

What-What's it about?

What a disaster of a sister she was?

Take a look. Maybe it's important.

I don't see the point of this.

Open it.

I hope it's line after line

about what I really think about you.

Let's see.

What is this?

I told you.

It's a letter you wrote.

My God.

My...

June, talk to me.

What's going on? What did you write in the letter to Regina?

JUNE: It's about...

...about the kids.

The ones from the photo.

My kids. [cries]

Ronald and Cecile.

[shudders]

[crying]

Nope. No way.

You guys are talking across the board.

We literally haven't said a word.

Doing that thing where you talk with your eyes.

Exactly. It's written all over your faces.

It's not my fault my partner's learned how to read my mind.

Yeah, we're just in sync like that.

-Bam! -[groaning]

Yes! Good job, Samantha!

She reneged. She cut that earlier.

SMITTY and SAMANTHA: Did not.

You guys are lucky we're not playing competitively.

Serious card players would have your heads.

And your wallets.

You guys to get to pick and choose which rules you follow.

We just understand the code on game night.

SAMANTHA: Mm-hmm.

SMITTY and SAMANTHA: Play to win!

[mimics explosion]

[chuckling]

That's a code I can get behind.

Long live the Smith and Richardsons' game night.

The Richardsmiths.

-Aw, whatever. -Whatever.

[laughter]

[June inhales deeply]

You read further than I did, didn't you?

Yes.

You wanted Junie to reread it...

so that she'd remember.

June, talk to me.

Are you okay?

I, uh...

I messed up so bad.

I failed them.

I'm a terrible mother.

NAOMI: No. No.

You loved them so much,

so much that you made a huge sacrifice for them.

I don't know.

You're the one who called Child Protective Services.

To get them taken from you because...

you knew you couldn't give them the life they needed

and deserved.

Junie,

I wish you would've called me instead.

How could I?

You couldn't.

We didn't believe in each other

the way we used to.

Did we?

I wish I could change...

...things.

Everything.

You understand we're not lying to you?

You understand?

I thought someone else made that call.

But...

...to know that...

you...

...you did what you could for them...

Oh, Junie.

[June breathing heavily]

I should have reached out to you.

I'm so sorry. I was out of my head.

[crying]

But you managed to put your children first.

Uh...

Do you think they're okay?

[shudders]

Do you think I actually helped them?

We're gonna try and find out, okay?

I promise, I won't stop until I do.

[crying]

But I need your permission to do that.

Yeah. [chuckles softly, sniffles]

REGINA: Don't be alone tonight.

You've been through so much

for such a long, long time.

Come home with me?

[inhales]

We'll... laugh.

Probably cry.

-A lot. [laughs] -[laughing]

[sniffles]

Dig up memories of those...

beautiful kids.

They may be gone,

but, in a way, you have them back now.

You carry them in your heart.

-[sobbing] -Come home with me.

Okay.

I will. [sniffles]

[chuckles softly]

I have good news.

There doesn't appear to be any lasting physical damage

from the miscarriage.

Your physical recovery is going smoothly.

Everything looks as we'd hope.

And that's encouraging, given what you've been through.

So we can try again?

You can probably start trying to get pregnant

in, say, three months.

Well, I suppose we'll need to decide

if we are actually interested.

You know, it's been a really emotional time.

As I say, fluctuating hormones.

And for you, Mr. Hamilton, excitement and disappointment.

If you have more questions, feel free to call my office.

Okay. We'll do that. Thank you.

Of course.

I know this is probably the wrong place to do it, but...

I feel like I can give you the answer right now.

-Damn. -[line ringing]

[clears throat]

WOMAN: Law offices.

Uh, um, this is Dana Leslie Thomas.

Goodness! Ms. Thomas, I thought I'd never find you.

Listen, babe,

if you don't want to try again, I'll understand.

No, I do.

We'll wait the three months, then we'll go for it.

-Okay. Are you... -Look, here I am,

less than a day after losing our baby,

but I still feel like the luckiest woman in the world.

You know why?

Because I have you.

I love you so much, Bill,

and all I want to do is show you that.

And this is how.

By trying again.

It's been really difficult for the both of us.

But I know I can get past the pain of it all

if it means giving you a son or a daughter.

[chuckles softly]

Well, don't say you'll do it for my sake.

I'm saying I'm doing it for us.

[both chuckle softly]

-Hey, I got your message. -Hi.

That's amazing. June finally remembers.

Yeah, I'll tell you all about it. It was...

it was quite moving.

But you tell me. What did you find

at the foster facility? Anything?

Nah, the staff's pretty tight-lipped.

Yeah, well, they should be.

There's a lot of child exploitation in the world.

Well, it helped that I'm a cop because-

Well, anyway, I talked to the director

and he found out who the kids in the photo are.

But we know who they are.

Ron and Cecile.

There's more to it.

You might want to brace yourself.

June's kids-

their names were changed after they were adopted.

This is...

It's crazy, Naomi,

but they're your second cousins.

Ron and Cecile

are Tyrell

and Samantha.

Okay, Tyrell, come on. Tap into your inner competitor.

We can't stand for this.

[grunts]

Let's run it back, fam.

What do you say? Best of five?

Mm.

-[grunts] -[laughter]

[squealing]

[laughter]

-That's crazy. -[whoops]

-Loser. Loser. -[laughter]

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