Original subtitles

Remember when I said there was a way to nail Joey

for money laundering while keeping Vanessa out of it?

And remember when I said it was above my pay grade?

But you're the one talking about

you want to pull out the big guns.

My ace is ready to play.

In case you didn't know, Vanessa and I are partners.

No disrespect, but what we need to discuss

goes beyond selling houses.

You have no idea, Bill Hamilton,

just how deep my business interests go.

May as well settle in. She's not going anywhere.

So...

how is the real estate business?

Great. We're cleaning up.

[Joey laughs]

Well, I guess if I don't hightail it out of here,

you two will simply bore me to death.

I think that's likely.

Or you could include me in what's really going on.

You know I'd never tell.

♪ ♪

I need to talk to you about something.

-What about, baby girl? -Well, it's a question, really.

Well, ask away. You know your mama's a well of wisdom

waiting to help you with any of your life issues.

-This is about your issues. -Excusez-moi?

What do you expect from Ted now that you basically

schemed your way into his bed?

-Do they serve antacid here? -Are you not feeling well?

The fact that that malicious, conniving woman

can sit over there drinking,

acting like she doesn't have a care in the world

just nauseates me.

She should not be at our club.

Somehow, I think you can handle it.

Oh, I don't worry for me.

It's untenable that Nicole has to trip over that woman

who ruined her life every time she comes here

for a meal or a game of tennis.

Especially now that...

...Leslie and Ted might be sleeping together again.

You think that's what's going on?

That's what Leslie wants Nicole to think.

[chuckles] Can you please do me a favor

and give this to my Teddy Weddy?

Mmm.

Of course, whenever you see him.

Meal was a great idea. Passed the time.

Oh, yeah, and less danger of a monumental hangover.

But look, we have good news and we have bad news.

-Which do you want first? -Well, that's easy.

My daughter was just held captive by a psychotic stalker.

I will take the good news.

-Right. Uh, good news is... -Oh, wait, wait, wait.

Let me guess. Bill and Hayley are getting a divorce.

No, they're still married, as far as I know.

And Ashley and Derek will be soon, too.

Your almost-fling getting another man's bling.

I'm joking. All right, what's the good news?

Good news is the private jet is fueled up and is ready to go.

Great. I'm ready to blow this one-note town.

What's the bad news?

Bad news is there are thunderstorms in the area,

so the pilot says that we can't take off until they pass.

You mean we're stuck in this tiny airport bar?

Until further notice.

Well, I can work with that.

You still haven't told me where we're going, lover boy.

All right, cool, so what if I...

...write down two locations on these cocktail napkins?

To my left, we got place A,

and to my right, place B. Choose.

-Okay, let's go with A. -Vegas, baby.

-Las Vegas. -Yep.

I haven't been there for a while,

but I do love it. There's tons to do.

Yeah, it's like a whole global adventure.

We can do any and everything from the same city.

I'm talking the Eiffel Tower, the Mob Museum,

Cirque du Soleil.

We can cruise the Strip in a giant shopping cart.

We can take photos of the Grand Canyon and fit in a show.

It's too bad Usher isn't still in residence.

I bet you'd just love to have him feeding you cherries.

It's Usher, baby.

Vegas it is.

-What? -Show me that cocktail napkin.

Why?

Just show it to me.

[clears throat]

-Okay. -Uh-huh.

Let me see the other one.

I knew it. Andre Richardson, you cannot fool me.

It's closer than Dubai or Lagos.

I thought taking chances was the theme of the day.

You want to throw some dice?

In the words of Usher, yeah. Hell yeah.

-Okay, cool. Let's do it. -Let's blow off some steam.

We're gonna do it Hangoverstyle. Oh, whoa, wait.

You know, I almost have to give the woman credit

for making an end run around us.

I mean, who on the board wouldn't accept

an offer for a brand-new sports center?

That's called working the system.

There's nothing that scheming woman won't do.

There was no scheming involved.

I told you, Ted seduced me.

We had a connection.

And by the way, you need to be careful what you ask to know,

because your delicate sensibilities

might not be able to handle the answers.

I'm an adult, Mama.

Then I, Leslie, will be frank, Eva.

Ted and I... [exhales]

...we were explosive together from the beginning.

-No. Ew. -Oh, no, no.

You want to know.

Our physical connection was-was like something

out of this... ooh, out of this world.

Something that prim, proper Nicole

couldn't touch in a million or 10 million years.

-Okay? -Okay.

I was hoping that you would say that you realized, for Ted,

that it was a drunken moment, not a commitment, Mama.

You do realize that, don't you?

Okay, I've had some time to think about everything

that happened between me and my Teddy.

And I know he has to say certain things

to keep up appearances, but...

well, I know him.

That night, Eva, it was our new beginning.

And soon, he will realize that

and stop treating us like we have some deep, dark secret.

You'll see.

Sounds like you're hoarding some deep, dark secrets there.

This is a waste of time, isn't it?

Fine.

I will see you two around.

Well, she certainly is a live wire.

Can we leave her out of this?

Apparently not. Her husband is a piece of work, too.

-You and Doug close? -No, not at all.

But he did drop by my house earlier,

seeing if I could help him out with something.

The good doctor. Always in need of a favor.

Don't you want to know what he needs help with?

Enlighten me.

Taking you down.

Hmm.

You don't seem surprised.

Not much the man could do that could surprise me.

Except maybe learning to actually keep his mouth shut.

So...

what else did the doctor tell you?

I told him that Joey was money laundering,

and he's sleeping with my wife.

Anything else?

Just that Joey ordered you to kill for him.

Tell me you did not actually tell him that.

-And did you give him my name? -Relax.

I've known Bill since college.

He's not gonna screw me over.

Only good can come from this.

What if you're wrong, Doug?

What if you're dead wrong? What then?

Why are you so suspicious of a reputable lawyer?

Do you even know Bill Hamilton?

It's not like we run in the same circles.

-Then what's the issue? -It's his connection with Joey.

I know the guy.

If he had dealings with Joey, he would have brought up

client confidentiality as soon as I brought up Joey's name,

to warn me off.

Or maybe not, because he's planning

to throw you under the bus.

Oh, he laid it all out.

Said you funnel money from the club

and your other ventures to Vanessa.

She mixes it with her sales from her real estate business,

essentially cleaning your money for you.

Oh, and there's the whole incident at the park, too.

Doug McBride told you all that?

Mm. The way he tells it,

that seems like the least of his worries.

Yeah, Randy.

Should've shut him up when I had the chance.

Look, Doug is coming after you for laundering the cash,

but your involvement in the park murder, it's too difficult.

He has no footing there.

Ah, but he's seen the doctored books.

He could do some real harm to my operation.

Still, I can't believe that he'd try.

-Why not? -You said it.

It's Vanessa's business.

He'd be implicating his own wife.

You know, I'd be willing to bet that all that talk

about protecting Vanessa is a bunch of pure lip service.

And judging by that kiss that she just planted on you,

she's clearly finding company in your bed.

And the two of you aren't making any attempts at hiding it.

So what's Doug got to lose?

I want to yell it from the rooftops.

-Mama. -What?

-Can you please keep your voice down? -Mm-mm.

Look, Ted is fixated on getting back with Nicole.

His wife, in case you forgot,

the woman he actually really does love.

You know what?

Nicky don't want to have nothing to do with that man, okay?

And once he gets that through his thick

but hot, sexy skull,

then he will come right back where he belongs.

Right here to mama.

Now, I've waited long enough, but I don't mind.

I can wait a little bit longer.

And what if Ted doesn't come back to where he belongs?

Mm-mm.

You keep all that negative talk out of here

and away from God's universe, honey.

What's wrong with you?

Okay, but it's a real possibility,

and that's what worries me.

That you're delusional.

I'm sorry, delulu what?

Mama, I love you,

but it is delusional to believe that Ted

is dying to have this deep, e--

explosive relationship with you.

And that's what I'm afraid of.

That it won't happen, and then you'll go off on everyone

and everything, like always.

What do you even care, Ms. Pessimism?

Because of whatever half-baked ideas you have,

once they're in motion, they always blow back on me.

Okay? I've actually started to build a life here.

So, please, get a grip and let's get out of here.

Nah.

I think I'll stay and enjoy my exclusive

membership here at the country club.

You're just trying to rub it in everyone's faces.

Listen, if you are that intimidated by those people,

then I tell you what, baby girl, you go ahead, okay?

Go on.

Cluck, cluck. [imitating chicken]

Stop it.

Really, go on, little chicken.

[imitates chicken clucking]

The Nicole situation worries me.

-She's hard to read. -With Dani,

everything she feels or thinks,

it's right out there for the world to behold.

But Nicole, she's always kept her pain close.

-That can backfire. -I know.

That's why I've been encouraging her

to express her feelings, whatever they are.

She's so good with other people,

but when it comes to anything involving her or her children...

What do they say? "Physician, heal thyself."

I'm so glad you're on top of this.

Let me know if there's anything you need from me.

I will.

Speaking of Dani, she seems to be off the grid.

I've called her and texted and I haven't heard back.

I'll go out to reception and see if I can get her.

You know how I hate using phones in the dining room.

Thank you, dear.

She's probably just getting some much needed rest.

I hope that's all it is.

So, how are we gonna misbehave in Sin City?

Gambling and, uh, strip shows.

Gambling, overeating.

Gambling. Getting hitched.

-Gambling. -E-Excuse me? Say what?

What, the calories?

Oh, I know a way we can work that off.

"Hitched"?

What? You said you wanted to misbehave.

Genius.

All of Fairmont Crest will lose their minds

if we post a picture of us kissing at a wedding chapel.

It's like you're heading down a trail in life,

on a certain path, and then...

Boom.

Life goes boom.

We go boom.

How did we get here, Andre?

Dance with me.

-[gasps] -You got moves.

DANI: Thank you for coming to my occasional rescue,

but it won't be necessary anymore.

I'm turning a page,

thanks to your nudge in the right direction.

So this is what it's like to be on the other side of the camera.

Give me your eyes.

We just discovered something.

That you are the most perfect human specimen

that I am lucky enough to call my Mr. Right Now?

Dani, why can't you admit that we're each other's

ports in the storm?

That we've moved from being casual to something real?

[door opens]

-[door closes] -It's about time.

I came as soon as I got your text.

Is this about the Jarvis house? There was nothing I could do.

Leslie doubled her offer.

The Jarvises could hardly refuse.

Vanessa, I am not mad at you.

I am furious with Leslie.

Of course you are.

She had the audacity to buy the house

directly across the street from your parents.

This has nothing to do with the house.

She had the audacity

to sleep with my husband again.

I doubt that Doug is thrilled

that I'm keeping company with his wife.

She told me they had an understanding.

But whatever the reason,

he still loves her, and vice versa.

So you don't think he'll hang her out to dry?

More likely he'll try to prove that I washed the money

without her knowing. [chuckles]

Can you imagine trying to put anything over on Vanessa?

I don't know her like that. She's friends with my ex-wife.

My current wife used her to find the house that we're in now.

That's as far as it goes, but I know she's a shark

when it comes to real estate, though.

She's a shark, period.

You care about her, don't you?

-She's good in bed. -Most crazy women are.

Vanessa isn't crazy.

Come on, man, take it easy. It's just a joke.

But that does answer my question.

You care.

Be careful, Joey.

It's not safe to swim with sharks,

even if they are as pretty as Vanessa.

Leslie's sleeping with Ted, as in present tense?

I knew they did the deed a long time ago, but...

Honestly, I really, I-I'm not sure.

I need details.

She shoved this in my face.

Said he left it after they...

And it is Ted's.

It's one of the ones I bought him.

I-I think that horrible, nasty woman

is playing mind games with you.

Surely Ted has sense enough not to get back together

with that woman after everything she's pulled.

I would've thought so.

But I also thought that Ted would never lie to me

for basically our entire marriage.

She probably picked that tie up

at a store just to mess with you.

I would agree with you if it wasn't for one thing.

Ted's initials are on the back.

What's that prove? The shop could've monogrammed it.

Vanessa, I had this exact tie made for Ted last Christmas.

You don't suppose Leslie snuck into Ted's room

somehow and swiped it?

It's not that far-fetched.

Her daughter does live at the same hotel.

She probably used Eva to get access.

I suppose that's possible.

Listen, can I ask you a question?

Yeah.

-You're divorcing Ted, right? -I served him with the papers.

So why do you even care?

[knock on door]

You busy?

No. C-Come in.

Honestly, I'm surprised to see you here,

the way you stormed out yesterday.

Well, I was angry when I found out you slept with my mother.

Especially since I warned you how she'd take it.

Felt like you took advantage of her.

Look, I'm not gonna make any excuses.

I was upset about Nicole divorcing me,

and I had a weak moment.

That's it.

Believe it or not, I get it.

I know how Mama can be.

Thank you for that.

Which is why I'm here.

I just came from dinner with her at the club.

And?

I tried to tell her what happened

between you was a mistake.

It was.

And I was trying to keep her hope under control

because that would be trouble for all of us.

Hope? Nah.

She was furious with me when she left here last night.

Well, I hate to break it to you, she's not furious anymore.

-Oh, no. -Mm-hmm.

Do you want to hear Mama's version of events?

-I guess I better. -Okay. And I quote,

"Nicole doesn't want Ted.

"And once he gets that through his thick, but hot, skull,

he'll come back where he belongs."

End quote.

[sighs]

This bag is fire.

Featuring a two-tone denim design,

plus gold luxe hardware,

and a secure closure for all my girlies

who have lost their third lip gloss this month.

I thought of everything, boo.

-What the hell do you want? -To talk to you about someone

very near and dear to your heart.

-If this is about Nicole... -It isn't.

Then what is it about? I'm busy.

Doing what? Eating alone?

I saw the senator outside on the phone.

Look, this won't take long. I need your help.

Why on God's green Earth would I help you?

Because you're the only person who can.

I just need to talk to you about Barbara.

Go screw yourself.

ANDRE: All right, good news.

Bill and Hayley are getting a divorce?

Still no, but the pilot has cleared us for takeoff.

All right. Blackjack, here I come.

Andre, this is gonna be so much fun.

Oh, yeah, we're gonna do it Hangoverstyle.

Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh. No, no, no, no.

My smile is framed at my dentist's office,

and I am not sacrificing my first place position

for anyone, no matter how cute they are.

I'll make sure that you and your teeth are unharmed.

My hero.

Anything else that we find ourselves doing,

we'll just leave it to the hands of fate.

All right, let's go.

I thought I was the wild child.

Maybe you've met your match.

-Let's go. -Let's do it.

-Slots, here I come. -I'll grab the bags.

Go screw myself?

Language, Auntie, language.

Perhaps you've forgotten where I come from.

On the other hand, I have not.

And I'd advise you to step off right now

before I take off my earrings.

Hey, Auntie, why will you not tell me

about my biological mother?

Because I am not gonna allow you to use Barbara

to emotionally manipulate me.

You know, I only recently found out

that Barbara's my biological mother.

She gave me to her friend Peaches at birth

with one condition,

that I never knew anything about her.

Now, you and the Articulettes, you knew her.

But see, now I have all these questions,

and I'm just asking

for you to tell me anything.

I don't care if... if it's just small,

just anything about her.

Anita, please.

If you're divorcing Ted, why do you care

who he may or may not be sleeping with?

I-I-I don't.

Girl, please. This is me you're talking to.

-I know. -You didn't summon me over here

to show me that tie because you don't care.

You care. Admit it.

Fine. Fine. I care.

I care that Ted has such horrible judgment

that he would allow that loose cannon

to run around Fairmont Crest airing out his dirty laundry.

It's embarrassing.

-For him or for you? -For everybody.

Imagine what people are saying at the club.

I remember you lecturing Dani

at that very club to take the high road.

I didn't understand then.

I was very comfortable in my false marriage.

Nice misdirect, Madame Shrink.

But I am going to state what is obvious here.

It bothers you that Ted may have slept with Leslie,

because no matter how angry you are at him in this moment...

...you love the man.

You know it, and you know I know it, so...

If you want answers about that tie, don't ask me.

Ask him.

All right. I let Vanessa get under my skin,

And I don't mind her being there.

And Doug?

You mind him being out to get you?

Ha. As if he could.

-He is a gambler indeed. -Yeah.

Yeah, it was a bold move.

But this time, he bet on the wrong horse.

You're a far more valuable ally than Doug could ever be.

And I thank you for the heads-up.

I am curious, though.

So how did you respond when he brought you

this opportunity to upend my life?

I told him what I tell all my clients.

I'll think about it.

Well, think slow.

I need a little time to figure out what I want to do.

Anything else?

I got this.

Okay.

Well, of course, we never had this conversation.

Oh, we stuck to safe ground.

Weather, crab cakes, the Commanders.

You don't seem worried at all.

About Bill Hamilton pulling a fast one?

-I'm not. -You think that's smart?

Look, there's no way Bill is gonna double-cross

a brother for some two-bit slimy goodfella.

Don't underestimate Bill.

The only color he sees is green.

That is the exact language Joey Armstrong speaks.

Well, you may be right.

There's nothing I can do about it now.

May be a move I can make.

I'm listening.

I got a guy.

Well, source.

Maybe he can help us see which way the wind is blowing.

-Who's your source? -A confidential one.

I never had a chance to know my birth mother.

Barbara gave me up, and then she took her own life.

But you were young girls together.

You probably knew her better than anyone.

All I'm asking for is...

...if you could just give me a little more insight

on who she was.

Why should I give you anything

when you have brought nothing but heartache and pain

since you darkened our door?

But you are Barbara's flesh and blood.

And the child you were should've had the opportunity

to know her birth mother.

Maybe...

you would be a half-decent human being if you had.

Well, I guess I'll take that as a no.

At least I tried.

She'd want you to know she was smart.

And scrappy.

Barbara wasn't afraid of anything or anybody.

There would be no Articulettes if it hadn't been for Barbara.

But she was let go.

Yes.

Tell me more.

Please.

We grew up in Cabrini-Green in Chicago.

-The projects? -Yes.

Ever since we were kids, we wanted to sing.

And at every party, picnic, or parade,

we would get up and do just that.

Barbara even got us booked at the Bud Billiken Parade.

We rode on a pink float

wearing matching dresses--

which Barbara made, by the way.

-Wow. She sewed, too? -Mm.

If anybody wanted a group like the Supremes

but couldn't afford them,

we were right there to step in,

wearing something that Barbara whipped up.

We'd sit in the stairwell of our building,

practicing our harmonies night after night.

What did you admire about her?

Everything.

She had an ear

that we all wished we had.

And our motto,

"Better together. Sisters forever.

Articulettes strong," we meant that.

We were all diamonds in the rough.

But being in the group shined us up.

Except for Barbara, who never really lost her street edge.

That's why I was so shocked when she...

That was a-a beautiful tribute

that you guys gave her at the concert.

Thank you.

Thank you, Anita, for...

...for all of this.

It was refreshing.

And thank you for painting a picture

of my mother that I never knew.

It means a lot.

Hey, Naomi, it's your old man.

I'm looking forward to seeing you and Chelsea

for dinner tonight.

Yes, at the club.

Okay, I'll see you soon.

Bill.

Doug.

You're not here for me, are you?

Oh, no, I'm having dinner with my wife.

But actually, I'm glad I ran into you.

We're still on the same page

about what we discussed earlier, right?

-BILL: Listen... -Bill Hamilton.

Two times in one day. Lucky me.

Are you joining us for dinner?

Uh, no can do. I'm just meeting my daughters here.

It was nice to see you earlier.

You saw Bill?

I bumped into him at Orphey Gene's.

What were you two talking about?

Golf.

-Shall we? -After you.

So now that you know exactly where Mama's head is at,

what are you gonna do about it?

Well, not get drunk and sleep with her again, for starters.

Mm. Probably for the best.

You know, I played a big part in my marriage,

my life falling apart.

So many things I wish I'd done differently.

But all I can do now is just pick up the pieces.

And I'm still holding hope that I can

slow down the divorce train long enough to change Nicole's mind.

Good luck with that.

A-And I'm not being snarky. I mean it.

Oh, thanks for that. And again, I'm sorry about...

me and your mother. Um...

There's no excuse.

Thanks for saying that.

Can you forgive me?

After the way you forgave me?

You made sure I had a place to stay.

And you trusted me to manage your clinic.

And on top of all of that, you are my dad.

Yeah. I can forgive you.

Thank you. Eva.

[door closes]

[knock on door]

Did you forget something?

I didn't forget a thing, but apparently, you did.

Where'd you get this?

From your old girlfriend Dana.

I ran into her at the club,

and she asked me to return it to you.

She somehow ended up with it after the two of you had sex.

Or at least that's what she would like me to believe.

Maybe you'd like to clear things up.

There you are. I was starting to worry about you.

Oh, I'm sorry, sweetheart.

I-I came out here to reach Dani and

couldn't get her, and then I got stuck on a call

with the dean from Banneker about next semester, and...

It's okay. It's okay.

So you weren't able to reach Dani?

Oh, no, I did. I did just now, but I could barely hear her.

She was on an airplane, apparently.

She was taking calls on a plane?

She was flying private.

-Did she say with who? -I'm not sure.

I sort of made out "friend."

Frankly, she sounded inebriated.

Oh, well, she's probably with Pamela.

Feet up, drinking champagne, handling agency business.

Did they say where they were headed?

I think she said Vegas.

Oh. Well, see, now I am nervous.

Drunk on a plane headed to Las Vegas.

-What could go wrong? -Our baby's a grown woman.

All we can do at this point is put it on the Lord.

Mm. Amen.

Well, uh, while you were gone, I had company.

Our new neighbor.

Not Leslie Thomas. Did she give you a hard time?

Surprisingly, no.

To tell you the truth...

I don't...

I can't say we necessarily bonded,

that's not the right word, but...

we did have a moment.

Are you telling me you connected with that woman?

Absolutely not.

I connected with Barbara.

[knock on door]

Nicole gave this back to me. Said she got it from you.

Don't worry. I'm not gonna yell at you.

Unless you want me to.

I could throw in some choice words.

How do you feel about... this?

-Ooh, kinky. -Uh-huh.

Like the old days. Yes, Teddy bear.

Let's do it all.

-Mm-hmm. -Grab some whipped cream.

Tie me up.

Throw me against the wall.

Oh, baby, I'm ready.

-I bet you are. -Mm-hmm.

Too bad this is all in your mind.

What?

[sighs]

Tell me the truth.

Did you leave that at Leslie's after some sordid liaison?

I haven't been to Leslie's in I don't know when.

So she came here?

Well, she must've swiped it from my room.

Eva lives here, too.

It's not like she hasn't managed to let herself in before.

So you didn't sleep with her?

I need to hear it, Ted.

I won't repeat my past mistakes.

I won't lie to you.

You did it.

I did.

I see.

Baby, I'm sorry. I'd just gotten the papers.

I was wrecked. I-I got wasted on a bottle of bourbon.

She came by and...

It was a mistake. You have to know that.

What a convenient time for remorse.

It was a drunken moment.

I-I regretted it instantly.

Yeah? Like your last regrettable mistake?

I'm sorry. It will never happen again.

[stammers] You filed the papers.

And judging by your reaction,

it's as if you still care about me.

Do you?

Look, I'm sorry, okay? Look, I'm sorry.

I-I-I made a mistake.

I wasn't in my right mind.

You're right.

I do care.

Because it is something very powerful

that I can use against your ass in court.

Nicole, please. I'm sorry.

You are sorry. Go to hell, Ted.

Captioning sponsored by CBS

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org

We don't ask why, we say bye-bye.

That's...

You want to take me on vacation?

-JOEY: I have a request. -Name it.

Take off your wedding ring.

DOUG: This marriage thing ain't nothing

but a high-stakes gamble.

And the odds are never in your favor.

Vanessa, there's an important matter

I need to talk to you about.

Jacob, what's going on?