Original subtitles

WinterFest equals Bill Hamilton at the mic.

It's this vision that some of the donors have

as a part of the history of the event.

And since it's the 20th anniversary...

Well, that kind of longevity is rare--

huge-- in the world of charity drives.

Why not pass the torch to the next generation?

I tried. Didn't tell Bill that, but none of the girls

wanted to do it, and Martin has a possible scheduling conflict.

Hmm. And what about you?

Oh, I have way too much responsibility.

Like running the live auction. So that only left Bill.

Yeah. I get it. You hungry?

For you? Always.

Hey.

This isn't an excuse for me to spend more time with my ex.

I would have asked my current husband,

but he hates being in the spotlight.

Come on, Dani.

I have been ruminating on this WinterFest menu

since we finished the last one.

Chef, we loved what you created last year.

People are still raving about

what you did with the tenderloin.

Yeah, we've heard everything from "chef's kiss"

to "so good it makes you want to dance."

Good. Well, Dr. Dupree,

I must say, that is so gratifying.

But you do know this year, I'm not sure if I can even--

I know it's a lot.

It's the busy season and the pressure.

But my family and I have come to depend

on you and your artistry because your food just brings

everybody together for WinterFest year after year.

It reminds us how fortunate we are

and that joy should be shared.

Chef, we are hungry for it.

Okay, I'll do my best.

Yes! You are amazing.

Oh, and no shellfish.

My husband-- My children's father

is allergic, and we wouldn't want to ruin

a wonderful evening with a trip to urgent care,

I always say. So no shellfish, no nuts.

Okay. So, I will email you the final menu later today.

-You are a goddess. -I'll be in touch.

-Sweet. See you later. -Thank you.

So, Ted's on the WinterFest guest list?

I just wasn't aware.

TED: Yeah.

Neither was I.

♪ ♪

That coffee's for you,

if you haven't had yours already.

It's the way you like and it's still hot. I hope.

But this is not an apology for what Derek did yesterday.

God, ambushing me while I was at work?

But we're not gonna talk about that right now

because things are a little crazy around here.

Mr. Nagata's discharge orders?

Already in the system.

Which means Mr. Nagata is...

Oh, that was next on my list. I need to make sure that

that memory care facility still has a bed waiting for him.

Maybe they have got room for two.

Just breathe.

'Cause I could really use some help.

Look, you're no good to anyone here

unless you fix whatever is going on at home.

I know.

You're smart. A nurse. What's the problem?

I want to marry Derek. I do.

But is this a ring or is this a ticking time bomb?

Why is he in such a hurry?

ANDRE: Still no prognosis or anything?

I know, with injuries like his, it's probably...

It's hard to know what his future's gonna look like.

ANDRE: At least he has you there

to help out.

That must be a really good feeling.

It is.

It's good to be there for the people we care about.

Like how you were there for Dani when Chelsea went missing.

She's lucky you were a free man.

If it wasn't for our silly misunderstanding...

...you and I might have been a couple right now.

I don't know what you like so much about this place.

You're gonna pretend that you don't

love the cornbread?

I'm not complaining, and I do enjoy the music,

but they hired the nastiest little waitress a while back.

We could have gone to the country club.

But this place is more like us.

Makes more sense to celebrate here.

Oh, light from a million suns

could not outshine that smile.

I can't help it. And I wouldn't stop if I could.

I feel new. Is that crazy?

Your father wiped the slate clean.

Forgave us.

All the stories we told, the hell we raised.

Takes someone really special

to want to move past all that.

He's a good man.

Got to hold on to something like that.

Yes, and I'm going to do that.

My father wants a real relationship with me,

and I don't want anything to mess that up.

Nothing can.

He forgave, then he'll forget,

and we'll move on from

friendship to family to forever.

Uh, but Mama, I don't think Dad had all of that in mind

when he said he wanted to put the past behind us.

Oh, honey, a man as tender-hearted as Ted--

he just has to sort through the rubble.

Baby steps, Mama.

Oh, yes, yes, sure.

Of course, honey.

I mean, we'll start small,

but I need you to see the big picture, okay?

Friendship is a tiny acorn

planted down deep,

and soon it will blossom into this wonderful,

unmovable and mighty thing.

Mama.

Don't you "Mama" me. Don't you dare "Mama" me.

Mark my words,

that man is mine.

He just doesn't know it yet.

I need to go do something over...

over there.

Yeah.

I'm a little surprised I made the guest list this year.

R&F Revive and Restore Center?

-Yay. -One of our

biggest corporate donors.

WinterFest wouldn't be the same without you.

Well, thank you for saying that.

And it isn't solely on the size of your contribution.

I hope we can count on your continued support.

I'll be increasing our donation this year.

Deserved, after everything I caused, and I just want to...

You've already apologized.

Well, I've never needed your forgiveness

so desperately, Nicole.

There was that time that you burned my birthday cake.

I thought you said "well done."

My mistake.

So, you will be at WinterFest?

Wild horses couldn't keep me away.

What happened yesterday will never happen again.

Humiliating, the way he tried to force me

to set a date for the wedding in front of you, Jacob and Naomi.

Oh. Almost as bad as me finding out

I was your go-to excuse for lying to your fiancé.

Next time, give a girl some notice.

Bridesmaid. I got your back.

Even after I put you on the spot?

Listen, now, you know I'm not the one

to get in everybody's business.

But in your case, I'll make a little exception.

How am I supposed to expect time off

when we're so short-staffed?

There's not a nurse around here who won't cover

an extra shift so you can go couple up.

As hard as you work, Ashley,

as flexible as you've been, you've earned it.

Thank you.

The only thing holding you back is you.

So what's making you second-guess yourself?

You were all in on that photo shoot

until I pulled the plug.

You made me think.

There's too much work and potential ego damage involved.

And the aftermath--

all those people looking at me out of the corner of their eye.

"Do I know you?

Did I just see you on TV? Can we take a selfie?"

Ugh! I could barely get out of the grocery store.

Like you shop.

And if I took this shoot,

I would want-- nay-- demand more.

The last thing I need

is for every one of my desires to be fulfilled.

No, it sets up expectations.

And everyone knows that I have great expectations,

magnificent expectations.

So, no, I will shift them in a different direction.

So... I turned down this gig

and now modeling is 100% off the table for you now?

I've moved past it.

Let someone else be the center of attention.

I'm the apple of your eye.

That's all I need.

You wouldn't miss it? Even a little?

It was much harder to give up the first time.

I've done crazier things in the name of love.

I guess we all have.

Oh.

Wait.

Now, I know there is a long, long line of women before me,

but this is news.

There was one who left her mark.

One came close. Yeah.

Okay, this is what I've been waiting for.

Pop the corn, y'all.

Andre is strolling down memory lane.

Okay, look, I was young... er.

Mm-hmm.

I wasn't into finding forever with anybody.

-You wanted to see the world. -Yeah.

Dip my toe in every ocean.

You were a temporary man.

And I liked it that way.

None of the messies, all of the fun.

Yeah, I fooled around a little bit.

But as soon as someone started to get real,

make plans, I'd...

You'd bounce.

Yeah.

I let the wind take me wherever.

And this woman who wanted more?

I liked the future she saw for us.

But you couldn't commit.

Think it's because you lost your parents?

There's very few things that make me envious.

But people my age with parents...

That's why Ted and Nicole mean so much to you.

Sometimes, Uncle Ted will laugh

and I swear, I'll hear my father.

I can't imagine.

It's a loss that you don't want to know.

To have an overabundance of love in this life.

And then it's just gone.

It's not gone, Andre.

No, I...

Maybe that's part of why I'm so selfish with my love.

Because I don't want to do that to anybody's heart.

That's so lonely, though.

It's a huge responsibility, loving someone.

Making good on promises.

But that "forever" thing...

no matter how you feel when you say it,

you can't count on it.

A sundae without a cherry is good enough for you?

-Yes. -I raised you wrong.

Get every bit of all the good that was meant for you,

or you're going to let somebody else get it first.

If you're saying my dad is chocolate icing...

-With the cherry on top. -...then you might want

to check that sweet tooth, okay?

You have everything you want,

and if you don't, you can afford it.

That's when you know it's real.

When you've got it all, but he's all you need.

That's when you know he's your "meant to be."

Maybe you should just be happy with what you...

Oh, all right, great-granny.

You stay in your lane

while the rest of us are going to get what we want.

But at least I have friends who believe in my choices.

Someone is out there supporting these delusions?

JAN: Knock, knock.

I hope you're decent.

Jan, uh... [forced laugh]

I know some guys who would say

that I haven't been decent for years, but...

that was before Ashley.

[sighs]

It's open.

Wouldn't have killed you to lead with that.

Oh, somebody's been meal-prepping.

Oh, I made extra of everything.

I figured since Ashley's been working extra shifts,

you could use home cooking.

Well, I won't ever turn down food from your kitchen, Jan.

Good, and I hope you won't reject this advice

because it is straight from the heart.

Ash told you what I did at the hospital.

I'm not here to chew you out

or ask what the heck you were thinking.

-I'm not gonna do that. -Thanks.

Your folks aren't here,

and firefighters only talk fire, so...

if there's anything you want to talk about,

I give great advice.

Have you ever considered the idea that maybe--

Maybe I'm scared?

Who wouldn't be? Forever's a mighty long time.

-I'm trying to tell you. -And what if...

what I want changes down the line?

Or what if he changes in ways I didn't expect?

Maybe marriage is like any other job.

Don't make it sound like too much fun.

You sign on knowing things can't stay the same,

but you hope that love is enough to get you through. Dig in.

Terrifying.

Yeah, marriage is scary.

You put all your trust in someone else's hands,

and if you can't be honest

-before the hard stuff... -Okay, look, I feel

so guilty about that already.

What I'm saying is, you shouldn't.

I shouldn't feel guilty?

Why?

Shanice, why shouldn't I feel guilty about lying to Derek?

That doesn't sound like something

a bridesmaid would say, and it certainly doesn't sound

like something a coworker would tell a fellow nurse.

Unless she knows something

that her friend doesn't know?

[shouts]

I knew it.

You felt that.

What the hell, Shanice?

And that wasn't your first time, was it?

I mean, you told a white lie.

You felt cornered, and you were giving yourself

some breathing room.

That's it exactly.

Give yourself a break.

Everyone tells a lie from time to time.

Derek's probably guilty, too.

No, not Derek.

He's the last of the good guys.

I don't deserve this.

Of course you do. You're family.

Which now means I'm privy to 95% of your life.

That much, huh?

Kidding. I've been rooting for you two from the start.

Oh, yeah?

I told Ashley a million times she'd be better off

with you than Andre Richardson.

She asked that often?

Oh, you know Ashley.

She's always triple-checking herself to make sure.

Or if it's too late to change her mind.

But when you're comparing a jet-set photographer

to some strong and protective fireman...

I haven't put out any fires lately.

It's not what you do.

It's who you are at your core.

And you're a good man, Derek,

and that radiates through from your soul.

That's nice of you to say, Jan, but...

I'm not a saint.

Nobody's perfect, and especially me.

You're perfect for my Ashley.

And this is gonna be forever.

Jan, there's something I got to tell you.

Shoot.

I couldn't be happier than to be marrying into your family.

It can't happen soon enough.

[laughs]

So Jan encouraged this behavior?

Everything good starts with friendship.

Yeah, if those friends are being honest with each other.

Honesty in a love affair? Oh, baby, please.

I am talking about building something lasting

and permanent.

And by the time they finish constructing my new abode,

Ted will be so wrapped around my heart

that he will want to move with me

into my new dream come true.

So your new dream is moving into your new home with...

With your real-life daddy.

And you will have both of your parents together.

Look at you.

Just speechless.

Tell me about them.

I want to know everything.

Are you sure?

The people who made the man I married?

Of course.

Tell me about your first camera.

Okay. Um...

I used my dad's at a... at a family dinner party.

Oh, yeah. I snuck around all night taking pictures.

[Dani chuckles]

My dad saw the shots I got and he bought me an upgrade.

What were they like?

You've met them.

Yeah, once or twice over the years,

but I'd much rather hear your photo

than rely on my snapshot.

Well, Dad was the life of the party.

He loved to laugh.

The pranks he would pull on my mom.

-Oh, my God. -And they were wild

about each other, I bet.

[scoffs] They were a total power couple.

[Dani laughs]

They... they started their own firm.

And they skipped the usual bumps,

and they took off fast.

-They made a killing, too. -That's a lot to live up to.

Yeah, so I didn't.

I didn't get married early.

Didn't follow in their footsteps.

And they loved me anyway.

[clears throat] They, um,

they kept working because they enjoyed it.

And they flew everywhere together.

And when they died, uh...

You know, I spent my whole life trying to make 'em proud.

Both of them.

They were the first call I made.

They were the first people to see the perfect shot.

They were the first ones to tell me that they saw

something spectacular or remarkable, you know?

And when they were gone, I...

You know, I miss their-their hugs.

I miss their laughter. Man, I just, I wish...

I just, I miss their love. I wanted their love.

But all I had were their photos.

[crying]

Oh, but Uncle Ted... [laughs] Uncle Ted and Aunt Nicole, man.

I don't know where I would be without them.

Is that why you don't want to work with me?

Because working together will remind you of your parents?

No, no, no. Me pulling back from the photo shoot

has nothing to do with my parents.

Do you think they'd like me for you?

No.

Dani, they would be all in for us being together.

I see them now, jumping around,

dancing at our Las Vegas wedding.

Mom jumping at the chance to renew her vows

with an Anita Williams impersonator.

Oh, and my dad.

Mm.

I can see my dad raising a toast...

to our beautiful future together.

You said "beautiful future."

-Yeah. -You know what that means.

Yes, I do.

It means it's gonna happen.

Happens when you speak your truth.

Yeah.

Like this.

Mr. and Mrs. Richardson...

I adore your son.

He makes me happy,

which some people say is an impossibility.

But Andre inspires me to do the impossible.

-Yeah. -So, thank you.

Thank you for making a miracle

and letting him land in my life.

I'd say something like that.

[sniffles, laughs]

Yes, let's-let's-let's do it.

-Let's do it. -I didn't...

I didn't propose anything.

The photo shoot.

You and me.

Let's show 'em how we do it.

Is this a joke? One of your father's style pranks?

Because if so, ha ha, now I know how your mother felt.

And please do not make this a thing.

Hey-hey, I want to do this.

You're a superstar.

I'd be a fool not to share that spotlight with you.

And to stake my claim.

Claim on what you already have.

Come on.

What's this about, really?

There's this thing that I want to do.

My mom had her list of causes,

and that's generally where I do all of my giving.

In both of their names.

With the money that I make from this shoot,

I want to donate it.

To something that would make my dad laugh

but also make him...

proud of me.

With your blessing, of course.

Donate to charity to honor your father?

Yeah.

No.

Sorry.

Look, the prayers have been answered.

And now we are living in the land

that we want, right?

So, listen, I brought you here, honey,

but I'm gonna get you to the promised land.

Trust.

What were you promised?

The love that created you.

Had it once, but here's another chance.

And Lord knows-- He only knows--

what that man and I can get up to this time around.

I'll tell you, some people love New Year's Eve,

others can't get enough of Thanksgiving...

And you are a WinterFest man.

It's in my blood.

I think there was a transfusion when we tied the knot,

so one part of me is half Dupree

and the other half is WinterFest.

[chuckles]

Well, I'm glad you still want to be included.

It's hard to know what to expect these days.

It doesn't have to be a bad different.

Hmm. You're telling me you can envision

better holidays than the ones we shared?

Picking our tree, helping your folks find theirs,

untangling all those lights?

[both laugh]

Or that year we gave up and went out and bought

a dozen new strings to light up the tree.

You know, sometimes I wonder...

[clears throat] ...if we'd tried harder, you know.

You have to know when to throw in the towel

on things like that.

I never gave up, Nicole...

...on anything we started.

We just found a different way to start again, you know?

Yeah.

And this invitation, uh...

...for me to be a part of the family,

even if it's just for that night...

...thank you.

Let me know if you're gonna bring a plus one.

I'll be sure to do that.

Thanks.

[grunting]

[cell phone vibrating]

Shanice,

-you're never gonna... -Long story short,

I didn't tell Ashley.

But if you don't fess up and soon,

pretty sure you'll regret it.

Derek.

Oh, my God.

Derek, this is incredible.

I know.

-No. -I-I can explain, uh...

Look at you.

Can I touch you? Help you?

I mean, I don't want to make you fall.

I'll take a hug if you got one.

For this miracle? Heck yeah, I'll hug you.

[sighs]

Best hug ever.

Okay. All right. Enough standing for now.

-Let me help you sit. -Yes, please.

Okay. Okay.

You must be exhausted.

Those physical therapy sessions with Shanice--

they really worked, huh?

Are you okay? I-I hope I didn't throw your back out or anything.

I'll get used to it. And you're... you're so strong.

You're stronger than I thought. I mean, how...?

This morning you couldn't even feel your legs.

I know. It's totally bonkers, right?

Yeah, you don't go from

paralysis to standing in a couple of hours.

You know, I've been working overtime,

and all I've wanted to do is get back up on my feet.

Oh, my God. You must have been feeling something before today.

I mean, without a decent amount of muscle control...

Derek, what the...?

This didn't just happen overnight.

Have you been lying to me?

Say I'm wrong.

I love pulling up to Naysayers Station

with all you Bitter Bettys afraid to take

a bite out of life.

That man has no one.

Somebody has to be his colonizer,

so why shouldn't it be me?

Stop giving me those eyes.

You did not just say that.

Yeah, well, you used to be on my side

until you weren't.

Ever heard that good things come to those who wait?

Heard it, don't believe it.

You don't just wait on God's stars to align, baby.

You stalk it. All right?

You figure it out,

and after you stalk it, then, baby,

you sweet-talk it into coming home with you.

Your perfect somebody just isn't gonna show up and say...

Ladies.

Everything okay?

Inviting your ex and a plus one?

What if he invites Leslie?

But I guess he wouldn't.

If I hadn't seen them hugging at the hospital yesterday,

-I would agree. -Gross.

My sentiments exactly.

But I can't say anything.

Sure you can.

Not without looking like a giant hypocrite.

I laid down the law with Ted about staying out

of my personal business with Carlton.

After all, I am the one who asked for the divorce.

I just couldn't get past Ted lying to me for so long.

ASHLEY: How long have you

been lying to me?

It wasn't a lie.

I wanted to surprise you.

-You did. -At the wedding.

Me standing at the altar while you walked down the aisle.

When did this happen?

It started around Labor Day.

Months?

I-I was gonna tell you, but the progress was so slow

and so small, I-I didn't even know

if it was happening.

I-I didn't want to get your hopes up

because I didn't want to let you down

because that would mean that this is permanent.

And I-I just wanted to make sure that things were going

in the right direction.

-I-I was gonna tell you. -By lying to me for months

and then, what, shocking me

on the day of my wedding?

We didn't do a big engagement thing

or have a special proposal moment.

I thought, wouldn't this be the best part of our love story

after everything we've been through?

Me standing at the altar,

ready to step into our new life together.

Maybe that's why I was pushing you so hard

to set a date, because I-I knew I was getting closer

to being able to stand and I-I...

I didn't want to waste another minute.

No, no, no, no. You kept me in the dark.

You-you made me keep taking care of you.

God, you made me work so hard to make you feel comfortable

and have you feel supported and loved 'cause God forbid

you would even imagine that I was only with you

because of your paralysis, but for months...

It was a mistake and I should have told you.

I didn't know how to take it back.

-I should have told you. -You just were

pretending this whole time.

No, no.

Ashley, I love you so much.

-Love? -It was a mistake.

There's got to be some way you can forgive me for this, please.

Please, Ash.

You mean the world to me.

And there's nothing you wouldn't do for me.

I'd give you the moon if you asked.

Was this really only a sweet wedding surprise?

That's exactly what I wanted.

'Cause there's a little voice in my head

telling me that you were manipulating me

because you were afraid that I was slipping away.

Be honest.

Have you been pretending to be paralyzed...

...to keep me from Andre?

Isn't this just meant to be? Please, come,

make yourself at home.

Oh, thank you very much.

Unless I'm interrupting.

Eva?

Tell your daddy what we were talking about.

You sure you want to do that?

[chuckles] We were just discussing

how grateful we are

to have a chance to do things right this time.

Oh. Well, you know what they say about forgiveness.

You have to put down the broken pieces,

pick up the ones that are worthwhile,

and build from there, huh?

Build. I like the way you think.

Yeah. And thank you both for forgiving me, too.

Onward to greener pastures.

Uncharted territory.

Why does the idea of Ted dating bother me?

Is it the idea of Ted dating in general,

or is it the idea of Ted dating someone in particular?

No doubt about that.

I...

can't even begin to understand how complicated

all this is for you,

ending your relationship with Ted.

Meanwhile, I've been...

Things still aren't going well with you and Dave?

I've been hanging on for so long

because I've put so much time and energy into making it work.

But it's not working

and... and it hasn't been for a while.

It is hard to walk away,

even when every part of you

knows that it's the right decision.

It hurts.

That's grief.

So what do we do?

Try to remember that we can't write new chapters

until we close the ones that no longer serve us.

You have a problem with me donating my portion

of what we earn from the shoot?

No, of course not. But...

Andre, I'm insufferable.

Everybody says so. I'm the squeakiest wheel,

but I swear it comes from good intentions.

I'm waiting for the good part.

A foundation.

-Good. -In your father's name,

set up so that every year someone worthy gets an award.

It's like a machine of love churning out dreams

for a deserving person, like

kids whose parents are gone or young photographers

or clown classes for people in recovery.

I don't know, we'll figure out that later.

But, but one thing is certain.

Your father's name lives on for decades after we're gone,

and people will keep talking about how much

his foundation helped, how it opened doors,

how it helped create all these bright stars.

-Dani, that, uh... -And if it's a ridiculous idea,

we don't have to do it.

I just...

I know how much you love them.

But if it's too public and it's too out there,

it was just an idea.

It's the best idea.

I should have thought of that years ago.

It'll keep them alive.

He'd be okay with that, right?

The chance to be someone's Santa for an eternity.

[both chuckle]

Man, he would love it.

Let's spread the wealth.

We're so fortunate.

How did this happen?

Well, your incredible father

met a wonderful woman

and raised a remarkable man.

No, us.

This... this connection.

We're a paradox or something.

Don't look too close, we'll blow your mind.

I'm already there.

I like us.

I like how we're more than just a horizontal thing.

Yeah.

And I like that I get to see a part of you

that no one else has seen before.

Yeah.

Same with you.

Are you sure about this?

-Yes. -Not the foundation.

That's happening.

I mean the photo shoot.

I know you're a private person

and how strong you felt about not doing it.

Yeah, I did feel strongly about it.

But I feel more strongly about you.

ASHLEY: Talk to me.

If there is something that you can say

that makes this better,

please say the thing that fixes this.

Derek, you were lying

about your injuries so that I'd stay with you?

I don't know what I was thinking.

-Oh, no. -I'm sorry.

Look, everything happened so fast.

It all got so tangled, and I... I just--

I can't believe this. How is this possible?

Look, it was everything--

the proposal, the-the move-in, the accident.

I wanted to tell you so many times.

I can't do this.

Ash, please look at me.

I don't know you!

The Derek that I love, the man that I fell in love with,

that I wanted to share my life with--

did he even exist?

I mean, I just... I just created him?

I... I was lying to myself the whole time?

We-we can solve this.

We can get through anything.

Not this time.

-I'm done. -No, Ashley...

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