Original subtitles

ANITA: I've been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Time is of the essence, and we can't put this off.

So tomorrow morning, they're gonna put

what they call a port in my chest

to administer chemotherapy.

And the goal is to shrink the tumor

before they try to remove it.

- You said they caught it early. - Yes.

And I am so grateful for that.

But I don't want to give you the wrong impression.

This is not gonna be a walk in the park.

Your mother underwent genetic testing.

The results show that she has a variant of the BRCA gene.

It increases your risk of getting certain types of cancer.

It means that you both have a fifty-fifty chance

of having inherited it.

And if you did

then the same is true for your children.

I know this is a lot to process.

And I know how much you love your children.

Good afternoon, Nicole.

You calling to wish me a happy New Year?

Hi, Ted.

I have to run something by you.

Okay, uh, what is it?

This will be easier to do in person

rather than over the phone. Are you at the hotel?

I'm at the hospital, uh, catching up on some work.

But I can meet you somewhere.

No, your office is fine.

Um, what's the best time?

I'll be here all day.

Okay, bye.

MARTIN: Mom.

Got your message. What's up?

MARTIN: It sounded important.

- What's wrong? - Mom, are-are you all right?

ANITA: Thank you, sweetheart. I've got it from here.

Now, I know this was an outpatient procedure,

but you still need to take it easy.

I know. I will.

It's not every day you get a port put into your body

so people can give you chemotherapy.

Are you in pain?

No, no, it's not even that uncomfortable.

- It's just... - A reality check.

The real reality will be when the chemo

starts and then the surgery.

And all the hell that goes along with it.

??

Babe. Now that the holidays are over,

let's get back to finding our own

little hideaway on St. Barts.

But I don't think we'll find something as perfect

as the one that got away.

Well, we'll

we'll find something even better, baby, don't worry.

Well, better properties

tend to cost a little more.

Well,

it just so happens that I don't know how

to put a price on your happiness.

- [phone vibrating] - Oh...

Oh, it's the office.

Oh, I thought you weren't going in today.

I'm not. Which is why I need to take this now.

Hey. Did they accept the offer?

Yeah, of course they would do this on the holiday.

Fewer people around, less scrutiny.

I mean, it's smart if you don't mind dirty tactics.

So, tell me exactly what went down.

Uh-huh.

[tablet chimes]

Ugh. You again.

[tablet chimes]

Okay.

Hi.

I need to talk to Bill.

Don't you ever get tired

of barging in when you're not welcome?

I may not be welcomed by you.

But trust me...

Bill will want to see me.

Do you want coffee? Wanda made a fresh pot.

Mom, we don't need anything except for answers.

Something's obviously wrong.

- What is it? - Is it Dad?

Has he done something to upset you?

This has nothing to do with your father.

Let's just sit down, okay?

I know he's here. I called Caroline

and-and she said that he's working from home today.

Caroline needs to learn a little more discretion.

Well, educate her later.

I need to see Bill now.

No, you want to see him.

And you can't always get what you want.

I don't have time for this!

None of us do.

This obsession you've got with my husband has got to stop.

We both hoped that you moved on with your new man,

but clearly not, since you're starting off the new year

right where you were last January

thinking about Bill.

Missing Bill. Pining over Bill.

If you won't find him, I will.

- What is all of this? - I need to talk to you alone.

And I said get out.

Listen, Dani, there's nothing that you need...

It's about our girls.

Let's have a nice, normal day today.

It's the last one we'll have for a while.

- Maybe even... - Uh, stop right there.

I'm not about to let you give up

even before the race has begun.

I'm just accepting what's right around the corner.

Pain, hair loss, some nausea.

Some days I may not be able to get out of bed.

Well, lucky for you that you have me

to wait on you hand and foot.

I bet I'd have made a pretty good butler.

Well, that would have been a waste.

Senator was your destiny.

No, I was destined to become your husband.

Yeah. And they say if you have a job you love,

you never have to work a day in your life.

Well, I'm certainly glad for one thing.

Just the one?

You know what I mean.

I'm glad we told the girls everything yesterday.

And now passing along the news

to the rest of the family is in their hands.

Lord knows it was difficult enough

just telling Dani and Nicole.

Our girls are strong, capable women

and them breaking the news to their own families

takes one more burden off of you.

Now let's get back to this nice, normal day that you wanted.

On a normal New Year's Day,

we usually spend a little bit of time

looking at photo albums.

Thinking about this beautiful family that we have built.

Sweetheart, I know it's our tradition.

And usually I love doing it, but...

But?

But I don't know if it's gonna take my mind off this

awful cancer that's about to take over everything.

Gran?

Cancer?

Dani, what could you have to say about our girls

that you don't want Hayley to know?

Please, I'm not asking for me.

I'm asking for them.

I don't know what this is about,

but dragging it out with a debate

is not gonna help anyone. Baby, let me talk to Dani.

If that's what you want.

BILL: Are the girls all right?

DANI: They are now.

But they're not gonna be

when I tell them what they need to hear. I know I wasn't.

Well, will you stop talking around it

and just tell me what's going on?

It's my mother.

It's breast cancer.

And it's bad.

Mom, maybe you should sit.

Whatever is going on, just tell us.

- We'll help you through it. - Nothing is wrong with me.

I mean, I don't know

if anything is wrong.

- At least not yet. - Mom, please.

- You're not making any sense. - Do you need a doctor?

I think we need to get her to a doctor.

No, please, I'm...

This is about all of us.

But most importantly

it's about your grandmother.

You girls just shouldn't walk in on folks like that.

We came in through the kitchen, Rowena let us in.

But what were you two just talking about?

Listen, your Gran needs

to get a little more rest.

If you girls could come back, maybe in a little while.

- Gran mentioned cancer. - Yeah.

Does a friend of hers have cancer?

Gran, are you okay?

Ho-Hold on, hold on. Slow down, y'all.

Uh, you-you haven't talked to your mother, I take it?

Why? Is Mom sick?

Will someone please just tell us what's going on?

Just please give your mother a call

and she'll be able to sort all of this out for you.

I know she's anxious to talk to you both.

Vernon. It's okay.

They're here now.

Come on, girls. Come, sit down.

I'll tell you everything.

This isn't easy to say,

so I know it's gonna be hard to hear,

but I'm gonna give it to you straight

because you deserve that.

All right.

Go ahead, Gran, we're listening.

ANITA: While the doctors were performing some routine tests,

they discovered an anomaly, a tumor.

In my breast.

I had a biopsy and I've been diagnosed

with triple negative breast cancer.

I'm sorry... you have triple cancer?

I had a friend who had triple negative breast cancer.

You had a friend?

ANITA: I know you're wondering if this is a particularly

bad cancer, baby, and it is.

It's very aggressive.

And that's why the doctors,

and the doctors I have are great, by the way

they suggested a strong response beginning immediately.

And today was the first step.

This morning, the doctors put a port

in my chest so I can start having chemotherapy.

DANI: My mother will start chemo

any day now.

And then after that, they'll do

a surgery to remove whatever's left of the tumor.

I'm gonna tell the girls today.

Yeah, it's gonna be hard on them.

- They love her so much. - Well, and so do you.

And I know this is putting you through hell, too,

but we both know that Anita is a fighter.

She's one of the best.

- Yeah. - Yeah.

And look, Dani, I am here for you, okay?

For whatever you need.

Well, there's another reason

that I wanted to tell you before I tell the girls.

There's more you need to know.

I know that this is overwhelming.

It certainly was for me.

But there is more

- that I need to tell you. - MARTIN: Hold on, Mom.

I-I don't know about Kat,

but I need another minute before you go any further.

I know it's hard to comprehend

even thinking about your grandmother being ill.

When did she tell you and Aunt Dani?

Last night.

Okay.

Now we know.

Um, so we just have to remember how strong Gran is.

And-and this cancer may be bad, very bad,

but so is Gran... in all the right ways.

Of course she is.

And do they have a second opinion?

A third? How much do they know about her condition?

They understand that the treatment options

are limited for this type of cancer.

But I want you to know that she is in excellent hands.

Her team includes specialists that are

leaders in their field.

Right now, though, the medical consensus

is moving quickly will give her the best possible chance.

Are you saying this treatment is her only chance?

Now, I need you to hear what I have to say next

very carefully.

Listen.

I have never faced anything like this before.

But I am not going to take this lying down.

I will stand up to this

like all of the other challenges that life has thrown my way,

and I need you to do the same.

- But, Gran... - You have grown into

such wonderful, strong young women,

so I am not gonna patronize you.

This will be difficult.

And wanting to beat it might not be enough.

I don't want to hear you talk this way.

Chels.

You have a whole family

who will be linking arms with you every step of the way.

Just like you and Granddad used to do back in the day.

That's right.

Together, there's nothing we can't handle.

Thank you.

But there's more.

There's another reason why I hoped your mother

had spoken with you before now.

So that you can be prepared.

Prepared? Prepared for what?

It's called the BRCA gene.

And mother has a variant that leaves her susceptible

to certain types of cancer, like this one.

It can be passed down

from generation to generation.

Okay, so what does that mean?

It means I might have it.

Nicole, too.

And if we do

there's a chance that...

Oh, Lord.

I'm gonna get tested as soon as possible.

And if I'm negative, the two of you can relax.

The gene doesn't skip a generation.

But if I'm positive...

I could have it, too.

It's not a guarantee,

but there's a distinct possibility.

This isn't just about breast cancer.

I need you to hear that.

Even for men, this gene can raise the risk of breast,

prostate, any other cancers.

So this matters for you, too.

Right now, I care about Gran and you.

Me too.

I just pray that if someone has to inherit this gene,

please, God, let it be me and not Nicole.

She's been through so much already.

Hey, hey, hey, hey, no.

There's no need to go there, okay?

Look, there's a good chance that neither of you

will test positive, all right?

Let's just hold on to that.

- Okay. - Okay?

Look, I have a favor to ask.

Ask it.

Let me come talk to the girls with you, okay?

No doubt it'll be tough on them to hear all this,

and they're gonna need both of us.

DANI: I was hoping you'd say that.

I want you to follow your mother's lead.

If she tests positive,

you need to get tested right away.

I only wish I had known

before now so that you could have known.

- It's my only regret. - Gran.

Please.

With everything you're going through right now,

- please don't talk like that. - I agree.

It sounds like you're blaming yourself

for maybe possibly making us sick.

And that's just all kinds of wrong.

If this

thing

this terrible gene... has found its way to me,

I know one thing.

I will follow the example I have my whole life.

You.

I will face

whatever comes to me with the same courage

and strength you're showing us right now.

Because it's what both of you taught us.

It's how you raised us.

It's the example you have given us.

We are Duprees.

With everything that entails.

And the only thing I care about inheriting from you

is your incredible spirit.

I've already made an appointment to get tested.

If I'm positive... and that is a big if...

I'll let you know right away so that you can...

Get tested. We'll be on it, don't worry.

I want you to be negative, Mom, that goes without saying.

But even if you do have the gene,

I won't be getting tested.

Of course you'll get tested. Cancer is nothing

to play around with, Kat.

I'm not in denial.

But a test just tells me I'm walking through a minefield.

It doesn't stop the ground from blowing up.

They can't change my genes, can they?

You are upset about what your grandmother is facing.

We all are. But this is when

being thoughtful and proactive matters.

If you do carry the gene variant,

your doctors will have a head start.

They'll know what to monitor and how often.

That way, if,

God forbid, something does develop,

you'll have a plan and you'll have a chance to make

informed choices early when it can really matter.

That's what I'm doing right now.

I am deciding that I don't want to know.

I don't want to walk around with a cloud of,

"Is this my last normal day before I find out

"I have cancer" hanging over me for the rest of my life.

I am so glad you told us about Gran.

And I am praying for her.

And I am sending up a prayer with all my heart

that you test negative for this thing.

But I intend to live my life in sunshine.

And not in shadow.

MARTIN: Damn it, Kat, you can't...

Let her go.

She'll come around.

What if she doesn't?

- Amen. - Amen.

[phones ding]

That's probably your mother.

I'll bet on it.

- You're right, it's Mom. - After the fact.

You should talk to her.

Well, there's no rush.

We can stay here with you a little longer.

Your granddad was right.

I do need some rest.

Then we'll go and let you do precisely that.

But you know we'll be here the second

- that you need us, right? - Of course we do.

You know, I thought the Articulettes' reunion concert

was the performance of your life,

but I was wrong.

You beating cancer will put that to shame.

And you're absolutely gonna have to give another concert

when you are completely cancer-free.

Thank you for your love

and support and your faith.

I'll show the girls out.

It's-it's okay. We're good, Granddad.

They are such wonderful young women.

How did we get so lucky?

Well, I meant to say...

I'm the lucky one.

And I don't see my lucky streak

coming to an end anytime soon.

Sweetheart?

I suppose I'm finally welcome in my own living room.

Yeah, sorry about asking you to leave the room before.

So now can you tell me what that was all about?

Soon. I... It's something I need to deal with first.

Then I have to head over to the office.

You want to meet me there? We can go to dinner

and I can tell you everything.

It's just that, you know,

Dani is...

She's going through a lot. The whole family is.

And whatever this thing is affects Naomi and Chelsea, too?

Since Dani was so adamant about seeing you alone,

- I assumed that... - Look, baby,

again, baby, I'm sorry, okay?

It couldn't be helped.

Of course.

Whatever this... business is,

I hope it all works out.

For all the Duprees.

Thank you for being so understanding, okay?

Of course. All right.

Okay, you go. Take care of your business.

Okay.

- Are the girls on their way? - Yeah, I texted them.

They should be here any minute.

Listen, I'm sorry if that caused you any

problems with Hayley, asking you

- to speak alone. - Nah, no, don't worry

about that. I think she understands

that this is something important.

Why did you wait to text us?

Wait, what are you talking about?

We just came from the Grans'.

- You mean... - We mean that we walked in

like we do every year with the balloons for the New Year,

and they were in the middle of talking about Gran's cancer.

- About which we had no idea. - DANI: Oh, my God.

- I'm so sorry. - And then she told us

about how she had some

kind of port put into her body.

And then we were two complete messes,

and it was the two of them that were comforting us.

Why would you keep this from us?

Like, how could you put us in that position?

Hey, hey, wait-wait a second, your mother

didn't keep anything from you.

She's known about this news for less than 24 hours.

As soon as you knew, you should have told us.

I-I'm sorry.

I have been struggling with this

since I learned about your grandmother's situation.

And-and I needed time to figure out how to speak to both of you.

I'm having a hard time, too.

Okay, listen, hey, everybody, take a breath.

Listen. Girls

you're right to be upset.

Especially since it comes from your concern

for your grandmother. And Dani,

you were right to hold off on telling them.

You don't just drop this kind of news in someone's lap.

It's a tough situation, there's no truly right answers here.

We just all have to do the best that we can.

If we do it together, then we'll be fine.

Okay?

- Is now a good time? - Of course.

Are you doing better?

I knew something was up with you before.

Actually, no, I'm not better, and I'll explain.

But first I need to ask you something.

Anything.

How are things between you and Kat these days?

I know it was a little rough there for a while.

"Rough" isn't the word for what we went through,

but bit by bit, we're making some headway.

She even came by to see me on Christmas.

Good, I'm glad to hear that.

You two were so close before.

Yeah, before Hurricane Dana blew into town.

You were the one that Kat listened to about everything.

And I really need you to get her to listen to you now.

I think you need to tell me what's going on

and how it affects our daughter.

We have some beautiful babies in this family.

Yes, indeed.

[doorbell rings]

I'll get it, baby.

- Grandad. - Martin.

Mom told me the news.

Yeah. I thought she would.

Thank you for coming to show your support.

Did you attend the mayor's New Year's Day message

this morning?

I made it to the breakfast,

but that's when I got the call from Mom

and I left before the program where I was supposed to speak.

But... priorities.

You putting family first is no surprise.

But your Gran has already had a pretty full day,

so go easy, okay?

Do I hear my grandson's voice?

Come on in here and give me a hug.

And don't worry, I won't break,

no matter what your granddad says.

- So how's the campaign going? - Um...

The fundraising? Do you need donors?

I didn't come here to talk about politics.

Well, that's too bad, because I'm all talked out about cancer.

- Politics it is. - All right.

- Can I tell you a secret. - Please. I love secrets.

Come on.

Everybody assumes that I model myself after this guy.

And I do, don't get me wrong.

But what they don't know is that I'm always

packing a little bit of Anita Dupree in my hip pocket

when I need to keep folks in line.

- Oh, please. - Yes, please.

My caucus leader was trying to push me around the other day

and I thought to myself,

"WWGD"... what would Gran do?

So I narrowed my eyes,

I stood my ground and I told him

exactly how it was gonna be.

And guess what? He backed down.

And that

is what you have to give your cancer,

that same glare, so we can continue

to celebrate many more New Years together.

She explained to you about the gene variant?

- Yeah. And what's it called? - DANI: BRCA.

And it can be passed from generation to generation.

But it can't skip one.

Yeah. So all you need to do for right now

is wait for me to get tested, and if it comes back negative,

we can all breathe a little bit easier.

But if it's positive...

I'll get tested right away.

Me too.

That's music to this father's ears.

I'm glad you were here to tell us

even though we already knew.

I can't imagine what Anita is going through.

Vernon, too.

But Nicole, just know,

whatever you need, whatever the kids need,

even though you and I aren't together anymore,

we're still family.

I appreciate that.

And there is something you can do.

About Kat?

She insists that she won't get tested

even if I test positive.

Hmm.

Actually, I'm not surprised by that.

Really?

I guess that just proves

you always knew her better than anyone else.

Which makes you the perfect person to make her see reason.

Doesn't matter who asks, she'll push back, she's an adult.

We can't make that call for her.

We have to, Ted.

You are the only other person who knows

how much we wanted her,

how much we went through to have her.

I won't, I can't.

I can't just stand by and watch my miracle baby

play games with her life.

I promise you

I will be as supportive as I can to make sure

she makes the right decision on her own.

But frankly,

I'm hoping it's not even an issue.

Because you're gonna test negative.

- I'll take a shot of tequila. - Sure thing.

All right, you go on, now. I know how busy you are.

Yes, ma'am.

Come on, son.

Before she aims that glare at us.

Thank you for coming,

and for what you said to your grandmother.

I know she appreciated it.

There were times I took your support for granted.

Because I was self-centered and caught up in my own world.

Martin, you know you have no need to apologize.

Apologies are just words.

I want you to know that I am here for her and you.

Now, I want to make sure that I'm your first call

if you ever feel like the walls are closing in.

VERNON: It's a girl, my sweet Anita.

Say hello to your daughter.

DANI: You have to come to Paris with me, Mother.

I want you there cheering when a Dupree walks the runway.

NICOLE: It's the most prestigious

psychiatric residency in the country, Mother.

I would have never gotten in without your support.

KAT: I may be young, but I'm about to level up

my dad's practice and put it on the map for real.

NAOMI: I'm Naomi Hamilton, Esq., Gran.

You have another lawyer in the family.

MARTIN: Gran, the results are in.

Say hello to Congressman Martin Richardson.

CHELSEA: The Dupree sense of style comes straight

from the top, from you.

Gran, you're really the reason I'm a designer.

VERNON: Anita.

Anita.

I didn't know if you heard me.

I heard you.

I heard all of them.

Them?

I am so glad that you suggested we follow tradition

and go through the photo albums.

When the girls were here earlier,

I was watching how they were absorbing the news.

And I started to feel it.

I don't understand.

The wonder of this family that we created, Vernon.

This incredible family.

There's such strength, such love.

Knowing who they are,

separately and together

it makes me think...

What, love?

That no matter what happens,

I am at peace.

Did you know that 85% of people diagnosed with breast cancer

have no family history?

Or that a lump might not be the only indicator of breast cancer.

There are actually 12 signs you should know,

which is especially important for Black women,

who are more likely to develop breast cancer at younger ages.

The Know Your Lemons foundation is a global charity.

And their incredible Know Your Lemons app

will help you create a custom breast plan,

so download it today at.

KnowYourLemons.org/app.

- Early detection saves lives. - Saves lives.

Captioning sponsored by CBS.

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