Original subtitles

Sweetheart, I am capable of walking

under my own power.

No one is questioning your might, my love.

Just following through on my promise

of door-to-couch service.

You promised not to treat me like a porcelain doll.

I am not leaving your side until we know

how you're going to respond to chemo.

Aren't you tired of watching?

You watched me read, you watched me nap.

You watched that medicine drip into me,

hopefully working its magic.

All this watching.

Your time could have been better spent.

Where else would I have been?

With the girls.

I know how nerve-racking it is waiting for these results.

They were waiting for word that you got through the chemo.

Any other answers are for another day.

Well, Lia said today.

And you haven't made a single call.

I've been busy watching my favorite program,

The Anita Show.

Vernon...

[sighs] Martin called.

If it was good news, you would have already

shared it with me to lift my spirits.

The doctor said for you to stay calm.

And my husband's closed lips are preventing that.

The results are in.

Nicole is not a carrier.

Oh, thank God.

You always use your words precisely.

You didn't say Dani.

We always knew there was a probability.

Now it's a reality.

Dani has the BRCA gene.

ANDRE: A watched phone never rings.

I know no such thing.

What does it say about me

that the people I love the most don't want me around?

Father says he's fine to tend to Mother on his own,

and my girls didn't want me to come

get their blood drawn with them.

And you think your presence is gonna change

how tired Anita will be

or impact the results?

No.

Do you need to be there for them or be there for you?

For both.

My mother made me, and my girls are me.

Naomi and Chelsea are the best parts of me.

Hey. [sighs]

And you think you'll comfort them?

As a mother, I'd...

I would be bawling over the needle going in

-and they don't need that. -They still need you,

and they want you,

even if you can't be there physically.

Besides, there's a chance that they don't even get the gene.

This is me, Andre.

The math just doesn't math like that for me.

The-the chips rarely fall in my favor.

-My girls... -Come on.

Come on. There's no sense in getting yourself all worked up.

I am trying to be positive,

but my results are in.

Why would I think my kids would escape the same fate?

-Why wouldn't you? -I just keep thinking

-about all the choices... -Baby,

maybe you should stop thinking altogether.

Okay? Let me distract you.

Hey.

-You came. -You texted.

I love that we're here.

At Uptown?

Then I can text you with no notice

-and you show. -[laughs]

I'm here for whatever you need.

No judgment.

But was this really a spontaneous text?

Didn't you get the results today?

Are you trying to find out if I am dying to see you

or if I'm actually dying?

Sorry. I can't seem to steer myself away from gallows humor.

Yes, the results came back.

Nicole...

I tested negative.

Uh, I-- I-I don't get it.

Why-why aren't you happier?

♪ ♪

Hey.

Oh. My bad.

-What's up? What you need? -The Sticky Fingers case?

Micah Hester's shoplifting crew

isn't some kiddie smash-and-grab.

It's an organized, six-figure menace.

Right. Right, right. Okay, um...

Yeah. Detective Wells, he's staking the warehouse

and, um...

Officer Lane...

he set up a meeting with the fence.

-Gerber... -You want to let me know

when you clocked in and ready to work?

I was just about to review this file.

But you never give me an update without thorough details.

Where's your head?

On my wife.

Gotten blood work done more times than I can count,

but this time,

this could really change everything.

Well, I hope you still think that knowledge is power.

Because it is.

The more you know, the more you can prepare. Yeah.

And knowledge is time, too.

Time to appreciate your health if the test comes back negative.

And if it's positive?

Time to make a plan and to stay ahead of it.

You manage to peek in on your grandmother?

No, only Granddad was allowed in.

-Gran's edict. -Hmm.

But they just got home.

-And Chelsea? -Same as me.

Anxious.

But Chelsea and needles are not friends,

so Madison's in there holding her hand.

Hey. Thank you again for getting us in there so quickly.

Don't mention it. I'm just happy I can do my job.

And thank you for connecting us with that new lab tech.

He really has a magic touch, doesn't he?

I wouldn't know.

Well, you could when you go out with him tonight.

[both chuckle]

When we were in med school, they framed it

like it was a game of chance, rolling the dice

to see what your body was wired for.

I wish my sister's luck had been different.

It's just the first steps.

Yes, there is an elevated risk, but it doesn't mean

that Dani's going to develop cancer.

And you'll be there with her along the way.

I will do a Long Island iced tea.

SERVER: Excellent choice.

Club soda for me.

Okay. I'll be back with your drinks.

You usually go for a lot less proof and more presentation.

You, knocking a classic?

It gets the job done.

What's the job?

What happened to "I'm here for you, Nicole"?

-"Whatever you need, Nicole"? -I am here for you.

I know the science,

but she is my sister.

She is the first person I got to love

since the day she was born.

Not just love-- protect.

When those results came in,

all I could think was...

"Not Dani."

I would trade places with her in a heartbeat.

Is that what she would want?

She is happy I was spared.

The only good thing to come out of this

is my clean test means that Kat and Martin are out of danger.

And Dani's means...

Her daughters may also have inherited the gene.

Anita got diagnosed with breast cancer.

Oh, man.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Her children got tested to see if they inherited

the carrier gene.

And Dani's test came back positive,

which puts Naomi and Chelsea at risk, too.

Why didn't you tell me?

Or at least mention it to your mother?

Because you always said to not act

-until you know all the facts. -This isn't a case.

I'm where you unload at the first hint of trouble.

And Naomi's our family, too.

-How's she doing? -[scoffs]

You know her.

Going full-on Naomi.

Making playlists for Anita and blowing up her group chat

with her mother and her sister

and scouring the Internet for info like it's her job.

Any cracks in her armor?

Nah. Naomi's made of Dupree steel.

I'm the one who's feeling it.

This cancer thing is scaring the hell out of me.

NAOMI: Well, Madison must have a way with her hands

because you don't look fazed at all.

Well, not just Madison. That cute lab tech?

He had me doing this breathing exercise thing.

-I barely felt the prick. -Hmm.

Closest thing I've been to a threesome

since I gave them up for true love.

[laughs]: See?

The hot tech's got fans.

You're relentless.

Go to her.

We've got this, little sis.

Yeah.

Well, thanks for coming to the lab.

Yeah, I couldn't leave you alone with Grayson.

That man takes off his lab coat and I swear,

all the nurses just stop and watch like he's Magic Mike.

[laughs]

You did amazing.

Well, now if you just hold my hand 24/7...

Millions live with the variant and never get the disease.

Keep reminding me.

Gran getting sick is forcing me

to take a long, hard look at myself and...

I need to make some major changes.

You are more excited about my date than I am.

What? He's patient and dreamy.

I like him for you.

And you're basing this off what, a blood test?

If my coffee date ends like that,

things will have gone very, very wrong.

[laughs] Oh, come on.

You can enjoy his excellent bedside manner,

if you know what I mean.

I'm just dipping my toe in the water.

What is with the hard sell?

You survived the first awkward run-in with Derek,

did the moping and ditched the sweatpants.

Ergo, you are showing signs of actually being over your ex.

Isn't it time to see who else is out there?

I love these shoulders.

And your skin is so soft.

And your lips so supple.

And sweet on mine.

-[laughs softly] -Mine love you, too.

And I love you.

I may have lost the genetic lottery...

...but the love one?

-Baby, I ran the tables. -[both chuckle]

We both did.

Dani, I was out there wandering,

because no place felt like home...

...after my parents died.

I had convinced myself...

...that I wasn't bothered

and that my life was exactly the way I wanted it.

But then this... this magical, beautiful,

insanely inspiring woman popped up.

You made me stop wandering, Dani.

You became my home.

And here I was,

thrashing around,

mourning something that meant nothing.

You didn't know what you were missing...

...and I didn't know you were coming.

-You're my home, too. -[sniffles]

Dani's finally pulled her life back together.

The boy we thought was a toy is now our favorite son-in-law.

She couldn't be prouder of Naomi's success.

She and Chelsea are closer than they've ever been.

Her business is growing, Dani is flourishing,

and now she's got to deal with my broken genes?

I will not be the reason

our baby girl goes off the rails.

Dani's resilient.

I still hear the sound of the gunshots

of Dani's resilience.

That was then, this is now.

And you cannot possibly blame yourself.

Can't I?

Vernon, I don't know when it happened,

but I believed our hype.

I bought into "the Duprees,"

the shiny family up on the hill.

But the bloodline that we are so proud of,

that's where the culprit lies.

We thought we were passing on our prized family genes

when I was really passing on an intruder.

And that cancer that is not only threatening my life

but now Dani's and possibly our grandchildren,

also kept me from being with her when she found out.

It's not a curse.

Hmm? It touches almost every family.

That's not on the name. It's not on you.

It's the nature of the beast itself.

Well, that beast has kept me away from my baby long enough.

We can call.

I need to look her in her eye

and tell her I am sorry with my arms around her.

After you've rested.

Dr. Bauer was adamant, as am I.

Vernon, this is our journey,

but it is my body, and I know when I'm fine.

And Dr. Bauer's instructions are not law.

Nor are they mere suggestions.

You've just acknowledged that Anita Dupree is human.

I am being as good a patient as I am capable of.

But coddling me when what I need is just a few streets away

is the exact opposite of the prescription for peace.

You are as stubborn as the day I met you.

More.

I'll have Titus bring the car around.

Thank you.

Do you know what I hate on top of everything else?

-Tell me. -This just reinforces

the narrative.

The Tale of Two Sissys.

Dani's "Poor Dani," the hot mess with drama

around every possible turn,

and I, I am...

"Little Miss Perfect Nicole."

Well, aren't you Poor Dani-ing her right now?

Thinking you can handle cancer better than she can?

-Ouch. -But fair.

I've never seen Dani like that.

But you?

-You're pretty flawless. -Mm-mm. Mm-mm.

-Don't say that. -I've looked at you,

I've listened to you, I've kissed you.

You-- you should own it.

I am just as messed up as everybody else.

I have just learned ways to cope.

It comes with the territory of the profession.

Josh, can I have another one, please?

Nothing for me.

Life isn't a professional setting, Nicole.

"Doctor, heal thyself."

Or maybe just be yourself.

No one expects the calm and perfect veneer at all times.

I expect it.

Hell, just a few months ago,

I called myself the family fixer.

My family doesn't have fixers, so what does that job entail?

Making sure that nobody falls.

And if and when they do, I am there.

Sounds noble.

And exhausting.

It is.

I don't need fixing.

So, how about you pack up all those tools...

...and just be real with me?

You want me to be real?

Yes.

Fine.

Take "terrified," multiply it by a million.

That is me.

You do know how to distract.

But now that the tell portion is over,

show me the love.

No words...

...just hands...

...lips...

-And... -Mm...

[laughs]

[doorbell rings]

[shushes]

[doorbell rings]

-[laughs] -Okay, okay.

I'm gonna get that.

When I come back...

Mm.

I'm gonna make sure the rest of the world

-is forgotten about. -[laughs]

Who is it...

Oh, uh...

Miss Anita, Vernon, we were not expecting you.

Um, please, can I get you some tea or some juice?

I-I just need my Dani.

Sure. Uh, she's in the bedroom, but...

Uh, she may not be dressed yet! [clears throat]

I brought that child into this world.

You think I haven't seen her naked behind?

VERNON: You can't stop a determined Dupree.

[chuckles]

-Ah, let me get that for you. -Ah, thank you.

So, uh, how was chemo?

Well, she seems to be tolerating it well so far.

-Good. -Or she could be operating

-on sheer adrenaline. -[chuckles]

And how are you?

Everything in our family flows from her.

If she's sick, feels like we all are.

And this news about Dani...

Hey, just tell me, what can I do?

Well, while Anita's holding her baby,

maybe you and I can have a father-in-law

to son-in-law chat.

ANITA? Dani?

Mother?

You're not supposed to be out of the house. Are...

Do you think I pitched a fit with your father

to come here and talk about myself?

Daddy told you I have the BRCA gene.

He did.

Come here, baby.

When those vials were filling up,

the only thing I could think about was my kidnapping.

-Oh, Chelsea. -This isn't about Crazy Allison,

it's about after.

You've been doing amazing.

But I've also been something else.

Something I've never been before.

Careful.

With reason.

You took control of your socials,

you've been teaching your ChelseaFam about online safety.

Remember what I said when you asked me

the meaning of life the day we met?

That you're game for anything.

I used to go to the airport,

close my eyes and pick a destination on the board.

And you and I, we've never had a real getaway.

We're busy. We live full lives.

We have demanding schedules.

We do, but how much of that is me just being chicken?

Being spontaneous used to be my superpower.

What are you saying?

Gran's sick,

and she's lived a lifetime of doing the right things.

I think it's time for me to stop playing it so safe.

What are you afraid of?

Mother shouldn't be Anita Dupree.

Anita Williams, she came from the poorest part of Chicago.

Used her voice, led the Articulettes,

earned an EGOT, became a philanthropist.

And still, somehow,

she genuinely feels that her children

are her greatest accomplishment,

above everything else.

She beat every single odd

to become who she is today.

What if she doesn't beat this one?

She will bring all of the above to the fight.

I have seen it personally

with every reconstruction that I've done,

and you have seen it in the patients that you counsel.

"Mind over matter" is real.

She will get the best care money can buy.

The cancer doesn't care about that.

It doesn't care that she is a mother,

a wife, a grandmother, a star.

All it cares about is taking.

And the kind Mother has, it is violent.

-Josh, can I get another drink, please? -Uh, no, no, no.

Let-let, let-let me take you home.

What?

You don't like the real me already?

No, no, I just don't know that you want to share her

with the whole restaurant.

Being scared doesn't mean you can't also be strong.

God knows if anything happened to your mother,

I would be lost, too.

But you need to hold it together for Naomi, son.

I'm trying, Pops.

Yeah.

Well, the Duprees have their hands full,

but mine and your mother's aren't.

You know, Naomi's our family, too.

Lean on us.

We'll say a prayer for her in church Sunday.

Or you can come with us.

Yeah. Yeah, we'd like that.

Good. Now go see your woman.

-All right, I just got to take care... -No, no.

Hand your calls off. This mess will be here in the morning.

All right? We'll debrief then.

Take good care of Naomi.

All right?

Thanks, Pops.

Coffee on the first date is a tragedy.

The coffee breath, the laptops.

Grayson deserves better.

You know what?

I think you should go on this date instead of me.

Or I could come with you.

-Come again? -A double date.

No.

Grayson.

Ashley wants to ask you something.

What's up?

Um, nonstop drama.

-Hmm. -You?

Lowlight, kid with leukemia this morning.

-Mm... -Highlight,

you finally agreeing to do coffee with me.

Um...

Highlight.

Me being able to help my bestie and her sis, thanks to you.

Lowlight, the reason why.

Yeah, I could tell they were anxious.

You know, alleviating tension's kind of my gift.

-Oh, is it? -Mm-hmm. You know,

there's only one way you're gonna find out.

[sighs]

Um, would it be okay if we change plans tonight?

If you need to be with your friend, uh,

-I totally get it. -I do.

-Yeah. -I just want you to come, too.

It's not easy to take on a Dupree.

[chuckles]

Jacob and Smitty, they, uh...

they rose to it.

Ted and Bill, they failed spectacularly.

They forgot the secret.

Which is?

Appreciate their strengths.

Their bravado.

Be the place where they can feel what they need to feel.

A soft place to land.

You follow?

-I do. -Good, because otherwise,

there'll be someone else

waiting to be Dani's safe space.

Sweetheart, I want to apologize to you

for passing on this gene.

Come on.

This isn't your fault.

It's just cells and bad luck.

I know it's beyond my control, but if I could have,

I would have done anything to spare you this.

-Maybe if I had known sooner... -How?

They didn't even know this gene existed

until after Nicole and I were born.

You couldn't have changed the course of our lives

short of making us not exist at all.

And I sure as hell am glad to be in this world as your daughter.

You know, when your father and I first got together...

...I imagined that our daughters or sons

would be little versions of us.

You wish I'd been more like you, I'm sure.

No. No.

I was delighted at how you and Nicole

were not Mini-Me's

but your own, wonderfully independent,

occasionally infuriating selves.

But of course, my vanity

always enjoyed seeing those little bits of us in you.

Some of that fire

definitely came from me.

But I never thought that I would pass on something

that could hurt my baby girl.

Don't.

What you feel...

...is exactly what I'm feeling.

The guilt.

The bargaining.

Because that thing in you that might be in me...

...I might have passed down to my girls.

And that feeling is worse than being sick myself.

I will find us a table

while you guys get the apps and cocktails.

Ashley is just so very thirsty.

-[chuckles] -[laughs softly]

-Shall we? -[laughs]

Yeah, sorry about that.

She's usually not so... mad matchmaker.

And I know that bringing my bestie on our first date

is breaking pretty much every rule,

-but I just... -Oh, I get it, I get it.

Besides, she's gotten me from coffee to drinks

and now a double date?

Maybe she's my best friend.

-NAOMI: Hey, babe. -Hey.

Aren't we supposed to be curled up,

-binging reality TV right now? -Ugh.

There's just been so much sad this week,

I couldn't miss a chance to do some healing.

Do you remember Long Islands can also sneak up on you?

Boo! [laughs]

I'm not scared.

But I just want to make sure you don't feel like

the Long Island Express train hits you in the morning.

It wouldn't be my first hangover.

Besides, I am in my own home,

with my own liquor cabinet, which means the highest quality.

And it's not like I am leaving and driving.

Worst case, I might do some... [gasps]

-...Internet shopping. -Nicole...

One night.

Just one night,

I don't want to have any answers.

I want to let my hair down.

Just one night, Carlton.

I thought you were the guy that I could let loose with.

Turns out that you are all sentiment and no follow-through.

You know what? You have been kind, you brought me home.

You can leave now.

Maybe you can take Miss Perfect out

when she returns to her factory settings.

That is, if she still wants to go out with you.

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.

I would not dream of letting you drink alone.

I thought you were gonna say we should start jogging

or cut back on steak.

You know, things that actually prolong life?

Living on the edge sounds like the opposite.

Close your eyes.

Why?

Do you trust me?

Yes.

Then close your eyes.

I want to do much more of that.

Well, that makes two of us.

-But wh... -And I don't need

to take some big, physical risk, okay?

I just want to feel at home in my skin again,

even if that means sharing my body with this evil gene.

I want to kiss my girlfriend in the middle of a hospital.

I want to fill up that map on my phone with so many pins

that you can't even see map.

I want to learn things from strangers.

And this ticking gene bomb, it may be just that.

But it's also a gift.

It reminded me of what I'm missing.

You get what I'm trying to say?

Yeah. Yeah, I-I do.

And I want you to be with me every step of the way.

This adventure, it isn't just mine.

Okay? It's ours.

I thought you might enjoy an Aperol spritz.

Slightly less aggressive than the Long Islands you love.

Yum. You thought right.

[slow jam playing over stereo]

Do you remember this one?

How could I forget?

Certified classic.

I enjoyed dancing with you at our indoor picnic.

Then maybe we should do it again.

-There's nothing I'd like more. -Hmm.

-Would you like that more? -Mm-hmm.

[laughs softly]

-Wait. -Oh. I'm sorry.

Is this version of me not to your liking?

Oh, no, no, no.

No. I want every version of you, Nicole,

But tonight isn't our night.

I want you to choose me when you aren't taking time off

from being yourself.

Look at me.

I don't want to be your escape, Nicole.

I want to be your real life.

I'm looking at these bottles of scotch,

and I'm trying to figure out why none of them

are together with their friends.

-Friends? -Yes.

But then I realized that the bartender

organized them by size and shape

as opposed to type,

which I think is much cooler and...

...you think is lame?

Interesting.

No, uh, most men don't have that attention to detail.

Well, does it help that I also noticed

that that bottle of Cognac has a...

sexy shape?

-And? -And yours is even sexier?

[laughs]: Okay.

-What? What-what? -How many times have you used that line?

-Just a, just a few times. -Mm-hmm.

Yeah, maybe a couple.

-You know. -Knew it.

But you're the first woman to call me out on it.

The others were being polite.

And you're being honest.

Mistake?

If honesty scares me, then yes,

but-- spoiler-- it doesn't.

Mm, that was definitely a scoot. You saw that?

I saw the scoot, babe.

And I also see that "new couple friends" alert

going off in your head.

But remember, Ashley has to like the new puppy

before we adopt him.

Well, she's definitely attracted to the new puppy.

So, what do you do to relax?

Um...

Read. Work out.

Okay, fine.

I'll admit, I like to clean and organize.

But now it seems like I'm saying that

just to impress you.

I'm just very detail-oriented.

You see, I'm a guy who really enjoys details.

Hmm.

Like the way you naturally tilt your head,

so when I come in for that first kiss...

No headbutting.

How very conscientious of you.

Actually, bumping noses is the number-one cause

of injuries in first kisses, so...

Hmm.

If that's your way of saying you're an expert,

maybe you should initiate things.

I mean, what if I go in for the first kiss?

[gasps] Have you ever?

Actually...

-...no. -Oh.

[clears throat] Okay, I was, uh...

[exhales] I was about to go in for it, but, um...

-Naomi's watching, so... -Oh!

Oh, oh, you're gonna let that stop you, huh?

Uh-huh. Yep, I am. I'm gonna let that stop me.

I'm gonna take a step back

and I'm gonna stay professional...

Mm.

-...in front of my friends. -If that's what you want.

-But I was wondering. -Yeah?

You know how some people can tie a knot

in a cherry stem with their tongue?

You offering to do that?

Well, I can't do all the work.

-Mm. -I'm initiating the first kiss.

Okay. Deal.

Right here? Now?

My apartment.

In the time it takes to get there.

Let's go.

Now, where were we?

[laughs softly]

♪ ♪

[clears throat]

You know, I enjoy acting like we're body language experts

with TMZ, but is there any chance

we're on Ashley's date because you wanted to skip out

on your hospital visit?

Nope. Grayson has excellent hands.

Naomi, listen,

this gene thing is like a loaded gun

being waved around your family.

It doesn't have to go off for you to feel the trauma.

Grayson isn't the only one with hands,

shoulders and ears here for you.

And knowing that is part of the reason

I haven't fallen apart yet.

But can we please not worry about things we can't control?

Sure. Anything you want.

I want to put all my energy into getting Gran better,

making sure my friend is happy

and right now, being third and fourth wheels

-with my husband. -Okay.

-Hey. -Grayson, this is my husband Jacob.

-Thanks for letting us crash. -Hey, happy to meet Ashley's people.

Uh, don't hate us, but we're gonna take off.

Where to?

Ashley's gonna show me how she organizes her place.

You're welcome.

Thanks, Naomi. I really needed tonight.

Me, too.

Okay. Good to meet you, Jacob.

-[mouths] -JACOB: You as well.

How are my granddaughters?

Better than their mother.

Blood tests are done, now just...

waiting and praying.

And you scheduled your follow-up?

If the worst happens, you need to act quickly.

I will. I will. I just, I just need a minute to process.

Only a minute.

Thanks for coming, Mom.

You are exactly what I needed.

You always are.

VERNON: Not only do you have

to watch for Dani's demons,

you've got to look for the one waiting in the wings, too.

[chuckles] Yeah, I remembered your warning earlier today

when that demon showed up in Dani's room, comforting her.

Yeah, I know Bill Hamilton is lurking.

Oh, but I drew a line.

Yeah, I told Bill that Naomi and Chelsea might need him,

but Dani doesn't.

Yeah, she already has a husband, and that's me.

-Good man. -Yeah.

Allow me to ease your worries where Dani's concerned, sir.

There is nothing or no one more important to me than she is.

Losing Dani to this disease or to someone else

is not happening.

Vernon, it's time to go home.

-Are you tired, my love? -Mm.

Relieved.

I see exactly what I hoped I'd see.

Our daughter is the same capable woman today

as she was yesterday.

Like mother, like daughter.

This road may be tougher than we thought,

but then, so are we.

And no one needs to pity either of us.

Cancer simply is no match

for two formidable Dupree women.

And that's that.

Captioning sponsored by CBS

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