Original subtitles

[knocking]

Okay.

Before you ask, I wasn't tailed.

I kept my eye on the rear view the entire way here.

My dad told me Joey pulled his goons anyhow.

Well, that's a relief.

Anyway, I spoke with Ashley.

Did you know that Grayson tried to volunteer

at the clinic but Derek said no?

Well, I'm not surprised. Derek didn't want

Grayson working there.

Who would want to be anywhere near the guy

your ex moved on with?

Well, it forced Lia to make the move

that we've been waiting for.

She went around Derek and got Grayson in.

And why would she go through all that trouble?

Right.

If Lia needed Grayson

so badly at that clinic,

it could only mean one thing.

The Impaler's found his next facility to exploit.

[grunting]

It's always better when they fight.

[Grayson panting]

Feeling that d�j� vu.

I don't want you forgetting what will happen to you

if you don't do what I say.

I have my reminder right here.

Ah, so you're well enough to joke.

How was your first night at the clinic?

According to plan.

Good. But that was yesterday.

Today, plans have changed.

? ?

We were double Belleclaired.

Anastasia with me, Francesca with Samantha.

So much for Samantha's peaceful

- day off. - I'll need to hear details

next time we're together.

After she announced that she couldn't handle it anymore,

she rushed out of here. Hopefully,

she's on her way to meet with you.

Thanks for letting me know, Mom.

I'll take it from here,

Try not to worry.

Oh, I remember hitting a wall with my cotillion prep.

Me too. Buckets of tears.

Looking back, I realized the true unsung heroes

were the matriarchs holding everyone together.

My mother was a champ.

But fortunately, Dani didn't debut.

Could you imagine if she had?

I'm seeing something like

a black mini and high-top sneakers.

[laughs] Absolutely.

How about Deanna's debut?

Uh, when she chopped off all her hair

the night before so that she could avoid the updo?

Who could forget?

Thank goodness for our hair stylist

and the miracle she performed.

But that's nothing compared to the onslaught

you and Samantha are getting from the bitchy Belleclaires.

Sorry. Too much?

Oh, not even close,

at least for the elder.

Kat sailed through like a champ,

up until just before the ceremony,

she got stage fright. Ted was the only one

who could reach her. He...

I think it's okay to praise past Ted

for the moments he nailed.

He knew where to be then.

Speaking of, is he still

appearing at inopportune moments?

Okay, so you have the collagen rep call

and then that digital lipo seminar

and then you're light for the rest of tomorrow.

Okay, perfect.

Okay. Well, let me go talk cotillion here

with your granddaughter before I head to the clinic.

Poor Samantha. She keeps second-guessing what she wants.

I remember that like it was yesterday.

I had no idea how many ways you could pin your hair up

until I watched Kat go through it.

Sorry.

What are you apologizing for?

Eh, for moments lost.

I would have loved to

have a father/daughter waltz

at your debut, Eva.

Well, you can save all that dadding

from my wedding day.

Did Dana manifest real wedding bells

with all her plotting?

Okay, definitely not.

But Izaiah and I did make some real progress last night.

Hmm.

We said the L-word.

- I'm happy for you. - Thanks.

Anybody that can make you smile like that

without you even noticing you're smiling...

is good in my book.

Okay, okay, okay.

How about you and Shanice?

Are you two on firmer ground?

I want us to be.

I'm actually hoping

to know later today.

[knocking]

Ah.

- Hi. Uh, did Shanice see you? - No,

and I don't like sneaking around on my niece.

What's with this SOS text?

Okay, I'll apologize again for taking you from the convention.

Is it her? Is it her health?

Nothing-nothing like that, but she needs

her favorite aunt to set her straight.

She's running scared.

Is it bring your bestie to work day?

- [laughs] - Oh, I was...

I was just following up with a client.

I'm kidding.

I've got to run. Our favorite Dr. Dinosaur

needs his hard copies.

Ah, Mercer?

Bless his "stuck in the '90s" heart.

You know you do not have to babysit me, okay?

Especially when you have non-imaginary case files.

These files are real

and I'm all set.

And I am not leaving you alone

with you-know-who.

You wouldn't want to take that chance.

I know, I hear you, but I have to believe

that there's too many people running around here

for Lia to pull anything crazy.

Right?

Did you start mapping out how we can move the product?

Lia, do I need to remind you

that the guy in charge doesn't trust me?

And it doesn't help that you went over

his head to get me in the building in the first place.

I wouldn't have had to do that

if you hadn't foolishly gotten yourself involved

with his ex-fianc�e.

That is on you, and so is figuring this out.

The guy's got me on grunt work.

Okay? I don't even think Derek is gonna let me into the lab.

How am I supposed to start some new process to move plasma?

- It's... - Figure it out.

The first shipment is tomorrow night.

That-that's not logistically possible.

What I want is for you

to do what you are told.

Get creative, and fast.

You are our only resource in that clinic.

Lia, I'm-I'm not... I'm not able to...

This is a matter of life and death.

Yours.

I'd feel better if we knew exactly what Lia was planning

with this free clinic.

My guess?

They'll follow the same playbook

as the mobile truck operations and the hospital,

Either stealing product or buying it for next to nothing.

They'll probably ask Grayson

to funnel plasma to the warehouse.

But there's more variables here,

with the staff, with the volunteers.

And Lia doesn't have the same control

at Phoenix Street as she does at Garland.

Unless she has somebody already willing

to look the other way.

Derek would never,

but I wouldn't put anything past Leslie.

She's already under suspicion for attempted murder.

Look, I am not defending Leslie at all.

Like, ugh.

But what does... what does she have to gain?

And her alleged crimes are about vengeance,

not about financial insecurity.

That's true.

With that inheritance,

she doesn't have to bend the law to survive.

And everybody that's already involved are in it

because of money problems.

But what if Leslie's doing somebody else's dirty work?

Like Joey Armstrong.

Trust me, whatever you've come up with in your head,

I've probably done in real life.

Okay, we were here.

- On the table? - [laughs] No, actually, in the hallway.

A public tryst.

Did one of the trainers surprise you and ruin the moment?

No, it was me, Ted,

and all the disapproving eyes of the presidents on the wall.

Even in my dreams,

I don't welcome an audience.

As hot as you are? They'd probably give you

a standing O right after Ted.

Have you met our membership?

Have you seen my Heart Attach roster?

No, I don't even want to know.

All right, tell me. Which of your paramours

gets to take you to the ball?

Mom, I thought you would like to know that Samantha

has recovered enough to have her detail

make a detour to the mall.

What did the wannabe princess do now?

[laughs] Your sister's coming off

another round with Francesca,

so I would ease on the gas, okay?

And don't make me regret letting you stay out of school, too.

Sure, I'll tone it down,

even if she wouldn't do it for me,

[scoffs] You can't still be mad at her.

Am I still grounded?

She shouldn't have blabbed

about my private moment with Jessica.

And now I can only see my girlfriend,

who's five minutes away from moving across the country,

at cotillion practice.

Look, I know you care about Jessica,

but I want you to try to consider her feelings

more than your raging hormones.

No one wants their first time to be quick and awkward,

especially when their family is downstairs.

It should be special.

It wouldn't have been our first time.

Are you saying you two have...

Not me. Jessica.

Got it.

I know what you're thinking, Pop.

I'm not thinking, and I'm definitely not judging.

It's not my place, son.

TED: I made a mistake.

Uh, it's the oldest one in the book, actually.

- But I got drunk and... - You cheated on Shanice.

I had my reservations about you, but I put them away

because she was happy.

You gave me your word

you were serious about her. How could you?

Okay, I slept with someone

before Shanice and I were together.

[clears throat]

Um, I'm not following.

Okay, Shanice has it in her head

that I'm gonna somehow circle back to this woman,

and I cannot talk her out of it.

Well, my niece has incredible instincts.

Is her hunch even a remote possibility?

I wouldn't sleep with that woman again if my life depended on it.

Oh, that's a quick response for a decades-long marriage.

This isn't about Nicole.

Oh, oh.

This is about your other daughter's mother.

It doesn't gel for me.

He's romantically involved with Vanessa McBride

and the clinic is dedicated to her husband?

That's messy.

But how much money is he making?

Maybe it's worth the mess to get the access he needs.

Yeah, that's a good theory,

but you're leaving out one critical detail.

What's that?

We're still breathing.

Joey knows we're on to the Impaler.

If it were him, he would have ended us a long time ago.

[phone vibrates]

Ren. What's good?

Everything's set.

Make sure you're at the warehouse tomorrow night.

We'll need extra security.

The VIPs will be there.

Big boss, too?

The guest list is none of your business.

Just be there.

I got you. I'll be strapped.

There it is.

[indistinct announcement on P.A.]

How you holding up?

Uh, Grayson?

It's not my first breakup. I'll bounce back.

There must be something in the air at Garland.

- [phone rings] - [gasps]

Oh, God.

Okay, no more caffeine for you.

You need to take a break.

Okay.

Nurses station.

Uh-huh.

I'll be there when I can, Dr. Richardson.

Okay, she'll, uh, be here soon, hopefully.

What can I say? The women in my family

aren't fans of being duped.

How are you?

Pretending to not be terrified.

Naomi's death glare aside,

I'm happy she's here with you.

Though I hate she has to be and that I put you through this.

I know.

I shouldn't risk being seen with you. Lia might...

Well, maybe she's out today. I haven't even seen her.

She's here. I was just with her.

What's going on?

Ashley, please, don't worry about me.

Okay, I-I can't just turn off caring about you.

I don't deserve it.

Something has you rattled.

Please, you can still talk to me.

[clears throat]

I got to get to the clinic.

Stick close to the friends you can trust.

What's with the urgent text?

I wanted to follow up on that computer hacker at the hospital.

I thought we were keeping this low-key.

Can't we go someplace a little less official?

You see all these files?

I don't have time.

Besides, there's something I want to show you.

Did you find the hacker?

Something else. Something best dealt with at the MPD.

All these months.

All your sacrifices.

It all comes down to this.

It'll all be worth it after tomorrow's meeting.

Where you want me to be?

- I can come after the cotillion, and... - What?

No, you can't be anywhere near that warehouse.

The VIPs will make Ren and everything he's done

feel like child's play.

It's way too risky, things can go south in a heartbeat.

I hear you, but we're so close, so I just figured

- that I... - Smitty, no.

Be with your family tomorrow.

And after this is done, I'll be able to be with mine, too.

- One night away. - One night away.

What do you got for me?

There's a big meeting scheduled

at the warehouse tomorrow.

All signs point to the Impaler showing himself.

You know this for sure?

It's highly likely. My guy said VIPs will be there.

That's music

to my ears.

All right, send me what you got.

I'll handle the warrant,

start organizing the team.

Copy.

Once I have enough to put everybody in cuffs,

I'll crack the door and let the team slide in.

I'll send over some profiles I've been working on

and a quick sketch of the warehouse,

just in case what's on file with the city

- doesn't line up. - Great.

I'll text you from the burner before I go dark.

Am I missing anything?

Not a thing.

You've done well, son.

I learned from the best.

I got to ask you, where's your head?

You asking as my chief or as my father?

Both.

Well,

the husband in me can't wait to come home,

but the detective is locked in.

I've been hearing about your big closes for years,

and I'm finally in a position to do one on my own.

We're almost there, Pops.

Indeed.

I'm proud of you, son.

I'll see you on the other side.

I'll see you then.

I mean it. I can't say

when the right moment is for anyone,

but I can tell you this.

Just because it isn't Jessica's first time

doesn't mean it shouldn't be meaningful

and special for you, too.

I got you.

And even though we've discussed this before...

I know what's coming.

Be safe.

Intimacy can't just be about feelings.

It's imperative that you two protect each other.

I'll do that. Always.

[sighs]

As of today, I'm skipping cotillion

and going into hiding forevermore.

Dramatic much?

Pop, you don't know what

I just went through with Chessy.

You do. Grandma.

Honey, you've been looking forward to being a deb

far too long than to let a couple of

spoiled socialites steal your night.

You know you can't let Chessy win.

She's already won.

I can wear the dress, curtsy like nobody's business,

have the perfect date, hair and service projects,

and I'll still just be Samantha from the group home.

Uh-uh!

Nope.

That attitude will not fly.

You don't get to send me on a Samantha scavenger hunt

in the middle of a workday

and then up and quit.

I went to the country club and then the mall,

and then you text me, "Never mind?"

I'm sorry I had you running after me,

but this is for the best.

Okay, we're gonna talk,

one girl born on the other side of the tracks to another.

Look, cotillion could never have been a thing

for teen me. Not the etiquette classes

or the ceremony, and definitely not that price tag.

But what it stands for?

Now, I can get behind that.

- But... - Community, service to others,

overcoming insecurities in order to be

a better version of yourself.

Who can understand that more than us?

I know, but those girls have had fancy dresses

and pearls from the jump.

And we are not them, but we have something they don't.

What's that?

Grit.

They will be lucky to have someone as fierce

and as strong as you are in their class, babe.

TYRELL: She's right.

Those other girls have no idea what it's like

to make something out of nothing.

They don't know what it's like to have a mom

who bought drugs instead of groceries.

EVA: You told me cotillion was all about

stepping into your power and owning who you want to become.

Are you really gonna let someone else decide

who you're allowed to be?

No.

Hell no.

You're gonna show them exactly who you are

and why you belong.

Am I right?

Mm-hmm.

[both laugh]

Oh.

- Thank you for this. - Of course.

I'll help you.

Well, I guess my job here is done.

And I always thought the speech gene

came from the Dupree side. Maybe Dad

passed it down.

You were great with her.

I know what it feels like being an outsider.

Dad says you have plans tomorrow.

What if you join us instead?

We don't want you to miss any more big family moments,

birthday girl.

[laughs] Helping Samantha get ready...

that is my part in her day.

But knowing that my brother invited me means everything.

- Mm! - [laughs]

Ted, I have actual patients who...

He called in my family to do his dirty work.

And he isn't even here.

He has filled me in.

I wanted to talk with you one-on-one.

Now, the last time we talked about this Leslie character,

you told me she was the one obsessed with Ted.

What changed? Why do you suddenly think

he's going to go for her crazy

over your everything?

Because he did.

He took her side over mine.

Ah.

I was afraid of this.

You're hiding in plain sight.

What could you have possibly have seen

that would require me to come all the way down here?

Well, I found something on that hospital footage

that you wanted me to quietly comb through.

[sighs] Okay.

Why am I looking at a empty stairwell?

It went black.

Well, that glitch happens at the same time

as Dr. Dupree's computer hack.

Oh.

So a blip in our signal

may have cost us knowing the identity of the real culprit?

I thought that at first,

but then I found another instance

with the screen blacking out.

Really.

Days later.

The time stamp is right here.

But that's after the hack.

Why are you looking

past the date of the incident?

I was checking for any patterns or unusual activity.

Now, we know there was a scheduled maintenance

that caused the screens to blacken out for the first hack,

but what about the second glitch?

You think maybe somebody

deliberately turned the cameras off?

Possibly.

The dates right there, um,

anything come to mind that sticks out?

Can't think of a thing.

But the hospital's been slammed.

I can't possibly know everything that happens.

Says the chief that's always telling me

that nothing gets past her.

You really have gone above and beyond.

I'll look into this with my staff.

I should be getting back.

Let me know what you find.

And don't worry.

I'll keep digging, too.

Grayson looked so scared of Lia.

Do not get sucked in.

I was actually thinking about Derek.

Do you think he'd get into it with Grayson?

No, no, not like that. I just...

Don't you think I should warn him?

Telling Derek would just endanger Jacob and Grayson.

- We've talked about this. - I know,

I know.

Keeping Derek in the dark

helps keep him safe.

Exactly.

And he'll stay as far away from Grayson as possible anyway.

It's not like they're friends.

I really hope you're right.

Go.

Um, were you looking for me? Is it-is it Jacob?

No, no, no. I'm here on a police matter.

Oh.

How is he?

I just spoke with him.

He sounds strong and in control.

Definitely making headway.

I still hate this.

I know.

I know.

And so I will be flying solo to the ball.

Picking one over the other just didn't feel right.

Besides, this is about Samantha,

so I will happily be playing the role

of totally doting grandma.

I will never get used to my sexy bestie

dropping the G-word.

Hey, grandmas can be smoke shows.

Do you remember when you tried to talk me into

calling myself "Gaga" instead?

But you wanted to lean all the way in.

Tyrell and Samantha came to us when they were in grade school.

It took months after the adoption

for them to finally say it.

If a name could be an embrace,

that's what "Grandma" is.

You'll see when Donnell and Deanna get there.

Oh, shoot. I'm sorry.

Is Deanna still freezing you out?

She is. Uh,

I-I'm giving her space for now.

I'm-I'm resorting to keeping tabs on her through Donnell.

Oh, that's hard.

It is, but it's okay.

Back to the subject at hand.

What do you have to top that last Ted fantasy?

Public sex with your ex is pretty high

on the scorch-o-meter.

Ah.

Uh, it is impolite to eavesdrop.

I heard something about a scorch-o-meter.

And that's all?

Ted, how do you feel about public sex?

- Vanessa. - I had the wildest fantasy

about a certain card shark

and I was taking my girl's temperature on it.

So, where do you come down

on public displays of affection?

I think I should have kept walking past to the gym.

Have a good one, ladies.

[both laugh]

You think he heard?

No, I can still read him.

Aw, too bad.

He's here, you're here. The presidents are here.

You could see if that old spark exists

outside of your daydreams.

You know all of the reasons

why that is not a good idea.

And yet he's still popping up in your psyche.

You could easily find out why.

Aside from our rough patch before Kat,

sex was never, ever our issue.

Secrets were.

[clears throat]

What'd you get?

We'll get plates and drinks.

How's everything here?

I'll fill you in after you tell me why you feel so heavy.

Everything's gonna be fine.

Which means it isn't now?

It's just a figure of speech.

Now, am I witnessing an actual thawing between our kids?

They're defrosting.

I just hate what caused it.

I almost quit cotillion, Dad.

What? Why?

The Belleclaires.

They're still trying to make Samantha

feel like she's less than.

Samantha, no one ever gets to make you

question your worth.

Or your place in this family.

Whether it's in that ballroom or with your friends,

you stand proud as the intelligent,

amazing human being you are.

You too, Tyrell.

Now let's eat.

I'm just saying,

you and Pop have never made me feel less than.

I'm not hiding anything.

My feelings have always been on full display.

If anything, Ted shown he's unserious,

especially with this stunt.

I can see your feelings, all right.

And not just the ones you choose to project.

What do you think you see?

That you didn't invite Ted to your mother's birthday.

That you may be overreacting

to something that doesn't even exist.

Because, my darling,

you're afraid of getting your heart broke.

I am not making up the connection I saw

between him and that psycho of a woman.

Okay, uh, Shanice, you need to be 100% sure about this.

Otherwise, you're going to be shutting down

a relationship with a man you actually want.

And-and-and I'm...

Honey, I'm not coming down on you.

I...

I know about leaving love on the table.

You do?

When your uncle and I separated,

I met someone.

But your grandmother, unfortunately,

didn't picture sitting across from him

at Christmas dinner, rest her soul.

So he was scandalous.

His past was colorful.

- Mm. - And I got caught up in

worrying and wondering what my family thought,

what my colleagues thought.

So I walled my heart up,

he walked and I was left alone.

I'm sorry, auntie.

Oh, don't be sorry, baby, but don't be me.

There are pains

worse than a heartbreak.

It is the regret of never trying in the first place.

That's the thing that will haunt you forever.

We've got the perfect vantage point for command.

Yeah, far enough not to rouse suspicion

and close enough in case we have to move in.

- Yeah. - Jacob did good work on this.

Now, listen, when he opens the rear door,

that's the signal to send in the special ops division.

Nothing like breaking out the big guns

to meet the Impaler.

Yeah.

I can't wait to nail this son of a bitch

and make him watch while we round up his entire crew.

Got to hand it to your boy,

he did good work for this being his first major op.

Maybe I should have kept him as my partner, huh?

So how did it go with our dirty doc?

Gave me plenty of time to do what was needed at the hospital.

Yeah, pressed enough to see her squirm.

When she looked at that security footage,

I can tell she was the one who turned them cameras off.

Just another perp despite the white coat.

- Yeah. - Can't believe I didn't

see this coming.

So, what's her next move?

Well, she's not the type to sit on her hands.

I hit a nerve. I know I did.

So she's gonna try to improvise.

Yep. And when that happens,

she's gonna slip up.

Okay, if I were a code,

where would I be?

Uh, what are you looking for?

Sorry, I'm... I'm new here. I'm just trying

to orient myself. Grayson.

I was the same when I started at my dad's clinic.

I'm Eva.

Yeah, I know who you are.

Your mom's the reason this clinic exists.

A place like this is long overdue.

I agree.

And thanks for coming on board.

I know there was some friction with your start,

but I'm glad it all worked out.

That's no big deal.

Now, I disagree.

Someone with your skill set,

especially coming from Garland...

you're a godsend.

Now, what were you looking for? Let me help.

I just need a code. I'm trying to grab something.

Oh, I got you.

[phone vibrates]

Hold on.

Okay, now I can talk.

It'll all be over real soon, baby.

Okay, can, um,

can you give me a ballpark?

Hours, days, weeks?

Not exactly.

I just

can't wait to see you haul you-know-who

out of Garland in cuffs.

We got our sights on the guy at the top.

Lia is not my immediate target.

And you can't arrest her without tipping him off.

She's going down for what she's done.

Just not today.

Then when?

Her time is coming. Trust me.

Look, I got to go.

I just wanted to update you.

I'll be home real soon, baby.

You promise?

On my life.

Nurse Morgan, how are you?

- Busy, just like you. - You've been on my mind.

I'm so glad you see moving on from Grayson

was for the best.

I do. Um...

and, you know, I actually, I wanted to thank you

for encouraging me to separate my personal

and my professional life.

Which is why I feel I need to draw another line.

- Pardon? - I'm so embarrassed. It was...

it was beyond inappropriate of me

to spill to you, my chief,

as if you were one of my girlfriends.

It will never happen again.

I won't say Grayson's name unless I need some blood work.

Well, I'm pleased you took

my advice to heart.

And as long as you keep all your boundaries,

we're good.

First and foremost,

do no harm.

Ah, there she is.

Lia, it was such a pleasant surprise

when you reached out.

Hi, Ashley.

LIA: Expanding Garland's

partnership with Phoenix Street is top of my list.

Garland was Doug's home,

and he gave us so many years.

We'd love to give something back to the clinic.

So that's why you wanted to meet with me instead of Leslie?

- Mm. - That means so much.

Let's talk.

My ship has sailed. Yours hasn't.

Don't let fear get the best of you.

My heart is in a free fall,

but my mind is saying I need to jury-rig a net.

[scoffs]

Forget the net.

Fall hard and fast.

Take this thing to the limit.

And if you're lucky, you may

find out there isn't one.

Everyone has a past, baby.

Nicole?

Hey.

Uh, I just wanted to say I was sorry about before.

I didn't mean to overstep.

Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost.

Uh, yeah, uh,

there are plenty of them here.

I-I-I need to go.

I was gonna give you these tomorrow,

but now seems better.

Tyrell.

They're so pretty.

Very nice, Tyrell.

When we were in the foster care system,

we used to dream our way out.

Picking the parents we'd live with,

the house we'd live in.

Even the shoe collection I was going to have.

Samantha always said she was gonna have diamonds in her ears

because when she grew up,

she was gonna shine.

I can't believe you remembered that.

I want you to always remember

you're always a star to me.

SMITTY: Aw.

I can't believe how you two are just growing up on us

like this.

And we are so proud of you both.

SMITTY: And we can't wait for tomorrow.

And I am looking forward to spending as much time

with all of you as possible

before things change even more.

I have to get this in your hands

in case something happens to me.

Okay, you're seriously scaring me.

What the hell is going on?

You have to get out of my way.

You are not going anywhere.

We're starting and Donnell's not here.

What am I gonna do?

Donnell's phone's

going straight to voicemail.

Deanna isn't answering either.

Presenting our 2026

debutantes and their escorts.

LIA: Lift up the hat. Do it.

- Jacob Hawthorne. - [gunshots]

Shots fired, shots fired! Move in!

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