Original subtitles

[Narrator] Previously on Saints & Sinners.

You're standing on the new headquarters of my future empire.

You get the hell outta my church!

The petition for your recall has already been submitted.

If they try to remove me from office, there will be hell to pay.

We're gonna expose you for the fraud that you are.

I have a right to face my accusers.

I said get ou... I have a right to face my accusers.

I said get ou...

He's not gonna get away with this.

You killed my wife.

That was Shawn.

And I didn't waste a second taking him out.

Why in the hell should I believe you?

Cause we're brothers, Jabari.

Believe me now?

I did not lose our baby.

Uah.

Miles?

Tam?

Miles?

Christie confessed.

The police filed for a warrant to search here.

The ship is sinking Dolores.

This is your last chance to get on the raft.

Leona Byrd, you are under arrest.

[Gasp] Get your hands off of me!

Ella, do something, Ella!

You should be ashamed of yourself.

Using your granddaughter as a scapegoat.

[Scoffs]

Don't be a fool, Ella.

Christie, put us here.

Not me.

For years people have looked up to you.

That's right.

People only...

look up to strength, and power, and leadership.

They look up to those people who are

willing to do the things other people can't.

Which is why you're getting recalled as mayor.

You think you're so much better than me.

No.

I'm stronger.

I built this city out of nothing.

It took me 50 years,

to make it what it is now.

And less than a year for you to ruin it all.

You stole a child.

That's a federal offense, Mother.

Even as Mayor, I can't help you out of that.

Oh. You don't think I'd rely on you, do you?

[Laughing] Please.

Do you honestly believe the testimony of a crazy lady,

and an overdose victim is going to convict me?

How did you get so naive?

You need to relax, Ella.

Haven't you learned by now,

I always land on my feet.

[Instrumental Theme Music]

* Go on, lift you hands. Give God the praise *

* I fell so hard * * Hey *

* Lost my faith in God * * Hey *

* I couldn't even pray * * Hey *

* So I say *

* We're just sinners *

* Saved by grace * (Saved by grace)

[Huffs]

Ella, can we talk a moment?

Of course, Dolores.

What is it?

It's about your, mother.

Ah, yeah that's one political hot potato

I'm still trying to juggle.

‐ Maybe, I can help. ‐ How?

I've worked hard to get to my position.

Just like you, Mayor.

And I'd hate to see someone else's mistakes,

negatively impact good people.

Speak plainly.

Leona, could ruin us both.

If we don't do something.

Not to mention that nosy, Detective St. Charles.

We have got to get him off the force.

He can stop adding to our troubles.

It shouldn't be too difficult considering his recent rogue tactics.

Forging my signature on a warrant.

I don't know if you seen, but I've already been impacted.

Maybe I can help.

I thought you and my mother were friends.

We are.

But sometimes friendships are complicated.

So what's your plan.

Based on testimony, Leona could go to jail.

Or if played a different way.

She could be set free.

You should know by now that..

neither one of those would be good for any of us.

I feel another option coming.

The law has many loopholes.

If you know what you're doing.

What you doin? Slummin'?

‐Umm. [Laughing]

It's a new look for you being solo.

[Laughs] Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Everybody's gone.

What brings you here, Jabari?

I need some answers.

Some answers to what?

Well.

What happen when my mom left?

[Huffs]

You know, I knew this day was comin' when your dad passed.

You were just 14.

And I thought it was gonna kill you.

But to be honest, this might even be worse.

Naw,

nothing is gonna be worse than when I have to tell Jada.

Nothing is ever gonna be the same for her again, I..

I never wanted her to feel the pain of,

losing a mother like I did, you know.

I understand.

I guess you reap what you sow in this world.

Listen man, you uh,

you took a lot of hard knocks,

losing both of your parents so young.

It changed you.

And I did the best I could to give you a family.

I guess I failed you.

You can make up for it now.

How can I do that?

Is Malik, my brother?

[Huffs] See um,

you were just four years old when your mom left.

And your dad was hustling day and night.

Trying to take care of his little family.

The one thing I know,

your parents really loved each other.

And they really loved you.

Yeah but what happened, you know?

If she loved us so much, why she leave us?

[Chuckles]

You know, Jabari.

Love can be complicated sometimes.

When your dad found out that your mom

was pregnant by another man,

It nearly broke him.

See it takes a certain kind of man, to raise another man's child.

So, Malik is my brother.

And my mom's out there somewhere and she just...

she just didn't want me?

I can't explain why your mother left.

But the woman I knew...

she loved being your mom.

See blood can disappoint you sometimes.

But they're other kinds of family.

Real family,

With you when the chips are down.

You always got a place to come back to, no matter what.

Whatcha trying to say?

Maybe it's time for you to come back to your roots.

Yeah, I mean it do seem like we do

better together than we do separately.

Does that mean, what I think it means?

What that we back in business?

Things'll have to change, I'm looking for a partner not a boss.

As much as I hate to admit it.

Times are changin' here in Cypress.

I'm willing to roll with it, if you are.

[On TV] The unidentified male victim of a recent shooting,

has woken up from a coma.

[Door Bell Rings] As police continue to investigate the crime that took

place at a gas station. Located between Cypress and Hazelton, Georgia.

No leads at this time.

Tam.

Have you heard anything? Did you find him?

No nothing so far.

I'm, I'm sorry.

[Exhales]

You left this behind at the precinct.

I thought you might want it back.

Thank you.

Still feel him out there.

What do you think that means?

I just wanted to...

check on things with the two of you.

We thank you, for all your hard work,

I don't know how you do your job.

Everyday you go to work

you deal with somebody on their worst day.

No.

My job is never as hard as the victim's.

Some cases do stay with me.

You think there's any real hope of us gettin' our son back?

To be honest...

statistically.

The longer an abductor keeps a child

the less likely we are to recover that child.

Has Christie..

woken up yet?

No, nothing so far.

But the officer posted outside her hospital room

has instructions to contact me immediately,

if there's any new information.

[Exhales] This is like a bad dream.

You gotta stay strong.

You gotta hold on for Tamara's sake, if not for your own.

I'm trying.

It's not easy. I just want my son back.

[Soft Music Playing]

The biological parents are asking for any information on the whereabouts of their baby.

Who investigators now believe may be in the custody of

a woman posing as the infant's mother.

Think about anyone who suddenly has a chwas pregnant, t know

or even someone who has had difficulties having a child or looking to adopt.

Oh, my god.

[On TV] That was Police Chief of Cypress commenting on the missing Calloway baby.

[Gasping]

Ah, you're awake.

You know,

you seem to have a very devious family.

But you don't look so tough.

Lying here all tied down.

Pss, speaking of..

Got it.

[Huffs]

In fact..

you look pretty helpless.

Just like that little baby you stole.

I didn't steal anyone's baby.

Oh, you can play it however you want, I'm not judging you.

You know sometimes you do what you have to, to get paid.

I'm just here to help.

What do you mean?

Your chart says you downed a bunch of pills.

Guilt, huh?

But that didn't seem to do the job, did it?

But don't worry.

I'm here to make all the pain,

go away.

[Huffing and struggling]

[Papers shuffling]

Stacia?

Kendrick, what are you doin' here?

I was looking for Malik.

He asked me to look into something for him.

What are you doing here?

I've switched sides.

I'm counsel for UpSurge now.

I don't blame you. [Laughs]

What's all this?

[Huffs] I'm getting to the bottom of things.

One of these women...

could be my mother.

Where'd you get all this stuff?

[Exhales] I pulled my mother's old....

Marilyn's old case files.

The ones you took gave me clues on what to look for.

Any case that has Leona Byrd, Our Girls, Our World,

or the Greater Hope Clinic from the 70's is on this table.

Sounds like a needle in a haystack.

That's what I thought.

All the original medical files were destroyed

in the Greater Hope Clinic fire of '76.

But then I realized,

the clinic took Medicaid.

And they would have copies of any services

that were paid for by the clinic.

So I called in a favor.

Pssf, well be careful.

Because sometimes the truth is worse than you imagine.

I just wanna find out who I am.

And where I really came from.

Well what happens when you find your birth mom?

If I find my birth mom.

[Huffs]

Look at this mess.

I'm not even sure that I'm looking in the right place.

So wait a minute.

All these women, had their lives ruined by Leona?

That's crazy.

Yeah.

Where did this photo come from?

Do you have any copies of these?

[Jada] Dad!

Dad, I'm home.

Hey! Ha ha.

[Mwah, mwah, mwah, mwah]

Welcome home. I missed you. [Mwah]

Hey, I like this little outfit you got on here.

Lookin' smooth.

Hey.

Where's mom?

Mom?

Mom, I'm home.

Where's mom?

Here, come over here, baby. Sit down.

I need to tell you something, ok.

Is something wrong?

Give me your hand.

Mommy.

Mommy's not coming home.

What?

It was.

It was a.

It was a bad car accident, ok.

And we thought that she was gonna get better but,

Mommy's gone to heaven.

My mom?

Yeah, I'm sorry.

[Sniffles]

I'm sorry.

Grandma.

[Crying]

I'm sorry, baby.

I love you.

I'm sorry.

[Crying]

I'll cut to the chase.

The county prosecutor's office wants a clean win on this one.

So, we've drafted an offer

that your client can't refuse.

Well unless that offer comes with zero jail time, no deal.

What are you kidding?

Her case has been sensationalized all over the news.

Thanks to the malfeasance of your officers.

You can't hide behind them.

Kidnapping, assault, unlawful detention.

You're lucky the city doesn't throw the book at her.

I'd be careful with that book of yours.

It might bounce back and hit you instead.

My motion to suppress.

And I'm sure you know that everything that was found

as a result of the bogus warrant is inadmissible.

That includes the medical administrator's testimony as

well as the couple found in the ward.

All fruit from the poisonous tree.

What about the Calloway baby?

What baby?

I see no evidence that this alleged child even exists.

All the documentation that has surfaced has illustrated the contrary.

All you have is a distraught mother suffering

from a raging case of postpartum depression,

against a little old lady who's been a pillar of her community for fifty years.

Jury's never gonna convict.

So, why don't you save yourself a little embarrassment.

Some taxpayer money, drop this case.

How do you sleep at night?

Oh, like a baby.

No pun intended.

Now, are we done here?

Cause my client has a bridge game at four.

Madam Mayor.

May I have the room, please?

Yes, Ma'am.

You're late.

My attorney has already handled everything.

Now, I have an appointment.

Sit down, and shut up, Mother.

Who do you think you're talking to?

I said shut up.

I've listened to you my whole life.

Now you're gonna listen to me.

Your tenure is over.

You no longer run Cypress,

I do.

‐ Oh you think so? ‐ Let me count the ways.

I've consulted with my own attorney, and you know what I found out?

What it takes to declare a person legally incompetent.

What are you talking about?

Everyone knows as plain as day that I'm perfectly competent.

Oh, are you sure about that mother?

Because your behavior has been way out of character lately.

Which is why I had my attorney file for legal guardianship

of you and your estate.

Which led me,

to get this psychological evaluation.

Oh, compliments of Wilhelmina.

And the only thing that was left was to submit the evaluation to the court.

Which Judge Mitchell helped push through.

Those bitches!

The police, they know everything.

And they still have nothing.

Do they know everything, Mother?

Yes.

Are you sure about that everything?

Do they know about this?

The police found this

green stone with a GIA number that they could never

identify at the crime scene of Debra Chase.

It directly connected the killer to her murder.

No, no. That was your mess.

I cleaned that up for you.

Oh, well that's your version of the story.

You wouldn't dare.

Oh try me.

I never cared about all the rogue moves over the years.

but when you involved Christie...

when you risked her future and made her complicit,

you crossed the line.

‐ What is this? ‐ Read it.

Remittance to Cypress County Psychiatric Ward for reasons of

mental defect.

Have you lost your damn mind? You don't really expect me to sign this?

You're not following.

No, I'm not.

Okay, well let me help you.

The police have been hounding me, they're looking for a way to crucify you.

Including your whereabouts the night of Debra Chase's death.

Look, I'm not going to lie for you anymore, unless you sign that.

But this leaves me with nothing.

Well you'll manage just fine, I'm sure.

Oh this is crazy.

Exactly.

You sign that,

and I will continue your lie.

And then you'll be free and clear of legal prosecution.

And in exchange

you will be at a place where you can never hurt anyone again.

Now, that's my price.

You can't make me sign this.

I won't sign that.

Well then I'll be forced to tell the police that you fought with Debra Chase

until the point of killing her and you buried her body under the church.

How long do you think it's gonna be before they connect the dots with

Kendrick's burial that that's your MO?

You can never win with that one.

Well, probably not but it'll cause just enough trouble.

The kind of trouble you don't want.

And according to my attorney, probable cause.

And then the police will have a subpoena to your home and they'll get your brooch.

Also your phone records.

And they'll be able to tell when Christie called you that night

the night you tried to bury my son alive.

You are making me really angry, Ella.

You should really come to your senses.

I finally have, Mother.

And you have, a choice.

Either you can,

be in court and the tabloids for the next few years.

Or you can sign that.

And escape prosecution.

You won't do it.

You will not disgrace our family.

Oh, you just try me.

My little girl is broken because of you.

Well it's the way the world works, Ella.

You know that.

I did, but she didn't.

She'll be stronger for it.

The world is cold.

Well, then you better get ready for winter, Leona.

What's going on?

Oh, thanks chief. I'll take it from here.

What's going on, Noah,

is the final cleanup of this corrupt department.

What are you talking about?

And...

Where's Lt. Hawkins?

Oh she's probably far away by now.

That little stunt you two pulled with the warrant,

left her with few options.

She's out. And if you go quietly,

you'll walk away with your full pension too, just like she did.

What you got, what 22 years in, Noah?

Don't do anything stupid again to screw it up.

I'm not a corrupt cop.

That forged warrant I have says otherwise.

Sometimes you gotta do what you have to do to get the job done.

Now you of all people should understand that,

especially since you and your family are experts at breaking the rules.

Be very careful detective.

I'm still the mayor.

For the time being.

I'll give you time to pack.

So you can get used to your new future, detective.

Opps, I'm sorry. Noah.

You think I don't know what you're doing?

You're not gonna be able to cover your tracks forever,

especially now that everyone knows what you are.

And what is that?

The devil!

Goodbye Noah.

Good riddance, Ella.

What are you looking at?

Tam,

It's the first thing I bought for him when I found out I was pregnant.

Tamara,

We're not gonna get him back, are we?

Don't say that. We're gonna get him back. We gotta have faith.

I woulda been a good mom.

Look at me,

look at me.

We can't fall apart now.

After everything we've been through, we're still standing.

Detective St. Charles,

What? Your mother send you to twist the knife?

Huh?

I'm here because I think you're the only cop that can help me.

Wrong.

What do you mean? So now you don't want to take down Byrd?

I'm not a cop anymore

Wait a minute, man. What's going on?

Your mother just fired me and Lt. Hawkins.

And if I go quietly, I still get a gold watch.

So that's it?

Byrd, just gets away with everything?

This town is a labyrinth of lies.

And I finally had enough. And if you know what's good for you,

you'll cut your ties with the Johnson's, the Byrd's, bloodline or not.

Man I get it. You're just like everybody else in Cypress.

A fraud.

Trust me,

there's some things in this town that'll eat you alive if you don't let go.

I learned the hard way.

The EJ case is cold.

Now that I'm gone, nobody cares if it's ever solved.

So you consider yourself off the hook.

Listen man,

I can't just let this go.

I mean, she tried to kill me.

She drove my sister to OD.

She took me away from my mom at birth.

And now this.

Listen, I don't care what happens to me.

I just need your help to make her pay.

I know you want that as much as I do.

I'm not a cop anymore.

[Sighs]

So I'll need to call in a favor from someone in the inside that can help us.

[Footsteps]

[Baby Cooing]

[Gasps]

Oh my God.

[Clears throat] Christie, you scared me.

You going somewhere?

I know what it looks like.

I didn't know how, Wilhelmina got the baby.

Why should I have to suffer for her misdeeds?

Haven't I...haven't we both

been through enough loss?

Bethany,

I know how much it hurts.

Believe me.

But I also know that there's another mother out there in pain for the same reason.

And we can change that

by returning this baby.

Are you sure you want to do that?

Can't we win just once?

We can be a family together.

Think about it.

What's really keeping you in Cypress?

If you left with me right now, we could have everything we always wanted.

I have enough money to disappear and be happy.

Don't you want to be happy?

Baby,

Yeah.

‐ Yeah. ‐ Yeah.

‐ Yes. ‐ Yes.

‐ Yes. ‐ Yes, yes.

[Exhales]

Yes. [Laughter]

[Baby cries]

Uh oh. Motherhood.

That's the hungry cry. I'll be right back with a bottle.

[Laugher] Wow, you're a natural already, huh?

[Laugher]

[Crying continues]

It might take me a while.

[Bethany] Don't worry. I'll teach you.

So this is what you've been fighting so hard for?

Don't look like much for all the trouble it's caused.

This is the only thing that I have left of my father.

That UpSurge deal has split the entire congregation

right down the middle.

But the church isn't why I called you here.

What you were talking about over dinner the other night,

did you really mean that?

I'm always straight up wit you, Ella.

How far are you willing to go?

Speak on it.

I'm gonna need to resort to some drastic measures

if I'm gonna stop this recall dead in it's tracks.

Mm hmm.

But there's only one way I know how to do that.

What's that?

Think about history.

There's never been a US president that lost a

re‐election in a time of war.

Mm hmm.

During crisis,

people want strength and stability.

It saved George W. Bush's ass

and it's gonna save mine.

Listen Ella,

whatever you have up your sleeve,

I'm always down.

I'm just happy the time has come where we can

run this town together.

You understand?

Now you finally embraced who you really are.

Who we are.

Yeah this city wants to

damn me to hell.

Hmm.

Yeah, well I'm gonna give 'em hell right back.

[Knocking]

Not to be presumptuous but,

I thought I woulda heard from you by now.

I thought you said family was everything.

Well it is but, I don't know you.

I'm trying to change that.

[Sighs]

Why now, man?

I've been looking for my real family ever since I was 15 years‐old.

and found out I was adopted.

Ever since then, I felt like a piece of me was missing.

It's been a lot of anger and a whole lot of time for me to get to this moment.

But I'm here now.

[Sighs]

I'm just hoping it's not too late.

Look man,

what do you want from me?

I want to be your brother.

I want to make up for lost times.

I want you to join forces with me and my company.

Look man, all I know is the streets and the hustle.

What do you think corporate America is?

Just fancier wardrobes, that's it.

Look, the, the, this is

too much right now.

Look, I understand.

And, I'm not expecting this all at once.

Just hoping we can have a fresh start.

Yeah um,

I appreciate that but

look ah, I'm just gonna need some more time.

[Exhales]

I accept that.

And I respect it.

[Door closes]

Say Rex, you always my favorite helper.

[Coughing] Always.

Hey Smokey, you checking me out?

Just like old times, Man. [Laughter]

I remember I used to pay you in ribs back in the day.

Yeah, you.

I've been on my feet for 30 years.

It's time for me to sit down.

And enjoy life I have left.

What you mean, Smokey?

I signed a buyout deal with UpSurge.

Things are gonna start changing around here.

Either roll with it, or get rolled over.

Damn, Smokey.

It seems like the end of an era.

Progress is a way of life.

You stand in one place too long,

and the world passes you by.

Yeah.

Finally gettin' what you deserve.

Excuse me?

Do I know you?

No, but you should.

Oh, I don't have time for this.

Oh, I think you do.

And you're gonna listen.

You thought that you could really steal babies

from young girls out the hood and no one would notice?

You ruined my life when you ripped me from my mother.

So now, I've ruined yours.

I've taken your church, I've bedded your daughter,

and flatlined her mayorship all in one fell swoop.

You ending up here

that was just a happy bonus.

Malik Thompson.

In the flesh.

The city is mine now.

[Smirks]

And who do you have to thank for that?

You are so stupid.

Do you really believe you'd be where you are today

had I left you with that

gutter mother of yours?

You're a real piece of work, you know that?

But I get it.

You're just lashing out because you're out of cards to play.

And I'm gonna make sure that that smug look gets wiped off your face.

Game over, Lady Byrd.

Cypress is more than a city to me.

It's, my hometown.

No, no wait.

In the face

of a crisis is when leadership...

No.

Unity, is born.

When Cypress hurts, I hurt.

Thanks for meeting with me, Sam.

Maybe I'm sentimental, but I thought you might need a shoulder to cry on

after getting fired.

Not exactly.

What I really need is a way to get this information out to the public.

Kendrick gave me these documents.

These teenage mothers who used the church clinic to give birth,

all stated that babies were stillborns.

But around the same time, these middle class members of Greater Hope

experienced a baby boom.

Oh my God.

She was stealing their babies and selling them to church members.

And Gloria was the only one

brave enough to speak the truth.

And they shut her up by locking her away from society in a sanitarium.

[Door closes]

You know I'll give you points for being persistent but a

I told you right now is not the time to talk business, Man.

This isn't about business

Bro... [Door closes]

it's about family.

This is our mother.

Jabari, baby.

I'm home.

Decisions as mayor aren't always easy.

And I can't always make everyone happy

all the time.

But what I can do,

is make a safer, stronger society

for our children.

[Police siren]

[Tires screech]

[Siren continues]

[Heavy breathing] [Footsteps]

Miles?

Christie.

Miles,

this is your son.

This is our baby.

I am so sorry.

[Tamara crying]

For everything, I am sorry.

[Tamara yelps]

Oh God.

[Tamara sobs]

I'm so sorry!

[Noah] The date on this fire

is just 24 hours

after Gloria visited the pastor and told him her story

about her baby being stolen.

The one that killed Pastor Byrd?

Yeah.

She said he told her he was gonna talk to his wife and get

to the bottom of things. She trusted him.

And a day later he died?

Yeah.

Does that mean Leona Byrd murdered her own husband?

We just have to prove it.

And I think it's somewhere right in front of us.

Okay.

[Ella] And from the ashes

of this tragedy, we'll rebuild

the damages these events have caused.

We'll build hope.

It says here that the accelerant used to start the fire showed

traces of kerosine and mesquite oil.

[Ella continues] We cannot let the evil deeds of

vandals dictate our pride as Cypress citizens

or turn the victims of the catastrophe

into senseless sacrifice.

[Noah continues] There's also evidence of broken glass.

And remnants of charred canvas material were found

on the scene as well.

[Samantha] This sounds like a molotov cocktail.

As a city,

we will reclaim our dignity.

Even in crisis,

Cypress will stand strong.

[Instrumental music]

[Instrumental music]