Original subtitles

Previously on Emperor of Ocean Park...

The judge left some sort of arrangements behind,

contracts, maybe files.

Could be nuclear codes, for all we know.

A handsome guy like you, I bet you got

some rhythm to go with all those good looks.

I'm Maxine, by the way.

Has anyone been following you?

I haven't seen anybody. Why?

It is over. No more research.

Good luck to Sharik, 'cause I'm pulling his retainer.

I'm protecting our family, Mariah.

You need to try it sometime.

Truth. I am chasing the truth.

Oh, the truth? You gave up.

You glommed on to some rich white dude

and found yourself a mansion to hide in.

Fuck you, Tal.

Something's going on between you

and somebody else.

End it, or end us.

- To Abby. - To Abby.

None of us went off the deep end like Dad.

Losing Abby tore him up.

Abby was his baby.

Still hits me sometimes,

this rage that they never caught the guy.

The judge had this scrapbook.

It was filled with hit-and-runs.

If you would join us, together with your help--

Stop!

I didn't destroy the judge's scrapbook.

I figured if Addison wanted me to get rid of it that bad,

it must be important enough to keep.

♪ Get to the floor ♪

- No.

- Abigail.

So are we just supposed to sit in silence or--

Let's talk schools.

Which way you leaning?

Harvard?

Howard?

Princeton?

I was thinking UNC.

What's in North Carolina?

This better not be about some boy.

Actually,

it is about a boy.

He went to UNC, and he's going to be the next president.

Is that what this is about, John Edwards?

He hasn't even announced he's running.

Oh, any day now.

And when he does, we're ending poverty

and getting universal health care,

all by redistributing your wealth.

We've been driving all over New England

visiting schools.

How did I end up with you

as a daughter?

Karmic punishment for all your evildoing, obviously.

Excelsior, my son, Excelsior.

Uncle Mal.

Sorry for calling so late.

Can you get me the phone number for Representative Paul Derry?

Yeah, from Wisconsin.

Actually, you know what?

Can you just get me his address?

Morning.

Did you poison this?

Arsenic with half-and-half.

Mm. Mm.

You were right, and I'm sorry.

A Mariah Garland-Denton apology.

What's the weather like in hell right now?

Stop. I'm serious.

I was having a hard time

accepting my dad's death, and...

I may have taken things

a little too far.

And I took time away from you and the kids and our home,

and that wasn't fair, and I'm sorry.

But all that's done now,

and all of my attention is back here at home.

Morning.

Mom?

Szuza, where's the, uh, olive oil spray?

And, uh, the onion powder?

Thank you. And the cheese grater?

I am making omelets.

Omelets? Tuesdays we usually have smoothies.

OK.

We can do smoothies.

Smoothies, smoothies, smoothies.

Smoothies coming up.

If we want the kids to come visit us this winter,

we have to convince them that they're not

stepping into a frozen tundra.

I'll have a contractor come take a look.

Where do you think you're going?

To hang out with Vanessa.

Claire, honey, I'll ring you back tonight.

Love you.

What about all that talk about

coming back from your college tour

so we could spend some time together before school starts?

That's still the plan,

after I hang out with my friends.

Abby.

This is my last free weekend before senior year.

I just want one last fun weekend

before I'm drowning in college applications and school again.

So can I go?

Please?

No.

We can go get some ice cream.

That'll be fun, right?

Come on.

Can I help you?

Hello. Hi.

I'm hoping to speak with Congressman Paul Derry.

This is he. What does this concern?

It concerns your daughter Bethany.

Best I could do on short notice.

Thanks.

I was sorry to learn about your dad.

He was a good man. I always admired him.

Did you two know each other pretty well?

The world of politics is small.

We'd met a few times.

We were friendly but not exactly friends.

I was under the impression that you two

might have been pretty close.

Really?

I found a clipping about your daughter

Bethany's accident in my dad's belongings.

I assumed it was because he knew you well.

Abby and Bethany had a lot in common,

unfortunately, including the way they died.

If I had to hazard a guess,

I think that's why he may have had that clipping

and came to the funeral.

I'm sorry, my father came to Bethany's funeral?

Came, stood respectfully near the back, shook my hand,

offered his condolences, and left.

Congressman, does the phrase "Excelsior, Excelsior"

mean anything to you?

No. Should it?

Just something my dad used to say.

I wish I could help you, but I don't know.

- Still want that cup of tea?

Call me when school's out,

and walk directly from class to practice.

And under no circumstances are you to walk alone.

OK, you don't have to walk me

all the way to the classroom door.

Malcolm, I'm serious.

I said OK, Mom. Chill.

Judy.

Hi.

Don't you look nice today, Mariah?

- You holding up OK? - I am.

I'm feeling much more like myself.

- Aw. - Um, how are you?

How's Spring Gala planning going?

I know I've missed a couple meetings.

Oh, we understand. You've been through a lot.

That date just keeps getting closer and closer,

and there is still so much to do:

the decorations,

finding a photographer, sponsors.

Well, I am all freed up and available to you.

You just tell me what you need, and I'll do it.

Oh, mm.

You are a lifesaver.

I don't know how you do it all.

Ugh, you would be surprised what you can accomplish

when you suppress your own ambitions

and deny your hopes and dreams.

Oh, you're so funny.

I'll sample cake batter, please.

All right, here you go.

Anything for you?

No, thank you.

I know what I want.

Dad, you have to try this one.

Old reliable butter pecan for me.

He'll try cake batter.

Here you go.

And?

It's good.

I'll still take butter pecan, but it was good.

Hey, what's up? - Where are you?

Stuck getting ice cream with my dad.

- I'll be there soon. Mm, cute.

Hurry up.

Here you go. Thanks.

Wasn't so long ago that was me and your mom,

taking our little family into this shop.

Now my little girl is a senior,

soon to be a college student.

What are the odds?

That's Bradford Ellis.

Who?

Dean at Princeton.

He's also on the admissions committee.

- We should call him over. - Dad, no, please.

Bradford! Bradford.

Oliver. How's it going?

Excellent.

Just taking a quick break from touring colleges

with my youngest, Abby.

Ah, does this tour plan on coming through New Jersey?

Absolutely. Princeton is on her short list.

That so?

It's one of the schools I'm considering, yes.

And why do you think you'll make a good Princeton student?

I'm in my final year at Lake Forest Academy.

I have a 4.1 GPA,

co-captain of the varsity basketball team.

I scored a 5 on four APs,

and I'm taking three more this year.

And every other weekend, I volunteer

at a women's shelter in the city.

You're a Garland, so I'm certain

you look impressive on paper.

But tell me who you are,

the Abby Garland I can't know from reading a résumé.

If I remember correctly,

Princeton's motto is "In the nation's service

and in the service of all nations."

I don't know exactly what I want to do when I'm older,

but I know whatever it is, I want to be of service.

And even though the university has yet

to divest from the fossil fuel industry,

it would be an honor and privilege to study there.

Well, I can't wait to read your application.

You got a good one, Oliver.

Don't I know it?

Dr. Ellis, it was a pleasure getting to chat with you.

- Pleasure. - I'm actually leaving myself.

Hello.

Mrs. Trellis? It's Talcott Garland.

Who, now?

Talcott Garland, your neighbor from Oak Bluffs.

My family lived down the road from you.

Oh, Oliver and Claire's boy, of course.

Of all the things I thought might happen today,

I never expected to hear from a famous TV news reporter.

That's actually my older brother,

Addison, you're thinking of.

I'm Talcott, the lawyer.

OK, now I got you.

Talcott, the lawyer. How are you?

Fine, I guess.

I was calling to ask if my dad, Oliver Garland,

might have come to your son Jovan's funeral.

Yes, he did, came all the way to Charlotte.

It was very kind of him.

I thought so.

Have you ever heard the phrase "Excelsior, Excelsior"?

I hadn't, not until I heard

your dad say it in the eulogy.

The judge spoke at Jovan's funeral?

Oh, my goodness, yes.

Very moving.

Wasn't a dry eye in the church.

I'm not even gonna lie to you, girl.

These college classes are kicking my ass.

Last semester, I stayed up all night

writing a paper on determinative linguistics

and then went straight into my o-chem final,

which I bombed.

OK, what is determinative linguistics?

I don't know. That's probably why I got a D.

Ooh, but the parties, especially after finals,

off the chain.

Y'all be getting crazy?

Too crazy.

I can't wait.

I am over these high school boys.

Oh, but your summer Vineyard boo, Anthony.

Whatever happened there? Did y'all--

A lady does not kiss and tell.

Lady? Lady where?

- All I see is a ho. - Shut up.

I'm just playing.

I don't know.

Maybe it'll happen again at the party tonight.

You didn't hear?

What?

Anthony left yesterday.

Family emergency.

I think his grandma died or something.

He's on his way back to New York City.

I come back to the Vineyard just so we can hang out,

and then I find out you left

and couldn't even tell me yourself.

Like, who does that?

My condolences to you and your family.

We've just got to find you another weekend fling.

Where? The summer's done,

and everyone's either booed up or ugly.

Jovan would bring a white girl to the Vineyard.

You know there's always one.

I bet you she dances like this.

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ah.

Who's that?

I don't know. But he is fine.

He looks just like Nick Cannon.

- I love Nick Cannon.

Girl, if you won't do it, I will.

You know I will. Go.

Thought I was doing my thing,

and then here you come, showing me up.

You know, if basketball doesn't work out,

heard they need a bricklayer

at the construction site down the street.

OK, you got jokes, huh?

I'm Marcus.

Abby.

What are you doing in my house?

I'm here for the arrangements, Talcott.

Where are they?

I'm trying.

Try harder.

The longer this takes,

the harder it is to protect you.

Protect me?

I've been followed, chased, arrested,

had my home broken into.

I got beat up.

Oh, yeah, and almost got blown up in a car bomb.

You're protecting me?

The men who beat you up, where are they now?

Dead.

Well, look, if you want to make it easier for me

to find the arrangements, you could start

by getting Foreman off my back.

Who's Foreman?

McDermott's partner.

Tall Black dude, fake FBI agent.

Impossible.

He's been following me in a gray Audi.

I've seen him with my own eyes.

The man you call Foreman was actually Kendrick Haynes.

He washed up on the shore of Lake Huron ten days ago.

Can you tell me anything about this scrapbook?

What scrapbook?

My dad had a scrapbook with all these hit-and-run accidents.

Uh, it seems like he's been trying to leave me clues.

That's not the arrangements.

My only concern is the arrangements.

But I think it has--

You're thinking too much, you and your sister both.

I need the arrangements, Talcott, before it's too late.

Thank you for coming to our side of the island.

I've always been a firm believer in integration.

This house never felt big until now,

now that it's almost empty.

I'm not sure I'll ever get used to the silence.

I mean, you don't have to get used to it.

An empty nest means new opportunities.

Sending my boys off to college

opened me up for the second half of my career.

You could easily work for another 20.

If there was ever a time to pivot--

I feel like you have something specific in mind.

Why not just come out and say it?

- The Supreme Court.

If Bush wins reelection,

he's gonna get another nomination or two.

Why shouldn't one of those go to Oliver Garland?

I was thinking I might be better suited

for something else.

Such as?

I don't know, teach, perhaps.

I always wanted to write a book.

Or public policy-- I could do something bipartisan

where I can make some actual change.

Have you been following the news?

What public policy is bipartisan?

How about criminal justice reform?

Abby would like the sound of that.

You don't think you could effect more change

by being a member of the nation's highest court?

I don't mind poking around to see if your name's

appeared on any short lists.

Would you really pass up a shot at that much power?

Huh.

People have died for much less.

Hmm.

We can't use any of this for the gala.

I mean, definitely not this shit.

It's giving Dollar Tree.

- Mm.

That's fine.

What do you want?

The scrapbook that Addison had Sally take?

Mm-hmm.

She didn't destroy it. I have it.

And Uncle Jack just rolled up on me in my own house

to tell me that Foreman, the fake FBI agent,

- is dead and his body-- I'm done.

Excuse me? - I am done.

I am done with the threats.

I'm done with the people dying.

- I'm giving up. - What?

I'm retreating to my mansion

with my rich white husband

that I glommed on to because I'm a failure and a coward.

- Did I get that right? Listen, fine.

You were right, like always.

You can't just tap out now.

I'm not tapping out.

I'm focusing on my family,

like everyone thinks that I should.

Please, just listen.

This scrapbook has some weird shit in it.

It's not a bunch of accidents like Abby's.

There were two he was focused on.

He left clues.

What clues?

"Excelsior"--he wrote it next to their obituaries.

So the letter that he left is connected to the scrapbook?

What do you--

Mariah, you there?

Actually, I don't care.

You were right.

This shit is wrecking all of our lives.

My children's lives were threatened.

I don't want to hear shit about this anymore.

What happened to the truth?

You want to get to the bottom of this

as much as I do, Mariah. I don't--

Fuck.

You having fun?

I am now,

now that I beat your ass in Skee-Ball

and got some tickets with it.

This got to be, like, 300 or 400.

- What that get me? Top shelf.

Oh, yeah, that one right there.

Oh, yeah.

- Thank you. - Of course.

For me?

It's so cute.

Yeah, not as cute as you.

Damn. That's my boys.

I gotta dip.

Um, my friend was saying something

about a house party tonight.

You know anything about that?

Yeah, at the Johnsons'.

I'll be there.

Bet.

I'll see you later, then.

This mean you're over Anthony?

Who's that?

Let's go.

- What? - What?

What do you mean, what?

Why are you here? I'm busy.

I wouldn't be here if you just picked up your phone.

Well, obviously I'm avoiding you.

Obviously.

Why?

Because I've run out of ways to tell you and Mariah

I don't want to be in your investigation.

I don't to be involved in your investigation.

I don't want to hear any of your theories.

Y'all go be Nancy Drew somewhere else.

I have the scrapbook.

Sally didn't burn it.

Yeah, I got your voicemail and your text messages.

You've successfully established that Sally

is an unreliable drunk.

Jovan Trellis, Bethany Derry.

Dad was fixated on them.

He left me clues to let me know he went to their funerals.

He gave a eulogy at Jovan's.

He went to their funerals?

This scrapbook isn't random.

It's not just some weird obsession of some madman.

There's forethought. There's planning.

Well, sounds like you got it all figured out.

I don't.

But I think you already figured it all out.

You didn't try to get rid of the scrapbook

because you thought the judge was crazy.

You tried to get rid of it because you knew he wasn't.

Yeah, all right.

Yeah.

I know more than what I've said,

but I haven't told you for good reason.

And what reason is that?

Because I'm trying to protect you and Mariah,

to keep y'all out of this shit.

Keep me out of it?

Do you understand what's going on here?

I'm already in it up to my neck.

I'm fucking drowning.

- Man, listen to me. - No, you listen.

People have died because of whatever the judge was into.

You keeping his secret isn't keeping me safer.

It's putting me in more danger.

So no more spinning, no more explanations,

no more rationalizing.

Tell me what you know.

- I can't. - Tell me!

Oh, did you just--

Fucking tell me now.

You don't want to do this, bro.

Trust me. Fuck, man.

Stop!

Shit.

Something happens to me... it's on you.

My blood will be on your hands.

I try to be a humble man,

but I don't think a better-looking steak

has ever been cooked.

If you're watching this, you're watching perfection.

Dinner's ready!

Oh, we have a third dinner guest?

Yes. This is John Edwards.

He'll need his own table setting,

thank you very much.

You want me to serve John Edwards?

- Yeah. - I don't think so.

With extra potatoes.

Mmm.

This is really good, Dad.

I'm glad you like it.

Oh, gosh, the asparagus is so delicious.

What did you season it with?

Salt and pepper.

I thought you didn't really like asparagus.

I like yours.

Guess you got the Midas touch.

How was the arcade? Did you have a good time?

Yeah, it was fun.

You know, I was thinking,

we haven't been clamming in a long time.

Maybe we can go down to the beach later and...

or we could go into town and rent a DVD.

No, actually, I was...

hoping to go hang out.

With who?

Just some friends my age.

Is that why you insisted on coming here?

None of this was about us spending time together, was it?

No, Dad, I just--

Abigail, at least have the courtesy to be honest

and say that coming here was all a ploy

for you to hang out with your friends.

Fine.

I want to hang out with my friends.

- Can I go? - No.

For, like, an hour?

When I say, no, I mean no.

And take that damn thing with you.

His name is John Edwards.

He'll be the first person I ever vote for,

and it'll cancel out the vote

for whatever Republican asshole you're supporting.

Damn it.

Who are you?

So do I push the deadline,

or do I cave and give him more money?

Oh, fire him.

I have a list of balloon guys that I work with that I love.

Ah, I knew you would have an answer.

- I'll give you the number.

Is everything OK? - You know what?

You want to go on in and save me a seat?

- I'll meet you in there. - Sure.

Cook County Correctional.

Hi, may I speak to Sharik Deveaux, please?

An inmate.

Ma'am, this isn't a hotel.

Yes, I am aware that this isn't a hotel

and I can't just call and speak to an inmate.

But this is an extenuating circumstance.

I'm sorry, but our policies don't allow--

Listen, if you deliver a message to Sharik,

I will pay you your month's salary right now.

Uh, that's not--

Two months.

Yeah, I'm fucking serious.

What's your routing number?

Fine, three months.

♪ Say my name ♪

♪ A lot of others done tried ♪

♪ But they just ain't The same ♪

♪ Ain't the same ♪

♪ Let's be honest Alive is to play the game ♪

♪ Ah, ah, ah, play the game ♪

♪ Not gon' lie Sometimes I sit and wonder ♪

♪ Trying to do what I gotta To keep from going under ♪

♪ Just can't let the reaper Call my number ♪

♪ I'm bending corners ♪

♪ Trying to keep them people Off my bumper ♪

♪ You know my steelo Zero degrees cold ♪

♪ Streets losing amigos ♪

♪ Everybody looking For cheat codes ♪

♪ Got to beat the system ♪

♪ Wake up early In the morning ♪

♪ Like the King is risen ♪

♪ If you from where I'm from ♪

♪ Then you can beat the isms ♪

♪ Package up this game For the low-low ♪

♪ Been in the dojo ♪

♪ World moving in slo-mo... ♪

What's that gonna be, a barn?

-A castle. Wow.

Yeah, I see it, a castle for a prince named Bentley.

Daddy, I miss you.

Daddy misses you too.

You're gonna be back home real soon.

And Mommy and Daddy are gonna work something out, OK?

I'll talk to you tomorrow, buddy.

Love you.

Bye, Daddy. Love you.

If I was gonna hurt you,

I wouldn't have rang the doorbell...

or brought all the ingredients for pad thai.

So you gonna invite me in or what?

- This seems stupid. What seems stupid?

Letting you into my house,

the woman that's been chasing and following me for weeks.

Like, I'm trying to figure out if I'm really this dumb.

I'd say you're pretty smart if you like delicious Asian food.

Can you open that bottle of wine?

Look, I'm sure you have a ton of questions,

and I'm gonna answer what I can,

but I'd just rather do it with a glass of pinot in my hand.

Thanks, handsome.

All right.

Who are you?

I'm someone people hire

when they want something very badly

but they'd like to remain anonymous while they get it.

The arrangements.

It's my job to convince you to hand them over.

Who hired you?

Let's call them foreign interests.

They're kind of like the good guys.

I mean, not like the great guys,

but they're a lot better than everybody else,

better than Jack Ziegler, that's for sure.

What are the arrangements?

I can't say too much without compromising

my employer's identity.

Thought you were gonna be straight up with me.

I'm trying.

I'm sorry if I'm being cagey.

But truthfully, I don't know that much

in the first place, Talcott.

You can just call me Tal.

Tal.

The arrangements are information, I think,

secret information that your dad had collected.

I get the impression he was using it as collateral.

Collateral? Like blackmail collateral?

Possibly. I don't know.

Feels like I don't even know who my father was anymore.

Hey.

Maybe I never really did.

Hey, look at me.

Don't let this shit change how you feel about your family.

The arrangements issue is temporary.

But family is forever.

In the end, all you'll have are memories of your dad.

That's what matters.

Now, go on and set the table.

This comes together pretty quick.

♪ Yo, shake Dat ting, Miss Cana, Cana ♪

♪ Shake dat ting Yo, Annabella ♪

♪ Shake dat ting Miss Donna, Donna ♪

♪ Yo, Miss Jodi An' di one named Rebecca ♪

♪ Yo, shake dat ting Yo, Joanna ♪

♪ Shake dat ting Miss Cana, Cana ♪

♪ Dutty, yeah, yo Yo, ayy, waan mi go so den ♪

♪ Sexy ladies Want par with us ♪

♪ In a the car with us ♪

♪ Them nah war with us ♪

♪ In a the club They want flex with us... ♪

We do need to take a majority vote, so...

Cook County Correctional.

I'll accept the charges.

Hello.

Hey, Sharik. It's me, Mariah Denton.

How's it going?

How the fuck you think it's going?

Why did you plead guilty?

This new court-appointed lawyer said it was

the only shot I had at not spending

the rest of my life up in here.

But you didn't do it.

What the fuck else I was supposed to do?

You stopped paying for the other lawyer.

Sharik, listen, I can-- I can---I can come see you.

We can figure something else out.

Hold up, there ain't no we. You ain't up in here. I am.

And the day y'all walked up in here,

I actually let myself believe

that y'all was trying to help me.

And I should've known better, 'cause rich people

only give a shit about theyself

or other rich people.

Sharik, I was trying to help you.

I believe in your innocence.

OK, we can--I mean I can--

- let me think. - Goodbye, Ms. Denton.

Is everything all right?

So that wasn't you.

- Seriously? Seriously.

I didn't even know the pawn was a thing until just now.

Well, some secret agent you are.

Yeah, I know. I totally missed it.

You really have no idea who that could have been?

Mm-mm.

What about the silver Audi?

What about it?

I mean, I know it wasn't you.

I definitely saw a guy driving.

You know anything, or did you miss that too?

No, I didn't miss it.

So who is it?

It's not really my place to say.

What about the-- - I see you hated it.

Oh, it was very good. Sorry.

Don't apologize.

I was fishing for compliments, so I appreciate it.

I was a latchkey kid.

Figured if I was gonna have to fend for myself,

I might as well learn to make something better

than boxed mac and cheese.

Where were your parents?

My dad was in the military, deployed a lot.

My mom was an English professor,

night classes mostly.

I was really happy to get an assignment

that involved an academic who reminded me of her.

That's what I am, an assignment.

What, you thought you were a date?

Anyway, you've heard my pitch.

You've eaten my food.

I really hope you bring us the arrangements.

I'm not just blowing smoke when I say I really do believe

we're your best option.

So what happens now?

I clean up and get the hell out of here.

No, no, I mean,

we just go back to cat and mouse,

you chasing me?

Don't think of it as chasing.

You literally chased me throughout the city.

OK, that was... a miscalculation on my part.

I probably should have approached you

- like this earlier. Yeah.

Making dinner would have been a much better start.

Lesson learned.

In terms of me chasing you,

think of it more like me having your back.

I don't want to see you get hurt any more

than you already have been.

Yes, I want the arrangements

but not at the expense of your safety.

Will I see you again?

If you find the arrangements, I'll be there.

Otherwise, if I'm doing my job right, you won't.

There's still a whole 'nother bottle of wine right there.

I don't think so.

One more glass.

One more glass.

OK, moving on.

Next on the agenda is sponsorships.

Is something wrong, Mariah?

Why are we talking about sponsors?

Your husband is the CFO of a Fortune 500 company.

You are on the board at Boeing.

And you are literally a fucking Vanderbilt.

Through marriage.

We--we spend all of the time at these meetings

going over the most vapid, inconsequential bullshit

when we could be spending this time

doing real, important work.

And you want to talk about sponsors?

Sponsors?

We're rich! Write a motherfucking check!

I'm finished.

Good luck with the gala.

I'm sure it'll be mediocre, just like your children.

I am-- I am so sorry.

She's had a lot going on personally, so...

Oh.

Tapped.

That might be a good thing.

We are way past one more glass at this point.

You turned out to be...

pretty strange, Talcott.

- Strange? - No--

OK. Well, wow.

- No, I meant as an assignment.

As an assignment, you're strange.

It's a compliment.

- No. OK.

Most of my assignments aren't people

I'd ever want to spend time with,

so it's nice to be around someone whose company I enjoy.

For me, that makes you strange.

I wasn't gonna say anything before,

but two bottles of wine later,

why did your wife leave?

I'm sorry.

That's none of my business.

No. No, it's fine.

I think the best way to put it is,

- she chose herself. Mm.

Her career, her goals, her desires.

Um, she cheated.

And after it finally drove me a little crazy

and I started standing up for myself, she...

used that as an excuse to leave.

How are you holding up?

- It's weird. - Hmm.

I feel abandoned, but I also feel a little relieved.

Hmm.

I spent so long letting her lead.

Might be kind of cool to figure out my own shit again.

Who knows what the future holds, right?

The future.

Past.

What about right now?

Mm...

You're using me, aren't you?

Does it matter?

♪ How could I tell you no ♪

♪ You know you get Anything you want... ♪

Hey, turn those off.

We're going to the Circuit.

You don't have to come, but y'all need to get

the hell up out of here.

- Let's go. Aw, come on.

What's the Circuit?

It's the street with all the nightclubs on it.

You going?

You too. And you.

Mm-hmm. Thank you.

Actually, I should probably head home.

If my dad noticed I snuck out, he's gonna be worried.

Mm.

But if you're around tomorrow,

maybe we can get some ice cream

or go to the beach or something?

Yeah, that sounds fun.

Give me your phone.

Call me.

This was nice.

It was.

I got to go, for real this time.

Are you sure there's nothing I can say

to make you stay a little longer?

I'm onto you.

You play the quiet college professor, but...

- you got game.

I'm not falling for it twice.

It's me.

OK.

I thought about what you said.

And? - And let's meet.

When?

Now.

I'm at a diner down the street.

I'll text you the address.

You good?

Yeah, but I got to go--now.

What's up?

Family stuff.

Uh, I'm sorry to rush you.

I was on my way out.

You gonna follow me?

Yeah, I'm definitely gonna follow you.

I mean, since we're headed to the same place,

would it be crazy just to ride together?

Did you wire someone $14,500 today?

I did.

Why?

Because I needed to bribe a corrections officer

in order to speak with Sharik Deveaux.

What the hell, Mariah?

What did we just talk about?

Howard, I tried.

I really did.

But I need to finish this.

This is who you are,

someone who puts themselves and their family in danger?

Whatever trail Tal and I are on has them spooked.

They are scared of what it is that we are going to find out.

They want me to stop.

I can't let them.

They threatened our kids.

Yes, and if they killed my father,

then we might still be in danger.

The only way for this to end

is for me to uncover the truth.

How does it end?

I'm not asking you.

I'm telling you.

I'm not done.

We can upgrade the security system,

we get a bodyguard for the kids.

But I'm gonna finish this.

I got to go.

Mariah.

Please be careful.

I will.

I'm gonna give you guys some privacy.

Mm-hmm.

Who's that?

A friend, sort of.

I don't know. It's complicated.

What did you want to tell me?

We're waiting for one more.

Please tell me that is not the bitch

that was chasing us all through the city.

She's not a bitch.

Jesus. Of course.

Leave it to Tal to be caping for a woman

who tried to kill him.

She tried to kill you?

I thought you said she was a friend.

I said it was complicated.

Still an improvement over Kimmer, though.

I'm just saying.

Look, I want to apologize to you guys.

I thought I was doing something good

by keeping you out of this.

I'm just gonna say this one time,

and you all can do whatever you want with it.

But a few years ago,

the judge invited me to dinner,

and he put that scrapbook-- you know, the one

with all the hit-and-run clippings.

He put it on the table.

And he handed me a folder and wanted me to read it.

I read it, and--

And it freaked me out.

Why? What did it say?

It was some kind of private eye report.

The judge was working with somebody

to find Abby's killers.

Well, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Why? Why did it freak you out?

'Cause he figured out who killed Abby.

What? Who?

Just wait.

I'll get into all that.

No, I wasn't freaked out because...

the judge was looking for Abby's killers.

I wasn't even freaked out because...

he found who killed Abby.

Why, then?

I was freaked out...

...because the judge had them killed.

Oh.

♪ But I know Y'all wanted that 808 ♪

♪ Can you feel That B-A-S-S, bass... ♪

♪ I like the way you move ♪

♪ I like the way you move Whoo-ooh-ooh ♪

♪ I love the way you move... ♪

I hope you had a damn good time

doing whatever in God's name you--