01x03 - Episode 3

[bunniefuu]

[breathing sharply]

[shuddering]

Martin, wake up.

[panting]

[door rattling]

[Anita sighs]

That beautiful mind
is working overtime.

I was just thinking about back
in the day, before we had kids.

Oh, don't get me wrong.
I'm not wishing them away.

I love our family
something fierce.

You don't have to tell me.

And no need to explain.

I think I know
where you're going.

You always do.

Things were a lot simpler
when it was just the two of us.

Exactly. The problems
were with the world.

And we were either innocent
or arrogant enough

to believe
that we could solve them

with a heartfelt vocal
or some civil disobedience.

And sometimes we did.
Or came close.

Now that mindset has turned

once we had Nicole and Dani
and the grandkids.

When they hurt, we bleed.

Not so simple anymore.

I could k*ll Bill Hamilton
with my bare hands.

There'd be satisfaction in that.

Mm-hmm.

But as practical solutions go,

any second thoughts
about the way forward?

We don't have a choice.

Martin must be protected.

Unfortunately, that means Dani
will pay the price yet again.

Obviously, I need
the room to handle

this unexpected situation.

We'll pick up when I'm done.

Close the door, please.

[Bill chuckles]

Nicely done.

Very dramatic.

And blue.
Always been your color.

You happy now? Hmm?
You feel better?

Got a little something-something
out of your system?

Not yet.

I'm getting there.

♪ ♪

Who knew my baby girl
would grow up

and have such a head
for business?

I put her marketing concept
into place,

and bookings increased
by ten percent.

-Told you they would.
-Okay, impressive.

Now, that's the type
of skill set

that'll take you far in life.

That's the plan.

Speaking of plans,
did you decide

to sh**t the video bio here
or at the clinic?

Um, I'd like your office to
highlight the professional side

and the grounds at Uncle Ted's
for a more personal angle.

Now, you're not camera shy,
are you?

Not a bit.

My beautiful wife
is getting an award

for her prestigious work
as a psychiatrist.

They want me on tape, I'm there.

Andre and I were thinking
it'd be cool

to hear you guys
tell your story.

How you met, your first
impressions of each other.

And what it's like to have
such a solid marriage.

Everyone wants one.
Only few succeed.

Well, I can talk about
this woman all day long.

So good to see you, nephew.

-You're looking well, too.
-Thank you.

Man, um...

Yeah, it was touch and go
there for a minute,

but you guys
wouldn't let me fall.

Y'all literally saved me.

If I had... every second
of every day to spend trying,

I could never repay you.

Thank you.

I love you, nephew.

I met these fab folks
on my way to meet my sister.

Are you really gonna post this?

Check out my feed later.
You'll be there.

[squealing, laughing]

How do you stand
living your life so loud?

You can't go anywhere without
being scrutinized and judged.

Just part of being who I am
in the world we live in.

And a good thing, too.

My social media presence
is about to become

more important than ever.

Why? What's going on?

I need your input.

You're the only person
who's experienced our mother

exactly the same way I have.

Oh, God. What's she done now?

It's what I'm about to do.

I'm gonna shake things up, start
my own purse line with Kat.

-Oh.
-Mm-hmm.

Uh, and how does Mom feel
about you splitting your focus?

I won't be. I'm quitting.

Wait, you mean modeling?

Bingo.

The question being:
Where will that leave Mom?

BILL:
Okay. Put on quite a show.

Came in here wielding weapons
and slapping people. Hmm?

Why, Dani? Huh?
What do you want?

You know, beating you
with your own golf club

and watching you die a slow,
agonizing death would be fun.

But I'll settle for answers.

How dare you, Bill?

How dare you move your wh*re
into my community?

[sighs]

Hayley is not a wh*re, okay?

And we like the house.
It suits our needs.

You were gone.

You left Fairmont
when you left me.

Got a place in Eagle Harbor.

Why can't you and Hayley
live there?

I sold that house.

Yeah. Been staying
at a suite at the Ritz

until after the wedding.

Okay, then buy someplace else.

There are tons of communities
to choose from.

Fairmont Crest is
the best address in Maryland.

And it was my home
for many years.

Do I need to remind you
how you ended up

in Fairmont in the first place?

It was because you were
married to me, Dani Dupree.

It was my pedigree, my money,

my family connections
that opened those gates to you.

My father
who jump-started your career.

If it weren't for me,
you would still be

a lowly public servant
trying to make ends meet.

[laughing]:
Okay. Okay.

Get over yourself, Dani.

Huh?

I would be in the exact
same place that I am right now.

I just would've gotten here
a different way.

And I'm-a tell you something.
You didn't make me.

And your father
didn't make me either.

I made myself.

And I brought you along
for the ride.

Ooh. [laughing]

You okay, Les? You seem down.

What?

Oh, sorry.

That guy over there
reminded me of Alan.

I drifted. [sighs]

Sometimes it just happens.

To be expected.

Grief doesn't happen
in a straight line.

And it hasn't been all that long
since you lost him.

Alan filled the holes
in my heart.

Since he's been gone, it's like
those spaces are just hollow.

No. Mm-mm.

Hey, listen.

I am not trying to
bring you guys down, all right?

So I would much rather
hear about the tea

from those rich folks
behind the gates.

So who is going to spill? Hmm?

Well, I guess the big news
is what happened at

-the country club restaurant.
-Oh.

Fairmont Crest is buzzing.
My phone totally blew up.

Mine, too.

Okay, what happened?

Ooh. Dani almost put Hayley
on the floor.

-What?
-Mm-hmm.

From what I heard,
if it hadn't been for

a barstool or a table
breaking her fall,

Hayley would've been
a*s over teakettle.

-Dani pushed her?
-[Jan laughing]

Punched her in the face.

-Get out.
-MONA: No, it's true.

In front of a whole house.

-Now, that is delicious.
-Mm.

And good for Dani.

You know,
you can't home-wreck a woman

-and expect her not to react.
-Mm.

Vanessa said
she wasn't surprised.

She went to Dani's
this morning for coffee

and found Dani throwing mugs
against the wall.

Girl.

-Ooh.
-[laughing]

Anything to add?

Hmm?

Not really.

Everything runs smoothly
at Nicole and Ted's.

-Nothing but love.
-Aw.

Must be wonderful being
Nicole Dupree Richardson.

I wonder what it's like.

Hmm. Talk about a woman
who has everything.

Nicole deserves
all the blessings.

She's an amazing,
inspirational person.

It's no wonder Ted adores her.

That first year after
the plane crash was the darkest

I'd ever lived through.

The shock, the grief.

It was unbearable.

To lose Stan and Ira
so suddenly.

Ted and I haven't
flown together since.

I'd hate to think who I would
have become if you guys had not

insisted that I stay with you
those first few months.

We were happy to help you
any way we could.

You didn't just help me.

You saved my life.
The three of you and Martin.

I will always be grateful.

There's nothing
you guys couldn't ask of me.

We love you, Andre.

So happy to have you home.

For however long it lasts.

Yeah. [clears throat]

Hey, why don't
I turn the tables?

I'll take a picture of you
for once.

Nah, I'd rather you not.

-Yeah.
-I'm not too keen

on having my mug splashed
all over social media.

Prefer my place to be
behind the camera.

In fact, uh, join your parents.
Come on, back up, back up.

All right, Nicole in the middle.

Uncle Ted.

Come on, man.
Loosen the jacket up.

This looks good. Okay, cool.

All right. [clears throat]

All right, smile pretty now.

Say "cheese."

KAT:
Nobody does that, Dad.

Here's the thing.
Mom is grown, and so are you.

If modeling doesn't
float your boat anymore,

you get to walk away
into whatever does.

It's not that I'm ungrateful.

Mom built a career
that's been very good to me.

I make great money.

Modeling is the reason why
I have a social media presence

in the first place.

But I want to do what's mine,

not something
that Mom chose for me.

Walk my own path. You know?

Stop being under Mom's control.

It's me, Chelsea.

You know, the one that left
Fairmont five years ago,

opened my own firm, married
Jacob and never looked back.

You don't have to justify
needing change to me.

You want to spread your wings,

and there's nothing wrong
with it.

Hell, Mom did it
when she was younger than you,

and she certainly did not let

Grandmother's objections
slow her down one bit.

I know.

It's just, she's so brittle
and fragile right now,

and being my manager
is all she has left.

Do you remember
when we were growing up,

how we'd tiptoe around Mom until
we could get a read on her mood?

-[chuckles] I still do.
-And you always will.

Unless you cut the cord.

Mom is always
something emotional.

It's always big
and demands energy

and attention
from whoever's closest.

And since I moved out,
that burden has fallen onto you,

especially since she's
such a part of your career.

I hear what you're saying.

It's just...

I feel guilty.

It's the only life
you get, Chelsea.

And bottom line,
our mother is a survivor.

It took me
finding a place in the world

separate from her
to truly get that.

Now, it's not gonna be easy,
but maybe it's time

you create some distance
of your own.

I don't even know
who you are anymore.

When did you start getting so
much pleasure out of hurting me?

That wasn't the intention.

It's just the way
things turned out.

We built a life together.

We made a family, and you left
like it was nothing.

Did you ever love me?

I loved you very much.

Then how could you treat me
so shabbily?

You are literally throwing

the woman who blew up
my marriage in my face.

How much am I supposed
to take, Bill?

That's the thing.
It's not about you, Dani.

It's about me
and what I need for my life now.

And that's Hayley.

Look, I'm sorry you're having
a hard time accepting

that our marriage is over,
but it really is this simple.

I fell in love
with someone else.

You promised me forever.

I gave up everything for you.

You were on a path,
and you chose to change course.

Dani, we had a good run.

Our marriage worked.
Until it didn't.

Until Hayley came along.

We were in trouble
long before Hayley.

I didn't know that.

Was our marriage perfect?
Not by a long shot.

You cheated on me, Bill.
More than once.

And I look
the other way because...

because some men are incapable
of being faithful to one woman.

And because I loved you.

But I choked on my pride,
and I pretended

it wasn't happening because I
thought that's what you needed.

And I thought
that's what I had to do

to keep our family together.

But I never considered us
in trouble.

You had it both ways.
Why would you leave?

Dani, look, I can't do this
with you, okay?

This is my place of business.
I can't do this.

All right?

People change, okay?
Situations change.

We accept a new reality,
and we move on.

That's what Hayley and I
hope you can do.

Maybe even get to the point
where you can wish us well.

Never.

In fact, I hope
your life is a misery.

If I could put a curse on you,
I would,

you selfish, heartless b*stard.

One more thing.

Slapping me?

Whatever.

I can take
whatever you dish out.

But if you ever raise
another hand to Hayley...

You'll what?

You couldn't possibly hurt me
more than you already have.

Don't try me.

I'm not afraid of you.

[indistinct chatter]

I hope you got an earful
of what's coming for you.

You're not special, Hayley.

And you sure as hell
ain't the first.

Remember what they say.

Past is prologue.

[sobbing loudly]

Is this, uh, seat taken?

-I'm waiting for someone.
-I doubt that.

Excuse me?

You did a good job
with the disguise,

but I know who you are.

-[sighs]
-I'd know you anywhere. [laughs]

I'm your biggest fan.

Blow this joint with me,
and I'll prove it.

I've found it's a good policy

not to get intimate
with my fans,

but there's something about you.

Oh, good.
I don't have to drink alone.

Vodka martini,
very dry, very cold.

Why are you wearing sunglasses?

And who's he?

He's not Doug, that's for sure.

[car door opens]

Randy Parker. What's up, my man?

Doug McBride. You tell me.

Don't sweat it.

I got what you came for.

Then we're all good, my friend.

-Later.
-We're all good.

I'm gonna be
at Chelsea's sh**t tomorrow.

Is that okay with you?

Uh, sure.
You can be my assistant.

I should warn you,
it'll probably be tense.

-Mm-hmm.
-Aunt Dani momages Chelsea hard

when things are fine,
and this ain't that.

I hear you. I hear you.

So, wear my referee hat.

So, what have you been up to
since we last saw you?

Um, just got back from Bali.

Photographing a new resort.

Oh, I'm sorry.

-Somebody's got to do it.
-[chuckles]

It was horrible
what you went through.

Losing both of your parents
like that.

They've been gone ten years now.

It's hard to believe.

I can't even imagine.

But I so admire the way
you put your life back together.

Doing what you love
on your own terms.

Isn't that what
we all strive for?

Yeah, but the money
my parents left me

gives me that freedom,
so it's still kind of weird.

But you give what you make
from photography

to charities your mom supported,

so it kind of balances out
in a good way.

True. That's the hope, at least.

What about you?

From what I can see,

Kat Richardson is
all about work.

No love interest
in your life or...?

Plenty of time for that.

Right now,
I'm concentrating on learning

what I need to know
about business.

Chelsea and I are
gonna do big things.

But that's a secret for now.

Oh. Safe with me.

I know.

-Always.
-Mm-hmm.

I wish we didn't
have to do this.

You and me both.

It kills me to know that
we'll be adding to Dani's pain.

While giving in to Bill.

And gifting Hayley with a
legitimacy she doesn't deserve.

I suppose
there's another option.

We can call Bill's bluff.

Bank on him saving the
trump card for a bigger hand.

What if he doesn't?

That little girl
has got his nose open

about as wide as it gets.

Look at what Bill has already
thrown away because of her.

We can't roll the dice
on Martin's future.

Have you told him about this?

No.

And I don't intend to.

This is ours to handle.

We never speak about that night.

With good reason.

Do you ever regret
the choices we made?

I'd do it all again,
exactly the same.

Me, too.

So, we move forward as planned.

Okay, ladies,
it's been real, as usual,

[laughs]

But I got to run.

Nicole has a lot going on.

I've noticed you and Laura still
at the house when I'm leaving.

Oh, we've definitely been
putting in overtime.

Oh, well, that's gonna look good
on your paychecks.

-[laughs]
-And it also explains

why you've been missing
from choir practice.

-Oh.
-We will be seeing you
again soon, right?

I'll be there tonight.

I promised Laura we'll be
done by 7:00.

Hey, Martin.

Um, come sit.

Yeah, what's up?

[sighs heavily]

So there's been something
on my mind for a while now.

I almost brought it up last time
you were having your dreams,

but they evened out.

And your sleep
has been peaceful.

And I hoped
it would stay that way.

But here we are again.

And you're right.

I do have that part of my brain

that searches for answers,
whether that annoys you or not.

So, I'm just gonna
throw this out there.

-It's quite a preamble.
-Are you going to hear me out?

I'm sitting here, aren't I?

Maybe these dreams
are about something

that you don't want to remember.

From intrepid reporter
to amateur therapist.

You must have too much time
on your hands.

There's no story here, Smitty.
No mystery to solve.

I have bad dreams
that I don't recall.

If that's
too disturbing for you,

I'll move into the guest room.

Well, that's a bit extreme.

[phone chimes]

-That's weird.
-What?

I've been summoned.

Sudden family meeting
at my grandparents'.

Thanks for your
always-on-point advice.

-Are you taking it?
-Eventually.

But not until this
awful wedding is behind us

and Mom's feeling better.

I can bide my time
a little longer.

You're a good kid.

I'm a grown-a*s woman.

You'll always be my baby sister,
no matter how old you get.

-[laughs] Whatever.
-[phones chime]

Oh. Is that synchronicity
or what?

Family meeting?

"7:00. No excuses."

[sighs]

-[chuckling]
-[phone chimes]

That's Mother's text tone.
She's old school.

She always calls.

Mine is from Grandmother, too.

"Family meeting at the house,
presence required"?

I hope Dani hasn't lost her mind
and gone left on somebody.

[sighs heavily]

I... [chuckles nervously]

I hired
this fine young gentleman

to do a little role-playing.

I'm Incognito Taylor,
and this is my biggest fan.

You're joking, right?

[Vanessa laughing]

Of course I am. This is Zeke.

Zeke from my office.

Thank you, Zeke,
for dropping off the keys.

[clears throat] Anytime.
You know where to find me.

Huh. A little role-play
with that one

might not be such a bad idea.

You could probably use
the distraction.

You are not kidding.

I just left Bill.

I thought confronting him
would give me some--

I don't know-- release, closure.

-Didn't happen?
-It's so frustrating.

I cannot reach a man who I was
married to for over 30 years.

Bill is completely
shut down on me.

Nothing I say or do
penetrates that.

It's hurtful, and... and it
fills me with even more anger.

And there's nowhere
for that anger to go.

Anyway, I have made a decision.

I have to get Chelsea
through a photo sh**t tomorrow,

and then I'm going
to hop a plane to Paris.

Ooh, there is a plan
I can wholeheartedly endorse.

A change of scenery
can work miracles.

-[phone chimes]
-That's my mother.

Command appearance
at my parents'.

That can't be good.

If that b*stard
ex-husband of mine

has done one more thing
to disrespect me,

I cannot be held responsible
for my reaction.

-I absolutely love it.
-Love what?

Laura just got me this.

Oh, that's lovely.

Did I miss an occasion?

No, no. Just a thank-you
from me to Mona.

Uh, is there anything
I need to know before I leave?

Yes. The smaller banquet room at
the country club is available

both nights you're considering

for the sponsorship
presentation.

Great. I will decide soon.

Why don't you both take off?

I know you've been
working extra hours.

You don't have to tell me twice.

I've been wanting to get
to choir rehearsal tonight.

Uh, I'll finish up a few things
and be on my way.

I want to do some online
shopping for our trip to Maui.

Oh, I have a special place
in my heart for that island.

-That is where I met Ted.
-I didn't know that.

Mm-hmm. At a National Medical
Association conference

a million years ago.

Best week of my life
up until then.

-[chuckles]
-Anyway, I got to run.

Uh, hopefully-- Oh, thank you.

Hopefully, this meeting
is about something

other than Bill
and his hateful wedding.

[groans]

I am so furious with Dad,
I can't even see straight.

This in-your-face wedding
to my former friend,

getting married
at the country club,

buying a house close to Mom.

It is reprehensible,
even for him.

Totally.
I'm so glad I live in D.C.

Running into Dad and Hayley all
the time would be a nightmare.

No kidding.

You know, back in the day,

when I was a daddy's girl,
living to please him

and wanting to be like him,
I never would have believed

the day would come when
I would despise him this much.

Whoa. Strong word.

Well, he earned it.

And not just for Hayley, though
that would have been enough.

The way he took Mom for granted,
the affairs.

The way he twists
and subverts the law

to get his guilty clients off.

But even with all of that,
I could still look

into Dad's eyes and see
someone that I loved.

Not anymore.

I knew you were angry with him.

I guess I didn't realize how
broken things are between you.

You and Dad
were always so close.

Yeah, that'll
never be true again.

As far as I'm concerned,
I don't have a father.

Naomi.

Don't.

This was knocked off the desk
when Dani swung that club.

Got to love the symbolism.

Hey, it's just glass in a frame.

Easily replaced.

Yeah, unlike
our relationships with Naomi.

[sighs]:
Yeah.

She was my first real friend.

I miss her in my life, and
I know you miss your daughter.

Yeah. Yeah. Of course.

I'm sure, in time,
we'll be back on track.

I hope I'm worth your loss.

Hey.

I wouldn't be with you
if you weren't.

You reawakened me, Hayley.

I didn't even realize it.

I was just going
through the motions.

You know, pretending
that feeling dead inside

was an okay way to live.

That I didn't miss

catching my breath
at the touch of a woman I love.

You gave that back to me.

Jump-started my heart.

-And a few other things.
-[laughs]

Hey.

I will never be sorry
I chose you.

[piano playing gentle music]

[humming along to music]

Here at the Grands
for a family meeting.

No idea why.

Y'all know my sister Naomi
is a badass lawyer,

but did y'all know she can sing?

Eat your heart out, JHud.

Get out.

Okay, peeps, check in later.

Or not.

You want me to fix you a plate?

Do not point
that thing at me again.

And no, I will eat
at home with Jacob.

Thank God there's food.
I'm starving.

That's a lot of meat
you got there.

What are you, the salami police?

You have a photo sh**t tomorrow.

And I'm channeling Aunt Dani.
Sorry.

Well, if you're gonna eat it,

eat it fast
before she gets here.

Too late. Oh.

There. Much better.

Why do you hate me?

It is just as easy
to eat healthy food

as it is junk,
especially right before a sh**t.

Chill, Mom. Let Chelsea live.

I don't remember
asking for your two cents.

Oh.

Is there anything I can do
to support Aunt Dani?

Actually, there might be.

Everybody's been trying
to get her to move on from Bill,

because she definitely needs to.

But maybe you could be
a different voice,

one that validates
how she's feeling,

because that's legitimate, too.

Assignment understood
and accepted.

Does anyone know why we're here?

Mother, Daddy, what's going on?

There's been a change in plan
you're not gonna like.

Well, I have a change of plan
of my own that maybe will

negate the need for yours,
so I'll go first.

I am going to Paris
tomorrow night.

That won't do.

What do you mean?

Now is the perfect time for me
to get as far away as possible.

And we need you here.

At least through Friday.

Bill and Hayley's wedding
is Friday.

That's what I'm trying
to get away from.

We're going.

Say it again?

I can't have heard you right.

The Duprees will be attending
the wedding as a family.

Including you, Dani.

Damn it, Mother.

No.

Hey, Mona. Nicole decided on
the menu for the Links brunch.

She likes number three.

Okay, I'm headed out now.
I'll see you tomorrow. Bye.

I'll ignore the fact you just
cursed at me in my own home.

I understand this is yet another
blow you weren't expecting.

I'm just as shocked as Dani.

Why in the world
would our family attend

-that horror show of a wedding?
-Thank you.

Do I have to remind you
of who we are?

Duprees don't cower.
We don't hide.

If Bill has the stones
to marry that little heifer

in our community,

then he can do it while looking
into our pissed-off faces.

VERNON:
And not just us.

Anita and I want
a community turnout.

I'll be making
the necessary phone calls.

Let me get this straight.

You want me to support
my ex-husband's marriage

to another woman?

It doesn't sound
like support to me.

More like making Bill and Hayley
as uncomfortable as possible.

-There you go.
-I won't do it.

No one's suggesting
you wish them well.

Just be there, radiating
all the hostility you please.

Truthfully,
I don't hate the idea

of making Dad and Hayley
accountable to this family.

DANI:
Hayley invited us.

Invited everyone.

She is incapable of shame.

The answer is no.

Disown me, disinherit me,
whatever.

I am out of
the mortify Dani business.

VERNON:
Dani.

Dani, a word.

What is happening, Daddy?

Your mother and I
haven't asked a lot of you.

In fact, we pretty much
let you have your way

since you were a teenager.

I realize this doesn't
make sense to you.

But I wouldn't put it on you
without a good reason.

And if I'm not
telling you that reason...

...it's because I can't.

I'm asking you to trust me.

To do this for me.

I hate this.

With every fiber of my being.

But if it is
this important to you...

Fine.

I'll be there.

Thank you.

-Did she agree?
-Yes.

But she feels betrayed again.

This time, by us.

We'll make it right with Dani.

But we did what we needed to do.

-Are you okay, Mom?
-What just happened?

I don't know. Looks like
we're going to a wedding.

-I don't understand.
-Neither do I.

But it's important to my dad.

Are you gonna be able
to get through this?

I guess we'll see.

I smell Bill all over this.
He got to my parents somehow.

Guess he wants to keep
that little tr*mp happy.

Why else would he care?

We'll just...
we'll turn it around.

You know, be that wall of
hostility Grandmother mentioned.

Make them sorry we came.

Mm-hmm. Maybe even ruin
the ceremony altogether.

Like, I could be so upset,

I get sick to my stomach
and barf all over Hayley

and her stupid dress.

-Ew.
-[Chelsea laughs]

Don't tempt me to encourage you.

I'm sorry, Mom.

About all of this.

So am I.

Thank you.

I appreciate the support.

It'll be over soon.

And in the meantime, we got you.

-Mm-hmm.
-We got you.

[over radio]:
♪ I wake up in the morning... ♪

-[engine revving]
-[song continues over radio]

[engine roaring]

[mouthing]

[tires squealing]

-[car crashes]
-[song stops]

[wind whistling]

♪ ♪

[sighs]

♪ ♪