01x21 - Episode 21

[bunniefuu]

[birds chirping]

You're done with modeling.

Funny. Cute.

But we have no time for comedy.

As soon as you sign this,

I can, uh, get
all those ba*ls in the air

and start juggling.

This fashion show
is not going to organize itself.

I'm not kidding, Mom.
I'm done with modeling.

Are you livestreaming
this somehow?

Are all your little followers
watching your mother freak out?

I swear I'm not punking you.

Then what is this about,
Chelsea?

Because you're not
making any sense.

Well, I'll tell you
if you just listen.

I'm not like you, Mom.

Modeling isn't
my end-all, be-all.

What I want to do
is be a designer.

And I have my own company.

Well, it's not just me.
I'm partnering with Kat.

We just started,
but it won't take long for us

to be able to launch
our own line.

Okay.

Sweetheart, let's be serious.

Maybe someday soon,
we can discuss

starting our own fashion line.

But a project like that takes
planning and preparation.

You have no idea how--

I already know everything
about my company.

From the market research,

the business plan,
the concept design.

I am not going to let you
give away

your wildly successful career
on a whim.

Don't call it that.
And it's not up to you.

Kat and I have put
a lot of work into our business.

And it's just starting
to take off.

She already negotiated
a partnership deal

with a luxury brand.

But I told her I didn't want to
partner with somebody right now.

I want our company
to be all ours.

I know this is wild.

And I didn't even expect this
to happen so soon.

Why is this the first
I'm hearing about this?

I was scared to tell you.

[Motown music playing]

♪ You are no good for me♪

♪ And now I see♪

♪ You don't love me♪

♪ Like I love you...♪

Hi, Jacob.

Hayley.

It's been a while since
we had a chance to catch up.

Congratulations
on your promotion.

Thank you.

You're working in Robbery
and Homicide now, right?

Must be intense.

It is what it is, you know.

Well, it's nothing
you can't handle, I'm sure.

You excel at everything you do.

[chuckles]
It's nice of you to say.

I'll see you around.

Jacob, wait.

There's something
I've been wanting to ask you.

How can we get Naomi and Bill
back on speaking terms?

Is that it?

A few extravagant claims
by a few...

disgruntled former employees?

First, I have three clients
who were wrongfully terminated

in a classic act of retaliation

when they made specific,
credible allegations

of sexual harassment.

I don't know.
I think the word "credible"

is doing a lot of work
in that sentence.

I expect discovery will uncover
plenty of evidence.

Can't discover facts
that don't exist.

And the man
accused in all of this

bears no resemblance to the one
I worked with for decades.

Oh, please.

Even before these women
came to me,

I heard the rumors about Mike.

Rumors? [chuckles]

Pro tip, Naomi.

That's a word you don't want
to use when bringing a lawsuit.

It sounds a little desperate.

The people who worked with Mike
must have a very good idea

of how he treated women
around here.

And I expect a few depositions
from your employees

will prove very educational.

Hmm.

Well, sweetheart...

if getting my attention
was the goal,

then you've succeeded.

Might've been easier
to pick up a phone, though.

Let me give you a pro tip, Dad.

You might not want to call me
"sweetheart" in court.

Sounds a little sexist.

♪ ♪

It's not like I was keeping
anything from you.

I'm only starting to consider
a run for president.

I've only floated the idea
past two people,

my mother and my grandfather.

I see.

You were keeping your plans
to a tight circle.

What I don't understand
is why your husband

was not a part of that circle.

I guess for the same reason
you didn't tell me

you wanted to start reporting
again.

Okay. For the record,

that is one hell
of a false equivalence.

But...

...I see your point.

It seems like neither of us
are comfortable

opening up about what's...

...important to us.

What does that say
about our relationship, Martin?

How did we get to this place?

Look, you would've served
your clients far better

if you had just come to me

and tried to resolve things
more amicably.

And fortunately, we can still
handle it that way.

Oh, can we?

-Of course.
-Hmm.

You withdraw your complaint,
with prejudice of course,

and we'll work something out.

Now that I'm aware
of the situation,

I assure you, I will investigate
and take appropriate action.

Is that how you're
gonna handle this?

That you had no idea what was
happening right under your nose?

Okay, need I remind you,
I've had a lot on my plate

over the past few months?

I got divorced, remarried.
I went on a honeymoon.

So, is it your position
that while you were busy

handling your personal life,

Human Resources took care
of ignoring

these women's complaints,

issuing them unfair
performance evaluations,

passing them over for promotions

and ultimately letting them go?

Didn't you notice the unusually
high turnover

in your female staff?

Lower-level personnel matters
are not my concern.

Maybe you don't understand
how a prominent law firm works.

I don't manage staff.

I manage high-profile cases.

My research shows
that Mike Davis

brought a lot of these high-
profile clients to your firm.

I imagine all those hospitals,
tech companies and so on

pay you some hefty retainers.

Your point?

It wasn't in your
financial interest

to pay too much attention to how
your rainmaker, Mike,

was treating
the "lower-level personnel."

So you turned a blind eye.

These women
are capable professionals

who worked tirelessly
to help elevate

the standing of your firm
and solidify

your firm's reputation
as a prominent law firm.

But to you, they were invisible.

What did it matter if they
were being mistreated,

stripped of their dignity,
their reputations

and eventually
their livelihoods?

All that counted was
what Bill Hamilton wanted.

And if an inconsequential woman
was in the way,

she was out.

[Bill laughs]

Yes.

Nice closing, sweetheart.

But are we still talking
about your clients here?

Because that sounds a lot
like the complaints

you made about my treatment
of your mother.

Apparently, you have
the same M.O.

in your professional life
as you do your personal one.

And if you can't
punish me for one,

then you'll punish me
for the other.

Is that it?

Am I so terrifying
you couldn't be honest with me?

It's not all you.

It's more me being in my head

and doubting
that this little daydream

could even happen.

Then Kat and I started
to bounce off ideas,

and it sort of turned into
this little side hustle thing.

I swear,
once it turned into something,

I was gonna tell you,

but that's when
Dad and Hayley happened.

No way I was gonna
dump this on you then.

What about all those nights
you came and stayed over?

We would stay up late,
talking into the night.

And I loved that.

Well, I thought
we were becoming friends

as well as mother and daughter.

And now I find out you couldn't
even share your dreams with me?

Mom, you were at
the lowest point of your life.

There's no way that I was gonna
take away your career from you

on top of everything else.

You thought I was
gonna fall apart.

I didn't want you to feel more
abandoned than you already did.

This fashion show you planned
really does sound k*ller.

And it's for a good cause.

And headlining for three years

is not exactly hard labor,
so I'll just do it.

Why'd you rip up the contract?

You said you were done
with modeling.

I can hang in there
until things smooth out for you.

[scoffs] I wouldn't make
that promise, baby.

You might find yourself
stumbling down

a runway in your 70s.

Mm-mm.

You are officially off the hook.

As much as I appreciate you
working so hard to protect me,

I would be the world's
biggest hypocrite

if I tried to stop you from...

chasing a dream
that is calling your name.

Do you mean that, Mom?

You're okay with my decision?

"Okay" might be
overstating it a little.

But I remember
being in your shoes.

More than that,
I remember the fights I had

with your grandmother.

That woman tried everything
short of chains

to keep me from leaving home.

You took a risk,
and it paid off.

If I had more sense,
I would have been scared

of what I was taking on at 17.

But...

I had my eyes on my own prize,

and my focus
helped me achieve it.

For two glorious years,

I was a top model,

right up there
with Naomi Campbell

and Beverly Johnson.

And then you met Dad.

[Jacob sighs]

Look, my only role in this
is supporting my wife,

not pressuring her
into making nice

with someone
she lost all respect for.

Because Bill fell in love with
someone other than her mother?

Is that really so unforgivable?

Hayley, I'm not getting
into this with you.

Can-can we at least agree

that even before
I came into the picture,

Bill and Dani's marriage
was on the rocks?

Oh, is that what he told you?

Let me guess, let me guess.

"My wife doesn't understand me."

Or, "You and I have
a special connection, Hayley."

Am I close?

Bill deserves some happiness
in his life.

And it shouldn't cost him
his entire family.

At least not his daughters.

Did he think about what
his actions cost his daughters?

I don't think so.

Well, I'm sorry
that you can't allow yourself

to have a little compassion.

Not after he hurt
the woman I love.

Well, just so you know,

I love both Bill
and Naomi very much.

And I'm gonna
keep hoping that someday

Naomi will let go of her anger,

even if it's for
her own peace of mind.

I wouldn't count on it.

I'm disappointed in you, Naomi.

You're surprised by me, Dad.
But don't worry, you'll recover.

It's unethical for you
to try to use these women

to retaliate against me.

Attacking me
is not a winning strategy.

Well, neither is
using your clients

for your own petty vengeance.

You used them.
I'm holding you accountable.

With this flimsy case? Come on.

The record shows
that these women were let go

because of poor performance.

It says it right here
in your own complaint.

Those terminations
were retaliatory.

No jury will believe
that it's a coincidence

that all three women were let go

within days
of complaining to HR.

Okay, I am not worried
about my ability

to defeat your case,
such as it is,

in front of a jury.

But if you allow this
to get that far,

it's gonna be
detrimental for everyone.

-Hmm.
-Do you understand that?

-Your clients will get nothing.
-My clients will prevail.

You'll be lucky if you're
not laughed out of court.

While I'm standing
for the rights

of three innocent women?

Okay, what about
the truly innocent employees

that work at the firm, hmm?

Who are going to be suffering
because of your smear campaign?

What about them, Naomi?

Hmm? People that
watched you grow up.

Some of them came to your
law school graduation, Naomi.

This is not like any other case
that you've brought, sweetheart.

People that you know,
people that you care about,

are going to be hurt
by what you're doing.

It's not too late for you
to rethink this thing.

I'll see you in court.

[sighs]

[chuckles softly]

I'll always be grateful

for the way you guided
my career, Mom.

-You don't have to say that.
-Oh, facts.

You're responsible
for my success

on the runway and that brand,
my following,

it's what's opening doors
for me as a designer.

And that pile of money
you made will probably

be pretty helpful, too,
I'd imagine.

[laughs]

I'll always take
what I learned from you.

And not just about
the fashion industry,

but how to be a boss
and not take crap from anyone.

I'll take every bit of that
to build my empire.

Empire? Excuse me.

Okay, so it's gonna take
a little time for us

-to reach that status.
-Uh-uh.

I have no doubt

you will reach empires
and beyond.

I am so proud of you, Chelsea.

And I have loved
working with you.

And although I wish
it could last a little longer,

I get it.

I had to do me.

You have to do you.

I love you so much, Mom.

Tomas?

Hi. Can I join you?

Oh, my bad.

This seat
must be for someone else.

Enjoy your lunch date.

No, Kat, that's not it.

It's just Hamilton family drama

just exploded at work,

and I'm stressing the fallout.

Oh, God.
What did my Aunt Dani do now?

It's not her this time.

It'll be a matter
of public record soon,

so there's no harm
in telling you.

The firm is getting sued.

What happened?

Some female employees complained
about getting sexually harassed

by a particular lawyer

and claimed that the firm
was a hostile work environment.

And then they got fired.

Whoa. So who's the creep?

Sorry. Um, alleged harasser.

You remember that partner
I mentioned to you?

-The jerk?
-Oh, that guy.

Yeah, I definitely
believe those women.

I hope he gets
his a*s handed to him.

If it were just him
going down, I wouldn't care.

But a case like this could trash
the reputation of the firm.

But you're good at what you do.

You can find a better job
at a better firm.

Bill Hamilton's practice
is top tier.

All through law school, I worked
to get grades high enough

to score a job offer from him.

Even if you don't
make partner there,

associates trained by Bill
can write their own ticket

to any firm in the district
and beyond.

Hmm. So you've been playing
the long game.

Of course. You can't
get anywhere without a plan.

Tell me about it.

Managing my father's practice
is only the beginning

of what I want to do
with my life.

[chuckles]
But this isn't about me.

And I still don't understand
how this qualifies

as Hamilton family drama.

Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention.

The opposing lawyer
is your cousin Naomi.

She's suing her father.

Aunt Nicole.
You just missed Mom.

I saw.

You two look like you were
sharing a special moment.

I didn't want to intrude.

I told her I'm giving up
modeling to become a designer.

Is that what you've
been working on with Kat?

Mom took it pretty well.

-That's a relief.
-I know, right?

I thought she would flip out

or just stop talking to me
altogether,

but actually, she was...

She said she was proud of me.

Oh, sh**t. And here I am
about to tear up all over again.

[sniffles]
Thank you.

[laughing]

Meeting Tuesday at 3:00 p.m.
is fine on our end, too.

Yeah. Okay, thanks. Bye.

Sorry about that.

I'm used to being interrupted
by your office.

Maybe...

that's at least
part of our issue.

Our lives are so hectic

that we don't make time
for real conversations.

Those are nice words,
Martin, but I'm not buying it.

You had the perfect opportunity
earlier today to tell me

that you were thinking about
running for president.

I didn't have the words, okay?

Normally when I'm faced
with this issue,

I turn to my husband,
the writer,

who could help me out.

I'll give you some words.

How about, "Hey, Smitty,

"the reason I didn't tell you
about my presidential ambitions

"is 'cause I thought you'd say
there was no way in hell

that you would support me
in them"?

Am I on target?

I was afraid you would say that.

But do you really feel that way?

Before I answer that question,
tell me why your grandparents

were so dead set
against the idea.

Oh, I wish I could see the look

on my Uncle Bill's face
when he got served.

I did see it.
And I can tell you,

Bill's not
gonna go easy on Naomi

just because she's his daughter.

And she'd never expect him to.

I'm tight with Chelsea,
and so I know

that there is nothing easy
about being that man's daughter.

I do not envy my cousins.

So your father's not like him?

My dad is like anti-Bill.

He's a total family man.

Crazy about my mom even after
all these years of marriage.

Kind of cringe,
but honestly, low-key cute.

I think that's pretty awesome.

It might also explain
some things.

Like why I'm holding out
for true love?

Yeah, it's them.

If I've seen the real deal,

why would I waste my time
on anything less?

Well, because it's fun.

That's not pressure, I swear.

You know I respect
your position,

but I think it's fair to say

you don't know
what you're missing.

Maybe I don't know,
but I can and do imagine.

Are you saying
you fantasize about having sex?

Of course.

Have you fantasized about me?

What do you think?

I think...

I need to hear
a lot more about this.

[laughing]

And I think
this is a conversation

for a different time
and a different place.

I'm going to meet Chelsea,
so I'll see you later?

And that's a real question.

-Real answer?
-Mm-hmm.

Count on it, Kat.

Gran and Granddad don't think
I'm ready for such a major move.

And do you blame them?

You don't think I'm up for it?

[sighs] You...

...are one of the toughest
people I know, Martin.

So, sure, yeah,
you can handle the pressure.

And my life's been
an open book for years.

-But...
-The kids.

They can do this, Smitty.

They understand that their pop
is on a national stage.

But a campaign
of this magnitude,

at minimum, that's three years
of our lives.

Both kids would go through
their senior year of high school

and early college
with that stress.

Always having
to keep their guards up,

every little slip they make

being a part
of a national conversation.

That is a lot of pressure
for anyone to handle,

let alone a teenager.

I think you're
underestimating them

and how strong our family is
to weather anything, together.

I don't know, Martin.

I just-- I don't know.

You said you were just
considering this, right?

So we have time
to think about it,

to weigh the pros and cons,
and to, most of all,

talk to each other about it.

Kind of hurts not having

your husband's
unqualified endorsement.

You don't have it yet.

I'll take what I can get.

[sighs]

Hey.

Honey, I know I said
I was gonna buy

a new piece of furniture
for the bedroom,

but I saw these outfits
and just couldn't resist.

[chuckles] Well,

I'm sure you'll look stunning
in them, baby.

Must've been a slow day
at the firm

for you to be home so early.

Well, my beautiful new wife

is the only reason
I need to come home early.

But you're right.

Today was same old, same old.

Intellectual property disputes,
proposed mergers.

Oh, and Naomi is suing my firm.

I have to admit, I'm surprised
Dani took the news so well.

She didn't want
to give me a hard time

like Gran did with her.

Oh, Lord, I remember.

I'm surprised Gran
wasn't more understanding

with her singing and all.

That was part of it.

Mother didn't want
to see her baby face hard knocks

like she did
when she took her path.

Also, when Dani left,
she was out of our lives

until she chose to reach out.

You guys didn't even
have cell phones back then.

And Dani called
when she remembered,

which was not much.

That's hard on a mother.

Well, it's a good thing
she'll always be able

to see my feed.

Thanks to her,
nobody is more visible than me.

That's true.

But we both know
you separating yourself

from your mother professionally,

it's still gonna be
a struggle for her.

She gave you a wonderful
gift today, Chelsea.

I hope you'll be patient with
her if she struggles at times.

I get it. And I will be.

CHELSEA:
I'm done with modeling.

I don't think you realize
the pressure

you put on that girl.

Well, excuse me
while I find my tiny violin.

You've been a great manager.

Built one hell of a career
for your daughter.

I just wonder if you did it
for Chelsea.

Or to get back what you gave up.

[exhales]

♪ ♪

-Oh, cousin.
-Mm!

Oh, my goodness. I'm free.

I finally worked up
enough courage to tell Mom

that I'm done modeling
and that you and I started

our own design company,
and she was fine with it.

Wait, for real?

She tore up this
three-year modeling contract.

Hallelujah!

There is nothing
stopping us now.

Not one thing.

Oh, I can't wait to get started.

And I have some new designs
to show you.

And I am so ready to see them.

But first, I've got
my own gossip to dish.

The other half of your family
just blew up.

-Hey, babe.
-Hi, baby.

Since you have a short break,
I ordered for you already.

Well, thankfully, you always
know what I like to eat.

Anything interesting
happen on the job today?

Well, not at the job,

but I did run into
your stepmother today.

Please don't call her that.

Yeah, well,
whatever you want to call her,

she thinks she and I
should team up

to negotiate a truce
between you and Bill.

I don't know.

Hayley is playing peacemaker?

When she's the one
responsible for all of this?

And trying to enlist
my husband as her ally?

How did I not see
how manipulative she was

from the very beginning?

Because you're
a good person, Naomi.

You saw the best in her,
the way you do everybody.

And when you told that b*tch
to go straight to hell?

Well, I didn't...
exactly use those words.

But I did let it be known I was
not buying what she was selling.

You say anything
about the lawsuit?

No, I didn't.

Partly because
it wasn't really my place,

but also because I didn't know

if you'd actually
go through with it.

Oh, I went through with it.

Bill Hamilton was served
in his office today.

Mmm.

And I was there
to watch it all unfold.

And what was that like?

Nothing special.
[chuckles]

None of those women
ever said a word of that to me.

And Mike was always the perfect
gentleman in my presence.

I'll testify to that in court.

Well, I appreciate
the offer, baby,

but I doubt a jury
would be impressed to learn

that the office letch
was smart enough to steer clear

of his partner's girlfriend,
now wife.

So, are you saying
you think Mike is guilty?

I don't know. I don't know.

But it doesn't matter, because
this lawsuit is going away.

So you'll settle with Naomi,

or will you kick Mike
out of the firm?

I'm just gonna keep all
my options open at this point.

Yeah, but one thing I do know
is that this case

will never see
the inside of a courtroom.

Really? When Naomi gets
this fired up about something?

Oh, oh, oh, and she is fired up.

Listen, she started
arguing the case

right there in my office.

Went toe to toe with me.

Just the way I taught her.
[chuckles]

Sounds like you're glad
she's suing you.

Oh, I certainly don't want to
have to make mincemeat

out of Naomi in court.

I mean, she's still my baby,
after all.

Which is why I'm gonna
give her what she needs

instead of what
she thinks she wants.

She wants to win her case, Bill.

No, no, she wants to prove
herself to her dad. Right?

This isn't the way
to do it, but...

Look, this case is a shambles
based on the misinterpretations

by a bunch of, well,
hysterical women.

Right?

What she needs
is me back in her life.

And this lawsuit
puts me in a position

to remind her of how much
we have in common

and how much fun we have
arguing the law with each other.

Once she remembers that...

I think our relationship
is gonna get back on track.

Mmm.

I'd love nothing more
than for you and Naomi

to be as close
as you were before.

I was just telling Jacob
that earlier

when I ran into him.

He knew about the lawsuit.
That's why he blew me off.

-Hey, baby. Hey, hey, hey.
-Wow.

Hey. Calm down, Hayley.

This is nothing
to be upset about, okay?

Look, Naomi could have referred
her clients

to any social justice warrior,
but she didn't.

She will never admit it,
but this is her way

-of reaching out to me.
-[phone vibrates]

Mm.

This is Mike.

Obviously, I got to take this.

Mike. Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

[sighs]

Confronting your father like
that must've been hard for you.

It was the most
familiar thing in the world.

Arguing is how
my father and I communicate.

He started off
by trying to undermine

the legitimacy
of the accusations.

And he called the women liars.

Used jury-friendly words
like mistaken and misguided,

but basically, yes.

They have to be lying
or at least exaggerating.

And then, and then, he went into

how disappointed he was
in my "unethical behavior."

-What?
-Yeah.

-In yours?
-Yes.

Bill Hamilton 101:

call the other attorney's
motives into question.

Kind of made me miss him.

I know him,
and all of his tactics.

And I thought I was prepared
for anything he might dish out,

but...

...when he attacked me,
personally, it hurt.

Babe, come here.

If you think this is becoming
too hard for you to handle,

there's no shame in letting

another attorney
handle the case.

Is that what you want?

I want what you want.

Full stop.

Naomi will never back down.

She's gonna hold Dad's feet
to the fire.

I just don't understand

why she didn't tell me
about this herself.

She didn't tell me. Tomas did.

He was in the room
when Bill got served.

Oh, so you and Tomas
are chatting it up?

-What's stopping us?
-Well, didn't you say

he was put off by
the whole virginity thing?

Oh, I thought he might be,
but he was cool with it,

so we're straight.

Except for
that little witch Eva.

Now, what does she
have to do with it?

I overheard
her flirting with him.

Uh-oh. And did he flirt back?

He has much better taste
than that.

No, he's a good guy.

Aww, you like him.

Maybe.

Well, finally, somebody
who's worth your time.

But there's still
no need to rush.

Okay.

Seriously.

Only go for it when the man
and the time are right.

[sighs]

[R&B music playing]

[phone vibrating]

♪ ♪

[vibrating continues]

♪ A rock and a hard place...♪

Sorry again.

I didn't know I was
going to be cornered

by one of my constituents.

I'm used to it.

The chicken special
looks interesting,

but I do always love
the meatloaf.

Listen, I heard about
the perfect gig

for your better half.

I'm not sure
Smitty's in the job market.

It's investigative reporting
for a pretty big news site.

Sounds great, but Smitty's
focused on other things.

There's no point to
even bothering him with it.

You sure about that?

SMITTY:
How about you get the meatloaf

and I'll get the special,
and we'll split it?

What do you say?

I don't know.
Let me look at the menu.

I don't believe it. Evan.

Evan. Hey.

Come here.

Hey. How are you?

-Hi.
-Hey, Martin.

Hey, Smitty, it is so good
to run into you like this.

-Yeah.
-Listen, I still need someone

for that
investigative reporter job.

Look, I know, I know.
Martin told me

you weren't looking
to get back into work,

but I could really use someone
with your skills.

I mean, what can I say
to change your mind?

Martin said
I wouldn't be interested?

Maybe we can add
a contrasting trim?

Sure, I can play around
with that when I have some time.

I have time.

Oh, it's finally sinking in.

I get to do
what I love full-time

without having to work it around
fittings and photo shoots.

I just... I wish it didn't
mean bailing on Mom.

Don't go there, Chels.

Aunt Dani could have fought you,
but she didn't.

In a way, she's being set free,
just like you are.

Her life doesn't have to revolve

around her husband
or her kids anymore.

All true.

But I think it's gonna be
a long time

before she sees it that way.

God...

How young you were.

Had the world by the tail at 17.

Regular on the runways
in Europe. [chuckles]

Designers falling
all over your young a*s.

Too damn hard-headed
to take any warnings from people

even if they wanted to.

I wish I could go back
and warn you.

So you could make
different choices.

So you could avoid
some of the pain ahead.

[breath trembling]

♪ ♪

What the hell
do you think you're doing?

♪ ♪