01x89 - Episode 89

[bunniefuu]

Wow, small world.

Are you following me
or something?

I'm seeing Madison
and I'm really happy with her.

I want to be with you.

But I found somebody else.

You deliberately made me let our
father's accreditation lapse.

Gonna take a lot of time
and money to correct.

Isn't this a surprise?

Dani, what the hell
do you think you're doing?

You can waste your time
with girls, or...

you can let a woman
rock your world.

Free of someone
who's too stupid!

-You miserable b*tch!
-[shrieks]

My name's Kenneth.

Your son calls me Kenny.

We need police protection.

Oh, let me. It's crazy simple.

I am so lucky I found you.

And there you go.

Application installed.
You did it. Thank you so much.

Yeah, no, it's no big deal.

It is to me. Now my cousins
will think I'm relatable.

Hey! We're doing this again?!

Oh! Pop!

You got this all wrong.

HAYLEY:
Bill!

Oh, hey, babe. I'm sorry,
I didn't hear you there.

I've been calling you
for the last five minutes.

Okay. Is the baby all right?

I promise, at my follow-up exam,

the doctor said
everything was perfect.

The baby's growing
and I'm glowing.

Mm, yes, you are.

And that's the news
I wanted to hear.

Yeah, what happened
when I went to Dani's was

routine cramping
caused by stress.

Hmm, yeah, lesson learned.
Stay away from Dani Dupree.

So, now that you know

mother and child are happy
and healthy, how can I do

-the same for daddy?
-Hmm.

Should we be engaging
in this sort of thing?

Oh, absolutely.

-[doorbell chimes]
-Mm.

That was the door.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

I hear bells every time we kiss.

Eh, you expecting someone?

Matter of fact, I am.

You might want
to step aside, baby.

[door closes]

Who the hell do you think
you are, summoning me?

And what's so damned urgent?

♪ ♪

Hey, stranger.

Been a minute.

How have you been?

Oh, I've been a complete mess.
[chuckles]

Thank you for pretending
not to notice.

Look at you, looking
like you lost your best friend.

-I should have reached out.
-No. It's okay.

A couple breaks up,
people choose sides.

[soul music playing]

Ash, that's not the case
with me at all.

You know how work is.

And I figured the longer
I ignore the situation,

the greater the chances

you and Derek will get
back together.

Mm, well, I think that's
the last thing on Derek's mind.

I saw him out with Shanice.

-Shanice? From the hospital?
-Yeah.

My supervisor,
who's never let me forget

how hot and lonely
Derek must be.

Wait, but that's not like Derek.

And yet he did choose
someone I work with.

Where I'd been spending
all of my extra time

so I wouldn't be stuck at home
thinking about him.

-That's crazy.
-Right?

I mean, it's almost diabolical.

Out of all of the women
he could have chosen,

-and he goes right...
-No. No, no, no, no.

I thought you would be
the first one

to get back out there.

Me? Why me?
[scoffs]

Because...

Because I'm the runaway bride.

I'm the one who postponed
his proposal.

More so because
being single sucks

and I thought you would want to
put everything in your rearview.

Well, if it makes you
feel any better,

it was a tie.

I saw Derek out with Shanice

while I was...

out with Andre.

-Oh, man.
-I know.

It was so awkward in the moment.

But you know what?
This is good. It's good.

We have put this behind us,

we've made a clear break,
we are going to move on.

Okay. Well, if that's
what you both want, then, good.

I mean, it's not like one of us
is completely delusional

and just clinging to something
that was never really there.

If you're actually
following Madison and me,

you're gonna need a legit excuse

to share
with the arresting officer.

[scoffs]
You didn't. You're too much.

You know, you have
the driest sense of humor.

I'll always remember
those nights

when we were just
so wrapped up in each other

and it was like we were the last
two people in this world

and we were laughing and talking

and making love all night.

You know, I have
a pretty good memory

and I don't recall any of that.

Oh, her mind was always going
to the most amazing places

when we were together.

But if you think
I'm following you, no.

Ridiculous. As if.

-When I saw you here...
-At one of the best
restaurants in town?

I couldn't have come here
for the food?

What, it had to be you?

Wonderful you, tragically you.
[scoffs]

You know, you've been making
so many bad choices

in so many different areas
of your life,

I'm beginning
to worry about you.

You know, leaving modeling,

-leaving me.
-Wait, I did not...

But if you're needing
any assistance with anything,

you know, on or off the menu,

I'd be happy to step in
and assist.

Give you a taste of something
that you couldn't resist and...

might have missed.

Well, that completely
ruined the mood.

So I guess we'd better
stay and eat.

I'm sorry. Have you decided
what you'll have?

The lobster bisque looks
good to start,

but I'm thinking--

Yeah, what in the actual hell
was that?

No idea. Allison was normal
when we met.

What do you have, some
superpower I should know about?

You make women
fall in love and go mad?

It was never that deep.

The night that we met,
it was just a hookup.

-And after?
-Fun and games.

But here's what I don't get.

I wanted more with her,
and she shut me down,

so I moved on.

But she can't.

Is this what happens

when love turns
into its opposite?

Love's opposite is indifference.

This isn't that.

It's twisted.

♪ ♪

Vernon, is everything okay?

Does this have something
to do with Dani?

Only your husband would have
the answer to that.

He called this meeting.

It's a long-standing
legal matter

that's reared its ugly head,
sweetheart.

I'm sure you understand,
being married to an attorney.

-Privacy?
-O-Of course.

I'm going to take
our little one out on the town

and figure out what I'm craving.

Okay, well, see if you can
steer yourself away

-from the jewelry stores, okay?
-I can't make any promises.

Always a pleasure, Vernon.

Your message said something
about loose ends.

-What the hell, Bill?
-Yeah. Yeah.

One of Joey's guys blew it,

and that scumbag is
still in town.

After all we've done
to keep Martin safe.

Yeah. Yeah.
Well, I'm sorry this happened.

Save the apologies. Fix this.

Because if Martin finds out...

It-It's being handled
as we speak.

You want some more? Just try it.

-Come on. See what happens.
-SAMANTHA: Pop, no.

-You just hurt him.
-Go get in the car.

-Then come with me.
-I need to take care of this.

-He didn't even do anything.
-The lady's right.

I haven't done anything.

I didn't touch a hair
on that precious head

or put a finger
on that beautiful brown skin.

Did I, girlie?

Say one more word to her,
and it's your last.

Oh, I didn't mean any harm,
your highness.

Get the hell out of here!

You're the one who crossed
the line this time.

Broad daylight
in front of a witness? Hmm.

I hope your constituents
don't see you losing your grip.

Do you know him?

Can you ever
really know a person?

Ask your pops here.

Have a good day.

-Who was that?
-Get in the car.

I want to know who that was.

Would somebody listen
to me for once?!

Come on. Get in the car.

-Now!
-[sighs]

-Can I have a whiskey sour?
-Thanks.

If you think that there's
something going on

between me and Allison,
you're going to need

a neurological evaluation, Doc.

So you feel nothing for her?

I feel it'd be best
if she disappeared.

That way we would have more fun

concentrating on us
instead of her.

Does that count?

Great minds do think alike.

Well, now that you know
that I'm bad at breakups

and my past isn't
picture-perfect,

are you still interested?

I am thankful for whatever
brought you to my chair.

And my dad's bedside.

I mean, we were
destined to meet.

And this is where we belong.

Right here. Together.

[R & B plays]

You proved to me
in that car ride

that you're never talking
to me again.

I shouldn't have talked
to that guy. I'm sorry.

I was trying to save your life.

From that guy with the phone?

He was tricking you
to get to me.

Every choice I make is for you
and your brother to feel safe.

I know it might feel
constricting and oppressive,

-but I...
-You love us.

Very much.

Then you need to tell us
what's really going on.

That guy from today,

was that the same guy
that was playing chess

with Tyrell?
Kenny?

And that's why I didn't
want you leaving the house.

I should've never let you
talk me into letting you out.

He's dangerous.

Okay, but why?

You want to keep us safe?
Great. Got it.

But the best way to do that is
by telling us the truth.

If something is
happening to you,

then it's happening
to all of us.

You need to explain...

The piece of garbage
is targeting our family.

Did he make a threat?

Like, wha-what does he want?

Dad, something's going on,
and Pop won't talk.

Martin, what's happening?

I can't get into this.

After what happened
last night with Tyrell?

You can't keep this
to yourself anymore.

Hey, whatever this is,

this is too big
for you to handle alone.

-Talk to me.
-This is not the time.

You have work, and so do I.

I'm not going anywhere,
and neither are you.

Not until you tell me
exactly what is going on.

We need a way to stop this guy.
He's getting closer.

What else has happened?
Is there more I need to know?

Yeah.
He made contact with Tyrell.

He did what?

-Did he hurt him?
-[chuckles] No.

-They played chess.
-Chess?

[scoffs]
I'm surprised

that mouth-breathing caveman
knows the rules.

So... Martin knows
that Kenny's still in town.

Yep.

This situation's
a ticking time b*mb.

Hmm.

I think we need
to accept the fact

that we're out some cash.

And find somebody else
to make the payoff.

Well, here's the problem.

Joey's associate told Kenny

that he'd never get his hands
on all that cash.

-I was at the meeting.
-Mm-hmm.

The plan was to give
that r*cist pig his blood money.

Yeah, and we paid the man
once before, and he came back.

Now, look, after the meeting,

Joey argued convincingly

that we need
a permanent solution

to avoid any future problems.

[scoffs]
I hope I'm misunderstanding.

'Cause you're making it sound

like the plan was
to k*ll the man.

[soul music playing]

Love is wild.

Makes people do
the craziest things.

If you heard half the things
I've seen on the job...

You know, humor me a minute.

There's a mystery
I'm trying to solve.

Oh, so you want
to play detective.

Well, there's a lot
of that going on.

No, it's not that.
I want to heal people.

I don't want to arrest them.

Okay, so no crime's
been committed?

It's more a situation
where people are doing

and saying confusing
and contradictory things.

Are we still talking
about Derek or...?

Oh, no, no. Not at all.

So the mystery is:
what's the truth?

Eh, it's more
that I know the truth,

and I just can't understand
why someone would lie about it.

Okay, well, here's
a reason why people lie.

-Okay.
-Because they don't want
to get in trouble.

That's not it.

They want to impress someone?

I highly doubt it.

They want to avoid drama?

I think this would cause
more drama.

They want something.

-Like money?
-Maybe it's that simple.

But in my line of work,
usually what happens is

the first lie snowballs,

and they have to keep lying
to survive the avalanche.

I wish I had the time

to explain
what's going on, but...

Make the time.

-When we're alone.
-Stop shutting me out.

Not now.

When Tyrell and I became a part
of this family, you said...

I said I would protect you
and your brother.

-No.
-And that's
what I'm trying to do.

You said that none of us
would ever be alone again.

For better or for worse.
Remember?

Samantha, I can't do this
right now, baby, I'm sorry.

And I never felt more alone than
I did when you hit that man.

What, you-you hit
somebody, Martin?

What the hell? Why?

All right. Everyone deserves
an explanation.

But when I get back.

How many times are you
gonna try to...

Look, look. I just need
to take care of this.

Oh, do you have something
more important than us?

-That's not what I mean.
-Where do you need to go?

-Do you trust me?
-Do you trust me?

Keep Tyrell and Samantha here.

Lock every door
and keep them in your sight.

In addition to the cops
who are watching the house?

Is that really necessary?

-You know about that.
-You'd be surprised what I know.

I thought I'd get the runaround
from the cops

but not from my husband.

I'll explain later. I promise.

Oh, a promise
from Martin Richardson.

Yeah, I remember when
that used to mean something.

But now those are
just empty words.

Platitudes.

I need to go.

It's a good thing that I'm not

the type of man
who gives ultimatums.

Like, "If you walk out
of that door,

don't bother coming back."

I need to do this.
And I need to do it my way.

And I need you
to understand that

and be here when it's all over.

The only way I walk
out of that door is

to know that you'll
still be here

loving me when I get back.

Smitty?

I love you so much.
But I got to go.

[door opens]

[door closes]

[sighs]

Joey Armstrong decided
that the world would be

a better place without
that piece of filth in it.

And you signed off on a m*rder?

What? You're the one
that came to me two years ago

asking me to make Martin's
problem disappear.

I never instructed you to...

The same way all you Duprees
have turned to me,

crisis after crisis,
year after year.

Don't make this
like business as usual,

when we never expected you to...

Look, I know exactly who I am.

I know who you made me.

Yeah. I'm the one who has
to swallow your sins

so you can sleep
at night, Vernon.

Yeah, so you can hold on
to that shiny little illusion

of respectability.

I do that.

I carry the weight
so you don't have to.

And now what, Vernon?

You act like
you're so disgusted.

Now you had no idea.

You're so horrified
that the hands

that keep you clean are
stained on your behalf?

Man, get out of here with that.

-I draw the line at m*rder.
-Oh, yeah.

Yeah, Vernon Dupree is very
careful about the words he uses

and the instructions he gives.

But don't stand here and pretend
that you don't remember

how this task was not
just handed over.

You forced it on me.

Complete with threats
of my downfall

if I didn't follow through.

Bill.

I trusted, hoped...
that there were some lines

that even you wouldn't cross.

Yeah, what other option
was there, Vernon?

-Hmm?
-You could have called me.

I did call you. I came to you.

I told you that we were
no longer related

and I didn't want
to get involved.

You didn't take no
for an answer.

So now only one option remains.

Look.

I can't argue
with Joey's logic, okay?

And I don't see
another way out of this.

Well, thank God the guy
he assigned to do the job

didn't complete it.

The universe protected us
from an act

that would have haunted us
for the rest of our lives.

Okay, fine. Fine.

You don't want
Joey Armstrong involved.

So be it.

But what's
your grand scheme, huh?

How do we get rid
of this busboy?

Everybody has a price.

We probably just didn't match
Kenny's number.

Get on the phone with Joey.

Tell him to pull his squad.

I'm calling my accountant.

Malone, I thought you had
my family under surveillance.

Then explain why I found

that b*stard talking
to my daughter.

Do you think I give a damn

about the department being
understaffed?

You gave me your word.

Get some eyes on my house. Now!

I hope you're ready to listen.

Because I have a lot to say.

Starting with, I'm sorry.

You don't have to apologize.

When you and your brother
came into this family,

we promised that we would
keep you safe.

And you have.

But the world is full
of random strangers

who might be dangerous.

That's a hard thing to know.

Discovered that a long time
before we got here.

That's why Tyrell
should have known better

than to bring that Kenny guy
over to the house

to finish their chess game.

Yeah, he is grounded
until he graduates.

From college.

I went out after that happened.

Full of arguments with Pop
about how he was overreacting.

Promising him
that I would be safe.

And then that guy
just comes up to me

and asks me for help
with the app on his phone.

Why did you engage
with him, Samantha?

You should have known better.

I know, and I didn't even think,
like... like, not even once.

After all those lectures

that you and Pop gave us...

And th-the school assembly is
about public safety.

Don't talk to strangers.
Don't take anything from them.

If someone makes you
uncomfortable,

trust your gut and get away.

Where were all those lessons
when that creep was right there?

You're a kind person. Okay?

You were just trying to help.

No, he could have
grabbed me, Dad.

I shouldn't have let him
get that close.

And you want to know
when it finally hit me?

When Pop showed up.

I knew that I messed up so bad.

Like, I've never seen him
that angry.

He wasn't angry with you.

That man.

Had you ever seen him before?

From what I picked up,

it was the same guy that was
playing chess with Tyrell.

He and Pop, I don't know,
they seemed to have

some sort of beef that started

way before
he ever got to our house.

That's why Martin called
the police.

To protect us from him.

What's going on, Dad?

I don't exactly know.

And I'm sure if you did,
you wouldn't tell me.

'Cause I'm a kid, right?

But big things are happening
just inches away from my life.

And I'm real tired
of people pretending

like it doesn't affect me
'cause it does.

-Samantha...
-You threatened to leave Pop.

You can't do that.
We don't do that.

I'm sorry that you had
to hear that.

But you're not sorry
you said it.

We're a family.

And I know that you're
trying to protect me

and Tyrell,
but we're not babies.

[sighs] Let me just
figure this out, Samantha.

And you'll let us know
when you do.

I am doing the best that I can.

Look, you've had a tough day.

Please don't send me to my room
when you do whatever's next.

I'll feel better if I know
what's going on.

Okay.

[clears throat]

Hey. It's me, yeah.

Uh, something came up.

Can you come over?
We could use the help.

[plays slow tune]

Hey, love.
[chuckles]

I was really hoping
you'd pick up

because, well,

because I miss
the sound of your voice.

The words you say.

How you have the power

to cut right to the heart
of the matter and...

...all of a sudden,
everything makes sense.

That short visit you made home
was the best thing

and the worst thing
you could have done to me.

It reminded me
I'm lost without you.

And as thrilled as I am

that you're getting this chance
to make a comeback...

...it'll be a mighty good day
when you come back home to me.

Love you.

Sorry to cut this short.

Oh, duty calls. I get it.

Listen, if that advice
you gave me is any indication

of how good you are
at detecting,

that bad guy doesn't
stand a chance.

Yeah, it's getting
pretty tricky figuring out

who's good
and who's bad these days.

Maybe we're all just
a mix of everything.

Take care of yourself, Ash.

You know, there's no one else
to do it for me.

So I was hoping the chef could
whip up something special.

I've been craving
his Hoppin' John,

but I want extra peppers.

Some on the side.

Oh, you know,
and I've been dreaming

about his sweet and spicy
chicken sandwich.

Do you think I can have that
with the mumbo sauce,

and he can mix in
some fried okra with the fries?

If he complains
that it's too much,

just let him know that I'm
a first-time mom-to-be

carrying her first
bundle of joy.

And this baby likes it spicy.
Thank you.

He likes it spicy,
he's gonna love it around here.

[sighs]
I'm so embarrassed.

Probably sounded like I was
ordering for an army,

but this baby's
just like his daddy.

Wants what he wants.

You're having
food cravings already?

Isn't that a second
trimester thing?

You know, from everything
I've read...

Well, leave it up
to Baby Hamilton.

I mean, not even born,
already a prodigy.

[chuckles]:
I don't think
it works like that.

Well, no, it makes sense.

Bill's the brightest attorney
around town,

and everything he does is
next-level,

and this baby is a product
of his excellence.

Anything's possible.

Must be.

I mean, here you are,
talking to this town's pariah,

and it's not even
a medical emergency.

Look, Ashley, running into you
at the hospital

when I had my appointment,
it was just good

to have a happy conversation
at that place.

Well, you've been going
through a lot.

Yeah, and it's good to know

that I can count on you
to be kind, friendly even,

despite everything.

You married
my best friend's father.

She was my best friend, too.

So then you get why
this hurts so much.

We were your friends, Hayley.

We would do anything for you,
and then you chose to go...

I didn't choose, Ashley.

I fell.

I didn't have
anyone before Bill.

You had me.

You had Naomi. You had Dani.

You had Jacob. You had Derek...

Bill was this rock for me.

Okay?

It cost him to love me,

but his love never wavered.

Well, you know, I hope
for your sake it lasts.

Anything's possible.

It's nice to think so.

I hope that one day
we can all be friends again.

You and Naomi and me.

The three amigas.

That was a long time ago.

Before you chose Bill
as the center of your universe.

And you left us out in the cold.

[doorbell chimes]

[door closes]

That son of a b*tch.

He was hanging out
with Samantha in the park.

What? Did he touch her?

Does it matter? He got to her.
Message received.

Anyone that is in my life,

and as long as he's around,
they're in danger.

Okay. Okay.
How did things play out?

I hit him.

And in the grand scheme
of what I could have done,

he got off lucky.

I got the message.

But it was time
I sent one of my own.

All right, all right, all right.
You've done enough.

Okay? Let me fix this.

The way you fixed things
two years ago.

Or how you told me
a couple of days ago

that you had handled
the situation,

and he ends up in my house.

Or after Marcel tells me

that my family is
under police surveillance,

and the snake is within inches
of my daughter.

All right, okay, okay.
All right?

Listen. You're a highly
respected member of government.

You have a beautiful family.

And I'm not gonna lose them.

Oh, well, then keep yourself
together and act

-like it's your life
that's on the line.
-It is.

And nobody cares as much as I do
about my life and my family.

They come first.

Of course.

But my life got put
on the back burner

when Hayley got knocked up

-and you were stroked out.
-Wait. Hold on a minute, man.

And I know my grandfather
has been preoccupied

with my grandmother
being out of town,

but this is my problem.

I'll take it from here.

Martin, I have a plan
that's ready to go.

No. Not this time.

I'm in charge now.

Thank you
for coming over, Jacob.

Wait. You said that cops
were watching us.

Why didn't you just say
it was our cousin?

It's complicated.

Would you please explain to him
that I'm not a baby?

I know this is the last thing
you want to hear.

Not you, too.

What? I'm being sent to my room?

Samantha, please be
the one person

that doesn't fight back today.

Hey.

I love you.

I love you.

Now you have to tell me.

Five words.

Everything's gonna
work out fine.

[sighs]
So what's going on?

I wish to God
somebody would tell me.

I just found out that somebody's
stalking my kids.

Since when? How long
has this been happening?

Ask Martin.
He has all the answers,

but he continues
to keep me in the dark.

That's got to stop.

It might be already too late,
for all I know.

I'm afraid that all of Martin's
secrets have been putting him

and my family
in a dangerous situation.

Losing my friends was the worst
part of falling in love.

That's our friend's dad.

That's family, Hayley.
Some people are off-limits.

Or at least they should be.

Before Bill, I, I probably
would have felt the same way,

but Bill and I didn't plan this.

-It just...
-You know, I've got a question.

When all of this just happened,

did you ever try to stop it?

Did you ever pull away, Hayley?

I love him.

But that doesn't mean
I don't miss you and Naomi.

You plunged right
into your new life without pause

like you planned every step.

-But what is that
supposed to mean?
-You know, most people wait.

And they figure out the marriage
before they get pregnant

and they start a new branch
of the family tree.

How do the older siblings feel
about this new development?

Oh, I didn't realize
my uterus was

anyone else's business
but my own.

I can't imagine they're pleased.

Well, Naomi and I declared
an unspoken truce

right after Bill's stroke.

When you realized you're
one big happy family.

Yeah, you know,
a crisis will do that to you.

You know, it really feels
like this baby is meant to be.

You planned the pregnancy.

Ouch.

Isn't that a little personal?

Yeah, it's none of my business.
I'm sorry.

I, um, couldn't imagine a baby

that's more wanted
and welcomed and prayed for

more than the one
that I'm carrying.

I mean, we all can't move
at a snail's pace

like you and Derek.

Talk about ouch.

[sighs]
We broke up.

I'm so sorry to hear that.

But you will find love again.

Someone that believes in you
and cares for you

no matter
what others have to say.

You deserve that, Ashley.

We all do.

Imagine finding out
secondhand from a cop

that your husband put your
family under police protection.

I'm sure Martin had his reasons.

He didn't want to disrupt
everybody's lives.

Some problems start out small,

and you never think
they'll get out of hand.

-And by then it's too late.
-It's never too late.

I don't know.

When Martin walked out of here,

I may have given him
an ultimatum.

Well, it's
a stressful situation.

Not everyone's behaving
admirably right now.

But you and Martin, y'all have
been through some tough times.

Not like this.

It happens in all marriages.

They warn you in the vows,
for better or for worse, right?

Yeah. Easy for you to say.

Look, I'm married to a Dupree.

Just like you.

They can be challenging.

They have their own ways
of handling the world,

and if you don't agree, you'd
better get out of their way.

-It is infuriating.
-It can be.

Until you realize
how much you love them.

How you'll move mountains
to help them through the things

that they think
they can do alone.

Damn it, Jacob.

Nobody asked you
for your good advice.

Hey, I wasn't giving any.

All I'm saying is, don't make
decisions about your marriage

while things are hot.

You're hurt.
Martin's in the wind.

Somebody's got him
running scared.

All you can do right now is
hold it down

until he can make things
better again.

Yeah, you're right.

And if someone is
stalking your family...

I need to find out why.

And if it has anything to do

with what happened between
Martin and Marcel Malone.

Okay. All right.

You want to be the last-minute
quarterback, right?

Step in with the winning play.
What is your plan?

-What I should have done
a long time ago.
-Okay.

Look, I'm happy to help
any way I can.

I've had enough
of your brand of help.

Man, Martin, come on.
Your grandfather will...

Will never see me as a grown man
until I manage my own affairs.

Okay, this isn't only
your problem to solve now.

Who else is going to do it?

You couldn't.

The dirty cop isn't
having any luck either.

No. No more outsourcing.

I'm going back to the basics.

If you want something done,

you have to do it
your damn self.

Okay. Fine.

What do you have in mind?

Man, I would love
to see this guy dead.

Martin. Martin.

Well, maybe you should...

Have you talked to Smitty
about this?

We talk all the time.

About the kids. About weather.

But this?

Some things you just
can't say out loud.

You just can't admit.

And how am I supposed
to pour out my veins

to the most beautiful parts
of my life?

Okay, listen.
Let me make a few phone calls.

-It's too late.
-Listen, Martin.

You came to me because
you want me to stop you

from doing whatever
you're about to do.

You don't have to do this.

No. This b*stard has been
dealing with everyone else.

But it's time for him to see
the man that he's made me to be.

Okay, but...

[sighs]

I don't think anyone's ever
looked at me the way you do.

I was wondering what it'd be
like if we met in school.

I'd be too intimidated
to introduce myself.

"Let me take a peek at your
answers on our science test."

And I would happily tutor you.

[laughs]

[R & B playing]

My hair clip?

You left it behind the last time
we stayed in and hung out.

If I would've known
that last time

would have been our last time...

You know, the way
we were rocking that house,

I'm-I'm surprised
nobody called the cops.

Oh, never fear.
I have them on speed dial.

Oh, you should.

You never know who's lurking
in the shadows.

[scoffs]

Oh, this is my final memento.

I'll have to resort to playing
those memories on repeat.

In my head, you know,
there are no videos.

There's just so much
to remember.

She worries me.

No, she's harmless.

Did you mean what you said about
having the cops on speed dial?

Actually, yeah.

I could talk
to Samantha and Tyrell

as a concerned cousin.

So it won't seem like
they're being interrogated.

At least try
to get a description

of the guy that approached 'em.

After I talk to Martin.

They're young,
but they're smart.

They could give us an inside
track on finding the guy.

Not until I find out
why Martin punched a man

in front of our daughter.

That is not the man I know.

Can I count on you
to handle things on your end?

Tomorrow's too late.
We're doing this now.

Orphey Gene's.

I said I'll handle it.

[shudders]

I don't like
that look on your face.

Martin just showed up
at my place.

He saw Kenny
chatting up Samantha.

-He did what?
-Mm-hmm.

[scoffs] That piece
of trash busboy wants money

to get out of town?

Give him the damn money.

Or whatever to keep him
away from my family.

Yeah, but Martin's decided that
he wants to handle this himself.

Does he have a plan?

No, not one that he's
willing to share.

Wonderful.

That means it's dangerous
or destructive.

He knows violence is
never the answer.

Yeah, but we both know
how much he loves those kids.

And he'll do anything
to protect them.

It's a father's love.
It's what we do.

Yeah.

But we can't let him
go down that road.

There's nothing good
at the end of it.

We need a better plan.

Yeah.

And we need it
before time runs out.