01x93 - Episode 93

[bunniefuu]

So it's true?
You left Smitty and the kids?

It's not exactly like that.

Don't prevaricate,
Martin Richardson.

I spoke to Smitty.

-What did he say?
-To come to you for answers.

So here I am. What happened?

You're right.

Smitty asked me to leave.

And, honestly,
I don't blame him.

What is going on?

Yo, Pops.

Tell me about that
robbery victim at Stance Park.

Nothing to tell.

John Doe.
Looks like robbery-homicide.

Well, they're gonna identify
the body, though, right?

Sure, in time.

"Sure, in time"?

You act like it's not important.

He's a person, Dad.
A dead person.

Yeah. That no one
seems to be missing.

Which means we should want
to know who he is,

even if it's just to identify
his next of kin, right?

Is there something else you're
attempting to say right now?

♪ ♪

Hey, Dad.

Hey, sweetheart.

Do you have a minute?

For you, always.

What's up?

Are you ever gonna let Pop
come back home?

It's not about me letting Martin
do anything.

And he understands that.

He's my husband,
and I love him, but...

...I can't live with him
after all that he's done.

At least not right now.

That's not what I was hoping
you would say.

I don't think secluding
ourselves was necessary.

I just wanted to give you
the space to speak freely.

Now, honey, tell me,
what could you have done

that was so bad that Smitty
would kick you out of the house?

Oh, Martin. You weren't
unfaithful, were you?

Of course not.

I wouldn't cheat on Smitty.

That's a relief.

It shouldn't be.

What I did was
a hell of a lot worse.

Certainly, the two of you
have had your differences.

What couple doesn't?

But for the most part,
you and Smitty

have a close
and loving relationship.

-Or so I thought you did.
-We do.

Well, we did.

What's changed?

Has whatever this is
been going on for a while?

Some trouble
that I know nothing about?

Martin, I am your mother.

I could have helped.

Why didn't you tell me?

There were some considerations.

On your part?

Someone in this family think
I was too delicate or damaged?

It's not like that.

Then what other reason
could there possibly be

that I wasn't told
what this thing is?

This issue that is so serious

you packed your bags
and moved out of your home

with your husband
and your children.

Daddy, what is this about?

And who made the decision
I shouldn't be informed?

Nicole, sweetheart,

I think everyone was just trying
to give you some space.

Because of everything
that you've been through.

I was hurt.

That doesn't mean
I don't need to know

what's going on with my own son.

And, Mother,
I'm more surprised at you.

Exactly how long
have you been back?

How about...

did it even occur to you
to call your daughter?

Nicole...

Not to reveal
some deep, dark secret

but simply to say,
"Hi, I'm back.

-I'm home."
-Darling,

there's been a lot going on.

Give your mother some grace.

For?

For the family situation
that's unfolding right now.

It's serious and complex.

And...

yes, you've been kept
in the dark long enough.

Just because I'm your father
doesn't mean

that all protocol
flies out the window.

I'm also the chief of police.

Don't question
my authority, Jacob.

I'm not questioning
your authority, Dad.

I'm just asking
about the victim in the park.

Don't we give you
enough to do around here?

Yeah, but we should all keep
our eyes open, right? Pitch in?

Of course.

Look, we'll pursue
all the usual channels.

We'll run the prints, DNA test,

check Missing Persons--
all that.

But, son, this is not your case,
so not your problem.

Copy that.

And speaking of people

sticking their noses
where they don't belong,

has your reporter friend agreed

to back off
of Detective Malone?

Marcel is the one who discovered
the body in the park, right?

And?

And nothing.

I-I was just being curious.

Rein that in, Detective.

I don't know why you're harping
on this, but you should stop.

[whispers]:
Before you get hurt.

Blow on this, 'cause it is hot.

Oh. You put marshmallows in it?

Is there any other way
to drink hot chocolate?

You know I'm not trying
to be cruel, right?

I guess.

From where you're sitting,
I know that it could seem harsh.

And I don't want to upset you
more than I already have, but...

you and I have always been
honest with each other.

And I-I don't want to give you
any empty promises.

I don't want that, either.

I just wish that everything
could go back

to the way that it was.

Me, too.

More than you know.

But, Samantha,
this isn't a new thing.

That as*ault
that your pop told you about,

that happened two years ago.

I know.

And...

...he never once told me
about it.

It-it started
with these nightmares,

-and...
-Yeah. Um...

I remember
him yelling in his sleep.

But then they got worse.

They changed. They...

became these...

waking visions.

Almost like hallucinations.

That sounds so scary.

I didn't know that.

Well, I didn't want
to worry you.

But isn't that the same thing?

Pop didn't tell you about Kenny

because he didn't want you
to worry.

No, Samantha, it's not the same.

You see, we are your parents.

It is our job to protect you.

You didn't have to know
about those nightmares.

But by Martin not telling me
and confiding in me,

he put us
in a dangerous situation.

He didn't tell me
what the nightmares were about.

He didn't tell me about
that incident two years ago.

He didn't tell me that there
was a violent man in town.

So do you see
how it's a bit more complex?

How the situation's
a little different?

Sort of.

Our marriage... [sighs]

...it's been really strained
because of this.

For a while,
I would beg him to tell me,

and he would just say
that nothing was wrong.

He had so many chances.

And the saddest part is,

if the circumstances
didn't force his hand,

I don't think
that he would have come clean.

So, at the risk of oversharing,

I wanted you to know
why my decision is what it is.

I just-- I can't...

I can't be around him,
knowing all that.

Come here.

Okay, I'm all ears.

The floor's yours.

Why would Smitty,

who I've always known
to be pretty levelheaded,

kick you out of your own house?

It's a lot, Mom.

And as much as I want
to tell you all of it right now,

I just...

I just need to step away
from the situation.

Clear my mind.
[shuddering]

I'm exhausted, and...

[sighs]
I'm just drained.

I-I haven't had anything to eat.
Uh...

I can have Rowena
make you something.

I'd rather go out
and grab a bite somewhere.

I could use the fresh air.

All right.
Well, Vernon will go with you

-to the country club.
Won't you, dear?
-Yes.

And, uh, I will explain
everything to your mother.

Oh, baby.

Martin, I am your mother.

You have to know that whatever
problems you're facing,

-you can come to me.
-I know.

And you're amazing.

And you're already going
through a lot,

and yet you're here
seeing about me.

And I know I can come to you.

And I will, soon, but...
[sighs]

I'm just drained
with this fight with Smitty,

and I don't have the bandwidth

to go through
the horrible story again.

Okay, don't worry, Martin.

I will walk your mom
through everything.

Are you going to be all right?

Honestly,

I don't know.

[shuddering]

Gran'll walk you through.

[sighs]
And we'll talk later.

Okay. I understand.

What's this?

Hot toddy.

You do know
that I'm a professional, right?

People come and tell me
hard things on a daily basis.

Well, those people
unburdening themselves

are not your own family.

Please, Mother, can you
just simply get to the point

without all the theatrics?

Just be honest with me.

When have I not been honest?

You want a list?

Now, I know you are...

bitter because of what Te...

...what was kept from you
so many years.

You can say his name.

It's Ted.

And he lied to me.

And, yes, I am bitter about it.

Well, this is not that.

So don't conflate your marriage
with this situation.

And I have always tried
to be honest with you.

Let's test out that theory,
then.

Tell me, is it personal?

Is what personal?

What makes people think

that they can hide things
from me?

Nicole.

Am I cold?

Distant? Unapproachable?

What possibly makes people think
that I can't handle the truth?

No one thinks that.

Because, let me tell you,

it is insulting, diminishing,

and I've had just about
as much of it as I can take.

This is my family

as well as yours
or Martin's or Daddy's.

And I want to know
what is going on.

Now.

I am so sorry
for what has happened--

is happening
with you right now, Martin.

Thanks, Granddad.

I just wish
I could snap my fingers

and it would all be lifted
from your plate.

I am...

so, so sorry.

You have no reason
to keep apologizing.

You have been my rock
through all of this.

If you hadn't been there

and done the things you've done
in the last two years,

it might have been
a much worse situation.

I don't think anyone

outside of you and I
would understand

the horror and fear
from that night.

So maybe you're the only one
that will understand

my biggest regret.

Which is?

Not telling Smitty.

But even if
you had told him earlier,

you might have ended up
in the same situation,

feeling the same way.

Or even worse--

be in this situation
without a job.

Without constituents
to think about.

We need you here
to help the greater community.

But you know the worst thing
about all of this?

Smitty and the kids are
who I would turn to when...

I was feeling down.

But I can't even do that now.

It's k*lling me
to be away from them, Granddad.

[Samantha sniffles]

I'm not saying take him back.

From everything
that you've been through,

I get that that's a lot.

Like, a lot a lot.

I just want you to keep talking,

to keep trying to find
a way through everything.

We're a family,
and we love each other.

That's what you told Tyrell
and me when you brought us home.

Do you remember that?

Yeah.

I remember.

We're gonna get
through this, Dad.

And I know
that it won't be easy,

and I know
that it won't happen overnight.

But if we keep trying, we can
find a way to being us again.

That's my biggest hope.

I know that you may be too hurt
to hear this,

but you need to.

Pop is hurting, too.

And when he's hurting,
there's nobody

-that he needs more than us.
-[sighs]

Than family.

So I want you to promise me.

Promise me that you won't
completely give up on him.

That you'll keep trying.

When did you get so grown-up?

Born this way.

Anybody ever tell you
you're wise beyond your years?

[chuckles softly]
Yeah.

You and Pop tell me that
all the time.

Promise me, Dad?

Come here.

[sighs]

I promise.

Yeah, that's right.

Because there might be security
footage at the back entrance,

and I'd like to see it.

You would?

All right. I owe you a coffee
at Orphey Gene's.

-All right.
-[chair scrapes]

Very proud of you, son.

You are?

Yes. You are a cop's cop.

Interesting delineation.

But what's a cop's cop?

You're smart, you're thorough,

stubborn when you need to be
and occasionally when you don't.

And I'd like to think that
Marcel taught you some of that.

Marcel?

Yeah, I don't think he's
the role model you think he is.

Sorry to interrupt, Chief.

I have that footage
of Congressman Richardson

at the press conference
that you wanted.

-Thank you, Mills.
-No problem, sir.

Martin had a press conference?

About what?

I'll find out.

But you know politicians--
always looking for attention.

Probably a whole lot
of hoopla about nothing.

Without Smitty and the kids,
I feel... adrift.

Smitty is who held me together

when I woke up from
those nightmares.

He's the one who taught me
the breathing techniques

to help me get through it.

I'm lost without him, Granddad.

If I could offer a little wisdom

from a man who's been married
a long, long time.

Sure.

What else do I have to lose?

Well, your marriage,

if you can't see
the longer view.

You have to believe
in something larger

than your present circumstances,
Martin.

But what if
those present circumstances

are smacking you in the face?

Then you have to remember

the love you and Smitty have
for each other.

You're still a team.

I'm not too confident in that.

I know it may feel like
the whole world is crashing down

on your marriage.

[sighs]
But feelings are just that--

feelings.

You know, when you learn to
separate feelings from reality,

that's when you win.

What do you see when you look
at our present circumstances?

I mean, what are
the redeeming qualities here?

Well, that the relationship
between you and Smitty is solid.

It has been from the beginning.

How you were when...

when you adopted the kids.

How... how you agreed that this
is how your life would work.

He sacrificed so much for me.

And he didn't do that
for anyone else but you.

His love for you is very deep.

And you wouldn't be here
all out of sorts

if your love for him
wasn't equally strong.

Still, you didn't see Smitty
earlier.

You didn't see
how he looked at me.

What did you see?

The end.

Of everything.

And it-it cut like a knife.

He didn't just ask me to leave
because I lied to him.

It was what the lies were about.

The m*rder.

Yes.

So I hear you.

But the truth is...

...I don't know if there's
any way to get back to us.

I didn't expect
to see you again so soon.

I didn't expect to hear
that Martin abruptly called

a press conference
at Orphey Gene's earlier,

only to call it off before he
could explain what it was about.

What's your point, Jacob?

Funny thing is,
you left that part out

when you were supposed
to be confiding in me,

your cop friend, about
all these supposed conspiracies.

Up until now,
you haven't had to deal

with the hardships in life
that make you tough.

Seriously?

What about my miscarriages?

The implosion of
my decades-long marriage?

What I'm saying is
you have always followed

the straight and narrow,

done everything
we've all expected of you.

So, somehow it's my fault

that I followed the guidelines
that were set in front of me?

No, no, no. I'm just trying to
put it into context, sweetheart.

You have built
a beautiful career,

involved yourself
with charity work,

sought to be of service.

You're kind and generous and...

delicate as a bouquet
of flowers.

Your life has always
been wonderful and...

pristine.

So your take is
that I can't handle hard truths

because I've had a soft life?

You have not known the hardships

that your father
and I have known.

Now, maybe we sheltered you
too much. I-I don't know.

Mother, for the love of God,
can you just get to it?

Not until you prepare yourself.

Because what I'm about
to tell you...

will demand
not only your attention

but your willingness
to confront the aftermath

in all its ugliness.

Wait.

You're saying
that this isn't about Smitty

and Martin's marital problems.

Yes.

It was two years ago.

Your sweet baby boy and Vernon

were coming back
from a political event.

They were driving down a...

deserted country road.

They got a flat.

When Martin got out of the car
to change the flat tire,

a pickup truck
pulled up behind them.

At first, they thought it was
someone who had stopped to help,

but...

they soon became disabused
of that notion when...

two men...

White men?

They approached them.

One of them asked,

"What color's your money?"

They taunted them.

They must have seen
the congressional plates.

All they cared about
was that they were Black,

unprotected,

and on what they considered
their turf.

And that no one was around
to witness...

anything they might do.

They wanted to rob
your father and Martin,

but not before making them pay.

-[sighs]
-For what, I don't know.

Being in the wrong place
at the wrong time.

Fixing a tire while Black.

-Horrifying.
-They began calling them "spook"

and "boy."

What did Daddy do?

Well, your father isn't new
to this kind of...

situation. He tried
to deescalate everything.

He just wanted to get himself
and Martin home safely.

But those men only had
one thing on their minds.

One man went
for Vernon's pockets.

And when Vernon tried
to defend himself...

Mother, no.

-[sighs]
-Now, your father takes care
of himself, but...

he is in no shape
to defend himself

against a couple of racists
clearly out for blood.

That man punched him so hard
he knocked him down.

And Martin witnessed it all.

Seeing his grandfather treated

like they were
in the Jim Crow South

ignited something in Martin.

He wasn't gonna stand by

and allow his granddaddy,
his hero,

to be brutalized like that.

What did he do?

Martin was still holding
the tire iron.

The other man pulled out a g*n.

Martin struck him
with the tire iron

with all of his might.

He hit him. Hard.

And the man laid there.

Not moving.

Not breathing.

Martin k*lled him?

Then the brother--

we found out later
that they were brothers...

...came at Martin in a rage.

Martin hit him in the ribs.

He crumbled,

fell to the ground.

And Martin kept hitting him.

Over and over and over and over.

My God.

Finally, Vernon got him to stop.

There was blood everywhere.

Martin d*sfigured
that man's face.

[sighs]

Mother,

did he k*ll the other man, too?

-No.
-[exhales]

Vernon went into crisis mode...
[sniffles]

...and he called Ted.

Ted?

Ted took the man to his clinic

and performed
reconstructive surgery.

And that is the man
who has been stalking Martin.

[sniffling]

Insinuating himself
into Martin's life.

Getting a job
at the country club.

Connecting with Tyrell and
Samantha under false pretenses.

And Martin didn't recognize him
because of the surgery.

[sniffles] The man
eventually made himself known

and demanded Martin pay him
for his silence.

Ted performed this surgery
and I never knew?

Yes.

Martin k*lled...

a man

and I never knew.

How could you all
have kept this from me?!

Vernon and I
didn't want anyone to know

what happened
on that horrible night.

I am not just anyone!

I am Martin's mother!

Did it occur to you
and Daddy that maybe,

just maybe,
I could have helped him cope?!

All of the strain he was under.

The nightmares.

But, no,

I wasn't allowed
to help my own son

because you and Daddy
decided to play God.

I understand
the world in which we live.

I understand...

...that no matter
how much progress we've made,

a Black man defending himself
against a r*cist attack

will most likely end up
in the system.

So, no,

I am not apologizing.

And in that moment,

Vernon could not get past
protecting his grandson.

Which is why I signed on
to keep this quiet

for the very same reason.

And how did that all turn out?

My son was plagued
by nightmares.

Harassed, stalked.

God knows the psychological
damage he's suffering.

[sighs]

My God, Mother.

[sighs]

Explain to me why Martin
called off his press conference

around the same time
a body was found in the park.

You expecting me to think
that was a coincidence?

I am not sure
what you think I know.

'Cause I wasn't there.

I have kids to deal with,
remember?

I didn't even know the press
conference was happening.

Why do I feel like you know
more than you're telling me?

If you have something to say,
Jacob, spit it out.

What was Martin planning to say
at Orphey Gene's tonight?

-SMITTY: Again, I don't know.
-Check it out, Smitty.

You came to me, all right?

You pressed me
about the bank accounts,

the deposits, the payoffs,

my partner-- all of it.

You were the one
that wanted to know

what happened to trigger it all.

And, all of a sudden,
you're acting

like it's not important anymore?

Circumstances have changed.

Martin's in this, isn't he?

He's not just a victim of a
unfortunate stalking situation.

Martin's involved,

and it's everything
you ever feared.

[phone buzzes]

Fine. Stay quiet.

But I'm-a tell you
what this looks like.

Martin was gonna say
something tonight.

Maybe he's starting
to feel guilty.

And you know what it usually
means when people feel guilty?

They are.

My son has blood on his hands.

And to make matters worse,

the person
whose face he destroyed

was reconstructed by
his own father, of all people?

So the circumstances

of how this all happened
means nothing to you?

You are all unbelievable.

Yes!

We went to extreme measures
to protect this family.

And maybe we simply should have
called the police.

But have you heard one word

of what I just told you?

Vernon and I thought
what we always think--

to protect this family,
no matter what.

Such a noble justification

for telling lies
and keeping secrets.

"We did it for the family."

You sound like
a crime syndicate, a mobster.

You and Daddy put my son
through two years of hell

so we almighty Duprees
could save face?

That is not noble.

It's disgusting.

Look, Martin,

I've believed in your marriage
since day one.

Hmm? Smitty is loyal,

committed, deeply ethical,

and you will survive this.

But you're gonna have
to find the fight.

I hear you,

and I will consider it.

But the way I'm feeling, I...

I couldn't even fight a fly.

[sighs]

Come on. Let's get out of here,

'cause I need to lie down.

This may be hard to believe...

...but this, too, will pass.

You're gonna be all right,
my son.

And your family's
gonna be all right, too.

Is that what you think
about this family?

This family who has supported
you and elevated you

and stood by you
through thick and thin?

This is what you say
when things get difficult?

That's what this is?

A difficulty?

[scoffs] No.

Finding out my husband has
a child the same age as our own

is a difficulty.

This? This is...

-I don't even know what this is.
-Okay, I know you're angry.

I get it.

And-and maybe Vernon
and I deserve your contempt,

and that's just the price
we'll have to pay

for the decisions
we made that night.

Amongst others.

But you are completely wrong
if you think we give a damn

about how what happened
made us look.

This was never
about saving face.

This was about protecting Martin
and nothing else.

I am sure that's what you have
to tell yourself

so you can sleep at night.

Nicole, wait.

Nicole, don't go like this!

[shudders]

I think you should leave, Jacob.

It's getting late,
and the kids are sleeping.

I have more questions.

Well, you're not gonna find
your answers here.

Come on, Smitty.
At least meet me halfway.

What do you think halfway is?

You're family.

I wouldn't do anything
to hurt you or Martin.

I just want to get to the bottom
of this mess once and for all.

Well, I can't help you.

You and I worked together
closely for weeks.

Don't quit now.

You know, Jacob,
you're a good detective,

which means you know the law,

including the definition
of spousal privilege.

Oh, man. Don't go there.

The protection of confidential
communication between spouses.

Really?

Well, it also applies
to police questioning

before a trial in D.C.

So, legally,

I don't have
to answer your questions.

Funny thing is, you just did.

Look, whatever happened, Smitty,

I'm sorry.

I really am.

[door closes]

[sighs]

[sniffles]

[chuckles]

I got gummy bears,
cookies, juice pops,

and these chips
that are supposed to explode

-in your mouth with flavor.
-Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Pump the brakes.
Did you get anything

that is remotely healthy?

-Did I screw up already?
-[sighs]

-They're gonna love it.
-[scoffs]

They are gonna love everything
about this place.

I'm grateful we got approved.

Wait, was that even a concern?

-You are going to be
an amazing dad.
-[chuckles]

"Pop." I want them
to call me "Pop."

That's what my grandfather
used to call his dad.

Deal... Pop.

And you?

I think I'll be
good old-fashioned "Dad."

-Okay.
-How's that?

-Pop and Dad.
-[laughs]

Are you ready to begin
the best chapter

of the rest of our lives?

From here on out,

every day
gets sweeter and sweeter.

I like the sound of that.

[sighs]

Tyrell, wake up.

-Tyrell.
-What?

What?

I know
I probably shouldn't have,

but I was eavesdropping
on Dad and Jacob talking.

Okay. You woke me up for what?

I think you're right.

I think that there's more
to what happened

than what
they've been telling us.

We're back.

I'll start getting settled.

I had your bags taken up to
the bedroom in the garden wing

and unpacked.

And when Tyrell
and-and Samantha come over,

they can have
the extra two bedrooms

if they want to stay over.

Thanks, Gran.

-Don't mention it.
-No.

I mean thank you.

For all of it.

For loving me,

protecting me,

and letting me stay here
while...

while I figure things out.

[sniffles]

You are my heart, baby,

and I will do anything for you.

[sniffles] And you can stay here
as long as you need.

[sniffles]

Are we horrible people?

Nicole lashed out.

She said
we were protecting ourselves

with no regard for her son.

We know that's not true.

Dani will probably think
the same thing

when we tell her
what we were hiding. [sniffles]

I was just... sitting here,

wondering...

how do our children
really see us?

[shuddering]

Granted, we could have...

Maybe this mess we're in
could have been avoided.

We used to call situations
like this

"the chickens
coming home to roost."

Call it what you may...

...but I am not gonna
let you sit there

and doubt our intentions
for a second.

Intent isn't impact.

No.

But we were protecting
our grandson

in the only way that seemed
feasible at the time.

How is he? Really?

[sighs]

Haunted.

Hurting.

And ashamed.

He's exhausted.

Oh, Vernon.
[sniffles]

What are we gonna do?
[sniffles]

What we always do.

We'll hold this family together
until it heals.

What about that dead man?

May God have mercy on his soul.

And mine.

I've been calling you for hours.

Cannot believe that you put us
in this position.

I know how this looks.

Then you will understand

why I'm taking these next steps.

I could lose my family for good.

TED:
Eva wouldn't go after Tomas

when she knows
you're seeing him.

That's not who she is.

I have never been more proud

to be a Dupree
when I'm defending us.

And last time I checked,

you were one of us.

I think you need
to prepare for this.

May not stay covered for long.

I'm the one
that saved your baby boy.

I am the fixer now!