01x133 - Episode 133

[bunniefuu]

Remember when I said
there was a way to nail Joey

for money laundering
while keeping Vanessa out of it?

And remember when I said
it was above my pay grade?

But you're the one talking about

you want to pull out
the big g*ns.

My ace is ready to play.

In case you didn't know,
Vanessa and I are partners.

No disrespect,
but what we need to discuss

goes beyond selling houses.

You have no idea, Bill Hamilton,

just how deep
my business interests go.

May as well settle in.
She's not going anywhere.

So...

how is the real estate business?

Great. We're cleaning up.

Well, I guess if I don't
hightail it out of here,

you two will simply
bore me to death.

I think that's likely.

Or you could include me
in what's really going on.

You know I'd never tell.

I need to talk to you
about something.

-What about, baby girl?
-Well, it's a question, really.

Well, ask away. You know
your mama's a well of wisdom

waiting to help you
with any of your life issues.

-This is about your issues.
-Excusez-moi?

What do you expect from Ted
now that you basically

schemed your way into his bed?

-Do they serve antacid here?
-Are you not feeling well?

The fact that that malicious,
conniving woman

can sit over there drinking,

acting like she doesn't
have a care in the world

just nauseates me.

She should not be at our club.

Somehow, I think
you can handle it.

Oh, I don't worry for me.

It's untenable that Nicole
has to trip over that woman

who ruined her life
every time she comes here

for a meal or a game of tennis.

Especially now that...

...Leslie and Ted might be
sleeping together again.

You think
that's what's going on?

That's what Leslie
wants Nicole to think.

Can you please
do me a favor

and give this to my Teddy Weddy?

Of course, whenever you see him.

Meal was a great idea.
Passed the time.

Oh, yeah, and less danger
of a monumental hangover.

But look, we have good news
and we have bad news.

-Which do you want first?
-Well, that's easy.

My daughter was just held
c*ptive by a psychotic stalker.

I will take the good news.

-Right. Uh, good news is...
-Oh, wait, wait, wait.

Let me guess. Bill and Hayley
are getting a divorce.

No, they're still married,
as far as I know.

And Ashley and Derek
will be soon, too.

Your almost-fling
getting another man's bling.

I'm joking. All right,
what's the good news?

Good news is the private jet
is fueled up and is ready to go.

Great. I'm ready
to blow this one-note town.

What's the bad news?

Bad news is there are
thunderstorms in the area,

so the pilot says that we can't
take off until they pass.

You mean we're stuck
in this tiny airport bar?

Until further notice.

Well, I can work with that.

You still haven't told me
where we're going, lover boy.

All right, cool, so what if I...

...write down two locations
on these c*ck napkins?

To my left, we got place A,

and to my right,
place B. Choose.

-Okay, let's go with A.
-Vegas, baby.

-Las Vegas.
-Yep.

I haven't been there
for a while,

but I do love it.
There's tons to do.

Yeah, it's like
a whole global adventure.

We can do any and everything
from the same city.

I'm talking the Eiffel Tower,
the Mob Museum,

Cirque du Soleil.

We can cruise the Strip
in a giant shopping cart.

We can take photos of the
Grand Canyon and fit in a show.

It's too bad Usher
isn't still in residence.

I bet you'd just love to
have him feeding you cherries.

It's Usher, baby.

Vegas it is.

-What?
-Show me that c*ck napkin.

Why?

Just show it to me.

Okay.

Let me see the other one.

I knew it. Andre Richardson,
you cannot fool me.

It's closer than Dubai or Lagos.

I thought taking chances
was the theme of the day.

You want to throw some dice?

In the words of Usher, yeah.
Hell yeah.

-Okay, cool. Let's do it.
-Let's blow off some steam.

We're gonna do it
Hangover
style. Oh, whoa, wait.

You know, I almost have
to give the woman credit

for making an end run around us.

I mean, who on the board
wouldn't accept

an offer for a brand-new
sports center?

That's called
working the system.

There's nothing
that scheming woman won't do.

There was no scheming involved.

I told you, Ted seduced me.

We had a connection.

And by the way, you need to be
careful what you ask to know,

because your
delicate sensibilities

might not be able
to handle the answers.

I'm an adult, Mama.

Then I, Leslie,
will be frank, Eva.

Ted and I...

...we were expl*sive together
from the beginning.

-No. Ew.
-Oh, no, no.

You want to know.

Our physical connection
was-was like something

out of this...
ooh, out of this world.

Something that
prim, proper Nicole

couldn't touch in a million
or 10 million years.

-Okay?
-Okay.

I was hoping that you would say
that you realized, for Ted,

that it was a drunken moment,
not a commitment, Mama.

You do realize that, don't you?

Okay, I've had some time
to think about everything

that happened
between me and my Teddy.

And I know he has to say
certain things

to keep up appearances, but...

well, I know him.

That night, Eva,
it was our new beginning.

And soon, he will realize that

and stop treating us like
we have some deep, dark secret.

You'll see.

Sounds like you're hoarding
some deep, dark secrets there.

This is a waste of time,
isn't it?

Fine.

I will see you two around.

Well, she certainly
is a live wire.

Can we leave her out of this?

Apparently not. Her husband
is a piece of work, too.

-You and Doug close?
-No, not at all.

But he did drop by
my house earlier,

seeing if I could help him out
with something.

The good doctor.
Always in need of a favor.

Don't you want to know
what he needs help with?

Enlighten me.

Taking you down.

You don't seem surprised.

Not much the man could do
that could surprise me.

Except maybe learning
to actually keep his mouth shut.

So...

what else
did the doctor tell you?

I told him that Joey
was money laundering,

and he's sleeping with my wife.

Anything else?

Just that Joey ordered you
to k*ll for him.

Tell me you did not
actually tell him that.

-And did you give him my name?
-Relax.

I've known Bill since college.

He's not gonna screw me over.

Only good can come from this.

What if you're wrong, Doug?

What if you're dead wrong?
What then?

Why are you so suspicious
of a reputable lawyer?

Do you even know Bill Hamilton?

It's not like
we run in the same circles.

-Then what's the issue?
-It's his connection with Joey.

I know the guy.

If he had dealings with Joey,
he would have brought up

client confidentiality as soon
as I brought up Joey's name,

to warn me off.

Or maybe not,
because he's planning

to throw you under the bus.

Oh, he laid it all out.

Said you funnel money
from the club

and your other ventures
to Vanessa.

She mixes it with her sales
from her real estate business,

essentially cleaning
your money for you.

Oh, and there's the whole
incident at the park, too.

Doug McBride told you all that?

Mm. The way he tells it,

that seems like
the least of his worries.

Yeah, Randy.

Should've shut him up
when I had the chance.

Look, Doug is coming after you
for laundering the cash,

but your involvement in the
park m*rder, it's too difficult.

He has no footing there.

Ah, but he's seen
the doctored books.

He could do some real harm
to my operation.

Still, I can't believe
that he'd try.

-Why not?
-You said it.

It's Vanessa's business.

He'd be implicating
his own wife.

You know, I'd be willing to bet
that all that talk

about protecting Vanessa
is a bunch of pure lip service.

And judging by that kiss
that she just planted on you,

she's clearly finding company
in your bed.

And the two of you aren't making
any attempts at hiding it.

So what's Doug got to lose?

I want to yell it
from the rooftops.

-Mama.
-What?

-Can you please
keep your voice down?
-Mm-mm.

Look, Ted is fixated
on getting back with Nicole.

His wife, in case you forgot,

the woman
he actually really does love.

You know what?

Nicky don't want to have nothing
to do with that man, okay?

And once he gets that
through his thick

but hot, sexy skull,

then he will come right back
where he belongs.

Right here to mama.

Now, I've waited long enough,
but I don't mind.

I can wait a little bit longer.

And what if Ted doesn't
come back to where he belongs?

You keep all that
negative talk out of here

and away from
God's universe, honey.

What's wrong with you?

Okay, but it's
a real possibility,

and that's what worries me.

That you're delusional.

I'm sorry, delulu what?

Mama, I love you,

but it is delusional
to believe that Ted

is dying to have this deep, e--

expl*sive relationship with you.

And that's what I'm afraid of.

That it won't happen, and then
you'll go off on everyone

and everything, like always.

What do you even care,
Ms. Pessimism?

Because of whatever
half-baked ideas you have,

once they're in motion,
they always blow back on me.

Okay? I've actually started
to build a life here.

So, please, get a grip
and let's get out of here.

Nah.

I think I'll stay
and enjoy my exclusive

membership here
at the country club.

You're just trying to rub it
in everyone's faces.

Listen, if you are that
intimidated by those people,

then I tell you what,
baby girl, you go ahead, okay?

Go on.

Cluck, cluck.

Stop it.

Really, go on, little chicken.

The Nicole situation worries me.

-She's hard to read.
-With Dani,

everything she feels or thinks,

it's right out there
for the world to behold.

But Nicole, she's always
kept her pain close.

-That can backfire.
-I know.

That's why I've been
encouraging her

to express her feelings,
whatever they are.

She's so good with other people,

but when it comes to anything
involving her or her children...

What do they say?
"Physician, heal thyself."

I'm so glad
you're on top of this.

Let me know if there's anything
you need from me.

I will.

Speaking of Dani,
she seems to be off the grid.

I've called her and texted
and I haven't heard back.

I'll go out to reception
and see if I can get her.

You know how I hate using phones
in the dining room.

Thank you, dear.

She's probably just getting
some much needed rest.

I hope that's all it is.

So, how are we gonna misbehave
in Sin City?

Gambling and, uh, strip shows.

Gambling, overeating.

Gambling. Getting hitched.

-Gambling.
-E-Excuse me? Say what?

What, the calories?

Oh, I know a way
we can work that off.

"Hitched"?

What? You said you wanted
to misbehave.

Genius.

All of Fairmont Crest
will lose their minds

if we post a picture of us
kissing at a wedding chapel.

It's like you're heading down
a trail in life,

on a certain path, and then...

Boom.

Life goes boom.

We go boom.

How did we get here, Andre?

Dance with me.

You got moves.

Thank you for coming
to my occasional rescue,

but it won't be
necessary anymore.

I'm turning a page,

thanks to your nudge
in the right direction.

So this is what it's like to be
on the other side of the camera.

Give me your eyes.

We just discovered something.

That you are the most perfect
human specimen

that I am lucky enough
to call my Mr. Right Now?

Dani, why can't you admit
that we're each other's

ports in the storm?

That we've moved from being
casual to something real?

It's about time.

I came as soon
as I got your text.

Is this about the Jarvis house?
There was nothing I could do.

Leslie doubled her offer.

The Jarvises
could hardly refuse.

Vanessa, I am not mad at you.

I am furious with Leslie.

Of course you are.

She had the audacity
to buy the house

directly across the street
from your parents.

This has nothing to do
with the house.

She had the audacity

to sleep with my husband again.

I doubt that Doug is thrilled

that I'm keeping company
with his wife.

She told me
they had an understanding.

But whatever the reason,

he still loves her,
and vice versa.

So you don't think
he'll hang her out to dry?

More likely he'll try to prove
that I washed the money

without her knowing.

Can you imagine trying
to put anything over on Vanessa?

I don't know her like that.
She's friends with my ex-wife.

My current wife used her to find
the house that we're in now.

That's as far as it goes,
but I know she's a shark

when it comes
to real estate, though.

She's a shark, period.

You care about her, don't you?

-She's good in bed.
-Most crazy women are.

Vanessa isn't crazy.

Come on, man, take it easy.
It's just a joke.

But that does answer
my question.

You care.

Be careful, Joey.

It's not safe
to swim with sharks,

even if they are as pretty
as Vanessa.

Leslie's sleeping with Ted,
as in present tense?

I knew they did the deed
a long time ago, but...

Honestly, I really,
I-I'm not sure.

I need details.

She shoved this in my face.

Said he left it after they...

And it is Ted's.

It's one of the ones
I bought him.

I-I think that horrible,
nasty woman

is playing mind games with you.

Surely Ted has sense enough
not to get back together

with that woman
after everything she's pulled.

I would've thought so.

But I also thought
that Ted would never lie to me

for basically
our entire marriage.

She probably picked that tie up

at a store
just to mess with you.

I would agree with you
if it wasn't for one thing.

Ted's initials are on the back.

What's that prove? The shop
could've monogrammed it.

Vanessa, I had this exact tie
made for Ted last Christmas.

You don't suppose
Leslie snuck into Ted's room

somehow and swiped it?

It's not that far-fetched.

Her daughter does live
at the same hotel.

She probably used Eva
to get access.

I suppose that's possible.

Listen,
can I ask you a question?

Yeah.

-You're divorcing Ted, right?
-I served him with the papers.

So why do you even care?

You busy?

No. C-Come in.

Honestly, I'm surprised
to see you here,

the way
you stormed out yesterday.

Well, I was angry when I found
out you slept with my mother.

Especially since I warned you
how she'd take it.

Felt like
you took advantage of her.

Look, I'm not
gonna make any excuses.

I was upset
about Nicole divorcing me,

and I had a weak moment.

That's it.

Believe it or not, I get it.

I know how Mama can be.

Thank you for that.

Which is why I'm here.

I just came from dinner
with her at the club.

And?

I tried to tell her
what happened

between you was a mistake.

It was.

And I was trying to keep
her hope under control

because that would be trouble
for all of us.

Hope? Nah.

She was furious with me
when she left here last night.

Well, I hate to break it to you,
she's not furious anymore.

Oh, no.

Do you want to hear
Mama's version of events?

-I guess I better.
-Okay. And I quote,

"Nicole doesn't want Ted.

"And once he gets that through
his thick, but hot, skull,

he'll come back
where he belongs."

End quote.

This bag is fire.

Featuring a two-tone
denim design,

plus gold luxe hardware,

and a secure closure
for all my girlies

who have lost their third
lip gloss this month.

I thought of everything, boo.

-What the hell do you want?
-To talk to you about someone

very near and dear
to your heart.

-If this is about Nicole...
-It isn't.

Then what is it about? I'm busy.

Doing what? Eating alone?

I saw the senator
outside on the phone.

Look, this won't take long.
I need your help.

Why on God's green Earth
would I help you?

Because you're
the only person who can.

I just need to talk to you
about Barbara.

Go screw yourself.

All right, good news.

Bill and Hayley
are getting a divorce?

Still no, but the pilot has
cleared us for takeoff.

All right.
Blackjack, here I come.

Andre, this is gonna be
so much fun.

Oh, yeah, we're gonna do it
Hangover
style.

No, no, no, no.

My smile is framed
at my dentist's office,

and I am not sacrificing
my first place position

for anyone, no matter
how cute they are.

I'll make sure that you
and your teeth are unharmed.

My hero.

Anything else
that we find ourselves doing,

we'll just leave it
to the hands of fate.

All right, let's go.

I thought I was the wild child.

Maybe you've met your match.

-Let's go.
-Let's do it.

-Slots, here I come.
-I'll grab the bags.

Go screw myself?

Language, Auntie, language.

Perhaps you've forgotten
where I come from.

On the other hand, I have not.

And I'd advise you
to step off right now

before I take off my earrings.

Hey, Auntie,
why will you not tell me

about my biological mother?

Because I am not gonna
allow you to use Barbara

to emotionally manipulate me.

You know,
I only recently found out

that Barbara's
my biological mother.

She gave me to her friend
Peaches at birth

with one condition,

that I never knew
anything about her.

Now, you and the Articulettes,
you knew her.

But see, now I have
all these questions,

and I'm just asking

for you to tell me anything.

I don't care if...
if it's just small,

just anything about her.

Anita, please.

If you're divorcing Ted,
why do you care

who he may or may not
be sleeping with?

I-I-I don't.

Girl, please.
This is me you're talking to.

-I know.
-You didn't summon me over here

to show me that tie
because you don't care.

You care. Admit it.

Fine. Fine. I care.

I care that Ted
has such horrible judgment

that he would allow
that loose cannon

to run around Fairmont Crest
airing out his dirty laundry.

It's embarrassing.

-For him or for you?
-For everybody.

Imagine what people
are saying at the club.

I remember you lecturing Dani

at that very club
to take the high road.

I didn't understand then.

I was very comfortable
in my false marriage.

Nice misdirect, Madame Shrink.

But I am going to state
what is obvious here.

It bothers you that Ted
may have slept with Leslie,

because no matter how angry
you are at him in this moment...

...you love the man.

You know it,
and you know I know it, so...

If you want answers
about that tie, don't ask me.

Ask him.

All right.
I let Vanessa get under my skin,

And I don't mind
her being there.

And Doug?

You mind him
being out to get you?

Ha. As if he could.

-He is a gambler indeed.
-Yeah.

Yeah, it was a bold move.

But this time,
he bet on the wrong horse.

You're a far more valuable ally
than Doug could ever be.

And I thank you
for the heads-up.

I am curious, though.

So how did you respond
when he brought you

this opportunity
to upend my life?

I told him
what I tell all my clients.

I'll think about it.

Well, think slow.

I need a little time
to figure out what I want to do.

Anything else?

I got this.

Okay.

Well, of course,
we never had this conversation.

Oh, we stuck to safe ground.

Weather, crab cakes,
the Commanders.

You don't seem worried at all.

About Bill Hamilton
pulling a fast one?

-I'm not.
-You think that's smart?

Look, there's no way
Bill is gonna double-cross

a brother for some
two-bit slimy goodfella.

Don't underestimate Bill.

The only color he sees is green.

That is the exact language
Joey Armstrong speaks.

Well, you may be right.

There's nothing
I can do about it now.

May be a move I can make.

I'm listening.

I got a guy.

Well, source.

Maybe he can help us see
which way the wind is blowing.

-Who's your source?
-A confidential one.

I never had a chance
to know my birth mother.

Barbara gave me up,
and then she took her own life.

But you were
young girls together.

You probably knew her better
than anyone.

All I'm asking for is...

...if you could just give me
a little more insight

on who she was.

Why should I give you anything

when you have brought nothing
but heartache and pain

since you darkened our door?

But you are Barbara's
flesh and blood.

And the child you were
should've had the opportunity

to know her birth mother.

Maybe...

you would be a half-decent
human being if you had.

Well, I guess
I'll take that as a no.

At least I tried.

She'd want you to know
she was smart.

And scrappy.

Barbara wasn't afraid
of anything or anybody.

There would be no Articulettes
if it hadn't been for Barbara.

But she was let go.

Yes.

Tell me more.

Please.

We grew up in
Cabrini-Green in Chicago.

-The projects?
-Yes.

Ever since we were kids,
we wanted to sing.

And at every party,
picnic, or parade,

we would get up
and do just that.

Barbara even got us booked
at the Bud Billiken Parade.

We rode on a pink float

wearing matching dresses--

which Barbara made, by the way.

Wow. She sewed, too?

If anybody wanted a group
like the Supremes

but couldn't afford them,

we were right there to step in,

wearing something
that Barbara whipped up.

We'd sit in the stairwell
of our building,

practicing our harmonies
night after night.

What did you admire about her?

Everything.

She had an ear

that we all wished we had.

And our motto,

"Better together.
Sisters forever.

Articulettes strong,"
we meant that.

We were all
diamonds in the rough.

But being in the group
shined us up.

Except for Barbara, who never
really lost her street edge.

That's why I was
so shocked when she...

That was a-a beautiful tribute

that you guys gave her
at the concert.

Thank you.

Thank you, Anita, for...

...for all of this.

It was refreshing.

And thank you
for painting a picture

of my mother that I never knew.

It means a lot.

Hey, Naomi, it's your old man.

I'm looking forward
to seeing you and Chelsea

for dinner tonight.

Yes, at the club.

Okay, I'll see you soon.

Bill.

Doug.

You're not here for me, are you?

Oh, no, I'm having dinner
with my wife.

But actually,
I'm glad I ran into you.

We're still on the same page

about what
we discussed earlier, right?

- Listen...
- Bill Hamilton.

Two times in one day. Lucky me.

Are you joining us for dinner?

Uh, no can do. I'm just
meeting my daughters here.

It was nice to see you earlier.

You saw Bill?

I bumped into him
at Orphey Gene's.

What were you two talking about?

Golf.

-Shall we?
-After you.

So now that you know exactly
where Mama's head is at,

what are you gonna do about it?

Well, not get drunk and sleep
with her again, for starters.

Mm. Probably for the best.

You know, I played
a big part in my marriage,

my life falling apart.

So many things
I wish I'd done differently.

But all I can do now
is just pick up the pieces.

And I'm still
holding hope that I can

slow down the divorce train long
enough to change Nicole's mind.

Good luck with that.

A-And I'm not being snarky.
I mean it.

Oh, thanks for that.
And again, I'm sorry about...

me and your mother. Um...

There's no excuse.

Thanks for saying that.

Can you forgive me?

After the way you forgave me?

You made sure
I had a place to stay.

And you trusted me
to manage your clinic.

And on top of all of that,
you are my dad.

Yeah. I can forgive you.

Thank you. Eva.

Did you forget something?

I didn't forget a thing,
but apparently, you did.

Where'd you get this?

From your old girlfriend Dana.

I ran into her at the club,

and she asked me
to return it to you.

She somehow ended up with it
after the two of you had sex.

Or at least that's what
she would like me to believe.

Maybe you'd like
to clear things up.

There you are. I was starting
to worry about you.

Oh, I'm sorry, sweetheart.

I-I came out here
to reach Dani and

couldn't get her,
and then I got stuck on a call

with the dean from Banneker
about next semester, and...

It's okay. It's okay.

So you weren't able
to reach Dani?

Oh, no, I did. I did just now,
but I could barely hear her.

She was on an airplane,
apparently.

She was taking calls on a plane?

She was flying private.

-Did she say with who?
-I'm not sure.

I sort of made out "friend."

Frankly, she sounded inebriated.

Oh, well,
she's probably with Pamela.

Feet up, drinking champagne,
handling agency business.

Did they say
where they were headed?

I think she said Vegas.

Oh. Well, see, now I am nervous.

Drunk on a plane
headed to Las Vegas.

-What could go wrong?
-Our baby's a grown woman.

All we can do at this point
is put it on the Lord.

Mm. Amen.

Well, uh, while you were gone,
I had company.

Our new neighbor.

Not Leslie Thomas.
Did she give you a hard time?

Surprisingly, no.

To tell you the truth...

I don't...

I can't say
we necessarily bonded,

that's not the right word,
but...

we did have a moment.

Are you telling me
you connected with that woman?

Absolutely not.

I connected with Barbara.

Nicole gave this back to me.
Said she got it from you.

Don't worry.
I'm not gonna yell at you.

Unless you want me to.

I could throw in
some choice words.

How do you feel about... this?

Ooh, kinky.

Like the old days.
Yes, Teddy bear.

Let's do it all.

Grab some whipped cream.

Tie me up.

Throw me against the wall.

Oh, baby, I'm ready.

I bet you are.

Too bad this is
all in your mind.

What?

Tell me the truth.

Did you leave that at Leslie's
after some sordid liaison?

I haven't been to Leslie's
in I don't know when.

So she came here?

Well, she must've swiped it
from my room.

Eva lives here, too.

It's not like she hasn't managed
to let herself in before.

So you didn't sleep with her?

I need to hear it, Ted.

I won't repeat my past mistakes.

I won't lie to you.

You did it.

I did.

I see.

Baby, I'm sorry.
I'd just gotten the papers.

I was wrecked. I-I got wasted
on a bottle of bourbon.

She came by and...

It was a mistake.
You have to know that.

What a convenient time
for remorse.

It was a drunken moment.

I-I regretted it instantly.

Yeah? Like your last
regrettable mistake?

I'm sorry.
It will never happen again.

You filed the papers.

And judging by your reaction,

it's as if you still
care about me.

Do you?

Look, I'm sorry, okay?
Look, I'm sorry.

I-I-I made a mistake.

I wasn't in my right mind.

You're right.

I do care.

Because it is something
very powerful

that I can use
against your a*s in court.

Nicole, please. I'm sorry.

You are sorry. Go to hell, Ted.

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We don't ask why,
we say bye-bye.

That's...

You want to take me on vacation?

- I have a request.
- Name it.

Take off your wedding ring.

This marriage thing
ain't nothing

but a high-stakes gamble.

And the odds are never
in your favor.

Vanessa,
there's an important matter